Electro-mechanical flush mechanism
AssigneeDometic Sanitation Corporation
InventorJames Sigler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A toilet for a recreational vehicle, boat or the like is provided, which includes an electro-mechanical flush mechanism. The flush mechanism includes an actuating mechanism for activating either a flush cycle or an add water cycle. The flush mechanism further includes a flush valve, a water inlet valve, a motor, a drive mechanism and a spring. During operation of the flush mechanism, the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates. A motor arm connected to the motor moves the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates in an opposite direction.
Claims20
A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising:
- a rotatable flush valve;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the flush valve;
- a motor to move the drive mechanism;
- and,
- a spring operatively connected to the drive mechanism to bias the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.
A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising:
- a frame;
- a support structure operatively connected to the frame;
- a rotatable flush valve positioned in the support structure;
- a rotor shaft operatively connected to the flush valve;
- a rotor cam coupled to the rotor shaft;
- a drive arm operatively connected to the rotor cam at a first end and to the frame at a second end;
- a motor to move the drive arm;
- and,
- a spring operatively connected to the frame at one end and to the rotor cam at the opposite end to bias the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.
A method of flushing a toilet comprising the steps of:
- activating an actuating mechanism;
- activating a flush/add water switch;
- energizing a motor and a water inlet valve;
- disengaging a motor arm from a drive arm slot;
- biasing a drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate a flush valve;
- and,
- re-engaging the motor arm in the drive slot so as to rotate the flush valve to in an opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.