Flush valve with an electronic sensor and solenoid valve
First Claim
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1. A sensor operated flush valve comprising:
- a valve body having a water inlet and a water outlet;
a valve body cover for said valve body, said valve body cover having a U-shaped cup-shaped portion therein, and first and second openings in the base of said cup-shaped portion, said first opening being aligned with said water outlet;
cooperating means on said valve body and said valve body cover for holding said valve body cover to said valve body in a water-tight fitting relationship;
a diaphragm valve assembly including a diaphragm member and a main valve seat member having one end held in a fixed relationship between said valve body and said valve body cover for separating said inlet from said outlet, said diaphragm member having a central opening aligned with said first opening and said water outlet and defining another end, holding means coupled with said other end aligned with said other end controlling the movement thereof longitudinally of said water outlet, and by-pass means associated with said diaphragm member for permitting water under pressure supplied to said water inlet to pass from one side of said diaphragm to the other side thereof into said valve body cover;
said valve body cover including a guide element extending through said diaphragm assembly for permitting said diaphragm to slidably and sealingly engage said guide element during movement of said diaphragm assembly, said guide element defining said first opening;
a housing connected with said cover for containing a flush valve operating mechanism;
said flush valve operating mechanism comprising;
a solenoid valve apparatus housed within said housing and including a solenoid valve body element received within said cup-shaped portion having first and second passageways, said first and second passageways being aligned with said first and second openings;
said solenoid valve apparatus including in said housing a solenoid means supported on said solenoid valve body element and a reciprocable solenoid plunger movable within said solenoid means;
said solenoid plunger being associated with said solenoid valve body element and aligned therewith to overlie said first and second passageways and to close off said first passageway from said second passageway;
said second opening being displaced from said first opening and communicating with the interior of said cover away from said outlet and said other side of said diaphragm member;
said solenoid plunger cooperating with said solenoid valve body element and being movable relative thereto to close and to open said first and second passageways and to permit water to flow from said second to said first passageway upon activation of said solenoid means and to close off said first and second passageways from each other upon deactivation of said solenoid means for closing said diaphragm assembly, said plunger being raised upon activation of said solenoid means for opening said diaphragm assembly and upon deactivation thereof is moved by gravity into engagement with said solenoid valve body element to isolate said first and second passageways from each other; and
activation means including circuitry contained within said housing responsive to an external stimulation including at least one of an infra-red sensor mechanism and external non-user control to activate said solenoid valve means to move said solenoid plunger and cause the water to flow from said second passageway into said first passageway and into said outlet and means for enclosing said circuitry to prevent moisture contamination thereof.
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Abstract
The invention relates to flush valves in which an external operating handle is eliminated. An electronic sensor, solenoid valve and a solenoid contained within a single unit to operate a flush valve are provided which is either built into the flush valve or can be retrofitted to a conventional flush valve with an external operating handle. The solenoid valve can also be controlled by external means separate and apart from the infra-red sensor mechanism.
156 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor operated flush valve comprising:
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a valve body having a water inlet and a water outlet; a valve body cover for said valve body, said valve body cover having a U-shaped cup-shaped portion therein, and first and second openings in the base of said cup-shaped portion, said first opening being aligned with said water outlet; cooperating means on said valve body and said valve body cover for holding said valve body cover to said valve body in a water-tight fitting relationship; a diaphragm valve assembly including a diaphragm member and a main valve seat member having one end held in a fixed relationship between said valve body and said valve body cover for separating said inlet from said outlet, said diaphragm member having a central opening aligned with said first opening and said water outlet and defining another end, holding means coupled with said other end aligned with said other end controlling the movement thereof longitudinally of said water outlet, and by-pass means associated with said diaphragm member for permitting water under pressure supplied to said water inlet to pass from one side of said diaphragm to the other side thereof into said valve body cover; said valve body cover including a guide element extending through said diaphragm assembly for permitting said diaphragm to slidably and sealingly engage said guide element during movement of said diaphragm assembly, said guide element defining said first opening; a housing connected with said cover for containing a flush valve operating mechanism; said flush valve operating mechanism comprising; a solenoid valve apparatus housed within said housing and including a solenoid valve body element received within said cup-shaped portion having first and second passageways, said first and second passageways being aligned with said first and second openings; said solenoid valve apparatus including in said housing a solenoid means supported on said solenoid valve body element and a reciprocable solenoid plunger movable within said solenoid means; said solenoid plunger being associated with said solenoid valve body element and aligned therewith to overlie said first and second passageways and to close off said first passageway from said second passageway; said second opening being displaced from said first opening and communicating with the interior of said cover away from said outlet and said other side of said diaphragm member; said solenoid plunger cooperating with said solenoid valve body element and being movable relative thereto to close and to open said first and second passageways and to permit water to flow from said second to said first passageway upon activation of said solenoid means and to close off said first and second passageways from each other upon deactivation of said solenoid means for closing said diaphragm assembly, said plunger being raised upon activation of said solenoid means for opening said diaphragm assembly and upon deactivation thereof is moved by gravity into engagement with said solenoid valve body element to isolate said first and second passageways from each other; and activation means including circuitry contained within said housing responsive to an external stimulation including at least one of an infra-red sensor mechanism and external non-user control to activate said solenoid valve means to move said solenoid plunger and cause the water to flow from said second passageway into said first passageway and into said outlet and means for enclosing said circuitry to prevent moisture contamination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A replacement cover and control module unit for a flush valve, said unit comprising:
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a cover member assembly including a cover portion and an electronic cover enclosing a control module unit, said cover portion being adapted to fit on a flush valve body, and said electronic cover and said control module unit being supported by said cover portion; said cover portion having an U-shaped opening in the top thereof, a cylindrical portion projecting from said top juxtaposed to said U-shaped opening, a first opening in said U-shaped portion communicating with an inlet to said flush valve and a second opening in said U-shaped portion communicating with an outlet of said flush valve; seal means associated with said cover portion and said cylindrical portion and said outlet for providing a water-tight seal between the outer surface of said cylindrical portion and said outlet; and said control module unit being adapted to fit over and supported on said cover portion and providing a water-tight relationship therewith, and containing a solenoid mechanism, and hands-free externally operated energization means for operating said solenoid mechanism when a human presence is detected; a solenoid valve body receivable within said U-shaped opening; said solenoid mechanism including a solenoid plunger associated with a solenoid aligned with said U-shaped opening and said solenoid valve body and movable between a first position closing off communication between said first and second openings through the intermediation of said solenoid valve body and a second position to provide communication through said solenoid valve body between said first and second openings; and said energization means upon activation thereof causing said solenoid plunger to move from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sensor operated flush valve comprising:
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a valve body having a water inlet and a water outlet; a valve body cover for said valve body, said valve body cover including a roof portion having first and second openings, said frist opening being substantially aligned with said water outlet; cooperating means on said valve body and said valve body cover for holding said valve body cover to said valve body in a water-tight fitting relationship; a diaphragm valve assembly including a diaphragm member and a main valve seat member having one end held in a fixed relationship between said valve body and said valve body cover for separating said inlet from said outlet, said diaphragm member having a central opening substantially aligned with said first opening and said water outlet and defining another end, holding means coupled with said other end aligned with said other end controlling the movement thereof longitudinally of said water outlet, and by-pass means associated with said diaphragm member for permitting water under pressure supplied to said water inlet to pass from one side of said diaphragm to the other side thereof into said valve body cover; said valve body cover including a guide element extending through said diaphragm assembly for permitting said diaphragm to slidably and sealingly engage said guide element during movement of said diaphragm assembly, said guide element defining said first opening; a housing connected with said cover for containing a flush valve operating mechanism; said flush valve operating mechanism comprising; a solenoid valve apparatus housed within said housing and including a solenoid valve body element cooperating with said roof portion and having first and second passageways, said first and second passageways being aligned with said first and second openings, respectively; said solenoid valve apparatus including in said housing a solenoid means supported on said solenoid valve body element and a reciprocable solenoid plunger movable within said solenoid means; said solenoid plunger being associated with said solenoid valve body element and aligned therewith to overlie said first and second passageways and to close off said first passageway from said second passageway; said second opening being displaced from said first opening and communicating with the interior of said cover away from said outlet and said other side of said diaphragm member; said solenoid plunger cooperating with said solenoid valve body element and being movable relative thereto to close and to open said first and second passageways and to permit water to flow from said second to said first passageway upon activation of said solenoid means and to close off said first and second passageways from each other upon deactivation of said solenoid means for closing said diaphragm assembly, said plunger being raised upon activation of said solenoid means for opening said diaphragm assembly and upon deactivation thereof is moved by gravity into engagement with said solenoid valve body element to isolate said first and second passageways from each other; and activation means including circuitry contained within said housing responsive to an external stimulation including at least one of an infra-red sensor mechanism and external non-user control to activate said solenoid to move said solenoid valve means plunger and cause the water to flow from said second passageway into said first passageway and into said outlet and means for enclosing said circuitry to prevent moisture contamination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification