Whether you're training your plumbers to replace a faulty shower diverter valve or need to update your industrial workforce in the proper mechanics of a pneumatic diverter valve, you can find customized training to complete the educational process. Because diverter valves vary widely, it is important to make sure the training materials or courses you choose deal specifically with your needs.

Manufacturer websites make helpful first resources. Diverter valve suppliers often have many useful training resources or educational materials to offer companies considering their valves. For more in depth training, look for professional training organizations and certification programs. Start by:

1. Offering in-house valve training by finding the resources you need to teach your own course.

2. Browsing current diverter valves publications to find good training tools.

3. Networking with others who use industrial diverter valves.

Action Steps
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Find professional diverter valves education and training

Hire a professional organization to educate potential workers or refresh current engineers and maintenance employees in proper diverter valve functions, repairs and procedures. Look for courses that you can customize so you know the teachings will cover your specific diverter needs.

I recommend: Maintenance Resources will provide on-site training to your workforce with a customized program to meet the needs of your diverter valve training. Hire Learn Maintenance to teach diverter valve basics and advanced information. They guarantee their hands-on teaching and will refund your course fee if you aren't completely satisfied with their program.

Read diverter valve publications to find additional teaching resources

Get faucet diverter valves training materials, industrial diverter valve maintenance resources or find out where to buy a diverter valve replacement. Subscribe to some of the leading valve and engineering magazines to find educational resources.

I recommend: Subscribe to Valve Magazine as a current resource of information about manufacturers and distributors of valves. Valve World is another publication dealing with valves, specifically valves in the oil and gas industry. The online publication includes distributor news, project updates and valve trends. Consider subscribing to Professional Engineering Magazine for a wealth of resources related to valve function and distributors.

Join an association to find diverter valves information

Network with others who use diverter valves to gain valuable insight into their workings and flaws. Get tips from organizations that have good valve retention and find out about the latest diverter valve news and trends.

I recommend: Join the American Society For Engineering Education for additional gate valve resource links. Membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers allows you access to federal, state and local groups that share your interests and involvements. Ask the Valve Manufacturers Association of America for help. This group represents about 100 valve manufacturers in the U.S.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  National organizations are also solid resources to help you find local groups that share your interests. Finding hydraulic diverter valve networks in your area can help you find educational seminars and training materials.

The faucet diverter valve and the in-wall shower diverter valve are common uses of the concept applied in industrial diverter valves. Just like how the valve in the bathtub diverts water from the faucet to the shower head, industrial diverter valves distribute liquids, slurries and dry goods to more that one outlet.

Diverter valves have their places in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. They play important roles in pipe circuits and many applications, from waste processing to chemical manufacturing and from agriculture to aerospace. Below is a categorization of diverter valves based on switching type:

1. Small domestic diverter valves like a pool diverter valve or water filter diverter valves. These switch in various methods, but many, like the shower diverter valve, switch by hand operated actuators.

2. Wye-type industrial diverter valves switch by solenoid valve, pneumatics or various simple methods. These work best with solids.

3. Pneumatic diverters, which have no internal moving parts, switch due to pneumatic pressure differential. These work best with liquids.

Action Steps
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Buy quality industrial and commercial diverter valves

Some websites carry only domestic and light-duty, or small size, diverter valves. Look for diverter valve sources with large selections designed for industrial automated processing and similar applications.

I recommend: Pebco carries many wye-type diverter valves, including what they call a rolling-blade style. They also have single blade, basket and other types of diverter valves. SMS International, Inc. is another good source for industrial diverter valves. They have PC-type as well as gravity wye-type diverter valves. They offer multiple actuator types, including manual, pneumatic and electric.

Find distributors of domestic and small business use diverter valves and products

The domestic uses of diverter valves are broader than you might think. See what you can do to add comfort and style to your home or small business.

I recommend: WaterFiltersOnline.com has faucet diverter valves specifically designed for use with counter top water filters. These products come with new tubing as well. Dynamic-Living.com has an interesting product: a diverter valve that allows for a hand-held shower head, in addition to a regular shower head.

Make your hydraulic equipment more versatile with hydraulic diverter valves

A hydraulic diverter valve is a specialized diverter valve that either switches hydraulic pressure from one hydraulic device to another or otherwise operates as part a hydraulic system. There are also flow dividers, which are usually geared.

I recommend: Oleoweb carries hydraulic divert valves, just don't forget to click on the British flag so you can read the website. Another place to go for a huge selection of hydraulic valves, fittings and parts is Innovative Pressure Technologies. They have a large selection of precision parts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is possible to use a quality wye-type diverter valve to switch between two dry product supply lines and send one or the other to the same outlet without significant cross contamination.

Diverter valves are useful in various applications in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. These valves play a significant role in applications such as waste processing, chemical manufacturing and various pneumatic systems.

Whether you want to become a diverter valve manufacturer or diverter valve supplier, you will need to know the various technical terms related to diverter valves. This guide intends to familiarize you with diverter valves key terms, such as NC or NO position, wye line diverter valve, gravity diverter valve, conveying diverter valve, PSI and UL standard 429.

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NC or NO position

The position of a valve is defined as normally closed (NC) or normally open (NO). You will need to understand the meaning of this term to define your application requirement. A normally closed valve is closed in routine application and is opened as required. For a normally open valve, the case is the opposite.

I recommend: Plast-O-Matic Valves, a supplier of industrial valves, offers a glossary that explains valve terms and abbreviations, including NC and NO.

Wye line diverter valve

A wye line diverter valve contains a hinged disc for closing one of the two outlets. This valve is suitable for handling dry bulk materials.

I recommend: Advanced Bulk & Conveying, Inc. (PDF), a supplier of pneumatic conveying and materials management systems, provides information about wye line diverter valves.

Gravity diverter valve

A gravity diverter valve is extremely useful for gravity applications where little or no pressure is involved.

I recommend: Solids Processing Equipment Company (SPEC), a systems integration company, provides information regarding gravity diverter valves.

Plug type diverter valve

Plug type diverter valves are useful in the pneumatic conveying applications to re-route powder or granules from one discharge point to another. Plug valves are the most suitable valves for high vacuum conveying systems or where leakage or cross contamination is not acceptable.

I recommend: Polimak Ltd., a manufacturer of gear boxes and pneumatic conveying systems, provides detailed information about plug valves.

Conveying diverter valve

A conveying diverter valve consists of strong bodies manufactured in two sections. These units are used on pneumatic conveying applications with smooth internals that do not allow lodgment points.

I recommend: For information regarding a conveying diverter valve, you can refer to Sunco Powder Systems, a reputable supplier of bulk material handling components and systems.

Pneumatic actuator

A pneumatic actuator is a device that regulates a valve. A pneumatic actuator converts the energy from compressed air into motion. Depending on the type of actuator, the motion can be rotary or linear.

I recommend: Valve World, a magazine on valves and associated products, provides a glossary of technical terms, including pneumatic actuators.

PSI (Pound per Square Inch)

PSI is the unit of pressure resulting from a force of one pound to an area of one square-inch.

I recommend: For explanation of PSI, read through SensorsONE Ltd, a knowledge resource for pressure monitoring instrumentation.

UL standard 429

Industrial valve manufacturers mention that their diverter valves and valve products are compliant with the UL standard 429. This standard assures the safe working of electrically operated valves.

I recommend: You can read through the scope of UL standard 429 at Underwriters Laboratories, a reputable certification and standardization organization.