US1947627A - Toilet valve - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1934. N, WAYNE 1,947,627

TOILET VALVE Filed Sept. 21. 1931 FIG. 1. E

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Patented Feb. 29, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKlE Application September 21, 1931 Serial No. 563,990

7 Claims.

This invention relates to flush tank valves of the type commonly known as toilet tank balls.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve member of the character described which constructcd, arranged and operated to positively and correctly engage valve seats of many different sizes and regardless of irregularites of alignment and position or movement of the valve operatmeans and other parts of the valve mecha-- nism, wher by to prevent leakage, chattering and other noises as well as other failures and objections occasioned by improper seating, all in particularly eilicacious manner.

Another object is to provide a valve member of the character descibed, wherein a relatively long and flexible stein formed integral with and for attaching the valve member to the operating rod is constructed and arranged to move freely universally relative to and without tilting or displacing or interfering with the proper movement seating or" the valve member in the event irregular operating thrusts are transmitted. to said stem due to incorrect alignment and operation of the operating mechanism, as is often the case in toilet mechanism.

A further object is to provide a valve member or the character described, wherein the aforefiexible stem is joined to the valve proper a point below the center of gravity of the latter whereby to minimize movement of the valve proper at the portion thereof when the stem is flexed or moved irregularly as aforesaid, and to provide for a more positive and. effective transmission of the lifting and seating forces to the valve adjacent the seated portions thereof and thereby minimize strain and wear on the valve as a whole.

Still another object or" the invention is to provide a tank ball of the character described, wherein the seating and adjacent portions there of are reinforced in a particularly efficacious manner to insure an effective seating of the valve and render it reliable in operation over long periods of use.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of the valve of this invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

ing drawing, comprises a generally conical body A of hollow formation and preferably constructed of soft rubber or like compressible and resilient material. At its lower end the bottom wall 3 of the body has a central opening 4 as is customary in the art Whereas the top or upper wall 5 is or" concave-convex form with its convex side uppermost and has a central relatively deep con ical depression or well 6 therein. The annular wall "I of the body comprises the seating portion of valve and is adapted to engage a beveled valve seat B surrounding an outlet 0 of the toilet tank D, as shown in Figure 1. The long taper or bevel of this annular side wall '7 provides for accommodation of the valve to valve seats of many sizes and insures a proper seating and. sealing action of the valve in all cases. r

The depression or gravity well 6 acts as a stabilizer by virtue of its centralization. of the hydrostatic pressure over the out-flow when the valve is open. It also acts to bring the hydrostatic pressure close to the center of gravity of the valve when the latter is closed whereby to properly maintain the valve in position.

To provide for a flexible connection of the valve with the usual operating rod E therefor, the valve body is formed with 2. preferably integral and generally tubular rubber stem 8 extending upwardly from the bottom of the depression 6 and. terminating well above the valve. preferably tapered towards its upper end to increase the flexibility thereof and is spaced from the sides of the depression 6 whereby it is free to move universally. At its closed and solid upper end 9 the stem has a nut 10 embedded therein so as to be exposed for connection therewith of the threaded end F of the rod E. lnasmuch'as the stem 8 is relatively flexible, it will move freely in response to any irregular thrust or pull thereon as may be occasioned owing to improper alignment or positioning of the rod E and its associated operating mechanism, not shown. Assuch irregularities are common in toilet valve mechanisms, it is apparent that the great flexibility of the stem is essential in order to insure a proper seating and unseating or" the valve. The particular construction and arrangement of the stem 8, it will now be noted, permits of free irregular movements of the stem, without appreciably tilting or moving the valve body in such manner as This stem is w would prevent proper seating and unseating of the valve.

It should be noted that the point of connection of the flexible stem 8 is below the center of gravity of the valve body and substantially in line with or in the horizontal plane of the seating portions or zones of the valve, these portions being the middle section of the annular wall '7, as indicated at 12 in Figure 1. Thus it is seen that while the stem is relatively long to provide the desired fiexibility when it is moved laterally or irregularly it offers a poor leverage for movement of the seating portions or zone 12 because of the proximity of the lower end 13 of the stem to the plane or planes of said seating portions or zone.

To reinforce and stiffen the valve at the seating zone 12 thereof, the body is formed interiorly with an annular rib 14 located at said zone. This adds life to the valve, by increasing thickness at the joint where the valve is most likely to seat with the average sized toilet valve and also insures a reliable seating action.

To further stiffen and reinforce the valve, webs 16 are formed interiorly in the upper part of the hollow body, said webs joining the depressed portion of the top wall with the other portions of said wall and extending radially from the depressed portions. These webs also present the depressed portion of the top from being pulled out or inverted.

The depression 6 provides a well for the water in the toilet tank and due to its depth and central location applies the weight of the water to the valve in such manner as to act as ballasting means and insure a close and proper seating of the valve.

In the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, the valve 17 is identical in construetion to the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that rubber stem 8 is omitted. Instead of the upstanding rubber stem the valve 17 has the metal rod or stem 18 extended into the well 19 and screwed into a nut 20 embedded in the bottom of the well.

It should be noted that the walls 21 of the well are relatively thin and gradually decrease in width towards thelower end of the well. This provides great flexibility and permits of the direct connection of the metal stem with the bottom of the well, the flexibility of said walls providing in a measure for the advantages secured by the rubber stem. In this form the well 19 functions in the same manner as the well 6 of the first described well.

I claim:

1. In a valve, a valve body having a circumferential seating surface between its upper and lower sides and a depression in its upper side, said depression having its bottom disposed on a plane belowthe line of contact of said seating surface with its seat, and a flexible stern joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upwardly therefrom.

2. In a valve, a valve body having a circumferential seating surface between its upper and lower sides and a depression in its upper side, said depression having its bottom disposed on a plane below the line of contact of said seating surface with its seat, and a flexible stern joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upwardly therefrom with its upper end disposed well upon the upper side of said body.

3. In a valve, a valve body having a circumferential seating surface between its upper and lower sides and a depression in its upper side, said depression having its bottom disposed on a plane below the line of contact of said seating surface with its seat, and a flexible stem joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upwardly therefrom, said stem being spaced circumferentially from the sides of said depression.

4. In a valve, a valve body having a circumferential seating surface between its upper and lower sides and a depression in its upper side, said depression having its bottom disposed on a plane below the line of contact of said seating surface with its seat, and a flexible stern joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upwardly therefrom, said stem being spaced circumferentially from the sides of said depression and tapered towards its upper end.

5. In a valve, a valve body having a circumferential seating surface between its upper and lower sides and a depression in its upper side, said depression having its bottom disposed on a plane below the line of contact of said seating surface with its seat, a flexible stem joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upwardly therefrom, and means at the upper end of said stern providing for attachment of an operating stem thereto.

6. In a valve, a hollow body formed of compressible and resilient material and provided with an annular seating portion between the upper and lower sides thereof and with a depression in said upper side, reinforcing webs joining the depressed portion of the said upper side and the remainder of said upper side, and a flexible stem joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upward therefrom.

7. In a valve, a hollow body formed of compressible and resilient material and provided with an annular seating portion between the upper and lower sides thereof and with a depression in said upper side, reinforcing webs joining the depressed portion of the said upper side and the remainder of said upper side, a flexible stem joined to the body at the bottom of said depression and extending upward therefrom, and an annular bead on the inner side of said seating portion.

HERBERT N. WAYNE.

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