Patent US3751736A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3751736A
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US
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Automatically flushing sanitary appliance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-04
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-11-04
Abstract
Abstract Electrodes are located in the appliance which has normally a water level, in a bowl. Water supply is controlled by an electromagnetically operating valve. Upon sensing of change of resistance between a pair of electrodes, for example upon bridging of the electrodes by urine, a time delay period is initiated and a relay pulls in, charging a capacitor. When the resistance between the electrodes reverts back to its normal value, discharge of the condenser is initiated through a multivibrator circuit which triggers opening of the electromagnetic valve for a predetermined period of time, to flush the bowl. In case the drain from the bowl should be obstructed, the electrodes will not revert back to their normal resistance, so that repeated flushing is inhibited.
Inventors
- 👤 R Egli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:24
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D13/00; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; E03C1/05; E03D5/00; E03D5/10; E03D5/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S4/00; Y10S4/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Automatically flushing sanitary appliance in which a bowl (11) is flushed upon detection of contamination of the the water level (15) thereof, comprising an electromagnetic valve (30) controlling admission of water to the appliance; sensing means including at least one electrode (13,14, 16, 17) located in the bowl (11), said electrode changing its resistance upon contact with contaminating liquid; sensing circuit means (21; 24, 25, 26, 27) deriving a first control signal upon such change in resistance from a predetermined value in a first direction, and a second control signal upon changes of resistance in the opposite direction and towards said predetermined value upon subsequent absence of the contaminating liquid; and a valve control circuit (28) connected to and controlled by the first and second control signals, said valve control circuit being enabled upon having said first control signal applied thereto and providing an output control pulse upon sensing said second control signal, said output control pulse being connected to said electromagnetic valve to provide flushing action to the bowl upon occurrence of said second control pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Automatically flushing sanitary appliance in which a bowl (11) is flushed upon detection of contamination of the the water level (15) thereof, comprising an electromagnetic valve (30) controlling admission of water to the appliance; sensing means including at least one electrode (13,14, 16, 17) located in the bowl (11), said electrode changing its resistance upon contact with contaminating liquid; sensing circuit means (21; 24, 25, 26, 27) deriving a first control signal upon such change in resistance from a predetermined value in a first direction, and a second control signal upon changes of resistance in the opposite direction and towards said predetermined value upon subsequent absence of the contaminating liquid; and a valve control circuit (28) connected to and controlled by the first and second control signals, said valve control circuit being enabled upon having said first control signal applied thereto and providing an output control pulse upon sensing said second control signal, said output control pulse being connected to said electromagnetic valve to provide flushing action to the bowl upon occurrence of said second control pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein two electrodes are provided, one (13) being located above the water level (15) of the bowl (11) and another (14) below the water level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Appliance according to claim 2, wherein the one of the electrodes (13) located above the water level (15) is placed along the surface of the inner wall of the bowl (11), the other electrode being located within the siphon section (12) of the appliance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein two electrodes (16, 17) are provided, located above the water level (15) of the bowl (11).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein two electrodes are provided, and one of the electrodes (13, 16) is located above the water level (15) in the bowl (11) and comprises a temperature sensitive resistance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein the valve control circuit (28) includes a monostable multivibrator (45,47) and a charge condenser (41), the charge condenser being charged upon application of the first control signal to enable the monostable multivibrator, the monostable multivibrator being triggered into unstable state upon sensing of the second control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Appliance according to claim 6, wherein change of resistance in the opposite direction comprises reversion of the electrodes to essentially said predetermined resistance value to cause generation of said second control signal, said monostable multivibrator being triggered into unstable state upon essential reversion of resistance to said predetermined value after having changed to a resistance value different from said predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Appliance according to claim 6, wherein the sensing circuit means includes a controlled switch (27) providing charging potential to the condenser (41) after sensing of change of resistance for at least a predetermined period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Appliance according to claim 6, wherein the sensing circuit means comprises a time delay circuit (26) to supply the first control signal only upon change of resistance of said sensing means for a predetermined period of time (tv).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
Appliance according to claim 6, wherein the valve control circuit comprises a monostable multivibrator (28), said monostable multivibrator having an R-C circuit (48,41) determining the unstable time of the monostable multivibrator, the unstable time being matched to the capacity of the bowl and the water passage of said electromagnetic valve, to effect opening of the electromagnetic valve for a predetermined flushing period, and hence flush the bowl during said flushing period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Appliance according to claim 1, including power supply means (23) for said electromagnetic valve and for said sensing circuit means; and an interruptible connection between the power supply means and the sensing circuit means, the interruptible connection being controlled by said valve control circuit to disable The sensing means at least during opening of said electromagnetic valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein said sensing circuit means comprises a first timing circuit (26) and providing the first output signal after a predetermined period of time after change of resistance of said electrodes is first detected; said sensing circuit means providing said second output signal upon sensing said change of resistance of said electrodes in the opposite direction, the second output signal controlling said valve control circuit; and a second timing circuit (28) to provide said output control pulse for a flushing time period to cause the electromagnetic valve to provide flushing action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Appliance according to claim 12, wherein the second change of resistance comprises reversion of the resistance to essentially its predetermined value to provide the second output signal after termination of sensing of contaminating liquid contacting the electrodes, to change their resistances.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
Appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary appliance is a urinal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |