Diverter valve

Details Diverter valve Diverter valve

2000-06-08

2001-02-06

Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

Systems

With flow control means for branched passages

C137S872000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06182700

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a diverter valve. More particularly this invention concerns such a valve used to direct flow, for instance from a mixing valve, to either of two users, for instance a faucet and a shower.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is standard to provide a mixing valve used in a bathtub with a diverter valve so that the output of the mixing valve can be fed either to the faucet or to the shower. Such a valve is normally set up so that, if set to divert flow to the shower, once the pressure is relieved it resets to divert flow to the faucet.
The standard such valve assembly as described in German patent document 4,323,496 of W. Gnauert. it has a valve housing formed with a bore open at a surface and extending along an axis, an inlet passage opening into the bore, inner and outer outlet passages also opening into the bore, and an inner valve seat between the inlet passage and the inner outlet passage. The inlet passage is itself supplied with water from a mixing valve connected to hot- and cold-water lines. A sleeve fitted in the bore forms an outer valve seat between the inlet passage and the outer outlet passage. A valve body is displaceable in the bore between an inner position against the inner seat and blocking flow from the inlet passage to the inner outlet passage and an outer position against the outer seat and blocking flow from the inlet passage to the outer outlet passage. Normally a faucet is connected to one of the outlet passages and a shower to the other.
This structure is fairly bulky and unattractive. The complex diverter valve projects from the valve housing considerably. Furthermore mounting the diverter-valve parts on the main valve is fairly complex.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve assembly with a diverter valve.
Another object is the provision of such an improved valve assembly with a diverter valve which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is of extremely compact construction and that can be incorporated neatly and easily into a standard mixing valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A valve assembly has according to the invention a valve housing formed with a bore open at a surface and extending along an axis, an inlet passage opening into the bore, inner and outer outlet passages also opening into the bore, and an inner valve seat between the inlet passage and the inner outlet passage. A sleeve fitted in the bore forms an outer valve seat between the inlet passage and the outer outlet passage and a valve body is displaceable in the bore between an inner position against the inner seat and blocking flow from the inlet passage to the inner outlet passage and an outer position against the outer seat and blocking flow from the inlet passage to the outer outlet passage. According to the invention a retaining disk fitted in the bore between the outer surface and the sleeve retains the sleeve in the bore. A stem extending through the sleeve and through the disk has an inner end connected to the valve body and an outer end outside the valve housing. Seals are provided between the sleeve and the stem.
Thus with this system the diverter valve is wholly incorporated in the housing of the mixing valve. All that projects externally is the outer end of the actuating stem.
A simple radially extending screw threaded into the housing serves for fixing the sleeve in place. The sleeve, body, disk, stem, and seals form a subassembly that is thus mounted in the mixing valve by means of this single screw.
The sleeve according to the invention is formed with an axially outwardly open groove surrounding the stem and the disk has an inner face directed bearing axially inward toward the sleeve. The seals include a seal ring set in the groove and bearing axially outward on the inner disk face. This seal ring is compressible and has when not compressed a diameter greater than an axial depth of the groove. Thus it can compensate for a loose axial fit of the sleeve in the bore. The bore is formed with an axially outwardly directed shoulder and the sleeve has a radially outwardly projecting flange pressed by the disk against the shoulder.
The disk according to the invention is formed around the stem with a radially outwardly open groove and the stem has a large-diameter shaft fitting snugly but axially slidably in the groove and provided with a handle. The assembly further has according to the invention a spring in the groove, surrounding the stem, and braced axially between the disk and the shaft.
The sleeve is molded plastic and the disk is of stainless steel. Furthermore the disk has an outer face flush with the housing outer face and the outer faces are coated.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3974861 (1976-08-01), Goto et al.
patent: 4129150 (1978-12-01), Boisserand
patent: 4989640 (1991-02-01), Steffes et al.
patent: 5141016 (1992-08-01), Nowicki
patent: 5549136 (1996-08-01), Drocco et al.
patent: 6082624 (2000-07-01), Heinzelmann et al.
patent: 43 23 496 (1995-01-01), None

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