Patent ID: 8667987

Claim:
A flow actuated flow path switching valve comprising: a hollow valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, a mid portion, and a central axial bore through the inlet end, the mid portion, and the outlet end, the mid portion having at least one passage therein leading from the central axial bore through the valve body to at least one external port; a poppet member received in the central axial bore, the poppet member having an open tubular rear end portion, a spool portion and a closed end valve disc portion, the valve disc portion selectively closing the central axial bore through the outlet end of the valve body, the poppet member having an axial bore extending through the rear portion and the spool portion of the poppet member, the spool portion having at least one or more radial arms extending to the mid portion of the valve body; a biasing member between the valve body and the poppet member biasing the poppet member toward the inlet end of the valve body; and a guide in the valve body engaging a corresponding feature on the rear end portion of the poppet member to align the at least one radial arm on the spool portion with the at least one passage in the mid portion of the valve body at a first position of the poppet member and open the central axial bore through the outlet end of the valve body when fluid flow is introduced into the inlet end of the valve body, misalign a radial passage in the spool portion away from the at least one passage in the mid portion of the valve body when fluid flow is reduced below a predetermined flow rate threshold, and align the at least one radial arm of the spool portion at a second position different from the first position closing the central axial bore through the outlet end when fluid flow is next introduced in the inlet end of the valve body above the flow rate threshold.