Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~09~255
This invention relates to the art of sanitary plumbing
systems, and more particularly, to a novel and improved vacuum
flush water closet.
V acuum 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
10 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 n~v-
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
20 vacuum flush water closet which is shock-proof and may be used in
~aval 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
1094ZSS
around the bowl and enclo~ed by a shroud made of a molded high
irnpact pla~tic material.
it i5 still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet having a vacuum
operated sewage discharge valve on which is operatively mounted a
bowl having a rim and on which i9 mounted a seat. The sewage di~-
charge valve i~ operatively mounted on a base plate. A flushing
water vacuum control valve is operatively mounted on the bowl. A
vacuum operated control means ls operatively mounted on the bowl for
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 19 still another object of the present invention to pro-
vlde a novel and improved vacuum flush water closet having a vacuum
operated sewage discharge valve which i8 controlled by a vacuum con-
trol 9y9tem 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 i~ adjustable
20 for regulating the water flushing portion of the overall flushing cycle,
and the ~ewage discharge portion of the overall flushing cycle, so a~
to provide an overall flushing cycle which uses a minimum amount of
flushing water and i9 carried out over a minimum time period to
maintain the volume of air to a minimum that is being drawn into the
vacuum line connected to the water closet.
It is stlll another object of the present invention to pro-
vide a vacuum flu~h water closet having a bowl and a detachably
mounted flushing water ~pray ring operatively mount~d therein, and
1094255
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 this invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description, appended claimsJ 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 direct ion 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 t hereof, and looking in
the direction of the arrows.
1094Z'~5
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-
trated in Fig. 8, taken along the line 7-7 thereof, and looking in the
direction of the arrows.
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.
1094Z515
Fig. 14 i~ a ragmentary, elevational, section view, with
parts removed, o 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 i9 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 i8 a top plan view of the structure illustrated in
Fig, 14, and turned 90 clockwise ( as viewed in Fig, 16) from the
10 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 i8 shown which comprises
a bowl, generally indicated by the numeral 1~, on which i9 operati~ely
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 8uitable high impact plastic material such as polystyrene.
A8 shown in Fig8. 2 and 3, the water clo8et or toilet of the present in-
20 ventlon include8 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 ~herainafter, 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 m.ade 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
1094ZSS
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 t~ 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 19J 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 nu~riber 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 bow] 10, and by tie rGds 21. The tie rods 21
may be of any suitable construction, as, for example, a rod with a 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
--6--
109~255
horizontal flange 24 to which is welded an upper horizontal ~all 2&
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 ;ndicated by the numeral 26 in Fig. 1.
~ g shown in Fig, 3, the rirr~ 27 further include3 an imler
peripheral wall 29 whic~ is integrally formed at its upper end with the
horizontal rim wall ?8, 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 i8 ~paced inwardly from the bowl wall 23 so as to fo~n a
pocket around the upper periphery of the bowl 1~ for the reception of
the ~pray rina 12, The wall folded portion 30 forms a flange for re-
leasably securing the spray ring 12 in the last rnentioned recess, The
r~n 27 further include~ an cuter peripheral wall 31 which slopes out-
wardly and downwardly, and which ha5 its lower end 32 folded lnwardly
to form a peripheral flange on which Ls seated a shroud retaining
bracket 33 that e.xtends around the Lnner periphery of the rim 27. The
bracket 33 is secured to the rlm 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 i~ en-
larged, as indicated by the numeral 34, and it is releasably seated
in a peripheral channel formed by the bracket 33 and the rim wall
portion 32. '~l~e shroud 19 include~ an intermediate portion 35 whlch
slope9 downwardly and inwardly and terIninates at a curved lower end
36. Integrally around the lower end 36 o~ the shroud 19 is a chlannel
8haped shroud ~ooting portion 37 which is adapted to be seated on the
upper face of the base plate ~lat portlon 38 which is adapted to engage
the 3upporting surface or floor on which the toilet is mounted.
As shown in Fig. 1, the base plate portion 38 i3 provided
~094Z55
witn suitable holes, aY 4B, for mounting the toilet of the present in-
~ren.ion on a floor by suita;ble boits, as for exalr ple, aluminum boLt~.
The metal parts of the bowl 11, rim 27 and base plate 14 may be
grounded through the ba~e plate 14.
As lllu~trated in Fig. 2, the spray ring 12 is provided with
an annular chamber 45. The spray ring 12 ls made from any suitable
material, 33 for exampl~, a plastlc material, and made in any ~r.anner,
as for examplP, by extrusion. The ~pray ring 12 i9 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, ~o that the
~pray ring may be releasably snapped into place. 48 shown in Fig. 2,
the spray ring 12 includes a plurality of downwardly 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
~pray ring 12 provides an optimum device of this type, and that it i8
not subject to having the holes 47 plugged up from contaminants in the
flushing water, ~uch as alkallnes, pebbles and the like. As shown in
~lg. 3, flu8hing water l~ supplled to the spray ring 12 from a conduit
or hose 228, whlch l~ connected to the outlet end of the flu6hing water
ao supply valve 18, a8 shown In Flg. 2. The hole~ 47 are preferably
formed at 45 from the vertical axis.
As shown in Fig. 3, the toilet seat 11 }s provided with a
front opening 50 and a plurallty of sultable bumpers 44. As shown in
Flg. 1, the tollet 8eat 11 i~ hlngedly mounted on suitable hinges 51.
As shown in ~?lg. ~, each of the hlnges 51 include~ a threaded shaft 52
that is extended down through the rim wall 28. The shaft 52 is secured
to the rlm wall 28 by washers 54 and a 8uitable lock nut 53. The spray
rlng 12 supplies approximately two pints of clean flu~hing water during
- lO9~Z55
the ~lushing cycle. The flushing cycle 12~t~3 for about four ~econds.
As shown in Fig. 17, the flushing water ~upplyvalve 18 i~ operatively
... . .
attached to a vacuum control llne 226, and to a flu8hing water supply
lne 227. The flushing water supply line 227 is a l/2" supply line, and
lt is operatively connected to a suitable lnlet fitting generally indicated
by the nu~neral 49 In Fig. 2. The Inlet fltting 49 is adapted to be con-
nected to a suitable supply of flushing water ln any suitable manner.
I'he flushing wat~r supply valve 18 may be any suitable conventional
vacuum operated flow control valve. The bowl l0 18 vented through
hole 55 in wall Z~. -
As shown in ~ig. 15, the sewage discharge valve 13 includes
an upper valve housing 57 which has forrned ln the upper end thereof a
conlcally shaped bowl seat formed by the wall 58. A circular vslve -
seat 59 is formed on the lower Inner end of the bowl seat hou~ing wall
58, and it {8 adapted to be operatively opened ~nd closed by a diaphragm
type valve, generally indicated by the numeral 6S. An outlet opening
6018 formed ln one side of the valve housing 57 on a horizontal axis
at right aDgles to ~e vertlcal a~ci9 of the valve seat 59.
Operatively mounted ln the outlet opening 60 i8 ~ Loutlet plpe
Bl whlch 18 provldes~ with a sn~aller inner dlameter than the outlet open-
lng 60, As shown In Fig, 2, . the spout or outlet neck 25 of the bowl l0
19 adapted to be seated In the bowl seat 58, in a ~n~p type relationship,
and wlth suitable seallng means ~not shown). As ~hown ln Fig. l, the
outlet opening 2B in the bowl neck 25 i~ made to a 6maller diameter
than the inner d~mater of the outlet pipe 61 and the sub~equent sewage
. .
llne8 leading So the ~acuum tank to whicll the tollet ls connected, to
facilitate removal of any forelgn objects of a size that are not compat-
lble wlth the ~ewage lines connected to the outlet pipe 61. In one
1094ZSS
embodiment, a 1-1/2" inner diameter 30il line was provided for con-
necting the toilet outlet pipe 61 to the vacuum tank. The numeral 62
designates a chec~ valve which i~ connected to the toilet outlet pipe
61 by a conduit 230. As shown in Fig. 17, 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 230, 231 and 233, and
the vacuum conduits or lines hereinafter described, may also be made
from suitable pla~tic tubing, such as vinyl plastic tubing,
As shown in Fig. 15, the sewage discharge diaphragm valve
member 65 include~ a mushroom shaped valve head 66, which is in-
tegrally formed in the center of an annular diaphrag~n attachment arm
67 that is provided with a peripheral attachment bead 68. The attach-
ment bead 68 i8 seated in a circular groove 69 formed in the lower face
of a flange 70 that is integrally forrned around the lower end oi~ the
valve upper housing 57.
As shown in Flg. 15, the discharge sewage valve 13 in-
clude9 a 9pring carrier member which comprises a lower cup-shaped
portion 73 to which 19 integrally formed, on the upper end thereof, an
outwardly extended flange 74 that i~ integral with an upwardly extended
conical wall portlon 75. An attachment flange 76 is integrally formed
around the upper periphery of the conical wall portion 75, and it iq
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 subs~antially conically shaped lower housing 77 which is pr~
vided wi th an integral flange 78 around the upper open end thereof.
~s shown in Fig. 15, the flange 78 is mounted on the lower face of a
suitable seal mernber 79 that i~ seated on the spring carrier flange 76.
The flanges 76 and 78 are releasably secured together by a plurality of
--10-
1~942S5
tie rods 8û and suitable lock nu~s 81, a~ shown in Fig. 15.
A~ shown in Fig. I, four tie rod~ 8û are used to secure the
sew~ge valYe 13 on the base plate 14. ~8 shown in Fig~. 2 and 3, each
of the tie rods 8~ ha~ its lower end exte2~ded through an opening ~36 in
the ba~e plate raised portion 39, The tie rods ~0 are ~ecured in place
by suitable lock washer~ 85 and lock nuts 87.
The tie rod~ 80 are al~o used for operati~rely mounting the
~acuum-gravity timer 16, the vacuum dispensing val~re 17 and the water
flow control valve 18 in operative po~itions about the bowl 10 and wLth-
in the shroud 13. As shown in ~igs. 1 and 2, the vacuum-gravity ti~ner
16 is reles~ably rr.ounted by sultable machine screws 71 to a mounting
plate 72. ~he m~ounting plate 72 i~ ~ecured on a pair of the tie rod~ 80
by the lock nuts 81. As shown in Fig. 3, the vacuum dispensing valve
17 i~ operati~,rely carrled on a mounting plate 82 which has its inner
end fixed on the upper ends of two of the tie rod~ 80, as Illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 3. A~ Illustrated in Flg. 3, the mounting plate ~32 i~
secured in place by an attachment plate ~3 fixed on the upper end of the
last mentloned tle rods, and a 8uitable lock nut 84. A~ shown in FLg.
3, the flushing water valve 18 Ss operaUvely carried on a mounting
plate 88 whlch 18 similarly attached to the upper end of the other two
tie rod~ 80 by a ~llitable attachrnent plate 89 and ~uitable lock nut~ 84.
As shown ln Fig. 15, the 9ewage valve 13 lncludes a valve
hesd attachment bead 90 whlch i~ integrally formed with the valve head
66 and which i9 mounted in a circular groove formed on the upper face
of a circular clamp and spring bearlng member 91. A coil sprlng 92
i~ dlspo~ed with the upper end ln abu~nent with the lower face of the
clamp member 91 and lts lower end ~eated in the cup shaped ~pring
carrier m ember 7 3.
-11-
~0942~iS
As 3hown in Fig. 15, the ~prir~ carrier r~;e~r.ber includes
an integral sleeve 94 which is formed in the cup ~haped n~.e2~ber 73 an~
open at its lower end to the interior of the lower valve ho~l~;ing 77. The
spring 92 i~ seated around the sleeve member 94. The 31eeve ~iember
94 has a ~tepped bore 95 forrned Sherethrough and it ha~ ~lidably ~r.ounted
therein a valve rod guide rnember 96 which is fixed on the lower end o~ a
valve rod ~J7.
As ahown in Fig. 15, a lock nut 9~ is threadably mounted on
the valve rod 97 and it abuts the lower end of the clamp merr~bor ~1, A
spacer member 99 i8 mounted aroun~the valve rod 97 a~ove the clamp
plate 91. A valve head backing member 33 i~ mounted inside the valve
head B6 and the upper end of the rod 97 pas6es througn the backir.g me7n-
ber 93. A lock nut 100 secures the valve head backing member 33 to the
rod 97, and lt also functione to clamp the bead 90 against the clamp mem-
ber 91. The valve backlng member 93 is made from a suitable ri~id
plastic material. It will be ~een that the coil spring 92- ncrmally main-
tains the valve head 65 ln the closed po~ition shown in Fig. 15,
A~ shown in Flg. lS, a plurslity of openings 101 are formed
through the conlcal wall 75 of the spring carrier member to communicate
20 the chamber formed between the diaphragm valve 65 and the interior of
the spring carrler member with the interior of the valve lower housin~
77, A spring and valve rod ~uide member 1~3 i6 fixedly mounted by any
suitable means on the upper end of the sleeve 94. A resillent anr.ular
cushion mern1~er 10~ i8 mount~d on the upper face of the ~pring carrier
housln~ flange 74 to form a stop member for engager~ent with the lower
end of the clamp member 91 when the diaphragrn valve BS is moved
downwardly to the open positlon. The stop member 104 may be mAade
from any suitable material, a~ for example, ~lbber and the like.
-12-
lQ~34Z5'~
The lower end of the valve housing m~mber 77 i9 provided
with a port 10 7 to which iB operatively attached one end of a vacuum
line 234. As shown in Fig. 17, the other end of the vacuum line 234
is oper~tively ~ttached to the vacuum dispensing valve 17. When the
vacuum on both sides of the diaphragm valve 65 i3 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 openir4~ action. A pus~on hose connection mem-
ber 63 for the 1-1/2" soil line is operatively connected on the outlet
10 pipe 61, as shown in Fig. 2.
Referring now to Fig, 5, the push butt-~n activation valve
15 includes a valve operating shaft generally indicated by the numeral
110, which includeR a cylindrical body 111 that is provided at an inter-
mediate portion thereof with a pair of integral longitudinally ~paced
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 operatir~ shaft 110 is slidably mounted in a cylindrical
chamber 116 which is formed in a vertically disposed sleeve or cylin-
drical housing 11 7. The upper end of the housing 117 is integrally
20 attached to the lower end of a~conically shaped valve lower housing 120
which forms a valve hou`sing chamber 121 beneath the diaphragm 114.
A port 122 i8 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-gravlty
timer, as explained more fully hereinafter.
As shown in Fig. 5, the circular diaphragm 114 is pro-
vided around the periphery thereof with an attachmAent ~ead 124 which
is held in place between the cylindrical ~lange member 125 formed on
-13-
~ C~9~255
the outer end o~ the housing 120, and a cylIndricsl ~ange 1~6 formed
on the outer peripnery of a valYe up~eI housing 127. The vaiYe ho~
ing 127 form~ an upper chamber 128 which Ls open to the a~o~pnere.
The valve hou~ m~ber~ 1~0 and 1~7 are relea~bly ~ecure~l to-
gether by a plurallty of suitable machine screws 1~9,
~ s shown in Fig. 5, a ~ounting member 132 is ~eeured t~
the valve hou3ing 127 by the machine ~crew~ 129. Th~ mountLng me~-
ber 1~2 operat~vely supports a two-way flow control ~LlYe 133. A second
mounting member 134 i~ al~o ~ecured in the 3ame rnarmer to ~.e hous-
ing 1~7 a~d operatively carrie~ a 3econd two-way l~OYY con.rol valve 135.
The valYe operating shaf~ 110 i8 provided with a pair of
sidewardly, ouh~ard extended gulde member~ 138 on which i8 D:~ounted
the tubular hub 139 of a bridge member that carries a pair of ~ntegr~1
bridge arm~ 140 and 141. The bridge ar~n 140 operatively carrie~ a
vslve operator 142 ror operating the valve 133, 'rh~ bridg~ arm 141
operatively carrie~ a valve operator 143 t~t opcrates a valve 135~ The
~ralves 133 and 135 are sprlng operated in one dlrectlon, and manually
operated in the other dlre~:tlon~by the valve operator~ 142 and 1~3.
A8 shown ln Flg. 5, the brIdge hub lS9 }8 fL~edly secured
to ~be ~alve operator shaft 110 by suItable attacbment pin 144. The
upper end 147 of the operator shaft 110 ha~ seated thereon the lower
end of a ~pring 148 whlch has lts upper end 3eated In a ~ocket 149 In
a ~pring cylinder 151 which i8 integrally formed on the in~Lde of a
tubular push button. 150.
The pu~h button 150 18 slIdably mounted ln a bor~ 153 formed
in a cyllndrlcal neck or exten~lon l5a Integrally formed on the Yalve
housIng 127. The cyllndrical valve neck portion 154 e2ctend~ through
an opeming 155 ln the bowl rim wall 28, and it lncludes a ~lange
1~94ZS5
156 which abut~2 the inner su-rface of U~e rim wall 2B. I'he push
button 15 ' is enclosed by a rubber boot 157 which ha3 an Inwardly
extended Elar.ge seated on the outer face of ~e rin~ wall 28. A re-
tainer 158 is ~hreadably rilounted on the outer end of the cylindrical
neck member 154 and 6ecures the boot 157 in place and the valve
housing 127 in place on the rim wall 28. The bridge members 140 and
141 e~te~Id sidewardly out through slots 15g forrned in diametr~eal
opposite ~ides of the cylindrlcal neck 154 and through ~lots 160 formed
through the inner end of the push button 15û.
~he vacuum-tinler 16 is shown in detall ln Figs. 6 throu~h
lQ As ~hown in Flg. 6, the timer 16 includeY a housir~ having an
upper end portion that includes a cylindrical side wall .163 and an upper
end wall 164. A piston generally indlcated by the numeral 165 i9 oper-
atlvely mounted wlthin the upper end of sald housing, and it is pro-
vided with a movable seal 166. As shown in Fig. 9, the outer end of
the ~eal 166 is provided with a peripheral bead 167 that i~ seated be-
tween a flange 169 formed on the housing wall 163, and a fla~3ge 169
formed on the cylindrical lower housIng wall 173. The flanges 18~
and 169 are releasably secured together to hold the bead 167 in place
by a plurality of ~prlng cllps, generally Indicated by the numeral 17û
in Fig, 7.
As shown in Flg. B, the cylinder lower end housing in-
clude~ an end wall 174 that ls integral on the side wall 173. ~he end
wall 174 i~ provided with an opening 175 through which is extended a
lever arm 176, The lever arm 176 i9 pivotally mounted at it~ upper
end on a pivot pln 177 which is carried on a bracket 17a carried on the
lower end OI the pi~ton lBS. The inner end of the 3eal 166 is secured
to the lower end of the piston 165 by a sultable r~.ainer plate 171.
-15-
~)942~5
The lo~ver end of the lever 1'~6 i3 pivotally mounted by a
piYot pin 1~8 to a cam carrier or cam arm 181. ~he cam. arm 181:.
i8 pivotally mo~lnted at one end therec~ on a pLvot pin lE0 that i~ carried
on a fir~t vertical mounting plate 179 that i8 fLYed by any ~uiSable ;neans
to the lower end of the housing 173, ~he cam arm 181 has fL~cedly on
the other end thereof a double faced cam 184. As shown in Figs. 6 and
8, the cam. 184 carrie~ a pair of vertlcally disposed cam, face6 185 w;th
the cam faces 185 being dispose~: on oppoqite ~des of the cam arm 181.
As shown in E`ig8. 8 and 10, one o~ the can~s l85 1~ adapted
to operatively en~e a cam follower 1~6 rmounted on a cam ollower
carrier 187 which is pivoted by the pivot qcrew means 188 on one of
the mounting plPtes 179, When the cam. 184 moves down to the broken
line position indicated by the n~neral 190 In Fig. 8, the cam 188 and
lts carrler 187 wlll be swung to the right or clockwise, as viewed in
Fig. 8, so as to operate a two-way f1Ow control valve generally indi-
cated by the numeral 189. Operatlvely connected to the valve 189 are
a palr of vacuum lInes 250 and 253. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a
second csm I'ollower carrler 192 19 pivotally mounted by suLtable pivot --
~crew means 197 on the lower end of the second mour~ting plate 179.
The carrier 192 operatlvely carrle~ the cam follower 136 on its upper
end which engage~ the other cam sur~ace 18~. The cam ~ollower car-
rieF 192 ls adapted to operate a second two-way nOw control valve 191,
as shown In Fig. 6. As shown in Flg. 17, the valve 191 ls operatively
connected to a pair o~ vacuum llnes 249 and aso. As shown in Fig. 8,
the cam 184 operatltrely engages the pl~1nger 194 of the two-way valve
193 when it 1~ In the upper position shown in Fig. ~ e -val~e 193 is
operatlvely mounted on a bracket 195 which Is fl~;edly secured by a
suitable means to the upper end wall lB4, a~ shown Ln Fig. 7.
.
1~94255
~ he Yacuum di~p ensing valve 17 is ~hown in det2il ln ~'Lg9,
11, 12 an~ 13. A3 ~hown in Fig. 12, the valve 17 include~ a circular
diaphragm 13~ wnich i~ provided with a periph-ral bead 19~3 that i9
retained in a grocve in a ~lange 201 formed around the perip~iery of an
upper valve hou~ing 202. A retainer ring 2QO engages the upper side
of the bead 1~9. A~ ~hown in ~ig. 11, the r~tainer ring 200 iB releas-
ably secured in place a~ainst the bead 199 by a pIurality of apring clLp~
2~3. As shown in Fi~. 12, a vacuum line 204 i9 operatiYely cormected
to an inlet port 205 which communicate~ with the chamber 206 formed
10 between the diaphragm lg8 and the upper face of the hou~ing 202.
As shown in Fig. 12, a diaphragm plate 207 is mounted in-
side of the diaphragm 19~ and the inner face thereof is provided with an
Inwardly extended central boss which estends downwardly into a ~uitable
axial h.~b 209 formed on a diaphragm 224. The diaphragm 224 i~ pro-
vided with a periphersl bead 210 which i~ secured between the upper
end of a;l upper intermediate housing 211 and a flange 263 formed around
an opening 2~4 in the housing 202.
A~ shown ln Fig. 12, a chamber al2 is formed in the upper
Intermediate hou~Ing 211 and 18 enclosed on its upper end by the dla-
~0 phragm 224. The chamber Z06 in the upper housing 202 i~ enclosed at
it~ lower end by the diaphragm 224. The lower end of the intermediate
hou~lng 211 18 provlded with a central bore 213 at the lower end of the
ch~nber 21a. The bore 213 is in alignment Yvlth a second bore 215
formed through a lower intermediate hou~ing 21B. Operatively mounted
in the bores al3 and 215 i8 a vertical ~haft 214, that has its upper end
operatlvely mounted in a socket in the lower valve face of the diaphragm
hub 2~, and its lower end operativel;y mounted in a socket lnthe upper
valve face of the hub 218 of a lower diaphragm 2a;,. Shaft 214 ha~
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1~9~25S
a triangular cro~s section.
As shown in F~g. 12, an intel~nediate cha~nber 217 i8
for~ed between the inter~ledlate housings 211 and 216. The chamber
217 communicates with the vacuum line 234 through the pas~age 263.
I'he chamber 217 is normally vented to the chamber 212 since it has
communicatIon past the triangular cros~ section shaft 214. The cham-
ber 212 is normally vented to the atmosphere through a suitable open-
ing that i9 connected lf de~ired to a suitab1e vent line 267. The work-
ing vacuum supply llne 233 i8 connected to a chamber 271 which i8
normally closed when the dlaphragm valve 225 is in the closed po~ition
sh~wn in Flg. 12, In the c1Osed posltion shown In Fig. 12, the inner
end 269 of the dlaphragm hub ~18 functions a~ a valve to seat against
the adjacent Lntermedlate housing portion 21O. When pllot vacuum i8
impressed through the vacuum llne 204 onto the chamber 200, the dia-
phragm 198 and Its connected structure i8 moved downwardly 80 as to
bring the valve end 268 on the diaphragm hu~ 209 into eng,agement with
the valve seat 270 to block the chamber 217 from the a~nosphere.
Slmultaneousl~, the valve end 269 of the hub 218 Isl moved down~ardly
agaInst the acUon of the spring 219 to permit the chamber 271 to
communlcate through the bore 21S and around the shaft 214 with the
chamber 217. Worklng vacuum then flows from the vacuum line 233
through the chamber~ 271 and 217 and thence out through the pa~sage
265 and ~nto the ~racuum supply line 234 ror the sewage discharge
valve 13.
A lower housLng 220 retains a bead 229 on the lower dla-
phragm 225 in place against the l,ower end o~ the intermediate housing
216. AB sho~vn ln Flgs. 12 and 13, the housings 202, 211, 216 and
220 are fixedly secured together and to the mounting plate 82 by ~uitable
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lO9AZS5
rnachine screws 222 and lock nuts 223. The spring 219 i9 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 timerl6 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 239to the vacuurn 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 lnner end of the tube 241 with the pa~sage 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 pl~ton 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 Flg. 17 by the numeral
18I. When the lever 181 is swung to the upper position ~hown 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 pa9sed from the tee 239 through the vacuum line ;25~
and through the valve 193, the vacuum line 257, the! junction iitting
258 and the vacuum line 259 into the port 122 and into the chamber
121 of the valve lS, as shown in Fig. 5. The vacuum operating in
the lower end of the valve lS and the chamber 121 functions with the
diaphragm 114 to provide a holdLng action if the vacuum in the system
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1~9~;~S5
is not up to the level at which the system will Ilush. if thc ~iacuum
is below the flush le~rel, then the vacuun, in the cnar.~ber 12i will hold
the activation switch 15 in the depressed positlon until the ~racuu~
comes up to the flushing val~e.
if the vacuum iB above the pre-set low, then the valve
193 will be ~hifted to the clo3ed position by the lever 181 and the vac-
uum in the chamber 121 will be vented to the atmo3phere through
valve 193. Valve 15 then returns to its normal position shown in Fig.
17 to direct pilot vacuum to the two val~es 189 and 191. Pilot vacuum
0 i8 jupplied to the valYe 133 from the working vacuum line 6} through
the vacuum llne 230, check valve 62, vacuum line 231, tee 232, vacuum
lLne 235, tee 236, and vacuum line 242 Pilot vac~n is supplLed
from the valve 133 to the valves 189 and 191 through the vacuum
llne 243, the fitting 244, the vacuum llne 245, check valve 246, tee
248 and vacuum lines 250 and 249, respectively. The vacuum in the
piston chamber above the gravity t)rner piston 165 is then vented to
the atmosphere through valve 135, The piston 165 then moves down-
wardly by gravlty and the lever 181 swings downwardly to move the
carn ~ollowers 18G and 198 and thelr carrier arms 187 and 1~2 in-
wardly, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8. This action operates the nor-
mally closed valves 191 and 189 ln sequence, with the valve 191 being
first operated to the open posltion to direct pilot vacuum through the
vacuum llne 251, the junctlon 252 and the vacuum line 226 to the
flushing valve 18. Flushing water i~ then supplied to the spray ring
12, and a second or ~o later, the opening of the valve 18~ directs
pllot vacuum from the valve 189 through the vacuum line 253, the
junctlon as4 and the vacuurn llne 204, lnto the vacuum dis pensing
vslve 17. The vacuum dlspenslng valve 17 i~ then operated to move
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~6:)9~25S
the diaphragm 198 downwardly 8 0 a3 to move the shaft 214 down-
wardly and permit vacuum to flow from the vacuum line 233 into the
vacuum llne Z34 and into the di~charge valve 13. When the vacuum
on both sides of the d}aphragm 67 of the ~ewage di~charge valve 65
approaches a balanced point, the valve 65 moves downwardly to pro-
vide a rapid opening of the valve 13 to permit the sewage to be ~ucked
out of the bowl 10 and into the outlet pipe 81.
The operation of the water closet ~lush last~ for about four
seconds and two pints of clea~n nushing water is deposited in the bowl
10. A residual one pint of flus!hing water remains in the bowl lO after
a flushlng cycle. The flushing cycle 18 terminated when the cam 181
has passed completely downward past the cam îollower~ 186 and 196
to the ln}tial starting posit}on lndlcated by the numeral 190 in Fig. 8.
At thls polnt the valves 189 and 190 return to thelr normally closed
posltlon~ 90 as to vent the vacuum llnes 251 and 253 and de-energi~e
the sewage dlscharge valve 13 and the vacuurn dlspensing valve 17.
The system 18 then returned to }ts orlginal startlng condition and 19
now ready ~or another cycle of opera,tion which can be commenced by
pushlng down agaln on the actlvatlon valve 15.
2û ~he ~prlng 148 In the actlvatlon swltch 15 provides a
safety factor ln that lf the switch l~ depressed by a per90n'~ foot in
a rough manner, the swltch w}ll not be damaged becauqe the shf~ck 18
flrst taken up by the spring 14B before the sprlng 148 bottoms out
and moves the brldge operator downward~y.
It will be seen that the control apparatus for the flu~h
closet of the present inventlon 18 constructed snd arranged 80 thst
only the predetermlned amount of two pints of water wlll be deposit-
ed in the bowl regardless of how long the push button lS i~ depressed.
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10~4Z.55
It will be seen that the operating 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. For
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 operationperiod of the discharge valve 13 of about 1-1/2 seconds.
The total overall cycle lasts for about ten seconds, with half of the
10 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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