US3239847A

US3239847A - Automatic flushing device

Info

Publication number: US3239847A
Application number: US244524A
Authority: US
Inventors: Idwal W Parri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-12-13
Filing date: 1962-12-13
Publication date: 1966-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-15

Description

March 15, 1966 1. w. PARRI 3,239,847

AUTOMATI C FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BUG/(HORN, BLOHE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS March 15, 1966 l. w. FARR! 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

lDWdL W. PAR/W I/VI/E/VTOR BY BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS Filed Dec. 13, 1962 March 15, 1966 1, w, FARR: 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAAOU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS March 15, 1966 l. W. PARRI 3,239,847

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1gb I60 I 14-0 150 FIG. 8 158 IDWAL W PAR/W IN 5 /V 7' OR.

B) BUG/(HORN, 510/25, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,239,847 AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Idwal W. Parri, 4611 SE. Boise St, Portland, Greg. Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,524 8 Claims. (Ci. 4-419) This invention relates to automatic flushing devices, and more particularly to toilet flushing devices which are actuated by increase in electroconductivities of waters in toilet bowls when human wastes are added to the waters.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved automatic fiushing devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flushing device operable by increase in electroconductivity of water in toilet bowls.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sensing increases in electrocond-uctivity of water in a toilet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sensing increases in electroconductivity of water in a toilet bowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide easily installed automatic flushing devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic flushing devices for converting existing manual flushing devices to automatic operation.

In an automatic flushing device illustrating certain features of the invention, there may be provided a pair of electrodes having the ends thereof immersed in the trap water in a toilet bowl together with a control circuit applying a voltage across the electrodes and responsive to increased current flow between the electrodes caused by increase in electroconductivity of the trap water from the addition of human waste. The control circuit actuates a [flushing device to supply flush-ing water to the toilet bowl. The flushing mechanism may include a flush tank which is normally substantially empty of water, and a valve operable when actuated by the control circuit to supply water to the flush tank. When the water in the flush tank reaches a desired volume a float-actuated trip opens the outlet of the flush tank to discharge the water therefrom into the toilet bowl. In another form of the invention there is no flush tank and water is supplied from a valve operated by the control circuit, this form of the invention being particularly useful for urinals.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of automatic flushing devices forming specific embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional, perspective view of a toilet including an automatic flushing device forming one embodiment of the invention, with a control circuit and sensing means thereof shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an electrode unit of the automatic flushing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flush tank of the toilet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, side elevation of a modification of the toilet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectional, side elevation view of a urinal including an automatic flushing device forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, horizontal, substantially top plan view of a strainer plate and electrode device of the urinal of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flush tank and a valve thereof of an automatic ice flushing device forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a flush tank and a valve thereof of an automatic flushing device forming another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 a toilet including an automatic flushing device. The toilet includes a bowl 10, a seat 11 and a flush tank 12. The bowl 10, as is customary in toilets filled with trap water 14, has a predetermined, low electroconductivity such as that normally present in tap water of municipal water supplies. Immersed in the trap water is one end of an electrode sensing device or unit 16 having spaced

electrodes

18 and 20. The

electrodes

18 and 20 preferably are composed of corrosion-resistant material such as, for example, stainless steel, and the electrode 18 is generally T-shaped and is centrally located within and spaced from the electrode 20. The electrode 20 is cylindrical, and has a threaded end portion 22 on which may be threaded a nut 24 to secure the unit 16 in a bore 26 (FIG. 5) in the toilet bowl 10 with a gasket 27 serving to seal the bore 26 against leakage of water. The bore preferably is provided with a counterbore portion for receiving an enlarged, cup-like, head portion 28 of the electrode 20.

A sealing gasket 30 of electrical insulation and a combined sealing gasket and a baffle member 32 of electrical insulation are positioned in the recess in the cup-like head portion 28 of the electrode 20. The member 32 has a raised, continuous annular ring or baffle 34 for lengthening the electrical path between the end of the electrode 26 and the end of the electrode 18 and a sealing and electrically insulating plug 36 is positioned between the .rod-like shank portion of the electrode 18 and the outer cylindrical electrode 20. Thus, the

electrodes

18 and 20 are electrically insulated from each other except at the exposed end faces of the electrodes. At the outer end of the electrode 18 there is provided a connector portion 38 to which a conductor 40 is electrically and mechanically connected. Similarly, the electrode 20 is connected electrically to the nut 24 which has a connector portion 42 having a grounded conductor 44 connected thereto. In FIG. 5, the sensing unit 16 is shown in a different position in the bowl 10.

The conductors 4d and 44 are connected to a known sensing and control circuit 46 which applies a predetermined potential across the

electrodes

18 and 28 and senses an increase in current from one of the electrodes to the other when the electro-conductivity of the water 14- is increased by the addition of human waste such as urine to the water. The circuit 46 is supplied with power from a powerline 48 and, when the current between the

electrodes

18 and 20 is increased, amplifies the current to energize a relay to energize the winding of a solenoid 54 of a known solenoid operated valve 56. This opens the valve 56 and water is supplied from a supply pipe 58. The supply pipe supplies tap water to the flush tank 12 through a pipe 60 (FIG. 4) and an inlet 62 in a combined post and pipe 64. The solenoid winding 54 is maintained energized to hold the valve 56 opened until a ball float member 66 is raised to a predetermined height.

The ball float member 66 is attached rigidly to a pivoted arm 68 mounted pivotally on a pin 76 carried by the combined post and pipe 64, and when the ball 66 is raised to the predetermined height, it tensions a spring '72 connected to an L-shaped arm 74 fixed rigidly to a plate 76 mounted pivotally on a bracket 78 by a pin 86. As the ball 66 approaches this predetermined height, at which time there is sufiicient water in the tank 12 for flushing purposes, the spring 72 is tensioned and a latching pin 82 is raised by the arm 68 out of a notch 84 in a latch plate 76. The pin 82 is secured adjustably to the arm 68 by an adjustment screw 86 and a collar member 88. When the latch pin 82 is drawn out of the path of the latch plate 76, the spring 72, through a pull rod 90 fixed to a valve member 92, pulls the valve member 92 away from valve seat 94 of a pipe 96 leading from the bottom of the flush tank 12 to the toilet bowl 10. The water in the flush tank then flows rapidly through the pipe 96 into the toilet bowl and flushes the water out of the bowl 10. The arm 74 has a hole 89 therein through which the rod 90 slidably extends, and a nut 91 and washer 93 limit downward movement of the rod relative to the arm 74.

After all the water except a small portion in the bottom of the flush tank 12 has been emptied from the flush tank, the valve member 92, which is of the float type, moves down to reseat on the valve seat 94 and close off the pipe 96. At this time the water level in the tank 12 is somewhat above a bleeder hole 98 in an overflow pipe 100, and the portion of the water above the top of the valve seat.94 flows through the bleeder hole 98 slowly to refill the toilet bowl 10 to the desired level through a pipe 102 connecting the overflow pipe 100 to the pipe 96 at a level below the top of the valve seat 94. The flushing of the toilet bowl reduces the conductivity between the

electrodes

18 and 20 and the current flow therebetween drops greatly. This actuates the circuit 46 to cut off power from the solenoid winding 54, and the valve 56 recloses to close off the pipe 58 from the flush tank 12, and the toilet remains in a static condition until the next time the conductivity of the trap water 14 is increased and sensed by the sensing device 16.

In the automatic flushing device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a urinal 110 having a bowl portion 112 provided with trap water 114 has a strainer plate 116 therein mounting an electrode sensing device or unit 118 substantially identical with the unit 16. The unit 118 is fixed in a position projecting through one of holes 120 in the strainer plate 116 in a position in which its

electrodes

122 and 124 are immersed below the top of the trap water 114. The

electrodes

112 and 124 are connected .to a sensing and control circuit (not shown) similar to relay 46 and when the conductivity of the water 114 is increased by the addition of urine thereto, this increase in electroconductivity is sensed by the device 118 and the control circuit to actuate a solenoid (not shown) to open a known flushing valve (not shown). The flushing valve may be one of the commonly used flushing valves for urinals, or may be a valve similar to the valve 56. The flushing continues until the trap water 114 with the urine therein has been drained so that the conductivity at the sensing device 118 lowers, which turns the valve off and no further water is supplied to the bowl portion 112 of the urinal.

A flush tank valve 130 (FIG. 8) forming a portion of an automatic flushing device forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes an inverted, cupshaped adapter cylinder 132 secured to a drain pipe 134 leading to the toilet bowl from flush tank 136. Set screws 138 fix the adapter cylinder to the pipe 134 in a position in which a gasket 140 is pressed tightly against the upper end of the pipe 134 by a partition plate 142 fixed to the cylinder 132 in a position intermediate the ends of the cylinder. The plate 142 has a hole 144 therein aligned with the hole 146 in the gasket 140. The cylinder 132 has an inlet opening 148 in top cover 150 and a gasket 152 is suitably adhered to the lower face of the plate 150 surrounding the opening 148. A valve closure plate 154 is mounted pivotally by arm 160 on a bracket 156 fixed to the cylinder 132. The arm 160 is urged in a clockwise direction by a tension spring 158 connected at its upper end to the arm 160 and at its lower end to a bracket 162 fixed to the cylinder 132. The arm is rigidly connected to the plate 154. A Z-shaped latching lever 164 is gravity-urged to a position latching the valve closure plate 154 in a closed position, the lever 164 being pivotally mounted by a bracket 166 fixed to the top cover 150 of the cylinder 132 and having an arm 168 connected by a rod 170 to a ball float member 172. The lever extends through a slot 165 in the upper end of the cylinder 132 to permit pivotal movement of the lever 164.

In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 8, water is supplied to the flush tank 136 when the conductivity of the toilet bowl water is increased so that the bowl needs flushing. As in the embodiments described previously, the sensing device corresponding to the sensing device 16 opens a valve in the water supply line to the flush tank 136 and the water enters and raises the float member 172. As the water in the flush tank reaches the level desired for flushing, the member 172 swings the lever 164 in a clockwise direction to release the closure plate 154 and the weight of the water above the closure plate 154 pivots the plate 154 against the action of the spring 158, and water flows through the opening 148 and around the closure plate 154 and through the drain pipe 134 into the toilet bowl to flush the toilet bowl. As the water level lowers in the flush tank 136 to a level just above the top 150 of the cylinder 132 the spring 158 swings the plate 154 back to its closed position, the lever 164 being provided with a cam surface 174 past which the plate 154 moves. The remaining water in the flush tank bleeds through a bleeding hole 176 to refill the trap water in the toilet bowl.

A flush tank closure device shown in FIG. 9 forms a part of an automatic flushing device similar to those described above except as described below. The closure device shown in FIG. 9 incudes an adapter plate 180 fixed by a setscrew 182 to a drain pipe 184 leading from a flush tank 186 to a toilet bowl (not shown), a camming surface 188 of a bracket 187 fixed to the plate 180 serving to cam the plate 180 into sealing engagement with a gasket 189 positioned between the plate 180 and the top of the pipe 184, the plate 180 having adhered thereto a valve seat gasket portion 190 adapted to be closed by a valve closure plate 192 mounted pivotally on the plate 180 by a bracket 194 fixed to the plate 180. The closure plate 192 carries a spring-pressed latch 195 urged to the left by a spring-pressed latch 195 urged to the left by a spring 196 seated at one end against a fixed upright portion 198 of a bracket 200 and at the other end against an enlarged head portion of the latch 195. The bracket 200 is mounted rigidly on the plate 192. One end of the latch 195 is fixed rigidly on a rod 202, which is connected pivotally to a lever 204 mounted pivotally by a pin 206 to the bracket 200. A ball float member 210 is connected by a tension spring 212 to the other end of the lever 204. A bracket 214 fixed to the plate 180 carries a one-way latching lever 216 pivotally thereon by means of a pin 218. The lever 216 normally is biased by gravity against fixed stop 220.

In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 9, when the toilet needs flushing a sensing device similar to that described above of the automatic flushing device of FIG. 1 causes water to be supplied to the tank 186 and to raise the ball float member 210 to tension the spring 212. When the water level reaches the desired level necessary for flushing the toilet, the tension on the spring 212 is just enough to pivot the lever 204 counterclockwise to move the latch 195 out from under the latching plate 216, and the tension on the spring 212 then raises the valve closure plate 192 to its open position, and the water in the flush tank flows out through the drain pipe 184 into the toilet bowl and flushes the toilet bowl, and after the water has flowed out of the tank the closure plate 192 drops back to its closed position, with the latch 195 swinging the latching lever 216 out of its path, after which the, latching lever 216 swings back to its latching position.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. In a toilet flushing device including a bowl member for receiving urine and having a supply of water therein of a predetermined electroconductivity,

a pair of spaced electrodes mounted in the water of the bowl member with the electrodes spaced apart, means placing a predetermined potential on the electrodes,

current sensing means responsive to current flow through the electrodes when the water receives urine of substantially higher electrooonductivity than the water,

a flush tank having a flush discharge opening,

a valve member normally closing the flush discharge opening of the flush tank,

float means responsive to water in the flush tank,

means for supplying water to the flush tank in response to actuation of the current sensing means,

latch means for preventing raising the valve member,

means operable by the float means for releasing the latch means,

and a spring connecting the float means to the valve member for raising the valve member.

2. In a toilet structure,

a flush tank including an outlet opening at the bottom thereof,

a valve sleeve extending to the outlet opening,

a ball float adapted to seat on the end of the sleeve and close it,

a lever having a hole therein,

a rod extending slidably through the hole and connected to the ball float,

means on the end of the rod limiting sliding movement of the rod relative to the lever,

a latching pin normally in a position preventing pivotal movement of the lever,

a second float,

a second lever mounting the second float pivotally,

means adjustably connecting the second lever to the latching pin for moving the latching pin to a releasing position when water in the tank reaches a predetermined level,

and resilient means connecting the first lever to the second lever to raise the first lever when the second lever moves the latching pin to a releasing position,

a valve for supplying water to the flush tank,

electromagnetic means for actuating the valve,

electrode means submerged in water in the bowl member,

and means responsive to current flow between the electrode means for actuating the electromagnetic means.

3. In a flush valve for a flush tank,

a fixed drain member mounted in the flush tank for draining the flush tank,

a closure plate member,

adapter plate means mounted on the drain member and having a valve opening and an upper valve seat portion at the end of the opening,

means mounting the closure plate member on the adapter plate means in a position adapted to rest on the valve seat portion and close the valve opena bracket mounted on the closure plate member,

a rod mounted slidably in the bracket,

a latch member mounted at one end of the rod, spring means urging the latch member toward a predetermined position extending beyond the plate, fixed latch means adapted to hold the latch member against upward movement to thereby hold the plate against movement away from the valve seat portion,

a lever mounted pivotally on the bracket and connected at one end to the rod,

and a ball float member connected to the other end of the lever for pivoting the lever to pull the latch member away from the latch means when the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

4. In a valve device for a flush tank,

a vertical drain pipe extending into the tank,

a cylindrical member adapted to fit over the upper end of the drain pipe and having an opening at the upper end thereof,

the cylindrical member having a slot therein,

means for holding the cylindrical member on the drain a partition member in .the cylinder having a hole aligned with the drain pipe,

gasket means between the partition member and the drain pipe,

a valve plate member adapted to close the opening in the cylindrical member,

means mounting the plate member for movement between a first position closing the opening in the upper end of the cylinder and a second position spaced position spaced downwardly from the closing position and opening the opening in the upper end of the cylinder,

resilient means normally urging the plate member toward its first position and operable by water pressure on the plate member to permit the plate member to be moved to its second position,

a latch member defining a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end of the cylindrical member and having a latching portion movable by the lever and extending through the slot in the cylindrical member for holding the plate member in its closed position,

and a ball float member connected to the lever for pivoting the latch means to a position releasing the plate member when the ball float member is raised to a predetermined level.

5. In a flush valve for a flush tank,

a fixed drain member having an upper valve seat portion,

an adapter plate having an opening therein,

means mounting the adapter plate in a position on the valve seat portion with the opening in communication with the interior of the drain member,

a closure plate,

means mounting the closure plate pivotally on the adapter plate,

a bracket mounted on the closure plate,

a rod mounted slidably in the bracket,

a latch member mounted on one end of the rod,

spring means urging the latch member toward a predetermined position extending beyond the closure plate,

latch means on the adapter plate and adapted to hold the latch member against upward movement to thereby hold the plate against movement away from the adapter plate,

a lever mounted pivotally on the bracket and connected at one end to the rod,

a tension spring connected at the other end of the lever,

and a ball float member connected to the upper end of the tension spring for pivoting the lever to pull the latch member away from the latch means when the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

6. In a valve device for a flush tank having a vertical drain pipe,

a cylindrical member having a slot in the upper end thereof and adapted to fit over the upper end of the drain pipe,

setscrew means adapted to hold the cylindrical member on the drain pipe,

a partition member in the cylinder intermediate the ends thereof and having a hole aligned with the drain pipe,

gasket means between the partition member and the drain pipe,

the cylindrical member also being provided with a centrally located opening in the upper end thereof,

a valve pressure plate adapted to close the centrally located opening,

means mounting the plate for movement between a closing position closing the centrally located opening in the upper end of the cylinder and an open position spaced downwardly from the closing position,

resilient means normally urging the plate member toward its closing position and operable by water on the plate and permitting the plate to be moved to the open position thereof by water pressure on the plate,

a latch member defining a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end of the cylindrical member and having a hook latching portion movable by the lever and extending through the slot in the upper end of the cylindrical portion for holding the plate member in its closed position,

and a ball float member connected to the lever for pivoting the latch member to a position releasing the .plate when the ball float member is raised to a predetermined level.

7. In a toilet flushing device,

a toilet bowl member,

a flush tank having an outlet for discharging flushing water into the bowl member,

valve means for closing the outlet,

means for sensing use of the bowl,

water supply means for supplying flushing water to the fiush tank,

first means responsive to the means for sensing use of the bowl for actuating the water supply means to supply water to the flush tank, and second means responsive to the first means for sequentially holding the valve means closed to accumulate water in the flush tank and opening the valve means to discharge the water from the flush tank into .the bowl member to flush the bowl member and thus stop the water supply means.

8. In a toilet flushing device,

a toilet bowl,

a flush tank having an inlet and an outlet leading to the bowl,

a first valve in the outlet and normally closed,

a source of water under pressure connected to the inlet,

a second valve in the inlet,

sensing means responsive to use of the toilet,

means responsive to actuation of the sensing means for opening the second valve to accumulate water in the flush tank,

and means operable after the fiush tank has accumulated a sufiicient quantity of water to flush the bowl to open the first valve and close the second valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,154 4/1919 Grifi'lths 4--53 1,327,262 1/1920 Wygodsky 4100 1,335,380 3/1920 Littlefield 4--l00 1,404,155 1/1922 Littlefield 4100 1,568,994 1/1926 Norbork 419 1,709,083 4/19'29 Littlefield 4100 1,952,583 3/1934 Coltman 4-53 2,967,481 1/1961 Semon et al. ZOO-61.05 X

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, LEWIS J. LENNY,

Examiners.

Claims

1. IN A TOILET FLUSHING DEVICE INCLUDING A BOWL MEMBER FOR RECEIVING URINE AND HAVING A SUPPLY OF WATER THEREIN OF A PREDETERMINED ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY, A PAIR OF SPACED ELECTRODES MOUNTED IN THE WATER OF THE BOWL MEMBER WITH THE ELECTRODES SPACED APART, MEANS PLACING A PREDETERMINED POTENTIAL ON THE ELECTRODES, CURRENT SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE ELECTRODES WHEN THE WATER RECEIVES URINE OF SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY THAN THE WATER, A FLUSH TANK HAVING A FLUSH DISCHARGE OPENING, A VALVE MEMBER NORMALLY CLOSING THE FLUSH DISCHARGE OPENING OF THE FLUSH TANK, FLOAT MEANS RESPONSIVE TO WATER IN THE FLUSH TANK, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO THE FLUSH TANK IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE CURRENT SENSING MEANS, LATCH MEANS FOR PREVENTING RAISING THE VALVE MEMBER, MEANS OPERABLE BY THE FLOAT MEANS FOR RELEASING THE LATCH MEANS, AND A SPRING CONNECTING THE FLOAT MEANS TO THE VALVE MEMBER FOR RAISING THE VALVE MEMBER.