Patent ID: 7806135

Claim:
A variable flow valve, comprising: a housing having an inlet opening through which a fluid flows into the housing, and an outlet opening through which the fluid, which has entered the housing through the inlet opening, flows out to the outside; a valve element disposed movably in the housing; means for urging the valve element toward the inlet opening; a first valve formed by the valve element and a protrusion; and a second valve formed by the valve element and the housing, wherein the first valve closes communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening as the valve element moves away from the inlet opening, the second valve opens communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening as the valve element moves away from the inlet opening; the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed when a fluid pressure on the inlet opening side is a first predetermined value or less; the second valve opens communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening instantaneously when a differential pressure between an inlet-opening-side fluid pressure and an outlet-opening-side fluid pressure is more than a second predetermined value; a central axis of the inlet opening and a central axis of the outlet opening cross each other; the valve element includes: a separator wall, which separates the inlet opening and the outlet opening; and a guide flow passage, which is disposed on an inlet-opening side of the separator wall and connects the inlet opening with the outlet opening when the separator wall moves to open communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, a cylinder-shaped portion formed on the inlet-opening side of the separator wall, wherein the cylinder-shaped portion includes a side wall; and an opening formed in the side wall of the cylinder-shaped portion, wherein the opening is exposed to the outlet opening when the valve element moves away from the inlet opening, thereby forming the guide flow passage between the opening and the inside of the cylinder-shaped portion.