Multi-port valve

Claim 1

A multi-port valve comprising: (a) a valve housing having an end wall containing at least three fluid outlets and a fluid inlet and said fluid outlets all being spaced apart from each other and being located equi-distant from said fluid inlet; (b) a cylindrical, rotatably movable valve body positioned in said valve housing, said valve body containing a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet located in one end face thereof and being spaced apart from each other and being in fluid communication with each other, said fluid inlet of said valve body being located on the rotational axis of said valve body; and said fluid inlet of said valve housing also being located on rotational axis of said valve body; (c) a rotatably movable flow control disc positioned in said housing and located intermediate said one end face of said valve body and said end wall of said valve housing and being in fluid tight contact with said end face and end wall, respectively, and being axially aligned with said cylindrical rotatably movable valve body, said flow control disc including an inlet fluid passage and an outlet fluid passage extending therethrough, said fluid passages being spaced apart from each other the same distance said fluid inlet of said valve housing is spaced apart from each of said fluid outlets of said valve housing, said fluid inlet passage being located on the rotational axis of said valve body and of said flow control disc and being in-line with and in fluid communication with both said fluid inlet of said valve housing and said fluid inlet of said valve body at all relative rotational positions of said valve body and said flow control disc; (d) means connected to said rotatably movable valve body for rotating said valve body relative to said valve housing and relative to said flow control disc, said valve body and said flow control disc cooperating with each other such that said body can move relative to said disc between a first position wherein said body fluid outlet is in fluid communication with said disc outlet passage, and a second position wherein said body fluid outlet is sealed from said disc outlet passage; and (e) drive means cooperatively interengageable between said valve body and said flow control disc, after said valve body has moved to said second position, for rotatably moving said flow control disc together as a unit with said valve body and relative to said housing, as rotation of said valve body is continued, whereby said fluid outlet passage of said flow control disc can be placed in registry with a selected one of said housing fluid outlets, and the flow of fluid therefrom is accomplished only after said valve body is moved, relative to said disc, back to said first position to place said valve body fluid outlet, said disc outlet and said selected housing outlet into registry.