Plumbing fixture siphon flow actuator

Abstract

A plumbing fixture system includes a plumbing fixture bowl and a plumbing fixture tank coupled to the plumbing fixture bowl. The plumbing fixture tank is configured to house liquid. The plumbing fixture system further includes a siphon flush valve assembly disposed in the plumbing fixture tank and an electric actuator configured to induce, via the siphon flush valve assembly, a siphon flow of a portion of the liquid from the plumbing fixture tank into the plumbing fixture bowl.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plumbing fixture system comprising:
 a plumbing fixture bowl;   a plumbing fixture tank coupled to the plumbing fixture bowl, wherein the plumbing fixture tank is configured to house liquid;   a siphon flush valve assembly disposed in the plumbing fixture tank; and   an electric actuator configured to induce, via the siphon flush valve assembly, a siphon flow of a portion of the liquid from the plumbing fixture tank into the plumbing fixture bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to rotate a drive shaft coupled to one or more fan blades to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 2 , wherein the electric actuator is a direct current electric motor that is disposed in the plumbing fixture tank. 
     
     
         4 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 2 , wherein the siphon flush valve assembly comprises a core structure and a head structure that surround a distal end of the core structure, wherein the one or more fan blades are disposed in the core structure, wherein the drive shaft extends through the head structure and the core structure. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator comprises an electric pump configured to provide liquid flow through a spray nozzle into the siphon flush valve assembly to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to move a displacement object into the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank to raise liquid level in the plumbing fixture tank to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to lower the siphon flush valve assembly in the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to move a piston in a cylinder disposed in the plumbing fixture tank to raise liquid level of the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to cause airflow through the siphon flush valve assembly to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A siphon flush valve assembly comprising:
 a core structure comprising a first distal end and a second distal end, wherein the first distal end forms a weir, and wherein the second distal end forms a siphon flush valve outlet;   a head structure surrounding the first distal end of the core structure, wherein a lower portion of the head structure forms a siphon flush valve inlet; and   one or more fan blades configured to induce a siphon flow of surrounding liquid through the siphon flush valve inlet, over the weir, and out the siphon flush valve outlet.   
     
     
         11 . The siphon flush valve assembly of  claim 10  further comprising an electric actuator configured to rotate a drive shaft coupled to the one or more fan blades to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The siphon flush valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the electric actuator is a direct current electric motor configured to be disposed in a plumbing fixture tank with the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The siphon flush valve assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a pneumatic actuator configured to rotate a drive shaft coupled to the one or more fan blades to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The siphon flush valve assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a hydraulic actuator configured to rotate a drive shaft coupled to the one or more fan blades to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A control system comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive user input associated with flushing a plumbing fixture; and   a controller configured to:
 receive the user input; and 
 responsive to the user input, actuate an electric actuator to induce a siphon flow of liquid via a siphon flush valve assembly from a plumbing fixture tank of the plumbing fixture to a plumbing fixture bowl of the plumbing fixture. 
   
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to rotate a drive shaft coupled to one or more fan blades to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the electric actuator is a direct current electric motor that is disposed in the plumbing fixture tank. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the siphon flush valve assembly comprises a core structure and a head structure that surround a distal end of the core structure, wherein the one or more fan blades are disposed in the core structure, wherein the drive shaft extends through the head structure and the core structure. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the electric actuator comprises an electric pump configured to provide liquid flow through a spray nozzle into the siphon flush valve assembly to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the electric actuator is configured to one or more of:
 move a displacement object into the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank raise liquid level in the plumbing fixture tank to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly;   lower the siphon flush valve assembly in the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank to induce the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly;   move a piston in a cylinder disposed in the plumbing fixture tank to raise the liquid level of the liquid in the plumbing fixture tank to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly; or   cause airflow through the siphon flush valve assembly to cause the siphon flow via the siphon flush valve assembly.