Water diverter valve and related dishwasher

摘要

A gravity and flow operated diverter valve diverts liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations. The valve includes a housing, an inlet opening, a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening. A valve member is located coaxially in the housing interior, the valve member having at least one flow path extending axially therethough, an exterior edge of the valve member and an interior surface of the side wall having a cooperating cam follower structure defining a cyclic path, the path having at least two no flow positions in which the valve member is spaced from the upper wall, and at least two flow positions in which the flow path in the disc selectively allows communication with one or both of the first and second outlet openings, the cyclic path arranged so that on successive liquid flows into the inlet opening the valve member cycles between the at least two flow positions to selectively direct flow out of one or both of the first and second outlet openings. Related dishwasher designs are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A gravity and flow operated diverter valve for diverting liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a base wall, an upper wall, a central axis extending between the base wall and the upper wall, a side wall connecting the base wall and the upper wall spaced from the central axis, an inlet opening through the base wall, a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening through the upper wall, the base wall, upper wall and side wall defining a housing interior therein, the housing operable in a configuration with the base wall arranged vertically beneath the upper wall; and a valve member located coaxially in the housing interior, the valve member having at least one flow path extending axially therethough, an exterior edge of the valve member and an interior surface of the side wall having a cooperating cam follower structure defining a cyclic path such that the valve member is vertically movable within the housing interior on the cyclic path, the path having at least two no flow positions in which the valve member is spaced from the upper wall, and at least two flow positions in which the flow path in the valve member selectively allows communication with one or both of the first and second outlet openings, the cyclic path arranged so that on successive liquid flows into the inlet opening the valve member cycles between the at least two flow positions to selectively direct flow out of one or both of the first and second outlet openings.