Multiport valve unit for plastic melts and other medium- to high-viscosity liquids

A multiway valve unit for plastic melts and other medium- to high-viscosity fluids, the multiway valve unit comprising:

• a housing that comprises at least an inlet plate with at least one main flow passage, an outlet plate with at least one main flow passage, and at least one secondary flow passage;
• at least one intermediate plate and/or at least one spacer element being arranged between the inlet plate and the outlet plate;
• at least one switching element pivotably or rotatably mounted in the housing, the switching element being arranged between the inlet plate and the outlet plate,
• wherein the at least one switching element, in an initial position, connects the main flow passages to one another through at least one through opening,
• wherein the at least one switching element, in at least one changeover position, connects at least one of the main flow passages to the at least one secondary flow passage through at least one return passage that opens at only one side of the switching element,
• wherein the switching element is designed in a shape of a segment and arranged adjacent to the intermediate plate and/or to the at least one spacer element,
• wherein terminating openings of the main flow passages present in the inlet plate and/or in the outlet plate and facing toward the switching element and a terminating opening of the at least one secondary flow passage are arranged on different pitch circles with respect to a pivot axis of the switching element, and
• wherein the return passage on the switching element extend between the pitch circles.