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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
First Claim
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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.

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