Flush valve with relief valve having axially-translatable valve element
View Patent ↗A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.
1. A flush valve comprising:
a valve housing defining a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid passageway having a fixed member disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the fixed member includes an extension having an inner chamber; and
a relief valve configured to control fluid flow from the inner chamber to the fluid outlet, the relief valve comprising a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element, the stationary relief valve housing having a relief passageway and the axially-translatable valve element having an axial end positionable to seal an upper opening in the relief passageway of the stationary relief valve housing to regulate fluid flow;
wherein when the flush valve is activated and the relief valve is opened by lifting the axial end of the axially-translatable valve element from the upper opening of the relief passageway, a flow of water into the fluid outlet via the relief passageway occurs;
wherein the inner chamber of the fixed member is configured to support at least the stationary relief valve housing of the relief valve assembly;
wherein the stationary relief valve housing is threadably connected to the fixed member and wherein threads of the stationary relief valve housing have at least one planar flat surface, wherein the at least one planar flat surface produces a gap between the at least one planar flat surface and the fixed member.
2. The flush valve of claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein an axial position of the axially translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing is configured to be controlled by the motor.
3. The flush valve of claim 1 , wherein the open position of the relief valve occurs when the axial end of the axially-translatable valve element is translated out of contact with the stationary relief valve housing.
4. The flush valve of claim 1 , wherein the relief valve assembly is configured to be in an open position from 0.5 to 3 seconds, which results in the flush valve being open from 3 to 10 seconds.
5. The flush valve of claim 1 , wherein the axial end of the axially translatable valve element has an elastomeric element on a tip thereof that seals the opening of the relief passageway of the stationary relief valve housing when the relief valve is in the closed position.
6. The flush valve of claim 1 , further comprising a drive train including a lead screw part that is integral with the axially translatable valve element.
7. The flush valve of claim 6 , wherein the lead screw part is a male lead screw part, wherein the drive train includes a female driving part positioned to drive the male lead screw part, and wherein the axially-translatable valve element is restricted from angular rotation such that driving of the male lead screw part by the female driving part axially displaces the axially translatable valve element axially.
8. The flush valve of claim 7 , wherein the female driving part is rotationally driven and meshes with the male lead screw part to provide axial translation of the axially translatable valve element.
9. The flush valve of claim 1 , wherein the stationary relief valve housing extends away from the axially-translatable valve element.
10. The flush valve of claim 1 , wherein movement of the axially-translatable valve element translates the relief valve assembly to a first position and a second position.
11. The flush valve of claim 10 , wherein when the relief valve assembly is in the first position, the axially-translatable valve element is sealed against the extension and the upper opening in the relief passageway of the stationary relief valve housing.
12. The flush valve of claim 10 , wherein when the relief valve assembly is in the second position, the axially-translatable valve element is spaced apart from the extension and the upper opening in the relief passageway of the stationary relief valve housing.
13. The flush valve of claim 1 , the valve housing further including an upper housing body and a lower housing body.
14. The flush valve of claim 13 , wherein the fixed member is positioned between the upper housing body and the lower housing body.
15. The flush valve of claim 13 , wherein the relief valve assembly is positioned within the upper housing body.
16. A method for operating a flush valve, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fluid under pressure to a fluid passageway in a valve housing via a fluid inlet, the fluid passageway having a fixed member disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the fixed member includes an extension having an inner chamber;
communicating the fluid into a relief valve, the relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially translatable valve element, the stationary relief valve housing having a relief passageway and the axially translatable valve element having an axial end positionable to selectively seal an upper opening in the relief passageway of the stationary relief valve housing to regulate fluid flow, wherein the inner chamber of the fixed member is configured to support at least the stationary relief valve housing, and wherein the stationary relief valve housing is threadably connected to the fixed member and wherein threads of the stationary relief valve housing have at least one planar flat surface, wherein the at least one planar flat surface produces a gap between the at least one planar flat surface and the fixed member;
translating the axially translatable valve element into an open position such that the upper opening in the relief valve housing is unsealed by the axial end of the axially-translatable valve element;
communicating the fluid through the relief valve to a fluid outlet;
activating the flush valve; and
lifting the axial end of the axially-translatable valve element from the upper opening of the relief passageway, thereby opening the relief valve and permitting water to pass into the fluid outlet via the relief passageway.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the axially translatable valve element includes a male lead screw part and a drive train of the flush valve includes a female driving part and wherein the step of translating the axially translatable valve element involves driving the female driving part such that the female driving part meshes with the male lead screw part to translate the axially-translatable valve element.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein, during the step of translating the axially translatable valve element, the axially translatable valve element is restricted from angular rotation such that driving of the male lead screw part by the female driving part displaces the axially-translatable valve element axially.