Patent ID: 6047733
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G03B,H04N,Y10T

Abstract:
A manifold for selectively drawing air from a plurality of vacuum channels, comprising:(a) a fixed element having an outer surface and a master internal cylinder having a first longitudinal axis, said fixed element further including an axial internal cylinder having a first end and an open second end, said first end communicating with said master internal cylinder, said fixed element further including a plurality of holes disposed along a longitudinal axis of said axial internal cylinder, said plurality of holes passing from said outer surface to said axial internal cylinder, said plurality of holes communicating with said plurality of vacuum channels;(b) an axial piston disposed within said axial internal cylinder from said second end and movable along said axial internal cylinder from said second end to said first end for selectively opening or closing each of said plurality of holes disposed along said axial internal cylinder; and(c) a rotatable piston including an outer wall and a hollow center portion in communication with a device for drawing air at a first end and having a second closed end, said rotatable piston being disposed and rotatable within said master internal cylinder, said rotatable piston further including an aperture passing from said outer wall to said hollow center, such that rotation of said rotatable piston aligns said aperture with said axial internal cylinder so that air draw from said hollow center portion is also drawn from said axial internal cylinder.