Vacuum valve with integrated selector plate

Abstract

A rotary valve has a stator with ports for connection to a vacuum source and to a plurality of vacuum actuators, and a housing having a central hub. A selector residing between the stator and the housing comprises a resilient body insert molded to a steel drive plate having a central drive opening for receiving a drive shaft and an array of holes around the central opening. On one side of the plate the body comprises a valve member in contact with the stator and defines passages to selectively interconnect the ports, and on the other side of the plate the body comprises a resilient tubular spring surrounding the hub and pressing against the housing to bias the valve member against the stator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.