Multiway valve

Abstract

A multiway valve contains a housing having several inlets and outlets and a chamber. Several seats are provided and each is respectively associated with one inlet or one outlet. A closure element is provided which can move between the seats and at least one actuator is provided in the form of an element made of a form memory alloy, able to displace the closure element from one of the seats when heating occurs. A spring element presses the closure element against each respective seat that it engages.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A multiway valve, comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet and a plurality of outlets and at least one common chamber formed therein;    a plurality of seats each associated with one of said inlet or said outlets;    a closing member movable between said seats and disposed in said housing;    at least one actuator being an element formed of a form memory alloy, said element being capable, under heating, to displace said closing member onto one of said seats; and    a spring element for pressing said closing member against each of said seats occupied by said closing member in each case.    
   
   
       18 . The multiway valve according to  claim 17 , wherein said spring element is a leaf spring.  
   
   
       19 . The multiway valve according to  claim 18 , wherein said spring element has a plurality of stable positions, and said spring element presses said closing member against one of said seats in each of the stable positions.  
   
   
       20 . The multiway valve according to  claim 17 , wherein said closing member is movable between two of said seats facing one another, and said spring element is capable of assuming two stable positions, said spring element having a convex curvature facing one of said seats in each of the stable positions.  
   
   
       21 . A multiway valve, comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet and a plurality of outlets and at least one common chamber formed therein;    a plurality of seats each associated with one of said inlet or said outlets;    a closing member movable between said seats and disposed in said housing;    at least one actuator being an element formed of a form memory alloy, said element being capable, under heating, to displace said closing member onto one of said seats;    a spring element for pressing said closing member against each of said seats occupied by said closing member in each case;    said housing has a sidewall with one of said seats disposed therein; and    said spring element and said actuator are accommodated in said common chamber, said actuator is disposed between said sidewall of said housing and said spring element.    
   
   
       22 . The multiway valve according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said housing has sidewalls; and    two of said seats are disposed in diametrically opposite side walls of said housing.    
   
   
       23 . A multiway valve, comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet and a plurality of outlets and at least one common chamber formed therein;    a plurality of seats each associated with one of said inlet or said outlets;    a closing member movable between said seats and disposed in said housing;    at least one actuator being an element formed of a form memory alloy, said element being capable, under heating, to displace said closing member onto one of said seats;    a spring element for pressing said closing member against each of said seats occupied by said closing member in each case; and    an electrical heating device connected to said actuator for selective heating of said actuator.    
   
   
       24 . The multiway valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said heating device is a heating resistor extending on a surface of said actuator.  
   
   
       25 . The multiway valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said heating device can be cooled in direct contact by a fluid flowing through the valve.  
   
   
       26 . The multiway valve according to  claim 23 , wherein said heating device is disposed outside of said housing.