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Apr-i116, 192.9.
E. E. LITTLEFIELD
ELECTRIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS
Filed Oct. 5. 1919
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@MZW»
1,709,083
Patented Apr. 16, 1929; - '
1 UNITED STATES
EDGAR EARLE LITTLEFIELD,
,
PATENT OFFICE.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
ELECTRIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.
Application ?led October 3, 1919. Serial lt'o. 328,305.
This application contains subject matter the transformer 7. The secondary circuit 23,
common to Patents No. 1,335,380 and No. of this transformer, terminates in the elec
1,404,155 issued to applicant herein Mch. 30, trodes 21 and 22 disposed in the basin of the
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1920 and J an. 17, 1922 respectively.
My invention relates to electrical appa
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tween the terminals 21 and 22. Since water
is a non-conductor of electricity, or, at least,
a very poor one, the substitution of this ?uid
for the Waste acts to de-energize the valve 15
trol ?ows of ?uid, and especially those ?uids thereby interrupting the ?ow of ?uid.
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whose path of ?ow is in the path of the con
The adaptability of this system of control
trolling current. to apparatus of various types will appear
In the accompanying drawings one of the obvious and I, therefore, do not limit myself
forms which may be assumed by each of the to the particular embodiment of Figure 1.
respective features of my invention is illus , The principles of transformer operation Cl
trated, it being understood that the inven and construction are so well known that those
tion may be embodied in various other forms. skilled in the art will be able to provide trans
Other and further objects of my invention formers capable of meeting the requirements
will become obvious, to persons skilled in the of any particular case. For ?ushing pur
art, from a consideration of the following poses, however, it is desirable to employ 80
description when taken in conjunction with transformers having comparatively low sec
ondary voltage and these may, or may not as ,
the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and desired, be combined with the valve operat
partly in section, of an urinal embodying my mg means.
As is well known, losses occur in trans 85
invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of my in~
vention showing a modi?ed circuit arrange
formers which impair their e?iciency. From
ment; Figure 3 shows a general plan View of this it follows that the strength of the cur
‘apparatus embodying the feature of Fig rent in the primary is greater than that in the
secondary. In other words, no transformer
ure 1.
.
Similar reference characters indicate like gives out an amount of energy equal to that
parts in the several ?gures of the drawings.
which it receives. In some cases this loss of
Referring to Figure 1, 10 is an earthen energy is considerable but even in cases where
ware urinal bowl adapted to be ?ushed by it is less it is an important factor. It dc
operation of the valve 15 which controls the ve'lops from this fact that motors, or appa
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admission of the ?ushing ?uid through the ratus for controlling electrical energy, or va
source of ?uid supply 13. 24 is a valve ener rious translating apparatus, may be operated
gizing circuit which receives current’ from by using the power supplied by the primary
an alternating current generator 3, for which instead of that supplied by the secondary cir
may be substituted any other suitable ener
gizing means such, for instance, as an ordi
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vided. Where desirable, additional resist
ratus particularly to those employing trans ance may be included in circuit 241.
formers in their operation.
Since urine is a good conductor of elec
It consists, in certain instances, of apply tricity, when deposited in the bowl 10, it will
ingvthe current carried by the secondary cir bridge the terminals 21 and 22 closing cir
cuit of a transformer to'the operation of curt 23, and, by operation of the transformer
valves for controlling flows of ?uid, for the 7 and circuit 24, energize the valve 15. Upon
operation of motors and translating appa operation of the valve 15 ?ushing water
ratus generally. In other instances it con enters the bowl 110 substituting itself for the
sists in employing the primary current of waste which forms a conducting medium be
transformers for such ‘purposes.
One of the objects of my invention is to
provide a means for controlling the flow of
current in electric circuits employed to con
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bowl 10 forwhich bowl an over?ow 11 is pro
cuit.
Of course, in some cases it would be
found desirable to use power supplied by
nary service main supplying alternating cur both circuits in conjunction. In the case pre
rent. This circuit also forms a primary for viously cited the secondary circuit might be
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1,709,083.
said to function substantially as a relay, while former; a valve; energizing means common to
said valve and said transformer; a source of
the primary might be termed the work cir
cuit.
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liquid controlled by said valve; a secondary
It‘ becomes evident that transformers circuit for said transformer, said circuit being
might be designed with particular reference adapted to control the operation of said valve.
2. A ?ushing system including; a trans
to the character of work to be performed.
To this end it is easily within the skill of former; a valve; energizing means common to
those expert in the art to so design the trans said valve and said transformer; a source of
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former that the proper, or desirable, wattage liquid controlled by said valve; a secondary
difference exists between the primary and sec circuit for said transformer, said secondary
ondary currents. Several elements would, of circuit being adapted to be bridged by liquid
course, enter into the designing of such trans
supplied by said valve.
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formers, including impedance, self-induc
3. A ?ushing system including a trans
tion, reactance, magnetic or other screening former adapted to supply secondary current at
- e?'ects, etc. Also a consideration of the effect comparatively low voltage; a valve; means
which the secondary current has of increas for energizing said valve and said- transform
er; a source of liquid controlled by said valve;
ing the strength of the primary current.
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From the foregoing description it becomes a secondary circuit connected to be energized 4
evident that the difference in current capable by said secondary current, said secondary cir
of being supplied by the primary in excess cuit being adapted to be bridged by liquid
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of that supplied by the secondary‘becomes supplied by said valve.
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important, especially in connection with ap < 4. Means for controlling a flow of liquid
paratus whose operation requires current in including; a transformer; a valve; energizing
excess of that capable of being supplied by means for said valve, said valve being ar
In many cases a small excess ranged on the primary side of said trans 90
of current in the primary over the secondary former in closed circuit relation with said en~
will enable apparatus to be satisfactorily op ‘ergizing means; a secondary circuit for said
erated which otherwise would require either transformer, said secondary circuit being
larger, or possibly, specially designed trans adapted to control the operation of said Valve. 1
5. A ?ushing system including; a trans 95
formers, entailing additional cost.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the valve former; energizing means therefor; a valve
of Figure 1 arranged to be energized by cur interposed between said energizing means and
rent supplied by the secondary circuit of a said transformer on the primary side of said
transformer. While, in this as in other cases, transformer; a source of liquid controlled by
the current supplied by the secondary is less said valve; a secondary circuit for said trans 100
25 the secondary.
than that supplied by the primary, it is, 110w
former, said secondary circuit being adapted
ever, su?icient for operation of such devices to control the operation of said valve.
as are, or would be employed, in ?ushing
6. A ?ushing system including; a trans
systems, such as electrically operated valves, former; energizing means therefor; a valve
and particularly when properly designed in circuit with said energizing means, said en
valves are employed. The desirability of ergizing means being common to said trans
using this arrangement in preference to that former and said valve; a source of liquid con
of Figure 1 would depend more or less upon trolled by said valve; a secondary circuit for
particular conditions and in some cases it said transformer, said secondary circuit being
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might be purely optional.
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Figure 3 is a plan view of a system of con
7. In combination; a transformer; a valve
trol embodying my invention. 3 is an alter= arranged on the primary side of said trans~
nating current generator, for which may be former; energizing means common to said
substituted any other suitable means such, valve and said transformer; a fluid medium
for instance, as an alternating current serv controlled by said valve; a secondary circuit
ice main. 2 is a motor connected by circuit for said transformer, said secondary circuit
24 to any current supply, as above indicated, being adapted to control the operation of said
to perform any kind of work desired. For valve.
this motor may be substituted any translat
8. An electrically controlled flushing sys
ing device. 7 is a transformer which in tem including a transformer designed to sup
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adapted to control the operation of said valve.
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cludes the primary circuit 24 and the circuit ply secondary current at comparatively low
19. Included in the secondary circuit 19 is voltage; a primary and a secondary circuit for
a rheostat 20 for which occasion might re said transformer; energizing means for the
quire the substitution of any other electrical primary circuit, the secondary circuit being
device such as translating devices, or devices connected to be energized by said secondary
for controlling electrical energy, or relays, current; a valve in circuit with said trans
etc.
former; a source of liquid controlled by said
Having described my invention, what I valve, said secondary circuit being arranged
, to be bridged by liquid supplied by said valve.
1. A ?ushing system including; a trans
9. An electrically controlled ?ushing sys
claim is :—
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1,709,083
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ondary circuit; a source of liquid controlled
ply secondary current at comparatively low ‘by said valve, said secondary circuit being ar- 10
tem including a transformer designed to sup
voltage; a primary and a secondary circuit ranged to be bridged by liquid supplied by
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for said transformer; energizing means for said valve.
the primary circuit, the secondary circuit be~ In testimony whereof I have hereunto
ing connected to be energized by said second a?ixed my signature at Seattle, Washington,
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ary current; a valve so arranged in said sys this 27th day of September, 1919.
tem that its actuation is controlled by said sec- 1 ' EDGAR EARLE LITTLEFIELD.

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