Patent ID: 6378556
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
Multiway valve, comprising a chamber being delimited by at least two substantially plane-parallel surfaces, into which at least three feed or discharge ducts open out, each duct having an open state and a closed state effected by the positioning of a member accommodated inside the chamber in such a manner that the member is moveable in two dimensions in a plane which runs parallel to the plane-parallel surfaces, the member being flattened on two sides, the said flat sides of the member interacting in a sealing manner with the plane-parallel surfaces by means of surface contact, and the member can be made to interact in a sealing manner with one or more duct openings, and control means for moving the member inside the housing, wherein the member comprises a permanent magnet and the control means comprise a plurality of magnet-actuating assemblies which are disposed stationarily around the chamber and comprise electromagnets with a soft iron core, the magnet-actuating assemblies being designed to generate a magnetic field which attracts or repels the member.