Quick-acting valve with rocker-type operating button

Claim 1

Quick-acting two-position valve having a rocker-type snapaction operating button whose one position determines the open condition and whose other position determines the closed condition of the valve, comprising a valve housing (10); a valve seat (46) in the housing; a valve body (16) movable in the housing; a guide pin (14) guiding movement of the valve body (16) in the housing between positions where the valve body is lifted off the valve seat and where the valve body contacts the valve seat; a cam (38) formed with an overcenter position secured to the operating button, the operating button being secured to the valve housing for rocking motion, with the cam facing in the direction of the valve body (16); a motion transfer means interconnecting the cam (38) of the operating button and said valve body including a disk-shaped element (18) acting on the valve body (16), a ball (24) in engagement with the cam, and a cylindrical thrust transfer element (26) in engagement with the ball; and at least one cup spring (20) bearing on the disk-shaped element (18) with one side thereof, surrounding the guide pin, and located to be interposed between the cylindrical thrust transfer element to provide for transfer of motion from the cam, upon rocking of the operating button, to the valve body and permitting travel of the cam past the overcenter position and snap-action of the operating button, the operating button being formed with a window (48); and a position indicator (40) stationary in the housing, is located in the housing to be visible through the window.