Abstract:
A dispensing valve for fastening to a water faucet disposed over a drain and to a reverse osmosis water filtering unit for controllably dispensing tap water, for providing feed water to the reverse osmosis water filtering unit, for providing squeeze water to the reverse osmosis water filtering unit and dispensing product water received therefrom, and to block all water flow. The dispensing valve may also dispense tap water in a spray, and provide for waste water disposal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of reverse osmosis filters and dispensing valves therefor. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Reverse osmosis water filters (hereafter simply water filters) are well known in the prior art. For consumer use, such water filters generally fall into two forms, specifically, above counter water filters and under counter or under sink water filters (hereafter under the counter water filters). 
     The prior art above counter water filters generally have a tap water connection to the water faucet on the sink for providing tap water thereto at water line pressure, and a drain running to the sink for disposal of waste water. The accumulation of product water in such water filters is in an unpressurized container, normally part of the above counter water filter, with a dispenser formed as part of the overall assembly for dispensing product water. 
     The prior art under the counter water filters are normally of the type including a product water container with a diaphragm therein for receiving product water as it is produced, and a control valve that includes the capability of providing squeeze water, that is water at the water line pressure, to the outer wall of the diaphragm to pressurize product water for dispensing purposes. It is this pressurized dispensing which is most convenient for under counter usage, though as an alternative, one could use an electric pump for pressurizing the product water for dispensing, though such an arrangement becomes rather complex to prevent overflow of product water, etc. Also, in some homes, particularly in developing countries, there may not be electric power available under the counter or under the sink. 
     Recently, a reverse osmosis water filter has been developed which is suitable for use in both above the counter and under the counter installations. Such versatile water filters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,256. The advantage of such water filters is that the same water filter may initially be used in an above the counter installation as a trial usage, and when later desired, the same unit may be placed under the counter as a more permanent and out of the way placement. Therefore, in that regard, initial placement under the counter is obviously possible, though such placement becomes a rather permanent placement in the sense that it would require special connections to the water system (pressurized tap water and drain) as well as the creation of a hole in the counter for the above counter dispensing valve. Accordingly, such permanent installation is particularly unattractive to water filter users that want to evaluate a water filter before such permanent installation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a typical installation incorporating a distribution valve in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the distribution valve of  FIG. 1  taken on an expanded scale. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of the distribution valve of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a bottom view of the distribution valve body. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section of a distribution valve taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3A , illustrating the distribution valve in a normal tap water dispensing condition. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section of a distribution valve taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3A , illustrating the distribution valve in a tap water spray dispensing condition. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section of a distribution valve taken along the axis of the valve assembly, illustrating the distribution valve in a position to provide feed water to a reverse osmosis filtering unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross section of a distribution valve taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3A  illustrating the distribution valve in a position to provide feed water to a reverse osmosis unit and to dispense product water from the reverse osmosis unit. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross section of a distribution valve taken along the axis of the valve assembly illustrating the distribution valve with all flow passages closed or blocked so that no water flows even if the faucet itself is on. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention comprises a dispensing valve for selectively coupling tap water to at least one faucet outlet, to a reverse osmosis water filter, to a reverse osmosis water filter and to receive product water therefrom, and to shut off all tap water flow. Also, in a preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the dispensing valve includes a spray output selection, and further provides a waste water connection to the water filter. 
     The dispensing valve is intended to be mounted on a faucet outlet over a sink, such as a kitchen sink. Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  wherein the dispensing valve, generally indicated by the numeral  20 , is shown screwed onto the end of a faucet outlet  22 . A reverse osmosis water filter  24  may be coupled to the dispensing valve  20  through feed water connection  26  ( FIG. 2 ) and water line  26 ′ to provide feed water to the water filter  24 , and product water from the water filter  24  to the distribution valve  20  through line  28 ′ and product water connection  28  ( FIG. 2 ). In the specific embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a third water line  31 ′ is provided for disposal of waste water through waste water connection  31  forming a fourth connection which simply drains through the third outlet or drain port  31 ″, though waste water could be disposed of in some alternate fashion, such as by way of example, through a line simply emptying into the sink. In one embodiment, the lines  26 ′ and  28 ′, and line  31 ′ if used, are in a single extruded strip split at the ends as required for attachment at the ends thereof as shown, though of course if desired, individual lines can be used. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , the distribution valve  20  is shown on an expanded scale. The distribution valve  20  is controlled by rotatable handle  30 , which as shall be subsequently described, is rotatable in 45 degree increments through 180°, with a stop at each end of the 180°, to be described. 
       FIG. 2  also well illustrates the manner of connection of the distribution valve to the faucet outlet  22 . In particular, faucets such as faucet  22  have a threaded outer end with a member typically containing a screen threaded thereto. To install the distribution valve  20  of the present invention, the member on the end of the faucet outlet  22  is removed. The top of the distribution valve body  32 ′ forming the first connection is threaded (See  FIG. 3A ) to receive a clamp member  34 , which in turn captures a lower flanged end of flanged member  36  tightly screwed onto the faucet outlet  22  so that once the flange on flanged member  36  is captured by the clamp member, the distribution valve may be angularly oriented with respect to the faucet outlet  22  as desired, and clamp member  34  tightened to clamp valve body  32  of distribution valve  20  to the faucet outlet  22  at the desired angle with respect thereto. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3A , an exploded view of the distribution valve  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be seen. In addition to distribution valve body  32  and handle  30 , also shown in the Fig. is a retaining ring  38  which is screwed to valve body  32  by screws  54 , a rotary valve member  40 , a spring  42 , a valve seal  44 , and an axial valve member  46 , as well as a manifold  48 , a closing plate  50  and a sprinkler head  52 . Rotary valve member  40 , spring  42  and axial valve member  46  form the valve member assembly of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Also shown in the Fig. are the various water ports  26 ,  28  and  31 . In the overall assembly, the valve seal locates within valve body  32  to align with ports therein and to not rotate with the rotation of the assembly connected to handle  30 . The spring  42  fits within the rotary valve member  40 , within which is a drive post for fitting within the opening  55  in the axial valve member  46 , with the spring  42  normally holding the axial valve member  46  against an internal port in valve body  32 . 
     It will be noted that the otherwise square opening  55  in the axial valve member  46  has a longitudinal depression on one face of that opening, with the drive post in rotary valve member  40  having a complementary longitudinal protrusion so that the rotary valve member  40  and the axial valve member  46  can only be assembled in a single relative angular orientation. Similarly, the handle  30  is angularly oriented with respect to the rotary valve member  40  because of the unsymmetrical shape of the protrusion  56  on the rotary valve member  40  and a complementary recess in the handle  30 , not visible in  FIG. 3A . Further, the retaining ring  38  has a depression  58  on its periphery, with valve body  32  having a corresponding protrusion therein so that the retaining ring  38  will also only assemble with respect to the body in a fixed angular orientation. In addition, protrusions  60  fit within a cooperative angular recess in the back of the handle  30 , with the recess having a local protrusion therein, which together with the protrusions  60 , define the stops for the 180° rotational limit of the handle  30  in the final distribution valve  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Of course to complete the assembly of this embodiment, manifold  48  fits within a cooperate opening on the corresponding side of valve body  32 , with projection  62  fitting within slot  64  of the manifold to automatically provide the desired angular orientation of the manifold  48  with respect to valve body  32 . Alternatively, a manifold like manifold  48  might be made adjustable with respect to the valve body  32  to allow its positioning so that waste water flow falls directly into the drain without a splash and any growth of mineral deposits on the sink surface. Finally, the sprinkler head  52  screws onto the bottom of valve body  32  with a closing plate  50  trapped there between. Finally, the retaining ring  38  includes a circular segment having five equally distributed depressions  66  distributed around 180°, with a tab (not shown) on the back side of handle  30  to provide a detent on each of the five operating positions of the handle  30 . 
     It will be noted in  FIG. 3A  that the right end of axial valve member  46  is cross shaped, not solid. This provides centering of the axial valve member in a complementary cylindrical flow path, and at the same time, allows water flow past that cross shaped region unless the flow path is otherwise blocked. This is particularly important with respect to  FIG. 6 , as shall be subsequently described in detail, though is not relevant to  FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 . Accordingly, certain artistic liberties have been taken in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 8  with respect to the illustration of this region of the axial valve member  46 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a view looking upward (direction  3 B in  FIG. 3A ) into the lower end of valve body  32  of  FIG. 3A . The various flow paths hereafter described are in part defined by downward projecting protrusions  90  as may be seen in  FIGS. 4-6 and 8 . In the Figs. explained below, it is assumed that the cold water faucet is turned on at all times, though obviously the faucet may be turned off to stop all water flow, which can itself be useful, as it allows the distribution valve to be left in a single position, such as the product water dispensing position, which product water dispensing can be controlled by control of the faucet, rather than the handle  30 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a cross section of the dispensing valve  20  taken through the axis of handle  30 , rotary valve member  40  and axial valve member  46  may be seen. In this angular orientation of rotary valve member  40 , opening  68  in the spool is aligned with a corresponding opening in the valve seal  44  so as to provide fluid communication between the inlet to valve body  32  along the flow path indicated by the arrows to dispense tap water through first outlet  70  in a conventional stream. In  FIG. 5 , the handle has been rotated 45 degrees from the position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position, faucet water is directed to a second outlet or spray outlet  72  as illustrated, the spray preferably being concentric with first outlet  70 , but separate from the first outlet. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates dispensing valve  20  after handle  30  has been rotated a further 45 degrees. In this angular orientation of rotary valve member  40 , cam followers  74  engage cam surfaces  78  on adjacent walls of valve body  32  to force axial valve member  46  to further deflect spring  42  to provide a water flow passage through port  80  to water port  26  forming a second connection ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) as illustrated, port  80  being coaxial with and at the end of the axial valve member port  80  being coaxial with and at the end of the axial valve member. This provides feed water to reverse osmosis water filter  24  for producing product water, with waste water returned to the sink as previously described. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , so as to not obscure the function of the cross shaped end of the axial valve member  46 , the local cross section of the cross shaped member is taken through a plane slightly below the plane of the main cross section illustrated in  FIG. 6 , as the cross section of that region in the plane of the rest of the cross section of  FIG. 6  appears as a solid region. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross section of the dispensing valve  20  of  FIG. 1  effectively taken along line  7 - 7  of an assembly of the part illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and illustrates the further rotation of handle  30  through another 45 degrees to the product water dispensing position. Note that this cross section is not centered on the vertical axis of the valve body  32 . In this position, the feed water is left on as illustrated in  FIG. 6  to provide what is now squeeze water for squeezing the diaphragm in the product water accumulator of reverse osmosis water filter  24  to provide product water dispensing pressure, and at the same time, pressurized product water itself is provided to dispensing valve  20  through a third connection  28  to be dispensed through outlet  70 . Finally in  FIG. 8 , all flow passages are closed or blocked so that no water flows even if the faucet itself is on. As an alternative, the cam surface in valve body  32  may range in angular extent to maintain the axial valve member  46  in the position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , even in this “off” position of  FIG. 8 , as that would continue the production of product water in reverse osmosis water filter  24  until the product accumulator is full of product water, after which reverse osmosis water filter  24  will shut itself off (block feed water flow).