CA1044852A - Vacuum flush water closet - Google Patents

Vacuum flush water closet

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Publication number
CA1044852A
CA1044852A CA278,207A CA278207A CA1044852A CA 1044852 A CA1044852 A CA 1044852A CA 278207 A CA278207 A CA 278207A CA 1044852 A CA1044852 A CA 1044852A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
vacuum
valve
bowl
water closet
flush water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA278,207A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James F. Cameron
Charles E. Gregory
Jerald F. Thomas
Michael Brian
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JERED INDUSTRIES
Original Assignee
JERED INDUSTRIES
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JERED INDUSTRIES filed Critical JERED INDUSTRIES
Priority to CA278,207A priority Critical patent/CA1044852A/en
Priority to CA312,297A priority patent/CA1074503A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1044852A publication Critical patent/CA1044852A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

A vacuum flush water closet having a bowl and rim which are made from steel stampings covered with chemical resistant porcelain. The water closet has a self-contained flushing water and sewage valve discharge control system which is operatively mounted around the bowl and enclosed by an outer shroud made of a molded high impact plastic material. The water closet is shock proof and is mounted on a base plate that may be fixedly secured to a mounting surface, such as a floor or ship's deck. The bowl is mounted on a sewage discharge valve which is spring closed and vacuum opened.
Flushing water is supplied through a spray ring mounted around the upper end of the bowl. The flushing water is controlled by a vacuum operated valve. The operation of the flushing water valve and the sewage discharge valve is controlled by a vacuum-gravity timer which is activated by a push button switch mounted at the rear of the bowl rim. The length of the flushing cycle and the sewage discharge cycle is controlled by the vacuum-gravity timer. The flushing cycle takes place in a short time interval and a minimum amount of water is employed for flushing purposes.

Description

rhis i11~;e11tiO11 relates to the art of s~nitary plumbi11g systems, alld more particul.ll~ly, to a novel ~111d im1)roved ~racuum flush water closet.
~ laeuum sewage systems have ~een provided heretofore, but they have h~d in11ere11t disadva11tages, A disadvantage of the prior art vacuum f]ush water closets is that they are e~pensive, bulky, and subject to breakage. Another disadvantage of the prior art vacuum flush water closets is that they include control systems which are slow and ineficient in operation. A further disadvantage of the prior art lO vacuum flush water closets is that they are not shock-proof and cannot be used for systems for naval ships. In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet which overcomes the afore-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art vacuum flush water closets.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a nov-el and improved vacuum flush water closet which is simple and com-pact in construction light in weight, economical to manufacture, and efficient in operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a 20 vacuum flush water closet which is shock-proof and may be used in naval ships and under conditions where the water closet will be sub-jected to shocks and e~cessive vibrations.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet which is provided with a bowl and rim made from metal stampings that are covered with a chemical resistant porcelain and which has a self-contained flushing water and sewage valve discharge control system operatively mounted ~ '.

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aro~ d tl,e bowl a~ld ellelosed by ~ shroud mclde ~f a molded high impact plastic material.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved v acuum flush water closet having a vacuum operated sewage discharge valve on which is operatively mounted a bowl having a rim and on which is mounted a seat. The sewage dis-charge valve is operatively nlounted on a base plate. ~ flushing water vacu-lm control valve is operatively mounted on the bowl. A
vacuum operated control means is operatively mounted on the bowl for 10 controlling the flushing water flow control valve and the sewage dis-charge valve,. A shroud is operatively mounted around the bowl to enclose the flushing water flow control valve, the sewage discharge valve, the bowl and the control apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to pro-vide a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet having a vacuum operated sewage discharge valve which is controlled by a vacuum con-trol system that includes a vacuum and gravity operated timer means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide -` a novel and improved vacuurn flush water closet which is adjustable 20 for regulating the water flushing portion of the overall flushing cycle, and the sewage discharge portion of the overall flushing cycle, so as to provide an overall flushing cycle which uses a minimum amount of flushing water and is carried out over a minimum time period to maintain the volume of air to a minimum that is being drawn into the vacuum line connected to the water closet.
It is still another object of the present invention to p~-vide a vacuurn flush water closet having a bowl and a detachably mounted flushing water spray ring operatively mounted therein, and w~lerei~l saicl s~)ray ring com~rises a tubular ri~lg ~aving a plurality of downwardly e~;tencled discharge l~oles that are formed at an acute angle relative to the vertical a.~;is of the bowl.
It is still anot}ler object of the present inventioll to provide a vacuum flush water closet which includes a vacuum operated sewage discharge valve, a bowl havillg an outlet necl; at the lower end thereof which is operatively cor-nected to said sewage discharge valve, said bowl having an open upper énd with the rim there<lround, à seat oper-atively mounted Oll said rim, a flushing water supply means oper-atively mounted on said bowl for SUpplyiIlg a predetermined amount of flushing water into said bowl, and a control system for selectively acti-vating said sewage discharge valve and said flushing water supply means for a predetermined flushing cycle.
Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vacuum flush water closet ma~e in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig, 2 is an elevational section view of the water closet structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 3 is an elevational section view of the water closet structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the push button activation valve illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along t he line 4-4 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

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l~ig. 5 is a ~ragmerltary, elevational section view of the valve str-lcture illustrated in Fig, 4, taken along the line 5-S thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, elevatiollal section view of the vacuum-gravity timer illustrated in Fig. 2, takell along the line 6-6 thereof, and loohing in the direction of the arrows.
I'`ig. 7 is a top plan view of the vacuum-gravily timer illus-trated in Fig, ~, taken along tlle line 7-7 thereof, and looking in the direGtion of the arrows.
Fig. ~3 is an elevational view of the vacuum-gravity timer illustrated in Fig. 7, taken along the line 8-~ thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section view of the vacuum-gravity timer structure illustrated in Fig. 7, taken along the line 9-9 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig, 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section view of the vacuum-gravity timer structure illustrated in Fig, 8, taken along the line 10-10 thereof, and looking in the direction of the a~rows.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a vacuum dispensing valve illus-trated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 11-llthereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, elevational, section view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 11, taken along the line 12-12 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the structure sectionally illugtrated in Fig. 12, taken along the line 13-13 thereof, showing the entire structure, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, elevational, section view, with p.ll`tS removed, of a sewage discharge valve illustrated in Fig. 2, taken substantially alollg the line 14-14 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 15 is an elevational section view of the sewage dis-charge valve structure illustrated in Fig, 14, taken along the line 15-15 thereof, and lool~ing in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig, 14, and turned 90 clockwise ( as viewed in Fig, 16) from the 10 position shown in Fig. 14.
Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of the water closet control system of the present invèntion.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an illustrative vacuum flush~
ing water closet embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises a bowl, generally indicated by the numeral 10, on which is operatively mounted a conventional toilet seat, generally indicated by the numeral 11. The toilet seat 11 may be made from any suitable material, as for example/ a suitable high impact plastic material such as polystyrene.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the water closet or toilet of the present in-20 vention includes a flushing water spray ring, generally indicated by thenumeral 12, which is operatively mounted around the upper inner peri-phery of the bowl 10. The bowl 10 is operatively mounted, as more fully described ~aer~inafter, on a sewage discharge valve 13 that is supported on a suitable base plate, generally indicated by the numeral 14. The base plate 14 may be made from any suitable material, as for example, it may be an aluminum casting.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the water closet of the present invention is provided with aE?ush button spring return activation valve, generally i~ldicated by the numer~l 15 whicll is located behind the seat 11 oll tlle rim structure geneIally i~ldicated by the numeral 27. Thepush buttoll valve 15 activates a vacuum-gravity timer, gener-ally indicated by the numeral 16, which in turn initiates a flushing cycle by openillg a flushing water flow valve 1~3 and activating a vacu-um dispensing valve 17. The vacuum dispetlsillg valve 17 directs vacuum to the sewage discharge valve 13 so as to open the same sim-ultaneously with the flushing water valve 15~ which directs water to the spray ring 12. As shown in li`ig. 2, the structure of the present invention includes an outer shroud member, generally indicated by the numeral 19, which is ~s~ecured in place between the rim 27 and a base plate 14.
The outer shroud member 19 is made from any suitable plastic material, as for example, an impact resistant plastic con-struction~ The bowl 10 and the rim 27 are made from suitable heavy steel stampings which are covered with a suitable number of coats of a chemical resistant porcelain.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bowl 10 is releasably secured to the base plate 14 by a suitable number of lugs 20, which are welded to the outer face of the bowl 10, and by tie rods 21. The tie rods 21 may be of any suitable construction as, for example, a rod with a hook 40 on the upper end thereof which passes through a hole 41 in the lug 20, and with the lower end releasably secured in an upwardly extended pocket 42 in the base plate 14 by a lock nut 43.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bowl 10 includes a body portion 22 which has formed around the upper end thereof a circum-ferentially extended vertical wall portion 23. Integrally attached to the upper periphery of the body wall portion 23 is an outwardly extended 10~
hori~ontal flange 24 to which is welded an upper horizolltal wall 28 of the rim 27. The lower end of the bowl body 22 terminates in a dis-chargc spout 25 (Fig. 2) whlch has an outlet opening formed there-through and indicated by the numeral 26 in Fig. 1, As shown in Fig, 3, the rim 27 further includes an inner peripheral wall 29 which is integrally formed at its upper end with the horizontal rim wall 28, and which has its lower end folded outwardly and upwardly, as indicated by the numeral 30. It will be seen that the rim wall 29 is spaced inwardly from the bowl wall 23 so as to form a pocket arpund the upper periphery of the bowl 10 for the reception of the spray ring 12. The wall folded portion 30 forms a flange for re-leasably securing the spray ring 12 in the last mentioned recess. The rim 27 further includes an outer peripheral wall 31 which slopes out-wardly and downwardly, and which has its lower end 32 folded inwardly to form a peripheral flange on which is seated a shroud retaining bracket 33 that e~Ytends around the inner periphery of the rim 27. The bracket 33 is secured to the rim wall 31 by any suitable means, as by welding. The rim 27 eYtends around the periphery of the bowl 10.
As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end of the shroud 19 is en-larged, as indicated by the numeral 34, and it is releasably seated in a peripheral channel formed by the bracket 33 and the rim wall portion 32, ~he shroud 19 includes an intermediate portion 35 which slopes downwardly and inwardly and terminates at a curved lower end 36. Integrally around the lower end 36 of the shroud 19 is a ch~nnel shaped shroud f~ting portion 37 which is adapted to be seated on the upper face of the base plate flat portion 38 which is adapted to engage the supporting surface or floor on which the toilet is mounted.
As shown in Fig, 1, the base plate portion 38 is provided with suitable holes, as 4~3, for moulltillg t~le toilet of the present in-ventioll Oll a floor by suitable bolts, as for example, aluminum bolts.
The metal l~arts of the bowl 11, rim 27 and base plate 14 may be grounded through the base plate 14.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the spray ring 12 is provided with an annular chamber 45. The spray ring 12 is made from any suitable material, as for exampla, a plastic material, and made in any manner, as for example, by extrusion. The spray ring 12 is provided with a shoulder 46 around the inner periphery thereof which is adapted to be seated Oll the shoulder formed by the rim wall flange 30, so that the spray ring may be releasably snapped i nto place. As shown in Fig. 2, the spray ring 12 includes a plurality of downwardly extended dis-charge holes 47 which extend through the lower wall of the spray ring 12 at an acute angle from the vertical axis. It has been found that the spray ring 12 provides an optimum device of this type, and that it is not subject to having the holes 47 plugged up from contaminants in the flushing water, such as alkalines, pebbles and the like. As shown in Fig. 3, flushing water is supplied to the spray ring 12 from a conduit or hose 228, which is connected to the outlet end of the flushing water supply valve 18, as shown in Fig. 2. The holes 47 are preferably formed at 45 from the vertical axis, As shown in Fig, 3, the toilet seat 11 is provided with a front opening 50 and a plurality of suitable bumpers 44. As shown in Fig. 1, the toilet seat 11 is hingedly~ mounted on suitable hinges 51.
As shown in Fig. 2, each of the hinges 51 includes a threaded shaft 52 that is extended down through the rim wall 28. The shaft 52 is secured to the rim wall 28 by washers 54 and a suitable lock nut 53. The spray - ring 12 supplies approximately two pints of clean flushing water during lO~
the flushillg cycle. Th~ flushing cycle lasts for <Ibout four seconds, As shown in Fig. 17, tlle flushillg water suppl~ valve 18 is operatively attached to a vacuum control line 226, and to a flushing water supply line 227. The fluslling water supply line 227 is a 1/2" supply line, and it is operatively conllected to a suitable inlct fitting generally indicated by the numeral 49 in Fig. 2, The inlet fitting 49 is adapted to be con-nected to a suitable supply of flushing water in any suitable manner.
The flushing water supply valve 18 may be any suitable conventional vacuum operated flow control valve. The bowl 10 is vented through hole 55 in wall 23.
As shown in Fig~ 15, the sewage discharge valve 13 includes an upper valve housing 57 which has formed in the upper end thereof a conically shaped bowl seat formed by the wall 58. A circular valve seat 59 is formed on the lower inner end of the bowl seat housing wall 58, and it is adapted to be operatively opened and closed by a di~phragm type valve, generally indicated by the numeral 65. An ~utlet opening 60 is formed in one side of the valve housing 57 on a horizontal axis at right angles to the vertical axis of the valve seat 59.
Operatively mounted in the outlet opening 60 is ~ outlet pipe 61 which is provided with a smaller inner diameter than the outlet open-ing 60. As shown in Fig. 2, the spout or outlet neck 25 of the bowl 10 is adapted to be seated in the bowl seat 58, in a snap type relationship, and with suitable sealing means (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, the ` outlet opening 26 in the bowl neck 25 is made to a smaller diameter than the inner diamater of the outlet pipe 61 and the subsequent sewage lines leading to the vacuum tank to which the toilet is connected, to facilitate removal of any foreign objects of a size that are not compat-ibl`e with the sewage lines connected to the outlet pipe 61. In one 10~

embodiment, a 1-l/2'1 inller diameter soil line was provided for con-necting the toilet outlet l)ipe 61 to the vacuum tank. The numeral 62 desigllates a cl~eck valve which is connected to the toilet outlet pipe 61 by a conduit 230. As shown in Fig. 17, tl-c check valve 62 is con-nected by means of the conduits 231 and 233 and tl~e tee member 232 to the vacuum dispensing valve 17. The conduits 230, 231 and 233, and the vacu-lm conduits or lines hereinafter described, may also be made from suitable plastic tubing, such as vinyl plastic tubing, As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage discharge diaphragm valve member 65 includes a mushroom shaped valve head 66, which is in ~
tegrally formed in the center of an annular diaphragrn attachment arm 67 that is provided with a peripheral attachment bead 68. The attach-ment bead 68 is seated in a circular groove 69 formed in the lower face of a flange 70 that is integrally formed around the lower end of the ` ` valve upper housing 57.
As shown in Fig. 15, the discharge sewage valve 13 in-cludes a spring carrier member which comprises a lower cup-shaped portion 73 to which is integrally formed, on the upper end thereof, an outwardly extended flange 74 that is integral with an upwardly extended conical wall portion 75. An attachment flange 76 is integrally formed around the upper periphery of the conical wall portion 75, and it is seated against the lower face of the upper valve housing flange 70, and it secures the attachment bead 68 in place. The valve 13 further in-cludes a subs~antially conically shaped lower housing 77 which is pro-vided wi th an integral flange 78 around the upper open end thereof.
As shown in Fig. 15, the flange 78 is mounted on the lower face of a suitable seal member 79 that is seated on the spring carrier flange 76.
The flanges 76 and 78 are releasably secured together by a plurality of -10~

tie rods ~30 al~d suita~)le lock ~IUtS ~31, as showl~ in ~'ig. 15.
As shown in r~ ig. 1, four tie rods 80 are used to securc the sewage val~e 13 on the base plate 14. ~s showl~ Figs, 2 and 3, each of the tie rods 80 has its lower end e~{tended thro-lgh an opening 86 in the base plate raised portioll 39, The tie rods 80 are securecl in place by suitable locl; washers 85 and lock nuts 87.
The tie rods 80 are also used for operatively mounting the vacuum-gravity timer 16, the vacuum dispensing valve 17 and the water flow control valve 18 in operative positions about the bowl 10 and with-in the shroud 19. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vacuum-gravity timer 16 is releasably mounted by suitable machine screws 71 to a mounting plate 72, The mounting plate 72 is secured on a pair of the tie rods 80 by the lock nuts 81. As shown in Fig, 3, the vacuum dispensing valve 17 is operatively carried on a mounting plate 82 which has its inner end fixed on the upper ends of two of the tie rods 80, as illustrated in Figs, 1 and 3. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the mounting plate 82 is secured in place by an attachment plate 83 fixed on the upper end of the last mentioned tie rods, and a suitable lock nut 84. As shown in Fig.
3, the flushing water valve 18 is operatively carried on a mounting plate 88 which is similarly attached to the upper end of the other two tie rods 80 by a suitable attachment plate 89 and suitable lock nuts 84.
As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage valve 13 includes a valve head attachment bead 90 which is integrally formed with the valve head `~ 66 and which is mounted in a circular groove formed on the upper face of a circular clamp and spring bearing member 91. A coil spring 92 is disposed with the upper end in abutment with the lower face of the clamp member 91 and its lower end seated in the cup shaped spring carrier member 73.

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~ s shown i~l ~`ig. 15, ttle sprillg carrier membcr includes an integral sleeve 94 wllich is ~ormed in the cup shaped member 73 and open at its lower end to the interior of the lower valve housing 77. The spring 92 is seated around the sleeve member 94. The sleeve member 94 has a stepped bore 95 formed therethrougll and it has slidably mounted therein a valve rod guide member 96 which is fixed on the lower end of a valve rod 97.
As shown in F`ig. 15, a lock nut 9~ is threadably mounted on the valve rod 97 and it abuts the lower end of the clamp member 91. A
10 spacer member 99 is mounted around the valve rod 97 above the clamp plate 91. A valve head backing member 93 is mounted inside the valve head 66 and the upper end of the rod 97 passes through the backing mem-ber 93. A lock nut 100 secures the valve head backing member 93 to the rod 97, and it also functions to clamp the bead 90 against the clamp mem-ber 91. The valve backing member 93 is made from a suitable rigid plastic material. It will be seen that the coil spring 92 normally main-tains the valve head 65 in the closed position shown in Fig. 15.
As shown in Fig. 15, a plurality of openings 101 are formed through the conical wall 75 of the spring carrier member to communicate 20 the chamber formed between the diaphragm valve 65 and the interior of the spring carrier member with the interior of the valve lower housing 77. A spring and valve rod guide member 103 is fixedly mounted by any suitable means on the upper end of the sleeve 94. A resilient annular cushion member 104 is mounted on the upper face of the spring carrier housing flange 74 to form a stop member for engagement with the lower end of the clamp member 91 when the diaphragm valve 65 is moved downwardly to the open position. The stop member 104 may be made from any suitable material, as for example, rubber and the like.

Tl1e IOWCr end of tlle valve housillg mt~mber 77 is provided With a port 107 to which is operativcly attached one cnd of a vacuum line 234. As ShOWII in Fig. 17, the other end of the vacuum line 234 is operatively attached to the vacuum dispensing valve 17, When the vacuum on both sides of the diaphragm valve 65 is balanced, the valve will open due to the varied differences in the diffcrential areas on each side of the valve subjected to the vacuurn, and the valve head 65 moves downward]y in a rapid opening action. A push-on hose connection mem-ber 63 for the 1-1/2" soil line is operatively connected on the outlet lO pipe 61, as shown in Fig. 2.
Referring now to Fig. 5, the push button activation valve 15 includes a valve operating shaft generally indicated by the numeral 110, which includes a cylin.drical body 111 that is provided at an inter-mediate portion thereof with a pair of integral longitudinally spaced apart flanges 112. The flanges 112 retain therebetween a central hub portion 113 of a circular flexible diaphragm member 114, The lower end 115 of the operating shaft 110 is slidably mounted in a cylindrical chamber 116 which is formed in a vertically disposed sleeve or cylin-drical housing 117 . The upper end of the housing 117 is integrally 20 attached to the lower end of a conically shaped valve lower housing 120 which forms a valve housing chamber 121 beneath the diaphragm 114.
A port 122 is formed through the wall of the valve lower housing cham-ber 120, and it is operatively connected through a vacuum Li;ne 259, ` fitting 258 and vacuum line 257 to valve 193 of the vacuum-gravity timer, as explained more fully hereinafter.
As shown in Fig. 5, the circular diaphragm 114 is pro-vided around the periphery thereof with an attachment bead 124 which is held in place between the cylindrical flange member 125 formed on tlle out~r ~n~l of the housing 120, ancl a cyli-ldrical flange 126 formed on the outer perip}lery of a valve upper ho~lsing 127. The valve hous-ing 127 forms all upper chamber 12~ which is open to the atmosphere, The valve housing members 120 and 127 are releasably secured to-gether by a plurality of suitable machine screws 129.
As shown in Fig. 5, a mounting member 132 is secured to the valve housing 127 by the machine screws 129. The mounting mem-ber 132 operatively supports a two-way flow control valve 133. A second mounting member 134 is also secured in the same manner to the hous-ing 127 and operatively carries a second two-way flow control valve 135.
The valve operating shaft 110 is provided with a pair of sidewardly, outward extended guide members 138 on which is mounted the tubular hub 139 of a bridge member that carries a pair of integral bridge arms 140 and 141. The bridge arm 140 operatively carries a valve operator 142 for operating the valve 133. The bridge arm 141 operatively carries a valve operator 143 that operates a valve 135. The valves 133 and 135 are spring operated in one direction, and manually operated in the other direction by the valve operators 142 and 1~3.
As shown in Fig~ 5, the bridge hub 139 is fixedly secured to the ~alve operator shaft 110 by suitable attachment pin 144. The ` upper end 147 of the operator shaft 110 has seated thereon the- lower end of a spring 148 which has its upper end seated in a socket 149 in a spring cylinder 151 which is integrally formed on the inside of a tubular push button.150.
The push button 150 is slidably mounted in a bore 153 formed , in a cylindrical neck or extension 154 integrally formed on the valve housing 127. The cylindrical valve neck portion 154 extends through an opeming 155 in the bowl rim wall 28, and it includes a flange 156 which abuts the inner surface of the rim wall 28. The push button 150 is enclosed by a rubber boot 157 which has an inwardly extended flange seated on the outer face of the rim wall 28. A re-tainer 15~ is threadably mounted on the outer end of the cylindrical neck member 154 and secures the boot 157 in place and the valve housing 127 in place on the rim wall 28. The bridge members 140 and 141 extend sidewardly out through slots 159 formed in diametri~cal opposite sides of the cylindrical neck 154 and through slots 160 formed througll the inner end of the push button 150.
The vacuum-timer 16 is shown in detail in Figs, 6 through 10. As shown in Fig. 6, the timer 16 includes a housing having an upper end portion that includes a cylindrical side wall 163 and an upper end wall 164. A piston generally indicated by the numeral 165 is oper-` atively mounted within the upper end of said housing, and it is pro-vided with a movable seal 166. As shown in Fig. 9, the outer end of the seal 166 is provided with a peripheral bead 167 that is seated be-tween a flange 168 formed on the housing wall 163, and a flange 169 formed on the cylindrical lower housing wall 173. The flanges 168 and 169 are releasably secured together to hold the bead 167 in place by a plurality of spring clips, generally indicated by the numeral 170 in Fig. 7.
As shown in Fig. 6, the cylinder lower end housing in-cludes an end wall 174 that is integral on the side wall 173, The end wall 174 is provided with an opening 175 through which is extended a ~ -lever arm 176. The lever arm 176 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on a pivot pin 177 which is carried on a bracket 172 carried on the lower end of the piston 165. The inner end of the seal 166 is secured ~-to the lower end of the piston 165 by a suitable retainer plate 171, lUf~
The lowcr elld of th~ l~ver 176 is pi~otally mounted by a pivot pin 178 to a cam carric~r or cam arm 181. The cam arm 181 is ~ivotally mounted at on~ end thereof on a pivot pin 180 that is carried Oll a first vertical mounting plate 179 that is fixed by any suitable means to the lower end of the housing 173, The cam arm 1~31 has fixedly on the other end tllereof a double faced cam 184. ~s shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the cam 184 carries a pair of vertically disposed cam faces 185 with the cam faces 185 being disposed on opposite sides of the cam arm 181 As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, one of the cams 185 is adapted to operatively engage a cam follower 186 mounted on a cam follower carrier 187 which is pivoted by the pivot screw means 188 on one of the mounting plates 179. When the cam 184 moves down to the broken line position indicated by the numeral 190 in Fig. 8, the cam 186 and its carrier 187 will be swung to the right or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, so as to operate a two-way flow control valve generally indi-cated by the numeral 189. Operatively connected to the valve 189 are a pair of vacuum lines 250 and 253, As shown in Figs, 2 and 6, a second cam follower carrier 192 is pivotally mounted by suitable pivot screw means 197 on the lower end of the second mouniting plate 179.
The carrier 192 operatively carries the cam follower 196 on its upper end which engages the other cam surface 185. The cam follower car-rier~192 is adapted to operate a second two-way flow control valve l91, as shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 17, the valve 191 is operatively connected to a pair of vacuum lines 249 and 250. As shown in Fig, 8, the cam 184 operatively engages the plunger 194 of the two-way valve 193 when it is in the upper position shown in Fig. 8~ ~he valve 193 is operatively mounted on a bracket 195 which is fixedly secured by a suitable means to the upper end wall 164, as shown in Fig, 7, lU(~
The vacuum dispensing valve 17 is shown in detail in E~'igs, 11, 12 and 13, As shown ill Fig, 12, the valve 17 includes a circular diap~lragm 19~ which is provided with a peripheral bead 199 that is retailled in a groove in a flallge 201 formed around the periphery of an upper valve housing 202. A retainer ring 200 engages the upper side of the bead 199. As shown in Fig, 11, the retainer ring 200 is releas-ably secured in plac~ against the bead 199 by a plurality of spring clips 203. As shown in Fig, 12, a vacuum line 204 is operati~ely connected to an inlet port 205 which communicates with the chamber 206 formed between the diaphragm 198 and the upper face of the housing 202.
As shown in Fig. 12, a diaphragm plate 207 is mounted in-side of the diaphragm 198 and the inner face thereof is provided with an inwardly extended central boss which extends downwardly into a suitable axial hub 209 formed on a diaphragm 224, The diaphragm 224 is pro-vided with a peripheral bead 210 which is secured between the upper end of an upper intermediate housing 211 and a Mange 263 formed around an opening 264 in the housing 202.
As shown in Fig. 12, a chamber 212 is formed in the upper intermediate housing 211 and is enclosed on its upper end by the dia-phragm 224. The chamber 206 in the upper housing 202 is enclosed at its lower end by the diaphragm 224. The lower end of the intermediate housing 211 is provided with a central bore 213 at the lower end of the chamber 212. The bore 213 is in alignment with a second bore 215 :;
formed through a lower intermediate housing 216. Operatively mounted in the bores 213 and 215 is a vertical shaft 214, that has its upper end :
operatively mounted in a socket in the lower valve face of the diaphragm .
hub 209, and its lower end operatively mounted in a socket in the upper valve face of the hub 218 of a lower diaphragm 225. Shaft 214 has lU~
a triclllgUlar cro6s SeCtiOIl.
As shown in 11~g, 12, an intermediate chamber 217 is iorm~d between the int~rmediate housings 211 and 216. The chamber 217 communicates with the vacuum line 234 throug~h the passage 265.
The chamber 217 is normally vented to thé chamber 212 since it has communication past the triangular cross section shaft 214. The cham-ber 212 is normally vented to the atmosphere through a suitable open-ing that is connected if desired to a suitable vent line 267, The work-ing vacuum supply line 23S is connected to a chamber 271 which is normally closed when the diaphragm valve 225 is in the closed position shown in Fig~ 12, In the closed position shown in Fig, 12, the inner end 269 of the diaphragm hub 218 functions as a valve to seat against the adjacent intermediate housing portion 216. When pilot vacuum is impressed through the vacuum line 204 onto the chamber 206, the dia-phragm 198 and its connected structure is moved downwardly so as to bring the valve end 268 on the diaphragm hub 2 09 into engàgement with the valve seat 270 to block the chamber 217 from the atmosphere.
Simultaneously, the valve end 269 of the hub 218 is moved downwardly against the action of the spring 219 to permit the chamber 271 to communicate through the bore 215 and around the shaft 214 with the chamber 217. Working vacuum then flows from the vacuum line 233 through the chambers 271 and 217 and thence out through the passage 265 and into the vacuum supply line 234 for the sewage discharge valve 13, A lower housing 220 retains a bead 229 on the lower dia-phragm 225 in place against the lower end of the intermediate housing 216, As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the housings 202, 211, 216 and 220 are fixedly secured together and to the mounting plate 82 by suitable machine scr~ws 222 allcl lock nuts 223. The spring 219 is oper-atively mounted within the lower housing 220, ~nd its upper end abuts the dia~hragm hub 218 on the lower diaphragm 225 to normally bias the diaphragm 225 and the shaft 214 upwardly, In use, the push button valve 15 is ~uslled downwardly to provide pilot vacuum to the gravity timerl6 through the normally closed valve lS5. As shown in Fig. 17., one side of the valve 135 is connected to the vacuum line 237, tee 2;36, vacuum line 235, tee 232 vacuum line 231, check valvc 62 and vacuum line 230 to the working vacuum line 61, The other side of the valve 135 is connected by the vacuum line 238 and the tee 239 to the vacuum line 240, that is oper-"~ atively connected to a vacuum tube 241 that e~tends internally into a central passage 266 in the piston 165. The pilot vacuum communi-cates through the inner end of the tube 241 with the passage 266, and thence upwardly as viewed in Fig. 6 to the upper end of the housing above the piston 165. The vacuum thus impressed on the upper end ~:.
` of the piston 165 moves the piston from a normally downward posi- .
tion to swing the lever 181 up from the lower end of the arc 255 of Fig. 17 into the solid :line position shown in Fig~ 17 by the numeral 181. When the lever 181 is swung to the upper position shown in Figs, ~ ;
6 and 17, the plunger 194 of the valve 193 is operated to move .the valve 193 from the open position to the closed position. Prior to this time, vacuum passed from the tee 239 through the vacuum line 2~;56, and through the valve 193, the vacuum line 257, the junction fitting ' 258 and the vacuum line 259 into the port 122 and into the chamber 121 of the valve 15, as shown in Fig. 5. The vacuum operating in : ~ the lower end of the valve 15 and the chamber 121 functions with the diaphragm ~14 to provide a holding action if the vacuum in the system ,' 19- `

t.~l~
is not up to tl~e level at which thc system will flush. If the vacuum is below the flush level,then the vacuum in the chamber 121 will hold the activation switch 15 in the depressed pOSitiOIl until the vacuum comes up to the flushing value.
If the vacuum is above the pre~set low, then the valve 193 will be shifted to the closed position by the lever 181 and the vac~
uum in the chamber 121 ~vill be vented to the atmosphere through valve 193~ Valve 15 then returns to its normal position shown in Fig.
17 to direct pilot vacuum to the two valves 189 and 191. Pilot vacuum 10 is supplied to the valve 133 from the working vacuum line 61 through the vacuum line 230, check valve 62, vacuum line 231, tee 232, vacuum line 235, tee 236, and vacuum .line 242. Pilot vacuum is supplied from the valve 133 to the valves 189 and 191 through the vacuum . line 243, the fitting 244, the vacuum line 245, check valve 246, tee 248 and vacuum lines 250 and 249, respectively. The vacuum in the piston chamber above the gravity timer piston 165 is then vented to the atmosphere through valve 135, The piston 165 then moves down-wardly by gravity and the lever 181 swings downwardly to move the cam followers 186 and 196 and their carrier arms 187 and 192 in-20 wardly, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8~ This action operates the nor-mally closed valves 191 and 189 in sequence, with the valve 191 being first operated to the open position to direct pilot vacuum through the vacuum line 251, the junction 252 and the vacuum line 226 to the flushing valve 18. Flushing water is then supplied to the spray ring 12, and a second or so later, the opening of the valve 189 directs pilot vacuum from the valve 189 through the vacuum line 253, the junction 254 and the vacuum line 204, into the vacuum dis pensing valve 17. The vacuum dispensing valve 17 is then operated to move >;
the diaphragm l')~ clownw.lrdly so as to move the shaft 214 down-wardly and permit vacu-lm to flow from t~le vacuum line 233 into the vacuum line 234 and into the discharge valve 13. When the vacuum on both sides of the diaphragm 67 of the sewage discharge valve 65 approaches a balanced point~ the valve 65 moves downwardly to pro-vide a rapid opening of the valve 13 to permit the sewage to be suckecl out of the bowl 10 and into the outlet pipe 61.
The operation of the water closet flush lasts for about four seconds and two pints of clean flushing water is deposited in the bowl 10. A residual one pint of flushing water remains in the bowl 10 after a flushing cycle. The flushing cycle is terminated when the cam 181 has passed completely downward past the cam followers 186 and 196 to the initial starting position indicated by the numeral 190 in Fig. 8.
At this point the valves 189 and 190 return to their normally closed positions so as to vent the vacuum lines 251 and 253 and de-energize the sewage discharge valve 13 and the vacuum dispensing valve 17.
The system is then returned to its original starting condition and is now ready for another cycle of operation which can be commenced by pushing down again on the activation valve 15. `
The spring 148 in the activation switch 15 provides a ~`~ safety factor in that if the switch is depressed by a person's foot in a rough manner, the switch will not be damaged because the shock is first taken up by the spring 148 before the spring 148 bottoms out and moves the bridge operator downwardly.
It will be seen that the c~ntrol apparatus for the flush closet of the present invention is constructed and arranged so that only the predetermined amount of two pints of water will be deposit-ed in the bowl regardless of how long the push button 15 is depressed.

. .

It will be seen that the operatillg time of the flushing water valve 1~3 and the sewage discharge valve 13 are controlled by the vacuum-gravity timer 16. It will also be seen that the timer 16 is adapted to provide t~,vo tirne periods, namely, one for the vacuum flush opening and another for the water flushing period. For e~ample, the timer 16 operates the valve 191 to provide an operation period of the flushing water valve 18 of about four seconds, and for an operation period of the discharge valve 13 of about 1-1/2 seconds.
The total overall cycle lasts for about ten seconds, with half of the time for the working or flushing operation and with half of the time employed for loading or triggering the timer 16. Experience has shown that the vacuum operated water closet of the present application is an efficient and practical water closet which can be used in condi-tions where a shock-proof toilet is reguired, as for example, in marine sanitation devices.

Claims (20)

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:
1. In a vacuum flush water closet, the combination comprising:
(a) a sewage discharge valve that is operated by vacuum;
(b) means for producing a vacuum;
(c) a bowl having an outlet neck at the lower end thereof which is seated on and solely supported by said vacuum operated sewage discharge valve;
(d) a support means for supporting said vacuum operated sewage discharge valve;
(e) said bowl having an open upper end with a rim there-around;
(f) a seat mounted on said rim;
(g) a vacuum operated flushing water supply means carried by said bowl for supplying a predetermined amount of flushing water into said bowl; and, (h) a vacuum operated control system carried by said bowl for selectively activating said vacuum operated sewage discharge valve and said vacuum operated flushing water supply means for a pre-determined flushing cycle.
2. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 1, where-in said support means includes:
(a) a base plate; and, (b) means for mounting said vacuum operated sewage dis-charge valve on said base plate and for releasably securing the bowl and said vacuum operated sewage discharge valve to the base plate.
3. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 2, including:
(a) a shroud detachably mounted between said rim and base plate around said sewage discharge valve and bowl for enclosing the same.
4. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein:
(a) said shroud is made from a plastic material.
5. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein:
(a) said shroud is of a molded high-impact plastic con-struction.
6. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein:
(a) said bowl and rim are each made of a shock-proof material.
7. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, where-in:
(a) said bowl and rim are each made of a metal stamp-ing with said rim being fixed on said bowl.
8. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 7, wherein:
(a) said bowl and rim are coated with a chemical-resistant material.
9. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 8, wherein:
(a) said chemical-resistant material comprises a chem-ical resistant porcelain.
10. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein said vacuum operated flushing water supply means includes:
(a) a spray ring mounted inside of said bowl around the upper end thereof; and.
(b) a vacuum operated flushing water flow control valve connected to said spray ring and to a source of flushing water and controlled by said vacuum operated control system.
11. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 10, whereini, (a) said flushing water flow control valve is opened by vacuum.
12. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 10, wherein said spray ring includes:
(a) a circular tube releasably mounted inside of said bowl and having a plurality of discharge holes which are disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said bowl.
13. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 12, wherein:
(a) said rim is formed with a portion extended into said bowl to form a downwardly facing annular recess and said spray ring circular tube is releasably mounted in said recess.
14. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein:
(a) said sewage discharge valve has a bowl seat in which said bowl outlet neck is mounted; and, (b) said sewage discharge valve includes a valve seat on said bowl seat and a valve member for closing and opening said valve seat for selectively retaining flushing water in said bowl and for flushing said bowl.
15. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 14, wherein:
(a) said valve member is spring operated into the closing position and operated into the opening position by vacuum.
16. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 15, wherein:
(a) said valve member is mounted in a chamber under said valve seat, and an outlet pipe into which sewage is discharged is connected to said chamber and to said means for producing a vacuum.
17. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 15, wherein:
(a) said valve member comprises a flexible diaphragm valve.
18. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 17, wherein:
(a) said sewage discharge valve includes a chamber on one side of said flexible diaphragm valve; and, (b) a sewage outlet chamber on the other side of said flexible diaphragm valve connected t o a vacuum line into which sewage is discharged, and said chamber on said one side of said flexible diaphragm valve being connected to said means for producing a vacuum.
19. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 3, wherein said control system includes:
(a) a vacuum and gravity operated timer means;
(b) a dispensing vacuum valve; and, (c) an activation switch means operatively connected to a vacuum source and to said timer means for operating said flushing water supply means and dispensing vacuum valve for predetermined operating periods.
20. A vacuum flush water closet as defined in claim 19, wherein:
(a) said timer means includes valve means for con-trolling vacuum to said flushing water supply means and dispensing vacuum valve, and a valve means operating apparatus for operating said valve means and being operated in one direction to a flushing cycle starting position by vacuum and being operated in the opposite direction by gravity to initiate and terminate a flushing cycle.
CA278,207A 1977-05-11 1977-05-11 Vacuum flush water closet Expired CA1044852A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA278,207A CA1044852A (en) 1977-05-11 1977-05-11 Vacuum flush water closet
CA312,297A CA1074503A (en) 1977-05-11 1978-09-28 Vacuum flush water closet

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA278,207A CA1044852A (en) 1977-05-11 1977-05-11 Vacuum flush water closet

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1044852A true CA1044852A (en) 1978-12-26

Family

ID=4108640

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA278,207A Expired CA1044852A (en) 1977-05-11 1977-05-11 Vacuum flush water closet

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1044852A (en)

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