US3553741A

US3553741A - Commode flushing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3553741A
Application number: US825786A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter K Owens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-19
Filing date: 1969-05-19
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12

Abstract

A COMPACT SEALED FLUSH TANK AND FLUSHING COMPONENTS ARE IDEALLY SUITED TO BE FORMED FROM PLASTIC SO AS TO BE CORROSION-RESISTANT AND SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF WEAR. FULL WATER MAIN PRESSURE IS UTILIZED TO PRODUCE A PRESSURE FLUSH BY TRAPPING AND COMPRESSING AIR WITHIN THE TANK AND A FREE FLOATABLE BALL VALVE ELEMENT IS UNSEATED BY A UNIQUE ROTATABLE SLEEVE VALVE WHICH ASSURES THAT THE BALL WILL MOVE AWAY FROM ITS SEAT BEFORE FLUSHING WATER BEGINS TO BE DISCHARGED INTO THE COMMODE BOWL.

Description

Jan. 12,1971 I K.OWENS 3,553,741

COMMODE FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed May 19 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIR WALVTER K. OWENS United States Patent 3,553,741 COMMODE FLUSHING APPARATUS Walter K. Owens, Pensacola, Fla. (PO. Box 15, Beatrice, Ala. 36425) Filed May 19, 1969, Ser. No. 825,786 Int. Cl. E03d 1/34 US. Cl. 4-67 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compact sealed flush tank and flushing components are ideally suited to be formed from plastic so as to be corrosion-resistant and substantially free of wear. Full water main pressure is utilized to produce a pressure flush by trapping and compressing air within the tank and a free fioatable ball valve element is unseated by a unique rotatable sleeve valve which assures that the ball will move away from its seat before flushing water begins to be discharged into the commode bowl.

There is an increasing need for an economical durable and compact commode particularly for use in mobile homes and boats but also applicable to commercial or residential plumbing. Such a device should be corrosion and Wear resistant with few moving parts so as to require minimum maintenance, and should also meet sanitary requirements specified by municipal building codes and other government regulaitons. The prior art has failed to provide thus far such an ideal commode and flushing means and the objective of this invention is to meet the needs of the art in the respects above-mentioned. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a commode embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the commode and flushing mechanism taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 showing parts in a non-flushing position.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing parts in a flushing mode.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing parts in a non-flushing position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the same parts in a flushing mode.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates a preferably all molded plastic commode bowl including a plastic seat and cover, said bowl having a built-in trap 11 and a rear discharge fitting 12 having an annular seal 13 and connected with a soil pipe elbow 14 leading to the sewer.

An upright cylindrical flush tank 15 also formed of plastic is disposed above the bowl 10 substantially in alignment with the soil pipe and includes upper and

lower closure caps

16 and 17 which may be permanently sealed in place during manufacturing. As shown, the bottom of the flush tank 15 rests upon an elbow 18 connected with a flushing water inlet manifold 19 which delivers water to the bowl 10 around the rim thereof, the manifold being preferably formed integral with the plastic bowl. The tank 15 may be rcessed into a partition 3,553,741 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 wall having studs 20 and is covered on its forward side by a shallow rectangular plastic finishing cover or hous ing 21 anchored to the wall by bolts 22 or the like. The housing 21 imparts to the commode a neat and finished appearance substantially flush with the wall except for the bowl 10 which projects outwardly, as shown.

The flushing mechanism associated with the compact tank 15 includes a first upright sleeve 23 extending entirely through the tank lengthwise and having its upper end sealed within an opening 24 of cap 16 and its lower end securely connected to the elbow 18. The sleeve 23 is immovable relative to the flush tank. Mounted within the sleeve 23 rotatably is a second or inner sleeve 25 coaxial therewith and extending entirely through the outer sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Near their lower ends and within the bottom portion of the flush tank, the relatively movable sleeves have spherically formed

openings

26 and 27 adapted to register, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, when a floatable ball valve element 28 is seated. The ball valve element 28 is preferably weighted at one point 29 to eliminate spinning in the water. When the inner sleeve 25 rotates by the operation of means to be described, its ball seating opening 26 moves relative to the opening 27 and forces the ball 28 off of its seat so that the ball will float in the tank generally as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 7.

An important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the two

sleeves

23 and 25 as described. When the sleeve 25 is turned to shift the opening 26 and unseat the ball element 28, the adjacent wall portion of the inner sleeve 25 will cover and close the opening 27 of the outer sleeve 23 until such time as the ball 28 floats entirely free and away from the seat. This is important because if the flushing water in the tank 15 is permitted to discharge too soon into the bowl 10, the ball 28 will not be able to escape from the seat and will tend to be drawn down and re-seated and the proper flushing action will not be obtained. The unique feature of the inner sleeve 25 first unseating the ball 28, followed by momentary closing of the outlet opening 27, allows the ball to float free. Following this, the sleeve 25 assumes its normal position with the

openings

26 and 27 in registration and the proper flushing cycle takes place. The operation will be further described.

The rotary inner sleeve 25 is turned by a bell crank 30 anchored thereto as shown and having two substantially right

angular arms

31 and 32, the former connected with a flexible cable 33 passing through guides 34 on the housing 21 and being secured to a crank arm 35, FIG. 1, carried by an operating handle 36 on the front of the housing. The bell crank arm 32 is connected with a retractile spring 37 having one end anchored to the housing 21 at 38. The spring 37 biases the bell crank 30 to a position whereby the two ports or

openings

26 and 27 are in registration as in FIG. 2. When the handle or lever 36is turned to flush the commode, the spring 37 will stretch and through the bell crank 30 the sleeve 25 will turn to first unseat the ball 28, as described, and to cause the inner sleeve to momentarily cover the opening 27 of the outer sleeve until the ball floats free. When the handle 36 is released, the spring 37 will return the inner sleeve 25 to its normal position where the two

openings

26 and 27 are in registration.

The apparatus further comprises a water inlet 39 opening through the side wall of tank 15, as shown, so that the tank may be filled to the proper level at all times after the completion of each flushing cycle. An overflow tube 40 is provided externally of the tank 15 and opening through the side wall thereof near the elevation of the water inlet 39. This overflow tube 40 extends. downwardly along the tank and has a lower extension 41 extending through the inlet manifold 19, FIGS. 2 and 4, and then discharging at 42 into thebowl 10. Within the tank 15 at the upper terminal of the tube 40 is an inverted cup-like intake 43 in communication with the overflow tube and having its open end facing downwardly. A float ball valve element 44 is tethered to the element 43 at 45 by a flexible cord and when the ball 44 is freely hanging while the water level in the tank is down, the bottom of the element 43 is open so that air and/or water can pass into the tube 40. When the water level rises sufficiently to float the ball element 44, FIG. 2, the element 43 is closed and no water or air can enter the tube 40 and further introduction of water to the tank 15 from inlet 39 compresses the remaining air in the top of the tank 15 to a pressure equalizing that of the water supply system. This compression enables the small capacity tank 15 to deliver a pressure flush to the bowl Without the complications, large diameter water supply pipes and costly pressure valves commonly employed for this purpose.

For disinfecting and deodorizing purposes, the inner sleeve 25 is equipped near and above its opening 26 with a screen 46 above which is introduced a suitable amount of solid chemical disinfectant and/or deodorizer 47. Sufficient water will rise through the screen 46 upon each flush to dissolve some of this chemical and feed the same in solution with water into the "bowl 10. The chemical 47 will slowly gravitate down in the bore of the sleeve 25 and will last a long time before becoming exhausted.

It is believed that the foregoing description substantially encompasses the operation of the invention. However, to summarize the operation, assuming that the tank is filled with water up to the maximum compression level and the two

balls

28 and 44 are seated, as shown, the mechanism will be stable until a flush is required.

The user turns the handle 36 with the crank 35 and pulls the cable 33 and bell crank 30 against the force of spring 37 to thereby rotate sleeve and unseat ball element 28 as described in full detail, followed by momentary closing of port 27 by sleeve 25 before releasing handle 36. This operation allows the ball 28 to float and the water level in the tank 15 under pressure of compressed air passes through

openings

27 and 26 and manifold 19 into the commode bowl. It should be mentioned that the system is vented through the open topof sleeve 25.

When the water level in the tank is fully down, the ball 28 will re-seat itself, as in FIG. 2, and the

openings

26 and 27 are blocked and water from the inlet 39 will rapidly rise in the tank ultimately floating tethered ball 44 onto its seat, thereby closing off tube 40 and trapping air in the top of the tank 15 for compression. The inflow of water will stop without any additional valving when the pressure of the trapped air equals incoming water pressure, and the apparatus is then prepared for the next flush ing cycle and is again stable. It is believed that the various features and advantages of the invention over the prior art are now apparent to those skilled in the art, without the need for any further description.

What is claimed is:

1. A flushing apparatus for commodes and the like comprising a tank having a water inlet, an outer relatively stationary sleeve extending within the tank and being anchored thereto and having a port communicating with the interior of the tank near the bottom of the tank, an inner sleeve rotatably mounted in the outer sleeve and being substantially coextensive therewith and having a port adapted to register with the port of the outer sleeve, the bore of the inner rotary sleeve constituting an outlet passage for water in said tank when said ports are in regis tration, a buoyant free ball valve element within the tank adapted to seat within the close said ports when they are in registration and being unseated when the inner sleeve rotates relative to the outer sleeve, said ball valve element then floating away from said ports while the side wall of the inner sleeve momentarily covers the port of the outer sleeve permitting the ball valve element to escape completely from said ports and to float upwardly within said tank, and an operator connected with the inner sleeve externally of the tank and being resiliently biased to normally position the inner sleeve with its port in registration with the port of the outer sleeve.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said tank being a vertically elongated relatively narrow tank having top and bottom closure caps, said outer sleeve having end portions sealed within openings of said closure caps with the terminal ends of the outer sleeve projecting outside of the tank and caps, said inner rotary sleeve having its upper end extending axially beyond the corresponding end of the outer sleeve and being connected with said operator above the outer sleeve and tank.

3. The structure of claim 1, and said operator comprising a bell crank rigid with the inner sleeve exteriorly of the tank and outer sleeve, a spring connected with one arm of the bell crank and normally holding the bell crank in a position causing registration of said ports, a flexible element connected with the other arm of the bell crank in opposing relation to the spring, and manual lever means for pulling the flexible element to turn the bell crank and inner sleeve against said spring to move said ports out of registration.

4. The structure of claim 1, and a strainer element in said inner sleeve near and above the port thereof so that the entire bore of the inner sleeve above the strainer forms a chamber for the reception of a solid chemical material.

5. The structure of claim 1, and an overflow tube leading from the tank near and below the top thereof and having an inlet within the tank, and a tethered float valve element connected with the inlet to close the same when the water level rises within thetank thereby enabling the water to compress air within the top of the tank to a degree equaling the pressure of the water supply system.

6. The structure of claim 1, and said buoyant ball valve element eccentrically weighted to arrest spinning thereof.

7. The structure of claim 1, and said tank, outer and inner sleeves and ball valve element formed of plastic.

8. The structure of claim 1, and said tank comprising a cylindrical open-ended tube body, a pair of end closure caps telescoped over the ends of the tube body and permanently sealed thereto, and said outer relatively stationary sleeve having end portions projecting through and permanently sealed within aligned openings of said closure caps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,353 12/1887 Harvey 4-57 679,687 7/1901 Simpson 4-29 1,079,036 11/1913 Tosco et al. 4-57 1,215,695 2/1917 Paff 4-26 1,501,620 7/1924 Reed 4-28 1,516,043 11/1924 Hughes 4-31 1,586,079 5/ 1926 Formaneck 4-28 2,068,672 1/1937 Groeniger 4-56 2,211,296 8/1940 Shaft 137-390 2,243,203 5/1941 Groeniger 457 2,800,664 7/1957 Bridge 4-67 3,041,629 7/ 1962 Pratt 4 28 3,466,672 9/1969 McGahee 4-67 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner J. H. DODGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.