Toilet flusher with novel valves and controls

• US 6,934,976 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Parsons, Natan E., Herbert, Kay, Guler, Fatih, Hadley, David, Shamitz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/441,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 435/4, 436/2, 436/6, 436/7, 437/8, 437/9, 438/8, 440/5, 440/7, 441/3
• US Class Current: 4/378
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/142 in cisterns with flushing valves
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/30 Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement inlet valves, valves in general F16K ; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage flushing valves E03D1/142, E03D1/186, E03D1/266, E03D1/286
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/024 Operated hydraulically or pneumatically
• 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: F16K 31/406 acting on a piston

Abstract

A tank-type flusher includes an intake valve, i.e., a fill valve, a diaphragm-operated flush valve, and a pressure control mechanism. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and is constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The diaphragm-operated flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. There is a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal the flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing the flush valve member to the seated state preventing the water discharge from the water storage tank to the toilet bowl. The pressure control mechanism is constructed and arranged, upon actuation, to reduce pressure in the pilot chamber of the diaphragm-operated flush valve to cause deformation of the diaphragm and thereby reduce pressure in the flush-valve chamber causing the water discharge.

Claims

1. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank;

a flush valve constructed to control position of a flush valve member movable between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl;

said flush valve member being biased to said unseated state by a bias member and being forced to said seated state by at least a portion of water pressure from said external source; and

a housing constructed to enable an adjustable distance between said intake valve and said flush valve.

2. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said housing includes two halves for enabling said adjustable distance.

3. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said flush-valve member is arranged to receive a water pressure from said external source and is arranged to prevent said water discharge utilizing at least a portion of said water pressure.

4. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said flush valve member includes a diaphragm-operated flush valve that is controlled by a solenoid.

5. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said water tank is an exposed water tank.

6. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said water tank is a concealed water tank located behind a wall.

7. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 wherein said intake valve enables a variable water level in said tank.

8. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a vacuum breaker arranged to prevent transfer of water from said tank to a water supply.

9. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a manual actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.

10. The tank-type flusher of claim 9 wherein said manual actuator is a push button actuator.

11. The tank-type flusher of claim 10 wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.

12. The tank-type flusher of claim 10 wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.

13. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including an automatic actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.

14. The tank-type flusher of claim 13 wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to be triggered by a sensor.

15. The tank-type flusher of claim 14 wherein said sensor registers presence of an object.

16. The tank-type flusher of claim 14 wherein said sensor registers movement of an object.

17. The tank-type flusher of claim 14 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

18. The tank-type flusher of claim 13 wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.

19. The tank-type flusher of claim 13 wherein said automatic actuator is located outside of said water tank and is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.

20. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a check valve arranged to reduce variation of closing pressure depending on water line pressure.

21. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a pressure compensated flow regulator.

22. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a wiper seal co-operatively arranged with said flush valve to seal water inside said water tank and prevent water leaking into said toilet bowl in the closed state.

23. The tank-type flusher of claim 1 including a vent for controlling odor.

24. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve constructed to close water flow from an external water source to a concealed water storage tank when there is a predefined water level in said water tank, said water storage tank being located behind a wall, said intake valve including a float constructed and arranged to float substantially linearly depending on a water level in said water storage tank; and

a diaphragm-operated flush valve including a flush-valve chamber, said diaphragm-operated flush valve being constructed to open upon actuation to discharge water into a toilet bowl from said water tank and a housing constructed to enable an adjustable distance between said intake and said flush valve.

25. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve constructed to close water flow from an external water source to a water storage tank when there is a predefined water level in said water tank, said intake valve including a float constructed and arranged to float substantially linearly depending on a water level in said water storage tank, wherein said intake valve enables a variable water level in said tank; and

a diaphragm-operated flush valve including a flush-valve chamber, said diaphragm-operated flush valve being constructed to open upon actuation to discharge water into a toilet bowl from said water tank and a housing constructed to enable an adjustable distance between said intake valve and said flush valve.

26. A tank-type flusher, comprising:

an intake valve constructed to close water flow from an external water source to a water storage tank when there is a predefined water level in said water tank, said intake valve including a float constructed and arranged to float substantially linearly depending on a water level in said water storage tank;

a pressure compensated flow regulator and

a diaphragm-operated flush valve including a flush-valve chamber, said diaphragm-operated flush valve being constructed to open upon actuation to discharge water into a toilet bowl from said water tank and a housing constructed to enable an adjustable distance between said intake valve and said flush valve.