US2957181A - Toilet flushing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR LAMPING Y M FIG R- D. LAMPING TOILET FLUSHING APPARATUS I ROLLAND D Oct. 25, 1960 Filed sept. s. 1957 Oct. 25, 1960 R. n. LAMPING TOILET FLUSHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 3. 195'? FIG ROLLAND D. LAMPING 3 INVENToR.

FIG

roILEr nLUsrmiG APPARATUS Rolland D. Lamping, 6523 Windermere Road, Seattle 5, Wash.

Filed Sept. 43, 1957, Ser. No. 681,534

6 Claims. (Cl. 4-26) This invention relates to the general art of toilet flushing devices and more particularly to a toilet flushing apparatus which is arranged to provide mechanical pressure means on the stored ushing water.

The production of equipment to insure the adequate llushing of toilets has been under study apparently since the introduction of the ilushing toilet. in the past steps have been taken to use the static water pressure of the supply means, and many delayed action valves have been provided to introduce the water, under water main pressure substantially, into the toilet for iiushing purposes. Due, however, to the need for a considerable volume of water and a large continuous ilow of water at the inception of the flushing operation in order to insure creation of the siphonic action required to empty the toilet bowl, large supply pipes were required. The large sized pipe required large sized valving means, particularly the delayed action valves, making the installation very expensive and this genral plan, except in commercial buildings, has largely been superseded by some form of pressurized water storage means.

The most readily available means of storing the required energy to promote the relatively high velocity desired in the flushing water is to entrap air and then to compress it by the static pressure available in the water mains. These arrangements, however, have on the Whole proved very unsatisfactory even though the problem has been approached from many diterent design concepts. One of the greatest deterrents apparently has been the entrainrnent or absorption oi the trapped air in the water which it is to expel and while the simplicity of the system has much to commend it, the practical application of it has apparently been too diicult to achieve.

ln this present invention advantage has been taken of the highly desirable arrangement of having a relatively small amount of water under positive pressure, but in this instance to provide the pressure mechanically as by means of a coil or spiral spring. Such devices can be made to have a life expectancy far in excess of any associated equipment. The mechanical operation of a piston by a spring has the further advantage that it can be made very compactly and lends itself very well to inclusion in the studding space of the wall immediately behind the toilet; also that it provides suiciently high, positive and continuous pressure to successfully operate the blow out type of bowl and also permits modern wall hung bowls to use high rear outlets to simplify plumbing. As a result this equipment presents a very neat appearance and is believed to be a dependable, quiet, economical solution to this perplexing problem.

A principal object of this invention therefore is to provide storage means for a suiiicient amount of water to insure adequate flushing of a toilet and then to place this water under high and mechanically applied pressure to insure the operation of the various types of toilets.

A further object of this present invention is to provide a toilet ilushing means adapted to provide accelerated delivery of the Water and to house this entire apparatus Zlldi in very compact means which can be readily built into the wall of a bathroom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical electric control means for the operation of the ushing mechanism to the end that the push button or other switching means may be installed in positions most convenient for operation by the user of the toilet.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing the general arrangement of the essential parts making up this present toilet flushing apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vert-ical sectional view showing the various parts employed, in substantially their operational arrangement, and with certain parts broken away so that the essential elements can be more conveniently illustrated on an increased scale.

yFigure 3 is a front elevational view illustrating the ease with which installations can be made of this present equipment within the walls of a conventional toilet room.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the Walls of a toilet room in section and illustrating the manner of installing this present equipment within the studding space of the walls.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings; the numeral 10 designates the ushing water storage tank. A preferred form of this tank employs a cylindrical tubing of a diameter which will tit in the studding space of a wall. As most building codes require a ve inch inside diameter vent pipe it is common to employ six inch studding in one of the bathroom walls that is to take the piping and venting and this places a practical limit on the diameter of tank 10. Normally tive inch diameter tubing is most preferable.

The chamber 10 can be six or seven foot long if it is desirable; however, experience has shown that a pipe ve inches in diameter and approximately four feetlong will contain all the water essential for a successful flushing operation and this reduces the cost of the equipment and, in some cases, the cost of installing the equipment. Disposed for longitudinal movement within tube 10 is a built-up piston arrangement 12. This piston should have sufficient length to prevent canting of the piston within the chamber 10 as it is put into use. To this end, two cup washers as 14 and -16 are employed in a spaced apart arrangement probably best illustrated in Figures l and 2.

Secured to the under side of piston assembly l2 are spring anchors 18 and 20. These are normally arranged with spiral grooves so that springs 22 and 24 may have their ends arranged in closely spaced coils and screwed into these grooves. In this manner a very iirm anchorage is provided for the respective springs and they can be easily removed and replaced. At its lower end the water expulsion spring 22 is similarly anchored to the fixed anchor 26 secured in turn to the end wall 28 of tank l0. This arrangement provides adequate anchorage so that spring 22 can properly vfunction as a tension spring. The axially disposed and lighter pressure balancing spring 24 is somewhat similarly secured in anchor 30, in an arrangement in which spring 24 functions as a tension spring.

Secured to end plate 28 is a bell iitting 32. This fitting provides the bell chamber 34 into which the pressure control water line 36 `discharges and further provides a valve seat, yat 38, for a check valve 40. In order to yassure axial alignment of valve 4%, its actuating stem 42 is provided with an intermediate bearing 44. -It is to be noted that the discharge of the pressure controlled water -line 36 is above valve 40 when it is seated on its seat 38. The upper end of Valve stem `42 is secured in a tractive arrangement in spring anchor 30 to the end that as piston 12 ascends in chamber 1.8 lit tends to lift valve 40 oif its seat substantially as indicated in Figure 2. At its lower end valve stem 42 is provided with a bearing portion 46 adapted to receive further actuating force fromY theY slidable cap member 4S. n

Cap member 48 is forced upwardly any time water pressure is lapplied to the water supply line 50. Water is normally supplied to this line by means of solenoid valve S2 at the time the toilet is ushed. An air relief opening is provided at 54 so that when pressure is out oi line 50, cap 48 will seat of its own weight and any excess trapped water or air can be discharged out through vent 5 4.

In order to insure the free functioning of piston 12 within chamber a Huid escape line is provided at 6G. This escape or vent line 60 is introduced at its lower end into the water discharge pipe 62 which leads through suitable connections to the toilet bowl T. It should be apparent, it is believed,` that as Vpiston 12 is driven upwardly by the introduction ofy water under pressure any Water that may have passed by the piston assembly will thus have an escape and the water that is discharged will be properly directed in to the toilet bowl and ultimatelyy into the Waste. As piston `12 comes down during theV period of water discharge, there will need to be -a supply of air to ill what would otherwise be a drawn vacuum and this is provided by the air intake vent 64. This vent also will permit the escape of trapped air as piston 12 --is driven upwardly during the filling of tank 10.

The preferred arrangements for installing this equipment ina bathroom andy in association with a toilet T isrillustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Here it will be noted that tank 10 is easily housed within the space provided by the walls 70 and 72 which `are spaced apart by studding 74 which are the load bearing members of the wall. lt will be apparent, 4it :is believed, that there will be adequate space Ifor the water by-pass pipe 60 and the various valving means associated with the apparatus. It is to be noted that this equipment lends itself to a very simple and compact installation and this in turn will be reflected in reduced cost to the home owner.

M 0de 0f operation In describing a cycle of operation of this equipment it may be assumed that the toilet lhas just been ushed and that will result in piston 12 being withdrawn by spring 22 withl some assist `from spring 24 to its lowermost position. In this position of rest there would be no water flowing through pipe 50 and therefore valve 40 would come to rest on its seat 38 `as shown in Figure l. At this time the only supply line for water is through supply line 36 that under control of the pressure reducing valve 82 which accepts the normal water supply line pressure vfrom pipe 84 and reduces it to a considerably lower pressure. With the general propo-rtions of theY springs as, illustrated, -it has been found that water at `a pressure of fifteen lbs. per square inch, passing through pressure regulating v-alve 82, will be adequate for a-ll practical purposes and this pres-sure will be su'ieient to force piston 12 to the upper portion of tank 10 until the spring loading is balanced with the water pressure as `shown in Figure 2. It is noteworthy that there is no 'air space left rat the top ofthis tank arrangement as compressed air is in no way employed in the functioning of the equipment. Water supplied at fifteen lbs. pressure through the relatively small pipe 36 is adequate to cause the lling of the tank, the extending of springs 22 and 24 'and Yat the same time supplying sufficient pressure to hold valve 40 on its seat 38Y even against the upward force exerted by spring 24. As soon as the piston 12 reaches its upper Where e guide and stop member 44.

water pressure is balanced by spring loading the water passing through valve 82 stopsV flowing and the supply unit is lle'd and in condition for re-use. It is desirable to point out that springs 22 and 24 must be generously proportioned so that they `can hold their tensio-n without ydistortion for long periods as they will be under tension the greater portion of the time.

When it is desirable to flush the toilet the user presses the solenoid valve switch 88 thus energizing and openingthe solenoid valve 52. When valve S2 is opened the full service pressure of the water from supply pipe 84 is free to pass through discharge pipe 50. One of the irst functions of this introduction of high pressure water is to move cap 48 upwardly against valve stern head 46 and thus raise valve 40 off its seat 38 by impact. As soon as the valve is unseated then its tension spring 24 takes control to bring it upwardly against The opening of this valve now permits the water stored within tank 10 to pass out through the nozzle-like arrangement of bell 34, valve seat 38, and the passageway 90 to the discharge pipe 62 into toilet T. A ratio of 1 to 3 to 4 in relative yareas of discharge opening 90 to pipe 62 is desirable.

Following the normal functioning of tension springs, spring 22 as it moves piston 12 downwardly will have its greatest application of force as it starts down from its top position and this operates to give a rush of water at "considerably increased velocity over the normal toilet ushing arrangement and it quickly builds up a volume of water in the toilet bowl so that siphonic action or blowing out the bowl is started immediately and with certainty. The cap 48 is returned against its seat by action of check valve 40 closing and rod 46'acting on cap 48. `One comv in Figure 2.

While I have shown my invention in connection with Siphon type toilet bowls, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is equally useful and operable with the blow-out type bowl as well. There is sufficient water velocity produced to cause appropriate discharge with the latter bowls.

It lis believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a toilet flushing apparatus principally for toilet bowls Where good volume of water and high velocity are mandatory.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A toilet flushing apparatus, comprising: a vertically disposed tank adapted to be housed in the wall of a bathroom; a piston disposed for reoiprocation within said tank; a retracting tens-ion spring for retracting said piston, anchored to said piston and to the lower end wall of said tank; a bell fitting secured to said lower end closure, a valve seat at the lower end of the bell cavity and a discharge tube of reduced diameter connected to said valve seat and to a toilet bowl; a valve, disposed Ito seat in said valve seat, and having a valve stem with an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion; a pressure balancing tension spring, disposed coaxially with and inside ofsaid retracting spring, having its upper end secured to said piston and its lower end secured to the upwardly extending portion of said valve stem; piping connecting said bell fitting to a toilet to form a ushing water passageway; air venting and supply means connected to the top of said tank; a full pressure water actuated means disposed to rise vertically at speed and impact the downwardly extending portion of said valve stem; a reduced pressure water supply line connected to said bell tting, above said valveA and having a pressure reducing means therein; a water supply line connected to operate water actuated means and having a solenoid controlled valve means -therein which operates to initiate and control the flushing apparatus.

2. A toilet flushing apparatus, consisting of: an elongated tubular tank; a water tight piston disposed for reciprocation within said tank; a metal spiral spring disposed to move said piston toward the discharge end of said tank; valve means for introducing water from a water service line, at reduced pressure, in a manner to move said piston toward the closed end of the tank and against the pressure of the said spiral spring; discharge valve means for quickly releasing water stored in said tank, to provide a full iiow, into a passageway having several times the cross sectional area of the bell discharge opening; said water being propelled at an accelerated rate by the energy stored in said spiral spring during the filling of said tank and venting means for the tank end opposite from the discharge end.

3. A toilet ushing apparatus, consisting of: an elongated tubular tank; a water tight piston disposed for reciprocation within said tank; a metal spiral spring disposed to move said piston toward the discharge end of said tank; valve means for introducing water from a water service line, in a manner to move said piston toward the closed end of the tank and against the tension of the said spiral spring; impact operated discharge valve means for effecting an immediate full stream release of water stored in said tank, into a passageway communicating with a toilet bowl; and said Water being propelled at an accelerated rate by the energy stored in said spiral spring.

4. A toilet uslu'ng apparatus, consisting of: an elongated tubular tank; an elongated water tight piston disposed for reciprocation Within said tank; a metal spiral tension spring secured at one end to said piston and at its other end to the lower end of said tank, disposed to move said piston toward the discharge end of said tank; valve means for introducing water from a water service line through a pressure reducing valve in a manner to move said piston toward the closed end of the tank and against the pressure of the said spiral spring; impact operated water discharge valve means for eiecting an immediate full stream release of water stored in said tank, into a passageway communicating with a toilet bowl; and said water being propelled at an accelerated rate by the energy stored in said spiral spring.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 in which said water discharge valve means consists of: a bell litting secured to the lower end of said tank and having a communicating passageway therethrough; a poppet type valve disposed for axial movement in said bell; a valve seat for said valve disposed in the lower portion of said bell; a valve guide in the upper portion of said bell and disposed to form a stop to arrest the upward movement of said valve; a pressure balancing tension spring secured at one end to said piston and at the other end to the upper end of said valve and reciprocating impact means for initiating the operation of said Valve.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 in which said reciproeating impact means, comprises: a full pressure water supply line having -a vertically disposed open pipe end; a solenoid valve for opening said supply line and having means for retarding its closing of said supply line; a cap disposed for reciprocation on said pipe end, substantially axially aligned with said valve and adapted to give an irnpact blow to said Valve when full water pressure is supplied to said pipe end, to cause it to overcome the water pressure loading on said valve and start the opening of the same and permit the said pressure balancing valve spring to complete the opening and hold the valve open during the ushing cycle of the toilet.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,951 Waterman Oct. 24, 1905 932,716 Murray Aug. 31, 1909 1,323,875 Larson Dec. 2, 1919 2,619,915 Ield et al Dec. 2, 1952

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