Dual mode flush actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9353511-B2
Application number	US-201414209678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

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. A reduced flush or standard flush cycle may be initiated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flush valve assembly comprising;
a valve body having a diaphragm valve disposed therein with a stem extended there from;
an actuator assembly coupled to the valve body;
a bushing at least partially disposed within the valve body between the actuator assembly and stem;
a plunger slidably and tiltably disposed within the bushing, the plunger having a plunger head at an outer end and a shank extending there from to an inner end for engaging the stem, the plunger being axially slidable through a passage in the bushing; and
the actuator assembly comprising:
an actuator assembly housing coupled to the valve body, the actuator assembly housing having a plunger passage there through for slidably and tiltably receiving the plunger and the plunger head being disposed within the actuator assembly housing;
a sensor unit disposed within the actuator assembly housing and positioned for presence detection through a sensor aperture; and
a roller system disposed within the actuator assembly housing adjacent the plunger, the roller system engageable with the plunger head;

wherein rotation of the roller system in a first direction moves the plunger along a first plunger travel path to strike the stem at a first vertical point to effectuate a solid waste flush volume and rotation of the roller system in a second direction moves the plunger along a second plunger travel path to strike the stem at a second vertical point to effectuate a liquid waste flush volume.

2. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plunger travel path is substantially horizontal and the second plunger travel path is nonparallel with respect to the first plunger travel path.

3. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger head comprises a curved surface.

4. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger head comprises a lower portion and an upper portion.

5. The flush valve assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lower portion corresponds to a first angled surface and the upper portion corresponds to a second angled surface, the first surface and the second surface being non-perpendicular and non-parallel.

6. The flush valve assembly of claim 5 , wherein the roller system engages the lower portion when the roller system is rotated in the first direction and engages the upper portion when the roller system is rotated in the second direction.

7. The flush valve assembly of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the roller system in one of the first direction or second direction tilts the plunger within the bushing passage.

8. An automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly comprising;
an actuator assembly housing and a mechanism assembly disposable therein;
the actuator assembly housing having a receptacle for engaging with a valve body, the receptacle comprising an outer ring disposed about a receptacle plunger passage;
a retention flange engageable with the receptacle and a nut retained between the retention flange and the actuator assembly housing, the nut engageable with a handle boss of the valve body; and
a plunger having a plunger head at an outer end and a shank extending there from to an inner end, the plunger head having an angled upper portion and an angled lower portion and being disposed within the actuator assembly housing, the plunger shank tiltably and slidably disposed in the receptacle plunger passage;
wherein engagement of one of the angled upper portion and the angled lower portion of the plunger head tilts the plunger and moves the plunger laterally through the receptacle plunger passage.

9. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 8 , wherein the retention flange has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the outer ring.

10. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 8 further comprising a bushing alignment feature.

11. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 8 , 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.

12. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a bushing, the bushing having a bushing plunger passage for tiltably and slidably receiving the plunger.

13. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 12 , 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.

14. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 13 further comprising a bushing alignment feature including a groove on one of the bushing or the receptacle and a corresponding protrusion on the other of the bushing or the receptacle, the protrusion preventing full engagement of the bushing with the receptacle unless the protrusion is engaged with the groove.

15. An automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly comprising:
an actuator assembly housing having a housing plunger passage and a mechanism assembly disposable in the actuator assembly housing;
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 tiltable and slidable in a housing plunger passage;
a bushing at least partially disposed in the handle boss, the bushing having a bushing plunger passage for tiltably and slidably receiving the plunger;
the mechanism assembly including a mechanism frame supporting a gear train assembly having a motor, one or more gears, and a roller system including one or more rollers adjacent the plunger head;
a sensor unit in communication with the gear train assembly, the sensor unit having a first angled emitter, a second angled emitter, and an angled sensor receiver, the first angled emitter and the second angled emitter being non-parallel and non-perpendicular to a horizontal plane of actuator assembly housing and a vertical plane of the actuator assembly housing; and
an upper portion of the plunger head is engageable by the one or more rollers when the gear train assembly rotates in a first gear train assembly direction and a lower portion of the plunger head is engageable by the one or more rollers when the gear train rotations in a second gear train assembly direction opposite the first gear train assembly direction;
wherein rotation in the first gear train assembly direction moves the plunger along a first plunger travel path to effectuate a solid waste flush volume and in the second gear train assembly direction moves the plunger along a second plunger travel path to effectuate a liquid waste flush volume.

16. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 15 , wherein the mechanism assembly further includes a tilt sensor, the tilt sensor providing information regarding the orientation of the automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly.

17. The automatic dual flush mode actuation assembly of claim 16 , wherein the tilt sensor provides an indication of a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein in the first orientation, rotation of the motor in a first motor direction rotates the gear train assembly in the first gear train assembly direction and the moves the plunger along the first plunger travel path to effectuate the solid waste flush volume and rotation of the motor in a second motor direction rotates the gear train assembly in the second gear train

Assignees

• Sloan Valve Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• E03D3/12 Primary

  Flushing devices discharging variable quantities of water (flushing cisterns discharging variable quantities of water E03D1/14) · CPC title

• E03D5/105 Primary

  touchless, e.g. using sensors · CPC title

• B01F33/8442

  using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale · CPC title

• E03D5/10

  operated electrically (E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence), {e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl} · CPC title

• E03D3/02

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