Flush Actuation Automatically Responsive To Condition Patents (Class 4/302)
  • Patent number: 4793588
    Abstract: The invention relates to flush valves in which an external operating handle is eliminated. An electronic sensor, solenoid valve and a solenoid contained within a single unit to operate a flush valve are provided which is either built into the flush valve or can be retrofitted to a conventional flush valve with an external operating handle. The solenoid valve can also be controlled by external means separate and apart from the infra-red sensor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
    Inventor: Martin J. Laverty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4688277
    Abstract: An automatic faucet apparatus comprises a drive control means wherein an intermediate drive section coupled to a motor as normally resiliently biased toward the original position is interlocked to a driving shaft coupled to a valve member with a play involved in the interlocking, so that, when the motor is energized to provide an actuating torque to the intermediate drive section and is thereafter deenergized, the intermediate drive section can reset to the original position without requiring any motor output, while the driving shaft is prevented from being affected by the resetting of the intermediate drive section due to the play involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kakinoki, Kazuhiko Hirata
  • Patent number: 4598726
    Abstract: A water faucet is disclosed that is automatically turned on and off in response to the proximity of the user's hand or other object to the faucet. An ultrasonic transducer is located in the faucet near the water outlet and transmits bursts of ultrasonic waves. When a wave reflects off a user's hand and creates an echo signal, the echo is detected by the ultrasonic transducer. Circuitry connected to the ultrasonic transducer determines when an object is within a predetermined distance of the faucet by measuring the time elapsed between the transmission of the burst and the reception of the echo. Once an object is within this predetermined distance, the circuitry causes a valve to open and water is supplied by the faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Inventor: Robert B. Pepper
  • Patent number: 4575880
    Abstract: An automatic flush cistern, and a device for actuating the flushing action of an automatic flush cistern whereby the cistern of a toilet or urinal is adapted to flush in response to the entry of a person into a predetermined area, such as the entry of a person through the entrance door of a public toilet, or at regular intervals during periods of infrequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignees: Robert Burgess, June Burgess
    Inventor: Robert H. Burgess
  • Patent number: 4570272
    Abstract: A toilet bowl flushing device capable of discharging automatically a large amount of flushing water to the bowl immediately after termination of use of the bowl and a small amount of water continuously from the beginning of the use until a predetermined time has elapsed after the large amount discharge. Valve means for controlling the amount of water provided to the bowl includes a small-amount water discharging means and a large-amount water discharging means, and is coupled to a control means including a timer means suitably energizing the small-amount and large-amount water discharging means so that an auxiliary bowl flushing is performed with a small amount of flushing water to prevent sticking of filth to the bowl during the use, a main bowl flushing is realized with a large amount of flushing water immediately after the use, and a small amount of flushing water is kept discharged still after the main flushing to avoid any generation of water hammering phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shojiro Kawaguchi, Kuniyuki Odaka
  • Patent number: 4520513
    Abstract: An automatic flushing apparatus for vacuum flow system urinals. A pressure ensing switch responds to the hydrostatic pressure resulting from one or two urinations and directs the system vacuum to both a water dispensing valve and the main discharge valve to automatically flush the system with a measured amount of water to prevent odors and soil drain scale buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Milton W. Raupuk, Jr., Edward M. Pennington
  • Patent number: 4471498
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flushing of a lavatory, for example in a mens urinal, comprises a source of water for flushing, a flush control valve SV wherein the valve is actuated in response to the usage of the lavatory, for example by means of door switch DS. In order that over-use of the device should be prevented in busy periods, a delay circuit D1 is provided to prevent a second actuation of the water supply solenoid valve within a preset period from a first actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Laycock Bros. Limited
    Inventor: Derek Robertshaw
  • Patent number: 4443898
    Abstract: YAn improved automatic flushing device for valve actuated toilets that is capable of being housed inside the toilet's water tank, out of the user's sight. The conventional water supply valve system is not altered and the flush valve assembly is actuated through floating means arranged in such a way that, depending on the water levels inside the tank, will urge the opening of the flush valve. When enough water has been drained out, the action of the floating means ceases and a tripping mechanism engages locking the floating means thereby preventing it from opening the flush valve again until the tripping mechanism is triggered in response to the users removing his or her weight from the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Inventor: Lazaro Aguero
  • Patent number: 4402095
    Abstract: A water faucet is disclosed that is automatically turned on and off in response to the proximity of the user's hand or other object to the faucet. An ultrasonic transducer is located in the faucet near the water outlet and transmits bursts of ultrasonic waves. When a wave reflects off a user's hand and creates an echo signal, the echo is detected by the ultrasonic transducer. Circuitry connected to the ultrasonic transducer determines when an object is within a predetermined distance of the faucet by measuring the time elapsed between the transmission of the burst and the reception of the echo. Once an object is within this predetermined distance, the circuitry causes a valve to open and water is supplied by the faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Inventor: Robert B. Pepper
  • Patent number: 4338690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic mechanism for flush and raising a toilet seat which permits the seat to be raised automatically to a vertical, non-use position and the wash water to automatically flush the urinal after the occupancy of the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Inventors: Jung H. Hsieh, Jung K. Hsieh
  • Patent number: 4329745
    Abstract: An automatic weight operated toilet flushing device capable of being installed in conventional toilets with flush tanks. The device has one end of a long arm secured to the lower portion of the toilet seat assembly the seat and the other end engages a vertical actuating link which is pushed upwardly when the toilet user seats down. The vertical link engages the actuating lever mechanism which is pulled down when the user gets up and the conventional ball type valve is opened allowing the toilet bowl to be flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Inventor: Lazaro Aguero
  • Patent number: 4203173
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture in combination with means for preventing overflow from a toilet bowl having a P-trap when an obstruction is created in the waste outlet thereof, such plumbing fixture including a blow-out jet pipe, the entrance of the pipe being coupled in fluid communication with the water supply pipe connected to the toilet bowl at the upper portion thereof and the outlet of the pipe coupled in fluid communication with the P-trap of the toilet bowl of the plumbing fixture, comprising: a toilet bowl having a water supply pipe operably coupled therewith; an electrically-controlled flushing valve operably associated with the supply pipe for controlling the flow of water to the toilet bowl; a source of electricity for operating the valve; electrical switch means operably associated with the source of electricity for controlling the delivery of electricity for controlling the delivery of electricity to the valve for actuation thereof; an insulated electrical probe mounted in the water supply pipe; said electri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Acorn Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Earl L. Morris, Walter V. Hafner, Theodore J. Sally
  • Patent number: 4195374
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture with a toilet bowl having a P-trap with means for inhibiting overflow from the toilet bowl when an obstruction exists in the waste outlet thereof, comprising: a tolet bowl having a flushing rim thereabout adapted to be coupled to a water supply pipe; an electrically controlled flushing valve for controlling the flow of water in the water supply pipe; a source of electricity for operating the flushing valve; a switch for controlling the flow of electricity to the flushing valve; a blow-out jet pipe coupled to the P-trap and adapted to be coupled to the water supply pipe; a hollow adapter having at least four openings thereinto wherein one opening is coupled to a water supply pipe, one opening is coupled to the blow-out jet pipe, and one opening is coupled to the flushing rim so that when water resides therein water also resides in the adapter via the opening coupled to the flushing rim, said adapter having a weir therein dividing the openings coupled to the water supply pipe and the blow-out
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Acorn Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Earl L. Morris, Walter V. Hafner, Theodore J. Sally
  • Patent number: 4152794
    Abstract: This invention discloses an improvement in the flush-toilet at which the water will flush out automatically into the basin at the period of time after somebody uses it. By means of two pumps installed at different levels and a connector to contain a magnet, a lever will be controlled to activate another pump to jet air into a water tank. This action opens a water conduit in the tank and the water is permitted to flush into the basin. Also the compressed air in the water tank presses strongly the water to flow into the conduit. The time in delaying the drainage of water to flush into the basin depends on the speed of the magnet moving in the connector, and the length and the inclination of that connector. The magnet is drawn upward in the connector when the lower pump is activated by the weight of somebody upon the seating circle. After the utilizer leaves the flush-toilet, the magnet moves back to its primary location to attract a lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Inventor: Tien H. Pan
  • Patent number: 4134163
    Abstract: An automatic flushing system for flushing a plurality of toilet bowls with water, which is provided with a solenoid-controlled valve and a detecting device. So long as the detecting appliance detects no toilet user, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened every time a predetermined time lapses, thereby to flush all the toilet bowls. If only one toilet user is detected, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened thereafter upon lapse of a reference time shorter than the predetermined time, thereby to flush the toilet bowls. If two or more toilet users are detected, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened thereafter upon lapse of a time shorter than the reference time, the time being shorter by a predetermined length for each additional toilet user detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: F. M. Valve Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Matsunaga