Flush valve mechanisms

Abstract

A flush valve is provided for flushing a toilet bowl. The flush valve includes a center tube, a flush activation device configured to initially raise the center tube, and at least one timing mechanism configured to control movement of the center tube. The timing mechanism controls volume of fluid used during a flush.

1 . A flush valve apparatus for flushing a toilet bowl, comprising:
 a center tube;   a flush activation device configured to initially raise the center tube; and   at least one timing mechanism configured to control movement of the center tube;   wherein the at least one timing mechanism controls volume of fluid used during a flush.   
   
   
       2 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising a first bump coupled to the center tube, the bump configured to position the center tube off its axis for a full flush. 
   
   
       3 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising at least one float-weight coupled to an arm, the arm having a first lug. 
   
   
       4 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising a second bump configured to position the center tube off its axis for a selective flush. 
   
   
       5 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a center tube housing including a slot configured to latch a lug on the center tube. 
   
   
       6 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lug on the arm impacts the lug on the center tube to release the center tube from the slot. 
   
   
       7 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the toilet bowl is flushed upon the lug on the center tube latching the slot, and a toilet tank is filled upon the lug of the center tube being released from the slot. 
   
   
       8 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 1 , the timing mechanism further comprising a pivoted lever coupled to a first float-weight and a second float-weight. 
   
   
       9 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pivoted lever includes a first cam and a second cam, the first cam is configured to latch with a center tube lug for a full flush, and the second cam is configured to latch with the lug for a selectable flush. 
   
   
       10 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises a float-weight integrated with the center tube. 
   
   
       11 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 10 , the float-weight further comprising a tilting cup including a cam configured to latch a lug of the center tube. 
   
   
       12 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the center tube is centrally positioned through the float-weight. 
   
   
       13 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the center tube is coupled to a gear with a latching cam. 
   
   
       14 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the center tube includes a gear rack configured to drive the gear to latch the latching cam with a height adjustment device coupled to a skirt of the float-weight. 
   
   
       15 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the timing mechanism includes a first timing cup and a second timing cup. 
   
   
       16 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first timing cup includes a first tilting float cup and a first locking cam, and the second timing cup includes a second tilting float cup and a second locking cam. 
   
   
       17 . The flush valve apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first locking cam is configured to latch with a first lug of the center tube, and the second locking cam is configured to latch with a second lug of the center tube. 
   
   
       18 . A method of flushing fluid in a toilet, the method comprising:
 providing a tank coupled to a bowl;   activating a flush cycle by initially raising a center tube in the tank;   controlling movement of the center tube with at least one timing mechanism; and   controlling volume of fluid used during flushing of the bowl with the timing mechanism.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one timing mechanism comprises a latching lug of the center tube and float-weight slot, wherein another float-weight contacts a bump to release the lug from the slot. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises a pivoted lever coupled to a first and second float-weight, and the first and second float-weight raise the lever to engage a first cam with a first lug of the center tube for a fill flush, and a second cam with a second lug for a selectable flush. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises a timing reservoir including a tilt cup with a locking cam, and the locking cam latches with a lug of the center tube for a full flush. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the timing mechanism uses an air vent to remove air from a float-weight to drop the center tube after a flush. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises driving a gear with a latching cam with a gear rack on the center tube to latch with a fluid level adjusting device for a full flush. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises a first float-weight having a first tilting cup and a second float-weight having a second tilting cup. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first tilting cup latching a first lug of the center tube for full flushing, and the second tilting cup latching a second lug of the center tube for selective flushing. 
   
   
       26 . A toilet system, comprising:
 a tank coupled to a bowl, the tank including a flush valve device, the flush valve device including:   a center tube;   a flush activation device configured to initially raise the center tube; and   at least one timing mechanism coupled to the center tube and configured to control movement of the center tube for controlling a volume of fluid used for a full flush and a selective flush.   
   
   
       27 . The toilet system of  claim 26 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising a first bump coupled to the center tube, the bump configured to position the center tube off its axis for a full flush. 
   
   
       28 . The toilet system of  claim 27 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising at least one float-weight coupled to an arm, the arm having a first lug. 
   
   
       29 . The toilet system of  claim 28 , wherein the timing mechanism further comprising a second bump configured to position the center tube off its axis for a selective flush. 
   
   
       30 . The toilet system of  claim 29 , further comprising a center tube housing including a slot configured to latch a lug on the center tube. 
   
   
       31 . The toilet system of  claim 29 , wherein the lug on the arm impacts the lug on the center tube to release the center tube from the slot. 
   
   
       32 . The toilet system of  claim 29 , wherein the toilet bowl is flushed upon the lug on the center tube latching the slot, and a toilet tank is filled upon the lug of the center tube being released from the slot. 
   
   
       33 . The toilet system of  claim 26 , the timing mechanism further comprising a pivoted lever coupled to a first float-weight and a second float-weight. 
   
   
       34 . The toilet system of  claim 33 , wherein the pivoted lever includes a first cam and a second cam, the first cam is configured to latch with a center tube lug for a full flush, and the second cam is configured to latch with the lug for a selectable flush. 
   
   
       35 . The toilet system of  claim 26 , wherein the timing mechanism comprises a float-weight integrated with the center tube. 
   
   
       36 . The toilet system of  claim 35 , the float-weight further comprising a tilting cup including a cam configured to latch a lug of the center tube. 
   
   
       37 . The toilet system of  claim 36 , wherein the center tube is centrally positioned through the float-weight. 
   
   
       38 . The toilet system of  claim 35 , wherein the center tube is coupled to a gear with a latching cam. 
   
   
       39 . The toilet system of  claim 38 , wherein the center tube includes a gear rack configured to drive the gear to latch the latching cam with a height adjustment device coupled to a skirt of the float-weight. 
   
   
       40 . The toilet system of  claim 26 , wherein the timing mechanism includes a first timing cup and a second timing cup. 
   
   
       41 . The toilet system of  claim 40 , wherein the first timing cup includes a first tilting float cup and a first locking cam, and the second timing cup includes a second tilting float cup and a second locking cam. 
   
   
       42 . The toilet system of  claim 41 , wherein the first locking cam is configured to latch with a first lug of the center tube, and the second locking cam is configured to latch with a second lug of the center tube.