GB2069662A - Improvements in flush valves - Google Patents

Abstract

A flush valve e.g. of the Sloan Flush Valve type for use in drought conditions and having a mains water inlet (12) communicating with a water outlet (14) via a seat (18) normally closed by a diaphragm (22) seating a relief valve (32) operable by a plunger (40, 38) to tilt the relief valve off its seat, is provided with a ring body (60) freely housed between the relief valve and the flush valve cover (44, 46) to limit the displacement of the relief valve and reduce the volume flow of the flush valve during flushing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in flush valves This invention relates to flush valves and concerns a flush valve having a water control device.

During water shortages brought on by drought conditions, strict water rationing measures are sometimes taken by governmental agencies controlling the dwindling water supplies. For example, in Northern California, U.S.A., during the past several years, many communities had to reduce the allowable rate of water consumption in homes to as little as 40 to 50 gallons per day. Stiff penalties in the form of heavy monetary fines for overusage, and water shut-off measures for repeated offenders, forced water users to take drastic steps to conserve water usage. Since 45% of the water usage (excluding industrial use) is for the flushing of toilets (average toilet flushing consumes 5-7 gallons of water), reducing toilet flushing water represents considerable savings.For cistern type toilets used in the average home, displacement devices such as bottles or tins filled with pebbles, etc., can be used.

However, perhaps the greatest problems were incurred by governmental agencies, businesses and hotels, which use flushing valves connected to the mains water supply for example, the well-known Sloan Flush Valve for toilets, rather than the cistern type commonly used in homes. Excessive water usage by these entities resulted in huge fines often amounting to thousands of dollars per month.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a flush valve which may be a Sloan Flush Valve which includes a water control means thereby reducing the volume of water which can flow during flushing.

According to the present invention there is provided a flush valve having inlet and outlet water passages, a barrel portion in said flush valve having a main valve seat around one end thereof, a flexible diaphragm having a central opening therein surrounded by a main valve seating portion, a bypass opening in the diaphragm, a hollow guide member extending from the diaphragm and through said barrel portion, a relief valve seatable across the diaphragm central opening and having an operating stem extending through said guide member, a cover member covering said relief valve and spaced therefrom, means for operating said relief valve to cause said diaphragm to open from said main valve seat and permit water flow through said flush valve, and freely housed water control means positioned between said relief valve and said cover member whereby the lift of the relief valve is reduced and the water flow cycle is shortened.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now described by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flush valve of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the flush valve, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the water control means of the flush valve, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative water control means of the flush valve.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, the valve is a Sloan Flush Valve, the general details of construction and operation of which are well-known and need not be pointed out specifically, except as they are concerned with the present invention. The flush valve is installed in a vertically upright position and includes a brass body 10 provided with an inlet water supply connection 1 2 and an outlet 1 4 between which there is an internal upstanding barrel 1 6. The upper edge portion of the barrel 1 6 forms the annular main valve seat 1 8. The main valve member consists of a flexible circular rubber diaphragm 20 having a bottom valve seating portion 22 and which is clamped to the top end of a cylindrical guide member 24, made of plastics material such as CYCOLAC, extending downward within the barrel 1 6. The diaphragm 20 is provided with a central opening 26 through which a clamping disc 28 extends with a portion 30 threaded into the guide member 24 and thereby clamps the diaphragm 20 tightly between them. Certain other details of the diaphragm 20 are preferably constructed in accordance with U.S. Patent No. 3,656,499 issued April 18, 1972. A relief valve 32 which may be made of DELRIN (Registered Trade Mark) plastics material is carried by the clamping disc 28 and has a depending operating stem 34 which extends downward through the diaphragm opening 20 and within the guide member 24.A slidable lower end portion 36 of the stem may be made of DELRlN (Registered Trade Mark) plastics material and is arranged opposite an actuating plunger 38 which may be pushed inward by the handle operator 40 to engage the portion 36 and tilt the relief valve 32 off its seat across the opening 26 thereby to initiate the operation of the flush valve.

The valve body 10 is provided with an external cover 44 and an internal cover 46, the latter preferably being made of an ABS plastics molded material such as CYCOLAC.

The external cover 44 is screw threaded around the top end of the body 10 and provided with a shoulder 48 which engages the outer peripheral edge of internal cover 46 and presses it downwardly against the thickened edge 50 of the diaphragm 20 to clamp the diaphragm firmly around its periphery into position in the valve body.

In ordinary operation of the flush valve de scribed, the water pressures are equalized above and below the diaphragm 20 through the small bypass opening 52, and since the pressure area above the diaphragm in cham bey 54 is greater than that below the diaphragm in chamber 56, the diaphragm is held tightly against valve seat 18, thereby shutting off the water flow between the inlet 1 2 and outlet 1 4. Now when the plunger 38 is pushed inward by the operating handle 40 to contact stem 36, the relief valve 32 is tilted from its seat 42, so that the pressure above the diaphragm in chamber 54 is relieved downward through the diaphragm central opening 26 to the outlet 14.The water pressure from the inlet 1 2 is now effective to flex and lift the diaphragm upward from its seat 1 8 and permit the water flow to take place through the flush valve and over the top end of the barrel 1 6 to the outlet 14 and into the plumbing fixture.

When diaphragm is lifted, the portion 36 clears the plunger 38 and this enables the relief valve 32 to close upon its seat 42, in the event the handle 40 is held unduly long in the operated position. With the relief valve again seated, the upper chamber 54 gradually fills with water to the inlet pressure valve through bypass 52, thereby timing the length of the flushing action and the amount of water passing through the valve, until the diaphragm 20 is again seated on the main seat 1 8, shutting off the water flow.

A water control means 60 is positioned between the relief valve 32 and the internal cover 46. The water control means 60 limits the lift of the relief valve 32 off its seat 42 when actuated by the plunger 38. This serves to shorten the flush cycle and greatly reduces the total volume of water which flows through the main valve during flushing.

The water control means 60 is generally ring-shaped and is preferably made of a suitable plastics material. A plastics material is preferred because it is relatively stable under all conditions, is non-corrosive, resists wear, inhibits the formation of foreign particles on its surface, and is economical and easy to manufacture. All these features render the water control means eminently suitable for the use to which it is put.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ring-shaped water control means 60 is provided with spoke-like projections 62 about its entire periphery and a series of generally Vshaped notches 64 between the spokes. This construction ensures proper water flow into the upper chamber 54 when the relief valve 32 is tilted off its seat 42. A series of disc shaped knobs 66 are provided on the upper surface of the ring 60 adjacent the inner periphery thereof. These knobs help to ensure that the ring 60 will not become cocked and wedged between the inner cover 46 and the relief valve 32. Interior support members 68 can be provided to supply additional strength to the device 60.

It should be understood that the height of the knobs 66 can be varied depending upon the water pressure. When the water pressure is not at full strength, such as on the top floors of tall buildings, then the knobs 66 can be somewhat shortened. This can be accomplished by trimming off or grinding down the excess portions of the knobs 66.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the outer periphery of the ring-shaped water control device 70 is provided with a series of smooth, rounded scalloped projections 72.

Each scalloped projection is provided with an opening 74 through which water may easily flow into the upper chamber 54 when the relief valve 32 is tilted off its seat 42. The smooth rounded edges 76 of the scallops 72 prevent the ring 70 from wedging or becoming jammed between the inner cover 46 and the relief valve 32. Interior support members 78 can be provided to supply additional strength to the device 70.

Claims (8)

1. A flush valve having inlet and outlet water passages, a barrel portion in said flush valve having a main valve seat around one end thereof, a flexible diaphragm having a central opening therein surrounded by a main valve seating portion, a bypass opening in the diaphragm, a hollow guide member extending from the diaphragm and through said barrel portion, a relief valve seatable across the diaphragm central opening and having an operating stem extending through said guide member, a cover member covering said relief valve and spaced therefrom, means for operating said relief valve to cause said diaphragm to open from said main valve seat and permit water flow through said flush valve, and freely housed water control means positioned between said relief valve and said cover member whereby the lift of the relief valve is reduced and the water flow cycle is shortened.

2. A flush valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water control means is generally ring-shaped having a series of spoked projec-, tions about the outer periphery thereof and a series of notched out portions between each of said spoked projections.

3. A flush valve as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said water control means is provided with series of knobs spaced from the outer periphery thereof and located on the side of thereof which is adjacent the cover member.

4. A flush valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein said knobs are in the form of solid discs.

5. A flush valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water control means is generally ring-shaped and has a series of smooth, rounded, scalloped projections about the outer periphery thereof, and wherein each scalloped projection is provided with an opening therethrough.

6. A flush valve as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said water control means has at least one interior support member.

7. A flush valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A flush valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings but including a water control means substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.