Toilet flush tank water leakage control and water use reduction

Abstract

An upwardly open reservoir adapted for placement in a toilet flush tank is described. The reservoir is designed to be positioned directly below the float of a float actuated flush system. Flush water refill tubes and/or an overflow tube supply flush water separately to the flush tank and the reservoir. Under normal, non-leakage conditions an equilibrium water level is maintained in both the flush tank and the reservoir. Under conditions in which water leaks from the flush tank through the flush valve, the reservoir maintains a flush water level that is independent from the flush tank itself, such that the float is elevated to a level and maintained in a position that prevents a further flow of refill water into the flush tank. A secondary reservoir receives water from the overflow tube and provides water to the main reservoir to raise the float sufficiently to shut off water flow when water supply from the overflow tube stops.

1 . A system for controlling a float actuated water inlet valve that supplies refill water in a flush tank of a toilet, comprising: 
 a reservoir adapted to be disposed within said flush tank, wherein said reservoir has an open top and includes at least one side wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining an interior of said reservoir, and wherein said interior of said reservoir is adapted to receive at least a portion of said float;    a drain hole in said bottom wall; and    a drain valve adapted to control water flow through said drain hole, wherein said drain valve is adapted to pivotally mount within said interior of said reservoir.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir refill tube adapted to supply said refill water to said reservoir.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a flush tank refill tube adapted to supply said refill water to said flush tank, and a connecting tube adapted to supply said refill water to said reservoir refill tube and said flush tank refill tube.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said flush tank refill tube has an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of said reservoir refill tube.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said flush tank refill tube comprises an overflow tube.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a buoyant member adapted to contact said float in said reservoir.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is integrally formed with said flush tank.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is adapted to be suspended from at least one upright wall of said flush tank.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support adapted to be disposed between said bottom wall of said reservoir and an interior bottom surface of said flush tank.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side wall includes an angled portion in a direction of said water inlet valve.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said interior of said reservoir has a volume of from about 1000 to about 4000 cc.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir reduces by about 500 ml or less an amount of flush water used for a flush of said toilet.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain hole has a diameter of from about 2 to about 3 inches.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a clearance is provided between said bottom wall and an interior bottom surface of said flush tank, wherein said clearance is sufficient to allow said drain valve to fully close.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clearance between said bottom wall and an interior bottom surface of said flush tank, wherein said clearance is from about 2 to about 8 inches.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve comprises a flapper valve.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve and a flush valve of said flush tank are interchangeable.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve is adapted to pivotally open at an angle of about 85° or less relative an interior bottom surface of said flush tank.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve includes a flapper valve, a valve seat, and a conical washer.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve has a formation located on a top portion thereof for manual opening of said drain valve.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool for manual opening of said drain valve.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , firther comprising a connecting rod to couple said float and said water inlet valve, wherein said connecting rod has a shape that accommodates a portion of said at least one side wall of said reservoir.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said shape comprises an inverted “U” formed between opposing ends of said connecting rod.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a dam member adapted to cover a slot formed in at least one side wall for accommodating said connecting rod.  
   
   
       25 . A toilet comprising the system of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       26 . A method of controlling a float actuated water inlet valve for supplying refill water in a flush tank of a toilet, comprising: 
 disposing a reservoir within said flush tank, wherein said reservoir has an open top and includes at least one side wall and a bottom wall, said walls defining an interior of said reservoir, wherein said interior is adapted to receive at least a portion of said float;    providing a drain hole in said bottom wall;    providing a clearance between said drain hole and an interior bottom surface of said flush tank;    providing a drain valve adapted to control water flow through said drain hole;    providing a reservoir refill tube for supplying said refill water to said reservoir; and    providing a flush tank refill tube for supplying said refill water to said flush tank.    
   
   
       27 . A system for controlling a float actuated water inlet valve that supplies refill water in a flush tank of a toilet, comprising: 
 a water overflow tube;    a primary reservoir adapted to be disposed within the flush tank, the primary reservoir having at least one wall defining an interior of the reservoir, with the interior adapted to receive at least a portion of the float, and the interior adapted to receive a portion of the refill water supplied to the tank; and    a secondary reservoir positioned within the flush tank and connected to the water overflow tube, the secondary reservoir being adapted to supply a portion of the refill water to the primary reservoir.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a drain hole is provided from the primary reservoir; 
 a drain valve adapted to control water flow to and from the primary reservoir through the drain hole; and    first and second conduits connected to the secondary reservoir for supplying the refill water to the primary reservoir from above the drain hole, the first conduit being of a smaller flow cross-section than the second conduit.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first conduit extends from a bottom portion of the secondary reservoir to a point in the primary reservoir at which the refill water level in the primary reservoir causes the float to shut off the water inlet valve.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the second conduit extends from a top portion of the secondary reservoir and is adapted to supply refill water from the secondary reservoir when the secondary reservoir is substantially full to the primary reservoir.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the water overflow tube is adapted to provide a portion of the water from the water inlet valve through an overflow pipe to the toilet, and another portion of the water from the water inlet valve to the secondary reservoir.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 27  in combination with a toilet.  
   
   
       33 . A method of controlling a float actuated water inlet valve for supplying refill water in a flush tank of a toilet, wherein a water overflow tube, a primary reservoir and a secondary reservoir are provided within the flush tank and the float is at least partially received within the interior of the primary reservoir, the method comprising: 
 directing at least a portion of the water flowing through the water overflow tube to the secondary reservoir, and from the secondary reservoir to the primary reservoir to raise the water level within the primary reservoir; and    when water is not flowing to the secondary reservoir from the water overflow tube, and the water level in the primary reservoir is below the level necessary to shut off the float actuated water inlet valve, continuing to direct water from the secondary reservoir into the primary reservoir.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the flow of water from the secondary reservoir into the primary reservoir stops when the water level in the primary reservoir is at the level necessary to shut off the float actuated water inlet valve.