Electrically controlled flush

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9803348-B1
Application number	US-201113307809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2011
Priority date	Nov 30, 2010
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for electrically controlled flush applications. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an activation assembly configured to initiate a flush of a flush assembly based upon a position of the activation assembly. The activation assembly includes a position sensor that senses a transition from a neutral position to a first position and a restraint mechanism that prevents a return to the neutral position for a predefined period of time corresponding to the flush duration. In another embodiment, a flush activation assembly includes an activation control box with a position sensor that provides an indication that a cable anchor has transitioned from a neutral position to a first position to initiate a flush of the flush assembly and a restraint mechanism that prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position in response to the indication from the position sensor.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a flush assembly; and
an activation assembly comprising an actuation control box configured to detachably attach to a flush button or a flush handle, where the activation assembly initiates a flush of the flush assembly based upon a position of the actuation control box, the actuation control box including:
a first position sensor that senses when the actuation control box transitions from a neutral position and reaches a first position corresponding to initiation of a quick flush of the flush assembly;
a second position sensor that senses when the actuation control box transitions from the first position and reaches a second position corresponding to initiation of a full flush of the flush assembly; and
a restraint mechanism configured to prevent the actuation control box from returning to the neutral position for a predefined period of time corresponding to a flush duration of the quick flush or the full flush of the flush assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first position sensor indicates initiation of the quick flush of the flush assembly when the actuation control box is in the first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the restraint mechanism prevents the actuation control box from returning to the neutral position in response to the indication from the first position sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second position sensor indicates initiation of the full flush of the flush assembly when the actuation control box is in the second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the predefined period of time is extended in response to the indication from the second position sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flush control configured to control the operation of the restraint mechanism in response to an indication from the first or second position sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a flush control box including a power supply and circuitry for the flush control.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flush control box includes a control for setting the predefined period of time corresponding to the flush duration of the flush assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the flush control activates the restraint mechanism to prevent the actuation control box from returning to the neutral position in response to the indication from the first position sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the flush control deactivates the restraint mechanism to allow the actuation control box to return to the neutral position based at least in part upon the predefined period of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flush assembly is in communication with the actuation control box via a cable assembly comprising a cable and a cable sheath.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the actuation control box further comprises a cable anchor connected to the cable of the cable assembly, wherein the cable anchor moves along a linear guide path between the neutral position, the first position and the second position, wherein the first position sensor senses when the cable anchor reaches the first position and the second position sensor senses when the cable anchor reaches the second position, and the restraint mechanism prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position for the predefined period of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the position sensor is a micro-switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the restraint mechanism is a plunger solenoid.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein movement of the cable anchor from the neutral position lifts a sealing member from a flush orifice of the flush assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flush assembly is a dual flush assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flush assembly is a single flush assembly.

18. A flush activation assembly in communication with a flush assembly via a cable assembly, the flush activation assembly comprising:
an activation control box including:
a linear guide path;
a cable anchor connected to a cable of the cable assembly, where the cable anchor is constrained by and moves within the linear guide path between a neutral position and a first position;
a position sensor that provides an indication that the cable anchor has transitioned along the linear guide path from the neutral position and reached the first position adjacent to the position sensor, where movement of the cable anchor to the first position initiates a flush of the flush assembly; and
a restraint mechanism that prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position along the linear guide path in response to the indication from the position sensor.

19. The flush activation assembly of claim 18 , wherein the restraint mechanism prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position for a predefined period of time corresponding to the flush duration of the flush assembly.

20. The flush activation assembly of claim 18 , wherein the flush assembly is a dual flush assembly.

21. The flush activation assembly of claim 20 , wherein a quick flush of the dual flush assembly is initiated when the cable anchor reaches the first position.

22. A flush activation assembly in communication with a dual flush assembly via a cable assembly, the flush activation assembly comprising:
an activation control box including:
a linear guide path;
a cable anchor connected to a cable of the cable assembly, where the cable anchor moves within the linear guide path between a neutral position and a first position;
a first position sensor that provides an indication that the cable anchor has transitioned from the neutral position and reached the first position adjacent to the first position sensor, where movement of the cable anchor to the first position initiates a quick flush of the flush assembly;
a second position sensor that provides an indication that the cable anchor has transitioned beyond the first position and reached a second position within the linear guide path, where movement of the cable anchor to the second position initiates a full flush of the dual flush assembly; and
a restraint mechanism that prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position along the linear guide path in response to the indication from the first position sensor.

23. The flush activation assembly of claim 22 , wherein the predefined period of time is extended in response to the indication from the second position sensor.

24. The flush activation assembly of claim 22 , further comprising a second restraint mechanism, where the restraint mechanism prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position from the first position in response to the indication from the position sensor and the second restraint mechanism prevents the cable anchor from returning to the neutral position from the second position in response to the indication from the second position sensor.

25. The flush activation assembly of claim 18 , wherein the flush assembly is a single flush assembly.

26. The flush activation assembly of claim 18 , wherein a flush control activates the restraint mechanism to prevent the activation assembly from returning to the neutral position in response to the indication from the position sensor.

27. The flush activation as

Assignees

• Schuster Michael J
• Stutzman Duston E A
• Saunders Douglas C
• Danco Inc

Inventors

• Schuster Michael J
• Stutzman Duston E A
• Saunders Douglas C

Classifications

• E03D1/14 Primary

  Cisterns discharging variable quantities of water (twin or multiple flushing cisterns E03D1/22; flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system and discharging variable quantities of water E03D3/12 ){also cisterns with bell siphons in combination with flushing valves} · CPC title

• B23P17/04

  characterised by the nature of the material involved or the kind of product independently of its shape · CPC title

• E03D5/09

  directly by the hand · 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