Selector valve for receiving & distributing plural flows

Claim 2

A valve comprising a valve body and rotor means within said body, said valve body having a first chamber with primary inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, a second chamber not in communication with said first chamber and having a plurality of secondary inlet ports and a secondary outlet port, said outlet ports of said first chamber and said inlet ports of said second chamber being equal in number, and said rotor means being so designed and so oriented with respect to said valve body that in successive rotary positions said rotor means effects closure individually of each of said oUtlet ports of said first chamber, and in successive rotary positions said rotor means effects closure individually of each of said inlet ports of said second chamber.

Claim 3

A valve according to claim 1 wherein said rotor means is so designed that when closure of one of the outlet ports if effected a fraction of the normal flow through the outlet may be established.

Claim 4

A valve according to claim 2 wherein the fraction of the normal flow which is established when closure of one of the outlet ports is effected is between a quarter and the full flow.

Claim 5

A valve according to claim 3 wherein the fraction is between half and three quarters.

Claim 6

A valve according to claim 1 wherein said rotor means is so designed that when closure is effected of one of said inlet ports communication is effected with a waste outlet.

Claim 7

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the threshold of the outlet ports is narrower than the bore of the primary inlet port.

Claim 8

A valve according to claim 6 wherein the threshold of the outlet ports is elongated.

Claim 9

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the number of outlet ports is at least three.

Claim 10

A valve according to claim 1 wherein the valve is so designed that stagnant zones are eliminated as far as possible.

Claim 11

A valve comprising: a valve body having a wall and an inner cavity, said wall being provided with a primary inlet port, a plurality of primary outlet ports, a plurality of secondary inlet ports equal in number to the primary outlet ports, and a secondary outlet port; rotor means within said cavity and defining with the wall of said valve body a first annular chamber which is in communication with the primary ports and a second annular chamber which is in communication with the secondary ports but not in communication with the first chamber, said rotor means having closure surfaces cooperating with the wall of said valve body in successive rotary positions to block communication between said first chamber and one of said primary outlet ports while leaving said first chamber in communication with the other primary outlet ports and simultaneously to block communication between said second chamber and one of said secondary inlet ports while leaving said second chamber in communication with the other secondary inlet ports.

Claim 12

A valve comprising: a valve body having a wall and an inner cavity, said wall being provided with a primary inlet port, a plurality of primary outlet ports, a plurality of secondary inlet ports equal in number to the primary outlet ports, and a secondary outlet port; rotor means within said cavity and defining with the wall of said valve body a first annular chamber which is in communication with the primary ports and a second annular chamber which is in communication with the secondary ports but not in communication with the first chamber, said rotor means having closure surfaces cooperating with the wall of said valve body in successive rotary positions to block communication between said first chamber and one of said primary outlet ports while leaving said first chamber in communication with the other primary outlet ports and simultaneously to block communication between said second chamber and one of said secondary inlet ports while leaving said second chamber in communication with the other secondary inlet ports.

Claim 13

A valve as in claim 10 including a by-pass passage of restricted flow capacity extending between said first chamber and each of said primary outlet ports, said rotor means cooperating with each by-pass passage to permit restricted flow from said first chamber into the respective primary outlet port when said rotor means is in a position blocking said respective primary outlet port.

Claim 14

A valve as in claim 10 wherein said rotor means includes a waste outlet passage having one end open through a closure surface of said rotor means so as to connect one of said secondary inlet ports to waste when said closure surface blocks communication between said second chamber and said one secondary inlet port.

Claim 15

A valve as in claim 10 wherein said rotor means includes independently rotatable first and second concentric rotor members.

Claim 16

A valve as in claim 10 wherein said rotor means is a single unitary rotor member.