Valve structure

Claim 2

A valve comprising a cylindrical valve chamber, an inlet leading into said chamber, at least one outlet leading from said chamber and out of axial alignment with said inlet to provide a cylindrical chamber wall portion therebetween, at least one accordian-like resilient valve member disposed coaxially within said valve chamber, said valve member being hollow and comprising a first resilient tubular valve segment having a reduced outer end anchored against axial movement and diverging conically outwardly towards a central valve member portion and a second resilient tubular valve segment having a reduced outer end anchored to said valve operator and diverging conically outwardly toward said central valve member portion, said valve member being adapted on longitudinal contraction to fold and expand radially outwardly into engagement with said cylindrical chamber wall portion to effect a seal between said inlet and outlet and on longitudinal expansion to unfold and contract radially inwardly out of engagement with said cylindrical chamber wall portion to provide a flow passage therearound between said inlet and said outlet and means for operating said valve member.

Claim 3

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve chamber has a second cylindrical wall portion disposed on the opposite side of the axis of said inlet from said first mentioned cylindrical chamber wall portion and said second valve member comprises a second accordian-like valve member corresponding to said first mentioned accordian-like valve member adapted to be expanded radially outwardly into engagement with said second cylindrical chamber wall portion when said first valve member is contracted radially inwardly away from said first cylindrical chamber wall portion and vice versa.

Claim 4

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said central valve member portion is provided with a bead projection extending around the outer periphery thereof.

Claim 5

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said hollow valve member has an axially movable rigid plate mounted therewithin at said central portion and having a diameter substantially as great as the internal valve member diameter at said central portion.

Claim 6

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve operator comprises a slidable rod extending into the interior of said hollow valve member and isolated thereby from the interior of said chamber.

Claim 7

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve chamber is open at one end, a closure for said open chamber end, an inward projecting sleeve portion carried by said closure and disposed on the axis of said chamber, the reduced outer end of said first valve segment being anchored to and encompassing said sleeve portion to isolate the interior of said sleeve from the interior of said chamber, said sleeve providing communication from the exterior of said valve chamber to the interior of said valve member, and said valve operator comprises a rod freely slidable in said sleeve and extending through the interior of said valve member to its point of anchorage to the reduced outer end of said second valve segment.

Claim 8

A valve as claimed in claim 6 having overcenter spring mechanism acting on said slidable rod and arranged to aid rod movement to the valve open and valve closed positions.

Claim 9

A valve as claimed in claim 7 in which said overcenter spring mechanism is a spring actuated toggle mechanism.

Claim 10

A valve as claimed in claim 7 in which said spring mechanism comprises a pair of opposing arched spring wire frames having one side anchored to said valve chamber in diametrically opposed relation and the opposite sides seated in opposite sides of a groove in said rod, said frames passing through an over center position as said rod moves between valve open and valve closed positions.

Claim 11

A valve as claimed in claim 1 which said valve chamber is provided with a second outlet and disposed on the opposite side of the axis thereof from said first outlet and a second valve member is actuated by said valve operating means to open and close communication between said inlet and said second outlet when said first valve member is actuated to close and open communication between said inlet and said first outlet respectively.

Claim 12

A valve as claimed in claim 10 in which said valve chamber is provided with a coaxial reduced valve seat on the opposite side of the axis of said inlet from the axis of said first outlet and said second valve member comprises a resilient valve member adapted to be moved axially of said valve chamber against said valve seat when said first valve member is longitudinally expanded and to be withdrawn from said valve seat when said first valve member is longitudinally contracted.

Claim 13

A valve as claimed in claim 10 in which said valve chamber has a second cylindrical wall portion disposed on the opposite side of the axis of said inlet from said first mentioned cylindrical chamber wall portion and said second valve member comprises a second accordian-like valve member corresponding to said first mentioned accordian-like valve member adapted to be expanded radially outwardly into engagement with said second cylindrical chamber wall portion when said first valve member is contracted radially inwardly away from said first cylindrical chamber wall portion and vice versa.

Claim 14

A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve chamber is provided with a second outlet and disposed on the opposite side of the axis thereof from said first outlet and a second valve member actuated by said valve operating means to open and close communication between said inlet and said second outlet when said first valve member is actuated to close and open communication between said inlet and said first outlet respectively.

Claim 15

A valve as claimed in claim 13 in which said valve chamber is provided with a coaxial reduced valve seat on the opposite side of the axis of said inlet from the axis of said first outlet and said second valve member comprises a resilient valve member adapted to be moved axially of said valve member against said valve seat when said first valve member is longitudinally expanded and to be withdrawn from said valve seat when said first valve member is longitudiNally contracted.

Claim 16

A diverter valve comprising a cylindrical valve chamber having an inlet in the cylindrical wall thereof, first and second outlets leading from said chamber on opposite sides of the axis of said inlet, at least said first outlet leading through said cylindrical chamber wall and said chamber presenting a cylindrical wall portion between said inlet and said first outlet, said chamber being open at least at one end adjacent to said first outlet, a closure for said open chamber end having a coaxial sleeve portion projecting into said chamber, a first valve member for opening and closing flow communication between said inlet and said first outlet, comprising a first resilient tubular valve segment coaxial with said sleeve and having a reduced outer end encompassing and anchored to the inner end of said sleeve and diverging conically outwardly to a central portion and a second coaxial resilient tubular valve segment having a reduced outer end and diverging conically outwardly to said central portion and defining with said first valve segment a hollow accordian-like structure isolating the interior of said sleeve from said chamber and being adapted on contraction axially of the chamber to fold and expand radially outwardly against said cylindrical wall portion to provide a seal between said inlet and first outlet and on expansion axially of the chamber to contract radially inwardly away from said cylindrical wall portion to provide a flow passage there around, a rod freely slidably mounted in said sleeve and extending into the interior of said hollow accordian-like structure and isolated thereby from the interior of the chamber, the outer end of said second valve segment being anchored to said rod for movement therewith axially of said chamber to provide said radial valve expansion and contraction, and a second valve member connected to said rod and actuated thereby to provide a seal between said inlet and said second outlet when said first valve member is radially retracted and to provide a flow passage between said inlet and second valve member when said first valve member is radially expanded.

Claim 17

A diverter valve comprising a cylindrical valve chamber having an inlet in the cylindrical wall thereof, first and second outlets leading from said chamber on opposite sides of the axis of said inlet, at least said first outlet leading through said cylindrical chamber wall and said chamber presenting a cylindrical wall portion between said inlet and said first outlet, said chamber being open at least at one end adjacent to said first outlet, a closure for said open chamber end having a coaxial sleeve portion projecting into said chamber, a first valve member for opening and closing flow communication between said inlet and said first outlet, comprising a first resilient tubular valve segment coaxial with said sleeve and having a reduced outer end encompassing and anchored to the inner end of said sleeve and diverging conically outwardly to a central portion and a second coaxial resilient tubular valve segment having a reduced outer end and diverging conically outwardly to said central portion and defining with said first valve segment a hollow accordian-like structure isolating the interior of said sleeve from said chamber and being adapted on contraction axially of the chamber to fold and expand radially outwardly against said cylindrical wall portion to provide a seal between said inlet and first outlet and on expansion axially of the chamber to contract radially inwardly away from said cylindrical wall portion to provide a flow passage there around, a rod freely slidably mounted in said sleeve and extending into the interior of said hollow accordian-like structure and isolated thereby from the interior of the chamber, the outer end of said second valve segment being anchored to said rod for movement therewith axially of said chamber to provide said radial valve expansion and contraction, and a second valve member connected to said rod and actuated thereby to provide a seal between said inlet and said second outlet when said first valve member is radially retracted and to provide a flow passage between said inlet and second valve member when said first valve member is radially expanded.

Claim 18

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 15 in which the central portion of said accordian-like valve structure has an external sealing bead extending peripherally therearound and a circular plate is slidably mounted on said rod within said accordian like structure and having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the central portion thereof.

Claim 19

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 16 in which said valve chamber is provided with a valve seat centered on the chamber axis on the side of the inlet axis adjacent to said second outlet, and said second valve connected to said rod comprises a resilient cylindrical valve member adapted to seat against said valve seat when said accordian-like first valve member is expanded axially of the cylinder to close off communication between said inlet and second outlet, and to be retracted from said seat when said accordian-like first valve is contracted axially to provide communication between said inlet and second outlet.

Claim 20

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 16 in which said chamber presents a second cylindrical wall portion between said inlet and said second outlet, and said second valve member comprises a second accordian-like structure corresponding to said first valve member and having one end remote from said first valve member anchored against axial chamber movement and the opposite end adjacent to said first valve member anchored to said rod for axial movement therewith, the arrangement being such that with said first valve member axially contracted to seal against said first mentioned cylindrical wall portion said second valve member is axially expanded and radially retracted and with said first valve member axially expanded said second valve member is axially contracted and radially expanded to seal against said second cylindrical wall portion.

Claim 21

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 18 in which the ends of said first and second valve members fixed to said rod are secured together and said rod is isolated by said valve members from the interior of said chamber.

Claim 22

A diverter valve comprising a housing with a pair of spaced apart outlet ports and an inlet port disposed therebetween, flexible valve means disposed within said housing comprising a sleeve structure having a pair of adjoining accordian-like sections connected by a juncture portion whereby on longitudinal movement of said juncture portion in one direction one of said accordian-like sections is longitudinally contracted and radially expanded and the other of said accordian-like sections is simultaneously longitudinally expanded and radially retracted, said radially expanded section sealing against said housing at a point between said inlet port and one of said outlet ports to preclude fluid flow therebetween and said radially retracted section permitting fluid flow around said sleeve structure between said inlet port and the other of said outlet ports, and vice versa, on longitudinal movement of said juncture portion in the other direction, and means operating within said sleeve structure and isolated thereby from the interior of said housing to effect longitudinal movement of said accordian-like sections.

Claim 23

A diverter valve comprising a housing with a pair of spaced apart outlet ports and an inlet port disposed therebetween, flexible valve means disposed within said housing comprising a sleeve structure having a pair of adjoining accordian-like sections connected by a juncture portion whereby on longitudinal movement of said juncture portion in one direction one of said accordian-like sections is longitudinally contracted and radially expanded and the other of said accordian-like sections is simultaneously longitudinally expanded and radially retracted, said radially expanded section sealing against said housing at a point between said inlet port and one of said outlet ports to preclude fluid flow therebetween and said radially retracted section permitting fluid flow around said sleeve structure between said inlet port and the other of said outlet ports, and vice versa, on longitudinal movement of said juncture portion in the other direction, and means operating within said sleeve structure and isolated thereby from the interior of said housing to effect longitudinal movement of said accordian-like sections.

Claim 24

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 20 in which said means operating within said sleeve comprises a spindle projecting through and slidable longitudinally of said sleeve, and means connecting said juncture portion to said spindle.

Claim 25

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 21 wherein said housing is of generally cylindrical configuration and said accordian-like sections are circular in configuration.

Claim 26

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 22 wherein one projecting end of said spindle is pivotally connected to a toggle mechanism and the other end to an activating mechanism to drive the spindle into its respective positions.

Claim 27

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 23 wherein said juncture portion connecting said accordian-like sections presents an annular internal wall and said means attaching said spindle to said juncture portion comprises a washer located on said spindle on each side of said internal wall and bearing against same and spring clips secured to said spindle and positioned to maintain said washers in contact with said internal wall.

Claim 28

A diverter valve as claimed in claim 23 wherein a washer slidably mounted on said spindle is located within each of said accordian-like sections to limit radial retraction thereof.