Ballcock-like mechanism for infinite cycles

Question

I'm going to build a mechanism (as simple as possible) like the ballcock system used in flush toilet. But mine should be able to continuously discharge and refill automatically.

I already have a draft idea how to do it: referring to a classical ballcock system I would remove the handle and connect the lift arm to the flush valve flapper. In this way when the float reach the fill position will automatically trigger the discharge.

Before reinvent the wheel from scratch I wonder if this system has a specific name so I can find other resources or even products.

The goal is to discharge fixed amount of water every a given time. Playing with the geometry I should be able to define the interval of discharge and the amount of water to flush.

Answer 1

What about a "Pythagorean cup" style of device?

from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_cup

The cup consists of a bowl with a tube in an inverted U-shape. Once the bowl fills beyond the top of the U-tube (step C above) it starts a siphon which drains the volume of the bowl until the siphon breaks. As long as the siphon flow is faster than the inflow, you'll have the behavior you describe - slow, continuous filling, and periodic discharge of a fixed amount of water. The bonus is that there are no moving parts!

As an aside, this is essentially the mechanism that powers the siphon in the bowl (not the tank) of the toilet...

Answer 2

At a small scale (though you could easily scale it up) "tipping bucket" rain gauges basically do exactly that, with no valves needed. A tilted bucket fills until it alters the balance to the point that it dumps, and another bucket is moved in the stream of water.

A similar approach is used (one-sided) for the "bamboo noisemaker" type of fountain.

On a "typically larger scale" and with no moving parts, an autosyphon (also spelled auto siphon and possibly also known as a bell siphon - you'll have to ignore the beer-making results) will start itself and empty its "dose tank" all at once. They may be found elsewhere but I'm familiar with them from septic usage (rather than trickling effluent to the drain field at the rate of water use, it's built up to a "dose" of 50-200 gallons and dumped out the drain field all at once, which has some benefits.) This seems like a tolerably good, moderately in-depth read on them.

Answer 3

I too would suggest a siphon based system. if the in-flow rate is sufficient to reliably start the siphon.

If the flow rate is too slow then a vented loop system with an inverted ballcock or calibrated pressure-relief as the trigger.