Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
A communication by ELON A. MARSH, of Battle Creek, Calhoun County, in the
State of Michigan, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer..
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., Agent for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer, 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 a flushing apparatus, and has for its object an improve-
ment in that class of valves which not only admit the passage of liquid by them,
but are self closing after the passage of a definite predetermined quantity. In
the improved valve, in which this invention is embodied, the water used is taken,
or can be taken, directly from the main of the water system, and the valve having
once been opened to allow water to begin to pass through it, will remain open until
such a quantity of water has passed through as may be desired, and which accords
with the adjustment, and the size of the valve, and this result will be accom-
plished irrespective of the pressure that exists on the water main side of the valve.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the device with the main valve closed.
Figure is a sectional elevation showing the device with the main valve open.
Figure is a vertical section taken through the upper float piston, at right
angles to the section line of Figure 2, and through the tube a, the figure shows in
detail the timing valve.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the piston valve and it shows in detail
the pressure regulating valve.
Figure 5 is a section through the lever journal.
A indicates the main casing provided with a threaded supply inlet passage A¹
and with a slip joint outlet connection A².
1 indicates a piston valve arranged to reciprocate in the cylinder A3 which forms
the upper part of the casing; the piston 1 is provided on its under side with a
valve face of less diameter than the diameter of the piston, and the valve D.
engages on the valve seat that terminates the upper or mouth end of the outlet
passage B. The piston D is also provided with a central perforation through
which works the stem H2 that projects downward from another piston C, located.
above the volumeter piston, and which in distinction therefrom will be called
the float or timing piston. Around the upper mouth of the orifice is a valve.
seat arranged to engage and seat a valve flauge that surrounds the valve stem H.
The stem H2 extends below the valve flange h and projects through and for saune.
distance below the orifice d³ At its lower end it is in alignment with and some.
times in engagement with a plunger H₁ that works vertically through bearings
in a hanging chamber D³ which is secured to the lower side of the volumeter

page_text: piston D. The stem He is smaller at its lower end than it is at the point where it
emerges from the valve flange h, and the reduction in diameter may be made either
by making this stem conical in shape, or by making a portion of the stem a cylinder
of one diameter, and another portion, or other portions, of a different diameter;
the object of the change in size being to produce a larger water way through the
opening, when the timing piston is higher up with respect to the volumeter
piston, and the object of the larger water way will be explained later.
The lower face of the volumeter piston D is provided with a gasket held
under a flange ring that is screwed to a flange on a hanging cylinder & that
hangs from the web ds. Across the piston 1 between the flange and the walls
of the piston D, is an annular water passage that leads from an annular
chamber B into a second annular chamber that surrounds the wall
of the hanging cylinder d3 and lies under the web
of the
or
فال
piston D; through the web d6 is a hole
water passage b
above which is placed a curved valve stop, and under the curved
valve stop is a flexible flap valve b', the combined action of the flexible flap
and the curved valve stop behind it is to produce a variation in the resistance
To the passage of water flowing through the passage way b, the water bends the
valve, but the bending of the valve is resisted by the curved stop behind it, and
the further it is bent the shorter the free portion of it becomes, and consequently
the more work is required to bend it; its action in restricting the flow of water
will be described at length hereinafter. Above the volumeter piston is the float.
piston C, and between the two pistons is a water chamber B. Through the web
of the float piston C is a water passage way a, the walls of which consist of an
externally threaded tube, so arranged that the end of the tube may be adjusted
vertically above a flap valve a¹. The flap valve a closes upward against the lower
mouth of the tube a, and is actuated in its closing direction by a counter weight a";
the valve swings on a pin a².
The plunger H' is actuated by an externally actuated lever L, pivoted on
bearings E, that are inserted through the outer walls of the casing into a chamber
made for their reception. The external portion of the lever L is mounted on the
end of the spindle F', and suitable packing gaskets f, f', are provided to make this
packing water tight. The inner end of the lever G₁ engages with the lower end of
the plunger H, being connected by a pin that works in the cross slot at the con-
nection between the plunger H, and the guide block H, at its upper end.
The operation of the device is as follows:
In Figure all the parts are shown in the position occupied by them when
the flush valve is closed. When it is desired to flush a closet, the free end of the
lever L is pressed downward to the position shown in Figure 2. The end of
the lever L swings upward, lifts the block H, and the plunger H, this lifts the float
or timing piston C. and the depending stem H, made as herein before described,
with parts e, having different diameters. As the piston Crises any water which
was above must be transferred to the chamber below it, and the slight pressure
produced by the upward movement of the piston C causes the flap valve a to open
and the water is allowed to pass freely through the tube a from the chamber 131
to the chamber B. When the timing piston has come to rest, after its upward
movement, the valve a¹ is closed by the action of the counter weighted end.
When the lever L is released by the operator the weight of the guide block H,
and the pressure of water on the upper part of the plunger H¹ causes the enclosed
end G₁ of the lever to fall, and the timing piston C being no longer supported
from without by the lever mechanism, will return to its seat on the piston D,
but it cannot fall rapidly because it can only fall as fast as the chamber B¹ fills
with water.
The lower end of the tube a is cut straight across, and the tube itself is primarily
adjusted to produce such an opening between the tube and the flap valve a' as is
required to cause the drop of the piston C in the desired time.
When the piston C is at rest, the pressure of water in the chambers B³ and B¹ will

page_text: be the same, and if at this time the piston C be resting on the piston D, the
pressure of water will be the same as the high pressure in the chamber B, and the
piston 1 will be held with the valve face din close engagement with the valve seat (¹
but when the piston C is lifted, there is a passage way for water from the chamber
B through the opening, and the water passing through this opening escapes
into the outlet.
The result of this flow, whether it be great or little, is to lower the pressure in
the chamber B5, and whenever the pressure in the chamber B, is lower than it is
in the high pressure chamber B, the water will flow from the high pressure
chamber B, into the chamber 13, through the small passage b. The velocity of
flow of water through an orifice depends on the pressure which produces the How,
and if the water passes into the chamber B, and out of it again at the same
yelocity, it must be because there is the same net pressure producing the flow in
both instances. If then the orificial area of the passage is equal to the orificial
area of the passage d³, and the velocity of flow through each orifice is the same, the
pressure in the chamber B, will exceed the pressure in the chamber B to the same
amount that the pressure in the chamber 15 exceeds the pressure in the
chamber B3.
The area of that part of the piston D which is exposed to the pressure of the
water in the chamber B is greater than the area of that part of the piston D
which is exposed to pressure from the water in the chamber B, (in the drawing
it is intended to show one of these twice as large as the other); the piston ])
therefore should be balanced as to pressure under the state of facts just expressed
where the areas of the exposed faces have this proportion, and the pressure in the
chamber B exceeds the pressure in the chamber B by the same amount that the
pressure in the chamber 15 exceeds the pressure in the chamber 13, under these
conditions the piston D, would be held with the valve d, on its seat by the force of
gravity alone. If however, the passage b, is reduced in area, so as to be slightly
less than the passage, the same quantity of water passing into and out of the
chamber B, will have a slightly greater velocity through the passage b, and such
increased velocity of flow can happen only when the difference in pressure between
the water in the chamber B, and the water in the chamber B, is greater than the
difference in pressure between the water in the chamber B, and the water in the
chamber B. The result of such a change will be that the pressure in the
chamber B, will be slightly reduced if the pressure in the chamber B, remains
constant, and if this difference be sufficient to overcome the gravity of the piston I),
this piston will rise from its seat, and the water will flow directly from the
chamber B, to the chamber B.
and the lower part of
passage way restricted
Between the outlet or orifice openings at the valve seat
the chamber B3, not only are the walls drawn in, and the
at r,
but there is also located in the upper part of this passage, parts of the
mechanism which acts to restrict the flow of water, and the contracted walls of the
passage at cause a greater impediment at that point than there is below, so that
as the water flows through the orifice and passes below the constricted part r
into the outlet passage, there is a reduction of pressure; now, whatever pressure
exists in the upper part of the passage B³ impedes to some extent the flow of water
from the chamber B and causes a corresponding increase of pressure in the
chamber B above the piston D), and this tends to counteract the lifting force of the
water in the chamber B. However, the pressure in the upper part of the
chamber 133 becomes a lifting force, and the exposed area of the lower end of the
tube I becomes a determinating factor in the amount of lift permissible to the
piston 1, since any increase of pressure in the upper end of the chamber 133 over
that in the lower end of the same chamber is attended by a corresponding increase
of force tending to close the piston D on the valve seat d.
With a fixed area to the passage b, any variation of the passage
the pressure in the chamber B³, and consequently affect the lift of the valve, and if
the area of the passage d³ is greatest when the timing piston is at the limit of its
will effect

page_text: upward movement, and if this decreases as the piston C settles to its seat on the
piston D, the flow of water into the closet will be initially strong with diminishing
volume as the piston settles, insuring a proper refill or after flush, and a soft and
noiseless closure of the main valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
-
1. In a volumetric flush valve, in combination with a casing, a diaphragm
crossing said casing and provided with a passage and with a valve seat surround-
ing the passage, a chamber below the passage, a piston actuated valve provided
with a hanger extending through the passage into the chamber, and terminating
in the outlet passage, whereby there is formed, above the end of the hanger, a
chamber of less capacity than the capacity of the outlet passage below the hanger,
and whereby there is formed on that portion of said piston which is exposed to
pressure on the outlet side of the valve opening, two zones, against which pressure
is exerted, and the pressure exerted against one zone is greater than the pressure
exerted against the other zone, substantially as described.
2. In a volumetric piston valve, in combination with a casing, and a diaphragm
crossing the casing, a chamber on the inlet side of the valve, a chamber on the
outlet side extending from the valve seat below a hanger from the piston, and
constituting a space of less capacity than the outlet immediately below the
langer, a differential piston exposed on one side to high pressure over one area,
and to low pressure over another area, and on the other side to pressure of fluid
contained in a chamber which communicates with both the high pressure chamber
and the low pressure chamber, and means whereby the communicating passage
between the intermediate chamber and the low pressure is gradually reduced in
capacity, and the pressure in the intermediate chamber gradually increased, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a flushing device, the combination of a main valve, and a timing piston,
means whereby the pressure of the two sides of the piston are balanced during
the period of flushing, and means actuated by the timing piston to regulate the
pressure tending to close the main valve, substantially as described.
A. In a volumetric flush valve, in combination with a casing provided with a
diaphragm, an inlet, and a high pressure chamber at one side of said diaphragm,
an outlet at the other side of said diaphragm, and a chamber between the inlet
and the outlet, having a restricted passage between the inlet and the outlet,
a piston valve provided with a projection extending into the outlet passage and
provided with a face against which the low pressure in the outlet re-acts against
the projection, said valve having areas exposed to high pressure and to low pressure
and to the intermediate pressure in the chamber in which said piston valve recipro-
cates, there being a passage from the high pressure chamber through the piston
valve to the intermediate pressure chamber, and a passage through the piston valve
from the intermediate pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber, whereby
tne intermediate pressure is maintained at a definite ratio between the high pres-
sure and the low pressure, substantially as described.
5. In a volumetric flush valve, in combination with a casing having an inlet
passage, and a restricted outlet passage, a piston valve, arranged to be subjected
at one side to high pressure and to low pressure, and on the other side to an inter-
mediate pressure of mean proportion between the high and the low pressure,
whereby the said valve is balanced, and means for automatically disturbing the
balance and closing the valve, substantially as described.
6. In combination with a piston arranged to be actuated by water pressure,
and having a passage through the web thereof, a valve arranged to limit the flow
of water through said passage, and to yield with increasing resistance as the
size of the passage increases, substantially as described.
7. In a flushing device, a high pressure chamber; a low pressure chamber and a

page_text: pressure reducing chamber, a piston constituting one of the walls of the pressure
reducing chamber, having inflow from the high pressure chamber, and an outflow
to the low pressure chamber, said piston being provided with passages, one of
which leads from the high pressure chamber, into the pressure reducing chamber,
and another of which leads from the pressure reducing chamber into the outlet, a
restricting valve located over the passage which leads into the pressure reducing
chamber, and a capacity varying device, arranged to engage in the passage which
leads out of the pressure reducing chamber, substantially as described.
8. In a flushing device, a piston chamber, a flush valve actuating piston, inter-
posed between a high pressure chamber, and a pressure reducing chamber, and a
timing piston which limits and controls the pressure reducing chamber by a stem
extending from the timing piston through a passage in the flush valve, substan-
tially as described.
9. In a flushing device, the combination of a piston chamber, a flush valve,
a piston arranged to actuate the flush valve, and interposed between a high
pressure chamber and a pressure reducing chamber, a timing piston located in
the pressure reducing chamber and provided with a passage through which
water may reach both sides of said timing piston, a stem extending from the timing
piston through an outlet passage from the pressure reducing chamber, and
arranged to obstruct such passage in varying amount, the amount of obstruction
increasing as the timing piston approaches a position where it finally closes said
outlet, substantially as described.
10. In a flushing device, a main valve, and a timing piston, and means for
producing equal pressure on both sides of the timing piston, during the period
of flushing, substantially as described.
11. In a flushing device, a timing piston and means for distributing a working
pressure over the entire areas of both sides of said piston, substantially as described.
12. In a flushing device, in combination with a casing, a diaphragm provided
with a valve opening and valve seat, and with a chamber below said valve seat,
a regulating piston actuated valve provided with a hanger projecting into said
chamber, the said hanger being provided at its lower end with a pressure face
that is subjected to a lower pressure than that exerted against the piston at the
upper part of said chamber, whereby a portion of the lower face of said piston is
subjected on the discharge side of the valve to two pressures of different value,
substantially as described.
13. In a flushing device, in combination with a casing, a diaphragm having a valve
opening and valve seat, a piston actuated valve one face of which covers and
extends beyond the valve seat, and it is provided with a hanger extending through
the valve opening into the outflow passage and terminating at its lower end with
a pressure face, and having surrounding it a chamber communicating with the
outflow passage below the hanger, by an orifice which surrounds the hanger,
whereby the lower face of said piston has a zone which is subjected to high
pressure, a zone which is subjected to low pressure at the upper end of said
chamber, and an area which is subjected to still lower pressure in the outflow
passage below said chamber, and an opposite face which is subjected to a pressure
intermediate between the zone of high pressure and the first zone of low pressure,
substantially as described.
14. In a flushing device, a main valve and a timing piston having an adjustable
passage, whereby the variations of pressure upon the two sides of the piston pro-
duced by motion of the piston are readjusted by the flow of water through said
passage, substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of Nonamshan 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.