Toilet flusher with novel valves and controls

Abstract

A tank-type flusher includes an intake valve, i.e., a fill valve, a diaphragm-operated flush valve, and a pressure control mechanism. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and is constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The diaphragm-operated flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. There is a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal the flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing the flush valve member to the seated state preventing the water discharge from the water storage tank to the toilet bowl. The pressure control mechanism is constructed and arranged, upon actuation, to reduce pressure in the pilot chamber of the diaphragm-operated flush valve to cause deformation of the diaphragm and thereby reduce pressure in the flush-valve chamber causing the water discharge.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A tank-type flusher, comprising: 
 an intake valve constructed to close water flow from an external water source to a water storage tank when there is a predefined water level in said water tank, said intake valve including a float constructed and arranged to float depending on a water level in said water storage tank;    a diaphragm-operated flush valve including a flush-valve chamber, said diaphragm-operated flush valve being constructed to open upon actuation to discharge water into a toilet bowl from said water tank; and    a wiper seal co-operatively arranged with said flush valve to seal water inside said water tank and prevent water leaking into said toilet bowl in the closed state.    
   
   
       9 . A tank-type flusher, comprising: 
 an intake valve connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in said water tank; and    a flush valve constructed to control position of a flush valve member movable between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from said water tank into a toilet bowl; said flush valve member including a wiper seal co-operatively arranged with said flush valve to seal water inside said water tank and prevent water leaking into said toilet bowl while being forced to said seated state by at least a portion of water pressure from said external source.    
   
   
       10 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said intake valve and said flush valve are located within a single housing.  
   
   
       11 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said flush-valve member is arranged to receive a water pressure from said external source and is arranged to prevent said water discharge utilizing at least a portion of said water pressure.  
   
   
       12 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said flush valve member includes a diaphragm-operated flush valve that is controlled by a solenoid.  
   
   
       13 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said water tank is an exposed water tank.  
   
   
       14 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said water tank is a concealed water tank located behind a wall.  
   
   
       15 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  wherein said intake valve enables a variable water level in said tank.  
   
   
       16 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a vacuum breaker arranged to prevent transfer of water from said tank to a water supply.  
   
   
       17 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a manual actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.  
   
   
       18 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 17  wherein said manual actuator is a push button actuator.  
   
   
       19 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 18  wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.  
   
   
       20 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 18  wherein said push button actuator is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.  
   
   
       21 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 8  including an automatic actuator constructed and arranged to actuate said flush valve.  
   
   
       22 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 21  wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to be triggered by a sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 22  wherein said sensor registers presence of an object.  
   
   
       24 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 22  wherein said sensor registers movement of an object.  
   
   
       25 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 22  wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.  
   
   
       26 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 21  wherein said automatic actuator is constructed to actuate said flush valve enabling a dual water volume flush.  
   
   
       27 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 21  wherein said automatic actuator is located outside of said water tank and is constructed to actuate hydraulically said flush valve.  
   
   
       28 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a check valve arranged to reduce variation of closing pressure depending on water line pressure.  
   
   
       29 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a pressure compensated flow regulator.  
   
   
       30 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a viper seal co-operatively arranged with said flush valve to prevent water leaking into said toilet bowl.  
   
   
       31 . The tank-type flusher of  claim 9  including a vent for controlling odor.  
   
   
       32 - 60 . (canceled)  
   
   
       61 . A flusher comprising: 
 a tank forming a flush outlet by which liquid in the tank may leave the tank for flushing;    a flush-valve member operable between an unseated state, in which it permits flow from the tank through the flush outlet, and a seated state, in which it prevents flow from the tank therethrough; and    a valve-operating mechanism including a housing that defines a control chamber disposed at a local location and forms a line-pressure inlet that admits water line pressure into the control chamber and further forms a control-chamber pressure-relief outlet, by which pressure in the control chamber can be relieved, the valve-operating mechanism operating the flush-valve member to one of said seated and unseated states thereof when the line pressure prevails in the control chamber and operating the flush-valve member to the other of said seated and unseated states thereof when the pressure in the control chamber is relieved.