US2945239A

US2945239A - Flush valve assembly

Info

Publication number: US2945239A
Application number: US759452A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard A Fulton; Henry Ira Glenn
Original assignee: MANSFIELD SANITARY POTTERY Inc
Current assignee: MANSFIELD SANITARY POTTERY Inc
Priority date: 1958-09-08
Filing date: 1958-09-08
Publication date: 1960-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-19

Description

H. A. FULToN ET AL 2,945,239

July 19, 1960 FLUSH .VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 19, 1960 H. A. FULTON ETAL FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1958 Y 2,945,239 AFLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY Howard A. Fulton and Ira Glenn Henry, Perrysville, Ohio, assignors to Mansfield Sanitary Pottery, Inc., Big i' Prairie, Ohio, a corporation of 0hio Y Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,452

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-58) This invention relates broadly to water-closets, and

more specifically to improvements in flush valves therefor. A'One of the objects ofthe invention is to provide a valve which is constructed ifor seated engagement on the bottom wall or floor'of the flush tank Vso ythe entire contents of the reservoir will be discharged when the valve is lifted to effect thefflushing operation.

fAnother object of the invention is to provide a valve stern of tubular form which not only supports the valve plate, but valso comprises an overllow pipe for the tank.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision ofj a guide'frame for supporting the valve stem in a verticalA position during the reciprocative movement thereof.

` Further objects of the invention are to provide a liush valve assembly embodying fewer parts than like -valves heretofore in use, a valve. which is economic of -manufacture,fe icient of operation and an organization of parts that "may be assembled with ease and dispatch.

r"Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the' foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the `following descripltion, which consideredY in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention. l

Referring to the drawings: 4 j

Fig. rl is a plan view of a ilush tank having the top removed.` therefrom, embodying the improved valve and valve stern supporting frame therefor;

, Fig.` 2is a vertical sectional view of the tank illustrating the valve and associated parts;

Fig. Bis a vertical sectionalview of` a fragmentary portion of atank illustratingan alternate form of the improved valve stem supporting frame;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another modiliedformof the valve stem supporting frame; i Y

' FigfS is a similar sectional view illustrating a further modification of the valve stem support;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the valve stem guide Shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating the valve guide frame shown in Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved watercloset comprises a porcelain tank 10, preferably of prismoidal form, having an opening 11 in the base thereof for a tubular rubber outlet thimble 12. The tank has a second smaller hole 14 for a bolt 15 that supports a guide bracket 16 a hollow plastic toric shell constituting a float 17 and a tubular valve stem 18. The lower end of the thimble is of frusto-conical form and protrudes beyond the lower face of the base of the tank, and the upper end thereof is cylindrical and formed with a `shoulder -19 that is aixed in sealed relation in the opening 11 in the tank. The upper end Ztl of the cylindrical portion of the thimble is iush with the inner face of the bottom wall of the tank. The valve 21 comprises a circular rubber disc constructed with a frusto-conical .llange 22 which is tapered from its hub 23 to a paper ice thin circumferential edge 24. 'Ihe lowerconcave face of the valve is normally engaged with the base of floor of the tank 10. The hub of the valve is formed with a boss on the upper face thereof having an inwardly tapered opening 26 therein which is retained by a frusto-conical 'ring 27 molded on the base of a toric float or shell 17 for the support of the valve in its elevated position when the valve stem 18 is actuated to lift the valve olf its seat. The lower face of the ring 27 is formed with a lateral flange 30 thereon which is engaged with a shoulder 29 in the lower face of the valve hub 23. The ring 27 is integral with the hollow toric shell 17 and is rigidly secured to the valve stem |18 which is preferably formedof a molded plastic material lsuch `as Bakelite. The outlet opening 31 in the thimble 12 is provided with a-split metal ring 32 to assure the securement of the .thimble in in the opening 11, and the lower end of the valve stem 18 Vis provided with a rubber sleeve 33 having a ilange 34 on the lower end thereof to choke the inrush-of water into` the chamber within the shell n17. o The valve stem 1S is guided for axial movement by horizontal arms 35 that straddle a vertical arm 37 on the bracket 16 secured to the lower wall of the tank 10. The lower leg 40 of the bracket 16 is pierced for the reception of the bolt -15, and a washer 43 is provided under the bracket to seal the opening 14. The bracket has a vertical slot 44 in i-ts upper leg.37, and a cross pin 45 to guide the movement of the valve stem when the valve is lifted from its seat. The upper end of the valve stem is cross-drilled for the reception of a pin 46 threaded at one side into the side wall of the tube and pivotally connected at the other side of the tube to a lhandle 47 connected to theshank of an armA 48 in the -side wall of theupper portion of the tank. -The arm and lever comprise generally a bell crank structure of the form customarily employed in flush tanks of conventional form. A

The upper end of the valve stem 18 is provided with a cap 49 having an opening 50 in the upper wall thereof that forms an overflow outlet. The cap is held -in place by the pin 46 in the skirt of the-cap on theV upper end of the tube. I Y 4 AThe modified form illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar in all respects to the disclosure in Fig. 1, save only that the bracket 60 for guiding the valve stem tubelS Ycomprises a rod 61=having arcuate end portions 62 that partially encircle the -tube f18 with a slight clearance. The rod 60 is bent at a right angle 63 adjacent the upper end thereof and is rebent laterally adjacent'the base of Ythe .tank to-form a foot 64. The foot is formed with a circular loop or vring 65 for the reception of amachine screw or bolt `secured in the manner shown in Fig.`1.

The bracket illustrated in the alternate form of Fig. 4 is similar to the guide bracket of Fig. 1, except in this case, a yoke 70 straddles the float 17 and the free ends of the yoke are fulcrumed on pintles 71 in the wall of the iioat shell 17. The center of the yoke 70 has a lateral arm 72 secured thereto which is pivoted adjacent its outer end to a vertical arm 73 of the right angle bracket 74. The lower leg 75 of the bracket is bolted to the base of the tank in the manner heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1.

The bracket shown in Figs. 5 and 7 is similar to the bracket of Fig. 4, but the -arms of the yoke are formed of molded rubber and the foot 81 thereof is clamped by a machine screw or the bolt 15 to the base of the tank. Flexure of the arms Will occur in the right angle bend 82 adjacent the foot of the bracket when the the tube is elevated by the trip lever 47.

In each case, the weight of the water in the tank will hold the valve 21 is sealed seated relation with thebase or floor of the tank until the arm is actuated by lifting the valve stem tube 18. When the valve `stein 18 is elevated, Water in the tank will flow through the outlet opening 31 in the thim-ble 12 and the rush of Water, together with the buoyancy of the. oat. 17, will maintain thelvalve in itsv open position until all of the water is drained from the tank and the valve andstem 18 descend by gravity and effectuates the reseated position of the valve Z1. s s

It is not necessary for the yguide bracket assemblies to hold the valve stem in accurate vertical alignment with the axis of the `discharge opening in the thimble, since the diameter of the valve 21 is greater than the diameter of the opening 3.1 aud misalignment of approximately plus or minus one-eighth of -an inch will not impair the functional operation of the valve.

Although the foregoing .description is necessarily of a ldetailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the speciiic ,terminology is not intended to be restrictive or coniining, [and that various rearrangements of parts and modications of detail -may be resorted to without departing from the vscope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A ush valve assembly for a Water closet comprising a Water tank having jan outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat integral iioor in the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valve seat, a rubber valve disc of the poppet valve type seated on the portion of the oorsurrounding said outlet opening, 4the lower face of said valve being normally concave and deformed into a substantially flat disc .when the valve is disposed in its seated position, a hollow annular oat secured upon the upper faceof said valve, a tube having openings in each end thereof secured to said float, said tube constituting a valvestem and an overllow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valve stem to Elift said valve from its seat, a bracket atlixed to the oor of said tank remote said outlet opening, `and a horizontal arm pivotally connected to said float for and attached to said bracket guiding said valve stem in a substantially vertical path fupon elevation of said valve stem.

2. A ush valve assembly for a water closet comprising a water tank having an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat integral oor in the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valve seat, a rubber valve disc of the poppetv valve type seated on the portion of the floor surrounding said outlet opening, the lower face of said valve being normally concave and deformed into a substantially at disc when the valve is disposed in its vseated position, a hollow annular float secured to the upper face of said valve, a tube having openings in each end thereof secured to said oat, said tube constituting a valve stem and an overflow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valve stem to lift said valve from its seat, a bracket aflxed to the floor of said tank remote said outlet opening, -an arm movably connected to -said float and aflixed to the floor of said tank for guiding said valve stem in a substantially vertical path upon actuation of said valve stem.

3. A ush valve assembly` lfor a Water closet comprising a water tank having an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth at integral floor 1in the tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting'a valve seat,` a rubber valve disc of the poppet valve type seated on the portion of the floor surrounding. said outlet opening, the lower face of said valve being normally concave and deformable into a substantially iat dise when the valve is seated, a hollow annular iioat secured to the upper face of said valve, a tube having openings in each end thereof secured to said oat, said tube constituting a valve stem and Tan overflow pipe, means pivotally connected to the top of said valve stem to lift said valve from its seat, a bracket aixed to the Hoor of said tank remote said outlet opening, a horizontal arm pivotally connected to said float and movable vertically 4in said bracket for guiding said valve stem in a substantially vertical path when said valve stem is lifted. v

4. A ush valve assembly lfor a water closet comprising arwater tank having an outlet opening in the base thereof, a smooth flat floor in said tank circumambient said outlet opening constituting a valve seat, a rubber valve disc ofthe poppet valve 4type seated on the portion of the floor surrounding said outlet opening, said valve being normally concave and `deformable into a substantially iiat disc when lthe valve is disposed in its seated position, a hollowlannular iloat'secnred on the upper face of said valvea tube having openings in leach end thereof secured to said float, said tubeiconstitutingY-a valve Stem and an overflow pipe, means pivotallyconnected to the top of said valve stem to lift said valve from its seat, a bracket aixed to the oor of said tank remote said outlet opening, and 4an arm on said bracket connected to said float for guiding said valve stem in a substantially vertical path upon elevation of said valve stem.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,378 Lymbnrner Nov. 5, 1895 1,878,613 Werner e Sept. 20, 1932 1,890,281 Dollinger Dec. 6, 1932 2,444,958 Smith `Iuly 13, 1948 2,520,574 Smith Aug. 29, 1950 2,693,601 Smith Nov. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 640,442 Germ-any Ian. 4, 1937