Apparatus for controlling liquid level in tanks and for actuating flushing cisterns

Claim 2

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, displaceable actuator means which is responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, a lever connected with said flexible expansible member, a valve mechanically connected to said lever, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.

Claim 3

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, liquid supply means to said inlet including a valve, displaceable valve actuator means responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, plate means connected with said flexible expansible member, a mechanical connection with mechanical advantage connecting said plate means and said flexible expansible member to said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means, whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.

Claim 4

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, liquid supply means to said inlet including a valve, displaceable valve actuator means responsive to air pressure, said displaceable actuator means including a housing, a flexible expansible member within said housing, plate means connected with said flexible expansible member, a mechanical connection with mechanical advantage connecting said plate means and said flexible expansible member to said valve, and an air line connecting the trap to said actuator means, whereby rising air pressure in said line directly due to rising liquid level in said tank displaces the actuator means to valve closed position when said liquid level reaches a predetermined position.

Claim 5

A liquid flow control device according to claim 2, in combination with means responsive to release of said air pressure in said line to restore the actuator to valve open position.

Claim 6

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet in said tank beneath the trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to cause rising water level in said tank to displace the actuator member to valve closed position, and means associated with the actuator member for manually displacing the same to valve open position, thereby to apply a back air pressure along the air line via the trap to the liquid level in the tank to cause liquid syphonically to discharge through the outlet.

Claim 7

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet in said tank beneath the trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to cause rising water level in said tank to displace the actuator member to valve closed position, and means associated with the actuator member for manually displacing the same to valve open position, thereby to apply a back air pressure along the air line via the trap to the liquid level in the tank to cause liquid syphonically to discharge through the outlet.

Claim 8

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet disposed in the tank away from the air trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to effect displacement thereof by rising air pressure from the tank, and manual means for reasserting the actuator member to valve open position and simultaneously to apply back air pressure along the line to initiate syphonic discharge through the outlet of said tank.

Claim 9

A liquid flow control device comprising a tank having a liquid inlet at one level and an air trap at a higher level in the tank, a syphonic discharge outlet disposed in the tank away from the air trap, a displaceable actuator member which is responsive to air pressure, a valve mechanically connected to said displaceable actuator member, liquid supply means connected to said inlet through said valve, an air line connecting the trap to said actuator member to effect displacement thereof by rising air pressure from the tank, and manual means for reasserting the actuator member to valve open position and simultaneously to apply back air pressure along the line to initiate syphonic discharge through the outlet of said tank.

Claim 10

A liquid supply system including a tank having a discharge outlet, a liquid flow control device for use with said tank for controlling the feed thereto, said tank including an upper air space, air trap means in said air space, an air duct connected with said air trap and through which air is expelled by rise of the liquid level in said tank, said control device including an air chamber and means for admitting air under pressure into said chamber, a displaceable part in said control device arranged for movement when subjected to air pressure in said chamber, said control device also including a liquid flow duct, a flow cutoff means embodied in said liquid flow duct of said device for actuation by such movement of said displaceaBle part to effect cutoff through said liquid flow duct, means for restoring liquid flow through said flow duct upon relief of said air pressure, said air chamber connected by means of said air duct to said air space of the tank, a liquid supply line connected to said tank, said liquid flow duct included in said liquid supply line, said control device further including manually operable means for thrusting back said displaceable part from the position it assumes due to air pressure in said air chamber, and while still subjected to such air pressure, thereby forcing air back along said air duct, said discharge outlet from the tank comprising a syphon device, whereby said tank constitutes a flushing cistern, said air trap means being arranged in a zone which does not include said syphon device, the extent of air displacement available by manual operation of said displaceable part of the control device and consequent extent of liquid displacement in the tank being sufficient to initiate syphonic discharge from the tank by rising of the liquid level in the zone of the syphon device.

Claim 11

A liquid supply system including a tank having a discharge outlet, a liquid flow control device for use with said tank for controlling the feed thereto, said tank including an upper air space, air trap means in said air space, an air duct connected with said air trap and through which air is expelled by rise of the liquid level in said tank, said control device including an air chamber and means for admitting air under pressure into said chamber, a displaceable part in said control device arranged for movement when subjected to air pressure in said chamber, said control device also including a liquid flow duct, a flow cutoff means embodied in said liquid flow duct of said device for actuation by such movement of said displaceaBle part to effect cutoff through said liquid flow duct, means for restoring liquid flow through said flow duct upon relief of said air pressure, said air chamber connected by means of said air duct to said air space of the tank, a liquid supply line connected to said tank, said liquid flow duct included in said liquid supply line, said control device further including manually operable means for thrusting back said displaceable part from the position it assumes due to air pressure in said air chamber, and while still subjected to such air pressure, thereby forcing air back along said air duct, said discharge outlet from the tank comprising a syphon device, whereby said tank constitutes a flushing cistern, said air trap means being arranged in a zone which does not include said syphon device, the extent of air displacement available by manual operation of said displaceable part of the control device and consequent extent of liquid displacement in the tank being sufficient to initiate syphonic discharge from the tank by rising of the liquid level in the zone of the syphon device.