Venturi device to displace air from plumbing fixture trapway

Abstract

A plumbing fixture system comprising a plumbing fixture bowl and a trapway fluidly coupled with the plumbing fixture bowl. The plumbing fixture system further comprises a Venturi device comprising an inlet and an outlet. The Venturi device forms an interior volume. The Venturi device further forming a channel from the inlet to the outlet. The interior volume is fluidly coupled to the channel. Liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet causes a first reduction in pressure in the interior volume. The plumbing fixture system further comprises a conduit extending from the interior volume of the Venturi device to the trapway. The first reduction in pressure in the interior volume of the Venturi device causes a second reduction in pressure in the trapway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plumbing fixture system comprising:
 a plumbing fixture bowl;   a trapway fluidly coupled with the plumbing fixture bowl;   a Venturi device comprising an inlet and an outlet, the Venturi device forming an interior volume, the Venturi device further forming a channel from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the interior volume is fluidly coupled to the channel, wherein liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet causes a first reduction in pressure in the interior volume; and   a conduit extending from the interior volume of the Venturi device to the trapway, wherein the first reduction in pressure in the interior volume of the Venturi device causes a second reduction in pressure in the trapway.   
     
     
         2 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the plumbing fixture system comprises a tank toilet, a tankless toilet, or a urinal. 
     
     
         3 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the trapway comprises a sump trap, an upstream weir, a lower trap, and a downstream weir, and wherein the conduit is coupled to the trapway at a position between the sump trap and the lower trap. 
     
     
         4 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the Venturi device comprises a piston disposed between liquid and gas in the interior volume, wherein the first reduction in pressure causes the piston to move towards the channel and causes additional gas to enter the interior volume from the trapway. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 4 , wherein the Venturi device further comprises a resilient device disposed between the piston and the channel, wherein the resilient device causes the piston to move away from the channel responsive to fluid not flowing through the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1 , wherein the Venturi device comprises a diaphragm disposed between liquid and gas in the interior volume, wherein the first reduction in pressure causes the diaphragm to move towards the channel and causes additional gas to enter the interior volume from the trapway. 
     
     
         7 . The plumbing fixture system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller configured to cause the liquid flow from the inlet and to the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A Venturi device comprising:
 sidewalls forming an interior volume and a port; and   a flowpath structure comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the flowpath structure forms a channel and an opening, wherein the interior volume and the channel are fluidly coupled via the opening, and wherein liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet via the channel causes a reduction in pressure in the interior volume and in a trapway of a plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         9 . The Venturi device of  claim 8 , wherein the port is configured to be fluidly coupled with the trapway via a conduit, and wherein the plumbing fixture is a tank toilet, a tankless toilet, or a urinal. 
     
     
         10 . The Venturi device of  claim 9 , wherein the trapway comprises a sump trap, an upstream weir, a lower trap, and a downstream weir, and wherein the conduit is coupled to the trapway at a position between the sump trap and the lower trap. 
     
     
         11 . The Venturi device of  claim 8  further comprising a piston disposed between liquid and gas in the interior volume, wherein the reduction in pressure causes the piston to move towards the channel and causes additional gas to enter the interior volume from the trapway. 
     
     
         12 . The Venturi device of  claim 11  further comprising a resilient device disposed between the piston and the channel, wherein the resilient device causes the piston to move away from the channel responsive to fluid not flowing through the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The Venturi device of  claim 8  further comprising a diaphragm disposed between liquid and gas in the interior volume, wherein the reduction in pressure causes the diaphragm to move towards the channel and causes additional gas to enter the interior volume from the trapway. 
     
     
         14 . The Venturi device of  claim 8 , wherein a controller is configured to cause the liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         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; 
 responsive to the user input, cause first liquid flow through a Venturi device to reduce pressure in an interior volume of the Venturi device and a trapway of the plumbing fixture, the trapway being fluidly coupled with the interior volume via a conduit; and 
 responsive to causing the first liquid flow, cause second liquid flow into a plumbing fixture bowl of the plumbing fixture. 
   
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 15  further comprising a solenoid valve, wherein the controller is to cause the first liquid flow by actuating the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16  further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the controller, the user interface, and the solenoid valve. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the Venturi device comprises sidewalls and a flowpath structure, the sidewalls forming the interior volume and a port, the flowpath structure comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the flowpath structure forms a channel and an opening, wherein the interior volume and the channel are fluidly coupled via the opening, and wherein liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet via the channel causes a reduction in pressure in the interior volume and in the trapway. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the user input is via a lever, a button, or a motion sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the second liquid flow via actuation of a flush valve.