Automatic filling and flushing valve assembly for bowl
First Claim
1. A valve assembly that is adapted to be mounted in a bowl which is adapted to contain liquid, said valve assembly comprising:
- (a) a housing having a liquid-tight bulkhead at the base thereof, said housing and bulkhead defining a chamber for containment of the liquid, wherein the housing has a plurality of holes, each of which is located above the bulkhead and positioned so that liquid in the chamber may flow through the holes and into the bowl;
(b) a supply tube which is adapted for connection to an external source of the liquid, said tube having an opening therein that is located within the chamber for passage of the liquid from the external source into the chamber;
(c) a valve seat that is in fluid communication with the supply tube and located between the connection to the external source of the liquid and the opening for passage of the liquid into the chamber;
(d) a valve which is seated in the valve seat and adapted to be moved from an open position, which permits the flow of the liquid from the external source through the supply tube and through the opening therein into the chamber, to a closed position which stops the passage of the liquid from the external source through the opening in the supply tube;
(e) a float which is adapted to rise and fall within the chamber depending on the level of the liquid in the chamber;
(f) means for attaching the float to the valve so that a rise in the level of liquid in the chamber which raises the float to a predetermined level corresponding to the desired level of liquid in the bowl will tend to move the valve from an open position to a closed position; and
(g) means for retarding the closing of the valve as the level of liquid in the chamber reaches the predetermined level therein corresponding to the desired level of liquid in the bowl, said retarding means including a cap for the housing having a vent hole therethrough, said cap being adapted to mate with the housing so as to permit the air in the chamber above the water level to be compressed as the level of liquid rises therein, and said vent hole being sized so as to permit the air above the level of liquid in the chamber to be vented from the chamber at a controlled rate as the air is compressed to retard the closing of the valve for a predetermined period so as to permit the liquid to flow into the bowl in a quantity greater than that required to fill the bowl to the desired level so that a predetermined quantity of the liquid will overflow the bowl when the valve is actuated to permit the flow of the liquid to the bowl and before the valve is moved to a closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly for a bowl includes a housing having a liquid-tight bulkhead at its base, so that the housing and the bulkhead define a chamber for containing liquid. The housing has a plurality of holes that are located above the bulkhead and positioned so that liquid in the chamber may flow through the holes and into the bowl. A supply tube, connected to an external source of the liquid, has an opening into the chamber for passage of the liquid from the external source into the chamber. A valve is adapted to be moved from an open position, which permits the flow of liquid from the external source into the chamber, to a closed position which stops the passage of liquid from the external source. A float within the chamber will rise and fall depending on the level of liquid in the chamber. The float is attached to the valve so that a rise in the liquid level in the chamber which raises the float to a predetermined level corresponding to the desired level of liquid in the bowl will tend to move the valve from an open position to a closed position. Closing of the valve is retarded as the liquid level in the chamber reaches the predetermined level by providing a cap for the housing having a vent hole. The cap is adapted to mate with the housing so as to permit the air in the chamber above the liquid level to be compressed as the level of liquid rises. The vent hole is sized so as to permit the air above the liquid level in the chamber to be vented from the chamber at a controlled rate as the air is compressed to retard the closing of the valve for a predetermined period so as to permit the liquid to flow into the bowl in a quantity greater than that required to fill the bowl to the desired level. A predetermined quantity of the liquid will overflow the bowl when the valve is actuated and before the valve is moved to a closed position.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve assembly that is adapted to be mounted in a bowl which is adapted to contain liquid, said valve assembly comprising:
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(a) a housing having a liquid-tight bulkhead at the base thereof, said housing and bulkhead defining a chamber for containment of the liquid, wherein the housing has a plurality of holes, each of which is located above the bulkhead and positioned so that liquid in the chamber may flow through the holes and into the bowl; (b) a supply tube which is adapted for connection to an external source of the liquid, said tube having an opening therein that is located within the chamber for passage of the liquid from the external source into the chamber; (c) a valve seat that is in fluid communication with the supply tube and located between the connection to the external source of the liquid and the opening for passage of the liquid into the chamber; (d) a valve which is seated in the valve seat and adapted to be moved from an open position, which permits the flow of the liquid from the external source through the supply tube and through the opening therein into the chamber, to a closed position which stops the passage of the liquid from the external source through the opening in the supply tube; (e) a float which is adapted to rise and fall within the chamber depending on the level of the liquid in the chamber; (f) means for attaching the float to the valve so that a rise in the level of liquid in the chamber which raises the float to a predetermined level corresponding to the desired level of liquid in the bowl will tend to move the valve from an open position to a closed position; and (g) means for retarding the closing of the valve as the level of liquid in the chamber reaches the predetermined level therein corresponding to the desired level of liquid in the bowl, said retarding means including a cap for the housing having a vent hole therethrough, said cap being adapted to mate with the housing so as to permit the air in the chamber above the water level to be compressed as the level of liquid rises therein, and said vent hole being sized so as to permit the air above the level of liquid in the chamber to be vented from the chamber at a controlled rate as the air is compressed to retard the closing of the valve for a predetermined period so as to permit the liquid to flow into the bowl in a quantity greater than that required to fill the bowl to the desired level so that a predetermined quantity of the liquid will overflow the bowl when the valve is actuated to permit the flow of the liquid to the bowl and before the valve is moved to a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A birdbath comprising:
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(a) a bowl which is adapted to hold water; (b) a pedestal on which the bowl is mounted; (c) a valve assembly that is mounted above the pedestal so that at least a portion thereof extends into the bowl, said valve assembly comprising; (i) a housing having a water-tight bulkhead at the base thereof, said housing and bulkhead defining a chamber for containment of water, wherein the housing has a plurality of holes, each of which is located above the bulkhead and positioned so that water in the chamber may flow through the holes and into the bowl; (ii) a supply tube which is adapted for connection to an external source of water, said tube having an opening therein that is located within the chamber for passage of water from the external source into the chamber; (iii) a valve seat that is in fluid communication with the supply tube and located between the connection to the external source of water and the opening for passage of water into the chamber; (iv) a valve which is seated in the valve seat and adapted to be moved from an open position, which permits the flow of water from the external source through the supply tube and through the opening therein into the chamber, to a closed position which stops the passage of water from the external source through the opening in the supply tube; (v) a float which is adapted to rise and fall within the chamber depending on the level of water in the chamber; (vi) means for attaching the float to the valve so that a rise in the water level in the chamber which raises the float to a predetermined level corresponding to the desired level of water in the bowl will tend to move the valve from an open position to a closed position; and (vii) means for retarding the closing of the valve as the water level in the chamber reaches the predetermined level therein corresponding to the desired level of water in the bowl, said retarding means including a cap for the housing having a vent hole therethrough, said cap being adapted to mate with the housing so as to permit the air in the chamber above the water level to be compressed as the level of water rises therein, and said vent hole being sized so as to permit the air above the water level in the chamber to be vented from the chamber at a controlled rate as the air is compressed to retard the closing of the valve for a predetermined period so as to permit water to flow into the bowl in a quantity greater than that required to fill the bowl to the desired level so that a predetermined quantity of water will overflow the bowl when the valve is actuated to permit the flow of water to the bowl and before the valve is moved to a closed position; (d) a heater that is mounted and controlled so as to prevent the water in the birdbath from freezing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification