Abstract: A flush valve includes a body having an inlet an outlet and a seat between the inlet and the outlet. The seat defines an opening therethrough. A cover is attached to the body. A piston is engageable with the seat and movable within the body and cover to an extent permitted by a stop formed in the body or cover. The piston includes a guide portion extending through the seat opening and downstream of the seat. The guide portion has ribs and a skirt. The axial length of both the ribs and skirt is greater than the available piston travel so the flow passages through the seat opening at all times are defined by the skirt and ribs.

Abstract: A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module.

Abstract: A toilet room flush valve includes a body with an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween. A valve assembly in the body is positioned to close upon the seat to control flow from the inlet to the outlet. A cover is mounted upon the body and defines a pressure chamber with the valve assembly. A bypass connects the inlet and the pressure chamber whereby pressure in the chamber maintains the valve assembly upon the seat. The pressure chamber may be vented to permit movement of the valve assembly toward the cover. The stroke of the valve assembly is limited by a volume regulator which is fixed to the cover and an adjustable microcontroller which is movable with the valve assembly and positioned to contact the volume regulator upon venting of the pressure chamber and consequent movement of the valve assembly.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A dual mode flush valve includes a handle assembly having a handle, a bushing and a plunger. The bushing has a sleeve with a passage therethrough for mounting the plunger for sliding and tilting. The passage is defined by first and second partially overlapping bores that coincide at the inner end of the sleeve and are spaced one above the other at the outer end of the sleeve. The bores define a horizontal plunger travel axis and an angled plunger travel axis. Depending on which direction the user actuates the handle the plunger will travel along one of these axes. Travel along the angled axis will lower the plunger tip, allowing earlier clearance of a relief valve and a reduced flow through the flush valve compared to actuation with the plunger travel along the horizontal axis.

Abstract: A liquid soap dispenser includes a housing, a shank that engages a base of the housing, a soap path retainer disposed in the interior of the housing, a shank adapter disposed in the shank, and an infrared sensor to sense the presence of a user. A generally continuous passageway is defined through the shank adapter and the soap path retainer such that an elongated soap delivery tube of a liquid soap reservoir may be inserted through the passageway from the bottom of the soap dispenser to the spout end. The reservoir may be attached to the bottom end of the shank adapter. The soap path retainer is preferably formed of complementary halves, such as by plastic injection molding, that mate together to provide a curved passageway from near the base of the housing to the soap dispensing end and to support the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A toilet room flush valve has a valve handle and an actuator mounted on the valve body to cause either sensor-initiated automatic movement or user-initiated manual movement of the valve handle. The actuator includes a handle assembly pivotally mounted in a housing. The handle assembly has an interface which is normally engaged with the valve handle. A motor driven push rod mounted on the handle assembly is engageable with the handle. A drive motor is mounted on the handle assembly and connected to the push rod to cause movement thereof. A battery for operating the drive motor is connected to a sensor mounted on the handle assembly, with the sensor being capable of connect the battery power to the drive motor. The actuator housing is arranged to allow it to slip over the valve handle and clamp on the valve body without disassembling either the flush valve or the actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides a radio frequency (RF) valve control system that replaces mechanical systems that physically links a button or a handle to a flush valve or hard wired electronic control systems that physically links a sensor/electronic switch to a valve actuator within a plumbing installation. The new system is characterized by two modules, a user interface module (UIM) for locating at or adjacent a plumbing fixture (such as a water closet or urinal), and a valve interface module (VIM) operatively connected to a flush valve actuator or a valve in the water supply line of the plumbing fixture. The UIM generally has the function of providing an RF valve control signal to the VIM and the VIM has the functions of receiving, analysing, and responding to the RF valve control signal and sending a signal to the valve actuator to initiate a flush cycle or initiating a valve control process to control a valve within the water supply line to start or stop water flow to the fixture.

Abstract: A system for remote operation of a personal hygiene appliance which includes any one of a toilet flush valve, a faucet, a shower head, a soap dispenser, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser, includes an electric operator associated with each appliance for causing operation thereof. A radio receiver is associated with each appliance, which, upon receipt of a message unique to that appliance, will cause its operation. There is a triggering device, remote from the appliance, which may be for example an infrared sensor or a manually operated switch for signaling an intent to cause operation of the appliance. There is a transmitter and a receiver associated with the triggering device. Each triggering device associated transmitter is programmed to transmit a message unique to that specific appliance. There is an indicator located at each triggering device and a receiver associated with the indicator.

Abstract: A flush valve includes a body having an inlet and an outlet. There is a main seat assembly at the outlet. An outer cover is attached to the body and an inner cover is attached to the body within the outer cover. A piston is movable within the body and inner cover and, with the inner cover, defines a pressure chamber. The piston carries an exterior seal which bears against an inside wall of the inner cover during movement of the piston. A refill orifice in the piston connects the chamber with the body inlet. Pressure in the chamber maintains the piston closed upon the main seat assembly. A relief valve is positioned in the piston for venting the chamber to the outlet. When the relief valve is opened and the chamber is vented, the piston moves away from the main seat assembly connecting the inlet with the outlet.

Abstract: A flush valve includes a body having an inlet, an outlet and a main seat assembly between the inlet and outlet. A piston moves within the body and with the body defines a pressure chamber which is used to normally maintain the piston closed upon the main seat assembly. There is a refill orifice in the piston connecting the pressure chamber with the inlet. A relief valve is carried by the piston for venting the pressure chamber and there is a fluid driven apparatus for opening the relief valve, which apparatus is attached to the body. A hydraulic bypass in the body is connected to the fluid driven apparatus. The main seat assembly has a plurality of peripherally disposed fluid passages connecting the hydraulic bypass and the inlet to provide filtered fluid to the fluid driven apparatus. A first seal on the main seat assembly has a flat portion and an arcuate portion constrained within a channel. Lockout lugs formed in the seal prevent installation of an incorrectly sized piston.

Abstract: An electronic plumbing device, such as a faucet, has a microprocessor that is programmed to periodically purge stagnant water remaining in the faucet at predetermined time intervals. The microprocessor energizes a solenoid associated with a water valve to initiate the flow of water through the faucet in response to a detector sensing the presence of a user near the faucet. A first timer is programmed into the microprocessor and controls the minimum run time of the faucet for activations initiated by either a user or by the purge feature. A second timer is also programmed into the microprocessor to measure a second predetermined time interval. If the faucet is not used during the second predetermined time interval, the microprocessor will energize the solenoid for the minimum run time to open the water valve and flush out any stagnant water remaining in the faucet from the prior activation.

Abstract: A deodorizing paper towel dispenser includes a housing, with a paper towel roll mounted within the housing for rotation. There may be a drive within the housing which is connected to rotate the paper towel roll. The drive means can be activated either by an infrared sensor or by a manual switch. The paper towel roll includes a generally hollow core and a deodorant associated with the core. A fan is positioned to pass air through the paper towel roll core and outwardly through an opening in the housing. The fan is operated by a drive that rotates with the paper towel roll.