Diverter Valve

A diverter valve for controlling input of two different extruded materials to a mold for molding one of said materials covering the other of said materials, comprising:

• a valve body having an axially extending opening therethrough;
• a valve piston selectively axially movable in said body opening between a first position and a second position;
• wherein:
• said valve body defines
• a first inlet in one side adapted to received a first extruded material, and a second inlet in said one side adapted to receive a second extruded material, said first and second inlets being axially spaced a distance X,
• a first outlet in the side opposite of said one side, and a second outlet in the opposite side, said first and second outlets being axially spaced the distance X, and axially aligned with said first and second inlets, respectively,
• a first flushing channel communicating with said first inlet and including a first pair of ports at opposite ends open to said axial opening,
• a second flushing channel communicating with said second inlet and including a second pair of ports at opposite ends opening to said axial opening, and
• a third flushing channel communicating with said second outlet and including
• a third pair of ports at opposite ends opening to said axial opening, and
• first and second intermediate ports opening to said axial opening,
• wherein said third pair of ports and first and second intermediate ports are axially aligned with said first and second outlets;
• and
• said piston defines
• first and second through channels extending between said one side and said opposite side, said through channels being spaced apart axially by the distance X,
• a first cross-over channel having an inlet side port and an outlet side port, said inlet side port being axially spaced from the outlet side port by the distance X, and
• a second cross-over channel having an inlet side port and an outlet side port, said second cross-over channel inlet side port being axially aligned with said first cross-over channel outlet side port and said second cross-over channel outlet side port being axially aligned with said first cross-over channel inlet side port;
• whereby
• in said first position,
• said first through channel connects said first inlet with said first outlet and said second through channel connects said second inlet with said second outlet,
• said first cross-over channel connects one of said second pair of ports with one of said third pair of ports, and said second cross-over channel connects the other of said second pair of ports with said first intermediate port, and
• said first pair of ports, the other of said third pair of ports, and the second intermediate port are blocked by said piston,
• in said second position,
• said first through channel connects one of said first pair of ports with one of said third pair of ports, and said second through channel connects the other of said first pair of ports with the second intermediate port,
• said first cross-over channel connects said first inlet with said second outlet, and said second cross-over channel connects said second inlet with said first outlet,
• said other of the third pair of ports and the first intermediate port are blocked by said piston, and
• said second pair of ports, said one of said third pair of ports, and the first intermediate port are blocked by said piston.