Valve-actuating device and method of switching over a valve arrangement

A valve-actuating device (1) comprising an operating element (2) and a valve arrangement (41), which is actuatable by the operating element (2), the valve arrangement (41) includes a first valve (3) which in a first valve closed position separates a first inflow (16) from a first outflow (19) and, in a first valve open position, connects the first inflow (16) to the first outflow (19), and a second valve (38) which in a second valve closed position separates a second inflow (42) from a second outflow (39) and, in a second valve open position, connects the second inflow (39) to the second outflow (39), a switchover device (43), which is actuatable by the operating element (2), is designed to transfer in opposite directions the first valve (3) from the first valve closed position into the first valve open position and the second valve (38) from the second valve open position into the second valve closed position, and vice versa, at least the first valve (3) includes a first pressure chamber (14), which is connected to the first inflow (16) via a first filling opening (15) and is connectable to the first outflow (19) via a first outflow opening (18), the first pressure chamber (14) acts on a first valve element (20) of the first valve (3), said first valve element separating the first outflow (19) from the first inflow (16), the first outflow opening (18) is openable and closeable by a first closure element (21) which is in operative connection with the operating element (2), and the operating element (2) is connected to a bi-stable adjustment mechanism (31) formed as a push/push locking mechanism or a cardioid mechanism such that a changeover between the first valve (3) from the first valve closed position into the first valve open position and the second valve (38) from the second valve open position into the second valve closed position, and vice versa, is achievable by pressure being applied to the operating element along a longitudinal axis of the valve-actuating device.

A method of switching over a valve arrangement (41), wherein the valve arrangement (41) has a first valve (3), with a first pressure chamber (14), and a second valve (38), wherein the first pressure chamber (14) is connected to a first inflow (16) of the first valve (3) via a first filling opening (15) and is connectable to a first outflow (19) of the first valve (3) via a first outflow opening (18), the method comprising in the first instance closing the first outflow opening (18) of the first valve (3), and therefore a pressure built up in the first pressure chamber (14) closes the first valve (3), and the second valve (38) is open, and wherein, upon closure of the second valve (38), the first outflow opening (18) of the first valve (3) is opened, and therefore the pressure built up in the first pressure chamber (14) decreases, releasing the first valve (3), the second valve (38) has a second pressure chamber (40), which is connected to a second inflow (42) of the second valve (38) via a second filling opening (15) and is connectable to a second outflow (39) of the second valve (38) via a second outflow opening (18), the method further comprising, upon closure of the second valve (38), closing the second outflow opening (18) of the second valve (38) at about the same time as the first outflow opening (18) of the first valve (3) is opened, and therefore a pressure which builds up in the second pressure chamber (40) closes the second valve (38), and a control element (4) is guided in a movable manner through the valve element (20) of the first valve (3) or of the second valve (38).