Disabler system for plumbing fixture

• US 4,709,427 A
• Filed: 09/30/1985
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Original Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Inventors: Laverty, Martin J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peters, L. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/781,944
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 4/427, 4/415, 4/DIG. 3, 4/DIG. 15, 137/396-399, 137/360, 137/412, 137/413, 137/430, 137/433, 251/28, 251/29, 251/41
• US Class Current: 4/427
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/00 Other component parts of water-closets pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L , e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14, 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
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/02 Self-closing flushing valves self-closing valves in general F16K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/30 Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7323 By float

Abstract

A flush valve operating arrangement, having a pair of tubes between a flush valve actuator assembly and a remotely controlled unit for operating a flush valve; a third tube under supply line pressure is connected between the flush valve and the remotely controlled unit, which is responsive to supply line pressure from the third tube, and a control, coupled with the pair of tubes and with a fixture connected with the flush valve, responsive to water level in the fixture for prevention of actuation of the flush valve actuator assembly by the remote unit to thereby prevent overflow of the fixture and flooding of a surrounding area.

A water level sensor is associated with the fixture, and includes a piston-housing assembly having an inlet and an outlet associated with the housing, a plunger associated with the water level sensor device either to isolate the inlet from the outlet or to place them into communication depending on the level of water in the fixture, and a bleed inlet line connected from one pair of the tubes to the inlet, and an outlet line connected from the water level sensor to a drain for diverting water in the one tube to the drain when the sensor activates the plunger to place the inlet and the outlet into communication and the remotely controlled unit is operated to place the pair of tubes into communication with the third tube.

Claims

1. In a toilet having a flush valve operating arrangement, including:

toilet fixture for holding water;

a flush valve connected to said fixture;

a flush valve actuator assembly associated with said flush valve;

a remotely controlled operated unit;

a pair of tubes extending between said flush valve actuator assembly and said remotely controlled operated unit;

a third tube under water supply line pressure connected between said flush valve and said remotely controlled operated unit, means in said remotely controlled operated unit for connecting the water supply line pressure from said third tube with said pair of tubes for actuating said actuator assembly;

water level sensor means hydraulically connected with at least one of said pair of tubes and hydraulically connected with said fixture to be flushed;

said water level sensor means being responsive to water level in the fixture and including means for relieving water supply line pressure in said at least one of said pair of tubes when a predetermined water level is sensed for prevention of actuation of said flush valve actuator assembly by said remotely located operated unit to thereby prevent overflow of the fixture and flooding of a surrounding area; and

means between said fixture and said tubes for isolating said tubes from said fixture;

said isolating means being separate and apart from said fixture and preventing access to said tubes.

2. In the arrangement of claim 1, wherein said actuator assembly includes:

a housing having two inlets, one for each of said pair of tubes;

a sleeve assembly in said housing including a sleeve and by-pass means associated with said sleeve; and

a piston having a solid face slidable within said sleeve in response to the supply line pressure being supplied to said solid face of said piston by both said tubes of said pair of tubes simultaneously and with substantially equal hydraulic pressure in each said tubes for actuating said flush valve;

said by-pass means cooperating with said remotely controlled operated unit to provide for communication between said pair of tubes and the outlet of said flush valve to said fixture to permit drainage of said pair of tubes and said housing into the fixture through said outlet of said flush valve, thereby providing for uniform pressure over the face of said piston proximate to said pair of tubes.

3. In the arrangement of claim 2, wherein said sleeve has an inner circumferential extent conforming to the outer circumferential extent of said piston and has a longitudinal channel on the outer surface thereof coaxial with and concentrically spaced from the central axis of said housing and a transverse opening from an inside portion of said sleeve opening into said channel, and said piston includes an outer plate having a foreshortened diametrical extent to provide access to said longitudinal channel from said transverse opening for all positions of said piston.

4. In the arrangement of claim 1, wherein said means associated with said pair of tubes includes:

a water level sensor device operatively associated with said fixture;

a piston-housing assembly including an inlet and an outlet associated with said housing, a plunger operatively associated with said water level sensor device either to isolate said inlet from said outlet or to place them into communication depending on the level of water in the fixture; and

a bleed inlet line connected from one said pair of tubes to said inlet, and an outlet line connected from said water level sensing device to a drain for by-passing water in said one pair of tubes to said drain when said sensor device activates said plunger to place said inlet and said outlet into communication and said remotely controlled operated unit is operated to place said pair of tubes into communication with said third tube.

5. In the arrangement of claim 4 wherein said water level sensor device includes a float for sensing the height of the water level in the fixture.

6. In the arrangement of claim 4, wherein said piston housing assembly is isolated from the fixture, and including means fluidly connecting the fixture to said piston-housing assembly while maintaining isolation of said piston-housing assembly and the fixture.

7. In the arrangement of claim 1, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit is a push-button operated member.

8. In the arrangement of claim 1, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device for placing said third tube into communication with said pair of tubes.

9. In the arrangement of claim 8, wherein said infra-red sensor responsive device includes a two seconds time delay to provide for selective operation.

10. In the arrangement of claim 1, including an infra-red sensor actuating device coupled with said remote operated unit for activation thereof in response to an object returning infra-red rays transmitted from said sensor actuating device to said sensor actuating device for connecting said remote operated unit with the inlet supply side of said flush valve, said pair of tubes being normally at zero line pressure and being subjected to said supply line pressure in response to said sensor actuating device being activated for rendering said flush valve actuator assembly operative to operate said flush valve, means separate from said first flush valve actuator assembly and associated therewith for bleeding off supply line pressure to disable said remote operated unit.

11. In the arrangement of claim 10, including a by-pass associated with the flush valve outlet and separate from said flush valve actuator assembly for permitting excess water in said pair of tubes from said supply line to discharge into said flush valve outlet for reducing the line pressure in said third tube when said remote operated unit is restored.

12. In the arrangement of claim 1, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit is a solenoid and a valve body having a single inlet and a pair of outlets, said solenoid including an actuatable movable core;

said movable core being movable between a first position wherein said two outlets and said inlet are isolated from each other to a second position in which said two outlets are in communication with said inlet.

13. In the arrangement of claim 12, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device electrically connected with said solenoid for energizing thereof in response to an individual rendering said infra-red sensor device operative to move said movable core and place said outlets into communication with said inlet.

14. In the arrangement of claim 13, wherein said valve body includes a passage between said inlet and said outlets;

said movable core sealing off said passage when said solenoid is de-energized.

15. In the arrangement of claim 1, including means between said fixture and said pair of tubes for isolating said pair of tubes from said fixture.

16. In a toilet having a flush valve operating arrangement, including a toilet fixture for holding water;

a flush valve connected to said fixture;

a flush valve actuator assembly associated with said flush valve;

a remotely controlled operated unit;

a pair of tubes extending between said flush valve actuator assembly and said remotely controlled operated unit;

a third tube under water supply line pressure connected between said flush valve and said remotely controlled operated unit, means in said remotely controlled operated unit for connecting the water supply line pressure from said third tube with said pair of tubes for actuating said actuator assembly;

means operatively coupled with said pair of tubes and with a fixture connected with said flush valve to be flushed responsive to water level in the fixture for prevention of actuation of said flush valve actuator assembly by said remotely located operated unit to thereby prevent overflow of the fixture and flooding of a surrounding area, including;

a water level sensor device operatively associated with the fixture;

a piston-housing assembly including an inlet and an outlet associated with said housing, a plunger operatively associated with said water level sensor device either to isolate said inlet from said outlet or to place them into communication depending on the level of water in the fixture; and

a bleed inlet line connected from one said pair of tubes to said inlet, and an outlet line connected from said water level sensing device to a drain for diverting water in said one of said pair of tubes to said drain when said sensor device activates said plunger to place said inlet and said outlet into communication and said remotely controlled operated unit is operated to place said pair of tubes into communication with said third tube.

17. In the arrangement of claim 16, wherein said water level sensor device includes a float for sensing the height of the water level in the fixture.

18. In the arrangement of claim 16, wherein said piston housing assembly is isolated from the fixture, and including means fluidly connecting the fixture to said piston-housing assembly while maintaining isolation of said piston-housing assembly and the fixture.

19. In the arrangement of claim 16, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device for placing said third tube into communication with said pair of tubes.

20. In the arrangement of claim 19, wherein said infra-red sensor responsive device includes a time delay to provide for selective operation.

21. In the arrangement of claim 16, including an infra-red sensor actuating device coupled with said remote operated unit for activation thereof in response to an object returning infra-red rays transmitted from said sensor actuating device to said sensor actuating device for connecting said remote operated unit with the inlet supply side of said flush valve, said pair of tubes being normally at zero line pressure and being subjected to said supply line pressure in response to said sensor actuating device being activated for rendering said flush valve actuator assembly operative to operate said flush valve, means separate from said first flush valve actuator assembly and associated therewith for bleeding off supply line pressure to disable said remote operated unit.

22. In the arrangement of claim 16, wherein said actuating unit assembly includes:

a housing having two inlets, one for each of said pair of tubes; and

a sleeve assembly in said housing including a piston having a solid face, a sleeve associated with said housing and including by-pass means, said piston being slidable within said sleeve in response to the supply line pressure being supplied to said solid face by both said tubes of said pair of tubes simultaneously and with equal hydraulic pressure in each said tubes for actuating said flush valve;

said by-pass means cooperating with said remotely controlled operated unit to provide for communication between said pair of tubes and the outlet of said flush valve to said fixture to permit drainage of said pair of tubes and said housing into the fixture through said outlet of said flush valve, thereby providing uniform pressure over the face of said piston proximate to said pair of tubes.

23. In the arrangement of claim 22, wherein said sleeve includes a longitudinal channel coaxial with and concentrically spaced from the central axis of said housing and a transverse opening from a side of the piston remote from said outlet into said channel, and said piston including an outer plate having a foreshortened diametrical extent to provide access to said transverse opening for all positions of said piston.

24. In the arrangement of claim 16, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit is a solenoid and a valve body having a single inlet and a pair of outlets, said solenoid including an actuatable movable coil;

and said movable coil is movable between a first position wherein said two outlets and said inlet are isolated from each other to a second position in which said two outlets are in communication with said inlet.

25. In the arrangement of claim 24, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device electrically connected with said solenoid for energizing thereof in response to an individual rendering said infra-red sensor device operative to move said movable coil and place said outlets into communication with said inlet.

26. In the arrangement of claim 25, wherein said valve body includes a passage between said inlet and said outlets;

said movable coil sealing off said passage when said solenoid is de-energized.

27. In the arrangement of claim 16, including means between said fixture and said pair of tubes for isolating said pair of tubes from said fixture.

28. In a toilet having a flush valve operating arrangement, including a toilet fixture for holding water;

a flush valve connected with said fixture for controlling the flushing thereof;

a flush valve actuator assembly associated with said flush valve;

a remotely located and controlled operated unit;

a pair of tubes extending between said flush valve actuator assembly and said remotely controlled operated unit;

a third tube under water supply line pressure connected between said flush valve and said remotely controlled operated unit, means in said remotely controlled operated unit for connecting the supply line pressure from said third tube with at least one of said pair of tubes for actuating said actuator assembly;

means hydraulically connected with said pair of tubes and the fixture responsive to water level in the fixture and including means for relieving water supply line pressure in said at least one of said pair of tubes when a predetermined water level is sensed for prevention of actuation of said flush valve piston actuator assembly by said remotely located operated unit, said water level responsive means being operable in response to the quantity of flush water in the fixture to thereby prevent overflow thereof and flooding of a surrounding area; and

said actuating assembly including;

a housing having two inlets, one for each of said pair of tubes and a sleeve assembly in said housing;

said sleeve assembly including a piston having a solid face, a sleeve associated with said housing and by-pass means, said piston being slidable within said sleeve in response to the supply line pressure being supplied to said solid face by both said tubes of said pair of tubes simultaneously and with substantially equal hydraulic pressure in each said tubes for actuating said flush valve; and

said by-pass means cooperating with said remotely controlled operated unit to provide for communication between said pair of tubes and the outlet of said flush valve to said fixture to permit drainage of said pair of tubes and said housing into the fixture through said outlet of said flush valve, thereby providing uniform pressure over the face of said piston proximate to said pair of tubes.

29. In the arrangement of claim 28, wherein said by-pass means includes a longitudinal channel in said sleeve coaxial with and concentrically spaced from the central axis of said housing and a transverse opening in said sleeve from a side of the piston remote from said outlet into said channel, and said piston including an outer plate having a foreshortened diametrical extent to provide access to said transverse opening for all positions of said piston.

30. In a toilet having a flush valve operating arrangement, including a toilet fixture for holding water:

a flush valve connected with the fixture;

a flush valve actuator assembly associated with said flush valve;

a remotely controlled operated unit comprising a solenoid and a valve body having a single hydraulic inlet and a pair of hydraulic outlets, said solenoid including an actuatable movable core, said movable core being movable between a first position wherein said two outlets and said inlet are isolated from each other to a second position in which said two outlets are in communication with said inlet;

a pair of tubes extending between said flush valve actuator assembly and said remotely controlled operated unit;

a third tube under hydraulic supply line pressure connected between said flush valve and said inlet of said remotely controlled operated unit, means in said remotely controlled operated unit for connecting the supply line pressure from said third tube with said pair of tubes; and

water level sensor means hydraulically coupled with at least one of said pair of tubes and including means for relieving water supply line pressure in said pair of tubes when a predetermined water level is sensed and with the fixture responsive to water level therein for prevention of actuation of said flush valve actuator assembly by said remotely located operated unit to thereby prevent overflow of the fixture and flooding of a surrounding area.

31. In the arrangement of claim 30, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device electrically connected with said solenoid for energizing thereof in response to an individual rendering said infra-red sensor device operative to move said movable coil and place said outlets into communication with said inlet.

32. In the arrangement of claim 30, wherein said valve body includes a hydraulic passage between said inlet and said outlets, and said movable core seals off said passage when said solenoid is de-energized.

33. In the arrangement of claim 30, including means associated with the flush valve outlet and separate from said flush valve actuator assembly for permitting excess water in said pair of tubes from said supply line to discharge into said flush valve outlet for reducing the line pressure in said third tube when said remote operated unit is restored.

34. In a flush valve operating arrangement including:

toilet fixture for holding water;

a flush valve connected to said fixture;

a flush valve actuator assembly associated with said flush valve;

a remotely controlled operated unit;

a pair of tubes extending between said flush valve actuator assembly and said remotely controlled operated unit;

a third tube under water supply line pressure connected between said flush valve and said remotely controlled operated unit, means in said remotely controlled operated unit for connecting the supply line pressure from said third tube with said pair of tubes;

an infra-red sensor actuating device coupled with said remotely operated unit for activation thereof in response to an object returning infra-red rays transmitted from said sensor actuating device to said sensor actuating device for connecting said remote operated unit with the inlet supply side of said flush valve;

said infra-red sensor actuating device comprising an infra-red radiation transmitter and an infra-red receiver, a first conduit for transmitting the infra-red transmission from said transmitter from one side of an isolation means to the other, and a second conduit separate and apart from said first conduit for transmitting infra-red transmission received from a reflecting body through said isolation means to said sensor actuating device so that the transmitted infra-red rays and the received infra-red rays are maintained separate from each other; and

said pair of tubes being normally at zero line pressure and being subjected to said supply line pressure in response to said sensor actuating device being activated for rendering said flush valve actuator assembly operative to operate said flush valve; and

means responsive to water level separate from said flush valve actuator assembly and associated therewith for bleeding off supply line pressure in said at least one of said pair of tubes when a predetermined water level is sensed to disable said remote operated unit.

35. In the arrangement of claim 34, including a by-pass associated with a drain outlet and separate from said flush valve actuator assembly for permitting excess water in said pair of tubes from said supply line to discharge positively into the drain for reducing the line pressure in said third tube when said remote operated unit is restored.

36. In the arrangement of claim 34, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit is a solenoid and a valve body having a single outlet and a pair of outlets, said solenoid including an actuatable movable coil;

said movable coil being movable between a first position wherein said two outlets and said inlet are isolated from each other to a second position in which said two outlets are in communication with said inlet.

37. In the arrangement of claim 36, wherein said remotely controlled operated unit includes an infra-red sensor responsive device electrically connected with said solenoid for energizing thereof in response to an individual rendering said infra-red sensor device operative to move said movable coil and place said outlets into communication with said inlet.

38. In the arrangement of claim 37, wherein said valve body includes a passage between said inlet and said outlets;

said movable coil sealing off said passage when said solenoid is de-energized.

39. In the arrangement of claim 34, wherein said means separate from said flush valve actuator assembly for bleeding off supply line pressure to disable said remote operated unit includes means response to water level in the fixture for prevention of actuation of the flush valve actuator assembly by said remotely controlled unit to prevent overflow of the fixture and flooding of the surrounding area.