Temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water

• US 4,854,499 A
• Filed: 05/08/1987
• Issued: 08/08/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neuman, Eli
• Original Assignee: Neuman, Eli
• Inventors: Neuman, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/047,697
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 236/93 B, 236/12.12, 236/12.13, 4/192, 4/596, 251/129.01, 137/624.2
• US Class Current: 236/93.00B
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86461 Variable cycle

Abstract

A temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water used between a source of shower water and a shower head to control the flow of water to the shower head. The diverter valve is positioned between the wall outlet pipe and the shower head. The valve has an inlet port connected to the outlet pipe, a first outlet port connected to the shower head, and a second outlet port for diverting the water to a wall or a corner of the shower. A temperature sensitive directing means directs the water entering the inlet port to the first outlet port when the temperature of the water is within a range between first and second temperatures for use by the bather and diverts the water to the second outlet port when the temperature of the water is outside of the range. The diverting valve automatically resets when water having a satisfactory temperature returns. An electrical embodiment uses a temperature sensor and a microprocessor to control a rotary valve. One non-electrical embodiment uses two bimetallic disks for sensing the water temperature to mechanically seal off ports to direct the water. Another non-electrical embodiment utilizes two bimetallic disks in a fluidic valve having a water jet to control the jet by allowing a vacuum to be created on one side.

Claims

1. A diverter valve means for coupling a wall outlet pipe to a shower head, comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity, an inlet port for connecting to the wall outlet pipe, a first outlet port having a circular entrance from the lateral cavity for connecting to the shower head, a second outlet port having circular entrance from the lateral cavity having the same axis as the first outlet port, and the inlet and first and second outlet ports passing form an outer surface of the housing to the internal cavity;

temperature sensitive directing means for directing the water entering the inlet port to the first outlet port when the temperature of the water is within a range between first and second temperature and for directing the water to the second outlet port when the temperature of the water is outside of the range, the temperature sensitive directing means including;

a rotatable stem passing from the outer surface of the housing to the internal cavity, the axis of the rotational stem mounted equidistant from the entrances of the first and second outlet ports;

a spherical closure means coupled to the stem between the first and second outlet ports for selectively closing one of the first and second outlet ports;

electric motor actuator means for rotating the stem to position the closure means;

a temperature sensor capable of translating the temperature of the water into an electronic parameter; and

controller means for controlling the actuator means according to the electronic parameter produced by the temperature sensor;

whereby the positioning of the spherical closure means at the entrance to the first outlet port directs the water to the second outlet port and the positioning of the spherical closure means at the entrance to the second outlet port directs the water to the first outlet port.

2. The diverter valve means according to claim 1 wherein the controller means is a microprocessor.

3. The diverter valve means according to claim 2 wherein the controller means further includes temperature adjustment means for varying the levels of the predetermined hot and cold temperatures.

4. The diverter valve means according to claim 3 further including a temperature display.

5. The diverter valve means according to claim 4 wherein the temperature display is digital.

6. The diverter valve means according to claim 2 wherein the controller means senses the increase in the current demanded by the electric motor actuator means when the closure means hits one of the first and second outlet ports causing the electric motor actuator means to stall, turns off the electric motor actuator means, and records the occurrence of the current increase for future use to identify the position of the spherical closure means.

7. A diverter valve useful for coupling a water supply pipe to a shower head for permitting only water having a temperature within a range between T1 and T2 to flow through said shower head, said diverter valve comprising:

a housing having a threaded inlet port adapted to be threadedly coupled to said supply pipe, a first outlet port adapted to be coupled to said shower head, and a second outlet port;

valve means in said housing for selectively defining either a first state in which said first outlet port is open and said second outlet port is closed or a second state in which said first outlet port is closed and said second outlet port is open, said valve means including a single valve element mounted for movement between a first position closing said second outlet port and a second position closing said first outlet port;

electrically energizable mover means in said housing for moving said valve means to either said first or second state;

temperature sensing means in said housing for determining whether water supplied to said inlet port has a temperature within said range between T1 and T2;

battery means for supplying electrical energy;

control means responsive to said temperature sensing means determining that said supplied water is outside of said range for connecting said battery means to said mover means to cause said valve means to define said second state and responsive to said temperature sensing means determining that said supplied water is within said range for connecting said battery means to said mover means to cause said valve means to define said first state;

an elongated stem having first and second ends;

means mounting said stem for pivotal movement about a point intermediate said first and second ends; and

wherein

said valve element is mounted on said stem second end.

8. The diverter valve of claim 7 wherein said mover means comprises a motor having a rotatable threaded shaft;

a threaded nut mounted on said stem first end; and

wherein

said shaft is threadedly engaged in said nut.

9. The diverter valve of claim 7 including generator means mounted in said housing and responsive to water flow into said inlet port for supplying charging current to said battery means.

10. A diverter valve useful for coupling a water supply pipe to a shower head for permitting only water having a temperature within a range between T1 and T2 to flow through said shower head, said diverter valve comprising:

a housing having a threaded inlet port adapted to be threadedly coupled to said supply pipe, a first outlet port adapted to be coupled to said shower head, and a second outlet port;

valve means in said housing for selectively defining either a first state in which said first outlet port is open and said second outlet port is closed or a second state in which said first outlet port is closed and said second outlet port is open;

electrically energizable mover means in said housing for moving said valve means to either said first or second state;

temperature sensing means in said housing for determining whether water supplied to said inlet port has a temperature within said range between T1 and T2;

battery means for supplying electrical energy;

control means responsive to said temperature sensing means determining that said supplied water is outside of said range for connecting said battery means to said mover means to cause said valve means to define said second state and responsive to said temperature sensing means determining that said supplied water is within said range for connecting said battery means to said mover means to cause said valve means to define said first state; and

generator means mounted in said housing and responsive to water flow into said inlet port for supplying charging current to said battery means.