Patent ID: 6994316

Claim:
A rotor valve comprising: a valve body comprising a rotor chamber and a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid; a rotor disposed within the rotor chamber, the rotor comprising at least one passageway for controlling fluid flow through the chamber; a seal carried on the rotor presenting a sealing surface engageable with an interior surface of the valve body proximate a selected valve body opening for restricting fluid flow through the selected valve body opening and further presenting a rear surface at a side of the seal generally opposed to the sealing surfaces; and a passageway formed in the seal directing pressurized fluid from the selected valve body opening to the rear surface of the seal to exert a sealing force urging the sealing surface against the valve body into sealing engagement; wherein the rotor further comprises a bore in an outer surface thereof and presenting a side wall defining the bore, and the seal further comprises: a projection extending into the bore; and a sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the projection and providing a fluid barrier between the seal and the side wall of the bore, the sealing member defining an area of the rear surface of the seal exposed to the pressurized fluid.