METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING A FLOW COMPRISING GRANULAR MATERIAL TO VARIOUS LINES, AND DEVICE EQUIPPED THEREWITH FOR DISTRIBUTING GRANULAR MATERIAL TO A VARIABLE NUMBER OF LINES

摘要

The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus (01) for directing a flow comprising granular material selectively through at least one first line (21) or at least one second line (22). The flow leads into a flow space (03), in which a flow element (04) is accommodated in such a way that said flow element is at least partly movable. The flow element can assume stable first or second switching positions in the flow space, which switching positions are supported at least by the dynamic pressure of the flow acting on the flow element and between which switching positions the flow element can be moved back and forth while overcoming at least the dynamic pressure of the flow, in order to block an outlet opening (31) leading into the first line or an outlet opening (32) leading into the second line. In order to switch back and forth, force is contactlessly applied to the flow element in a direction different from the flow direction. A device (10) for distributing granular material to a variable number of lines (21) each leading to at least one dispensing element comprises such apparatuses between a distributor (11) and the dispensing elements.