Rotary valve

Apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum source;
• a plurality of vacuum-operated devices in a vehicle;
• a valve for connecting selected ones of said plurality of vacuum-operated devices with said vacuum source;
• said valve including a valve sleeve having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface centered on an axis of said valve and having an opening therein;
• said valve including a valve core disposed within said opening in said valve sleeve and having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface disposed in sealing engagement with said cylindrical inner peripheral surface of said valve sleeve;
• said valve sleeve including a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages which extend axially in said valve sleeve from a single axial location along said valve sleeve to a plurality of different axial locations along said valve sleeve, said plurality of passages being disposed in a circular array centered on said axis, each one of said passages extending parallel to said axis;
• each one of said passages having a respective first end portion at said single axial location which is connected in fluid communication with a respective one of said plurality of devices;
• said valve sleeve also including a vacuum port for connection with said vacuum source, each one of said passages in said valve sleeve having a second end portion which is selectively connectable by said valve core with said vacuum port;
• said valve core including a single continuous control groove extending around said outer peripheral surface of said valve core, all portions of said control groove being at substantially the same pressure, said control groove having first and second portions;
• said valve core being rotatable about said axis between a plurality of predetermined rotational positions relative to said valve sleeve;
• said first portion of said control groove being in fluid communication with said vacuum port when said valve core is in each one of said predetermined rotational positions;
• said second portion of said control groove being in fluid communication with predetermined ones of said second end portions of said passages when said valve core is in at least one of said predetermined rotational positions;
• said valve also including means for blocking axial movement of said valve core relative to said valve sleeve when said valve core is in any one of said predetermined rotational positions and when said valve core is being rotated between any of said predetermined rotational positions;
• said apparatus further comprising a control member fixed for rotation with said valve core about said axis and manually engageable by an occupant of the vehicle to effect rotation of said valve core relative to said valve sleeve.