US3595261A

US3595261A - Automatic shutoff valve

Info

Publication number: US3595261A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel Abbott
Original assignee: VENAVCO Inc
Current assignee: VENAVCO Inc
Priority date: 1969-03-13
Filing date: 1969-03-13
Publication date: 1971-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-27
Also published as: GB1303862A; DE2006216A1; FR2038032A5; IE34045B1; IE34045L

Abstract

An automatic valve mechanism controls water flow into a toilet water closet or other environment in which liquid level control is desired. The valve mechanism responds to air pressure created under a diaphragm by a rising water level to shut off water flow into a water closet to attain a desired water level. The valve mechanism also responds to a decrease in air pressure under the diaphragm caused by a receding water level to allow water flow into the water closet to start again.

Description

United States Patent 1,147,639 7/1915 Nolan lnventor Samuel Abbott Glen Falls, N.Y. Appl. No. 806,816 Filed Mar. 13, 1969 Patented July 27, 1971 Assignee' Venavco, lnc.

Glen Falls, N.Y.

AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF VALVE 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

05. CL 137/403 Int. Cl 605d 9/02 Field of Search 137/386, 403, 406, 412, 413, 414, 429, 430, 432, 433

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,786 6/1926 Bradshaw 137/413 2,744,536 5/1956 Buckner 137/413 3,285,277 11/1966 Goldtrap.. 137/414 3,344,804 10/1967 Lyman 137/406 Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson Assistant ExaminerDavid R. Matthews Attorney-Blair, Cesari and St. Onge ABSTRACT: An automatic valve mechanism controls water flow into a toilet water closet or other environment in which liquid level control is desired. The valve mechanism responds to air pressure created under a diaphragm by a rising water level to shut off water flow into a water closet to attain a desired water level. The valve mechanism also responds to a decrease in air pressure under the diaphragm caused by a receding water level to allow water flow into the water closet to start again.

PATENTED JUL2 7 l9?! SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG.

a r r 1 r 1 I I 1 1 I I INVENTOR. SAMUEL ABBOTT 'PATENTEDJULNIHH SHEET 2 BF 3 3, 595.261

T .F e a INVENTOR.

SAMUEL ABBOTT ATTCR N EYS AUTOMATIC snu'rorr VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION provided which stores water to be used when the toilet is flushed. A certain specific water level in a water closet is desirable and this water level must be reestablished after the toilet is flushed and the water closet is drained. Normally a water closet is in fluid communication with the water main in a residence so that water would continually flow into the water closet but for some valving mechanism. Therefore, the problem that presents itself is'relative'ly simple in nature, that is, a valve must be provided which automatically allows water to flow into a water closetwhen the level therein recedes below a given level and which automatically shuts off the water flow when the desired water level therein is reached.

2. Prior Art The prior art devices for maintaining a desired water level in a water closet are generally float operated. In addition, these float-operated devices of the prior art are normally composed -of brass or copper because the valving mechanism operates at least some of the time in water and ferrous metals are prone to rust. The nature of a float-operated device, such as the typical ball cock valve, is that the float follows the water level and gradually closes off the valve as the water approaches the desired level. Because of the noise problem associated with water flowing into a water closet, the water inflow is normally arranged to take place rather rapidly. However, as the valve that is operated by a float approaches its seat, the water flow is gradually diminished or tapered off and an offensive noise is nevertheless generated.

In addition, another problem presents itselfin utilizing brass or copper valve assemblies of the prior art in that the valve assembly is sometimes under water and sometimes out of the water. The result of this intermittent exposure to the at-' mosphere of the valve mechanism is that corrosion develops in a relatively short period of time. This corrosion is of two types: one type is a general corroding action that is associated with copper or brass when it is used with water, and the other type of corrosion takes place because of electrolytic reaction with impurities in the water that is generally manifested on parts that are intermittently submerged. The prior art does not teach a very quick acting automatic water shutoff for water closets that does not have offensive noise associated therewith and which is not subject to corrosion.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, low cost, liquid level control valve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic shutoff valve for use in maintaining a desired water level in a water closet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic shutoff valve which is highly resistant to corrosion. u

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic shutoff valve which is very quick and positive in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic shutoff valve which dispenses with the need for a conventional float.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, my valve includes a chamber into which the water rising in the water closet enters. The chamber is open at the bottom to admit the rising water and closed at the top to cause air to be compressed above the water. The top closure of the chamber includes a diaphragm which deflects between two extreme positions in response to a predetermined pressure. Deflection of the diaphragm to its upward extreme moves a pilot valve to close off flow to one portion of the main valve. When this occurs, the main valve very quickly shifts to a closed position shutting off further water flow. With this construction, all of the metallic linkage normally associated with float-operated ball cock or check valves is eliminated. Also, the piston and seat in my valve are contained in an area that is constantly submerged in water. This has the advantage that any noise of the moving valve parts is deadened by the water and their tendency to corrode diminishes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS illustrating its DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic shutoff valve, generally designated by numeral 10, is supported in a water closet 12 by the pipe 14. The water 11 in the water closet l2 empties into the toilet bowl when flushing is initiated through the drain 16 that is normally closed by the valve 18. The valve 18 is pulled from its seat on the end of the drain 16 by rotation of a conventional flushing handle 20 that acts through an extension arm 21 and chain 24 to cause an upward pivoting of valve 18 around pivot 22.

When the water closet is full, my valve is in the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2. Here it is seen that a threaded adapter 26 is secured to the end of pipe 14, The main valve body 28 is screwed onto the adapter 26. The valve body 28 has a central passage 30 formed therein in which a valve member 32 is slidable. The valve member or piston 32 has an upper portion 34 slidable on the inside walls of passage 30 and a tapered valve surface 36 adapted to engage a seat 38 on body 28. The valve member 32 has a centrally disposed passage 40.

A circular plug 42 is fitted into one end of the passage 40 and provides a valve seat for a pilot valve 44.

The pilot valve 44 is carried on one end of an elongated member 46 with the other end of the member 46 being carried by a diaphragm 48. The diaphragm 48 is the upper wall of a chamber 50 formed within a cup-shaped member 52.

Apertures

54 and 56 are formed in a bottom wall of the cup-shaped member 52 and provide a path for fluid communication between the inside of the water closet I2 and the chamber 50. Therefore, the chamber 50 has the same water level therein as the water closet when the water closet is nearly filled.

As pointed out above, my valve mechanism functions when the toilet is flushed. Referring again to FIG. 1, flushing is initiated as the handle 20 is rotated about an axis 58 which causes the arm 21 to move in a counterclockwise fashion about the axis 58. This pulls the chain 24 upwardly and rotates the valve 18 around the pivot 22 opening the end of the drain 16. The water within water closet 12 then rushes out through drain 16 thereby flushing the toilet.

As the water rushes out of the water closet 12, the water level within chamber 50 recedes until the pressure of the trapped air in the chamber 50 above the water is relieved. With this pressure relieved, the diaphragm 48 snaps into the position shown in FIG. 3 which is its free position. It will be noted that as the diaphragm 48 moves downward, the elongated member 46 moves with it, due to the frictional engagement of the nipple 51 with the member 46, thus causing the pilot valve 44 to go off its seat. When this occurs, the water pressure in the adapter end of passage 30 causes the water to flow through pilot valve 44 and into the passage 40. This provides a pressure on the back side 62 of valve member 32. Because of the area differential between the front and back side of the valve member 32, it moves downward to the open position shown in FIG. 3.

With the valve member 32 in the open position, water passes through the passage 30 and enters an inlet 64. At the same time, it continues to provide a pressure through the passage 40 to the back side 62 of the valve member 32. Water then flows freely to

outlets

66 and 68 causing the filling of water closet 12 to commence. As shown in FIG. 1, a pipe 70 connected to the outlet 68 actually causes the refilling of the water closet while a pipe 72 connected to the outlet 66 passes water to an overflow pipe 74 to assist in the flushing of the toilet. The valve 18 is buoyant and moves back onto its seat on the drain 16 after the water runs out of the drain l6 and the level in water closet 12 has receded. As the valve 18 reseats, the water from the pipe 70 begins to fill the water closet 12. The valve 18 stays seated because its buoyant portion is in drain 16 and is not exposed to the water 11.

Referring again to FIG. 2, as the water level rises around the valve to a given level, the water passes through the

apertures

54 and 56 into the chamber 50. Air is thereby trapped in the top portion of chamber 50 and when the

apertures

54 and 56 are closed off by the rising water level, an air pressure is developed in the chamber 50. When this pressure reaches a predetermined value, diaphragm 48 snaps upward. With this movement ofthe diaphragm 48. the elongated member 46 and pilot valve 44 likewise move upward until the pilot valve 44 is seated on the element 42. When this occurs, the pressure on the back side 62 ofthe valve member 32 is relieved thereby allowing the valve member 32 to follow the pilot valve 44 upward and seat the valve surface 36 on seat 38. Any fluid trapped on the back side 62 of the valve member 32 is either vented through the guide passage 76 for the elongated member 46 or it leaks back through the clearance between the valve portion 34 and the wall ofthe valve body 28. Thereafter, the flow is cut off to the

outlets

66 and 68 and the rise in water level ceases, thus preparing the valve mechanism for another operating cycle.

In FIG. 4, another embodiment of my invention is shown and like numerals are applied to structures similar to those shown in the previous embodiment. The basic difference between the embodiment of FIG. 4 and the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 is in the location of the pilot valve 44 and the provision of a cross passage 78 projecting from passage 40 to provide the force on back side 62 of valve member 32 to cause an opening thereof. This design permits a side-by-side relationship between pilot valve 44 and valve member 32 which makes my valve less subject to chatter when operated at very high water pressures, As in the previous embodiment, the elongated member 46 engages the actuating diaphragm which seals cup-shaped member 52 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is seen then that the present invention provides an automatic shutoff valve for use in maintaining a water level in a water closet or other liquid level control environment of a type superior to prior art devices. More specifically, the operation of the pilot valve 44 and valve member 32 is such that there is full flow to the

outlets

66 and 68 from the inlet until the water level reaches a very specific desired limit. At this point, the diaphragm 48 very quickly shifts the valve from an open to a full closed position eliminating the normal noise associated with prior art systems as the float-operated ball cock valves slowly close the space between a valve-operating member and a valve seat. In addition, the structure of my invention lends itself to an all-plastic construction and therefore the deleterious effects of the adverse environment in which the valve operates are essentially eliminated. In other words, the corrosion-susceptible copper or brass fittings in valve portions of the prior art are eliminated completely. Furthermore, my valve can be installed in any standard water closet to operate with standard toilet-flushing equipment. Therefore, my shutoff valve can be installed in a water closet after some other valve structure has malfunctioned because its only point of connection to the water closet is at the mounting pipe. It is also evident that the cup-shaped member 52 and diaphragm 48 may be replaced by a bulbous or doughnut-type float valve attached to the end of the elongated member 46 bringing about the same result in almost as effective a fashion. Stated another way, the travel of the pilot valve is so slight that if a float were attached to the end of the elongated member 46, the pilot valve could be raised in much the same fashion as in the present invention and when the pilot passage 40 is closed off, the valve member 32 would be forced to its seat in order to shut off the incoming water flow. It is understood that the operation of such an embodiment would be slightly slower than the snap action generated in the two embodiments shown in the present invention, but it would be totally within the skill of one skilled in the art to provide such an arrangement.

it will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

1. An automatic shutoff valve for maintaining the level of liquid (11) in a toilet flush tank, said valve comprising A, a valve body (10) for positioning in the flush tank;

B. a passage (30) formed in the valve body, said passage having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet to the tank;

C. a valve member (32) movable in the passage between valve open and valve closed positions, thereby selectively isolating said inlet and outlet; and

D. valve-actuating means (48,46,44) including 1. a stationary chamber (50);

2. a flexible diaphragm (48) forming a wall of the chamber;

3. means (46) connecting the diaphragm to the valve body; and

4. an opening (54,56) in the chamber exposed to the liquid in the tank whereby the rising liquid level in the tank causes liquid to enter the chamber through the opening and exert a positive pressure on the diaphragm, urging the diaphragm to a first position which moves the connecting means so as to close the valve when the liquid in the tank reaches a selected level, said diaphragm also moving to a second position when the liquid level in the tank falls below a desired level after the associated toilet is flushed.

2. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm responds directly to the pressure ofair trapped above a liquid level in said chamber.

3. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 2 wherein said valve body, valve member and diaphragm are plastic.

4. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 3 wherein said elongated member is a pilot valve.

5. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 4 wherein said elongated member is adjustable with respect to said diaphragm so that the response time of the valve can be selectively varied.

6. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 5 wherein said valve member has a passage (40) in the center thereof through which said elongated element passes, said passage communicating fluid under pressure to the back side (62) of said valve member to maintain said valve member in a valve open position under certain operating conditions.

7. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 6 wherein said elongated member has an enlarged end (44) adapted to seat on the end (42) of said passage to prevent further fluid communication to the back side of said valve member thereby allowing said valve member to shut off fluid to the outlet from the inlet.

8. In a valve assembly for maintaining the level of liquid (11) in a toilet flush tank (12) wherein the flow of liquid into said tank is controlled by a valve the improvement comprising means for actuating said valve including a stationary chamber (50) within said tank, said chamber having A. a flexible diaphragm (48'),

B. means (46) connecting said diaphragm to said valve, and

C. an opening (54,56) in said chamber exposed to said liquid whereby the rising of the liquid level in said tank causes liquid to enter said chamber through said opening and compress the air trapped therein, thus exerting a positive pressure on said diaphragm causing said diaphragm to snap to a first bistable position thereby moving the connecting means so as to actuate said valve when the liquid in the tank rises to a selected level, said diaphragm also snapping to a second bistable position when the liquid level in the tank falls below a desired level after the associated toilet is flushed.

9. The valve assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the connecting means is adjustable relative to the diaphragm so as to adjust the points at which the diaphragm snaps between its two bistable positions in response to pressure in the chamber.

Claims

1. An automatic shutoff valve for maintaining the level of liquid (11) in a toilet flush tank, said valve comprising A. a valve body (10) for positioning in the flush tank; B. a passage (30) formed in the valve body, said passage having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet to the tank; C. a valve member (32) movable in the passage between valve open and valve closed positions, thereby selectively isolating said inlet and outlet; and D. valve-actuating means (48,46,44) including 1. a stationary chamber (50); 2. a flexible diaphragm (48) forming a wall of the chamber; 3. means (46) connecting the diaphragm to the valve body; and 4. an opening (54,56) in the chamber exposed to the liquid in the tank whereby the rising liquid level in the tank causes liquid to enter the chamber through the opening and exert a positive pressure on the diaphragm, urging the diaphragm to a first position which moves the connecting means so aS to close the valve when the liquid in the tank reaches a selected level, said diaphragm also moving to a second position when the liquid level in the tank falls below a desired level after the associated toilet is flushed.

2. a flexible diaphragm (48) forming a wall of the chamber;

2. An automatic shutoff valve according to claim 1 wherein said diaphragm responds directly to the pressure of air trapped above a liquid level in said chamber.

3. means (46) connecting the diaphragm to the valve body; and

8. In a valve assembly for maintaining the level of liquid (11) in a toilet flush tank (12) wherein the flow of liquid into said tank is controlled by a valve (10), the improvement comprising means for actuating said valve including a stationary chamber (50) within said tank, said chamber having A. a flexible diaphragm (48), B. means (46) connecting said diaphragm to said valve, and C. an opening (54,56) in said chamber exposed to said liquid whereby the rising of the liquid level in said tank causes liquid to enter said chamber through said opening and compress the air trapped therein, thus exerting a positive pressure on said diaphragm causing said diaphragm to snap to a first bistable position thereby moving the connecting means so as to actuate said valve when the liquid in the tank rises to a selected level, said diaphragm also snapping to a second bistable position when the liquid level in the tank falls below a desired level after the associated toilet is flushed.