US830280A - Flushing-tank. - Google Patents

Description

No. 830,280. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. A. ALEXANDER. FLUSHING TANK APPLIOATION FILED HAB- 29, 1 90 5.

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WILLIAM A. ALEXANDER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA;

FLUSHING-TANK.

a' ication filed March 29, 1905.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WV'ILLIAM A. ALEXAN- DER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at IVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and. State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Tanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to flushingvalve-operating mechanism, and more particularly to the mechanism contained within a fir1sl1ingtank and. actuated. from the exterior thereof.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for controlling the fluid or water passing through a flushingtank. In this connection the invention aims to dispense with the waste of water heretofore incurred. by an apparatus not properly measuring the prescribed quantity of water requiredv to flush a closet.

My invention further aims to insure a positive closure of the flushing-valve when the contents of the flushing-tank has been ejected, and I have provided novel means for automatically controlling the amount of fiuid to be contained within the flushingtank.

Another object of this invention is the provision of novel means for thoroughly drain ing a flushing-tank, at the same time maintaining a certain quantity of water within the tank for reasons which will be hereinaf ter specified.

Heretoforc in some types of flushing-tanks it has been impossible at times to positively and accurately control the supply of water being admitted to a flushing-tank, and to the best of my knowledge it has been impossible to drain or remove the entire contents of a flushing-tank without causing a noise by the escape of the water. With these facts in view I have devised a novel form of apparatus for flushing-tanks, which will be hereinafter more fully described and then. specifically pointed out in the claims, and, referring to the drawings accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout both views, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a flushing-tank constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal sec tional view of a flushing-tank, taken on the line a a; of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented Sept. 4, 1906;

Serial No. 252.720.

T 0 put my invention into practice, I employ a flushing-tank and a portion of its appurtenant parts that are at present used, these parts being of a conventional form suitable for accomplishing the ultimate purposes of my improved apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, the refer ence-numeral 1 designates a flushing-tank the bottom of which is provided with an inlet-pipe 2, carrying a valve 3, which supports an outlet-pipe 4. The valve 3, which I have illustrated, is described and claimed in. a prior application filed by me and need not, therefore, be described in detail otherwise than the general principle and operation of the valve.

The tank 1 carries in its bottom a flushingvalve bushing 5, to which is attached a pipe 6, that leads to the bowl or hopper. (Not shown.) The bushing 5 is provided with an overflow-pipe 7, extending upwardly within the flushing-tank, and the outlet of the pipe 6 is controlled by a valve 8, connected. to a rod 9, this rod being pivoted, as indicated at 10, to the long arm 11 of a lever 12, which is pivotally mounted upon a rod 14, supported between the front and rear walls 15 and 16 of the fiushingtank. The end wall 17 of the flushing-tank is grooved or cut away, as indicated at 18, and this groove near its bottom communicates with the exterior of the flushing-tank by an opening 1.9. The groove for a portion o'l its depth is partitioned from the interior of the flushing-tank by a plate 20, secured to the end wall 17 of the flushingtank. Adjacent to the opening 19 I secure a casing 21., in which is mounted a reciprocating rod or plunger 22, carrying an arm 23, which extends through a slot 24, formed in the casing 21, and into the groove 18 of the end wall. The arm 23 is connected to an upwardly-extending rod 25, the upper end of said rod being connected to the shorter arm 26 of the lever 12. This shorter arm is also provided with a pivoted. lever 27, the lower end of which lies in close proximity to the valve 3 and the lever 27 is provided with a groove 28, in which engages the end 29 of a rod 30, pivotally mounted, as indicated at 31, in the top of the valve 3. The valve 3 carries a pivotally-mounted lever 32 which is connected. by a link 33 to the rod 30, and the lever 32 is adapted to .control, as described in my prior application for patent, the operation of the valve 3, and consequently the inlet of water to the flushing-tank.

The opposite end of the flushing-tank is provided with an auxiliary tank or receptacle 34 of a smaller capacity than the -flushingtank. The lower end of the receptacle 34 is contracted, as indicated at 35, and is provided with an outletpipe 36. This pipe is provided with a flapvalve 37, the movement of which is controlled by a lever 38, pivotally mounted in a bracket 39, carried by the pipe 36, and the outer end of the lever 38 is provided with a spherical hollow body 40, serving functionally as a float. In the receptacle 34 is mounted another spherical hollow body 41, which is connected by a link 42 to the outer end 43 of the lever 30, and this spherical body serves in a capacity similar to the float 40. The side of the auxiliary tank or receptacle 34 is cut away, as indicated at 44, to permit the contents of the flushing-tank to flow into the auxiliary tank or receptacle at predetermined times, as will be presently described in connection with the general operation of the mechanism.

My invention resides particularly in the auxiliary tank or reservoir 34 and its appurtenant parts and in the mechanism I employ in connection with the valves and levers described.

- A flushing-tank constructed in accordance with my invention 0 erates as follows: We will assume that the ushing-tank illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings is partially filled with Water and that the flushing operating mechanism is in the position shown. Upon the pin or plunger 22 being depressed the short arm 26 of the lever 12 is pulled downwardly'through the medium of the rod 25 and the arm 23, the longer arm 11 of the lever 12 being elevated, and through the medium of the rod 9 the flushing-valve 8 is raised off its seat, permitting the contents of the flushing-tank to pass into the pipe 6. Simultaneously with this operation the lever 27 has been lowered until the. top of the groove 28 engages the end 29 of the lever 30. The contents of the flushing-tank by the lifting of valve 8 are allowed to flow downwardly through the pipe 6, and when the height of the fluid within the tank has descended to the lower side of the float 40 this float will be gradually lowered until the lever 38 becomes disengaged from the flap-valve 37, at which time the weight of the fluid within the auxiliary tank or receptacle 34 will cause the flap-valve to open, permitting the contents of the receptacle 34 to pass into the flushing-tank 1. This operation, however, is gradual, owing to the descent of the float 40, and nearly all the fluid within the flushing-tank l-is ejected through the pipe 6 before the entire contents of the receptacle 34 has passed into theflushing-tank. Immediately upon the fall of the fluid contained Within the auxiliary tank or reservoir 34 this float 41 will be lowered gradually, and through to seatwithin the flushing-valve bushing 5 and close the outlet of the flushing-tank to the bowl or hopper. The water or fluid passing through the valve 3 into the flushing-tank continues to flow, raising the float 40 and closing the flap-valve 37. When the water or fluid entering the flushing-tank reaches the opening 44 formed in the side of the receptacle 34, it overflowsinto said receptacle and gradually fills the same'until the float 41 is reached, at which time the float will be ele-' vated, and through the medium of the link 42, lever 30, link 33, and lever 32 the valve 3 will be closed, cutting off the supply of water or fluid to the flushing-tank and placing it in condition to be again actuated when it is desired to flush a bowl or hopper by the depression of the rod or plunger 22.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that the valve 3, which controls the inlet of water to the flushingtank, is automatically controlled by the passage of the water within the flushing-tank to the hopper or bowl. The arrangement of the floats p'revents an excess amount of water entering the flushing-tank, at the same time permitting the entire contents of the main flushingtank to pass out of the tank before the flushing-valve controlling the outlet is closed. It is obvious that the various levers and floats of my improved mechanism can be readily adjusted to permit any desired quantity of water to enter the flushing-tank and be ejected by the opening of the flushing-tank valve. Another feature to which I desire to call particular attention in connection with my improved flushing-valve resides in dispensing with the noise heretofore experienced in connection with flushing-tanks, occasioned by the entire drainage of a flushing-tank, the suction of the water passing through the pipes causing a hollow noise, which in many instances is a. drawback to the advantageous features .of a good flushing-tank. By providing the auxiliary tank or receptacle I have devised a supplementary flush of water adapted to follow the main flush of water and continue until the flushing-valve has been closed. The arrangement of the floats and levers of my improved mechanism permits no space of time to. exist between the flush of water and the closing of the valve that may occasion a noise, the main flush and the auxiliary flush of water being practically one continuous flow.

While I have herein described the preterred manner of arranging my improved mechanism within the flushing-tank, it is obvious that the disposition of the various parts can be readily changed and the mechanism made of a snllicient size to operate in connection with various other apparatus than a II ushing-tank.

It is manifest that other slight changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combimition with a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controlling said outlet, a lever pivotally mounted within said tank and adapted to control said outlet-valve, of an auxiliary tank mounted within the firstnamed tank, said. auxiliary tank having an outlet located near the bottom of the firstnamed tank, a flap-valve controlling said outlet, a float controlling the movement of said [lap-valve, and means mounted within said auxiliary tank to control said inlet-valve and close said out et-valve.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a tank having an inlet and an outlet both located below the normal low-water line of the tank, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controlling said outlet, a lever pivotally mounted within. said tank and adapted to control said outlet-valve, a rod arranged exteriorly of the tank and con- .nected to said lever of an auxiliary tank mounted within the first-named tank, said auxiliary tank having an outlet located adjacent the bottom of the Iirstnamed tank, means to control said outlet, and means mounted within said auxiliary tank to close said inlet and said outlet valves, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controlling said outlet, of an auxiliary tank mounted within the firstnamed tank, said tank having an outlet, a flapvalve carried by said last-named outlet, means to control said flap-valve, means carried by the ilirst-named tank to open said first-named outletvalvc, and means mounted within said auxiliary tank and adapted to automatically close said inlet-valve and said first-named outletevalve, substantially as described.

I. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank having an inlet and an outlet, of a valve controlling said inlet and valve controlling said outlet, a lever mounted within said tank and actuated from the exterior of said tank to open said outlet-valve, an auxiliary tank mounted within the first-named tank, and means supported within. said auxiliary tank and adapt ed to successively close said valves at prede-- termined times, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controllingsaid outlet, and means for opening said outletvalve from the exterior of the tank, of an auxiliary tank, and means mounted within said auxiliary tank for closing said inlet and said outlet, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controlling said outlet, and means for establishing a primary flush, of an auxiliary tank mounted within thefirstnamed tank, meanscarried by said auxiliary tank and actuated by the primary flush to cause a secondary Hush, and means mounted within said auxiliary tank and actuated by the secondary flush to close said inlet-valve and said outlet'valve, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet and a valve controlling said outlet, means actuated from the exterior of the Hushing-tank to establish a primary flush, of

means for maintaining a secondary flush within said flushing-tank independent of the primary flush, means actuated. by the primary flush to bring into action the secondary flush, an auxiliary tank and a float arranged in said auxiliary tank and connected to the inlet and the outlet valves and actuated by the secondary flush to close said inlet and said outlet valves, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank adapted to contain a body o'l" water, said tank having an inlet and an. outlet port, a valve controlling each port, of means for maintaining a body of water independent of the first-named body, means actuated by the first-named body when passing through said. outlet to release the independent body of water prior to the complete passage of the first body of water, and means actuated by the passage of the independent body of water to close the valves controlling said inlet and said outlet ports, substantially as described.

- 9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a flushing-tank adapted to contain a body of water, said tank having an inlet and an outlet port, a valve controlling each port, of means for maintaining an independent body of water within said. flushing-tank, means actuated by the first named body when passing through said out-- let to release the independent body of water and permit it to How into the flushing-tank prior to the complete passage of the first body of water, means to reestablish said independent body of Water, and means actuated by the restablishment of the independent body of water to close said inlet and outlet valves, substantially as described. a

10. The combination of a flushing-tan having inlet and outlet ports and valves controlling both ports, with an auxiliary tank having a port leading into the main tank, a valve governing the passage of water through the last-named port, a float connected to the last-named valve and a float arranged in said auxiliary tank and means connected to said last-named float for governing the valves on the inlet and outlet ports of the flushing-tank. 11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinatlon with a flushing-tank having an inlet-port and an outlet-port, a valve controlling said inlet-port, and a, valve control-' ling said outletort, of a pivoted lever connected to the va ve on the outlet-port, means I connected to said lever and extending exte riorly of the tank for operating said lever, a

second lever suspended from said pivoted le- 'ver and having a groove, a pivotally-mounted rod having 1ts free end extending into said groove, said rod being connected to the valve on said inlet-port, and a float carried by said 7 inlet and outlet ports and valves controlling said ports, of a pivoted lever connected to the valve controlling the outlet-port, a pivoted rod connected to the valve controlling the inlet-port, a float carried by said rod, a swinging lever connected to the said pivoted lever and adapted to be engaged by said rod, and means extending outside of the said tank for IIHiViIlg said pivoted lever to open the outletva ve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. ALEXANDER. Witnesses:

K. H. BUTLER, E. E. POTTER.

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