Rotary manifold

A necker machine comprising:

• a frame assembly;
• a forming station;
• said forming station coupled to said frame assembly;
• said forming station including a rotating process shaft assembly;
• said process shaft assembly including a body defining a number of generally longitudinal passages, each said longitudinal passage having a generally axial inlet;
• a rotary manifold assembly including an outer body assembly and an inner body;
• said outer body assembly including a generally toroid outer body, a number of bearing assemblies, and a number of fluid couplings;
• said outer body structured to be coupled in a generally fixed position to said frame assembly;
• said outer body defining a number of radial passages, each radial passage including an inlet and an outlet;
• each fluid coupling coupled to, and in fluid communication with, an associated inlet of a respective radial passage of the number of radial passages;
• said inner body defining a number of passages;
• each passage including an inlet and an outlet;
• said inner body rotatably disposed within said outer body;
• each bearing assembly disposed between said outer body and said inner body;
• said inlet of each passage of said inner body discontinuously in fluid communication with said outlets of said number of radial passages of said outer body;
• and
• said outlet of each passage of said inner body is structured to be discontinuously in fluid communication with said inlets of the number of longitudinal passages of the body of said process shaft assembly,
• wherein said outer body includes an inner surface,
• wherein said inner surface includes a number of scallops, and
• wherein each scallop is disposed about an associated outlet of a respective radial passage of said outer body.