Multi-characteristic valve device

Claim 1

AN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A DEVICE HAVING AN OPERATING MEMBER, SAID ACTUATING MECHANISM COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT, A CAM MEMBER REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING PERIPHERALLY SPACED THEREON, IN EACH OF A PLURALITY OF DEFINED CAM SECTORS, RESPECTIVE CAM SURFACES OF PREDETERMINED CHARACTERISTIC CONTOURS DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER, SAID CAM MEMBER BEING SO ANGULARLY POSITIONABLE ON SAID SHAFT THAT ONLY ONE OF SAID CAM SECTORS AND ITS RESPECTIVE CAM SURFACE AT A TIME IS EFFECTIVE FOR OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPERATING MEMBER, AND DETENT MEANS INCLUDING A DISC MEMBER REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING PERIPHERALLY FORMED THEREON, AT PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITIONS, A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE ONE AT A TIME, BY A COOPERATING YIELDABLE DETENT FOR DETERMINING A VARYING NUMBER AND SPACING OF PRESELECTED ANGULAR POSITIONS OF SAID SHAFT, SAID CAM MEMBER AND SAID DISC MEMBER EACH BEING ANGULARLY POSITIONABLE ON SAID SHAFT IN ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS RELATIVE THERETO AND TO EACH OTHER, WHEREBY VARIATIONS IN CHARACTERISTICS OF OPERATION OF THE DEVICE TO BE ACTUATED MAY BE EFFECTED BY PLACING THE APPROPRIATE CAM SECTOR AND ITS RESPECTIVE CAM SURFACE OF SAID CAM MEMBER AND THE APPROPRIATE NOTCHES OF SAID DISC MEMBER INTO RESPECTIVE OPERATIVE POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE OPERATING MEMBER AND SAID DETENT.