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  Toilet refill bypass diverterUSPTO Application #: 20070006371Title: Toilet refill bypass diverter Abstract: A flow diverter accepts a stream of water from a conventional toilet valve and diverts a portion of the flow into the toilet tank, outside the overflow tube. In a first, more rudimentary embodiment of the invention, a flow diverter accepts flow from the toilet tank fill valve and includes a first exit opening for introducing a portion of the flow into the toilet tank overflow tube, and a second portion of the flow into the toilet tank. Providing two exit openings for to split the incoming stream into a first flow of about one third of the input and into a second exit opening to split the remainder of the incoming stream into a second flow of about two thirds of the incoming stream provides significant flow control for the user. In cases where a user's bowl overfills, the user can attach the flow diverter to the end of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube line and position it as needed. The user can (1) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver one third of the flow into the tube and two thirds of the flow into the toilet tank, (2) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver two thirds of the flow into the tube and one third of the flow into the toilet tank, (3) all of the flow into the tube or (4) all of the flow into the toilet tank. (end of abstract)
Agent: Curtis L. Harrington - Long Beach, CA, US Inventor: Dan E. Molter USPTO Applicaton #: 20070006371 - Class: 004415000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Flush Closet, Tank Only, Water Saver The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070006371. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of plumbing and bathroom appliances and more particularly to a quick and inexpensive retrofit system for saving water by prevention of toilet bowl overfill. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Conventional flush toilets are typically supplied water through a line from a manually available shutoff valve, and into a valve apparatus inside the tank. Some valve mechanisms use a float mounted at the end of a lever arm while others use a vertically sliding float, while others use static water pressure to indicate when the flush tank or reservoir is full. [0003] Within the tank an overflow tube is provided to enable small leaks of the internal valve, or small internal valve failures to enter the toilet tank overflow tube and pass to the toilet bowl. Since the toilet bowl flow operates by passing its volume over a static pressure head dam at the rear and or base of the toilet, additional flow into the overflow tube simply continues into the bowl and over the dam at the rear and base of the toilet. [0004] The flow path from the bowl, through the dam and into the floor pipe fitting is relatively small compared to the volume of water in each flush. This rapid flow helps to sweep the bowl, but because the flow is restricted, a significant kinetic energy of flow takes the toilet bowl to a level lower than its level would be if it were determined by the height of the dammed up water within the toilet fixture. This kinetic energy drains the bowl level lower than it would have based upon the level of the overflow damn in the fitting, because the mass of flow and its kinetic energy continues to siphon water out of the bowl for a second or so at the end of the flush. This typically occurs along with the pull of air and the gargling sound heard when the upper part of the bowl is completely drained. [0005] If the bowl was left at this level, the volume of water for the next flush would be partially spent in refilling the bowl and would have a lesser volume available to apply to the static head within the bowl to cause a complete flush in the next cycle. In essence, the next flush would be only half of a flush, and at low velocity. This results in the need for a further flush, assuming that the bowl is left in a filled state by the half flush. [0006] To overcome the above problems, most toilet fill valves have provided for a first flow path of water into the toilet tank for refill and a second flow path through a small plastic tube mounted to direct flow into the toilet tank overflow pipe to provide a small stream of water to allow the toilet bowl to re-fill at the same time that the toilet tank refills. During refill, the bowl will have stabilized, and a stream of water into the overflow tube will bring the bowl fully up to a level of the internal dam or trap within the toilet bowl. This will insure that upon the next flush, that the complete volume of water in the toilet tank will be applied to developing a full static head to be applied to a fully rushing velocity flush so that the bowl will be swept clean. In other words, it prevents part of the toilet tank contents from being wasted in re-filling the bowl leaving a lesser amount of water available for developing a fully rushing velocity flush. If the system for providing additional water into the overflow tube provides too much water, the excess will escape over the dam or trap at the base of the appliance. [0007] However, the use of a side stream of water from the refill valve is not exact. The side stream will have a low flow where the local water pressure is low and a high flow where the water pressure is high. Where the flow rate is too small, the complete valve assembly can be replaced in order to provide adequate functioning. With increasing community needs for water conservation there is a need to conserve water and for toilet appliance to provide only as much water as is needed for proper operation. The user needs to be at minimum able to forego excess water introduced into the bowl which will be wasted over the overflow dam. [0008] One such solution proposed appears in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,889 to Schuster, incorporated by reference herein. The Schuster reference suggests a more complex and more expensive specialized toilet valve which includes an adjustable pressure overflow tube line valve in the toilet tank valve body near the point where the overflow refill tube leaves the toilet tank valve. The overflow tube line valve is located within the toilet tank refill valve so that it can handle the pressure from reduction in the flow of the overflow tube line, which can range from full open to a zero flow rate. The solution, though expensive, enables users to set the flow rate for the amount of water to be introduced into the overflow tube. The user can reduce this refill flow by adjusting the valve. [0009] This solution works well where users have the funds to invest in a new toilet tank fill valve, as well as the high labor rates associated with plumbing services. Further, some time is required for the installer to run the valve through several flushes to determine the optimum operating setting for the complex specialized device. Further, the replaced toilet tank refill valve will typically be disposed of despite the fact that it remains in operating condition. In particular, an institutional facility replacing its valves would generate a significant volume of used toilet tank refill valves having very little market value. The loss of value from a change out and in wasted valves would make the value of the water savings minuscule by comparison. The expensive solution of the Schuster reference may work well if employed as a replacement for a defective toilet tank but is prohibitively expensive and burdensome for any water saving retrofit plan. [0010] What is needed, however, is a solution which is not expensive, not complex, and does not require replacement of the functioning toilet tank refill valve. The needed solution should give the user practical control ability over the amount of water entering the refill tube. Further, the solution should be installable in a minimum amount of time and by ordinary people. The installation should not, unlike a toilet tank valve replacement, subject the user's facility to flooding, water shutoff, leaks about the toilet tank fittings and the like. The needed solution should be achieved without tools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] A flow diverter accepts a stream of water from a conventional toilet valve and diverts a portion of the flow into the toilet tank, outside the overflow tube. In a first, more rudimentary embodiment of the invention, a flow diverter accepts flow from the toilet tank fill valve and includes a first exit opening for introducing a portion of the flow into the toilet tank overflow tube, and a second portion of the flow into the toilet tank. Providing two exit openings for to split the incoming stream into a first flow of about one third of the input and into a second exit opening to split the remainder of the incoming stream into a second flow of about two thirds of the incoming stream provides significant flow control for the user. In cases where a user's bowl overfills, the user can attach the flow diverter to the end of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube line and position it as needed. The user can (1) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver one third of the flow into the tube and two thirds of the flow into the toilet tank, (2) attach the diverter to the top rim of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube in a position to deliver two thirds of the flow into the tube and one third of the flow into the toilet tank, (3) all of the flow into the tube or (4) all of the flow into the toilet tank. [0012] Further numbers of diversion streams, and the ability to orient the flow diverter atop a toilet tank overflow tube will allow a user to more finely and exactly select and subdivide the streams which are to be directed into, or outside of the conventional toilet tank overflow tube. Where three diversion conduits are used, a user can specify a flow equal to zero, 1/5, , 3/5, 4/5, and 5/5 of the inlet flow. A metal clip can be molded with the flow diverter to provide more holding power than possible if the flow diverter is constructed with certain materials. The flow diverter is preferably inexpensively injection molded and can be made from a wide range of materials having many characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a two stream flow diverter having a male input port and two exit conduits and a clip holding structure; [0015] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the flow diverter of FIG. 1 and illustrating one possible orientation for the internal conduit bores; [0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial sectional view illustrating the environment in which the flow diverters of the present invention are utilized and illustrating attachment of the flow diverter attached to a near side of a toilet tank overflow tube; [0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an expanded view of a mounting of the flow diverters of the present invention are utilized and illustrating attachment of the flow diverter attached to a far side of a toilet tank overflow tube; [0018] FIG. 5 is a top view of a flow diverter utilizing a side leg structure similar to the adjacent flow diverter structures, the location of three such adjacent structures facilitating the circularly selectable positioning of the flow diverter; [0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of the flow diverter seen in FIG. 5; [0020] FIG. 7 is an alternative arrangement seen as a third embodiment in which a pair of diversion conduits are separated by an accommodation space and in which end mounted clip structures are placed on either side of the pair of diversion conduits enable full user selectability of four flow conditions into a toilet tank overflow tube; Continue reading... Full patent description for Toilet refill bypass diverter Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toilet refill bypass diverter patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Toilet refill bypass diverter or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Urinal Next Patent Application: Toilet refill bypass diverter Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Toilet refill bypass diverter patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.46911 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
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