Bypass orifice filter for flush valve diaphragm

• US 5,213,305 A
• Filed: 04/13/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Richardson, Bradley S., Whiteside, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US07/867,444
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 251/38, 251/39, 251/40, 251/41, 251/42, 251/45, 251/118, 251/120, 138/40, 138/41, 138/44, 138/45, 138/46, 137/545, 137/550, 210/418, 210/497.01
• US Class Current: 251/40
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8122 Planar strainer normal to flow path

Abstract

A bypass orifice and filter for use in the diaphragm of a toilet room flush valve includes an orifice member adapted to be mounted in the flush valve diaphragm, and a filter element attached to the upstream side of the orifice member. The orifice member has a metering restriction to limit the flow of water therethrough and the filter element has a plurality of openings therein in communication with the orifice member metering restriction. The smallest dimension of the openings in the filter element are less than the smallest dimension of the metering restriction so that any particle in the water passing through the filter element will pass through the metering orifice. In some embodiments the orifice member and filter element are an integral unit.

Claims

1. A bypass orifice and filter means for mounting in a toilet room flushing device including a body, a flange at one end of said body for positioning said body within a water passage in the flushing device, a metering restriction in said flange to limit the flow of water through said bypass orifice and filter means, a plurality of circumferentially arranged uniform filter passage about an upstream portion of said body, with the smallest dimension of each passage being less than the smallest dimension of the metering restriction and means for centering said body within said water passage of said flushing device.

2. The bypass orifice and filter means of claim 1 further characterized in that said filter passages are formed by a plurality of uniformly spaced grooves on the exterior of said body portion.

3. The bypass orifice and filter means of claim 1 further characterized by and including a retainer positioned exteriorly of said body and centering said body within a water passage of said flushing device.

4. The bypass orifice and filter means of claim 3 further characterized in that said filter passages are formed between an interior surface of said retainer and the exterior of said body.

5. The bypass orifice and filter means of claim 4 further characterized in that said body includes a plurality of outwardly-extending projections which center said body within said retainer.

6. The bypass orifice and filter means of claim 4 further characterized in that said retainer includes a plurality of inwardly-extending projections which center said body within said retainer.

7. A bypass orifice and filter for use in a diaphragm of a toilet room flushing device including an orifice member for mounting in the diaphragm, said orifice member having a passage with a metering restriction therein to limit the flow of water through the orifice member, and a filter element attached to the upstream side of said orifice member, said filter element having a plurality of openings therein in communication with said metering restriction, the smallest dimension of each opening being less than the smallest dimension of the metering restriction, so that any particle in the water passing through the filter element openings will pass through the metering restriction, said filter element including a bottom and a plurality of integral flexible arms, each of which is formed and adapted to yieldingly attach to the upstream end of said orifice member, the spaces between said arms forming the openings in said filter element.

8. The bypass orifice and filter of claim 7 further characterized in that said filter element openings are slots extending in an upstream direction from said orifice member.

9. The bypass orifice and filter of claim 8 further characterized in that said orifice member metering restriction is at the upstream end of said passage.

10. The bypass orifice and filter of claim 9 further characterized in that the ends of each of said filter element arms interlock with a projection on the upstream end of said orifice member.

11. A diaphragm assembly for use in a diaphragm-type flush valve including a diaphragm formed of a flexible material and adapted to separate the inlet and outlet of a flush valve, a bypass orifice and filter mounted in said diaphragm and including an orifice member and a filter element attached thereto, said orifice member having a passage with a metering restriction therein to limit the flow of water therethrough, said filter element being attached to the upstream side of said orifice member and having a plurality of openings therein in communication with said metering restriction, the smallest dimension of each opening being less than the smallest dimension of the metering restriction, so that any particle in the water passing through the filter element openings will pass through the metering restriction, said filter element including a bottom and a plurality of integral flexible arms, each of which is formed and adapted to yieldingly attach to the upstream end of said orifice member, the spaces between said arms forming the openings in said filter element.

12. The bypass orifice and filter of claim 11 further characterized in that the ends of each of said filter element arms interlock with a projection on the upstream end of said orifice member.

13. In a flush valve, a body having an inlet and an outlet, a passage connecting the inlet and outlet, a valve seat in said passage, a diaphragm positioned to control the flow of water through said passage and to close upon said seat, a bypass orifice and filter member mounted in said diaphragm, said bypass orifice and filter member including a body, a flange at one end of said body for positioning said body within a passage in said diaphragm, a metering restriction in said flange to limit the flow of water through said bypass orifice and filter member, a plurality of circumferentially arranged uniform filter passages about an upstream portion of said body, with the smallest dimension of each passage being less then the smallest dimension of the metering restriction, and a retainer positioned exteriorly of said body and centering said body within said diaphragm passage.