US1379712A - Flush-tank and flush-valve therefor - Google Patents

Description

W. G. MUNKEL.

FLUSH TANK AND FLUSH VALVE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- II, I9I9.

"Patentd May 31, 19211;

SIM/Imam f Mw rzz,

WALTER G.

MUNKEL,

OF ANAMOSA, IOWA.

FLUSH-TANK AND FLUSH-VALVE THEREFOR.

eanna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May Sil, 1921..

Application filed October 11, 1919. Serial No. 329,980.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER G. lilonnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anamosa, in the county of Jones and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlushTa-nks and Flush-Valves Therefor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a flush tank, and a flushing valve thereof, and an important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind which is simple, efficient and practical in construction, and may be manufactured for a relatively low cost and installed at a reasonable profit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flushing valve which is either hand or foot operated, and designed especially for use in connection with a particular form of flushing tank or box using compressed air for forcing the water from the tank.

The invention aims to afford additional objects, namely to provide a noiseless flushing tank, the pressure of water in the main is employed to insure a proper and forceful fiow of water, to insure keeping the soil pipe thoroughly clean, and furthermore, to prevent stoppage of such pipe.

Furthermore, it is the aim to provide a specially constructed inlet connection for the inlet of the water in the main into the tank, said specially constructed inlet connection consisting of a closed end bushing having an opening in the side wall on the inside of the tank, to direct the water laterally, as it enters the tank, thereby avoiding considerable noise which heretofore occurs in other types of tanks.

Furthermore, it is the aim to provide a specially constructed flushing valve, including simple and improved means for actuating the flushing valve by hand or foot.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible tochanges, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a flushing tank and flushing valve, showing the water inlet pipe, and illustrating the construction of the tank.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the flushing valve.

Referring more especially to the drawings, l designates a flushing tank or box which may be any suitable shape or config uration and constructed of any suitable material, preferably metal, though not necessarily, and hingedly mounted as at 2 is a top 3. Whilethe top is shown as being hinged, it is obvious that it may be connected to the tank in any other suitable manner. If hinged, the top may be secured in a closed position with fasteners such as indicated at 4.

The top of the tank has an opening 5, to receive a closure or cover 6, which is threaded into the opening 5, there being a suitable sealing connection with the opening to insure a *atertight joint of the cover or closure when in place.

The bottom of the tank has an opening 8, into which the bushing 9 of the flushing valve construction is threaded, there being a packing 10 between the shoulder of the bushing and the under face of the bottom of the tank. This packing may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably of soft lead or the like, though not necessarily, in order to insure a water-tight joint. This )ushing has a spherically curved valve seat, with which the spherically curved valve 12 cooperatively engages. This valve l2-is designed to be constructed of any suitable material, preferably copper or the like, and has a conical or funnel shaped chamber 13. This chamber 13 has its conical wall 1 formed on the interior of the spherically curved valve (which is hollow), there being a chamber 15 in surrounding relation to the conical wall While the valve has been described as being spherically shaped, it is to be noted that the upper part is not 0011- centric with the spherical contour of the lower greater portion of the valve. The bottom of the funnel or conical shaped chamber 13 has a .small orifice 15 which permits water to enter the chamber 13. The water which enters the chamber 13 adds to the weight of the valve for the purpose of closing the valve, after the flush tank empties.

I upper portion of the valve, and the upper part of the connector is provided with a pair of diverging arms 24, which have eyes 25, through which the transverse rod 20 passes, thereby suspending the valve on the transverse rod. By this construction, the valve is guided when moving vertically, that is to say when disengaged from its valve seat.

An L-casing 26 is threaded at 27 to the lower part 28 of the bushing, and formed on the inner part of the casing is an annular. shoulder 29, between which and the lower edge of the bushing, a suitable packing 30 is interposed, to insure a watertight connection between the casing and the bushing. A

sleeve coupling 31 connects the hopper and the L-casing or elbow by means of the unions 32 and 33, so that the water from the pipe may readily pass into the hopper and flush the same.

The lower wall of the casing 26 has an opening 34, to receive aguide plug 35, there being suitable packing 36 to insure a watertight joint. Guided in the plug 35 is a ver- 'tically movable actuating rod 37, which passes through the guide plugs 38. The guide plug 38 cooperates with a suitable packing 39, to insure a watertight joint adjacent the rod 37. A coil spring 40 is in surrounding relation to the rod 37 and is interposed between the plug 38 and collar 41, which is adjustably mounted upon the rod. A suitable bracket 42 is secured to the floor in any suitable manner as by means of bolts or the like 43, and pivotally mounted at 44 to an upstanding arm of the bracket is a foot pedal or lever 45 provided with long and short arms. The shorter arm has a foot engaging piece 46, whereas the longer arm is pivotally connected as at 47 to the lower end of the rod 37. By means of the spring 40, the rod 37 is so tensioned, as to hold the foot lever or pedal normally in contact with the stop or abutment 48, thereby holding the upper end of the rod 37 in a closed position, but not engaging the valve. By means of pressure on the foot piece 46 the pedal or lever 45 is tilted, pushing upwardly upon the rod 37, and causing the upper end of the rod 37 to contact with and unseat the valve 5 12, allowing the water in the tank to flow through the L-casing, and into the hopper for flushing the same.

The bushing 9 has a transverse opening 49, in which a rod 50 is rotatably mounted. This rod 50 passes through a plug 51, which cooperates with a suitable packing 52 in the opening 49, to insure a water-tight connection. The outer end of the rod 50 has a hand piece 53, whereby the rod may be rocked. The inner end of the rod has a lateral arm 54, which, when the rod 50 is rocked in one direction, will engage the under part of the valve 12 and consequently unseat the same, allowing the water from the tank to pass through the L-casing and flush the hopper.

The bottom of the tank has an opening 55, in which an inlet bushing 56 is threaded. This inlet bushing has its inner end closed as shown at 57, but formed in the side of the wall of the inner portion of the bushing is a small opening or orifice58. A water supply pipe 59 is threadedinto the inlet bushing, so that the water from the'main may easily flow into the tank. The water passes through the orifice or opening 58, along the sides and the bottom of the tank. By thus permitting the water from the main to enter the tank, the noise which usually occurs in other tanks, is avoided.

In the operation of the flush tank and the flushing valve, it is to be understood that the flush tank operates. as a closed tank, therefore when the valve is raised either by a foot pedal or by the hand operated rod, the water in the tank due to the air pressure there above empties from the tank and passes through the L-shaped easing into the V hopper, thereby flushing the same, and when the valve is unseated the pressure of water under the same during its act in passing through the casing keeps the valve elevated, and when the valve is elevated by the pedal or by the hand operated rod, it is readily guided by the guide rods 17. j When pressure is relieved on the foot pedal 46 and the crank 53 is released, and after the tank empties, the spherically curved valve reseats itself and closes the communication between the tank. and the hopper. The water under pressure through the supply pipe 59 refills the tank, and in this refilling of the tank, a certain amount of air is confined in the upper portion thereof. The confined air in the upper portion of the tank materially assists in flushing the tank and the hopper when the spherically curved valve is again opened.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. The combination with a closed flushing tank, into which flushing water under pressure is adapted to flow, of a flushing valve ing with the'bottom of the tank, said bushing having a spherically curved valve seat, a hollow spherically curved valve cooperating with said seat and provided with a funnel shaped chamber, the bottom of which is provided with an orifice, a guide frame rising upwardly from the bushing, said guide frame comprising diametrically oppositely arranged vertical guide rods, a transverse member guided upon certain of said rods, a connector having diverging arms engaging the transverse member and being in turn connected to the valve, whereby the valve is suspended, and a pedally operated vertical rod operatively engaging through the bottom of the casing and having its upper end positioned, whereby upon vertical movement of the rod, the valve may be unseated.

2. The combination with a flushing tank into which flushing water under pressure is adapted to flow, of a bushing having a valve seat threaded into the bottom of the tank, a casing connected to the lower end of the bushing and having connections with a hopper to be flushed, a guide frame rising upwardly from the bushing comprising diametrically oppositely arranged vertical guide rods, a transverse rod having eye connections with certain diametrically opposite guide rods, a spheroidal hollow valve cooperable with said seat, a connector loosely suspended from the transverse rod, and having a loose connection with said valve, whereby the valve may accommodate itself to the seat, when the tank has become empty of the water therein, and means for manually unseating the valve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WALTER G. MUNKEL.

Images