System and method for converting manually-operated flush valve

• US 6,860,282 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Guler, Fatih
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/972,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,242 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1, 137/269, 251/129.04, 462/3, 430/4, 430/5, 440/5, 440/6, 4DI/G 3, 424/9
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/04 with piston valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5109 Convertible

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for converting or retrofitting manually operated flush valves. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve includes a power module, a control module, and a driver module mechanically coupled to a displacement member arranged to externally activate the converted flush valve.

Claims

1. A method for converting a manually operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising the acts of:

providing a manually operated flush valve including a valve mechanism located within a valve body constructed and arranged to control water flow between a water inlet and a water outlet, a manual handle mechanically coupled to said valve mechanism and constructed to operate said valve mechanism upon pivotable displacement;

manually causing pivotable displacement of said manual handle and thereby causing water flow between said water inlet and said water outlet;

after said manually causing pivotable displacement, providing a conversion assembly including a power module, a control module, a driver module, including a gear assembly and a spring, and a displacement member;

mounting fixedly said conversion assembly relative to said valve body;

providing a mechanical coupling between said displacement member and said handle including preloading said spring;

actuating said control module and thereby triggering said driver module acting on said gear assembly constructed to displace said displacement member; and

pivotably displacing said manual handle by said displacement member to actuate said valve mechanism and cause water flow between said water inlet and said water outlet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said acts of mounting and positioning are performed without breaking a water seal of said flush valve.

3. The method of claim 1 performed without closing a water supply to said water inlet.

4. The method of claim 1 performed without disassembling any part of said manually operated flush valve.

5. The method of claim 1 further including manually displacing said manually operated handle.

6. The method of claim 1 further including manually displacing by hand touching said manually operated handle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said displacement member performing a substantially linear motion when displacing said manual handle to actuate said valve mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said displacement member performing a substantially rotational motion when displacing said manual handle to actuate said valve mechanism.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly relative to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly directly onto said valve body.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly with respect to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly on a wall near said valve body.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly with respect to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly on a stationary surface near said valve body.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said displacement member includes a linear structure having a proximal region coupled to said gear mechanism and a distal end shaped to provide contact with said manual handle during said pivotably displacing.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said valve mechanism includes a diaphragm-type mechanism.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said valve mechanism includes a piston-type mechanism.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating said control module includes using a sensor.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating said control module includes using an infrared sensor.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating said control module includes using a presence sensor.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating said control module includes using a motion sensor.

19. A method for converting a manually operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising the acts of:

providing a manually operated flush valve including a valve mechanism located within a valve body constructed and arranged to control water flow between a water inlet and a water outlet, a manual handle mechanically coupled to said valve mechanism and constructed to operate said valve mechanism;

manually displacing said manual handle and thereby causing water flow between said water inlet and said water outlet;

providing a conversion assembly including a power module, a control module including a sensor, and a driver module, including a gear assembly and a spring, coupled to a mechanical actuator;

mounting fixedly said conversion assembly relative to said valve body;

positioning a mechanical actuator coupled to said driver module relative to said manual handle including preloading said spring;

actuating said control module by a signal from said sensor and thereby actuating said driver module and said gear assembly constructed to displace said mechanical actuator; and

displacing said manual handle by action of said mechanical actuator to actuate said valve mechanism and cause water flow between said water inlet and said water outlet.

20. The method of claim 19 further including manually displacing said manually operated handle.

21. The method of claim 19 further including manually displacing by hand touching said manually operated handle.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said acts of mounting and positioning are performed without breaking a water seal of said flush valve.

23. The method of claim 19 performed without closing a water supply to said water inlet.

24. The method of claim 19 performed without disassembling any part of said manually operated flush valve.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said positioning said mechanical actuator coupling includes connecting said mechanical actuator to said manually operated handle using a displacement member.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said mechanical actuator performs a substantially linear motion when actuated.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said mechanical actuator performs a substantially rotational motion when actuated.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said mechanical actuator performs a rotational and linear motion when actuated.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly relative to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly directly onto said valve body.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly with respect to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly on a wall near said valve body.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein said fixedly mounting said conversion assembly with respect to said valve body includes attaching said conversion assembly on a stationary surface near said valve body.

32. The method of claim 19 wherein said valve mechanism includes a diaphragm-type mechanism.

33. The method of claim 19 wherein said valve mechanism includes a piston-type mechanism.

34. The method of claim 19 wherein said sensor includes an optical sensor.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said sensor includes an infrared sensor.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said sensor includes a presence sensor.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein said optical sensor includes a motion sensor.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein said actuating said control module includes using battery power from said power module.

39. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising:

a power module, a control module, and a driver module arranged for mechanical coupling to a manual handle of said manually-operated flush valve, wherein said driver module includes a gear mechanism mechanically coupled to a spring loaded displacement member having a proximal region coupled to said gear mechanism and a distal end shaped to provide contact with said manual handle for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, said conversion system allowing manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.

40. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising:

a power module, a control module, and a driver module arranged for mechanical coupling to a manual handle of said manually-operated flush valve, said mechanical coupling enabling automatic actuation controlled by said control module and manual actuation of said manual handle, wherein said power module includes a battery, and said driver module includes an electromotor, powered by said battery, and a gear assembly coupled to a displacement member utilizing a preloaded spring.

41. The conversion assembly of claim 40 wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to move linearly when acting on said manual handle.

42. The conversion assembly of claim 40 wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to rotate when acting on said manual handle.

43. The conversion assembly of claim 40 wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to perform a combined linear and rotational motion when acting on said manual handle.

44. The conversion assembly of claim 40 wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to perform linear motion when acting on said manual handle.

45. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising:

a power module, a control module, and a driver module, including a gear assembly and a preloaded spring, arranged for mechanical coupling to a manual handle of said manually-operated flush valve for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, wherein said manually operated flush valve includes a piston-type mechanism and said conversion system allowing manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.

46. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising:

a power module, a control module, and a driver module, including a gear assembly and a spring, arranged for mechanical coupling to a manual handle of said manually-operated flush valve for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, wherein said manually operated flush valve includes a diaphragm-type mechanism and said conversion system allowing manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.

47. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising an externally mounted conversion assembly including a power module, a control module including a sensor, and a driver module mechanically coupled to a displacement member arranged to externally activate said manually-operated flush valve acting by a preloaded spring arrangement on a manual valve handle for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, wherein said driver module includes a gear mechanism coupled to said displacement member constructed to enable manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.

50. The conversion assembly of claim 47, 48 or 49 wherein said manually-operated flush valve includes a diaphragm-type valve mechanism.

51. The conversion assembly of claim 47, 48 or 49 wherein said manually-operated flush valve includes a piston-type valve mechanism.

52. The conversion assembly of claim 47, 48 or 49 wherein said sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

53. The conversion assembly of claim 47, 48 or 49 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

48. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising an externally mounted conversion assembly including a power module, a control module including a sensor, and a driver module, including a gear assembly and a preloaded spring, mechanically coupled to a displacement member arranged to externally activate said manually-operated flush valve using a manual valve handle for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to rotate when acting upon said manual valve handle while allowing manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.

49. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet, comprising an externally mounted conversion assembly including a power module, a control module including a sensor, and a driver module, including a gear assembly and a preloaded spring, mechanically coupled to a displacement member arranged to externally activate said manually-operated flush valve using a manual valve handle for automatic actuation controlled by said control module, wherein said displacement member is constructed and arranged to pivotably displace said manual valve handle while allowing manual actuation of said handle for manually operating said flush valve.