阅读说明：本技术 转换阀装置 (Change-over valve device ) 是由 A.布劳恩瓦尔特 D.P.迪特勒 F.多尔德 J.金 F.迈尔 于 2020-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：按照本发明的转换阀装置包括：阀壳体(1)；到阀壳体的流体入口(2)；在阀壳体中的入口腔(3),流体入口通入所述入口腔；在阀壳体中的中间腔(4),所述中间腔与入口腔处于流体连通；第一流体出口(5),所述第一流体出口通过能截止的第一出口通道(10)与入口腔处于流体连通；第二流体出口(6),所述第二流体出口通过能截止的第二出口通道(11)与中间腔处于流体连通；用于能截止的第一出口通道的自动经流体压力控制的第一截止阀单元(7)；和用于能截止的第二出口通道的用户操纵的第二截止阀单元(8)。(The switch valve device according to the present invention includes: a valve housing (1); a fluid inlet (2) to the valve housing; an inlet chamber (3) in the valve housing into which the fluid inlet opens; an intermediate chamber (4) in the valve housing, the intermediate chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet chamber; a first fluid outlet (5) in fluid communication with the inlet chamber through a first stoppable outlet channel (10); a second fluid outlet (6) in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber through a second stoppable outlet channel (11); a first shut-off valve unit (7) for automatically controlled by fluid pressure of the first closable outlet channel; and a second shut-off valve unit (8) for user actuation of the second, closable outlet channel.)

1. Switching valve device, in particular sanitary switching valve device, having:

a valve housing (1),

-a fluid inlet (2) to the valve housing,

an inlet chamber (3) in the valve housing into which the fluid inlet opens,

an intermediate chamber (4) in the valve housing, which is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber via a permanently open connecting channel (9),

-a first fluid outlet (5) from the valve housing, which is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber through a first stoppable outlet channel (10),

-a second fluid outlet (6) from the valve housing, which is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber through a second, stoppable outlet channel (11),

-a first shut-off valve unit (7) for automatic fluid pressure control for opening and closing the first closable outlet channel, and

a user-operated second shut-off valve unit (8) for opening and closing the second, closable outlet channel,

-wherein the first shut-off valve unit has a valve piston (12) which is movable between an open position opening the first outlet channel and a closed position shutting off the first outlet channel in a controlled manner via a difference of a fluid pressure acting on the valve piston, on the one hand, with the inlet chamber and, on the other hand, with the intermediate chamber, and

-wherein the second shut-off valve unit has a valve closing body (13) which is movable by user manipulation between an open position opening the second outlet channel and a closed position shutting off the second outlet channel, and

-wherein the valve piston occupies its closed position when the valve-closing body is in its open position, and the valve piston occupies its open position when the valve-closing body is in its closed position.

2. Switching valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve piston is arranged axially movable and has a first piston end side (12 a) facing the intermediate chamber and a second piston end side (12 b) facing the inlet chamber, wherein the pressure contact surface of the first piston end side is larger than the pressure contact surface of the second piston end side.

3. The switching valve arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the valve piston has a piston-rod-shaped projection (14) extending axially from the second piston end, on which projection a valve closing element (15) is formed, which interacts with a valve seat (16) on the housing side.

4. A switch valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second stop valve unit is a user-operated diaphragm valve unit supported via a pilot valve.

5. A changeover valve assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the changeover valve assembly comprises a pilot valve (18) with an axially movable pilot piston (19) assigned to the diaphragm valve unit and a user-operated push-button operating unit (20) acting on the pilot piston.

6. The changeover valve arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the push-button operating unit comprises a push-button (29) which, when the valve closing body is in its open position, occupies a first switching position (29 a) and, when the valve closing body is in its closed position, occupies a second switching position (29 b), wherein the push-button has a different axial position in the two switching positions.

7. A switch valve assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the valve housing is cylindrical and one of the first and second fluid outlets is located on a cylindrical circumferential section (1 a) of the valve housing and the other fluid outlet is located on a first axial end face end (1 b) of the valve housing.

8. A diverter valve assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fluid inlet is axially between the first and second fluid outlets.

9. The changeover valve device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the push button is on a second end face end (1 c) of the valve housing facing away from the first end face end.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a switching valve device having a valve housing, a fluid inlet into the valve housing, a first fluid outlet from the valve housing, and a second fluid outlet from the valve housing, wherein the switching valve device is provided for selectively guiding a fluid supplied at the fluid inlet further to the first fluid outlet or the second fluid outlet.

Background

Switching valve devices of this type are used to provide or discharge the supplied fluid in a controllable manner either at the first fluid outlet or at the second fluid outlet. Such a switching valve arrangement therefore has no blocking function, by means of which the supplied fluid is blocked against further guidance, that is to say the supplied fluid is always further guided to at least one of the two or more fluid outlets. In other words, the type of switching valve arrangements currently being observed remains in static operation, that is to say, in addition to the possible switching effect of the two fluid connections connecting the fluid inlet with the first or second fluid outlet, one fluid connection is always opened and the other fluid connection is closed. If one or more further fluid outlets are additionally optionally provided, the associated fluid connection from the fluid inlet to the respective further fluid outlet can be opened or closed, i.e. blocked, as desired in synchronism with the fluid connection from the fluid inlet to the first or second fluid outlet. If a shut-off function is additionally required, the switching valve arrangement can be assigned a corresponding shut-off valve function, for example upstream of the fluid inlet or alternatively downstream of the first and/or second fluid outlet.

Such a switching valve device is used, for example, in sanitary engineering as a sanitary switching device for the selective supply of a supplied fluid, in this case typically water, via a first fluid outlet to a first point of use, for example a bathtub outlet, or via a second fluid outlet to a second point of use, for example a bathtub hand faucet, or, in sanitary shower or kitchen faucets designed for a plurality of shower spray shower types, for the selective supply of shower fluid to a fluid guide for a first shower spray shower or for a second shower spray shower. Conventional sanitary switching valve arrangements often require a high switching force to be applied by the user and/or automatically return to one of the two valve positions as a specific initial position when the fluid supply is stopped, so that the other valve position must be reset each time the fluid supply is opened.

Publication DE 102012221043 a1 discloses a shut-off valve device with a user-operated diaphragm valve unit supported via a pilot valve, which diaphragm valve unit comprises a diaphragm valve body accompanied by a pilot control by means of a pilot valve having an axially movable pilot valve control piston which can be operated by a user by means of a push-button operating unit. The actuating unit comprises an axially movable push button, an adapter device and a magnet unit for transmitting the axial push button movement to the control piston, wherein the adapter device is responsible for the push button assuming different positions in the blocking position of the valve device on the one hand and in the open position of the valve device on the other hand. A similar shut-off valve arrangement is disclosed in the more recent german patent application 102018204147.4. Another stop valve device with a user-operated push-button diaphragm valve unit supported via a pilot valve is disclosed in publication JP 2005-264459A.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a switching valve device of the type mentioned at the outset which offers advantages over the prior art mentioned above with regard to mode of operation, production effort and/or operational reliability.

The invention solves the problem by providing a switching valve arrangement with the features of claim 1.

The switch valve apparatus includes: a valve housing; a fluid inlet into the valve housing; an inlet chamber in the valve housing into which the fluid inlet opens; an intermediate chamber in the valve housing, the intermediate chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet chamber through a permanently open connecting channel; a first fluid outlet from the valve housing in fluid communication with the inlet chamber through a first stoppable outlet passage; a second fluid outlet from the valve housing in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber through a second stoppable outlet passage; a first shutoff valve unit automatically controlled by fluid pressure for opening and closing the first stoppable outlet passage; and a user-operated second shut-off valve unit for opening and closing the second, shut-off outlet channel. The first shut-off valve unit has a valve piston which is movable by the fluid pressure acting thereon in a controlled manner between an open position, which opens the first outlet duct, and a closed position, which shuts off the first outlet duct, on the one hand, and the inlet chamber and on the other hand, the intermediate chamber. The second shut-off valve unit has a user-operated valve closing body which is movable between an open position opening the second outlet channel and a closed position shutting off the second outlet channel. When the valve-closing body is in its open position, the valve piston occupies its closed position, and when the valve-closing body is in its closed position, the valve piston occupies its open position.

By means of this special valve arrangement with a special, automatically fluid-pressure-controlled first shut-off valve unit for the fluid connection from the fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet and a user-actuated second shut-off valve unit for the fluid connection to the second fluid outlet, advantages are achieved in terms of production complexity, mode of operation and/or operational reliability of the switching valve device in comparison with conventional switching valve devices of the type mentioned at the outset. The switching valve device can thus be designed without problems in such a way that the actuating force to be exerted by the user can be kept low and/or the last set valve position can be maintained when the fluid supply is stopped. This is particularly advantageous for the functional division of the switching valve into two shut-off valve units, of which only one needs to be actuated by the user, while the other is automatically operated by means of fluid pressure, i.e. switched between its open position and its closed position. The two shut-off valve units act separately on one of the two fluid connections from the fluid inlet to the first or second fluid outlet, wherein the two fluid connections are coupled to one another by the permanently open communication of the inlet chamber and the intermediate chamber to the inlet chamber, so that the fluid pressure control of the second shut-off valve unit can be carried out appropriately.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve piston is arranged to be axially movable and has a first piston end side facing the intermediate space and a second piston end side facing the inlet space, wherein the pressure contact surface of the first piston end side is greater than the pressure contact surface of the second piston end side. This is a structurally advantageous embodiment of the valve piston for the desired function of the valve piston. In a production-technically and functionally advantageous embodiment, the valve piston is arranged in a cavity in the valve housing and divides the cavity into an intermediate chamber and an inlet chamber, wherein the fluid communication between the inlet chamber and the intermediate chamber is maintained via the connecting channel. In an alternative embodiment, the inlet chamber and the intermediate chamber are formed by respective own hollow chambers in the valve housing, between which the valve piston extends.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve piston has a piston-rod-shaped projection extending axially from the second piston end side, on which projection a valve closing element is formed, which interacts with a valve seat on the housing side. In this embodiment, the first outlet passage is closed and opened by the cooperation of the valve closure member with the valve seat. In an alternative embodiment, the valve piston has a further, for example conventional, closing means with which the valve piston can selectively open and close the first outlet channel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second shut-off valve unit is a user-actuated diaphragm valve unit that is supported via a pilot valve. This embodiment of the second shut-off valve unit can advantageously help to keep the actuating force to be applied by the user small in such a way that the pilot valve supports the user when the diaphragm valve unit is actuated. In an alternative embodiment, the second shut-off valve unit is another conventional valve type, as is normally used for shut-off valves, for example one with a valve closing body that can be directly actuated by a user and interacts with a valve seat.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switching valve device comprises a pilot valve assigned to the diaphragm valve unit with an axially movable pilot valve control piston and a user-actuated pushbutton operating unit acting on the pilot valve control piston. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous embodiment for the second shut-off valve unit and for the actuating means assigned to the second shut-off valve unit to be actuated by the user. In an alternative embodiment another conventional pilot valve is provided and/or said pilot valve is provided with another user-operated means, such as an operating unit comprising an operating slide, a knob, a pivoting lever or the like acting on the pilot valve.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pushbutton actuating unit comprises a pushbutton which assumes a first switching position when the valve closing body is in its open position and a second switching position when the valve closing body is in its closed position, wherein the pushbutton has different axial positions in the two switching positions. In this embodiment of the push-button actuation unit, the user can recognize by means of the axial position of the push button whether the second stop valve unit actuated by the user is temporarily in its open position or in its closed position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the valve housing is cylindrical and of the first and second fluid outlets, one fluid outlet is located on a cylindrical circumferential section of the valve housing and the other fluid outlet is located on the first axial end face end of the valve housing. This is a structurally and functionally advantageous arrangement of the two fluid outlets on the valve housing. In alternative embodiments, the fluid outlet is arranged on the valve housing in another manner, for example both on one cylindrical circumferential section of the valve housing or on the opposite end face end of the valve housing, or the valve housing has a non-cylindrical shape, for example a spherical or cubic shape.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid inlet into the valve housing is axially between the first and second fluid outlets. This is also a functional and design-wise advantageous arrangement of the first and second fluid outlets and the fluid inlet for the respective application. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid inlet is arranged outside the region axially between the first and second fluid outlets, for example on an axial end face end of a cylindrical valve housing or at a smaller distance from this axial end face end than the first and second fluid outlets.

In one embodiment of the invention, the push button is located on a second axial end face end of the valve housing facing away from the first axial end face end. This is one advantageous positioning of the button with reference to the arrangement of the first and second fluid outlets for many applications. In an alternative embodiment, the push button is arranged on another part of the valve housing, for example on an associated cylindrical circumferential section of a cylindrical valve housing.

Drawings

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures. These and other advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a switching valve device with a cylindrical valve housing, a fluid inlet on the circumferential side, a first fluid outlet on the end side and a second fluid outlet on the circumferential side;

fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the switch valve apparatus of fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shift valve apparatus of FIG. 1 with the first fluid outlet open;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of region IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 with the second fluid outlet open; and is

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of region VI in fig. 5.

Detailed Description

The switching valve device shown in the figures, which may be a sanitary switching valve device in particular, comprises a valve housing 1, a fluid inlet 2 into the valve housing 1, an inlet chamber 3 in the valve housing 1, an intermediate chamber 4 in the valve housing 1, a first fluid outlet 5 from the valve housing 1, a second fluid outlet 6 from the valve housing 1, a first shut-off valve unit 7 and a second shut-off valve unit 8.

The fluid inlet 2 opens into an inlet chamber 3. The intermediate chamber 4 is in correspondingly maintained, uninterrupted fluid communication with the inlet chamber 3 through a permanently open connecting channel 9. The first fluid outlet 5 is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber 3 via a first, stoppable outlet channel 10. The second fluid outlet 6 is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber 4 via a second, stoppable outlet channel 11. In the intermediate chamber 4, optionally a particle screen 36 can be arranged, as in the example shown.

The first shut-off valve unit 7 is designed to be automatically controlled via the fluid pressure and serves to selectively open and close the first outlet channel 10. The second shut-off valve unit 8 is designed to be user-operated and serves to selectively open and close the second outlet channel 11.

The first shut-off valve unit 7 has a valve piston 12 which is movable by the difference of the fluid pressure acting on it, on the one hand, from the inlet chamber 3 and, on the other hand, from the intermediate chamber 4, controlled between an open position opening the first outlet duct 10 and a closed position shutting off the first outlet duct 10. The second shut-off valve unit 8 comprises a valve closing body 13 which is movable by user manipulation between an open position opening the second outlet channel 11 and a closed position shutting off the second outlet channel 11.

When the valve closing body 13 is in its open position, the valve piston 12 occupies its closed position. Fig. 5 and 6 show the switching valve arrangement in such a switching state, in which the fluid supplied at the fluid inlet 2 and entering the inlet chamber 3 therefore flows via the connecting channel 9, the intermediate chamber 4 and the open outlet channel 11 to the second fluid outlet 6 and can exit there from the valve housing 1, as is symbolically illustrated in fig. 6 by the associated fluid flow arrow F2. Conversely, the first outlet channel 10 is blocked by the valve piston 12, so that no fluid enters the first fluid outlet 5 from the inlet chamber 3.

When the valve closing body 13 is in its closed position, the valve piston 12 assumes its open position. Fig. 3 and 4 show the switching valve device in this switching state. Fluid, for example water, which enters the inlet chamber 3 via the fluid inlet 2 flows in this case via the open first outlet channel 10 to the first fluid outlet 5 and can exit there from the valve housing 1, as is illustrated in fig. 4 by the fluid flow arrows F1. Although fluid can also enter the intermediate chamber 4 from the inlet chamber 3 via the open connecting channel 9, it can no longer continue from there to the second fluid outlet 6, since the valve closing body 13 blocks the second outlet channel 11.

The switching valve device shown can be switched between these two switching states. For this purpose, the second shut-off valve unit 8 is provided for a user-operable switching into its respective other valve position, i.e. the user can operate the second shut-off valve unit 8 in order to be able to move its valve closing body 13 from its open position into its closed position or from its closed position into its open position. The first shut-off valve unit 7 is provided for automatically moving its valve piston 12 from its closed position into its open position or from its open position into its closed position under fluid pressure control.

When the second shut-off valve unit 8 remains closed to the second outlet channel 11, fluid is accumulated in the intermediate chamber 4 and the valve piston 12 is pressed into its open position, which opens the first outlet channel 10, by this dynamic pressure in the intermediate chamber 4. For this purpose, the fluid pressure from the intermediate chamber 4 to the valve piston 12 is greater than the fluid pressure from the inlet chamber 3 to the valve piston 12. This can be achieved, for example, in that the valve piston 12 has a greater effective pressure contact surface towards the intermediate chamber 4 than towards the inlet chamber 3. When the second shut-off valve unit 8 holds the second outlet channel 11 open, fluid can flow out of the intermediate chamber 4 via the second fluid outlet 6, whereby a lower fluid pressure exists in the intermediate chamber 4 than in the inlet chamber 3, so that the fluid pressure in the inlet chamber 3 presses the valve piston 12 into its closed position, which shuts off the first outlet channel 10. The fluid difference between the inlet chamber 3 and the intermediate chamber 4, which is required for a safe, reliable, automatic switching function of the first shut-off valve unit 7, can be set appropriately, if necessary, in terms of its position and/or the dimensioning of its effective flow cross section by corresponding realization of the connecting channel 9.

In this way, the first shut-off valve unit 7 automatically controls, via the fluid pressure, the switching behavior thereof, which follows the user-actuated switching behavior of the second shut-off valve unit 8. No user manipulation is required to intervene on the first shut-off valve unit 7. By dividing the switching valve arrangement into two separate shut-off valve units 7, 8, it is possible to optimize, individually and independently of one another, two fluid flow paths from the fluid inlet 3 on the one hand to the first fluid outlet 5 and from the fluid inlet 3 on the other hand to the second fluid outlet 6, if required.

In an advantageous embodiment, as in the example shown, the valve piston 12 is axially movable, that is to say is arranged movably parallel to the piston longitudinal axis KL and has a first piston end side 12a facing the intermediate space 4 and a second piston end side 12b facing the inlet space 3. The pressure contact surface on the first piston end side 12a is greater than the pressure contact surface on the second piston end side 12 b. In the example shown, the two piston end sides 12a, 12b, although having the same, circular outer dimensions, project from the second piston end side 12b with an axially extending projection 14, the lateral dimensions of which do not provide a pressure contact surface for the fluid located in the inlet chamber 3.

In a design-friendly embodiment, as in the example shown, the valve piston 12 is arranged in a cavity 34 in the valve housing 1 and divides the cavity 34 into the intermediate chamber 4 and the inlet chamber 3. Fluid communication between the inlet chamber 3 and the intermediate chamber 4 is maintained by the connecting channel 9. In an alternative embodiment, the inlet chamber 3 and the intermediate chamber 4 are formed by separate hollow chambers within the valve housing 1, wherein the valve piston can then extend from one hollow chamber to the other as a double piston with a piston rod and two single-sided single pistons, for example.

In an advantageous embodiment, the already mentioned projection 14 extends in the axial direction in a piston-like manner from the second piston end side 12b and has a valve closing member 15. On the housing side, in this case a corresponding valve seat 16 is provided, with which the valve closing element 15 of the projection 14 interacts. The valve seat 16 can, for example, have a frustoconical seat surface against which a correspondingly frustoconical valve closing surface and/or a valve sealing ring 17 of the valve closing element 15 can bear in a fluid-tight manner.

In an advantageous embodiment, the second shut-off valve unit 8 is realized as a user-operated diaphragm valve unit supported via a pilot valve as in the embodiment shown. The switching valve device comprises, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, a pilot valve 18, which is assigned to the diaphragm valve unit and has an axially movable pilot piston 19, and a user-actuated pushbutton operating unit 20 acting on the pilot piston 19. This embodiment of the second shut-off valve unit 8 is particularly suitable for keeping the actuating force to be applied by the user for switching the switching valve device low and for achieving a high level of operating comfort for the user. In a design-friendly embodiment, the second shut-off valve unit 8 is in the form of a user-actuated diaphragm valve unit supported via a pilot valve and the push-button actuation unit 20 is integrated into a cylindrical valve cartridge 21 as in the example shown.

The valve cartridge 21 can be integrated with other components as can be seen from the exploded view of fig. 2 into the switching valve arrangement in the exemplary embodiment shown. In particular, in this embodiment, among these components are: a housing sleeve 22 accommodating the valve cartridge 21, the housing sleeve forming the second fluid outlet 6 together with the valve cartridge 21; a lower housing end sleeve 23, on which the fluid inlet 2 is formed on the circumferential side and from which the first fluid outlet 5 emerges in the axial direction; and an upper housing terminal sleeve 24, which holds the valve cartridge 21 securely in the receiving sleeve 22. Furthermore, fig. 2 shows the valve piston 12, a clamping ring 25, various O-rings 26, an annular inlet screen 27 for the fluid inlet 2, the valve sealing ring 17 and a terminal nut 28 to be screwed onto the valve piston protrusion 14.

In a corresponding embodiment, the pushbutton operating unit 20 comprises, as in the illustrated embodiment, a pushbutton 29 which occupies a first switching position 29a, as can be seen in fig. 5, when the valve-closing body 13 is in its open position, and a second switching position 29b, as can be seen in fig. 3, when the valve-closing body 13 is in its closed position. The push button 29 has a different axial position in the two switch positions 29a, 29 b. As can be seen from a comparison of fig. 3 and 5, in the first switching position 29a, the push button 29 projects axially away from the end face of the valve housing 1 by a height distance Da shown in fig. 5, while in the second switching position 29b it projects axially upward away from this housing end face by a height distance Db which is smaller than the height distance Da. The user can thus very easily recognize by means of the axial position of the push button 29 relative to the valve housing 1 whether the second shut-off valve unit 8 is in its open position or its closed position of the valve closing body 13, that is to say whether the switching valve device is temporarily in its state closing the first fluid outlet 5 and opening the second fluid outlet 6 or in its state opening the first fluid outlet 5 and closing the second fluid outlet.

For the construction of the second shut-off valve unit 8 of the diaphragm valve unit designed for user-manipulation via pilot valve support and for the construction of the push-button operating unit 20, respectively, any conventional construction type known per se to the person skilled in the art can be used. For this purpose, the present applicant's corresponding mass-produced shut-off valve device and a design of the type known, for example, also from the above-mentioned DE 102012221043 a1 are used in the example shown, so that a more detailed explanation thereof is not necessary here. In this type of construction, the transmission of force from the push button 29 to the pilot valve piston 19 takes place magnetically, for which purpose a magnet 35 is arranged on the inner end face end of the push button operating unit 20. The valve closing body 13 is held on a diaphragm 30 which surrounds it on the edge side and is provided with a central balancing bore 31 which can be closed off by the end face end of the pilot valve piston 19. The various spring elements are responsible for appropriately pre-tensioning the components loaded by these spring elements. A pilot valve bore 32 extends through the valve closing body 13 or the diaphragm 30 in order to connect the intermediate chamber 4 with a pilot valve chamber 33 which is to some extent an extension of the intermediate chamber 4. A smaller diameter cleaning needle may optionally extend through the pilot valve bore 32 to prevent plugging of the pilot valve bore 32. The push button operating unit 20 may for example comprise suitable switching means of the type according to the ball point pen switch principle, as known per se to the person skilled in the art.

When the user actuates the pushbutton operating unit 20, for example, from the switching state of the valve arrangement according to fig. 3, the pushbutton 29 is first moved forward and then moved back past the axial end position of the pushbutton, as a result of which the pilot valve piston 19 is moved back by the magnet 35, that is to say away from the valve closing body 13, so that fluid can flow out of the pilot valve chamber 33 through the balancing bore 31. The fluid pressure on the valve-closing body 13 is thereby reduced, which results in the valve-closing body 13 moving into its open position, which opens the second outlet channel 11 according to fig. 5. This opens a fluid connection from the intermediate chamber 4 to the second fluid outlet 6, whereby the valve piston 12 is automatically moved from its open position according to fig. 3 into its closed position according to fig. 5 and blocks the first fluid outlet 5 relative to the inlet chamber 3 as explained above.

When the user actuates the pushbutton operating unit 20 from the switching valve device in the switching state according to fig. 5, the pushbutton 29 is moved forward first and carries along the pilot piston 19, which thereby moves the valve closing body 13 into its closed position and blocks the balancing bore 31. Fluid may flow into the pilot valve chamber 33 through the pilot valve bore 32. The push button 29 is moved back again approximately immediately after the user releases the push button until the push button reaches its final position of fig. 3. The valve closing body 13 remains in its closed position until the user actuates the button 29 again. The fluid can no longer flow out through the second outlet channel 11, so that a dynamic pressure head is generated in the intermediate space 4, by means of which the valve piston 12 is automatically moved into its open position according to fig. 3, as explained above.

In the corresponding embodiment, the valve housing 1 of the switching valve device is cylindrical, as in the exemplary embodiment shown, with a longitudinal center axis VL, and of the first and second fluid outlets 5, 6, one is located on the cylindrical circumferential section 1a of the valve housing 1 and the other is located on the first axial end face end 1b of the valve housing 1. In the example shown in detail, the second fluid outlet 6 is located on the cylindrical circumferential section 1a and the first fluid outlet 5 is located on the axial end face end 1b, the opposite being true in the alternative embodiment.

In the respective embodiment, the fluid inlet 2 is axially between the first fluid outlet 5 and the second fluid outlet 6 as in the illustrated embodiment. The fluid inlet may alternatively be arranged outside the axial region between the two fluid outlets 5, 6.

In the corresponding embodiment, the push button 29 is located, as in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, on a second end face end 1c of the valve housing 1 facing away from the first end face end 1b of the valve housing. The push button 29 may alternatively be located on the same end face end of the valve housing 1 as the first or second fluid outlet 5, 6 or the fluid inlet 2, or the push button 29 may be located on an associated cylindrical circumferential section of the valve housing 1. In the example shown, the push button 29 is arranged with a push button longitudinal axis which is flush with the longitudinal mid axis VL of the valve housing 1. The button alternatives may be arranged eccentrically. The pilot valve piston 19 can likewise be arranged flush with this longitudinal axis VL or alternatively eccentrically, the same description also applying to the valve piston 12 or the projection 14 thereof.

As is apparent from the exemplary embodiments shown and described above, the present invention provides a switching valve device which offers advantages over conventional switching valve devices, in particular with regard to the mode of operation, the production effort and/or the operational reliability.

The invention is not limited to switching valve arrangements with exactly two fluid outlets, but also switching valve arrangements which, in addition to the first and second fluid outlets, also have one or more further fluid outlets between which a selective switching of the fluid communication of the fluid inlet is possible, wherein the switching valve arrangement then accordingly has more than two switching states.

The switching valve arrangement according to the invention can be used in particular in hygiene engineering, for example for switching fluids in bathtub outlets, shower faucets and kitchen faucets.