US3380077A - Double flushing valve - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1968 o. H. ARMSTRONG DOUBLE FLUSHING VALVE Filed Oct. 5, 1965 em M mw m 3 2 w 0 0 3 .12 mm A United States Patent 3,380,077 DOUBLE FLUSHING VALVE Ogden H. Armstrong, 633 S. Indian Hill Blvd, Claremont, Calif. 91711 Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,030 15 Claims. (Cl. 4--67) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A water saving dual action flushing valve for toilet flushing tanks, which provides a two-stage discharge action whereby normal action on a flushing lever produces a partial discharge of water and a further or harder action produces a full water discharge.

The present invention relates generally to toilet flushing tank valves; more particularly, the invention relates to a novel water saving dual action flushing valve for toilet flushing tanks.

The greatest consumption of household water occurs in the flushing of toilet bowls. It is well known that the volume of water required for flushing toilet bowls differs on different occasions for using the toilet bowl, but the majority of toilet flush tanks have a single action discharge system, which necessitates emptying the tank completely before the discharge of water is terminated. As a result the tank must be completely filled after each use because the tank is emptied entirely even when a full tank is not needed to completely flush the toilet bowl.

A number of devices have appeared which attempt to provide selectively different volumes of water discharge from the tank to the bowl. All of these have a feature in common in that plural openings are required in the discharge pipe, or the discharge pipe includes cumbersome side entry branch tubes with a second stopper. These prior art plural outlet systems have another feature in common in that they include complex mechanical assemblies to actuate the several stopper balls or plungers in an appropriate sequence. Usually in the use of such prior art assemblies, it is a continuous motion from the first stage stopper release to the second stage stopper release so that it is more likely that a first stage action seldom occurs since the average user presses the discharge action lever over its full range each time thus defeating the purpose of a two-stage discharge system.

The present invention contemplates novel means by which a two-stage discharge action can be achieved in a toilet bowl fiush tank where a small volume discharge or full tank discharge may be had, selectively, at will. The normal action in using the flush tank lever produces a first release or partial discharge of water. A second tug at the lever, a harder pull or a pull holding the lever down for a longer period, is needed to produce the full tank discharge into the bowl.

The principal element of novelty in this invention is a captive hemispheric cup pivotally mounted on a stopper ball lift rod of new design through an axis across the diameter thereof at the mouth of the cup. A cord is connected from a central tongue or arm extending across the mouth of the cup on a transverse diameter to the pivot axis to the discharge lever arm. Alternatively the cup may be linked to the lever arm by attachment of the link to the cup rim. The cup is spring loaded" on the pivot axis so that a relatively substantial pull would be required to tilt the cup against the urge of the spring. Thus upon the first action of the stopper ball lift arm the cup being filled with water and being below the surface of the water in the full tank lifts without tilting, pulling the stopper ball out of the discharge valve seat and permitting the water from the tank to pass into the toilet bowl.

As the water lowers to a level below the cup, the buoyancy thereof is lost, and the weight of the water therein forces the stopper ball back down into the discharge valve seat when only about half the tank has been emptied. As a further alternative the cup may have a central aperture in the bottom thereof from which water may discharge slowing down the rate of lowering of the stopper ball into its valve seat.

A more rigorous or longer duration first pull or a second pull against the resilient urge of the spring, which normally maintains the cup level, is necessary to tilt it, so that, when the water has discharged from the tank, the now lighter cup will not weigh down the stopper ball, and the full tank may discharge before the stopper ball drops back down into the discharge outlet valve seat.

The new device of this invention may be readily installed in an existing'toilet flush tank without modifying the tank in any way. In all of the prior art devices the new systems required special fittings and new components to replace those in the conventional flush tank.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a fractional toilet flush tank discharging means connectable to existing tanks without modification of the flush tanks equipment.

An object of the invention is the provision of a twolevel water discharge valve for toilet flush tanks by which water is conserved by using only a partial tank on a first or light pull of the discharge release lever and a full tank may be discharged when desired either by exerting more force thereon, or holding the lever down for a longer period.

An object of the invention is to provide a two-stage, two-level water discharge valve arrangement for toilet bowl flush tanks wherein a spring biased captive cup on a stopper ball lift rod is pivoted against the resilient urging of the spring each time the stopper ball is lifted, and wherein to achieve the release of only a partial tank of water, the lifting means is operated only quickly or only once.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a water saving toilet bowl flush tank discharge valve assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a toilet flush tank and bowl assembly showing how this invention is installed therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail partially in cross-section of the principal parts of the invention attached to a conventional toilet bowl fill tube and associated conventional parts;

2 FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional detail of a cup assembly in accordance with the invention taken through line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the cup shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional detail of a modification of the cup, a part of this invention showing another mode of attachment thereof to the pull cord of the release lever arm.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, the major components of the invention can be seen assembled in a typical conventional flush tank 10. Within tank '10 are a conventional float 11 attached by an arm 12 to a conventional water supply valve 13 which controls the inflow water into tank 10 from a water supply source pipe 25 connected through a conventional stop valve assembly 27 to an external source of water supply. The rising and falling of float 11 shuts off and opens valve 13* to permit 3 the water flow into tank 10, and also through fill tube 26 in overflow pipe 14 down to toilet bowl 28 via the coupling 31 of pipe 14 to and through discharge pipe 29 and from tank through valve seat 22 when stopper ball 19 is not seated therein. Stopper ball 19 is of conventional type.

The new hemispheric cup device 21 of this invention may be seen in FIGURES 2 and 4 to be perforated on opposite sides at 34, 36 of the cup diameter near the top rim .or mouth 37 thereof. There is also a small hole 52 in the center bottom of the cup. Stopper lift pin or rod 2% passes through guide 18 and has a curved end 24 which is contoured to match the outline of cup 21 and a straight rod end 38 continuing from contoured portion 24 and passing through perforations 34, 36 so that cup 21 may pivot thereon. A spring 39 is wound about rod 38 outside cup 21 near perforation 34, hooking on the rim 37 of cup 21 at 40 and on contoured portion 24 of stopper lift pin 20 at 41 so as to apply a resilient urge upon cup 21 which maintains it normally in a level position in tank 10 as shown. The end 42 of rod 38 which extends out of perforation 36 of cup 21 is bent upward to assist in retaining cup 21 on rod 38.

In one form of cup 21 shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a tongue 33 projects into the cup 21 centrally on a line perpendicular to the rotational axis of cup 21 between perforations 34, 36 along rod 38.

Pull cord 23 connects cup 21 to control lever arm which is actuated by hand crank lever 16 outside of tank 10 and extending through the front wall 45 thereof. The bowl end of cord 23 is tied to an aperture 44 in tongue arm 33 so as to be on a portion slightly beyond the center represented by the axis of rotation of cup 21 on rod 38.

In another form of cup 21 shown in FIGURE 5 the cord 23a is connected to an aperture 49 on the circular rim 37 of cup 21, rotated 90 from apertures 3436 so as to permit pulling of cup 21 on axis 34-38-36 by the edge at 49 against the urge of spring 39a.

The operation of the dual level water flush valve above described is as follows. When lever 16 is depressed, lever arm 15 is lifted pulling on cord 23 tied thereto and lifting cup 21 to pull on rod 38 thereby pulling pin continuously with rod 38 through curved portion 24 so as to lift ball stopper 19 from valve seat 22, whereupon water begins to flow out of tank 10 through discharge pipe 29 into bowl 28 as indicated by arrow in FIG- URE 2.

If lever 16 is lifted momentarily and then released, cup 21 will tilt and return to its level position as it lifts up on string or cord 23 because spring 39 urges cup rim downward returning it to its normal or horizontal position so that, as the water level drops to the line 50, shown in FIGURE 2, cup 21, remaining horizontal, retains water as the tank water level recedes to the level at 50. The weight of the water remaining in bowl 21 forces ball stopped 19 back into valve seat 22 shutting off the flow of water from tank 10 to bowl 28 through pipe 29. If a hole such as 52 is included in cup 21 at the bottomcenter thereof, even though cup 21 is not tilted, water may start to flow out of cup 21 through this hole or aperture 52 when the water has receded below the level of the bottom of cup 21 to slow the rate of descent so that, for example, two-thirds of the tank is flushed or some other proportion depending on the size of hole 52. As the water level drops to the level 50, float 11 lowers also, starting a flow of water from valve 13 out of pipe 51 to fill tank 10 and through fill tube 26, overflow pipe 14, connecting pipe elbow 31, and pipe 29 into bowl 28 for refill. When stopper 19 is seated in valve seat 22 tank 10 fills, lifting float 11 until valve 13 shuts off the inflow of water.

If the force exerted on lever 16 is greater than as set forth above or is held for a longer time, or, if a second pressure is applied to lever 16, as the water level approaches the level cup 21 will be lifted so that as it pivots on axis 34-38-36 any water retained therein will be dumped into tank 10 so that when the water level does reach the level at 50 there is very little weight and stopper ball 19 remains above and out of seat 22 until the tank has emptied completely. Then ball 19 falls into seat 22 and the fill cycle continues until the tank is full again.

Thus a short duration pressure on lever 16 results in but half a tank or some predetermined other proportion being discharged from tank 10 to bowl 28 and a stronger pull or one of longer duration thereon sufficient to tilt cup 21 and empty it of residual water will result in the complete discharge of tank 10. The operation as described above thereby permits two quantities or levels of water to be discharged at will by the degree or duration of pressure on the release lever 16.

Those versed in the art will appreciate that the present invention achieves the objects and realizes the advantages hereinbefore mentioned.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the same are merely exemplary of presently preferred embodiments capable of attaining the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention is not limited thereto; variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention is entitled to the broadest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. In a flush valve for toilet flush tanks the combination with a ball stop discharge valve of a rod of predetermined contour inserted by one end in the ball stop, we tending vertically therefrom and having at the other end a contour and bend terminating in a horizontal rod perpendicular to and centered above the vertical extension of said rod, a hemispherical cup element pivotally hung on said horizontal termination of said rod with the curved side of said hemisphere pointing downward so that said cup is upstanding; a lever arm linked by a cord to said bowl element, said lever arm having an actuating lever outside said tank coupled through the wall thereof to said lever arm; and a spring interwound between said horizontal rod, said contour of said rod and the rim of said cup so as to resiliently urge said cup into a normally horizontal position, whereby when a short duration pressure is applied to said lever arm to actuate said lever, lifting said ball stop, said cup is tilted against the resilient urge of said spring and said ball stop and said cup are lifted together, said cup turning to the horizontal to retain water, so that as said tank discharges due to the lifting of said ball stop the weight of said retained water returns said ball stop to its valve seat when only a portion of the water has discharged from said tank, and when said actuating lever is depressed for a longer duration, the pull upon said lever arm via said cord causes said cup to remain tilted, discharging said retained water so that said cup, thus lightened does not force said stop ball down on its seat and as a result the entire tank empties before said stop ball is reseated.

2. The flush valve defined in claim 1 wherein said cup element has an aperture of predetermined diameter in the bottom center of said hemispheric portion thereof to partially discharge therethrough the water in said cup, following said short duration pressure on said lever arm, whereby the rate of return of said ball stop to its seat is slowed and the proportion of the water discharged from said tank is thereby greater, but less than a full tank.

3. The flush valve defined in claim 1 wherein said cup element is coupled to said lever arm by an edge thereof at a point rotated from the extension of said horizontal rod.

4. The flush valve defined in claim 1 wherein said cup element includes a tongue element by which said coupling of said lever arm to said cup element is effected.

5. In a toilet flush tank valve a cup means pivotally and horizontally mounted on a rod and including a resilient means to urge and maintain said cup means in a normally horizontal position in said tank, said rod being inserted in a stop ball, said cup and said ball being integrally linked by said rod so as to be movable therewith; and linkage means coupling said cup means with an actuating lever arm extending externally of said flush tank, whereby a short duration pressure on said lever arm and consequent pull on said linkage means lifts said cup and said stop integrally tilting said cup momentarily, the cup returning to horizontal and thus retaining water, and a pressure of longer duration on said lever arm tilts said cup on said pivotal mounting thereof and holds it tilted against said resilient urge, said cup being filled with water on said short duration pull as lifted integrally with said stop ball whereby the weight thereof tends to limit the outflow of water in said tank to the level of said cup in said tank and when said cup remains tilted on said longer duration pull the water in said cup is discharged, it thus has no extra weight, permitting said tank to discharge normally and fully.

6. In the toilet flush tank valve defined in claim 5 said cup means having an aperture of predetermined diameter in the bottom center thereof to partially discharge said water in said cup therethrough following said short duration pressure on said lever arm whereby the rate of return of said stop ball to its valve seat is slowed and the proportion of the water discharged from the toilet flush tank is greater but still less than a full tank.

7. In the toilet flush tank valve defined in claim 5, the linkage of said cup means to said lever arm being at the edge of said cup on a point thereat 90 rotated from said pivotal mounting axis of said cup means.

8. In the toilet flush tank valve defined in claim 5 the cup element including a tongue element therein by which said coupling of said lever arm thereto is eifected.

9. A dual action valve for toilet flush tanks comprising in combination a ball stop valve; a cup positioned above and coupled by a rod means to said ball stop valve, and pivotally mounted on said rod means in a normally horizontal position; a spring on said rod means and attached to the rim of said cup to retain said cup by the resilient urge thereof to a horizontal position in said tank; and a release lever linkage coupled to said cup and adapted to tilt said cup when pulled with a force to overcome the resilient urge of said spring, whereby when said release lever linkage is pressed for a short period said cup is tilted and said ball lifted, said resilient urge returns said cup to horizontal immediately and thus water from said flush tank is retained in said cup to limit the level of water in the tank at which said tank will terminate its discharge by returning said ball stop valve to its closed position, and when said release lever linkage is pressed for a longer period said resilient urge is overcome for a longer period and the tilting of said cup empties the water retained therein and thus permits said tank to terminate its discharge only when empty, by not returning said stop ball to its closed position until said tank is fully discharged.

10. The dual action valve for toilet flush tanks defined in claim 9 wherein said cup includes an aperture of pre determined diameter in the bottom center thereof to partially discharge said water in said oup when said lever means is actuated by said force insufficient to overcome said resilient urge whereby the rate of return of said ball stop to its closed position is slowed and the proportion of water discharged is greater but still less than a full tank.

11. The dual action valve for toilet flush tanks defined in claim 9 wherein said cup is coupled to said lever means at a point on the rim of said cup rotated from said tilt axis of said cup.

12. In a flush tank valve assembly lever means; tiltable cup means coupled with said lever means and including resilient means to normally urge said cup to a normally horizontal position; and a stop ball valve means in a valve seat, the stop ball thereof being coupled by inflexible rod means to said cup means, said cup means being tiltable on said rod means; whereby when said lever means is actuated by a force insufiicient to overcome said resilient urge said cup and valve are lifted integrally drawing said valve out of its seat While said cup is maintained horizontally, but when said lever means is actuated by a force sufficient to counteract said resilient urge, said cup is tilted while drawing said stop ball valve out of its seat, the first named condition creating a Weight upon said stop ball means by retaining water in said cup to return said stop ball to its valve seat during an early portion of the discharge of said tank, the last named condition creating a weightless condition by holding said cup tilted so as not to retain water therein and thereby to permit full discharge of water until the stop ball returns to its seat of its own weight.

13. The flush tank valve assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said cup means is coupled with said lever means by an edge thereof at a point 90 rotated from said rod means.

14. The flush tank valve assembly defined in claim 1?; wherein said cup includes a tongue element extending thereinto on an axis perpendicularly to said rod means and slightly beyond the crossing of said rod means by said tongue element, said coupling between said lever means and said cup means being by said tongue element.

15. In the flush tank assembly defined in claim 12 the cup means therein including an aperture of predetermined diameter therein to permit a slow outflow of water from said cup when in said first named condition thereby to slow the rate of seating of said stop ball means in its valve seat, to provide for a predetermined proportion of a full tank of water to discharge in said first named condition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,698 8/ 1922 Sale 46214 2,168,742 8/1939 ONeill et al 467 2,214,439 9/ 1940 Robertson 4-67 2,526,294 10/1950 Stegeman 437 2,754,521 7/1956 Marcum 467 2,773,268 12/1956 Hurko et al. 463 2,852,888 9/1958 Howard 46-2l4 3,003,156 10/1961 Alexander 463 3,142,846 8/1964 Lackenmaier et al. 457 3,153,247 10/ 1964 Walsh 467 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. D. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner.

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