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US 10,774,512 B2Granted
Siphon activated valve
AssigneeFluidmaster, Inc.
InventorTuan Le
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.
Claims18
A fill valve system, comprising:
- (a) a water supply member;
- (b) a fill valve fluidly coupled to the water supply member;
- and
- (c) a float assembly coupled to the fill valve, the float assembly comprising:
- (i) a container having a plurality of compartments,
- wherein the plurality of compartments in the container comprise first and second compartments, and
- wherein the fill valve system is configured and arranged for water from the fill valve to enter the first compartment, and
- (ii) a float nested in the second compartment,
- wherein based on a position of the float in the container, the fill valve is configured and arranged to be turned on and off, and
- (iii) at least one siphon device in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of compartments in the container.
7 more elements
A method of operating a fill valve, comprising:
- (a) providing a fill valve having a float assembly coupled thereto,
- wherein the float assembly comprises an open-ended float nested in a container,
- wherein the float assembly is configured and arranged so that the rotational position of the float in the container turns the fill valve on and off, and positioning the fill valve a toilet tank;
- (b) draining tank water around the fill valve and float assembly;
- (c) siphoning water out of the container to drain the container and thereby lower the float to turn on the fill valve;
- (d) diverting a portion of refill water from the fill valve into the container such that the container refills and lifts the float thereby shutting off the fill valve in the event that the toilet tank does not refill;
- (e) controlling the rate at which the portion of the refill water fills the container by providing a container with first and second compartments,
- wherein the float is disposed in the first compartment, at least a portion of the refill water is directed into the second compartment of the container, and wherein the refill water entering the second compartment spills over into the first compartment;
- and
- (f) siphoning water out of the second compartment to control the rate the water enters the first compartment and lifts the float.
7 more elements
A fill valve system, comprising:
- (a) a water supply member;
- (b) a fill valve in communication with the water supply member;
- and
- (c) a float assembly coupled to the fill valve, the float assembly comprising:
- (i) a container,
- (ii) an open-ended float nested in a first compartment of the container, and configured and arranged to rotate to actuate the fill valve on and off,
- wherein the float has a first float compartment and a second float compartment, and the first and second float compartments have open bottom ends at different heights such that the float rotates in a first direction when water covers the open bottom end of the first float compartment and wherein the float rotates in a second direction when water covers the open bottom end of the second float compartment, and
- (iii) a fluid flow path in the fill valve to divert a portion of refill water into a second compartment of the container.
5 more elements
A fill valve system, comprising:
- (a) a water supply member;
- (b) a fill valve in fluid communication with the water supply member;
- and
- (c) a float assembly coupled to the fill valve, the float assembly comprising
- (i) a container having a plurality of compartments,
- wherein the plurality of compartments in the container comprise comprises first and second compartments, and
- wherein the fluid valve system is configured and arranged for water from the fill valve to at least partially fill the first compartment and spill into the second compartment;
- (ii) a float nested in the second compartment of the container,
- wherein based on a position of the float in the second container, the fill valve is configured and arranged to be turned on and off, and
- (iii) at least one siphon device in fluid communication with at least the first compartment,
- wherein the at least one siphon device is configured and arranged to control a rate at which water from the fill valve at least partially fills the first compartment.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.