Siphon activated valve
View Patent ↗A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.
1. A fill valve system, comprising:
a water supply member,
a fill valve fluidly coupled to the water supply member, and
a float assembly connected to the fill valve, the float assembly comprising:
a container comprising a first compartment and a second compartment,
a float positioned in the first compartment of the container, and
a fluid flow path in the fill valve configured to divert a small portion of refill water into the second compartment of the container;
wherein the position of the float in the first compartment actuates the fill valve; and
wherein the fill valve actuation comprises turning the fill valve on or off;
further comprising:
a first siphon for siphoning water out of the first compartment, and
a second siphon for siphoning water out of the second compartment.
2. The fill valve system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first siphon is configured to be adjustable.
3. The fill valve system of claim 2 ,
wherein adjusting the first siphon adjusts a timing of the fill valve actuation.
4. The fill valve system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first siphon comprises a vent hole at a top portion;
wherein the vent hole is configured to cause siphon flow when a water level in a tank drops at a rate greater than a pre-determined threshold; and
wherein the vent hole is configured to prevent siphon flow when the water level in the tank drops at a rate less than the pre-determined threshold.
5. The fill valve system of claim 1 ,
wherein the second siphon is configured to be adjustable.
6. The fill valve system of claim 5 ,
wherein adjusting the second siphon adjusts a timing of the fill valve actuation.
7. The fill valve system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first siphon is configured and arranged to drain the first compartment and lower the float; and
wherein the second siphon is configured and arranged to function as a mechanical timer that adjusts a time at which the first compartment refills with the refill water.
8. A fill valve system, comprising:
a water supply member,
one or more adjustable siphons,
a fill valve in communication with the water supply member, and
a float assembly connected to the fill valve, the float assembly comprising:
a container, and
a float positioned in the container, and
wherein the position of the float in the container actuates the fill valve;
wherein the fill valve actuation comprises turning the fill valve on or off; and
wherein adjusting the one or more adjustable siphons adjusts a timing of the fill valve actuation.
9. The fill valve system of claim 8 ,
wherein a ratio between diameters of first and second ends of the one or more adjustable siphons are configured to be adjustable.
10. The fill valve system of claim 9 ,
wherein adjusting the ratio controls a vacuum strength generated inside the one or more adjustable siphons when water level in a toilet tank drops.
11. The fill valve system of claim 10 ,
wherein the one or more adjustable siphons comprise a vent hole at a top portion;
wherein the vent hole is configured to cause siphon flow when the water level in the toilet tank drops at a rate greater than a pre-determined threshold; and
wherein the vent hole is configured to prevent siphon flow when the water level in the toilet tank drops at a rate less than the pre-determined threshold.
12. The fill valve system of claim 8 ,
wherein the one or more adjustable siphons comprise a vent hole at a top portion;
wherein the vent hole is configured to cause siphon flow when a water level in a tank drops at a rate greater than a pre-determined threshold; and
wherein the vent hole is configured to prevent siphon flow when the water level in the tank drops at a rate less than a pre-determined threshold.
13. The fill valve system of claim 8 ,
wherein at least one of the one or more adjustable siphons comprises an adjustable conical siphon;
wherein the adjustable conical siphon comprises a conical structure comprising top and bottom ends; and
wherein a ratio between diameters of the top and bottom ends of the adjustable conical siphon are configured to be adjustable.
14. The fill valve system of claim 13 ,
wherein adjusting the ratio controls a vacuum strength generated inside the one or more siphons when water level in a toilet tank drops.
15. The fill valve system of claim 13 ,
wherein the one or more adjustable siphons comprise a vent hole at a top portion;
wherein the vent hole is configured to cause siphon flow when a water level in a tank drops at a rate greater than a pre-determined threshold; and
wherein the vent hole is configured to prevent siphon flow when the water level in the tank drops at a rate less than the pre-determined threshold.
16. The fill valve system of claim 13 ,
wherein a height of the adjustable conical siphon is adjustable.
17. The fill valve system of claim 13 ,
wherein the adjustable conical siphon comprises an upward facing cone and a downward facing cone.
18. The fill valve system of claim 13 ,
wherein the container comprises a first compartment and a second compartment;
wherein the float is positioned in the first compartment of the container; and
wherein the fill valve comprises a fluid flow path configured to divert a small portion of refill water from the water supply member into the second compartment.