Bradley Corporation

William A Smart, Jr

Thomas G Barnum

Donald H Mullett

Scott H Gumm

A reset mechanism for a vacuum-actuated lockout device that disables a flush valve to prevent flooding of a receptacle includes a solenoid coupled to a reset stem and to a vacuum relief valve built into the reset stem. The solenoid is energized to open the relief valve in a first portion of a reset stroke and is coupled to the reset stem with a lost motion connection for withdrawal of the reset stem in a second portion of the reset stroke, after relief of the vacuum. A circuit is also disclosed for remote control of the reset mechanism.

Remotely controllable reset mechanism for a vacuum-actuated system

An improved flood level sensor has an upstanding, vented tube extending above and outside a receptacle while maintaining fluid communication with an enclosed rim of the receptacle. A partial vacuum is communicated to an orifice which is located within the tube at a height related to a limit on the level of fluid in the receptacle. The level of fluid in the tube depends upon the fluid pressure in the enclosed rim and therefore upon the fluid level in the receptacle. When the fluid level in the receptacle is below flood level, the orifice is able to relieve any partial vacuum communicated to it. However, when the level of fluid in the receptacle rises to the flood level, the fluid level in the tube rises to partially seal the orifice and prevent relief of the partial vacuum which then actuates a valve lockout device.

Flood level sensor for fluid filling systems

An energy saving push button faucet for delivering a predetermined volume of water in a set period of time includes a control valve with a movable plunger having a front face and a rear face, the front face of the plunger is normally retained upon a valve seat shutting off flow through the valve in the faucet by supply line pressure on the rear face. The valve also includes a pilot valve which can be actuated by a push button to relieve the pressure on the rear face and permit supply line pressure on the front face to move the plunger off the seat and open the valve. The nose of the plunger is provided with an internal passage containing a flow control mechanism which reduces the effective diameter of the passage to control the volume of water delivered by the faucet. The valve also includes an adjustable timing mechanism which determines the timing cycle or length of time the valve remains open. When the valve is open, water flowing through the valve from the supply line to the faucet outlet passes through the flow control mechanism in the nose of the plunger. The jet action of the water passing through the flow control mechanism reduces the pressure on the front face of the plunger and places the pressure differential between the front face and the rear face across the seat. As a result, when a greater pressure is once again sensed by the rear face than that sensed by the front face of the plunger, the plunger will move to seat and positively shut off flow through the faucet.

Push button faucet

A remote actuated metering valve system for supplying water to a washing fixture includes a main metering valve and at least one remote actuating relief valve connected to the main valve by tubing. The main metering valve has an inlet and an outlet with a valve seat between them and a movable piston which when the valve is in the normal closed position has its front face seated on the valve seat and its elongated nose projecting through the valve seat. The piston is maintained in the closed position by supply line pressure which is transferred via a bypass timing circuit to a pressure chamber behind the piston where it is sensed by the rear face of the piston. The pressure chamber of the main valve is connected by tubing to a normally closed remote push button relief valve. A second length of tubing leads from the relief valve to the supply source at a point downstream of the valve seat. When the push button of the relief valve is depressed, the relief valve is opened allowing the pressure in the pressure chamber of the main valve to be reduced. Inlet pressure acting on the front face of the piston forces it off the valve seat and forces fluid out of the pressure chamber out through the remote relief valve. As soon as the push button is released, the relief valve closes and the timing of the flow period starts. Inlet fluid flowing through the bypass timing circuit passes through a timing mechanism refilling the pressure chamber at a controlled rate. The preferred timing mechanism comprises a disc of deformable material which is positioned in a bore in the bypass circuit and has an axial opening through which fluid must pass to reach the pressure chamber and an adjustable member which is employed to selectively exert an axially directed force upon the disc to deform the material of the disc into the axial opening thereby effectively reducing its effective diameter. The more the disc is compressed the smaller the effective diameter of the disc and the longer the flow period.

Growing community of inventors

Germantown, WI, United States of America

William A Smart, Jr