Flush engine
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsTony L. Lambert, Andrew L. Smith, Michael Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a system for flushing a toilet including a flow controller having a housing including an inlet configured to receive a first flow of water, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The flow controller may further include a hydraulic turbine disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to generate power as the first flow of water travels therethrough, a rim valve disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to control a second flow of water provided to the first outlet, and a sump jet valve disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to control a third flow of water provided to the second outlet.
Claims18
A gate valve for a toilet, the gate valve comprising:
- an opening;
- a gate configured to selectively block the opening;
- a hydraulic cylinder including a piston connected to the gate, the piston configured to move the gate, opening, or closing the gate valve, as the piston moves;
- a first inlet disposed at a first end of the hydraulic cylinder;
- and
- a second inlet disposed at a second end of the hydraulic cylinder opposite the first end.
A toilet, the toilet comprising:
- a bowl including a sump;
- a trapway in fluid communication with the sump;
- and
- a gate valve including a gate and a hydraulic cylinder, the gate configured to selectively block the trapway, and the hydraulic cylinder including a piston connected to the gate, the piston configured to move the gate, opening, or closing the gate valve, as the piston moves, a first inlet disposed at a first side of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second inlet disposed at a second side of the hydraulic cylinder,
- wherein the piston is disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet.
A method of flushing a toilet, the method comprising:
- opening a first valve, an inlet of the first valve in communication with a water supply and an outlet of the first valve in communication with a hydraulic cylinder and a rim outlet disposed in a bowl of the toilet;
- providing a first flow of water through the first valve, the first flow of water rinsing the bowl;
- closing the first valve;
- opening a second valve, an inlet of the second valve in communication with the water supply and an outlet of the second valve in communication with the hydraulic cylinder and a sump outlet disposed in a sump of the toilet;
- providing a second flow of water through the second valve, the second flow of water opening a gate valve disposed in a trapway of the toilet and flowing into the sump;
- closing the second valve;
- opening the first valve;
- providing a third flow of water through the first valve, the third flow of water closing the gate valve, rinsing the bowl, and filling the bowl;
- and
- closing the first valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.