US1342716A - Closet-ventilator - Google Patents

Description

E. A. JOHNSTON.

CLOSET VENTILATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-10.1917.

Patented June 8, 1920.

l/VVE/VTOR Edwn afrlhar iz nsvn Br 3 flpam 2i ATTORNEYS 8 r W 9 E To allwhom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Enwi -A. JOH STON, 0F, .ioHNs'rowN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOSET-VENTILATOR.

Be it known. that I, EnwIN ARTHUR JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of J ohnstown, in the county of Cambria, and State", of Pennsylvania,-

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Closet-Ventilators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sanitaryappliances, being more particularly an improvement in closet ventilators, and it consists in the constructions, combinations,

and arrangements herein described and claimed. 3 v a An object of my invention is to provide -a-motor driven exhaust fan for exhausting.

the air from the bowl, and including a float and seat operated switch for controlling the vention. v

"Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of action of the motor of theexhaust fan.

Another object of the invention 15 to provide a device as described, including a switch h aving a spring pressed plunger adapted to engage an arm on the seat to hold the seat in a position. i

Another object of the inventlon s to provide a device as described, including the switch having connection with 'the float lever, for throwing the switch and stopping the motor upon flushing the bowl. v e

Other objects and advantages w1ll appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawmg, in.

which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a flush tank illustrating the application of the in- Fig. .1

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the switch with the cover plate removed, and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

My invention consists primarily of an exhaust fan 1 operated by a motor 2 and located in a. fan casing 3. Thefan casing 3 communicates at one side with an air discharge pipe' 4. The bottom of the cas1ng 3 communicates with an exhaust pipe 5 ineluding a hood 6 which is fitted over the over-flow pipe 7 and is spaced therefrom as at 8. j v

The over-flow pipe 7 leads to the bowl 90.

The function of the exhaust. fan 1 when the motor 2 is operated, is to create a draft in Specification of Letters Patent.

normally slightly elevated Patented June 8, 1920.

' Application filed December 10, 1917. Serial No. 206,412.

the over-flow pipe 7 exhausting the air therefrom and discharging the same into the air dischargepipe 4.

A switch mechanism 9 controls the operation of the motor; The switch mechanism 9 consists essentially of a plunger 10 having.

a collar 1.1 pressed against the bottom of the switch casing 12 by a .coil spring 13 which surrounds a portion of the plunger. The upper portion ofthe spring bears against a bracket 1 1 so that the plunger is always normally forced downwardly.

An arm 15 having an adjusting screw 16, is adapted tobe pressed downwardly through the engagement of the plunger. 10. with the adjusting screw 16. The'seatl? the action of the spring 13. The arm 15 is pivoted at 18 to the hinge 19 screwed to the bottom of the seat at 20. The arm 15 has a shoulder 21 which abuts. the shoulder 22 formed on the hinge 19 below the pivot 18.

A solid connection is substantially afforded by the arrangement of the shouldefi is normally held slightly elevated through.

on the arm and hinge respectively, so that 7 when the spring 13 presses the plunger 10 downwardly, and the plunger is in engage I ment with the adjusting screw 16, the arm 15 thus being pressed downwardly, slightly rocks the seat 17 on the pivot 18 whereupon the front end thereof is slightly elevated.

Upon applying a weight to the seat, the

arm 15 is moved upwardly, and the plunger 10 shifts a switch arm 23 inside of the switch casing 12, into eng'agementwith a pair of contacts 24 in circuit with the motor 2. The circuit through the motor is then closed and the-motor operates .to rotate the exhaust fan 1; The switch arm 23 has a V-shaped projection 25 which engages a recess 26 in the end of the plunger 10. A

spring 27 pulls the switch arm 23 down, and

the projection 25 into firm engagement with the recess in the plunger.

A latch 28 has a heel 29 which catches the end of the switch arm 23 to hold it in the under side to facilitate the movement, and displace'the latch so that the SWltCll arm The motor'is stopped when the tank is flushed, through the action of thefloat 33 may assume the terminal engaging position and be held in this position by the heel 29 which springs back under-the end of theswitch arm.

including the floatlever 34, on a switch hook '35.. The switch hook 35 includesa cable 36 which is attached at one'end to the switch hook, and at the other end to a link 37 in the switch casing 12; The link 37 is' in turn connected to the arm of the latch I 28.. The cable 36'runs throughfla tube 38 which is curved at the upper end to properly guide the cable over into the-flushed box where it is connect'ed-- to the-hook 35. -When. the tank is flushed as above stated, the float 33 movesdownwardly with the receding'water level until the float lever 34 engages the. bend of the hook 35, when the *cable 36 and consequently'the link 37, is

:40 i 7 and the exhaust pipe 5 which is practically i pulled upwardly, rocking the latch'28 on 25 the-pivot 31, releasing the end of the switch arm 23 whichis then pulled down ,by the spring 27, breaking the motor circult.

v These are the essential features of the invention and the particular type of tank mechanism and the manner in which it-is applied is of little consequence. However, Fig. 1 illustrates a typical tank mechanism which may be briefly described. The float lever 34 is connected to a valve stem 39 and operates the water inlet valve 40. An afterfill-pipe 41 connects to the valve 40 and has a goose neck 42 which discharges into the over-flowpipe 7. g

This arrangement introduces a novel structural feature in that the over-flow pipe a continuation thereof, is :made to perform tll'COIIlblIlQd functions of conducting the 'The motor 2 and fan 1 are normally idle and the switch arm 23 is in normal disconnection with the terminals 24., The spring 13 normally presses the plunger. .10 downwardly, consequently slightly raising the seat 17. Y

A weight being applied to the seat, rocks the seat and the arm 15 on the mutual fulcrum 18, pressing the plunger 10 upwardly against the. tension of the spring 13, and

moving the switch'arm 23 between the terminals 24. The latch 28 looks the switch 1 0f the motor.

I aim in this' position in the manner previ- .ously described. The motor circuit is thus.

closed and the fan 1 operates to create the current-of air in the pipes 7, -5 and 4,

Upon operation of. the flushing mechanism, the float 33 lowers until the flo'at lever 34 engages the bend in the switch hook 35. The switch hook is thus carried down, and a pull, is exerted. on the cable 36, raising the link- 37 and rocking the latch 28. The heel 29 being, thus freed from the .endof the switch arm 23, permitsthe storedtension in the spring 27 to pull the switch, arm 23 w away from the terminals 24 to break the motor circuit and stop the rotation of the fan.

It will be understood that ordinarily few p'eoplecontinue to occupy the seat after the plunger 10, permitting the arm 23 to fall upon being released-by the latch 28.

the seat 17 causes the motor to operate.

flushing, and so the weight is relieved from g It has been explained that a pressure u on g fact that the motor is operating, serves as A an indication that the tank must be flushed before the function of-the switch mechanism 9 may come into play to stop the operation As incidental details of construction, the switch hook 355 is preferably made of rigid material and is connected to the cable 36 which is flexible. Obviously the cableand hook may be made continuous if- -it be found desirable to do 50. Again, I the screw 16- is made adjustable so that the seat 17' may be raised to-various heights through the action of the'spring13. It will be understood that the seat 17 may readily be raised without disturbing the switch mechanism 9' in the least. But as soon as the shoulders 21' and 22"come into contact,

t connection of'thearm 15 with the hinge 19 is, for all purpo ig It will be understood that the switch I shown is merely for purposes of illustration,

, as any suitable commercial or other form of switch could-be used without departing from the form .offmy invention. Instead of leadbe led to the pivotal point of-the switch arm 23 and to a singleterminal 24, respectively. The advantage of-this arrangement 'ing thev wiresyto a pair of terminals'as. .illustrated'in Figs. 13' and 4, the wires may is, that arcing is less liable to occur, but as 7 stated above, the arrangement of the switch j and the parent connections-maybe varied to suit the particular requirements.

While the constructionjand arrangement of the device as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing is that of'a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and eg j,

changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. i 3

I claim:

1. In a.closet ventilator, an over-flow pipe,

an, exhaust pipe having a hood covering the end of the over-flow pipe and adapted to form a water seal therebetween, a motor operated fan in the exhaust pipe, seat-operated means for energizing the motor, and floatoperated means co'acting with said seatoperated means for de'e'ne'rgizing the motor.

2. In a closet ventilator, a pivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminals engageable by said arm, an insulating plunger in engagement with the switch arm, a seat-operated arm arranged to shift the switch arm through the plunger, and means pressing the plunger into engagement with the seatoperated arm.

3. In a closet ventilator, a pivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminals engageable by said arm. an insulating plunger in engagement with the switch arm, a seat operated arm arranged to shift the switch arm through the plunger, means pressing the plunger into engagement with the seat-operated arm, and means associated with said terminals, for holding the switch arm in the circuit closing position.

at. In a closet ventilator, a combined water over-flow and air exhausting pipe, a motor driven fan for exhausting air in' the pipe, a pivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminals engageable by said arm, a plunger in engagement with the switch arm, a seatoperated arm engaging the plunger and adapted to shift the switch arm, means pressing the plunger into engagement with the seat-operated arm, means associated with said terminals, for holding the switch arm in the circuit closing position, and floatoperated means including a switch hook and cable in connection with said terminalassociated means, for releasing the switch arm.

In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism and seat, an arm carried by the seat, a plunger included in the switch mechanism and engaging the arm, a spring pressing the plungerinto such engagement, and a switch arm in engagement with the plunger and movable through the shifting of the seat.

6. In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism and seat, a shouldered hinge secured to the seat, a shouldered arm in pivotal relationship to the hinge, the abutment of the shoulders forming a rigid connection, a plunger included in the switch mechanism and engaging said arm, and a spring acting on the'plunger to hold the seat at a normally slight elevation through the rigid connection of the arm and hinge.

7. In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism and seat, a shouldered hinge secured to the seat, a shouldered arm in pivotal relationship to the hinge, the abutment of the shoulders forming a rigid connection, a plunger included in the switch mechanism and engaging said arm, aspring acting on the plunger to hold the seat at a normally slight elevation through the rigid connection of the arm and hinge, and an adjustable screw located at the point of engagement of the plunger with said arm.

8. In a device as described, the combination of the seat carried arm, a switch mechanism carried plunger contacting said arm, a spring holding the plunger in contact, circuit terminals, a switch arm having a projecting portion engaging the plunger and adapted to be moved into contact with the terminals upon movement of said arm, and a locking latch including a heel for engaging the end of the switch arm to hold it in engagement with the circuit terminals.

9. In a device as described, the combination of the seat carried arm, a switch mechanism carried plunger contacting said arm, a spring holding the plunger in contact, circuit terminals, a switch arm having a projecting portion engaging the plunger and adapted to be moved into contact with the terminals upon movement of said arm, a locking latch including a heel for engaging the end of the switch arm to hold it in engagement with the circuit terminals, and a float-operated connection to said latch for moving the latch to release the switch arm, including a float lever engageable switch hook and a flexible cable.

10. In a device as described, thecombination of the switch mechanism including the switch arm latch, a link connected to the latch, the float lever, arigid switch hook including a loop-head portion receiving thefloat lever and adapted to'be engaged thereby during a portion of the downward movement of the float lever, a cable connected to said hook and the link, and a tube including a curved portion for guiding the cable.

11. In a closet ventilator, an exhaust pipe in communication with the bowl, means for exhausting the air from the pipe, seat-controlled means arranged to render said exhausting means operative upon application of pressure to the seat, and means operative by a movable portion in the flush tank arranged to render the exhausting means inoperative upon fiushing the bowl.

EDWIN A. JoHNsToN.

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