By Fluid Or Electrical Means Patents (Class 4/367)
  • Patent number: 11643798
    Abstract: The system includes a fluid valve with a modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly that requires maintenance over a product life of the fluid valve. The modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly includes at least one portion including a setting or presetting configured and arranged to control fluid flow behavior in the fluid valve. The setting or presetting is useable to control fluid flow in the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly after an upgrade or replacement of at least a portion of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly. Further, the setting or presetting enables the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly to retain the fluid flow behavior following one or more upgrades or replacements of one or more portions of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan Van Le, Joseph Unkyung Han, Salvador Pena
  • Patent number: 11365534
    Abstract: Hydraulic devices used to control timing, direction, and velocity of fluid flow are disclosed. The hydraulic device includes a flush valve. The flush valve includes one or more venturi that assist in moving the fluid through flush valve. A manifold includes a housing defining a piston cavity and a piston. The piston is moveable within the piston cavity by a piston actuator between a first position and a second position. A manifold inlet defined by the housing is configured to receive a first fluid from a supply line and is in fluid communication with the piston cavity. A manifold outlet is defined by the housing and is in fluid communication with the piston cavity in. In the first position, the piston prevents fluid communication between the manifold inlet and the manifold outlet through the piston cavity. In the second position, the manifold inlet is in fluid communication with the manifold outlet such that the first fluid can flow from the supply line to the manifold outlet through the piston cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dirkers, Michael Grassi
  • Patent number: 11193262
    Abstract: A combined flushing and filling unit comprising a flush valve and a filling valve, which are situated in an inlet chamber to which line pressure is to be applied, and, between the inlet chamber and a particular outlet line, form a compensation chamber, each of which is closed with the aid of a servo-diaphragm, wherein the inlet chamber communicates with the compensation chambers via a connection opening, in each case, in the servo-diaphragm, and the compensation chambers each have a control opening for generating a pressure decrease, which releases the particular outlet line, in the relevant compensation chamber. Furthermore, a method for the operation of a combined flushing and filling unit comprising a flush valve for triggering an emptying process of a cistern is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AS America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Gilde, Achim Heinzle, Oliver Seidel
  • Patent number: 10934698
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a toilet system includes a toilet fill valve and a bowl fill valve that is configured to attach directly to the toilet fill valve. The toilet fill valve can include a body having an extended portion that forms a bowl fill outlet port, a water inlet configured to couple to a water source, and a tank water outlet configured to output water to a toilet tank. The bowl fill valve can include a bowl fill valve inlet port that is configured to mate directly to the bowl fill outlet port of the body of the toilet fill valve, a bowl fill valve outlet port, a protrusion configured to insert into a recess of the toilet fill valve and retain the bowl fill valve to the toilet fill valve, a slot that is configured to receive an extension of the toilet fill valve, and a water flow adjustment handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Schuster, Larry Schneider
  • Patent number: 9151028
    Abstract: A flushing valve suitable for reducing water wastage from a cistern of a toilet is described. The flushing valve comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a timer valve. The timer valve is mechanically connected to both the inlet valve and the outlet valve so as to control their movement between an open and a closed position such that the timer valve prevents both the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions. By preventing the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions results in the fact that the flushing valve does not allow the cistern to start to refill until after the flush process is complete. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of water passing through the cistern during each flushing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GTP DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Thomas Henry Bell
  • Patent number: 8689368
    Abstract: A flushing mechanism includes a housing, an upper cover on the housing, a sleeve, a first piston, a first piston sealed module, a first piston loading spring, a second piston and a second piston loading spring. Wherein a pressure-relief and/or ejection-proof part is provided in the housing, the second piston sealed module are respectively provided surround the periphery of the bottom end and the central hole of the second piston. The bottom end of the second piston, the second piston sealed module and the lower end of the housing define an exterior lower cavity and an interior lower cavity used for cooperating with the second piston loading spring in course of drainage, sequentially the second piston are moved upward and the outlet is opened. A toilet bowl employing said flushing mechanism can reduce the flushing water consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Feiyu Li, Caiyou Li
  • Patent number: 8332970
    Abstract: A flushing mechanism (100) includes a housing (1), an upper cover (6) on the housing (1), a sleeve (3), a first piston (4), a first piston sealed module (4-3), a first piston loading spring (5), a second piston (8) and a second piston loading spring (9). Wherein a pressure-relief and/or ejection-proof part is provided in the housing (1), the second piston sealed module (8-3, 8-4) are respectively provided surround the periphery of the bottom end and the central hole of the second piston (8). The bottom end of the second piston (8), the second piston sealed module (8-3, 8-4) and the lower end of the housing (1) define an exterior lower cavity (8-5) and an interior lower cavity (8-6) used for cooperating with the second piston loading spring (9) in course of drainage, sequentially the second piston (8) is moved upward and the outlet is opened. A toilet bowl employing the flushing mechanism can reduce the flushing water consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventors: Feiyu Li, Caiyou Li
  • Publication number: 20100306911
    Abstract: A flushing valve suitable for reducing water wastage from a cistern of a toilet is described. The flushing valve comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a timer valve. The timer valve is mechanically connected to both the inlet valve and the outlet valve so as to control their movement between an open and a closed position such that the timer valve prevents both the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions. By preventing the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions results in the fact that the flushing valve does not allow the cistern to start to refill until after the flush process is complete. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of water passing through the cistern during each flushing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Henry Bell
  • Patent number: 7485166
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detection, collection, containment, neutralization, and elimination of aerosolized contaminants, comprising a lid that fully covers an edge of a container for containment of exiting aerosolized contaminants, with the lid having housing for accommodating an article. The housing comprising a top vent aligned along atop of a bottom vent, with the top vent optionally smaller in size than the bottom vent, and with the housing, the top vent, and the bottom vent located normal to a natural vertical upward move of the aerosolized contaminants. The aerosolized contaminants are detected, collected, contained, neutralized, and eliminated and sanitized by the article within the housing, allowing only uncontaminated air out of the top vent through a natural upward movement of the aerosolized contaminants via the force of the flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph Safuto
  • Patent number: 7082624
    Abstract: A water-separating apparatus for toilet tank bridges a toilet tank and a water supply includes a concentric tube, a distributing tube and a solenoid valve. The concentric tube has a large tube containing a small tube, and an inlet connecting to the water supply and an outlet connecting to the distributing tube. The solenoid valve is connected to an inlet of the small tube of the concentric tube. The distributing tube has a large tube containing a small tube, and an inlet connecting to the concentric tube and an outlet connecting to a tube of the toilet tank. The concentric tube can divide the water supply to a plurality of water flows to meet multiple water supply requirements of the toilet tank and simplify the piping configuration outside the toilet tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Flushtech Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Chen Yen
  • Patent number: 6934976
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Arichell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natan E. Parsons, Fatih Guler, Kay Herbert, David Hadley, Robert Shamitz
  • Patent number: 6536053
    Abstract: An apparatus for flushing a WC bowl, the apparatus allowing reflushing of the bowl soon after the first flushing without filling the water tank to the maximum volume determined by an electric sensor. The movement of a piston part (4) located in a chamber (5) communicating with the water distribution system is controlled by a control mechanism (2) operating under the dynamic pressure of supply water and by the force of gravity, this movement, in turn, controlling the movement of the discharge valve (15) and thus regulating the flushing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Oras Oy
    Inventors: Thomas Icking, Janne Rautavuori
  • Patent number: 6321395
    Abstract: By depressing a push button (42), a toilet user opens a valve (44) that permits pressure holding a flush valve (12) seated to be exhausted through a pressure-relief line (48). The pressure in the flow path by which liquid thereby leaves the outlet (46) of the remote valve (44) tends to hold that remote valve's valve member (100) open after the user releases the push button (42). But pressure from the pressure-relief line (48) slowly builds up in a seating-pressure chamber (110) by fluid flow through a high-flow-resistance path provided by a passage containing a fluted pin (114). After a resultant delay sufficient to permit the toilet's tank (16) to empty through the outlet (22) controlled by the flush valve (12), the pressure within the seating-pressure chamber (80) reaches a point at which the force exerted by it on the valve member (110) exceeds the flow-path-pressure force tending to keep that valve member unseated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Arichell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natan E. Parsons, Fatih Guler
  • Patent number: 5731758
    Abstract: A toilet (6) has a solenoidal valve (1) in working relationship to a water-level probe (23), an overflow probe (25) and a floor-water probe (21) to prevent leaks reliably. A signal alarm (31) also is provided to warn of any problems and where they are in order to be able to repair them without the services of a professional plumber in many instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventors: Walter E. Suttlemyre, Vincent Albanese
  • Patent number: 5652970
    Abstract: A toilet reservoir water dumping valve for sealing the reservoir's water outlet by hydraulic pressure and for controlling the water volume to be flushed. The dumping valve is situated in the toilet reservoir at the water outlet to the toilet bowl, the dumping valve comprising a membrane housing, and a rod connected to a flush valve. In a first position, when the flush lever is in OFF position, the membrane disconnects communication between the supply line and the reservoir. Simultaneously, the rod is pressed by hydraulic pressure, tightly pushing a flush valve against the reservoir exit. In a second position, when the water is flushed, the membrane opens communication between the supply line and the reservoir, reducing the pressure on the rod, such that the rod pulls the flush valve away from the reservoir outlet, permitting water to be flushed down the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Josef Wodeslavsky
  • Patent number: 5421038
    Abstract: A refilling preventing system for a toilet tank, to prevent refilling of the tank in case of a leak, comprising: a receptacle in the tank in which the buoyant float of the fill valve is placed; a water filling conduit to fill the receptacle after a flush discharge; a plug closing the overflow tube, to cause a momentary vacuum at a flush conduit of the toilet bowl connected to the discharge opening of the toilet tank after a flush discharge and when the stopper is at a closing position; and a siphon conduit, operable by a lever mechanism, which is connected to the discharge opening and to said receptacle, that allows to flush the receptacle, after a flush discharge, by a siphon effect created by the vacuum at the flush conduit of the bowl. In case of a leak emptying the tank, the receptacle will remain filled and the buoyant float will be at its closing position impeding the fill valve to refill of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Sanitarios Azteca, S.A.
    Inventors: Mario-Rodolfo Zamudio-Castillo, Francisco Vazquez-Acosta, Francisco-Javier Melendez-Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5230104
    Abstract: An automatic water shut-off circuit for a flushing toilet tank having a main tank replenishment valve, a main tank flushing or base valve, and a main tank float for operably controlling the flow of water through the main valve dependent upon the level of water in the tank comprising a secondary float operatively associated with the main float and a secondary water supply circuit operative to cause said secondary float to raise the main float in the tank in the presence of a leaking condition in the main flushing valve of the tank. The secondary supply circuit includes a branch conduit connected between the main replenishment valve and the secondary float, a two-position valve disposed in the branch conduit, and a third float responsive to said leaking condition to actuate said two-position valve to supply water through said branch conduit thereby to actuate said secondary float and turn off said main valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Inventor: Juan Ocampo
  • Patent number: 4999859
    Abstract: This invention relates to a toilet system of the type with direct evacuation and rinsing without flushing effect nor siphon, constituted by a bowl of generally truncated form comprising at the level of its small base, in lower position, a trap controlled by a pneumatic jack, for intermittent communication with an evacuation conduit, and the bowl comprises at least one nozzle for projecting rinsing and evacuation water coming from a pressurizing chamber, characterized in that said system is connected to a source of energy constituted by a source of compressed air communicating on the one hand with the pressurizing chamber to ensure high pressure supply of the rinsing and evacuation nozzles and, on the other hand, with the pneumatic jack for maneuvering the trap, such communication being ensured by a pneumatic slide valve adapted to regulate and control the evacuation cycle comprising the synchronized phases, firstly, of opening of the trap and of projection of pressurized water and, secondly of closure of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Sanitaire Equipment
    Inventors: Bernard Bolze, Daniel Pittet
  • Patent number: 4996726
    Abstract: A fill valve (36) has a main valve (34) with a control chamber (44) for controlling the on and off actuation of the main valve. A tube (58) is in fluid communication with chamber (44) and extends into the water at the fill level (46) in tank (10). The flush valve (64) is connected to tube (58) such that upon actuation it raises tube (58) and lowers the pressure in chamber (44) to turn on the main valve (34) independent of whether the water level in tank (10) drops below its fill level (46) to direct water from the main valve to a rim wash conduit (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Donald C. Schrock, David Nichols-Roy
  • Patent number: 4989277
    Abstract: A toilet bowl flushing device washes out a toilet bowl while controlling the flow rate of flushing water supplied to the toilet bowl for a maximum flushing effect. The toilet bowl flushing device includes water supply apparatus for supplying flushing water to the toilet bowl, the water supply apparatus including a flow rate control valve for controlling a rate of flow of flushing water to be supplied to the toilet bowl, an actuator for actuating the flow rate control valve, and a control subsystem operable according to a predetermined flow rate pattern program for controlling operation of the actuator to vary the rate of flow of flushing water in one flushing cycle with respect to time from a time to start flushing the toilet bowl to a time to finish flushing the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tsutsui, Hisato Haraga, Atsuo Makita, Hirofumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4318194
    Abstract: A water closet flushing system of a type employing a float-controlled valve through which water is supplied to refill the tank after the water in the tank has been dumped into the bowl to flush the bowl. A diverter valve is interposed in the line leading from the ballcock valve through which the tank is refilled and is operable to divert this flow of water under line press to outlets or nozzles disposed around the upper rim of the bowl as soon as the flushing process begins to provide a complete pressurized washing of the bowl. After the tank empties, the diverter valve automatically shifts to a position which directs the water to refill the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Masco Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Pinkston
  • Patent number: 4225986
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasing a selected volume of water from a tank has a U-shaped bracket which mounts on the interior of the tank via a bushing which passes through a hole in the wall of the tank. A rod is pivotally supported by the bushing and, in turn, supports a valve which mates with the tank drain when the rod is pivoted to raise a valve support arm to which the valve is attached. A key on a latch arm pivotally mounted on the bracket falls into a notch in the periphery of a latch collar on the rod when the rod is pivoted to raise the valve so that water is drained from the tank so long as the key is engaged by the notch. A float collar journally mounted on the rod is positioned by a float as the water level falls to move an electrical contacting member on the float collar along an arcuate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Inventor: Eugene M. Mauk