Valve actuation control for flush urinal and toilet apparatus

• US 10,344,461 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jorge Maercovich
• Original Assignee: Jorge Maercovich
• Inventors: Maercovich, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colon-Morales, David
• Application Number:
  US15/131,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20170298608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,178 Days
• Field of Search: 25112911, 25112904, 25112901, 251309, 251310, 251208, 4301-311, 4623
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/36 Associated working of inlet and outlet valves
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/00 Urinals without flushing devices A47K11/00 ; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0254 being operated by particular means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/08 with circular plates rotatable around their centres
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor

Abstract

An actuation control for a flush system includes a cartridge valve being actuated between an opened position and a closed position to compete a flushing cycle. The cartridge valve includes a cartridge housing having a valve inlet for communicating with a water source and the valve outlet for guiding water to flow to the flush system, and a control disc unit which is supported in the cartridge housing at the valve inlet thereof and is orientated perpendicular to a water-in direction of the water for biasing against water pressure from said water source. At the closed position, the valve inlet is closed by the control disc unit for blocking the water to pass through the valve inlet. At the opened position, the valve inlet is opened up for allowing the water passing to the valve outlet so as to complete the flushing cycle of the flush system.

Claims

1. A flush apparatus for a flush system, comprising:

a valve body having a water inlet for connecting to a water source to guide water to flow to said water inlet at a water-in direction, and a water outlet for connecting to the flush system;

a sensor, having a detecting range, for detecting a presence of a user of the flush system within said detecting range, wherein said sensor generates a first actuation signal when said sensor detects the presence of the user and generates a second actuation signal when said sensor detects the user being out of said detecting range;

a power generator, which is activated by said sensor; and

an actuation control, which comprises;

a cartridge valve, which is detachably coupled to said power generator, comprising a cartridge housing stationary supported in said valve body at a position that a valve inlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water inlet and a valve outlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water outlet,

a control disc unit which is supported in said cartridge housing at said valve inlet thereof and is orientated transversely to the water-in direction for resisting water pressure from said water source, wherein, in response to said sensor, said control disc unit is able to be driven to move by said power generator between a closed position, via said second actuation signal, to close said valve inlet for blocking the water to pass through said valve inlet, and an opened position, via said first actuation signal, to open up said valve inlet for allowing the water passing to said water outlet through said valve outlet so as to complete a flushing cycle of the flush system; and

a manual flush actuator comprising a manual switch coupled at said cartridge valve to manually move said control disc unit between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said cartridge housing has a tubular surrounding wall defining an open end as said valve inlet and said valve outlet is formed at said surrounding wall of said cartridge housing to align with said water outlet, wherein said control disc unit comprises a sealing disc rotatably coupled within said surrounding wall at said open end thereof to selectively close said valve inlet, and a control shaft extended from said sealing disc through a closed end of said surrounding wall to operatively couple with said power generator so as to drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said manual switch coupled at said control shaft to manually drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said manual flush actuator further comprises a resilient element coupled at said manual switch to move back said manual switch after said manual switch is actuated.

2. A flush apparatus for a flush system, comprising:

a valve body having a water inlet for connecting to a water source to guide water to flow to said water inlet at a water-in direction, and a water outlet for connecting to the flush system;

a sensor, having a detecting range, for detecting a presence of a user of the flush system within said detecting range, wherein said sensor generates a first actuation signal when said sensor detects the presence of the user and generates a second actuation signal when said sensor detects the user being out of said detecting range;

a power generator, which is activated by said sensor; and

an actuation control, which comprises;

a cartridge valve, which is detachably coupled to said power generator, comprising a cartridge housing stationary supported in said valve body at a position that a valve inlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water inlet and a valve outlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water outlet,

a control disc unit which is supported in said cartridge housing at said valve inlet thereof and is orientated transversely to the water-in direction for resisting water pressure from said water source, wherein, in response to said sensor, said control disc unit is able to be driven to move by said power generator between a closed position, via said second actuation signal, to close said valve inlet for blocking the water to pass through said valve inlet, and an opened position, via said first actuation signal, to open up said valve inlet for allowing the water passing to said water outlet through said valve outlet so as to complete a flushing cycle of the flush system; and

a manual flush actuator comprising a manual switch coupled at said cartridge valve to manually move said control disc unit between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said cartridge housing has a tubular surrounding wall defining an open end as said valve inlet and said valve outlet is formed at said surrounding wall of said cartridge housing to align with said water outlet, wherein said control disc unit comprises a sealing disc rotatably coupled within said surrounding wall at said open end thereof to selectively close said valve inlet, and a control shaft extended from said sealing disc through a closed end of said surrounding wall to operatively couple with said power generator so as to drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said control disc unit further comprises a stationary disc non-rotatably coupled at said cartridge housing, wherein said stationary disc comprises a plurality of valve sectors spacedly sealed at said open end of said surrounding wall and a plurality of opening sectors alternating with said valve sectors, such that said control disc unit is moved at said closed position when said sealing disc is rotated to close said opening sectors, wherein said manual switch coupled at said control shaft to manually drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said manual flush actuator further comprises a resilient element coupled at said manual switch to move back said manual switch after said manual switch is actuated.

3. A flush apparatus for a flush system, comprising:

a valve body having a water inlet for connecting to a water source to guide water to flow to said water inlet at a water-in direction, and a water outlet for connecting to the flush system;

a sensor, having a detecting range, for detecting a presence of a user of the flush system within said detecting range, wherein said sensor generates a first actuation signal when said sensor detects the presence of the user and generates a second actuation signal when said sensor detects the user being out of said detecting range;

a power generator, which is activated by said sensor; and

an actuation control, which comprises;

a cartridge valve, which is detachably coupled to said power generator, comprising a cartridge housing stationary supported in said valve body at a position that a valve inlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water inlet and a valve outlet of said cartridge housing is located at said water outlet,

a control disc unit which is supported in said cartridge housing at said valve inlet thereof and is orientated transversely to the water-in direction for resisting water pressure from said water source, wherein, in response to said sensor, said control disc unit is able to be driven to move by said power generator between a closed position, via said second actuation signal, to close said valve inlet for blocking the water to pass through said valve inlet, and an opened position, via said first actuation signal, to open up said valve inlet for allowing the water passing to said water outlet through said valve outlet so as to complete a flushing cycle of the flush system; and

a manual flush actuator comprising a manual switch coupled at said cartridge valve to manually move said control disc unit between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said cartridge housing has a tubular surrounding wall defining an open end as said valve inlet and said valve outlet is formed at said surrounding wall of said cartridge housing to align with said water outlet, wherein said control disc unit comprises a sealing disc rotatably coupled within said surrounding wall at said open end thereof to selectively close said valve inlet, and a control shaft extended from said sealing disc through a closed end of said surrounding wall to operatively couple with said power generator so as to drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said sealing disc has a flat pressuring surface perpendicular to the water-in direction for biasing against water pressure from said water source, wherein said sealing disc comprises a plurality of disc sectors corresponding to said valve sectors, such that when said sealing disc is rotated to align said disc sectors with said valve sectors respectively, said opening sectors are opened for allowing the water to pass through, and when said sealing disc is rotated to align said disc sectors with said opening sectors respectively, said opening sectors are sealed and closed for blocking the water to pass through, wherein said manual switch coupled at said control shaft to manually drive said sealing disc to rotate between said closed position and said opened position, wherein said manual flush actuator further comprises a resilient element coupled at said manual switch to move back said manual switch after said manual switch is actuated.