Electro-mechanical flush mechanism
A toilet for a recreational vehicle, boat or the like is provided, which includes an electro-mechanical flush mechanism. The flush mechanism includes an actuating mechanism for activating either a flush cycle or an add water cycle. The flush mechanism further includes a flush valve, a water inlet valve, a motor, a drive mechanism and a spring. During operation of the flush mechanism, the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates. A motor arm connected to the motor moves the drive mechanism in a direction such that the flush valve rotates in an opposite direction.
1 . A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising:
a rotatable flush valve;
a drive mechanism operatively connected to the flush valve;
a motor to move the drive mechanism; and,
a spring operatively connected to the drive mechanism to bias the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.
2 . The flush mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to an open position.
3 . The flush mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a drive arm slot located at an end of the drive mechanism.
4 . The flush mechanism of claim 3 further comprising a motor arm operatively connected to the motor to engage the drive arm slot to thereby move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.
5 . The flush mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the spring biases the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.
6 . The flush mechanism of claim 5 further comprising a drive arm slot located at an end of the drive mechanism.
7 . The flush mechanism of claim 6 further comprising a motor arm operatively connected to the motor to engage the drive arm slot to thereby move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to an open position.
8 . The flush mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a flush/add water switch to energize the motor and a water inlet valve for a limited period of time.
9 . The flush mechanism of claim 8 further comprising a cam switch to energize the motor and the water inlet valve after initial energization by the flush/add water switch.
10 . The flush mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a power boost bar operatively connected to the drive mechanism.
11 . The flush mechanism of claim 10 further comprising a projection operatively attached to the motor arm to contact the power boost bar to move the drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.
12 . The flush mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a flush rod operatively connected to the motor arm to operate the flush mechanism manually.
13 . A flush mechanism for a toilet comprising:
a frame;
a support structure operatively connected to the frame;
a rotatable flush valve positioned in the support structure;
a rotor shaft operatively connected to the flush valve;
a rotor cam coupled to the rotor shaft;
a drive arm operatively connected to the rotor cam at a first end and to the frame at a second end;
a motor to move the drive arm; and,
a spring operatively connected to the frame at one end and to the rotor cam at the opposite end to bias the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve.
14 . The flush mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the flush valve rotates to an open position.
15 . The flush mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the motor moves the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.
16 . The flush mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the flush valve rotates to an closed position.
17 . The flush mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the motor moves the drive arm in a direction so as to rotate the flush valve to a closed position.
18 . A method of flushing a toilet comprising the steps of:
activating an actuating mechanism;
activating a flush/add water switch;
energizing a motor and a water inlet valve;
disengaging a motor arm from a drive arm slot;
biasing a drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate a flush valve; and,
re-engaging the motor arm in the drive slot so as to rotate the flush valve to in an opposite direction.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein during the step of biasing a drive mechanism in a direction so as to rotate a flush valve to an open position the method further comprising the steps of:
deactivating the flush/add water switch; and,
activating a cam switch to energize the motor and water inlet valve.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:
providing a power boost bar operatively connected to the drive mechanism and a projection operatively connected to the motor arm;
wherein prior to the step of re-engaging the motor arm in the drive slot so as to rotate the flush valve the method further comprising the step of:
contacting the projection to the power boost bar to drive the drive mechanism a direction so as to rotate the flush valve in the same direction.