Quiet flush actuator for pressure-assist toilets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11427995-B2
Application number	US-201916590686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2019
Priority date	Oct 10, 2018
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet comprising:
a flush assembly comprising:
an outer chamber;
an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber;
a stationary wall dividing the outer chamber and inner chamber;
a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber; and
a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve; and
an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than the first distance.

2. The tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
at the second height, the flush valve is seated against the outer chamber; and
at the third height, the flush valve is unseated from the outer chamber.

3. The tank assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
at the second height, a siphon is not formed in the toilet; and
at the third height, the siphon is formed in the toilet.

4. The tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a cam rotatably coupled to the motor and engaging a stem of the pilot valve.

5. The tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the cam rotates about a cam axis that is substantially perpendicular to a valve axis; and
the cam defines a non-constant radius.

6. The tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cam comprises:
a first arc having a first radius;
a second arc having a second radius greater than the first radius; and
a third arc having a third radius greater than the second radius.

7. The tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the cam rotates about a cam axis that is substantially parallel to or collinear with a valve axis; and
the cam defines a non-constant height above an upper surface of the inner chamber.

8. The tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator, comprising an arm extending substantially parallel to or collinear with a valve axis.

9. The tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein one or more delays in an evacuation sequence are caused by a duration of rotation of the cam by the motor.

10. The tank assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first arc corresponds to a filing sequence or a resetting sequence.

11. The tank assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second arc corresponds to a pressure release sequence.

12. The tank assembly of claim 11 , wherein pressure is released through the pilot valve in the pressure release sequence.

13. The tank assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second arc corresponds to an evacuation sequence.

14. The tank assembly of claim 13 , wherein the evacuation sequence corresponds to a siphon.

15. The tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein a speed of a cam is selectable in relation to possible flush sequences.

16. The tank assembly of claim 15 , wherein the possible flush sequences correspond to types of waste.

17. A method for a pressure-assist toilet comprising:
engaging, by an actuator, a pilot valve to hold the pilot valve at a first height;
engaging, by the actuator, the pilot valve to hold the pilot valve at a second height offset a first distance from the first height; and
engaging, by the actuator, the pilot valve to hold the pilot valve at a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than the first distance,
wherein the pilot valve is disposed in an inner chamber and extends through a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber,
wherein the inner chamber is disposed in an outer chamber and a stationary wall divides the outer chamber and inner chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises a cam and a motor, the method further comprising:
rotating the cam about a cam axis that is substantially perpendicular to a valve axis, wherein the cam defines a non-constant radius.

19. A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet comprising:
a flush assembly comprising:
an inner chamber;
an outer chamber;
a stationary wall dividing the outer chamber and inner chamber;
a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber; and
a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve; and
an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height and a second height offset a first distance from the first height.

20. The tank assembly of claim 19 , wherein the actuator is configured to engage the pilot valve and hold the pilot valve at a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than the first distance.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Kuru William C
• Kalk William

Classifications

• E03D1/012

  Details of shape of cisterns, e.g. for connecting to wall, for supporting or connecting flushing-device actuators {(mounting frames with incorporated cisterns E03D11/146)} · CPC title

• E03D3/02 Primary

  Self-closing flushing valves (self-closing valves in general F16K21/04) · CPC title

• E03D1/34 Primary

  Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves · CPC title

• E03D3/10 Primary

  Flushing devices with pressure-operated reservoir, e.g. air chamber · CPC title

• E03D5/105

  touchless, e.g. using sensors · CPC title