Dual-float snap-action flush valve
AssigneeGeorge S. Cole & Associates, Incorporated
InventorHarry W. Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid level control apparatus for a flush tank includes a valve mechanism communicating with a fill tube and operable between open and closed conditions, two floats, at least one of which is coupled to the valve mechanism for closing it when the at least one float reaches a predetermined height, and structure interconnecting the floats so as to substantially prevent their vertical movement until a predetermined liquid level is reached corresponding to the predetermined height, thereby causing sudden movement of the at least one float to the predetermined height and sudden closing of the valve.
Claims18
Apparatus for controlling the level of liquid in a vessel having a fill tube communicating with the vessel and with a source of liquid, the apparatus comprising:
- a valve mechanism including a flexible and resilient pinch tube and communicating with the fill tube and operable between open and closed conditions relative to the fill tube,
- two floats in the vessel, at least one of the floats being coupled to the valve mechanism for moving the valve mechanism to its closed condition when the at least one float reaches a predetermined height, and
- structure interconnecting the floats so as to substantially prevent their vertical movement until a predetermined liquid level is reached corresponding to the predetermined height, thereby causing sudden movement of the at least one float to the predetermined height and of the valve mechanism to the closed condition.
Apparatus for suddenly terminating filling of a vessel having a fill tube communicating with the vessel and with a source of liquid when a predetermined liquid level is reached, the apparatus comprising:
- a valve mechanism including a flexible and resilient pinch tube and communicating with the fill tube and operable between open and closed conditions relative to the fill tube,
- a first float coupled to the valve mechanism for effecting movement of the valve mechanism to its closed condition when the first float reaches a predetermined height in the vessel corresponding to the predetermined liquid level, and
- arresting mechanism including a second float cooperating with the first float to substantially prevent vertical movement of the first float until the predetermined liquid level is reached.
Apparatus for suddenly terminating filling of a vessel having a fill tube communicating with the vessel and with a source of liquid when a predetermined liquid level is reached, the apparatus comprising:
- a valve mechanism communicating with the fill tube and operable between open and closed conditions relative to the fill tube,
- the valve mechanism including valve actuating mechanism having an arm;
- and
- a first float coupled to the arm for effecting movement of the valve mechanism to its closed condition when the first float reaches a predetermined height in the vessel corresponding to the predetermined liquid level, and
- arresting mechanism including a second float having an aperture therein through which the arm extends,
- the arresting mechanism being responsive to initiation of vertical movement of the first float for shifting to an arresting condition wherein the second float is tilted sufficiently to cause the arm to bind in the aperture and prevent vertical movement of the floats,
- the buoyancy force on the second float when the predetermined liquid level is reached being sufficient to untilt the second float and unbind the arm, thereby to permit the first float to jump to the predetermined height.
A method of suddenly closing an inlet valve to a vessel when a predetermined liquid level in the vessel is reached, the method comprising:
- providing two floats in the vessel,
- coupling at least one float to the valve for closing the valve when the at least one float reaches a predetermined height in the vessel corresponding to the predetermined liquid level,
- interconnecting the floats so as to prevent vertical movement of the at least one float until the predetermined liquid level is reached;
- causing one of the floats to jam against interconnecting structure until the predetermined liquid level is reached which includes tilting one of the floats so as to create a jam condition between an actuator arm and an aperture through which it extends;
- and
- providing the inlet valve in the form of a flexible and resilient pinch tube and causing the tube to be pinched shut when the predetermined liquid level is reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.