[0001] The present invention relates to a flush tank valve assembly.
[0002] A flush tank valve assembly normally extends along a given axis, and comprises a
cup; a valve having a valve body integral with the cup, and a slide movable along
said given axis; a frame over the cup; and a slide actuating device supported partly
by the frame and partly by the slide. The actuating device comprises a pushbutton
located at least partly outside the tank, and which, when pressed, raises the slide
to open the valve. A flush tank comprises an inner compartment housing the valve assembly
and a given quantity of water; a top wall having a first opening through which a portion
of the actuating device projects; and a bottom wall having a second opening through
which projects a portion of the valve body. The bottom wall of the flush tank is gripped
between the valve body and a ring nut; and the top wall of the flush tank is gripped
between the frame and an outer portion of the actuating device.
[0003] The total length of the valve assembly is therefore determined by the distance between
the top and bottom walls of the flush tank. However, manufacturing tolerances of the
valve assembly and flush tank components, and any inaccuracy in assembling the valve
assembly make it impossible to achieve a precise relationship between the length of
the valve assembly and the distance between the top and bottom walls of the flush
tank.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a flush tank valve assembly,
which can be fitted quickly and easily to a flush tank, and in particular can be adapted
to the size of the flush tank.
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a valve assembly as claimed
in Claim 1.
[0006] The present invention also relates to a method of fitting a valve assembly to a flush
tank.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a method as claimed in Claim
11.
[0008] A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a front view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity,
of a valve assembly in accordance with the present invention and fitted inside a flush
tank;
Figure 2 shows a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 1 valve
assembly;
Figure 3 shows a side view of a detail in Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV of the Figure 1 valve assembly;
Figure 5 shows a side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of
a detail of the Figure 1 assembly in a rest, i.e. closed-valve, position;
Figure 6 shows a side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of
the Figure 5 detail in a work, i.e. open-valve, position.
[0009] Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a valve assembly housed inside a flush
tank 2, which comprises a compartment 3 for housing valve assembly 1 and a given quantity
of flush water; a top wall 4 having an opening 6; and a bottom wall 5 having an opening
7. Valve assembly 1 extends along an axis A1, and projects partly through openings
6 and 7.
[0010] Assembly 1 comprises a cylindrical cup 8; a valve 9 beneath cup 8; a frame 10 over
cup 8; and an actuating device 11.
[0011] Cup 8 comprises a cylindrical lateral wall 12, a top portion of which has a threaded
portion 13 with a thread of pitch P; a bottom wall 14 with a central hole; and a guide
15 located inside cup 8 and for the purpose explained in detail later on.
[0012] Valve 9 comprises a valve body 16 integral with cup 8 and having a seat 17, which
comes out inside an externally threaded outflow fitting 18 extending through opening
7. Valve 9 also comprises a slide 19, which has a shutter 20 on the bottom end for
engaging seat 17, a threaded top portion 21, and a central portion 22, which slides
inside cup 8 and is guided by guide 15. Guide 15 is fitted to central portion 22 of
slide 19 to allow slide 19 to slide along axis A1, and to prevent slide 19 rotating
about axis A1. More specifically, guide 15 comprises slots 15a parallel to axis A1,
and slide 19 comprises tabs 23 parallel to axis A1 and engaging slots 15a in sliding
manner as shown in Figure 4.
[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, valve 9 is fixed to bottom wall 5 of flush tank 2 by
means of a ring nut 24 screwed to fitting 18 to grip bottom wall 5 between ring nut
24 and a seal 25 interposed between valve body 16 and bottom wall 5.
[0014] With reference to Figure 1, frame 10 comprises two rods 26 parallel to axis A1; and
a post 27 crosswise to axis A1 and integral with the top ends of rods 26. Just beneath
post 27, each rod 26 has a tab 28, which is positioned radially with respect to axis
A1 and supports a pin 29 defining an axis A2 extending radially with respect to axis
A1. Beneath tabs 28, each rod 26 has a succession of teeth 30, which are equally spaced
with pitch P, project towards axis A1, and form a threaded coupling with threaded
portion 13 of cup 8. Frame 10 also comprises a cover 31 and a ring 32, which substantially
provide for keeping teeth 30 engaged with threaded portion 13 of cup 8. Cover 31 comprises
a top wall 33 with a hole for the passage of slide 19; and a cylindrical lateral wall
34 having two seats 35 housing respective rods 26. Ring 32 substantially comprises
a lateral wall 36; and two seats 37 housing rods 26. With reference to Figures 2 and
3, cover 31 and ring 32 have respective click-on fastening members 38 and 39 for fastening
together cover 31 and ring 32. Cover 31 is located above threaded portion 13; wall
36 of ring 32 surrounds, and extends partly beneath, threaded portion 13; and cover
31 and ring 32 define a foolproof position of rods 26 at threaded portion 13, and
contribute towards increasing the structural rigidity of frame 10 as a whole.
[0015] With reference to Figures 1, 5 and 6, post 27 comprises a groove 40 extending crosswise
to axis A1 to partly house actuating device 11, which comprises a pushbutton 41 and
a mechanical transmission 42 beneath pushbutton 41. Pushbutton 41 comprises an inner
portion 43 housed inside tank 2 and groove 40; an outer portion 44 located outside
tank 2 and screwed to inner portion 43; and a ring 45 fitted to outer portion 44 to
grip top wall 4 of tank 2 between post 27 and ring 45. Transmission 42 comprises a
lever 46, which is defined by a rib, is in the form of a rectangular loop, is hinged
to pins 29 about axis A2 perpendicular to axis A1, and has a connecting ring 47; and
a lever 48 hinged to lever 46 about an axis A3 parallel to axis A2, and having a connecting
member 49 for connection to inner portion 43 of pushbutton 41. Member 49 has projections
50, which engage tabs 28 so that member 49 is guided parallel to axis A1 when activated
by pushbutton 41. Actuating device 11 also comprises a connecting member 51, in turn
comprising a ring 52 screwed to portion 21 of slide 19, and a hook 53 integral with
ring 52.
[0016] Hook 53 projects radially from ring 52 with respect to axis A1, and engages ring
47 of lever 46 so that the movements of lever 46 are transmitted to connecting member
51 and vice versa.
[0017] In actual use, valve assembly 1 is installed inside a tank 2, and is operated by
pushbutton 41 to open valve 9 and drain the water from tank 2 through valve 9. In
Figure 5, slide 19 is in the lowered position, and valve 9 (not shown in Figure 5)
is closed. When pushbutton 41 is pressed, lever 48 moves down, and lever 46 rotates
about axis A2, as shown in Figure 6, to raise hook 53, connecting member 51, and slide
19, the travel of which depends on the angle of rotation of lever 46 and the on the
travel of pushbutton 41. As it moves down, lever 48 rotates slightly about axis A3,
as shown in Figure 6.
[0018] For best opening and closing of valve 9, the component parts of actuating device
11 must be arranged in precise relative positions, which also applies to hook 53,
which, unlike the other component parts of actuating device 11 fitted to frame 10,
is fitted to slide 19.
[0019] Valve assembly 1 is installed inside flush tank 2 by inserting fitting 18 inside
opening 7 in bottom wall 5 of tank 2, and effecting a clockwise or anticlockwise relative
rotation between cup 8 and frame 10 to adjust and adapt the length of valve assembly
1 to the distance D between top wall 4 and bottom wall 5 of tank 2. Continuous, precise
adjustment of the length of valve assembly 1 is made possible by the threaded connection
of cup 8 and frame 10. And relative rotation between frame 10 and cup 8 produces a
relative rotation between member 51 and threaded portion 21 of slide 19. Since slide
19, by means of guide 15, is integral with cup 8 as regards rotation about axis A1,
and connecting member 51 is substantially integral with lever 46 as regards rotation
about axis A1, relative rotation between the cup and frame 10 varies not only the
length of valve assembly 1, but also the relative position between portion 21 of slide
19 and connecting member 51. Since threaded portion 13 of cup 8 and threaded portion
21 of the slide have the same hand and pitch P, both the variations produced by relative
rotation between cup 8 and frame 10 are of the same amount, so that the relative position
between connecting member 51 and the other component parts of actuating device 11
remains unchanged alongside variations in the length of valve assembly 1, and no specific
adjustment of the component parts of actuating device 11 is required, this being a
consequence of adjusting the length of valve assembly 1.
[0020] If portion 21 of the slide projects excessively with respect to member 51 once the
length of valve assembly 1 and the relative position of the component parts of actuating
device 11 are adjusted, the surplus part of portion 21 is cut off. Ring nut 24 is
then screwed to fitting 18, and outer portion 44 of pushbutton 41 is screwed to inner
portion 43 of pushbutton 41 to fix valve assembly 1 to bottom wall 5 and top wall
4 of flush tank 2.
[0021] Clearly, any number of changes can be made to the embodiment shown in the accompanying
drawings. For example, transmission 42 may be replaced with a transmission cooperating
with the pushbutton to permit controlled closing of valve 9; or the slide may be connected
to a float to effect controlled closing of valve 9; and, in other variations (not
shown), the pushbutton is controlled pneumatically.
1. A valve assembly (1) for a flush tank (2), the valve assembly (1) extending along
a first axis (A1), and comprising a cylindrical cup (8); a valve (9) having a valve
body (16) integral with the cup (8), and a slide (19) movable along the first axis
(A1); a frame (10) located over said cup (8); and an actuating device (11) for actuating
the slide (19); the valve assembly (1) being characterized in that the frame (10) and the cup (8) are connected by a threaded connection to adjust the
length of the valve assembly (1) along the first axis (A1) by means of relative rotation,
about the first axis (A1), between the cup (8) and the frame (10).
2. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said cup (8) comprises a threaded portion (13) with a given pitch (P); said threaded
portion extending about said first axis (A1), and being engaged by said frame (10).
3. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said frame (10) comprises two rods (26) parallel to said first axis (A1); each rod
(26) comprising a succession of teeth (30) equally spaced with said pitch (P) and
cooperating with said threaded portion (13).
4. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said rods (26) are diametrically opposite with respect to said first axis (A1).
5. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized by comprising guide means (31, 32) for keeping the teeth (30) of said rods (26) engaged
with said threaded portion (13) of the cup (8).
6. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said guide means (31, 32) comprise a cover (31) of said cup (8), having first seats
(35) housing said rods (26); and a ring (32) having second seats (37) and connectable
to the cover (31); said rods (26) sliding along the first axis (A1) inside the first
(35) and second (37) seats.
7. A valve assembly as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said cup (8) comprises a guide (15) for guiding said slide (19) and enabling said
slide (19) to move solely along the first axis (A1).
8. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that said actuating device (11) comprises a pushbutton (41) and a mechanical transmission
(42), both supported by said frame (10); and a connecting member (51) supported by
said slide (19) and connected to said transmission (42) so as to be integral with
said frame (10) as regards rotation about the first axis (A1).
9. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that said slide (19) comprises a threaded top portion (21) with a thread having the same
pitch (P) as the threaded portion (13) of the cup (8), and the same hand as the thread
of the threaded portion (13) of the cup (8).
10. A valve assembly as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that said transmission (42) comprises a first and a second lever (46, 48) rotating about
a second and a third axis (A2, A3) parallel to each other and perpendicular to said
first axis (A1).
11. A method of fitting a valve assembly (1), as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10,
to a tank (2) comprising a top wall (4) having a first opening (6), and a bottom wall
(5) having a second opening (7) and located a given distance (D) from the top wall
(4); the method comprising placing the valve assembly (1) inside said tank (2), inserting
a fitting (18) of said valve body (16) through said second opening (7), and effecting
a relative rotation between the cup (8) and the frame (10) to adapt the length of
the valve assembly (1) to said distance (D).
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, characterized by gripping said bottom wall (5) between a ring nut (24), screwed to said fitting (18),
and said valve body (16).