Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to the art of sanitary plumbing
systems, and more particularly, to a novel and improved vacuum
flush water closet.
Vacuum sewage systems have been provided heretofore,
but they have had inherent disadvantages. A disadvantage of the prior
art vacuum flush water closets is that they are expensive, bulky, and
subject to breakage. Another disadvantage of the prior art vacuum
flush water closets is that they include control systems which are slow
and inefficient in operation. A further disadvantage of the prior art
vacuum flush water closets is that they are not shock-proof and cannot
be used for systems for naval ships. In view of the foregoing, it is
an important object of the present invention to provide a novel and
improved vacuum flush water closet which overcomes the afore-
mentioned disadvantages of the prior art vacuum flush water closets.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a nov-
el and improved vacuum flush water closet which is simple and com-
pact in construction light in weight, economical to manufacture, and
efficient in operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
vacuum flush water closet which is shock-proof and may be used in
naval ships and under conditions where the water closet will be sub-
jected to shocks and excessive vibrations.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet which is provided with
a bowl and rim made from metal stampings that are covered with a
chemical resistant porcelain and which has a self-contained flushing
water and sewage valve discharge control system operatively mounted
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around the bowl and enclosed by a shroud made of a molded high
impact plastic material.
It is still another object of the present invention -to provide
a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet having a vacuum
~i operated sewage discharge valve on which is operatively mounted abowl having a rim and on which is mounted a seat. The sewage dis-
charge valve is operatively mounted on a base plate. A flushing
water vacuum control valve is operatively mounted on the bowl. A
vacuum operated control means is operatively mounted on the bowl for
', 10 controlling the flushing water flow control valve and the sewage dis-
charge valve. A shroud is operatively mounted around the bowl to
- enclose the flushing water flow control valve, the sewage discharge
valve, the bowl and the control apparatus.
It is still another object of the present invention to pro-
vide a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet having a vacuum
, operated sewage discharge valve which is controlled by a vacuum con-
trol system that includes a vacuum and gravity operated timer means.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet which is adjustable
for regulating the water flushing portion of the overall flushing cycle,
` and the sewage discharge portion of the overall flushing cycle, so as
to provide an overall flushing cycle which uses a minimum amount of
flushing water and is carried out over a minimum time period to
' maintain the volume o~ air to a minimum that is being drawn into the
~, vacuum line connected to the water closet.
It is still another object of the present invention to pro-
vide a vacuum flush water closet having a bowl and a detachably
¦ mounted flushing water spray ring operatively mounted therein, and
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wherein said spray ring comprises a tubular ring having a plurality
of downwardly extended discharge holes that are formed at an acute
angle relative to the vertical axis of the bowl.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a vacuum flush water closet which includes a vacuum operated sewage
discharge valve, a bowl having an outlet neck at the lower end thereof
which is operatively connected to said sewage discharge valve, said
bowl having an open upper end with the rim therearound, a seat oper-
atively mounted on said rim, a flushing water supply means oper-
atively mounted on said bowl for supplying a predetermined amount of
flushing water into said bowl, and a control system for selectively acti-
vating said sewage discharge valve and said flushing water supply
means for a predetermined flushing cycle.
Other features and advantages of ~his invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and -
the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vacuum flush water closet
made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. -
Fig. 2 is an elevational section view of the water closet
structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and
looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 3 is an elevational section view of the water closet
structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof, and
looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the push button activation valve
illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof, and looking in
the direction of the arrows.
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Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the
valve structure illustrated in Fig. 4, taken along the line 5-5 thereof,
and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the
vacuum-gravity timer illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along the line 6-6
~ thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the vacuum-gravity timer illus-
tra~ed in Fig. 8, taken along the line 7-7 thereof, and looking in the
direction of the arrows. J
Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the vacuum-gravity timer
illustrated in Fig. 7, taken along the line 8-8 thereof, and looking in
the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section
view of the vacuum-gravity timer structure illustrated in Fig. 7, taken
along the line 9-9 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational section
view of the vacuum-gravity timer structure illustrated in Fig. 8, taken
along the line 10-10 thereof, and looking in the direction of the
- arrows.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a vacuum dispensing valve illus- ;
trated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 11-11 thereof, and looking in the
direction of the arrows.
Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, elevational, section view of the
structure illustrated in Fig. 11, taken along the line 12-12 thereof, and
looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the structure sectionally
illustrated in Fig. 12, taken along the line 13-13 thereof, showing
the entire structure, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
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Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, elevational, section viewJ with
parts removed, of a sewage discharge valve illustrated in Fig.2, taken
substantially along the line 14-14 thereof, and looking in the direction
of the arrows.
Fig. 15 is an elevational section view of the sewage dis-
charge valve structure illustrated in Fig. 14, taken along the line 15-15
thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in
Fig. 14, and turned 90 clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 16) from the
position shown in Fig. 14.
Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of the water closet control
system of the present invention.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an illustrative vacuum flush-
ing water closet embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises
a bowl, generally indicated by the numeral 10, on which is operatively
mounted a conventional toilet seat, generally indicated by the numeral
11. The toilet seat 11 may be made from any suitable material, as for
example, a suitable high impact plastic material such as polystyrene.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the water closet or toilet of the present in-
vention includes a flushing water spray ring, generally indicated by thenumeral 12, which is operatively mounted around the upper inner peri-
phery of the bowl 10. The bowl 10 is operatively mounted, as more
fully described hereinafter, on a sewage discharge valve 13 that is
supported on a suitable base plate, generally indicated by the numeral
14. The base plate 14 may be made from any suitable material, as for
example, it may be an aluminum casting.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the water closet of the
present invention is provided with a push button spring return activation
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valve, generally indicated by the numeral 15 which is located behind
the seat 11 on the rim structure generally indicated by the numeral
27. The push button valve 15 activates a vacuum-gravity timer, gener-
ally indicated by the numeral 16, which in turn initiates a flushing
cycle by opening a flushing water flow valve 18 and activating a vacu-
um dispensing valve 17. The vacuum dispensing valve 17 directs
vacuum to the sewage discharge valve 13 so as to open the same sim-
ultaneously with the flushing water valve 18 which directs water to
the spray ring 12. As shown in Fig. 2, the structure of the present
invention includes an outer shroud member, generally indicated by the
numeral 19, which is secured in place between the rim 27 and a base
plate 14.
The outer shroud member 19 is made from any suitable
plastic material, as for example, an impact resistant plastic con-
struction. The bowl 10 and the rim 27 are made from suitable heavy
steel stampings which are covered with a suitable number of coats of
a chemical resistant porcelain.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bowl 10 is releasably secured
to the base plate 14 by a suitable number of lugs 20, which are welded
to the outer face of the bowl 10, and by the rods 21. The tie rods 21
may be of any suitable construction as, for example, a rod with hook
40 on the upper end thereof which passes through a hole 41 in the lug
20, and with the lower end releasably secured in an upwardly extended
pocket 42 in the base plate 14 by a lock nut 43.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bowl 10 includes a body
portion 22 which has formed around the upper end thereof a circum-
ferentially extended vertical wall portion 23. Integrally attached to
the upper periphery of the body wall portion 23 is an outwardly extended.
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horizontal flange 24 to which is welded an upper horizontal wall 28
of the rim 27. The lower end of the bowl body 22 terminates in a dis-
charge spout 25 ~Fig. 2) which has an outlet opening formed there-
through and indicated by the numeral 26 in Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 3, the rim 27 further includes an inner
peripheral wall 29 which is integrally formed at its upper end with the
horizontal rim wall 28, and which has its lower end folded outwardly
and upwardly, as indicated by the numeral 30. It will be seen that the
rim wall 29 is spaced inwardly from the bowl wall 23 so as to form a
pocket around the upper periphery of the bowl 10 for the reception of
the spray ring 12. The wall folded portion 30 forms a flange for re-
leasably securing the spray ring 12 in the last mentioned recess. The
rim 27 further includes an outer peripheral wall 31 which slopes out-
wardly and downwardly, and which has its lower end 32 folded inwardly
to form a peripheral flange on which is seated a shroud retaining
bracket 33 that extends around the inner periphery of the rim 27. The
bracket 33 is secured to the rim wall 31 by any suitable means, as by
welding. The rim 27 extends around the periphery of the bowl 10.
As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end of the shroud 19 is en-
larged, as indicated by the numeral 34, and it is releasably seatedin a peripheral channel formed by the bracket 33 and the rim wall
portion 32. The shroud 19 includes an intermediate portion 35 which
slopes downwardly and inwardly and terminates at a curved lower end
36. Integrally around the lower end 36 of the shroud 19 is a channel
shaped shroud footing portion 37 which is adapted to be seated on the
upper face of the base plate flat portion 38 which is alapted to engage
the supporting surface or floor on which the toilet is mounted.
As shown in Fig. 1, the base plate portion 38 is provided
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with suitable holes, as 48, for mounting the toilet of the present in-
vention on a floor by suitable bolts, as for example, aluminum bolts.
The metal parts of the bowl 11, rim 27 and base plate 1~ may be
grounded through the base plate 14.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the spray ring 12 is provided with
an annular chamber 45. The spray ring 12 is made from any suitable
material, as for example, a plastic material, and made in any manner,
: as for example, by extrusion. The spray ring 12 is provided with a
shoulder 46 around the inner periphery thereof which is adapted to be
seated on the shoulder formed by the rim wall flange 30, so that the
spray ring may be releasably snapped into place. As shown in Fig. 2, -
.
the spray ring 12 includes a plurality of downwar~ly extended dis-
charge holes 47 which extend through the lower wall of the spray ring
12 at an acute angle from the vertical axis. It has been found that the -
spray ring 12 provides an optimum device of this type, and that it is
not subject to having the holes 47 plugged up from contaminants in the
flushing water, such as alkalines, pebbles and the like. As shown in
Fig. 3, flushing water is supplied to the spray ring 12 from a conduit
or hose 228, which is connected to the outlet end of the flushing water
supply valve 18, as shown in Fig. 2. The holes 47 are preferably
formed at 45 from the vertical axis.
As shown in Fig. 3, the toilet seat 11 is provided with a
front opening 50 and a plurality of suitable bumpers 44. As shown in
Fig. 1, the toilet seat 11 is hingedly mounted on suitable hinges 51.
As shown in Fig. 2, each of the hinges 51 includes a threades shaft 52
that is extended down through the rim wall 28. The shaft 52 is secured
to the rim wall 28 by washers 54 and a suitable lock nut 53. The spray
ring 12 supplies approximately two pints ~f clean flushing waeer duriDg
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the flushing cycle. The flushing cycle lasts for about four seconds.
As shown in Fig. 17, the flushing water supply valve 18 is operatively
attached to a vacuum control line 226, and to a flushing water supply
line 227. The flushing water supply line 227 is a 21' supply line, and
it is operatively connected to a suitable inlet fitting generally indicated
by the numeral 49 in Fig. 2. The inlet fitting 49 is adapted to be con-
nected to a suitable supply of flushing water in any suitable manner.
The flushing water supply valve 18 may be any suitable conventional
vacuum operated flow control valve. The bowl 10 is vented through
hole 55 in wall 23.
As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage discharge valve 13 includes
an upper valve housing 57 which has formed in the upper end thereof a
conically shaped bowl seat formed by the wall 58. A circular valve
seat 59 is formed on the lower inner end of the bowl seat housing wall
58, and it is adapted to be operatively opened and closed by a diaphragm
' type valve, generally indicated by the numeral 65. An outlet opening
60 is formed in one side of the valve housing 57 on a horizontal axis
at right angles to the vertical axis of the valve seat 59.
Operatively mounted in the outlet opening 60 is an outlet pipe
61 which is provided with a smaller inner diameter than the outlet open-
ing 60. As shown in Fig. 2, the spout or outlet neck 25 of the bowl 10
is adapted to be seated in the bowl seat 58, in a snap type relationship,
and with suitable sealing means (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, the
outlet opening 26 in the bowl neck 25 is made to a smaller diameter
than the inner diamater of the outlet pipe 61 and the subsequent sewage
lines leading to the vacuum tank to which the toilet is connected, to
facilitate removal of any foreign objects of a size that are not compat-
ible with the sewage lines connected to the outlet pipe 61. In one
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embodimentJ a 1-1/2" inner diameter soil line was provided for con-
necting the toilet outlet pipe 61 to the vacuum tank. The numeral 62
designates a check valve which is connected to the toilet outlet pipe
61 by a conduit 230. As shown in Fig. 17J the check valve 62 is con-
nected by means of the conduits 231 and 233 and the tee member 232 to
the vacuum dispensing valve 17. The conduits 230J 231 and 233, and
the vacuum conduits or lines hereinafter described, may also be made
from suitable plastic tubbing, such as vinyl plastic tubing.
As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage discharge diaphragm valve
member 65 includes a mushroom shaped valve head 66, which is in-
tegrally formed in the center of an annular diaphragm attachment arm
67 that is provided with a peripheral attachment bead 68. The attach-
ment bead 68 is seated in a circular groove 69 formed in the lower face
of a flange 70 that is integrally formed around the lower end of the
valve upper housing 57.
-` As shown in Fig. 15 the discharge sewage valve 13 in-
: cludes a spring carrier member which comprises a lower cup-shaped
portion 73 to which is integrally formed, on the upper end thereof, an
outwardly extended flange 7~ that is integral with an upwardly extended
conical wall portion 75. An attachment flange 76 is integrally formed
, around the upper periphery of the conical wall portion 75, and it is
'~ seated against the lower face of the upper valve housing flange 70, and
it secures the attachment bead 68 in place. The valve 13 further in-
cludes a substantially conically shaped lower housing 77 which is pro-
vided with an integral flange 78 around the upper open end thereof.
As shown in Fig. 15, the flange 78 is mounted on the lower face of a
; suitable seal member 79 that is seated on the spring carrier fl~nge 76.
, The flanges 76 and 78 are releasably secured together by a plurality of
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tie rods 80 and suitable lock nuts 81, as shown in Fig. 15.
As shown in Fig. 1, four tie rods 80 are used to secure the
sewage valve 13 on the base plate 14. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each
of the tie rods 80 has its lower end extended through an opening 86 in
the base plate raised portion 39. The tie rods 80 are secured in place
by suitable lock washers 85 and lock nuts 87.
The tie rods 80 are also used for operatively mounting the
vacuum-gravity timer 16, the vacuum dispensing valve 17 and the water
flow control valve 18 in operative positions about the bowl 10 and with-
in the shroud 19. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vacuum-gravity timer
16 is releasably mounted by suitable machine screws 71 to a mounting
plate 72. The mounting plate 72 is secured on a pair of the tie rods 80
by the lock nuts 81. As shown in Fig. 3, the vacuum dispensing valve
17 is operatively carried on a mounting plate 72 which has its inner
end fixed on the upper ends of two of the tie rods 80, as illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 3. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the mounting plate 82 is
secured in place by an attachment plate 83 fixed on the upper end of the
last mentioned tie rods, and a suitable lock nu~ 84. As shown in Fig.
3, the flushing water valve 18 is operatively carried on a mounting
plate 88 which is similarly attached to the upper end of the other two
tie rods 80 by a suitable attachment plate 89 and suitable lock nuts 84.
As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage valve 13 includes a valve
head attachment bead 90 which is integrally formed with the valve head
66 and which is mounted in a circular groove formed on the upper face
of a circular clamp and spring bearing member 91. A coil spring 92
is disposed with the upper end in abutment with the lower face of the
clamp member 91 and its lower end seated in the cup shaped spring
carrier member 73.
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As shown in Fig. 15, the spring carrier member includes
an lntegral sleeve 94 which is formed in the cup shaped member 73 and
open at its lower end to the interior of the lower valve housing 77. The
spring 92 is seated around the sleeve member 94. The sleeve member
94 has a stepped bore 95 formed therethrough and it has slidably mounted
therein a valve rod guide member 96 which is fixed on the lower end of a
valve rod 97.
As shown in Fig. 15, a lock nut 98 is threadably mounted on
the valve rod 97 and it abuts the lower end of the clamp member 91. A
spacer member 99 is mounted around the valve rod 97 above the clamp
plate 91. A valve head backing member 93 is mounted inside the valve
head 66 and the upper end of the rod 97 passes through the backing mem-
ber 93. A lock nut 100 secures the valve head backing member 93 to the
rod 97, and it also functions to clamp the bead 90 against the clamp mem-
ber 91. The valve backing member 93 is made from a suitable rigid
plastic material. It will be seen that the coil spring 92 normally main-
tains the valve head 65 in the closed position shown in Fig. 15. -
As shown in Fig. 15, a plurality of openings 101 are formed
through the conical wall 75 of the spring carrier member to communicate
the chamber formed between the diaphragm valve 65 and the interior of
the spring carrier member with the interior of the valve lower housing
77. A spring and valve rod guide member 103 is fixedly mounted by any
suitable means on the upper end of the sleeve 94. A resilient annular
cushion member 104 is mounted on the upper face of the spring carrier
housing flange 74 to form a stop member for engagement with the lower
end of the clamp member 91 when the diaphragm valve 65 is moved
downwardly to the open position. The stop member 104 may be made
from any suitable material, as for example, rubber and the like.
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The lower end o the valve housing member 77 is provided
with a port 107 to which is operatively attached one end of a vacuum
line 234. As shown in Fig. 17, the other end of the ~acuum line 234
is operatively attached to the vacuum dispensing valve 17. When the
vacuum on both sides of the diaphragm valve 65 is balanced, the valve
will open due to the varied differences in the differential areas on each
side of the valve subjected to the vacuum, and the valve head 65 moves
downwardly in a rapid opening action. A push-on hose connection mem- -
ber 63 for the 1-1/2l' soil line is operatively connected on the outlet
pipe 61, as shown in Fig. 2.
Referring now to Fig. 5, the push button activation valve
15 includes a valve operating shaft generally indicated by the numeral
llO, which includes a cylindrical body 111 that is provided at an inter-
mediate portion thereof with a pair of integral longitudinally spaced
apart flanges 112. The flanges 112 retain therebetween a central hub
portion 113 of a circular flexible diaphragm member 114. The lower
end 115 of the operating shaft 110 is slidably mounted in a cylindrical
chamber 116 which is formed in a vertically disposed sleeve or cylin-
drical housing 117. The upper end of the housing 117 is integrally
attached to the lower end of a conically shaped valve lower housing 120
which forms a valve housing chamber 121 beneath the diaphragm 114.
A port 122 is formed through the wall of the valve lower housing cham-
ber 120, and it is operatively connected through a vacuum line 259,
fitting 258 and vacuum line 257 to valve 193 of the vacuum-gravity
timer, as explained more fully hereinafter.
As shown in Fig. 5, the circular diaphragm 114 is pro-
vided around the perlphery thereof with an attachment bead 124 which
is held in place between the cylindrical flange member 125 formed on
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the outer end of the housing 120, and a cylindrical flange 126 formed
on the outer periphery of a valve upper housing 127. The valve hous-
ing 127 forms an upper chamber 128 which is open to the atmosphere.
The valve housing members 120 and 127 are releasably secured to-
gether by a plurality of suitable machine screws 129.
As shown in Fig. 5, a mounting member 132 is secured to
the valve housing 127 by the machine screws 129. The mounting mem-
ber 132 operatively supports a two-way flow control valve 133. A second
mounting member 134 is also secured in the same manner to the hous-
ing 127 and operatively carries a second two-way flow control valve 135.
The valve operating shaft 110 is provided with a pair of
sidewardly, outward extended guide members 138 on which is mounted
the tubular hub 139 of a bridge member that carries a pair of integral
bridge arms 140 and 141. The bridge arm 140 operatively carries a
valve operator 142 for operating the valve 133. The bridge arm 141
operatively carries a valve operator 143 that operates a valve 135. The
valves 133 and 135 are spring operated in one direction, and manually
operated in the other direction by the valve operators 142 and 143.
As shown in Fig. 5, the bridge hub 139 is fixedly secured
to the valve operator shaft 110 by suitable attachment pin 144. The
upper end 147 o the operator shaft 110 has seated thereon the lower
end of a spring 148 which has its upper end seated in a socket 149 in
a spring cylinder 151 which is integrally formed on the inside of a
tubular push button 150.
The push button 150 is slidably mounted in a bore 153 formed
in a cylindrical neck-or extension 154 integrally formed on the valve -
housing 127. The cylindrical valve neck port on 154 exten~s through
an opeming 155 in the bowl rim wall 28, and it includes a flange
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156 which abuts the inner surface of the rim wall 28. The push
button 150 is enclosed by a rubber boot 157 which has an inwardly
extended flange seated on the outer face of the rim wall 28. A re- -
tainer 158 s threadably mounted on the outer end of the cylindrical
neck member 154 and secures the boot 157 in place and the valve
housing 127 in place on the rim wall 28. The bridge members 140 and
141 extend sidewardly out through slots 159 formed in diametrical
opposite sides of the cylindrical neck 154 and through slots 160 formed
through the inner end of the push button 150.
The vacuum-timer 16 is shown in detail in Figs. 6 through
10. As shown in Fig. 6, the timer 16 includes a housing having an
upper end portion that includes a cylindrical side wall 163 and an upper
end wall 164. A piston generally indicated by the numeral 165 is oper-
atively mounted within the upper end of said housing, and it is pro-
vided with a movable seal 166. As shown in Fig. 9, the outer end of
the seal 166 is provided with a peripheral bead 167 that is seated be-
tween a flange 168 formed on the housing wall 163, and a flange 169
formed on the cylindrical lower housing wall 173. The flanges 168
and 169 are releasably secured together to hold the bead 167 in place
by a plurality of spring clips, generally indicated by the numeral 170
in Fig. 7.
As shown in Fig. 6, the cylinder lower end housing in-
cludes an end wall 174 that is integral on the side wall 173. The end
; wall 174 is provided with an opening 175 through which is extended a
lever arm 176. The lever arm 176 is pivotally mounted at its upper
end on a pivot pin 177 which is carried on a bracket 172 carried on the
lower end of the piston 165. The inner end of the seal 166 is secured
to the lower end of the piston 165 by a suitable retainer plate 171.
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The lower end of the lever 176 is pivotally mounted by a
pivot pin 178 to a cam carrier or cam arm 181. The cam arm 181
is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on a pivot pin 180 that is carried
on a first vertical mounting plate 179 that is fixed by any suitable means
to the lower end of the housing 173. The cam arm 181 has fixedly on
the other end thereof a double faced cam 184. As shown in Figs. 6 and
8, the cam 184 carries a pair of vertically disposed cam faces 185 with
the cam faces 185 being disposed on opposite sides of the cam arm 181.
. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, one of the cams 185 is adapted
: 10 to operatively engage a cam follower 186 mounted on a cam follower
carrier 187 which is pivoted by the pivot screw means 188 on one of
the mounting plates 179. When the cam 184 moves down to the broken
line position indicated by the numeral 190 in Fig. 8, the cam 186 and
its carrier 187 will be swung to the right or clockwise, as viewed in
li
Fig. 8, so as to operate a two-way flow control valve generally indi-
cated by the numeral 189. Operatively connected to the valve 189 are
a pair of vacuum lines 250 and 253. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a
second cam follower carrier 192 is pivotally mounted by suitable pivot
screw means 197 on the lower end of the second mounting plate 179.
The carrier 192 operatively carries the cam follower 196 on its upper
end which engages the other cam surface 185. The cam follower car-
rier 192 is adapted to operate a second two-way flow control valve 191,
as shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 17, the valve 191 is operatively
connected to a pair of vacuum lines 249 and 250. As shown in Fig. 8,
the cam 184 operatively engages the plunger 194 of the two-way valve
193 when it is in the upper position shown in Fig. 8. The valve 193 is
operatively mounted on a bracket 195 which is fixedly secured by a
suitable means to the upper end wall 164, as shown in Fig. 7.
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The vacuum dispensing valve 17 is shown in detail in Figs.
11, 12 and 13. As shown in Fig. 12, the valve 17 includes a circular
diaphragm 198 which is provided with aperipheral bead 199 that is
retained in a groove in a flange 201 formed around the periphery of an
; upper valve housing 202. A retainer ring 200 engages the upper side
of the bead 199. As shown in Fig. 11, the retainer ring 200 is releas-
ably secured in place against the bead 199 by a plurality of spring clips
203. As shown in Fig. 12, a vacuum line 204 is operatively connected
to an inlet port 205 which communicates with the chamber 206 formed
between the diaphragm 198 and the upper face of the housing 202.
As shown in Fig. 12, a diaphragm plate 207 is mounted in-
side of the diaphragm 198 and the inner face thereof is provided with an
inwardly extended central boss which extends downwardly into a suitable
axial hub 209 formed on a diaphragm 224. The diaphragm 224 is pro-
vided with a peripheral bead 210 which is secured between the upper
end of an upper intermediate housing 211 and a flange 263 formed around :~
an opening 264 in the housing 202.
As shown in Fig. 12, a chamber 212 is formed in the upper
intermediate housing 211 and is enclosed on its upper end by the dia-
phragm 224. The chamber 206 in the upper housing 202 is enclosed at
' its lower end by the diaphragm 224. The lower end of the intermediate
housing 211 is provided with a central bore 213 at the lower end of the
chamber 212. The bore 213 is in alignment with a second bore 215
formed through a lower intermediate housing 216. Operatively mounted
~ in the bores 213 and 215 is a vertical shaft 214, that has its upper end
I operatively mounted in a socket in the lower valve face of the diaphragm
hub 209, and its lower end operatively mounted in a socket in the upper
valve face of the hub 218 of a lower diaphragm 225. Shaft 214 has
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a triangular cross section.
- As shown in Fig. 12, an intermediate chamber 217 isformed between the intermediate housings 211 and 216. The chamber
217 communicates with the vacuum line 234 through the passage 265.
The chamber 217 is normally vented to the chamber 212 since it has
communication past the triangular cross section shaft 214. The cham-
ber 212 is normally vented to the atmosphere through a suitable open-
ing that is connected if desired to a suitable vent line 267. The work-
ing vacuum supply line 233 is connected to a chamber 271 which is
normally closed when the diaphragm valve 225 is in the closed position
shown in Fig. 12. In the closed position shown in Fig. 12, the inner
end 269 of the diaphragm hub 218 functions as a valve to seat against
the adjacent intermediate housing portion 216. When pilot vacuum is
impressed through the vacuum line 204 onto the chamber 206, the dia-
phragm 198 and its connected structure is moved downwardly so as to
bring the valve end 268 on the diaphragm hub 209 into engagement with
- the valve seat 270 to block the chamber 217 from the atmosphere.
Simultaneously, the valve end 269 of the hub 218 is moved downwardly
against the action of the spring 219 to permit the chamber 271 to
;, 20 communicate through the bore 215 and around the shaft 214 with the
chamber 217. Working vacuum then flows from the vacuum line 233
~ through the chambers 271 and 217 and thence out through the passage
265 and into the vacuum supply line 234 for the sewage discharge
, valve 13.
A lower housing 220 retains a bead 229 on the lower dia-
phragm 225 in place against the lower end of the intermediate housing
216. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the housings 202, 211, 216 and
220 are fixedly secured together and to the mounting plate 82 by suitable
:
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machine screws 222 and lock nuts 223. The spring 219 is oper-
atively mounted within the lower housing 220, and its upper end
abuts the diaphragm hub 218 on the lower diaphragm 225 to normally
bias the diaphragm 225 and the shaft 214 upwardly.
In use, the push button valve 15 is pushed downwardly to
provide pilot vacuum to the gravity timer 16 through the normally
closed valve 135. As shown in Fig. 17, one side of the valve 135 is
connected to the vacuum line 237, tee 236, vacuum line 235) tee 232
vacuum line 231, check valve 62 and vacuum line 230 to the working
vacuum line 61. The other side of the valve 135 is connected by the
vacuum line 238 and the tee 239 to the vacuum line 240, that is oper-
atively connected to a vacuum tube 241 that extends internally into a
central passage 266 in the piston 165. The pilot vacuum communi-
cates through the inner end of the tube 241 with the passage 266, and
thence upwardly as viewed in Fig. 6 to the upper end of the housing
above the piston 165. The vacuum thus impressed on the upper end
of the piston 165 moves the piston from a normally downward posi-
tion to swing the lever 181 up from the lower end of the arc 255 of
Fig. 17 into the solid line position shown in Fig. 17 by the numeral
181. When the lever 181 is swung to the upper position whown in Figs.
6 and 17,the plunger 194 of the valve 193 is operated to move the
valve 193 from the open position to the closed position. Prior to this
time~ vacuum passed from the tee 239 through the vacuum line 256
and through the valve 193, the vacuum line 257, the junction fitting
258 and the vacuum line 259 into the port 122 and into the chamber
121 of the valve 15, as shown in Fig. 5. The vacuum operating in
the lower end of the valve 15, as shown in Fig. 5. The vacuum operating in
the lower end of the valve 15 and the chamher 121 functions with the
diaphragm 114 to provide a holding action if the vacuum in the system
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~08~9(~3
is not up to the level at which the system will flush. If the vacuum
is below the flush level, then the vacuwn in the chamber 121 will hold
the activation switch 15 in the depressed position until the vacuum
comes up to the flushing value.
If the vacuum is abouve the pre-set low, then the valve
193 will be shifted to the closed position by the lever 181 and the vac-
uwP. in the chamber 121 will be vented to the atmosphere through
valve 193. Valve 15 then returns to its normal position shown in Fig.
17 to direct pilot vacuum to the two valves 189 and 191. Pilot vacuum
is supplied to the valve 133 from the working vacuum line 61 through
the vacuum line 230, check valve 62, vacuum line 231, tee 232, vacuwn
line 235, tee 236, and vacuum line 242. Pilot vacuum is supplied
from the valve 133 to the valves 189 and 191 through the vacuwm
line 243, the fitting 244, the vacuum line 245, check valve 246, tee
248 and vacuum lines 250 and 249, respectively. The vacuum in the
piston chamber above the gravity timer piston 165 is then vented to
the atmosphere through valve 135. The piston 165 then moves down-
wardly by gravity and the lever 181 swings downwardly to move the
cam followers 186 and 196 and their carrier arms 187 and 192 in-
wardly, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8. This action operates the nor- ~ -
mally closed valves 191 and 189 sequence, with the valve 191 being
first operated to the open position to direct pilot vacuum through the
vacuum line 251, the junction 252 and the vacuum line 226 to the
flushing valve 18. Flushing water is then supplied to the spray ring
12, and a second or so later, the opening of the valve 189 directs
pilot vacuwn from the valve 189 through the vacuum line 253, the
junction 254 and the vacuum line 204, into the vacuum dispensing
valve 17. The vacuum dispensing valve 17 is then operated to move
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~.~8~;9Q3
the diaphragm 198 downwardly so as to move the shaft 214 down- -
wardly and permit vacuum to flow from the vacuum line 233 into the
vacuum line 234 and into the discharge valve 13. When the vacuum
on both sides of the diaphragm 67 of the sewage discharge valve 65
approaches a balance point, the valve 65 moves downwardly to pro-
vide a rapid opening of the valve 13 to permit the sewage to be sucked
out of the bowl 10 and into the outlet pipe 61.
The operation of the water closet flush lasts for about four
seconds and two pints of clean flushing water is deposited in the bowl
lO. A residual one pint of flushing water remains in the bowl 10 after
a flushing cycle. The flushing cycle is terminated when the cam 181
has passed completely downward past the cam followers 186 and 196
to the initial starting position indicated by the numeral 190 in Fig. 8.
At this point the valves 189 and 190 return to their normally closed
positions so as to vent the vacuum lines 251 and 253 and de-energize
the sewage discharge valve 13 and the vacuum dispensing valve 17.
The system is then returned to its original starting condition and is
now ready for another cycle of operation which can be commenced by
pushing down again on the activation valve 15.
The spring 148 in the activation swit¢h 15 provides a
safety factor in that if the switch is depressed by a person's foot in
a rough manner, the switch will not be damaged because the shock is
first taken up by the spring 148 before the spring 148 bottoms out
and moves the bridge operator downwardly.
It will be seen that the control apparatus for the flush
closet of thepresent invention is constructed and arranged so that
only the predetermined amount of two pints of water will be deposit-
ed in the bowl regardless of how long the push button 15 is depressed.
,
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It will be seen that the operat:ing time of the flushing
water valve 18 and the sewage discharge valve 13 are controlled by
the vacuum-gravity timer 16. It will also be seen that the timer 16
is adapted to provide two time periods, namely, one for the vacuum
flush opening and another for the water flushing period. ~or
example, the timer 16 operates the valve 191 to provide an operation
period of the flushing water valve 18 of about four seconds, and for
an operation period of the discharge valve 13 of about 1-1/2 seconds.
The total overall cycle lasts for about ten seconds, with half of the
time for the working or flushing operation and with half of the time
employed for loading or triggering the timer 16. Experience has
shown that the vacuum operated water closet of the present application
is an efficient and practical water closet which can be used in condi-
tions where a shock-proof toilet is required, as for example, in
marine sanitation devices.
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