Water flow control system
US5341839A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/88046
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A battery-operated flushing system (10) comprises a flushing valve (34) of the pilot-operated self-closing type having a pressure chamber (46) connected to a pilot conduit (52) controlled by a solenoid valve (50) of the non-latching type. A pressure control valve (48) is disposed between the pressure chamber (46) and the solenoid valve (50) for limiting the static water pressure applied to the solenoid valve (50) when the solenoid valve is closed. The provision for the pressure control valve (48) enables considerable reduction in the power consumption required to lift a solenoid valve plunger against the action of the static hydraulic pressure. Once the plunger is lifted, the non-latching type solenoid valve is energized with a reduced electric current sufficient to hold the valve in its open position. In total, energy consumption per cycle of operation is reduced. Use of the non-latching type solenoid valve permits to avoid malfunction inherently involved in the solenoid valves of the latching type. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.