OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR FLUSH VALVES

The invention relates generally to the operation of flush valves for plumbing fixtures by an electrical solenoid which causes the flush valve to be hydraulically operated, and the principle object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hydraulic operating mechanism for flush valves.

In many plumbing installations for water closets arid urinals it is desirable that the flush valves be concealed and mounted behind a wall surface, especially in public places. The flush valves are usually manually operated by a handle projecting through the wall. This poses a problem of providing the correct length of handle extension through the wall between the handle and the flush valve and an accurate line-up of the parts is also necessary. Such an installation therefore increases the cost of labor and materials.

In applicant s pending application, Ser. No. 74,606, filed Sept. 23, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,288, issued Oct. 10, 1972, it has been proposed to provide a mechanical push button operated valve mechanism mounted on a front wall surface which is arranged to operate the flush valve concealed behind the wall by hydraulic pressure extending through flexible tubing from the inlet pressure side of the flush valve, through the push button, and back to a hydraulic operating mechanism on the flush valve. This construction entails 3C the use of two separate lengths of tubing which must be cut off to the approximate correct length and provide with special fittings at each end that could be a cause of leakage. Labor and the added parts entail a cost factor in this arrangement. It has also been proposed that - a solenoid valve be supported upon the flush valve and connected by external piping with the inlet pressure side of the flush valve. However on exposed installations this was not desirable because of vandalism and overall appearance.

The foregoing disadvantages are all overcome by the present invention in which a novel flush valve operating arrangement has been provided which eliminates the use of all external piping, and employs an electric sole noid energized from a remote point to control the action of hydraulic pressure through flow passages extending throughout the length of the supporting casing, to actuate the flush valve.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved flush valve actuating mechanism which is positive and reliable in operation, simple in construction, easy to install, and solves many problems encountered n the installation of plumbing equipment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the in- ,, vention consists of certain novel features of construe- " tion, operation, and combination of elements which will be more fully described, illustrated, and pointed out hereinafter.

023 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, this illustrates a typical flush valve installation in which the parts may be concealed behind a wall and in back of the plumbing fixture which may be either a water closet or urinal. The flush valve may be commercially known type such as the "Sloan Royal" flush valve 5 connected by the inlet supply nipple 6 with the usual control valve or stop 7. The control valve 7 regulates the water supply to the flush valve from the inlet water supply pipe to which it is connected. The flush valve 5 is equipped with an operating diaphragm (not shown) whose opening from the main flush valve seat is controlled by the operation of the relief valve when its depending stem 8 is actuated or tilted. The opening of the flush valve diaphragm from ts valve seat results in the water supply passing from the control stop 7 and downward through the flush tube 9 into the plumbing fixture to flush the same. After an interval when the flush valve seat is automatically closed, the inlet water supply pressure is again present n the pressure chamber around the barrel portion 11 of the flush valve 5. The actuating arrangement and means for causing the operation of the flush valve 5, referring to FIG. 2, ncludes a cylindrical casing, indicated at 15, preferably made of brass, having a hex nut 16 formed at one end for threaded engagement at 17 around the opening 18 in the flush valve body 5, for supporting the operating unit. At the opposite end of the casing IS an electrical solenoid is supported by threaded engagement at 19 with the casing end. As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid may be electrically connected to either the push button switch 21 or to a timing device 22 for energizing the soienoid from the electrical power source 23. Solenoid may be of any known type consisting of the coil winding adapted when energized to shift the ron core 26 with its rubber seating plug 27 and open the valve seat 28. A restoring spring 24 closes the core 26 upon valve seat 28 when the coil winding is deenergized.

Arranged within the cylindrical casing are two cup-shaped members, a sleeve and a guide bushing 31. The sleeve has a series of longitudinal spaced ribs 32 formed around its outer surface to space it from the inside diameter of the casing and forms passages 29 between the ribs. At its left hand or bottom end there is formed a smaller diameter extension 33 projecting into the solenoid end through an axial opening or bore 34 in the casing 15. The outer diameter of extension 33 is spaced from the outer wall of the bore 34, thereby providing open fluid flow passages extending from the space on the left side of the closed valve plug 27, and valve seat 28, passage 34, around the extension 33, and between the series of ribs 32 and passages 29, around the sleeve to the right hand side thereof. An axial passage 36 extends the length of extension 33, from below the valve seat 28 to a pressure chamber 38 within the cup-shaped sleeve 30. The valve seat 28 is preferably formed integral with and around the left hand end of the extension 33 as shown.

A piston is arranged for reciprocal movement within pressure chamber 38 and is preferably con-

structed of a cup-rubber 41 slidable along the inner wall of sleeve and a back-up washer 42 to which it s molded. A plunger rod 43 is attached to the rear side of the piston and extends axially into the opening 18 <HR>of the flush valve body. A restoring spring 44 arour the plunger rod 43 normally holds the piston towards the end of flow passage 36, the bumps hoi ng it slightly spaced therefrom. A bleed opening < through the piston 41 and washer 42 provides for e pulsion of fluid from the leftside of the piston in char her 38 when the piston is restored, and also provides fluid pressure drop across the piston as will be pointe out hereinafter.

The cup-shaped guide bushing 31 fits within the flu; valve opening 18 at one end and at the opposite er nto the inner diameter of sleeve 30. An O-ring SO pr vents leakage between sleeve and bushing 31 whi O-ring 51 prevents leakage between the bushing 31 ar the body opening 18 as shown. The forward open er 52 of bushing 31 serves as a stop for the piston wh t is operated. At the bottom end of sleeve 31 a guic portion 53 is formed having an axial opening 54 there through which the plunger 43 extends and is guide thereby. A series of openings in the bushing around the guide portion 53 serves to drain the char ber 38 whenever the piston is operated. The guic bushing 31 is supported in position in casing by annular flange around its outer surface which clamped between a shoulder 61 on the end of casing and against the end 62 of valve body opening 18. suitable annular sealing gasket 63 is also clamped b> tween flange and edge 62. The flange has a serii of slots 64 formed around it which are in alignmei with the flow passages 29. The outer surface < bushing 31 is also spaced from the inner diameter of the flush valve body as shown, thereby providing continuous annular open flow passage 67 through tr passages 29, and to the solenoid valve seat 28. A drille opening extending through the valve body 5 forn a direct flow passage from the fluid pressure side of th flush valve, through flow passages 67,29, and 34, to th valve seat 28. These connecting flow passages are ai cordingly always under the fluid pressure present in th water supply pipeline at the control stop 7 and the pre sure chamber of the flush valve.

In the use of the flush valve operating arrangemen assume that the flush valve 5 together with the casin and solenoid are located behind a wall surfaci and that the outlet flush tube 9 of the flush valve e) tends through the wall to a plumbing fixture such as water closet or urinal on the front of the wall. The pus button 21 may therefore be mounted anywhere on th front wall surface where it is easily accessible to a pel son using the plumbing fixture. Operating the push bui ton 21 establishes an energizing electrical circuit fc solenoid from the current source 23 which results i the solenoid core 26 opening the valve plug 27 fror valve seat 28. This results in fluid pressure being effec live against the left side of piston over a flow pat ncluding the pressure side of the flush valve fror control stop 7, flow passage 70, annular passage openings 64 in flange 60, passages 29 between ribs annular opening 34, the now open valve seat 28, flo\ passage 36, and against piston 40. Accordingly pistoi is projected forward in chamber 38 and plunger 4; likewise, until the end of plunger 43 engages and tilt the relief valve stem 8 resulting, in the well known man ner, in the operation of the flush valve to cause a me ,778,023 nd tered quantity of water to pass into the plumbing fix- ture, after which the valve shuts off automatically. Id- Release of the push button 21 results in the solenoid 46 closing its valve plug 27 upon valve seat 28 under x- 5 action of restoring spring 24, cutting off further fluid m- flow through passage 36 and against piston 40. Rei a storing spring 44 now forces piston back in chamber ed 38 along with its plunger 43 until stopped by the bumps engaging the bottom of cup-shaped sleeve 30. The sh bleed opening 46 in the piston enables the fluid in nd front of the piston to be expelled as the piston restores, -e- relieving the pressure against it. This opening 46 also le provides the necessary pressure drop across the piston nd t enable it to smoothly operate. The fluid expelled nd 15 through opening 46 also passes and drains outward into en the discharge tube 9 through the slightly larger open- (je ings in bushing 31. In the event the push button ,jn is held operated unduly long in an attempt to cause ed continuous operation of the flush valve, this action will jj be without effect, because the flush valve is provided j,, with the usual telescoping relief valve stem 8, the lower jje end of which would come to rest on top the plunger an end and the flush valve would close upon its seat rej gardless of this attempt. However during this action the (g solenoid will be held operated and fluid pressure from the inlet side of the flush valve will exist through the several flow passages, the bleed opening 46 in the piston, the drain openings 55, and into the flush tube, but this is of no serious consequence since the amount ,. passed consists of only a small dribble. ,, Leakage through the casing is averted in several places. The O-ring 51 prevents leakage from passage , and 67 into the discharge portion of the flush valve.

O-ring prevents leakage between sleeve and bushing 31, and sealing gasket 63 outward through the ns threads 17.

In the interest of economy and to facilitate manufac- 16 turing, the cup-shaped sleeve with its ribs 32, and c" the cup-shaped bushing 31 may each be advanta- 16 geously molded of some desirable known plastic mates" rial. Such material lends itself well to the purpose, since t enables relatively friction-free sliding of the piston n sleeve chamber 38 and plunger 43 in bushing 31. Dimensional stability is also achieved of the two plastic lt) parts so that they retain their shape, avoid leakage and 8 are not affected by water conditions. e> From the foregoing description it will be apparent x" that by this invention, the use of flexible tubing and asa sociated fittings is entirely eliminated, thereby greatly n reducing the possibility of leakage, vandalism is 16 avoided, and reduced costs are entailed. In addition the r- casing and solenoid present a smooth, pleasing t- appearance on the flush valve, complimenting the genpr eral overall look, especially when the flush valve in n some cases is installed in an exposed position on the ro front wall surface above or alongside the water closet =- or urinal. In this case all the exposed surface parts of h the flush valve, casing and solenoid will obviously be ro chrome plated. 7