Fluidic selector valve

TL;DR: In this article, a rotatable plate is disposed in a chamber and has a radial fluid passage which is permanently communicated with the first port and which may be selectively communicated with any of the additional ports by rotation of the plate through control means extending externally of the housing.

Abstract: A fluidic switch for connecting a first fluid signal line with any selected one of a plurality of additional signal lines has a housing forming a chamber with an end wall having a first port and a plurality of additional ports spaced equiangularly therearound. A rotatable plate is disposed in the chamber and has a radial fluid passage which is permanently communicated with the first port and which may be selectively communicated with any of the additional ports by rotation of the plate through control means extending externally of the housing. Sealing of the contacting surfaces of the plate and end wall is accomplished by the same means which provides a detenting action at each of the several switch positions. Specifically a plurality of springs act between the housing and the plate to urge the plate against the end wall with the spring force being transmitted to plate through spherical elements which seat in indentations in the plate surface at each of the positions of the switch to yieldably resist rotation of the plate.