US4058858A — Water storage tank for flush toilets

Claim 1

Independent Claim 245 words

Apparatus for controlling the quantity of water dispensed from a water storage tank to a flush toilet, comprising: a water storage tank having a water discharge opening and a closure therefor; a manually operable adjustable timer for setting a predetermined flush time related to said water discharge opening to dispense a predetermined required quantity to flush water from said water storage tank to the flush toilet, said predetermined required quantity of water being related to the item and quantity thereof to be removed from the flush toilet; said manually operable timer including a rotatable shaft internal said tank and having a portion thereof extending external of said tank, a cam in said tank positioned on said shaft operatively connected with said connecting means, setting means connected with said shaft for setting the predetermined flush time, said setting means including settable spring means coupled with said shaft and means external of said tank coupled with said shaft for rotation thereof to set said spring for a predetermined flush time, transmission mechanism operatively connected between said settable spring means and said cam, and speed control means operatively connected with said transmission mechanism to control the rotating speed of said cam, and thereby to control the predetermined flush time; and, connecting means operatively associated with said timer and connected with said closure to remove said closure from said discharge opening to permit the water from said storage tank to enter the flush toilet for said predetermined flush time.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 245 words

Apparatus for controlling the quantity of water dispensed from a water storage tank to a flush toilet, comprising: a water storage tank having a water discharge opening and a closure therefor; a manually operable adjustable timer for setting a predetermined flush time related to said water discharge opening to dispense a predetermined required quantity to flush water from said water storage tank to the flush toilet, said predetermined required quantity of water being related to the item and quantity thereof to be removed from the flush toilet; said manually operable timer including a rotatable shaft internal said tank and having a portion thereof extending external of said tank, a cam in said tank positioned on said shaft operatively connected with said connecting means, setting means connected with said shaft for setting the predetermined flush time, said setting means including settable spring means coupled with said shaft and means external of said tank coupled with said shaft for rotation thereof to set said spring for a predetermined flush time, transmission mechanism operatively connected between said settable spring means and said cam, and speed control means operatively connected with said transmission mechanism to control the rotating speed of said cam, and thereby to control the predetermined flush time; and, connecting means operatively associated with said timer and connected with said closure to remove said closure from said discharge opening to permit the water from said storage tank to enter the flush toilet for said predetermined flush time.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises: a lifting bar having one end connected with said closure; a guide member connected with said tank and having guide means, said lifting bar being movably coupled with said guide means for controlling the direction of movement of said closure member; a lever including means at one end thereof for pivotally connecting said one end with the other end of said lifting bar, the other end of said lever being operatively associated with said timer; and, an arm having one end connected with said storage tank and another end supporting said lever to maintain said other end of said lever in said operative association with said timer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 167 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said transmission mechanism comprises a first pinion and a transmission gear meshed therewith, a guidepath in the form of a preformed groove, concentric with said transmission gear, said first pinion being connected with said groove for guiding the movement of the axis of said first pinion; said speed control mechanism comprises an escape wheel, a second pinion and an idle wheel meshed therewith, said idle wheel being carried by said first pinion coaxial therewith, said escape wheel being carried by said second pinion coaxial therewith, said idle wheel being normally meshed with said escape wheel when said first pinion is in a first position of said groove and being disengaged from said escape wheel when said first pinion is in a second position of said groove responsive to the rotation of said transmission gear, release of said external means causes said first pinion to move to said first position of said groove restoring said idle wheel to its original position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, including: means frictionally engaged with said escape wheel for reducing the rotating speed thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said frictional means includes: a pair of clamps engageable with the sides of said escape wheel; and sealing means comprising an adjustable screw engageable with said clamps for adjusting the spacing therebetween.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the sides of said escape wheel engageable by said clamps includes surfaces of alternate concave and convex curvature.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said connecting means comprises: a lifting bar having one end connected with said closure; a guide member connected with said tank and having guide means, said lifting bar being movably coupled with said guide means for controlling the direction of movement of said closure member; a lever including means at one end thereof for pivotally connecting said one end with the other end of said lifting bar, the other end of said lever being operatively connected with said cam; and, an arm having one end connected with said storage tank and another end supporting said lever to maintain said other end of said lever in said operative connection with said cam.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said water discharge opening includes an outlet tube structure including a peripheral wall on the inside of said storage tank, said peripheral wall being tapered; and, said closure includes a spherical closure member for said outlet tube, said peripheral wall and said closure member having a linear contact therebetween in their closed condition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said closure member is a ball and in its closed condition is in contact with said tapered peripheral wall on a circle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said outlet tube is cylindrically shaped and includes means connecting said tube vertically to the bottom of the tank; and said closure member includes means to contact said peripheral wall on a horizontal circle in said closed condition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-11-21	1981-05-23	1981-11-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-11-21	1985-05-23	1985-11-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-11-21	1989-05-23	1989-11-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Water storage tank for flush toilets

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