US3365730A - Water saver flush valve - Google Patents

Description

* 9 P. P. CHIAPPETTA 3,365,730

WATER SAVER FLUSH VALVE Filed Dec. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE'VTUR.

Pt: 75? P CAVAPPfT/JQ United States Patent This invention relates to flush toilets of the type having a gravity tank from which water flows for flushing the toilet.

The typical toilet tank is made with suflicient capacity to meet maximum flushing requirements and in standard practice, generally may contain six to eight gallons of water. In many instances, it is possible to conduct the flushing operation with the use of less water. Various attempts have been made to utilize fractional quantities of water in the tank, however, these methods involve expensive and complicated mechanisms which do not provide satisfactory results.

With the general increase of population in certain metropolitan areas, and the resultant lowering of the water table in those areas, it has become increasingly more important to conserve water. It is, of course, desirable to accomplish this, if possible, without inconvenience to the inhabitants of these areas. The present invention is embodied in an apparatus which may be installed quickly and easily in the tank of a standard water closet or may be included as part of the equipment upon the initial installation.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide a water saver flush valve which will effect the saving of substantial amounts of water used in the flushing of toilets without reducing the efiiciency of the toilet unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved water saver device which is comprised of relatively few parts which are so constructed and arranged that they will give maximum efliciency and length of service.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device which may be attached to the conventional buoyant outlet valve controlling the flow of water from the flush tank to the toilet bowl without altering the structure of the conventional flush tank unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved water saver device wherein the normal positioning of the flushing handle will permit the discharge of substantially all of the water from the flush tank into the toilet bowl for flushing and when the flushing handle is drawn to a position away from the normal position, will permit'the discharge of only a portion of the water from the flush tank into the toilet bowl.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flush ball valve which permits water to enter and air to exit thereby allowing the flush ball valve to reseat from its up position independently of the water level in the flush tank.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a conventional toilet tank with the front wall broken away and showing the tank full with the outlet valve closed;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken substantially along the line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the water saver flush valve employing the teachings of the instant invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is another fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a still further embodiment of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown aconventional toilet tank 10 having a supply pipe indicated at 15 but not shown in further detail as it and its related valve are conventional. The supply pipe valve is controlled in the usual manner by afloat 5 carried by thelever operating arm 6.

Theoutlet port 14 leading to the toilet is likewise conventional and includes thevalve seat 13 and the connectedoverflow pipe 9. A hollow rubber ball valve 11 normally closespipe 14 during periods of non-use. The hollow rubber ball valve 11 is provided with a tube 11a at the bottom thereof providing direct connection withoutlet pipe 14. The ball valve is actuated in a conventional manner by means of the vertical stem 8, stem guide '7,upper link 4 andvalve lever 3.

The mechanism that enables this invention to cause additional discharge of a fractional part of the tank of water will now be described in more detail by reference to the various figures in which like parts have been given the same number.

Commencing with theoperating handle 2, it will be seen that there is ashaft 25 fixed thereto, supported at the inner face of the tank in conventional manner by anut 26. Afiixed to the inner face of the tank is ahousing 24 which has at its inner end, means providing threading engagement with a threadedmember 22. The threadedmember 22 is provided with a centrally disposedpassage 23 which is connected toneedle valve 16. The needle valve is connected byflexible hose 12 through coupling 12a to the hollow rubber ball valve 11.

Onshaft 25 there is provided asleeve 19 with aclamping screw 21. A sleeve 1% is directly connected withvalve lever 3, or it may be constructed as a single unit. Shaft 25, at a position further in fromsleeve 19 is provided with an annularrecessed groove 13 and at its innermost end withplug 17. Along the inner face of the inner wall ofhousing 24, facing the flushing handle, there is provided lock means 18a which is so positioned as to cooperate with theannular groove 18 and thus holdshaft 25 at an in position, as shown by the phantom lines in FIGURE 3.

Centrally disposedpassage 23 is connected by means of a rigid tube toneedle valve 16 which is conventional and capable of adjusting the orifice of said tube.Needle valve 16 is also connected toflexible hose 12 which may be made of any material that is impervious to water and will not unduly stiffen in water at normal room temperatures.Flexible hose 12. is connected to the hollow rubber ball valve 11 by means of coupling 12a, which is impervious to water and prevents water from entering valve 11. Hollow rubber ball valve 11 is provided with tube 11a having an opening at the bottom thereof which is of ample size to permit quick entrance of water into the hollow rubber ball valve. It will be understood, of course, that tube may be replaced by any suitable means permitting quick entrance of water in valve 11.

The operation of the structure of the invention is as follows:

When it is desired to flush the tank completely, the user turns handle 2, in its normal position, as shown in the phantom lines at FIGURE 3 in a counterclockwise direction. On so doing,lever 3 will be raised. This results in lifting valve 11 a sufficient distance abovevalve seat 13 so that the outward flow of water throughpipe 14 will not be able to overcome the tendency of the air filled valve 11 to raise to a limited position againstguide 7. Thus, the valve is completely open and the water in the tank runs out in the normal manner until the level drops to a point close enough tovalve seat 13 to permit reseating of valve 11 which has descended with the water level during the last part of the tank discharge. It will be noticed that with thehandle 2 in at the in position, i.e., not pulled out,plug 17 will efiiciently plugorifice 23 thereby making it airtight, causing hollow ball valve 11 to retain its air and thereby not permitting any water to enter through tube 11a. As soon as valve 11 has reseated, further discharge is prevented. Float is in down position and has opened the water valve attached thereto, so refilling of the tank at once commences, to prepare for the next flushing.

In the operation just described, it will be noted that i it is substantially similar to the normal operation as has heretofore been known. Thus, as soon as the valve has been completely opened with valve 11 rising to the position limited by guide '7, the operator may releasehandle 2 which permitslever 3 to return immediately to its normal downmost position, as indicated in FIGURE 1, with theupper link 4 sliding downwardly in relation to stem 8 which remains at the latest position until the water level has descended far enough to take valve 11 downwardly with it'toclose pipe 14.

When it is desired to use only a fraction of a tankful of water for the flushing operation, the user pulls thehandle 2 away fromtank 10, as shown in the solid lines of FIGURE 3 and moves the handle counterclockwise. This handle movement, with reference now to FIGURE 3, results in theplug 17 disengaging fromorifice 23 and subsequently causingvalve lever 3 to be raised. Upward movement oflever 3 causes corresponding upward movement ofupper link 4 and vertical stem 8 and valve 11.

This results in lifting valve 11 a sufiicient distance abovevalve seat 13 so that the outward fiow of water throughpipe 14 will not be able to overcome a tendency of the air-filled valve 11 to rise to a limited position againstguide 7. Thus, as valve 11 attains its raised position, Water will enter it through tube 11a thereby displacing the air in valve 11 which will exit throughhollow tube 12 andneedle valve 16 atorifice 23. Thus valve 11 will quickly become filled with water, thereby losing its buoyancy and quickly descending tovalve seat 13, thus preventing further discharge. Water will only enter valve 11 when air is escaping from the interior thereof and once a substantial portion of the air has been displaced, the water present in valve ll will immediately egress through tube 11a intooutlet pipe 14.

Water is considered to have a specific gravity of unity at any given temperature, that is it is normally considered as a standard in the measurement and specific gravity of other liquids or solids. The operation of the present invention provides for increasing the specific gravity of valve 11 to more than unity causing the valve 11 to reseat independently of the water level in the toilet tank.

As soon as valve 11 has reseated, further discharge is prevented.Float 5 is in its down position and opens the water valve attached thereto so refilling of the tank commences at once to prepare for the next flushing. By enlarging or diminishing theorifice 23, or adjustingneedle valve 16 so as to effect greater or smaller orifice therefrom, it is possible to control the rate of discharge of the air in valve 11 and thereby control the rate of reseating of valve 11 after the flushing operation commences. Thus, by having orifice '23 of suitable size, the time that will elapse before valve 11 is reseated can be controlled. This time of reseating can inrturn be related to the quantity of water and the rate of discharge intopipe 14. In the preferred adjustment of the mechanism the rate of air discharge will permit reseating valve 11 when. approximately one-half of the tankful of water has been discharged.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. Shaft is provided with a centrally disposed bore 28a at its innermost end. This may be provided by drilling or other suitable meansBore 28a is provided with an end plug 281) which substantially provides an airtight plug for bore 23a.Shaft 25 if further provided with twovertical bores 27, and 27a connecting theexterior 4 surface of theshaft 25 to the central bore 28a. Vertical bore 27 is also provided with a rigid tube having a diameter matching that ofvertical bore 27, which is connected toflexible tube 12.

Shaft 25, at a point beyondvertical bore 27 but prior to vertical bore 27a is provided with annular groove housing O-ring 17b and at a point beyond vertical bore 270 there is provided another annular groove housing O-ring 17a.Housing 24 is constructed so as to allowsleeve 19, with clampingscrew 21 to directly contactshaft'25.Housing 24 is provided with rectangular bottomedrecess 18 which allowssleeve 19 to move withshaft 25 as it is moved between its in and out positions.Housing 24 is generally constructed so as to conform to the shape ofshaft 25 and be in close working relation with O-rings 17a and 17 1).Housing 24 is further provided with anorifice 23.Orifice 23 is of such size and positioned in such a manner as to allowsleeve 19 to fit therein and move to the extent permitted byrectangular recess 18 which extent coincides with the in position ofshaft 25. The out position ofshaft 25 is determined .by the'outer end oforifice 23, the one nearest tonut 26.Housing 24 is also provided with an additional orifice 23:: which is positioned between O-ring 17b and vertical bore 27a, which are on the shaft Thus whenshaft 25 is at its inposition sleeve 19 abutsrectangular recess 18 at its inner wall and O-ring 17b is beyond orifice 23a.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is as follows: When it is desired to flush the tank completely, the user allows the handle to remain in its normal position, i.e., the in position,-shown by the phantom lines in FIG-URE 4, and turns handle 2 in a counterclockwise direction. Upon so doing,lever 3 will be raised, thereby raising valve 11 and allowing full discharge of the tank as previously described in connection with FIGURE 3. It will be noted that when theflush handle 2 is in the normal position, the air from valve 11 cannot pass through orifice 23a throughflexible member 12 because O-ring'17b is now beyond orifice 23a and the air is now trapped in horizontal bore 28a and the space between O- rings 17a and 17b and the flushing operation will be conventional.

When it is desired to use only a fraction of a tankful of water in the flushing operation, using the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, the user withdrawshandle 2 to the position indicated in solid lines in FIGURE 4 and moves thehandle 2 counterclockwise. On so doing,lever 3, and valve ball 11 will be raised permitting the discharge of water from the tank. However, at this position the 'air trapped in valve 11 is capable of escaping throughflexible tube 12 into passage means 28a and out of orifice 23a. Thus, it will be noted that whenflush handle 2 is pulled out, orifice 23a is positioned between O-rings 17a and 17b and thus permits the air to escape. In other respects, this flushing operation is identical to that described in conjunction with the fractional flushing operation of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a still further embodiment of my invention. It will be noted that valve 11 is provided with a 7 URES 1 and 3, provides the additional function of'serving scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents which do not constitute departure from the as a hollow member for the discharge of air from valve 11.

It will be noticed that with this arrangement, since the spirit and scope of the invention are intended as part of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank including an outlet port having a valve seat and a conventional valve flush actuating means, said conventional valve flush actuating means being arcuately and axially movable, a flush valve assembly movably attached to said valve actuating means, said valve assembly comprising a hollow valve body engageable with said valve seat to seal said outlet port, passage means connecting said hollow valve body with said valve actuating means selectively permitting release of air from said valve body in accordance with the axial movement of said valve flush actuating means, whereby the arcuate movement of the valve actuating means raises the valve assembly to unseat the valve body from the valve seat allowing water to substantially simultaneously discharge from the outlet port and the axial movement of the valve actuating means allows air to enter the valve body allowing the valve body to reseat independently of the water level in the toilet flush tank.

2. A valve construction according to claim 1 wherein the passage means is composed of a hollow guide stem attached to said hollow valve body and a flexible passage means attached to said hollow guide stem and the valve actuating means.

3. In a tank type toilet flushing mechanism, the combination comprising a trigger means arcuately movable for flushing and axially movable for venting, a water outlet port in the tank, a floating ball valve for seating over said port and permitting water discharge when raised by said trigger means, vent means connecting said ball valve with said trigger means for allowing substantially simultaneous water discharge from said port and egress into said ball valve in response to the axial movement of said trigger means.

4. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank comprising a handle movable between in and out positions and arcuately exterior to said tank, a shaft connected to said handle, said shaft extending through the tank wall and adapted to be rocked via said handle, a flushing lever attached to said shaft, a hollow valve body movable between up and down positions, said hollow valve body, in its down position, being engageable with the valve seat of the outlet port of said tank to seat therein, means connecting said lever to said hollow valve body, a metering orifice above the water level of the flush tank in relatively close proximity to said shaft, a flexible hollow passage means connecting said hollow valve body with said metering orifice, a support housing for said metering orifice attached to the interior tank wall and having said shaft passing thereinto, a plug member at the end of said shaft corresponding in diameter to said metering orifice, whereby said lever raises in response to said arcuate movement of the handle raising said connecting means and said hollow valve body, unseating said valve body upwardly from said valve seat of the outlet port and while said handle is at the out position, permitting water to simultaneously discharge from the outlet port and enter said hollow valve body causing said hollow valve body to reseat independently of the water level in said tank.

5. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank including an outlet port having a valve seat and conventional valve flush actuating means, said conventional valve flush actuating means being adapted to move axially and arcuateiy, a flush valve assembly comprising a hollow valve body movable between up and down positions, said hollow valve body, in its down position, being engageable with said valve seat to seat therein, said hollow valve body provided with a passage means cooperatively associated with said outlet port whereby said hollow valve body, in its down position, is in constant communication with said outlet port, an adjustable orifice above the water level of the toilet flush tank in working relationship with said valve flush actuating means, a flexible tube member connecting said hollow valve body with said adjustable orifice above the water level of said toilet flush tank, a stem operatively connected to said actuating means and to said hollow valve body whereby said hollow valve body is unseated upwardly from said valve seat, thereby allowing water to simultaneously discharge from the outlet port and enter said passage means of said hollow valve body displacing the air therein, said air exiting at a controlled rate through said flexible tube member at said adjustable orifice thereby allowing said hollow valve body to reseat independently of the water level in said tank.

6. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank comprising a handle movable between in and out positions and arcuately exterior to said tank, a shaft connected to said handle and rocked thereby, extending through the tank wall, a flushing lever attached to said shaft, a hollow valve body movable between up and down positions, said hollow valve body, in its down position, being engageable with the valve seat of the outlet port of said tank to seat therein, means connecting said lever to said hollow valve body, a metering orifice above the water level of said tank in relatively close proximity to said shaft, a flexible hollow passage means connecting said hollow valve body with said metering orifice, a support housing for said metering orifice attached to the interior tank wall and having said shaft passing thereinto, a plug member at the end of said shaft corresponding in diameter to said metering orifice, said shaft having a locking mechanism engageable with said handle at its in position, thus preventing said plug member from disengaging from said orifice, whereby said lever raises in response to said arcuate movement of the handle, raising said connecting means and hollow valve body, unseating said valve body upwardly from said valve seat of the outlet port, permitting water to discharge from the outlet port and retaining the air within the hollow valve body causing said hollow valve body to reseat in accordance with the water level in said tank.

7. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank comprising a handle movable between in and out positions, exterior to said tank, a shaft connected to said handle and rocked thereby, extending through the tank wall, a flushing lever attached to said shaft, a hollow valve body movable between up and down positions, said hollow valve body, in its down position, being engageable with the valve seat of the outlet port of said tank to seat therein, means connecting said lever to said hollow valve body, a metering orifice above the water level of said tank, a flexible hollow passage means connecting said hollow valve body with said metering orifice, a support housing for said metering orifice attached to the interior tank wall and having said shaft passing thereinto, a plug member at the end of said shaft corresponding in diameter to said metering orifice, said shaft having a looking mechanism engageable with said handle at its in position, thus preventing said plug member from disengaging from said orifice, whereby said lever raises in response to said handle, raising said connecting means and hollow valve body, unseating said valve body upwardly from said valve seat of the outlet port, permitting water to discharge from the outlet port and depending upon the axial position of the handle allowing the hollow valve body to reseat independently of and dependently on the water level of said tank.

8. A valve construction for use in a toilet flush tank comprising, an outlet port having a valve seat thereon, a handle movable between in and out positions and in arcuate movements, exterior to said tank, a shaft con nected to said handle and extending through the tank wall, a hollow valve body movable between up and down positions, said hollow valve body in its down position being engageable with said valve seat to seat therein, a flushing lever attached to said shaft, means connecting said lever to said hollow valve body, a metering orifice above the water level of said tank, a passage means provided in said shaft, two sealing rings mounted on said shaft having one end of said passage means therebetween, a flexible passage means connecting the other end of said passage means with said hollow valve body, a support housing for said shaft attached to the interior tank wall and in working relationship with said sealing rings providing an airtight seal thereby, an orifice in working relationship with said passage means positioned on said support housing, said orifice being so positioned as to be blocked by one of said sealing rings when said handle it at its in position, a slot in said support housing being associated with said flexible passage means and said passage means, whereby said flushing lever raises in response to the arcuate movement of the flushing handle, raising said connecting means and hollow valve body thereby unseating said hollow valve body upwardly from said valve seat of the outlet port and, in accordance with the axial References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,214,439 9/ 1940 Robertson 4- 56 2,741,776 4/ 1956 Christe et a1. 457 2,869,141 1/1959 Koch et al 4-56 2,883,675 4/1959 Hartman 457 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. HENRY K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN A TOILET FLUSH TANK INCLUDING AN OUTLET PORT HAVING A VALVE SEAT AND A CONVENTIONAL VALVE FLUSH ACTUATING MEANS, SAID CONVENTIONAL VALVE FLUSH ACTUATING MEANS BEING ARCUATELY AND AXIALLY MOVABLE, A FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY MOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID VALVE ACTUATING MEANS, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLLOW VALVE BODY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT TO SEAL SAID OUTLET PORT, PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID HOLLOW VALVE BODY WITH SAID VALVE ACTUATING MEANS SELECTIVELY PERMITTING RELEASE OF AIR FROM SAID VALVE BODY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE FLUSH ACTUATING MEANS, WHEREBY THE ARCUATE MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE ACTUATING MEANS RAISES THE VLAVE ASSEMBLY TO UNSEAT THE VALVE BODY FROM THE VALVE SEAT ALLOWING WATER TO SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY DISCHARGE FROM THE OUTLET PORT AND THE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE ACTUATING MEANS ALLOWS AIR TO ENTER THE VALVE BODY ALLOWING THE VALVE BODY TO RESEAT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE WATER LEVEL IN THE TOILET FLUSH TANK.

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