Water saving flush tank mechanism

In a toilet flush tank having a front wall formed with an opening positioned adjacent an upper corner thereof, an overflow tube having an open upper end, a valve seat associated with said tube through which water from the tank discharges into the toilet bowl, a flapper valve for said valve seat, and a ballcock valve and float for maintaining the water in said tank at a full level;

• a selective flush mechanism for discharging either a full tank of water or a fractional portion of said tank of water indicated by a drop in the level of water from the full tank level to a predetermined lower level, said selective flush mechanism comprising a plate mounted on the interior of said front wall having an opening registering with said front wall opening, a handle mounted on a shaft journaled in said front wall and plate openings, first and second levers pivotally mounted on said plate, said shaft having means for selectively actuating either said first lever or second lever upon rotation of said handle in either of opposite directions, separate means connecting each of said first and second levers to said flapper valve for opening the latter when either is selectively actuated by said handle rotation, a housing mounted on said overflow tube comprising a first vertical sidewall extending substantially parallel to said tank front wall and a second vertical sidewall extending perpendicularly to said first vertical sidewall, a spring loaded striker mounted on said first sidewall for applying a rapid downward, valve closing thrust to said flapper valve when the latter is in an open position, loading means for said striker operated for independent action by said first and second levers, water level responsive means mounted on said first sidewall coacting to release said striker and initiate said valve closing thrust when the water level in the tank drops to said predetermined level, a control assembly mounted on said second sidewall for normally locking said water level responsive means in a full tank level position and releasing said water level responsive means and maintaining said release until the tank refills to approximately the full tank level after said flapper valve closing at said predetermined water level, and means interconnecting said second lever and said control assembly for operation of the latter substantially simultaneously with said flapper valve opening when said second lever is actuated by said handle.

In a toilet flush tank having an overflow tube, a valve seat associated with said tube through which water from the tank discharges into the toilet bowl, a flapper valve for said valve seat, and a ballcock valve and float for maintaining the water in said tank at a full level;

• a sective flush mechanism comprising a first operating means opening said flapper valve to initiate discharge of a full tank of water, a second operating means opening said flapper valve to initiate discharge of a fractional portion of said tank of water indicated by a drop in the level of water from the full tank level to a predetermined lower level, a handle having means for selectively actuating either said first or second operating means, water level responsive means normally locked in a full tank level position, a striker for applying a rapid downward, valve closing thrust to said flapper valve when the latter is in an open position, means mounting said striker on said overflow tube for vertical movement between a raised, spring loaded position and a lowered position after completion of said valve closing thrust, a lost motion connection between each of said first and second operating means and said striker for raising the latter from said lowered position to said raised position when either operating means is actuated by said handle means, a latch assembly releasably locking said striker in said raised position, and means actuated by said second operating means releasing said water level responsive means substantially simultaneously with the opening of said flapper valve when said second operating means is actuated by said handle means, said released water level responsive means coacting with said latch assembly to release said striker and initiate said valve closing thrust when the water level in the tank drops to said predetermined lower level.