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US 6,547,212 B2Granted
Flush valve
AssigneeZurn Industries, LLC
InventorWilliam A. Verdecchia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refill ring for a flush valve that is attached to a guide member of a valve assembly and is positioned for contact with a passage of the flush valve is described. The refill ring includes an annular-shaped solid resilient member, such as an O-ring. The refill ring is received on the guide member. Alternatively, the refill ring can be integrally formed on an underside of the diaphragm.
Claims38
A flush valve, comprising:
- a body having an inlet and outlet;
- a passage connecting said inlet and outlet;
- a valve seat at one end of the passage;
- a valve assembly in said body including a diaphragm, said valve assembly positioned to control the flow of water through said passage and to close upon said seat;
- a guide member extending from the underside of said valve assembly and configured to co-act with said passage, said guide member defining a shoulder;
- a refill ring co-acting with said guide member and positioned for contact with said passage;
- and an annular member configured to support and co-act with said refill ring,
- wherein said refill ring comprises a resilient solid ring providing yielding frictional resistance to movement of said valve assembly relative to said passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during a closing phase of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve, and
- wherein the annular member is positioned adjacent to and held in place by the shoulder, and the refill ring is held in position between the annular member and said valve assembly.
6 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a valve body defining an inlet connection and an outlet connection;
- a valve assembly positioned in the valve body and separating the inlet connection and the outlet connection, with the valve assembly configured to have a pressure difference applied across the valve assembly and positioned to control the flow of water through the valve body;
- the valve assembly comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm and an annular guide member having two ends, said guide member defining a shoulder, the first end attached to an inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- a resilient solid refill ring attached to the exterior of the guide member abutting the sealing surface of the diaphragm;
- an annular member configured to support and co-act with the refill ring;
- a relief valve resting above and extending through the central opening of the guide member and configured to seal against the relief valve seat;
- and
- an elongated passage in fluid communication with the outlet connection, the passage having a distal end defining a valve seat configured to contact the sealing surface of the diaphragm,
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to the passage during the operation of the flush valve, an operating cycle initiated by unseating the relief valve from the relief valve seat thereby venting the portion of the flush valve between the first side of the diaphragm and the valve body, and wherein the refill ring is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve;
- and
- wherein the annular member is positioned adjacent to and held in place by the shoulder, and the refill ring is held in position between the annular member and the sealing surface of the diaphragm.
9 more elements
A valve assembly configured to co-act with a flush valve comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm;
- an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to the inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- a plurality of guide member legs depending from the exterior of the guide member;
- a second annular member attached to the outer surface of the guide member;
- a resilient solid flow control ring;
- and
- a resilient solid refill ring attached to the exterior of the guide member abutting the sealing surface of the diaphragm;
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to a passage of the flush valve during the operation of the flush valve,
- wherein the refill ring is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to the passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve,
- wherein the flow control ring is held in position between the plurality of guide member legs and the second annular member, and is configured to be in constant contact with the passage during the entire stroke of the valve assembly during the operation of the flush valve,
- the valve assembly relative to the passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly whereby the flow control ring provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of during the entire flush-valve operating cycle.
8 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a body having an inlet and outlet;
- a passage connecting said inlet and outlet;
- a valve seat at one end of the passage;
- a valve assembly in said body including a diaphragm, said valve assembly positioned to control the flow of water through said passage and to close upon said seat;
- a guide member extending from the underside of said valve assembly and configured to co-act with said passage;
- a refill ring in the form of a resilient, flexible, solid O-ring co-acting with said guide member and positioned for contact with said passage, wherein said refill ring is positioned between said diaphragm and said shoulder.
3 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a valve body defining an inlet connection and an outlet connection;
- a valve assembly positioned in the valve body and separating the inlet connection and the outlet connection, with the valve assembly configured to have a pressure difference applied across the valve assembly and positioned to control the flow of water through the valve body;
- the valve assembly comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm and an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to an inner edge of the diaphragm and an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to an inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- a resilient, flexible, solid refill ring attached to the exterior of the guide member abutting the sealing surface of the diaphragm;
- a relief valve resting above and extending through the central opening of the guide member and configured to seal against the relief valve seat;
- and
- an elongated passage in fluid communication with the outlet connection, the passage having a distal end defining a valve seat configured to contact the sealing surface of the diaphragm,
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to the passage during the operation of the flush valve, an operating cycle initiated by unseating the relief valve from the relief valve seat thereby venting the portion of the flush valve between the first side of the diaphragm and the valve body, and
- wherein the refill ring is an O-ring positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve.
7 more elements
A valve assembly configured to co-act with a flush valve comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm;
- an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to the inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- and
- a resilient, flexible, solid refill ring attached to the exterior of the guide member abutting the sealing surface of the diaphragm, said refill ring is an O-ring,
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to a passage of the flush valve during the operation of the flush valve, and
- wherein the refill ring is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to the passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve.
3 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a body having an inlet and outlet, a passage connecting said inlet and outlet;
- a valve seat at one end of the passage, a valve assembly in said body including a diaphragm, said valve assembly positioned to control the flow of water through said passage and to close upon said seat;
- a guide member extending from the underside of said valve assembly and configured to co-act with said passage;
- and a refill co-acting with said guide member and positioned for contact with said passage,
- said refill ring in the form of a resilient, flexible, solid ring having a curved outer surface for co-acting with said guide member and positioned for contact with said passage, said refill ring is integral and depends from an underside of said diaphragm and has a solid cross-section, said ring providing yielding frictional resistance to movement of said valve assembly relative to said passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during a closing phase of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve.
2 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a valve body defining an inlet connection and an outlet connection;
- a valve assembly positioned in the valve body and separating the inlet connection and the outlet connection, with the valve assembly configured to have a pressure difference applied across the valve assembly and positioned to control the flow of water through the valve body;
- the valve assembly comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm and an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to an inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- a resilient, flexible, refill ring;
- a relief valve resting above and extending through the central opening of the guide member and configured to seal against the relief valve seat;
- and
- an elongated passage in fluid communication with the outlet connection, the passage having a distal end defining a valve seat configured to contact the sealing surface of the diaphragm,
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to the passage during the operation of the flush valve, an operating cycle initiated by unseating the relief valve from the relief valve seat thereby venting the portion of the flush valve between the first side of the diaphragm and the valve body, and
- wherein the refill ring is integral and depends from the underside of the diaphragm and has a solid cross-section with a curved outer surface and is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve.
7 more elements
A valve assembly configured to co-act with a flush valve comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm;
- an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to the inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- and
- a resilient, flexible, refill ring
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to a passage of the flush valve during the operation of the flush valve, and
- wherein the refill ring is integral and depends from underside of the diaphragm and has a solid cross-section with a curved outer surface and is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to the passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve.
3 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a body having an inlet and an outlet;
- a passage connecting said inlet and outlet;
- a valve seat at one end of the passage;
- a valve assembly in said body including a diaphragm, said valve assembly positioned to control the flow of water through said passage and to close upon said seat;
- a guide member extending from the underside of said valve assembly and configured to co-act with said passage;
- a refill ring attached to said guide member and positioned for contact with said passage,
- the refill ring comprises a resilient solid ring providing yielding frictional resistance to movement of said valve assembly relative to said passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing phase of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve;
- a plurality of guide member legs attached to said guide member;
- a second annular member attached to said guide member;
- and
- a flow control ring,
- wherein the flow control ring is held in position between the plurality of guide member legs and the second annular member, and is configured to be in constant contact with said passage during the entire stroke of the valve assembly during the operation of the flush valve,
- whereby the flow control ring provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of said valve assembly relative to said passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the entire flush valve operating cycle.
10 more elements
A flush valve, comprising:
- a valve body defining an inlet connection and an outlet connection;
- a valve assembly positioned in the valve body and separating the inlet connection and the outlet connection, with the valve assembly configured to have a pressure difference applied across the valve assembly and positioned to control the flow of water through the valve body;
- the valve assembly comprising:
- an annular flexible diaphragm having a mounting portion at a peripheral edge for mounting the valve assembly within the flush valve, the diaphragm having a first side and a second side and defining an orifice extending from the first side to the second side and a sealing surface on the second side and adjacent to an inner edge of the diaphragm and an annular guide member having two ends, the first end attached to an inner edge of the diaphragm adjacent to the sealing surface and defining a relief valve seat and central opening, and the second end extending from the second side of the diaphragm;
- a resilient solid refill ring attached to the exterior of the guide member abutting the sealing surface of the diaphragm;
- a relief valve resting above and extending through the central opening of the guide member and configured to seal against the relief valve seat;
- an elongated passage in fluid communication with the outlet connection, the passage having a distal end defining a valve seat configured to contact the sealing surface of the diaphragm,
- wherein a portion of the guide member is configured to travel within and relative to the passage during the operation of the flush valve, an operating cycle initiated by unseating the relief valve from the relief valve seat thereby venting the portion of the flush valve between the first side of the diaphragm and the valve body,
- wherein the refill ring is positioned for contact with the interior of the passage and provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the closing portion of the flush valve operating cycle and control the flow of water through the flush valve;
- a plurality of guide member legs depending from the exterior of the guide member;
- a second annular member attached to the outer surface of the guide member;
- and
- a resilient solid flow control ring,
- wherein the flow control ring is held in position between the plurality of guide member legs and the second annular member, and is configured to be in constant contact with the passage during the entire stroke of the valve assembly during the operation of the flush valve,
- whereby the flow control ring provides yielding frictional resistance to movement of the valve assembly relative to the passage to thereby dampen vibration of said valve assembly during the entire flush valve operating cycle.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.