Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
  • E03D11/00—Other component parts of water-closets, e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system, flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe
  • E03D11/02—Water-closet bowls ; Bowls with a double odour seal optionally with provisions for a good siphonic action; siphons as part of the bowl
  • E03D11/10—Bowls with closure elements provided between bottom or outlet and the outlet pipe; Bowls with pivotally supported inserts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to toilets, and more particularly to toilet valves controlling the outflow of waste from a toilet bowl to a toilet trap.
• flushing toilets greatly aid in the sanitary disposal of human excrement, water usage is impacted by such devices. As the need and desire to conserve water increases, there is a corresponding desire to reduce the volume of water used per average flush of a toilet.
• a typical toilet includes a valve upstream of the toilet bowl, such as at the bottom of a water storage tank.
• the valve in the water tank opens, and the tank water is able to flush into the toilet bowl.
• patent 4,016,609 disclosed a toilet having a bendable member for controlling waste outflow from a toilet basin.
• the resiliency of the bendable member was critical for proper operation, which resiliency could degrade over time. Additionally, the valve was not easily installed into the toilet. [0010] Hence, a need still exists for improved toilet trap valve assemblies, particularly those which facilitate flushing with reduced amounts of water.
• the present invention provides a toilet having a bowl with a discharge outlet, a trap in fluid communication with the discharge outlet, and a valve positioned to control outflow from the discharge outlet to the trap.
• This valve is in the form of a cartridge unit having a first housing part, a second housing part linked to the first housing part so as to define a cavity there between, and a pivotable gate positioned in the cavity so as to be able to swing between a first position essentially closing off flow through the discharge outlet to a second position permitting flow from the discharge outlet to the trap.
• the cavity has a recess along one of its walls.
• pivoting of the pivotable gate can be driven by movement of a mechanical or hydraulic linkage that extends outside of the housing parts. This can be connected to a controller which also controls initiation and ending of the water flush.
• the pivotable gate carries a deformable seal suitable to seal against a housing part when the pivotable gate is in the first position, and the pivotable gate has an inwardly dished side facing the toilet bowl when the pivotable gate is in the first position. This helps the flow when the gate is in the open position to occur much more smoothly. There can also be an outwardly dished side of the gate which is configured to face a housing part when the pivotable gate is in the second position.
• the trap has a normal trap water level to restrict back flow of sewer gases to the bowl, and the pivotable gate is positioned above that water level.
• valve cartridge can provide a flow path that bends from an essentially vertical path adjacent the bowl discharge outlet to a path at least somewhat horizontal.
• the invention can provide such a cartridge valve suitable to connect to such a toilet.
• a toilet trap way for carrying waste from a toilet bowl to a toilet trap.
• the trap way has a gate valve at its inlet end in the form of a pivotable gate movable between a first position essentially closing off flow through the trap way and a second position permitting flow through the trap way.
• the trap way has a recess along one of its walls and when the pivotable gate is in the second position a portion of the pivotable gate can be housed in the recess.
• the present invention advantageously reduces the amount of water needed to complete a flush cycle with a given degree of cleaning. Further, the incidence of maintenance problems is reduced by keeping the gate above the normal trap water level in an air pocket. Further, if maintenance issues arise, the valve cartridge can be replaced without having to dispose of the trap or bowl when the cartridge unit forms of the valve are used. [0019]
• FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a toilet in which is installed an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outlet valve of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the housing halves, and the gate, of the valve of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the valve of Fig . 2 ;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a valve according to the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the valve of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a valve according to the present invention;
• FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and
• FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the valve of FIG. 9.
• Toilet 20 which includes a bowl 22 having a discharge outlet 24, a trap 26 in fluid communication with discharge outlet 24, and a discharge valve cartridge 28 in accordance with the present invention located between bowl 22 and trap 26.
• Toilet 20 will typically include other elements such as a water tank or other water supply source (not shown) , a seat, a lid and/or other covering elements on the bowl (again all not shown) .
• a control mechanism (again not shown) can be mechanically or otherwise linked to a flush mechanism which both starts the flush cycle and pivots the gate 32 from a closed position to an open one, and then back again.
• Toilet 20 can include a flange 30 near the bottom of bowl 22, and/or other connecting elements such as fasteners (not shown), and a gasket 32, for connecting valve cartridge 28 at flange 33.
• trap 26 has a trap water level 34 for preventing return of sewer gas, and can be connected to valve cartridge 28 at collar 35 with a flexible piece of rubber and/or other elements such as clamps (all not shown) .
• Valve cartridge 28 permits the passage of waste and fluid from bowl 22 to trap 26.
• valve cartridge 28 includes a first housing part 36, a second generally mirror image housing part 38 connected to first housing part 36, and a pivotable gate 40 mounted inside a cavity defined between the first and second housing parts 36/38.
• Gate 40 includes an inwardly dished side 42 and an outwardly dish side 44 which includes a contour 46.
• the contour 36 mimics a contour 48 formed on the inside wall of the cavity formed by the housing parts.
• gate 40 As shown in FIG. 4, when gate 40 is pivoted by rotatable stem 52, it pivots down and against contour 48. This moves the gate out of the blocking/sealing position.
• valve cartridge 28 has a gasket 50 to help maintain a proper seal between the outer edge of the gate and the trap wall.
• the presence of an air pocket 54 also facilitates maintenance of the stem 52.
• a flush initiator which ultimately pivots the gate 40 out of the closed position permitting waste to rapidly evacuate through inlet 56 of the valve cartridge. It is preferred that the start of the flush water will be delayed slightly to permit most of the evacuation to occur before clean flush water starts to rinse the bowl.
• the flap valve will return to the FIG. 1 closed position, and preferably be latched in that position so that some water can be positioned in the bowl above the flap between flushes. The inlet water will then be shut off, ending the flush cycle .
• Stem 52 is inserted into socket 58, and through socket 60 for connection to a torque element (not shown) as was previously discussed.
• the first housing part 36 and second housing part 38 are preferably joinable along a plane approximately parallel to a direction of flow 62. Pins 64 in second housing part 38, and corresponding holes 66 in first housing part 36, allow for proper alignment of the two housings 36, 38.
• a second discharge valve 70 can be used with a toilet (not shown) . It has a 90° elbow bend between the discharge outlet of the bowl and the beginning of a trap or other waste conduit .
• Discharge valve 70 does not have two mirror image housing halves. Rather, there is a main housing part 72, a covering housing part 74. There is, however, still a pivotable gate 76 installed between the parts 72/74.
• Gate 76 includes an inwardly dished side 78 facing the bowl (when the valve is closed) and an outwardly dished side 80 facing the trap, where side 80 includes a contour 82.
• First housing part 72 includes a recess 84 complementary in shape to contour 82.
• Discharge valve 70 has a valve gasket 86 to help maintain a proper seal, and a shaft 88 connected to gate 76. Note also air pocket 90 and bushings 92. Pin 94 can connect into shaft 88 for connection to a torque element (not shown) as previously discussed.
• Discharge valve 70 includes a main flow channel indicated at 96, and air pocket 90 is located offset from main flow channel 96 and above the trap water level .
• valve 110 can be positioned in replacement for valve cartridge 28 in fluid communication with a toilet bowl and trap. It primarily differs with respect to its seal configuration on its flap.
• Valve 110 has a valve gasket 126 to help maintain a proper seal.
• First housing part 112 includes an air pocket 130.
• Shaft 128 is connected to housing parts 112, 114 in air pocket 130 at sockets 132, 134, respectively.
• Shaft 128 can be connected to a torque element (not shown) as previously discussed.
• Valve 110 includes a main flow channel indicated at 136, and air pocket 130 is located offset from main flow channel 136 and above the trap water level.
• First housing part 112 and second housing part 114 are joinable along a plane approximately parallel to direction of flow 138.
• Valve 110 connects to the toilet bowl at flange 140, and connects to the trap at flange 142, and in both instances can use a variety of fasteners (not shown) .
• Pins 144 in second housing part 114, and corresponding holes 146 in first housing part 112, allow for proper alignment of the two housings 112, 114.
• the flap valve can be housed in a separate cartridge unit which facilitates assembly and replacement if needed. Further, the likelihood of maintenance being needed is reduced by minimizing the exposure of the flap valve rear side to waste.
• the invention provides toilets which have a discharge valve controlling flow from the bowl to the trap, where the discharge valve is designed to reduce impingement on water flow during the flush cycle .

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=38606886

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2006
  • 2006-09-22 US US11/525,556 patent/US7284286B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-09-13 AU AU2007300605A patent/AU2007300605A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-09-13 JP JP2009529192A patent/JP2010504450A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-09-13 RU RU2009115197/13A patent/RU2444592C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-09-13 CA CA002664231A patent/CA2664231A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-09-13 NZ NZ575730A patent/NZ575730A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-09-13 BR BRPI0717062-9A patent/BRPI0717062A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-09-13 CN CN2007800395146A patent/CN101529024B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-09-13 EP EP07838161A patent/EP2066848A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-09-13 WO PCT/US2007/019906 patent/WO2008039305A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-09-13 MX MX2009003134A patent/MX2009003134A/es unknown
  • 2007-09-20 TW TW096135105A patent/TW200821435A/zh unknown
• 2009
  • 2009-04-10 MA MA31777A patent/MA31136B1/fr unknown

Patent Citations (4)

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