Patent ID: 7493914

Claim:
A three-way valve comprising: a body defining a flow passageway in fluid communication with a run valve inlet and an outlet, the run valve inlet also in fluid communication with a bypass valve inlet and outlet; a removable flow diffuser in a receptacle in the body, the flow diffuser having a flow diffuser inlet in fluid communication with the bypass valve inlet and a flow diffuser outlet in fluid communication with the bypass valve outlet; a movable valve element sized and arranged to alternatively engage and seal against a primary valve seat and a bypass valve seat, both seats formed on the removable flow diffuser; a support extending from the body to position the movable valve element in the flow passageway; the movable valve element slidably engaging the body on the end proximate the run valve inlet; and means to move the valve element from a full open position with the bypass valve in a full closed position, to a full closed position with the bypass valve in a full open position, to various intermediate positions in which both the primary valve and the bypass valve are in partially open positions.