Anti-flushing diaphragm

Abstract

An elastomeric anti-flushing diaphragm ( 80 ) having a cantilevered peripheral rim ( 84 ) is supported by and resides under a diverter ( 52 ) which is placed directly over the main or primary drain opening ( 44 ) in a top wall ( 40 ) of a urinal cartridge ( 22 ). As liquid passes under the diverter, a negative pressure or suction is created on the underside ( 96 ) of the diaphragm. As the flow of liquid increases, the negative pressure increases to pull down the peripheral edge (rim 84 ) of the diaphragm on the top wall and to constrict the flow of liquid that can pass under it, thus limiting the amount of turbulence in the sealing fluid ( 30 ) within the cartridge and preventing its loss to an external drain tube ( 34 ). When the liquid flow is sufficient to rise above the diverter, as in the case of a bucket ( 100 ) of water ( 102 ) being poured into the urinal bowl, the water creates a positive pressure above the diaphragm, that is, on its upper side ( 94 ). This positive pressure, in concert with the negative pressure on the underside of the diaphragm, seals the peripheral edge of the diaphragm to the top of the cartridge, thereby blocking the main drain and diverts the liquid to smaller secondary openings ( 45 ) in the top wall which can operate otherwise as cartridge-removing tool holes and vent holes. The flow through the secondary openings allows slow drainage and no loss of sealant. When the pressure subsides or is reduced, the diaphragm returns to its normal position due to its elastic resiliency, and allows normal operation of the water free urinal without any restriction.

1 . Instrumentation for avoiding the flow of a larger quantity of fluid than a lesser quantity of fluid through an opening in a top wall into an enclosure enclosing wastewater and a sealant floating thereon and, thereby, leading to unwanted disturbance of the sealant, comprising: 
 a flexible sealing element positioned over the top wall and the opening, and including a periphery surrounding the opening and normally spaced from the top wall to permit the lesser quantity of fluid to flow through the opening into the enclosure and movable into contact with the top wall to form a fluid-tight seal therewith and thereby to prevent the larger quantity of fluid from flowing into the cartridge through the opening.    
   
   
       2 . Instrumentation according to  claim 1  in which said sealing element comprises a diaphragm having membrane extending to a thickened rim that defines said periphery, which rim extends in a normally spaced and unsealed disposition with respect to the opening.  
   
   
       3 . Instrumentation according to  claim 2  wherein a fluid-diverting shell is placeable on and spaced from the top wall and over the opening therein, which shell is bounded by a periphery and that is configured to direct fluids towards the shell periphery and thus to avoid direct access of the fluids to the opening, further in which said diaphragm is secured to and supported by the shell such that said rim is normally positioned between the shell and the top wall.  
   
   
       4 . Instrumentation according to  claim 3  in which the shell is provided with a center hub securable to the top wall and said diaphragm is formed generally as a disc having a centrally positioned hub secured to the shell hub.  
   
   
       5 . In a urinal cartridge having a top wall for receiving wastewater and other fluids, a primary opening and smaller secondary openings in the top wall, an enclosure into which the wastewater is received through the primary opening, a quantity of low-density liquid in the enclosure forming an odor-barrier sealant layer above the wastewater, and a diverter which is placeable on the top wall and over the primary opening therein and which includes (a) a shell having an essentially fluid-impermeable upper surface that is bounded by a periphery and that is configured to direct the wastewater towards the shell periphery, and (b) a spacer spacing the shell from the top wall to permit the wastewater to flow from the upper surface periphery onto the top wall for entry into the top wall primary opening and thereby to avoid direct access of the wastewater to the primary opening, 
 instrumentation for avoiding undesired flushing of fluids into the enclosure leading to unwanted disturbance of the low-density liquid comprising:    a flexible anti-flushing diaphragm secured to and within the diverter shell and positioned over the top wall and the entry primary opening, and including a cantilevered peripheral rim surrounding the entry primary opening and normally spaced from the top wall to permit fluids to flow through the entry primary opening into the cartridge and movable into contact with the top wall to form a fluid-tight seal therewith and thereby to prevent fluids from flowing into the cartridge through the entry primary opening,    whereby, as fluid passes under the diverter, a negative pressure or suction is created on the underside of said diaphragm and, as the flow of the fluid increases, the negative pressure increases to pull down said peripheral rim of said diaphragm and to constrict the flow of the fluid that can pass under said diaphragm, thus limiting the amount of turbulence in the sealing fluid within the cartridge and preventing its loss to an external drain pipe and, when the fluid flow is sufficient to rise above the diverter, such as in the event that a large quantity of fluid is poured onto the top wall, the fluid creates a positive pressure above said diaphragm, wherein the positive pressure, in concert with the negative pressure on the underside of said diaphragm, seals said peripheral rim to the top wall, thereby blocking the primary opening and diverting the fluid to the smaller secondary openings, which flow through the secondary openings allows slow drainage and no loss of the sealant, and when the pressure subsides, said diaphragm returns to its normal position due to its elastic resiliency, and allows normal operation of the cartridge.    
   
   
       6 . A method for avoiding the flow of a larger quantity of fluid than a lesser quantity of fluid through an opening in a wall into an enclosure enclosing wastewater and a sealant floating thereon and, thereby, leading to unwanted disturbance of the sealant, comprising the steps of: 
 permitting the opening to remain in communication with the enclosure when a lesser quantity of fluid exists; and    sealing the opening when a larger quantity of fluid than a lesser quantity of fluid exists.    
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6  further including the steps of positioning a sealing element over the wall and the opening, and utilizing the negative and positive pressures of the fluid to effectuate said permitting and sealing steps.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  further including the step of imparting flexibility to the sealing element to effect said positioning step.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  further including the step of utilizing at least one opening in the wall secondary to and smaller than the first-mentioned opening for permitting a smaller flow of the fluid into the enclosure during said sealing step.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7  further including the steps of: 
 diverting all flow of fluid for direct flow into the opening by a diverter;    forming the sealing element as a flexible diaphragm with a peripheral rim; and    supporting the sealing element within the diverter,    whereby, as fluid passes under the diverter, a negative pressure is created on the underside of the sealing element and, as the flow of the fluid increases, the negative pressure increases to pull down the peripheral rim of the diaphragm and to constrict the flow of the fluid that can pass under the diaphragm, thus limiting the amount of turbulence in the sealant within the enclosure and preventing its loss to the exterior of the enclosure and, when the fluid flow is sufficient to rise above the diverter, the fluid creates a positive pressure above the diaphragm, wherein the positive pressure, in concert with the negative pressure on the underside of the diaphragm, seals the peripheral rim to the wall, thereby blocking the first-mentioned opening and diverting the fluid to the smaller secondary opening, which flow through the secondary opening allows slow drainage and no loss of the sealant, and when the pressure subsides, the diaphragm returns to its normal position due to its elastic resiliency.