GB2544127B

GB2544127B - Hydraulically operated flushing valve

Info

Publication number: GB2544127B
Application number: GB1605174.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hecking Willi
Original assignee: Hans Sasserath GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hans Sasserath GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2015-11-04
Filing date: 2016-03-29
Publication date: 2019-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-29
Also published as: DE202015105874U1; GB201605174D0; GB2544127A

Description

Hydraulically Operated Flushing Valve

Technical field

The invention relates to a flushing valve assembly for triggering a flushing process comprising: (a) a housing with an inlet with inlet pressure adapted to be connected to a water supply and an outlet; (b) a flushing valve between the inlet and the outlet the flushing valve having a valve closing body which is exposed to inlet pressure in an opening direction; (c) a counter pressure chamber connected to the inlet by a pressure compensation connection, the counter pressure chamber pressurizing the valve closing body in a closing direction; (d) a spring with a spring force acting in the closing direction of the flushing valve; (e) a pressure relief channel with an inlet opening arranged in the counter pressure chamber for connecting the counter pressure chamber to the outlet, wherein the diameter of the pressure relief channel is larger than the diameter of the pressure compensation connection between the inlet and the counter pressure chamber; (f) a control valve for controlling the connection between the counter pressure chamber and the pressure relief channel.

Such flushing valves trigger a flushing flow which are used to flush toilets, urinals and other devices requiring flushing after use. In order to avoid a hydraulic shock such valves do not close abruptly, but slowly.

Prior Art

There are various options known for triggering a flushing process with toilets and urinals. Flushing valves and flushing cisterns can be manually operated. It is also known to provide presence detectors to detect the presence of a person. A flushing is triggered after the person retreats from the toilet or from the urinal.

The internet website http://www.sbz-monteur.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Schema-Druckspuler-Bild-Der-SanitarinstaUateur-Verlag-Handwerk+ Technikl.png discloses a schematic representation of a common flushing valve. An activation button moves the valve plate from an upper position to a lower position and thereby opens an auxiliary valve which controls the connection between an counter pressure chamber and a pressure relief channel. Water then flows from the counter pressure chamber through the pressure relief channel to the outlet. Thereby, a piston limiting the counter pressure chamber is moved upwards by the lower pressure generated in the counter pressure chamber. The lower end of the piston forms a valve closing body for the main valve. If the piston is moved upwards the main valve opens for the flushing flow from the inlet to the outlet. The piston is provided with a narrow pressure compensation bore hole which connects the inlet with the counter pressure chamber. Thereby, the pressure is built up again in the course of the time and the main valve is closed. A flushing valve opens and closes the main valve slowly and without a hydraulic shock. GB 2125519 A discloses a hydraulically operated valve for controlling the flow in a cistern. The cistern serves to flush urinals. The valve is activated upon a pressure drop before the valve.

It is important that the fresh water pipe is completely separated from the flushed device and does not enable any backflow. This is ensured by the use of a cistern.

Disclosure of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve assembly of the above mentioned kind which automatically triggers a sufficient flushing process.

According to the present invention there is provided a flushing valve assembly for triggering a flushing process comprising (a) a housing with an inlet with inlet pressure adapted to be connected to a water supply and an outlet; (b) a flushing valve between the inlet and the outlet the flushing valve having a valve closing body which is exposed to inlet pressure in an opening direction; (c) a counter pressure chamber connected to the inlet by a pressure compensation connection, the counter pressure chamber pressurizing the valve closing body in a closing direction; (d) a spring with a spring force acting in the closing direction of the flushing valve; (e) a pressure relief channel with an inlet opening arranged in the counter pressure chamber for connecting the counter pressure chamber to the outlet, wherein the diameter of the pressure relief channel is larger than the diameter of the pressure compensation connection between the inlet and the counter pressure chamber; (f) a control valve for controlling the connection between the counter pressure chamber and the pressure relief channel; characterised by: (g) a moveably guided piston exposed to inlet pressure in a closing direction on a first side, the piston forming the control valve together with the inlet opening of the pressure relief channel which forms a valve seat; (h) a variable pressure compensation volume acting against the inlet pressure, the pressure of the pressure compensation volume pressurizing the piston on its second side in an opening direction; and (i) a compensating connection between the pressure compensation volume and the volume on the first side of the piston wherein the flow cross-section of the compensation connection is selected such that a pressure variation in the volume on the first side of the piston is effected with a selected time delay, whereby the piston is moveably guided in such a way that the control valve opens upon decreasing inlet pressure.

The assembly according to the present invention provides automatic, i.e. hydraulic operation of the flushing valve. For this purpose the pressure drop at the inlet is used which occurs, for example, in the water installation if water is tapped for washing the hands.

The control valve is sometimes also called auxiliary valve. The piston forms the moveable valve closing body of the control valve. In particular, the piston can be exposed to inlet pressure, for example from above and with the pressure of the pressure compensation volume from below. In this case the spring will push the piston downwards and close the control valve if the pressure conditions are compensated. Contrary to known flushing valves the valve closing body of the control valve is moved downwards for closing and upwards for opening. If the pressure conditions are compensated the piston is exposed to inlet pressure on both sides of the piston from above on the first side of the piston as well as from below on the second side of the piston. The pressure compensation is effected by a compensation bore hole with narrow flow cross section. If the inlet pressure drops there is a pressure compensation between the pressure compensation volume below the piston on the second side and the volume above the piston on the first side, the compensation being delayed in time. Thereby, the control valve is opened. Water flows from the counter pressure chamber into the pressure relief channel and the flushing valve opens. In the course of the time a pressure compensation is achieved through the compensation connection. Then the control valve will close and the pressure in the counter pressure chamber is built up again. Then the flushing valve will close.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the pressure compensation volume is partly limited by a diaphragm which is exposed to atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the diaphragm may be pressurized by the pressure of a spring. Due to the diaphragm the pressure compensation volume is variable. The pressure compensation volume reacts to a pressure drop for a short period of time with a movement of the diaphragm. Thereby, the pressure compensation volume is reduced and the pressure is maintained. Instead of a diaphragm it is also possible to use any other pressure compensation volume, such as, for example, a piston assembly or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the housing is provided with a socket accommodating the diaphragm and the socket is connected to the volume on the second side of the piston by a channel, wherein the channel has a larger flow cross-section than the compensation connection. The diaphragm is then accommodated in a separate socket and well accessible.

A particularly compact assembly is achieved if the housing is essentially cylindrical and the piston is coaxially guided in the housing. With such an assembly it can be provided that the pressure relief channel is provided with an upwardly directed inlet opening which is arranged below the piston and the piston is provided with a projection on the side of the pressure relief channel the projection having a sealing for closing the inlet opening. A cylindrical wall separates the counter pressure chamber and the pressure compensation volume. The portion of the piston with reduced diameter can be guided by such wall with a sealing.

The assembly may be provided with an inlet passage sideways bypassing the housing and extending to the inlet with the volume on the first side of the piston. In such a way the piston is easily exposed with inlet pressure.

In a compact assembly it is provided that (a) the inlet and the outlet are coaxially arranged; (b) the valve closing body of the flushing valve is moveably guided in a receptacle between the inlet and the outlet perpendicular to the flow direction determined by the inlet and the outlet; and (c) the connection between the inlet and the receptacle and between the receptacle and the outlet is opened and closed according to the pressure in the counter pressure chamber.

The inlet and the outlet may be provided in a connection fitting for connecting to a pipe. A lateral opening or a lateral flange enable the connection of a housing accommodating the moveably guided piston and the valve closing body of the flushing valve.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a group of sanitation units which are connected to a common water installation, comprising: (a) at least one washbasin or a similar tap station; and (b) one toilet, urinal or other device requiring flushing after use.

The group is characterized by (c) a flushing valve assembly described above which is installed upstream of the at least one device requiring flushing after use.

In particular it can be provided that the flushing valve assembly is installed in a water pipe which supplies a plurality of devices requiring flushing after use.

Modifications of the invention are subject matter of the subclaims. An embodiment is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig.l is a perspective view of a hydraulically operated valve assembly with a flushing valve.

Fig.2 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of Figure 1 in a closed state.

Fig.3 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 2 in an open state.

Fig.4 is a cross sectional view along the sectional plane C-C in Figure 2.

Fig.5 is a cross sectional view along the sectional plane D-D in Figure 2.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the assembly in Figure 1.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the installation location of the assembly of Figure 1.

Description of the embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a hydraulically operated valve assembly 10 with a flushing valve, the valve assembly 10 has a housing 12 which can be integrated into a pipe (not shown) with a connection fitting 14. Fresh water flows through an inlet 16 and the valve assembly to an outlet 18. The flow direction can be recognized by the arrows 20 and 22.

Figure 2 shows the assembly 10 in greater detail. The housing 12 of the assembly is flanged to a flange 26 of the connection fitting 14 by means of four screws 28 with a flange 30 and a sealing 27. The flange 26 of the connection fitting 14 extends in an upward direction and forms an opening 32 towards a receptacle 36 for a valve closing body 34 of a flushing valve 35 which is described further below. This is well illustrated in Figure 6.

The receptacle 36 for the valve closing body 34 is separated from the inlet 16 by a wall 38. The receptacle 36 for the valve closing body 34 is separated from the outlet 18 by a wall 40. The width of the upper range of the receptacle 36 conically increases. A bore hole 42 connects the conical range of the receptacle 36 and an annular space 56 thereabove to the inlet 16. Accordingly, there is always inlet pressure. A bore hole 44 connects the lower range of the receptacle 36 to the outlet 18. There is always outlet pressure in that range.

The valve closing body 34 of the flushing valve 35 can be well recognized in Figure 6. The valve closing body 34 is provided with webs 46 at its lower end which are adapted to hold the valve closing body 34 in the receptacle 36. In a closed state which is shown in Figure 2 a rim 48 of the valve closing body 34 and a sealing 49 abut the conical range of the walls 38 and 40. Thereby, the conical range of the receptacle is fully separated from the lower range of the receptacle. Figure 3 shows the assembly in an open state. Then, the valve closing body 34 is in an upper position. Water can bypass the sealing 49 and flow downwards into the receptacle 36 and from there through the bore hole 44 to the outlet 18.

The valve closing body 34 extends in an upward direction through the flange connection of the flanges 26 and 30 into a counter pressure chamber 50 inside the housing 12. Vertical webs 52 extending in a radial direction are an integral part of the inner wall of the housing 12. The underside of the webs 52 form a spring abutment for a spring 54 which pushes the valve closing body 34 in a downward direction.

The annular space 56 extends upwards through the flange connection into the counter pressure chamber 50. The valve closing body 34 is provided with a sealing along its circumference above the annular space 56, the sealing abutting the inside of the housing 12. In such a way the annular space 56 which is exposed to inlet pressure is separated from the upper range of the counter pressure chamber 50 of the housing around the spring 54.

At its upper end the housing 12 forms a flange 62. There, the housing 12 is closed with a lid 60. For this purpose screws 28 are provided here also which extend along the entire length of the housing 12. A piston 64 is movably guided in an axial direction. The piston 64 has an annular groove with a sealing 66 along its sideways circumference. In such a way the volume 65 above the piston 64 is separated from the volume 63 below the piston 64 apart from a compensation bore hole 80 which is described below in greater detail. The compensation bore hole 80 connects the volume 65 above the piston 64 to the volume 63 below the piston. The compensation bore hole 80 has a very small diameter. With the compensation bore hole 80 a delayed pressure compensation between the ranges 63 and 65 is achieved. The upside of the piston 64 is exposed to pressure of a week spring 68. The underside of the lid 60 forms the spring abutment for the spring 68. The spring 68 always pushes the piston 64 slightly downwards.

The piston 64 is provided with a cylindrical projection 70 in the middle range extending in a downward direction. The cylindrical projection 70 of the piston 64 is guided in a cylindrical guiding 76. The projection 70 has an annular groove along its circumference with a sealing 72. The sealing 72 seals the projection 70 against the guiding 76. A receptacle is provided at the lower end of the projection 70 which accommodates a valve sealing 74. The valve sealing 74 is pushed onto the open upper end of a tube-shaped pressure relief channel 78. the valve sealing 74 cooperates with the upper end of the pressure relief channel 78 and thereby forms an auxiliary valve of the pressure flushing valve. The upper end of the pressure relief channel 78 is positioned in the center below the projection 70 at the piston 64. The pressure relief channel 78 is bent therebelow towards the outside and extends in a radial direction to the wall of the housing 12. At the wall of the housing 12 the pressure relief channel 78 is bent downwards and extends through the wall downwards down to the outlet 18. There it ends on the outlet side of the wall 40.

An inlet passage 82 is branched off the inlet 16. The inlet passage 82 extends along the entire length of the housing 12. A recess 86 is provided at the upper rim of the housing 12 connecting the inlet passage 82 to the volume 65 above the piston 64. Therefore, there is always inlet pressure above the piston 64. The cross-sectional area of the inlet passage 82 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the compensation bore hole 80. Normally, the pressure conditions are compensated by the compensation bore hole 80. The piston 64 is pushed downwards by the spring 68. The control valve formed by the sealing 74 and the upper opening of the pressure relief channel 78 is closed as it is shown in Figure 2.

The volume 63 below the piston 64 is connected to the inside of an outside socket 90 by two lateral connections 88. This can be recognized in Figures 4 and 5. A diaphragm 92 is tightly held in the socket 90, the diaphragm 92 separating the inside of the socket 90 in two volumes. An inner volume 94 is filled with water through the lateral connection 88. An outer volume 98 is connected to the atmosphere by a bore hole 100. A screw cap 102 is screwed onto the socket 90. The coaxial bore hole 100 is provided in the center of the screw cap 102. In the range outside the socket 90 the screw cap 102 has a reduced diameter and extends to the diaphragm 92. The diaphragm 92 is biased by a diaphragm plate 96. The diaphragm 92 is held in its position at its ends by a ring 110.

The counter pressure chamber 50 is connected to the annular space 56 by a pressure compensation bore hole 112 in the valve closing body 35. Accordingly, inlet pressure is present in the counter pressure chamber 50 also.

The assembly 10 is installed in the water supply line 120 upstream of the urinal 122 or a toilet or any other device which shall be flushed as it is shown in Figure 7. Upstream of the assembly 10 there is installed a washing device, such as washing basin with a tap 124. The washing device taps water from the same main supply line 126 as the assembly 10 with the devices 122 which shall be flushed.

The assembly 10 operates as follows:

Inlet pressure is present at the inlet outside of any flushing activity. The counter pressure chamber 50, the annular space 56 below the sealing 58, the inlet passage 82, the recess 86, the volume 65 above the piston 64, the compensation bore hole 80, the lateral connections 88 and the volume 94 are all connected to the inlet 16. Accordingly, there is inlet pressure in such ranges also. Since the pressure above and below the piston 64 is the same, the resulting forces are compensated. Only the spring 68 pushes the piston downwards. The sealing 74 closes the valve controlling the pressure relief channel 78. Outlet pressure is present in the pressure relief channel 78.

If water is tapped at the tap 124 the inlet pressure drops. The pressure drop causes the pressure above the piston 64 to be slightly lower at first than the pressure in the volume 63 below the piston which is connected only by the compensation bore hole 80. According to the pressure drop the piston 64 is moved upwards against the spring power of the spring 68. Then the valve opens the pressure relief channel 78 below the sealing 74. Water flows through the pressure relief channel 78 into the counter pressure chamber 50 and outside through the outlet 18. The cross sections are selected in such a way that the water will flow out faster than a pressure compensation is effected through the compensation bore hole 80 above and below the piston 64. The pressure below the piston 64 is maintained despite the small flow through the compensation bore hole 80 by a volume change in the volume 94 before the diaphragm. In such a way a pressure drop generated by the compensation bore hole 80 below the piston 64 is compensated. Water is quasi re-filled from the volume 94 through the lateral connections 88 into the volume 63 below the piston 64. Thereby, the pressure is maintained for a certain period of time. In such period of time the piston 64 remains in an upper position and the valve controlling the pressure relief channel 78 remains open. A low pressure is generated in the counter pressure chamber 50 by the water flowing out. Due to such low pressure the valve closing body 34 is moved upwards against the spring power of the spring 54. The volume around the sealing 49 is opened. This situation is shown in Figure 3. In this situation water directly flows from the inlet 16 through the bore hole 42 the receptacle 36 and the bore hole 44 to the outlet.

Slowly, water flows through a small pressure compensation bore hole 112 in the valve closing body 34 from the inlet 16 into the counter pressure chamber 50. In such a way the pressure in the counter pressure chamber 50 is slowly re-established. A hydraulic shock is avoided. Simultaneously, a pressure compensation is effected between the volume 65 above the piston 64 and the volume 63 below the piston 64 by the compensation bore hole 80. The diaphragm 92 is moved back into its original position. The piston 64 is moved downwards and closes the valve controlling the pressure relief channel 78. Due to the pressure compensation through the pressure compensation bore hole 112 the pressure in the counter pressure chamber 50 is increased again and the valve closing body 34 is moved downwards. Thereby, the flushing process is finished. A plurality of devices 122 can be flushed simultaneously with the assembly 10. For this purpose the assembly is provided in a common supply line 120.

The above embodiment is described in great detail. It is understood, however, that many variations and modifications can be made without deviating from the inventive idea. The scope of the invention is, therefore, only limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Flushing valve assembly for triggering a flushing process comprising (a) a housing with an inlet with inlet pressure adapted to be connected to a water supply and an outlet; (b) a flushing valve between the inlet and the outlet the flushing valve having a valve closing body which is exposed to inlet pressure in an opening direction; (c) a counter pressure chamber connected to the inlet by a pressure compensation connection, the counter pressure chamber pressurizing the valve closing body in a closing direction; (d) a spring with a spring force acting in the closing direction of the flushing valve; (e) a pressure relief channel with an inlet opening arranged in the counter pressure chamber for connecting the counter pressure chamber to the outlet, wherein the diameter of the pressure relief channel is larger than the diameter of the pressure compensation connection between the inlet and the counter pressure chamber; (f) a control valve for controlling the connection between the counter pressure chamber and the pressure relief channel; characterized by (g) a moveably guided piston exposed to inlet pressure in a closing direction on a first side, the piston forming the control valve together with the inlet opening of the pressure relief channel which forms a valve seat; (h) a variable pressure compensation volume acting against the inlet pressure, the pressure of the pressure compensation volume pressurizing the piston on its second side in an opening direction; and (i) a compensating connection between the pressure compensation volume and the volume on the first side of the piston wherein the flow cross-section of the compensation connection is selected such that a pressure variation in the volume on the first side of the piston is effected with a selected time delay, whereby the piston is moveably guided in such a way that the control valve opens upon decreasing inlet pressure.

2. Flushing valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure compensation volume is partly limited by a diaphragm which is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

3. Flushing valve assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing is provided with a socket accommodating the diaphragm and the socket is connected to the volume on the second side of the piston by a channel, wherein the channel has a larger flow cross-section than the compensation connection.

4. Flushing valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is substantially cylindrical and the piston is coaxially guided in the housing.

5. Flushing valve assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure relief channel is provided with an upwardly directed inlet opening which is arranged below the piston and the piston is provided with a projection on the side of the pressure relief channel the projection having a sealing for closing the inlet opening.

6. Flushing valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an inlet passage sideways bypassing the housing and extending to the inlet with the volume on the first side of the piston.

7. Flushing valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that (a) the inlet and the outlet are coaxially arranged; (b) the valve closing body of the flushing valve is moveably guided in a receptacle between the inlet and the outlet perpendicular to the flow direction determined by the inlet and the outlet; and (c) the connection between the inlet and the receptacle and between the receptacle and the outlet is opened and closed according to the pressure in the counter pressure chamber.

8. A group of sanitation units which are connected to a common water installation, comprising: (a) at least one washbasin or a similar tap station; and (b) one toilet, urinal or other device requiring flushing after use; characterized by (c) a flushing valve assembly according to any of the preceding claims which is installed upstream of the at least one device requiring flushing after use.

9. Group of sanitation units according to claim 8, characterized in that the flushing valve assembly is installed in a water pipe which supplies a plurality of devices requiring flushing after use.