Flush valve structure for a toilet tank

Abstract

A toilet tank flush valve structure includes a valve base. A float assembly is movable relative to the valve base between a sealing position and a flushing position, the float assembly being adjustable in buoyancy. An overflow tube is attached to the float assembly and extends upward from a lower end in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base to an upper end in fluid communication with the interior space of the toilet tank. The upper end of the overflow tube is adjustable relative to the float assembly independently of the buoyancy of the float assembly. A guide member extends upward from the valve base for guiding movement of the float assembly relative to the valve base. A stop member is mounted on the guide member at a location above the float assembly for limiting upward travel of the float assembly from its sealing position. The stop member is adjustable in position lengthwise of the guide member independently of the buoyancy of the float assembly and independently of the upper end of the overflow tube.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A toilet tank flush valve structure, for use with a toilet tank that is provided with a water supply valve and has an interior space bounded by a floor formed with an outlet hole, the flush valve structure comprising:
 a valve base for installation in the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, the valve base defining a water outflow passage having an upper end and a lower end and including a first valve member at the upper end of the water outflow passage,   a float assembly that is movable relative to the valve base between a sealing position in which a second valve member at a lower end of the float assembly engages the first valve member in sealing relationship and a flushing position in which the second valve member is spaced upwardly from the first valve member, the float assembly defining a passage extending upwardly therethrough, wherein the float assembly comprises an outer shell that is open downwards and has a lower edge at which the shell is provided with said second valve member, and a closure member within the outer shell and cooperating with the outer shell to define a float chamber, and wherein the closure member is adjustable in position relative to the outer shell, whereby the float chamber is adjustable in volume,   an overflow tube extending upward through the passage defined by the float assembly, wherein the overflow tube extends upward from a lower end in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base to an upper end in fluid communication with the interior space of the toilet tank and is adjustable in position relative to the float assembly independently of adjustment of the closure member relative to the outer shell, and   a guide member that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube for guiding movement of the float assembly relative to the valve base, the guide member comprising a tubular core and ribs projecting outward from the core, the core having an interior space defining a passageway extending longitudinally of the guide member from an inlet at an upper end region of the guide member, for connection to the water supply valve, to an outlet at a lower end region of the guide member in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base,   and wherein the guide member includes a stop element at a location above the float assembly for limiting upward travel of the float assembly from its sealing position, and the stop element is adjustably positioned relative to the valve base whereby a distance of said upward travel is selectively adjustable.   
     
     
         29 . A toilet tank installation comprising:
 a toilet tank having an interior space bounded by a floor formed with an outlet hole,   a water supply valve positioned inside the tank and connected to a water source, and   a flush valve structure comprising a valve base installed in the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, the valve base defining a water outflow passage having an upper end and a lower end and including a first valve member at the upper end of the water outflow passage; a float assembly that is movable relative to the valve base between a sealing position in which a second valve member at a lower end of the float assembly engages the first valve member in sealing relationship and a flushing position in which the second valve member is spaced upwardly from the first valve member, the float assembly defining a passage extending upwardly therethrough, wherein the float assembly comprises an outer shell that is open downwards and has a lower edge at which the shell is provided with said second valve member, and a closure member within the outer shell and cooperating with the outer shell to define a float chamber, and wherein the closure member is adjustable in position relative to the outer shell, whereby the float chamber is adjustable in volume; an overflow tube extending upward through the passage defined by the float assembly, wherein the overflow tube extends upward from a lower end in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base to an upper end in fluid communication with the interior space of the toilet tank and is adjustable in position relative to the float assembly independently of adjustment of the closure member relative to the outer shell; and a guide member that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube for guiding movement of the float assembly relative to the valve base, the guide member comprising a tubular core and ribs projecting outward from the core, the core having an interior space defining a passageway extending longitudinally of the guide member from an inlet at an upper end region of the guide member, connected to the water supply valve, to an outlet at a lower end region of the guide member in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base; and wherein the guide member includes a stop element at a location above the float assembly for limiting upward travel of the float assembly from its sealing position, and the stop element is adjustably positioned relative to the valve base whereby a distance of said upward travel is selectively adjustable.   
     
     
         30 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 29 , wherein the float assembly includes a downward extension tube and the overflow tube extends within said downward extension tube. 
     
     
         31 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 30 , wherein the extension tube has an upper portion of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the overflow tube, to provide a snug sliding fit of the overflow tube within said upper portion of the extension tube, and a lower portion of reduced internal diameter relative to the upper portion for cooperating with the guide member for guiding movement of the float assembly. 
     
     
         32 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 29 , wherein the valve base includes a flange positioned within the tank above the floor of the toilet tank, a water outflow tube that extends downward from the flange to enter the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, and an extension that flares upward from the flange, and the first valve member is positioned at an upper end of the extension. 
     
     
         33 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 32 , wherein the extension is horizontally skewed, whereby the upper end of the extension is horizontally offset from a lower end thereof. 
     
     
         34 . A flush valve structure according to  claim 33 , wherein the valve base has an internally threaded hole at one side of the water outflow passage and the guide member is externally threaded at its lower end and is in threaded engagement with the valve base. 
     
     
         35 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 32 , wherein the guide member has a lower end at which it is threadedly attached to the valve base. 
     
     
         36 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 29 , wherein the guide member comprises a lower portion located at least partially below an upper end of the overflow tube, and an upper portion that is releasably attached to the lower portion at an upper end thereof and extends upward from the upper end of the lower portion, and the stop element is mounted on the upper portion at a location above the float assembly. 
     
     
         37 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 36 , wherein the upper portion of the guide member is adjustable in position lengthwise relative to the lower portion of the guide member. 
     
     
         38 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 36 , wherein the stop member is adjustable in position lengthwise of the guide member independently of the buoyancy of the float assembly and independently of the upper end of the overflow tube. 
     
     
         39 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 29 , wherein the float chamber is adjustable in volume independently of adjustment of the overflow tube and said stop element. 
     
     
         40 . A toilet tank flush valve structure, for use with a toilet tank that is provided with a water supply valve and has an interior space bounded by a floor formed with an outlet hole, the flush valve structure comprising:
 a valve base for installation in the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, the valve base defining a water outflow passage having an upper end and a lower end and including a first valve member at the upper end of the water outflow passage,   a float assembly that is movable relative to the valve base between a sealing position in which a second valve member at a lower end of the float assembly engages the first valve member in sealing relationship and a flushing position in which the second valve member is spaced upwardly from the first valve member, the float assembly defining a float chamber and also defining a passage extending upwardly therethrough,   an overflow tube extending upward through the passage defined by the float assembly, wherein the overflow tube is adjustably attached to the float assembly and extends upward from a lower end in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base to an upper end in fluid communication with the interior space of the toilet tank, and   a guide member that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube for guiding movement of the float assembly relative to the valve base, the guide member comprising a lower portion that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube, an upper portion that is releasably attached to the lower portion at an upper end thereof and extends upward from the upper end of the lower portion, and a stop element mounted on the upper portion at a location above the float assembly for limiting upward travel of the float assembly from its sealing position, the stop element being adjustably positioned relative to the valve base whereby a distance of said upward travel is selectively adjustable,   and wherein the guide member comprises a tubular core and ribs projecting outward from the core over at least the lower portion of the guide member, the core having an interior space defining a passageway extending longitudinally of the guide member from an inlet at an upper end region of the guide member, for connection to the water supply valve, to an outlet at a lower end region of the guide member in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base.   
     
     
         41 . A flush valve structure according to  claim 40 , wherein the lower portion of the guide member comprises a tubular core and ribs projecting outward from the core and the upper portion is tubular, whereby the guide defines an internal passageway extending longitudinally of the guide member from an inlet at an upper end region of the guide member, for connection to the water supply valve, to an outlet at a lower end region of the guide member in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base. 
     
     
         42 . A toilet tank installation comprising:
 a toilet tank having an interior space bounded by a floor formed with an outlet hole,   a water supply valve positioned inside the tank and connected to a water source, and   a flush valve structure comprising a valve base installed in the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, the valve base defining a water outflow passage having an upper end and a lower end and including a first valve member at the upper end of the water outflow passage; a float assembly that is movable relative to the valve base between a sealing position in which a second valve member at a lower end of the float assembly engages the first valve member in sealing relationship and a flushing position in which the second valve member is spaced upwardly from the first valve member, the float assembly defining a float chamber and also defining a passage extending upwardly therethrough; an overflow tube extending upward through the passage defined by the float assembly, wherein the overflow tube is adjustably attached to the float assembly and extends upward from a lower end in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base to an upper end in fluid communication with the interior space of the toilet tank; and a guide member that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube for guiding movement of the float assembly relative to the valve base, the guide member comprising a lower portion that extends upward from the valve base through the overflow tube, an upper portion that is releasably attached to the lower portion at an upper end thereof and extends upward from the upper end of the lower portion; and a stop element mounted on the upper portion at a location above the float assembly for limiting upward travel of the float assembly from its sealing position, the stop element being adjustably positioned relative to the valve base whereby a distance of said upward travel is selectively adjustable; and wherein the guide member comprises a tubular core and ribs projecting outward from the core over at least the lower portion of the guide member, the core having an interior space defining a passageway extending longitudinally of the guide member from an inlet at an upper end region of the guide member, connected to the water supply valve, to an outlet at a lower end region of the guide member in fluid communication with the water outflow passage of the valve base.   
     
     
         43 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 42 , wherein the float assembly includes a downward extension tube and the overflow tube extends within said downward extension tube. 
     
     
         44 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 43 , wherein the extension tube has an upper portion of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the overflow tube, to provide a snug sliding fit of the overflow tube within said upper portion of the extension tube, and a lower portion of reduced internal diameter relative to the upper portion for cooperating with the guide member for guiding movement of the float assembly. 
     
     
         45 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 42 , wherein the valve base includes a flange positioned within the tank above the floor of the toilet tank, a water outflow tube that extends downward from the flange to enter the outlet hole formed in the floor of the toilet tank, and an extension that flares upward from the flange, and the first valve member is positioned at an upper end of the extension. 
     
     
         46 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 45 , wherein the extension is horizontally skewed, whereby the upper end of the extension is horizontally offset from a lower end thereof. 
     
     
         47 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 45 , wherein the valve base has an internally threaded hole at one side of the water outflow passage and the guide member is externally threaded at its lower end and is in threaded engagement with the valve base. 
     
     
         48 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 44 , wherein the guide member has a lower end at which it is threadedly attached to the valve base. 
     
     
         49 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 42 , wherein the guide member comprises a lower portion located at least partially below an upper end of the overflow tube, and an upper portion that is releasably attached to the lower portion at an upper end thereof and extends upward from the upper end of the lower portion, and the stop element is mounted on the upper portion at a location above the float assembly. 
     
     
         50 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 49 , wherein the upper portion of the guide member is adjustable in position lengthwise relative to the lower portion of the guide member. 
     
     
         51 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 49 , wherein the stop member is adjustable in position lengthwise of the guide member independently of the buoyancy of the float assembly and independently of the upper end of the overflow tube. 
     
     
         52 . A toilet tank installation according to  claim 42 , wherein the float chamber is adjustable in volume independently of adjustment of the overflow tube and said stop element.