# US 8,739,829 B2 · Automatic flush actuation apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,829 B2 - Document ID: US8739829B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/506,643 - Filed: 2012-05-03 - Published: 2012-09-06 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-02-28 - Assignees: Advance Modern Technologies Corp. - Applicants: Jorge Maercovich; Leo Maercovich - Inventors: Jorge Maercovich; Leo Maercovich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739829B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/3855: {the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by a mechanically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm} - E03D 3/06: with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement - E03D 5/10: operated electrically (E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence), {e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl} - F16K 21/12: with hydraulically-operated opening means; with arrangements for pressure relief before opening - F16K 31/05: specially adapted for operating hand-operated valves or for combined motor and hand operation - F16K 31/404: {the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by an electrically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/0324: With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid - Y10T 137/7758: Pilot or servo controlled - Y10T 137/86389: Programmer or timer - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An automatic flush actuation apparatus, which is incorporated with a flushing system having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating therebetween, that includes a valve member being moved by a flush lever for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing from the water inlet to the water outlet, and a sensor-operated powering assembly including a relief valve provided at the valve member for controlling the water flowing to the water outlet and an actuator arranged in such a manner that while sensing a presence of a user of the flushing system, the actuator is driven to move the relief valve to an opened position for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing to said water outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powering assembly of an automatic actuation apparatus comprising an actuator having two opposed first and second contacting surfaces, and a relief valve having a valve stopper for controlling a volume of water used in a flushing cycle of a flushing system which, when executed by a control processor in said automatic actuation apparatus, causes said control processor to perform flushing operations of: detecting a presence of a user of said flushing system; activating said control processor to adjustably control a time of said flushing cycle and water volume for said flushing cycle by moving said relief valve from a closed position to an opened position via a rotational movement of said actuator by a step of rotating said actuator from said first contacting surface to said second contacting surface that when said second contacting surface of said actuator contacts said valve stopper, said relief valve is moved at said opened position; starting said flushing cycle of said flushing system; and completing said flushing cycle of said flushing system in responsive to said time of said flushing cycle and said water volume for said flushing cycle when said actuator is rotated back to contact said first contacting surface with said valve stopper so as to move said relief valve back to said closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powering assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said control processor controllably adjusting a time of said relief valve staying at said opened position by the rotational movement of said actuator to stay said second contacting surface of said actuator to be contacted said valve stopper, such that said control processor delays said time of said relief valve staying at said opened position for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powering assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuator is controlled by said control processor to move said relief valve between said opened position and said closed position, wherein said control processor controllably adjusts a driven speed of said actuator between said first and second contacting surfaces in a rotatably movable manner, that is a time that said actuator is driving said relief valve to stay in said opened position, for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, such that said control processor delays said driving time of said actuator for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The powering assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said actuator is controlled by said control processor to move said relief valve between said opened position and said closed position, wherein said control processor controllably adjusts a driven speed of said actuator between said first and second contacting surfaces in a rotatably movable manner, that is a time that said actuator is driving said relief valve to stay in said opened position, for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, such that said control processor delays said driving time of said actuator for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The powering assembly, as recited in claim 3, wherein said control processor controls a rotational speed of said actuator for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, wherein said first and second contacting surfaces of said actuator are flat contacting surface and curved contacting surface respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The powering assembly, as recited in claim 4, wherein said control processor controls a rotational speed of said actuator for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, wherein said first and second contacting surfaces of said actuator are flat contacting surface and curved contacting surface respectively. ### Claim 7 An automatic actuation apparatus for controlling volume of water used in a flushing cycle of a flushing system, comprising a control processor, an actuator having two opposed first and second contacting surfaces controlled by said control processor in a rotatably movable manner, and a relief valve having a valve stopper actuated by said control processor, said control processor performing flushing operations of: detecting a presence of a user of said flushing system; activating said control processor to adjustably control a time of said flushing cycle and water volume for said flushing cycle by moving said relief valve from a closed position to an opened position via a rotational movement of said actuator by a step of rotating said actuator from said first contacting surface to said second contacting surface that when said second contacting surface of said actuator contacts said valve stopper, said relief valve is moved at said opened position; starting said flushing cycle of said flushing system; and completing said flushing cycle of said flushing system in responsive to said time of said flushing cycle and said water volume for said flushing cycle when said actuator is rotated back to contact said first contacting surface with said valve stopper so as to move said relief valve back to said closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automatic actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said control processor controllably adjusting a time of said relief valve staying at said opened position by the rotational movement of said actuator to stay said second contacting surface of said actuator to be contacted said valve stopper, such that said control processor delays said time of said relief valve staying at said opened position for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The automatic actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said actuator is controlled by said control processor to move said relief valve between said opened position and said closed position, wherein said control processor controllably adjusts a driven speed of said actuator between said first and second contacting surfaces in a rotatably movable manner, that is a time that said actuator is driving said relief valve to stay in said opened position, for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, such that said control processor delays said driving time of said actuator for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The automatic actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein said actuator is controlled by said control processor to move said relief valve between said opened position and said closed position, wherein said control processor controllably adjusts a driven speed of said actuator between said first and second contacting surfaces in a rotatably movable manner, that is a time that said actuator is driving said relief valve to stay in said opened position, for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, such that said control processor delays said driving time of said actuator for increasing said water volume of said flushing cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The automatic actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said control processor controls a rotational speed of said actuator for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, wherein said first and second contacting surfaces of said actuator are flat contacting surface and curved contacting surface respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The automatic actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 10, wherein said control processor controls a rotational speed of said actuator for controllably adjusting said volume of water used in said flushing cycle for said flushing system, wherein said first and second contacting surfaces of said actuator are flat contacting surface and curved contacting surface respectively.