JPS6236094B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water control device for a cleaning valve. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water control system for flush valves of the type used in toilet bowls, such as the known Sloan flush valve.

As a result of extreme water scarcity caused by drought conditions in western states over the past several years, strict water allocation measures have been taken by many state agencies to balance the shortfall in water supplies. In northern California, for example, many municipalities have lowered the allowable water consumption quota for households to 40 to 50 gallons per day. With heavy fines for overuse and harsh measures in the form of water cutoffs for repeat offenders, water users had to take extreme measures to reduce their water usage. Because 45% of water usage (excluding industrial water) is for toilet flushing (average toilet flushing volume is 5-7 gallons), particular attention was paid to this aspect. Bottles filled with pebbles or aluminum cans were used as substitutes for the tank-type toilets used in ordinary households.

But perhaps the biggest problems have been caused by government agencies, businesses and hotels. Most of these are because toilets with a well-known Sloan flush valve are used instead of the tank drain type toilets used in general households. The excessive amounts of water used by these agencies have resulted in huge fines, often amounting to several thousand dollars each month.

The water control device of the present invention greatly reduces the amount of water used during washing by shortening the flash cycle of the Sloan type washing valve.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved water control device that significantly reduces the amount of water consumed during washing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure that is low in manufacturing cost and has a long service life.

The present invention will be described below with respect to its structure and operation with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the details of the structure and operation of the flush valve are well known and need not be described in detail except as pertinent to the present invention. The flush valve includes a brass body 10 with a flush water inlet connection 12 and an outlet 14, with an upright internal barrel 16 intermediate the inlet connections and the outlet. The upper edge of the barrel 16 defines an annular main valve seat 18; the main valve member consists of a flexible circular rubber diaphragm 20, the bottom of which defines a seat 22;
2 is clamped against the upper end of the cylindrical guide member 24. This guide member 24 is
It is made of a plastic material such as, and extends downwardly inside the barrel 16. The diaphragm 20 also has a central opening 26 through which a tightening disc 28 is inserted and a portion 30 of this disc is screwed into the guide member 24, thereby placing the diaphragm 20 between the guide member and the disc 28. It is tightly tightened. Other details of diaphragm 20 are preferably constructed in accordance with US Pat. No. 3,656,499. The relief valve 32 may be of plastic material and is carried by the aforementioned clamping disc 28 and has a depending operating stem 34 which extends downwardly through the diaphragm opening 20 and into the guide member 24. It's inside. The lower end 36 of the stem, which may be of plastic material, is disposed opposite an actuating plunger 38 which, when pushed inwardly by an actuating handle 40, tilts the relief valve 32 into its opening 26. It is removed from the valve seat 42 to induce operation of the cleaning valve.

The valve body 10 has an outer cover 44 and an inner cover 46.
Equipped with. The inner cover is preferably
Consists of ABS plastic moldings such as CYCOLAC. The outer cover 44 is screwed onto the outer periphery of the upper end of the valve body 10 and its shoulder portion 48 engages the outer edge of the inner cover 46 and forces it downwardly, so that the thickened edge 50 of the diaphragm 20 Crimp the outer periphery of this diaphragm into place inside the valve body.

During normal operation of the flush valve, water pressure is balanced above and below the diaphragm 20 through a small bypass opening 52. Since the hydraulic area in the chamber 54 above the diaphragm 20 is greater than the hydraulic area in the chamber 56 below the diaphragm, the diaphragm is held tightly against the valve seat 18, thereby ensuring that the inlet 12 and drain outlet 14 and shuts off the water flow between them. So now,
When the plunger 38 is pushed by the handle 40 into contact with the stem 36, the relief valve 32 is tilted out of its seat 42 so that water pressure within the chamber 54 above the diaphragm is directed downwardly through the diaphragm center opening 26. Escape to exit 14. The water pressure entering through the inlet 12 can then deflect the diaphragm 20 and lift it upwardly from its valve seat 18, whereupon inside the toilet bowl.
A water flow occurs over the upper edge of the barrel 16 and from the outlet 16 to the toilet bowl.

A lower end 36 depending from the stem 34 allows the relief valve 32 to close onto its seat 42 when the handle 40 is held in its operative position for too long. 54 adjusts the length of the flush operation and the amount of water through the flush valve by gradually reaching the inlet water pressure value through the bypass 52 until the diaphragm 20 re-seats on its valve seat 18 and shuts off water flow.

In the present invention, the water control means 60 is disposed between the relief valve 32 and the inner cover 46. This water control device 60 limits the height at which the relief valve 32 is lifted or tilted away from its valve seat 42 when actuated by the actuating plunger 38 . This device 60 helps shorten the flush cycle and significantly reduce the amount of water passing through the main valve during flushing.

The water control means 60 is generally ring-shaped and preferably made of a suitable plastic material. Plastic materials are preferred because they are relatively stable under all conditions, are non-corrosive, are water resistant, prevent the formation of foreign particles on their surfaces, and are economical and easy to manufacture. be. Because of these features, this water control device is highly suitable for the application for which it is used.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ring water control device 60 includes spoke-like projections 62 along its entire circumference and a series of V-shaped notches 64 between the spokes. It is equipped with In this structure, the relief valve 32 is connected to its valve seat 42.
This ensures proper water flow into the upper chamber 54 when tilted from the top. ring 60
A series of disk-like knobs 66 are disposed on the top surface of the holder along its inner circumferential surface. These knobs 66
This prevents the ring 60 from rising and becoming wedged between the inner cover 46 and the relief valve 32. The internal support member 68 of the ring 60 is for reinforcing this water control device 60.

It should be understood that the height of the knob 66 can be varied depending on the water pressure. If the water pressure is not at full pressure, such as on the upper floors of a high-rise building, the knob 66 can be made somewhat shorter. This can be accomplished by cutting off or sanding off the excess portion of the knob 66.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a series of smooth, rounded, sector-shaped protrusions 72 on the outer periphery of the ring-shaped water control device 70 are provided with openings 74 when the relief valve 32 is angled away from its valve seat 42. , these openings 7
4 through which water can easily flow into the interior of the upper chamber 54. The smooth rounded edge 76 of the fan-shaped protrusion 72 also allows this ring 70 to
6 and the relief valve 32 from getting stuck or clogged. An inner support member 78 is provided to stiffen the device 70.

The present invention is not limited to the above description, and can be modified or implemented as desired within the scope of the spirit thereof.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a flushing valve equipped with a water control device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the arrangement of the water control device with respect to other parts of the washing valve, and Fig. 3 is a first section of the water control device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the water control device. 10... Valve body, 12... Inlet, 14... Discharge port, 16... Barrel, 18... Main valve seat, 20...
... diaphragm, 24 ... guide member, 32 ... relief valve, 34 ... actuation stem, 40 ... actuation handle, 42 ... valve seat, 44 ... external cover, 4
6...Inner cover, 52...Bypass opening, 5
4,56...Chamber, 60...Water control device, 62
...Protrusion, 64...Notch, 66...Knob, 68...
...Supporting member, 70... Water control device, 72... Fan-shaped projection, 78... Supporting member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A flush valve having a water inlet passage and a water discharge passage, comprising: an upright barrel member disposed within the flush valve and having a main valve seat along an upper end; a flexible diaphragm having a central opening surrounded by a cylindrical hollow guide member depending from the diaphragm and extending through the interior of the barrel member; a relief valve having a depending operating stem; an internal cover member disposed above and spaced from the relief valve; and an inner cover member disposed above the relief valve and spaced therefrom; a floating water control device disposed directly above the relief valve and intermediate the relief valve and the cover member for reducing the height to which the relief valve rises and shortening the water flow cycle. Includes flush valve. 2. The device disposed directly above the relief valve is ring-shaped, and the ring includes a series of spoke-like protrusions arranged along its outer periphery and a series of spoke-like protrusions disposed between each of these spoke-like protrusions. 2. The cleaning valve according to claim 1, further comprising a notch portion. 3. Claim 2, wherein the ring-shaped water control device has a series of knobs arranged along the inner circumferential surface of the ring and on the side surface of the ring adjacent to the inner cover member. Cleaning valve described in . 4. The cleaning valve according to claim 3, wherein the knob has a solid disk shape. 5. The water control device is ring-shaped and includes a series of smooth, round, fan-shaped projections along its outer periphery, each fan-shaped projection having an opening in its interior. The cleaning valve according to item 1. 6. The cleaning valve according to claim 3, wherein the height of the knob can be changed in accordance with water pressure. 7. Claim 2, wherein the water control device includes at least one inner support member.
Cleaning valve as described in section. 8. The flushing valve according to claim 5, wherein the water control device has at least one inner support member.