US1518942A - Flushing valve - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,942

H. A. sFr-:AR

FLUSH I NG VALVE Filed June 21, 1923 FIB- l- INVENTOR.

A TT ORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD A. SPEAR, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T JOHN W. STACY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLUSHING VALVE.

Application led June 21, 1923. Serial No. 646,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. Howann A. Sana-xn, a citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Springfield. in the county ofA Hampden and State of l\lassaf lulsctts, have invented a new and use't'ul Flushing Valve, oi' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flushing valves ol' tiusl'iometers, of the magnetic type, especially designed tor use in lavatories. and consists broadly and generally ot' a body havingr therein inlet, outlet.

ressure, andreliei' chambers, a main valve etween said inlet and outlet chambers, movable compression means betweensaid outlet and pressure chambers, the same being connected with said valve, a springpressed relief valve between said pressure and relief chambers, a tubular member eX- tending downwardly from said relief chamber. through said pressure chamber and the parts and members below the same, into said inlet chamber. a. stem extending downwardly from said relief valve and carrying at the lower end, in said tubular member, a pertoi-ated. rctarding valve. a. spring-pressed ball-valve for said retarding valve, and magnetic means for opening said relief valve, together with such other parts and members as n'iay be necessary or desirable in order to render the flushing valve complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object ot my invention is to ;5 produce a flushing valve that can be operated at a distance by electro-magnetic energy, which valve is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, and positive in action, and

o wherewith are obtained a quick discharge, and a slow closing movement involving a predetermined time interval, the action of the valve being automatic throughout both the opening and closing operations, after 5 the initial impetus is given by closing an electric circuit, through an electro-magnet, solenoid, or the like.

Another object is to provide a valve of this character with regulating means wherei by the interval of time between opening and closing may be increased or decreased.

A further object is to produce a lushing valve which is non-leakable, practically noiselcss, and withal highly practicable and i efficient.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course ot' the following description.

l attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central, vertical section through a tlushin valve which embodies a practical form olfr my invention, the movable parts being disposed in closed or otherwise normal or initial positions; Fig. 2, an enlarged, bottom )lan of the main valve; Fig. 3, an enlarged, central, vertical section through the retarding valve, and, Fig. 4, a cross section through the central tubular member and valve-stem therein looking down onto said retarding valve.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

The lower part of the casing and the main-valve elements of this flushometer are similar in construction to what is commonly known as the Jenkins valve.

As illustrated in the drawings, the valve body comprises a casing l, and a hollow head or dome 3 secured to said casing, with a. packing-ring 2 between. The casing 1 is designed to be connected with the usual supply and discharge pipes of an ordinary water-supply system, and said casing has therein an inlet chamber 4 and an outlet chamber 5. The chambers 4 and 5 are separated by means of a partition 6 which is rovided with a horizontal valve-seat 7.

hereis a brass-lined pressure chamber 8 in the casing l below the dome 3, and a relief chamber 9 in said dome. The top of the chamber 9 in the dome 3 consists ofa plate or disc 10 of brass or other material which is a non-conductor of magnetism, and such disc or top is secured, with the cylinder that forms the sides of said chamber, to the casing l by means of a lurality of bolts 11. The bolts 11 pass ownwardly through the top, sides, and bottom of the dome 3 and the packing-ring 2 into threaded engagement with a flange 12 at the top of the casing 1. There is an opening in the axial center of the top 10 in line with the axis of the valve-seat 7, and also in the same line is an opening through the bottom of said dome. A pole-piece 13, of an electro-magnet or solenoid 14, is tapped into the axial opening in the top 10, and may be adjusted therein so as to project a greater or the tube upwardly'linto place withA the flange orshoulder 16 tight against the underside of said floor. There is a valveseat 18 in the axial center of the top' of the .nut 17, which valve-seat communicates below with4 the upper terminal'of the tube 15 which is received in the nut 17 below said valve-seat;` A` horizontal waste pipe 19 is tapped.into one side just above the'bottom f of the dome3, andcarries the water away fromv the-chamber 9. l

The tube 15' extends downwardly nearly v to the bottom of the casing'l, and the lower end of said tube is closed by means of va screw-cap 20. Within the tube 15 is a valvestem 21- which extends upwardly through the valve-seat `18 to form and lserve as a relief valve 22 for said valve-seat, and to receive or carry an armature 23 above the nut 17. The lower terminal of the valve-stem 21 is tapped into a retarding piston 24, which latter is' in the tube 15. Aispiral spring 25 encircles the valve-stem2l between they'nut 17 and the piston 24, and normally causessaid valve-stem to remain inits low position with the hub or nipple of the armature 23, into which the upper terminal of said valve-stem is tapped, bearing on top of said nut. There are four (more or less) oblique passages 26 in the piston 24. such passages opening through. the top I'and into the Vapex of a conical recess 27 which is formed in the bottom of said'piston. There is in one side of the piston 24 a vertical passageor flattened part 28, although the latter might be omitted in the event said piston have a fairly loose fit in the tube' 15. The conical recess 27 forms a seat for a ball-valve 29. The ball-valve is normally held against the valve-seat thus formed by means of a spiral spring 30 the bottom terminal of which is supported on and centered by the screw-cap 20 and a. post 45 that rises from the center thereof, said ball being supported at the upper terminal vof said spring. The spring 3() is lighter or weaker than the spring 25. That portion of the valve-stem 421 that is below the valve 22 is out away, as at 46, in order that there shall be an open passage through the Valve-seat 18 when said valve is raised out of said seat. l

The tube 15 has one or more openings 31 therein just below the flange 16, and communication between said tube and compression chamber 8 is thus established, and there is in one side of said `tube-a ,vertical passage or flattened parti32, which extends from the horizontal plane of the openings 31 downwardly to the bottom of said tube. Such passage or liattened part 32 might be omitted in the event the mam-valve parts and members next to be described haven fairly loose fit `on the tube 15. A

y'Slidingly arranged on the tubel is a hollow member 33 which serves asa Valvestem` for a valve 34 for the' valve-,seat 7 Thisis the main valve. The valve-stem33 below thel valve 34 is tapped intoa valve member 35. A sleeve 36, having a topflange 37 and a bottom flange 38, is..mountedfion the valve-stem Theva1vestcm 33 yhas a.y

top 'flange 39 between which andthe Bange 37 is a leather washer or cup-packing 40 that tightly fits the walls of' the chamber `8 in which latterl thesemembers move up and down.` The flanges 37 and 39 and the cup-'packing 4() form a piston-head. The valve 34 is clamped between the flange38 and the valvemember 35. Thevalve 3l when in closed positionbears on the top vof the valve-seat 7, while the upperportion of the valve member 35 at such time fills the opening through said seat. The lower por tion of the valve me1nber35 is rusto-conical .in shape, and there is a plurality of grooves 41 in and lengthwise of the periphery thereof, consequently, when the valve 34 and said member are elevated yso that such frustoconical, grooved -part of said member is in tlievalveseat 7, water is` lpermitted toflow fromthe chamber 4, around the aforesaid member vand through said grooves, through said seat into the chamber 5. The mainvalve construction just described is of ra nature which prevents water-hamm@r.KL

The water in the chamber 4 rises through the passage 32 into the pressure chamber 8, passes through the openings 31 into the tube l5 above the retarding piston 24, and through the passage 28 in said piston into said tube below said piston. Thus it is seen ythat the chamber 8 and the tubey 15 are full of water, but that no water can enter the chamber 9 while the valve 22 is closed. The area of the piston-head being greater than that of the valve member 35, the pressure above said piston-head causes-the valve 34 to be retained in closed position on the valve-Seat 7, and without relieving such pressure said valve can not be opened.

The length of time which the reliefl valve 22 remains open, or the length of time which it takes to close the same, under the retarding effect of the piston 24, maybe varied by screwing the solenoid pole-piece 13 farther in to the chamber 9 and thus nearer to the armature 23 when in low normal position, to decrease such time, and by screwing said pole-piece/arther out of said chamber and thus increasing the distance between it lfl and said armature, to increase such time. That these conditions are obtained is due to the fact that, inthe first instance, the slow closing movement permitted to the relief valve by the retarding piston is shortened, because the armature 23 elevates said relief valve a short distance only, and, in the second instance, said movement is lengthened, because said armature elevates said relief valve a greater distance.

At 42 two binding-posts are represented for wires 43 and 44 that form parts of the necessary elect-ric circuit.

The operation of this flushing Valve, assuming that the parts and members are disposed as in Fig. 1, is as follows:

The solenoid 14 is energized for an instant, when its pole-piece 13 attracts to itself the armature 23. The armature 23 in rising into contact with the pole-piece 13 carries with it, against the resiliency of the spring 25, the valve-stem 21, thus removing the relief valve 22 from the valve-seat 18, and opening a passage from the interior of the tube 15, through said seat, into the chamber 9. The valve-stem 21 carries upwardly with it the retarding piston 24. The piston 24 rises so quickly that it passes away from the ball-valve 29, the oblique passages 26 being of suficient size to enable said piston to make the quick ascent through the water in the tube 15 and leave said ball-Valve behind, in spite of the fact that the spring 3() is beneath the same. The spring 30 quickly, however, after the ascent of the piston 24, forces the ball-valve 29 against its seat 27' and thus closes the passages 26 at their lower ends. Now the piston 24 can descend, under the influence of the spring 25, only so fast as displacement of the water with which the tube 15 is avlways filled can be made through the narrow passage 28. The chamber 8 is full of water which has entered the same from the chamber 4 through the narrow passage 32, and the tube l5 is full of water, as previously stated, which water enters said tube through the openings 31 therein, and the water from'said tube and said first-named chamber immediately 'passes through the valve-seat 18 into the chamber 9, from which latter the water es, capes through the pipe 19 into the sewer. The water at this time passes from the chamber y8 through the openings 31 into the tube 15, and then upwardly through said tube and the valve-seat 18 into the chamber t). As soon as the electric current is cut oif from the solenoid 14, the pole-piece 13 becomes demagnetized and releases the armature 23 to the spring 25. The spring 25 forces the piston 24 downwardly, but only so fast as the water in the tube 15 can be displaced through the narrow passage 28, as previously observed, and said piston carries n downwardly with it the valve-stem 21 and the valve 22, eventually causing said valve to close the valve-seat 18. The ball-valve 29 is moved downwardly with the retarding piston 24, against the resistance of the springl30, so that the lower ends of the passages 26 are closed securely throughout the descent of said piston. Previous tothe closing of the valve 22, and while the water is escaping from the .chamber 8 into the chamber 9, the pressure of the water below the valve member 35 causes said member, the valve 34, and the valve-stem 33, with the other parts and members carried thereby, to be raised a sufficient dista-nce to open the way through the valve-seat 7, and permit the water to pass from fthe chamber 4 through said Valve-seat into the chamber 5. The flow of water from the inlet to the outlet chambers continues until the pressure of the water in the chamber 8 is sufficient to force downward the piston-head in said chamber 8 and cause the valve 34 to close the valve-seat 7, when the ilow of water from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber is cut off, and further How ceases. IThe grooves 41 in the valve member 35 increase the area presented to the pressure of the water in the chamber 4, and facilitate both the opening and closing operations of the main valve, and also constitute a factor in preventing water-hammer. The water pressure begins to increase in the chamber 8, to bring about the closing of the valve 34, as soon as the valve 22 is closed, and continues to increase until the balance of pressure changes from the chamber 4 to the chamber 8. The way for Water to pass from the chamber 4 to the chamber 8 is always open through the narrow passage 32.

Water enters the chamber 4 under pressure as usual, and the results described above are due to the fact that a certain amount of waiter entering said chamber rises through the passage 32 into the chamber 8 until the latter is filled and has a pressure therin equal to the pressure in the chamber 4, and Ato the further fact that ythe chamber 8 is much larger in diameter than the opening through the valve-seat 7, or the area of the piston-head in the chamber 8 is greater than that of said Valve-seat, so that the valve 34 is seated with a force proportionate to the diiference in area when the pressure in the chambers 4 and 8 is equal.

It naturally follows that the opening of the relief valve 22 enables. the pressurein the chamber 8 to be reduced, with the result that the greater pressure of the water in the chamber-4rcauses the valve34 to be opened. As soon as the relief valve is closed, however, the water pressure in the chamber 8 begins to increase, by reason of the entranceJ into said chamber of the water through the passage 32, and continues to increase until the force of the water above the piston-head in said chamber is greater than that below the valve 34, when the latter is caused to descend onto its seat, as previously explained.

A lock-nut 47 may be provided for the solenoid pole-piece 13, said nut being above the top 10 of the dome 3.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this fiushing valve may be made, without departing .from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a flushingl valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inlet and outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member, a. main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in said pressure chamber communicating with said inlet chamber, and a stem connecting said valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on said fixed member, the area of said piston-head being greater. than that of said valve, upwardly-opening means to relieve the pressure in said pressure chamber, such means consisting in part of an armature, and an adjustable solenoid in the top of said body above said armature, to operate said relief means, through the medium of said armature. i

2. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inlet and outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member, a valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in said pressure chamber communicating with said inlet chamber, and a stem connecting said valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on said fixed member, the area of said piston- Vhead being greater than that of said valve,

downwardly spring-pressed means adapted to be opened upwardly to relieve the pressure in said pressure chamber, and magnetic means to open said relief means against its spring.

3. In a fiushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inlet and outlet chambers, and a pressure chamber, a fixed member,y a valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a piston-head in said pressure chamber communicating with -said inlet chamber, and a stem connectingsaid valve and piston-head and slidingly arranged on said fixed member, the area of said pistonhead being greater than that of said valve, downwardly spring-pressed means adapted to be opened upwardly to relieve the pressure in said pressure chamber, such means.

consisting in part of an armature, and an adjustable solenoid in the top of said body above said armature, to operate said relief means through the medium of said armature. v

said relief valve provided with an armature,

and an adjustable solenoid in the top of said body above said armatureto open and control said relief valve through the medium of said armature.

5. In a flushing valve.' a hollow body having therein communica-ting inlet and outlet chambers, -a pressureQ chamber in constant` communication with said inlet chamber, and a rehef chamber 1n communicatmn with said pressure chamber, a magnetic element set in the top of said relief chamber, a main.

valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a controlling piston-head in said pressure chamber for said valve, and an upwardly opening relief valve between said pressure and relief chambers and with a part in the magnetic field below said'magnetic element.

6. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inlet and outlet chambers, a pressure chamber in constant communication with said inlet chamber, and a relief chamber in communication with said pressure chamber, an adjustable magnetic element set in the top of said relief chamber, a main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a controlling piston-head in said pressure chamber for said valve, and an upwardly opening relief valve between said pressure and relief chambers and with a part in ythe magnetic field below said magnetic element.

7 In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein communicating inlet and outlet chambers, a pressure chamber in constant communication with said inlet chamber, and

a relief chamber in communication with said pressure chamber, a main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, an upwardly -opening relief valve between said pressure and relief chambers, and provided with an armature in said-relief chamber, a pistonhead in said pressure chamber, connections between said main valve and said pistonhead, the latter being adapted normally tov retain said main valve in closed position, and an element set in the top of said relief chamber, adapted to be magnetized and demagf a relief chamber in communication with said pressure chamber, a main valve between said inlet and outlet chambers, a relief valve between said pressure and relief chambers. and provided with an armature in said relief chamber. a pistou-head .in said pressure chamber, connections between said main valve and said piston-head. the latter being' adapted normally to retain said main \'al\'e in closed position, and an adjustable element in said relief chamber, adapted to be magnetized and demag'netized, in operative position relative to said armature.

9. ln a flushing! Valve. a hollow body ha ing therein inlet, outlet, pressure, and relief chambers. a rabe-seat between said inlet and outlet chambers. a Valvefor such seat.

a piston-head in said pressure chamber. a valve-stem member connecting said valve and piston-head. a valve-seat between said pressure and relief Chambers. a valve for said last-named valve-seat, a tube below said last-named valve-seat and extending" through said piston-head. said tube opening .into said pressure chamber. aud there beingsT an open passage between said inlet and pressure chambers, a stem extending from said second-named valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube, a spring arranged normally to force said stem and its valve and piston downwardly, means normally to close the perforations in said perforated piston. the construction ,providing for an open passage between both ends of said perforated piston, and meansto open said second-named valve against the force of said spring.

l0. In a. iushing Valve. a hollow body havingtherein inlet, outlet, pressure, and relief chambers, ayalve-seatbetween said inlet and outlet chambers, a valve for such seat. a piston-head in said pressure chamber, a valve-stem member connecting said valve and piston-head, a valve-scat between said pressure and relief chambers. a valve for said last-named valve-seat, a tube below said last-named valve-scat and extendingr through said piston-head, said tube opening into said pressure chamber. and there.beinf.r an open passage between said inlet and pressure chambers, a stem extending from said second-named valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube, a spring' arranged normally to force said stem and its valve and pist-on downwardly, means normally to close the perforations in said perforated piston, the construction providing for an open passage between both ends of said perforated piston, and magnetic means to open said secondnamed valve against the force of said spring.

11. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein inlet, outlet, pressure, and relief chambers, a valve-seat between said inlet and outlet chambers, a. valve for such seat, a piston-'head in said pressure chamber, a Yalvefstem member connecting said valve and piston-head. a valve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers` a valve for said last-named valve-seat, a tube below said last-named valve-seat 'and extending' through said piston-head,` said tube opening;- into said pressure chamber, and there being;` an open passage between said inlet and pressure chambers. a stem cxtendine` from said ysecond-named valve into said tube. a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube. a spring` arranged normally to force said stein and its Valve and piston downwardly. means normally to close the perforations in 'said perforated piston. the construction providing for an open passagebetween both ends of said 'perforated piston. and adjustable magnetic means to open said second-named valve against the force of said spring.

l2. ln a flushing` valve, a hollow body having.r therein inlet. outlet, pressure, and relief chambers, a valve-seat between said inlet and outlet chambers, a valve for such seat, a piston-head in said pressure chamber, a valve-stem inember connecting said valve and piston-head, a valve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers, a valve for said last-named seat. a tube below said last-named seat and extending through said pistondiead, said tube opening into said pressure chamber` and there being an open passage between said inlet and outlet chambers, a stem extending from said second-named Valve into said tube, a perforated pist-on carried by said stem in said tube, a spring arranged normally to force said stem and its Valve andpiston downwardly, a springLpressed ball-valve arranged normally to close the perforations in said perforated piston, the construction providing: for an open passage between the ends of said perforated piston, and means to open said relief Valve against the force of said sprinv. I

13. In a flushing valve, a hollow body having therein inlet, outlet, pressure, and relief chambers, a Valve-seat between said inlet and outlet chambers'. a valve for such seat, a piston-head in said pressure chamber, a valve-stem member connecting said Valve and piston-head, a valve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers, a Valve for said last-named seat, a tube below said last-named seat and extending through said piston-head, said tube opening into said pressure chamber, and there being` an open passage between said inlet and outlet chambers, a stem extending from said secondnamed valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube, a. spring arranged normally to force said stem and its valve and piston downwardly, a spring-pressed ball-valve arranged norvhaving therein inlet, outlet` pressure, and

relief'chambers, a valve-seat between vsaid inlet and outlet chambers7 a valve for such seat, a pistonhead in said pressure chamber, a valve-stem member connecting said valve and piston-head, a valve-seat between said pressure and relief chambers, a valve for said last-named seat, a tube below said last-named seat and extending through said piston-head, said tube opening into said pressure chamber, and there being an open passa e between said inlet and outlet cham ers, a stem extending from said second-named valve into said tube, a perforated piston carried by said stem in said tube, a spring arranged normally t0 force said stem and its valve and piston downwardly, a spring-pressed ball-valve arranged normally to close the perforations in said perforated piston, the construction providing for an open passage between the ends of said perforated piston, and adjustable magnetic means to open said relief valve against the force of said spring.

. HOWARD A. SPEAR. Witnesses F. A. CUTTER, C. C. WEST.

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