Patent ID: 9022354
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A switching valve, comprising: a valve element movable in a housing; an actuating device urging the valve element in a first direction, the valve element having a maximum stroke in said first direction; and a spring device urging the valve element in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite one another, wherein the spring device has a progressive spring characteristic, the spring device including at least two spring portions in series; wherein the travel of at least one of the at least two spring portions is limited to a maximum travel that is less than said maximum stroke of the valve element, wherein the spring constants of each of the at least two spring portions are different from each other, and wherein said at least two spring portions are coupled via an adapter piece, and the adapter piece strikes one portion of the housing before the maximum stroke of the valve element is reached, so that the one of the at least two spring portions having the lesser spring constant is subsequently spanned across its compressed length by the adapter piece when the adapter piece strikes the portion of the housing.