Rotary valve with reduced purging time

Abstract

The rotary valve (10) comprises a stator member (36) having a planar stator face (54), the stator member (36) having a plurality of stator channels (46, 48) for conducting a fluid; and a rotor member (24) having a planar rotor face (52), the planar rotor face (52) facing and being in contact with the stator face, the rotor member (24) having a rotor channel (50); wherein the rotor member (24) is rotatable relative to the stator member (36) about an axis of rotation (A) such that in a conducting position, the rotor channel (50) interconnects two of the stator channels (46, 48) and the two stator channels (46, 48) are in fluid communication; wherein at least one of the stator channels (48) has a lateral channel portion (74) leading to the stator face (54) and extending transversely relative to the axis of rotation (A); wherein the rotor channel (50) has a bottom (64) which is inclined relative to the axis of rotation (A) at an intersection end (62) of the rotor channel (50) such that the rotor channel (50) elongates an inner surface of the stator channel (48) when the rotor member (24) is in the conducting position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary valve. BACKGROUND

[0002] Rotary valves can be used in laboratory automation systems for dispensing liquids, such as reagents, diluents, samples, etc. A rotary valve typically comprises a stator member having stator channels and a rotor member comprising rotor channels. Depending on the different rotary positions, the rotor channels interconnect different stator channels with each other. A pump can deliver liquid from a first container and / or channel into the rotary valve, and the rotary valve can dispense the liquid into other containers and / or channels depending on its rotor position. The rotary valve can also draw from one of a plurality of source containers and can dispense the fluid into a common outlet.

[0003] One important feature of any valve in a laboratory automation system is the flush time, i.e. the time in which a first liquid in the valve can be replaced by another liquid. A fast flush time of a valve can increase the overall throughput of an analytical instrument.

[0004] A second important feature of any valve in a laboratory automation system is the flush volume, i.e. the volume required to replace a first liquid in the valve with another liquid. The first liquid has to be completely flushed away by the other liquid to prevent cross-contamination which can affect downstream processes / analyses. A small flush volume can reduce the flush time and / or can save valuable reagents.

[0005] US 7 308 908 B2 shows a rotary valve having stator channels in a stator member which are transversely aligned with the rotation axis of a rotor member. SUMMARY

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary valve having a reduced flush time.

[0007] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further exemplary embodiments are evident from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] The present invention relates to a rotary valve comprising a stator member having a planar stator face, the stator member having a plurality of stator channels for conducting a fluid, and a rotor member having a planar rotor face facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member having at least one rotor channel. The rotor member is rotatable relative to the stator member about a rotation axis such that in a conducting position, the rotor channel interconnects two of the stator channels and the two stator channels are in fluid communication. The stator face and the rotor face can be parallel. The rotation axis can be aligned normal to the stator face and the rotor face.

[0009] The stator member and the rotor member can be housed in a housing of the rotary valve, wherein the stator member can be statically connected with the housing and the rotor member can be rotatably connected with the housing. The rotor member can be rotated by a stepper motor. A pump, such as an auto-actuated syringe, can be connected to one of the stator channels. The housing of the rotary valve can further comprise means for pressing the rotor face against the stator face, such as a spring.

[0010] The stator member and / or the rotor member can be made of a ceramic material, such as aluminum oxide, a metal, such as stainless steel, or a polymer, such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone) or ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene). The stator channels can be made of holes machined in the material before or after sintering, or by inserting wires before pressing or molding, which are removed after formation. The rotor channels can be made by machining grooves in the material. The rotor member and / or the stator member can also be 3D printed, for example by laser sintering.

[0011] There can be more than one conductive position. The stator member can have a stator channel with a central opening, which opens to a rotor channel in any conductive position. The stator member can have one or more eccentric stator channels, which have an opening spaced apart from the rotation axis. In a particular conductive position, one of the eccentric stator channels can be connected with the stator channel having the central opening.

[0012] According to embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the stator channels has a lateral channel portion, which opens to the stator face and extends laterally with respect to the stator face, the rotor face and / or the rotation axis. Lateral can mean that the center line of the transfer channel is not orthogonal with respect to the stator face and / or the rotor face. Lateral can mean that the center line of the lateral channel, projected onto a plane comprising the rotation axis, is not parallel and not orthogonal. The lateral channel portion can have a cylindrical form and / or can have a circular cross section. The lateral channel portion can also have an elliptical, egg-shaped or polygonal cross section. The interface of the lateral channel portion and the stator face can be elongated, for example egg-shaped or elliptical.

[0013] With the lateral channel portion, the total length of the fluid path through the stator member and the rotor member can be shortened. This can reduce the flush time. With the lateral channel orientation, the flush performance can be improved compared to an orthogonal orientation.

[0014] The at least one stator channel with the lateral channel portion can be an eccentric stator channel. In this case, the stator member has more than one eccentric stator channel, each of which can have a lateral channel portion. At least some of the lateral channel portions can be symmetrical with respect to each other by rotation around the rotation axis.

[0015] There can also be one or more pairs of stator channels which are interconnected by the rotor channel. Both of the two stator channels of a pair of stator channels can have a lateral channel portion. It can also be that one of the two stator channels of a pair of stator channels has a lateral channel portion and the other stator channel is aligned orthogonally to the stator face. The pairs of stator channels can be symmetrical with respect to each other by rotation about the axis of rotation.

[0016] According to embodiments of the application, the rotor channel has a bottom which is inclined at the intersection end with respect to the rotor face, the stator face and / or the axis of rotation, such that the rotor channel elongates the inner surface of the stator channel when the rotor member is in the conducting position. In terms of lateral, the inclination can mean that the bottom has a substantially flat bottom surface and / or a substantially straight bottom line which is angled with respect to the rotor face, the stator face and / or the axis of rotation. By elongating the stator channel, in particular the lateral channel portion, with the rotor channel, a substantially continuous surface can be formed.

[0017] With the inclined bottom of the rotor channel, the turbulence and / or vortex in the transition between the rotor channel and the stator channel can be reduced. This can also reduce the flushing time, since a more laminar fluid flow can be achieved. Furthermore, by avoiding dead spots, a reduced flushing volume can be achieved.

[0018] The inclined bottom of the rotor channel can be provided by a rotor channel which becomes deeper at the intersection end with increasing distance from the outermost position of the rotor channel. In one range, the increase in depth can be linear with respect to the distance from the outermost position.

[0019] According to embodiments of the application, the rotor channel is a recess in the rotor face. The rotor channel can always be open towards the rotor face over the entire extension of the rotor channel.

[0020] According to embodiments of the application, the rotor channel has a U-shaped cross section. The bottom surface of the rotor channel can have a substantially circular cross section.

[0021] According to embodiments of the application, the bottom line of the rotor channel is inclined at the intersection end with respect to the rotor face, the stator face and / or the axis of rotation. The bottom line can consist of the lowest point of the U-shaped cross section along the extension of the rotor channel.

[0022] According to embodiments of the application, the bottom of the rotor channel is inclined at the interconnection end with respect to the rotor face, the stator face and / or the axis of rotation at the same angle as the stator channel. In this way, the cylindrical shape of the lateral channel portion of the stator channel can be elongated, substantially flush with the rotor channel.

[0023] According to embodiments of the application, the bottom of the rotor channel is aligned orthogonally to the axis of rotation (and / or parallel to the rotor face and / or the stator face) at the second interconnection end, which leads to another stator channel (which can be a parallel stator channel). The first interconnection end can be used to interconnect the rotor channel with the transverse channel portion of the (e.g. eccentric) stator channel. The second interconnection end can be used to interconnect the rotor channel with the parallel stator channel. The rotor channel can have a slanted portion at the first interconnection end, which transitions into an orthogonally aligned portion at the second interconnection end.

[0024] According to embodiments of the application, the rotor channel extends radially with respect to the axis of rotation. The rotor channel can be substantially straight. One end of the rotor channel can be at the center of the rotor member, i.e. at the axis of rotation.

[0025] According to embodiments of the application, the rotor channel extends tangentially with respect to a circle around the axis of rotation. There can also be multiple rotor channels, which can be symmetrically distributed about the axis of rotation.

[0026] According to embodiments of the application, the center line of the transverse channel portion intersects the axis of rotation. In other words, the axis of rotation and the stator channel can be arranged in one plane.

[0027] According to embodiments of the application, the transverse channel portion has an opening in the stator face, which has a side wall extending parallel to the axis of rotation at the side of the angle between the transverse channel portion and the stator face, which is acute. The acute portion of the stator member between the transverse channel portion and the stator face can be removed. This can reduce the risk of damage to the stator member at this location. The volume resulting from the material removed from the stator member (i.e. the volume between the cylindrical portion of the transverse channel portion and the parallel side wall) can be small, so that this hardly affects the flushing time.

[0028] According to embodiments of the application, the stator member comprises a parallel stator channel, which extends parallel to and / or along the axis of rotation of the rotor member. The parallel stator channel can be the only input and / or output of the rotary valve, from which fluid is distributed to and / or collected from the eccentric stator channels, which then serve as outputs and / or inputs. Both portions can have a circular cross section and / or can be centered with respect to each other.

[0029] It can also be that the parallel stator channel extends spaced apart from the axis of rotation. For example, a pair of stator channels arranged symmetrically around the axis of rotation can have a parallel stator channel.

[0030] The connection port can be a substantially cylindrical opening in the rotary valve for connecting a pipe or hose to the rotary valve. The connection port, which can be designed to receive a threaded fitting, can be provided by the stator member or by another member of the rotary valve arranged on a surface of the stator member opposite the stator face.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present application, the parallel stator channel has a first portion leading to the rotor channel and a second portion open towards a connection port of the rotary valve. The second portion has a smaller diameter than the first portion. This can help to create a laminar fluid flow between the connection port and the parallel stator channel and / or can also reduce the flush time.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present application, the stator member comprises a circular recess around the stator face. The circular recess can have an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to the rotation axis. The lateral channel portion of the one or more eccentric stator channels can extend along the circular recess. In particular, the lateral channel portion provides the possibility that such a recess can be formed in the stator. With this recess, the stator can be designed more compact. The circular recess can also provide space so that any leakage between the rotor member and the stator member can exit the rotary valve through a drain hole instead of being forced through the sealed bearing and possibly damaging the bearing and / or the valve.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present application, the inclined surface is inclined with respect to the rotation axis at the same angle as the lateral channel portion. In this way, material between the inclined surface and the lateral channel portion can be saved.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present application, a bearing around the rotor member protrudes into the circular recess. The bearing can be used to support the rotation of the rotor. The overall length of the rotary valve can be reduced. The bearing can be a plain bearing or a ball bearing.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present application, the stator channel having the lateral channel portion has a parallel channel portion which is open towards a connection port of the rotary valve. The parallel channel portion extends parallel to the rotation axis. The lateral channel portion and the parallel channel portion can have the same diameter and / or can have a circular cross section. The connection port to the stator channel can be aligned parallel to the rotation axis. In this way, a laminar fluid flow between the stator channel and the connection port is supported. This also helps to reduce the flush time.

[0036] These and other aspects of the present application will become apparent from and be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] In the following, embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1A perspective cross-sectional view of a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of a rotary valve.

[0040] Figure 3 schematically shown Figure 1 A perspective view of the stator channel of a rotary valve.

[0041] Figure 4 It is shown schematically from different directions. Figure 3 A perspective view of a portion of the stator channel.

[0042] Figure 5 A view of the rotor component of a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0043] Figure 6 A perspective view of a portion of a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 7 A perspective view of a portion of a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] The reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings and their meanings are listed in summary form in the reference numeral list. In principle, the same parts have the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Figure 1 A rotary valve 10 is shown, which has a rotor assembly 12 and a stator assembly 14 in a housing 16.

[0047] The rotor assembly 12 includes a spring element 18, a bearing 20 (e.g., a ball bearing), a sleeve 22, a rotor member 24, and a sliding bearing 26. The spring element 18, located on the annular bottom wall 28 of the housing 16, presses the rotor member 24 against the stator assembly 14 via the bearing 20 and the sleeve 22. A sealing ring 30 keeps the rotor assembly tightly relative to the housing 16.

[0048] Rotor component 24 is rotatably mounted to bearing 20 and rotatably mounted within sliding bearing 26. Rotor component 24 is adapted to rotate about axis of rotation A. Through annular bottom wall 28, the shaft of gears and / or electric motor can be mounted into sleeve 22 and opening 32 of rotor component 24.

[0049] The stator assembly 14 comprises a stator member 36 which is fixed to the housing 16. Bolts 38 prevent the stator member 36 from rotating. A port member 40 of the stator assembly 14 is arranged on the stator member 36 and is fixed into the housing with a screw ring 42. The port member 40 comprises connection ports 44 for connecting lines or hoses to the rotary valve 10. The connection ports 44 are essentially cylindrical openings which extend parallel to the rotation axis.

[0050] The stator member 36 comprises stator channels 46, 48 (see also Figure 2 ) which lead into the connection ports 44. The rotor member 24 comprises rotor channels 50 which, at certain rotor positions, interconnect one of the parallel stator channel 46 and the eccentric stator channel 48. At such rotor positions, fluid can flow from the central port 44 to one of the other ports 44 or vice versa. In other positions, the fluid flow can be blocked.

[0051] Figure 2 The rotor member 24 and the stator member 36 are shown in more detail. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The inner surfaces of the stator channel 48 and the rotor channel 50 are shown.

[0052] The rotor member 24 has a planar disc-shaped rotor face 52 in which the rotor channels 50 are provided as grooves. The stator member 36 has a planar disc-shaped stator face 54 which faces and contacts the rotor face 52. The spring element 18 (see Figure 1 ) presses the rotor face 52 against the stator face 54, thereby creating a fluid-tight connection.

[0053] In Figure 2 , the rotor member 24 and the stator member 36 are shown in a conductive position in which fluid can flow through the rotary valve. The parallel stator channel 46 has a circular opening 56 in the stator face 54 and is positioned on a central extension end 58 of the rotor channel 50. The eccentric stator channel 48 has an irregular elongated opening 60 in the stator face 54 and is positioned on an eccentric extension end 62 of the rotor channel.

[0054] The rotor channel 50 extends in radial direction with respect to the rotation axis A between the extension ends 58, 62. The extension end 58 has a semicircular boundary. The extension end 62 has an elliptical boundary. Between the extension ends, the boundary of the rotor channel 50 is parallel.

[0055] With respect to a plane normal to the radial direction and the rotation axis A, the rotor channel 50 has a U-shaped cross section along the extension direction of the rotor channel. With respect to a plane comprising the rotation axis A and the radial direction along which the rotor channel 50 extends, the rotor channel 50 has a longitudinal cross section which, starting from the extension end 62, is inclined with respect to the rotation axis A, then extends in the radial direction and, at the extension end 58, has a 90° turn into a line parallel to the rotation axis A.

[0056] At the eccentric extension end 62, the entire bottom 64 of the rotor channel 50 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis A and / or the bottom 64 of the rotor channel 50 between the extension ends 62, 58. In particular, the substantially straight bottom line 66 is inclined in this way.

[0057] Between the extension ends 58, 62, the bottom 64 and / or the bottom line 66 extends normal to the rotation axis A. At the central extension end 58, the bottom and / or the bottom line becomes a line parallel to the rotation axis A. In part, the bottom 64 of the rotor channel 50 is aligned normal to the rotation axis A at the interconnection end 58.

[0058] The parallel stator channel 46 has a first portion 68 which opens into the rotor channel 50 at the opening 56 and a second portion 70 which opens into the connection port 44 of the rotary valve 10 at another circular opening 72. Both portions 68, 70 have a circular cross section. The second portion 70 has a smaller diameter than the first portion 68. The opening 72 extends from the diameter of the second portion to the diameter of the first portion 68.

[0059] Each of the eccentric stator channels 48 has a lateral channel portion 74 which opens into the stator face 54 at a respective opening 60. The lateral channel portion 74 extends transversely with respect to the rotation axis A. The lateral channel portion 74 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a center line 74 which intersects the rotation axis A. The bottom 64 of the rotor channel 50 and / or the bottom line 66 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis A at the interconnection end 62 at the same angle as the lateral channel portion 74 and / or the center line of the lateral channel portion.

[0060] The rotor channel 50 and its bottom 64 are formed at the intersection end 62 such that the rotor channel 50 extends the inner surface of the lateral channel portion 74.

[0061] The opening 60 of the lateral channel portion 74 has a side wall 76 which extends parallel to the rotation axis A at the side on which the angle between the lateral channel portion 74 and the stator face 54 is acute. The opening 60 can be egg-shaped, i.e. can have a partly oval and partly circular boundary.

[0062] Each of the eccentric stator channels 48 has a parallel channel portion 78 that opens through an opening 80 towards one of the connection ports 44. The channel portion 78 as well as the opening 80 have a circular cross section and have the same diameter as the lateral channel portion 74. The angle between the lateral channel portion 74 and the parallel channel portion 78 is an obtuse angle. The parallel channel portion 78 extends parallel to the rotation axis A.

[0063] The stator member 36 comprises a circular recess 82 around the stator face 54. The circular recess 82 has an inclined surface 84 that is inclined with respect to the rotation axis A at the same angle as the lateral channel portion 74 of the eccentric stator channel 48. The bearing 26 around the rotor member 24 protrudes into the circular recess 82. Opposite the inclined surface 84, the circular recess 82 has a cylindrical surface 86. In this way, a rim 88 is created that mechanically stabilizes the stator member 36.

[0064] Figure 5 It is shown that the rotor member 24 can comprise more than one rotor channel 50. In Figure 5 particular, the plurality of rotor channels 50 is arranged rotationally symmetrically about the rotation axis A. Each of these rotor channels 50 can interconnect two stator channels 46, as shown in the following figures.

[0065] In Figure 6 particular, the stator member 36 comprises two eccentric stator channels 48 that can be interconnected by a rotor channel 50 as shown in Figure 5 . The eccentric stator channels 48 can be formed as shown in Figures 2-4 . The rotor channel 50 can have an eccentric intersection end 62, such as shown in Figures 2-4 .

[0066] In Figure 7 particular, the stator member 36 comprises an eccentric stator channel 48 and a parallel stator channel 46 that can be interconnected by a rotor channel 50 as shown in Figure 5 . The eccentric stator channel 48 can be formed as shown in Figures 2-4 . The eccentric stator channel 48 can also be formed such as shown in Figures 2-4 , but the eccentric stator channel 48 can be spaced apart from the rotation axis A. The rotor channel 50 can have one eccentric intersection end 62, such as shown in Figures 2-4 . The other end of the rotor channel 50 can be formed like a central intersection end 58 as shown in Figures 2-4 Figures 2-4 , but can also be spaced apart from the rotation axis A.

[0067] While the application has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the application is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed application, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0068] List of reference signs

[0069] 10 rotary valve

[0070] 12 rotor assembly

[0071] 14 stator assembly

[0072] 16 housing

[0073] 18 spring element

[0074] 20 bearing

[0075] 22 sleeve

[0076] 24 rotor member

[0077] 26 plain bearing

[0078] 28 annular bottom wall

[0079] 30 seal ring

[0080] A rotational axis

[0081] 32 opening

[0082] 36 stator member

[0083] 38 bolt

[0084] 40 port member

[0085] 42 screw ring

[0086] 44 connection port

[0087] 46 parallel stator channel

[0088] 48 eccentric stator channel

[0089] 50 rotor channel

[0090] 56 opening

[0091] 58 centrally extending end

[0092] 60 opening

[0093] 62 eccentrically extending end

[0094] 64 base

[0095] 66 base line

[0096] 68 first portion

[0097] 70 second portion

[0098] 72 opening

[0099] 74 transverse channel portion

[0100] 76 side wall

[0101] 78 parallel channel portion

[0102] 80 opening

[0103] 82 circular groove

[0104] 84 inclined surface

[0105] 86 cylindrical surface

[0106] 88 rim

Claims

1. A rotary valve (10), comprising: a stator member (36) having a planar stator face, the stator member (36) having a plurality of stator channels (46, 48) for conducting a fluid; a rotor member (24) having a planar rotor face (52) facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member (24) having a rotor channel (50); wherein the rotor member (24) is rotatable relative to the stator member (36) about an axis of rotation (A) such that in a conducting position the rotor channel (50) interconnects two of the stator channels (46, 48) and the two stator channels (46, 48) are in fluid communication; wherein at least one of the stator channels (48) has a lateral channel portion (74) opening into and extending transversely relative to the stator face (54); wherein the rotor channel (50) has a bottom (64) inclined relative to the rotor face (52) at an intersection end (62) of the rotor channel (50) such that the rotor channel (50) elongates an inner surface of the stator channel (48) when the rotor member (24) is in the conducting position; wherein the rotor channel (50) is a groove in the rotor face (52) and the rotor channel is open towards the rotor face throughout its extension; wherein the bottom (64) of the rotor channel (50) is inclined relative to the rotor face (52) at the intersection end (62) at the same angle as the stator channel (48) such that a cylindrical shape of the lateral channel portion (74) of the stator channel (48) is elongated flush with the rotor channel (50), wherein the lateral channel portion (74) has an opening (60) in the stator face (54) having a side wall (76) extending parallel to the axis of rotation (A) at a side of the angle between the lateral channel portion (74) and the stator face being acute.

2. The rotary valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein, the rotor channel (50) has a U-shaped cross-section.

3. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein a bottom line (66) of the rotor channel (50) is inclined relative to the rotor face (52) at the intersection end (62).

4. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein the bottom (64) of the rotor channel (50) is aligned orthogonal to the axis of rotation (A) at a second intersection end (58) opening into another stator channel (46).

5. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein the rotor channel (50) extends radially relative to the axis of rotation (A); or wherein the rotor channel (50) extends tangentially relative to a circle around the axis of rotation (A).

6. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein a centerline of the lateral passage portion (74) intersects the rotational axis (A).

7. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein, the stator member (36) includes parallel stator passages (46) extending parallel to the rotational axis (A) of the rotor member (24).

8. The rotary valve (10) according to claim 7, wherein the parallel stator passages (46) have a first portion (68) opening into the rotor passages (50) and a second portion (70) open toward a connection port (44) of the rotary valve (10); wherein the second portion (70) has a smaller diameter than the first portion (68).

9. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein, the stator member (36) includes a circular groove (82) around the stator face (54); wherein the circular groove (82) has an inclined surface (84) inclined relative to the rotational axis (A).

10. The rotary valve (10) according to claim 9, wherein the inclined surface (84) is inclined relative to the rotational axis (A) at the same angle as the lateral passage portion (74).

11. The rotary valve (10) according to claim 9, wherein, a bearing (26) around the rotor member (24) protrudes into the circular groove (82).

12. The rotary valve (10) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein the stator passages (48) having the lateral passage portion (74) have a parallel passage portion (78) open toward a connection port (44) of the rotary valve (10); wherein the parallel passage portion (78) extends parallel to the rotational axis (A).

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