Rotary sound path selector valve for musical wind instruments

A rotary valve for a musical instrument including a main tubing with a mouthpiece at one end thereof, a further tubing portion terminating in an instrument bell, and at least one length of extension tubing, the musical instrument including an operating mechanism for operating the rotary valve, said rotary valve comprising:

• a cylindrical casing having a sidewall closed at opposite ends thereof, said sidewall defining a plurality of valve ports, said main tubing and said further tubing portion being connected to first canned second ones of said valve ports, respectively, and said length of extension tubing being connected to third and fourth ones of said valve ports;
• a rotor located within said casing, said rotor being adapted to be coupled to said operating mechanism for rotation thereby between first and second positions, said rotor including a hollow shell member having a cylindrical sidewall, said sidewall having a plurality of openings therethrough defining first and second rotor inlets and first and second rotor outlets, a primary airway tube within said shell member, said primary airway tube including a first tubular segment connected to said sidewall in communication with said first rotor inlet and said first rotor outlet for communicating said first rotor inlet with said first rotor outlet,
• said first rotor inlet being in registry with said first valve port and said first rotor outlet being in communication with said second valve port when said rotor is in said first position,
• said first rotor inlet being in registry with said third valve port and said first rotor outlet being in registry with said first valve port when said rotor is in said second position,
• and said rotor including a secondary airway tube within said shell member, said secondary airway tube including a second tubular segment connected to said sidewall in communication with said second rotor inlet and said second rotor outlet for communicating said second rotor inlet with said second rotor outlet, said second rotor inlet being in registry with said fourth valve port and said second rotor outlet being in registry with said second valve port when said rotor is in said second position,
• said sidewall of said shell member including a plurality of vent openings therethrough, whereby air flow through the instrument, including said rotary valve, is maintained substantially continuous and minimal impedance is offered to air flow through the instrument during rotation of said rotor.

A rotary valve for a musical instrument including a main tubing with a mouthpiece at one end thereof, a further tubing portion terminating in an instrument bell, and at least one length of extension tubing, the musical instrument including an operating mechanism for operating the rotary valve, said rotary valve comprising:

• a cylindrical casing having a sidewall closed at opposite ends thereof, said sidewall defining a plurality of valve ports, said main tubing and said further tubing portion being connected to first and second ones of said valve ports, respectively, and said length of extension tubing being connected to third and fourth ones of said valve ports;
• a rotor located within said casing, said rotor being adapted to be coupled to said operating mechanism for rotation thereby between first and second positions, said rotor including a hollow shell member having a cylindrical sidewall, said sidewall having a plurality of openings therethrough defining first and second rotor inlets and first and second rotor outlets, a primary airway tube within said shell member and connected to said sidewall in communication with said first rotor inlet and said first rotor outlet for communicating said first rotor inlet with said first rotor outlet,
• said first rotor inlet being in registry with said first valve port and said first rotor outlet being in communication with a second valve port when said rotor is in said first position,
• and said first rotor inlet being in registry with said third valve port and said first rotor outlet being in registry with said first valve port when said rotor is in said second position,
• and said rotor including a secondary airway tube within said shell member and connected to said sidewall in communication with said second rotor inlet and said second rotor outlet for communicating said second rotor inlet with said second rotor outlet, said second rotor inlet being in registry with said fourth valve port and said second rotor outlet being in registry with said second valve port when said rotor is in said second position,
• said rotor including at least first and second vent openings through said sidewall of said shell member, said first vent opening being located between said first rotor inlet and said first rotor outlet and said second vent opening located opposite to said first vent opening for providing pressure relief areas for air directed into said rotor as said rotor is being rotated between said first and second positions, whereby air flow through the instrument, including said rotary valve, is maintained substantially continuous and minimal impedance is offered to air flow through the instrument during rotation of said rotor.

A rotor for a rotary valve for a musical instrument, said rotor comprising:

• a hollow shell member having a sidewall and first and second end members closing said shell member at opposite ends thereof, said sidewall having a plurality of openings therethrough defining first and second rotor inlets and first and second rotor outlets spaced apart along the circumference of said shell member,
• a primary airway tube within said shell member for communicating said first rotor inlet with said first rotor outlet,
• a secondary airway tube within said shell member for communicating said second rotor inlet with said rotor second outlet,
• a plurality of vent openings through said sidewall of said shell member for providing pressure relief areas for air directed into said rotor as said rotor is being rotated between said first and second positions, a first one of said first vent openings being located between said first rotor inlet and said first rotor outlet, and a second one of said vent openings being located opposite to said first vent opening.