US3041630A

US3041630A - Water closet flushing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3041630A
Application number: US829876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Williams Richard Wendell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-07-27
Filing date: 1959-07-27
Publication date: 1962-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-03

Description

July 3, 1962 R- w. WILLIAMS WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1959 Fill/I'll 9/1/42 INVENTOR /CHAPD mwoeu W/LL/AMJ Y% ORNEY July 3, 1962 R. w. WILLIAMS 3,041,630

WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR United States Patent Oflice fidlfi h Patented July 3, 1962 3,041,630 WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS Richard Wendell Williams, Dix Drive, Blissman Acres,

East McKeesport, Pa. 1 Filed July 27, 19 59, Ser. No. 829,876 8 Claims. (Cl. 4-37) piper, or all of these, of the standard water closet.

With the general increase of population in certain metropolitan areas and the resultant lowering of the water table in those areas, it has become increasingly more important to conserve water. It is, of course, desirable to accomplish this, if possible, without inconvenience to the inhabitants of these areas. Toward this end, I have conceived the invention disclosed herein, which is embodied 2 in an apparatus which may be installed quickly and easily in the tank of a standard water closet or may be included as part of the equipment upon the initial installation.

I have found that a very small amount of water need be released from the tank of a water closet to accomplish a change of the water in the bowl when there is no solid matter in the bowl. It will be obvious that an important economy can be wrought through the use of myapparatus, in view of the many instances when it is required to flush the water closet even though there is no solid matter in the bowl.

Briefly, to describe my invention, I provide a basically cylindrical housing which, in installation, is superimposed over and around the standard valve seat in the tank of a water closet and stands approximately parallel to and adjacent to the standard overflow pipe of the water closet. The said housing is open at both of its ends and is held in place by the standard guide member which clamps onto the overflow pipe. On the side of the said housing, ap-

proximately opposed to the side adjacent to the overflow pipe, I provide a gate valve which is hinged at its upper extremity, so as to open inwardly into the said housing. A vertically operated lock rod is slidably engaged in the housing, in a position to restrictively engage the said gate valve on its inward side and is indirectly connected to the flush operating lever for lifting into a position of disengagement when it is desired to fully flush the water closet. When my apparatus is installed in a standard water closet, I provide an extension for the flush operating lever to which the lock rod is indirectly connected. The standard buoyant ball valve is enclosed within the cylindrical housing and, insofar as it seats and unseats in the standard valve seat, operates in the usual manner. The stem of the said buoyant ball valve passes through the aforementioned standard guide member and is connected indirectly and resiliently to the flush operating lever. I provide a basically cylindrical sleeve. which slidably engagesthe" cylindrical housing on the inside. thereof and is adjustably positioned to extend above the upper extremities of the said housing. The said sleeve rests upon the said standard guide member and its vertical adjustment to accommodate for different tank water levels is accomplished by slots of diflerent depth which I provide in its lower extremity. By merely rotating the sleeve until a particular slot is positioned over the standard guide member and lowering it thereupon, the vertical adjustment and the positioning of the sleeve is simply performed. A flat, thin, circular baffle plate surrounds the stem of the buoyant ball valve, rests upon the standard guide member and has a diameter somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the sleeve so that it fits very loosely therein. A resilient coupling, in the order of a helical spring, is provided between the standard valve stem and the standard lift rod therefor, for the purpose of providing a resistance stop for the small flush or rinse by restricting the upward movement of the flush operating lever thereby providing a resilient stop. By applying additional pressure the helical spring is compressed and additional upward movement to the flush operating lever is provided to lift the lock rod out of engagement with the gate valve, Thereupon, the gate valve is opened by the water pressure in the tank and sufficient water flows into the bowl to accomplish a full flush.

It is important, to the novelty of my invention, to notice that it is actually advantageous to the operation of my apparatus for the tolerances of fit; as for example, around the bottom of the housing, around the gate valve, around the lock rod and between the sleeveand the housing, to be quite large. This is so for the reason that it is .neces sary, on the partial flush operation, for there to be a certain flow of water beneath the ball valve to preserve its buoyancy. It should be noted, in this respect, that I have provided a slot in the, lower extremity of the housing to allow clearance for the standard saddle connecting the valve seat and the overflow pipe. Neither this slot nor the slots which provide clearance for the standard guide member need be of exacting tolerance or a close fit.

To explain the operation of my apparatus, upon installation the sleeve is adjusted as aforementioned by positioning one of the slots over the guide member. The

particular slot which is chosen will depend, in each in-' stallation, upon the water level which the standard float shut-off valve normally maintains in the tank. When the tank is filled to the upper limit permitted by the float shut-0E valve, the upper extremity of the sleeve must be below the water level, and the distance below the water level is determined by experimentation to discover the least amount of water required to change the water in the bowl. When the flushing lever is operated for the partial flush, the ball valve is drawn free of the valve seat, the helical spring resiliently restricts full upward movement of the hush operating lever and water flows over the top of the sleeve and strikes the battle plate level has dropped to approximately the top of the sleeve,

' shut-off valve permits the water level to return to the full there is no longer suificient water beneath the ball valve to maintain its buoyancy and it re-seats in the normal manner to complete the operation. Thereupon, the float position, as in the standard installations now extant in the art.

When the flushing lever is operated'ior the full flush,

the ball .valve is drawn free of the valve seat, the flush operating lever is moved to its uppermost limit, the lock rod is lifted and disengaged from the gate valve, the force of the flowing water opens the gate'valve inwardly and the tank empties. 'I hereupon, the ball valve re-seats, the

gate valve drops into closed position, the lock'rod reengages the gate valve to lock it closed, and the standard 1 the run position.

, r The numeral 1 indicates e l 3 7 fio'at s'hut-ofi valve permitsthe water level to return to It will 'be obvious can be accomplished with thestlandard fiush lever, merely by the operator becoming accustomed to the feel of the that the operation of my apparatus two (2) different operations, However, where it is thought advisable to provide more positive operation, I e

have provided a dual handle for the flushing lever which accomplishes a positiveoperation of my apparatus, even by one unfamiliar with its function. This novelh-andle is shown in the drawings and explained hereinafter.

One object of my invention is to provide a flushing apparatus which will accomplisha saving of water in the use of water'closetse Another-object of my invention is toprovide such a flushing apparatus which may be installed readily and easily in standard water closet installations without major revision thereto. Further and additional advantagesof my invention will appear from this specification and the appended claims.

' Referring now to' the drawings:

FIG. I shows a cut away elevational cross-section through thetank of a standard water closet with-the apparatus' embodying my invention installed therein and shown in the closed position with the water level in the tank in the filled position. FIG. 11 shows an elevational cross-section through the apparatus embodying my invention and showing the ap-.

paratus in the position for the partial flushing operation. FIG. III'shows an elevational cross-section through the apparatus embodying my invention and showing the apparatus in the position for the full flushing operation.

FlG -lV shows a plan view of the tank of a standard water closet with the apparatus embodying my invention installed therein, and taken in the plane of section line IV- IV of FIG. I. a 1 FIG. V shows an elevation of the apparatus embodying my invention and:taken in the plane ofsection line V.-V orFIdn. 1 7 1 FIG. VT shows a cut away cross-sectional plan view through a novel handle'which provides a more positive H operation of the apparatus embodying my invention.

*FIG. VII shows a cut away elevational cross-section through the novel handle, showing it in the unflushed position.

"FIG. VIII shows a cut away elevational cross-section through the novel handle, showing it in the'position forv 7 partial flushing.)

FIG. IX shows a cut away elevational' cross-section through the novel handle, showing it in the position for full flushing. L j a L FIG. X shows a cross-section through the lever portion which fits into a'slot'lfl in thefupper extremityof the housing 8. The said housing 8 has a projection 8' disardball valve 9-and is held in place by the guide fixture posed outwardly and having a gate valve'l 6:mounted in theside thereof. The sleeve 11 fitsloosely into. the housj ing-8 and has a plurality of variant depth slots 12 in its lower extremity which fit over' the guide fixture 5. The stem of the ball valve 9 is resiliently engaged-by means I of the spring 1'4to the standard lift rod 15 which cooperatesjwith fiushing lever 7 to raise the ball valve. The gate valve .16 in the housingprojection 8. has a horislidably connected with lift rod 19 which cooperates with flushing lever 7' to lift'th'e lock fod 18'161 the full flushing operation. The lock rod 18 has a stop 20 thereon and is slidably mounted in a bore 21 in the housing projection '8'. A thin circular bafile plate 22 surrounds the valve stem 13 and rests on the guide'fixture 5 in a circumferentially spaced relation with the inside of sleeve 11.

The water level in the tank is shown as point A for the 'full position, point B for the partial flush position, point C for the lowering position during the full flushing operation, and point D for the'fully flushed posit-ion.

.It willbe understood that my invention may be installed in standard water closets wherein the standard type of flushinghandle is employed. However, 'I'also ing fixture 25. The said fixture 25' is mounted, in the usual manner, in the tank 1. The small flush handle 26. is rotatably mounted upon the body of the full flush handle 24. However, the rotation thereof is limited by the key slot 27 in the small flush handle 26 which loosely engages' the key 28 on the full flush handle 24. Two 'stop lugs 29onthe mounting fixture 25 limit the rotation of the entire handle assembly 'by engagement with the key 31) on the body of the'small flush handle 26;

In the operation of this handle assembly, downward pressure on the full flush handle 24 causes the key 28 to contact the upper limit of the key slot 27 and moves the wkey 30 into engagement with the upper stop lug 29.

This rotation provides the maximum movement to the flushing lever 7 and accomplishes a full flush. Downthereby rotatingthe said key 28 and the flushing lever 7 in a limitedamount until the key 30 contacts the upper stop lug 29. This. amount of rotation accomplishes a smallflushn H A I When the apparatus embodying my invention is in- .stalled in a standard water closet, I provide an extension of the novel handle and taken in the plane of section line I 51 for the flush operating lever 7. The extension 31 is rigidly enga'gedtothe said flush operating lever Thy bolts 3232, thereby extending the said lever 7 to facilitate the connection thereof to the lift rod 19. Certain modifications of the embodiment of my inventionshown in the accompanying drawings and described herein may be made within the scope of this specification and the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1'. A water closetvalve comprising a basically cylindrical open-ended housing having one end thereof disposed ontlie bottom of a water closet tank and sur- 7 rounding theflush valve seat therein in substantially jection'at the upper extremity of gate valve 16; The lock "ly thereinto.

concentric spaced relation thereto, the said housing being disposed vertically upward therefrom to a height less than the normal full level of the tank in condition for flushing, a flushing lever positioned above the upper extremity of the said housing within the said water closet tank and communicating with a' flushing handle mounted exteriorly of the said tank, a buoyant ball valve aligned with the'said flush valve seat and being concentrically disposed within the said housing, a resilient mounting communicating with the said' buoyant ball valveya'nd having its uppermost extremity mounted on the flushing lever, and a gate valve pivotally mounted proximate the lower extremity of the said housing and opening inward- 2.'A water closet valve ac cording to claim lwherein a basically cylindrical sleeve is'concentrically mounted rbd 18 engages the gate 16 in the closedposition and is .within the upper extremity of the said housing in slidable' engagement therewith and extending thereabove, which said sleeve is vertically adjustable to extend more or less distance above the top of the said housing.

3. A water closet valve according to claim 1 wherein a locking means is mounted on the housing in engagement with the gate valve'in closed position and communicates with the flushing lever whereby the said locking means is disengaged from the said gate valve upon full motion of the said flushing lever.

4. A water closet valve according to claim 1 wherein a baffle plate is mounted within the said housing in concentrically spaced relation thereto above the said buoyant ball valve.

5. A water closet valve comprising a basically cylindrical open-ended housing having one end thereof disposed on the bottom of a water closet tank and surrounding the fiush valve seat therein in substantially concentric spaced relation thereto, the said housing being disposed vertically upward therefrom to a height less than the normal full level of the tank in condition for flushing, a flushing lever positioned above the upper extremity of the said housing within the said water closet tank and communicating with a rotating means mounted exteriorly of the said tank, buoyant closing means for the said flush valve seat disposed within the said housing, resilient lifting means communicating with the said buoyant closing means and having its uppermost extremity mounted on the said flushing lever, an orifice proximate the lower extremity of the said housing, and

variable restricting means for the said orifice whereby the said orifice may be opened or closed. 7

6. A water closet valve according to claim 5 wherein a locking means is mounted on the said housing in engagement with the said variable restricting means in closed position and communicates with the flushing lever whereby the said locking means is disengaged from the said variable restricting means upon =full motion of the said flushing lever.

7. A water closet valve according to claim 5 wherein a bafiling means is mounted within the said housing above the said buoyant closing means, which baifiing means is adapted to deflect fluid toward the internal periphery of the said housing.

8. A water closet valve according toclaim 5 wherein V the flushing lever rotating means is comprised in a plurality of rotatably mounted handles adapted to effect individually distinct movements of the flushing lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Australia Mar. 7, 1945