WO2010123467A1

WO2010123467A1 - Flush valve with additional pre-flushing

Info

Publication number: WO2010123467A1
Application number: PCT/SI2010/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Borut Likar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-21
Filing date: 2010-04-20
Publication date: 2010-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-21
Also published as: SI23033A; EP2422022A1

Abstract

A device (1) for preventing faeces from accumulating on the inner surfaces of a toilet bowl while in use installed in an optional toilet tank (2), in which a closing device (3) for water discharge with a single or double discharge is located and flushing water (4) coming from a water supply network through a filling valve (5) is equipped with a level switch (6). The device of the invention is inserted between the closing device and the outlet pipe (8) directing the flushing water into the toilet bowl at the end of a tube (9), wherein a rinsing valve (10) for the flow of the water from the toilet tank into the outlet pipe is arranged. The rinsing valve is controlled through a manual actuation of a first button (11) which is connected with the rinsing valve via a bar (12). An element (13) for fixing the rinsing valve in the opened state is arranged on the first button, wherein said element is released by a manual push of a second button (15) for the flow of water during flushing of the toilet bowl.

Description

FLUSH VALVE WITH ADDITIONAL PRE-FLUSHING

Subject of the Invention

[001] The subject of the invention is a device for preventing faeces from accumulating on inner surfaces of a toilet bowl while in use and for reducing odour emissions therefrom.

Technical Problem

[002] A technical problem solved by the present invention is how to design such additional device for a toilet bowl that would contribute to a reduced or even eliminated sticking of faeces to the inner surface of a toilet bowl and at the same time to reduced or eliminated odour emissions therefrom whereat the construction of such device would also allow a subsequent installation onto a toilet bowl or the belonging toilet tank.

Prior Art

[003] This two-fold problem has been dealt with separately up to now.

Faeces accumulation on the inside surfaces of a toilet bowl has been solved by the shape of the inner part of the toilet bowl so that the entire interior part of the toilet bowl basin is filled with water into which the faeces fall. With flushing, all this water together with the faeces is washed away into a drain outlet through a siphon. [004] Although the faeces do not come in contact with the surface of the toilet bowl to accumulate thereon, a new problem arises, i.e. when faeces fall into the water in the basin, the splashes of water occur and may reach a person's body, which may be particularly unpleasant.

[005] The second part of the problem, i.e. reducing odour emissions from the toilet bowl, has always been dealt by additional toilet bowl ventilation. This means a new constructional intervention into the toilet bowl, which is, however, not feasible in certain circumstances.

[006] Therefore there is a need for such device, which would prevent faeces from attaching to the inner surfaces of the toilet bowl and would at the same time not have any side effects of the aforementioned known toilet bowl. Moreover, such device would also contribute to reduced or even eliminated odour emissions from the toilet bowl.

Solution to the Technical Problem

[007] The described technical problem is solved by the device of the invention, the essential application characteristic and novelty lies in that through its being manually actuated at the beginning of use of the toilet bowl, the inner side of the toilet bowl gets constantly flushed by a small quantity of water from the toilet tank, wherein the device of the invention does not hinder the operation of the existing device for toilet bowl flushing, including the one envisaged for flushing with two different quantities of water. The device of the invention is implemented in a way that immediately after being manually actuated the quantity of the rinsing water is high and then gets lowered. Initial high level of water provides for immediate watering of the entire inner surface of the toilet bowl. Afterwards, the quantity of water for rinsing automatically decreases due to water saving purposes, since a greater quantity of water does not contribute to a better effect. The described watering of the interior of the toilet bowl simultaneously solves the second problem, because the water - which flows inside the bowl and is also whirled due to the shape of the toilet bowl - eliminates the odours, which are drained into the sewerage. No adaptation of the toilet bowl is needed to achieve such application characteristics.

[008] The device of the invention is designed in a way to be mounted into the toilet tank next to the existing closing device of flushing water located within the toilet tank. Both devices may be combined into one assembly in the implementation for the first installation. Both devices may share actuator buttons which may be arranged in an optional place and be of an optional design. Moreover, a conduct from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl may also be the same given that the same nozzles direct water to the inner surface of the toilet bowl. Since the device of the invention provides for complete watering of the inner surface of the toilet bowl during the whole time of its use, a considerably lower attaching and accumulation of faeces onto its surfaces may be expected and consequently also substantially reduced cleaning with a toilet brush or even elimination of the entire procedure. Furthermore, a reduced quantity of flushing water is required.

[009] The principle of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of an embodiment and the enclosed drawings, representing in:

Fig. 1 schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the device of the invention in a non-operative mode and installed within a toilet tank, Fig. 2 the same, yet during watering of the toilet bowl,

Fig. 3 the same, yet during flushing and completion of rinsing of the toilet bowl, Fig. 4 schematic diagram of the second embodiment in a cross-section. First Embodiment

[0010] A device 1 for preventing faeces from accumulating on the inner surfaces of a toilet bowl while in use is installed in an optional toilet tank 2, in which an optional closing device 3 for water discharge with a single or double discharge is located. Flushing water 4 with a surface 4a is located in the toilet tank 2, wherein water 4 comes from a water supply network through a valve 5 equipped with a level switch 6.

[0011] The device 1 is implemented as a tubular interface 7, inserted between the closing device 3 and the outlet pipe 8 directing the flushing water into the toilet bowl, not presented on the drawings. A pipe 9 is connected with the interface 7. The pipe 9 is opened freely into the water 4 area located in the toilet tank 2 and in which a valve 10 is installed, said valve 10 enabling a flow of water from the toilet storage tank 2 into the outlet pipe 8 with the purpose of using this whirling water to eliminate unwanted odour and thus to automatically discharge odour into the sewerage. It is envisaged that a quantity of water may be set independently per time frame of discharged water.

[0012] The control of this valve 10 is designed in a way that it is opened by a manual actuation of a button 11. The button 11 is preferably located anywhere on the toilet tank 2 or outside it and is connected with the valve 10 via bar 12. An element 13 for fixing the valve 10 in the opened state is arranged on the button 11 or on the bar 12. The element 13 is preferably implemented as a tooth, the operation of which is described hereinbelow at the description of the button for actuating the flushing function. The valve 10 is preferably a one-way valve with a spring that keeps the valve closed when in a discharged mode. The bar 12 may also include a section 14 for setting the quantity of discharge water, which flows through the valve 10 per a certain time unit. The section 14 is preferably designed as a setscrew that determines the openness of the valve 10 when the button 11 is fully pressed. [0013] Beside the button 11 for discharging the water for eliminating unwanted odour from the toilet bowl, there is also a button 15 for discharging flushing water, located on the toilet tank 2 or nearby. The button 15 is actuated through a lever 16 on the closing device 3. The closing device 3 may be of an optional type and is not the subject of this invention. It is envisaged that the lever 16 should be adjusted to the closing device 3 and includes also an element 17 that cooperates with the element 13 on the bar 12 of the button 11. The element 17 is preferably designed as a tooth. The lever 16 leans with its free end on an inclined plane 18 that is an integral part of the toilet tank 2 or the closing device 3. At the same time, the lever 16 is axially guided between a fixed bracket 19 and an elastic bracket 20 that is preferably supported by a spring 20a so that the lever 16 is always forced towards the opposite bracket 19.

[0014] Both buttons 11 and 15 are each supported by a spring 21 that pushes them upwards, i.e. into the position, in which a user gets a possibility to actuate rinsing and/or flushing of the toilet bowl with water from the toilet tank 2.

[0015] At the entry part of the valve 10 there is a section of the pipe 9 that comprises an entry opening 21 located just below the water 4 surface 4a. The opening 21 may be provided with an axially sliding extension 22, with which a distance A between the extension 22 and the water 4 surface 4a is set. The distance A determines the quantity of water which flows into the toilet bowl without any hindrance in a very short period of time immediately after the button 11 is actuated. After a fast or short-lasting outflow of said quantity of water into the toilet bowl, a float 6 drops due to lowered level of the water 4 surface 4a, thus opening the valve 5 and releasing the water inflow into the toilet tank 2. The purpose of the initial short-lasting outflow of a larger quantity of water into the toilet bowl is that this larger quantity waters the entire interior of the toilet bowl and thus substantially reduces a possibility of faeces to accumulate on the watered surface. This is followed by a continuous watering of the interior of the toilet bowl with a small quantity of water which equals the quantity of water flowing through the opening 21, the pipe 9 and the pipe 8 into the toilet bowl. Due to its whirling in the toilet bowl this quantity of water intakes also the gases and discharges same into the draining pipe. Such situation persists the entire time until the other button 15 is manually actuated to flush the toilet bowl.

[0016] The button 15 acts on the closing device 3 in a optional way and at the same time cooperates with the button 11 so that it retains said button in the pressed position. Consequently, the valve 10 is opened for the toilet bowl rinsing, namely at all times until the user manually actuates the button 15. By actuating the button 15, the connection of the elements 13 and 17 loosens and the spring 23 returns the button 11 into its initial position, thus also closing the valve 10. The button 15 automatically returns to its initial position after the flushing is finished, which is the consequence of the operation of the closing device 3. Interconnection of buttons 11 and 15 with the aforementioned function is designed in a way that the button 11 is movable and brought to a standstill in a position when the valve 10 is opened. The standstill of the button 11 in the position when the valve 10 is opened is implemented with an elastic cam element 17 on the lever 16 of the button 15. The lever 16 leans with its free end 16a on the inclined plane 24. The element 17 retains the element 13 in order not to return to its initial position and thus keeps the valve 10 opened. Both buttons 11 and 15 are each equipped with one spring 23, which forces them into the position, in which the valve 10, with which the button 11 is connected by way of the bar 12, is set in the closed position. The element 17 is shiftable from the area of co-operation with the element 13 by a manual actuation of the flushing button 15. As the button 15 is axially moved, the bar 16 digresses due to the shift of the end 16a of the bar 16 over the inclined plane 18, wherein the element 17 also digresses laterally so that it releases the engagement with the element 13. This releases and allows the spring 23, which forces the valve 10 into its closed position, to actually close the valve 10 and prepares it for the next cycle of rinsing and subsequent flushing of the toilet bowl.

[0017] The device of the first embodiment functions in a way that the button 11 for watering the interior part of the toilet bowl is pressed. The water from the toilet tank flows through the valve 10 into the toilet bowl in a pre-set quantity for the initial watering of the interior part of the toilet bowl. By lowering the water surface, the valve 5 opens, which then releases the water into the toilet tank 2, wherein influent water 4 simultaneously flows through the opening 21 into the toilet bowl and waters it. The quantity of water, which the valve 5 allows to penetrate, is the amount of water necessary for normal or sufficient rinsing of the toilet bowl. When the button 15 is pressed for flushing, the button 11 for rinsing automatically returns pursuant to the above described procedure and thus closes the valve 10. The device is prepared for the next step.

[0018] The button 11 may be implemented as an electric switch, preferably a pressure switch, arranged under or into the toilet seat and which detects the presence of a user. This switch actuates an electromagnetic valve 24 that replaces the already mentioned valve 5. The valve 24 is opened until the pressure switch detects the presence of a user on the toilet seat. When the user steps away, the switch closes the valve.

Second Embodiment

[0019] In the second embodiment shown in Figure 4, the assumption is considered that the closing device 3 for controlling the flushing water is provided with an opening 25 for safety so that the water cannot spill over the edge of the toilet tank 1 in case of a possible leakage of the level switch 6. [0020] In this embodiment, the level switch, which operates automatically, is equipped with the button 11 for actuating watering of the toilet bowl. The button 11 only pushes the float of the level switch slightly into the water in the toilet tank, so that it partially opens the inflow of water with the preset quantity per time unit. The level of water reaches the edge of the opening 25 on the closing device 3 and flows into the toilet bowl. The button 11 is equipped with the element 13, which retains it in the lower position when the level switch 6 is ajar. The element 13 is shiftable through the button 15 for actuating the toilet bowl flushing via tooth 17, which cooperates and the element 13 in a similar way as envisaged in the first embodiment.

[0021] The volume of the float appertaining to the level switch 6, which the user pushes into the water with the button 11 by actuating the toilet bowl watering, is also the volume of water envisaged for the initial watering of the interior part of the toilet bowl. This is followed by the watering of the toilet bowl with the quantity of water defined with the envisaged openness of the valve 5 triggered by the lowering of the level switch 6 float, wherein the level of the lowering of the switch 6 is defined by the pressed button 11.

[0022] The device of the invention is preferably manufactured from thermoplastic materials by injection moulding processes.

[0023] It is understood that a man skilled in the art may also design other embodiments not presented in the above description without circumventing the scope of this invention as defined in the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A device (1) for preventing faeces from accumulating on the inner surfaces of a toilet bowl while in use installed in an optional toilet tank (2), in which an optional closing device (3) for water discharge with a single or double discharge is located and flushing water (4) coming from a water supply network through a valve (5) equipped with a level switch (6), characterized in that it is implemented as a tubular interface (7) inserted between the closing device (3) and the outlet pipe (8) directing the flushing water into the toilet bowl, wherein a valve (10) for the flow of the water (4) from the toilet tank (2) into the outlet pipe (8) is arranged on the interface (7), wherein said valve (10) is controlled through a manual actuation of a button (11) located preferably anywhere on the toilet tank (2) or outside it and is connected with the valve (10) via bar (12), in that an element (13) for fixing the valve (10) in the opened state is arranged on the button (11), wherein said element (13) is released by a manual push of the button (15) for the flow of water during flushing of a toilet bowl and that a section of the tube (9) arranged at the entry part of the valve (10) comprises an entry opening (21) located just below the water (4) surface (4a), wherein said tube (9) may be provided with an axially sliding extension (22) for setting a distance (A) from the opening (21) to the water (4) surface (4a).

2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the element (13) is preferably implemented as a tooth that engages with an element (17) when the button (11) is pushed, wherein said element (17) is also preferably implemented as a tooth either on said button (15) or said bar (16) that functions as the closing device (3).

3. Device as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the valve (10) is preferably a one-way valve with a spring that keeps the valve (10) closed when in a discharged mode and opens it if the button (11) is pushed.

4. Device as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bar (12) may also include a section (14) for setting the quantity of discharge water, which flows through the valve (10) per a certain time unit, wherein said section (14) is preferably designed as a setscrew that determines the openness of the valve (10) when the button (11) is fully pressed.

5. Device as claimed in Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the buttons (11) and (15) are supported on springs (23) forcing them into discharge position.

6. Device as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that interconnection of buttons (11) and (15) is designed in a way that the button (11) is movable and brought to a standstill in a position when the valve (10) is opened by an elastic cam tooth (13) on the button (11) or bar (12), which engages with the retaining element (17) on the button (15) or bar (16), wherein said element (17) can be moved from the area of the position of the tooth (13) by a push and shift of the button (15).

7. Device as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the button (11) for watering may be implemented as an electric switch, preferably a pressure switch, arranged under or into the toilet seat and which detects the presence of a user, wherein this switch actuates an electromagnetic valve that replaces the already mentioned valve (5).

8. Device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said closing device (3) for the control of flush water is provided with an opening (25), characterized in that the level switch (6), which is automatic, is provided with the button (11) for actuating the watering of the toilet bowl, which is actuated by being manually pressed in order to push the plunger of the level switch (6) somewhat into the water (4) in the toilet tank (2), wherewith the flow of water is partially opened by a preset quantity per time unit, wherein the button (11) is provided with the element (13), which retains it in the lower position, when the level switch (6) is ajar.

9. Device as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the element (13) is shiftable through the button (15) for actuating the toilet bowl flushing.