Control valve

A manual control valve for controlling flow of pressurized fluid to and from at least two end users of said pressurized fluid, said valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• valve inlet means adapted for connection to a supply of pressurized fluid whereby pressurized fluid is supplied to said valve body;
• valve exhaust means adapted for connection to a reservoir for exhausted fluid;
• a distribution spool located within a main bore in said valve body being rotatable and axially movable in said main bore by manipulation of the distribution spool by an operator external to the valve body;
• at least two pairs of fluid flow passages arranged in said valve body, each of said fluid flow passages having first port means opening into the main bore of said valve body;
• said distribution spool having spool inlet means and further including internal distribution passage means having second port means located at an outer surface of said distribution spool and cooperable with said first port means in selected rotational and axial positions of said distribution spool in said main bore, at least one of said first and second port means providing a substantially rectangular flow area, said internal distribution passage means, in a first axial and rotational position of said distribution spool, being arranged to direct pressurized fluid from said valve inlet means to a first said fluid flow passage of a first one of said at least two pairs of fluid flow passages in said valve body with the other said first pair of fluid flow passages receiving exhaust and communicating same through said internal distribution passage means to said valve exhaust means, said internal distribution passage means, in a second rotation position at said first axial position, being adapted to direct pressurized fluid from said valve inlet means to a first said fluid flow passage of a second one of said at least two pairs of fluid flow passages with the other of said second pair of fluid flow passages receiving exhaust fluid and communicating same through said internal distribution passage means in said distribution spool to said valve exhaust means, and said internal distribution passage means, in at least a third rotational position being adapted to direct pressurized fluid simultaneously to two said fluid flow passages of adjacent pairs of said fluid flow passages, and wherein said distribution spool is movable to a second axial position where pressurized fluid is directed selectably, upon rotation of the distribution spool, into a respective one of said other fluid flow passages, and in another rotational position simultaneously into two adjacent said other fluid flow passages of said pairs of fluid flow passages.