US2773268A

US2773268A - Flush valve

Info

Publication number: US2773268A
Application number: US439039A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hurko Bohdan; Elbert P Robare
Original assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Current assignee: American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Priority date: 1954-06-24
Filing date: 1954-06-24
Publication date: 1956-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1956 B. HURKO ET AL 2,773,268

FLUSH VALVE Filed June 24, 1954 INVENTORS ea x? M W ld/.MMM 3 BY Ced W a z K :u

United States Patent O FLUSH VALVE Bohda Hurko and Elbert P. Robare, Louisville, Ky., as-

signors to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application June 24, 1954, Serial No. 439,039

9 claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to a valve and more particularly to a valve that is pivotally movable to an open position by a trip lever.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel valve that may be adapted for use in a flush tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve member with a time delay means operable to maintain said valve member in an open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve member which will positively seat on the valve face and operate in a silent manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve member which is more easily moved to an open position so that a shorter trip lever may be used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve that is economical in manufacture, simple in construction, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Other objects will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and the claims as hereinafter related.

In the accompanying drawings to be taken as part of this specification, there is clearly and fully illustrated one preferred embodiment of this invention in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation and partly in Vertical section of the flush valve secured to a flush tank and in a closed position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the flush valve in a closed position,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the flush valve in an open position,

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the flush valve in open position, but with certain parts broken away and in section, and

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2 of the actuating unit float member.

The flush valve assembly generally designated by the numeral 1 is adapted to be positioned within a flush tank. The flush tank is not shown in full view in any of the figures; however, the bottom wall 2 of a flush tank is shown in section in Pigs. l, 2, and 4. The flush tank bottom wall 2 has an upper inner surface 3, a lower exterior surface 4, and an outlet aperture 5 therethrough. Positioned in the outlet aperture 5 is a valve seat member 6 which h'as a ring-like body portion 7. The body portion 7 has an upper edge portion 8 that serves as a valve seat. The outer circumferential dimension of the body portion 7 is slightly smaller than the circumferential dimension of the flush tank bottom wall outlet aperture 5 and the valve seat member 6 is inserted therein. The body portion 7 has an annular outwardly extending fiange or lip portion 9 that is in overlying relation with the flush tank bottom wall 2. The annular fiange portion 9 has a pair of threaded supporting member apertures 10 therethrough. The body portion 7 has a plurality of inwardly extending flanges 11 which have Vertical apertures 12 therethrough. The apertures 12 have frustro conically shaped ice end portions 13. An o-ring sealing means 14 is positioned between the tank bottom wall upper surface 3 and the underside of the outwardly extending fiange 9. A plurality of fastening lugs 15 which have threaded apertures 16 therethrough are positioned abutting the outer surface 4 of the flush tank bottom wall 2 and adjacent to the aperture 5 with their apertures 16 aligned with the apertures 12. Screws 17 having frustro conical heads are inserted in the inwardly extending fiange portion apertures 12 and are threaded into the fastening lug apertures 16. When the screws 17 are rotated, the fastening lugs 15 are pulled up against the bottom surface 4 of the tank bottom wall 2 and subsequent rotation of the screws will pull the valve seat member outwardly extending fiange 9 toward the tank bottom wall inner surface 3. The O-ring 14 will be compressed between the outwardly extending fiange 9 and the tank bottom wall 2, thus forming a sealing means between the valve seat member 6 and the flush tank bottom wall 2. It should be noted with this type of valve seat member and the method of securing the same to a flush tank bottom wall that this flush valve assembly may be substituted as a replacement unit in any flush tank having a bottom wall aperture substantially the same size as the valve seat member and permit the attachment of the valve seat member 6 without punching bolt apertures through the tank bottom wall 2.

A supporting member 18 is secured to the valve seat member 6. The supporting member 18 is channel shaped and has a body portion 19 and a pair of side wall portions 20 which are parallel to each other and have a pair of aligned apertures 21 through their upper end portions. The side walls 20 have outwardly extending bottom fiange portions 22 with apertures 23 therethrough. The body portion 19 has a cut-away upper edge portion 24 operable to permit rotation of the actuating unit between the side wall portions 20. The supporting member 18 is positioned with the side wall outwardly extending fiange apertures 23 in alignment With the valve seat member outwardly extending fiange apertures 10. A pair of screws 25 threadedly secure the supporting member 18 to the valve seat member 6 so that the supporting member extends substantially normal to the tank bottom wall 2.

An actuating unit generally designated by the numeral 26 is pivotally secured to the supporting member 18. For clarity in description of the actuating unit, the unit will be described as having a bell crank lever portion 27 which has an arm 28 extending substantially parallel to `the tank bottom wall 2. Secured at one end of the arm 28 is another arm 29 which extends at an acute angle to the arm 28. The arm 28 has a downwardly extending cylindrical end portion 30 with a Vertical aperture 31 therethrough. The arm 28 has a pivot aperture 32 therethrough at its other end. The aperture 32 is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm 28 and in a substantially horizontal plane. The arm 28 has a downwardly extending end portion 33 which functions as a top member by engagement with the supporting member portion 19 as shown in Fig. 4. The arm 28 has reinforcing rib portions 34 extending therefrom which add rigidity to the structure. A hollow container 35 which is cylindrical in shape and has an open upper end 36 and a closed lower end or bottom wall 37 is secured to the arm member 29 with the closed end 37 adjacent the tank bottom wall 2 and its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm 29. The container 35 has an aperture 38 extending through its bottom wall 37. The container 35 also has an aperture 39 in its side wall substantially adjacent to the open end 36. The aperture 39 is positioned in the side wall away from the arm 29. A float member 40 is secured to an end portion of the arm 29 with its longitudinal axis substantially normal to the amazes 3 iongitudinal axis of the container 35 and positioned above the arm end portion 30. The arm 29 has reinforcing ribs :1 which are operrtblc to strengthen the securement of the container 35 to the arm 29. The arm 29 has other reinforcing ribs 42 which strengthen the securement between the container 35, float 40, and arm 29. It should be understood that the actuating unit 26 is a unitary structure which is preferably cast from a plastic or noncorrosive material in one piece and the description of the various parts of this unit is not to be construed to signify that each member is individually constructed and subsequently secured to each other.

A dish-shaped valve member 43 having an upturned or outward diverging bottom annular surface 44 is positioned in overlyng relation to the valve seat member 6 with the upturned bottom annular surface 44 abutting the upper edge portion 8. The valve member 43 is constructed of a resilient material such as rubber which permits the valve member 43 to positively seat on the valve seat member 6 and prevent flow of liquid therethrough. The valve member 43 has a frustro conical upwardly extending central portion 45 and a plurality of radially extending rib members 46. The rib members 46 extend from the outer surface of the frustro conical portion 45 to the inner surface of the dish-shaped valve portion. The frustro conical portion 45 has a cylindrical cavity 47 with a side wall 48 and a bottom wall 49. The cavity 47 opens into the top surface of the frustro conical portion 45. The side walls 48 have spaced circumferential recesses therein. An insert member 50 is positioned in the cavity 47. The insert member 50 has rib side walls 51 which secure the insert member in the cavity 47 by the rib side walls 51 extending into the spaced circumferential recesses. The insert member 50 has a central longitudinal threaded aperture 52 therein. The valve member 43 is positioned so that the insert member aperture 52 is aligned with the actuating unit lower arm end portion aperture 31. A bolt member 53 is inserted through the aperture 31 and is threadedly secured in aperture 52, thereby securing the valve member 43 to the actuating unit 26. The actuating unit 26 is so positioned that the pivot aperture 32 is aligned with and between the apertures 21 in the side walls of the supporting members 18. A bolt or pivot pin 54 extends through these aligned apertures and pivotally secures the actuating unit 26 to the supporting member 18. A nut 55 retains the bolt 54 in position. The bolt member 54 functions as a fulcrum for the

lever arms

28 and 29.

A lever member 56 is positioned within the flush tank and is connected to an actuating arm positioned on the outside of the tank and operable upon rotation or actuation to move the lever in a counter-clockwise or upward direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. The lever member 56 has an aperture 57 through its end portion adjacent the actuating unit 26, but on the opposite side of the pivot pin 54 from the valve member 43. A lift strip 58 is a Connecting means between the actuating unit 26 and the lever member 56. The lift strip 58 is constructed of a fiexible material such as neoprene plastic or the like and has

end portions

59 and 60. The end portion 59 has a plurality of spaced circumferential recesses 61 therein that act as an adjustment means. The end portion 60 has a pair of spaced annular rib members 62 that secure the end portion 60 in the container member aperture 39. Since the lift strip 58 is constructed of a flexible material, the end portion 59 may be inserted at any desired distance in the lever aperture 57 and will be secured therein by means of one of the spaced annular recesses. Thus upon movement of the lever member 56 the lift strip 58 will exert a rotative force on the actuating unit 26 which will in turn open the valve member 43.

Operation Although not shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the flush tank has an independent liquid inlet means that operates to fill the flush tank with liquid to the level B-B as shown in Fig. 2. When the tank is empty, the valve member 43 will remain in a normally closed position due to the Weight of the valve member 43 and actuating unit 26 being on the side of the pivot pin 54 adjacent the outlet aperture 5 thereby urging the valve member 43 against the valve seat member 6. As the liquid enters the tank, the various forces or Weights urging the valve member 43 toward a closed position Will change. The liquid above the valve member 43 will exert a downward closing force thereon and urge the valve member 43 toward closed position. The weight of the container 35 urging the valve toward a closed position will be the weight of liquid displaced by the container 35. The float member 40 being hollow will displace a volume of liquid equal to its Volume and will urge the valve member 43 toward an open position away from the valve seat member 6. The actuating unit 26 and valve member 43 are constructed so that the forces urging the valve member 43 toward a closed position are greater than the forces tending to open the valve member when the tank is filled with liquid to the level B B. Therefore, the valve member 43 will remain in a normally closed position both when the tank is empty or when the tank is filled with liquid to a level B-B. To actuate or open the valve member 43, the lever 56 is moved in a direction indicated in Fig. 2. This movement will be transmitted through the fiexible lift strip 58 to the actuating unit 26. This actuating movement will rotate the actuating unit 26 slightly about the pivot pin 54. This movement of the actuating unit is sufficient to permit the upward force of the float member 40 to exceed the forces tending to close the valve member 43. The fiexible strip 58 permits free opening movement of the valve member 43 relative to the lever 56. Thus, the buoyant force of the float member 40 rotates the flush valve assembly 1 to an open position. Since the various valve closing and opening forces are approximately equal, a slight movement of the lever arm 56 Or opening of the valve member 43 will be suflicient to change the balance of forces in favor of an opening movement of the valve. This is one of the advantageous features of this invention. Since the actuation movement of the lever is slight a much shorter trip lever may be used which in quantity production would mean a' substantial saving in material. It should be noted at this point that during the opening rotative movement the downward force of the container 35 moves beyond the pivot pin 54 away from the outlet aperture 5 and instead of now urging the valve member 43 toward a closed position it urges the valve member toward an open position. When the valve member 43 has moved t o a full open position wherein the lever arm stop portion 33 abuts the inner surface of the supporting member body portion 19, the center of gravity of the float member remains on the side of the pivot pin 54 adjacent the outlet aperture 5. Upon the opening of the valve member 43, the liquid in the tank will leave through the aperture 5. When the liquid level has decreased in the tank to the level C C indicated in Fig. 4, the force of the float member 40 will have changed from an upward buoyant force tending to open the valve to a downward force equal to its Weight tending to close the valve member. However, to overcome this added closing force, the weight of the container increases due to the level of liquid decreasing around the container 35 at a greater rate than the decrease of liquid within the container. This difference in rate of liquid level decrease is due to 'the differences in area between the tank outlet aperture 5 and the container outlet aperture 38. Thus, the valve member 43 remains in an open position while the tank is substantially emptied of liquid. The valve 43 remaining open until all the liquid is emptied therefrom is due to a time delay means which is incorporated in the flush valve assembly 1. This time delay means is the container 35 with the outlet aperture 38 therein. The amount of time wherein the valve will remain in an open position is dependent on the size of the container outlet aperture 38. If a time delay is desired sufiicient to maintain the valve in an open position only until the tank is emptied of liquid, the area of the container aperture 38 is such that the container 35 will substantially empty at the same time the fiush tank empties. If a longer time delay in closing the valve is desired, the area of the aperture 38 is decreased proportionately.

When the level of liquid in the container 35 has decreased to a point where the closing force of the valve member 43 and the closing force of the float member 40 exceed the opening force of the container 35, the valve member assembly l will rotate about the pivot pin 54 and move the valve member 43 into a closed position abutting the valve seat member 6 assuming, of course, that the lever 56 has been released and permitted to return to valve closed position. Thus, the flush valve assembly 1 will again be in the same normally closed position as heretofore described and the tank may again be filled with liquid and the valve member 43 will remain closed until the lever member 56 is again actuated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flushing apparatus, a tank having a bottom wall with an aperture therethrough torming a valve seat therein, said tank being adapted to contain a liquid and having a pivot connection therein spaced horizontally from said aperture, a valve assembly comprising a valve member and a valve actuating means, said valve member positioned in overlying relation to said Valve seat and operable to control the discharge of liquid from said tank, said valve actuating means comprising a bell crank lever with a first arm extending in a substantially horizontal plane and a second arm extending upwardly from and at an acute angle to said first arm, said bell crank lever having a float member secured thereto, a container having an open end and a closed end with an aperture therethrough, said container being secured to said second arm with said closed end adjacent to said tank bottom wall, said valve member being secured to said first arm, said bell crank lever being pivotally secured to said tank pivot connection so that the center of gravity of said valve assembly is in overlying relation to said valve seat when said tank and said container are substantially filled with liquid thereby urging said valve member toward a closed position, and means to pivotally rotate said bell crank lever so that the center of gravity of said valve assembly will move to the opposite side of said pivot connection away from said valve seat thus maintaining said valve member in an open position, said valve assembly being operable upon decrease in liquid level in said container to urge said valve member toward a closed position.

2. In a flushing apparatus, a tank having an upward facing outlet, a valve member seatable on said outlet, a lever secured to said valve member, pivot means for said lever, a counterweight secured to said lever, means to decrease the weight of said counterweight, said counterweight being initially positioned to urge said valve member toward a closed position, actuating means operable to rotate said lever about said pivot means so that said counterweight urges said valve member toward an open position, said valve member being maintained in an open position until the weight of said counterweight decreases a predeternined amount thereupon said lever being operable to rotate about said pivot means and seat said valve member in a closed position.

3. In a flushing apparatus, a tank having an upward facing outlet, a valve member seatable on said outlet, a lever secured to said valve member, pivot means for said lever, a float secured to said lever, a counterweight se cured to said lever, means to decrease the weight of said counterweight, said counterweight being initially positioned to urge said valve member toward a closed posi tion, actuating means operable to rotate said lever about said pivot means so that said counterweight and said float urge said valve member toward an open position, said valve member being maintained in an open position until the weight of the counterweight is decreased a predetermined amount thereupon said lever being operable to rotate about said pivot means and seat said valve member in a closed position.

4. In a flushing apparatus, a tank having an upward facing outlet, a valve member seatable on said outlet, a lever secured to said valve member, pivot means for said lever, means to rotate said lever about said pivot means to open said valve member, a container secured to said lever and having an open top and a drain opening at its lower end, said container being positioned below the liquid level in said tank, a float carried by said lever and positioned below the liquid level in said tank, said float acting by buoyant force to hold said valve member open upon opening of said valve member, said container being moved to the opposite side of said pivot means upon opening of said valve member and acting by weight of liquid therein to hold said valve member open upon decrease of the buoyant force of said float, the combined weight of said float and said valve member acting upon drainage of liquid from said container to move said valve member to closed position.

5. In a flushing apparatus, a flush tank having a bottom wall with an aperture therethrough, a valve seat member having an annular body portion with an annular fiange portion extending outwardly therefrom, said body portion having a plurality of inwardly extending securing portions with apertures therethrough, said valve seat member being positioned in said bottom wall aperture with said outwardly extending flange portion abutting the inner surface of said tank bottom wall, a plurality of lug members having apertures therethrough, said lug members abutting the outer surface of said tank bottom Wall and having their apertures aligned with respective apertures in said valve seat member inwardly extending securing portions, means extending through said aligned apertures and securing said valve seat member to said flush tank bottom wall, a resilient dish-shaped valve member positioned in overlying relation to said valve seat member, said valve member having an outwardly diverging outer surface abutting said valve seat member body portion and operable to control flow of liquid therethrough, said valve member having a frustro conical central portion extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of rib members extending radially from said central portion and secured to the side walls of said dish-shaped valve member thereby adding rigidity to said valve member, said central portion having a central Vertical threaded aperture therein, a supporting member secured to said valve seat member annular fiange and extending substantially normal thereto; an actuating unit comprising a lever member having a first arm portion and a second arm portion, said first arm portion being pivotally secured to said supporting member substantially at one end and extcnding in a plane substantially parallel to said tank bottom wall, said first arm portion having a Vertical aperture therethrough aligned with said valve member central aperture, means extending through said last named aligned apertures and securing said valve member to said first arm portion, said first arm portion having a downwardly extending stop portion adjacent said supporting member, said stop portion being operable to prevent rotation of said actuating unit beyond a predetermined degree of rotation, said second arm portion extending upwardly and at an acute angle to said first arm portion, a float member secured to said second arm portion and positioned in overlying relation to said valve member, a container having an open end and a closed end with an aperture therethrough, said container being securcd to said second arm portion with said closed end adjacent said tank bottom wall, a lever member seeurcd to said flush tank and operable to be rotated by manual operation, and a flexible Connecting means secured to said lever member and said container, said lever member being operable upon rotation to unseat said valve member and said float member being operable when said flush lank is substantially filled with liquid to rotate said actuating unit about said supporting member until said stop portion abuts said supporting member. said een tainer being operable to maintain said actuating unit in said last named position for a predetermined time and the weight of said actuating unit and said valve member being operable to rotate said valve member to a closed position upon the expiration of said predetermined time. 6. In a flush valve, a valve seat member, a supporting member extending upward from said seat member, a bellcrank lever pivoted on said supporting member, a valve member carried by one arm of said lever and seatable on said seat member, a container mounted on the other arm of said lever and urging said valve member toward said seat member, said container having an open top and a drain opening at its lower end, and means to move said lever to position said container to urge said valve member toward open position.

7. In a flush valve, a valve seat member, a supporting member extending upward from said seat member, a bellcrank lever pivoted on said supporting member, a valve member carried by one arm of said lever and seatable on said seat member, a container mounted on the other arm of said lever and urging said valve member toward said seat member, said container having an open top and a drain opening at its lower end, means to move said lever to position said container to urge said valve member toward open position, and a float carried by said other arm in overlying relation to said valve member.

8. `In a flush valve, a valve seat member, a supporting member extending upward from said seat member, abellcrank lever pivoted on said supporting member, a -valve member carried by one arm of said lever and seatable on said seat member, a container mounted on the other arm of said lever and urging said valve member toward said seat member, said container having an open -top and a drain opening at its lower end, means to move said lever to position said container to urge said valve member toward open position and means on said lever cooperable with said supporting member to limit opening movement of said valve member.

9. In a flush valve, a valve seat member, a supporting member extending upward from said seat member, a lever having arms, means pivotally supporting said lever intermediate its ends on said supporting member, one arm of said lever extending over said valve seat member, a valve member mounted on said member, an upwardly inelined portion of its length on the valve member side of said pivot means, and a float carried by said other lever arm and positioned in overlying relation to said valve member and below the upper end of said container when said valve member is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS