Rotary Air Lock
Rotary Air Locks (RAL), also known as rotary valves, are used as an airlock and metering device in the dust collection industry to transfer bulk solids from containers such as hoppers and silos into a conveyor below. It is also often used to transfer material from one container to another, for example from a dust collector hopper to a large waste container or dump bin.
The primary function of the RAL is to maintain pressure differential inside the dust collector while dispensing waste material safely and efficiently. The powdered or granulated products enter the RAL by gravity through the inlet flange above and falls into each rotor pocket between the vanes or blades as it continuously rotates. The material then is discharged again by gravity as each rotor pocket passes the outlet flange below.