U.S. patent application number 10/663547 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for flow control apparatus for flush valves of toilets.
Invention is credited to Yen, Chih-Chen.
Application Number | 20050056322 10/663547 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274405 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050056322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yen, Chih-Chen |
March 17, 2005 |
Flow control apparatus for flush valves of toilets
Abstract
A flow control apparatus for flush valves of toilets is
installed between the water intake end and the water outflow valve
of a flush valve. It aims to generate a constant water outflow
quantity under fluctuating water pressure. The flow control
apparatus includes a flow control valve which has a flexible valve
casing with a valve diameter alterable responding to fluctuation of
water pressure to allow water to pass through and a filter which
may be integrated with or independent from the flow control valve
for filtering water flowing through the water outflow valve.
Inventors: |
Yen, Chih-Chen; (Taipei
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Collen IP
The Holyoke Manhattan Building
80 South Highland Avenue
Ossining
NY
10562
US
|
Family ID: |
34274405 |
Appl. No.: |
10/663547 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/550 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D 7/012 20130101;
E03D 3/02 20130101; Y10T 137/8122 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/550 |
International
Class: |
E03B 007/07 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A flow control apparatus for a flush valve of a toilet,
comprising: a flow control valve having a flexible valve casing
which has a valve opening with a diameter alterable responding to
variations of water pressure; and a filter for filtering intake
water at one end of a water pipe.
2. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control
valve and the filter are assembled in an integrated manner and
installed between the flush valve and a water inlet tube of the
toilet.
3. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control
valve and the filter are separately installed between the flush
valve and a water inlet tube of the toilet.
4. The flow control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter is
separately installed on a front section of the flush valve.
5. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control
valve is separately installed on a rear section of the flush
valve.
6. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control
valve is separately installed on a front section of the flush
valve.
7. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control
valve includes a rigid pressure receiving element located on one
side thereof.
8. The flow control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flow control
valve is separately installed on a front section of the flush valve
and the pressure receiving element faces water intake
direction.
9. The flow control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flow control
valve is separately installed on a rear section of the flush valve
and the pressure receiving element faces water outflow direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a flow control apparatus for flush
valves of toilets and particularly to a flow control apparatus that
changes the diameter of the valve according to variations of intake
water pressure to control water flow so that water outflow quantity
and time do not fluctuate due to alteration of water pressure at
the installation location of the flush valve.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] There are generally two ways to flushing toilets with water,
one uses water tank and another one is direct flush. The water tank
can store water and generate water pressure to control water flow
to flush the toilet. Its structure is less likely to be affected by
fluctuations of water pressure in the water inlet tube, and water
outflow and time are more steady with less fluctuations. However,
it requires a larger space for installation. The direct flush
directly supplies flushing water through one end of a water pipe.
It has a flush valve bridging between the distal end of the water
pipe and the toilet. The structure usually includes a corner valve
directly connecting to one end of a water inlet tube to keep water
constantly presented in normal conditions. A connection tube is
connected to a water outflow valve to control water outflow. The
water outlet end of the water outflow valve is directly connected
to the water inlet of the toilet. A depressing rod or control
button is provided to actuate the opening of the water outflow
valve and set flushing time so that water is discharged directly
from the distal end of the water pipe to flush the toilet. Such a
flush structure can save the space of toilet. It also does not need
the water control mechanisms in the water tank and the precise
matching of plug and float ball that often cause water leaking or
overflow when wear off or misalignment occurs. However, in
practice, the diameter of the valve cannot be changed to adjust
water outflow. Water outflow quantity and time fluctuate due to
variations of water pressure in the connecting water pipe. When
water pressure is higher on the installed location, water outflow
quantity increases in the same time period being set. As a result,
water resource is waste and water bill is higher. In addition, due
to higher water pressure and faster water discharge speed, water
flushing into the toiler tends to hit the side wall of the toilet
and splash outside the toilet with sewage, and the environment is
contaminated and polluted. On the other hand, when water pressure
is lower, water discharge force is not adequate, and flushing
effect suffers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The primary object of the invention is to provide a flush
valve that allows variation of water pressure to affect water
outflow quantity thereby to prevent waste of water resource and
environmental pollution caused by water splash due to too high of
water pressure or non effective flushing due to too low of water
pressure.
[0006] The flow control apparatus of the flush valve according to
the invention can alter the diameter of the valve according to
pressure variation of intake water so that water outflow can be
controlled, and instantaneous water outflow into the toilet can be
maintained constant. The structure includes:
[0007] A flow control valve which has a diameter alterable
according to water pressure so that water flowing through the valve
is constant; and
[0008] A filter which may be coupled with the flow control valve in
an integrated fashion or be an independent item. It is located at
the front section of the water outflow valve for filtering intake
water.
[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the flow control valve
and the filter are located between the water inlet end of the flush
valve and the water inlet end of the water outflow valve. The
diameter of the flow control valve is alterable flexibly according
to pressure variation of intake water. When water pressure is
higher, the flow control valve is compressed and deformed under the
impact of the high water pressure, and the diameter becomes
smaller, consequently instantaneous water quantity flowing through
the valve decreases, and total water outflow quantity can be
maintained constant. On the other hand, when water pressure is
lower, the diameter of the flow control valve maintains as that in
normal conditions, and instantaneous water outflow quantity through
the valve is greater than that when the water pressure is higher,
and total water outflow quantity can still be maintained constant.
By means of the flow control valve, water outflow quantity can be
maintained constant to flush the toilet without affected by water
pressure variation at different installation locations.
[0010] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an integrated assembly
installed in a flush valve according to the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the
integrated assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the
integrated assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the
integrated assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0017] FIG. 7 a sectional view of still another embodiment of the
integrated assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the flow control
apparatus in operating condition.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a separated
assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a
separated assembly installed in a flush valve.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of a
separated assembly installed in a flush valve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Refer to FIGS. 1 through 7 for the structure of the
invention according to a first type of embodiments. It mainly
includes a flow control valve 1 with an alterable valve diameter
responding to variations of water pressure to control water flowing
through the valve, and a filter 2 to filter intake water. The
filter 2 is integrated with the flow control valve 1.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flow control valve 1 is made
from a flexible plastics or rubber by extrusion or injection. It
has a valve opening 12 which is changeable under external forces.
The flow control valve 1 has an annular valve casing 11 with the
valve opening 12 formed in the center to allow water to pass
through.
[0024] The valve casing 11 of the flow control valve 1 has one side
receiving water pressure. That side may be attached to a rigid
pressure receiving element 13. It may be integrated with the valve
casing 11 by extrusion or plastic injection technique. As shown in
FIG. 3, such a structure enables the flow control valve 1 to
receive water pressure more evenly.
[0025] The filter 2 has a cage type barrel 21. As the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter 2 is a mesh structure containing
a plurality of filter pores that allow water to flow through
smoothly and filter out impurities so that the needle water outflow
valve 31 in the flush valve 3 may be avoided from being clogged by
the impurities and not operable.
[0026] In the first type of environments set forth above, the flow
control valve 1 and the filter 2 may have different combinations
and configurations. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment in which the
flow control valve 1 is located in a chamber 23 of the filter 2 to
become an integrated member, then is housed in a connection tube 32
of the flush valve 3. Of course the installation direction in the
connection tube 32 has many options. FIG. 1 shows that the filter 2
is located at the front section of the flow control valve 1. FIG. 4
shows a configuration contrary to the FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows the flow
control apparatus is installed in a valve chamber 33 on one side of
the flush valve 3, and the flow control valve 1 is located at the
front end of the filter 2. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another type of
structure. The flow control valve 1 and the filter 2 are integrated
and located in the juncture of a water inlet tube 4 and a corner
valve 34. Of course the installation direction has other options to
allow the pressure receiving element 13 to face the water intake
direction.
[0027] When the flush valve 3 equipped with the flow control
apparatus is installed on a location where water intake pressure is
higher, the high pressure water flows through the water inlet tube
4 and enters the flow control valve 1 to generate a compression
pressure on the pressure receiving element 13, the flexible valve
casing 11 abutting the pressure receiving element 13 is compressed
axially and deformed. As a result, the valve opening 12 is shrunk.
Therefore instantaneous water flow passing through the valve
opening 12 decreases.
[0028] When water intake pressure is lower at the installation
location, the low pressure water flows through the water inlet tube
4 and enters the flow control valve 1 without compressing the
pressure receiving element 13 as shown in FIG. 2. Thus water can
flow through the normal valve opening 12 to achieve a greater
instantaneous water flow than the high water pressure condition
previous discussed. Hence, by installing the flow control valve 1
at the front section of the water outflow valve 31, instantaneous
water flow passing through the water outflow valve 31 can be
maintained constant, and instantaneous water released from the
water outflow valve 31 can flush the toilet in a constant quantity
at a constant time.
[0029] The structure of the invention set forth above may have many
variations within the disclosed design concept. FIGS. 9 through 12
illustrate the structures and assemblies of a second type of
embodiments. Like the first type of embodiments previously
discussed, there is a flow control valve 1 with alterable valve
diameter to respond variations of water pressure and control water
flowing through the valve, and a filter 2 to filter intake
water.
[0030] The characteristics are as Follows:
[0031] The flow control valve 1 and the filter 2 are separated and
installed independently in the flush valve 3. Many different
installation locations may be adopted. FIG. 9 shows that the flow
control valve 1 is located in the connection tube 32 while the
filter 2 is located in the chamber 33 of the flush valve 3. FIG. 10
shows another arrangement in which the flow control valve 1 is
located at the front side of a distal end of the water inlet tube 4
and the corner valve 34 while the filter 2 is located in the
connection tube 32. FIG. 11 shows yet another arrangement in which
the flow control valve 1 is located in the water outflow valve 31
and connects to the water inlet end of the water discharge tube 5
of the toilet, while the filter 2 is located in the chamber 33 on
one side of the flush valve 3. All the types and embodiments set
forth above can provide same water flow control effect to enable
water released from the water outflow valve 31 to pass through the
flow control valve 1 and maintain a constant instantaneous water
quantity to flush into the toilet.
[0032] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the
disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiment
thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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