Electro-mechanical flush mechanism

Abstract

A toilet for a recreational vehicle, boat or the like is provided, which includes an electro-mechanical flush mechanism. The flush mechanism includes an actuating mechanism for activating either a flush cycle or an add water cycle. The flush mechanism further includes a flush valve, a water inlet valve, a motor, a drive mechanism and a spring. During operation of the flush mechanism, the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates. A motor arm connected to the motor moves the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates in an opposite direction.

1 . A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising: 
 a rotatable flush valve;    a drive mechanism operatively connected to the flush valve;    a motor to move the drive mechanism; and,    a spring operatively connected to the drive mechanism to bias the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.    
   
   
       2 . The flush mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to an open position.  
   
   
       3 . The flush mechanism of  claim 2  further comprising a drive arm slot located at an end of the drive mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The flush mechanism of  claim 3  further comprising a motor arm operatively connected to the motor to engage the drive arm slot to thereby move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The flush mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The flush mechanism of  claim 5  further comprising a drive arm slot located at an end of the drive mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The flush mechanism of  claim 6  further comprising a motor arm operatively connected to the motor to engage the drive arm slot to thereby move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to an open position.  
   
   
       8 . The flush mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a flush/add water switch to energize the motor and a water inlet valve for a limited period of time.  
   
   
       9 . The flush mechanism of  claim 8  further comprising a cam switch to energize the motor and the water inlet valve after initial energization by the flush/add water switch.  
   
   
       10 . The flush mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a power boost bar operatively connected to the drive mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The flush mechanism of  claim 10  further comprising a projection operatively attached to the motor arm to contact the power boost bar to move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.  
   
   
       12 . The flush mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a flush rod operatively connected to the motor arm to operate the flush mechanism manually.  
   
   
       13 . A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising: 
 a frame;    a support structure operatively connected to the frame;    a rotatable flush valve positioned in the support structure;    a rotor shaft operatively connected to the flush valve;    a rotor cam coupled to the rotor shaft;    a drive arm operatively connected to the rotor cam at a first end and to the frame at a second end;    a motor to move the drive arm; and,    a spring operatively connected to the frame at one end and to the rotor cam at the opposite end to bias the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.    
   
   
       14 . The flush mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the flush valve rotates to an open position.  
   
   
       15 . The flush mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the motor moves the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.  
   
   
       16 . The flush mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the flush valve rotates to an closed position.  
   
   
       17 . The flush mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the motor moves the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.  
   
   
       18 . A method of flushing a toilet comprising the steps of: 
 activating an actuating mechanism;    activating a flush/add water switch;    energizing a motor and a water inlet valve;    disengaging a motor arm from a drive arm slot;    biasing a drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate a flush valve; and,    re-engaging the motor arm in the drive slot so as to rotate the flush valve to in an opposite direction.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein during the step of biasing a drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate a flush valve to an open position the method further comprising the steps of: 
 deactivating the flush/add water switch; and,    activating a cam switch to energize the motor and water inlet valve.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a power boost bar operatively connected to the drive mechanism and a projection operatively connected to the motor arm;    wherein prior to the step of re-engaging the motor arm in the drive slot so as to rotate the flush valve the method further comprising the step of: 
 contacting the projection to the power boost bar to drive the drive mechanism a direction so as to rotate the flush valve in the same direction.