Valve assembly with water dispersing and spreading system

Abstract

A valve assembly with a water dispersing and spreading system preferrable for use in drip-type beverage maker comprising a housing having a passage extending therethrough with the passage having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat therebetween. A thermostatic dish-shaped snap-acting bimetallic disk constitutes the valve member and is positioned in the passage in engagement with the valve seat thereby to block communication through the passage while in the first curvature position and while in the second curvature position to move clear of the valve seat to permit the flow of fluid therepast. The disk is movable from the first curvature position to the second and back again upon changes in temperature of the disk. A spring member biases the disk toward the valve seat in sealing engagement when the disk is in its first curvature position. An abutment in the housing engageable by the center portion of the disk as the disk moves to its second position insures that the periphery of the disk moves clear of the valve seat. In communication with the outlet passage, a plurality of outwardly curved channels are formed in the housing with a dispersing disk centrally blocking the outlet and thereby forcing the flow of fluid through the channels in a radially outward direction.