US2447591A - Float valve - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1948. T. B. MEsslcK FLOAT VALVE Filed. Jan. 5, 1947 INVENTOR. TUR/YER MESSICK ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, i943 anni 'ijNl'iED STATE @ATENE @ENCE FLOAT VALVE Turner B. Messick, Denver, Colo., assignor of-onehalf to Jeannette D. ibaniey, Denver, Colo.

Application .i'anuary 3, 1947, Serial No. '720,133

(Ci. IS7-104) 4 illaims, l

This invention relates .to improvements .in float valves .of the type employed in connection with iiushing apparatus, such as toilets.

It is well known that the ordinary float valve employed in iiush tanks has the objectionable characteristic of being noisy, unless perfectly adjusted. The `noise is due almost `entirely to the fact that the closing of the valve is very slow, depending upon lthe gradual rising of the .float in accordance with the Water level. At the point Where the valve is almost closed, noise usually begins and continues until lthe water is completely turned off.

It is the object of this invention to produce an improved flush valve construction in which the inlet valve remains open until the level of the Water reaches the desired height, after which the valve closes quite quickly, but not suddenly.

This invention, briefly described, consists in providing in the flush tank a separate compartment of a size and shape to receive the hollow iioat which is freely suspended from the valve arm. This receptacle is so positioned that the top is on the level desired and at which the valve closes. The bottom of the receptacle is provided With an opening having Ia check valve that permits Water to escape through the bottom of the receptacle, .but prevents its entrance through the bottom.

The oat is connected with the valve arm and f since the water cannot enter the receptacle until it has reached the level of the top thereof, the valve remains fully open until such time.

It is an object 'of this invention to produce a receptacle of a special construction and of such 1.

design that it can be inserted in the usual flush tank and secured to the tank by van expanding force and which, therefore, makes it possible to quickly insert such receptacle in .an ordinary flush tank without making it necessary to provide openings for screws or bolts.

Another object of the invention is to produce a receptacle for the purpose indicated, that shall be provided with .a valve .that is readily removable and insertable and which can be quickly replaced, if Yfor any reason, it deteriorates or becomes inoperative.

Having thus briefly described the invention and the objects thereof, the invention will now be described in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a flush ytank taken substantiallylon line l--l, Figure 2;I4

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken online 2 2, Figure 1; f

Figure 3 is a diametrical vertical section through the receptacle taken in a plane substantially perpendiculal` to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure Il is a side elevation Vof the float receptacle, looking towards the left in `Figure `3; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the receptacle looking through plane 5 5, in Figure 3.

In the drawing reference numeral Ill designates the bottom of an ordinary flush tank which, for

the purpose of this description, will be considered as made from porcelain, or from cast iron porcelainized material. Such tanks are commonly employed in connection with all toilet fixtures and no novelty is claimed in the tank itself, but the tank and the several elements usually connected therewith are shown in their respective relation to each other so as to make i-t possible to properly describe the invention. v

Reference numeral i-I designates the water supply pipe which extends .through ran opening in the bottom and is sealed by means comprising nuts l2 and i3. The inlet pipe extends upwardly, as indicated at 'l la, and terminates vin .a oat valve I3. Since there is nothing new in this float valve, it has merely been shown in a more or less diagrammatic manner. The `opening and closing of the float valve is effected by a movement of handle i4, which is shown in the 4drawing as .in valve closing position. Extendingroutwardly from handle i4 is a rod Yl5 that carries vsuspended from its outer end a hollow oat I6. The outer end of rod i5 is preferably threaded as indicated at ll and carries a connector element i8 that is threadedly connected with the rod and this, in turn is connected with the Afloat by means of va member 53 that is pivoted to member IB at z20` Member it is free to rotate about the rod and .the oat is free Vto swing about pivot A2li and it is therefore connected with the rod by means that permits a universal movement. Reference numeral 2l designates the outlet pipe and reference numeral 22 the ordinary ball valve that is employed for closing the outletJ A rod 23 .extends upwardly from the ball valve and is connected to the end `of rod 24 :at `point 2.5. A handle 2.6 positioned on the outside of the flush tank enables the user to manipulate parts 2.3 and24 ,so as to raise the float from its .seat permitting water to escape. The float is hollow, in the usual manner, and remains suspended .in the water until the tank is empty. Reference numeral 2,1 designates an `overflow pipe that .determines the ultimate level `of Vthe liquid in the tank and prevents the tank from overflowing in case valve I3 does not completely shut off the water. Pipe 28 is the inlet pipe through which the water is discharged into the tank, the water issuing in the direction of arrow 29. The parts that have been described are all old in the art, but, as above stated, have been shown and described in order to make it possible to properly describe the construction and operation of the valve control means to which this invention relates.

Float IS is positioned in a Vertical receptacle 3B that may be of any desired cross section, but which is preferably cylindrical. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 33 is closed by a bottom member that has been designated by reference numeral 3l, which has an upwardly extending circular flange 32 which surrounds an opening 33, preferably positioned at the center point of the bottom. Opening 33 is somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the compartment formed by flange 32, leaving a narrow ledge 34 all around the opening. The ow of water through opening 33 is controlled by means of a valve member made from some flexible resilient material such as natural, or so-called, synthetic rubber. The valve member is constructed in a manner which will be hereinafter described so that it can be readily inserted in and removed from the opening.

The bottom 3I is provided on one side with two feet 35 that preferably terminate in rubber caps 36 and the other side of bottom 3l has a radial opening that is threaded for the reception of a screw 31. The head of this screw terminates in a rubber cap 38. JThe distance between the outer surface of caps 36 and cap 38 is slightly less than the distance between the inner surface of the ush tank wall. When the receptacle is to be inserted in and secured to a flush tank, screw 31 is first turned inwardly to a position substantially like that shown in Figure 5, after which the receptacle is inserted and positioned as to height and as to distance away from inlet pipe IIa. Screw 31 is now turned so as to move it outwardly into the position shown in Figure 2 and is then tightened sufficiently to force the rubber caps 36 and 38 against the inner surface of the flush tank wall with suiicient force to frictionally hold the receptacle in adjusted position. The part I8 is adjusted along the threaded section I'I so that float I6 will normally be concentric with the inner wall of the receptacle as shown in Figure 1.

Let us now assume that the parts are arranged in the manner shown in the drawings and described herein, and that pipe il is connected with the ,water supply system and discharge pipe 2l with a toilet fixture. When the parts are in the position shown by full lines in Figure 1, valve I3 is open, permitting water to ow into the tank in the direction of arrow 29. Ball valve 22 being seated in the valve opening prevents water from escaping through the outlet pipe and it therefore accumulates in the tank, rising gradually. Valve member 38 is preferably made from material that has a specic gravity less than one and as the water level increases, the lower end of the valve Vwill move upwardly and close opening 33 against the entrance of water. The water that flows inwardly through opening 33 at the beginning also has a tendency to seat the valve. After the valve has been seated, no more water enters the receptacle until it reaches `the level indicated by a broken line and designated by reference numeral 30. During all this time the float has remained in full line position, but as soon as the water level reaches a point above the upper edge of the receptacle, it will begin to flow into the receptacle and accumulate therein. As the water accumulates in the receptacle and the level of the water rises, it carries with it the float until iinally the latter reaches the broken line position, in which position valve I3 is closed.

Attention is called to the fact that the water level in the receptacle increases very rapidly compared to the rate at which the water level increased inthe flush tank because the cross sectional area of the receptacle is small and this is further decreased by the displacement of the float. After the water has reached the level of the receptacle, the float rises quite quickly and the valve, instead of being closed by a slow gradual motion that produces wire drawing and results in noise, closes comparatively quickly so as to reduce any noise that might otherwise be produced, and if, for any reason, valve I3 is noisy, this would persist only for a very short time.

With thewater at the level of broken line 48, let us now assume that handle 26 is operated, raising ball 22 from its seat. This permits the water to escape quite rapidly and since valve 39 has its upper end formed by radially extending fingers like those designated by reference numeral 4I, the water level in the receptacle will remain the same as the water level outside until the tank has been completely emptied at which time ball valve 22 seats and the filling starts beginning another cycle.

I am aware that flush valves have been made that operate on a principle somewhat similar to the one above and illustrated in the drawing. Such valve operating and control mechanisms, however, have been so constructed and designed that they would either have to be built into the tank at the factory, or applied by means of screws and/or bolts, which often results in leaks.

The invention above described and which relates primarily to the receptacle and the manner in which it is secured in place, is of such construction that it can be easily positioned in an ordinary flush tank and does not require any holes to be drilled, and in addition to this, it is so constructed that it does not injure or damage the inner surface of the tank.

Due to the three point support afforded by caps 36 and 38, the receptacle will be held rigidly in place after it has been once installed. To prevent screw 31 from accidentally becoming loose; a set screw 42 has been provided as shown in Figure-3.

By means of the receptacle and the construction shown in this application, it is possible to convert an ordinary flush tank to a silently operating tank by merely furnishing a new arm I5 and member I8 together with the receptacle, the other parts, such as valve I3, may be of any usual construction.

Having described the invention what is claimed aS DEW 1S:

l. In a flush box having a water inlet and outlet pipe, in connection therewith and a valve in the inlet pipe, control means for the inlet valve comprising an arm having a oat suspended therefrom near its outer end and a receptacle into which the oat projects, said receptacle having a base provided with an opening communicating the interior of the receptacle and the tank, 'a check valve in the opening permitting liquid to iiow from the receptacle into the tank, and

means for frictionally securing the receptacle to the tank comprising wall engaging lugs projecting in opposite directions, and means for urging the projections against the opposite surfaces of the tank wall to secure the receptacle in position therein.

2. A receptacle for use in converting a iiush tank of ordinary construction into a silently operating one, comprising a receptacle having a base provided with an opening, an outwardly opening check valve controlling the iiow of water therethrough, the base having one side provided with two spaced lugs, one on each side of a vertical diametrical plane of the receptacle, for engaging one side of the flush tank, and means on the other side of the base for frictionally engaging the opposite surface of the tank and exerting a force urging the lugs against the sides of the tank whereby the receptacle may be clamped to the tank in any desired position.

3. A receptacle for use in a flush tank, comprising a base having a control opening surrounded by an upwardly projecting rib, there being a ledge between the opening and the rib for the support of a valve, a valve of flexible resilient material positioned in the opening, the valve comprising a control stem adapted to be positioned in the opening, the lower end of the stem having a flange of a, diameter greater than the opening, for closing the same, the upper end of the stem having spaced radial iingers that may be bent for insertion in the opening and Which project over the ledge to support the valve in open position, the base having two lugs extending outwardly therefrom, one on each side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the receptacle, the lugs being positioned to engage the inside of a iiush tank, the base having a radial threaded opening whose axis lies in the plane, the end of the screw having a head adapted to engage the surface of the other side of the tank, to force the lugs against opposed surfaces of the tank, to secure the receptacle therein by friction alone.

l. A receptacle for use in a flush tank comprising an elongated tubular member having a base closing one end thereof, the base having a central opening surrounded by an upwardly extending iiange whose inner surface is spaced from the edge of the opening to form a ledge, a valve member having a stem extending through the opening, the lower end of the stem having an outwardly extending ange of greater diameter than the opening, the upper end of the valve member having radial lingers projecting onto the ledge for supporting the Valve member, and means carried by the base for engaging the opposite inside wall surfaces of a flush tank to irictionally secure the receptacle to the tank.

TURNER B. MESSICK.

UNITED STATES PATENTS The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

REFERENCES CXTED Number Name Date `393,070 Hughes Nov. 20, 1888 1,037,679 Snyder Sept. 3, 1912 1,084,267 Gleeson Jan. 13, 1914 Disclaimer 2,447,59L`Tumer B Messiclc, Denver, C010. FLOAT VALVE. P

24, 1948. Dlsclaimer filed July 17, 1950, ,iby the inventor Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 1 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette August 15, 1.950.]

atenta dated Aug-

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