Improvements in Valves for Water Closets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valves for Water Closets.
I, DAVID THOMAS KENNEY, of North Plainfield, in the County of Somerset and
State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America, Plumber, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to flushing valves for water closets; and it consists in the
novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and
claimed.
In the drawings; Figure 1 is a vertical section through the flushing valve.
Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a
vertical section showing a modification of the valve.
A is the outlet chamber of the flushing valve, which is connected to the bowl
of the water closet in any approved manner.
B is the inlet chamber of the flushing valve which is screwed onto the nozzle a'
at the upper part of the outlet chamber A. B' is a cap which forms the top part
of the inlet chamber B. A water inlet pipe is screwed into a branch 6 pro-
jecting laterally from the inlet chamber B.
The
C is a guide, for the main valve, which is provided with a plate e at its upper
part and preferably at its top. The guide C is preferably made in two parts, of
which the upper part or guide proper is screwed onto the lower part U.
lower part is screwed into the outlet chamber and is provided with a collar c¹
which secures a
facing plate D of leather or other soft material to the top of the
outlet chamber.
1
The plate 1 forms the seat for the main valve, but the main valve can be made
water-tight to its seat in any other approved manner. The lower part of the
guide is provided with a lateral water passage & consisting of one or more holes,
and D is a ring which screwed on the part C so that the area of the said water
passage may be regulated.
E is the main valve which is cylindrical in form, and which is closed at its
upper end by a plate e. E is a chamber or space inside the guide between the
plates c and e. A very narrow annular passage el is formed between the main
valve and its guide so that water may pass very slowly between the valve and
its guide from the chamber E¹ to the space under the plate c in the lower part
of the guide.
F is a relief valve which rests on a seat f on the plate e, and fl is a passage
or port through the plate e which is normally closed by the said relief valve.
G is the valve stem which slides in a boss g on the plate c. The upper part g¹
of the stem G is smaller than the main portion of the stem so that a shoulder or
projection his formed below the plate e for the purpose of raising the main
valve. The part g¹ of the valve stem slides between projections h¹ in the
massage ₤4

page_text: I is a controller preferably consisting of a cylinder which slides loosely in the
lower part C¹ of the guide over the water passage d. The cylinder I is screwed
onto the valve stem G or is otherwise secured to it. The cylinder I is provided
with openings i so that there is a free communication between the spaces above
and below it, and it is preferably screwed on the valve stem so that its vertical
position may be adjusted.
The valve stem is raised by any approved mechanism for that purpose. J is
an arm which is secured on a spindle which is journaled in the outlet chamber A.
The arm J works inside the outlet chamber, and is a connecting rod pivoted to
its free end and to the lower part of the valve stem.
K is an operating lever or handle secured on the spindle j outside the outlet
chamber. The lever K operates to let the water pass through the flushing valve
when moved by hand in one direction, and the flushing valve is closed automati-
cally by gravity. The lever K itself may be the weight which closes the valve,
or the movable parts of the valve may be weighted in any other equivalent manner.
When the valve is arranged as shown in Figure 1, and the lever K is operated
so as to raise the valve stem, the relief valve F is opened. The water which
stands under pressure in the inlet chamber now enters the chamber E through
the relief valve seat so that the pressure on the main valve is substantially
equalized. The continued upward movement of the valve stem then raises the
main valve and the water for flushing the closet rushes through the main valve
seat into the outlet chamber directly the passage d is uncovered by the cylinder
or controller I.
When the valve seat has been raised to its full extent, the hand lever is let
go and the parts slowly assume their original positions by gravity. The relief
valve closes first for several reasons, one of which is that there is less friction
between the valve stem and the plate e than there is between the main valve
and its guide. After the relief valve is closed, the time of closure of the main
valve, and therefore the length of time during which the water may flow, is
determined by the area of the narrow annular passage e¹ or any other opening
which establishes a communication between the chamber E and the interior of
the guide, as for instance a hole m (see Figure 1) which may be wholly or partly
closed by any approved means, such as a notched screw m¹."
The hole m may be omitted altogether, and the annular passage d' inay form
the only outlet passage by which the closing of the valve is controlled. The plate.c
which forms the bottom of the chamber E in the upper part of the valve prevents
the valve from closing suddenly, and the presence of a small outlet passage to
the chamber permits the valve to close slowly. An outlet passage is therefore
provided, but it is not material where it is located.
The controller or cylinder I forms an obstruction which gradually reduces the
flow of water through the passage but does not wholly cut it off. The cylinder
may have vertical grooves 4 in its periphery if desired, instead of sliding loosely
in the guide, or it may be made in any other way so as to let some water pass it.
The flushing action of the water ceases and the closet stops syphoning when the
cylinder I passes in front of the passage d. The main valve continues to descend
by gravity until it rests on its seat, and the water which passes between the
cylinder and the guide forms a gentle after-rush or re-fill which fills the bow!
to the required height.
This flushing valve will work in any position. When inverted, the lever K
or weight is placed as indicated by dotted lines at 2 in Figure 1, and when placed
horizontally with the spindle ; uppermost the said lever K is placed as shown
by dotted lines at 3. The lever K or weight is always placed according to the
position of the flushing valve so as to close it by gravity after it has been opened
by hand.
Other equivalent devices may be used as controllers for reducing the flow of
water before the main valve closes. In Figure 3 a plate S is shown. This plate
is freely slidable on the valve stem, and when the main valve is on its 'seat the

page_text: plate S rests on a stationary support s. This support projects from the guide,
or from the outlet chamber, and may be a continuous flange or projecting lugs.
The plate S can only be used when the flushing valve is arranged vertically, as
shown in Figure 3, because it is not secured to the valve stem.
The plate S does not wholly stop the flow of water into the outlet chamber as
it is provided with holes when the support s is a continuous flange. When
the support consists of projections, the water can pass between the projections and
the holes in the plate may not be required, but the plate and its support may be
arranged in any way so as to permit a limited flow of water to pass.
T is a projection secured on the valve stem below the plate S. This projection
is preferably a collar screwed on the valve stem so that its vertical position can
be adjusted.
1
When the valve stem is pushed up the relief valve opens first, then the main
valve, and the controller plate is then raised above the water passage before the
main valve is raised to its full extent. The parts descend slowly by gravity.
The relief valve closes first, and then the main valve commences to descend. The
plate S descends with the valve stem and rests on the support s before the main
valve closes. The flushing ceases as soon as the plate passes the passage d. The
main valve continues to descend after the plate is lowered onto the support and
admits the after-rush or re-fill to the bowl. The main valve comes down onto its
seat very gently and without any noise or jar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A flushing valve comprising a hollow main valve normally held to its seat
by the pressure of the water, a stationary plate which forms a water chamber
inside the said valve, and a relief valve also normally held to its seat by the
pressure of the water and operating to let the pressure water into the said chamber
when raised, thereby equalizing the pressure on the main valve, substantially as
set forth.
2. A flushing valve comprising a hollow main valve normally held to its seat by
the pressure of the water, a stationary plate which forms a water chamber inside
the said valve, a relief valve controlling an inlet port in the said valve, and a
stem for raising first the relief valve and then the main valve, substantially as
set forth.
3. A flushing valve comprising a stationary guide provided with a lateral water
passage and a plate above the said passage, a hollow main valve slidable over the
said guide and forming a water chamber above the said plate, said chamber being
provided with a small outlet passage, and a relief valve closing a port in the main
valve and operating to admit water to the said chamber, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with an outlet chamber; an annular valve seat; and a
guide secured to the outlet chamber and provided with a plate at its upper part, a
lateral water passage, and a collar which clamps the said valve seat in position;
of a hollow main valve slidable over the said guide and provided with a relief
valve, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with a stationary guide comprising a lower part provided
with a lateral water passage, and an upper part secured to the lower part and
provided with a plate closing its upper end; of a ring slidable on the lower part of
the said guide and operating to adjust the area of its said water passage; and a
hollow main valve slidable over the said guide and provided with a relief valve,
substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a hollow main valve, of a stationary plate which
forms a water chamber in the said valve, means for controlling the outlet of water
from the said chamber, and a relief valve closing a port in the said main valve
and operating to admit pressure water to the said chamber, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: 7. The combination, with a hollow main valve, a stationary plate which forms
a water chamber inside the main valve, and a relief valve for admitting pressure
water to the said chamber and thereby relieving the main valve of pressure; of
a controller which obstructs the flow of water before the main valve closes, sub-
stantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with a hollow main valve, a stationary plate which forms
a water chamber inside the main valve, a relief valve for admitting pressure water
to the said chamber, and a controller which obstructs the flow of water before
the main valve closes; of a single stem for operating the said two valves and the
controller, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with a stationary guide, of a main valve slidable over the
said guide, a stem for operating the main valve, and a controller working inside
the said guide and also operated by the said stem, said controller operating to
obstruct the flow of water before the main valve closes, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination, with a stationary guide having a lateral water passage,
of a main valve slidable over the said guide, a stem for operating the main valve,
and a cylinder secured to the said stem and slidable in the said guide over the
said water passage, said cylinder operating to control the flow of water before
the said valve closes, substantially as set forth.
CASSELL & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agents for the Applicant.