Flushing apparatus with selective quantity control

An apparatus for selectively dispensing either of two predetermined quantities of flushing water from the storage tank of a toilet of the type having an opening in the bottom thereof through which flushing water passes, a valve member operable to open and close the opening, the valve member normally exhibiting a net positive buoyant force in water when removed from the opening, and upwardly extending means for operating the valve member by lifting it away from the opening, the apparatus comprising

• weight means attached to said valve member for changing the buoyancy thereof from positive to negative;
• motor means coupled to said means for operating, said motor means being operative, when energized, to exert an upward force on said means for operating to lift said valve member away from said opening, to hold said valve member in the lifted position against the downward force of said weight means, and to lower said valve member to its closed position without regard to the water level in the storage tank;
• housing means for supporting said motor means above the water in said tank;
• timing means for selectively producing energizing signals for said motor means in pairs to lift and lower said valve member, the leading edges of the signals in one said pair being separated by a first time interval and the leading edges of the signals in a second said pair being separated by a second, longer time interval;
• and
• manually operable switch means for selecting one of said signal pairs, thereby selecting the interval said valve member is held in the open position.