Hydraulically-operated flushing-valve mechanism

Application filed June 5, '

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show two forms in which I have contemB plated embodying my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

My invention relates particularly to hy10 draulically operated flushing. valves for water closets in which the opening and. closing of the flushing valve mechanism is effected by water pressure, and my invention, consists in the novel features of construction

IS and combination of parts hereinafter described, whereby both the construction of the valve mechanism is simplified, rendered more efficient and certain of operation, and whereby the valve may be installed and ad30 justed 'to accommodate variations in the pressure of water available in the connected supply main in the particular. location in which the valve mechanism is installed.

In the said drawings, ²⁵ Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a closet bowl showing one form of my improved valve mechanism installed and provided with a cut off valve in connection therewith and adapted to be set in 30 operation by band.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the form of valve mechanism shown in Fig. 1, including the local cut off valve (which in this instance is turned at right angles to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, for clearness), the flushing valve and relief valve for the back pressure chamber being shown in closed positions.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the re⁴⁰ lief valve and flushing valve in open positions.

Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of the main valve casing on line 4—4 of Fig. 3.

⁴⁵ Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of a closet bowl showing a slightly modified form of my improved valve mechanism installed in connection therewith and adapted to be automatically set in operation by the ⁵⁰ depression of the seat.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the form of valve mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5 showing the relief valve and flushing valve closed.

1,614,468 means of lateral openings, indicated at 14, in Fig. 4. The partition, 7, is provided with a vertically disposed threaded aperture, indicated at 15, into which is screwed the β lower end of a vertical tubular stud, 16, having a threaded portion at each end, and a central bore or passage, indicated at 17. This stud performs three functions. In the. first place it provides means for holding the 10 cap or closing member in position and clamping the edges of the diaphragm without the use of screws or other fastening means, thus simplifying the construction of the valve, providing a smooth exterior sur18 face.at the upper portion of the same, and making it very much easier to maintain the apparatus in neat and clean condition; in the second place, it performs, in conjunction with the main flushing valve wliich fits M around it, a minute annular orifice communicating with the back pressure chamber, as hereinafter described, to permit the filling of the back pressure chamber to effect the automatic closing of the flushing valve; and M thirdly, the central bore, 17, of said stud forms a portion of the relief passage for the back pressure chamber, which is thus located centrally with respect to the flushing valve or diaphragm and prevents the neces>0 sity of providing a diaphragm with an offset portion to accommodate an offset relief passage as has been customary in this type of valve, so that the diaphragm imy be made perfectly circular, which 'effects’ a consid>6 enable saving in the manufacture of the diaphragm and insures a more efficient damning of the edges thereof.

represents the diaphragm which is preferably made of rubber or other suitable 40 material and is circular in form and is provided with a central aperture through which extends a sleeve 19 having a projecting flange, 20, at its upper end. preferably hexagonal in form. To this 'diaphragm is se48 cured the main flushing valve which preferably comprises a metal shell, indicated at 21, enclosing the valve proper, indicated at 22, and formed of rubber, fibre, leather or other suitable material to' engage the seat, 80 13, the valve being held in place on the sleeve by means oi a nut, 23, a series of washers, 24,. being provided beneath the valve,, of a size approximating very closely the diameter of the inlet aperture, 12. a<··· 55 clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be readily understood that as the valve moves downward into closed position, these washers will be caused to enter the aperture, 12. in advance of the closing of the valve, 22. upon 60 its seat,. 13, and these washers therefore constitute in effect a throttling mechanism for more or less throttling down the flow of water from the main through the flushing inlet aperture, 12, so that the flow is greatly 65 checked in advance of the actual closing of the aperture by the valve to prevent hammering,. and noise in the operation of the mechanism. As these valves are usually employed in connection with installations where there is high water pressure, and in 70 some cases where the water pressure is exceedingly high, it is very important to thus preliminarily throttle-the flow of the water before the closing of the flushing valve, and tne point in the cycle of movement of the 75 valve at which this throttling should be commenced, will depend upon the pressure of the water in the main supplying the valve mechanism.. Therefore., instead of making this throttling mechanism in one piece, as 80 it could be made, I prefer to build it up as a series of comparatively thin washers, as indicated at 24, and by varying the number of. washers and consequently’ the vertical height of this throttling mechanism the 85 valve mechanism can be adjusted to provide the desired gradual throttling of the water ^suPpb^r previous to the entire closing of the valve under the exact conditions as to water pressure, which may be present in each par- 90 ticular.installation, and without in any wav impairing the efficiency of the flushing action.

represents what I term the flush cap member, to distinguish it from a cap held 95 in place by an annular series of screws, with projecting screw heads, which are usually provided, in diaphragm valves. This cap member is circular in form and is provided with, a downwardly extending flange. 26. ^1(,o within^ which is an annular clamping portion, 27, to engage the marginal portions of the diaphragm, 18. The central portion of the cap member is domed to provide a back pressure chamber, 28. and the cap member 105 is provided centrally with an aperture. 29. surrounded at its upper face with an annular recess, both of which are concentric with the.stud, 16. The cap member, 25, is held in position with respect to the casing and made HO to clamp the marginal portions of the diaphragm by means of a clamping nut, 30, provided with an internally threaded recess. 31, adapted to screw upon the upper end of the stud, 16, said nut having a shoulder for 115 engaging an annular packing, 32. located in the annular recess surrounding the central aperture, 29, of the cap member, and thus making a tight joint between tlie nut and the cap member. This nut is provided with 120 a polygonal exterior so that it may be forcibly screwed down on the stud, 16, so as to clamp the marginal portions of the diaphragm, 18, very firmly between the cap member and the upper end of the casing, 1, 125 as clearly shown. The recess, 31, in the nut, 30, is of sufficient depth to’leave a space within the same above the stud, 16, as shown in. the drawings, and the nut is provided with one or more inclined passages, 33. ex- 130

1,614,468 the valve stem to protect said spring from becoming rusted or corroded by contact with water. A second spring of smaller diameter, indicated at 44, is interposed between the disc, 40 of the handle, and the plunger, and 70 in this instance extends into the portion of tlie plunger of lesser diameter and surrounds the threaded portion of the relief valve stein. The sleeve, 34, is provided with one or more apertures, 45, adapted to communicate with 75 a branch relief passage, 46, within the casing, 1, communicating with the discharge outlet, 4, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be readily seen that by moving the handle 39, laterally, as indicated in Fig. 3, the plun- ⁸⁰ger, 38, will be moved forward, together with the relief valve, and that by releasing the handle, the plunger will be returned with the relief valve by the spring, 41, and the handle will be- restored to its normal ⁸⁵position by the spring, 44. It will also be seen that the relief valve mechanism can be assembled as a unit and applied to the valve casing by screwing the threaded end of the sleeve, 34, into the threaded aperture, ⁰⁰6, a suitable washer of lead or other material being provided between the sleeve and the casing; to further prevent leakage.

In the operation of this form of my improved valve mechanism it will be under- ⁰³stood that the inlet aperture, 5, of the valve casing is connected with the water supply .main, which is to supply the flushing water under pressure. In order that the interior parts of the valve mechanism may be re- ¹⁰⁰moved for examination and repair when desired, I preferably combine with my improved valve mechanism, a local cut off valve so that this may be done without interfering with any other parts which may be connected ¹⁰³to the same water main. In this instance I have shown such a cut off valve, comprising a valve casing, 50, provided with an internally threaded inlet aperture, 51, to receive a pipe connection from the water main and ¹¹⁰having opposite thereto a threaded aperture, 52, to receive a sleeve, 53, externally threaded and provided with an internally threaded recess, 54, and a central aperture, 55.' 56 represents the cut off valve which is carried.. ¹¹³by an externally threaded valve stem 57, having a steep pitch, which in turn engages a corresponding internally threaded recess in a sleeve, 58, which extends through the opening, 55, in the sleeve, 53. the latter sleeve ¹²⁰being provided with a packing ring, 59, and a gland, 60, in order to form a tight joint around said sleeve, 58. The lower end of the stem, 57, is provided with a guiding and valve supporting polygonal head, 61, ¹²³adapted to be retained against rotary movement by lateral guiding faces, 62, formed in the interior of the cut off valve casing above the valve seat, 63, upon which the valve, 56, seats. The rotary valve actuating sleeve, ^5Sf) tending from the upper end of this recess to the lower portion of the nut, and communicating with the back pressure chamber, 28. Obviously this recess also communicates 6 with the central bore, 17, of the stud, and with the chamber, 11, previously described in the inner shell of tlie casing. This produces a very simple and efficient construction and leaves the portions of the cap mem10 ber surrounding this nut entirely smooth and free from screws or bolts, giving it a very attractive appearance and making it very much easier to keep it in a clean and sanitary condition. It also greatly facility tales the removal of the cap member for examination or repair of the valve mechanism as there is only one threaded device to unscrew.

The casing, 1, is provided with a suitable 20 relief valve mechanism for the back pressure chamber, which in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is operated manually. I pref er to· form this relief valve mechanism as a unit capable of 25 being screwed into the threaded opening, of the valve casing, after it has been brought into fully assembled relation, although this is not absolutely essential. As illustrated in the drawings, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the 30 manually operated relief valve unit comprises the following members. 34 represents a cylindrical sleeve threaded on its exterior to engage the threaded aperture, 6, and provided at its inner end with an inwardly ex35 tending annular flange, 33, having a recessed portion on its outer face to receive a washer, 36, the outer marginal portions of which are clamped between the said flange. 35, and the portions of the casing, 1, at the inner 40 end of the threaded recess, 6. The inner marginal portions of this washer form a valve seat for the relief valve, .37, the stem of which extends through the central aperture in.said washer, and the flange, 35, and 45 has a threaded portion engaged by a hollow sliding plunger, 38, carried by an extension sleeve, 39, screwed into the outer end of the valve, sleeve. 34. The outer end of the extension sleeve, 48. is provided with an 50 aperture to receive the inner end of a removable handle, 39, provided with a disc portion, 40, within the extension sleeve and held therein by annular flanges around the outer aperture of said extension sleeve, said 55 disc engaging on its face, the plunger, 38.

The inner portion of the plunger is of less diameter than tlie outer end and is surrounded by a retracting spring, 41, the inner end of which engages a metal annulus, (io 42, clamped between the edges of the sleeves, which edges also serve to clamp the marginal edges of a flexible diaphragm, 43, having a central aperture engaging an eyelet secured to the stem of the relief valve between the 05 inner end of the plunger and a shoulder on

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58, has its outer end provided with some means by which it can be rotated. I find it convenient to simply drill a transverse hole through the outer end of the sleeve, as indi5 cated at 64, to receive a nail or spike, but any other suitable means for turning tlie sleeve can be employed. It will be readily understood that by'rotating the sleeve, οέ, the cut off valve can be quickly moved into 10 closed position, or opened, as may be desired.

As indicated in Fig. 1, where the valve mechanism is so installed that the cut off valve can be placed in horizontal position, I find it convenient to provide a rubber buffer, IS indicated at 65, and shown in section in Fig.

2, this buffer being omitted in Fig. 3. This buffer will act as a cushion support for the seat, 66, when, the latter is in vertical position, but this of course is not essential. ²⁰ Fig. 1 represents a convenient installation where the inlet pipe is entirely concealed in the wall or behind the wall. In this figure 67 represents the water inlet pipe connected to the inlet aperture, 51, of the cut off valve, ²⁸ which is in turn connected to the inlet aperture, 5, of the main valve casing by a union, 68, in a well known manner, and the discharge aperture, 4, of the main valve casing is connected to and supported by the flushing pipe, 69, which communicates with the boAvl, 70.

The parts being in the position as indicated in Fig. 2, water under pressure will be admitted to the interior of the inlet chamber, 35 10, of the valve casing, a certain quantity of water will have passed upwardly between the sleeve, 19, and the central stud, 16, into the back pressure chamber, which is therefore filled with water at the same pressure as the 4° main, and as the back pressure chamber is of greater diameter than the aperture, 12, the valve, 22, will be maintained in closed position. The relief valve, it will be understood, is also maintained in closed position by its 45 retracting spring. When it is desired to flush the bowl the handle, 39, is moved laterally in any direction, thereby opening the relief valve, 37, as indicated in Fig. 3. ’This permits the water in the back pressure ^;,,J chamber, 28, to pass up through the inclined passage, or passages, 33, in the nut, 30, into the recess, 31, and thence down through the bore, 17, of the stud, 16, into the chamber, 11, of the inner shell, thence through the opening controlled by the relief valve, into the relief valve casing, 34. and thence through the aperture, 45, in the side of the casing and passage, 46, in the main valve casing, to the discharge aperture, 4, of the latter. Tlie ^1,11 water in the back pressure chamber. 28. will be immediately forced out through tlie channel indicated on account of the pressure of the incoming water on the lower face of the flushing valve, 22, which rises, carrying with ⁰⁹ it the central portion of the diaphragm, 18, until the opening movement of the valve is arrested by contact of the upper encl of the valve sleeve, 19, with the lower’ face of the nut 30. When the water pressure is very high, it may be desirable to prevent the valve 70 from opening quite as far as when the water pressure is not so high, and in order to accommodate variations in the Avater pressure, I prefer to employ one or more washers surrounding the stud, 16, and interposed be- 75 tween the top of the sleeve, 19, and the nut, 30. In the drawings I have shown one such washer, at 47, although I may use two or more as circumstances may require. These washers constitute an adjustable stop for so limiting the upward movement of the valve. With the flushing valve in open position, as indicated in Fig. 3, the incoming water passes through the aperture, 12, in the upper end of the inner shell and laterally through the 85 passages, 14, and downwardly through the lateral passages, 8, between the inner and outer shells of the valve casing, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, to the discharge opening or passage, 4, and thence to the bowl to effect CO the flushing action. In this form of my invention the flushing will continue as long a·; the relief valve is held open and for a short period after the relief valve is closed, upon the release of the handle, 39, during which 95 time the flushing valve, 22, is closing. When the handle is released, the relief valve, 37, will be instantly closed by the action of its retracting spring, 41, and water will begin to accumulate in the back pressure chamber, 100 passing upwardly thereto between the valve sleeve, 19, and the central stud, 16, which forms a minute annular passage communicating between the back pressure chamber, 28, and the inlet chamber, 10. As the pres- 105 sure increases in the back pressure chamber, 28, it acts upon the upper face of the diaphragm which, as before, stated, is of considerably greater area than tlie valve and gradually depresses the diaphragm and the 110 flushing valve, 22. As tlie valve, 22, closes, the throttling projection thereon, formed preferably by the plurality of washers, 24, will descend into the aperture. 12, and throttle the flow of Avater therethrough, Avhich 115 floAv will become less and less until the valve, 22, is firmly but gently seated on the valve seat 13, when all the flow ceases. The throttling of the stream of Avater performs another function in providing for the “after 120 fill” as it is termed, and insures that immediately before the _ final closing of the valve, there will be a discharge of a sufficient quantity of water at moderate speed Avhicli will refill tlie boAvl after tlie flushing action 125 and leave it in filled condition.

It will be noted that should it be desirable to open the main valve casing for examination or repair, it is only necessary to turn the sleeve, 58, of the auxiliary cut off valve, 130

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CO terior threaded portion which screws into the threaded opening, 6^b, said sleeve being provided with an exterior flange and packing Avasher to engage the exterior of the casing and make a tight joint. The outer end 70 of the sleeve is also provided with a guiding aperture, 71, through which extends the seat operated A’alve stem, 72, the outer end of said sleeve being also provided with a packing recess, 73, and gland, 74, surrounding said valve stem. The inner end of the sleeve, 34^a, is provided with a valve seat, indicated at 75, and the lateral walls of the sleeA-e are provided with water apertures, 76, which communicate with the lateral passages, 8^a, so that all the flushing Avater must pass through the sleeve, 34^a. The valve stem, 72, is provided at its inner end with a valve, 77, to engage the valve seat, 75, when the stem is drawn outAvardly so as to close the opening within the valve seat and prevent the passage of any flushing water through the valve casing. The valve, 77, is conveniently made of rubber, fibre or other suitable material, supported by a metallic ⁰⁰disc, 78, and on the rear lace of the disc, 78, is a cylindrical extension, 79, carrying at its inner end the relief valve, 80, which is preferably of rubber, fibre or other suitable material. The cylindrical extension, 79, 05 extends over a short nipple, 81, having a longitudinal passage therethrough communicating Avith a recess, 82, in the valve This chamber, which is connected by means of an

- inclined passage, 83, Avith a small chamber, 108 , . 84, at the bottom of the stud, 16^a. For convenience in forming the passage, 83, and tlie bore of the nipple, 81, the recess, 82 is cored in the main shell or casting of the valve, and after the passage, 83, and the 105 nipple, 81, are drilled, this recess is closed by threaded plug, indicated at 85. The relief valve 80, is normally held in closed position, as shoAvn in Fig. 6, and the interior shut off valve, 77, held in open position by 110 means of a spring acting on the valve stem, 72. In this instance the spring, indicated at 41% is shoAvn as a coil spring surrounding the stem, 72, within the sleeve, 34% out it might be located otherwise, if desired. The 115 outer end of the valve stem 72, is provided Avith a suitable head, indicated at 86, screwed thereon, and fastened by set screw, 87, Avhich engages a forked operating lever, 88, secured to the seat, 89, and projecting upAvardly from the hinge pin, 90, so that Avhen the seat is depressed, the lever, 88, will draw the valve stem, 72, outwardly, opening the relief valve and closing the interior shut off valve, 77, as indicated in Fig. 7. In . Fig. 5 I have shown my improved valve installed in connection with a closet bowl, the Avater outlet, 4% being connected by means of a pipe, 69% with the bowl, 70% and a strut, 91, being inserted between the hinge pin, 90 and thereby force downward the cut off i valve, 56, until it engages its seat, .63,- when ' the main valve casing will be entirely disconnected from the water supply. The nut : 5 30, can then be removed which will permit : the removal of the diaphragm, valve and central stud, if desired. In this manner the valve may be tested when it is installed and the proper number of washers, 24 and 47, ap10 plied to insure the accurate and proper functioning of the valve mechanism under the particular water pressure with which it is to be used. The relief valve unit may also be unscrewed from the main.casing and the parts separated for examination and repair if necessary.

In Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive I have shown a slight modification of my invention, which is adapted particularly for use where the valve mechanism is to be operated by the vertical movement of the seat, instead of manually. Referring to these figures, l^a, represents the main valve casing, provided at its upper end with the annular diaphragm support, 2^a, and at the lower end with a discharge aperture, 4^a, m this instance internally screw threaded, as indicated at 3^a. The main casing is provided with a water inlet, indicated at 5^a (Fig. 8) for admitting water to the inlet chamber, indicated at 10% which communicates with an interior shell, 7% provided at its upper end with the main flushing aperture, 12% surrounded by the valve seat, 13^a. aperture, 12% communicates by the openings, 14^a, with the lateral water passages, 8^a, extending downwardly around the inner shell and communicating with the discharge aperture, 4^a. The lower end of the shell, 7^a, is provided with the threaded aperture,. 15^a, into which is screwed the lower end of the stud, 16^a, having a vertical bore, 17^a, forming part of the relief passage. 18^a represents the diaphragm carrying the valve sleeve, 19% provided at its upper end with the flange, 20^a, said sleeve being provided with the valve casing, 21^a, valve, 22^a, throttling washers, 24^a, and nut, 23^a, the diaphragm being clamped by the cap member, 25% Avhich is held in position by the nut, 30^a, screAvecl on the upper end of the stud, 16^a, and provided Avith the inclined relief passage, 33^a, all constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Tn this form of the valve mechanism, I employ a slightly different form of relief valve mechanism, as the relief valve is to be operated by the seat. The main valve casing is provided with coaxial apertures, 6^a—6’% the latter being internally screw threaded and being formed in a partition Avail extending doAvnwarclly from the inner shell. 34^a represents a guiding sleeve Avhich extends through the opening, 6^a—6^b, and has an ex120

125

130

1,614,488 and the main valve casing, to relieve the pipe connections from strain when the valve is operated by the depression of the seat. The strut, 91, is provided at its rear end l with a threaded portion to screw into a lug, 92, secured to the main valve shell or casing, and having a threaded aperture therein to receive the strut. The forward end of the strut is provided with an eye, or with a 10 bifurcated portion to engage the hinge pin, 90. A detail of one form of this strut is shown in Fig. 9.

It will be understood that the water inlet aperture, 5^a, is connected to the water main.

In the present instance I have shown a short section of the inlet pipe, 67% provided with a union, 68^a, by which it may be connected to the adjacent pipe section of the main.

The operation of this form of my flushing valve will be as follows. Fig. 6 represents the normal position of the valve mechanism, the relief valve, 80, being closed, and the flushing valve being held in closed 85 position by the accumulated pressure in the back pressure chamber, 28^a. When the seat is depressed, the valve stem, 72, will be drawn outward, as indicated in Fig. 7, so as to open the relief valve, 80, and simul¹⁰ taneously close the interior cut off valve, 77, Avithin the main flushing valve casing, thereby closing the inner end of the sleeves, 34^a. and preventing the delivery of any flushing water from the discharge outlet,-4^a, so long ** as the seat remains in depressed position, and thus preventing waste of Avater. As soon as the relief valve is opened, however, the water in the back pressure chamber will pass out through the channel provided for ⁴⁰ it and the main flushing valve Avill be elevated into the open position, as indicated in Fig. 7. The parts Avill remain in this position so long as the seat is depressed and no flushing water can pass through the ⁴⁵ valve casing or be discharged therefrom, 'although the main flushing valve is open. As soon as the pressure is removed from the seat, 89, it will be raised by the spring, 41^a, Avhich also serves as a retracting spring for the valve stem, 72, thus opening the valve, 77, and closing the relief valve, 80. As the flushing valve is open already, water Avill commence to iIoav through the bowl for _e5 flushing purposes instantly upon the opening of the valve, 77, effecting the flushing action, and as soon as the relief valve, 80, is closed upon the end of the nipple, 81, the pressure will have commenced to build up _eo in the back pressure chamber, 28^a, portions of the incoming water passing up betiveen the sleeve,. 19^a, and the stud, 16^a, and gradually effecting the closing of the main flushing valve, 22^a, upon its seat, 13^a. By vary85 ⁱⁿg the number of washers, 24^a and- 47^a, as hereinbefore described Avith reference to

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the duration of the flush can be accurately regulated, and also the throttling action of the Avashers, 24^a. according to the particular water pressure employed Avith the installation. 7o

It will be understood that I may also employ in connection with this valve mechanism illustrated in Figs, δ to 8 inclusive, the exterior local cut off valve mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, if this is found 78 desirable or convenient although I have not illustrated the exterior cut off valve in Figs. 5 to 8 as it seemed to be unnecessary to duplicate this illustration.