C.g. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Andrew P Tijan

Greg M Kauppila

A fluid valve for controlling fluid flow and/or vacuum to a plurality of ports and fluid lines in a rotating member has a rotary phase plate with a plurality of 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 to one of at least two rotational positions with respect to the rotating member. Preferably, the fluid valve has at least a rotary union adapter coupling the rotary phase plate to a one-port rotary union or a roll adapter coupling the rotary phase plate to the rotating member. Most preferably, the fluid valve has both such adapters. By rotating the rotary phase plate 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 and the roll adapter, and certain apertures in the rotary union adapter are brought out of fluid communication with one or more aligned fluid lines in the rotary union adapter and the roll adapter. Rotation of the rotary phase plate therefore causes fluid lines or patterns of fluid lines from the rotary union to the rotating member to open or close, thereby permitting or stopping fluid flow through the lines (or connecting or disconnecting the rotating member to a vacuum source).

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Hurley, WI, United States of America

Andrew P Tijan