METERING VALVE CONSTRUCTION

• US 3,842,857 A
• Filed: 04/06/1973
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Mccornack
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Mccornack
• Inventors: McCornack, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US05/348,515
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 251/39,43,33 137/242
• US Class Current: 137/242
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/12 with hydraulically-operated opening means; with arrangements for pressure relief before opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4273 Mechanical cleaning

Abstract

A toilet flush valve construction consisting of an outer sleeve portion and a piston assembly normally closing one end of said sleeve. Operable means are adapted for pressurized displacement of the piston assembly within the sleeve to allow entry of fluids or gases into said sleeve for continued passage to the outlet. The sleeve defines internal walls providing bearing support for the piston assembly. A metering orifice passage is associated with the piston assembly for controlling the cycling of the valve.

Claims

1. In a metering valve for disposition in a tubular section between inlet and outlet portions of said section, said valve comprising a sleeve defining an open end and an open side wall, a piston assembly reciprocally movable in said sleeve and having a first piston head adapted to close said open end to prevent flow through said valve, and an actuating means for shifting said piston assembly to displace said first piston head and thereby open communication between inlet and outlet portions of said valve, said piston assembly defining an internal passage and a second piston head at the end of said passage, said second piston head forming a movable wall of a chamber into which fluid from said passage is adapted to flow, and a separate valve in said internal passage adapted to be opened by said actuating means whereby fluid enters said chamber to shift said second piston head, a metering orifice associated with said second piston head, resilient and pressure means for imparting return movement to said piston assembly whereby the fluid in said chamber is slowly discharged through said orifice to accomplish gradual return of said first piston head to seated position, the improvement comprising a bearing means situated within said sleeve slideably disposed within the side wall thereof, said bearing means defining A cylindrical opening with said piston assembly being received within said opening for reciprocal movement relative to the bearing means, said bearing means serving as a support for said piston assembly and for said resilient means thereby maintaining alignment of the piston assembly relative to said sleeve, a portion of the side wall of said sleeve consisting of spaced-apart web members to provide an outlet opening in the side wall, said bearing means comprising at least one element having a tubular section defining said cylindrical opening, and an externally formed flange portion extending outwardly from said tubular section, said flange portion being disposed within said sleeve.

2. A valve in accordance with claim 1, including a plurality of openings defined by said flange portion to facilitate fluid or gas flow into said outlet portion of said tubular section.

3. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second piston head defines a passage, a pin having an outer diameter slightly less than the diameter of said passage, said pin being received in and continually extending through said passage with the combination of the pin and passage defining said metering orifice, and a post extending perpendicularly from said flange in the direction of said second piston head, said post being aligned with the passage in the piston head and said pin engaging said post for maintaining the pin in position for relative reciprocal movement of the second piston head, the reciprocating movement of the passage relative to the pin serving to keep the metering orifice free of obstructions.

4. A valve in accordance with claim 3 including a washer located at the end of said chamber opposite said second piston head, said washer defining an opening for receiving said pin whereby the combination of said washer and said post serves to hold said pin in position during reciprocation of said piston.

5. A valve in accordance with claim 4 wherein said pin defines an enlarged head, and a dimple defined by said washer in the area of the opening of the washer whereby said pin head is held flush with the surface of the washer.

6. A valve in accordance with claim 1 including a passage defined by said second piston head and a pin having a diameter less than the diameter of said passage located within and extending beyond the limits of said passage, the combination of said passage and said pin providing said metering orifice, and a washer situated in said chamber opposite said piston head, said washer defining an opening for receiving said pin to thereby position the pin during shifting of the piston, the reciprocating movement of said passage relative to said pin cooperating to maintain the metering orifice free of obstructions.

7. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second piston head defines a passage, a pin having a diameter less than the diameter of said passage located within said passage, the combination of said pin and said passage providing said metering orifice, an abutment defined by said flange for receiving said pin, said pin being thereby maintained in position during shifting of said piston, the relative movement of said orifice and said pin during shifting of the piston operating to maintain the metering orifice free of obstructions.

8. A valve in accordance with claim 7 wherein said bearing means consist of a pair of elements having tubular sections and flange portions, the flange portion opposite the flange abutting said pin defining a plurality of openings to facilitate movement of fluid or gas into said outlet portion of said sleeve.

9. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first piston head carries a sealing ring, the sealing ring on said first piston head being disposed at an angle slightly offset from a plane extending perpendicularly to the axis of said piston whereby the sealing ring engages said open end of said sleeve in sequential fashion during opening and closing of said open end.

10. In a metering valve for disposition in a tubular section between inlet and outlet portions of said section, said valve comprising a sleeve defining an open end and an open side wall, a piston assembly reciprocally movable in said sleeve and having a first piston head adapted to close said open end to prevent flow through said valve, and an actuating means for shifting said piston assembly to displace said first piston head and thereby open communication between inlet and outlet portions of said valve, said piston assembly defining an internal passage and a second piston head at the end of said passage, said second piston head forming a movable wall of a chamber into which fluid from said passage is adapted to flow, and a separate valve in said internal passage adapted to be opened by said actuating means whereby fluid enters said chamber to shift said second piston head, a metering orifice associated with said second piston head, resilient and pressure means for imparting return movement to said piston assembly whereby the fluid in said chamber is slowly discharged through said orifice to accomplish gradual return of said first piston head to seated position, the improvement comprising a bearing means situated within said sleeve slideably disposed within the side wall thereof, said bearing means defining a cylindrical opening with said piston assembly being received within said opening for reciprocal movement relative to the bearing means, said bearing means serving as a support for said piston assembly and for said resilient means thereby maintaining alignment of the piston assembly relative to said sleeve, wherein said first piston head carries a sealing ring, the sealing ring on said first piston head being disposed at an angle slightly offset from a plane extending perpendicularly to the axis of said piston whereby the sealing ring engages said open end of said sleeve in sequential fashion during opening and closing of said open end.

11. In a metering valve for disposition in a tubular section between inlet and outlet portions of said section, said valve comprising a sleeve defining an open end and an open side wall, a piston assembly reciprocally movable in said sleeve and having a first piston head adapted to close said open end to prevent flow through said valve, and an actuating means for shifting said piston assembly to displace said first piston head and thereby open communication between inlet and outlet portions of said valve, said piston assembly defining an internal passage and a second piston head at the end of said passage, said second piston head forming a movable wall of a chamber into which fluid from said passage is adapted to flow, and a separate valve in said internal passage adapted to be opened by said actuating means whereby fluid enters said chamber to shift said second piston head, a metering orifice associated with said second piston head, resilient and pressure means for imparting return movement to said piston assembly whereby the fluid in said chamber is slowly discharged through said orifice to accomplish gradual return of said first piston head to seated position, the improvement wherein said orifice is provided by means of a passage defined by said second piston head, a pin encircled by said passage, said pin continuously extending through said passage and being loosely received in the passage and being reciprocal relative to said passage during operation of the valve to thereby maintain the orifice free of obstructions, means positioned at the end of said chamber opposite said second piston head for securing the pin in position during reciprocation of the second piston head relative thereto.

12. A valve in accordance with claim 11 including means for holding the opposite end of said pin in position, said last mentioned means including a cavity receiving said opposite end of said pin.

13. A valve in accordance with claim 12 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a post, a bearing means positioned in surrounding relationship relative to said piston assembly, said post being mounted on said bearing means, and wherein said cavity is sufficiently deep to permit relative movement of said post and said pin.