Anti-siphon and anti-knock diverter valve

Abstract

A diverter valve 10 has a two piece housing 22 including a lower member 24 and an upper member 26 securely snap fitted together within a cavity 12 of a faucet body 14. The housing 22 has a piston valve assembly 28 slidably mounted therein for movement between a first position which allows water to flow through a spout and a second position which allows water to flow to a spray head. The diverter valve has prongs 72 which resiliently bias the spool assembly 28 to the first position to reduce chattering of the valve assembly and to provide a back-up anti-siphon system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to valve assemblies and more particularly to a diverter valve that incorporates an anti-siphon mechanism and an anti-knock mechanism.

DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

A diverter valve is commonly used in a faucet assembly to divert water to either the spout or hand spray. In kitchen 84 62. Tapered section 80 abuts lower flanges 74 of prongs 72.

The lip valve member 32 has a tubular inner section 86 which is seated between the flange section 82 and head section 84 of spool 76. The lip valve member 32 has an outer flexible lip 88 slidably engaging the inner wall 90 of the lower member 24. The tubular section 86 has a an annular shoulder 89 that acts as a stop for lip 88 when it flexes inward.

The valve spool assembly 28 creates defines in part three separate chambers, ; chamber 91 above valve element 30 and in communication with outlet 18, chamber 93 below lip valve member 32 and in communication with outlet 19, and chamber 95 between valve element 30 and lip valve member 32 and in communication with inlets 16 and 17.

Assemblage Assembly of the diverter valve 10 is a simple five step process. Firstly, the brass fitting 40 is pressed fit into the end 38 of member 24. Secondly, the brass spool 76 is inserted through the tubular section 66 of upper member 26. The canted upper side 75 of the prongs 72 allows the prongs to flex away when they engage the semi-spherical head section 84 and the flange section 82 of brass spool 76. The lip valve member 32 is then assembled onto the spool 76. The upper member 26 is then snap fitted to the lower member 24 to form housing 22. The annular seal 52 is then positioned about the housing 22 and the housing 22 is placed within the cavity 12 and rotated by a screw driver such that the brass fitting 40 is threaded into the spray outlet 19. The thread connected between the fitting 40 and outlet 19 is leakless.

In operation, when the water is shut off, the valve head is in the upper position as shown in FIG. 1. When the faucet is first turned on and the spray (not shown) is shut off, water flows through the inlets 16, 17 and 34 creating a high pressure in chamber 95. Chambers 91 and 93 are initially at ambient pressures. Because the lip valve has a larger diameter than the valve element 30, the spool 76 initially moves downward. Water is able to be displaced in chamber 93 by the downward movement of spool 76 because of the flexibility of the tubing (not shown) connecting outlet 19 to the spray (not shown). The prongs 72 are constructed to be stiffer than lip 88 of lip valve 32 so that, simultaneous to the donward movement of spool assembly 28, water passes by lip 88 equalizing the pressure in chambers 95 and 93. The upward bias of prongs 72, the frictional engagement of prongs sections 74 on tapered section 80, and the relative flexibility of lips 88 compared to prongs 72 allow the chambers 95 and 93 to equalize before the valve element 30 of spool 76 becomes seated on seat 64 about aperture 62.

As the pressure differential between chambers 93 and 95 drops below a predetermined minimum, the prongs 72 bias the valve spool assembly 28 upwardly. As the lip valve member 32 moves upwardly, the pressure differential is again increased which again reverses the direction of motion and a second, downward movement of lesser magnitude occurs. The shuttling may normally occur two to six times before finally ceasing. However, the first and subsequent shuttles of the spool assembly 28 are normally restrained within limits that prevent the closing off of chamber 91 from chamber 95 which could cause a knock or severe vibration.

The valve spool assembly 28 attains the position shown in FIG. 1 after its shuttling is finally dampened. The prongs 72 have flat ends 73 abut flange 82 on spool 76 to define the upward limit of movement of valve spool assembly 28. Water flows from one or both inlets 16 and 17 through inlets 34 and out through aperture 62 which functions as an outlet for chamber 95 which allow fluid flow to outlet 18.

The lower the pressure differential between chambers 93 and 95, the more effective the prongs 72 are in preventing undesirable knocking. The prongs are effective to a pressure of about 50 psi, a pressure above most water supplies. Above 50 psi, the pressure differential acting on lip valve member 32 becomes excessive and overcomes the upward bias of the prongs 72 and damping effect of flanges 74 thereby causing the valve element 30 to hit against shoulder 64 resulting in a single knock. Even with water supply having excessive pressure, as pressure differential between chambers 93 and 95 becomes less, the prongs regain their effectiveness to prevent further repetitive knocks.

If the spray is turned on, water supplied from the inlets 16 and 17 creates a high pressure in chamber 95 while a low pressure is created in chamber 93 which allow the pressure from the water supply to press down on the lip valve member 32. The water supply should be at least 15 psi in order for the valve 10 to operate effectively. The lip valve member 32 functions as a piston and moves the spool assembly 28 downwardly until it retains the position shown in FIG. 6. The lip 88 deflects inwardly toward shoulder 89 and water is allowed to pass by the lip 88 into chamber 93 and through the outlet 19. The valve element 30 is seated on valve seat 64 closing off the aperture 62 leading to chambers 91 and outlet 18. The spout outlet 18 therefore receives no water when the spray is turned on.

When the spray valve (not shown) is closed, chambers 93 and 95 are momentarily equalized. The pressure acts upon the valve element 30 to force the spool 76 upwardly. As soon as the spool 76 moves upwardly, the chamber 93 becomes a low pressure area that wants to pull down on the valve spool assembly 28. The prongs 72 resist the downward movement of valve spool assembly 28 as described before for when water is initially turned on and allows water to pass by lip 88 before the valve element 30 bottoms against seat 64. After the shuttling ceases, the valve spool assembly 28 again attains the position shown in FIG. 1.

The prongs 72 are resiliently flexible such that when the water supply is shut off, the valve piston spool assembly 28 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 1. In addition, engagement of the flange 74 with the tapered section provides for a certain amount of friction which dampens the motion of the valve spool assembly 28. In this way, excessive shuttling of the valve spool assembly 28 is eliminated thereby preventing the valve element 30 from closing on shoulder 64 and eliminating repetitive hammer-like knocking.

In adddition, the diverter valve 10 has an anti-siphon feature. Firstly, the lip 88 acts as a check valve and allows water to flow only from the inlets 16 and 17 to the outlet 19. If the water supply attains a negative pressure and the spray head is accidentally left in an open position in a sink full of water, the lip 88 prevents siphoning of the sink water back to the water supply.

In addition, the prongs 72 provides a backup anti-siphon mechanism. If per chance the lip is faulty and allows water to leak in the upstream direction, the valve element 30 is biased to the open position by prongs 72 such that if there is any negative pressure in the water supply, air is aspirated through the outlet 18 and through the open aperture 62. The aspiration of air prevents water from flowing backward from outlet 19 and by the lip 88.

The prongs 72 provide three distinct advantages. Firstly, they prevent excessive shuttling of the valve member and the consequential repetitive knocking. Secondly, the prongs act as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the valve member and piston. Thirdly, the prongs provide a backup anti-siphon feature by opening the valve for allowing air to be aspirated if necessary.

In this fashion, a diverter valve assembly is easily and inexpensively manufactured while providing both an anti-chatter feature and an anti-siphon feature. In addition, the cartridge provides for easy installation in a faucet body.

Variations and modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from its spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet;

said housing comprising a first member and a second member snap-fitted to said first member;

said second member including said inlet and said second outlet;

said first member includes said first outlet;

a valve element mounted in said first section membermovable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said first outlet;

a piston means for moving said valve element and positioned in said second section member with said piston means being responsive to pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement to a first and second position such that when a lower pressure exists at said second outlet, said piston means moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

said housing positionable in a body defining a valve chamber having a first body outlet, a second body outlet; and a body inlet; said housing seated in said chamber; said valve chamber being open to said inlet or said outlets through said body and capable of being totally filled with fluid flowing from said inlet to both outlets; said second section member includes an end section fixedly engageable to said second body outlet; said end section has a longitudinal aperture therethrough defining said second outlet; and

sealing means associated with said housing for sealing said body inlet from said body outlets such that fluid flowing from said body inlet, through said chamber and to said body outlets flows through said housing.

2. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet;

said housing comprising a first member and a second member snap-fitted to said first member;

said second member including said inlet and said second outlet;

said first member includes said first outlet;

a valve element mounted in said first section member movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said first outlet;

a piston means for moving said valve element and positioned in said second section member with said piston means being responsive to pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement to a first and second position such that when a lower pressure exists at said second outlet, said piston means moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

said housing positionable in a body defining a valve chamber having a first body outlet, a second body outlet; and a body inlet; said housing seated in said chamber; said valve chamber being open to said inlet or said outlets through said body and capable of being totally filled with fluid flowing from said inlet to both outlets; said second section member includes an end section fixedly engageable to said second body outlet; said end section has a longitudinal aperture therethrough defining said second outlet;

sealing means associated with said housing for sealing said body inlet from said body outlets such that fluid flowing from said body inlet, through said chamber and to said body outlets flows through said housing;

said second member has an enlarged section with an internally facing circumferential groove;

a plurality of circumferential shoulders are positioned below said groove and are spaced apart to form gaps therebetween;

said first member has an outwardly extending rim sized to fit in said groove; and

a plurality of tabs extend below said rim and are sized to fit in said gaps to non-rotatably secure said first and second members together.

3. A diverter valve as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said second member includes a fitting pressed fitted at an end thereof; and

said fitting has a longitudinal aperture therethrough defining said second outlet with said fitting threadably engageable to said second body outlet.

4. A diverter valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said first member has an integral stop means for stopping movement in one direction of said piston means and said valve element when said piston means and valve element are in their respective first and open positions.

5. A diverter valve as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said second member has its end section including a pressed fitting; and

said fitting has a longitudinal aperture therethrough defining said second outlet with said fitting threadably engageable to said second body outlet.

6. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a hollow housing having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;

a valve element movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said first outlet;

a piston means for moving said valve element and positioned in said housing between said inlet and said second outlet with said piston means being responsive to a pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement between a first position and second position such that when a lower pressure is at said second outlet, said piston moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

passage means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element and said piston means to said respective open and first positions when the pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure at said inlet by a predetermined amount;

said resilient biasing means including axially extending and resiliently flexible prongs;

said prongs being mounted about said first outlet and having outer ends frictionally engaging a tapered surface of a spool connecting the valve element to the piston for biasing said spool and damping motion of said spool; and

said stop means including said prongs engaging a flange on said spool adjacent said tapered section of said spool.

7. A diverter valve assembly as defined in claim 6 further characterized by:

a stop means for limiting movement of said valve element when said piston means and valve elements in one direction are in said respective open and first positions.

8. A diverter valve assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said piston means includes a resiliently flexible check valve means for allowing fluid to flow from said inlet to said second outlet at a predetermined pressure differential between said inlet and said second outlet; and

said resiliently flexible prongs having a greater resilient rate than said resiliently flexible check valve such that, said pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet causes said resiliently flexible check valve to let fluid pass thereby to said second outlet.

9. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a hollow housing having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;

a valve element movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said first outlet;

a piston means for moving said valve element and positioned in said housing between said inlet and said second outlet with said piston means being responsive to a pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement between a first position and second position such that when a lower pressure is at said second outlet, said piston moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

passage means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element and said piston means to said respective open and first positions when the pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure at said inlet by a predetermined amount;

said resilient biasing means including axially extending and radially inwardly extending resiliently flexible prongs; and

said prongs being mounted about said first outlet and an outer end of said prongs frictionally engaging a tapered section of a spool connecting the valve element to the piston for biasing said spool and damping motion of said spool.

10. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a housing having an inlet and first and second outlets;

said housing comprising a first section and second section;

said first section including said first outlet circumscribed by a valve seat;

said second section including said inlet and said second outlet;

a valve element mounted in said first housing section movable between a seated closed position on said valve seat and an open position;

a piston means for moving said valve element and slidably mounted in said second section;

said piston means being responsive to a pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement between a first and second position such that when a lower pressure exists at said second outlet and said inlet, said piston means moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

said housing positionable in a body defining a valve chamber having a first body outlet and second body outlet and a body inlet;

said housing sealing said body inlet from said body outlets such that fluid flowing from said body inlet to said body outlets flows through said housing;

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element and said piston means to said respective open and first positions when a pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure in said inlet by a predetermined amount;

said resilient biasing means includes axially extending and resiliently flexible prongs;

said prongs mounted about said first outlet and having outer ends frictionally engaging a tapered section of a spool connecting the valve element to the piston means for biasing said spool and damping motion of said spool.

11. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a housing having an inlet and first and second outlets; said housing comprising a first section and second section;

said first section including said first outlet circumscribed by a valve seat;

said second section including said inlet and said second outlet;

a valve element mounted in said first housing section movable between a seated closed position on said valve seat and an open position;

a piston means for moving said valve element and slidably mounted in said second section;

said piston means being responsive to a pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet for movement between a first and second position such that when a lower pressure exists at said second outlet and said inlet, said piston means moves to said second position and moves said valve element to said closed position;

means for passing fluid from said inlet to said second outlet by said piston means;

said housing positionable in a body defining a valve chamber having a first body outlet and second body outlet and a body inlet;

said housing sealing said body inlet from said body outlets such that fluid flowing from said body inlet to said body outlets flows through said housing; and

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element and said piston means to said respective open and first positions when a pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure in said inlet by a predetermined amount;

a stop means for stopping movement in one direction of said valve element and said piston means when said valve and said piston means are in said respective open and first positions;

said resilient biasing means including axially extending and radially inwardly extending resiliently flexible prongs;

said prongs being mounted about said first outlet and having free ends engaging a tapered surface of a spool connecting the valve element to the piston; and

said stop means including said prongs engaging a flange adjacent said tapered section on said spool.

12. A diverter valve assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein:

said piston means includes a valve resiliently flexible check means for allowing fluid to flow from said inlet to said second outlet at a predetermined pressure differential between said inlet and said second outlet;

said resiliently flexible prongs having a greater resilient rate than said resiliently flexible check valve such that said pressure differential between said second outlet and said inlet causes said resiliently flexible check valve to let fluid pass thereby to said second outlet.

13. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a valve seat member positionable in a valve chamber within a body;

said valve chamber having a first body outlet, a second body outlet, and a body inlet;

a valve element movably mounted to one of an open or closed position with said valve seat member such that when in the open position, fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said first outlet and when in the closed position, fluid does not flow from said inlet to said first outlet;

a pressure responsive means for moving said valve element between said closed and open position with said pressure responsive means being responsive to a pressure differential between said inlet and said second outlet such that when a lower pressure is at said second outlet, said pressure responsive means moves said valve element to said closed position such that flow from said inlet is directed through said second outlet;

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element to said open position when the pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure at said inlet by a predetermined amount;

said resilient biasing means including axially extending and resiliently flexible prongs depending from said valve seat member and having a section frictionally engaging a tapered surface of a spool connected to said valve element for biasing said spool and for damping motion of said spool. 14. A diverter valve assembly as defined in claim 13 further characterized by:

said spool having a flange adjacent said tapered section for engaging said prongs and providing a stop for said spool to limit motion of the valve in one direction when said valve is in its open position. 15. A diverter valve as defined in claim 13 further characterized by:

said spool connecting said valve element to said pressure responsive means. 16. A diverter valve assembly characterized by:

a valve seat member positionable in a valve chamber within a body;

said valve chamber having a first body outlet, a second body outlet, and a body inlet;

a valve element movably mounted to one of an open or closed position with said valve seat member such that when in the open position, fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said first outlet and when in the closed position, fluid does not flow from said inlet to said first outlet;

a pressure responsive means for moving said valve element between said closed and open position with said pressure responsive means being responsive to a pressure differential between said inlet and said second outlet such that when a lower pressure is at said second outlet, said pressure responsive means moves said valve element to said closed position such that flow from said inlet is directed through said second outlet;

a resilient biasing means for biasing said valve element to said open position when the pressure at said second outlet is not lower than the pressure at said inlet by a predetermined amount;

said resilient biasing means being integrally formed with said valve seat member.