Water tank system for toilet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816259-B2
Application number	US-201414303346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2014
Priority date	Jun 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

One embodiment of the present application relates to a water tank for a toilet. The water tank includes a first chamber comprising an orifice for connecting to a toilet bowl. The water tank further includes a free-floating member within the first chamber that is not coupled to any other component and that is configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the orifice to selectively block or allow a flow of water through the orifice. The free-floating member can be selectively disengaged from the orifice via an actuator or a differential pressure within the water tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water tank for a toilet, the water tank comprising:
a first chamber comprising an orifice for connecting to a toilet bowl; and
a free-floating member within the first chamber that is not coupled to any other component and that is configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the orifice to selectively block or allow a flow of water through the orifice;
wherein the free-floating member is configured to be selectively disengaged from the orifice in response to a differential pressure created within the water tank by releasing a volume of air from within the water tank to the outside atmosphere free from any mechanical actuator engaging with, or disengaging from, the free-floating member.

2. The water tank of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber further comprises a first check valve for fluidly connecting the first chamber to the outside atmosphere.

3. The water tank of claim 2 , further comprising a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber and a second check valve for fluidly connecting the second chamber to the outside atmosphere.

4. The water tank of claim 3 , wherein the differential pressure within the water tank is created upon actuation of at least one of the first and second check valves to selectively release the volume of air from the water tank.

5. The water tank of claim 4 , further comprising a third chamber having an upper portion fluidly connected to the first chamber and to the outside atmosphere, and a bottom portion fluidly connected to the orifice;
wherein the upper portion is configured to receive an amount of water from the first chamber that exceeds a predetermined height within the first chamber, and the bottom portion is configured to direct the amount of water to the orifice.

6. The water tank of claim 1 , wherein the free-floating member is a ball having a buoyancy such that the ball freely floats within the water tank when the ball is disengaged from the orifice.

7. A water tank for a toilet, the water tank comprising:
a first chamber comprising an orifice for fluidly connecting the first chamber to a toilet bowl and further comprising a first check valve for fluidly connecting the first chamber to the outside atmosphere;
a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber and further comprising a second check valve for fluidly connecting the second chamber to the outside atmosphere;
a free-floating member in the first chamber selectively engaged with the orifice and configured to block a flow of water through the orifice; and
wherein the first and second check valves are each configured to selectively release a volume of air from the water tank to the outside atmosphere, creating a differential pressure within the water tank such that the free-floating member is selectively disengaged from the orifice free from any mechanical actuator engaging with, or disengaging from, the free-floating member, allowing water to exit the water tank through the orifice.

8. The water tank of claim 7 , wherein the orifice is located below the first chamber, and the first chamber has a funnel shape for directing water contained within the water tank toward the orifice.

9. The water tank of claim 8 , wherein the second chamber is configured to maintain a positive pressure in an air space above a volume of water contained within the second chamber when the second check valve is in a closed position before initiating a flush cycle.

10. The water tank of claim 9 , wherein the second chamber is further configured to receive at least a portion of water contained within the first chamber when air is released from the air space within the second chamber via opening of the second check valve, creating a negative pressure within an air space of the first chamber.

11. The water tank of claim 10 , wherein the free-floating member is a ball having a buoyancy such that the ball selectively disengages from the orifice in response to the negative pressure.

12. The water tank of claim 11 , further comprising a vent fluidly connected to the first chamber and the outside atmosphere, wherein the vent is configured to fill with water to a height approximately equal to a water level of the water contained within the first chamber, and to resist air entry from the outside atmosphere.

13. The water tank of claim 12 , further comprising a third chamber having an upper portion fluidly connected to the first chamber and to the outside atmosphere, and a bottom portion fluidly connected to the orifice;
wherein the upper portion is configured to receive an amount of water from the first chamber that exceeds a predetermined height within the first chamber, and the bottom portion is configured to direct the amount of water to the orifice.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Ahola Billy Jack
• Smith Andrew L
• Westphal Lawrence
• Swart Peter W
• Baumgartner Mark E
• Duwell Lawrence
• Bogenshuetz Don
• Vetting Tobin J
• Emmerling John F

Classifications

• E03D3/10 Primary

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

• E03D1/30

  Valves for high or low level cisterns; Their arrangement (inlet valves, valves in general F16K ){; Flushing mechanisms in the cistern, optionally with provisions for a pre-or a post- flushing and for cutting off the flushing mechanism in case of leakage (flushing valves E03D1/142, E03D1/186, E03D1/266, E03D1/286)} · CPC title