Claims
- 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, 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, and a flush lever coupled with said valve body, wherein said flush valve 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, 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; and a sensor-operated powering assembly, comprising: a housing, which is adapted for mounting on said valve body; a replaceable power source received in the housing; a CPU electrically connected with said power source for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system, so as to active said power generator; a power generator electrically connected to said CPU; 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 relief valve is sealedly closed for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and at said auto-operated opened position, said relief valve 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.
- 2. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 1, 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.
- 3. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said valve member comprises a sealing platform arranged for sealedly supporting on said valve seat to normally close said flush channel, and a valve controlling shaft downwardly extended from said sealing platform for communicating with said flush lever within said flush channel, wherein said water passage is coaxially extended from said sealing platform to a bottom end of said valve controlling shaft.
- 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 retaining said water pressure within said water chamber.
- 5. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 3, 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.
- 6. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position.
- 7. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position.
- 8. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 5, 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.
- 9. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 7, 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.
- 10. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.
- 11. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.
- 12. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.
- 13. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein said housing further 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.
- 14. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein said housing further 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.
- 15. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein said housing further 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.
- 16. 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.
- 17. 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.
- 18. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 15, wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.
- 19. 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.
- 20. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 8, 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.
- 21. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 18, 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.
- 22. 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 flush valve 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 the housing; a CPU electrically connected with said power source for sensing a presence of a user of said flushing system, so as to active said power generator; a power generator electrically connected to said CPU; 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.
- 23. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 22, 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.
- 24. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 23, 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.
- 25. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 24, 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.
- 26. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 22, 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.
- 27. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 25, 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
- 28. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 26, 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.
- 29. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 27, 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.
- 30. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 27, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position.
- 31. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 29, wherein said relief valve further comprises a resilient element having a biasing end biasing against said valve stopper so as to normally retain said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position.
- 32. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 28, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.
- 33. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 31, wherein said actuator has a driving end portion downwardly and rotatably extended from a bottom side of said housing to contact with said valve stopper, wherein said driving end portion of the actuator, having a semi-circular cross section, has a flat contacting surface and a curved contacting surface and is arranged to be driven to rotate via said power generator to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated closed position that said valve stopper is contacted with said flat contacting surface of said actuator to retain said valve stopper at said opening of said water passage for blocking said water passing to said water outlet, and to move said valve stopper at said auto-operated opened position that said valve stopper is contacted with said curved contacting surface of said actuator to move said valve stopper to an offset position from said opening of said water passage for allowing said water passing to said water outlet.
- 34. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 29, 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.
- 35. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 33, 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.
- 36. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 22, wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.
- 37. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 25, wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.
- 38. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 35, wherein said power generator is an electric motor actuated by said CPU to drive said actuator to rotate.
- 39. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 22, 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.
- 40. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 29, 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.
- 41. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 31, 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.
- 42. The automatic flush actuation apparatus, as recited in claim 38, 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.
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part application of a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 10/377,124, filed Feb. 28, 2003.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10377124 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Child |
10640693 |
Aug 2003 |
US |