Liquid flow mechanical diverter valve

• US 4,043,158 A
• Filed: 06/30/1976
• Issued: 08/23/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bochan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US05/701,215
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 137/612, 137/612.1, 137/608, 137/599, 137/624.18, 68/17 R, 68/624.18
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87265 Dividing into parallel flow paths with recombining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87812 Pivoted valve or deflector

Abstract

An improved liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of the stream interaction type is provided. The valve includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid from a liquid source, a pair of first channels communicating with the inlet, each having an exit port, an interaction chamber, a pair of converging second channels between the exit ports and the interaction chamber, three exit areas directed away from the interaction chamber and two flapper assemblies, each having a first portion large enough to seat against and cover a first channel exit port, a second portion at an angle to the first portion and rigidly secured thereto, a pivot at the junction of the first and second portions, the second portions being spaced from and directed toward each other. A spring is associated with the second portion to urge the second portion away from the valve housing a sufficient distance to have the first portion seated against the first channel exit port, said spring having a force insufficient to prevent flow water through the exit port. A pivotal arm assembly having three positions movable by a mechanical push-pull actuator such that in only two of the positions the assembly selectively registers with one of the second portions to act as a stop to retain the first portion seated against the exit port during a predetermined period of time of liquid flow through the inlet.

Claims

1. In a liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of the stream interaction type including a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid from a liquid source, a pair of first channels communicating with the inlet, said channels each having an exit port, an interaction chamber in the valve housing, a pair of converging second channels between the exit ports of the first channels and the interaction chamber, three exit areas directed away from the interaction chamber, means associated with the ports of the first channels for effecting opening and closing thereof at predetermined times for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, the improvement comprising:

the diverter valve having two flapper assemblies each having a first portion large enough to seat against and cover a first channel exit port, a second portion at an angle to the first portion and rigidly secured thereto, a pivot at the junction of the first and second portions, the second portions being spaced from and directed toward each other, a spring associated with the second portion to urge the second portion away from the valve housing a sufficient distance to have the first portion seated against the first channel exit port, said spring having a force insufficient to prevent the flow of liquid through the exit port, a pivotal arm assembly having a pivot, two tangs radially outward of the pivot and a mechanical push-pull actuator secured to the arm assembly to pivot the arm assembly to three positions, only two of said positions selectively register one of the tangs with one of the second portions to act as a stop to retain the first portion seated against the exit port during a predetermined period of time of liquid flow through the inlet.

2. In the liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of claim 1 wherein the flapper assemblies are formed of metal and the first portion thereof adjacent the exit port is covered with a resilient material.

3. In the liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of claim 1 wherein the first channels diverge away from the inlet opening and each other.

4. In the liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of claim 1 wherein the springs are compression type springs.

5. In the liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of claim 1 wherein the two positions to selectively register one of the tangs with one of the second portions are on opposite sides of the third position.

6. In an automatic washer having a sequence control timer for conducting the washer through an operational cycle and an additive dispensing system including a multi-compartmented dispenser, a liquid flow mechanical diverter valve of the stream interaction type including a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid from a liquid source, a pair of first channels communicating with the inlet, said channels each having an exit port, an interaction chamber in the valve housing, a pair of converging second channels between the exit ports of the first channels and the interaction chamber, three exit areas directed away from the interaction chamber, means associated with the exit ports of the first channels for effecting opening and closing thereof at predetermined times for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, the improvement comprising:

the diverter having two flapper assemblies each having a first portion large enough to seat against and cover a first channel exit port, a second portion at an angle to the first portion and rigidly secured thereto, a pivot at the junction of the first and second portions, the second portions being spaced from and directed toward each other, a spring associated with the second portion to urge the second portion away from the valve housing a sufficient distance to have the first portion seated against the first channel exit port, said spring having a force insufficient to prevent the flow of liquid through the exit port, a pivotal arm assembly having two tangs radially outward of the pivot and a mechanical push-pull actuator secured to the arm assembly to pivot the arm assembly to three positions, only two of said positions selectively register one of the tangs with one of the second portions to act as a stop to retain the first portion seated against the exit port during a predetermined period of time of liquid flow through the inlet.

7. The diverter valve of claim 6 wherein the sequence control timer utilizes cam elements for conducting the washer through an operational cycle and the push-pull actuator is operated by a cam element.

8. The diverter valve of claim 6 wherein the flapper assemblies are formed of metal and the first portion thereof adjacent the exit ports is covered with a resilient material.

9. The diverter valve of claim 6 wherein the first channels diverge away from the inlet opening and each other.

10. The diverter valve of claim 6 wherein the springs are compression type springs.

11. The diverter valve of claim 6 wherein the two positions to selectively register one of the tangs with one of the second portions are on opposite sides of the third position.