Multiway valve

Details Multiway valve Multiway valve

1990-12-21

1992-05-05

Rosenthal, Arnold

Fluid handling

Systems

Multi-way valve unit

137864, 137901, F16K 11056

Patent

active

051098873

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a multiway valve having a valve casing in which balls for opening and closing fluid passages are installed.
2. Background Art
One kind of conventional multiway valve comprises a valve casing and a substantialy cylindrical valve member. The valve casing has a substantially cylindrical water chamber, and is provided with an entrance port and plural exit ports for introducing and discharging fluid such as water. The valve member has a fluid passage that can connect the entrance port with one of exit ports. The fluid passage in the multiway valve can be switched between plural channels by rotating the valve member about its axis. In this conventional multiway valve using such a cylindrical valve member, a large area of this valve member makes sliding contact with the valve casing. Hence, a large force is needed to rotate the valve member.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiway valve having a handle which can be rotated lightly.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the multiway valve comprises a valve casing and a movable valve member. The casing is provided with an entrance port and plural exit ports for introducing and discharging fluid such as water. One of the exit ports is formed in one end surface of the valve casing, while the remaining ports are formed in the outer surface of the casing. Balls are installed in the casing so as to be able to close the exit ports in the outer surface. The rotatable valve member having a valve body and arms is inserted in the casing. When the valve member is rotated to any one of given angular positions, the arms push aside the corresponding one of the balls to open the corresponding exit port in the outer surface of the casing. The exit port in the end surface of the casing is surrounded by a seal with which the end surface of the valve member makes sliding contact.
In this first embodiment, when the valve member is rotated to any one of given angular positions, the arms move the corresponding one of the balls away from the corresponding exit port in the outer surface of the valve casing to open this exit port, thus permitting the fluid to flow out. When the valve member is rotated to another angular position, the valve member opens the exit port in the end surface of the casing.
In this way, the balls open and close the exit ports in the outer surface in the valve casing. It substantially follows that the valve member makes sliding contact with the seal surrounding the exit port in the end surface. This can greatly reduce the area of the portion of the valve member which makes contact with the seal.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a groove accommodating a lip seal is formed around the exit port in the end surface of the valve casing. The thickness of the seal is increased near the front end of the seal as viewed in the direction in which the seal is inserted.
In this embodiment, the seal is thickened around the front end of the seal as viewed in the direction of insertion and, therefore, the thickened portion firmly adheres to the inner surface of the groove. This prevents leakage of water and prevents the lip seal from coming off.
In a third embodiment of the invention, a groove receiving a lip seal is formed around the exit port in the end surface of the valve casing. Plates are interposed between the outer surface of the lip seal and the inner surface of the groove which receives the seal. The plates protrude from the end surface.
In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a groove receiving a lip seal is formed around the exit port in the end surface of the valve casing. The lip seal is received in the groove. The fringe of the groove can protrude from the end surface.
In the third or fourth embodiment, the plates or protrusions are formed in the multiway valve. The portion of the lip seal which protrudes from the end surface is supported by the plates or protrusions. When the movable valve member moves, deformation of the lip seal is suppressed g

REFERENCES:
patent: 2011601 (1935-08-01), Williams
patent: 2196503 (1940-04-01), McFee
patent: 3753448 (1973-08-01), Wright

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