Diverter Valve
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorMichael A. Niver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A diverter valve is disclosed for use in a shower mixer valve or the like. It is constructed to reduce the force needed to be applied by the bather to actuate the diversion. There is a diverter stem that is moveable between a non-diverted and diverted position. The diverter stem includes an upstream portion and a reduced cross sectional waist portion downstream of the upstream portion. The reduced portion interacts with the diverted fluid to reduce the force required to move the diverter stem from the non-diverted to the diverted position.
Claims11
A diverter valve, comprising:
- a housing having an internal chamber;
- a supply port in fluid communication with the internal chamber and coupleable to a fluid supply;
- a first outlet;
- a second outlet;
- a stem moveable within the chamber between a first position at which the stem permits fluid communication between the supply port and the first outlet while inhibiting fluid communication between the supply port and the second outlet, and a second position at which the stem permits fluid communication between the supply port and the second outlet while inhibiting fluid communication between the supply port and the first outlet;
- and
- wherein the stem includes a downstream portion that has a reduced cross sectional area relative to an upstream portion of the stem, the stem being configured and positioned such that the reduced cross sectional area helps reduce the activation force needed to move the stem from the first position to the second position.
A diverter valve coupleable to a fluid supply to selectively direct a fluid between two outlets, comprising:
- a cylindrical chamber;
- a supply port in fluid communication with the chamber and coupleable to the fluid supply;
- a first outlet;
- a second outlet;
- and
- a generally cylindrical diverter stem moveable within the chamber between a non-diverted position at which the diverter stem inhibits fluid communication between the supply port and the second outlet, and a diverted position at which the diverter stem permits fluid communication between the supply port and the second outlet;
- wherein the diverter stem has an upstream portion, a downstream portion, and a reduced cross sectional waist between the upstream and downstream portions;
- wherein the reduced cross sectional area waist tapers radially inwardly from the upstream portion and flares radially outwardly towards the downstream portion;
- and
- wherein the diverter stem is configured and positioned such that the reduced cross sectional area helps reduce the activation force needed to move the stem from the first position to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.