US3021529A

US3021529A - Flush tank valve construction

Info

Publication number: US3021529A
Application number: US829249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brown Dewey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-07-24
Filing date: 1959-07-24
Publication date: 1962-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-20

Description

Wig-n9 Feb. 20, 1962 D. BROWN 3,021,529

FLUSH TANK VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR DEWEY BROWN ms ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 D. BROWN 3,021,529

FLUSH TANK VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6

9'; W INVENTOR DEWEY BROWN HIS ATTORNEY. W

United States Patent G 3,021,529 FLUSH TANK VALVE CUNSTRUETION Dewey Brown, Xenia, Ghio Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,249 4 Elaims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to a flush tank valve construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a substantially horizontal arm construction in combination with a substantially vertical arm construction adjustably secured together so these constructions may be secured in a simple and efiicient manner to the usual combined flush and overflow fixture which is sealed to the flush opening in the bottom wall of a toilet water tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertical arm construction which has a very simple, eflicient and effective connection with the link which carries the tank ball, and which is rotationally adjustably connected with a horizontal arm which is secured to the usual combined flush and overflow fixture of a toilet tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertical arm construction which is connectable with horizontal arm constructions which are secured either to the overflow pipe or to the large diameter flush pipe of the usual combined flush and overflow fixture.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section of a toilet tank and a fixture in said tank embodying features of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal top view of a portion of FIGURE 1, and showing the adjustability of theinven: tion to variously shaped combined flush and overflow fixtures.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3. 1

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, and showing the invention applied to the large diameter flush pipe of the combined flush and overflow fixture.

FIGURE 7 is a top view of a portion of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of a horizontal arm shown in FIGURES 6-9 and which is attachable to the large diameter flush pipe.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-section of a transverse hinge member rotatably secured to a hinge opening in the vertical arm and to the link which is attached to the tank ball.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-section along the line 111l of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical elevation of a portion of FIG- URE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal cross-section similar to a portion of FIGURE 11, and showing another embodiment.

FIGURE 14 is a vertical elevation of FIGURE 13, taken from the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

Referring first to FIGURES 1-5, a flush tank 20 is provided with a combined flush and overflow fixture 22 of any well known construction, and including a relatively large diameter flush pipe 24 and a relatively long overflow pipe 26 adjacent to and discharging at its lower end 28 into said flush pipe 24 in a well known manner. The overflow pipe 26 has a vertical extension 36 with an inlet, not shown, above the normal water level in said tank 20,

as is well known. The combined fixture 22 is sealed to the flush opening 32 in the bottom wall 34 of the tank 20 in any well known manner, and may include the rubberlike ring 36, flange 38 on the fixture 22, and the tightening nut 40. i i

A substantially horizontal arm 42 has a means or clamp 44 adjustably to secure the horizontal arm 42 at one endto the extension 30 of the overflow pipe 26. The clamp 44 may be provided with a bolt and nut construction 46 for vertical and rotational adjustment and securement to the extension 30. The horizontal arm 42 extends in a horizontal direction for a substantial distance from the overflow pipe 26 to its other end 48, which end 48 may be disk-like and have a rectangular, circular or other disk-like shape for a link stopping purpose to be described.

A substantially vertical arm 5% is adjustably secured adjacent the end 43 of the arm 42. The arm Sltmay have a substantially rectangularly cross-sectioned hinge receiving end 52 and a cylindrical, threaded, attaching end 54 for attaching the

arms

42 and 50 to each other in a rotationally adjustable manner. The end 52 has an abutting surface 55 to engage the lower face of the arm 42 when the nut 56 is drawn tightly on the threaded attaching end 54 against the upper face of the arm 42. The opening 58 may be unthreaded, to receive the threaded end 54 loosely and permit the arm 50 to be tightened and secured at any desired angle with respect to the arm 42. This permits adjustment to compensate for various distances between the flush pipe 24 and extension 3% of the overflow pipe 26, in a manner tobecome more fully apparent.

The hinge receiving end 52 of the arm 50 may have atransverse hinge receiving opening 661 which receives the hinge member 62 which is secured to and extends transversely to the relatively rigid link or wire 64, which is downwardly bent at 66 and is threadedly secured to the tank ball 68 for guided movement of the ball into and'out of the flush opening 76 in the pipe 24.

The hinge member 62 may be formed by transversely bending the end of the link or wire 64. Extensions or ears 72 maybe formed by pinching the member 62 at 74. These ears 72 engage the washer 76 which in turn engages one side of the end 52 of arm 50. A groove 73 in member 62 receives a hairpin-like member 80 which engages the washer 82 which is at the other side of the end 52 of arm 50 in a manner to lock the hinge member 62 against longitudinal movement. In this manner the link 64 is hingedly secured to the arm 50 for upward and downward swinging movement of the tank ball 68 into I the flush opening 70 of the pipe 24.

Upward movement of the link 64 may be stopped and limited by engagement of link 64 with the under surface of the disk-like end 48 of the arm 42. Additionally, or alternatively, such upward movement of the link 64 may be arrested by a link stopping member or bolt 84 which is secured in an opening 9 6, which may be identical in diameter and shape with the opening 60 heretofore described. The openings es and 86 may be used interchangeably and alternatively as hinge and or link stopping member openings, as will later become apparent. The stopping member 84 may be rod or bolt which may be secured in the opening 86 (and/or 6%). Forthis purpose the member 84 may have a head 83 and a nut 99 threadedly engaging the end of belt 841-. The bolt 84 need not threadedly engage the opening 66, but may be firmly held therein by the tightening of the head 88 and nut 90 toward each other. In this manner the

openings

66 and 36 may be interchangeable, if desired.

The dotted showing of arm 42a, extension 39a, end 54a, etc., in FIGURE 1 indicates how the invention may be applied to combined flush and overflow fixtures with diiferent distances between the overflow pipe and the flush pipe. The arm 42a is rotationaLly adjusted about the overflow pipe extension 30a as a center to move the end 54a of the'vertical arm 59 along the arc 57 so it is at the correct distance from the central axis of the flush pipe 24 so the link 64a correctly positions the downward bend 66 directly over the center or axis of the flush pipe 24. This is accomplished because the vertical arm 50 and the link 64a are rotationally adjustable in the end 48 of the horizontal arm 42, and the arm 42 is rotationally adjustable about the overfiow extension 3%.

The arm 42 is also vertically adjusted on overflow extension 30, so the link 64 is substantially horizontal 'to disturb the seal construction at the bottom of the tank 20 after it has been in operation for a relatively long time.

All of the members which may be identical to those previously described in connection with FIGURE 1-5 designated by identical reference numerals in FIGURES 6-9, and their construction and mode of operation may be substantially, the same, except as obviously modified, and hence their description is not repeated in connection with FIGURES 6-9.

In FIGURES 6-9, a horizontal arm 42b is provided with an opening 92, a strengthening flange S4, and a ver tical arm securing opening 96. The opening 92 fits around the upper end of the flush pipe 24. The arm 42b is pressed down by the flange 38 against the seal, ring 36; when the nut 49 is tightened. A vertical post supporting member 98 has its lower end ltltl secured to the arm iitlrby the screw 102 which threadedly engages.

justment by the nut 196. The opening 86 now receives.

the transverse hinge member 62, and the opening 60 now receives the link stopping member 84; The vertical adjustment of the opening 86, which is now. the hinge opening, is made by the. amount of threaded engagement of the end 54; in the opening 164.. This vertical adjustment is made so the link 64, is substantially. horizontal whenthe tank ball 68, is in fully closed position. The stopping member 84' stops the link 64' and ball 68 in. the dotted line position of FIGURE. 6.

It is thus to be seen, that the vertical arm 56 is adaptable, if desired, for use as shown in FIGURES 1-5 or as shown in FIGURES 6-9;

In the embodiment of FIGURES l and 11, the link 64d threadedly engages the separate transverse hinge member 62d at the threaded opening 108 so that the downward extension or ball receiving bend God may be adjusted toward or away from the axis of rotation 11% of the transverse hinge member 62d more easily to align the ball 68 into the flush opening 70. The hinge member 62:! may have a rectangularly cross-sectioned body 112 connected integrally, with the cylindrical body 114 which rotationally hinges in the opening 60 of the end 52 of vertical arm 50 in FIGURES I-Sor the opening 86 in FIGURES 6-9. An integral threaded extension 116 receives the nut 118 for hingedly retaining the hinge member 62a in the hinge opening 60 or 86, as the case may be.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 13 and 14, the parts may be the same as in FIGURES 1D and 11 wherever the same reference numerals are used. Instead of the thread extension 116 and, the nut 118, of FIGURES 4; l0 and 11, a groove 120 and a hairpin-like member 122, similar to 80, are provided in FIGURES l3 and 14 to maintain the cylindrical hinge body 114 within the hinge opening 60 or 86, as the case may be.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 10-14, the link member 64d may be identical with the link members 64 in FEGURES 1-9 in so far as the downward ball engaging 66 is concerned. If desired, however, in all of the embodiments herein disclosed, the downward bend 66 may include an extension in the form of a loop 124 to which the usual flush operating connection, chain or the like which is actuated by a hand operated-lever may be secured. In the other embodiments the flush operating connection, chain and the like may be secured to the link 64 to any suitable connection or loop provided on link s4, not shown.

In FIGURES 10-14 a nut 126 is indicated to secure the link 64d in adjusted position. However, if desired, such nut 126 may be omitted, since the ball 68, by its weight, tends to keep the link 6441 from turning from its adjusted position.

While the form now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming Within the scope or" the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bot tom wall with a flush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having a relatively large diameter flush pipe sealed in said flush opening with a tank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, said ture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to and discharging at its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a vertical extension with an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; a substantially horizontal arm having means at one end securing said arm to said combined flush and overflow fixture, said arm extending a generally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said combined flush and overflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm secured adjacent the other end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustable relationship about a vertical axis and having a transverse hinge opening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one end extending transversely to said link and into said hinge opening; and a tank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening and closing said tank ball receiving opening, in which combination said hinge member has a cylindrical part extending into said hinge opening and has a body adjacent said cylindrical part which has an internally threaded opening transverse to said cylindricalpart threadedly receiving said link member. 7

2. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall, with a flush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having a relatively large diameter flush pipesealed in said fiush opening with a tank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, said fixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to and discharging at its lower end into. said flush pipe, andhaving a vertical extension with an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; a substantially horizontal arm having means at one e'ndsecuring said arm to said combined flushand overflow fixture, said arm extending in a generally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said combined flush and overflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm secured adjacent the other end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustable relationship about, a vertical axis and having a transverse hinge opening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one end extending transversely to said link and into: said hinge opening; and a tank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening and closing said tank ball'receiving opening, in which COIllbination a vertical post is secured to and extends upwardly. from said horizontal arm and has means at its upper end for receiving and adjustably securing said vertical arm.

3. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall with a flush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having a relatively large diameter flush pipe sealed in said fiush opening with a tank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, said fixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to and discharging at its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a vertical extension with an inlet above the normal Water level in said tank; a substantially horizontal arm having means at one end securing said arm to said combined flush and overflow fixture, said arm extending in a generally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said combined flush and overflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm secured adjacent the other end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustable relationship about a vertical axis and having a transverse hinge opening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one end extending transversely to said link and into said hinge opening; and a tank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening and closing said tank ball receiving opening, in which combination a vertical post has an internally threaded opening extending therethrough; a screw engaging said internally threaded opening at its lower end and securing said post to said horizontal arm, and said vertical arm having a cylindrical externally threaded end threadedly engaging the upper end of said internally threaded opening.

4. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall with a flush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having a relatively large diameter flush piper sealed in said flush opening with a tank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, said fixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to and discharging at its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a vertical extension with an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; a substantially hori- Zontal arm having a relatively large opening securing said arm to said large diameter flush pipe, said arm extending in a generally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said flush pipe and having a vertical opening at its other end; a substantially vertical arm structure secured adjacent the other end of said horizontal arm ineluding a vertical post which has an internally threaded opening extending therethrougli, a screw engaging said internally threaded opening, passing through said vertical opening at the other end of said horizontal arm, and a vertical arm engaging the other end of said internally threaded opening and having a transverse hinge opening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one end extending transversely to said link into said hinge opening, said vertical arm having a link stopping member extending therefrom; and a tank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening and closing said tank ball receiving opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,160 Mason et al Feb. 13, 1940 2,602,933 Curry July 15, 1952 2,733,449 Ware Feb. 7, 1956 2,754,522 Earsley July 17, 1956