Three-way valve, particularly of the type with a modulating function

A three-way valve, particularly of the type with a modulating function, comprising a valve body having a substantially cruciform configuration so as to form:

• a first inlet, which is oriented substantially along a first axis that passes through said valve body and is adapted to be connected to a first delivery pipe of a first fluid;
• a second inlet, which is oriented substantially along a second axis that passes through said valve body substantially at right angles to said first axis and is adapted to be connected to a second delivery pipe of a second fluid;
• an outlet, which is oriented along said first axis in a manner that is opposite with respect to said first inlet;
• and
• a receptacle, which is formed and extended along said second axis in a manner that is opposite with respect to said second inlet;
• means for controlling and/or blocking flows of said fluids being furthermore comprised and being accommodated internally and substantially centrally to said valve body, and means for activating said flow control and/or blocking means being furthermore comprised and being accommodated in said receptacle;
• wherein said control and/or blocking means are configured to be switched by virtue of said activation means between a first configuration, in which said first inlet and said outlet are completely free and in which said second inlet is completely blocked, and a second configuration, in which said second inlet and said outlet are completely free and in which said first inlet is completely blocked, passing through a plurality of intermediate configurations in which said inlets are partially blocked while said outlet remains completely free, wherein said first flow control element comprises a hollow sphere which is accommodated rotatably and centrally in said valve body at an intersection of said axes;
• said hollow sphere being directly associated with said activation means for rotation thereof about said second axis and having three openings formed on planes which are parallel to said second axis, two of which are mutually opposite and a third of which is perpendicular to said mutually opposite openings, so as to put said first inlet in communication with said outlet in said first configuration and so as to completely block said first inlet, leaving an interior of said hollow sphere in communication with said outlet in said second configuration as a result of a rotation thereof substantially through 90° about said second axis with respect to said first configuration;
• said hollow sphere having a fourth opening formed on an opposite side with respect to said activation means at right angles to said second axis in a direction of said second inlet, wherein said second flow control element comprises:
• a first perforated disk, which is arranged transversely with respect to said second inlet at right angles to said second axis and is integral in rotation with said hollow sphere, and
• a second perforated disk, which is adjacent to said first perforated disk, is arranged transversely with respect to said second inlet at right angles to said second axis and is integral with said valve body;
• each one of said perforated disks having passage openings and solid portions which are mutually complementary;
• said first perforated disk being movable with respect to said second perforated disk from a position that corresponds to said first configuration, in which said passage openings of said second perforated disk are blocked by said solid portions of said first perforated disk, to another position that corresponds to said second configuration, wherein said passage openings of said perforated disks are aligned with each other for the passage of said second fluid through said second flow control element;
• said first perforated disk having a hollow tang for connection to said hollow sphere and communicating with said passage openings so as to allow the flow of said second fluid that arrives from said second inlet within said hollow sphere as a result of the alignment of said passage openings of said perforated disks, in said second configuration, or as a result of the partial alignment of said passage openings of said perforated disks, in one of said intermediate configurations.