US3760839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Float valve
Assignee: Alsons Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-28
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A float valve adapted for use in a toilet tank and which, in combination with a float arm and float, serves to control the refill level of water in that tank after the toilet has been flushed. The float valve is structured so that water flow therethrough is essentially noiseless from opening to closing of the valve; the valve''s structure is such that more than one pressure drop is created within the valve housing to prevent any one pressure drop from inlet line pressure to tank pressure from being of a sufficient size to create water noise, and is such that chatter or fluttering of the valve is essentially eliminated as water flow through the valve is terminated. Further, the float valve is structured so that overflow of the toilet tank as a result of a leaky float ball is not possible; the valve closes due to water pressure in the inlet line when the tank has been refilled and the valve opens due to the float''s weight as the tank is drained when the toilet is flushed.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hyde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/3149; Y10T137/3185; Y10T137/3294; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358; Y10T137/7368; Y10T137/7371; Y10T137/7374
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A float valve used in combination with a float arm and float inside a toilet tank, said float valve comprising a housing interconnected with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, a flexible diaphragm having a permanently open bleed port therein and being fixed in said housing so as to divide at least a section thereof into a feed chamber and a pilot chamber, said inlet pipe being interconnected with said feed chamber, and said bleed port allowing water to bleed into said pilot chamber from said feed chamber, a wall of said feed chamber having structure that defines a main port opening into an intermediate chamber, interconnected with said outlet pipe, said main port being adapted for closure by said diaphragm to close off the flow of water through the float valve, and a valve stem extending into said pilot chamber, said valve stem mounting a pilot head inside of said pilot chamber and said pilot head being adapted to cooperate with a relief port defined in said diaphragm to open and close same depending on the water level in the toilet tank, said relief port extending between said pilot chamber and said intermediate chamber, the float arm being associated with said valve stem so as to cause said pilot head to close said relief port when the refill level of the toilet tank has been reached and to open said relief port as the toilet tank is drained, the water pressure in said feed chamber causing said diaphragm to flex away from said main port and open the float valve when said relief port is first opened, and the water pressures in said feed and pilot chambers allowing said diaphragm to seal said main port and close the float valve when said relief port is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A float valve used in combination with a float arm and float inside a toilet tank, said float valve comprising a housing interconnected with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, a flexible diaphragm having a permanently open bleed port therein and being fixed in said housing so as to divide at least a section thereof into a feed chamber and a pilot chamber, said inlet pipe being interconnected with said feed chamber, and said bleed port allowing water to bleed into said pilot chamber from said feed chamber, a wall of said feed chamber having structure that defines a main port opening into an intermediate chamber, interconnected with said outlet pipe, said main port being adapted for closure by said diaphragm to close off the flow of water through the float valve, and a valve stem extending into said pilot chamber, said valve stem mounting a pilot head inside of said pilot chamber and said pilot head being adapted to cooperate with a relief port defined in said diaphragm to open and close same depending on the water level in the toilet tank, said relief port extending between said pilot chamber and said intermediate chamber, the float arm being associated with said valve stem so as to cause said pilot head to close said relief port when the refill level of the toilet tank has been reached and to open said relief port as the toilet tank is drained, the water pressure in said feed chamber causing said diaphragm to flex away from said main port and open the float valve when said relief port is first opened, and the water pressures in said feed and pilot chambers allowing said diaphragm to seal said main port and close the float valve when said relief port is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the force area of said diaphragm in said pilot chamber is substantially greater than the force area of said diaphragm in said feed chamber, thereby causing the diaphragm to flex into sealing contact with said main port when said relief port is closed by said pilot head and when the water pressure is substantially equal in the feed and pilot chambers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 including an anti-siphon valve between said intermediate chamber and said outer pipe, said anti-siphon valve allowing air to be sucked through said float valve into said inlet pipe when a vacuum is established on said inlet pipe, and said float valve being positioned above the refill water level in said toilet tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed chamber is annular in configuration and surrounds a concentric baffle chamber that directly cooperates with said flexible diaphragm, said feed chamber collecting water presented by said inlet pipe and distributing said water evenly on the feed chamber side of said diaphragm by use of said baffle chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 including a spring loading on said valve stem, said spring loading normally urging said pilot head into sealing contact with said relief port when the toilet tank is refilled, and said valve stem being depressed by a control device fixed to said float arm so as to open said relief port as said float arm falls during draining of said toilet tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inlet pipe, float valve housing, and outlet pipe are of a one-piece plastic molding, said inlet pipe being of at least sufficient length to locate the float valve above the refill level of said tAnk, and said outlet pipe extending down from the float valve a sufficient length to allow its termination adjacent the floor of said toilet tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 1 including a back pressure valve at the outlet of said intermediate chamber, said back pressure valve serving to create a back pressure on the water flow through said main port to control the pressure drop through that main port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said back pressure valve is comprised of a flexible diaphragm adapted to flex between a first attitude where said outlet pipe is closed relative to said main port and a second attitude where said outlet pipe is open relative to said main port, said back pressure diaphragm being closed when no water is flowing through the float valve and being open when water is flowing through the float valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said back pressure diaphragm is also adapted to flex into a third attitude where it opens air ports in said housing to said main port, said diaphragm being flexed to this third attitude when a vacuum is established on said inlet pipe so that air can be sucked through said float valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A float valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said back pressure diaphragm seals off said outlet pipe as well as opens said air ports when in its third attitude, seals off said air ports and opens said outlet pipe to said main port in its second attitude, and seals both said outlet pipe and said air ports from said main port in its first attitude.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A float vavle as set forth in claim 7 including structure within said housing defining two intermediate chambers into which water flow from said main port is discharged the water flowing from said main port into said first intermediate chamber and then through said second intermediate chamber in sequence, and said back pressure valve being located at the outlet of said second intermediate chamber, and at least one orifice communicating between said first and second intermediate chambers to allow water flow therebetween, said port providing a third pressure drop orifice in addition to the pressure drop orifices provided at said main port and back pressure valve so that water noise is substantially eliminated as water flows through the float valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A float vavle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said two tubular intermediate chambers are located axially and concentrically within said housing, the water flow to said main port being in an annular flow which is transformed to a longitudinal flow after it passes through said main port, and the water flow to said back pressure valve being a longitudinal flow which is transformed into an annular flow as it exhausts from said back pressure valve.
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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) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |