Toilet flusher with novel valves and controls

• US 20040025238A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Parsons, Natan E., Herbert, Kay, Guler, Fatih, Hadley, David, Shamitz, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/378
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/142 in cisterns with flushing valves
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/30 Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement inlet valves, valves in general F16K ; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage flushing valves E03D1/142, E03D1/186, E03D1/266, E03D1/286
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/024 Operated hydraulically or pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/406 acting on a piston

Abstract

A tank-type flusher includes an intake valve, i.e., a fill valve, a diaphragm-operated flush valve, and a pressure control mechanism. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and is constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The diaphragm-operated flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. There is a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal the flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing the flush valve member to the seated state preventing the water discharge from the water storage tank to the toilet bowl. The pressure control mechanism is constructed and arranged, upon actuation, to reduce pressure in the pilot chamber of the diaphragm-operated flush valve to cause deformation of the diaphragm and thereby reduce pressure in the flush-valve chamber causing the water discharge.

Claims

1. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank;

a diaphragm-operated flush valve constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl;

a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal said flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing said flush valve member to said seated state preventing said water discharge from said water storage tank to said toilet bowl; and

a pressure control mechanism constructed and arranged, upon actuation, to reduce pressure in said pilot chamber of said diaphragm-operated flush valve to cause deformation of said diaphragm and thereby reduce pressure in said flush-valve chamber causing said water discharge.

2. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said intake valve includes a float constructed and arranged without any fixed coupling to any valve member.

3. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said intake valve includes a float which freely floats within a float cage.

4. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said intake valve includes a float arranged to float within a float cage and to block a relief orifice at said predefined water level.

5. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said pressure control mechanism is controlled by a solenoid.

6. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said flush valve member is constructed to move linearly within a flush valve housing.

7. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said flush-valve chamber is arranged to receive water pressure from said external source and being arranged to prevent said water discharge utilizing at least a portion of said water pressure.

10. The tank-type flusher of claim 1, 8 or 9 wherein said intake valve and said flush valve are located within a single housing.

13. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims wherein said water tank is an exposed water tank.

14. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims wherein said water tank is a concealed water tank located behind a wall.

15. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims wherein said intake valve enables a variable water level in said tank.

16. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims including a vacuum breaker arranged to prevent transfer of water from said tank to a water supply.

17. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims including a manual actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.

18. The tank-type flusher of claim 17 wherein said manual actuator is a push button actuator.

19. The tank-type flusher of claim 18 wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.

20. The tank-type flusher of claim 18 wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.

21. The tank-type flusher of any one of the above claims including an automatic actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.

22. The tank-type flusher of claim 17 wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to be triggered by a sensor.

23. The tank-type flusher of claim 22 wherein said sensor registers presence of an object.

24. The tank-type flusher of claim 22 wherein said sensor registers movement of an object.

25. The tank-type flusher of claim 22 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

26. The tank-type flusher of claim 21 wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.

27. The tank-type flusher of claim 21 wherein said automatic actuator is located outside of said water tank and is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.

28. The tank-type flusher of claim 1, 8 or 9 including a check valve arranged to reduce variation of closing pressure depending on water line pressure.

29. The tank-type flusher of claim 1, 8 or 9 including a pressure compensated flow regulator.

30. The tank-type flusher of claim 1, 8 or 9 including a viper seal cooperatively arranged with said flush valve to prevent water leaking into said toilet bowl.

31. The tank-type flusher of claim 1, 8 or 9 including a vent for controlling odor

55. A flusher as defined in claim 4 wherein the object sensor includes:

a fiber-optic cable that extends between a local location and a remote location;

a sensor lens so disposed at the remote location as to focus light from a target region into the fiber-optic cable; and

a sensor circuit, disposed at the local location, that generates an object sensor output in accordance with light received from the fiber-optic cable.

8. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve constructed to close water flow from an external water source to a water storage tank when there is a predefined water level in said water tank, said intake valve including a float constructed and arranged to freely float within a float cage; and

a diaphragm-operated flush valve including a flush-valve chamber, said diaphragm-operated flush valve being constructed to open upon actuation to discharge water into a toilet bowl from said water tank.

9. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank; and

a flush valve constructed to control position of a flush valve member movable between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl;

said flush valve member being biased to said unseated state by a bias member and being forced to said seated state by at least a portion of water pressure from said external source.

11. The tank-type flusher of claim 9 wherein said flush-valve chamber is arranged to receive a water pressure from said external source and is arranged to prevent said water discharge utilizing at least a portion of said water pressure.

12. The tank-type flusher of claim 9 wherein said diaphragm-operated flush valve is controlled by a solenoid.

32. A flusher comprising:

a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough;

a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed at a local location and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to its seated state when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to its unseated state when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved, the valve-operating mechanism further including;

a pressure-relief conduit extending from the control-chamber pressure-relief outlet to a remote location and thereby providing a pressure relief path; and

a remote valve, disposed at the remote location, interposed in the pressure-relief path, and including;

a) chamber walls, including first and second displaceable walls, forming a closed actuator chamber;

b) and incompressible fluid that fills the actuator chamber;

c) a remote-valve member coupled to the second displaceable wall for displacement therewith between a closed state, to which it is biased and in which it prevents flow through the pressure-relief conduit and thereby prevents relief of pressure within the control chamber, and an open state, in which it permits relief of pressure within the control chamber;

d) a push button displaceable by manual depression and so coupled to the first displaceable wall as to displace the first displaceable wall and thereby the incompressible fluid, the second displaceable wall, and the valve to the open state;

e) an actuation-chamber divider that divides the actuator chamber into first and second chamber segments in which the first and second displaceable walls are respectively located, the divider providing for asymmetric flow therethrough such that it exhibits such higher flow resistance to flow of the incompressible fluid therethrough from the second chamber segment to the first chamber segment than from the first chamber segment to the second chamber segment as to impose a time delay of at least two seconds between release of the push button and the remote-valve member'"'"'s closure of the pressure-relief path.

33. A flusher as defined in claim 32 wherein the actuation-chamber divider includes:

a divider wall forming forward and reverse passages therethrough; and

a check valve positioned and oriented to permit flow from the first chamber segment through the forward passage to the second chamber segment but not from the second chamber segment through the forward passage to the first chamber segment; and

wherein the incompressible fluid flows through the reverse passage when the displaceable walls are displaced by the remote-valve member'"'"'s assuming its closed state.

34. A flusher comprising:

a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tan through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough;

a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to its seated state when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to its unseated state when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved;

a pressurizer conduit having an upstream thereof and a downstream end t hereof that so communicates with the control chamber that pressurized water applied to the pressurizer conduit at an upstream end thereof can pressurize the control chamber; and

a pressure controller interposed in the pressurizer conduit, the pressurizer conduit imposing a pressure drop from its upstream to its downstream side that increases and decreases with upstream pressure.

35. A flusher comprising:

a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough;

a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to its seated state when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to its unseated state when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved;

a pressurizer conduit having an upstream thereof and a downstream end thereof that so communicates with the control chamber that pressurized water applied to the pressurizer conduit at an upstream end thereof can pressurize the control chamber; and

a check valve interposed in the pressurize conduit and oriented to permit flow toward the pressurizer conduit'"'"'s upstreamend but not toward its upstream end.

36. A flusher comprising:

a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough;

a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to its seated state when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to its unseated state when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved;

a manifold having an inlet and pressurizer and fill outlets;

a pressurizer conduit having an upstream thereof in fluid communication with the pressurizer outlet and a downstream end thereof that so communicates with the control chamber that pressurized water applied to the pressurizer conduit at an upstream end thereof can pressurize the control chamber;

a fill conduit having an upstream thereof in fluid communication with the fill outlet and a downstream end t hereof from which the tank can be filled; and

a flow diverter so mounted on the flush-valve member as to extend into the downstream end of the pressurizer conduit as to restrict the flow area therethrough when the flush valve is in its unseated state but leave a greater flow area when the flush valve is in its seated state.

37. A pressure-responsive valve system comprising:

a delayed-closure valve forming a valve outlet and a valve inlet through which fluid can be introduced into the valve at an inlet pressure, the delayed-closure valve being operable from a closed state, in which the delayed-closure valve prevents flow therethrough from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, through a range of open states, in which it permits such flow, the delayed-closure valve being so biased that, after release from a given open state, it returns to the closed state after a closure delay that varies with how far the given state is into the range of open states;

a valve operator biased to a retracted position, in which it permits the delayed-closure valve to remain in its closed position, and manually operable through a range of extended positions, in each of which it holds the valve in corresponding open states within the range thereof;

an operator stop forming a stop pressure chamber and being resiliently expandable by pressurization of the stop pressure chamber, the operator stop being positioned to reduce the range of the valve operator'"'"'s extended positions as the operator stop expands; and

a pressurizer conduit so extending from the valve inlet to the stop pressure chamber that the stop pressure chamber receives the inlet pressure, whereby the closure delay decreases with increases in inlet pressure.

38. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 37 further including a check valve so interposed in the pressurizer conduit as to permit fluid flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber but retard flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet.

39. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 38 wherein the valve system forms a bleed orifice that permits flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet with a flow resistance greater than that with which the check valve permits flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber.

40. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 39 wherein:

the check valve includes a check-valve member resiliently biased toward a valve seat, from which flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber tends to unseat it; and

the check-valve member forms the bleed passage therethrough.

41. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 37 wherein the operator stop includes a stop base and a stop member, positioned to stop the valve operator, that cooperates with the stop base to define the stop chamber and is resiliently displaceable with respect thereto to provide the resilient expansion of the operator stop.

42. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 41 wherein the operator stop further includes a stop spring that biases the stop member against displacement that expands the operator stop.

43. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 42 wherein the spring is a tension spring acting between the stop member and the stop base.

44. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 43 further including a check valve so interposed in t he pressurizer conduit as to permit fluid flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber but retard flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet.

45. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 44 wherein the valve system forms a bleed orifice that permits flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet with a flow resistance greater than that with which the check valve permits flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber.

46. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 37 wherein the delayed-closure valve includes:

a valve seat surrounding the valve inlet;

a valve operator;

chamber walls, including first and second displaceable walls, forming a closed actuator chamber, the first displaceable wall being coupled to the valve operator for displacement thereby;

an incompressible fluid that fills the actuator chamber, whereby displacement of the first displaceable wall by the valve operator results in displacement of the second displaceable wall;

a valve member coupled to the second displaceable wall for displacement therewith between a closed state, to which it is biased and in which it so seats in the valve seat as to prevent flow from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and an open state, in which it permits such flow; and

an actuation-chamber divider that divides the actuator chamber into first and second chamber segments in which the first and second displaceable walls are respectively located, the divider providing such higher flow resistance to flow of the incompressible fluid therethrough from the second chamber segment to the first chamber segment than from the first chamber segment to the second chamber segment as, when the valve operator has been held in a position in which the operator stop stops it, to impose a time delay of at least two seconds between release of the valve operator and closure of the valve.

47. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 46 wherein the actuation-chamber divider includes a check valve positioned and oriented to permit flow from the first chamber segment to the second chamber segment but retard flow from the second chamber segment to the first chamber segment.

48. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 47 wherein the actuation-chamber divider includes a divider wall forming forward and reverse passages therethrough;

and wherein the check valve is positioned and oriented to permit flow from the first chamber segment to the second chamber segment through the forward and reverse passages both; and

arranged to permit flow from the second chamber segment to the first chamber segment through the reverse passage but not through the forward passage.

49. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 46 further including a check valve so interposed in the pressurizer conduit as to permit fluid flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber but retard flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet.

50. A pressure-responsive valve system as defined by claim 48 wherein the valve system forms a bleed orifice that permits flow from the stop pressure chamber toward the valve inlet with a flow resistance greater than that with which the check valve permits flow from the valve inlet toward the stop pressure chamber.

51. A flusher comprising:

tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

flush-valve member biased to an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and operable between its unseated state and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough;

flush-valve housing that forms a flush-valve chamber in which at least a portion of the flush-valve member is movably disposed, the flush-valve housing further forming a flush-valve chamber pressure-relief outlet and a line-pressure inlet that so admits water line pressure into the flush-valve chamber as to keep the valve in its seated state when water line pressure above a minimum hold pressure prevails in the flush-valve chamber; and

pressure-relief mechanism operable between a closed state, in which it prevents relief of flush-valve-chamber pressure through the flush-valve chamber pressure-relief outlet, and an open state, in which it relieves flush-valve-chamber pressure through the flush-valve chamber pressure-relief outlet.

52. A flusher as defined in claim 51 wherein the pressure-relief mechanism includes a pressure-relief conduit extending between a remote location and a local location, at which the flush-valve chamber is disposed;

wherein the pressure-relief mechanism so operates as to permit relief of flush-valve chamber pressure through the flush-valve chamber pressure-relief outlet when flow through the pressure-relief conduit is permitted and to prevent relief of flush-valve chamber pressure through the flush-valve chamber pressure-relief outlet when flow through the pressure-relief conduit is prevented; and

wherein the pressure-relief mechanism further includes a remote valve disposed at a remote location, interposed in the pressure-relief conduit, and operable between a closed state, in which it prevents flow through pressure-relief conduit, and an open state, in which it permits flow through the pressure-relief conduit.

53. A flusher as defined in claim 52 wherein the flush mechanism further includes a liquid-level controller that fills the tank to a target liquid level;

wherein the flush-valve chamber is disposed in the portion of the tank interior that is below the target liquid level; and

wherein the remote valve is disposed outside the portion of the tank interior that is below the target liquid level.

54. A flusher as defined in claim 51 wherein the pressure-relief mechanism further includes an object sensor, which generates an object-sensor output;

and wherein the pressure-relief mechanism operates between its open and closed states in accordance with the object-sensor output.

56. A flusher as defined in any one of claims 51 though 55 wherein the flush mechanism further includes a liquid-level controller that fills the tank to a target liquid level;

wherein the remote location is outside the portion of the tank interior that is below the target liquid level;

the local location is inside the portion of the tank interior that is below the target liquid level.

57. A flusher as defined in any one of claims 51 though 55 wherein the pressure-relief mechanism includes a latching solenoid and assumes its closed state when the latching solenoid is in one of its stable states and assumes its open state when the latching solenoid is in the other of its stable states.

58. A flusher as defined in claim 57 wherein the pressure-relief mechanism is battery-powered.

59. A flusher as defined in any one of claims 51 though 55 wherein the pressure-relief mechanism is battery-powered.

60. A flusher comprising:

a pressure vessel forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the vessel may leave the pressure vessel for flushing;

a flush-valve member biased to an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the pressure vessel through the flush outlet, and operable between its unseated state and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the pressure vessel therethrough;

a flush-valve housing that forms a flush-valve chamber in which at least a portion of the flush-valve member is movably disposed, the flush-valve enclosure further forming a line-pressure inlet that so admits water line pressure into the flush-valve chamber as to keep the valve in its seated state when water line pressure above a minimum hold pressure prevails in the flush-valve chamber;

a pressure-relief passage extending from the flush-valve-chamber interior through the valve member to the flush outlet; and

a pressure-relief mechanism operable between a closed state, in which it prevents relief of flush-valve-chamber pressure through the pressure-relief passage, and an open state, in which it relieves flush-valve-chamber pressure through the pressure-relief passage.

61. A flusher comprising:

a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;

a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough; and

a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed at a local location and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber to pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to one of said seated and unseated states thereof when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to the other of said seated and unseated states thereof when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved.