IP Library Granted Patent US 8,869,833
Granted Patent B2
US 8,869,833 · App. 13/736,312 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Water diverter assembly for a water filter

Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer (LaGrange, KY)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F16K11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,869,833
App. No.
13/736,312
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water diverter assembly is provided. The water diverter assembly includes a valve and a selecting mechanism. The selecting mechanism permits adjustment of the valve. Such adjustment can selectively direct a flow of filtered water or a flow of unfiltered water through the valve. The water diverter assembly also includes an auxiliary filtered water connection.

Claims (32)

1. A water diverter assembly for a water filter, the water diverter assembly defining a vertical direction, the water diverter assembly comprising:

a support stand having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface positioned opposite the upper surface;

a three way valve mounted to said support stand adjacent the lower surface of said support stand, said three way valve having a filtered water inlet, an unfiltered water inlet, and an outlet, said three way valve selectively adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the filtered water inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet in the first configuration, the unfiltered water inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet in the second configuration;

a selecting mechanism mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand, said selecting mechanism being in mechanical communication with said three way valve in order to selectively adjust said three way valve between the first and second configurations; and

an auxiliary filtered water connection mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand, said auxiliary filtered water connection being in fluid communication with filtered water inlet of said three way valve.

2. The water diverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein said selecting mechanism comprises a knob rotatably mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand.

3. The water diverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary filtered water connection comprises a stop valve.

4. The water diverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein said three way valve comprises a three port ball valve.

5. The water diverter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a stem that extends between said three way valve and said selecting mechanism in order to couple said three way valve and said selecting mechanism together such that said selecting mechanism selectively actuates said three way valve.

6. The water diverter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bypass joint that defines a bypass entrance, a bypass outlet, and a bypass exit, the bypass exit positioned at the filtered water inlet of said three way valve.

7. The water diverter assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a conduit that extends between the bypass outlet of said bypass joint and said auxiliary filtered water connection.

8. A water diverter assembly for a water filter, the water diverter assembly comprising:

a support stand having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of said support stand positioned opposite the upper surface of said support stand;

a valve mounted to said support stand adjacent the lower surface of said support stand, said valve having a filtered water inlet, an unfiltered water inlet, and an outlet, the outlet being in selective fluid communication with either the filtered water inlet or the unfiltered water;

a selecting mechanism mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand, said selecting mechanism configured for selectively adjusting said valve in order to place the outlet of said valve in fluid communication with either the filtered water inlet or the unfiltered water depending upon the type of water selected; and

an auxiliary filtered water connection mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand, said auxiliary filtered water connection being in fluid communication with filtered water inlet of said valve.

9. The water diverter assembly of claim 8 , wherein said selecting mechanism comprises a knob rotatably mounted to said support stand adjacent the upper surface of said support stand.

10. The water diverter assembly of claim 8 , wherein said auxiliary filtered water connection comprises a stop valve.

11. The water diverter assembly of claim 8 , wherein said valve comprises a three port ball valve.

12. The water diverter assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a stem that extends between said valve and said selecting mechanism in order to couple said valve and said selecting mechanism together such that said selecting mechanism selectively actuates said valve.

13. The water diverter assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a bypass joint that defines a bypass entrance, a bypass outlet, and a bypass exit, the bypass exit positioned at the filtered water inlet of said valve.

14. The water diverter assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a conduit that extends between the bypass outlet of said bypass joint and said auxiliary filtered water connection.

15. A water diverter assembly for a water filter, the water diverter assembly comprising:

a support stand configured for resting on a top surface of a countertop when the water diverter is mounted to the countertop;

a valve mounted to said support stand, said valve having a filtered water inlet, an unfiltered water inlet, and an outlet, the outlet being in selective fluid communication with either the filtered water inlet or the unfiltered water, said valve configured for being positioned below a bottom surface of the countertop when the water diverter is mounted to the countertop;

a selecting mechanism mounted to said support stand, said selecting mechanism configured for selectively adjusting said valve in order to place the outlet of said valve in fluid communication with either the filtered water inlet or the unfiltered water depending upon the type of water selected, said selecting mechanism configured for being positioned above the top surface of the countertop when the water diverter is mounted to the countertop; and

an auxiliary filtered water connection mounted to said support stand, said auxiliary filtered water connection being in fluid communication with filtered water inlet of said valve, said auxiliary filtered water connection configured for being positioned above the top surface of the countertop when the water diverter is mounted to the countertop.

16. The water diverter assembly of claim 15 , wherein said selecting mechanism comprises a knob rotatably mounted to said support stand.

17. The water diverter assembly of claim 15 , wherein said auxiliary filtered water connection comprises a stop valve.

18. The water diverter assembly of claim 15 , wherein said valve comprises a three port ball valve.

19. The water diverter assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a stem that extends between said valve and said selecting mechanism in order to couple said valve and said selecting mechanism together such that said selecting mechanism selectively actuates said valve, said stem extend through the countertop when the water diverter is mounted to the countertop.

20. The water diverter assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a bypass joint that defines a bypass entrance, a bypass outlet, and a bypass exit, the bypass exit positioned at the filtered water inlet of said valve, and a conduit that extends between the bypass outlet of said bypass joint and said auxiliary filtered water connection.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038969/0813 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2013
From: SHAFFER, TIMOTHY SCOTT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029586/0779 →
Continuity (1)
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