US3421161A - Two-way flush tank control - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1969 R. 1.. STAFFORD ETAL 3,421,161

TWO-WAY FLUSH TANK CONTROL Filed June 6, 1966 1: lNVENTORS P064322 S d/ore! By er! (1). (ow-mew:

Hood, Gabi Ihah Attomgys United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flush tank control including a flush valve carried on a stem guided for vertical reciprocation within the tank, an oscillable handle outside the tank and op'eratively connected to the stem to raise the valve off its seat to .a predetermined height when said handle is turned in one direction and to a greater height when said handle is turned in the opposite direction, float controlled catch means at one level in said tank and cooperative with said stem when the latter is lifted to said predetermined height, and other float controlled means at another level in said tank and cooperative with said stern when the latter is lifted to said greater height. In a preferred form,.the guide for said stem and both of said catch means are supported from a bracket which is mounted within said tank for vertical adjustment, preferably upon the conventional overflow pipe.

The present invention relates to a two-way flush tank control for toilets and is primarily concerned with means for conserving water in a flush tank type of toilet.

In such a toilet installation, there is conventionally provided a water reservoir whose capacity is such as to provide for a vigorous flushing of the toilet bowl upon each actuation of the flushing handle. However, upon occasions when the bowl contains only liquid, a much less vigorous flush, involving the use of only about one-half of the capacity of the reservoir, will effectively clear the bowl. Thus, there are many occasions, during the ordinary, daily use of such a toilet, when unnecessarily large volumes of water are delivered to, and wasted through, the toilet bowl.

The primary object of the present invention, then, is to provide a flushing control so constructed and arranged that, when the bowl contains only liquid, a relatively small amount of water will be delivered from the reservoir; but on other occasions, when a more vigorous flush is required, the full capacity of the reservoir will be so delivered.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in such a mechanism, an arrangement such that the smaller amount of liquid Will be delivered when the manually manipulable handle is moved in one direction from its neutral position, while the full capacity of the reservoir will be automatically delivered when the handle is moved in the opposite direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adapter assembly so constructed and arranged that it can be substituted, in a conventional flush tank, for the conventional flush valve control.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, our invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

FIG. 1 is a section through a conventional flush tank or reservoir in which our two way-control has been installed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, drawn to an enlarged scale, and illustrating our lifter lever, flush handle and associated parts as viewed from the rear of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing a modified form of actuator for said lever.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that we have illustrated a tank or reservoir 10 provided with a conventional discharge port 11 guarded by a seat 12, said reservoir being provided, as usual, with an upstanding overflow pipe 13 communicating with the port 11 below the seat 12.

Telescopically mounted upon the overflow pipe 13 is a sleeve 14 which may be secured in any desired position of vertical adjustment upon said overflow pipe 13 by means, for instance, of a set screw 15. Said sleeve fixedly carries an arm 16 which supports a vertically extending guide means 17 formed with a longitudinal bore 18 which is arranged in vertical alignment with the seat 12. Freely, slidably guided in the bore 18 is a stem 19 which, at its lower end, carries a non-buoyant valve head 20 constructed and arranged to seat sealingly upon the seat 12. Obviously, When the head 20 is so seated, water flow through the port 11 (except through the overflow pipe 13) is prevented.

A plate 21 is fixedly secured within the reservoir 10 at a suitable point near the top of the front wall of the reservoir. Journalled in said plate is a rocker 22 which penetrates the reservoir wall and exteriorly carries a manually manipulable handle 23. Inside the reservoir, an actuator cam 24 is fixed to the rocker 22, the opposite ends 25 and 26 of said cam extending oppositely from the vertical plane which contains the axis of the rocker 22.

A lever 27 is pivotally mounted on the plate 21 upon an axis 28 which is parallel with the axis 22, said lever overlying the cam ends 25 and 26 and extending past the above-mentioned vertical plane to intersect the axis of the guide bore 18. The distal end 29 of the lever is formed with one or more holes 30 with which may selectively be engaged one end of a chain or other flexible element, the other end of which is attached to the upper end of the stem 19.

The cam 24 is formed with a concentric slot 32 in which is engaged a stop pin 33 fixed with respect to the plate 21.

It will be apparent that, when the handle 23 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the cam end 25 will engage the lever 27 to lift the same to the position 27A indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, before the right hand end of the slot 32 comes into engagement with the pin 33. However, when the handle 23 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the cam end 26 will engage the lever 27 to lift the same only to the position indicated at 27B in broken lines in FIG. 2 before the left hand end of the slot 32 engages the stop pin 33.

A lateral bore 34 is formed in the guide element 17 and opens from the outside thereof to the 'bore 18, a catch pin 35 being reciprocably mounted in said bore 34. Near its upper end, the stem 19 is formed with a peripheral notch 36, the lower wall 37 of which is formed as an upwardly tapering cone. The parts are so proportioned and designed that, when the head 20 rests on the seat 12, the notch 36 is disposed somewhat below the bore 34 and pin 35.

A bracket 38 is secured to the guide member 17 below the bore 34 and provides a journal mounting for an axle 39 upon which is oscillably supported a laterally projecting float arm 40, a float 41 being carried at the distal end 42 of said arm 40. The proximal end 43 of said arm is turned upwardly and is operatively engaged with the catch pin 35 so that, when said arm 40 is in its illustrated lowermost position, the pin 35 will be withdrawn from the guide bore 18. However, whenever the float 41 is submerged in water in the reservoir 10, it will exert a force upon the arm 40 tending to turn the same in a counterclockwise direction to urge the pin 35 yielda'bly inwardly.

Near its lower end, the guide member 17 is formed with a second lateral bore 44 in which is reciprocably received a second catch pin 45. A second peripheral notch 46, the lower wall 47 of which is upwardly tapered, is formed in the stem 19 at a point which, when the head 20 is on the seat 12, is spaced below the bore 44 to an extent greater than the spacing of the notch 36 below the bore 34. A bracket 48 secured to the guide member 17 provides a journal mounting for an axle 49 upon which is oscillably mounted a second float arm 5% which, at its distal end 52, carries a second float 51. The proximal end 53 of the lever 50 is turned upwardly and operatively engaged with the catch pin 45 in a manner in all respects similar to the operative engagement of the lever end 43 with the catch pin 35. Thus, when the lever 50 is in its lowermost position as shown, the pin 45 will be withdrawn from the bore 18; but whenever the float 51 is submerged, it will exert a force yieldably tending to move the pin 45 into the guide bore 18.

Obviously, the reservoir will be provided with the usual inlet controlled by a float actuated valve (not shown) whereby, whenever the port 11 is closed, the reservoir will 'be automatically filled to a level immediately below the upper open end of the overflow pipe 13.

If, now, the handle 23 is moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 until the right hand end of the slot 32 is brought into engagement with the stop pin 33, the lever 27 will be lifted to its position indicated at 27A in FIG. 2 and the stem 19 will be lifted sufficiently to bring the notch 46 into registry with the pin 45. Of course, as the stem moves upwardly, the notch 36 will pass the pin which, under the influence of the submerged float 41, will be urged inwardly; but the conical wall 37 of the notch 36 will cam the pin 35 outwardly as the notch passes that pin.

When the notch 46 comes into registry with the pin 44, said pin will move into that notch under the influence of the submerged float 51; and when the handle 23 is released, the pin will retain the stem 19 in its elevated position. When the head 20 is thus lifted off the seat 12, Water will flow rapidly from the reservoir 10 toward the toilet bowl (not shown) whereby the level in the reservoir will fall. As the level of liquid in the reservoir drops below the float 41, the tendency of that float to move the pin 35 inwardly will be eliminated; but the stem 19 will be held in its elevated position until the liquid level drops below the elevated position of the float 51. When that time comes, the arm will move in a clockwise direction to withdraw the pin 45 from the notch 46, thus releasing the stem 19 and permitting the non-buoyant head 20 to drop into closing position on the seat 12. Thus, the entire capacity of the reservoir 10 will be delivered to the toilet bowl whenever such a vigorous flush is required.

If, however, the handle 23 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the left hand end of the slot 32 will engage the pin 33 when the lever has been lifted to its position indicated at 27B in that figure; thereby, the stem 19 will be lifted only high enough to permit the pin 35 to drop into the notch 36; and when the lever 23 is released, the head 20 will be retained in its elevated position only by the pin 35. As water flows from the reservoir through the port 11, the level in the reservoir will fall until it passes the elevated position of the float 41. As soon as the liquid level passes that position, the float 41 will drop, thus withdrawing the pin 35 from the notch 36 and permitting the head 20 to fall upon the seat 12 to cut off water flow. Of course, the position of the float 41 will be so adjusted as to accomplish the delivery of sufiicient water from the reservoir to effect the gentle flush which is needed when the bowl contains only liquid.

A modified form of actuator is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein a plate 21' similar to the plate 21 provides a journal mounting for a rocker 22' to which is fixed a handle 23'. and also provides the pivot 28 for the lever 27. In this form of assembly, the rocker 22' is formed with an open, diametrical slot 54 in which is received an actuator "bracket 55 provided at its opposite ends with upwardly- opening hooks 56 and 57 disposed beneath, and operatively engaged with, the lever 27. In this case, no movement-limiting means for the handle 23' is provided; but it will be obvious that movement of the handle in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 will lift the lever 27 to a higher elevation than will movement of said handle in the opposite direction to the same degree. In this form of the invention, the lifting ratio can be varied by shifting the bracket 55, relative to the rocker 22', toward or away from the pivotal axis 28 of the lever 27. Said bracket 55 may 'be secured in any such position of adjustment by means of a set screw 58, or the like.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination, a liquid reservoir having an upwardly-opening discharge port, a non-buoyant valve having a head sea-table on said port to close the same and having a stern, vertical guide means supported in said reservoir, said stem being reciprocably received in said guide means to support said head in operative registry with said port, manually-manipulable means movably disposed outside said reservoir, means providing an operative connection between said manually-manipulable means and said stem to lift said stem to one elevation upon movement of said manually-manipulable means in one direction and to lift said stem to a higher elevation upon movement of said manually-manipulable means in another direction, a first catch means engageable with said stem to support the same at said first-named elevation, a second catch means engageable with said stem to support the same at said higher elevation, and separate float means for said respective catch means, the float means for said first catch means acting to .disengage said stem when the liquid level in said reservoir drops below a predetermined value and the float means for said second catch means acting to disengage said stem when the liquid level in said reservoir drops below a lower value.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide means is tubular and coaxial with said port, said stem being freely slidable in said guide means, said guide means being formed with a first lateral bore opening from its interior to its exterior, said first catch means comprising a first pin reciprocably penetrating said first bore and said stern being formed with a first notch disposed, when said head is seated on said port, a predetermined distance below said first bore to receive the inner end of said first pin when said stem is lifted to said one elevation, the float means for said first catch means comprising an arm pivotally mounted on said guide means at a first level, having a first float at its distal end and operatively connected to said first pin to move the same outwardly when said float drops, said guide means being formed with a second lateral bore opening from its interior to its exterior at a point below the lowermost position of said first notch, said second catch means comprising a second pin reciprocably penetrating said second bore and said stern being formed with a second notch disposed when said head is seated on said port, a greater distance below said second bore to receive the inner end of said second pin when said stem is lifted to said higher elevation, the float means for said second catch means comprising a second arm pivotally mounted on said guide means, having a float at its distal end and operatively connected to said second pin to move the same outwardly when said second float drops, said second float being positioned below said first float.

3. The combination of claim 1 including stationary upright means in said reservoir, said catch means and said float means being carried by said guide means, sleeve means vertically adjustably supported from said upright means, and means for securing said sleeve means in selected positions relative to said upright means, said guide means being supported from said sleeve means.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said manuallymanipulatable means comprises a rocker penetrating a Wall of said reservoir for oscillation about a horizontal axis, and said means providing an operative connection comprises a lever pivoted within said reservoir upon an axis parallel with said rocker axis but more remote from said guide means, an actuator fixed to said rocker and extending toward and away from said lever axis in registry with said lever whereby turning movement of said rocker in one direction engages said actuator with said lever at a point between said rocker axis and said guide axis to lift the distal end of said lever and turning movement of said rocker in the opposite direction engages said actuator with said lever at a point between said rocker axis and said lever axis to lift the distal end of said lever, and flexible means connecting the distal end of said lever with said stem.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said actuator is a cam having an arcuate slot therein receiving a stop pin fixed relative to said reservoir wall, said slot extending oppositely but unequally from said stop pin when said rocker is in a neutral position and limiting movement of said rocker in said opposite direction to an angular extent less than permissible movement thereof in said one direction.

6. The combination of claim 4 in which said actuator is a bracket having hooks at its opposite ends engageable beneath said lever, and means for securing said bracket to said rocker in any one of a plurality of positions of adjustment toward and away from said lever axis.

7. The combination of claim 2 in which the lower boundary wall of each notch is inclined downwardly and outwardly to act as a cam against its associated catch pin during upward movement of said stem.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,345,920 7/1920 Glennon 4-55 2,724,838 11/1955 Wirth et al. 4-67 2,731,647 1/1956 Groth et al. 4-67 2,741,776 4/ 1956 Christie et al. 4-67 2,803,833 8/1957 Charest 4-67 2,817,849 12/1957 Hewitt 4-67 2,950,483 8/1960 Richards 4-67 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

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