Electrically operated toilet water inlet valve system having a variable fill level

• US 5,937,455 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William R. Donati
• Original Assignee: William R. Donati
• Inventors: Donati, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US08/511,841
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 4/665, 4/246.1, 4/406, 4/405, 137/412, 137/426, 137/429
• US Class Current: 4/665
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/002 Grey water, e.g. from clothes washers, showers or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/04 for domestic or like local supply
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 2001/045 using household water
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/006 Constructional details of cisterns for using greywater
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7413 Level adjustment or selection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7423 Rectilinearly traveling float

Abstract

An electrically operated solenoid valve for use on a flush toilet tank, and capable of variable adjustment. This system comprises a float switch mounted on a calibrated bracket secured to a tank, such that the float for the float switch is mounted within the tank and the height of the float above the tank floor can be adjusted utilizing the bracket. The bracket is preferably calibrated, so as to permit variable adjustment to the height of the float within the tank. The float switch is upwardly connected to an electrically operated solenoid valve to permit water to flow into the tank when the float is below a minimum water level, and to close the valve when the float returns to the minimum water level.

Claims

1. An electrically operated toilet tank flush valve system comprising a flush toilet tank, a flush water inlet line in fluid flow connection with the tank, a solenoid valve in fluid flow connection between the inlet line and the tank, an adjustable, calibrated water level signal means disposed within the tank and in operating electrical connection with the solenoid valve in response to a decrease in water level in the toilet tank to below an adjustably designated level, the solenoid valve being designed to open in response to a signal received from said water level signal means when the water in the tank is below a set level, the signal means is adjustable to broadcast the signal according to different levels of water in the tank;

the water level signal means comprises an adjustable support member supported within the tank and a float switch mounted on the adjustable support member, the float switch comprising a float and a switch, the float switch being so designed to generate the signal when the water level within the tank is below the set level, the adjustable support member permitting vertical movement of the float to permit setting a desired water level within the tank.

2. The electrically operated toilet tank flush valve system of claim 1, further comprising a refill tube extending into the tank and adapted to be connected at one end to an inlet line from a water source and the second end being open into the tank, and wherein the solenoid valve is located within the refill tube.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the solenoid valve is biased closed in the absence of an electrical signal from the signal means.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is an inlet valve located outside the tank.