Multi-function sprayhead

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757740-B2
Application number	US-201414547913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A fluid control valve including a body, a first diverter, and a second diverter. The body includes an inlet that receives a supply of fluid, and first, second and third chambers. The first diverter is movable between first and second positions. When the first diverter is in the second position, the first chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the second chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet. When the first diverter is in the first position, the second chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet. The second diverter is movable between first and second positions. When the second diverter is in the second position, the third chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber. When the second diverter is in the first position, the third chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid control valve, comprising:
a body comprising:
an inlet configured to receive a supply of fluid;
a first chamber;
a second chamber; and
a third chamber;

a first diverter movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first diverter is in the second position the first chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the second chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet, wherein when the first diverter is in the first position the second chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet:
a second diverter movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position, wherein when the second diverter is in the second position the third chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber, and wherein when the second diverter is in the first position the third chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber:
a first outlet fluidly connected to the first chamber;
a second outlet; and
a third outlet fluidly connected to the third chamber;
wherein when the second diverter is in the first position, the second outlet is fluidly connected to the second chamber,
and wherein when the second diverter is in the second position, the second outlet is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber.

2. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second diverter is disposed in a portion of the third chamber that extends in a longitudinal direction through the body, such that the second diverter moves in the longitudinal direction between the first and second positions.

3. The fluid control valve of claim 2 , wherein the first chamber of the body includes a first portion that receives at least a portion of the first diverter and a second portion that is fluidly connected to the first outlet, wherein the first portion of the first chamber extends in a radial direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction such that the first diverter moves in the radial direction between the first and second positions, and wherein the second portion of the first chamber extends at an angle relative to the first portion.

4. The fluid control valve of claim 3 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the first diverter from the second position toward the first position.

5. The fluid control valve of claim 4 , wherein the first diverter has a first end configured to couple to a first actuator and a second end having a bore that receives a post of the body, and wherein the biasing member is disposed in the bore between the post and the second end of the first diverter.

6. The fluid control valve of claim 5 , further comprising a sealing member disposed in a channel of a shoulder on the second end of the first diverter, wherein when the first diverter is in the second position the second chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet by the sealing member and first diverter, and wherein when the first diverter is in the first position the first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet by the sealing member and the first diverter.

7. The fluid control valve of claim 2 , wherein the second diverter includes a first end and a second opposing end configured to couple to a second actuator configured to move the second diverter between the first and second positions.

8. The fluid control valve of claim 7 , further comprising a sealing member disposed in a channel of a shoulder on the first end of the second diverter, wherein when the second diverter is in the second position the second outlet is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber by the sealing member and the second diverter, and wherein when the second diverter is in the first position the third chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber by the sealing member and the second diverter.

9. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the first diverter extends in and moves in a first direction relative to the body, the second diverter extends in and moves in a second direction relative to the body, and the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

10. The fluid control valve of claim 9 , wherein the second direction corresponds to a longitudinal direction extending between the inlet and the second outlet, and wherein at least a portion of the second diverter is disposed in a portion of the third chamber that extends in the longitudinal direction through the body, such that the second diverter moves in the longitudinal direction between the first and second positions.

11. A fluid control valve, comprising:
a body comprising:
an inlet configured to receive a supply of fluid;
a first chamber;
a second chamber; and
a third chamber;

a first diverter movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first diverter is in the second position the first chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the second chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet, wherein when the first diverter is in the first position the second chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet;
a second diverter movable relative to the body between a first position and a second position, wherein when the second diverter is in the second position the third chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber, and wherein when the second diverter is in the first position the third chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber;
wherein the first diverter extends in and moves in a first direction relative to the body, the second diverter extends in and moves in a second direction relative to the body, and the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

12. The fluid control valve of claim 11 , wherein the second direction corresponds to a longitudinal direction, and the first direction corresponds to a radial direction from the longitudinal direction.

13. The fluid control valve of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises:
a first portion defining the inlet, a connector for coupling the valve to a member, the first chamber, and the second chamber; and
a second portion defining the third chamber with the first portion.

14. The fluid control valve of claim 13 , wherein the member is a supply hose for supplying water to the fluid control valve, and the first and second portions of the body are formed separately then coupled together.

15. The fluid control valve of claim 13 , wherein the second portion comprises:
a circular shaped inlet;
a first elliptical section that is provided around the inlet and extends from a base away from the inlet;
a second elliptical section provided around and extending from the first elliptical section away from the inlet; and
a first circular section provided around and extending from the second elliptical section away from the inlet.

16. The fluid control valve of claim 15 , wherein the first elliptical section has a major axis that extends in a radial direction and a minor axis that extends in a second direction that is transverse to the radial direction, the first elliptical section defines the second chamber together with the base and the first portion.

17. The fluid control valve of claim 16 , wherein the second elliptical section has a major axis that extends in the second direction and a minor axis that extends in the radial direction, and the second elliptical section defines the second portion of the first chamber either alone or in combination with the first elliptical section.

18. The

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Erickson Perry D
• Radder Steven Thomas

Classifications

• E03C2201/30

  Diverter valves in faucets or taps · CPC title

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title

• E03C1/0405

  enabling multiple spray patterns · CPC title

• B05B1/3013

  Lift valves (B05B1/3033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B1/18 Primary

  Roses; Shower heads · CPC title