Flush actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017226721-A1
Application number	US-201715495544-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 10, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flush actuator for engaging a flush valve. The flush actuator provides a mechanism assembly for automatically flushing the flush valve. A sensor provides a presence detection to trigger the automatic flushing. Redundant manual activation is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An automatic actuation assembly for a flush valve comprising;
an actuator assembly housing having a sensor aperture; and a sensor assembly positioned adjacent the sensor aperture and having a first angled emitter, a second angled emitter and a sensor receiver, the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter being non-parallel and non-perpendicular to a vertical longitudinal plane of the actuator assembly housing; wherein the sensor receiver and at least one of the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter are at an angle respect to each other, the sensor receiver positioned to not receive rays emitted by the at least one of the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter that are specularly reflected.

2 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter are non-parallel and non-perpendicular to a horizontal longitudinal plane of the automatic actuation assembly.

3 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter are 2-15 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and 6-30 degrees with respect to the vertical plane.

4 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter are 5-11 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and 12-20 degrees with respect to the vertical plane.

5 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sensor receiver is angled 5-11 degrees from perpendicular with respect to the horizontal longitudinal plane.

6 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 1 further comprising a sensor aperture cover engageable with the sensor aperture, the sensor aperture cover being transparent to an emitted beam of both the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter, the automatic actuation assembly further comprising a tilt sensor.

7 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 1 , comprising a transreflective filter engaged with the sensor receiver.

8 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 7 further comprising the transreflective filter positioned between the sensor aperture and the sensor aperture cover.

9 . An automatic actuation assembly for a flush valve comprising;
an actuator assembly housing having a sensor aperture; a receptacle extending from the actuator assembly housing and comprising an outer ring disposed about a receptacle plunger passage; a sensor assembly positioned adjacent the sensor aperture and having a first angled emitter, a second angled emitter and a sensor receiver, the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter being non-parallel and non-perpendicular to a vertical longitudinal plane of the actuator assembly housing;
a retention flange engageable with the receptacle, the retention flange having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the outer ring; and
a plunger having a plunger head at an outer end and a shank extending there from to an inner end, the plunger head disposed within the actuator assembly housing and the plunger shank axially slidable in the receptacle plunger passage.

10 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 9 , the receptacle further comprising an inner ring disposed about the receptacle plunger passage, between the receptacle plunger passage and the outer ring and a receptacle annular gap defined between the inner ring and the outer ring.

11 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a bushing removably engagable with the receptacle, the bushing having a bushing plunger passage for slidably receiving the plunger.

12 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bushing includes a bushing outer skirt, the bushing outer skirt at least partially disposed within the receptacle annular gap and the receptacle plunger passage and bushing plunger passage aligned to receive the plunger.

13 . The automatic actuation assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a transreflective filter positioned between the sensor aperture and a sensor aperture cover.

14 . An automatic flush actuation assembly comprising;
an actuator assembly housing having a sensor aperture and a mechanism assembly; a sensor assembly positioned adjacent the sensor aperture and having a first angled emitter, a second angled emitter and an sensor receiver, the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter being non-parallel and non-perpendicular to a vertical longitudinal plane of the actuator assembly housing;
the actuator assembly housing having a housing plunger passage;
a plunger having a plunger head at an outer end and a shank extending there from to an inner end, the plunger head disposed within the actuator assembly housing and the plunger shank axially slidable disposed in the housing plunger passage;
the mechanism assembly including a mechanism frame supporting a gear train assembly;
the gear train assembly including a motor coupled to at least one gear and a roller system;
the roller system including a support gear and one or more rollers positioned a distance from the center of the support gear; the roller system positioned adjacent the plunger for direct engagement of the plunger head; and
a manual actuation assembly at least partially disposed within the actuator assembly housing, the manual actuation assembly including a face plate having a button coupled to a manual actuation arm, the manual actuation arm positioned adjacent the plunger and engageable with the plunger when the button is depressed;
wherein the sensor receiver and the at least one of the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter are at an angle respect to each other, the sensor receiver positioned to not receive rays emitted by the at least one of the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter that are specularly reflected.

15 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 14 , wherein the manual actuation arm comprises a first arm and a second arm, the first arm coupled at a first end to the button and at a second end of the first arm to a first end of the second arm, a second end of the second arm coupled to the mechanism frame.

16 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 15 wherein the second end of the second arm is pivotally coupled to the mechanism frame and is positioned below the first arm and the first end of the second arm.

17 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 16 , wherein the plunger includes a protrusion from the plunger head and the manual actuation arm is engageable with the protrusion.

18 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 17 , actuation of the button laterally moves the first arm and pivots the second arm, the second arm engaging the protrusion.

19 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 14 wherein the manual actuation assembly further comprises a manually initiated motorized actuation assembly.

20 . The automatic flush actuation assembly of claim 19 wherein the manually initiated motorized actuation assembly comprises a second button of the face plate, the second button in communication with the motor and gear assembly through a printed circuit board.

Assignees

• Sloan Valve Co

Inventors

• Wilson John
• Herbert Kay
• Mo Xiaoxiong
• Costa Alfred J
• Anthony Joshua D
• Renner Klaus H
• Kowalczyk Matthew T
• Kinsley Joshua P

Classifications

• G01V8/12

  using one transmitter and one receiver · CPC title

• E03D5/105 Primary

  touchless, e.g. using sensors · CPC title

• E03D5/092

  the flushing element, e.g. siphon bell, being actuated through a lever · CPC title

• F16K31/3835 Primary

  the discharge being effected through the piston and being blockable by a mechanically-actuated member making contact with the piston · CPC title

• E03D3/02

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