US3360803A - Pivoting float valve - Google Patents

Description

Jan.z,1968 V 5B-GROSS 3,360,803

PIVOTING FLOAT VALVE Filed April e, 1965 un 11 l 1 YIIIIIIIII l INVENTOR. STANLEY B. GROSS WMMW ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,360,803 PIVOTING FLOAT VALVE Stanley B. Gross, 420 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 Filed Apr. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 445,982 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-57) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A pivoting float v-alve comprising a resilient sealing member equipped with a pair of spaced, vertical tabs integrally formed near one ed-ge thereof and a split, adjustable attaching collar carrying a pair of horizontally opposed lugs, the said lugs being respectively insertable into the said tabs to permit pivoting motion of the sealing member with respect to the collar.

This invention relates to float valves in general and more particularly to the type of iioat valve ldesigned for use within the flush tanks of Water closets.

The tank type water closet has enjoyed enormous popularity and today is in common use in residences vand commercial and industrial establishments not only in this country but throughout the world. This type of water closet depends upon a reservoir of water that is supplied to and stored in the tank above the bowl for flushing action. A flush pipe connects the bottom of the tank with the top of the bowl through which the stored water must pass during the flushing operation. It is evident that the top of the flush pipe must be sealed when the water closet is not in operation in order to build up the supply of water in the tank reservoir. Presently known devices in use for this purpose comprise float type valves designed to seat positively in order to seal the flush pipe when not in use and then, upon operation, to iloat upon the falling surface of the stored water in order to retard the resealing action of the valve until all or most of the water has drained from the tank.

Many types of oat valves have been designed and used with the Idescribed water closets in an attempt to devise a float type valve that is positive in operation in all instances. Improper seating of this valve results in the familiar annoying sounds of trickling Water all to the inconvenience of the residents of the home. It may well be said that improvements have been made by other workers in the iield, 4and the instant invention has been undertaken with the thought in mind of presenting a float valve that is absolutely trouble free in operation and therefore represents an improvement over all .presently known float valves. Guide ro'ds have been completely eliminated and a pivoting type of operation has been substituted to remove unwanted play.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel oat valve for water closet ush tanks incorporating pivoting operation.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a novel float valve for Water closet operation designed for ready installation in new as well as existing flush tanks that is completely compatible with all ush tank equipment presently in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel float valve for water closet flush tanks that completely eliminates the need for metallic guide rods and links.

It is .another object of this invention to provide a novel oat valve [for water closet ush tanks that is simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and absolutely trouble free upon operation.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in ice conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the float valve collar.

FIG. 2 is :a top perspective view of the float valve sealing member.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken through t-he tank of .a flush tank type water closet showing the float valve in closed position retaining the water in the tank reservoir.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 showing the oat valve in open position.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing oat valve attached to overoW tube.

FIG. 6 is an explo-ded view of a modified float valve collar.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

The device has been designed to be as simple as possible to insure trouble-free operation and long life an'cl consists principally of only two component parts. A collar section generally designated as A connects the oat valve to the existing overflow tube 10 in place in the tank 11 of a Water closet. T-he sealing member, generally designated as B, pivotally joins collar section A to form a complete, relatively simply constructed, float valve assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 1, I show in detail the collar section A comprising a pair of split overow tube clamps 12, 13 each having centrally positioned, semi-circular shaped, overow tube engaging bends 14, 15 terminating outwardly in corresponding flat mating ends lrespectively designated 16, 17 an- d 18, 19. Corresponding holes 20, 21 and 22, 23 pierce respective mating ends 16, 17, 18, 19 to receive attaching bolts 24. Nuts 25 secure split clamps 12, 13 to overow tube 10 by tightening upon bolts 24 in the usual way. I prefer to construct all .portions of collar section A of brass to yassure long life in view of the complete immersion in the water 26 in tank 11. Brass is also desirable from a standpoint of trouble-free operation in View of its strength and rigidity. It should be noted however, that while brass is deemed best for the use at present, it is entirely possible that certain plastic compounds could be use'd that lpossess the required strength, rigidity and corrosion resistance for the intended service. The substitution of such compounds is deemed to fall within the scope of this invention. Brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the forward surface 26 of front collar clamp 13, I provide a horizontal rod 27 which terminates outwardly in horizontally projecting lugs 28, 29.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the sealing member B cornprises a generally discoid sealing .portion 30 which is provided with ari integral, depending, hollow float 31. The sealing portion 30 must be of diameter sucient to iit over and seal mouth 32 of the tank flush pipe 33 and is preferably fabricated o-f rubber having adequate body to resist deformation when in operation. Ribs 34, 35 are integrally formed with and reinforce the top 47, of the sealing portion 30 and extend rearwardly from lift tab 36 terminating in a pair of spaced, upwardly extending rear guide tabs 37, 38. Holes 39, 40, yare respectively provided in the tabs 38, 37 an'd loosely connect the tabs to the right and left lugs 28, 29 of the rod 27, thereby permitting pivotal motion of the sealing member B about the rod 27 of the split collar A. Enough freedom is provided in the holes 39, 40 for lugs 28, 29 to assure positive seating of the sealing portion 30 upon the ush pipe mouth 32 without frictional interference from the pivotal connection.

Referring now to FIG. 6, I show a modified collar A wherein the split clamp sections 12, 13 engage the overflow tube 10 in the usual manner by turning the bolts 24 J in threaded openings 54, 55 that are provided in the-rear section 12. The collar section 13 forwardly carries a horizontal -bar 51 that may be integrally formed with the depending extension 50 to support the bar 51-below the level .of the bolts 24. The bar 51 terminates outwardly in a pair of expanded lugs 52, 53 to loosely engage the sealing member holes 39, 40 while at the same time providing Ya raised construction `to prevent the tabs 37, 38 from accidently disengaging.

In order to use my invention, the split collar A may be loosely assembled -by connecting the clamps 12, 13 using two bolts 24 and nuts 25 inserted through the respective corresponding holes 20, 21 .and 22, 23. The collar is then applied over the top end 41 of the overow tube 10 and is positioned at its base 42 with the bent portions 14, 15 in contact with the overflow tube. The `collar is then fastcned in place by tightening nuts 25 with the horizontal rod 27 positioned to face the flush pipe 33. Once the collar A has been secured, tabs 37, 38 of sealing member B are spread as required to insert lugs 28, 29 respectively through vholes .40, 39. The natural resiliency of the material returns the tabs -to their unstretched position `once the lugs are inserted and care shoul'd be exercised to assure that the oat 31 faces downwardly.

As seen in FIG. 3, a lift Wire 43 has one end aixed to the end of the operating rod 44 in the usual manner and has its second end fastened to the lift tab 36 leaving a little slack when the rod 44 rests in its lowermost position. In this position, with the lugs 28, 29 inserted through the holes 39, 40, the sealing portion 30 naturally rests upon an'd seals the mouth 32 of the ush pipe 33. Upon operation of the handle 45, the operating rod 44 pivots about the pin 48 to rise and thus draw the sealing portion 30 off its seat through the fo-rce transmitted by the lift wire 43. Water 26 is thus permitted to enter the iiush pipe 33 while the liioat 31 operates to keep sealing member B floating in the open yposition by the buoyant force of the surrounding water. As the water discharges and the level drops near the top ofthe flush pipe, the buoyant force of the oat will terminate and sealing portion 30 will automatically and positively seat upon mouth 32 of ush pipe 33, thereby ,assuring trouble-free, leak-resistant operation.

Although I have `described my invention with a certain 'clegree of particularly, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a oat valve for use in a water closet flush tank equipped with an overflow tube anda liush pipe, the combination of a split collar section removably connected to the overflow tube,

sai'd collar comprising a rear member and a forward member adjustably joined therewith, said members provided with opposed arcuately formed, centrally positioned bends,

said bends terminating horizontally outwardly in flat mating ends,

said bends contacting and squeezing the said overow tube therebetween,

and the said mating ends each being respectively drilled to form pairs of opposed openings.

a pair of fastening bolts .acting through the said opposed openings and drawing the said rear `and forward members together about the overflow tube,

said forward member forwardly carrying a pair of horizontally opposed lugs, said lugs terminating outwardly in expanded ends, said ends having greater diameter than the diameter of the said lugs; and

a resilient sealing member seating upon the inlet of the `said ush pipe,

said sealing member terminating downwardly in a concentric, integrally formed, hollow float,

said float being sized to enter the inlet of the said flush pipe,

and said float operatively buoyanting the sealing member upon the surface of the ush tank retained wate-r,

said sealing member being provided with a top connected, forwardly mounting lifting tab, `and said sealing member terminating rearwardly in a pair of spacer, upwardly extending, guide tabs,

said tabs each being formed with a horizontal opening,

said opening having diameter to freely receive one of the said lugs,

said sealing member pivotally moving about the said collar section and a pair of reinforcing ribs aixed to the top of the said sealing member, said ribs respectively extending from the said lift tab to one of the said guide tabs, the said reinforcing ribs `forming a substantially V-shaped reinforcing pattern, and said ribs serving to maintain the normal configuration of the resilient sealing member during lall periods of operation,

whereby the retained Water in the said flush tank may exit through the said flush pipe upon exertion of an upward force on the said lift tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,748 9/1933 Colvin 4-57 2,763,872 9/1956 Nelson 4-57 2,779,028 l/l957 Branch 4-57 2,781,520 2/1957 Micek 4-57 3,l67,787 2/1965 Connealy 4--57 SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

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