Water flow control system and method for exterior retrofitting to toilet tank

Abstract

A system for controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a Toilet has a converting element, for converting the normally buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve. A programming element enables programming of a controlling time for the flush duration and volume of water. A controlling element connects the programming element to the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining it in a raised open position upon user actuation, and for releasing it to close the flush valve within the controlling time. In a preferred embodiment, the controlling element is mounted to the exterior wall of the toilet tank and has a connecting element connected to the flush actuator outside the tank which is connected to the flush lever and to the non-buoyant flush valve within the tank.

1 . A system for programmably controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a toilet, wherein the toilet includes a flush actuator of the type having a user-actuable part mounted on an exterior wall of the toilet tank and a flush actuator mechanism that penetrates through the tank wall to extend inside the tank and connect to a buoyant flush valve within the tank, wherein pressure actuation of the user-actuable part of the flush actuator by a user moves the flush actuator mechanism to raise the buoyant flush valve to open a flush aperture for the toilet tank, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which upon user actuation of the flush actuator raises the converted non-buoyant flush valve to a raised open position, and which enables control of the operation of the flush valve such that the duration of the flush no longer depends on the flush valve losing buoyancy in order to close;   a programming element, for enabling programming of at least a small flush controlling time and a large flush controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of water passing beneath the flush valve via gravity force, thus controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet; and   a controlling element, connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, responsive to movement of the flush actuator mechanism for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in the raised open position upon user actuation of the flush actuator, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within a selected one of the small flush controlling time and the large flush controlling time,   wherein said controlling element is connected to the non-buoyant flush valve through a coupling with the flush actuator for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said controlling element is coupled to the flush actuator by a connecting element extendable and retractable therefrom and is mounted to the exterior wall of the toilet tank in proximity to the user-actuable part of the flush actuator, wherein said connecting element includes a bracket at its end for coupling to the user-actuable part of the flush actuator. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the converting element, programming element, and controlling element are adapted to be retrofittable to a standard toilet tank with a standard toilet tank lid. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element is programmable for a controlling time within the period of a minimum time required to complete a small flush of a partial amount of the water in the toilet to a maximum time required to drain all of the water from within a toilet tank. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element is programmable for two controlling times. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element comprises a user interface module. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element of the system is programmable to enable user actuation of the small flush time. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element of the system is programmable to enable user actuation of the large flush time. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the programming element includes a sensing element for sensing the presence of a person and the length of time the person has been using the toilet, and for automatically determining whether to provide a small flush time or a large flush time based on the length of time of use. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 9 , wherein the sensing element further includes a time threshold determining element for enabling the user to program a time threshold for the sensing element to determine the type of flush to provide. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the connecting element of the controlling element is a chain, string, strap or wire wound on a spring-loaded pulley at one end then extends around a guide post mounted to the exterior toilet tank wall and has its other end coupled to the user-actuable part of the flush actuator, and wherein the spring-loaded pulley is wound in one direction by pulling out the connecting element and creating a spring tension on the connecting element, and when the connecting element is released from pulling out employs the spring tension to retract the connecting element. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein the controlling element further includes a ratchet pawl engageable with the pulley such that in a disengaged position the pulley can rotate in either direction so that the non-buoyant flush valve can be closed, and in an engaged position the pulley can rotate in one direction but not the other to allow for retracting the connecting element by spring force and preventing rotation in the opposite direction for holding the pulley in a retraction position so that the non-buoyant flush valve can be held in the raised open position, and a motor which when actuated in one direction by a control signal from the programming element, moves the ratchet pawl to the engaged position so that the non-buoyant flush valve is held in the raised open position, and when actuated in the other direction, moves the ratchet pawl to release the pulley and enable the connecting element to be pulled out via gravity force for closing the non-buoyant flush valve. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 12 , wherein the controlling element further includes a motion detecting element for detecting motion of the pulley and sending an electric signal for the pulley motion to the programming element to generate responsive operations.