US2067759A

US2067759A - Lift rod connection

Info

Publication number: US2067759A
Application number: US38353A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon P Gavin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-08-29
Filing date: 1935-08-29
Publication date: 1937-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1954-01-12

Description

Jan. 12, 1937. r G. P. GAVIN 2,067,759

LIFT ROD CONNECTION Fi led Aug. 29, 1935 0000M P. 04 VIN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1937 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in lift rod connections of a type suitable for use in connection with ball type flush valves, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a connection between a lift rod and the actuating means therefor which will eliminate the necessity for a toggle joint and will allow the actuating means to exert a straight longitudinal pull upon the lift rod; second, to reduce the space or head room required for the connection to a minimum; and third, to provide an efficient and economical connection.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the connection, and Figure 2,

a side view thereof.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

In the practice of the invention the flush tank I is provided with an aperture 2. A sleeve 3 extends through the aperture 2 and is provided at one extremity with the escutcheon 4, formed integrally with or otherwise connected to the sleeve 3, adapted to overlie the exterior of the tank I 5 adjacent the aperture 2. The sleeve 3 is threaded at 5 to receive the nut 6.

A trip handle I is positioned on the exterior of the tank I and is provided with the shaft 8 which extends through the sleeve 3 and is attached at its inner extremity to the trip lever 9.

The trip lever 9 is enclosed, except on the uppermost side, by the housing II] which is held in engagement with the tank I by the nut 6, a gasket II being interposed to prevent leakage.

The top of the housing I0 is positioned above the overflow or normal water level of the tank so that the water from the tank does not enter the interior of the housing whereby leakage through the sleeve 3 and around the shaft 8 is avoided.

The housing I0 is provided with the yoke I2 to which the trip arm I 3 is pivotally attached by the pin I4. A link I5 connects the trip lever 9 and the trip arm 13. Thus, when the trip handle 7 is actuated, the shaft 8 is rotated and the trip 45 lever 9 carried downward, acting through the link I5 to depress the extremity of the trip arm I3 adjacent the housing I0 and elevate the opposite extremity thereof, thus operating through 50 the lift rod I6 to raise the flush ball I! from its seat I8, thus permitting the discharge of the contents of the tank. The flush ball I! is returned to its seat by the action of gravity as soon as the discharge from the tank is completed. The lift rod I6 is preferably slidably mounted in parts a guide I9 attached to some fixed portion of the tank such as an overflow tube.

The structure thus far described is a conventional one, and the novelty resides in the manner of connecting the trip arm and the lift rod. Such a connection is ordinarily made by means of a toggle joint or connection. Such a type of connection has been heretofore considered necessary due to the fact that the lifting force of the trip arm I3 is applied, not in a straight line but in 10 an arc. Such connections are, however, apt to stick and bind, at the connection itself and also apply the force at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the lift rod rather than in a straight line along such axis, thus causing a tendency of 5 the lift rod to stick or bind in its guide.

Due to the play required in such a connection considerable room or head space is required above the connection, thus rendering the device unadaptable to low tanks. 20

Furthermore, the tendency to stick and bind aforementioned is accentuated when the construction is short, such as is necessary in low tanks.

To obviate these difiiculties I provide the trip 25 arm I3 with a slot 20, extending transversely of the lift rod I6, of a width sufficient to allow the lift rod I6 to pass therethrough as shown.

The trip arm I3 is ordinarily formed from a relatively thin strip of metal positioned with its longest dimension in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the lift rod I6. In order to adapt this style of trip arm to the invention, the trip arm is given a half turn or twist at 2| so that the extremity 22 of the trip arm adjacent 35 the lift rod has its longest dimension in a horizontal plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said lift rod.

The lift rod I6 is provided with a head 23 of larger diameter than the width of the slot 20. The head 23 is preferably provided with a beveled or frusto-conical bottom portion 24.

The head 23 may have threaded attachment to the lift rod I6 or may be formed integral therewith. In the latter instance the lift rod will have threaded connection to the flush ball I1.

When the lift rod I3 is raised by actuation of the trip handle I the lift rod l6 passes through the slot 20 until the head 23 engages the trip arm I3 causing the flush ball I! to be raised from its seat. The conical portion 24 allows the head 23 to slide freely in the slot 20, hence the lifting force is applied to the lift rod I6 in a straight line, the head 23 shifting its position in the slot 20 as the trip arm I3 moves through "ating said trip arm to raise said lift rod and said its are; thus the lift rod is not forced laterally into contact with the guide l9 increasing the tendency to stick and bind and also increasing the wear thereon. The lift rod 16 and flush ball I! are free to rotate and do rotate somewhat under the influence of the water discharge, etc., hence wear takes place evenly around their circumferences rather than at any fixed point.

The connection is economical to manufacture and requires but little head space, thus adapting it for use with low tanks.

It will be understood that instead of a slot in the trip arm an aperture of greater diameter than the lift rod may be provided, it being essential only that the dimension of the aperture along the longitudinal direction of the trip arm or transverse to the lift rod be of greater width than the diameter of the lift rod.

While, in order to demonstrate the utility thereof, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flush valve comprising a flush ball, a lift rod'attached thereto, a trip arm, means for actuating said trip arm to raise said lift rod and said flush ball, characterized by a slot in said trip arm extending transversely of said lift rod, the lift rod extending through said slot, and a head on said lift rod of larger diameter than the width of said slot, said head being provided with a beveled portion adapted to allow said head to 'slide freely in said slot.

2. A flush valve comprising a flush ball, a lift rod attached thereto, a trip arm, means for actufiush ball, characterized by a slot in said trip arm, the lift rod extending through said slot and a head on said lift rod of larger diameter than the width of said slot.

3. A flush valve comprising a flush ball, a lift rod attached thereto, a trip arm extending transversely of said lift rod, means for actuating said trip arm to raise said lift rod and said flush ball, a slot in said trip arm adapted to allow passage of said lift rod therethrough, said lift rod being freely slidable in said slot, and a head on said lift rod of larger diameter than the width of said slot.

4. A flush valve comprising a flush ball, a lift rod attached thereto, a trip arm extending transversely of said lift rod, means for actuating said trip arm to raise said lift rod and said flush ball, a slot in said trip arm adapted to allow passage of said lift rod therethrough, said lift rod being freely slidable in said slot, and a head on said lift rod of larger diameter than the width of said slot, said head having a beveled bottom portion adapted to allow said head to slide freely in said slot.

5 A flush valve comprising a lift rod, a trip arm formed from a relatively thin strip of metal positioned with its longest dimension in approximately the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the lift rod, said trip arm being given a half twist whereby one extremity thereof has its longest dimension in a horizontal plane transverse to said lift rod, a slot in said extremity adapted to allow passage of said lift rod therethrough, said lift rod being freely slidable in said slot and a head on said lift rod of larger diameter than the width of said slot.

6. A flush valve comprising a lift rod, a trip arm positioned substantially transverse to said lift rod, said trip arm being provided with an aperture, the dimension of said aperture along the longitudinal direction of said trip arm being substantially greater than the diameter of said lift rod, said lift rod passing through said aperture, a head on said lift rod of such diameter as not topass through said aperture, and means for actuating said trip arm to raise said lift rod.

7. A flush valve comprising a lift rod, a trip arm pivotally mounted and positioned substantially transverse to said lift rod, said trip arm being provided with an aperture, the dimension of said aperture along the longitudinal direction of said trip arm being substantially greater than the diameter of said lift rod, said lift rod passing through said aperture and being freely slidable therein, a head on said lift rod of such diameter as not to pass through said aperture, and means for actuating said trip arm to raise said lift rod. GORDON P. GAVIN.