US2370247A

US2370247A - Vacuum breaker

Info

Publication number: US2370247A
Application number: US452259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund J Kenney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-07-25
Filing date: 1942-07-25
Publication date: 1945-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1962-02-27

Description

Feb. 27,i 1945.

E. J. KENNEY VACUUM BREAKER Filed July 25, 1942 INVENTOR. 'oMa/vo J /ff/wvfy Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES l PATENT vOFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum breakers for use in connection with ush valve operated water closetA bowls to prevent syphcnage of contaminated water from the water closet bowl back into the fresh water supply system.

One of the features of the invention residesl in a vacuum breaker which is embodied in the vertical tail-piece which connects the ush valve with the inlet to a water closet bowl and which effects a saving of time and labor during the plumbing installation.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a vacuum breaker in which the outer cylindrical casing is constructed by casting the same in one piece as distinguished from other conventional breakers in which the casing is composed of two or more separate pieces, By this improvementy `it is 4possible to effect a saving of time and labor during assembling of the various parts of the breaker.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a vacuum breaker in which the breaker valve is positively opened after a ushing operation by spring means to admit atmospheric air into the tail-piece and thereby break any vacuuml present therein between the valve and the water closet bowl inlet.

Further features of the invention reside in a vacuum breaker which is simple and inexpensive of construction and manufacture; which is not likely to become out of working order; which may be readily removed and replaced from its installed position in a plumbing system; and which meets the rigid speclcations required by the plumbing ordinances of various communities.

Other features of the invention will become apparent as the following specication is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ush valve operated water closet installation equipped with the improved vacuum breaker, a wall structure being shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the vacuum breaker illustrating the valve member in closing engagement with the air' inlet chamber in full lines and in closing engagement with the water chamber in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, locking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of a modified form of spring actuating means -for the ap valve, the ap valve being shown in 55 full lines in closing engagement with the water outlet, and in dotted position in closing engage# ment with the air outlet.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral I0 designates my improved vacuum breaker in its entirety, and which is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing as being interposed in the water supply line of a plumbing installation between a water closet bowl Il and its operating flush valve I2. The inlet to the `ush valve I2 connects with a vertical water supply pipe I3 disposed behind a wall structure I4. It is well known that after operation cf a flush valve, a vacuum is created between the valve and the water closet bowl which produces a Siphoning action and causescontaminated water from the bowl to enter the fresh water' supply system. This is a serious condition, and has been the cause of many diseases such as typhoid fever. The vacuum breaker device Il) acts to break any vacuum which might occur between the flush valve and the water closet bowl, thus preventing the danger of the syphoning of contaminated water from the bowl to the water supply system.

The vacuum breaker device l0 includes a length of tube or what is known as a tail-piece I5, the same being made of tubing. Mounted within the tail-piece l5 is a substantially conical shaped member I6, constructed of cast metal. The inember I6 is tubular and has an annular flange II at its upper end, the said flange being in snug 'engagement with lthe inner walls of the tail-piece and xedly secured thereto by any conventional means such as brazing or the like. The lower end of the member I6 is provided with a water outlet I8 which is disposed at an angle less than a right angle, with respect to the axis of the tailpiece I5. Formed about the water outlet I8 and coaxial therewith is a valve seat I9. The interior of the hollow conical member i6 constitutes a water chamber A through which flushed water from the flush valve I3 passes in its flow to the water closet bowl ll.

The portion of the side wall of the tail-piece I5 which is disposed in confronting relation to the water outlet I8, is provided with an air inlet 20 and surrounding the inlet 20 and being coaxial therewith is an annular collar 2I,` one end of which is iixedlysecured to the inner side of the tail-piece l'by brazing or soldering. The collar 2| denes an air inlet chamber B which is provided with an air outlet 22 which is disposed adjacent and in confronting relation with respect 4to the laterally disposed water outlet I8. The

valve seat 23 is coaxial with the air outlet 22.

Pvoted at 24 to the lower end of the member I6 is a flap valve member 25 which consists of a metal disk body, and that side of the disk body facing the seat 23 is provided with a leather or rubber washer 26. The ilap valve 25 is provided with an ear 21' to which the small end of a conical shaped helical expandable spring 21 is connected, the other or larger end of the spring seating against the side wall of the tail-piece I at a point surrounding the air inlet opening 20. From the foregoing description it will be understood that the expansion spring 21. normally urges the valve member 25 to a closed position against the seat I9 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, whereby to close the water outlet I8 immediately after a ilushing operation. However, water entering the water chamber Aas indicated by arrows will force the valve member 25 to a Dosition against the seat 23 for the pressure of the.

which is less than the diameter of the body 28- for snug fit about the exterior of the tail-piece I5. Screws 30 pass through the flanges 29 and rigidly secure the body 28'to the tail-piece, although these flanges may'be secured by means of rivets, tapered pins or by brazing or soldering. The upper end ofthe cylindrical body 28 is provided with an enlarged bell-shaped portion 3I which denes a horizontal shoulder 32 having arcuate shaped air inlet openings 33 therein. The space between the body 28 and the tail-piece constitutes an air chamber which is in open communication with the air inlet 20, said body being disposed within and beyond the plane of the inlet ZI).V The body 28, bell-shaped portion 3l, and annular flanges 29-29 are integral and formed of a metal casting. y

In operation, assume that the valve member 25 is in the dotted position shown in Figure 2, that is, it is against the seat I9 of the water outlet I8. In this position, atmospheric air is free to enter the tail-piece I5 through the air outlet 26. Upon operation of the flush valve I2, water will flow through the upper end of the tail-piece into. the water chamber A and will force the valve member 25 outwardly against the tension of the spring 21 to closed position in sealing engagement with the seat 23. The supply of atmospheric air to the tail-piece is now shut oi and the flushed water passing through the water chamber A, 'outlet I8, and the lower end of the tail piece is free to enter the inlet of the water closet bowl. After completion of the ushing operation, the pressure of the now of water through the Water chamber A is reduced,

whereupon the spring 21 forces 'fthe valve member 215 against the seat I9 of the water outlet I 8, and thereby admits air froml the air chamber B into the lower end of the tailpiece, thus breaking any vacuum in the tailpiece which might cause a syphoning action from the water closet bowl to the water supply line Il.

When the valve member 25 is seated against the seat I8, the backward ow of any water from the water closet bowl to the water supply pipe I3 is prevented.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, I have illustrated a modiiled form of spring means for normally socket recess 43 provided in an adjacent wall of the member I 6. The spring 4I tends to normally swinglthe pivoted valve member to a position to close the water outlet I8 as shown in full lines, lbut the pressure of flushed water passing through the Water chamber is greater than the tension of the spring and forces the valve member to a closed position against the air inlet 23 as shown In dotted lines, thereby eiecting an opening o! the water passage and closing or the air passage.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in construction and design as come within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire` to secure by Letters Patent is: A vacuum breaker'comprising a vertical tubular tail-piece adapted to be arranged in a plumbing installation between the water closet bowl and the flush valve thereof, a hollow conical shaped member snugly iitted into and secured to s'aid tail-piece and having a water outlet in the bot'- tom thereof, said water outlet being disposed at an angle relative to the axis oi' the tail-piece, a valve seat co-axial' with the water outlet, an air chamber provided within said tail-piece adjacent the water outlet, rsaid air chamber having an air inlet opening through theside wall of the tail'- piece and an air outlet arranged in confronting spaced relation to the water outlet, a valve member pivoted to the conical shaped member for swinging movement between the air outlet and the water outlet, a seat co-axial with the air out'- let, an arm secured to and extending from the valve member adjacent its pivotal axis, confronting sockets provided in said arm and in an ad'- jacent wall of the conical shaped member, and an expansion spring having its ends respectively seated in said confronting sockets; said spring acting to normally urge the valve member into engagement with the valve seat-of the water outlet, the pressure of flushed water passing through the water chamber adapted to move the valve member to a position against the seat "of