Abstract: A toilet refill valve is described for refilling a water closet after each flushing, which produces minimal noise during the refill process. The valve includes a valve device which can open to pass water to a vertical outlet tube that empties into the bottom of the water closet. An anti-siphon air tube near the top of the outlet tube has an upper end open to the atmosphere and a lower end facing downwardly along the outlet tube. A restriction in the outlet tube below the air tube, causes water to fill the outlet tube and at least the bottom of the air tube for a water inlet pressure of at least 20 psi. The water at the bottom of the air tube prevents air from being dragged into the downwardly facing air tube, to avoid the noise that would result from such air flowing through the air tube and bubbling out of the bottom of the outlet tube.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for toilet flush valves on tanks which contain insufficient water to flush properly, which leads to waste of water by double flushing. The improvement enables in-field modification of the flush valve to substantially completely empty the tank. A closing delay device (42, FIG. 1) which includes a cup (64), is attached directly to the top of the tank ball (32) for easy installation, and is tall enough so that when the tank ball is pivoted to the fully opened position the cup is pivoted to a side of the pivot axis (28) opposite the tank ball to delay closing of the flush valve. The tank ball is formed of soft rubber and has an upwardly extending tubular extension (74) with an annular groove therein, which closely receives an annular flange at the bottom of the delay cup device.

Abstract: A system is described for use with a hot water supply for hotels, apartment buildings and similar multi-unit structures, which controls the temperature T.sub.1 of water at the outlet of a water tank to make it close to a desired temperature DTEMP that is low during times of low demand to save energy and which is high at times of high demand to assure adequate hot water at all times. The desired temperature at the tank outlet, DTEMP, is adjusted according to the sensed demand for hot water during an immediately preceding period of given duration, such as 45 minutes. The circuitry is used in parallel with an existing Aquastat on a commercial tank type water heater.

Abstract: A system is described for use with a hot water supply for hotels, apartment buildings and similar multi-unit structures, which controls the temperature T.sub.1 of water at the outlet of the water tank that circulates past the units and back to the tank, to make the actual temperature T.sub.1 close to a desired temperature DTEMP. The desired temperature at the tank outlet, DTEMP, is adjusted according to the measured temperature T.sub.3 of recirculating water prior to its reentry into the tank. In cold weather, when T.sub.3 decreases below a preset limit such as 105.degree. F., indicating there is a considerable temperature drop along the pipeline before water reaches the last unit, the desired tank outlet temperature DTEMP is raised to more than it would otherwise be. As T.sub.3 increases back toward the limit such as 105.degree. F., the temperature DTEMP is lowered.

Abstract: An air regulated cleaner discharge device is for use in a toilet water tank, the tank having a ballcock for discharging water to fill the tank from a minimum water level to a maximum water level, a flush valve connected to a toilet bowl for flushing water therein from the tank, and an overflow pipe projecting above the maximum water level having a ballcock refill tube connected thereto for directing tank water to refill the toilet bowl after flushing. The novel device has a preferably plastic container for receiving a mixture of liquid or other chemical material therein with an air supply tube having an inlet end opening into the tank spaced above the minimum water level and below the maximum water level, and an outlet end opening into the container preferably at an extreme upper portion above the minimum water level. A liquid cleaner supply tube also preferably of plastic is connected into the container at preferably an extreme lower end portion thereof and particularly below the air supply tube outlet end.

Abstract: Improved ballcock float structures are provided including a molded, plastic, hollow body formed of cup-like lower and reverse cup-like upper parts. The parts are retained together by snap engagement between the extremities of the parts with positioning abutments for additional stability. A float guide extends vertically through the body having a vertical opening for receiving a ballcock or the like to be controlled by the float. Control of the float for controlling the ballcock is provided by two, tubular liquid vents secured in and extending upwardly from the lower part bottom wall and a similar liquid vent projecting downwardly through and from the upper part top wall. The liquid and air vents project into the interior of the body, but terminate spaced apart and the relative positions thereof determines the performance of the float.

Abstract: The pressure activated cleaner discharge device is used in a standard toilet water tank, the tank having a ballcock for discharging water to fill the tank from a minimum water level to a maximum water level. The tank also includes a flush valve connected to a toilet bowl for flushing water therein from the tank, and an overflow pipe projecting above the maximum water level having a ballcock refill tube connected thereto for directing a pressure flow of tank water to refill the toilet bowl after said flushing. The cleaner discharge device includes a container in the tank having an inlet and outlet, an inlet water tube connected between the refill tube and the container inlet, and an outlet cleaner tube connected between the container outlet and the refill tube downstream of the inlet water tube connection. The refill tube and its connections and the container and its connections are all liquid-tight from the ballcock to the refill pipe substantially throughout the downstream flow of water therein.

Abstract: A conventional hot water heating system generally of the type for heating water in multiple units of hotels, motels, schools and the like and using any heating medium has a processor and control assembly which is operationally connected to at least a water temperature sensing means and a heating control means thereof. The processor and control assembly divides the time into exact time periods, say one-half hour, and the time periods are grouped into a group of consecutive time periods, say a week. Taking any individual time period, the time periods are checked around the time period which the present time period is a repeat and time periods directly preceding the present time period, and the operational water temperature for the present time period is chosen, as well as the amount of heat required to maintain the water at that temperature on a percentage basis of heating taken from one hundred percent.

Abstract: A conventional hot water heating system generally of the type for heating water in multiple units of hotels, motels and the like and using any heating medium has a processor and control assembly operationally connected to at least a heating control means, a water temperature sensing means and a water flow sensing means thereof. The processor and control assembly divides the time into exact time periods, say one-half hour, and the time periods are grouped into a group of consecutive time periods, say a week. Taking any individual time period, a directly preceding time period is checked with the same time period in the preceding group of time periods and if the two match within a given degree, the assembly adopts all of its settings from its particular time period a week ago. In addition, the assembly exactly records the various settings throughout that particular time period and when that time period comes up again one week from now, those are the new settings by the processor and control assembly to be used.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling a hot water heater to heat water during off peak load hours to a desired temperature by the end of a predetermined period of time. The heating is in partial increments, the water being heated a partial amount in each of a plurality of predetermined time segments with a view to reaching the desired temperature at the end of the predetermined time period. The water is heated by adjusting the heater at each segment to its maximum power or a portion thereof. The method includes the steps of computing the heater power required for the next time segment, setting the heater power accordingly, waiting until the end of the time segment, determining the new temperature of the water, and repeating the steps until the end of the time period.