US2274787A - Diverter valve - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1942. c. GROEN DIVERTER VALVE Filed Dec. 11,*'1940 s c v Patented Mar. 3, 1942 DIVERTER VALVE Christopher Groen, Gals Park, Ell., assignor to A. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co., Dubuque, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application December ll, 1940, Serial No.'369,523

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a diverter valve of a semi-automatic type for use/with a combined tub and shower bath. It has particular reference to a valve having hot and cold water connections, the hot `and cold water being mixed when both supply pip-es are open, and in which the normal ow of water is to the tub. After the desired temperature of the water is obtained by the adjustment of the valves, theflow of water can be shifted to the shower by the manual manipulation of an inner valve by the user. When the valves controlling the flow of Water are closed, the inner valve automatically returns to its original position, so that when the water-controlling valves are subsequently opened the flow will be to the tub without any attention or manipulation on the part ofthe user.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a diverter valve in which the ow of water from the tub to the shower can be easily and quickly accomplished by the used by a push exerted upon a stem, thus moving a springcontrolled valve in the main valve into such position that the flow of water to the tub is shut ofi' and the water diverted to the shower.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a diverter valve which is substantially incapable of use in such manner that hot water will initially be directed into the shower, thus l avoiding the flow of waterto the shower in an accidental mann-er and eliminating danger of accident or injury to the user by hot water flowing from the shower nozzle.

Another and further object is the provision of a diverter valve in which water Iwhich may accidentally leak into the outlet pipe leading from the valve to the shower, is directed into the tub, thereby avoiding pounding or knocking of the valve controlling the flow of water therethrough, and also avoiding any possible build-up of water in the pipes leading to the shower head which might cause injury to the user. For instance, hot water leaking past the supply valve and into the shower head might be forced therefrom when the user manipulat the valve to operate the shower, so that the first water therefrom might be scalding hot. Because of the particular construction of the valve, this water is allowed to flow into the tub so that injury or accident is thus avoided.

These and other objects will be better and l'fnore fully understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of my irn- 7 proved valve and connections, showing its installation for use in a bath tub; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the valve and its various connecting parts to which the water supply pipes are connected.

Referring specically to the drawing and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a valve body Ill is shown having the usual integral projecting portions I2, I3 and It, to which water supply pipes I5 and I 6 are connected in the usual manner, one of these pipes leading to a source of hot water 'and the other to a source of cold water. A short nipple l1 is provided which is connected to the valve body l0 at one of its ends, and to which an elbow I8 is secured at its lower end. Another nipple I9 is connected to the elbow I8 and to the base member 20 of an over-rim tub spout 2|, with the nippl-e I9 extending through an opening-in the usual bathroom wall 22. A longer pipe section 23 is connected to the extension I2 on the valve body wand extends upward therefrom, with an elbow 2t at the upper end which in turn is connected to a shower tube 25 extending through an opening in the wall 22. A shower head 26 of the usual form is provided on the end of the tube 25 and is adapted to extend over the usual the valve body I0 and extend parallel with theA longitudinal axis of the valve 3|. The valve 3| has a longitudinal recess 33 therein within which a springI 34 is mounted, the spring 34 being seated at one of its ends in a recess 35 formed in the outer wall of the valve member I0, and extends through a port 36 formed in an inner wall 3l of thevalve body I0. A seat is formed on the wall 31 around the port 36 against which the valve 3| seats when it is in the shower-operating position. l

A stem 38 having a push button 39 on the outer end thereof is mounted ina casing 40, which abuts against the wall 22. A gland member 4| is tted into the outer end of the center piece 2l. A washer 42 is mounted on the inner end of the stem 38, with a web 43 being provided across the inner end of the center piece 21. A spring 44 is mounted on the stem 38 between the web 43 and washer 42 so that the stem is normally held in the outer position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The inner end of the stem 38 is adapted to engage against an abutment 45 formed on valve member 3|, so that an inward push on the stem 38 pushes the Valve 3| rearward against the seat in a vertical wall 31. A rubber washer B6 is fitted around the stem 38 between the inner end of the gland dl and the washer 42, so that water is prevented from iiowing outward around the stem 38. The inner end of the center piece 21 has ports 41, 41 formed therein through which the water iiows on its way to the shower head, with a port 49 being provided leading to a drain plug 50 secured tothe inner portion of the valve body Ill having an outlet opening 5I therein through which the water is discharged into the nipple I1.

In operation, the device is exceedingly simple and semi-automatic in that the attention of the operator is necessary only when the water is diverted from the tub into the shower. The normal position of the valve 3l is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, in which position the water supplied to the tub enters the valve body I from the supply pipes I and I6, passes into the ch'amber 32; out through the port 36 into a chamber in the valve body which leads to the nipple I1, and into the tub through the over-rim spout 2|. When the user wishes to operate the shower, he first regulates the ow of water to the proper temperature desired, and then pushes the stem 38 inward by pressure on the button 39. This moves the valve 3| rearward lso the port 36 is closed and the port 30 is opened, so that the water ows therethrough' into the center piece 21, out through the ports 41 in one end of the center piece, and into the chamber in the valve body communicating with the pipe 23 which conveys the water to theshower head. Th'e pressure of the water overcomes the force of the spring 34 as long as the water under pressure ilows through the port 30, and holds the valve 3| against the rear wall of the chamber 32 so that the flow of water to the tub is prevented as long as the water is flowing through the valve body, thereby insuring continuous operation of the shower. Upon the valve 3| being shifted to shower position, the user removes the pressure upon thestem 38 which is immediately returned to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and out of engagement with the valve 3|. A small leakage will occur from the chamber, through the ports 49 and through the bore 5| in the plug 50. This dow is so small, however, as to be immaterial in the proper functioning of the apparatus.

When the operator has nished with the shower, he closes the valves in the pipes I5 and I6 in a normal manner thus shutting oi the ow of 'water to the chamber 32. As soon as the presintentional act upon the part of the user.

OneAof the main differences in construction and operation of my improved valve over other types now in useis that the manually-controlled push rod 38 is controlled by the user and water pressure.

by the return spring 44, so that immediately after the shifting of the valve 3| to the shower position by force exerted upon th'e push rod 38, the push rod 38 is immediately returned to its most outward position as shown in Figure 1, by the spring 44. 'I'he valve 3l is then independent of the push rod or other manual control means and is responsive only to and controlled by the Upon closing of the water control valves in pipes I5 and I6, the control spring 34 has only to overcome the friction between the valve 3| and chamber housing I0 in order th'at the valve 3| be returned to the tub position as shown in Figure 1. In other words, the valve spring 34 does not have to overcome the packing friction around the push rod 38, as is common in other constructions now in use. The spring 34 may be made of such strength that it is responsive to varying water pressures so that if during the operation of the shower either the cold or hot water now is stopped or reduced in volume, the water flow to the shower would automatically be diverted to the tub, thus avoiding either shock will be no build-upof pressure in eith'er the' chamber or valves or the connecting pipes leading to the shower head. Pounding or chattering of the valve is thus prevented due to the inability of the water to form in these spaces to cause back pressure, and the projection from the shower head of cold water which may collect in the pipe after use of the shower is discontinued, is also eliminated. It further aords means for draining water from the chamber and pipe after the water to the shower head is shut off, so that a column of water ofttimes standing in the vertical shower pipes ls allowed to drain away, eliminating an initial projection of cold water onto the user when the shower is initially used.

While I have desoribedzrnore or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. A diverter valve comprising, in combination, a valve body having a plurality of ywater inlets and a plurality of water outlets, one adapted for connection to a shower head and another adapted for connection to a tub spout, and having a central chamber with ports communicating with each of said outlets, a valve in said chamber operable to alternately open and close the said ports, spring means normally holding the said valve in closed position with respect to one of said ports, a push rod disconnected from said valve adapted to `engage the said valve whereby the valve is moved away from the normally closed port and into engagement with the normally openport, `the valve having an area exposed to water pressure whereby it is held in said position by the .ow of water through the valve body, and a drain plug extending into the opening of the valve body leading to the tub and in aspirating relationship to the ilow of water through said opening, the valve body having a drain opening therein leading from the chamber in said valve communicating the shower outlet with said drain plus. v

2. A diverter valve comprising in combination, a valve body having a plurality of water inlets and a plurality of water outlets and having a central chamber with ports communicating with the said outlets. a valve in said chamber operable to alternately open and close the said outlet ports, a spring in the valve body engaging the valve and normally adapted to hold the valve in closed position with respect to one of said outlet ports, a push rod disconnected from said valve and manually operable whereby the said valve is displaced to open one of said outlet ports and to close the other, and means whereby the said push rod is automatically restored to its normal posi# tion when pressure thereonl is released, the valve when displaced from its normal position having an area exposed to water pressure whereby it is held in displacedposition by the flow of water through the valve body.

3. A diverter valve comprising in combination, a valve body having a plurality of water inlets and a plurality of water outlets and having a central chamber with ports communicating with the said outlets, a valve in said chamber operable to alternately open and close the said outlet ports, a spring in the valve body engaging the valve and normally adapted to hold the valve in closed position with respect to one -oi said outlet ports, a push rod disconnected from said valve and manually operable wherebyvthe said valve is displaced to open one of said outlet ports and to close the other, and a spring normally. exerting pressure on said push rod tending to force the Y push rod away from said valvel the valve when displaced from its normal position having an areav l exposed to water pressure whereby it is held in displaced position by the flow of water through the valve body.

4. vA diverter valve comprising' in combination,

a valve body having a plurality ot water inlets and a plurality of water outlets and having a central chamber with ports communicating with the said outlets, a valve in said chamber operable to alternately open and close the said outlet ports, a spring in the valve body engaging the 4valve and normally adapted to hold the valve in closed position with respect to one of said outlet ports, a push rod disconnected from said valve and manually operable whereby the said valve is displaced to open one of said outlet ports and toclose the other, and a spring mountedon said pu'sh rod whereby the said push rod is returned to its normal position when force exerted thereon CHRISTOPHER GROEN;

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