Sometimes suction must be taken from one of many sources and discharged to another unit or units of either the same or another group. What is used for this type of operation?

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The essential idea is using a central hub that can route multiple input lines to multiple output lines, which is exactly what a valve manifold does. A valve manifold brings together several valves and their ports in one assembly, allowing you to select which suction source you want to use and which units should receive that flow. This setup makes it possible to take suction from any of several sources and discharge to one or more destinations without reconfiguring hoses or fittings each time. It also simplifies control, reduces leaks, and speeds up switching between different combinations of sources and destinations.

Other options don’t fit as well because they describe components that either redirect a single source to a single destination or regulate flow in a generic way, rather than providing a centralized, multi-port routing system that can simultaneously or selectively connect multiple sources to multiple destinations.