US 5,989,425 AGranted

Multi-way valve and water purifier using the same

AssigneeToray Industries, Inc.

InventorsYasuo Yonezawa, Jyunji Itakura, Takashi Isobe, Sho Tamatsu

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Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-way valve comprising a valve casing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets, first and second chambers defined in the valve casing, a partition disposed between the first and second chambers and having a plurality of fluid paths, a plurality of valve elements each engaging a corresponding fluid path from the first chamber side for opening and closing the fluid path and a driving device having cams which selectively drive the valve elements from the second chamber side. The multi-way valve can be manufactured as a small-sized one, and therefore, a water purifier using the valve also can be assembled as a small-sized one as a whole. The amount of resident fluid in the valve can be decreased, thereby improving the hygienic property of the water purifier. The operation for taking off or exchanging valve elements can be simplified.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A water purifier comprising a multi-way valve for switching raw incoming water to at least one of a plurality of outflow destinations, and means for filtering said raw water through said multi-way valve,

said multi-way valve comprising:
a valve casing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets;
a first chamber and a second chamber defined in said valve casing, said first chamber communicating with said fluid inlet, said second chamber communicating with said plurality of fluid outlets, respectively;
a partition disposed between said first and second chambers and separating said first and second chambers, said partition having a plurality of fluid paths provided in correspondence with said plurality of fluid outlets and capable of connecting said first and second chambers to each other;
a plurality of valve elements located on one side of said partition, each of said valve elements being associated with a fluid path and each being capable of lifting and lowering from and to said partition for opening and closing each said corresponding fluid path;
and
a driving device (i) located on a side of said partition opposite said valve elements, (ii) having cams, and (iii) being constructed and arranged to selectively move said plurality of valve elements back and forth from open and closed positions;
said means for filtering comprising:
a container;
an inflow port;
at least one filter;
and
a discharge port,
wherein said inflow port is in communication with at least one of said fluid outlets of said multi-way valve.

11 more elements

said multi-way valve comprising:
a valve casing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets;
at least one spherical element disposed in said valve casing for opening and closing said fluid outlets;
a contact member constructed and arranged to be brought into contact with said spherical element, said contact member being movable to open and close said fluid outlets by displacing said spherical element;
a movable member in said purifier constructed and arranged for moving said contact member;
a pushing member arranged for driving said movable member by pushing of said pushing member;
and
a stopping mechanism arranged for temporarily stopping said movable member at a predetermined position;
said means for filtering comprising:
a container;
an inflow port;
at least one filter;
and
a discharge port,
wherein said inflow port is in fluid communication with at least one of said fluid outlets of said multi-way valve.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.