Automatic flush actuation apparatus

Abstract

An automatic flush actuation apparatus, which is incorporated with a flushing system having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating therebetween, that includes a valve member being moved by a flush lever for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing from the water inlet to the water outlet, and a sensor-operated powering assembly including a relief valve provided at the valve member for controlling the water flowing to the water outlet and an actuator arranged in such a manner that while sensing a presence of a user of the flushing system, the actuator is driven to move the relief valve to an opened position for releasing the water pressure within the water chamber to allow the water passing to said water outlet.

1 . An automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, and a valve seat, having a flush channel, normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said automatic flush actuation apparatus comprises: 
 a valve member adapted for being disposed at said valve seat to control said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet; and    a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:    a power source;    a power generator;    a CPU electrically connected with said power source and said power generator for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system, so as to active said power generator;    a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, wherein said relief valve has a water passage extended along said valve member to communicate said water chamber with said water outlet and comprises a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling a water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet; and    an actuator driven by said power generator to move said valve stopper between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said valve stopper sealedly closes said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said valve stopper is moved to an opened position with respect to said water passage by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet.    
   
   
       2 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said valve member comprises a sealing platform arranged for sealedly supporting on said valve seat to normally close said flush channel, wherein said water passage is coaxially extended from said sealing platform to a bottom end of said valve controlling shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said sealing platform has a circular retaining seat protruding upwardly around said opening of said water passage, wherein said valve stopper is disposed at said retaining seat so as to hold said valve stopper in position.  
   
   
       6 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said sealing platform has a circular retaining seat protruding upwardly around said opening of said water passage, wherein said valve stopper is disposed at said retaining seat so as to hold said valve stopper in position.  
   
   
       7 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said sensor-operated powering assembly further comprises a housing to enclose said power source and said power generator, wherein said housing comprises a locating ring integrally and downwardly protruded from a bottom side of said housing to coaxially align with said water passage so as to form as a boundary for said valve stopper to move within said locating ring.  
   
   
       8 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.  
   
   
       9 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.  
   
   
       10 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said CPU comprises a control processor supported in said housing and a sensor which is electrically connected to said control processor for detecting said presence of said user of said flushing system, so as to actuate said power generator through said control processor.  
   
   
       11 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said CPU comprises a control processor supported in said housing and a sensor which is electrically connected to said control processor for detecting said presence of said user of said flushing system, so as to actuate said power generator through said control processor.  
   
   
       12 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said valve member also comprises a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended for communicating with a flush lever coupled with said valve body within said flush channel, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, whereby when said sensor-operated powering assembly is not functioned, an user is able to operate said flushing system by means of said flush lever.  
   
   
       13 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said valve member also comprises a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with a flush lever coupled with said valve body within said flush channel, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, whereby when said sensor-operated powering assembly is not functioned, an user is able to operate said flushing system by means of said flush lever.  
   
   
       14 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said valve member also comprises a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with a flush lever coupled with said valve body within said flush channel, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, whereby when said sensor-operated powering assembly is not functioned, an user is able to operate said flushing system by means of said flush lever.  
   
   
       15 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said valve member also comprises a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with a flush lever coupled with said valve body within said flush channel, wherein said valve member is capable of being moved by said flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber, whereby when said sensor-operated powering assembly is not functioned, an user is able to operate said flushing system by means of said flush lever.  
   
   
       16 . A automatic flush actuation apparatus for a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, wherein said automatic flush actuation apparatus comprises: 
 a valve member adapted for being sealedly disposed on said valve seat; and    a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising:    a housing adapted for mounting on said valve body;    a replaceable power source received in said housing;    a power generator received in said housing;    a CPU electrically connected with said power source and said power generator for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system, so as to active said power generator;    a relief valve provided at said valve member for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber; and    an actuator driven by said power generator to move said relief valve between an auto-operated closed position and an auto-operated opened position, wherein at said auto-operated closed position, said valve stopper is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said valve stopper is moved to an opened position by said actuator for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet.    
   
   
       17 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said housing comprises a supporting frame having a power source compartment for receiving said power source therein and a CPU cavity for receiving said CPU therein, and a valve cap which has a transparent window aligned with said CPU and is adapted for mounting on said valve body to protectively enclose said supporting frame within said valve cap.  
   
   
       18 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said valve cap comprises an outer casing having a power source opening aligned with said power source compartment to expose said power source to outside through said power source opening, and a power source cover detachably mounted on said outer casing to cover said power source opening.  
   
   
       19 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said outer casing further has a CPU opening aligned with said CPU cavity to expose said CPU to outside through said CPU opening, wherein said transparent window is detachably mounted on said outer casing to enclose said CPU within said valve cap.  
   
   
       20 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet.  
   
   
       21 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said relief valve has a water passage axially extended along said valve member for communicating said water chamber with said water outlet, and a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to normally close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet  
   
   
       22 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber.  
   
   
       23 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said valve stopper, having a ball-shape, sits on said valve member at an opening of said water passage to normally close said water passage for retaining said water pressure within said water chamber.  
   
   
       24 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said housing further comprises a locating ring integrally and downwardly protruded from a bottom side of said supporting frame to coaxially align with said water passage so as to form as a boundary for said valve stopper to move within said locating ring.  
   
   
       25 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.  
   
   
       26 . The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said CPU comprises a control processor supported in said housing and a sensor which is electrically connected to said control processor for detecting said presence of said user of said flushing system, so as to actuate said power generator through said control processor.  
   
   
       27 . A method of automatically actuating a flushing system which comprises a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a water chamber communicating between said water inlet and said water outlet, a valve seat normally sealed with said water chamber for retaining a predetermined water pressure within said water chamber so as to block water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet, and a valve member adapted for being sealedly disposed on said valve seat; 
 wherein said method comprises the steps of:    (a) providing a water passage axially extending along said valve member to communicate said water chamber with said water outlet;    (b) normally blocking said water passage by a valve stopper disposed on said valve member to close said water passage for controlling said water flowing from said water inlet to said water outlet; and    (c) driving said valve stopper by an actuator to move to an opened position that does not block said water passage for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water passing to said water outlet.    
   
   
       28 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , after the step (b) and after the step (c), further comprising a step of sensing a presence of a user in front of said flushing system.  
   
   
       29 . The method, as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a step of manually operating said flushing system by moving a flush lever between a manual-operated closed position and a manual-operated opened position, wherein said valve member, which comprises a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended for communicating with a flush lever which is coupled with said valve body within said flush channel, is capable of being moved by said flush lever, wherein at said manual-operated closed position, said valve member is arranged for sealedly sitting at said valve seat to block said water passing to said water outlet, and at said manual-operated opened position, said valve member is moved to an opened position for releasing said water pressure within said water chamber to allow said water to pass from said water inlet to said water outlet through said water chamber.