IP Library Granted Patent US 12703971
Granted Patent B2
US 12703971 · App. 18/775,928 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Flush engine

Inventors: Tony L. Lambert (Sheboygan, WI); Andrew L. Smith (Sheboygan, WI); Michael Smith (Sheboygan, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
E03D1/34E03D2201/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703971
App. No.
18/775,928
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a system for flushing a toilet including a flow controller having a housing including an inlet configured to receive a first flow of water, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The flow controller may further include a hydraulic turbine disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to generate power as the first flow of water travels therethrough, a rim valve disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to control a second flow of water provided to the first outlet, and a sump jet valve disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to control a third flow of water provided to the second outlet.

Claims (50)

1 . A gate valve for a toilet, the gate valve comprising:

an opening;

a gate configured to selectively block the opening;

a hydraulic cylinder including a piston connected to the gate, the piston configured to move the gate, opening, or closing the gate valve, as the piston moves;

a first inlet disposed at a first end of the hydraulic cylinder; and

a second inlet disposed at a second end of the hydraulic cylinder opposite the first end.

2 . The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the piston is disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet.

3 . The gate valve of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is configured to convey a first flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder, the first flow of fluid moving the piston towards the second end of the hydraulic cylinder.

4 . The gate valve of claim 3 , wherein the second inlet is configured to convey a second flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder, the second flow of fluid moving the piston towards the first end of the hydraulic cylinder.

5 . The gate valve of claim 4 , wherein the piston is configured to close the gate valve as it moves toward the second end of hydraulic cylinder, and

wherein the piston is configured to open the gate valve as it moves toward the first end of the hydraulic cylinder.

6 . The gate valve of claim 1 wherein the first inlet is configured to direct a first flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder and is in fluid communication with a rim outlet of a toilet, and

wherein the second inlet is configured to direct a second flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder and is in fluid communication with a sump jet outlet of the toilet.

7 . A toilet, the toilet comprising:

a bowl including a sump;

a trapway in fluid communication with the sump; and

a gate valve including a gate and a hydraulic cylinder, the gate configured to selectively block the trapway, and the hydraulic cylinder including a piston connected to the gate, the piston configured to move the gate, opening, or closing the gate valve, as the piston moves, a first inlet disposed at a first side of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second inlet disposed at a second side of the hydraulic cylinder,

wherein the piston is disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet.

8 . The toilet of claim 7 , wherein the first inlet is configured to convey a first flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder, the first flow of fluid moving the piston towards a second end of the hydraulic cylinder, and

wherein the second inlet is configured to convey a second flow of fluid into the hydraulic cylinder, the second flow of fluid moving the piston towards a first end of the hydraulic cylinder.

9 . The toilet of claim 8 , further comprising:

a rim outlet disposed at a rim of the bowl;

a sump jet outlet disposed at the sump;

a rim valve configured to control the first flow of fluid to the rim outlet and to the first inlet; and

a sump valve configured to control the second flow of fluid to the sump jet outlet and the second inlet.

10 . The toilet of claim 9 , further comprising:

an auxiliary valve disposed between the first inlet and the rim outlet,

wherein the rim outlet is disposed downstream of the first inlet.

11 . The toilet of claim 10 , wherein when the rim valve is in an open position and the auxiliary valve is in a closed position, an entirety of the first flow is provided to the hydraulic cylinder.

12 . The toilet of claim 9 , wherein the first flow of fluid is configured to move the piston toward the second end of the hydraulic cylinder, closing the gate valve.

13 . The toilet of claim 12 , wherein the second flow of fluid is configured to move the piston toward the first end of the hydraulic cylinder, opening the gate valve.

14 . The toilet of claim 9 , further comprising:

a vent channel extending from an inlet at a top of the trapway upstream of the gate valve to an outlet in the trapway downstream of the gate valve.

15 . The toilet of claim 14 , further comprising:

a vent channel valve configured to selectively open or close the vent channel.

16 . A method of flushing a toilet, the method comprising:

opening a first valve, an inlet of the first valve in communication with a water supply and an outlet of the first valve in communication with a hydraulic cylinder and a rim outlet disposed in a bowl of the toilet;

providing a first flow of water through the first valve, the first flow of water rinsing the bowl;

closing the first valve;

opening a second valve, an inlet of the second valve in communication with the water supply and an outlet of the second valve in communication with the hydraulic cylinder and a sump outlet disposed in a sump of the toilet;

providing a second flow of water through the second valve, the second flow of water opening a gate valve disposed in a trapway of the toilet and flowing into the sump;

closing the second valve;

opening the first valve;

providing a third flow of water through the first valve, the third flow of water closing the gate valve, rinsing the bowl, and filling the bowl; and

closing the first valve.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second flow of water moves a piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder and connected to the gate valve, opening the gate valve and

wherein the third flow of water moves the piston, closing the gate valve.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

opening a vent channel valve after the second flow of water flows into the sump;

and closing a vent channel valve after the third flow of water fills the bowl and the first valve closes.