US1606364A - Flushing-valve mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9, 1926.

P. HAAS FLUSHING VALVE MECHANISM Filed June 2, 9 5

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. HAAS FLUSHING VALVE MECHANISM Nov. 9 1926.

. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2 anpwtoz Nov. 9 1926; 3 1

, P. HAAs musnme VALVE uscrmusu Filed June 2, 1925- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 tures hereinafter described, reference being oer, celluloid, or the like,

Patented Nov. 9, 19262,

rnrmr HAAS, on DAYTON, OHIO.

rLUsHnve-vALvE MECHALTISM,

Application filed June 2,

My invention consists in the vnovel fea had to the accompanying illustrate one embodiment of the same, selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

invention is to drawings, which ihe object of my provide a flushing valve mechanism for water closets of the utmost simplicity, which can be manufactured cheaply and readily installed, and which can be readily removed for examination, adjustment, repair or replacement of parts by anyone, as an ordinary householder, and which is absolutely etlicient and reliable in operation. One of the objects af my invention is to dispense with the ordinary metallic overflow pipe which is liable to become perforated by corrosion below the water line, and produce leakage of water and to substitute therefor an overflow pipe formed of a light material which is not affected by water and not subject to corrosic-n, preferably such material as hard rub which is interposed in the connections between the flushing valve and its operating mechanism and extends through the flushing valve and forms a guiding stem for the same, In the ordinary flushing tank, the usual metallic overflow pipe requires a fitting rojecting above the bottom of the tank, and necessitates the arrangement of the valve seat for the flushing valve at +1,

a distance above the bottom of tank, so that it is impossible to comdrain the tank, and it is therefore 0 prevent the collection of sediicl, it is very diilicult .to remove without disconnecting the tank, and which 'u some instances produces unsanitary con- Accordingto my present invention, Tispensing with the ordinary overflow 1e and employing the form of overflow above mentioned, 1 amenabled to locate re flushing valve seat flush with, 'orreven l'phtly below, the bottom of the tank.

' efore,the water adjacent to thebottom he tank may flow out at each flushing tion and the tanlomaybe completely JflhfiQl when desired, so that the collection sediment is prevented, and in case any sediment should collect, it may be very readily removed and the tank thoroughly cleaned, without disconnecting it from its connections. By so arranging-the overflow 7 water past 1925. Serial No. 34,307.

pipe in the manner described, an additional.

capacity is added to the tanks as now made, and thispermitsalso the formation of tanks of'the same capacity as the present tanks and of approximately one inch less depth on the sidewall, which effects a very considerable economy in the manufacture of these tanks, especially in solid ceramic ware, and such tanks will also take up a correspondingly less amount of room in a batln room or toilet. I also employ a flushing valve of uniquecharacterin this instance, mounted upon the centrally located overflow pipe before mentioned, and preferably in the form of a hollow body of flexible material, as rubber, having a flexible and elastic seat engaging portion formed by the lower portions of the hollow walls to engage the,

,without the use of guides andjconnected with a flexible operating device, as a cord, wire or chain, which in the preferred form of my pending portion, which is connected with theoverflow pipe and an exterior depending portion provided with an operating handle, the valve and its operating connection being so counter-balanced, that the valve will remain in any position where it may be moved while supported in part by the water in the tank, in which it is immersed, but as soon as the support or buoyancy of the water removed from the valve, as the flush tank is emptied, the. weight of the valve and the unitary depending portion of its operative connection, will be greater than that'of the exterior depending portion of the operative connection, so that the valve will automatically has run out of the tanknfar enough to exreturn to its seat, as soon as the water invention, engages guiding supports in the 11d of the tank, and includes a unltary de pose the valve and relieve it of vthe support ner that the seat engaging portion thereof 7.

does not accurately, fit .the flushing valve seat on coming in contact therewith, thus permitting a slight and restricted leakage of the said valve, for the'purpose distorted out of of effecting the after-fill of the closet bowl and its seal, such flow or leakage continuing until water has accumulated in the tank to a suliicient height so that a downward pressure of the water uponthe flexible wall 0'? the valve will slightly expand the same into perfect contact with the seat and prodrce a tight joint therewith. In some innces, instead of distorting the shape of the valve, 1 may distort the shape of the valve seat, but in either case the operation will he the same. This greatly simplifies the construction of the apparatus and does away with the auxiliary pipe usually employed in fiusl'iing tanks to effect what is known as the after-fill. 7

While it is not essential that the operating connection for the flushing valve, which is wiolly or in part formed of flexible material, as chain, etc, should be supported by the tank cover, this is my preferred construction, as it obviates the necessity of providing supports for the valve operating mechanism inthe tank, and siinplifiessthe construction, and further, by theremoval of the lid ofthe tank, the entire flushing valve, overflow pipe, and the operative connections forthe flushing valve, may be instantly removed for inspection or repair. I also prefer to so locate the supports for the operative connections for the flushing valve on the lid of the'tank, that the tank lid may be raised into an approximately vertical position and moved toward the center of the tank, and held in that position vwhile the flushing valve isoperated to permit the observation of the valve under working con ditions, and see that it and its operative connections are properly installed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a sectional view of a flushing tank embodying my invention, and connected with a closet bowl, the bowl being partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the flushing valve and overflow pipe, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1, to the overflow pipe, and illus trating the distortion'of the flushing valve with respect to the valve seat. v V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the valve seat, flushing valve andoverflow pipe located centrally thereof.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of valve seat, formed of rubber or other flexible material.

Fig. seat'which I may employ, the same being a true circle for the purpose of receiving a valve having a truly "circular seat engaging portion to provide for the after-fill.

-Fig. 7 is a View .representing aflushing tank embodying my invention having the .the closet bowl,

.ting, l is flush with the 6 is a plan view of a metallic valve moved with the valve, overflow pipe and valve operating device to permit of inspection or repair, or replacement of parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1, represents pipe, 2, connected with the tank, indicated at 3, which may but which is preferably made, according'to modern'methods, of porcelain and provided with a fitting, indicated at d, for securing it to the flushing pipe. 7 It will be noted by reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, that this fitting, 1, is provided with a flange, at, engaging a counterbore, or recess, 3 surrounding the aperture, in the bottom, 3", of the tank, so that the upper face of the litbottom of'the tank, and it may be, if desired, even slightly below the upper face of thetank bottom, 3 so as to enable the water adjacent to the bottom to immediately flow out when the flushing valve is open, draining out all sediment, ordinarily preventing the accumulation of sediment in the tank, and enabling the tank to be thoroughly cleaned in case any sediment should collect, as where the tank has been allowed to stand for a long period without being used. The fitting, 4, is also provided with a valve seat, indicated at 6, for the flushing valve, which preferably lies below the level of the upper face of the tank. 7 represents the water inlet pipe, which is connected with a suitable litting, indicated at 8, with a vertical pipe," 9, provided at its upper end with a float inlet valve, 10, controlling the discharge of water into the tank, through a downwardly extending pipe, 11, under the control of a float, indicated at 81, and a float lever, indicated at 23, in any usual or well known manner. As the inlet valve mechanism forms no part of my present in vention, it will not be further or more particularly described, except to say that when the float is raised, as S1OW11 in Fig. i, the

inlet valve is closed, and when the float descends, the inlet valve is opened,'the normal water'level being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Myimproved flushing valve is indicated as a whole'at 33, and in its preferred. form comprises a hollow body formed of flexible rubber, open at the upper end and tapering at its lower end to provide the conical seat engaging portion, 83, The valve is provided with a central aperture therethrough surrounded by an interior sleeve, indicated at 35, the outer flexible wall of the valve being indicated at 34, and in order to give sufiicient strength to the outer wall without too greatly affecting its resilience, I prefer to provide a plurality of provided with the flushing be of any suitable material,-

' or corrosion.

radial webs, indicated at 36," connecting the The upper-portion of the overflow pipe, sleeve, 35, with the outer wall, 34:. The 5, is provided with overflow apertures, 5",

outer wall, 34, preferably extends somewhat above the sleeve, 35, although this'is not essential, and the upper portion of said wall is preferably provided at its inner face with a plurality of annular beads, indicated at 38, which form guides in case it is desirable to decrease the holding capacity of the valve in securing the desired balance of the valve and its operating connection.

represents the overflow pipe, which is preferably formed of a very light material, not affected by water, and not liable to rust 1 preferably employ for this purpose, celluloid, but other materials, such as hard rubber, bakelite, or the like may be used, or any other material which is suitable for the purpose. The overflow pipe extends down through the valve and fits within the sleeve, 35, as shown in the drawing, and extends below the same 'a distance far enough so that when the valve is raised to its highest position, the depending portion, 5, of the overflow pipe will not be removed from within the valve seat so that this portion of the overflow pipe below the valve serves to prevent the valve from getting out of operative relation with its seat. The lower end of the tube or pipe, 5, is preferably curved inwardly, as shown at 5 so as to prevent it from catching at any pro ect-' ing portions of the fitting in the vertical a distorted valve pressure exerted expand the flexible side walls. 34, they will tight joint, to stop movements of the valve. VVhe'n the valve is connected with the overflow pipe, it will ordinarily be held trictionally thereon, but it may be screwed thereto if desired,'and in any case, I. prefer to so construct the valve that when it is connected with the overflow pipe in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. for example, portions of the lateral wall, 3a, will be deflected out of a true circle adjacent to the seat engaging portion, 33 thereof, as clearly indicated at X in Fig. 3, so that when the valve first seats, it will permit a leak of water between it and. the seat at one or. more places (3 places as shown in Fig. 3), to accomplish the afterflll of the bowl, while the water is accumir' lating in the tank, and as soon as the water reaches a suflicient height for the from within the valve to so expand and make a any further leakage and remain in this position until the nextrflushing action. In some instances, instead of making the valve with distorted walls.

I may make the seat engaging portion of the valve truly circular in cross section. and provide the fitting with a" Fig. 6, in which provided with distorted valve seat, as in the fltting, indicated at 104, 1S

trated in Fig. 3.

additional seat, 106, for the same pur-- pose, but I prefer the construction 1llllS- in the manner shown in Fig.

preferably located slightly above the normal water level in the tank, and I also prefer to provide the upper end of the overflow pipe \vith'means for connecting it with the valve operating flexible connections. As the flexible connections I prefer to employ a ball chain, and this may be readily connected to the overflow pipe by providing a vertical slot, indicated at 5 above one of the water apertures, 5", of a width suflicient to receive one of the link bars, 45 of the flexible chain or connection, l5; This chain or flexible connection, 45, extends from the upper end guide formed by providing a glazed and flared aperture, L6, in a web, 44:, provided on the underside of the tank lid, 50, the said lid having a depending edge portion which is provided with a similarly glazed and flared aperture, 47, from which the chain depends, as indicated, and is provided with a suitable handle, 49. The flexible connection, which may be of flexible material, either in whole or in part, as preferred, so long as the portions engaging the aperture. 46' and 47, are of flexible material adapted to pass easily over the glazed surface of the support, thus provides an internal depending portion, 45, and an external depending portion, 4l5. Y i It will be understood that when thedevice is in operation, the valve will be fllled with water and the valve and the portion of the overflow pipe will be immersed in water. The valve and overflow pipe, and the flexible connection, 45, are so constructed and ar ranged that when the valve and overflow pipe are submerged and a part of their weight is buoyed up by the surrounding water in the tank, said parts and the interior depending portion, 45 will substantially balance the exterior depending portion, i5, so that the valve will remain in any position to which it is moved while the weight of the valve and the overflow pipe, when deprive-d to provide a firm and easy bearing to engage the was ier on opposite sides of the internal port-ion 4-5, of the chain, I prefer to provide 'the web, 44, with a lateral projection, i lshown in Figs. 7 and 8, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The parts being constructedand arranged l, for example,

off the overflow pipe through a porcelain valve and oven and the tank being filled with water to the level indicated by the dotted line,'the flushing valve will be held firmly seated by the tion of their weight, and in suchposition their weight will be practically counterbalanced by the exterior portion, 45, of the i'lexi le connection, so that the valve will remain in raised position, the water flowing out through the pipe, 2, to the closet bowl, and effecting the flushing action. hen the water has beendischarged so as to bring the water level below the valve, the valve and the overflow pipe, 5, are deprived of the buoyancy or support of the water and their entire weight, together with the weight of the amount or" water contained within the valve, 33, will be applied to the interior depending portion, 45 of the chain or flexible connection, and will be suflicient to overcome the weight of the exterior depending portion, 45 The valve will, therefore, de-

, scend upon its seat and close the flushing 'tlow discharged until the next operation of the when exposed and relieved of outlet, but as the valve and seat do not per- :tectly coincide, there will be a slightleakage of water between the valve and seat, for example, as indicated at the points marked X, in Fig. 3, which will continue long enough to effect what is termed the afterfill of the bowl and its seal, the water level rising in the meantime within the tank. -i fhen the water level arrives at such a height that the additional pressure of the water above the valve distends the elastic sides, 3st, of the valve, and causes them to lit perfectly upon the seat, this after-fill will cease, and no further water will be valve. If the valve descends too quickly the buoyant effect of the water, it can be made to descend more slowly by decreasing the amount of water which remains in the valve. This can readily be accomplished by cutting off the marginal portion of the wall, 34, following one of the ribs, 38, which forms a guide in so cutting down the wall. If it. should become necessary to add weight to the valve in order to secure its proper descent after the water has receded from it, this may be accomplished by placing one or more washers on top of the valvesurrounding the overflow pipe, 5. in Fig. 2, for example, I have shown one such washer at 15. I wish it to be understood, also, that I may, in some instances increase the weight of the exterior depending portion of the flexible connecconstruction, therefore,

tion. A convenient means for doing this is to make the handle, 49, hollow, and insert small pellets of lead, or rather suitable material, indicated at 16, in Fig. 7, for example. This or other convenient means may be employed for securing the proper relative wights, which are easily secured. The frictional resistance of the ball chain over the glazed walls of the supporting apertures in the lid is very slight, and such friction as merely causes quietly and easily upon provided it merely moves laterally and shifts the valve slightly on its seat w thout oltermg any material resistance being subjected to injurious strain. As

T a l before stated prefer to make the overflow pipe, 5, of celluloid, which is extremely strong and durable and not affected by water, and also inexpensive. It can be readily molded in the form desired. My novel eliminates metal parts, i. .e., the overflow pipe and its supporting action which were liable to corrosion and breakage. It will also'be noted that the overflow pipe, 5, extends above the water level so that all parts of the flexible connection or chain are above the water and not subject to corrosion or rust. An additional advantage of my improved construction is that should the water level rise above the normal desired water level in the tank and high enough to reach theapertures, 5 in the overflow pipe, the water will be conducted straight down through thecenter of the valve to and through the oischarge pipe, 2, and there will be no opportunity to clog as in the old construction, in which the passages from the vertical portion of the overflow pipe through the fitting at the bottom of the tank were of tortuous chara'ter and more or less easily clogged and impeded. In adjusting the valve mechanism, it will be noted that by standing the lid on edge, as indicated in Fig. 7, on the top of the tank, and moving it forward to the center of the tank, the valve may be operated in order to determine its adjustment and efiiciency as the flexible connection will be held in an operative condition with the tank lid in this position. As before stated,

should it be desired to remove the valve or pipe in the pipe,

In my improved construction, if theoverliow pipe s struck inspect it, or make repairs or replacements, the entire valve'with the overflow pipe and valve actuating connection can'be lifted off bodily with the lid and in the same manner these parts can be readily removed to give access to the tank for cleaning the same should it become necessary, or for the repair of the inlet valve, or other tank connections.

In some instances 1 may employ a yield ing valve seat of rubber or other suitable material fitted in the flushing orifice in the bottom of the tank and adapted to engage the valve, and in such case the said seat or the valve, or both, may be formed out of true so as to normally contact only at separated points and leave spaces through which water may leak and perform the function of the after-fill during the first portion of the refilling of the tank. In such case the valve may be made of rigid or semi-rigid material, as molded rubber, or even hard rubber or metal, if preferred, and secured to the centrally located overflow pipe by cementing or other preferred manner. Thus, in Fig. 5, I have shown such a construction in which,'233, represents the valve or" rigid .or semi-rigid material, provided with the centrally located overflow pipe, 205, V the valve having seat engaging portions for 1 engaging a flexible valve seat, 206 formed in'a collar, 206, of rubber having an annular portion, 206, exending into the-interior ot the metal fitting, 20l, to which the discharge or flushing pipe is connected in the usual manner, th shoulder, 206, to engage the upper surface of the fitting, 204E, and said fitting is preferably provided on its interior with lugs, 20 9, for engaging the lower edge of the portion, 206*, and further supporting the collar and valve seat. As before stated, either the valve or thecollar, be distorted so as to-provide for the afterfill, as previously described, until the tank becomes filled to a certain point when the pressure of water exerted. the valve will cause the flexible valve seat to yield and tightly engage the valve.

In some instances I find it convenient also a to provide means for loosely guiding the flushing valve in its vertical movements within the tank, and in Fig. 7 'for example, I have shown the fitting,4, provided with tour vertically extending guide pins,

fitting, and arranged so as in its movements, In such case itjwill not be necessary to extend the pipe, 5, below the bottom of the valve, and the lower portion, 5 may therefore bedispensed with, if desired.

It will be noted that, as shown in Fig. 7, the portions of the fitting surrounding the valve seat, between the guiding rods, 25', are flush t v h 'bQttQm at.

e said collar having a or both, may 1 downwardly 'on v or rods, 25, securedat intervals around said to guide the valve the ankrau the,

tankwill therefore and prevent the collection of sedlment, as before described.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Lettiers Patent is':-

l. The combination with a flushing tank provided with a flushing outlet and flushing valve seat, of a valve formed of yielding material and the other of substantially rigid material, and being so formed as to leave space between the valve and seat when engaged without pressure, and to be forced into water tight engagement by the pressureot the water in the tank above said valve, whereby when said valve is closed after a flushing operation, the said space will provide-tor the after-fill of the closet bowl and the valve will is filled and operative connections for said valve.

2. The combination with, a flushing tank provided with a flushing outlet and valve seat,- of e a valve having yielding seat engaging portions, said valve and seat being so constructed as to'leave space be tween them when engaged without pressure, to provide for the after-fill of the bowl, and to be brought into accurate water tight "engagement by the pressure of the water in the tank, and operative connections for said valve.

3. The combination with a flushing tank,

provided with a fiushing'aperture and valve seat, of a flushing valve having seat engaging-portions of soft rubber, said seat and valve being constructed so as not to fit accurately when engaged without pressure, and to leave space betweenthem for the passage of water to efiect the after-fill out the bowl, said valve being forced into accurate water tight engagement with the seat'by the pressure of accumulated water 'in.the tank above said valve as the tank fills, and opera-. tive connections for said valve.1

a. The combination with a fiushingtank provided with a flushing outlet and valve seat, of a cup-shaped molded rubber, having thin -flexible walls decreasing in horizontal diameter toward the lower end of the valve and providing seat engaging portions on the exterior of said walls, said, valve having a central vertical aperture therein, a vertical overflow tubeextending through andirictionally engaging. the central aperture of said valve, said' overflow tube being provided with openings-above and belowfithe valve (and forming the stem of the valve, and operative connections for said alve-engaging said overflow tube. i 1

5. The combination with asealing tank provided with an unobstructed flushing out aovho r; ra teiifsre eei. s tsi lded let having a valveseat'atits upper end, of

subsequently seat accu-' rately when the tank drain from the bottom I for engaging said seat,sa1d seat and said valve being the one flushing valve ot soft v i iii) provided with an unobstructed ber and provided with, thin elastic walls, said valve decreasing in' horizontal diameter toward its lower. end, andproviding a seat engaging portion on the exterior of its hollow walls, capable of operatively engaging the valve seat in different angular positions to the vertical ofsaid valve, said valve being provided with acentral vertical aperture therethrough, an overflow tube of materially less diameter than the valve seat ex: tending through and frictionally engaging said aperture in the valve, and projecting be low said valve, said tubebeing provided with water apertures, above and belowthe valve, and operative connections for said valve connected with said'tubeand freely suspending the tube and valve when'the valve is unseated, whereby guides forsaid" valve are dispensed with and it' will beiseated when closed regardless of the perpendicularity of said tube.

6'. The combination with a flushing-tank flushing outlet having a valve seat at it upper end, of a hollow valve formedof soft'molded rubher and provided vwith thin elastic walls, said valve decreasing in horizontal diameter toward its lower 'end, and providing a seat engaging portion on th'eexterior of its hollow walls, capable ofoperatively engaging the valve seatin different angular positions to the vertical of said valve, saidvalve being provided with a central vertical aperture therethrougln an overflow tube of ma terially less diameter than the valve seat extending through and frictionally engaging said aperture inithe valve, and projecting below said valve, said tube being provided with water-apertures above and below the valve, and operative connections for said valve connected with said'tube and freely suspending the tube and valve when the valve 1s. unseated, whereby guides. for said valve are dispensed with 'andit will be seated when closed regardless of the perpendicularity of said tube, andimeans for arresting the upward movement of said tube and valve before the lower end of said tube is raised above the level of'the valve seat, so

that pendulous'inovement of the valve and tubeproduced bythe introduction of water into the tank will not interfere with the seating ofthe valve'wlien closed v 7; The combinationrwith a flushing tank provided with" a' flushing ;outl et and" valve seat therefor,- of a hollowrvalve for engaging said] seat open at iii-supper end, and. pro vided with a" flexible wall, said" valve when in normal po'sitioncbeing so constructedfthat the" seat en'gagir'igportion of 1 saidfl'xibl wall of the valve makes contact "at separated' portions,-; only leaving spaces 1: for 1 leakage of water-to eaten the,"after-fill ofthe'oloset' bowlfduringport-ion:'ofttlrejrefillingx pf the "tank; the pressurebf#"tlie* water wlielr- 7 provided" with:

connected with the upper endofsaid tube.

9. Thecombination with a flushing tank provided wither-flushing outlet and seat, of a cup-shaped flushing valve formed of soft molded rubber, wall, a portion'of the exterior face of which formsthe'seat engaging portion of the valve, said valve having central aperture at its lower end and an exterioraxial sleeve extending vertically from said aperture, an overflow tube extending through and friction'ally engagingsaid sleeveand aperture,

the said seat and the seat" engaging portions of said valve being so constructed that they do not fit accurately when engaged without pressureleaving space between them to effect-the after-fill of the bowl, the pressure of-water in the tank above the valve being effective to distend thewalls of said valve into water tight engagement with the seat,

and operative connections for the valve connected with said overflow tube.

10. The combination with a flushing tank provided with a flushing outlet and seat, of a-cup-shaped flushing valve formed of soft molded rubber, provided with a flexible wall, a port-ion of theexterior face of which forms-theseat*engaging'portion of the valve, said valve having a centralaperture at its lower end and anexterior axial sleeve extending vertically from said aperture, an overflow tube extending through and frictionally 'engagingsaid sleeve andaperture, the said seat and seat engaging portions, of the valve-being constructed sdasnot to fit accurately when engaged without pressure, andisaid 'valve being radial webs of rubber extending between the interior sleeveandfithe flexible wall-0f the" lac valve connected with gage'inent 'witlf said' seat:

seat, of

provided with a. flexible provided with integral molded rubber provided with a central aperture therein, a vertically disposed overflow tube extending through and frictionally engaging said aperture in the valve, said valve having'flexible walls, the exterior of which provide the said engaging portions of the valve, operative connections for said valve including depending portions within the tank connected with said tube, and depending portions outside of the tank, the weight of the valve. its contents of water, the overflow tube and the depending portions of said connect-ions within the tank will be substantially counterbalanced by the depending portions of said connections outside of the tank when the valve is sub merged. 12. The combination with a flushing tank provided with a flushing aperture and valve seat, of a flushing valve for engaging said seat, valve operating means including flexible portions, extending from the vvalve to the exterior of the tank, a movable cover for the tank provided with supporting means for engaging the flexible portions of said valve operating means, said cover and its supporting portions being so constructed that the cover may be removed together with the valve and its operative connections, without disassembling them.

7 Thecombination with a flushing tank provided with a flushing aperture and valve seat, of a flushing valve for engaging said seat. valve operating means includ ing flexible portions, extending from the valve to the exterior of the tank, a movable cover for the tank provided with supporting means for engaging the flexible portions of said valve operating means, said cover and its supporting portions being so constructed that the cover may be removed together with the valve and its operative connections,

means being of such length that by supportingthe cover vertically on the upper edge of the tank above said valve and seat, the

valve may be operatedby said operating means and its operation observed.

3A. The combination with a flush tank pending portion,

without disassembling them, said flexible portions of the valve actuating provided with a discharge aperture, and

valve seat, or a hollow flushing valve com posed of rubber and having a flexible wall, the exterior portions of which form the seat engaging portionv of seat engaging portions being constructed so as to normally engage the seat at separated the valve, said portions and provided for the leakage of water past the valve to effect the after-fill of the closet bowl during a portion of the refilling oi the tank, a vertically d sposed overflow pipe extending through said valve and provided at its lower end'with a discharge aperture, and ad acent toits upper end with an overflow aperture, a flexible connection for operating the valve having an interior depending portion connected with said overflow tube, and an exterior desaid tank being provided with means Ior supporting intermediate portions or" said flexible connection, said exterior portion of the flexible connection and the 1nterior portion of said flexible connection, said tube and said valve being in a substantially balanced condition valve and adjacent portion of the overflow tube are submerged, the pressure of water within the tank when full distending the flexible wall of said valve into complete engagement with the valve seat.

15. The combination with a flush tank, provided with a discharge aperture, and a valve seat, of a hollow flushing valve for engaging said seat, said seat and said valve being, the one formed of flexible material, and the other of substantially rigid material, and being constructed to normally engage each other at separated points, so as to provide aspace between them to eilect the after-fill of the closet bowl through a portion of the refilling of the tank, the pressure of the water upon said valve when the tank is substantially filled serving to bring the valve and seat into water tight contact, and operating with said valve. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. I

PHILIP Haas.

when the devices connected

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