US802951A - Automatically-operated flushing system for water-closet bowls. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

I. G. WATERMAN. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FLUSHING SYSTEM FOR WATER CLOSET BOWLS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.9. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WWI team mmuw a. mum! ca, PNDYO-LITHOGRAPHERS, wAsmucmn, n, c,

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

I. G. WATERMAN. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED PLU-SHING SYSTEM FOE'WATER CLOSET BOWLS.

AEPLIQATION FILED SEPT.9.1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

avwawtoz mglmm WEE m k witmwoeo muniw. a qamm co movmmacm usns. wasnmamu u c PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

I. G. WATERMAN. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FLUSHING SYSTEM FOR WATER CLOSET BOWLS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.!). 1903.

4 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

PATBNTED OCT. 24, 1905.

I. G. WATERMAN.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FLUSHING SYSTEM FOR WATER CLOSET BOWLS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9.1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

ISAAC G. WATERMAN, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED FLUSHING SYSTEM FOR WATER-CLOSET BOWLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed September 9, 1903. Serial No. 172,488.

To all whom, it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC G. WATERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara and State of California, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electrically- Operated Flushing Systems for Water-Closet Bowls,ofwhich the followingisaspecification.

This invention relates to automatic electricall y-operated flushing systems for water-closet bowls.

In the present invention my object is to provide an improved and. novel arrangement of electrically operated valves, switches, and novel automatically-acting mechanism whereby the flushing of a water-closet can be accomplished at Will and continued automatically for a predetermined time.

WVith this object in view the invention embraces certain improved features of construction and novel arrangements of parts set'forth in detail hereinafter and embraced in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the cylinder; Fig. 3, a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement; Fig. 5, a vertical section of the cylinder and valve of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 avertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 5.

A water-closet bowl 1 of ordinary construction is provided with a flushing-pipe 2, leading from any source of fluid-pressure. An electromagnetic valve 3 controls the flow through pipe 2 to the bowl. This valve may be of the form set forth in my application filed August 29, 1903, Serial No. 171,215. and consists of a solenoid or magnet-coil 4 on the.

pipe 2, an armature slidable within the coil or solenoid, and normallypressed in one direction bya spring 5, a rotary plug-valve 6, having a ratchet-wheel '7, and aspringpressed pawl 8, carried by the armature and adapted to engage and turn the ratchet-wheel and valve when the solenoid is energized. Alternate energizations of the solenoid open and close the valve. A dog 9 engages the ratchet-wheel and prevents backward movement thereof and of the plug-valve. the supply-pipe is an electromagnetic valve 11, similar in construction and operation to the valve 3.

Coupled to the supply-pipe 10 is a cylinder 12, having a central partition 13, which is provided with a stufling-box 14 and provides On another branch 10 of the water-compartment 15 in the lower part of the cylinder. The compartment 15 is connected at its bottom with the pipe 2 by a drain-pipe 16.

Movable in compartment 15 is a piston 17, having a rod 18 working through stuflingbox 14- and adjustahly connected to the piston by screw 19. Secured to the end of the rod 18 is a head 20. to which are pivoted the spring pressed pawls 21 and 22. A coilspring 23 tends to force the piston downwardly in compartment 15.

In the upper part of cylinder 12 is an insulating-block made in two parts 24 and 25, from which depend hangers 26, fitted in notches in the edges of the parts 24 and 25.

Journaled in the hangers 26 is a shaft 27, on Which is secured rotary switch- contacts 28 and 29, each composed of an insulating-disk 30 and an armed metal contact embedded therein. The metal contact 31 has two arms and the metal contact 32 four arms.

Secured on shaft 27 is a four-tooth ratchetwheel 33, with which the pawls 21 and 22 are adapted to engage, pawl 21 engaging therewith when the piston is raised to its limit and pawl 22 engaging with the ratchet-wheel when the piston has descended. On shaft 27 is also fastened a polygonal hub 34, with which spring-arms 35 engage to hold the rotary con-o tacts where turned. The contact-fingers 36 are arranged to be engaged by the contact 31, and the contact-fingers 37 are adapted to be engaged by the contact 32. The terminals of the contact- fingers 36 and 37 are located on the block 24, to which the circuit-wires lead.

The numeral 38 represents a switch having a rotary four-point contact 39 and ratchetwheel 40 and a spring-retracted push-button 41 and pawl 42. When the push-button is pressed in, the pawl engages the ratchet-wheel,

and when the push-button is released the' engages ratchet-wheel 33 and snaps the rotary contacts 28 and 29 a quarter-revolution, which closes valve 11 and opens valve 3. The water from pipe 2 continues to flush the Water closet bowl until the water in compartment 15 has drained therefrom, whereupon by the fall of the piston the pawl 22 engages the ratchetwheel 33 and snaps rotary contacts 28 and 29 again; but as contact 28 has only two points the circuit of valve 11 is not made. The circuit of valve 3 is made again by contact 29 and the valve in pipe 2 closed, thus concluding the flushing operation. When the switch 38 is again operated, the foregoing operations will be repeated.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 4:, 5. and 6, the valve 3 and circuit connections therefor are dispensed with. In place of the two-point contact 28 a four-point contact is employed. The drain-pipe 16 leads to a packed nut 51 and communicates with a port 52, leading to the opening through the plug-valve. A by-pass 53 is made in the valve-casing and adapted to put the opening in the valve in communication with the fluidinlet pipe when the valve is closed. On operating the switch 38 the valve is opened, and communication is cut of to the compartment 15. The water continues to flow and flush the water-closet bowl until the water in compartment 15 drains out, whereupon the single pawl 22 used (pawl 21 being dispensed with) snaps the rotary contact 50, and the solenoidis then energized and the valve closed, thus stopping the flushing operation. Compartment 15 again fills, and the above-described operation can be repeated at will.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a flushing-pipe, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the flow through said pipe, a water accumulator or'reservoir, means for supplying the accumulator or reservoir with water, means I for draining the water from the reservoir, a

of an electrically-operated valve controlling.

the flow through said pipe, a water accumu- 1 lator or reservoir, means for supplying the accumulator or reservoir with water, means for draining the water from the reservoir, a

switch and circuit connections to the electrically-operated valve, means for operating said switch by the draining of the water from the reservoir to thereby close the electricallyoperated valve and cut off the supply through the flushing-pipe, and an independent handoperated switch and circuit connections con trolling the electrically-operated valve.

3. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve controlling the water-flow, of an accumulator or reservoir, means for suplying the reservoir with water, means whereby the Water can drain from the reservoir, a

.piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a spring tending to operate the piston against the accumulation of water, a switch and circuit connections to the electrically-operated valve, and means for operating the switch by the movement of the piston, whereby the movement of the piston operates the valve.

4:. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve controlling the water-flow, of an accumulator or reservoir, means for supplying the reservoir with water, means for draining the reservoir of its water, an electrically operated valve, a hand operated switch and circuit connections for electrically operating the valve, a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a switch and circuit connections for operatin the valve, and means for operating said switch automatically by the movement of the piston to thereby automatically operate the valve.

5. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve having means for alternately opening and closing the valve on alternate electrical energizations, a water accumulator or reservoir, means for supplying water to the reservoir, means for draining the water from the reservoir, a hand-operated switch and circuit connections controlling the elec trical valve, and a switch and circuit connections to the valve for electrically operating the valve when the water drains from the reservoir.

6. In an automatic flushing-valve mech anism, the combination with an electricallyo erated valve controlling the flow of water, of a switch controlling the valve, a water accumulator or reservoir, a piston movable in said accumulator, and a pawl operated by the piston to throw the switch.

7. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a valve controlling the water-flow, of an accumulator or reservoir, means whereby the water can drain from the reservoir, a piston moved by'the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a spring tending to operate the piston against said accumulation of water, and means operated by the piston adapted to operate the valve.

8. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve controlling the water-flow, of an accumulator or reservoir, means whereby the water can drain from the reservoir, a piston moved by the accumulation of water, a spring tendingto operate'the piston against said accumulation, a pawl carried by the piston, a switch operated by the pawl to close the valve when the water drains from the reservoir, and a hand-operated switch controlling the electrically-operated valve;

9. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve having means for alternatelyv opening and closing the valve on alternate electrical energizations, of a water accumulator or reservoir, means for supplying water to the reservoir, means for draining the water from the reservoir, a hand-operated switch and circuit connections controlling the electrical valve, and a switch and circuit connections to the electrical valve for automatically closing said valve when the water drains from the reservoir.

10. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve having means for alternately opening and closing the valve on alternate electrical energizations, of a flushing-pipe controlled by said valve, a water accumulator or reservoir, means for introducing water into the reservoir, means for draining the water from the reservoir, a hand-operated snapswitch having means for temporarily electrically energizing the valve when said switch is operated, another switch having means for temporarily electrically energizing the valve when said switch is operated, and means for automatically operating the last named switch when the water drains from the reservoir or accumulator.

11. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with an electricallyoperated valve controlling the water-flow, of

a water reservoir or accumulator, means for introducing water to the reservoir, means for draining water from the reservoir, a piston moved by the accumulation of water,a spring tending to operate the piston against said accumulation, a switch controlling the electrically-operated valve, and a pawl carried by the piston for operating the switch.

12. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with awater reservoir or accumulator, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a switch, and a pair of pawls one of which cooperates with the switch on the movement of the piston in one direction and the other pawl cooperating with the switch on the movement of the piston in the other direction.

13. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a water reservoir or accumulator, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a switch, a pair of pawls one of which cooperates with the switch on the movement of the piston in one direction and the other pawl 00- operating with the switch on the movement of the piston in the other direction, and a spring tending to operate the piston against the accumulation of water in the reservoir.

14. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a water accumulator or reservoir, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a rotary switchcontact, a relatively stationary contact arranged to be only temporarily engaged by the rotary contact when the latter is operated, and a pawl carried by the piston and engageable with the rotary contact to snap it first on and then oh the relatively stationary contact.

15. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a water accumulator or reservoir, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a rotary switch-contact, a relatively stationary contact arranged to be only temporarily engaged by the rotary contact when the latter is operated, and a pair of pawls carried by the piston, one pawl being adapted to operate the rotary contact when the piston is moved in one direction and the other pawl operating said rotary contact when the piston ismoved in the other direction and said pawls snapping the rotary contact first on and then off the relatively stationary contact.

16. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a water accumulator or reservoir, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a rotary switch-contact, a relatively stationary contact arranged to be only temporarily engaged by the rotary contact when the latter is operated, a pawl carried by the piston and engageable with the rotary contact to snap it first on and then off the relatively stationary contact, and a spring cooperating with the piston.

17. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a water accumulator or reservoir, of a piston moved by the accumulation of water in the reservoir, a rotary switch-contact, a relatively stationary contact arranged to be only temporarily engaged by the rotary contact when the latter is operated, a pair of pawls carried by the piston, one pawl being adapted to operate the rotary contact when the piston is moved in one direction and the other pawl operating said rotary contact when the piston is moved in the other direction and said pawls snapping the rotary contact first on and then off the relatively stationary contact, and a spring cooperating with the piston in opposition to the water.

18. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a flushing-pipe, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the flow through said pipe, another electrically-operated valve, a switch and circuit connections to the last-named electricallyoperated valve, means operated by the water-flow after the last-named valve is opened, which means is adapted to close said lastnamed electrically-operated valve at a predetermined time, means to thereupon open the first-named electrically-operated valve to allow the water to pass through the flushing-pipe, and means operated after the open ing of the first-named electrically-operated valve adapted to automatically close said first-named electrically-operated valve at a predetermined time.

19. In an automatic flushing-valve mechanism, the combination with a flushing-pipe, of an electrically-operated valve controlling said pipe, a second electrically-operated valve, a water accumulator or reservoir the flow into which is controlled by the second electrically-operated valve, a switch for operating the second electrically operated valve, and switch mechanism operated by the movement of the water in the reservoir, said switch mechanism having circuit connections to the respective electrically-operated valves and said switch mechanism being operated by the movement of the water in the reservoir to first close the second electrically-operated valve and open the first electrically-operated valve and, at a prede termined time thereafter, close the firstnamed electrically-operated valve to cut ofl the flow through the flushing-pipe after a predetermined time.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC G. WATERMAN.

Witnesses:

ELMER SEAVEY, WALLACE R. SEAVEY.

Images