US3668709A - Liquid reservoir - Google Patents

Abstract

A discharge arrangement for a liquid reservoir such as a toilet cistern, in which the cistern is of an airtight type. The arrangement of the present invention is that the cistern is provided with a liquid outlet port with a compressible seat surrounding the port. The seat includes a liquid passageway with a liquid inlet hole, a vent hole and a liquid outlet hole. Sealing means, such as floatable ball, is adapted to mate in sealing arrangement with the seat. There is also provided suitable means for preventing the seal from coming into sealing engagement with the seat during discharge from the cistern. In the case of manual operation, means such as a handle is employed for initiating liquid discharge from the cistern.

Description

United States Patent Sharp 1 51 June 13, 1972 LIQUID RESERVOIR [72] Inventor: David Harold Sharp, 318 Linnet-Crescent,

Strathmore, Quebec, Canada [22 Filed: Dec. 1, 1970 21 Appl. 190.; 93,986

[52] US. Cl. ..4/28, 4/20, 4/26, 4/41, 251/159, 251/172, 277/34.3

[51] Int. Cl. ..E03d 3/00, 503d 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..4/28, 26, 18, 56, 19, 59, 27, 4/67, 41; 251/159, 172; 277/343, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,324,481 6/1967 Emerson et a1. ..4/2s

3,466,672 9/1969 McGahee ..4/67R Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Allison C. Collard 57 I ABSTRACT preventing the seal from coming into sealing engagement with the seat during discharge from the cistern. 1n the case of manual operation, means such as a handle is employed for initiating liquid discharge from the cistern.

7 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures LIQUID RESERVOIR This invention relates to liquid reservoirs.

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved mechanism for permitting the discharge of water from toilet tanks or similar liquid reservoirs. Inasmuch as one form of the present invention relates to the use of the invention in a toilet tank or cistern, reference will be specifically made thereto; it being understood that other uses, such as those hereinafter described, may also be employed.

Conventional toilet tanks include a water cistern or tank retaining from one to several gallons of water, and a mechanism for permitting the water to be discharged from the toilet tank. Although many proposals have been made in the prior art for improving the water release mechanism, in practice the mechanism has remained the, same for many years without improvement due to the relative complexity of proposals made to improve such mechanisms.

Essentially, present day practices employ mechanisms having a plurality of levers and connecting rods and, are relatively expensive in maintenance costs and initial purchasing costs.

With this invention, there is provided a novel discharge mechanism for toilet tanks or other liquid reservoirs which reduces the number of component parts required and, hence, the purchase price of the unit. Additionally, in view of the fewer number of components, maintenance costs are considerably reduced.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a liquid reservoir, such asmay be used as a tank for a toilet facility, comprising an airtight liquid enclosure tank, said tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a compressible seat surrounding said liquid outlet, said seat including a liquid passageway therein, at least one small liquid inlet hole, at least one small vent hole, at least onelarger liquidoutlet hole,a freely movable seal adapted to mate with said seat to seal said liquid outlet against water discharge, means for preventing the seal from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge from said tank, and in the case of manual operation, means for initiating liquid discharge from the reservoir. One version of the invention may also include arelief chamber spaced from said liquid tank, said relief chamber being in communication with said liquid passageway of said compressible seat, through its large outlet hole and through its inlet. hole and vent with the interior of the tank, a liquid conduit extending between said relief chamber and said liquid outlet, a relief valve in said relief chamber adapted to normally seal said last-mentioned relief chamber against liquid discharge from said relief chamber through said conduit to said liquid outlet, and means for displacing said relief valve from sealing said relief chamber.

As water is the conventional liquid used, reference will hereinafter be made to the liquid being water.

More particularly, the present invention is based on using an airtight water tank, which is capable of retaining atmospheric air under pressure created by compression of the air originally in the tank by the water supply line pressure. This water tank may be any suitable enclosure, made from any suitable material, such as metal or rigid resinous substances. Conventionally, such tanks generally hold from one to gallons of water and accordingly the water enclosure tank ma have such a capacity.

The water enclosure tank includes the conventional water inlet and water outlet, the tank being connected to the water inlet so as to continuously'permit water to be discharged into the tank upon demand.

The compressible seat component is adapted to surround the water outlet of the tank about its complete circumference and in conjunction with the seal to prevent water escape from the tank unless initiated by the operating lever of the tank. The seat includes a water passageway therein in communication with the main body of water in the tank. Communication may. be through one or more small vents or open valves. The seat must be flexible and compressible at least in part. To this end, the seat is preferably composed of a circular hollow tube surrounding the water outlet of suitable material, e.g. flexible compressible resinous substances. The resinous substance must be chosen so as to be capable of returning to its original shape upon removal of any forces creating compression-Le, it must be elastic or resilient in that sense.

Cooperating with the seat is a sealing element which is freely movable, and which is adapted to mate with the seat to seal the water outlet against water discharge as desired-Le. during periods of nonoperation of the device. To this end, it is preferred that the seal be in the form of a round ball of suitable material, e.g. plastic substances such as apolyethylene or polypropylene ball. The ball should be made of durable, hard substances, and must be made of a floatable type of material.

The means for preventing the seal'from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during water discharge from said tank may be any suitable means such as, for example, one or more. projectionsextending upwardly from the central aperture of the seat. In this manner, the seal may not extend completely downwardly into the aperture when the seat is compressed by the internal tank pressure when water discharge is initiated for operation of the device.

A further component in one form of a device embodying the present invention, is a relief chamber spaced from the main water tank. This relief chamber may be of a minor size in comparison to the size of the water tank, and is in communication with the water passageway of the seat. To this end, one or more conduits may connect the relief chamber with the water passageway of the seat, to give a total passageway sufficient to permit water in the water passageway to freely move into the relief chamber. The relief chamber may be of any suitable size and preferably is incorporated into the structure below the seat and adjacent the discharge outlet of the water tank.

The relief chamber is in communication with the water outlet of the tank through one or more suitable apertures. As outlined previously, there is provided a relief valve normally preventing water discharge from the relief chamber into the water outlet, which relief valve is adapted to be displaced from sealing engagement with the outlets in communication with the discharge. 7 i

The relief valve is preferably in the form of a ball made of a suitable substance which is heavier than water.

To actuate the water discharge of the tank, there is provided a mechanism for displacing the relief valve'from sealing engagement with the conduit in communication with the water outlet, which may be any suitable means directly or indirectly engaging and displacing the relief valve. To this end, conventionally, tank systems include a simple hand-operated lever and for reasons of economy and simplicity, such a device may be employed with the present invention. p v 7 Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a tank according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tank of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a cistern or tank enclosure which may be of any suitable shape and size according to conventional practices. Such tanks may contain several gallons of water. The tank is connected to a water inlet designated by reference numeral 13 emptying into the body of the 'tank, and a water outlet designated by reference numeral 6 which is in the form of a 90 elbow attached to the tank by, e.g. cap screws 10.

The tank of FIG. 1, as will be seen from the drawings, is permanently connected to the line supply of water which in domestic uses ranges anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds line pressure. The tank itself is completely sealed and airtight. It

will thus always retain some air and some water, the volume of each depending on what part-of the cycle is taking place.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a seat surrounding the water discharge outlet 6, which seat is designated generally by reference numeral 3. The seat is of a' generally circular shape and is made of a compressible flexible material such as polyethylene. The seat 3 includes an internal water passageway indicated by reference numeral 7, extending about the circumference of the seat. As will be seen from FIG. 3, the seat includes a central aperture, and at least one water inlet 12 as well as at least one vent 14 whereby water from the tank may slowly enter into the water passageway 7 of the seat.

The seat 3 may be positioned about the discharge outlet by rim 19 or by means of flanges 16 and 17 and cap screws 18 or by adhesive or by projections 15 which also perform a further function as will be hereinafter described.

Operating in conjunction with the seat is a sealing ball indicated by reference numeral 2, which is made of a fioatable material such as polyethylene. The ball 2 is adapted to cooperate and mate with the seat to prevent water discharge.

One form of the device incorporating the features of the present invention includes a relief chamber indicated generally by reference numeral 22, which includes a conduit 8 in communication with the water passageway 7 of the seat,

whereby water may freelyenter ihto the relief chamber 22 from the passageway 7. The relief chamber 22 includes a further passageway 24 in communication with a water passageway 9 of the elbow. There is provided a relief valve in the form of a heavier-than-water ball 4 adapted to normally seal off the passageway 24.

To displace the ball 4 from the outlet 24 there is provided a simple lever mechanism indicated by reference numerals and 5a, whereby depression of the lever 5 actuates the arm 5a in operative association with the ball 4, thus to raise the ball 4. Release of the lever 5 permits the ball 4 to return to sealing engagement with the passageway 24.

In operation, assuming that the tank 1 is empty, water may enter under line pressure through the water inlet 13. As the water rises to the height of the seat inlet 12, water enters the water passageway 7 inside the seat and fills it and relief chamber 22. The air vents through the vent 14, and the ball 4 blocks off exit of the water through the conduit 24. The water will continue to rise but will not displace the sealing ball 2 from engagement with the seat 3 due to the increase of pressure within the tank and the differential pressure on the portion of the ball over the outlet passage definedby the seat 3 which is sufficient to overcome its normal buoyancy.

Finally, once the tank is full, the air in the tank at the beginning of the operation is compressed to a thin layer at the top of the tank, and the same pressure will obviously exist in the tank, in the seat and in the supply line whereby water will stop flowing from the inlet 13. Because of the flexible compressible nature of the material used to form the seat 3, the seat will distort slightly under the differential pressure of the sealing ball 2 by bulging inwardly somewhat.

To empty the tank lever 5 is depressed which in turn will displace ball 4 from conduit 24. This will permit water from the relief chamber to exit and in turn, water from the water passageway 7 will flow into the relief chamber and be discharged through outlet 24 into the discharge elbow 6. Because of the pressure within the tank, the exit of the water is rapid and hence, water from the seat is rapidly lost.

- The internal pressure of the tank forces the seat downwardly and distorts it. However, because of the projections the sealing ball 2 cannot move down as far as the seat does and the result is that water will rush in below the ball 2 through the central aperture of the seat 3 and discharge from the tank 1. The result is that the pressure all around ball 2 is equalized enough to permit the ball to float to the top of the water which allows the bulk of the water to discharge. When the water has been discharged, the ball 2, because of the lowered water level, will settle back on the seat 3 which will then have regained its original shape due to its resilience. In the meantime, water has been continuously flowing into tank 1 through inlet 13 and now begins to fill the tank 1 again.

1 liquid discharge;

4 Guides 11 serve to guide the ball 2 back into seating engagement with the seat.

Should any negative pressure develop inside the tank as it empties, air will automatically enter either through the water exiting through the aperture in the seat 3 or through the conduit 24 and passageway 8, via water passageway 7 and vent 14.

While a preferred embodiment as described above has been illustrated with reference to a toilet tank, the present invention finds application in many other fields including liquid reservoirs for storage of various types of liquids, as well as use for pipeline applications as a safety device should the pipeline rupture. In these and other forms, the device of the present invention may suitably operate as described above so as to include a reservoir, an inlet and outlet port, a compressible seat with the liquid inlet, a vent outlet and a liquid outlet, and a seal element such as a ball, with suitable means for supporting the valve, e.g. fingers or other supports to prevent the ball or valve from coming into sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge. In such applications, there may also be included a secondary tank acting as a surge tank.

It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the device of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. To this end, for example, the seat may be attached to the discharge outlet by adhesive or other suitable means, e.g. screws.

I claim: I q

1. In a liquid system the improvement comprising discharge means to pennit discharge from said system, said system being of the type which is pressurizable, seat means surrounding an outlet port for said system, said seat means beingcompressible and resilient and including a liquid passageway therein, at least one small liquid hole adapted to admit liquid to said passageway, at least one small vent hole adapted to permit air to be vented from said passageway and at least one outlet hole adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway in said seat communicating with said liquid passageway, a freely movable seal adapted to mate with said seat to seal said outlet against and means for preventing the seal from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge. 1

2. The product of claim I, porated into a pipeline.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated into a toilet tank.

4. The product of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated into a toilet tank, the toilet tank being an airtight liquid enclosure tank, said tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a compressible seat surrounding said liquid outlet, said seat including a liquid passageway therein, at least one small liquid inlet hole, at least one small vent hole, at least one larger liquid outlet hole, a freely movable seal adapted to mate with said seat to seal said liquid outlet against liquid discharge, means for preventing the seal from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge from said tank and means for initiating liquid discharge from the reservoir.

5. The produce of claim 1, wherein said system includes a relief chamber, said relief chamber being in communication with said outlet hole which is adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway, said relief chamber including a relief valve adapted to normally prevent liquid discharge from said relief chamber.

6. The produce of claim 5, wherein said relief chamber is of a relatively minor size in comparison to the size of said liquid system, a conduit in communication with said relief chamber and said outlet holes which is adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway whereby liquid in said passageway may freely enter said relief chamber.

7. The produce of claim 6, whereinsaid relief valve comprises a non-floatable generally spherical valve.

wherein the device is incor-

Claims (7)

1. In a liquid system the improvement comprising discharge means to permit discharge from said system, said system being of the type which is pressurizable, seat means surrounding an outlet port for said system, said seat means being compressible and resilient and including a liquid passageway therein, at least one small liquid hole adapted to admit liquid to said passageway, at least one small vent hole adapted to permit air to be vented from said passageway and at least one outlet hole adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway in Said seat communicating with said liquid passageway, a freely movable seal adapted to mate with said seat to seal said outlet against liquid discharge, and means for preventing the seal from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated into a pipeline.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated into a toilet tank.

4. The product of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated into a toilet tank, the toilet tank being an airtight liquid enclosure tank, said tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a compressible seat surrounding said liquid outlet, said seat including a liquid passageway therein, at least one small liquid inlet hole, at least one small vent hole, at least one larger liquid outlet hole, a freely movable seal adapted to mate with said seat to seal said liquid outlet against liquid discharge, means for preventing the seal from establishing sealing engagement with the seat during liquid discharge from said tank and means for initiating liquid discharge from the reservoir.

5. The produce of claim 1, wherein said system includes a relief chamber, said relief chamber being in communication with said outlet hole which is adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway, said relief chamber including a relief valve adapted to normally prevent liquid discharge from said relief chamber.

6. The produce of claim 5, wherein said relief chamber is of a relatively minor size in comparison to the size of said liquid system, a conduit in communication with said relief chamber and said outlet holes which is adapted to discharge liquid from said passageway whereby liquid in said passageway may freely enter said relief chamber.

7. The produce of claim 6, wherein said relief valve comprises a non-floatable generally spherical valve.

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