Valve provided with valve bodies made of a ceramic compound

A valve for regulating the flow of a fluid through an outlet passage, the valve comprising:

• a fixed valve body having a contacting face with a first opening and a second opening spaced therefrom, said fixed valve body having a first means for conducting fluid from a first inlet source through at least a portion of said fixed valve body and out said first opening and second means for conducting fluid from a second inlet source through at least a portion of said fixed valve body and out said second opening;
• a movable valve body disposed between said fixed valve body and the outlet passage, said movable valve body having a cooperating face with an opening means for providing fluid communication with at least one of said first and second contacting face openings, said cooperating face being positioned against, and movable along, said contacting face, said removable valve body having means for providing fluid communication between said cooperating face opening means and the outlet passage, wherein at least one of said contacting face and said cooperating face is formed of a porous sintered ceramic body having a three-dimensional network of open pores impregnated with a lubricant, said impregnated ceramic body presenting a sliding contact surface formed of ceramic and said lubricant within pores in said ceramic to provide smooth sliding contact between said cooperating face and said contacting face, wherein the smooth sliding contact friction remains stable during repeated movement of said cooperation face;
• and
• means for moving said cooperation face opening means against at least one of said first and second contact face openings to provide fluid communication therebetween.