CA1080902A - Flushing means - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An improved flushing device is disclosed for use in tanks such as are used for flushing toilets. The flushing device has an inlet means including an improved two-stage valve which uses inlet line pressure in operating each of the two stages. A float is movably mounted on an inlet fixture for use in controlling the tank filling operation with a lever operatively coupling the float to the first stage of the valve.
An improved flushing valve has a conical sealing washer and a vertical hollow overflow tube including a bowl filling aperture which cooperates with a liquid operated variable buoyancy means on the float.

Description

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Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a flushing device and more particularly to a flushing device for use in tanks for flushing toilets.
The flushing device, in accordance with the present invention, is an improvement over various well-known flushing devices, It provides a positively acting and reliable flushing action in a simplifîed structure employing a minimum number of parts most of which are readily mo~ from plastic.
, ~ There are scores of prior flushing device designs 1~ which utilize various combinations of water inlet control elements which cooperate with tank flushing valves, Most of these prior flushing devices are based upon the use of relatively j ~ large and comple~ inlet valve arrangements employing interconnected ~ i float controls together with correspondingly complicated and -~
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~ ~' expensive flushing valve and bowl leveling means, The flushing ~ ~
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~, davlce of the present invention incorporates a relatively simple and reliable inlet valve adapted for having its principal ; ~ portions formed of plastic and further having a two stage valve -` action using inlet water pressure for the second stage shut-off, A cooperating flushing valve, similarly adapted for being formed ~:, of plastic, i9 positive in action and in combination with the tank inlet valve includes a novel bowl leveling means.

Accordingly, an object of the pre~ent invention is to provide an improved and simplified tank flushing device.
Another object o the present invention is to ` provide a tank flushing device combining simplicity with assured ~., :.'`" 1 ~, , .. , ~ ~ ~ ,; , . . .

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positive action and which is adapted for being manufactured almost completely from ~olded plastic.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved flushing device having a novel two stage fluid control valve which is operated at least in part by the pressure of the controlled fluid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a float controlled filling device wherein the float has a differing degree of buoyancy for differing portions of the filling cycle.
Another object of the present invention i9 to , ; provide an improved flush valve for a flushing device with a ~ ~;
friction mounting means adapted for use with a wide variety of tank configurations.
' Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable flush valve for a flushing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bowl leveling means in a filling means.
Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or wlll be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
Brief Description of the rawings A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is !~' shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the ~ specification, wherein:
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FIG, 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a flushing device in accordance with - the present invention shown in its steady state condition .
' preparatory to a flushing cycle.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional detai?~é~, views illustrating the fluid inlet valve for the flushing device of the present invention in its closed and opened positions, respectively.
~- ~ FIGS. 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views of the ~ ~
10 inlet valve and control float in closed and opened positions, -, respectively.
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FIGS. 6 through 10 are vertical sectional views of the flushing device illustrating the several phases o~ a -~

, flushing cycle.

Description of the Preferred ~mbodiment ~, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical toilet flush tank 1 ~-~ incorporating a flushing means 2 in accordance with the present ~ : .
, invention. The tank 1 i9 illustrated in its filled or steady state condition preparatory to a flushing cycle. The water inlet : . .
~ 20 assembly 3 is illustrated at the right side of the tank 1. The ,~ , inlet assembly 3 includes a float 4 for inlet valve operation slldably mounted on the upper end of the inlet fitting 5. As ;~ will be more ~ully described below, the float 4 controls the . -, , ~ water inlet assembly 3 during a flushing cycle in accordance i: ' with the level of the water in the tank 1.
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;` Described generally7 the flushing operation is ; initiated by manipulation of the flush handle 6 which is turned to raise the left end (FIG. 1) of the flushing lever 7 together : !

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with the flush valve 8 which is pivotally attached at 9 to the lever 7. Raising the flush valve 8 opens the flush outlet 10 permitting the water to drain downwardly through the outlet 10 to a connected toilet bowl to cause the usual siphon or overflow flushing therein. The lowering water level in the tank 1 causes the slidably mounted float 4 to drop on the inlet fitting 5 opening an inlet valve 11 to start the tank 1 refilling. After being ., .
initially raised to start the flushing action, the flush valve 8 floats on the tank water and drops with the falling water level ; ~ 10 to the point where its sealing gasket 12 reseals the tank outlet 10.
Water continues to flow inwardly through the opened inlet valve ~ 11 filling the tank 1 and raising the float 4 upwardly to its inlet -e valve 11 closing position. This position occurs when the level of the water in the tank 1 has risen somewhat above the lower edge of the bowl leveling slot 13 in the hollow flush valve 8 tube 14.
With the inlet water cut off, the water level in the tank 1 now falls to a level corresponding to the bottom of the bowl leveling ~ ~ slot 13 while the float 4 remains elevated with the inlet valve 11 ; closed preparatory to the initiation of another flush cycle.
,, The preferred embodiments of the water inlet assembly 3 and the flush valve 8 will now be described in greater detail.
., The Tank Water Inlet Assembly FIGS. 2 through 5 illustrate details of the preferred $
;~ inlet as~embly 3. The inlet assembly 3 includes the inlet fitting ;; 5 (FIGS. 4 and 5) mounted vertically Ln the tank 1 in an inlet aperture 15 in the tank 1 bottom 16. The inlet fit~ing 5 includes ~,~ radial ~lange~ 17 positioned abo~e a threaded portion 18. A
nut 19 completes a watertight mounting of the inlet fitting 5 ~ .
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~ 2 on the tank bottom 16 by tightly fastening the inlet fitting 5 in the aperture 15 on a resilient annular sealing washer 20.
. ~ The reinforcing flanges 17 on the lower portion of the inlet fitting 5 include float 4 stop surfaces 21. The .
inlet valve 11 is tightly fastened to the top of the inlet fitting 5 by a suitable threaded or welded connection at 22. A
:` valve operating lever 23 is pivotally mounted at 24 on the valve 11 for control by the floa~ 4. The float 4 includes a cylindrical inner sleeve 25 which slidably mounts it on the inlet fitting 5 10 for movement by the tank water between a ra~sed or valve closed ~.
postion, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a lowered or valve open postion as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. The float 4 has a cylindrical ou~er shell 26 connected by an airt~ghti 1ange 27 to the inner sleeve 25 which combine to form an air ` chanber beneath a central b~llast member 28. Trapped air in this open bottomed cha~ber causes the float 4 to rise to its ,, valve shut-off postion as wa~er r~ses in the flush tank 1.
, The weight of the ba~t member 28 is adjusted to control the . floating level of the float 4 to provide the valve shut-off at ; 20 a désired level of tank water in a manner to be described below.

. A ~loat cover 29 i9 attached to the float ou~er sleeve 26 by suitable raised tabs 30 and the under surface of the ~loat cover 29 provides a camming surface for engaging the above referred to :~
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` valve operating lever 23q~ Water flowing from the valve 11 when . ~ . .
~: it is opened accumulates in the chamber 40 above the flange 27 . :~

. and p~ses through the openings 31 at the float cover 29 as well . . as downwardly between the inner float sleeve 25 and the inlet . ~ fitting 5.

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The operation of the inle~ valve 11 will now be described with particular reference to detailed FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 illustrates the inlet valve 11 in i~s closed position corresponding to the filled tank situation~ as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6. The float 4 has been raised by the water 32 in the tank 1 causing the interrelated inlet valve 11 to close. The cover 29 of the float is illustrated in its floating or raised position spaced upwardly from the top of the inlet valve 11 (FIG. 4) with the valve operating lever 23 also in its raised or closed position. The lever 23 swings freely on the pivot 24 as, in its preferred form, it includes a counter-balancing portion 33 opposite to the float engaging portion, When the float top 29 has been lifted by the tank water 32, its downward force is removed from the lever 23 and the lever 23 tends to swing its ball engaging projection 34 upwardly by the action of the couterbalancing portion 33. This permits the valve ball 35 to be forced upwardly within the inlet valve cavity 36 against its seal 37 in outlet 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. The pressure of the inlet water 39 passing through an aperture 46 in a flexible valve diaphragm 41 tends to move and to hold the ball 35 in this ra~sed and shut position. Water 39 in the cavity 36 above the diaphragm 41 is trapped causing its pressure to increase to the inlet pressure and the diaphragm 41 to flex downwardly against the lower sealing surface 42 of the inlet valve cavity 36. The flecible diaphragm 41 i9 g~ipped between the upper valve body portion 43 and the lower valve body portion :: :
44 which is attached at 22 to the inlet fitting 5. When the ~;~ diaphragm 41 is in its downward or shut-off position, it seats ~! - . : .

against the lower sealing surface 42 closing off the several valve outlet ports 45 pro~ided in the lower valve body portîon 44.
The float 4 characteristics are se~ in combination with those of the inlet valve 11 operating lever 23 to permit the ball 35 to seat at a desired tank water level. As will be described more fully below, this inlet shut-off level is slightly above the final or steady state water tank level thereby permitting a toilet bowl leveling action.
FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate the lnlet valve 11 in its open or tank filling position, The valve 11 is opened to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 by the action of the ;
float 4 on the operating lever 23 during a flushing operation.
The lowering of the water in the flush tank 1 after the flush valve 8 is opened causes the float 4 and its top 29 to drop ~, downwardly to the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 causing a corresponding downward movement of the projection 34 on the inlet valve ope~ating lever 23. The projection 34 pushe~ the ;~
ball 35 downwardly and clear of the seat 37. Water in the valve cavity 36 above the diaphragm 41 now flows upwardly through ~, , the outlet 38 releasing the downward fluid pressure on the diaphragm 41 and exposing the lower surface of the diaphragm 41 ``
to the pressure of the incoming water. The water pres~ure in , I
~ the inlet fitting 5 holds the diaphragm 41 in its raised position '~ as only a small water flow passes through the diaphragm aperture . !
46. The principal water flow through the inlet fitting 5 passes .. . .
~`~ outwardly through the several valve outlet ports 45 and thence through the float 4 into the tankul. The inlet valve 11 remains .

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9 ~2 in this open position until the float 4 is raised by the filling of the tank 1 to the level where the ball 35 is again . forced against its seat 37 as permitted by the rising valve .
operating lever 23, . The operation of the tank flushing valve 8 and .. its cooperation with the above described inlet valve 11 and float 4 action will now be described with particular reference : to FIGS. 6 through 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates the tank 1 in its filled ~
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'. 10 preflush or steady state condition ready for a flushing cycle.
The float 4 is raised by the water level with its top 29 ~ spaced upwardly from the inlet valve 11 causing the ball 35 :' to be in its shut-off position as shown in FIG. 2. -~
: The flushi~g valve 8 comprises the vertically oriented hollow tube 14 which has its upper end pivotally -connected at 9 to the flushing lever 7. The tank 1ushing handle ;~-6 is pivotally mounted on the tank 1 wall so that couterclockwise ~: rotation (FIG. 6) of the handle 6 lifts the lever 7 and its ~~? `j interconnected flush valve tube 14. A resilient conical gasket ~: ~ . ,.;, ':
12 is mounted on the lower end of the tube 14 for engagement with . the generally cylindrical plastic valve seat 47 in the tank outlet ~:~ 10. The va~lve seat 47 i9 held in position by a resilient mounting ring 48 which also seals the tank outlet against leakage. A

. float 49 adjustably positioned on the flushing valve tube 14 ~ ~
,., ~:~ controls the termination of the tank 1 draining operation. Once . :~

~: . the gasket 12 on the flush valve tube 14 has been lifted clear : .
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~ of the tank outlet 10, as illustrated in FIG, 7, the release of ~ ~ .
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the unbalanced water pressure on the valve gasket 12 permits ; the entire flush valve 8 to float in the tank water as the water drains through the ou~let 10. This floating action holds the gasket 12 above the outlet 10 until the level of the tank water drops to the point illustrated in FIG. 8, where the gaQket 12 again reseals the tank outlet 10 or valve seat 47. This ; occurs while water is flowing into the tank 1 through the opened inlet valve 11. The water rises in the tank 1 as its pressure holds the gasket 12 closed and the tube 14 down due to the ; ; 10 large area of the gasket 12 exposed to the water pressure within the tank 1, The watericontinues to rise in the tank until it moves the float 4 to its valve closing position already described and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.
~ ` The float 4 is designed and its b~last 28 set so ¦ that th~ inlet valve 11 closing position occurs with the level ; of tank water above its final position as shown in FIG. 6 by the line 50, This temporarily increased water height in the tank 1 provides the water to relevel the toilet bowl after the s bowl has been drained by the prior flush action. The bowl 20 leveling water drains down into the toilet bowl through the hollow flush valve tube 14 through a slot 13 provided in the tube 14 for this purpose. The lower edge of the slot 13 is positioned to cut off the leveling flow when sufficient water has flowed down into the toilet bowl. In place of the slot 13, an aperture may be provided in the tube 14 wall at the desired cut-off level.
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The ~ube 14 also acts as a tank overflow means.
~; ~he novel construction of the float 4 which uses the water in-flow to improve float movement and to facilitate .~ g :s .,;
.~ , the above described bowl leveling action will now be described.
; As seen in FIG. 2, the inlet water being fed into the tank 1 through the inlet valve 11 flows downwardly through the valve outlets 45 into the hollow upper portion or chamber 40 of the 10at 4. The water flows downwardly from chamber 40 between the inner float sleeve 25 and the inlet fitting 5 at a rate which permits an accumulation of water in the float chamber 40. Excess water then flows out of the top of chamber 40 through apertures 31. The added weight of th~s water stabilizes the float 4 action and holdss the float 4 down in its valve opened position during the initial flush and the start of the tank refilling period. Due to the co~inuing inflow of water through the inlet valve 11, un~il valve cut-off, water remains in this chamber 40 as the float 4 moves upwardly to its valve closing pssition as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, and as the level o~ the water in the tank rises to its maximum or cut-off at line 50. Ars the water level in the tank 1 now drops during the above described bowl filling operation through slot 13, water also drains out of float chamber 40 causing it to empty. This emptying of the float ~ 20 chamber 40 increases the float 4 buoyancy and holds the float 4 firmly in its raised valve closed position even though the level . . , ~ of the water in the tank now drops from its maximum postion to '~ its final normal level position illustra~ed at ~1 in FIG. 6.
~-i The amount of water employed in the flush may be controlled by ad~usting the position of the float 49 on the flush valve tube 14. The float~ for example, may be frictionally mounted on the tube 14. For a large volume of flush water, the ., ,~ . .
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float is positioned close to the flush valve as illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 6-8. Should a lesser amount of water be desirab~e in the flushing operation, the float 49 may be adjusted upwardly to the desired position such as the raised position illustra~ed in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this position, the float 49 would permit an earlier closing of the flush valve 8 leaving a larger amount of water within~ the tank as illustrated by FIG. 9 showing a half tank flush with the flush valve 8 open and FIG. 10 showing the gasket 12 reseating to stop tank drainage at the one-half full level.
It will be seen that a simplified and reliable flushing means has been provided for a toilet tank. The means includes a minimum number of parts with most of the principal parts being adapted for being formed from molded plastic. A
positively acting and adjustable flushing means is provided which is durable and efficient and which may be manufactured at a relative low cost. The improved system, with -minimum number ~ , , . of working parts also provides a flushing system which is relatively main~enance free and which has a long working life.
As various changes may be made in the -Eorm, con-struction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein i9 to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An improved fluid control means for a flushing tank comprising the combination of:
an inlet fitting adapted for being coupled to a source of liquid under pressure and for being mounted within the tank;
a float movably mounted on said inlet fitting for movement between raised and lowered positions responsive to the level of liquid in the tank;
an inlet valve having a valve cavity including a plurality of outlet ports and first and second shut-off means positioned within said cavity;
said first valve shut-off means comprising a valve seat in one of said outlet ports and a port sealing ball movably mounted within said cavity for movement off of said seat by float coupling means and against said seat by the force of liquid flowing through said one port;
means operatively coupling said float to said ball for moving said ball from a closed to an opened position at said one port against the pressure of liquid on said cavity;
said second shut-off means comprising a disc-like flexible diaphragm positioned within said valve cavity and operable to open and close a second of said ports by the liquid pressure in said cavity in response to the position of said ball;
said float including a liquid chamber communicating with the said outlet ports and having a fluid drain in said liquid chamber permitting drainage therefrom giving said float a varying bouyancy;
a flushing valve for the flushing tank comprising a hollow tube and means for movably mounting said tube in said tank;
a sealing washer mounted on a lower portion of said tube for engaging and sealing a tank outlet;

float means on said tube;
said mounting means for said tube including means for lifting the tube to a floating position in liquid in said tank; and a bowl leveling aperture in the upper portion of said hollow tube for bowl leveling drain-down while said liquid chamber in said float is draining and said tube is sealing the tank outlet.

2. The fluid inlet means as claimed in claim 1 in which said mounting means for said hollow tube comprises a flushing lever pivotally attached to said tube for moving said tube both upwardly and downwardly whereby it may be used both for starting and stopping the tank flush.