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.

A diverter valve for controlling input of supplies of first and second extruded materials to a mold for molding one of said materials covering the other of said materials, the diverter valve comprising:

• a first inlet adapted to receive a first extruded material;
• a second inlet adapted to receive a second extruded material;
• a first outlet;
• a second outlet,
• the valve configured to change between:
• a) a first state wherein said first inlet is connected to said first outlet and said second inlet is connected to said second outlet, and
• b) a second state wherein said first inlet is connected to said second outlet and said second inlet is connected to said first outlet;
• wherein said diverter valve is configured so that
• when switching said diverter valve from said first state to said second state,
• said first inlet is connected to said second outlet before disconnecting from said first outlet, and
• said second inlet is connected to said first outlet before disconnecting from said second outlet;
• and
• when switching said diverter valve from said second state to said first state,
• said first inlet is connected to said first outlet before disconnecting from said second outlet, and
• said second inlet is connected to said second outlet before disconnecting from said first outlet.

A diverter valve for controlling input of first and second extruded materials to a mold for molding one of said materials covering the other of said materials comprising:

• a valve body having a first inlet adapted to receive a first extruded material, a second inlet adapted to receive a second extruded material, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
• a valve member selectively movable relative to said valve body between
• a first position connecting said first inlet to said first outlet and said second inlet to said second outlet, and
• a second position connecting said first inlet to said second outlet and said second inlet to said first outlet;
• wherein said valve body and valve member are configured so that
• when switching said diverter valve from said first state to said second state,
• said first inlet is connected to said second outlet before disconnecting from said first outlet, and
• said second inlet is connected to said first outlet before disconnecting from said second outlet;
• and
• when switching said diverter valve from said second state to said first state,
• said first inlet is connected to said first outlet before disconnecting from said second outlet, and
• said second inlet is connected to said second outlet before disconnecting from said first outlet.

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

• a valve body having an opening therein with a first inlet adapted to receive a first extruded material, a second inlet adapted to receive a second extruded material, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
• a valve piston selectively movable in said body opening between a first position and a second position, said valve piston defining
• a first channel connecting said first inlet to said first outlet when said valve position is in said first position, and
• a second channel connecting said second inlet to said first outlet when said valve position is in said second position;
• wherein:
• said second channel connects said second inlet to said second outlet when said valve piston is in said first position,
• said first channel connects said first inlet to said second outlet when said valve piston is in said second position, and
• said first and second channels at all valve piston positions connect at least one of said inlets to at least one of said outlets.

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

• a valve body having an opening therein with a first inlet adapted to receive a first extruded material, a second inlet adapted to receive a second extruded material, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
• a valve piston selectively movable in said body opening between a first position and a second position, said valve piston defining
• a first channel connecting said first inlet to said first outlet when said valve position is in said first position, and
• a second channel connecting said second inlet to said first outlet when said valve position is in said second position;
• and
• a plurality of flushing channels
• connecting said second inlet to said second outlet when said valve piston is in said first position, and
• connecting said first inlet to said second outlet when said valve piston is in said second position,
• wherein:
• said second channel is one of said flushing channels when said valve piston is in said first position, and
• said first channel is one of said flushing channels when said valve piston is in said second position.