US4993086A — Emergency shut-off mechanism for flush tank

Claim 1

Independent Claim 237 words

Emergency shut-off means for connection to a valve activation lever of a liquid replenishment valve of a flush tank for moving the valve to a closed position if liquid level has not risen to a predetermined height within a predetermined shut-off time after the tank has been flushed; said emergency shut-off means comprising: replenishment valve connection mechanism means including a rigid lever having a first end and a second end; said first end for connection to the liquid replenishment valve activation lever such that when said second end is depressed the liquid replenishment valve is closed; container means for disposition in the flush tank including: valve means for controlling ingress of tank liquid into said container such that during tank filling the liquid level in said container approximates that of the flush tank and for controlling liquid egress from said container at a predetermined rate such that following flushing the liquid level in said container is above that of the flush tank; buoy means disposed in said container means for moving up and down dependent upon the liquid level in said container means; said buoy means when in a down position defining a predetermined shut-off height; and vertical activation means connected to said buoy means and said second end of said rigid lever for depressing said second end of said rigid lever thereby closing the valve in response to said buoy means reaching the predetermined shut-off height.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 237 words

Emergency shut-off means for connection to a valve activation lever of a liquid replenishment valve of a flush tank for moving the valve to a closed position if liquid level has not risen to a predetermined height within a predetermined shut-off time after the tank has been flushed; said emergency shut-off means comprising: replenishment valve connection mechanism means including a rigid lever having a first end and a second end; said first end for connection to the liquid replenishment valve activation lever such that when said second end is depressed the liquid replenishment valve is closed; container means for disposition in the flush tank including: valve means for controlling ingress of tank liquid into said container such that during tank filling the liquid level in said container approximates that of the flush tank and for controlling liquid egress from said container at a predetermined rate such that following flushing the liquid level in said container is above that of the flush tank; buoy means disposed in said container means for moving up and down dependent upon the liquid level in said container means; said buoy means when in a down position defining a predetermined shut-off height; and vertical activation means connected to said buoy means and said second end of said rigid lever for depressing said second end of said rigid lever thereby closing the valve in response to said buoy means reaching the predetermined shut-off height.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The emergency shut-off means of claim 1 wherein: said rigid lever is adapted to be connected in cantilevered relation to the activation lever.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

The emergency shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein: said buoy means includes a vertical bore therethrough; and said vertical activation means includes a rod freely journaled through said vertical bore; said rod including an end cap disposed below said buoy; said end cap not being able to pass through said bore.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 107 words

The emergency shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein: said container includes an external wall; and said valve means includes: wall means attached to said container wall and defining a chamber abutting said container wall; an upper passage means through said container wall abutting said chamber for providing fluid communication between said chamber and the inside of said container; a lower passage means through said wall means for providing fluid communication between said chamber and the flush tank; and valve disk means movable within said chamber for at least partially closing said lower passage means during liquid egress from said container means for slowing and regulating said egress.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 232 words

In a flush tank having a liquid replenishment valve and a valve activation lever for controlling the valve, an emergency shut-off means connected to the activation lever for moving the valve to a closed position if liquid level has not risen to a predetermined height within a predetermined shut-off time after the tank has been flushed; said emergency shut-off means comprising: rigid lever means having: a first end; and a second end; said first end connected to the activation lever of the liquid replenishment valve such that depressing said second end closes the liquid replenishment valve; container means disposed in the flush tank including: liquid ingress and discharge means for allowing liquid in the tank to enter said container means and for allowing liquid within said container means to egress into the tank at a predetermined rate such that following flushing the liquid level in said container is above that of the flush tank; buoy means disposed in said container means, such that said buoy means moves up and down with the liquid level in said container means; said buoy means when in a down position defining a predetermined shut-off height; and vertical activation means connected to said buoy means and said second end of said lever means for depressing said second end of said lever means thereby closing the valve in response to said buoy means reaching the predetermined shut-off height.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 232 words

In a flush tank having a liquid replenishment valve and a valve activation lever for controlling the valve, an emergency shut-off means connected to the activation lever for moving the valve to a closed position if liquid level has not risen to a predetermined height within a predetermined shut-off time after the tank has been flushed; said emergency shut-off means comprising: rigid lever means having: a first end; and a second end; said first end connected to the activation lever of the liquid replenishment valve such that depressing said second end closes the liquid replenishment valve; container means disposed in the flush tank including: liquid ingress and discharge means for allowing liquid in the tank to enter said container means and for allowing liquid within said container means to egress into the tank at a predetermined rate such that following flushing the liquid level in said container is above that of the flush tank; buoy means disposed in said container means, such that said buoy means moves up and down with the liquid level in said container means; said buoy means when in a down position defining a predetermined shut-off height; and vertical activation means connected to said buoy means and said second end of said lever means for depressing said second end of said lever means thereby closing the valve in response to said buoy means reaching the predetermined shut-off height.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 110 words

The emergency shut-off valve of claim 5 wherein: said container includes an external wall; and said liquid ingress and discharge means includes: wall means attached to said container wall and defining a chamber abutting said container wall; an upper passage means through said container wall abutting said chamber for providing fluid communication between said chamber and the inside of said container; a lower passage means through said wall means for providing fluid communication between said chamber and the flush tank; and valve disk means movable within said chamber for at least partially closing said lower passage means during liquid egress from said container means for slowing and regulating said egress.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-02-18	1994-08-20	1995-02-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-02-18	1998-08-20	1999-02-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-02-18	2002-08-20	2003-02-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Emergency shut-off mechanism for flush tank

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag