US3302217A

US3302217A - Apparatus for actuating a flush valve

Info

Publication number: US3302217A
Application number: US434584A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald C Schrock
Original assignee: Crane Co
Current assignee: Crane Co
Priority date: 1965-02-23
Filing date: 1965-02-23
Publication date: 1967-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-07

Description

1967. D. c. SCHROCK APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O I lllllahl-lnlih INVENTOR. Donald G Schrock BY WWRMvw-M/wlr HIS ATTORNEYS 3%? m, c. scHRocK APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FLUSH VALVE 4 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. Dona/'0 6T Schrock Feb. 7, 3%? 5;). c. SCHROCZK 3302,21?"

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 133, i965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @l 1 2;! l8 1 ii H}, I ii i 39 Z El 5 1 8 M 4| I a W '25 1 40 I*' 2 X 4 V II 5: l5 :2 l4) lwv- .i|;

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, j IO INVENTOR. Donald C. Sch/0M HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 D. c. SCHROCK 3,302,217

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATIING A FLUSH VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1965 INVENTOR. Donald C Schroc/r H/S ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 302 217 APPARATUS FOR AcrUATruo A FLUSH VALVE Donald C. Schrock, .lohnstown, Pa, assignor to Crane Company, Johnstown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,584 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This application relates to apparatus for actuating a flush valve and more particularly to apparatus for actuating a flush valve on a water closet having a bowl and a tank for holding water which is discharged from the tank into the bowl to flush the bowl, the valve controlling the flow of water from the tank into the bowl.

The valve is opened manually, resulting in gravity discharge of water from the tank into the bowl. When the tank has been emptied the valve closes, and the tank is automatically refilled with water. The apparatus which I have invented holds the valve open while the tank is being discharged and permits the valve to close when the desired low liquid level in the tank has been reached.

My apparatus comprises a closed cylinder which is divided into two bodies by a partition which extends diametrically across the interior of the cylinder. The cylinder is mounted for rotation about its central axis on a horizontally extending shaft which may be mounted on a conventional overflow pipe with which water closet tanks are conventionally provided. When in position the cylinder is below the top level of liquid in the tank and above the flush valve.

A chain connects a conventional flush lever to a point on the periphery of the cylinder and extends from that point to the flush valve which controls the flow of water from the tank into the water closet bowl. The length of the chain between the cylinder and the valve is such that when the valve is held closed by pressure of water in the tank, the partition within the cylinder is approximately horizontal, so that there is a hollow body above the axis of rotation of the cylinder and a second body beneath the axis of rotation which comprises material having a density less than the density of water or which may be hollow.

The lower body, if hollow, is empty and is both air and water-tight. The upper hollow body has openings in its periphery so that when the water in the tank is at its top operating level, the upper hollow body is filled with water.

When the flush lever is manually actuated, the chain connecting it with the cylinder is pulled, causing the cylinder to rotate about its horizontal axis approximately 90 in a direction to open the valve. In this position of the cylinder the partition is approximately vertical and the two bodies are on opposite sides of the axis of rotation. So long as the water in the tank is above the bottom of the cylinder, the body having a density less than that of water will tend to rise in the water and thereby keep the valve open. When the water level in the tank drops beneath the bottom of the cylinder, the weight of the water in the water-filled hollow body will tend to rotate the cylinder in the same direction, thus keeping the valve open.

There are three openings in the hollow body containing water and they are positioned in the periphery of the body so that when the cylinder has been rotated to open the valve and the partition within the cylinder is approximately vertical, there is one opening at the top of the hollow body, one opening at its bottom and one opening in its side. Therefore, as the level of the liquid in the tank falls past the cylinder, water flows out of the side and bottom openings. However, these openings are so sized that all of the water does not drain out of the hollow body until the water in the tank has reached the desired low level. At that point, weight ice of the valve will rotate the cylinder in the opposite direction approximately and the valve will close and be held closed by water flowing into the tank when the float valve opens.

As the water rises in the tank past the cylinder, it will fill the hollow body through the two openings which formerly were at the top and bottom of the body and now are at the sides of the body. The third opening is now at the top and acts as a vent for air to leave the body as the body fills-with water.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain presently preferred embodiments of my invention in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are front views partially in vertical section showing my flush valve operating apparatus in valve open and valve closed positions respectively;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the cylinder which operates the flush valve and on a larger scale than that used in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line IVIV of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the operating cylinder shown in FIGURES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of alternate apparatus for supporting a valve actuating cylinder such as is shown in FIGURES 3 to 5 inclusive;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 6 mounted on an overflow pipe such as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view of a water closet tank showing my flush valve actuating apparatus installed within a water closet tank;

FIGURE 10 is a partial elevation of a modified form of flush valve operating apparatus; and

FIGURE 11 is a section along the lines XIXI of FIGURE 10.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, the flush valve which is actuated by the apparatus which I have invented comprises a shank 9 extending through the bottom 10 of a water tank (shown in section) which is sealed by a gasket 11 within an opening 12 in the tank bottom 10 and held in the opening by a lock nut 13. Integral with the shank 9 is a valve body 14 which carries a valve seat 15 closed by a flapper valve 16. The valve body 14 also has an upwardly extending sleeve 17 into which an overflow pipe 18 is fitted and sealed. All of the foregoing is conventional and in accordance with the usual practice; the overflow tube 18 extends above the top liquid level in the tank, the top liquid level being indicated by the dash line 19.

When the tank is emptied to flush a water closet bowl, the flapper valve 16 is raised from the valve seat 15 and it is held off the seat 15 until the liquid level on the tank reaches its desired lower level in the tank, whereupon the flapper valve drops on to the valve seat 15 and closes the flush valve. As the water level in the tank drops, a conventional float valve (not shown) opens and water starts flowing into the tank. My flush valve actuating apparatus opens the flapper valve upon manual actuation of a conventional flush lever and holds the valve in open position until the water level in the tank reaches the desired lower level in the tank, whereupon my apparatus permits the flapper valve to lower and close the flush valve.

The apparatus of my invention includes a closed cylinder 20 which has an interior partition 21 which extends diametrically across the cylinder and divides the cylinder into two

hollow bodies

22 and 23. The cylinder is mount.- ed for rotation about a shaft 24 which extends horizon tally from the overflow pipe 18 and holds the cylinder beneath the top operating water level and above the flush valve. The partition 21 has a central semi-circular portion 21a which extends around the shaft 24.

A chain 25 connects the flapper valve 16 to the periphery of the cylinder 20 at a point 26 which is approximately in the same horizontal plane as the shaft 24 when the cylinder 20 is in valve closed position. As shown in FIGURE 1, when the cylinder 20 is in valve closed position the partition 21 is generally horizontal and the hollow body 22 is substantially above the axis of rotation of the cylinder and the air-tight hollow body 23 is substantially below said axis.

From the point 26 on the periphery of the cylinder 211 the chain continues as an extension 25a to a conventional manually actuated flush lever (not shown).

The hollow body 23 is empty and is both air and watertight. The hollow body 22 has three

openings

27, 28 and 29, the

openings

27 and 29 being on opposite sides of the hollow body 22, and above the center of the axle 24 when cylinder 20 is in valve closed position. The opening 28 is positioned in the periphery of the hollow body 22 between the

openings

27 and 29 and is vertically above the axle 24 when the cylinder 20 is in valve closed position. When the water level in the tank rises above the cylinder 20 upon refilling of the tank after a flushing, the hollow body 22 fills with water through the

openings

27 and 29, the opening 28 acting as an air vent.

The cylinder 20 is held in the valve closed position shown in FIGURE 1 by the chain 25 and extension 25a. When the flush lever is actuated to open the valve 15, it pulls the chain extension 25a in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2 and rotates the cylinder 20 counterclockwise (viewing FIGURES 1 and 2) approximately 90 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. Since the cylinder is connected by the chain 25 to the flapper valve 16, this raises the flapper valve and opens the flush valve so that water flows from the toilet tank into the water closet bowl.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when the cylinder 20 is in the valve open position, the partition 21 is substantially vertical and the empty hollow body 23 is substantially to the right (viewing FIGURE 2) of the axle 24, and the body 22 which is filled with water is to the left of the axle 24. So long as the water level in the tank is above the bottom of the cylinder 20, the hollow body 23 will tend to rise in the tank, and the weight of the water in the hollow body 22 will tend to move it downwardly, thus creating a force tending to rotate the cylinder 20 counterclockwise and hold the flapper valve 16 in open position.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that, when the cylinder 20 is in..valve open position, the opening 29 is at the bottom of the hollow body 22 and the opening 27 is at the top. Therefore, as the water level in the tank drops, water .in the body 22 will flow out of the opening 29. However, the sizes of the opening 28 and the opeping 29 are such that water remains in the hollow body 22 after the liquid level in the tank has dropped below the bottom of the cylinder and the weight of the water in the hollow body holds the flapper valve 16 open until the low water level in the tank has been reached. The weight of the flapper valve 16 will then cause it to drop to close the flush valve and rotate the cylinder 20 into the valve closed position shown in FIGURE 1. The tank is then filled with water and the valve is held in closed position by Water pressure.

FIGURES 3 to 5 inclusive show the construction of the cylinder 20. It is formed of two dish-shaped

half sections

20a and 20b sealed together at a tongue and groove joint 30 which extends around their opposed edges. The bottoms 31 of the dish-shaped sections have bearings 32 to mount the cylinder for rotation about the shaft 24.

A sleeve 33 bonded to the overflow pipe 18 has a horizontally extending opening 34 into which the shaft 24 extends. A cap screw 35 threaded axially into the shaft 24 holds it within the sleeve 33, and a snap ring 36 on 4 the outer end of the shaft 24 holds the cylinder 20 on the shaft.

A boss 37 formed in the interior of the cylinder at the point 26 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 provides material into which a cap screw 37a can be threaded to secure the chain 25 to the cylinder at the point 26 referred to with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.

The faces of the cylinder 20 have eccentric rims 200 (see FIGURES l, 2 and 5) which serve to hold the chain 25 on the cylinder as the cylinder is rotated.

FIGURES 6 to 8 inclusive show a modified arrangement for mounting the cylinder 20 on an overflow pipe such as the pipe 18 of the previous figures. A sleeve 38 having an interior diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the overflow pipe 18, so that the sleeve can slide over the pipe, has at its upper end an integral lateral extension 39 similar to the sleeve 33 shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The cylinder 20 is mounted on the extension 39 in the same manner as it is mounted on the sleeve 33. The bottom end of the sleeve 38 has a collar 49 which extends downwardly from the sleeve 38 but only partially around the sleeve as shown in FIG- URES 6 to 8 inclusive. The purpose of the collar 40 is to position the sleeve 38 with respect to the overflow pipe 18 so that the cylinder 20 mounted on the extension 39 at the top of the sleeve 38 will be in proper position relative to the flapper valve 16. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8, the valve body 14 carries outwardly and upwardly extending hooks 41 on which arms 42 of the flapper valve are pivotally mounted. The collar 40 fits outside the sleeve 17, in which the overflow pipe 18 is mounted and behind the hooks 41 and thereby angularly positions the sleeve 38 with respect to the overflow pipe 18 and thereby positions the cylinder 20 with respect to the pper valve 16.

FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view of a water closet t-ank showing my flush valve actuating apparatus installed within a Water closet tank. The tank has a front wall 43 and a rear wall 44-, the overflow pipe 18 and a float valve 45. The tank also has a flush lever 46 which is rotatably mounted in the front wall 43 of the tank and is turned to pull on the chain extension 25a by manually pressing downwardly on a hand lever 47 on the outside of the front 43 of the tank.

FIGURES 10 and 11 show a modification of my valve actuating mechanism, which modification is directed primarily to the construction of the body which has a density less than the density of water and which holds the flapper valve 15 in valve open position during a flushing operation. In the modification the water buoyant half-section of the cylinder 20 comprises a body 48 of cellular material having a density less than that of water. It is cut or formed to a size to fit within one-half of the cylinder 20 and is held in place by tabs 49 which are formed integrally with the dish-shaped sections 20:: and 20b, from which the cylinder is formed. The operation of the modification of FIGURES 10 and 11 is the same as that described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.

Suitable materials for the buoyant body 48 are closed cell plastics such as expanded polystyrene or expanded urethane.

The use of closed cell plastic material to form the buoyant body 48, instead of a closed hollow body, eliminates manufacturing difliculties arising from the necessity of securing the two dish-shaped sections 20:: and 20b to each other by an air and water-tight joint. The buoyant material provides the same operation as before without the possibility of leakage and resulting failure to operate.

The valve actuating mechanism which I have invented is characterized by simplicity in manufacture, installation and use. It can be manufactured at relatively low cost; it is easily installed, is wholly automatic in its operation; and it will operate indefinitely without attention or repair.

While I have described certain presently preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for flushing the bowl of a water closet having a tank to contain liquid, an aperture in the tank for the flow of water from the tank to the bowl to flush the bowl and a valve for controlling the flow of water through the aperture, apparatus for actuating the valve comprising,

(A) first and second bodies connected to each other,

(1) said first body having a density less than that of water,

(2) said second body 'being hollow and having openings for the flow of water into and out of said body,

(B) means for rotatably mounting said bodies for rotation about a horizontal axis extending in a plane passing between the bodies, said means also positioning bodies within the tank below the top level of water in the tank prior to flushing and above said aperture,

(C) a manually operated flush lever mounted on the tank,

(D) means connecting said bodies and said flush lever to rotate said bodies about said horizontal axis upon movement of the flush lever,

(E) means connecting said bodies and said valve to control opening and closing of said valve by rotation of said bodies about said horizontal axis,

(F) the connecting means between said bodies and said valve positioning the bodies when the valve is closed and the water in the tank is at its top level so that said first body is predominantly positioned below said horizontal axis and said second body is predominantly above said axis,

(G) movement of said flush lever rotating said bodies about said horizontal axis to open said valve and to move said bodies to positions predominantly on opposite sides of said axis at which positions said first body tends to rise in water in the tank, thereby imposing on said bodies a tendency to rotate about the common axis and hold the valve in open position, and

(H) the openings in said second body admitting water to said body when the valve is closed and the water level rises in the tank towards a level above said second body and providing for draining of water from said second body when the valve is opened and the water level lowers in the tank towards a level below said second body, the draining of liquid out of said second body controlling rotation of said bodies about their horizontal axis to hold the valve open until the desired low liquid level in the tank is reached, and permitting closing of the valve when said low level is reached.

2. Flushing apparatus as degcribed in claim 1 in which said first body is empty and liquid-tight.

3. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said first body comprises a cellular material having a density less than that of water.

4. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said first body comprises a plastic closed cell material having a density less than that of water.

5. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said two bodies consist in a single container divided by a partition into two compartments sealed from each other.

6. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said two bodies comprise a closed hollow cylinder having a partition extending diametrically across the interior of the cylinder and forming two compartments, and in which a shaft extends axially through said cylinder adjacent said partition, said cylinder having means for rotatably mounting it upon said shaft.

7. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said means for rotatably mounting said bodies comprises an overflow tube in the tank, a shaft extending horizontally from said tube and means for mounting said bodies for rotation about said shaft.

8. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said means for rotatably mounting said bodies comprises an overflow tube in the tank, a sleeve fitting over said tube, a shaft mounted on said tube adjacent its upper end and extending horizontally from said sleeve, and means for mounting said bodies for rotation about said shaft.

9. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said second body has three openings for the flow of liquid in and out of said body, two of said openings being positioned at opposite sides of said body and, when the body is above said axis, on opposite sides of said axis, the third opening being positioned in the body between said two openings.

10. Flushing apparatus as described in claim 9 in which one of said two oppositely positioned openings is at the bottom of said second body when the body has been rotated to open the valve and in which the size of said bottom opening is such that when the liquid level drops in the tank below said body, liquid will fiow out of the body through said opening at such a rate that said body will be emptied as the desired low liquid level in the tank is approached permitting rotation of both said bodies in a direction to close the aperture by said valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1956 Hurko et al. 457 8/1964 Lackenmaier et al 4-62

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING THE BOWL OF A WATER CLOSET HAVING A TANK TO CONTAIN LIQUID, AN APERTURE IN THE TANK FOR THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THE TANK TO THE BOWL TO FLUSH THE BOWL AND A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THE APERTURE, APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE VALVE COMPRISING, (A) FIRST AND SECOND BODIES CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER, (1) SAID FIRST BODY HAVING A DENSITY LESS THAN THAT OF WATER, (2) SAID SECOND BODY BEING HOLLOWED AND HAVING OPENINGS FOR THE FLOW OF WATER INTO AND OUT OF SAID BODY, (B) MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID BODIES FOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING IN A PLANE PASSING BETWEEN THE BODIES, SAID MEANS ALSO POSITIONING BODIES WITHIN THE TANK BELOW THE TOP LEVEL OF WATER IN THE TANK PRIOR TO FLUSHING AND ABOVE SAID APERTURE, (C) A MANUALLY OPERATED FLUSH LEVER MOUNTED ON THE TANK, (D) MEANS CONNECTING SAID BODIES AND SAID FLUSH LEVER TO ROTATE SAID BODIES ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS UPON MOVEMENT OF THE FLUSH LEVER, (E) MEANS CONNECTING SAID BODIES AND SAID VALVE TO CONTROL OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID VALVE BY ROTATION OF SAID BODIES ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS,