US3553739A

US3553739A - Flushing mechanism for commodes

Info

Publication number: US3553739A
Application number: US729320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter K Owens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-05-15
Filing date: 1968-05-15
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12

Abstract

A LOW COST PRESSURE FLUSHING MECHANISM FOR COMMODES WHICH MAY BE USED AS AN INITIAL INSTALLATION OR REPLACEMENT UNIT IN EXISTING TANKS. THE MECHANISM MAY ALSO BE HOUSED WITHIN A WALL TO SUPPLY ONE OR MORE WALL MOUNTED COMMODE UNITS. THE MAXIMUM EFFECT OF CITY WATER MAIN PRESSURE IS UTILIZED THROUGH THE PROVISION IN THE MECHANISM OF A COLLAPSIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE BLADDER WHICH FACILITATES THE ENTRY OF WATER INTO THE TANK UP TO A DESIRED LEVEL.

Description

Jan. 12, 1971 w. K. OWENS 3,553,739

FLUSHING MECHANISM FOR COMMODES Filed May 15, 1968 United States Patent O Filed May 15, 1968, Ser. No. 729,320 Int. Cl. E03d 3/00 US. Cl. 4-26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A low cost pressure flushing mechanism for commodes which may be used as an initial installation or replacement unit in existing tanks. The mechanism may also be housed within a wall to supply one or more wall mounted commode units. The maximum effect of city water main pressure is utilized through the provision in the mechanism of a collapsible and expansible bladder which facilitates the entry of water into the tank up to a desired level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a definite need for an inexpensive long-lasting pressure flushing mechanism for commodes which will not involve the use of expensive valves and water supply pipes of increased diameter above the conventional pipe sizes commonly used in homes. The ordinary gravity flushing system most commonly used are not adequate and are very wasteful of water and permit the easy stopping of commode traps because of insufficient flushing water pressure. These conventional systems are relatively inexpensive but inadequate and it is Well known that they require frequent repair.

High pressure flushing systems commonly found in office buildings and the like are much more eflicient but require the installation of pipes up to one inch in diameter and do not economize on water consumption but, on the contrary, are quite wasteful. Additionally, these pressure systems involve the use of expensive types of valves which require rather frequent servicing.

The invention fills in the need in the art for a simplified economical mechanism suitable for home use or in commercial buildings to provide the benefits of pressure flushing with the added features of economy, savings of water, and durability. The principal parts are all formed of plastic and therefore are not subject to corrosion and the mechanism is subject to very little wear. The one element which is most subject to wear is formed so as to be readily replaceable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pressure flushing mechanism of the invention comprises a closed tank having a Water inlet and a flushing outlet. A fixed tube Within the tank is suspended from the top wall thereof and is in alignment with the flushing outlet. This tube is vented to atmosphere. It is surrounded by a closed collapsible and expansible fluid tight bladder and ports are provided placing the interior of the bladder in communication with the bore of the tube. A ball valve having a connection with the bottom of the tube is flexed for opening and seating with respect to a seat surrounding the flushing outlet and an actuator for this ball valve is slidably mounted within the fixed tube and has an operating extension outside of the tank for connection with a lever means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention with the tank shown in cross section.

' Ice FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through the flushing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a similar section showing the mechanism in a flushing condition, FIG. 2 showing the mechanism in a tank filling condition.

FIG. 4 is a transverse horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a similar section on an enlarged scale taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modification of air pressure relief means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates a preferably plastic material tank which may be rectangular or any other desired shape. The tank 10 is provided preferably in its bottom wall 11 with a Water inlet fitting 12 and spaced from this inlet fitting at substantially the center of the tank is a flushing outlet opening 13 formed to provide a beveled annular valve seat 14. A suitable outlet pipe 15 is secured as at 16 to the tank bottom wall to receive the flushing water and directing this water to the commode or the like.

The tank top wall 17 has a central enlarged boss 18 through which an opening 19 is formed in alignment with the outlet opening 13 therebelow. A closure plate 20 preferably formed of plastic is seated upon the top wall 17 surrounding the opening 12 and an O-ring fluid seal 21 is utilized to seal the connection. Suitable fasteners 22 are used to secure the closure plate 20 to the tank.

Formed integral with the closure plate 20 and depending therefrom in concentric relationship to the outlet opening 13 is a tube 23 whose lower end terminates somewhat above the flushing opening 13. The bore of the tube 23 opens to atmosphere at the center of the plate 20 and the tube has air vent ports 24 near and below the top wall of the tank for a purpose to be further described.

Surrounding the rigid tube 23 is a flexible rubber-like bladder or receptacle 25 which is readily collapsible and inflatable to the positions of FIGS. 3 and 2, as will be further described. The upper neck 26 of the bladder has snugfluid tight engagement with the tube 2.3 above the ports 24 and a lower inverted tubular neck 27 at the bottom of the bladder has similar fluid tight engagement with the tube near and above its lower end. Therefore, the interior chamber 28 of the bladder is closed except that this chamber communicates with the outside atmosphere through the ports 24 and the bore of tube 23.

A flexible rubber-like ball valve, elastic valve-element or flushing valve 29 is provided for seating against the seat 14 as shown in FIG. 2 and for opening the flushing outlet 13 when stretched and elevated from the seat as shown in FIG. 3. The ball valve 29 has a top opening which is stretched snugly around the lower end of the tube 23 and engages within an annular groove 30 formed in the tube. The ball valve has a large bottom opening 31 which renders it highly flexible and readily deformable.

A ring actuator 32 formed of plastic is contained within the flexible ball valve 29 and is carried on a V-shaped cross member 33 formed integral with a vertical elongated stem 34 which extends upwardly through the tube 23 to a point above the closure plate 20. The stem 34 is slender and much smaller than the bore of the tube 23 and is disposed concentrically therein. Throughout a major portion of the length of the tube 23, the stem 34 has right angular guide fins 35 formed thereon to center the stem 34 slidably within the bore of tube 23. The upper end of the stem 34 has an eye 36 thereon for connection with a suitable operating lever 37 pivoted to the top wall of the tank at 3-8 and having a handle extension 39.

OPERATION The flushing mechanism operates in the following manner. When the flushing cycle is completed and the ball valve 29 has reseated itself automatically in FIG. 2, the water entering the bottom of the tank 10 through the fitting 12 will begin to rise in the tank as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. This water is under full city water main pressure, commonly about 60 psi. Since the tank 10 is now completely closed in a fluid tight manner, the rising water will begin to gradually compress air in the top of the tank up to a maximum pressure equaling the incoming water pressure. To allow for this, the inflated bladder 25 in FIG. 2 begins slowly collapsing under the external pressure surrounding it and the interior of the bladder is vented through the ports 24 to atmosphere as described so that the air within it will be exhausted to atmosphere through these ports as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the bladder 25 slightly collapsed from its fully expanded condition at 25' before any water begins to rise in the tank.

As the water rises to its maximum level L as shown in the drawings, the bladder 25 will gradually collapse around the tube 23 to an ultimate position like that shown in FIG. 3, where the ball valve 29 has just been unseated to start the flushing cycle. For a tank having a capacity of 2 /2 gallons, the bladder 25 will have a capacity of approximately 2 quarts.

When the ball valve 29 is unseated, FIG. 3, the water contained within the tank 10 under full city water main pressure will discharge quickly through the flushing opening 13 and in so doing air will be drawn through the bore of the open tube 23 in a Venturi operation to assist the flushing cycle and to aerate the water. Air at this time will also enter the bladder 25 to re-expand the same as the Water level in the tank gradually diminishes. When the tank is substantially empty, the ball valve will reseat itself and the filling cycle will again commence.

The ball valve element 29 is readily removable from the tube 23 when replacement is desired and this is substan tially the only part of the mechanism subject to any appreciable wear. All of the parts are formed of plastic or rubber-like materials to resist corrosion, as stated.

The mechanism including the tank 10 may in some cases be installed inside of an existing conventional toilet flush tank to convert the same to pressure flushing equipment. Also, the invention may be installed as original equipment on a commode and one of its advantages is that it requires considerably less space than conventional flush tanks and is substantially sealed. The size of the tank renders it practical to enclose the same within a wall for servicing wall mounted commodes or fixtures on one or both sides of the wall. While disclosed as a tank in the drawings, the tank 10 could be constituted by a large section of piping in some instances. The various features and advantages of the invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art without the necessity for further description herein.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the means to relieve the pressure of compressed air in the top of the tank 10' as the water level rises therein. This pressure relief means serves the same purpose as the bladder 25 in permitting the water to rise to a required level in the tank, notwithstanding the fact that air is being trapped and compressed in the tank.

Referring to FIG. 6, a fixed tube 23", substantially identical with the tube 23, depends from the plate or cap and receives the stem- 34 for the same purpose described in the prior embodiment. In lieu of the collapsible bladder 25, and the ports 24, the fixed tube 23" has a single opening 24' near the top wall 17 of the tank and an L- shaped tubular fitting 41 is securely anchored within the opening 24' and provides a downwardly facing valve seat 45 for a floatable ball valve element 42 held captive on the fitting 41 by a flexible element 43 and anchor element 44, the entire modified air pressure relief unit being designated by the numeral 40 in FIG. 6.

When the water level in the tank 10 is down, as in FIG. 2, the ball valve 42 will hang free of the seat 45 and as the water level rises in the tank, trapped air may escape through the fitting 41 and the tube 23 to atmosphere. However, when the water level rises sufliciently to float the ball valve 42, the same will engage the seat 45 and close the air escape passage through the fitting 41 and the air will then be compressed near the top of the tank until this compression counterbalances the incoming water pressure and preconditions the tank for a pressure flush when the stem 34 is lifted by lever 37. Thus, the unit 40 in FIG. 6 serves exactly the same purpose in the invention as the collapsible bladder arrangement previously described and has the advantgae of being somewhat less expensive.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A commode flushing apparatus comprising a tank having a water inlet opening and a bottom flushing outlet forrning a flush valve seat, said tank having a top wall opening above and in alignment with said flushing outlet, an open-ended tube disposed vertically within said tank with its lower end terminating near and above said flushing outlet and coaxial therewith, the upper end of the tube disposed within said tank top wall opening, a closure plate integral with said tube at the upper end thereof and resting upon the tank top wall in covering relation to said top wall opening and sealing the opening and bodily supporting said tube fixedly, said tube having an air vent port formed through the side wall thereof near and below the tank top wall, an expansible and collapsible flexible bladder surrounding said tube and having snug fluid-tight engagement with the tube near said top and bottom ends of said tube and defining an interior chamber communicating with the bore of said tube through said vent port, an elongated stern extending through the bore of said tube and free to reciprocate therein, fin elements on said stem having guided contact with the bore of said tube, manual means connected with said stem exteriorly of said tube and tank to elevate said stem, and an elastic flush valve element anchored to the exterior of said tube near the lower end of said tube and adapted when relaxed to engage the flush valve seat sealingly and having a connection with said stem whereby elevation of said stem will stretch the elastic valve element and elevate the same from the flush valve seat.

2. The structure as defined by claim 1, and an enlarged annular head on the lower end of said stern engaged within the elastic valve element, said valve element being hollow.

3. The structure as defined by claim 2, and said elastic valve element being a thin-walled element larger in diameter than said tube and having a neck opening surrounding the lower end of said tube and anchored within a groove formed in the exterior of said tube, said annular head engaging the interior surface of the elastic valve element radially outwardly of said tube, whereby elevation of said stem stretches the surrounding portion of the elastic valve element upwardly above the bottom end of said tube.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, and an annular compressible seal disposed between the tank top wall and said closure plate to seal said top Wall opening.

5. The structure as defined by claim 1, and said fin elements on said stem being formed integrally therewith in circumferentially spaced relationship and defining References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,562 6/1887 Wilson 461 769,525 9/ 1904 Adams 426 787,833 4/1905 Crary 431 10 1,245,738 11/1917 Koenig 426 1,318,518 10/1919 Werner .e 426 6 2/1923 Benedict 465 12/1962 Dietz et a1. 478

FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1901 Great Britain 442 4/ 1921 Great Britain 442 5/1933 Great Britain 4-31 5/1923 France 4--28 9/1946 France 431 LAVERN'E D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG. Assistant Examiner