US1069658A

US1069658A - Flush-tank device.

Info

Publication number: US1069658A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren F Drew
Original assignee: ROTICO FITTING AND SUPPLY Co
Current assignee: ROTICO FITTING AND SUPPLY Co
Priority date: 1911-08-14
Filing date: 1911-08-14
Publication date: 1913-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1930-08-05

Description

W. F. DREW.

FLUSH TA'NK DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1 1, 1911.

1,069,658. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

4 SHEETS--BHEET 1.

I'l li W. F. DREW.

PLUSH TANK DEVICE.

APPLIUATION PILED AUG.14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In ven tor:

coLUAmA PLANOGRAPH CD.,W A$H1NGTON. n. c.

TNTTED STATES PATEN T GFFTCE WABREN F. DREW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROTICO FITTING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPOEATION OF NEW YORK.

FLUSH-TANK DEVICE.

i ,ocacsa To all whom ii may concern:

Be it known that I, VVARREN F. DREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of 'New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush- Tank Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved fiush-tank device and has the objects and advantages hereinafter specified, and such further objects and advantages as will appear to those skilled in the art from an under-standing of the following specification in connection with the drawings. These show only one of the embodiments which my invention is adapted to take and in them- Figure l is a front elevation of a flushtank within my invention, the front wall being broken away to reveal the contents, part of which is shown in vertical section the rest in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but omitting certain parts and showing the remaining parts in their positions occupied when the tank has flushed out. Fig. 3 is a vertical section partly in elevation on the line 3-3 in Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation 4 of the valve and related parts. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the inlet valve taken on the line 5)-5 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section partly in elevation on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View at right angles to Fig. et.

I will now describe the devices of the drawing, reserving it to the claims to point out the novel features and to define the scope of the invention.

l is the flush-tank itself of any usual Construction having a lid 2. The tank is intended to be set low immediately over and at the back of the bowl.

3 is the outlet opening in the bottom of the tank connecting with the siphon of the bowl. .A valve controls this outlet consisting of two main parts, an inner part 4: and outer part 5, the latter being a casing telescoping down over the inner part which consists of a plurality of spacially separated upright strips 6, preferably four in number, projecting from a fiange 7 resting on a Speoficaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 5,1913.

Serial No. e43,s3o.

rubber washer 8, and thereby on the bottom of the tank, said flange in turn surrounding the upper end of a pipe 77 projecting downwardly through the tank out-let opening 3 and being externally threaded below the bottom of the tank to receive a nut 9 which secures this whole inner part of the valve in position in the tank. The tops of the aforesaid strips 6 are connected by a disk or cap 10.

ll is a rubber ring or other suitable packing material surrounding the inner valve part above the fiange 7, and may be round in cross-section (held against vertical displacement in groove 88 above the fiange T-Fig. 4) to make a water-tight joint with the outer casing part of the valve when it drops and seats itself telescopically over the inner valve part and on the packing ring ll. F or this purpose the mouth of the outer casing preferably fiares out-wardly as shown at 5% Locked at differently, the inner valve part 4: may itself be regarded as being a casing like the outer part but smaller to telescope therein, and as having its sides cut out to provide openings spaced apart by more or less upright uncut-away portions.

Dash-pot means is provided to prevent the drop of the outer valve part from being noisy, consisting of a piston 12 supported from the inner valve part working in a tube 13 acting as a cylinder for the piston, and being supported on the outer valve part 5. The end of said tube above the piston having a threadecl opening through it which receives the shank of a screw 83 whose shank has a connected longitudinal and lateral opening 84 through it.

85 is a Washer of packing material on the shank of the screw, so that when the latter is adjusted, the washer*more or less closes the lateral mouth of the opening 84: to give just the correct rapidity of escape of the air from the cylinder 13 to permit the valve 5 to drop quickly yet quietly.

14 is an air pipe open at both ends connected uprightly with the valve casing 5, in this instance by way of the side of said casing so that the pipe is adjacent the rear wall of the tank where it is guided by guides 15 for vertical reciprocation and serves as the valve stem by which to operate the tank outlet valve. The means by which the operator lifts this pipe or valve stem 14 to operate the valve to cause the tank to fiush consists of a chain 115 connected with the top of the pipe 14 running over a guide pulley 16 on the rear wall of the tank, thence over pulley 17 at the left corner of the front wall, thence down into a Vertical ho le 18 formed within the front wall of the tank where it connects with the upper end of a rod 19 whose lower end projects laterally through a vertical slot 20 in the front of the tank wall, andthence projects upwardlyht 21 through an opening in' the top of -an o-rnamental housing 22 which covers and conceals the-slot 20, said-upward extension having a button 23 on its free end. `ObViou-sly, when this'button is pressed downwardly, the outlet valve casing 5 is lifted and thecontents ofthe tank-fiush out through the opening 3.

This is a convenient place 'to point out that the uncutout portions 6 of the inner part 4 of the-valvebreak up the tendency of the outrushing water to swirl and thus serve to increase the rapidity of the flush -as well as to cut down the noise from gurglng of the water. Both results are likewise actively contributed to by the air pipe 14 which,`being open to the air above the water in the tank, prevents any vacuum in the valve and therefore insures the freest possible drop or outfiow of the water through the valve. Finally,-the pipe 14, besides being a valve stem, has the additional important function of serving as an overfiow pipe, because should forany reasonthe automatic cut-off `for the inflowing water fail to act, nevertheless the tank cannot overflow because the excess will run down this pipe 14 into the bowl.

'24 isthe inlet pipe projecting in the arrangement shown a short distance upwardly through the bottom of thetank to one side of the valve. 25 is an elbow on the upper end of this inlet pipe with which is screw connected the hollow plug 26 of a groundkey valve whose body is designated 27. As usual, the body is kept in position on the plug by a washer and -nut 28 on the screw threaded end of the plug which for the purpose projects sufiiciently beyond the end of the body. The valve body 27 has a' port 29 in its side leading` toa hollow internally threaded extension 30 fronwhich projects the curved pipe 31 by which'the inlet water delivers into the tank. Forthis purpose the valve plug 26 similarly has a port 32 in its sidezadapted to communicate with the port 29 'in the valve body and therefore to deliver the inlet water to the tank whenthe valve bodyand pipe 31 are in any of their lower positions short of the raised position at which it is intended for 'them to cut oti' the inlet water, 'which takes place when their movement 'brings the described ports in the valve body and plug out of communication with each other. The fioat 131 on the pipe or float arm 31 makes it rise and lower as described. It may here be noted .thata this can be made to happen earlier or later to control thereby the amount of water filled into the tank for fiushing purposes, by using a wrench on the square portion 26 of the valveplug and turning it slghtly one way or the other to make the ports cut off communication at any desired height for filling of the tank.

I willnow describethe special latch means shown for cooperation with the outlet valve. It consists of a 'pair of latches 34 and 35 mounted ona common support 36 which in turn pivots abouta point intermediate the latches on the end of a clamp 37 supported by the inlet pipe. The common support 36 continues upwardly in the form of a curved arm 38 Conveniently called a cam arm because it has that function 'in coperating with a horizontal pin or projection 39 from the fioat arm '31 for Operating the latches 34 'and 35 as will soon appear. For this purpose -I mayprovide a cam piece 138 adjustable along said arm 38 but it is not essential. -The referred to ;projection 39 is part ofa ring 39 slidable along the fioat arm and secured thereon in any desired position of adjustmentby aset screw 39.

40 is a spring mountecl on the clamp 37 to force the cam arm'38 and the upper latch 34 normally into position for the latter to engage the 'projection 41 on the side of the valve casing, 'with :which same projection (it may/also here be said) the lower latch also engages in the construction shown. Thus, referring 'to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the fioat-arm 31 is in the raised position assumed with the tank normally full of water. In this position the cam arm 38 permits the spring 40 to force the upper latch 34 into its engaging position next the valve casing 5. Should now the operator press the button23 the valve casing will be lifted, carrying its projection 41 past the upper latch 34, by forcing it and the cam arm back against the spring 40 which will immediately return the parts to their original position with the upper latch under the projection and upholding the valve casing in the dott ed position of Fig. 1 with the valve wide open to :permit the contents of the tank to flush out into the bowl. For this reason the latch 34 is Conveniently called 'the fiush latch 'because it takes part in that operation. Then the tank has sutliciently emptied to effect the fiush the float arm 31 has `meanwhile lowered into a position as in Fig. 2 where its pin 39 has cammed back-the cam arm 38 to disengage the flush latch, and Vice versa to move the lower latch 35 into engaging position so that the valve casing drops but not into fully seated position because said lower latch upholds it as shown in Fig. 2 with the valve partially open. This permits the remaining water in the tank and some of the inlet water (which has now begun to flow in as previously described through the fioat arm 31) to flow to the bowl to fill its siphon which, as is well known, is emptied by the created suction therein due to the fiushing operation. This holding of the ontlet valve partially open by the latch 35 to fill the siphon of the bowl is Conveniently called the refill or refiush operation and accordingly the latch 35 may be called the reflush latch. Meanwhile, the tank is rapidly filling because it is arranged that the inflow of water through the floatarm shall be many times faster than the outfiow through the partially open valve. The result is that the tloat arm rises permitting the cam arm to cone forward or toward the valve, which moves the refiush latch 35 out of its engaging position and permits the valve casing to drop by gravity into fully closed position, thereby cutting off further flow from the tank to the bowl. At the same time, the flush latch is brought forward into engaging position and the condition shown in Fig. l is again reproduced with the tank normally full of water and with both outlet and inlet stopped, ready for the next flushing operation by pressing the button 23.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiush-latch to hold the valve wide open, and a refiush-latch to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the flush-latch being dsengaged by the lowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the refiush latch, and said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a lush-latch to hold the valve wide open, a refiush-latch to hold the valve partially open, and an operative connection between the float means and the latches comprising cam-means which disengages the flush latch during the lowering of the fioat means, and which disengages the reflush latch during the rising of the float means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a lush-latch to hold the valve wide open, a reflush-latch to hold the valve partially open, and an operative connection between the float means and the latches which disengages the flush latch during the lowering of the fioat means and which disengages the re-flush latch during the rising of the fioat means.

t. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water .in the tank, and latch means having altei'nate positions of engagement with the valve, one of which holds the valve wide open, and the other of which holds the valve partially open, said latch means being operated from its wide open position into its partially open position by the lowering of the fioat means and vice versa back to its wide open posit io-n by the rising of the fioat means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and latch means having alternate positions of engagement With the valve, one of which holds the valve wide open, and the other of which holds the valve partially open, said latch means being operated from its wide open position into its partially open position from the lowering of the fioat means and vice versa back to its wide open position by the rising of the fioat means, said latch means normally tending into its wide open position.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tanlr having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated outof engagng positions from the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengaged from the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engagng the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically and having a single part thereon cngaged by both latches, and said latches being inter-connected so that as one moves into engaging position, the other moves out of engaging position, the one latch being above the other latch.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tanlr having an ontlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lower-ing with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging position 'from the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengaged from the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the risng of the fioat means, the valve working vertically and having a single part thereon engaged by both latches, and said latches being inter-connected so that as one moves into engaging position the other moves out of engaging position, the said one latch being above the other latch, and the one latch normally tending into its valve engaging position.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging position from the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the one latch being-disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically and having a single part thereon engaged by both latches, and said latches being inter-connected so that as one moves into engaging position the other moves out of engaging position, the said one latch being above the other latch, and spring means which forces the one latch normally into its engaging position.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination 01"' a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the tloat means, said latches being inter-connected so that as one moves into its engaging position with the valve, the other moves out of its engaging position.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet,

a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fieat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to'hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions from the rising and lowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged from the lower-ing of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged from the rising of the float means, the valve Working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches.

ll. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged from the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the eXtent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the fioat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch being spring pressed into its engaging position with the valve.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the` valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengaged by the lowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the fioat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch being spring pressed into its engaging position with the valve, and the lower latch being itself pivoted to the aforesaid common support.

13. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination ot a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening' the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging pcsitions by the rising and lowering ot' the float means, the one latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising ot' the fioat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch being spring pressed into its engaging position with the valves, and the lower latch being itself pivoted to the aforesaid common support and being spring pressed toward engaging position with the valve.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having' an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pair oi' latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve .wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated ont of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged by the lowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engagng the other latch, and said other latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, said latches being inter-connected so that as one moves into its engaging position with the valve the other moves out of its engaging position, and an Operative connection between the fioat means and the latches comprising cam-means which disengages the one latch during the lowering of the fioat means, and which disengages the other latch during the rising of the fioat means.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiush latch to hold the valve wide open, a refinsh latch to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the raising and lowering of the fioat means, the fiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the eXtent of then engaging the refiush latch, and said reflush latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, and an opera- 'tive connection between the fioat means and the latches comprising cam-means which disengages the fiush latch during the lowering ot' the fioat means, and which disengages the refiush latch during the rising of the fioat means.

16. In apparatus of the class described,

e the combination ot' a tank having an outlet,

a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiush latch to hold the valve wide open, a reush latch to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operatecl out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the fiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the reush latch, and said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounte d one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latchbeing spring pressed into its engaging position .with the valve, and an operative connection between the fioat means and the latches comprising cam means which disengages the fiush latch during the lowering of the fioat means, and which disengages the reflush latch during the rising of the float means.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combinatio-n of a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiush latch to hold the valve wide open, a reflush latch to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, the fiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the eXtent of then engaging the reflush latch, and said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch being spring pressed into its engaging position with the valve, and the lower latch being itself pivoted to the atoresaid common support, and an operative connection between the fioat means and the latches eomprising cam-means which disengages the fiush latch during the lowering of the float means, and which disengages the refiush latch during the rising of the fioat means.

18. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a tank having an` outlet, a Valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening thevalve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiush latch to hold` the valve wide open, a refiush latch to hold the Valve para tially open, said' latches being individually operated. out of engaging positions bythe rising and lower-ing of the fioat means, the flush latch being disengaged by the lowering of thefioat means to permit the Valve to close to the extent of then engaging the refiush latch, and` said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the floatmeans, the valVe Working vertioally and the latches being mounted: one above the other; on acommon support which pivotsabout a point; intermediate the twolatches, the upper; latch being spring pressed into its engaging position with the' valve, and the lower' latch being itselfi pivoted to the aforesaid common support and beingspring pressed toward; engaging position: with; the v alve, and an operative` connection. between the float. means and thelatches comprising cam means' which disengages the flush latch dur-ing the-lowering; oi"` the fioatmeans, and which disengages the reflush latch during: the rising of the-fl'oat means.

19. In. apparatns of the class described, the combination of a tank. having an outlet, a valve controlling said out-let, means for manualiy opening the VaIVe, fioat means risngand lowering, with the water in the tank comprising a. float on an arm pvoted in the tank to raise and lower with the float, latches for successively engaging the valve tohold the same open different distances, a common support for' the latches, a cam arm carried with said common latch support, and means on the fioat arm which bears on and actuates the cam arm to operate the. latches as above described by the rising and lowering of the float means;

20.4 In apparatus of the character set forth, 'the combination with a tank having an` o-utlet of a valve controlling the outlet, means for opening the valve to discharge the water fromthe tank, a float. that rises andfalls with the level of the water. in the tank, a latch. for holding; the outiet-controlling'valve partially open` for a predetermined period; during the refillng of the tank, andxmeansactuated by the fioatonits upward movement for efi'ecting the release of 'the outlet-oontrolling valve from the latchto permit said valve to -fully close.

In testimony whereof I\ atfix my' signature in presence of-two witnesses..

WARREN F. DREXV;

Witnesses:

E, W; SCHERR, Jr., ALAN- Ci MGDONNELL.,

copies of this' patent may be: obtainedfo' five. cents: each-, by addressng. the: commssoner ofii'Patents.

Washingtom-.D. C.