Fluid connector for toilet

Abstract

A toilet assembly includes a toilet, a non-vitreous fluid delivery component, and a connector assembly. The non-vitreous fluid delivery component is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, the toilet. The connector assembly couples the non-vitreous fluid delivery component to the toilet in a substantially watertight manner. The connector assembly includes a connector body, a nut adjustably coupled to the connector body, and a sealing member disposed on the connector body. The nut is configured to be adjusted relative to the connector body to cause the connector body to compress the sealing member against a portion of the toilet, such that the sealing member creates a substantially watertight seal between the toilet and the connector body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator for a pressure-assist toilet, the actuator comprising:
 a motor configured to be coupled to a flush assembly having a pilot valve for activating a flush sequence; and   a cam coupled to the motor and configured to rotate about a cam axis, the cam defining an outer periphery including a first arc configured to move the pilot valve to a first height, a second arc configured to move the pilot valve to a second height less than the first height, and a third arc configured to move the pilot valve to a third height less than the first height and different than the second height.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first arc comprises a first radius, the second arc comprises a second radius greater than the first radius, and the third arc comprises a third radius greater than the second radius. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first arc, the second arc, and the third arc each correspond to a different portion of the flush sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the first arc has a first arc length, the second arc has a second arc length different than the first arc length, and the third arc has a third arc length different than the first arc length and the second arc length, and
 wherein the first arc length, the second arc length, and the third arc length each correspond to a different length of time of a corresponding portion of the flush sequence.   
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to be coupled to an outer chamber of the flush assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 5 , wherein the pilot valve is disposed in an inner chamber, and the inner chamber is disposed in the outer chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 6 , wherein the pilot valve is configured to engage a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the flush sequence correspond to one rotation of the cam about the cam axis. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the cam axis is substantially perpendicular to a pilot axis along which the pilot valve moves. 
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the cam axis is substantially parallel to a pilot axis along which the pilot valve moves. 
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the cam has a constant radius. 
     
     
         12 . An actuator for a pressure-assist toilet, the actuator comprising:
 a motor configured to be coupled to a flush assembly including a pilot valve for activating a flush sequence; and   an arm coupled to the motor and configured to move linearly along an actuator axis, the arm configured to extend to a first offset distance so as to move the pilot valve to a first height, extend to a second offset distance greater than the first offset distance so as to move the pilot valve to a second height, and extend to a third offset distance greater than each of the first offset distance and the second offset distance, so as to move the pilot valve to pilot valve to a third height.   
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the first offset distance, the second offset distance, and the third offset distance each correspond to a different portion of the flush sequence. 
     
     
         14 . The actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the motor is configured to be coupled to an outer chamber of the flush assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 14 , wherein the pilot valve is disposed in an inner chamber, and the inner chamber is disposed in the outer chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The actuator of  claim 15 , wherein the pilot valve is configured to engage a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A method for a pressure-assist flush assembly, the method comprising:
 opening a quiet flush actuator disposed between a first line and a second line a first amount allowing a flow at a first flow rate to pass from the first line to the second line, wherein in response to the first flow rate, a flush valve disposed in an outer chamber allows a portion of a supply of water in the outer chamber to flow through a chamber outlet; and   opening the quiet flush actuator a second amount allowing the flow at a second flow rate to pass from the first line to the second line, wherein in response to the second flow rate, the flush valve allows a remaining supply of water in the outer chamber to flow through the chamber outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the supply of water flowing through the chamber outlet does not trigger a siphon in a toilet bowl fluidly connected to the chamber outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remaining supply of water flowing through the chamber outlet triggers a siphon in a toilet bowl fluidly connected to the chamber outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first amount is less than the second amount and the second amount is a fully open position of the quiet flush actuator.