ROTARY VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

摘要

A fluid valve (2) for controlling fluid flow/or vacuum to a plurality of ports (22) and fluid lines in a rotating member (12) has a rotary phase plate (10) with a apertures therein which can be brought into fluid communication with selected ports and fluid lines in the rotating member by rotation of the rotary phase plate (10) to one of at least two rotational positions. The fluid valve has at least a rotary union adapter (20) coupling the rotary phase plate to a one-port rotary union (36) or a roll adapter coupling the rotary phase plate to the rotating member. The fluid valve has both such adapters. By rotating the rotary phase with respect to the rotary union adapter and the roll adapter, certain apertures in the rotary union adapter are brought into fluid communication with one or more aligned fluid lines in the rotary union adapter.