Change valve

Claim 2

A change valve for sanitary engineering fittings for selecting a bath tub or a shower head for discharge of outflowing water comprising: first and second discharge outlets; first and second valve seats adjacent said first and second discharge outlets, respectively; a valve closing element movable over a predetermined valve stroke distance between first and second positions whereby when said valve closing element is in said first position said first valve seat is closed and when in said second position said second valve seat is closed; an actuating spindle having a hollow tubular section at one end; a guide pin connected to said valve closing element and having one end extending within said hollow tubular section; a coupling pin secured to said one end of said guide pin at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, said hollow tubular section having a longitudinal slot at least equal in length to said valve stroke distance and adapted to engage said coupling pin; two bearings axially displaced at the other end portion of said actuating spindle; a collar on said other end portion disposed between said bearings; a first helical spring positioned between one of said bearings and said collar; and a second helical spring positioned between the other of said bearings and said collar, whereby said first and second helical springs return said actuating spindle to a neutral position independently of the position of the valve closing element after actuation.

Claim 3

A change valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein automatic return to a preferred one said first or second positions is produced by gravitational forces on the valve closing element when the water supply is cutoff.

Claim 4

A diverter valve comprising: a casing defining a valve chamber; first and second discharge outlets; first and second outlet ports communicating with said chamber and respectively communicating with said first and second discharge outlets; valve means disposed within said chamber and movable over a predetermined distance between first and second positions for closing and first outlet port in said first position and for closing said second outlet port in said second position; actuating means movable from an intermediate position to first and second actuating positions; means for automatically returning said actuating means to said intermediate position from said first and second actuating positions; means for coupling said valve means and said actuating means, said coupling means comprising a recess, first and second limiting surfaces spaced apart by at least said predetermined distance, and a member extending into said recess, said member carrying an engaging member adapted for engaging said first and second limiting surfaces; said valve means comprising one of said extending member or said recess and first and second limiting surfaces and said actuating means comprising the other of said extending member or said recess and first and second limiting surfaces; said coupling means being adapted such that when said actuating means is moved to said first or second actuating positions, said valve means is carried respectively to said first or second positions, and to permit independent movement of said actuating means relative to said valve means when said actuating means is in said intermediate position.

Claim 5

A diverter valve comprising: a casing defining a valve chamber; first and second discharge outlets; first and second outlet ports communicating with said chamber and respectively communicating with said first and second discharge outlets; valve means disposed within said chamber and movable over a predetermined distance between first and second positions for closing and first outlet port in said first position and for closing said second outlet port in said second position; actuating means movable from an intermediate position to first and second actuating positions; means for automatically returning said actuating means to said intermediate position from said first and second actuating positions; means for coupling said valve means and said actuating means, said coupling means comprising a recess, first and second limiting surfaces spaced apart by at least said predetermined distance, and a member extending into said recess, said member carrying an engaging member adapted for engaging said first and second limiting surfaces; said valve means comprising one of said extending member or said recess and first and second limiting surfaces and said actuating means comprising the other of said extending member or said recess and first and second limiting surfaces; said coupling means being adapted such that when said actuating means is moved to said first or second actuating positions, said valve means is carried respectively to said first or second positions, and to permit independent movement of said actuating means relative to said valve means when said actuating means is in said intermediate position.

Claim 6

A diverter valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein: one of said first or second positions is a preferred position such that when fluid flow through said chamber is cutoff, gravitational forces on said valve means moves said valve means to said preferred position.

Claim 7

A diverter valve in accordance with claims 3 or 4 wherein said return means comprises: a first spring means operable on said actuating means when said actuating means is moved said first position for urging said actuating means to said intermediate position; and a second spring means operable on said actuating means when said actuating means is moved to said second position for urging said actuating means to said intermediate position.