Patent ID: 6672336
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A dual, random access, 3-way fluid switching rotary valve apparatus comprising:a stator element defining a first inlet passage fluidly coupled to a first fluid source and having a first inlet port terminating at a stator face lying in an interface plane, and defining a second inlet passage fluidly coupled to a second fluid source and having a second inlet port terminating at the stator face, said stator element further defining a first, a second, a third and a fourth outlet passage each in fluid communication with said stator face; and a rotor element defining a rotor face oriented in the interface plane in opposed relationship to and contacting said stator face in a fluid-tight manner, said rotor element being rotatably movable about a rotational axis, relative to said stator face, for rotational movement of said rotor face to at least a discrete first, second, third and fourth rotor position, said rotor face and said stator face cooperatively defining a channel set enabling fluid communication between the first fluid source and one of the first and second outlet passage, and enabling fluid communication between the second fluid source and one of the third and fourth outlet passage, such that: in the first rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage; in the second rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the first outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage; in the third rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the third outlet passage; and; in the fourth rotor position, said channel set fluidly couples said first inlet port to the second outlet passage and fluidly couples said second inlet port to the fourth outlet passage.