US3311929A - Toilet bowl assembly - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1967 R. F. OBRIEN 3,311,929

TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l W14 WW 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 mum/ a4 @AW/ 5 05/76 April 4, 1967 R. F. O'BRIEN TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 4, 1967 Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 R. F. OBRIEN 3,311,929

TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mafia/aw April 4, 1967 R. F. O'BRIEN 3,

TOILET BOWL AS SEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fif ja 40am Mfr/we;

United States Patent M 3,311,929 T'OELET BGWL ASSEh'ihLY l lohert F. GErien, Monterey Park, Calitl, assignor to Mission-West Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Caliii, a corporation of Delaware Original application Dec. 19, 1961, tier. No. 166,693, new Patent No. 3,217,337, dated Nov. 16, 1965. Divided and this application (Dot. 6, W65, Ser. No. 534,549

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-69) This application is a division of my pending application Ser. No. 160,603, filed Dec. 19, 1961, now Patent No. 3,217,337, granted Nov. 16, 1965.

This invention relates to a toilet bowl assembly and is particularly directed to the problems relating to toilets for use in portable installations, for example, house trailers, boats, and in portable toilet structures that are installed for temporary use on construction projects and the like.

Most of such installations utilize an individual water tank which must be replenished from time to time and, therefore, a basic requirement is maximum economy in the use of water for the flushing of a toilet bowl. For this purpose the invention provides a normally closed closure for the toilet bowl outlet for normally retaining a body of water in the toilet bowl and further provides an associated normally closed flush valve for replacing the body of water, the flush valve operating with delayed action. A manually operable control means is movable through two stages, the first stage opening the closure to release the water trapped in the toilet bowl and the second stage actuating the flush valve for a flushing operation.

By virtue of this arrangement, the manual means may be operated through both of its stages to empty the toilet bowl with a flushing action and then may be restored to its normal starting position to cause the closure to close the bowl outlet and to cause delayed termination of the flushing action, the delay permitting a fresh body of water to be trapped in the bowl.

When such a toilet bowl assembly is transported under conditions wherein violent motion is likely to occur, for example when a house trailer is transported at relatively high speed over a long distance, the toilet bowl should be emptied of water in advance. This problem is met by operating the manual control through only its first stage to cause the closure of the toilet bowl outlet to open but to do so without initiating operation of the flush valve.

When the normal body of water in the toilet bowl is removed for this purpose, it is highly desirable to take the further step of cleaning the underside of the closure and the discharge passage immediately downstream from the closure. The invention meets this problem by providing a special spray nozzle to direct a cleansing spray of water against the underside of the closure and the adjacent portion of the discharge passage from the toilet bowl. In this regard a feature of the invention is the concept of operatively associating such a spray nozzle with the usual valve that is employed to cut off the water supply to the toilet bowl in preparation for transportation. When the cut off valve closes, the spray nozzle responds automatically to the closing action by carrying out the cleansing operation in the course of the closing action.

The further problem to which the invention is directed is to provide an eflicient and trouble-free delayed-action flushing valve. As will be explained the invention provides a flushing valve of relatively simple structure that may be easily adjusted for varying the delay action, the adjustment being conveniently accessible at the exterior of the toilet bowl assembly.

senses Patented Apr. 4, 1&6?

The features and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the presently preferred ernbodirnent of the toilet bowl assembly with portions broken away to show the structure relating to an overflow passage;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the pedestal or base structure that supports the toilet bowl, the view showing the valves for controlling the supply of water for flushing the toilet;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the flow passage arrangement for spraying the underside of the flapper valve at the outlet of this toilet bowl;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the angular line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the upright vacuum breaker and the adjacent portion of the toilet bowl;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of the invention which incorporates a sealing diaphragm; and

FIG. '7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 77 of FIG. 6 showing the configuration of the diaphragm.

General arrangement The principal parts of the toilet bowl assembly include: a toilet bowl 1t) equipped with the usual seat 12 and a hinged cover 14; a water supply. pipe 15.; a normally open cut-off valve (FIG. 2) generally designated 16, comprising a valve seat 18 and a cooperative valve head 20; a normally closed spray valve (FIG. 2), generally designated 22 for supplying water .to a spray nozzle in the form of an upwardly inclined passage 23, the spray valve comprising a valve seat 24 and a cooperating valve head 25; a knurled operating screw 28 that extends to the exterior of the toilet bowl assembly for manual manipulation to operate the two valves 16 and 22 simultaneously; a normally closed delayed-action flush valve (FIG. 2), the generally designated 39, for controlling the flushing of the toilet; a plunger 32 normally retracted by a spring 34, the plunger being adapted to open the flush valve to initiate a flushing cycle; a riser pipe 35 (FIG. 1), to receive the water that is released by the delayedaction flush valve 30; an upright vacuum breaker 36 at the upper end of the riser pipe, a manifold 38 connected to the vacuum breaker 36 to receive flushing water therefrom, the manifold having a plurality of ports 40 for discharging the flushing water into the interior of the toilet bowl; :1 pivoted closure 42 (FIG. 2), for the outlet 44 of the toilet bowl for normally retaining a body of water in the toilet bowl, the closure being springbiased to its normal closed position and being positioned to swing against the plunger 32 as the closure swings to its fully open position thereby to depress the plunger for operating the delayed-action flush valve 30; a foot pedal 45 (FIG. 1) for manually opening the closure 42'; an overflow passage 46 (FIGS. 1 and 5) incorporated in the curved wall of the toilet bowl 10 to receive overflow from an overflow port 48 in the toilet bowl and to bypass the closure 42 for delivering the overflow to the drainage passage 50 below the closure, the overflow passage being formed with a reverse curvature (not shown) to form a trap to retain a quantity of water'to seal off the room space from the drainage passage 50; and, finally, a bleeder port 52 in the manifold 38 for priming the overflow passage 46 to replenish the liquid in th overflow passage trap.

Operation tity of water in the toilet bowl and normally the flushing valve is closed. The cut off valve 16 is, of course, normally open, but the spray valve 22 is normally closed.

To flush the toilet, the pedal 45 is depressed to swing the closure 42 downward clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2.

During the initial movement of the pedal 45, the closure 42 swings open sufficiently to release the water that is trapped in the toilet bowl. During the latter part of the downward movement of the pedal 45 the closure 42 swings against the plunger 32 and thereby causes the plunger to open the flushing valve 30,. When the operator releases the foot pedal 45, the closure 42 is returned by spring action, but the flushing valve 39 continues to operate with a delayed action, the delay being sufficient for a new body of water to build up in the toilet bowl after the closure closes.

During the period of time in which the flushing valve 30 is open, a small portion of the water supply bleeds out of the manifold 38 through the bleeder port 52 into the overflow passage 46 to maintain the required quantity of water in the overflow passage trap. In the event that the flushing valve 30 fails to close completely, the water discharged from the manifold 38 through the manifold ports fills the toilet bowl to the level of the overflow port 48 and the excess water overflows through the port 48 into the overflow passage 46.

In the event that a vacuum occurs in the supply pipe 15, the vacuum breaker 36 closes to cut off the riser pipe 35 from the toilet bowl 38. If for any reason the vacuum breaker fails to close the upper end of the riser pipe 35, the vacuum breaker places the riser pipe 35 in direct communication with the atmosphere to make it impossible for water to be sucked into the vacuum breaker from the toilet bowl manifold 38.

To prepare the toilet bowl assembly for transportation or for a prolonged idle period, the foot pedal is deressed only part way to open the closure 42 for discharge of the water from the toilet bowl without operation of the flushing valve 30. The conveniently accessible knurled operating screw 28 is then manipulated to close the cut-oif valve by drawing the valve head 20 into the valve seat 18. The initial movement of the valve head 29 towards the valve seat 18 causes the normally closed spray valve 22 to open, the valve head 25 of the spray valve retracting from the associated valve seat 24. Thus, during the screw travel that closes the cut-off valve 16, the spray valve 22 is opened to deliver water under pressure to the passage 23 that serves as a nozzle for directing spray upward against the underside of the closure 42, the spray passage having a lip 23a to form the spray pattern. When the cut-off valve 16 is completely closed the spray action ceases since the cut-off valve is upstream from the spray valve 22.

Structural details The toilet bowl 10, which may be made of the usual vitreous material, is mounted on a pedestal structure 54 and secured in a well known manner by a split ring 55 (FIG. 2), the joint being sealed by an interposed gasket 56. The pedestal structure forms the discharge passage 50 and the lower end of the pedestal structure is formed with the usual floor flange 57 for anchorage to a floor by suitable screws 58. The lower end 60 of the drainage or discharge passage 50 is adapted in the usual manner for connection to a sewer pipe or the like.

The closure 42 is made of rubber-like material with a spherically curved upper surface for normal sealing contact with the valveseat formed by the bowl outlet 44. In the construction shown, the closure 42 is mounted on a rocker arm 62 which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, is carried by a transverse rocker shaft 63. The rocker shaft 63 is journalled in a pair of bearings 64 that are sealed by O-rings 65, the opposite ends of the rocker shaft being outside of the discharge passage 50 of the pedestal structure. A coil spring 66 under compression against a rocker arm 68 at one end of the rocker shaft 63 continuously urges the closure member 42 towards its closed position. A rocker arm 70 on the other end of the rocker shaft 63 is connected by a link 72 to a rocker arm 74 on a rocker shaft 75 that carries the previously mentioned foot pedal 45. Thus depression of the foot pedal 45 causes clockwise rotation of the rocker shaft 75 as viewed in FIG. 2 with consequent clockwise rotation of the rocker arm 70 to swing the closure 42 clockwise to open position.

Mounted on the rear side of the pedestal structure 54 is a valve assembly having three body sections comprising an inner body section 76, an intermediate body section 78 and an outer body section 80, the three body sections being interconnected by suitable screws such as indicated at 82 and S4 in FIG. 4. The inner body section 76 carries the spring-loaded plunger 32 and forms a passage 85 which is a continuation of the previously mentioned overflow passage 46 and which empties into the discharge passage 50 through a port 86. A suitable gasket 38 is interposed between the inner body section 76 and the pedestal structure 54 and a second gasket is interposed between the inner body section and the intermediate body section 78.

The intermediate body section 78 provides the valve seat 18 for the cut-off valve 16 and a valve seat 92 for the flushing valve 30. The valve member of the flushing valve 30 for cooperation with the valve seat 92 is a flexible diaphragm 94 having an annular portion 95 to fit into the valve seat. The diaphragm 94 also forms the valve seat 24 of the spray valve 22 and in addition serves as a gasket between the intermediate body section 78 and the outer body section 80.

The diaphragm 94 has an opening 96 centrally of the annular portion 95, which opening is normally closed by a valve ball 93 under the pressure of a coil spring 100. The valve ball 98 is confined by a valve cage 102 having side openings 194, the valve cage being suitably spaced from the diaphragm 94 at the closed position of the diaphragm. The valve cage 102 is unitary with a tubular adjustment screw 105 that is screwthreadedly mounted in the outer body section 80 and is sealed by an O-ring 106, the outer end of the adjustment screw being exposed on the back of the pedestal structure for convenient manipulation.

The previously mentioned knurled operating screw 28 is also screw-threadedly mounted in the outer body section 80 and is sealed by a suitable O-ring 108. The knurled operating screw 23 is unitary with the valve head 25 of the spray valve 22 and is also unitary with a concentric valve stem that carries the valve head 20 of the cutoff valve 16. The water supply pipe 15 is connected to the lower portion of the outer body section 80 by means of a suitable gland 112 and the lower end of the riser pipe 35 is connected by a, second gland 14 to the upper portion of the outer body section.

The diaphragm 94 functions as a movable wall that separates a control chamber 115 from a valve chamber 116, the valve chamber being normally closed by the seating of the annular portion 95 of the diaphragm against the valve seat 92. Water for flushing the toilet bowl flows from the supply pipe 15 through an angular passage 117 to the valve head 20 of the cut-off valve 16 and flows through the valve seat 18 and a passage 118 around the valve stem 110. From the passage 118 the flow is t1h1r6ough a diagonal passage 120 to the valve chamber A suitable bleederbypass is provided between the valve chamber 116 and the control chamber 115 to cause equal ization of the fluid pressure in the twochambers when the diaphragm 94 is in its closed position, the flow capacity of the bleeder bypass being substantially less than the flow capacity through the diaphragm opening 96 when the valve ball 98 is unseated. As indicated in FIG. 4, the bleeder bypass may include a passage 122 from the valve chamber 116 to a small compartment 124 on one side of the diaphragm 94 and a second passage 125 from the control chamber 115 to a second compartment 126 on the other side of the diaphragm. The two compart ments 24 and 26 on opposite sides of the diaphragm 94 are in communication with each other through a small orifice fitting 128 that is mounted in the diaphragm.

Normally the various parts of the valve assembly are in the positions shown in FIG. 2, the cut-off valve 16 being fully open, the ball 98 being seated in the diaphragm opening 96 and the annular portion 95 of the diaphragm being seated in the valve seat 92 to cut oil flow from the valve compartment 116 to the riser pipe 35. By virtue of the bleeder bypass the fluid pressure in the control chamber 115 is equal to the fluid pressure in the valve chamber 116. Since the total area of the diaphragm 94 and of the ball 98 that is exposed to the pressure in the control chamber 115 is greater than the area of the diaphragm that is exposed to the presure in the valve chamber 116, a fluid pressure differential exists which keeps the diaphragm firmly in its closed position and the spring 1130 applies additional closing force to the valve ball 98.

When the depression of the foot pedal 45 swings the toilet bowl closure 42 downward and rearward against the plunger 32, the plunger unseats the ball 98 to place the control chamber 115 in communication with a fluid passage 130 which communicates with the riser pipe 35 and is therefore at substantially atmospheric pressure. The fluid pressure in the control chamber 115 immediate 1y drops to reverse the fluid pressure differential on the diaphragm 94 with the consequence that the diaphragm is forced away from the valve seat 92 against the valve cage 102 to place the valve chamber 116 in communication with the fluid passage 130. Water then flows freely from the supply pipe through the cut-01f valve 16 and through the flushing valve into the riser pipe to reach the manifold 38 in the rim of the toilet bowl It). The flushing action continues at full force as long as the plunger 32 is completely depressed.

When pressure is removed from the foot pedal 45, the coil spring 66 returns the closure 42 to its normal closed position and the spring 34 returns the plunger 32 to its normal retracted position. The spring 160 then returns vthe valve ball 98 to its normal seat in the diaphragm opening 96. With the control chamber closed, the pressure in the control chamber gradually rises by virtue of the bleeder bypass until the pressure differential on the diaphragm 94 is again reversed to force the diaphragm to its closed position.

It is the time required for the pressure differential to be reversed and the distance that the diaphragm 94 must be moved from its fully open position to its closed position that determine the delayed action of the flushing valve, i.e. the period of time that flow continues through the flushing valve after the plunger 32 is retracted. The time period of the delay action may be varied by manipulating the adjustment screw 105 to vary the distance of the valve cage 162 from the normal closed position of the ditphragm 94. The greater the distance between the closed diaphragm and the retracted valve cage, the longer the period that flow is prolonged through the flushing valve after the plunger 32 is retracted.

If the operating screw 28 is manipulated to close the cut-off valve 16 the gradual approach of the valve head 20 of the cut-off valve to the valve seat 18 is accompanied by corresponding gradual retraction of the valve head 25 of the spray valve 23 away from the valve seat 24. Water under pressure is then free to flow from the passage 118 through the passage 132 around the valve stem 10 to an annular space 134 in the region of the valve head 6 25 of the spray valve. As shown in FIG. 3, the annular space 134 communicates through a short passage 135 with a longer passage 136 that leads to the restricted outlet passage 23 that functions as a spray nozzle. Water continues to flow to the spray nozzle until the valve head 29 of the cut-elf valve 16 is fully seated.

One feature of the vacuum breaker 36 is that it has the appearance of a single upright tube without any lateral branches or pipe connections to detract from its appearance. Another feature is that the upper end of the vacuum breaker is provided with a resilient rubber-like cap 138 which not only serves as an annular vent for the vacuum breaker but also serves as a bumper against which the toilet bowl cover 14 can rest in its open position.

in the particular construction of the vacuum breaker 3-6 shown in FIG. 5, the riser pipe 35 is continued as an upright axial tube 1% inside the vacuum breaker, the upper end of the tube 146 serving as a seat for a gravitybiased valve member 142 that normally closes the axial tube.

The axial tube extends through an upright opening 144 in the rim of the toilet bowl 1%), this opening being in direct communication with the manifold 38. A lower bushing 1 55 equipped with a sealing gasket 146 is mounted on the axial tube 14a and is under upward pressure from a nut 148 on the axial tube, the bushing closing the lower end of the opening 144. In like manner, the upper end of the opening 144 in the rim of the toilet bowl is closed by a second bushing 150 that is provided with a sealing gasket 152.

The second bushing 150 is united with an outer concentric tube 154 of the vacuum breaker, this outer tube being connected to the axial tube 149 by a spider 155. The cap 138 is mounted on the upper end of the outer tube 154 by circumferentially spaced support elements 156 which form a series of vent passages 158. The upper end of the outer tube 154 also carries a spider 160 that serves as a guide for the valve member 142, the spider extending into a central recess 162 on the upper side 01' the valve member for this purpose.

When water released by the flushing valve 30 passes upward through the axial tube 14d it unseats the valve member 142 and forces the valve member upward against a second seat 164 that cuts otf the vent passages 158. The water released from the upper end of the axial tube 140 flows downward past the spider 155 through the annular passage 165 that is formed by the two tubes and then flows through the bushing 150 into the toilet bowl manifold 38.

In the event that a vacuum develops in the supply line 15 or in the riser pipe 35 the consequent pressure differential from the atmosphere against the valve member 162 firmly seats the valve member on the upper end of the axial tube 140. if there is any leakage past the seated valve member 142, air from the atmosphere enters through the vent passages 158 to avoid any possibility of a pressure differential being created in the annular passage 165 for upward flow of water from the manifold 33. FIG. 2 shows a modification of the invention which consists in the omission of the previously described combined cut-ofl? valve and spray valve and further consists in the addition of sealing means including a sealing diaphragm to serve as means for positively preventing any contaminated water from the discharge passage 5% entering the system of fluid passages that communicates with the supply pipe 15. The structure in FIG. 6 is largely similar to the previously described structure shown in FIG. 2 as indicated by the use of corresponding numerals to indicate corresponding parts. The inner body section 76a, the intermediate body section 78a and the outer body section 8% are somewhat different in cross sectional configuration than their counterparts in FIG. 2 to provide the structure required by the modification.

Thus the structure provides an angular passage formed by the two body sections 78a and 80a, this angular passage leading from the supply pipe to the previously mentioned valve chamber 116.

An operating member 32a like the previously described operating member 32 is normally biased to its retracted position shown in FIG. 6 and in the same manner as heretofore described is positioned to be advanced against the valve ball 98 by the opening movement of the closure 42. The operating member or plunger 32a is slideably mounted in a sleeve 172 in an aperture 174 in the back wall 175 of the discharge passage 50. A suitable O-ring 176 embraces the plunger 32a in cooperation with the sleeve 172 to serve as a first sealing means to prevent the flow of contaminated Water from the discharge passage through the aperture 174 along the operating member 32a to the region of the fluid passage on the downstream side of the flushing valve 30. It is essential that such a leakage path for contaminated water be blocked since the fluid passage 116 is at times in communication with the water supply pipe 15.

A second sealing means to prevent flow of contaminated Water from the discharge passage 50 to the fluid passage 130 is provided in the form of a diaphragm 178. The diaphragm 178 is centrally aperturcd to embrace the plunger 32a in a fluid-tight manner and the peripheral margin 180 of the diaphragm is connected to the structure of the discharge passage wall in a fluid-tight manner. In the construction shown in the peripheral margin of the diaphragm is clamped against the inner section 760 in a fluid-tight manner by the intermediate body section 78a.

The inner face of the diaphragm 178, i.e. the face towards the wall 175 of the discharge passage 50 is spaced away from the wall 175 and for this purpose the diaphragm is formed with numerous projections 182 of round cross section that abut the wall 175. The spacing of the diaphragm 178 from the wall 175 by the projections 182 forms a chamber 184. The lower end of this chamber has a port 185 which communicates with a passage 186 which in turn communicates through a port 188 to a passage 190 which opens onto the floor on which the toilet bowl assembly is mounted.

It is apparent that if leakage of contaminated Water occurs past the O-ring 176 through the aperture 174 into the chamber 184 the diaphragm 178 will keep the leak age from entering the fresh water passage 116. Instead, the contaminated water will drain to the fioor along the path indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6. The leaked fluid will soon be noticed since the leaked fluid soon makes its appearance at the front of the base of the pedestal in the region indicated by the numeral 57a in FIG. 6. A further advantage of this arrangement is that the previously mentioned spring 34 is omitted since the diaphragm 188 serves as means to bias the plunger 32a to its retracted position, the diaphragm being acted upon by the fluid ressure in the fluid passage 130 on the downstream side of the flushing valve 30. It is further apparent that this modification of the inventon operates in the previously described manner when the closure 4-2 is opened with consequent advance of the plunger 32a against the valve ball 98.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Passage means to supply Water to a receptacle from a source and to prevent backfiow in the event a vacuum occurs at the source, comprising:

an upright outer tube positioned above the level of said receptacle and having an outlet port at its lower end in communication with the receptacle, the upper end of saidvouter tube being vented to the atmosphere;

an inner riser tube positioned in upright position in said outer tube and defining therewith an annular passage, said inner tube terminating below the upper end of the outer tube, the lower end of said inner tube being in communication with said source;

a spider projecting downwardly from the top 'of said outer tube and into the latter in alignment with said inner tube;

valve means for the upper end of said inner tube, said valve means being responsive to pressure in the inner tube to permit flow from the inner upper end of said tube and downward through said annular passage to said outlet port, and said valve means including a member freely resting on said upper end of said inner tube and having means cooperative with said spider for centralizing said member on said upper end of said inner tube.

2. Passage means as defined in claim 1, wherein said spider comprises an axial downwardly extended projection an said means cooperative with said spider for centralizing said member comprises walls provided in said member and defining a central cavity in which said axial downwardly extended projection is disposed.

3. Passage means as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper end of said outer tube is provided with closure means removably mounted thereon and having means for supporting the same on the upper end of said outer tube and defining downwardly opening vent passages for venting the upper end of said outer tube to the atmosphere.

4. Passage means to supply water to a receptacle from a source and to prevent backfiow in the event a vacuum occurs at the source, comprising:

an upright outer tube positioned above the level of said receptacle and having an outlet port at its lower end in communication with the receptacle, the upper end of said outer tube being vented to the atmosphere;

an inner riser tube positioned in upright position in said outer tube and defining therewith an annular passage, said inner tube terminating below the upper end of the outer tube, the lower end of said inner tube being in communication with said source; and valve means at the upper end of said inner tube including a valve freely resting on said upper end of said tube, a member at the top of said outer tube and having a central opening whereby said outer tube is vented to the atmosphere, said member having a valve seat circumscribing said central opening in spaced relatiton to the upper end of said inner tube, and said valve having a portion engageable with said valve seat upon upward movement or" said valve off of the upper end of said inner tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,025 9/1951 Osterhage 4-10 2,569,017 9/1951 Owens 137-218 2,584,436 2/1952 Donaldson l372l8 2,664,913 1/1954 Patten 137-218 2,667,177 1/1954 Smith 1372l8 2,730,117 1/1956 Svirsky 137-Z17 2,770,250 11/1956 Smith 1372l8 2,971,525 2/1961 Antunez 137217 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL ROTHBERG, H. K. ARTIS,

Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,311,929 April 4, 1967 Robert F. O'Brien It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 60, for "14" read 114 column 5, line 72, for "23" read 22 column 8, lines 13 and 14, strike out "upper end of said", and insert the same before "inner", second occurrence, in line 13, same column 8; line 22, for "an" read and Signed and sealed this 7th day of November 1967 (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. PASSAGE MEANS TO SUPPLY WATER TO A RECEPTACLE FROM A SOURCE AND TO PREVENT BACKFLOW IN THE EVENT A VACUUM OCCURS AT THE SOURCE, COMPRISING: AN UPRIGHT OUTER TUBE POSITIONED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF SAID RECEPTACLE AND HAVING AN OUTLET PORT AT ITS LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RECEPTACLE, THE UPPER END OF SAID OUTER TUBE BEING VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE; AN INNER RISER TUBE POSITIONED IN UPRIGHT POSITION IN SAID OUTER TUBE AND DEFINING THEREWITH AN ANNULAR PASSAGE, SAID INNER TUBE TERMINATING BELOW THE UPPER END OF THE OUTER TUBE, THE LOWER END OF SAID INNER TUBE BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SOURCE; A SPIDER PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF SAID OUTER TUBE AND INTO THE LATTER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID INNER TUBE; VALVE MEANS FOR THE UPPER END OF SAID INNER TUBE, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO PRESSURE IN THE INNER TUBE TO PERMIT FLOW FROM THE INNER UPPER END OF SAID TUBE AND DOWNWARD THROUGH SAID ANNULAR PASSAGE TO SAID OUTLET PORT, AND SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER FREELY RESTING ON SAID UPPER END OF SAID INNER TUBE AND HAVING MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH SAID SPIDER FOR CENTRALIZING SAID MEMBER ON SAID UPPER END OF SAID INNER TUBE.

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