US1984394A

US1984394A - Supply and discharge mechanism for water closet tanks

Info

Publication number: US1984394A
Application number: US648393A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph S Candee
Original assignee: CATHERINE T CANDEE
Current assignee: CATHERINE T CANDEE
Priority date: 1932-12-22
Filing date: 1932-12-22
Publication date: 1934-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1951-12-18

Description

J. S. CANDEE Dec. 18, 1934.

SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS Filed Deo. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 18, 1934. J. s. CANDEE 1,984,394

SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS Filed Dec. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AT-TCRNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1934v UNITED STATES:

vSUPPLYAND lmsoimRGE MECHANISMy Fortl y WATER cLosirr.TANKSv t Joseph S.-Candee, Buffalo,v N. Y.; assigncr to f Catherine T. Candee, Buffalo, N. Y.

t applicati@Decemlw.22,1932, SerialNo.64s,s93

v3 Claims.

This invention relates to a supply and discharge mechanism for water 'closet tanks. -f

`The mechanisms for this purpose as heretofore constructed usually contained a. .valve which was 5 opened to permit .the water in the tank toow through the outlet thereof to the closet bowl, which construction is objectionable inasmuch as the `ioint between theclosing member and seat of such a valve becomes' wornv in time and causes leakage which necessitates renewal or repairing of this valve in order kto restore the same toits proper working condition; 1

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a supply and discharge mechanism for water closet tanks in which no valve is employed in the outlet of the water tank `whereby theY possibility of leakage is absolutely avoided and no repairs on this account are required. Another object of this invention is to provide improved means forfopening the stopper or closure member of the valve whereby the supply of water to the tank is controlled so thatr this valve is opened more rapidly and supplies the necessary ejector jet for starting ar siphonic. action whereby the water is withdrawn from the tank for flushing the closet and also the necessary water for refilling thetank after the same has been emptied by a flushing action.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a water closet tank equipped with my improved supply and discharge mechanism and showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the inlet valve is closed.

Figure 2 is a'fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the tank is being emptied of water.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary verticaltran'sverse section, taken on line 3*-3 Fig. l. l 40 Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section,

taken on line 4-.4 Fig. 1.r I Y Figure 5 isa fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing `the manner in which the trip dog of the trip lever cooperates with the catch of the latch device which controls the relative position of the sections of thefloat lever whereby the water inletvalveis actuated.`

Figure 6 isa fragmentary side` elevation showing .a modified form of the sectional oat lever and the latch or lockingV device whereby the sections of this lever may be either locked in an un folded position relative to each other or permitted to fold one sectionrelatively to the other, this figure showing the locking device in ,a posi'- tion inA which these `sections are locked against relative movement. y y u t Figure 7 is a similar view showing the latch or locking device in a position in which the two sections of the iioat lever are permitted to fold one relatively to the other. f i

Similar charactersk of reference indicate, like parts in the several figures of the drawings:

The numeral -10 represents the tank or reservoir of a water closet which is adapted to receive water from any suitable source and deliver the same toabowl for iiushing the latter. The water for this purpose is preferably supplied to this tank by means of a supply pipe l1 which in the present case extends upwardly through the bottom thereof and terminates at its `upper end within the tank where the same is provided with a port`12 constituting` the water inlet for the tank'. Surrounding this inlet portthe supply pipe 11 is provided with an upwardly facing valve 'seat 13. l

The discharge of water from this pipe into the tank is controlled by a regulating valve having a stopper'or closure member llkwhichismovable downwardly into engagement with the-seat 13 for the purpose of closing the port 12, and also upwardly away from this kseat for uncovering the port- 12 and permitting the water which is supplied under pressure tothe pipe 11 to flow into the tank. I

This valve is provided on its upper iside with a valve stem 15 which is guided in the upper part of the valve chamber 16 which encloses the regulating valve-and communicates with the upper end ofthe pipe 11 through the medium of the port 12. l

Opening and closing of this stopper or closure memberis effected by an operating mechanism which in the present case comprises a horizontal operating lever `17 passing with its central part through a loop 18 extending upwardly from the i top ofthe valve stem 15 and pivoted to the upper verse pivot or hinge pin 22. The inner orrear n section 20 of this oat lever is pivoted by means of arhorizontal transverse pin 23 on the upper part of the valve chamber 16 on that side of the axis ci the regulating valve opposite to the pivot pin 19,*and this section of the floatlever is pro:`

vided with a short arm 24 projecting from the opposite side of the pivot pin 23 and pivotally connected by means of a link 25 with the outer end of the operating lever 17.

On its outer end the outer section 21 of the float lever is provided with a float 26 which is adapted to ride upon the surface of the water within the tank. As this float lever is swung upwardly due to the buoyancy of the float 26 which is raised by the level of the water rising in the tank the arm 24 forming a part of this float lever descends and causes the operating lever 17 to be depressed and the stopper `or closure 14 of the regulating valve to be pushed downwardly into engagement with the seat 1'3,`thereby shutting off the further inward flow of waterv from the supply pipe 11 into the tank..k This occurs when the level of the water in the tank has reached the predetermined or normal level which is desired to be maintained inthe tank preparatory to discharging a batch of water therefrom for flushing the bowl, as shown in Fig. 1.

As the water from the tank is discharged to the bowl the float lever descends due to the lowering of the level of the water therein thereby causing the arm 24 connected with the float lever to raise the operating lever 17, whereby the stopper or closure 14 of the regulating valve is lifted from the seat 13, aided by the pressure of the water against the underside of this stopper, whereby the inlet port 12 is uncovered, as shown in Fig. 2, and water from the supply pipe 11 is permitted to flow into the tank.

For the purpose of enabling the float lever to open the regulating valve quickly and independently of the descent of the float 26 with the level of the water as the latter is discharged from the tank but to gradually close this regulating valve again during the subsequent operation of refilling the tank, and also to cause this regulating valve to operate effectively in conjunction with the means whereby the water is discharged from the tank, latching or locking means are provided whereby the two sections of the float lever are maintained in an unfolded position relatively to each other during the upward swinging movement of this float lever while the regulating valve is being closed, but which will permit the two sections of this oating lever to fold upwardly relatively to each other and thereby enable the regulating valve to open quickly for cooperation with the water discharge device of the tank, notwithstanding that the oat descends at a slower rate with the descending level of the water as it is discharged from the tank.

The latching means for this purpose which are shown in` Figs. 1, 2 and 5 are constructed as follows:

The numeral 27 represents a dog, pawl or catch pivoted at one end by means of a horizontaltransverse pin 28 on a lug 29 projecting upwardly from the front or outer arm of the float lever adjacent to the hinge pin 22 while the opposite end of this dog is adapted to engage with a forwardly facing shoulder 30 formed on the upper side of the other section 20 of the floating lever adjacent to said hinge pin. Various means may be provided for disengaging this dog 27 from the shoulder 30, those shown in the drawings including a trip lever 3l pivoted by means of a horizontal transverse pin 32 on a bracket 33 secured to the front wall of the tank 4and provided at its frontend with a releasing dog or p'awl 34 which is adapted'to engage with a lifting orreleasing pin 35 on one side of the dog 27. T'Ihe releasing dog 34 is pivoted by means of a horizontal transverse pin 36 to the outer end of the trip lever 31 and is provided with a stop heel 37 which is adapted to engage with a stop shoulder 38 on the adjacent part of the trip lever. While the float lever is in its elevated position the locking latch or dog 27 engages with the shoulder 30 and holds the two sections of the float lever in anv unfolded or straightened position, thereby causing the buoyancy of the float 27 riding on the water level to shift the stopper or closure 14 of the regulating valve into its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. At this time the releasing dog 34 is arranged in a straightened or unfolded position relative to the trip lever 31 and engages its stop heel 37 with the shoulder 38 of this lever while` its free front end is arranged be- `low the trip pin 35 of the latch or dog 27, as

shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 5.

Upon now raising the trip lever 31 the trip dog 34 will engage with the underside of the trip pin 35 and raise kthe dog 27 out of engagement from the shoulder 30, and when this occurs the weight of the two sections of the float lever will cause the same to drop quickly into a position in which these two lever sections will fold relatively to each other into a V shape or upwardly diverging relation, as shown in Fig. 2. This dropping of the sections of the float lever will cause the operating lever 17 to be raised, together with the stopper of the regulating valve, thereby uncovering the inlet port 12 and permitting water to flow from the supply pipe 11 into the tank. During the subsequent lowering of the water level in the tank as the same is discharged through the outlet of the latter for the purpose of flushing the bowl, the

float 26 descends and carries the front section 21 of the float lever into an unfolded or straightened position with reference to the rear section 20 whereby the locking dog or pawl 27 is carried outwardly and its free end is again caused to automatically engage by gravity with the shoulder 30 of the rear section of the float lever. As the water level in the tank again rises due to the admission of water which is supplied through the pipe 1l, this float lever rises in a straightened position, this lever at this time being raised by buoy action of the float 26 which rides on the surface of the water.

After the trip lever 31 has been raised for the purpose of disengaging the locking latch or dog 27 from the shoulder 30 the same is permitted to again assume the position shown in Fig. l, and as the float lever rises in response to the rising level of the water in the tank, the trip pin 35 engages with the underside of the trip dog 34 and lifts the latter from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 5 to the folded position shown by dotted lines in the same figure, and after this trip pin has passed upwardly far enough to clear the dog 34, the latter again drops by gravity into its lowered or straightened position so that it extends underneath the trip pin 35 where it is now held by gravity with its stop tail 37 resting against the shoulder 38 on the trip lever, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5.

Various means may be employed for raising and lowering the trip lever 3l, those shown in the drawings being satisfactory for this purpose and comprising a rock shaft 39 journaled in the bracket 31 and extending through the front wall of the tank, a handle 40 arranged on the front end of the rock shaft 39 and adapted to be manually operated, and a link 41 connecting a rock arm 42 on the inner end of the rock shaft 39 with a downwardly projecting rock arm 43 on the inner Iend Aoffthetrip lever 31, as shown! in FigsJl and 2. Y By thismeans, av rocking movement imparted tor ,the handle 40,wi11 causethe trip f lever to be raised and lowered for the' purpose` of causing the releasing dog 34r to liftV thelockingvla'tch or dog 27 out of engagement from the'sh'oulderv 30 and also permitting this `releasing dog to again assume a position below the trip pin 35 in the manner heretofore described.

If desired, the means for locking thesections of the float lever in a straightened or-unfolded position and permitting these lever sections to fold relatively tof eachother, may be constructed as shown in Figs. Sand '7; In this modified form of thelocking and releasingmechanisin the front section- 21.1 of the float lever is provided'withan upwardly projecting shank-44', and the'rearsection 201 of thisiloat leverE is providedf with a v,downwardly projecting shank '45,*whichl Shanks are pivotally connected with eachother by means of a hinge or pivot pin 46 extending horizontally fand transversely through theseshanks. i

The numeral'fil represents a vlocking vsleeve or latch whichfis adapted'tokk slide vertically on fthe Shanks 44 and 45 into and outofa position in which' it extendsacross the hinge jointbetween these Shanks; When this locking sleeveis in` its lowered position, as'v` shown in Fig. 6, the same engages with both shanks44 and45 and extends across the pivotal connection between the same, and; rests with` its lower end on the adjacent part of the front'section of the float lever, thereby locking the two lsections of 'the oat'leveriin an unfolded or straightened position, Yandy rendering thesame practically' rigid. Upon raising this locking sleeve sothat the saine is arranged wholly on the verticalshank 454 of the rear iioat lever section 201 and above the hinge'pin- 46'v which pivotally connects these Shanks, the two'sections of thefloat lever are'permitted to yfold vupwardly into an angular position relatively'tofeaoh other, as shown in Fig. '7.v When the frontsec'tion 2111 of the iloat lever is again movedl downwardly into an unfolded orstraightened position `'relative to the rear section 201 due-to the dropping of the float 261 in response Eto-thf-J,'loweringfofthe Water level, then the locking sleeve v4'1,dropsby gravity across ,the-'hinge pin and' into; engag'e'- ment with the lower shank 44E-ofthe-front'section 211 ofthe floaty lever, thereby operating o again lock the two float lever sectionsina ls'i'iifaig tened or unfolded position, and cause them to rise nin this straightened position with'the respective-float 261 as the tank is againY filled with water.V l

Disengagement of the lockingsleeve`A 47l from the lower shank 44 is eiectedby means of" afreleasing dog 341 which vis mounted on the outer endA of a trip lever 311 rwhich is the equivalent of the previously described trip lever 31. vIn the ele'- vated position of the

float lever sections

201, 211 the trip dog 341 is arranged below a shoulder35l on the locking sleeve 47, and upon raising the trip lever 311 this dog 341 engageswith the shoul- 'der 351 and shifts the lockingI sleeve 47 from the position shown in Fig; 6 to the position shown inFig.'7. v

During the subsequent downward movement of the trip lever 311 relativeto the lockingsleeve 47 the releasing dog 341 trips past the shoulder 351 and assumes a folded position until it has cleared athis shoulder 351, after which the dog341 again straightens out andassumesva position'below said shoulder. This function of the releasing dog 341 is permitted by pivoting its inner end tothe free end of the` trip lever by meansof apindland' yie1din'g1y'lhc'iding this dogfin this' position-by means of a spring 48`securedY to theiront end of the levei3l1- and engaging with` a 'heel 49 onf'the inner end of the dog'341," as shown in Figsand 7.

" The, numeral -50 represents the discharge' pipe i.

whereby'the wateris delivered.' from the tankA to the closet bowl which is to be flushed; this ypipe being connected with ythe bottom of the tank in any suitable and well-known manner, so thatv its upper end which Vopens into the lower part ofthe rtank forms the outletof the tank; Arranged withinthe `tank and communicating with the interior thereof` and the outlet or discharge piper 50-1isa Siphon which forms part of,r the `means fordischarging the'waterffrom the vtank to the closet. In' its preferred form this Siphon comprises a downtake dischargeleg 51 which isarranged vertically withinfthe tank and connected at its lower A endwith the upper end of the outlet pipe 50, an

uptake ejector leg 52 arranged verticallfyalong side of the downtakeleg 51 and communicating atits upper endfwith the upper end of the downtake leg and opening'at its lower end vinto the lower part ofthe tank, and an uptake suction leg 53 arranged vertically' adjacentfto 'the` uptake ejector leg 5,2 'and opening at its lower endiinto the'lower part ofthe tank slightly above the lower end of the ejector leg, `while its upperend cornmunicates'with the upper partrofthe ejector leg at a point` below the k'point of connection between the` upper end of the ejector leg 52 andthe ydischarge leg 51. Above'the upper end of ftheejec-g tor leg 52 the siphon is provided with an upwardly extending pooket'54 which is arranged-f above the point of communication between-`the`upper ends of the ejectormleg andthe discharge leg.

Projectingupwardly into the lower rend of the 'ejector'leg isan ejector nozzle 55" by means of which a je'tof water is ydirected upwardly-into the ejector leg of the si'phonfor the purpose of starting the Siphon and causing the same to withn ter, and thisibridge.isffastenedftdth'elower end of theeject'or' leg byrneansJo'fffarlugr 57j on one end of ltliebrdge engaging withronesid'e ofthe ejectorlegf '52;r and aclamping screw rnounted on the bridge and engaging with-'the opposite side of `this legJas shownliniigs.' 1 a'nd4.` f, j f

AWater,isfsupplied to this ejector'f'nozzle by means :oigan intermediate rpipe 59 connected at itsloiirerV end with this nozzle while it'svupper end is connected with the valve 'chamber 16 on one side of the regulating valvaas shown in Figs. 1- and 3Q Assuming that theftank is filled Iwater andv the, regulating valve and its operating'me'cha'- nism are in the positionl indicated in l'ig.y 1 'so as toshut off further` entranceo'iwater from the supply pipe 1 1 intoY the tankfthe `operation tif-flushing, a closet bowl is asf'ollowszfa c, The operator turnsthe handle 40 from the position shown in Fig.`1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby the releasing-for t1'ip`.dog` 34 will disengage thev lockinglatch or dog- 2"1,v from the shoulder 30, thereby pernfiitting-- the ytwo vsections of. the -fioat leverto ldrop into a folded position and cause the regulating valve closure-14y to be lifted and permit they 110W of water from the supply pipe 1:1 to theejector nozzley 55. ,.1 v. f IThe rjet ot water which now issues -fromvthe nozzle is directed upwardly into the. bodygoffiwa ter contained within the ejector pipe or leg of the siphon whereby this body, together with the water supplied by the ejector, causes the column of water in this leg to be raised and overflow from the upper end of the ejector leg into the downtake discharge leg of the siphon. The instant that suflcient water has been thus transferred from the uptake ejector leg into the downtake discharge leg so that the latter is completely filled, a siphonic action will be produced whereby the greater weight of the column of water in the downtake leg will draw the water upwardly through both uptake legs of the siphon and discharge the water through the delivery pipe 50 to the closet bowl. This siphonic action will continue until the water has been withdrawn from the tank to a point below the lower end of the uptake suction leg or pipe 53 of the siphon, and when the level of the water reaches this point the vacuum or suction eifect of the siphon will be broken due to the admission of air at this time to the lower end of the uptake suction pipe.

The Water is withdrawn from the tank very rapidly by this siphonic action but while such withdrawal of the water is taking place the regulating valve closure 14 remains in an open position due to the lowered position of the float 1ever at this time so that the nozzle 55 continues to deliver a jet of Water upwardly into the ejector leg of the siphon. After the level of the water has been lowered in the tank to a point below the lower end of the suction leg 53 and the water-delivering operation of the siphon has been arrested, the upward jet of water from the nozzle 55 continues to function and deliver this jet of water into the pocket 54 at the top of the ejector 4leg so that the same rebounds therefrom and forms a water mass in the upper part of the ejector leg, part of which ows over into the downtake leg 51 for partly filling the bowl after the ushing operation, while the bulk or larger part of this rebounding mass of water which is directed downwardly from the pocket 54 enters the upper end of the suction pipe 53 and ows downwardly through the latter and escapes from the lower end thereof into the tank so as to gradually rell the latter with water.

During this operation of relling the tank some of the water supplied thereto from the lower end of the ejector leg which is constantly in communication with the lower part of the tank and therefore permits any water under back pressure in the ejector leg to pass into the tank.

Due to the point of connection between the upper end of the ejector leg 52 and the suction pipe 53 being lower than the point of connection between the upper end of the ejector pipe and the downtake pipe 51, the water which is lifted in the ejector pipe by the action of the jet issuing from the nozzle will practically all flow from the ejector pipe intothe suction pipe 53 and back into the tank instead of iiowing to any substantial extent from the ejector pipe into the downtake or discharge leg, thereby causing the tank to be refilled very rapidly.

By arranging the lower end of the uptake suction pipe or leg 53 above the lower end of the uptake ejector leg 52 the breaking of the vacuum effect in the Siphon is definitely located at the lower end of the suction leg 53 and permits the lower end of the ejector leg to remain submerged in water so as to retain a suicient amount of water therein to permit of resuming the subsequent filling operation of the tank promptly and without interruption at this point.

The operation of replenishing the suppy of water in the tank proceeds in this manner until the level in the same has reached the predetermined normal, at which time the oat has raised the float lever while the sections of the latter are in a straightened position as previously described, so as to cause the closure member 14 of the regulating or inlet valve to be closed and thereby stop the further admission of Water into the tank.

By this means of withdrawing the water from the tank and discharging the same into the bowl, no discharge valve is employed for controlling the outlet of the tank and instead a permanent connection is maintained between the Siphon and the outlet pipe, thereby avoiding the objectionable leakage which occurs in the use of outlet valves which have heretofore been employed for this purpose and which required periodical repairing as well as undue expense for maintaining the same in operative position. The present improvement requires no attention after once being installed inasmuch as there are no working parts which are liable to get out of order and therefore not only avoids the annoyance incident to the use of outlet vaves or joints and the possibility of leaky joints, but also effecting a substantial saving in the cost of maintaining the closet in a satisfactory condition.

Inasmuch as the water pressure which is supplied to the tank varies in different localities it may be necessary to supply water for refilling the tank by means which supplement the water which is supplied by means of the nozzle in order to speed up the refilling operation. For this purpose an auxiliary refilling pipe 60 is provided which communicates at its upper end with the water supply valve chamber 16 and opens at its lower end into the upper part of the tank so that when the supply or regulating valve closure 14 is opened some of the Water will be supplied by the pipe 59 to the ejector nozzle 55 for causing the siphon to operate and also to supply water for subsequently filling the tank, and some of the water will also be discharged by the supplemental filling pipe 60 into the tank independently of the nozzle so that between these sources of water supply the tank will be promptly relilled.

In order to permit of varying the amount of water which is supplied to the tank by means of this supplemental filling pipe 60, adjusting means are provided which in effect constitute a valve and which in the present instance consist of an adjusting valve screw 61 having threaded engagement with the upper part of an angle tting 62 connecting the pipe 60 with the valve casing 16, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon adjusting this valve screw so that its inner end extends more or less across the path of the stream of water passing from the valve casing 16 to the pipe 60 the amount of water delivered through this pipe may be varied to suit the pressure under which water is supplied in the particular locality.

I claim as my invention:

1. A supply and discharge mechanism for a water closet tank having a water inlet and a water outlet, comprising a siphon arranged within the tank and having a downtake discharge leg communicating at its lower end with said outlet, an uptake ejector leg communicating at its upper end with the upper end of said downtake leg and opening at its lower end into said tank, and an uptake suction and filling leg communicating at its upper end with said uptake ejector leg at a point below the point of y communication between said uptake ejector leg and said downtake leg, and

a water ejector nozzle projecting upwardly into the lower end of said uptake ejector leg and communicating with said water inlet, said suction and filling leg serving to conduct water upwardly from the tank to said ejector leg during the rst operation of the ejector for producing a siphonic discharge of the water from the tank and said suction and filling leg also serving to conduct water downwardly from the ejector leg to the tank for relling the latter solely by the ejector during the last operation of the same.

2. A supply and discharge mechanism for a water closet tank having a water inlet and a water outlet, comprising a Siphon arranged within the tank and having a downtake discharge leg communicating at its lower end with said outlet, a comparatively long uptake ejector leg communicating at its upper end with the upper end of said downtake leg and opening at its lower end into said tank, and a comparatively short uptake suction and filling leg communicating at its upper end with said uptake ejector leg at a point below j the point of communication between said uptake ejector leg and said downtake leg, a water ejector nozzle projecting upwardly into the lower end of said uptake ejector leg and communicating with said water inlet, and a oat controlled valve arranged in the conduit between said water inlet and said water ejector nozzle, said suction and filling leg serving to conduct water upwardly from for relling the latter solely by the ejector during the last operation of the same. l

3. A water supply and discharge mechanism for a closet tank having a water inlet and a water outlet comprising a siphon arranged within the tank and having a vertical downtake discharge leg communicating at its lower end with said Y outlet, a comparatively long vertical uptake ejector leg arranged parallel with said downtake leg and communicating at its upper end with the upper end of said downtake leg and opening at its lower end into the lower part of the tank, and an upright combined filling and suction leg having its lower end opening into the lower part of the tank', a vertical ejector nozzle arranged centrally within the lower end of the ejector leg and adapted to lift the water therein for rst lling downtake leg with water to produce a siphon action `which withdraws water from the tank through the suction and lling leg and then delivers water through said suction and filling leg into the tank for refilling the latter, and a valve mechanism for controlling the supply of water to said ejector nozzle.

JOSEPH S. CANDEE.