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US 8,555,428 B2Granted
Plumbing fixture with flush valve actuator and methods of calibrating same
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsJoseph S. Blake, Joseph L. Stauber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Plumbing fixtures with a valve actuator for automatically controlling pivoting of a flush valve, and methods of calibrating movement of the flush valve, are disclosed. The motor of the valve actuator may be positioned between the bowl of the fixture and a leg of a trapway to provide compact assembly. A belt drive laterally extending along the trapway links the motor to the flush valve. The method of calibrating includes establishing stop points which are at positions of less resistance than hard stop positions.
Claims13
A plumbing fixture, comprising:
- a bowl having a lower opening;
- a trapway in selective communication with the lower opening, the trapway having an upwardly extending leg linked to a downwardly extending leg in switchback fashion, wherein there is a space between the bowl and trapway;
- a flush valve positioned between the lower opening and a portion of the trapway for controlling flow from the bowl through the trapway;
- and
- a valve actuator having a motor positioned at least in part in said space, and a linkage connected to the motor to be driven thereby and also connected to the flush valve so as to controllably move the flush valve between a first position in which the flush valve prevents fluid removal from the bowl via the trapway and a second open position where fluid in the bowl is permitted to evacuate from the bowl through the trapway.
2 more elements
A method of setting up a plumbing fixture of a type having:
- a bowl with a lower opening;
- a trapway in selective communication with the lower opening, the trapway having an upwardly extending leg linked to a downwardly extending leg in switchback fashion;
- a flush valve positioned between the lower opening and a portion of the trapway for controlling flow from the bowl through the trapway;
- a valve actuator having a linkage connected to a motor to be driven thereby and also connected to the flush valve so as to controllably pivot the flush valve between a first position in which the flush valve can prevent fluid removal from the bowl via the trapway and a second open position where fluid in the bowl can evacuate through the trapway;
- wherein a controller is in electrical communication with the motor to control pivoting of the flush valve;
- the method comprising establishing a limited range of pivoting of the flush valve at least in part by identifying a high resistance sealing position and then setting an operational sealing position adjacent thereto.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.