Abstract: Flush valve assemblies are provided that include a valve body which may have a radiused inlet portion, an upper inlet end having an inlet opening, a lower outlet end having an outlet opening, and a wall extending between the upper inlet end and the lower outlet end and having an interior surface defining a flow path that extends generally longitudinally through the valve body from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and that has a generally circular transverse cross-section. A height measured longitudinally through the valve body is greater than a largest diameter of the transverse cross-section of the flow path so as to enable the valve bodies herein to have an elevated wall and head from a toilet tank floor. The assemblies may include a flapper valve cover detachably connected to the flush valve assembly and having a transverse cross-sectional diameter sufficiently large to cover the inlet opening of the valve body, a pivot mechanism and a flapper bulb.

Abstract: A pair of lever arms each have an intermediate segment configured for pivotal mounting on a pair of pins that support a corresponding end of a pair of mounting arms of a flapper valve. Each of the lever arms has a forward end configured to engage and provide a lifting force on a corresponding one of the flapper valve mounting arms when the lever arm and the flapper valve mounting arm are rotated in a first direction during opening of the flapper valve upon manual actuation of a flush control lever or button. A counterweight reservoir is connected to a pair of rearward ends of the lever arms for holding a volume of water and delays rotation of the flapper valve in a reverse direction to seal the flush valve until a volume of water has drained through an outlet aperture in a bottom portion of the counterweight reservoir.

Abstract: A pair of lever arms each have an intermediate segment configured for pivotal mounting on a pair of pins that support a corresponding end of a pair of mounting arms of a flapper valve. Each of the lever arms has a forward end configured to engage and provide a lifting force on a corresponding one of the flapper valve mounting arms when the lever arm and the flapper valve mounting arm are rotated in a first direction during opening of the flapper valve upon manual actuation of a flush control lever or button. A counterweight reservoir is connected to a pair of rearward ends of the lever arms for holding a volume of water and delays rotation of the flapper valve in a reverse direction to seal the flush valve until a volume of water has drained through an outlet aperture in a bottom portion of the counterweight reservoir.

Abstract: A toilet includes a toilet bowl assembly having a toilet bowl and a trapway extending from the bottom of the toilet bowl to a sewage line. The toilet bowl has a rim channel provided along an upper perimeter portion thereof. In this toilet, the flush water flows through the rim channel in a path which is asymmetric and unidirectional along the entire perimeter portion thereof. The rim channel includes a plurality of rim openings distributed evenly along the perimeter of the rim channel. Flush water passing through the plurality of rim openings pre-wets the entire perimeter of the toilet bowl. The rim channel further includes a pair of water discharge slots which directs water directly into the toilet bowl in two powerful streams. The flush valve allowing passage of water from the water tank to the toilet bowl assembly is in the form of a valve inlet having a radiused port to generate greater energy throughput of the flush water.

Abstract: By depressing a push button (13), a user deforms a flexible diaphragm (30) and thereby causes an incompressible fluid to flow from a first actuation-chamber segment (42) through openings (48) in a divider wall (46) and into a second chamber segment (44). That flow deforms a second flexible diaphragm (40), which accordingly causes an actuator shaft (58) to break the seal formed by an O-ring (57) and thereby permit flow from a main valve inlet (11) through a main valve outlet (12). When the user releases the push button (13), an actuator check valve (50) prevents the incompressible fluid from returning through the divider-wall openings (48) to the first chamber segment (42). The actuator therefore returns only slowly, through a bleed orifice (72). A pressurizer conduit (86) communicates the valve's outlet pressure to a stop chamber (82) and thereby causes the position of a stop member (76) to be dependent on that pressure.

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly for regulating the passage of water from a toilet tank is provided with a structure to reduce overflow risk. There is a yoke pivotally disposed in the tank and supporting a flapper seal that can be seated on and unseated from the flush opening. A flapper arm has a first segment coupled to the yoke along a pivot axis and a second segment extending away from the pivot axis toward the flapper seal. The flapper arm is configured such that it delays seating of the flapper seal when the water in the tank is above a predetermined level and assists seating of the flapper seal when the water is below a designated level.

Abstract: A remote valve (46) controls relief of pressure by way from a pilot-valve chamber (38) whose pressure in turn controls pressure relief pressure chamber (24) by which a pressurized-water source holds a flush valve (12) seated in a flush opening at the base of a toilet tank (18). An actuator chamber defined by a housing (74) and flexible diaphragms (72) and (94) contains an incompressible fluid, and the user's depression of a push button (44) causes that fluid to be displaced through a check valve (100) so as to displace a valve member (102), which is coupled to one of the flexible diaphragms, from a sealing position to an unsealing position, where it permits flow from a valve inlet (104) to a valve outlet (48). This relieves the pressure that holds the flush valve (12) closed. A spring (101) biases the valve member (102) to a rest position, to which it tends to return when the user releases the push button (44).

Abstract: A piston flush valve (10) that is installed in a toilet tank (150) and that operates in combination with a ballcock supply valve (152), a trip lever(154) and a refill tube (158). The piston flush valve (10) includes an upper section (12) which is movably attached to a lower section (72) that is attached to a water egress port (160) located on the bottom of the toilet tank(150). The upper section (12) includes an overflow tube (14) which has a vertical series of outwardly extending slots (24). The slots (24) function in combination with a flush-volume spring clip (58) that is attached to a float (44). The spring clip (58) has a notch (60) sized to fit into one of the slots (24). Depending on which slot (24) the notch (60) is inserted will determine the amount of flush water the toilet tank (150) delivers to the toilet bowl (162).

Abstract: A tank device for flushing a toilet bowl includes a tank body for storing toilet bowl-flushing water. The tank body has an opening at the bottom. One or more support arms are arranged within the tank body and are pivotally mounted to supports. A valve body is secured to one end of the support arms. The valve body comes into close contact with the opening of the tank body. A delaying structure for delaying a motion of the valve body is attached to the support arms. An activator for pulling up the valve body is fitted to the tank body. Delaying the valve closing motion of the valve body allows the stored water within the tank body to be used as flush water for the toilet bowl, until the stored water drops near the bottom.

Abstract: An interlock mechanism (6-9, 41-47) for a cistern or flush tank (1) has an underwater flush valve (3). The interlock mechanism is linked with the float arm (7, 57) of an inlet valve (5, 50). The interlock mechanism latches the float arm in its raised position in the event of a leaky flush valve (3). Thus although a single cistern volume is lost there is no further loss. The next time a flush actuator (10) is operated the interlock mechanism in unlatched allowing the cistern to re-fill. The rising water re-sets the interlock latch mechanism.

Abstract: The quantity of water which is discharged from a flushing tank into a toilet bowl is regulated by accelerating or decelerating the descent of a float in a housing which is installed in the tank. The float carries an actuator which is provided with a valving element serving to seal an outlet of the tank when the float descends in the housing to a selected level as a result of flow of water from the housing into the tank through one or more openings in the housing. Each opening is controlled by a discrete valve which can be closed or opened to a selected extent by the actuator.

Abstract: A flush valve of a toilet that includes an internal valve piece and an external valve piece. The external valve piece is circular and is installed inside a circular hole which includes a circular flange that engages the internal valve piece. A rear side of the internal valve piece includes a resilient portion formed from gelatinous material so that the internal valve piece serves the purpose of delaying the reset action. Basically, in the first stage the flush handle is rotated by the user to open the internal valve piece. Thus, the drain rate of the water box is slower. In the second stage, the flush handle further is rotated to a position to engage the internal circular flange of the external valve piece so as to open the external valve piece. Therefore, the drain rate becomes much faster. By the two stage flushing process, the user can regulate the drain rate, thus conserving water.

Abstract: A gravity flush toilet system includes a fixture with a water sealed trap and a tank having an overflow tube, a flush valve and a fill valve. A control assembly includes a float assembly with a member for pushing the flush valve toward its closed position as the water level descends. A full volume or a reduced volume flushing operation is selected by alternatively filling or emptying a bias chamber of the float assembly. Water pressure variations are compensated for by increasing the weight of the float with part of the flow through the fill valve as the tank is emptying. A regulated volume of reseal water is carried in a chamber on the float and is discharged into the overflow tube to refill the fixture trap after each flushing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for flushing a water closet bowl includes a pressurizable reservoir, within which is formed a primary and a secondary pressure zone. Formed at the bottom of the reservoir is an exit aperture through which the pressurized fluid is discharged into the bowl. Movably disposed within the reservoir is an elongate piston member. Formed at the top of the piston member is a hollow cup, which is movably disposed within a downwardly extending hollow cylinder within which is formed the secondary pressure zone. Formed at the bottom of the piston is a plug which seals the exit aperture. During a flushing action, pressure within the secondary pressure zone is released by operating a flushing lever, and the piston moves upwardly so as to release the plug from the exit aperture. In one embodiment, the flushing apparatus includes a fluid inlet regulator that controls the amount of fluid that is introduced into the reservoir from a fluid supply line.

Abstract: Stoppable flushing mechanism having an assured minimum flow of water is provided with an evacuation orifice having a sealing edge adapted to be positioned in a base of a flushing tank, and a substantially axially movable valve capable of being applied to the sealing edge. A substantially axially movable floater is affixed to the valve and adapted to maintain the valve at a distance from the sealing edge during evacuation of water. A transmission and lifting system is provided for moving the valve, and a push-button control device activates the transmission and lifting system. The transmission and lifting system includes a buoyancy chamber having a first base, with the buoyancy chamber being arranged in an upper portion of a housing in which the floater is housed and being associated with a rapid evacuation mechanism comprising at least one element activatable by the push-button control device, and at least one orifice in the first base or in a vicinity of the first base of the buoyancy chamber.

Abstract: A flush mechanism for use with a toilet tank is disclosed. The mechanism permits selection between flushing cycles of two different time durations. The tank has a wall with an outlet therein and a valve member. The flush mechanism has a shaft linked at one end to the valve, a float slidably mounted on the shaft, and a cam pivotally connected to the shaft adjacent the float. The cam is rotatable between a short flush position wherein the float is allowed to assume a high position along the shaft and a long flush position wherein the cam member forces the float into a low position along the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for replacing part or all of a toilet flush valve, which facilitates mounting in a variety of toilets and which enables saving of water. The assembly includes an adapter (30, FIG. 6) for mounting on older types of overflow tubes, which includes a ring member (70) having a gap (72) and a leaf spring (80) extending across the gap. After the adapter is moved down along the overflow tube and lies at its base, the spring is pushed in to cause a hook (84) at one end to ride along a ramp (90) from a second tooth (88) to a third tooth (92) and engage the third tooth, to tightly clamp the ring member in place to prevent turning. A closing delay cup (116, FIG. 9) that can be used on a valve member, includes a plurality of holes and at least one plug (126) that is molded to the cup and can be cut off and used to plug one of the holes (120) to adjust the amount of water saved in each flushing. A valve member includes a tank ball having an enlargement (160, FIG.

Abstract: A device for regulating the discharge of water from a storage tank associated with a toilet bowl for flushing of the toilet bowl, with the operation of the device being through slight pressure on a push button on a rod extending through a front or end wall of the storage tank. This device has a flapper assembly for opening and closing access to a drain from the storage tank, with this flapper assembly having a storage volume with an adjustable opening for controlled release of water therefrom to control the timing of the closure of the flapper assembly against the drain. A trigger assembly portion has a trigger arm with one end engaged with the push button and the other end adapted to engage a distal arm of a pivotal lever arm, this lever arm carrying a buoyant float. Release of the engagement of the distal ends of the trigger arm and the lever arm causes the lever arm to rise, due to the float, and the lever arm engages the flapper assembly to open the drain.

Abstract: A toilet flush control system which provides control over the volume of water used in conventional tank-type toilets. The disclosed toilet flush control apparatus and method can be used in existing toilets by easily retrofitting such toilets with said apparatus. The toilet flush control apparatus may also be incorporated into the design of new toilets. The apparatus comprises a flapper-type flush valve which by itself does not have adequate buoyancy to remain open during the flush cycle of a toilet and which is equipped with an eyelet member; a buoyant member capable of imparting the needed buoyancy to the valve during the flush cycle; a flexible line connected at one end to the buoyant member and passing through said eyelet, and mechanism for adjusting the vertical distance between the flush valve and the buoyant member from outside the toilet tank. The volume of water saved during flushing is equivalent to the volume of water between the level of the flush valve and the level of the buoyant member.

Abstract: A toilet flushing apparatus designed to prevent excess loss of water that may happen when the flush valve stays open as the inlet valve is putting water into the tank. The initial flushing lifts the flush valve which acts in conjunction with a counter-weight and controller arm attached to the float ball arm. The controller arm supports the float ball and thus allows the intake valve to remain in the closed position until the flush valve has closed completely, at which time the float ball is lowered and water is let in to the tank.

Abstract: A system for controlling liquid flow in bathrooms and the like in response to the presence of the user, which is configuration-adjustable to permit use in preselected sanitary applications. Light emitting means cooperate with a light sensor to detect light reflected from the user. The filtered and amplified output signal from the sensor is demodulated to provide a DC output signal. First circuit means responsive to the DC output signal actuate fluid flow for a maximum preselected period, to enable use in controlling faucet flow. Second circuit means responsive to the DC signal include means for arming the circuit following the existence of the DC output signal for a first predetermined period; and means for thereupon generating a flow control signal for a second predetermined period following extinction of the DC output signal to enable use of the system to control flushing of urinals or commodes.

Abstract: A flush mechanism for toilets comprises a water supply control device and a water escape control device independently disposed in a flush tank. The mechanism is actuated to flush by raising a plunger to lift a piston of the water escape position from its normally closed position to its open position allowing water flow from the tank to a toilet bowl associated therewith and maintain that position by vacuum suction.

Abstract: A valve assembly for selectively allowing either a partial or a complete draining of a toilet flush tank. A hollow valve member having both a small vent hole and a larger opening therein is selectively pivoted in a first or or a second direction depending upon which one of two activation levers is depressed. Opening the valve by pivoting it in one direction allows trapped air to vent from within the hollow valve. Inflowing water eventually imparts a negative buoyancy to the valve assembly and allows it to settle onto the valve seat to seal the tank prior to the discharge of the entire volume of water held by the flush tank. Alternatively, opening the valve by pivoting it in the opposite direction allows substantially less air to escape by virtue of the placement of the vent hole. The valve therefore never achieves negative buoyancy and the entire tank drains before the valve can settle onto its valve seat to seal the tank.

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 flush valve mechanism for controlling the flushing action of water thro the water outlet of a flush cistern is provided. The mechanism comprises a water outlet valve liftable off the water outlet to effect the flushing action and a buoyant, valve-engaging assembly adapted to move independently of the water outlet valve by virtue of its buoyancy. The water outlet valve having an effectively negative overall buoyancy when the cistern is at least partially full. The valve-engaging assembly comprises a pivotably mounted buoyant lever having at least one arm with a buoyant means attached at one end thereof adjacent the bottom of the cistern and is provided with means at its other end for selectively engaging the valve. The assembly further comprises restraining means having a first position normally engaging and restraining the buoyant lever with the buoyant means in close proximity to the cistern bottom and the engaging means in disengaged relationship to the valve.

Abstract: A flushing mechanism is disclosed for use in the tank of a toilet, utilizing a spool valve to accommodate various fluid pressures and to accomplish accurate control of volumetric flow. A housing is provided in the toilet tank, defining an inlet port which is adapted to be connected to the source of flushing fluid, e.g. water, and also defining a vertical valve chamber extending somewhat transverse to the inlet port and connected to control the discharge of water from the valve and out of the tank to the toilet bowl. The spool valve is provided in the valve chamber such that the facing surfaces of lands on the spool are subjected to the pressure of the flushing water source, to maintain a balance. Manual means is disclosed for displacing the spool valve to supply flushing water from the source while activating a hydraulic timer which, in due course, resets the spool valve. In the disclosed embodiment, the hydraulic timer involves a bleed tube for supplying water to the tank which contains a float.

Abstract: This invention provides an attachment for use with a flush toilet mechanism with the usual stopper and a cylindrical float member horizontally disposed, both being fixed with respect to each other and being swingable about a horizontal axis parallel with the cylinder axis. The attachment effects a saving of water used in flushing, and includes an upwardly open receptacle pivotally mounted with respect to a frame element, the latter being attached to the flush toilet mechanism such that the vertical location of the frame element with respect to the flush toilet mechanism can be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: An attachment for interrupting the flushing action of a toilet before the entire volume of water in the toilet tank has exited includes a buoyant member that is connected to the water outlet plug of the toilet tank and acts to close the plug when some but not all of the water in the tank has exited. The buoyant member is connected to the plug and closes the plug by applying its weight to the plug when the member is no longer supported by the water. An adapter allows the buoyant member to act on flapper valves as well as on conventional tank plugs.

Abstract: A system is disclosed wherein white waters, i.e., those soapy waters coming from washing stands, showers, wash basins and the like, are carried, through receiving and filtering devices, down to the tank or container of a toilet either at the same level of the building or down to a lower level. By means of the devices employed in this invention cesspools are dispensed within sanitary devices from which white water is obtained, and also water entrance valves and floaters in toilet tanks are dispensed with.