CA2518168A1

CA2518168A1 - Flush valve diaphragm filter

Info

Publication number: CA2518168A1
Application number: CA 2518168
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hao-Yao Hsiao
Original assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Current assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp
Priority date: 2005-09-06
Filing date: 2005-09-06
Publication date: 2007-03-06

Abstract

A flush valve diaphragm filter has a filter body forming a recess section for being assembled to a diaphragm. The filter body defines a main passageway longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of branch passageways transverse therethrough. The branch passageways communicate with the main passageway, and have diameters smaller than the diameter of the main passageway. The flush valve diaphragm filter effectively decreases the ratio of fluid passage being fully clogged, and guides strip-like fibre and lichens to the exterior. Correspondingly, the water filtering function is enhanced.

Description

SPECIFICATION
FLUSH VALVE DIAPHRAGM FILTER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001 ) The present invention relates to a flush valve diaphragm filter, and particularly to a flush valve diaphragm filter used in sanitation equipment, like urinals and water closets, for filtering water thereby preventing particulates from clogging water passageways.

2. RELATED ART
[0002) Flush valve diaphragms are often mounted on sanitation equipment like urinals and water closets. As shown in Fig. l, the flush valve 8 has a diaphragm 80 sealing off a central passageway 810 of a barrel section 81. The barrel section 81 defines a bypass 801 serving as fluid communication between an inlet 82 and the barrel section 81. Water flows from the inlet 82 and the bypass 801, into the barrel section 81. Fluid pressure forces the diaphragm 80 in place to close the central passageway 810. In the closed position, water is stored in the barrel section 81 and is prohibited to flow out of an outlet 86. When a handle 84 of the flush valve 8 moves to drive a stem 85, a water pressure difference is produced in the barrel section 81. Water stored in the barrel section 81 flows through the outlet 86 for flushing.

[0003) Fluid often brings particulates, such as dust, rust, sundries and etc., to the barrel section 81, clogging the bypass 801 and therefore affecting the performance of the diaphragm 80. U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
10/615,614 discloses a bypass orifice filter insert for use in a flush valve diaphragm. Refernng to Fig. 2, the bypass orifice filter insert 9 longitudinally defines a slit 90 therethrough. The slit 90 has a first portion with a relatively large diameter and extending into a barrel section, and a second portion with a relatively small diameter. The bypass orifice filter insert 9 can filter water through the slit 90, solving the problem of clogging the water passage.

[0004] However, the bypass orifice filter insert 9 in Fig. 2 does not effectively overcome this defect. Further referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the slit 90 is separate. The first portion 901 and the second portion 902 share a common center line, and are arranged in the same direction as the water l0 flows. So dust, rust, grain sundries, fibre and lichens may directly clog the second portion 902 with a relatively small diameter, and correspondingly, water cannot flow into the first portion 901 with a relatively large diameter and cannot flush a water bowl.
SUMM ARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a flush valve diaphragm filter effectively preventing particulates from clogging the fluid passageway.

[0006] The flush valve diaphragm filter comprises a filter body forming a recess section. The filter body defines a main passageway longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of branch passageways transversely therethrough. The branch passageways communicate with the main passageway, and have diameters smaller than the diameter of the main passageway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Fig. I is a partial sectional view of a prior art flush valve with a conventional diaphragm assembly.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a flush valve diaphragm assembly of U.S.
patent Application Serial No. 10/615,614.

[0009] Figs. 3 and 4 schematically show that water is filtered by conventional diaphragm assembly in Fig. 2.

[0010] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a flush valve diaphragm filter in accordance with the present invention.
[001 I ] Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the flush valve diaphragm filter of Fig. 5.
[0012] Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the flush valve diaphragm filter being l0 assembled on a bypass of a diaphragm filter.
[0013] Figs. 8 and 9 schematically show water being filtered by the flush valve diaphragm filter of Fig. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, a flush valve diaphragm f lter 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a filter body 10 defining an annular recess section 11 for corresponding to a bypass 20 of a diaphragm 2 (shown in Fig. 7). In one embodiment, the diaphragm 2 is a cylinder. The recess section I 1 forms a first flange 12 on a top thereof and a second flange 13 on a bottom thereof. T'he first flange 12 defines a cross-like groove 121 on a top surface thereof for guiding fluid. The filter body 10 defines a main passageway 14 longitudinally therethrough and generally in the center thereof. Eight branch passageways 15 are transversely formed below the second flange 13 and have smaller diameters compared to the main passageway 14. The branch passageways 15 respectively communicate with the main passageway 14 and are arranged in two layers symmetrical to each other. The branch passageways 15 on each layer are spaced the same distance 90° from each other. In one embodiment, the branch passageways 15 are bilaterally symmetrical and are arranged in a parallel or an unparallel manner. In another embodiment, the branch passageways 15 are bilaterally unsymmetrical and are arranged in a parallel or an unparallel manner. With continued reference to Fig. 7, when the flush valve diaphragm filter 1 is assembled on the bypass 20 of the diaphragm 2, the bypass 20 is tilted and slightly expands to enclose the recess section 11 due to the flexibility of the diaphragm 2.
l0 [0015] With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, each branch passageway 15 has a filtering function. Water flows through and is filtered by multiple branch passageways 15. Sundries in water have to block all the branch passageways to block water entirely; otherwise unclogged branch passageways 15 may allow water to flow therethrough and into the main passageway 14. For 15 example, even if particulates 60 in water block two branch passageways 15, other branch passageways 15 can provide fluid passage communicating to the main passageway 14 (shown in Fig. 8). Similarly, the branch passageways 15 may guide small strip-like fibre and lichens to exterior owing to the transverse arrangement thereof, thereby avoiding the main passageway 14 stuffing. Even if large strip-like fibre and lichens block two branch passageways 15, other branch passageways 15 may still Iead the fluid to the main passageway 14. The branch passageways 15 effectively decrease the ratio of fluid passages being fully clogged, and therefore enhance the water filtering capability.
[0016] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

1. A flush valve diaphragm filter, adapted to be assembled on a diaphragm bypass of a flush valve, comprising a filter body forming a recess section, and defining:
a main passageway longitudinally therethrough; and a plurality of branch passageways transversely therethrough and communicating with the main passageway;
wherein the branch passageways have diameters smaller than a diameter of the main passageway.

2. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch passageways are bilaterally symmetrical and are arranged in a parallel or an unparallel manner.

3. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch passageways are bilaterally unsymmetrical and are arranged in a parallel or an unparallel manner.

4. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess section is annular, and forms a first flange on the top thereof and a second flange on the bottom thereof.

5. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first flange defines a groove on the top surface thereof.

6. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the groove is cross-like.

7. The flush valve diaphragm filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a cylinder, and wherein eight branch passageways are distributed in two layers symmetric to each other, and branch passageways on each layer are spaced the same distance 90 ° from each other.