US1576299A - Valve for low-down flush tanks - Google Patents

Description

March 9 1926.

Filed June 18. 1924 A TTORNEY Patented 9,

ICE.

ARNOLD M. BEHBER, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.

VALVE FOR LOW-DOWN FLUSH TANKS.

Application filed June 18, 1924. Serial No. 720,746.

Heretotore in valves for low down flush tanks the construction has been such that the properfiushing of the bowl has been a serious problem owing to the inability of the workman to so set the different portions of the valve, when installing it in the tank, as to ensure the proper timing in the seating of the buoyant valve block with relation to the discharge port, as well as to Structural characteristics in the valve mechanism itself resulting in the frequent improper. seating of the valve and the continued flow of water from the tank while the filling valve is open, causing objectionable noises and wastage of water. In many instances 1n order to avoid such objectionable features of the valve mechanism for low down flush tanks, the use of such tanks is dispensed with, and the more inaccessible but 'more reliable high up tanks are used in their stead since with these high up tanks,,it is possible to use a siphon discharge by reason of the increased fall of the water when flushing the bowl, which valve is more reliable and more silent, than the ordinary valves used in low down flush tanks.

A valve constructed in accordance with my present invention is so constructed that a workman is not required to adjust any part of the mechanism when installing it in a tank, the relation of these parts being determined during the assembling of the mechanism in the factory, and being so constructed and propmrtioned as to be suitable for use in any tank, irrespective of the dimensions 01' capacity of the tank. In fact the construction is such that not only is adjustment of any of the parts unnecessary, but such adjustment is impossible, so that the mechanism cannot be tampered with by a work'- man, nor so modified as to in any Way destroy the standard a j stmen determ ned while assembling the mechanism in the factory.

The stem of the buoyant valve is so mounted as to always center said valve block wth relation to the outlet port and. to prevent any movement thereof except axially of said port. The bearings for said stem are so constructed and arranged as to thus define the movements of the valve block and at the same time, afford a minimum of bearing surface for the valve stem and reduce to -a minimum, likelihood of the binding of said stem.

The member having the bearings therein issupported at a fixed distance from the fitting having the outlet port therein, so that when the valve is tripped, the buoyant valve block will of necessity pass without the range of the suction within the tank "about the discharge port for a suflicient interval to prevent the premature seating of the of this suction only after a considerable volume of water within the tank has flowed through the outlet and when the eii'ect'ot the suction has been, modified owing to the isiazae block, said block coming Within the influence I factthat the valve block is supported on the surface of the water remaining within the tank. In this manner a sufliciently slow closing-of the valve is assured to cause a substantially complete rapid emptying of the tank with each actuation of the valve.

The manner of supporting the bearing fitting for the valve block is such that the overflow pipe may be made of hard vulcanized rubber, if desired, there beinga fairly free sliding fit between this fitting and said pipe so that the pipe cannot be used to change the normal setting of the bearing fitting and yet will resist any attempts to change this'setting by bending the standard supporting this fitting.

The various parts of the valve mechanism are made of non-corrosive metal such bronze or Monel metal, thusensuring not 'non-adjustably supported from said standalined narrow bearings '5 receive the valve stem m ard, said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced ahned narrow bearings therein in axial alinelnent with said port, and means thereon encircling but unconnected with said overflow pip-e, a valve stenr slidably mounted in said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuatingineans for said stem; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended. 7 V

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of a tank having therein a valve inechanisni ei'nbodying the invention, a represents the tank proper, Z) the cover therefor, c a valve controlled filling mechanisnr for the tanlr, and Z the ordinary float, actuating the valve for said filling mechanism. lhis construction and arrangement is coi'nn'ion to many kinds of flu-sh tanks, and forms no part of my present invention.

The valve mechanism mounted within this tanli consists of a fitting c'having an outlet port at f and an exteriorly screw-threa ded nipple at g for, making the union with the bowl. and at ditierent radii of the port f, one of tiese fittings as of having an opening therethrough communicating with the nipple g7 and having secured thereto the usual overflow pipe h preferably made of hard vulcanized rubber. o r

Secured to the other extension c is a standard i parallel withthe axis of the port f, and of a height to permit the buoyant valve block when unseated by the valve actuating mechanism to rise in the inter to a height whichwill bring it without the suction created about and above the port 7,

until the valve block is brought close to said fitting 0 as a result of the rapid lowering the level of the water in the tank. The fitting 0 is preferably made of bronze, as is also the standard i, which is preferably formed of a solid rod. I Supported from the standardi IS a bearinn; fittin i havin an interiorlv screw .1 l b L t: l

threaded socket ;i' adapted to receive the screw'tln'eacled end if of the standard 5. The fitting j is cored out centrally thereot as shown in the drawing. to provide two adapted l.) ar the buoyant "both bearings val 'e block 12 The centers 7.': 7t:' are alincd with the axis of the port f, T the spacing apart of these hearings not only having the effect of reducing'v the bearingsurface for, the stein mg bi engaging: said stenrat widely diverging points so to p l e y meal lefi-vtion eff the'stem,

The fitting has two extensions 6" and limit the inovcn'ient of the valve block a to a path in vertical alinement with the port 7. By this construction the valve block is always accurately centered with relation to the port 7', and a positive accurate seating thereof is assured after each actuation of the valve.

In the event of wear upon the valve black n, which is the only portion of the mechanism which is subject to material wear even after long continued use, repairs may be effected by removing this valve lock from said stein and'substituting a new valve block therefor.

The valve block a is preferably made of softvulcanized rubber, although other ni-..- terial's may beu'sed, and the stem, m is preferably made of Monel or other non-corrosive metal. The fitting is preferably made of bronze. I n v The standard '2' is secured to the extension 6 in the factory, and the fitting j is also secured to said standard in the factory, thcseparts being: so secured that it is impossible for a workman to move the fitting jtoward the fitting e.

To prevent the accidental or intentional bending of the standard by pressure applied to the fitting y, at a point remote from said'sta iida'rch I provide said fitting; with two narrow collars 0-0 adapted to encircle the overflow pipe/t, no means, however, being provided by which said collars are secured to the said pipe. in any manner whatsoever, thus avoiding likelihood of the crushing of the pipe by an improper setting of anadjustable member for securing said fitting to. said pipe.

By spacing the collars apart as shown and described, said collars may have a loose lit witlrthe overflow pipe and still act to prevent any bendingof the'standard ii in a ma nner to throw the bearings Zc.7.: out of alin'einent with the axis ofthe port 7". This manner of utilizing the overliow pipe as a stay for ensuring the proper position ingot the fitting'j, also facilitates the assembling of the valve 1nechanism,'since the said pipe may be slipped through the collars tween the lowermost hearing; it" and the portf. i

The actuating means for the ralve is shown as the ordinary lever and handle hani'sni [7.

The operation of the herein d rihe-al niechanislnis substantially as folloi'vs.-- illlh'en the lever mechanism-g) actuated. the buoyant valve block it is raised from its seat upon thel'lttin'gr o by means of its stem myrtle rlglltllnt ll 1t to an. extei'it which ivlllerther eauseit tQ bi brought close to the bearing 72 by the action of the lever 49, or as a result of its floating in the water in the tank. In either instance it will be initially moved away from the fitting e sufficiently to bring it without the range of the suction caused by the water flowing through the port communicating with the nipple g,

and thus )revent its bein 'rematurel' seatseat formed on the fitting e, the suction below the valve retaining the block upon the seat. v

The spacingof the bearings /c7c" one above the other in vertical alinement, will permit that tree sliding fit between the stem m and the fitting necessary to the free movement of the valve block, while at the same time preventing any material side cleflection oi": the block or the stem, or any frictional binding of the latter.

The use of collars 0 encircling the overflow pipe h, but not beingsecured thereto in any way,serves effectively to preserve the proper alinement of the bearings lz--7c with the axis of the discharge port and of the valve block a, and prevent any bending of the standard iby a workman when installing the valve in a tank; since a downward pressure upon the fitting j adjacent the collars 00 will cause the upper collar to bind upon the right side of the overflow pipe and the lower collar to bind upon the left side of said pipe. An upward pressure upon said fitting willreverse the binding of these collars. By thus limiting the move ment which may be imparted to the fitting 7', the elasticity inherent to the standard 2' can be depended upon to restore the fitting j to its normal horizontal position even though pressure may have been applied therein in the manner described, since the quantity of movement of the standard will not be such as to strain it beyond its elastic limit.

By this construction, the desired permanency in relation to different parts is secured, and the overflow pipe may be made of hard rubber, since under no circumstances can it be subjected to crushing stresses. In fact in the embodiment of the invention shown, the fitting j is supported entirely by the standard 6.

The few number or parts, and their construction, permits the valve to be made of s si d narrativev meat wh ch. will the same reliability in action.

ensure ease and certainty in its operation over a long period of use, and yet the cost of production of such a valve is materially less than valves on the market not having None of the parts entering into the valve can become disarranged either when installing or While in use, and under no circumstances can the valve stem m be so bound, or the valve block a become so deflected as to prevent a proper seating of the valve when the maximum volume of water within the tank, as determined by the setting of the fioat cl, has beendischarged through the port in the fitting e.

The positioning of the extensions 0' and e at; diametrically opposite points of the valve eat shown in the drawings, is merely matter of convenience for reducing the .vidth ot the fitting e and affording ample space for the stem of the float (Z; If desired, one'of these extensions may be placed toward either side of said valve without varying the operative effects secured in preventing not only abending of the standard '2 but any such rotary movement of the fitting or bridge j about said standard as will move the axis of the bearings /c7c out of almement with the axis of the valve seat.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

- i 1.. A valve'for low down flush tanks embodying therein a fitting having a discharge port therethrough, a nipple extending from,

and extensions upon diiierent radii of, said port, one of said extensions having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with said nipple, an overflow pipe carried by said last named extension, a standard secured to said other extension, a hearing fitting, means whereby said bearing fitting is non adjustably supported from said standard, said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced alined narrow bearings therein in axial alinement with said'port, and means thereon encircling but unconnected with said overflow pipe, a valve stem slidably mounted in said bearings, abuoy-V ing means for said stein.

A valve for low down flush tanks embodying therein a fitting having a discharge port therethrough, a nipple extending from,

and extensions upon different radii of, said 7 ant valve carried by said stem, and actnattherein in axial alinement with said port, and spaced narrow collars thereon encircling said overfiow pipe but unconnected therewith, whereby bending of said standard or lateral deflection of saidbearing fitting is prevented and said pipe is relieved from any crushing stresses, a valve stem slidably mounted in said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuating means for said sten.

3. A valve for low down fiush tanks embodying therein a fitting having a discharge port therethrough, a nipple extending from, and extensions upon Opposite sides of, said port, said extensions being diametrically opposite each other, and one of said extensions having an opening extending therethrough and communicatii'ig with said nipe ple, an overflow pipe carried by said last named extension, a solid metallic standard secured to the other extension, a bearing fitting", means whereby said bearing fitting 1s non-adpistablysupported from said stand-- ard said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced alined narrow bearings therein in axialalinement with'said port, means upon said bearing fitting co-operating but unconnected with said overflow pipe to preventsuch movement of said bearing fitting as would bring said bearings out of alineinent with the axis oi said port, a valve stem slidably mounted in said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuating means operative upon said stem, said fitting, said standard, said bearing fitting and said stem port, said extensions being diametrically opposite each other, and one of said extensions having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with said nipple, an overflow pipe, carried by said last named extension, a solid metallic standard secured to the other extension, a bearing fitting, means whereby sa d bearing fitting 1s nonadju;=st'a bly supported from said standard,

said bearing fitting havinga plurality of spaced alined narrow bearings therein in axial alinement with said port, a plurality of vertically spaced narrow collars upon said bearing fitting and encircling but unconnected with said overflow pipe to prevent.

such movement of said bearing fitting as would bring said bearings out of alinement with the axis of said port, a valve stem slidably mounted in said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuating means operative upon said stein, said fitting, said standard, said bearing fittingand said stem all beingformed of substantially noncorrosive metal.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto affixed my signature this l lth day of June, 192%.

ARNOLD M. BEER-ER,

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