US2069340A

US2069340A - Automatic intermittent flush valve

Info

Publication number: US2069340A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-05-28
Filing date: 1934-05-28
Publication date: 1937-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1937.

AUTOMATIC INTERMITTENT FLUSH VALVE Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 filly J INVENTOR. 14 \f. fl h/ f'e Y M TITORNEY w. 5. WHITE 2,069,340

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a fiush valve of the type generally employed in connection with urinals.

It is a common practice to provide a valve of this type for flushing urinals. The urinal fixture,

in most instances, is an earthenware composition having a glazed surface which contains numerous, minute interstices. If used when this glazed surface is dry, the urine penetrates the interstices of the fixture, and if permitted to remain therein, causes a disagreeable odor, as well as staining the fixture. The flushing action is intended to cleanse the fixture and avoid the aforementioned obnoxious conditions, but many users neglect to operate the valve and the fixture often remains in a dry condition for considerable periods of time, during which it is frequently used.

It is an object of my invention to provide a flush valve which opens periodically to fiush a fixture with which it is connected, with a measured volume of water, the opening and closing movements of the valve being entirely automatic.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve particularly adapted for maintaining the surface of a fixture in a moist condition by impounding a restricted, continuous flow of water during predetermined intervals necessary to collect a volume of water sufficient for a flushing action, and utilizing the pressure of the restricted flow in effecting an automatic operation of the valve to flush the fixture, when the required volume is available.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatically operating valve of the character described, which also contains a manually-operable control to produce a fiushing action.

Other objects reside in details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will fully appear in the course of the following description.

Referring now to the drawings, in the several views of which like parts have been similarly designated,

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment of the valve assembly embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a. sectional elevation of another embodiment of a valve assembly embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 3 a section taken along the line 3--3, Figure 1, and

Figure 4 a section taken along the line 4-4, Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the valve casing 6 is provided with an inlet 1, an outlet 8, and with an annular valve seat 9 on its interior surface. A valve III cooperates with the seat 9 to control the flow of water between the inlet and 5 the outlet, andprovides an end wall of a control chamber I2 within the casing 6. The valve is provided with an annular recess in which a resilient washer 59 is fitted, to form a fluid-tight closure when the valve In is held on seat 9.

A piston element I3 reciprocates in the control chamber I2 and a coil spring I4 bearing against a wall of the control chamber I2 engages the piston I3. A cap I5, fitted in the casing 6, has a vent IE to eliminate compression exteriorly of control chamber I2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the inlet I enters into a chamber H in a hollow cylindrical housing I8, supported integrally in spaced relation to the cylindrical interior of the casing 6 by spokes I9. The space 20 between the housing and the casing provides a passage from the control chamber to the outlet. A restricted opening 2I in the chamber permits communication with the outlet 8, and a tilt valve 22, seated on an annular gasket 23 in the chamber I1 and having a stem 24 extending thru the opening 2|, controls the fiow of water therethru. A coil spring 25 in the chamber bears upon the tilt valve for normally holding the same on its seat.

A port 26 leading from the chamber I1 is narrowed at 21 to provide a seat for a ball valve 28,'the seat being notched at 29 to provide a bleed opening. The port 26 terminates in a passage 30 which communicates with control chamher I2.

The piston element I3, in the embodiment illustrated in Figuresl and 3, comprises a two-part casing comprising a flanged section 3| and a flanged section 32, fastened in fiange-to-fiange relationship with a cup washer 33 held between the flange 34 of the section 3I and the fiange 35 of the section 32. The

flanges

34 and 35, together with the washer 33, form a shoulder on the piston exposed to the pressure of water entering the control chamber I2 thru the passage 30, which provides a fluid-tight closure that defines the control chamber I2.

The section 3| is. widened at 36 to provide an abutment for the spring I4. A stem 31 slidably 60 fitted in an aperture 38 of the section 32 extends into the section 3| and terminates in a flanged head 39, which provides an abutment for a coil spring 49 on the head. At its opposite end, the spring 40 bears upon the section .32.

For manual operation of the valve, a handle 4| fulcrumed in an end of a housing 42, screwed. upon an end of the casing 63, actuates a pushrod 43 slidably supported in an aperture 44 in the housing 42. A coil spring between and bearing upon a head 46 and an abutment 41 carried on the pushrod within the housing 42, effects a return of the pushrod to its normal position after the valve-actuating movement. The pushrod 43 terminates adjacent the stem 24, and when the handle 4| is rocked, the pushrod bears against the stem and unseats tilt valve 22.

In the operation of the embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, water entering thru inlet 1 from a water main or other source (not shown) and maintained under a substantially uniform pressure, fills the chamber I! closed by tilt valve 22, the pressure of the water forcing ball 28 against its seat 27. As the chamber I'I fills, the pressure of the water forces a small flow thru the bleed opening 29 and thru the passage 30 into control chamber I2. The increasing pressure of the water on the cup washer 33 moves the piston away from valve I0, against the resistance of spring I4. At the same time the pressure of the water holds valve ill on its seat 9. Due to the large superficial area of the valve In with relation to the circumferential extent of the control chamber, a comparatively slight pressure is suificient to hold the valve on its seat, whereas a considerably greater pressure would be required if the valve had a relatively small superficial area.

The movement of the piston I3 causes a compression of the spring 40, until the piston I3 has traveled a predetermined distance from valve I0, when the compression of the spring 40 will develop sufficient force to overcome the pressure of the water on valve I0, whereupon the valve is moved off its seat 9 and the water flows out of control chamber I2 thru passage 2|] and into outlet 8, to spray a fixture (not shown) connected with the outlet.

As soon as the water flows past valve ID, the spring I4 urges the piston against valve IO and reseats the valve, whereupon refilling of the control chamber I2 progresses in the manner indicated. It is to be understood that the amount of water flowing thru the bleed opening 29 is relatively small so that a considerable time interval is provided between the flushing operations While chamber I 2 is being filled. These intervals are not so extended, however, that the fixture becomes dry between the flushing actions.

The arrangement of the springs I4 and 40 is calculated to restrain the opening movement of the valve I0, until a supply of water is maintained in the control chamber I2 of just sufficient volume to adequately flush the fixture with which the valve is connected, thereby eliminating the possibility of any Waste of Water.

When it is desired to manually actuate the valve, the handle 4| is rocked to unseat tilt valve 22. Water from the inlet 1 is permitted to flow directly to the outlet 8 while the tilt valve 22 is unseated, and in addition, water in the control chamber flows thru passage 30 and unseats ball 28 due to the decrease of pressure in chamber H.

The consequent release of pressure in the control chamber I2 unseats valve I 0, and water flows from the control chamber I2 thru passage 20 to the outlet, until the chamber is emptied. As soon as the manual movement of the handle 4| is terminated, the pushrod 43 is returned to its normal position by spring 45. Spring 25 thereupon reseats tilt valve 22, and refilling of control chamber I2 resumes in the above-described manner.

The embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 incorporates the above-described principles of operation, and involves only slight structural differences. The casing 6 is provided with an enlargement 43 in which a port 49 is provided for communication between the inlet I and the control chamber I 2. The port 49 adjacent the inlet 1 terminates in a seat 50 for a ball valve 5|. The seat is notched at 52 to provide a bleed opening.

The piston I3, consisting of a cup washer 33, held between

plates

53 and 54 to form a shoulder exposed to the pressure of water entering control chamber I2, carries a stem 55, and the valve I0 is apertured at 56 to permit sliding movement of the stem therein. A flanged head 51 on the stem provides an abutment for a spring 40 on the stem, which has its opposite end bearing upon the valve II]. A casing 58, fastened on the valve I0 and holding the washer 59 in the recess in the valve, encloses the spring 40 and stem 55, and extends into the outlet passage 8 of the casmg.

A handle 4| is fulcrumed on the enlargement 48 and actuates a pushrod 43, slidably supported in an aperture 60 in the enlargement 48. The pushrod has an end adjacent the ball 5|, and its opposite end is provided with a head 46 in a recess 6| in the enlargement. A spring 45 is held on the pushrod within the recess 6| with one end engaging the head and its opposite end engaging a surface of the enlargement.

The casing 6 is recessed at 62 above the control chamber I 2, and the interior of the casing is connected with the recess by a port 63. The junction of the port and recess provides a seat 64 for a ball 65. A by-pass 66 leading from the recess 62 establishes communication between the recess and the outlet passage 8.

The operation of the embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 is similar to the operation heretofore described. The pressure of water is inlet 1 seats ball 5|, and a restricted flow is forced thru bleed opening 52 into control chamber I2. The valve In is normally seated in a manner already explained, and the pressure of water in the control chamber raises piston I3 while holding valve I0 on its seat. contraction of spring 40 develops a force sufficient to overcome the pressure of water exerted against valve In to hold same on its seat 9, the opening movement of the valve I0 is efiected, and water in the control chamber I2 flows past seat 9 into the outlet passage 8. The release of pressure in the control chamber permits the spring I4 to reseat valve I5 thru the intermediary of valve I3 and stem 55, and refilling of the control chamber is resumed.

When manual operation is desired, rocking of handle 4| unseats ball 5|, permitting a rapid flow of water from the inlet 1 into control chamber I2. The piston quickly raised a distance sufficient to contract the spring to a point where opening movement of valve IE] is efiected to thereby release a fiow of water from control chamber I2 into outlet passage 8. When pressure on the handle 4| is removed, the ball 5| reseats, and refilling of control chamber progresses in the manner heretofore described.

If washer 33 leaks and water escapes into the hollow interior of the casing 6, the compression caused by upward movement of the piston When the I3 unseats ball 65, closing vent I6, and the water flows out thru port 63 and passage 66 into outlet passage 8. During this action, closing of vent l6 by ball 65 prevents any splashing of water therethru.

It is to be understood that changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat, a valve cooperating with the seat to control the flow of water betwen the inlet and the outlet, a spring-pressed piston reciprocating in the casing and defining a control chamber at a side thereof, the piston being normally in contact with the valve whereby the pistonspring also serves to press the valve onto its seat there being a passageway between the inlet and the chamber, the casing having a by-pass between its interior beyond the control chamber and the outlet for the removal of water leaking past the piston, the piston being movable against the resistance of its spring by the pressure of water in the chamber, a spring positioned between the piston and the valve, functioning when compressed, to produce a force tending to open the valve and means for compressing the valve spring by movement of the piston, to unseat the valve and move it to fully open position by subsequent expansion of its spring, when the piston is moved by the water entering the control chamber, whereby to effect a flow of water from the chamber to the outlet,

2. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat, a valve cooperating with the seat to control the flow of water between the inlet and the outlet, a spring-pressed piston reciprocating in the casing and defining, with the valve, a control chamber at a side thereof, there being a passage between the inlet and the chamber, a check valve located in the passage for restricting the flow from the inlet into the chamber to regulate the rate of flow of water into the control chamber, the piston being movable away from the valve and against the resistance of its spring by the pressure of water in the chamber, and toward and into contact with the valve by the action of its spring, and means comprising a spring for opening the main valve by movement of the piston against the action of its spring, whereby to effect a flow of water from the chamber to the outlet.

3. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve and a piston cooperatively connected for reciprocating movement within the casing and defining between them a. control chamber, there being a passage in the casing for establishing communication between the inlet and the control chamber, a check valve in the passage, there being a second passage between the control chamber and the outlet, a tilt valve normally closing said second passage, a spring pressing upon the piston, the piston being movable against the resistance of its spring by the pressure of water in the control chamber, and. a second spring disposed between the piston and the valve, to be compressed by the movement of the piston and acting upon the valve to efiect by its expansion an opening movement thereof, when its pressure overbalances the fluid pressure in the chamber.

WILLIAM S. WHITE.