Rotary Valves (Rotary Airlocks & Feeders)
Deliver reliable, dust‑tight feeding and pressure sealing for cyclones, baghouses, hoppers/bins, and pneumatic systems. Our heavy‑duty rotary valves (a.k.a. rotary airlocks) are built for long life, easy maintenance, and consistent performance across powders, granules, and pellets.
Where Rotary Valves Are Used
- Feeding product out of bins/hoppers with no pressure
- Dust collection on cyclones, baghouses, and filters while maintaining an air seal
- Pneumatic conveying to meter material into positive pressure or vacuum systems
Why Choose Our Rotary Valves
- Heavy‑duty cast bodies & end covers
- Robust rotors with fixed or closed blades; multiple tip materials available
- Outboard, grease‑packed bearings (regreasable)
- PTFE packing glands with air‑purge flexibility
- Simple rotor centralization
- Helical, in‑line gearbox drives (higher efficiency vs. worm gear)
- ANSI/ASA flange patterns; ANSI chain/fasteners; safety steel chain guards
- Quality certification provided with every valve
- Stocked here in the Carolinas!
Built‑in value: large‑diameter shafts, extra‑thick blades, removable flange‑mount bearings, removable gland follower, and numerous options—all at a competitive price.
Valve Types
Drop‑Thru
Inlet and outlet are in line. General‑purpose choice for cyclones, filters, and dense/lean phase feeds.
Blow‑Thru
Compact profile for direct injection into the conveying line. Reduces pockets where product can hang up in low‑pressure, non‑abrasive applications.
Side‑Entry (Offset)
Outlet is offset from inlet so material enters vanes before the shear point—ideal for flakes, pellets, crumb rubber, and stringy products. The contoured inlet “snowplows” product from the vane tips to limit shear and shock loads.
Easy Clean
The Easy Clean Rotary Airlock Valve is used in sanitary or food applications where the valve internals needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.
This valve is also useful in non-sanitary applications that require product change over, such as paint pigments.
Special Size Valves
Carolina Conveying offers several unique and different size airlocks, from rectangular units to larger bore bodies for increased capacity.
If you have a special size requirement, check with us to see what options are available. Custom sizes can also be produced.
NFPA Valves
The NFPA Design Rotary Airlock is a Heavy-Duty valve that meets or exceeds the requirements of NFPA 68 & 69 for rotary valves that are used for deflagaration isolation systems. These features are standard on Carolina Conveying’s Heavy Duty Rotary Airlock range and are available with Cast Iron and Stainless Steel construction.
Sizes available:
- 6” through 24”
- Round or Square Flanges
Rotor Styles (Application‑Driven)
- Open‑end rotors (≈0.005" tip/side clearance) for pressure differentials >2 psi and up to ~25 psig
- Closed rotors for gravity/dust duty (<2 psi); clearance less critical (~1/16")
- Open/Closed hybrid: closed pockets with protruding tips to maintain tight end clearances—standard on Side‑Entry valves and ideal for pellets/flake/stringy material
- Adjustable blades
- Beveled edges
- Scalloped pockets/Reduced Volume
- Quick release
- Teflon coated
- Abrasion resistant tips
- Flexible rubber tips
- and many more.
Easy Maintenance = More Uptime
- Field‑serviceable design – complete disassembly/reassembly in ~30 minutes
- Bearing changes in minutes – outboard, regreasable bearings can be swapped quickly
- Packing changes without removing the end cover – thanks to the removable round gland follower that passes through the bearing housing
- Quick‑Release Rotor (Easy‑Clean) – pull the non‑drive end cover and rotor together for rapid cleaning/changeover; optional slide rails support the assembly
- Clear, step‑by‑step repacking procedure – including air‑purge lantern ring checks to prevent leakage and packing deterioration
Result: quicker sanitation, faster tip changes, and shorter planned outages
Standard Sizes & Configurations
- Round or square flanges from 6" to 36" nominal sizes
- Drop‑Thru, Blow‑Thru, and Side‑Entry bodies
- Drives: direct or chained via helical gearmotor
- Materials: cast iron bodies/end covers; rotors with wear options (Ni‑hard, stainless, rubber/urethane tips, etc.)
Detailed dimensional drawings are available—ask us for the spec sheet that matches your size and inlet pattern.
Options & Upgrades
- Quick‑Release/Easy‑Clean rotor package
- Removable gland follower for rapid packing access
- Air‑purge shaft seals (lantern ring) with recommended 2–5 psi above line pressure (40–60 cfh)
- Abrasion‑resistant rotor tips and coatings
- High‑temperature packages (axial expansion accommodations)
- Food‑grade finishes and sanitary features
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent product leakage at the shaft seals?
Use the air‑purged lantern ring and follow the repacking steps: clean the ring & ports, stagger packing cuts, tighten evenly, turn on purge before product, and set purge 2–5 psi above max line pressure (≈40–60 cfh). Re‑snug after bedding in.
How fast can I clean between products?
With the quick‑release rotor and jacking‑bolt end cover, you can pull the rotor/end cover together and clean the assembly without removing the valve from the line.
Can I change bearings without pulling the valve?
Yes—outboard, flange‑mount bearings are removable in place.
Visit Our Charlotte Test Lab
Bring your most challenging powders. We’ll set up the exact equipment configuration you’re considering and demonstrate:
- Dust‑tight performance with your material.
- The right agitation + sealing stack‑up.
- Feeding (batch/GIW/LIW) and conveying hand‑offs.
Satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not 100% satisfied with the test visit, we cover your travel.
