IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,428,509
Granted Patent B2
US 10,428,509 · App. 15/981,457 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Pre-primed siphonic toilet

Inventors: Andrew L. Smith (Sheboygan, WI); Billy Jack Ahola (Manitowoc, WI); Mark Baumgartner (Sheboygan, WI); Larry Duwell (Adell, WI); Don Bogenschuetz (Sheboygan, WI); Peter Swart (Oostburg, WI); Tobin Vetting (Sheboygan Falls, WI)
Assignee: KOHLER CO.
E03D11/18E03D5/024E03D5/10E03D11/02E03D11/10E03D5/003E03D2201/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,428,509
App. No.
15/981,457
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of flushing a siphonic toilet that includes retaining a first volume of water in a bowl and an up leg of a passageway that is upstream from a dam, retaining a second volume of water in the passageway between a valve and the dam in a closed position of the valve, activating a flush cycle of the toilet that introduces a third volume of water into the toilet, and moving the valve from the closed position to an open position to affect a siphon during the flush cycle.

Claims (28)

1. A method of flushing a siphonic toilet, comprising:

retaining a first volume of water in a bowl and an up leg of a passageway that is upstream from a dam;

retaining a second volume of water in the passageway between a valve and the dam in a closed position of the valve;

activating a flush cycle of the siphonic toilet that introduces a third volume of water into the siphonic toilet; and

moving the valve from the closed position to an open position to affect a siphon during the flush cycle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second volume of water is introduced into the passageway using a flow control device prior to the activating the flush cycle through an inlet located downstream of the dam and upstream from the valve.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising venting air through an air pressure release line extending between a first opening in the passageway, which is upstream from the inlet and downstream of the dam, and a second opening in the passageway, which is downstream of the valve.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein when the valve is in the open position, the valve seals off the second opening, and when the valve is in the closed position, the second opening is exposed.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising preventing water and waste from back flowing through the air pressure release line during a flush cycle through a check valve located in line with the air pressure release line.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the check valve is located proximate the first opening of the passageway.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the check valve is a first check valve, and further comprising a second check valve proximate the inlet of the passageway.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the valve is a first valve, and the first volume of water is retained by a second valve located upstream of the dam.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second valve retains the first volume of water in a closed position of the second valve.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising moving the second valve from the closed position to an open position to affect the siphon during the flush cycle, wherein the first and second valves are moved to the open position in response to activating the flush cycle.

11. A method of flushing a siphonic toilet, comprising:

retaining a first volume of water upstream of a dam of a passageway, the passageway fluidly connecting an outlet of a bowl and an outlet of the siphonic toilet;

retaining a second volume of water in the passageway downstream of the dam through a valve located between the dam and the outlet of the siphonic toilet;

activating a flush cycle that introduces a third volume of water into at least one of the bowl and the passageway; and

moving the valve from a closed position to an open position to affect a siphon during the flush cycle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second volume of water is introduced into an inlet of the passageway using a flow control device prior to the activating the flush cycle, and wherein the inlet is located downstream of the dam and upstream from the valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the valve is a first valve, and the first volume of water is retained by a second valve located upstream of the dam.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second valve retains the first volume of water in a sump of the bowl in a closed position of the second valve.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising moving the second valve from the closed position to an open position to affect the siphon during the flush cycle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second valves are moved to the open position in response to activating the flush cycle.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising venting air through an air pressure release line extending between a first opening in the passageway, which is upstream from the inlet and downstream of the dam, and a second opening in the passageway, which is downstream of the first valve.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first valve seals off the second opening in the open position of the first valve, and the second opening is exposed in the closed position of the first valve.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second valve is located in an inlet end of the passageway fluidly connected to the outlet of the bowl.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising venting air through an air pressure release line extending between a first opening in the passageway, which is upstream from an inlet of the passageway and downstream of the dam, and a second opening in the passageway, which is downstream of the valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2019
From: SMITH, ANDREW L.; AHOLA, BILLY JACK; BAUMGARTNER, MARK; DUWELL, LARRY; BOGENSCHUETZ, DON; SWART, PETER; VETTING, TOBIN
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 049152/0783 →
Continuity (2)
Division 15360434 · Nov 23, 2016
Related Publication 20180258630A1 · Sep 13, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,703,971