Patent ID: 6920892
Filing Date: 2005-07-26
Classification: E03C,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A diverter valve adapted to be received within a faucet assembly having at least one water inlet, a spout outlet and a spray outlet, said diverter valve comprising: a cylindrical valve sleeve having a sleeve wall communicating at an upper end thereof with said spout outlet, at a lower end thereof with said spray outlet, and along a central portion thereof with said water inlet, said sleeve defining a plurality of first inlet ports and a plurality of second inlet ports both communicating with said water inlet, a spout valve seat defined in said sleeve wall, a spray valve seat defined in said sleeve wall, and a plurality of flow regulating grooves defined in said sleeve wall; and a cylindrical valve plunger having a plunger wall dimensioned to slide axially with close clearances within said sleeve and defining a transfer chamber within the plunger wall, said plunger having a lower valve head arranged to seal the spray valve seat when the plunger is in an upper axial position, said plunger having an upper valve head arranged to seal the spout valve seat when the plunger is in a lower axial position, a plurality of third and fourth axially spaced ports defined in the plunger wall and communicating with said transfer chamber, said third and fourth ports being arranged to admit water from the first inlet ports into the transfer chamber and from the transfer chamber to the spout outlet when the plunger is in the upper position and to be blocked when the plunger is in the lower position, said second inlet ports being arranged to admit a screened flow of water between the sleeve and plunger to the spray outlet, said lower valve head being adapted to cooperate with said flow regulating grooves to regulate said screened flow when the plunger is in the lower position.