CA2205786C - Water conserving toilet flush valve - Google Patents
Water conserving toilet flush valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2205786C CA2205786C CA 2205786 CA2205786A CA2205786C CA 2205786 C CA2205786 C CA 2205786C CA 2205786 CA2205786 CA 2205786 CA 2205786 A CA2205786 A CA 2205786A CA 2205786 C CA2205786 C CA 2205786C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- valve member
- cap
- water inlet
- opening
- piece
- 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 - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
- E03D1/00—Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
- E03D1/02—High-level flushing systems
- E03D1/14—Cisterns discharging variable quantities of water also cisterns with bell siphons in combination with flushing valves
- E03D1/142—Cisterns discharging variable quantities of water also cisterns with bell siphons in combination with flushing valves in cisterns with flushing valves
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
- E03D1/00—Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
- E03D1/02—High-level flushing systems
- E03D1/22—Twin or multiple flushing cisterns
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
- E03D1/00—Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
- E03D1/30—Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement ; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage
- E03D1/304—Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement ; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage with valves with own buoyancy
- E03D1/306—Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement ; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage with valves with own buoyancy with articulated valves
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)
Abstract
A ball valve member for use in a flush toilet is adjustable to conserve water by varying the amount of water consumed during each flush of the toilet. The ball valve member allows water consumption of a standard flush toilet to be accurately and steplessly varied between about 4 liters and the entire contents of the toilet's tank. The ball valve member has an internal chamber having an air bleed hole at its upper end and a water inlet at its lower end. The water inlet snaps into place at a lower end of the ball valve member and has a inner piece with a D-shaped opening. A cap, also having a D-shaped opening, is rotatably affixed to the inner piece. The size of the water inlet can be varied by rotating the cap to adjust the amount of overlap between the two D-shaped openings. The water inlet can be completely closed to provide a "full flush" and also provides a water inlet which can readily be marked with indicia, such as numeric labels, to indicate the amount of water which will be consumed in each flush of a toilet. The water inlet may be retro-fitted to existing ball valves.
Description
CA 0220~7X6 1997-0~-21 WATER CONSERVING TOILET FLUSH VALVE
Technical Field This invention relates to a flush valve for a flush toilet which can be adjusted to vary the amount of water used each time the toilet is flushed.
Background In countries around the world, it is becoming increasingly important to conserve water. Flushing toilets use a significant amount of the water consumption in many cities. While many standard toilets consume as much as 14 liters of water for each flush, current environ-mental protection codes suggest that toilets should consume no more than about 4l/2 liters of water per flush. There have been various attempts made in the prior art to regulate and reduce the amount of water consumed when toilets are flushed.
United States patent No. 4,189,795 discloses a ball valve member for use in a toilet flush valve. The ball valve member has an internal cavity with an adjustable water inlet hole at its bottom end and an air bleed hole near its top. During a flush water enters the ball valve member through the water inlet and drives air out of the internal cavity through the air bleed hole. As the water enters the internal cavity, the ball valve member becomes heavier, loses its buoyancy, and therefore tends to close. The larger the opening of the water inlet hole, the faster the internal cavity fills with water and the more quickly the valve member closes. Closing the valve member more quickly reduces CA 0220~786 1997-05-21 the amount of water that escapes from the toilet tank during each flush.
The toilet flush valve shown in United State patent No.
5 4,189,795 has several disadvantages. While a number of different types of water inlet are shown, the water inlets either do not permit a sufficient opening to save large quantities of water, are only adjustable in discrete increments, do not completely close to allow a "full flush"
and/or are complicated and expensive to make. Furthermore, the 10 embodiments shown in the '795 patent relate to old style ball valves which are only adapted for use in varieties of toilets that are no longer widely used in new construction.
United States patent No. 5,230,103 shows a valve member 15 for a toilet ~lush valve which functions in a manner similar to the valve member of U.S. patent No. 4,189,795. To adjust the amount of water dispensed in each flush, however, a removable insert must be removed from the valve member and replaced with an insert having a different sized orifice. This is inconvenient. Further, while several different 20 sized orifices may be supplied to consumers at the time a valve member is purchased, extra orifices can be lost over time.
There is a need for a water saving device which can significantly reduce the amount of water consumed in each flush of a 25 toilet, which can be disabled to provide a "full flush" action, and which is easily adjustable to vary the amount of water consumed in each flush of a toilet.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 Sllmm~ry of the Invention This invention provides water saving devices for toilets.
The water saving devices at least partially avoid some of the above-5 noted disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly, a first aspect of theinvention provides a valve member for use in a toilet. The valve member comprises a valve body enclosing a ~h~mber and a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body. An upper portion of the valve body is penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber. The 10 water inlet member comprises: an inner piece having a first D-shaped opening therein and a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece. The cap is penetrated by a second D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings 15 substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap. The amount of water dispensed in each flush of a toilet equipped with a valve member according to the invention can be adjusted by rotating the cap to vary the amount of overlap between the first and second D-shaped openings.
Another aspect of the invention provides a water inlet member for use in a ball valve member in a toilet. The water inlet member comprises: a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening; means associated with the 25 piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member;
and, a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
S Yet another aspect of the invention provides a kit for adapting a ball valve member in a toilet to provide variable water consumption. The kit comprises a water inlet member; a template for locating a position for an air bleed hole in an upper portion of a ball valve member; and, instructions for perforating the ball valve member at the position indicated by the template, ~qffixing the water inlet in a lower cavity opening in the ball valve member and adjusting the water inlet member by rotating the cap to provide a desired degree of water conser~ation. The water inlet member comprises: a generally cylindri-cal piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member; and, a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings subst~nti~lly coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
Brief Description of Drawings In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:
CA 0220.7786 1997 - 0.7 - 2 1 Figure lA is a partially cut-away view of a ball valve according to the invention in a toilet tank;
Figure lB is a partially cut-away view thereof during a flush;
Figure 2 is a section through a ball valve according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a adjustable water inlet member according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a section through the adjustable water inlet member of Figure 3; and, Figure 5A, 5B and 5C are bottom plan views thereof set to use various amounts of water.
Detailed Description Figure lA shows a ball valve member 20 sealing against a valve seat 22 in the bottom of a toilet tank 24. Toilet tank 24 is filled with water 26 up to a predetermined level 28. The toilet to which tank 24 is connected can be flushed by pulling upwardly on a chain 30 connected to ball valve member 20. The mech~ni.sm for pulling chain 30 is conventional and therefore not described herein.When chain 30 is pulled upwardly, water 26 can flow downwardly through a conduit 32 connected to tank 24 to flush a toilet. Water 26 continues to flow out through conduit 32 until ball valve member 20 drops back into place to seal against valve seal 22. The closing of ball valve member 20 is delayed by the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 in water 26.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~7-21 As shown most clearly in Figure 2, ball valve 20 includes a body 40 which has attached to it an annular flap 42 for sealing against valve seal 22. Valve 40 and annular flap 42 are typically integrally formed from a synthetic rubber material. Body 40 is hollow 5 and encloses a cavity 44. An air bleed hole 40 extends into cavity 44 in an upper portion of ball valve 20. An adjustable water inlet member 46 is located at a lower end of ball valve 20.
As shown in Figure lB, when a flush is initiated cavity 44 10 is empty of water and filled with air. During a flush, water enters cavity 44 through adjustable water inlet member 46. At the same time, air escapes from cavity 44 through air bleed hole 40. The rate at which water enters cavity 44 can be adjusted by opening and closing water inlet member 46. When water inlet member 46 is closed then water 15 does not enter ch~mher 44 in any significant amounts during a flush and the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 prevents ball valve member 20 from closing until substantially all of water 26 from tank 24 has escaped through conduit 32. This provides a "full" flush. If adjustable water inlet member 46 is opened then water enters ch~mber 44 during 20 each flush. The water in chamber 44 reduces the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 and causes ball valve member 20 to close earlier than it would otherwise. Opening adjustable water inlet member 46 increases the rate at which ball valve member 20 fills with water during each ~lush and therefore decreases the amount of water which can escape 25 from tank 24 during each flush.
As shown in Figure 3, adjustable water inlet member 46 preferably comprises an inner piece 48 having a ridge 49 around its CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 upper end. Inner piece 48 can be snapped into place in an opening 41 at the lower end of body 40. Preferably, a resilient rib 43 (Fig 2) extends around opening 41. Rib 43 holds and seals against inner piece 48 when inner piece 48 is inserted into opening 41.
s Body 40 may be a standard ball valve member of the configuration shown in the drawings and widely sold in plumbing stores with the addition of an air bleed hole 45. A cap 50 is rotatably affixed at a lower end of inner piece 48. Preferably cap 50 snaps into 10 place over a ridge 51 on inner piece 48. When snapped into place, cap 50 is firmly held in place but can be rotated relative to inner piece 48.
Friction between cap 50 and inner piece 48 holds cap 50 at any desired setting.
Inner piece 48 and cap 50 each include a D-shaped generally semi-circular opening (54, 56). Adjustable water inlet member 46 can be closed by rotating cap 50 until openings 64, 56 do not overlap. Adjustable water inlet member 46 can be opened fully by rotating cap 50 until opening 54 and opening 56 are aligned with each 20 other. Intermediate settings can be achieved by positioning cap 50 in between these two extreme positions. It can be appreciated that the position of cap 50 is not limited to discrete positions. Cap 50 may be rotated so that openings 54 and 56 overlap completely~ do not overlap at all, or overlap to any degree between these extremes. The position of 25 cap 50 may be adjusted steplessly between the fully closed and fully opened positions of cap 50.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 This construction of adjustable water inlet member 46 provides several advantages over the prior art. Firstly, it provides an adjustable water inlet which can be fully closed and yet, when fully opened, has an appreciable area. Secondly, adjustable water inlet 5 member 46 can be readily calibrated so that a user can understand how much water will be used during each flush.
As shown in Figure 3, marking indicia 68 may be applied around the periphery of opening 56 on cap 50. The edge 60 of opening 10 54 on inner portion 48 can then be used a convenient pointer to indicate the degree of water saving that will be accomplished from any particu-lar setting of adjustable water inlet member 46. In the example shown in Figure 3, the marking indicia comprise numbers imprinted at 45 degree intervals around the periphery of opening 56.
When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "4" then water inlet member 46 is fully open. In this condition, a toilet which would normally consume about 14 liters of water per flush will consume about 4 litres of water per flush. When the straight 20 edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "5", as shown in Figure ~C, then water inlet member 46 is partially closed and each flush will consume about 5 litres of water. When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "6", as shown in Figure 5A, then water inlet member 46 is half closed and each flush will consume about 6 litres of 25 water. When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "9", as shown in Figure 5B, then water inlet member 46 is mostly closed and each flush will consume about 9 litres of water.
When water inlet member 46 is fully closed then a full flush of, for CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 example, 14 litres of water will be delivered each time the toilet is flushed.
In a standard ball valve member, opening 41 is about 1.7 5 centimetres in diameter. For such ball valve members, openings 54 and 56 in water inlet member 46 are preferably semi-circular with diameters of about 11 millimetres. When cap 50 is in its "closed"
position then cap 50 should overlap with inner piece 48 along a narrow strip 60 (Fig. 5D) between openings 54 and 56.
Adjustable water inlet member 46 may be conveniently injection moulded from a suitable plastic material.
Apparatus according to the invention may be supplied in lS the form of a kit including water inlet member 46, a template for locating the proper position for air bleed hole 40, a punch for punching an air bleed hole 40 in an existing valve member, and instructions for punching air bleed hole 40, installing water inlet member 46 and setting water inlet member 46 to provide a desired degree of water 20 conservation.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the 25 spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following cl~ims.
Technical Field This invention relates to a flush valve for a flush toilet which can be adjusted to vary the amount of water used each time the toilet is flushed.
Background In countries around the world, it is becoming increasingly important to conserve water. Flushing toilets use a significant amount of the water consumption in many cities. While many standard toilets consume as much as 14 liters of water for each flush, current environ-mental protection codes suggest that toilets should consume no more than about 4l/2 liters of water per flush. There have been various attempts made in the prior art to regulate and reduce the amount of water consumed when toilets are flushed.
United States patent No. 4,189,795 discloses a ball valve member for use in a toilet flush valve. The ball valve member has an internal cavity with an adjustable water inlet hole at its bottom end and an air bleed hole near its top. During a flush water enters the ball valve member through the water inlet and drives air out of the internal cavity through the air bleed hole. As the water enters the internal cavity, the ball valve member becomes heavier, loses its buoyancy, and therefore tends to close. The larger the opening of the water inlet hole, the faster the internal cavity fills with water and the more quickly the valve member closes. Closing the valve member more quickly reduces CA 0220~786 1997-05-21 the amount of water that escapes from the toilet tank during each flush.
The toilet flush valve shown in United State patent No.
5 4,189,795 has several disadvantages. While a number of different types of water inlet are shown, the water inlets either do not permit a sufficient opening to save large quantities of water, are only adjustable in discrete increments, do not completely close to allow a "full flush"
and/or are complicated and expensive to make. Furthermore, the 10 embodiments shown in the '795 patent relate to old style ball valves which are only adapted for use in varieties of toilets that are no longer widely used in new construction.
United States patent No. 5,230,103 shows a valve member 15 for a toilet ~lush valve which functions in a manner similar to the valve member of U.S. patent No. 4,189,795. To adjust the amount of water dispensed in each flush, however, a removable insert must be removed from the valve member and replaced with an insert having a different sized orifice. This is inconvenient. Further, while several different 20 sized orifices may be supplied to consumers at the time a valve member is purchased, extra orifices can be lost over time.
There is a need for a water saving device which can significantly reduce the amount of water consumed in each flush of a 25 toilet, which can be disabled to provide a "full flush" action, and which is easily adjustable to vary the amount of water consumed in each flush of a toilet.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 Sllmm~ry of the Invention This invention provides water saving devices for toilets.
The water saving devices at least partially avoid some of the above-5 noted disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly, a first aspect of theinvention provides a valve member for use in a toilet. The valve member comprises a valve body enclosing a ~h~mber and a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body. An upper portion of the valve body is penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber. The 10 water inlet member comprises: an inner piece having a first D-shaped opening therein and a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece. The cap is penetrated by a second D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings 15 substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap. The amount of water dispensed in each flush of a toilet equipped with a valve member according to the invention can be adjusted by rotating the cap to vary the amount of overlap between the first and second D-shaped openings.
Another aspect of the invention provides a water inlet member for use in a ball valve member in a toilet. The water inlet member comprises: a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening; means associated with the 25 piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member;
and, a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
S Yet another aspect of the invention provides a kit for adapting a ball valve member in a toilet to provide variable water consumption. The kit comprises a water inlet member; a template for locating a position for an air bleed hole in an upper portion of a ball valve member; and, instructions for perforating the ball valve member at the position indicated by the template, ~qffixing the water inlet in a lower cavity opening in the ball valve member and adjusting the water inlet member by rotating the cap to provide a desired degree of water conser~ation. The water inlet member comprises: a generally cylindri-cal piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member; and, a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening. The cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings subst~nti~lly coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
Brief Description of Drawings In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:
CA 0220.7786 1997 - 0.7 - 2 1 Figure lA is a partially cut-away view of a ball valve according to the invention in a toilet tank;
Figure lB is a partially cut-away view thereof during a flush;
Figure 2 is a section through a ball valve according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a adjustable water inlet member according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a section through the adjustable water inlet member of Figure 3; and, Figure 5A, 5B and 5C are bottom plan views thereof set to use various amounts of water.
Detailed Description Figure lA shows a ball valve member 20 sealing against a valve seat 22 in the bottom of a toilet tank 24. Toilet tank 24 is filled with water 26 up to a predetermined level 28. The toilet to which tank 24 is connected can be flushed by pulling upwardly on a chain 30 connected to ball valve member 20. The mech~ni.sm for pulling chain 30 is conventional and therefore not described herein.When chain 30 is pulled upwardly, water 26 can flow downwardly through a conduit 32 connected to tank 24 to flush a toilet. Water 26 continues to flow out through conduit 32 until ball valve member 20 drops back into place to seal against valve seal 22. The closing of ball valve member 20 is delayed by the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 in water 26.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~7-21 As shown most clearly in Figure 2, ball valve 20 includes a body 40 which has attached to it an annular flap 42 for sealing against valve seal 22. Valve 40 and annular flap 42 are typically integrally formed from a synthetic rubber material. Body 40 is hollow 5 and encloses a cavity 44. An air bleed hole 40 extends into cavity 44 in an upper portion of ball valve 20. An adjustable water inlet member 46 is located at a lower end of ball valve 20.
As shown in Figure lB, when a flush is initiated cavity 44 10 is empty of water and filled with air. During a flush, water enters cavity 44 through adjustable water inlet member 46. At the same time, air escapes from cavity 44 through air bleed hole 40. The rate at which water enters cavity 44 can be adjusted by opening and closing water inlet member 46. When water inlet member 46 is closed then water 15 does not enter ch~mher 44 in any significant amounts during a flush and the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 prevents ball valve member 20 from closing until substantially all of water 26 from tank 24 has escaped through conduit 32. This provides a "full" flush. If adjustable water inlet member 46 is opened then water enters ch~mber 44 during 20 each flush. The water in chamber 44 reduces the buoyancy of ball valve member 20 and causes ball valve member 20 to close earlier than it would otherwise. Opening adjustable water inlet member 46 increases the rate at which ball valve member 20 fills with water during each ~lush and therefore decreases the amount of water which can escape 25 from tank 24 during each flush.
As shown in Figure 3, adjustable water inlet member 46 preferably comprises an inner piece 48 having a ridge 49 around its CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 upper end. Inner piece 48 can be snapped into place in an opening 41 at the lower end of body 40. Preferably, a resilient rib 43 (Fig 2) extends around opening 41. Rib 43 holds and seals against inner piece 48 when inner piece 48 is inserted into opening 41.
s Body 40 may be a standard ball valve member of the configuration shown in the drawings and widely sold in plumbing stores with the addition of an air bleed hole 45. A cap 50 is rotatably affixed at a lower end of inner piece 48. Preferably cap 50 snaps into 10 place over a ridge 51 on inner piece 48. When snapped into place, cap 50 is firmly held in place but can be rotated relative to inner piece 48.
Friction between cap 50 and inner piece 48 holds cap 50 at any desired setting.
Inner piece 48 and cap 50 each include a D-shaped generally semi-circular opening (54, 56). Adjustable water inlet member 46 can be closed by rotating cap 50 until openings 64, 56 do not overlap. Adjustable water inlet member 46 can be opened fully by rotating cap 50 until opening 54 and opening 56 are aligned with each 20 other. Intermediate settings can be achieved by positioning cap 50 in between these two extreme positions. It can be appreciated that the position of cap 50 is not limited to discrete positions. Cap 50 may be rotated so that openings 54 and 56 overlap completely~ do not overlap at all, or overlap to any degree between these extremes. The position of 25 cap 50 may be adjusted steplessly between the fully closed and fully opened positions of cap 50.
CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 This construction of adjustable water inlet member 46 provides several advantages over the prior art. Firstly, it provides an adjustable water inlet which can be fully closed and yet, when fully opened, has an appreciable area. Secondly, adjustable water inlet 5 member 46 can be readily calibrated so that a user can understand how much water will be used during each flush.
As shown in Figure 3, marking indicia 68 may be applied around the periphery of opening 56 on cap 50. The edge 60 of opening 10 54 on inner portion 48 can then be used a convenient pointer to indicate the degree of water saving that will be accomplished from any particu-lar setting of adjustable water inlet member 46. In the example shown in Figure 3, the marking indicia comprise numbers imprinted at 45 degree intervals around the periphery of opening 56.
When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "4" then water inlet member 46 is fully open. In this condition, a toilet which would normally consume about 14 liters of water per flush will consume about 4 litres of water per flush. When the straight 20 edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "5", as shown in Figure ~C, then water inlet member 46 is partially closed and each flush will consume about 5 litres of water. When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "6", as shown in Figure 5A, then water inlet member 46 is half closed and each flush will consume about 6 litres of 25 water. When the straight edge of opening 54 is aligned with the number "9", as shown in Figure 5B, then water inlet member 46 is mostly closed and each flush will consume about 9 litres of water.
When water inlet member 46 is fully closed then a full flush of, for CA 0220~786 1997-0~-21 example, 14 litres of water will be delivered each time the toilet is flushed.
In a standard ball valve member, opening 41 is about 1.7 5 centimetres in diameter. For such ball valve members, openings 54 and 56 in water inlet member 46 are preferably semi-circular with diameters of about 11 millimetres. When cap 50 is in its "closed"
position then cap 50 should overlap with inner piece 48 along a narrow strip 60 (Fig. 5D) between openings 54 and 56.
Adjustable water inlet member 46 may be conveniently injection moulded from a suitable plastic material.
Apparatus according to the invention may be supplied in lS the form of a kit including water inlet member 46, a template for locating the proper position for air bleed hole 40, a punch for punching an air bleed hole 40 in an existing valve member, and instructions for punching air bleed hole 40, installing water inlet member 46 and setting water inlet member 46 to provide a desired degree of water 20 conservation.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the 25 spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following cl~ims.
Claims (17)
1. A valve member for use in a toilet, the valve member comprising:
(a) a valve body enclosing a chamber, an upper portion of the valve body penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber, the valve body comprising a sealing surface for sealing against a seal in a toilet tank;
(b) a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body, the water inlet member comprising:
(i) an inner piece having a first D-shaped opening therein; and, (ii) a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece, the cap penetrated by a second D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially entirely overlap and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
(a) a valve body enclosing a chamber, an upper portion of the valve body penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber, the valve body comprising a sealing surface for sealing against a seal in a toilet tank;
(b) a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body, the water inlet member comprising:
(i) an inner piece having a first D-shaped opening therein; and, (ii) a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece, the cap penetrated by a second D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially entirely overlap and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
2. The valve member of claim 1 wherein the first and second D-shaped openings are substantially semi-circular.
3. The valve member of claim 1 wherein, when the cap is in its closed position, the cap overlaps with the inner piece along a narrow strip between the first and second D-shaped openings.
4. The valve member of claim 1 wherein the water inlet member is detachably affixed at the lower end of the valve body within a cavity opening.
5. The valve member of claim 4 wherein the body comprises a resilient rib extending around the cavity opening and sealing against the inner piece of the valve inlet member.
6. The valve member of claim 5 wherein the inner piece of the valve inlet member comprises a circumferential ridge above the resilient rib.
7. The valve member of claim 1 comprising indicia on the cap at spaced apart locations adjacent a curved side of the second D-shaped opening.
8. The valve member of claim 7 wherein the indicia are spaced apart at 45 degree intervals relative to a center of curvature of the curved side of the second D-shaped opening.
9. The valve member of claim 8 wherein the indicia comprise numbers each of the numbers representing an amount of water consumed during each flush of a toilet equipped with the valve member when the number is aligned with a straight side of the first D-shaped opening.
10. A water inlet member for use in a ball valve member in a toilet, the water inlet member comprising:
(a) a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
(b) means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member; and (c) a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
(a) a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
(b) means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member; and (c) a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap.
11. The water inlet member of claim 10 wherein the means for securing the piece in a cavity opening comprise a ridge extending circumferentially around the piece.
12. The water inlet member of claim 11 wherein the first and second D-shaped openings are substantially semi-circular.
13. The water inlet member of claim 12 wherein the first and second D-shaped openings each have a straight side having a length of approximately 11 millimetres.
14. A kit for adapting a ball valve member in a toilet to provide variable water consumption, the kit comprising:
(a) a water inlet member comprising:
(i) a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
(ii) means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member;
and, (iii) a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap;
(b) a template for locating a position for an air bleed hole in an upper portion of a ball valve member; and, (c) instructions for perforating the ball valve member at the position indicated by the template, affixing the water inlet in a lower cavity opening in the ball valve member and adjusting the water inlet member by rotating the cap to provide a desired degree of water conservation.
(a) a water inlet member comprising:
(i) a generally cylindrical piece having an end surface penetrated by a first D-shaped opening;
(ii) means associated with the piece for securing the piece in a cavity opening in a ball valve member;
and, (iii) a cap rotatably attached to the piece, the cap penetrated by second D-shaped opening of substantially the same size as the first D-shaped opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings substantially coincide and a closed position wherein the first and second D-shaped openings do not overlap;
(b) a template for locating a position for an air bleed hole in an upper portion of a ball valve member; and, (c) instructions for perforating the ball valve member at the position indicated by the template, affixing the water inlet in a lower cavity opening in the ball valve member and adjusting the water inlet member by rotating the cap to provide a desired degree of water conservation.
15. A valve member for use in a toilet, the valve member comprising:
(a) a valve body enclosing a chamber, an upper portion of the valve body penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber, the valve body comprising a sealing surface for sealing against a seal in a toilet tank;
(b) a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body, the water inlet member comprising:
(i) an inner piece having a first opening therein; and, (ii) a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece, the cap penetrated by a second opening;
(iii) indicia on the cap at spaced apart locations adjacent the second opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second openings substantially entirely overlap and a closed position wherein the first and second openings do not overlap and wherein a straight edge portion of the first opening points at the indicia when the cap is at positions intermediate its fully open position and its closed position.
(a) a valve body enclosing a chamber, an upper portion of the valve body penetrated by an air bleed hole extending into the chamber, the valve body comprising a sealing surface for sealing against a seal in a toilet tank;
(b) a water inlet member at a lower end of the valve body, the water inlet member comprising:
(i) an inner piece having a first opening therein; and, (ii) a cap attached to the inner piece and capable of being rotated in respect of the inner piece, the cap penetrated by a second opening;
(iii) indicia on the cap at spaced apart locations adjacent the second opening;
wherein, the cap is rotatably displaceable between a fully open position wherein the first and second openings substantially entirely overlap and a closed position wherein the first and second openings do not overlap and wherein a straight edge portion of the first opening points at the indicia when the cap is at positions intermediate its fully open position and its closed position.
16. The valve member of claim 15 wherein the indicia are spaced apart at 45 degree intervals relative to a center of curvature of a curved side of the second opening.
17. The valve member of claim 16 wherein the indicia comprise numbers each of the numbers representing an amount of water consumed during each flush of a toilet equipped with the valve member when the number is aligned with the straight edge portion of the first opening.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2205786 CA2205786C (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-05-21 | Water conserving toilet flush valve |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2205786 CA2205786C (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-05-21 | Water conserving toilet flush valve |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2205786C true CA2205786C (en) | 2000-08-08 |
Family
ID=29274807
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2205786 Expired - Fee Related CA2205786C (en) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-05-21 | Water conserving toilet flush valve |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2205786C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012000156A1 (en) * | 2010-07-02 | 2012-01-05 | Tang Bingsheng | Direct discharge sealing system of water closet |
-
1997
- 1997-05-21 CA CA 2205786 patent/CA2205786C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012000156A1 (en) * | 2010-07-02 | 2012-01-05 | Tang Bingsheng | Direct discharge sealing system of water closet |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |