Diaphragm assembly

• US 5,232,194 A
• Filed: 09/21/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zurn Industries LLC (Zilco Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zurn Industries Incorporated (Rexnord Corporation)
• Inventors: Ralston, John D., Farrell, Robert E., Beaumont, John, Saadi, Robert E., Knoll, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWADRON, MARTIN
• Application Number:
  US07/948,095
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 251/40, 251/120, 251/118, 92/99, 92/100, 92/103 SD
• US Class Current: 251/40
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement

Abstract

A unitary diaphragm assembly for use in conventional flush valves. The diaphragm assembly has a flexible diaphragm which includes a seating portion and a mounting portion at the outer peripheral edge. A flow ring is positioned adjacent to the seating portion of the diaphragm. An elongated barrel member extends from the diaphragm in a longitudinal direction and includes a plurality of radial guides positioned circumferentially around the outer surface of the barrel member along a portion of the length of the barrel member. A second embodiment has a flexible diaphragm connected to a cylinder slide. The cylinder slide includes a longitudinal barrel member with a relief valve positioned in the interior of the lower portion of the barrel member.

Claims

1. A one-piece, unitary diaphragm assembly for use in a flush valve comprising:

an annular flexible diaphragm having a sealing surface and a mounting portion at the peripheral edge for mounting said diaphragm assembly within a flush valve;

a bypass orifice in said diaphragm;

a flow control means adjacent said sealing surface;

an elongated barrel member adjacent to said flow control means;

a plurality of radial guides positioned circumferentially around the outer surface of said barrel member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of said barrel member; and

a relief valve seat at the upper end of said elongated barrel member, said relief valve seat being planar and adapted for sealing a relief valve of the flush valve.

2. The diaphragm assembly of claim 1 including an annular support surrounding said relief valve seat.

5. The diaphragm assembly of claim 1 wherein said radial guides are attached to said flow control means and extend to the distal end of said barrel member.

6. The diaphragm assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow control means may be modified in shape to obtain various flush valve flow performances.

7. The diaphragm assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of said diaphragm.

8. The diaphragm assembly of claim 1 wherein said annular flexible diaphragm and said relief valve seat are made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The diaphragm assembly of claim 8 wherein said barrel member, said flow control means and said radial guides are made from the same material.

10. The diaphragm assembly of claim 9 wherein said barrel is made of a material selected from the group consisting of ABS, polyethylene and polypropylene.

11. The diaphragm assembly of claim 8 wherein said diaphragm assembly comprises multiple materials.

3. A one-piece, unitary diaphragm assembly for use in a flush valve comprising:

an annular flexible diaphragm having a sealing surface and a mounting portion at the peripheral edge for mounting said diaphragm assembly within a flush valve;

a flow control means adjacent said sealing surface;

an elongated barrel member adjacent to said flow control means;

a plurality of radial guides positioned circumferentially around the outer surface of said barrel member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of said barrel member;

a relief valve seat at the upper end of said elongated barrel member;

an annular support surrounding said relief valve seat; and

a plurality of ribs extending between said annular support and said relief valve seat, said ribs adapted to guide a relief valve of the flush valve into engagement with said seat.

4. The diaphragm assembly of claim 3 wherein said ribs extend to said flow control means.

12. A one-piece, unitary diaphragm assembly for use in a flush valve comprising:

an annular flexible diaphragm having a sealing surface and a mounting portion at the peripheral edge for mounting said diaphragm assembly within a flush valve;

a bypass orifice in said diaphragm;

a flow control means adjacent said sealing surface;

an elongated barrel member adjacent to said flow control means;

a plurality of radial guides positioned circumferentially around the outer surface of said barrel member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of said barrel member; and

a relief valve seat at the upper end of said elongated barrel member, wherein said diaphragm and barrel member comprise multiple materials.