US3900903A

US3900903A - Valve mechanism and flushing system incorporating the same

Info

Publication number: US3900903A
Application number: US384285A
Authority: US
Inventors: Costa Caris; Michel Marc; William P Hidden
Original assignee: CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIA
Current assignee: CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIA; CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES
Priority date: 1973-07-31
Filing date: 1973-07-31
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

A valve mechanism for a water storage tank of a toilet flushing system. The valve mechanism relies on the hydrostatic head developed by the water entering the tank to complete valve actuation and does not require the use of a long lever arm, a fact which makes the valve mechanism suitable for use with water tanks of varying configurations, particularly a tank designed to discharge water at a constant maximum flow rate.

Description

United States Patent Caris et a1. Aug. 26, 1975 [54] VALVE MECHANISM AND FLUSHING 2,838,765 6/1958 Hosking 4/41 SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE SAME 2.905.949 9/1959 Downin.... 4/41 3.071.297 l/1963 Lee 222/462 [75] Inventors: Costa Caris, East Walpole; Michel 3,7 0,334 12 1973 Riveneum 4/41 Marc, Watertown; William P. Hidden, wenham. a of Mass. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 953.150 5/1956 Germany 4/33 g Conceptual Engineering Associates, 37.221 7/1930 France 4/249 Foxboro, Mass.

[22] Filed: July 31, 1973 Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant Examiner--Stuart S. Levy 1 1 p 3841285 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Albert Gordon 52 us. c1 4/41; 4/65; 4/67 R; [571 ABSTRACT 137/41 1; 222/460; D23/66 A valve mechanism for a water storage tank of a toilet [51] Int. Cl E03d 1/36 flushing system. The valve mechanism relies on the [58] Field of Search 4/1, l0, l2, 14, 18, 33, hydrostatic head developed by the water entering the 4/41, 52, 53, 56, 57, 65, 67 R, 69, 71, 249; tank to complete valve actuation and does not require 137/411; 222/460, 462; D23/66 the use of a long lever arm, a fact which makes the valve mechanism suitable for use with water tanks of [56] References Cited varying configurations, particularly a tank designed to UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1927 Lockhart 4/41 discharge water at a constant maximum flow rate.

10 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures swan 2 OF 7 Fig.5

Fig.4

PATENTED maze ms saw 3 BF PA {ENTED AUG 2 6 I975 am 7 n; 7

Fig.l7

VALVE MECHANISM AND FLUSHING SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE SAME This invention relates to toilet flushing systems and more particularly to an improved valve mechanism for such systems which requires no pressurization yet at tains rapid, fail-safe refilling.

The most commonly used type of toilet flushing system depends for its operation upon the establishment of a siphoning effect to discharge the bowl. Incoming water supplied from a storage tank provides the necessary increase in hydrostatic head within the bowl to initiate the siphoning. The longer the time required for this incoming water to attain the hydrostatic head level needed to start siphoning, the more water is required for the flushing operation. This indicates the need for the essentially instantaneous attainment and continued maintaining ofa maximum flow rate consistent with the dimensions of the bowl inlet.

To develop a high flow rate, prior art water tanks for flushing systems have either been mounted at a level several feet above the bowl and have been provided with an elongated, small cross section conduit leading into the bowl, or they have been relatively deep and of large, constant cross section joined to the bowl by a short conduit. Alternatively, systems have been devised to pressurize the water stored in the tank. However, none of these unpressurized prior art devices has attained maximum flow rates. In the case of the tank mounted several feet above the bowl the combination of a slowly decreasing head and small flow area gives rise to a relatively low flow rate. Likewise, in the case of the deep, large, constant cross section tank the combination of a large flow area and rapidly decreasing head gives rise to a relatively low flow rate. Thus the flushing systems incorporating either of these prior art tanks require far more water to initiate siphoning than should be used, and hence they are wasteful of water. Finally, it may be pointed out that flushing mechanisms incorporating means to pressurize the water in the tank introduce additional mechanical complications.

It is therefore apparent that there is a real need for an improved water tank for flushing systems, the improvement lying principally in its ability to deliver the water at a sustained maximum rate of flow and resulting in major savings in the amount of water used.

Water supply valves associated with the prior art water tanks and incorporated in the present day flushing systems are generally ball cock valves requiring a long swing arm which in turn means they are suitable for use in tanks with large cross sections. Moreover, these valves are subject to wear which finally results in constant leakage, are so designed as to require a relatively long time to refill the tank, and are noisy to operate. Thus there is a need for an improved valve mechanism which is suitable for tanks of various configurations, which achieves short refill time, which remains fail safe even after wear and which operates quietly.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved valving mechanism for toilet flushing systems and the flushing system incorporating the valving mechanism. It is another object to provide a valving mechanism of the character described which is operable in water storage tanks of various configurations, and which is fail-safe, quiet, and capable of achieving rapid refill of the tank. Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent hereinafter.

In brief, the valving mechanism of this invention comprises two valves. The first is a discharge valve which has a valve seat in the discharge line and a valve body which terminates at its upper end in a flat member sized to make a water-tight seal with the periphery of the valve seat under hydrostatic pressure. The second valve is an inlet valve associated with an inlet line which bifurcates the incoming water into two streams, the first stream being directed into the tank to refill it and the second into the bowl to fill it. The discharge valve and inlet valve are opened simultaneously by the same mechanism. The discharge valve is closed by a combination of gravitational force and hydrostatic pressure. Closing of the inlet valve is first initiated by a float when the water level in the tank reaches a preset height and is then finally effected by water pressure in the inlet line. Because full inlet flow is possible throughout the refilling of the tank, rather than being gradually decreased as the water level rises, the tank can be rapidly refilled.

The valving mechanism of this invention is particularly suitable for use in tanks of varying configurations and is adapted for the incorporation of a noise suppressor to make the flushing procedure relatively quiet.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a flush toilet incorporating a water storage tank in which the valving mechaniam of this invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a simplified cross section of a toilet bowl having the valving mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the mechanical considerations involved in the construction of the tank of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sections of an embodiment ofa unique tank in which the valving mechanism of this invention is positioned within the bottom section;

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the tank of FIGS. 4 and 5 taken through plane 66 of those figures;

FIG. 7 illustrates, partially in cross section, one embodiment of the valving mechanism of this invention in closed position and located at the bottom of a water storage tank;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the valving mechanism of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a discharge valve actuation device illustrating one way in which it may be sealed;

FIG. 10 illustrates the valving mechanism of FIG. 7 in open position;

FIG. 11 is a detailed cross section of one embodiment of the tank inlet valve;

FIG. 12 is a cross section through the poppet valve of FIG. 11 taken through plane 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross sections of the valve of FIG. 10 taken through plane l3l3 of FIG. 11 showing the poppet valve in open and closed positions;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are front and side views of a filler block used to house the valving mechanism when used in a tank such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of a valving mechanism suitable for use in the tank of this invention and having the inlet valve located near the top of the tank. I

In FIG. 1 there is shown a flush toilet l0 equipped with a water storage tank 11 joined to bowl 12 through a valving mechanism 13 which in turn is actuated by a manually operable lever 14. In accordance with a well known principle illustrated in FIG. 2, the flush system operates by discharging water from tank 11 through orifice 15 into bowl 12 in which, by reason of the conduit neck 16, a siphon is established when the incoming water from tank 11 reaches a level 17 equal to the height of the neck 16. The longer it takes for the incoming water to reach level 17, the greater is the amount of water which is discharged through neck 16 and lost down the drain prior to the initiation of siphoning and of flushing. With the use of the prior art tanks this loss of water prior to siphoning may amount to a considerable portion of the total amount of water used, and it is due principally to the failure to immediately establish a maximum water flow rate with the actuation of lever 14 and to maintain this maximum flow rate throughout the tank discharge period.

In a nonpressurized system, such as this invention is concerned with, the only force acting upon the water discharging from tank 1 l is the gravitational force. It is well known that the mass flow rate Q at any level x in a tank such as that shown in FIG. 3 may be expressed where S and V, are the cross sectional area and velocity, respectively, at level x. It is also well known that in a system such as this using gravitational forces only that where g is the gravitational constant.

Since the mass flow rate of water must be the same at any level in the tank, it follows that Q, is a constant and from equation (I) that constant constant K 3 V, Zgx Vx where K represents a constant.

The total volume of the tank to level 0 (FIG. 3) may be expressed as 8n 4 From these relationships it will be seen that at any water level x in the tank, the cross sectional area S is essentially equal to K/ x/Twherein K is a constant which is a function of the desired effective water volume and desired maximum effective water height. The term effective is used to designate the actual water volume and water height which will, of course, be somewhat less than the volume and height of the tank itself.

In a preferred arrangement the cross sectional area at x, which is the discharge end of the tank, is essentially equal to the cross sectional area of bowl orifice 15, a parameter which may be used to determine the tank configuration. The determination of the constant K and of the cross sectional areas of the tank at various levels may be reached by establishing a desired volume and tank height. The example which follows is meant only to be illustrative; and in no way is it to be construed as limiting the tank of this invention to these exemplary dimensions.

Assume for example that it is desired to store a maximum effective volume of 1.7 gallons of water, i.e., 393 cubic inches, in the tank and to use a tank in which the maximum effective level of water at x,, is 42 inches. K may then be calculated to be 393/2 V 42 or 30.3. The cross sectional area S, at any level x is therefore 30.3/- V The ideal tank shape, using a rectangular cross section, then becomes that shown in FIG. 3 following the dotted lines at the top and bottom ends. For practical considerations, the rapidly flaring top is trimmed off (theoretically S is infinity) and the narrowed bottom end is enlarged to accommodate a valving mechanism contained within a filler piece/valve housing 18 shown by dot-dash lines. The cross section of the passage defined between the internal wall of the tank and the external wall of filler piece/valve housing 18 is, however, made to equal the cross section of the ideal configuration. It is within the scope of this invention to locate at least a portion of the valve mechanism in the upper portion of the tank, as shown in FIG. 17, in which case the configurations of the lower end of the tank and the filler piece/valve housing 18 are suitably adjusted.

Since it will generally be desirable to construct a tank for a residential flushing system to fit against a wall or to be recessed within a wall, the back side of the tank is preferably flat and straight as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 in cross section. The tank illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, like the tanks shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, presupposes that all of the valving mechanism is to be located at the bottom of the tank, thus requiring an enlargement in cross section to accommodate the valving mechanism.

In the configuration of FIGS. 46, back 20 is straight while front 21 has a top section 22 which curves inward to reach a midsection 23 which is straight. The lower section 24 then curves outwardly for the reason given.

Side pieces

25 and 26 are generally curved inwardly, this configuration serving as the means to decrease the cross sectional area through the midsection. An overflow pipe 27 extends throughout the greater part of the tank and a removable vented cover 28 is placed on top.

It will be appreciated that the cross section of the tank may be other than rectangular in shape, and that it may be triangular if it is desired to place the tank against two walls forming a corner.

FIGS. 7-14 illustrate in detail one embodiment of a valving mechanism particularly suitable for installation in the bottom of a tank such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6. FIGS. 7-14, in which like reference numerals are used to identify like components, should be referred to in the following detailed description of this embodiment of the valving mechanism.

The valving mechanism of a flushing system must control the discharge of the water from the tank and simultaneously it must control the introduction of water from the main water line into the tank and bowl to refill them. Thus the valving mechanism of FIG. 7 comprises what may be termed tank discharge valve means, generally indicated at 35, and tank inlet valve means, generally indicated at 36. These valve means are located within or supported by a lower valve block member 37 and an upper valve block member 38. Lower valve block member 37 is fastened to the bowl surface 39 through suitable means such as a plurality of screws, one of which is partially shown as screw 40. A recess 41, having a flat bottom 42 and a curved wall 43 is cut into the upper end of lower valve block member 37. The upper valve block member 38 is supported on lower valve block member 37 by one or more support tabs 44 extending outwardly on each side from the bottom of upper block member 38 and resting on rim 45 defined around recess 41. If desired, rim 45 may terminate short of the outer edge of lower valve block 37 in a lip 46 to define a groove which may contain an elastomeric sealing ring 47 for sealing the lower rim of the water tank. As will be seen more clearly in FIG. 8, a water flow path 48 is defined between the bottom edge of upper valve block member 38 and the outer rim of curved recess wall 43 to allow water in the tank to flow by way of recess 41 through discharge valve 35 when it is open or to supply a hydrostatic head to maintain discharge valve 35 closed.

The valve seat for the tank discharge valve 35 is cut into lower valve block member 37, and this valve seat comprises a conduit 52 having an upper, inwardly directed frustoconical section 48, a straight section 49 and a slightly inwardly directed section 50 which terminates at its orifice 53 in an annular ring extension 51 adapted to fit into the orifice of the bowl and to seat and locate the valve mechanism on the bowl surface 39. The rim around the upper edge of frustoconical section 48, which is a part of recess bottom 42, is also part of the valve seat.

The discharge valve body 55 comprises a frustoconical member 56 designed to fit loosely within

sections

48 and 49 of the valve seat, a flat sealing disk member 57 affixed to the upper side of the frustoconical member 56 and extending beyond it to provide a peripheral ring of sufficient diameter to permit it to make sealing contact with the bottom 42 of the recess 41 in which it is movable, and a flat actuation disk 58 affixed to the bottom of frustoconical member 56 to provide an actuation surface 59. The frustoconical member 56 is conveniently formed, for example, of a light-weight material such as cork, the flat sealing disc 57 of a somewhat flexible material such as rubber and disc 58 of a material presenting a good wearing surface such as an acetal resin or the like.

Attached to and extending upwardly from actuation disk 58 through frustoconical member 56 and sealing disk 57 is a valve rod 60. This valve rod passes through an opening 61 in the upper valve block member and terminates in an inlet valve actuator 62, the function of which will be described below. An important feature of the discharge valve means is the provision of recess 63 in the bottom side of the upper valve block member 38. This recess is cut to permit sealing disk 57 to fit therein when the discharge valve is actuated as shown in FIG. 10, and it is of sufficient depth to prevent the water flow through passage 48 from impinging on the edge of disk 57. The effect of the water flow through passages 48 is to generate an upward force on the valve body 55, thus insuring that it remains in the full open position until all of the water is discharged from the tank.

The discharge valve is actuated by manually depressing lever 65 which is mounted for rotation in pin 66. It will be appreciated that a suitable sealing means, such as an elastomeric sealing compound, must be located within lever slot 67 cut into lower valve block 37. An alternative lever and discharge valve actuation means is shown in top plan view in FIG. 9 wherein the valve body has been removed. The actuating lever comprises two

arms

68 and 69 joined by a pin 70 which is mounted in block 37 for rotation. A sealing ring 71 prevents any water from leaking out along the surface of pin 70.

With the manual depression of lever 65 of FIGS. 7 and 10, or of the lever embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the valve body is raised as shown in FIG. 10 to permit the water to flow from the tank to the bowl as indicated by the arrow. At the end of the water discharge period, the valve body drops back into the closed position to expose the relatively large flat surface of sealing disk 57 to hydrostatic pressure developed as the refilling of the tank is begun. The sealing of the' tank discharge valve is rapidly completed under the force of this hydrostatic pressure.

Simultaneously with the opening of the tank discharge valve the tank inlet valve 36 is opened. This valve is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 11-14 and reference should be had to those figures which illustrate this valve and its operation.

The purpose of inlet valve 36 is to permit water to flow from a source, e.g., a water line, into the tank and into the bowl to fill them to preset levels. The inlet valve must, of course, be self-closing upon the attainment of these levels and must also be capable of preventing the back flow of water from the tank into the water source line should the pressure in the line be re duced sufficiently to cause this to happen. The inlet valve is preferably set partially into the upper valve block to reduce its height and overall profile. Its position in the upper valve block will be seen to be indicated in FIG. 7. It should be noted that FIG. 11 illustrates one type of check valve incorporated in the inlet valve and FIG. 7 illustrates another type including a si' lencer. However the inlet valve of either embodiment operates the same.

Turning first to FIG. 1 1, it will be seen that a two-way poppet is movable within valve housing 81 which is internally configured to provide an upper valve seat 82 and with valve block 83 to provide a lower valve seat 84. Valve block 83 provides an inlet conduit 85 and a threaded opening adapted to receive a threaded elbow connection 86 which provides fluid communication with a water inlet line 87. Poppet valve 80 is configured to provide a plurality of water passages, e.g., 88 of FIG. 12, along its outer surface to permit the flow of water through main valve chamber 89 into outlet chamber 90 when the poppet is forced into its lower position as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. From outlet chamber 90 the water is divided into two outgoing streams. One of these streams travels by passage 91 into hose 92 joined to the inlet valve through a connector piece 93. As will be seen in FIG. 7, hose 92 is further joined, through a connector piece 94 to a water passage 95 passing through lower valve block 37 and terminating in an opening 96 in section 49 of the valve seat. Opening 96 is so located that is is always in communication with the bowl through orifice 15. Thus in this manner incoming water enters the bowl to fill it. The other of these outgoing streams from inlet valve 36 passes through a oneway check valve into the water tank to fill it. In FIG. 11, this check valve is of the ball type comprising a ball 100, a sealing ring 101, and a spring 102 biased to permit water under normal line pressure to raise ball 100 and pass through

outlet passages

103 and 104 which are, of course, in direct communication with the interior of the water storage tank. After the tank has been filled and the water inlet valve shut, the check valve prevents water in the storage tank from entering into chamber 90 and flowing through hose 92 and passage 95 into the bowl.

Since the inlet valve 36 is opened simultaneously with discharge valve 35, it is convenient to actuate the inlet valve with the mechanically operated lever 65 (FIGS. 7 and This is accomplished by the use of an actuating rod mounted to pass through a pivot pin 110 so that one arm 111 of the rod is in actuation engagement with inlet valve actuator plate 62 attached to the rod of the tank discharge valve and the other arm 112 is attached through a thin line or wire 113 to a float 114. As will be seen in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, the pivot pin 110 is mounted in the valve housing 81 and sealed with an elastomeric o-ring 115. Attached to pivot pin 110 and rotatable within a valve chamber 116 defined within the valve housing is a valve cam 1 17 the contacting surface of which includes a point 1 18 and a flat surface 119 forming a small acute angle with the vertical. In the closed position, the end of arm 111 rests on or is in close proximity to the surface of actuator plate 62 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 14 and flat surface 119 clears the top of poppet 80 allowing it to seat against seat 82 under the pressure of water in chamber 89. The cam had previously been rotated to the position shown in FIG. 14 when the water in the tank reached a preset level, as determined by the length of line 113, and float 114 had pulled upwardly on arm 112.

When actuator plate 62 is moved upward as seen in FIGS. 10 and 13, arm 111 is engaged and rotated to rotate cam 117 and engage cam point 118 with poppet 80 to force it downwardly and open the inlet valve so that water from line 87 can flow (by the means described above) into the bowl and into the storage tank. When the water level in the tank reaches a level to engage float 114, arm 112 is raised, cam 117 rotates to the closed position and poppet 80 remains positively engaged with valve seat 82 so long as the water pressure in line 87 remains within a normal range. If, however, this water pressure drops below normal, water from the storage tank under a hydrostatic head will enter the top of chamber 89 and force poppet 80 to seat against lower valve seat 84 and close off any flow from the tank back into the supply line.

The tank inlet valve of this invention has distinct ad vantages over the present conventional ball cock valves. As will be seen from the above description, the inlet valve is mechanically held open by cam 117 against water inlet pressure while the tank is being filled and is then tripped by the float allowing water pressure to force the valve shut. Thus full flow of water into the tank occurs until the tank is full. Tank refill time is shorter than for the conventional valves in which flow is gradually shut off as the float rises. The inlet valve of this invention is essentially fail-safe since breakage or excessive wear in the actuating mechanism will cause the valve to shut rather than to result in constant leakage as in the case of a ball cock valve.

As will be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 11, the inlet valve embodiment of FIG. 7 includes a oneway check valve which is somewhat different from that of FIG. 11. The upper inlet valve housing (FIG. 11) which isjoined to valve housing 81 through sealing ring 126 is replaced by upper inlet valve housing 127 of FIG. 7 and a commercially available standard check valve 128 joined thereto by an appropriate pipe fitting 129. Outlet chamber 90a and passage 91a (FIG. 7) correspond directly to chamber 90 and passage 91 of FIG. 11. The stream of water to be directed into the tank passes up through check valve 128 and then into a silencer 132 (such as an air cylinder exhaust muffler which is commercially available) from where it is discharged into the tank through a plurality of discharge slots 133.

As noted previously in conjunction with the descrip tion of FIG. 3, it is necessary to flare out the bottom end of the tank to accommodate the valving mechanism. Since this increases the cross section of the tank where this flaring is done, some compensation must be provided in the form of a filler piece or block to achieve the continued reduction in the virtual cross section according to the above-stated principles of tank design. An embodiment of such a filler block is illustrated in front and side views in FIGS. 15 and 16 in which previously described apparatus components are identified by the same reference numerals as used in FIGS. 1-14. The filler block (equivalent to filler piece 18 of FIG. 3) serves also as a housing for that portion of the valving mechanism extending above the upper surface of valve block member 38. This can be conveniently brought about by molding filler block 140 to have an appropriately configured cavity 141 having passage means communicating with the interior of the tank. In the case of the inlet valve means of FIG. 7, this passage means comprises opening 142 through which silencer 132 extends to expose discharge slots 133. Alternatively, if the inlet valve modification of FIG. 11 is used, then passages may be drilled in the filler block to communicate with

passages

103 and 104. Filler block is conveniently removably attacked to upper valve block member 38 through two or more anchoring/position pins 143 and 144.

Filler block 140 is so sized as to maintain the virtual cross section within the tank at any one level, x, at substantially that value required to satisfy the relationship of S K/ x as defined previously. The term virtual cross section is used to mean that cross section which is available for water flow thereacross. Hence, as will be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the virtual cross section is the total cross section at any level through the passage around the filler block 140, e.g., the summation of

passages

145, 146, 147 and 148. Filler block 140 is preferably configured to attain essentially streamlined flow around it.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate one way in which the tank may be joined to the valving mechanism and the bowl.

The tank is shown to have an inwardly directed supporting flange 150 around its internal walls. This flange rests on the outer rim of lower valve block member 37 and forms a water-tight seal therewith through elastomeric seal 47. The sides and front of the tank are continued as an extension to form an esthetically appealing base 153, while the back wall of the tank fits up against lower valve block member 37. The overflow pipe 27 joins a vertical passage 151 drilled in block 37. Passage 151 in turn communicates with passage 152 which terminates in bowl opening 96. Water delivered to the bowl during refilling enters passage 152 from which it is directed around the upper edge of the bowl through a plurality of openings in accordance with customary bowl design (not shown).

The inlet valve means of the flushing system of this invention may be located near the top of the water storage tank if desired, and an embodiment of the valving mechanism so constructed is shown in FIG. 17 wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like apparatus elements shown in previous figures.

The tank discharge valve shown generally at 160 is constructed essentially the same as shown in FIG. 7 except that upper discharge valve block member 161 may be smaller since it must serve only to align valve rod 60 and provide water passages (not shown) similar in function to

passages

95, 151 and 152 shown in FIG. 16.

The tank inlet valve, shown generally at 162, may be fastened to the back tank wall by any suitable means (not shown) at a height such that its discharge line 163 is above the preset water line 164. This inlet valve is shown to be a poppet valve, but because of its location it does not have to be of the double-acting type since back flow into inlet line 87 is not possible. Inlet valve 162 comprises a valve housing 165 divided by a valve seat 166 into an inlet chamber 167, in which poppet 168 is movable, and an outlet chamber 169 in communication with discharge line 163. An actuation cam 170, similar in design to cam 117 of FIG. 13, is mounted for rotation on pin 171 and is rotated by the action of a valve arm 172 which is attached to a float 173. Valve arm 172 is, in turn, connected through a wire 174 to a pivot arm 175 mounted on a pivot pin 176 which may be supported by the back tank wall by means not shown. Pivot arm 175, on the end opposite to that to which wire 174 is attached, engages valve actuation plate 62 of the tank discharge valve such that when the discharge valve is opened, pivot arm 175 is pivoted and inlet valve arm is pulled downwardly to open the poppet valve. When the water in the tank rises to level 164, the float 173 rises sufficiently to rotate cam 170 allowing the poppet valve to be closed through the pressure of water entering chamber 167 through inlet line 87 which is connected thereto by suitable connecting means 177.

During the refilling of the tank and the bowl, the water from valve discharge line 163 is split within a T- connection 178, part of it entering conduit 92 through discharge line 179 to be directed into the bowl as previously described. and part ofit being introduced directly into the tank through tube 180, the lower end of which terminates near the bottom of the tank to minimize the sound of water flowing into the tank. By adjusting the relative sizes of

tubes

92 and 180, the proper division of incoming water may be effected to deliver the desired quantity of water to the bowl by the time the water in the tank reaches level 164.

The valving mechanism embodiment of FIG. 17 possesses the same advantages described for the embodiment of FIG. 7. Since the valve arm 172 may be relatively short, the embodiment of FIG. 17 may be located in tank configurations which achieve constant maximum flow rates. When used in such tanks, it will be necessary to provide a filler block in association with the tank discharge valve means in the same manner as discussed in connection with FIGS. 15 and 16 to maintain the desired virtual cross section.

The operation of the flushing mechanism has been described in conjunction with the detailed descriptions of the drawings. It may, however, be further illustrated by the following performance data obtained by operation of a system using the tank of FIGS. 3 and 4 and the valving mechanism of FIG. 7. Total water usage for a cycle averaged 2.85 gallons and varied within i 0.07 gallon from cycle to cycle. Of the 2.85 g'allons used for one cycle, 0.95 gallon was used to refill the bowl, 1.69 gallons to refill the tank and 021 gallon was discharged down the drain prior to the establishment of the siphoning effect. Throughout the tests, the system operated consistently and reliably, and the bowl and tank refill levels were constant within very close limits. The use of 2.85 gallons per cycle is to be compared with about 5 gallons normally required by conventional, unpressurized residential systems. Thus the system of this invention can achieve the same result with a little more than one-half the amount of water presently required. This in turn materially reduces the amount of water required as well as the amount of sewage which must be disposed of.

It will thus be seen that the valving mechanism of this invention, along with the flushing system incorporating it, provides an improved means for controlling the flow of water during the flushing of a toilet, the improvements residing principally in its adaptability to many different configurations of water tanks, faster refill time, less susceptibility to wear and attendant leakage, and essentially silent operation.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A flushing system comprising: a block member; a conduit extending heightwise through said block member; a seat portion formed in the block member at the top of the conduit extending outwardly of the conduit; a valve body movable heightwise in said conduit; a sealing member, affixed to the top of the valve body, having a larger diameter than the top of the conduit, the contacting of the sealing member with the seat portion defining the lowermost position of the valve body in the conduit; an orifice located below and in communication with said conduit; :1 water inlet line; an outlet chamber; an inlet valve, movable between open and closed positions, interposed between said inlet line and said outlet chamber; a tank joined to and extending upwardly of the block member and encompassing the inlet valve and the outlet chamber; a first passage means communicating between the outlet chamber and the orifice; a second passage means communicating between the outlet chamber and the interior of the tank; first actuating means so constructed as to raise the valve body upwardly of said lowermost position and to move said inlet valve from a closed position to an open position, whereby water in the tank may be discharged through said conduit and the valve body may thereafter lower under gravitational force to said lowermost position and whereby water may flow through said first passage means into said orifice and may flow through second passage means into the tank to cause the water level in the tank to rise; and second actuating means actuable in response to the rise of the water level in the tank to a preset level to enable the inlet valve to move from said open position to said closed position.

2. A flushing system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a second block member located within the tank spacedly above the first mentioned block member and spacedly above the sealing member when the valve body is in said lowermost position in the conduit; and a recess in the bottom of said second block member in registry with said sealing member and so dimensioned as to contain said sealing member when said valve body is raised upwardly of said lowermost position.

3. A flushing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second passage means comprises: a oneway check valve so constructed as to permit water flow from the outlet chamber into the tank and to preclude water flow from the tank into the outlet chamber.

4. A flushing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inlet valve comprises: a valve housing; a poppet valve seat formed in said housing in communication with said outlet chamber; and a poppet, located in said valve housing and interposed between said poppet valve seat and said inlet line, mounted for movement towards and away from said poppet valve seat; whereby the pressure of water in said inlet line provides a continual force to close said inlet valve and thereafter to maintain it closed.

5. A flushing system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said inlet valve further comprises: a second poppet valve seat in said valve housing interposed between said poppet and said inlet line; said poppet being engageable with said second poppet valve seat if the water pressure in said inlet line drops below the hydrostatic pressure in said tank to thereby prevent water in said tank from flowing back into said inlet line.

6. A flushing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inlet valve comprises: a valve housing; a poppet valve seat formed in said housing in communication with said outlet chamber; a poppet, located in said valve housing and interposed between said poppet valve seat and said inlet line, mounted for movement towards and away from said poppet valve seat; a pin rotatably mounted to said housing and interposed between said poppet valve seat and said outlet chamber; a cam mounted to said pin so constructed as to normally allow said poppet to engage said poppet valve seat under pressure of water in said inlet line and to move said poppet away from said poppet valve seat in response to rotation of the cam to thereby open said inlet valve; and an arm affixed to said pin adapted to effect rotation of said cam.

7. A flushing system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said second actuating means comprises: a water float; and a connection so interconnecting said water float and said arm that when the water level in the tank reaches said preset level the float will move the arm to thereby so rotate the cam as to allow said poppet to engage said poppet valve seat.

8. A flushing system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first actuating means comprises: an actuating surface affixed to said valve body for heightwise movement therewith; and operating means so interelating said actuating surface and said arm as to rotate said arm and thereby open said inlet valve in response to upward movement of said actuating surface.

9. A flushing system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said operating means is formed by direct contact of said arm with said actuating surface.

10. A flushing system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said inlet valve is remote from said valve body and wherein said operating means comprises: a second pivotally mounted arm in engagement with said actuating surface; and a connection interconnecting the first mentioned arm and said second arm.

Claims

1. A flushing system comprising: a block member; a conduit extending heightwise through said block member; a seat portion formed in the block member at the top of the conduit extending outwardly of the conduit; a valve body movable heightwise in said conduit; a sealing member, affixed to the top of the valve body, having a larger diameter than the top of the conduit, the contacting of the sealing member with the seat portion defining the lowermost position of the valve body in the conduit; an orifice located below and in communication with said conduit; a water inlet line; an outlet chamber; an inlet valve, movable between open and closed positions, interposed between said inlet line and said outlet chamber; a tank joined to and extending upwardly of the block member and encompassing the inlet valve and the outlet chamber; a first passage means communicating between the outlet chamber and the orifice; a second passage means communicating between the outlet chamber and the interior of the tank; first actuating means so constructed as to raise the valve body upwardly of said lowermost position and to move said iNlet valve from a closed position to an open position, whereby water in the tank may be discharged through said conduit and the valve body may thereafter lower under gravitational force to said lowermost position and whereby water may flow through said first passage means into said orifice and may flow through second passage means into the tank to cause the water level in the tank to rise; and second actuating means actuable in response to the rise of the water level in the tank to a preset level to enable the inlet valve to move from said open position to said closed position.

3. A flushing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second passage means comprises: a one-way check valve so constructed as to permit water flow from the outlet chamber into the tank and to preclude water flow from the tank into the outlet chamber.