US2151200A - Fixed vacuum breaker for flush valves - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1939. .1. J. GOODRIE FIXED VACUUM BREAKER FOR FLUSH VALVES Filed Nov. 26, 1934 /OJEPH J. GOOD/PA? //V///V 7 0/9 Wag FEE flTTOP/VEY Patented Mar. 21, 19 39 UNITED, STATES I ri'xnn vaouuu PATENT OFFICE. 1

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BREAKER. roarLUsn ALVES Joseph J. Goodrie, Chicago, 111., to Goodrie' Oylent Flush Valve 00., Chicago, IIL, a. corporation of Illinois Application November as, 1934, Serial No. 154,183 13 Claims. 01. 131-111) This invention relates to an improved vacuum breaker for flush valves, particularly for toilet bowls and the like, and is designed especially for those flush valves which operate directly off the main water line.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a means for admitting air to the interior of the pipe which connects the main supply line to the toilet bowl orsimilar installation whereby any back pressure or suction due to any interference with the normal operation of the water line is automatically prevented.

In installations of this sort, it often happens that the water from toilet bowls or similar equipment such as various apparatus in hospitals, laboratories and the like is drawn upwardly and outwardly therefrom back into the main water line, this occurring quite frequently when the water supply is shut off for some reason or another, whereupon the opening of a faucet or valve at some lower level will immediately create a suction or back pressure, and unless some means exists in the inlet pipe for breaking such a vacuum, the contaminated waste water from the toilet bowl or other apparatus is drawn back into the main supply line whence it is then delivered to other outlets and may inadvertently be used for drinking or other purposes, thereby constituting a serious detriment to health.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for automatically preventing such a back suction from devices of this type, and it is the object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which shall be economically constructed, ready of installation and which shall possess the additional advantage of having no moving parts.

Still another important object of the invention includes the provision of means whereby the flow of water to a bowl or other equipment can be adjusted or regulated depending upon the nature the equipment. A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this type wherein the means for breaking the vacuum shallform an integral part of the equipment, while at the same time it shall be positively proof against leakage or overflow no matter what the pressure of the in-coming water may be.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described. e

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved vacuum breaker for flush valves of this 5 invention illustrating particularly the fact that the same has no moving parts in the vacuum breaker per se and further showing the means for adjusting the volume oi-flow of in-coming water.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally the casing of the improved vacuum breaker of this invention, the same comprising a casting or the like shaped as shown and with a flange l2 at its lower end whereby the same may be readily connected to an intake pipe or the like l4 of a toilet bowl or other similar apparatus.

The casing ID has an integral inwardly extending shelf I6 which is adapted to divert the incoming water to one side as shown by the arrows, and below this shelf 18 is another similar shelf l8 made somewhat lighter which forms a space which opens into the atmosphere through a port 20, the same being guarded by an overhanging lip 22 formed integral with the casing Ill.

The in-coming flush water passes downwardly through the casing I0, and the opening provided 0 therefor is sufficient to allow of any desired quan tity or volume of flow so as to insure an adequate flushing operation.

In the event, however, that any back pressure is put upon the line, any possibility of suction or siphoning action which would tend to draw water upwardly through the pipe l4 and out of a toilet bowl or similar device would be eliminated on account of the opening 20 which would allow air to flow in through this opening and through the space between the shelves l6 and I8 and into the interior of the housing l0 as shown by the dotted line arrows. This will eflectively prevent any possibility of siphonage with its consequent contamination of drinking water. 4

Projecting outwardly from the housing ID at one side thereof is a cylindrical extension 24 inter nally screw-threaded to receive a plug 26 which plug, in turn, is screw-threaded to receive a packing gland 28 with the usual packing 30 mounted between these two elements.

Fitted into the plug and gland 26 and 28 is a cylindrical adjusting and positioning member 32 internally screw-threaded as shown, and mounted therein is a correspondingly screw-threaded stud 34 which has fixed on its outer end a plate 38. The. plate 36 is fitted in and closely corresponds to the interior contour of the extension 24, the same being squared at two faces asbest shown at 38 in Figure 2. The plate 36 is correspondingly squared, and this prevents any turning movement of the plate in its mounting.

The adjusting member 32 is slotted at its end for the reception of a screw driver or the like as shown at 40 whereby the same can be turned in its housing, and any inward movement of this member is prevented by means of a disk 42 which is fitted into theupper end of the plug.26. Turn ing movement of the member 32 will rotate the same about its longitudinal axis and cause a corresponding inward or outward movement of the stud 34 with its fixed plate 36.

This plate 36 acts as a valve element against a seat or the like 44, and this results in an adjustment whereby the flow of water through the housing l0 can be simply and adequately regulated. It often happens that flush valves are installed with no control stops, this being for various reasons, and .in the use of a vacuum breaker of this type between the bowl and a valve which has no movable part to check the back pressure, the same can be regulated to supply the correct amount of water for the particular make of bowl. This adjustment also positively prevents any back pressure of water through the open air port 20.

It will be seen that herein is provided a vacuum breaker for flush valves which is especially advantageous in that it has no moving parts and, therefore, cannot possibly get out of order, while, at the same time, it will adequately and properly perform the necessary operation required, namely, the complete prevention of any possibility of water backing up into the main supply line from a toilet bowl or similar equipment which, in many cases, contain contaminated and impure water and other liquids which, if drawn into the supply line, would be a serious detriment to health.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing.

2. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing, the space between the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening.

3. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing, the space between the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening, and an overhanging lip on the outside of the housing covering said opening.

4. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing,

the space between. the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening, the outer port being at" a level substantially above the inlet to the said air passage.

5. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, includinga casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing, the space between the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening, the outer port being at a level substantially above the inlet to the said air passage, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing.

6. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve element.

7. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing, the space between the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening, the outer port being at a level substantially above the inlet to the said air passage, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve element. v

8. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, the opening being outlined by a pair of inwardly extending shelves in the housing, the space between the shelves comprising a passage leading to the opening, the outer port being at a level substantially above the inlet to the said air passage, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve element, and a seat for the valve, said valve seat being partially outlined by the uppermost of said internal shelves.

9. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve, the valve including a disk, a screw-threaded stud mounted on the disk, an internally screwthreaded plug for the stud, and a housing for the stud and plug.

10. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve, the valve including a disk, a screw-threaded stud mounted on the disk, an internally screwthreaded plug for the stud, and a housing for the stud and plug, said housing comprising a packing gland.

11. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the" atmosphere, and means for controlling thewolume of flush water passing through the-casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve, the valve including a'disk, a screw-threaded stud mounted on the disk, an internally screwthreaded plug for the stud, and a housing for the stud and plug, said housing comprising a packing gland, and an extension on one side of the housing for the reception of said packing gland and adjustable valve.

12. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve, the valve including a disk, a screw-threaded stud mounted on the disk, an internally screwthreaded plug for the stud, and a housing for the stud and plug, said housing comprising a packipg gland, and an extension on one side of the housing for the reception of said packing gland and adjustable valve, and a valve seat in the housing.

13. A vacuum breaker for flush valves, including a casing having an opening therein to the atmosphere, and means for controlling the volume of flush water passing through the casing, said means comprising an adjustable valve, the valve including a disk, a screw-threaded stud mounted on the disk, an internally screwthreaded plug for the stud, and a housing for the stud and plug, said housing comprising a packing gland, and an extension on one side of the housing for the reception of said packing gland and adjustable valve, together with means in the extension for permitting a sliding but nonrotating movement of the valve disk therein.

JOSEPH J. GOODRIE.

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