Airmax 4-Way Hand Lever Disc Rotary Valve

A disc rotary valve is a manual direction control valve in which a rotating disc, rather than a sliding spool, connects the ports. Moving the hand lever turns the disc across a lapped face and switches the connections; a ball-and-spring detent holds each position, so the valve stays where the operator leaves it and does not need to be held.

This is the 4-way 3-position version. The two working ports are cross-connected one way at one end of the lever travel and the other way at the opposite end, extending and retracting a double-acting cylinder; the centre position gives the third state. Airmax lists it in PHN and PRN detent patterns, which differ in what the centre position does, so the centre condition needed by the circuit - and whether the cylinder should be held, vented or driven at centre - has to be stated when ordering.

The body and cover are aluminium pressure die cast with a powder coating, the disc is aluminium, the piston is rubber moulded onto an aluminium carrier, the springs and detent ball are stainless steel and the seals are NBR. The handle knob is nylon on a plated steel stud. Four Ø4 mm through holes take the valve onto a panel or bracket, and the whole valve is 130 mm long over the lever and 115 mm high.

Two sizes are made: 1/4" BSP with a 7 mm orifice passing 1100 NLPM at 5 bar, and 1/2" BSP with a 10 mm orifice passing 2100 NLPM. Both are rated to 10 kg/cm² and 80 °C on filtered, lubricated compressed air. Specify size, the detent pattern, and the centre condition.