WO2021205081A1 - Device for controlling a flushing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flushing system suitable for being placed in at least a first or a second configuration in which a flow device (DEC) allows a first or a second predetermined volume of water to be discharged, selection means (SELM) allowing a user of the system to configure the flow device in the first or second configuration. According to the invention, the selection means (SELM) are able to apply, to a single control rod (CNR), a longitudinal displacement having a first or a second predetermined amplitude as a function of the actions of the user of the system. The system according to the invention requires only one control mechanism to control the operation of the flow device (DEC).

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Flush control device for compact sanitary facilities

The invention relates to a flushing system including:

[0002]. a flow control device adapted to be placed in at least a first or a second configuration in which said flow control device allows respectively a discharge of a first or of a second predetermined volume of liquid; and

[0003]. selection means allowing a user of the system to place the flow control device in the first or the second configuration.

Technical area

The invention falls within the general field of sanitary equipment, and in the particular field of flushing mechanisms intended to be mounted in association with water tanks.

Prior art

[0005] In order to allow a volume of water chosen from among two predetermined volumes to be poured into a sanitary facility, the known flushing systems generally implement a flow device including two separate flow valves, each being provided a control member which is specific to it, and capable of allowing the passage of a predetermined volume of water which is specific to it, generally three liters or six liters.

These systems are usually intended to be actuated by pressure exerted on one or the other of a pair of push buttons made accessible to the user for this purpose. Each of these push buttons makes it possible to print on a control rod which is associated with it a translational movement making it possible to actuate the control member specific to the valve associated with the push button in question, and therefore to release the volume of water. predetermined matching.

[0007] Thus, the known flushing systems have a relatively large footprint due to the duality of the mechanisms necessary for their implementation, and are therefore unsuitable for use in equipment with small footprint, and particularly in equipment complying with fire standards which stipulate that the passage diameter of all the control devices must be less than 75mm, said diameter being insufficient to accommodate two through control rods, such as those described above, intended to control two flow valves placed side by side inside said tank.

Summary of the invention

[0008] With a view to remedying the drawbacks stated above, the inventors propose an alternative solution to the mechanisms known from the state of the art.

The invention has for this purpose a flushing system according to the introductory paragraph, further including:

. a single control rod extending in a so-called longitudinal direction and able to be set in motion in said direction;

. a single control member for the configuration of the flow device, capable of being set in motion in a so-called vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and

. means for converting the amplitude of longitudinal displacement of the control rod into an amplitude of vertical displacement of the control member, the selection means being able to impart to the control rod a longitudinal displacement having a first or a second second predetermined amplitude according to the actions of the user of the system.

The system according to the invention is remarkable in that it does not require the implementation of two control mechanisms to control the operation of the flow device for the discharge of a first or a second predetermined volume of liquid.

[0011] Thus, only the passage of a single control rod is to be provided through a wall of the water tank, which rod will in principle have a diameter of less than 20mm, which will make it possible to limit the width of the wall of the water tank to a dimension well below the maximum of 75 mm prescribed in the fire standards.

Furthermore, the transformation of the amplitude of longitudinal displacement of the control rod into an amplitude of vertical displacement of the control member makes it possible to reduce the size of the system in the longitudinal direction and therefore to reduce its surface. projected to the ground compared to that of known systems.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow device includes a single flow valve capable of allowing the passage of one or other of the first and second predetermined volumes of water as a function of the position of the control member.

[0014] Such an embodiment makes it possible to further reduce the size of the system and therefore its projected surface on the ground compared to that of the known systems.

According to a variant of the invention, the selection means include a device for reversing the direction of the longitudinal displacement printed on the control rod by the user of the system.

This variant makes it possible to further reduce the size of the system in the longitudinal direction, since part of the length of the control rod will somehow be compensated by the reversal of its displacement in the longitudinal direction.

Such a variant makes it possible to compact the dimensions of the selection means in the longitudinal direction, which allows their implantation in a plasterboard plate of standard dimensions, while the known systems devoid of inversion devices require the implementation thicker plasterboard, and therefore much more expensive.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of this variant, the selection means include a first and a second paddles, arranged on either side of the control rod and able to pivot about axes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a so-called proximal end of each vane resting in contact with a shoulder arranged on the control rod, a so-called distal end of each vane being free and able to be actuated by the user, the maximum amplitudes of movement of said ends and first and second pallets being different from one pallet to another.

[0019] According to a variant of this embodiment, the SELM selection means include a stopper making it possible to limit the stroke of the control rod CNR when the second paddle is actuated.

This variant makes it possible to size in a simple manner the length of the stroke of the control rod, and therefore the maximum volume of water released when the second paddle is actuated. Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and with regard to the drawings annexed, among which:

Fig.l

[0022] [Fig 1] is a side sectional view of a flushing system according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in a so-called rest position;

Fig. 2

[0023] [Fig 2] is a top sectional view of this flushing system, in said rest position;

Fig. 3

[0024] [Fig 3] is a top sectional view of this flushing system, in a first intermediate position;

Fig. 4

[0025] [Fig 4] is a side sectional view of a flushing system, in said first intermediate position;

Fig. 5

[0026] [Fig 5] is a top sectional view of this flushing system, in a first end-of-travel position;

Fig. 6

[0027] [Fig 6] is a side sectional view of a flushing system, in said first end-of-travel position;

Fig. 7

[0028] [Fig 7] is a top sectional view of this flushing system, in a second intermediate position;

Fig. 8

[0029] [Fig 8] is a side sectional view of a flushing system, in said first intermediate position;

Fig. 9

[0030] [Fig 9] is a top sectional view of this flushing system, in a second end-of-travel position; and Fig. 10

[0031] [Fig 10] is a side sectional view of a flushing system, in said second end-of-travel position

Description of the embodiments

Figure 1 is a side sectional view which illustrates a flushing system according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. This figure is to be compared to Figure 2, which for its part shows a top sectional view of this flushing system, in the same so-called rest position. These figures, taken together, provide a good understanding of the kinematics of the various constituent elements of the system according to the invention, which includes:

[0033]. a DEC flow device adapted to be placed in at least a first or a second configuration, in which said flow device allows a discharge of a first or a second predetermined volume of water; and . SELM selection means allowing a user of the system to configure the flow device in the first or the second configuration.

The flushing system according to the invention further includes:

[0035]. a single CNR control rod extending in a so-called longitudinal LGD direction and able to be set in motion in said direction;

. a single control member UCD of the configuration of the flow device, able to be set in motion in a so-called vertical direction VRD substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LGD; and

. means for converting ACV of the amplitude of longitudinal displacement of the control rod CNR into an amplitude of vertical displacement of the control member UCD, the selection means SELM being able to impart to the control rod CNR a longitudinal displacement having a first or a second predetermined amplitude according to the actions of the user of the system.

More particularly, in the advantageous embodiment shown here, the DEC flow device includes a single VEC flow valve capable of allowing the passage of one or the other of the first and second volumes of water. predetermined according to the position of the UCD control unit.

According to a technique well known to those skilled in the art, the DEC flow device is arranged in a CVD flush tank such that, in the position of rest illustrated here in which no action is exerted on the selection means SELM, a lower end of the flow valve VEC rests at a distance D from a lower end of the flush tank CVD such as this lower end is plugged, preventing water from flowing from the CVD cistern.

As will be explained in the remainder of the description, the invention makes possible various actions on the SELM selection means aimed at printing on the single control rod various longitudinal movements intended to be transformed by means of means of converting ACV into transverse movements of the VEC control valve, making it possible in turn to control an opening of the lower end of the CVD flushing tank to a greater or lesser extent, and therefore to control the flow rate of water that will be poured through it.

In the particularly advantageous variant of the invention which is described here, the SELM selection means include a device for reversing the direction of the longitudinal movement printed on the control rod by the user of the system. These SELM selection means include a first and a second PALI and PAL2 pallets, arranged on either side of the control rod CNR and able to pivot about axes AX1 and 1X2 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LGD, one end said proximal (PEX1, PEX2) of each pallet (PALI, PAL2) resting in contact with an EPL shoulder arranged on the CNR control rod, a so-called distal end (DEX1, DEX2) of each pallet (PALI, PAL2) being free and able to be actuated by the user, the maximum amplitudes of movement of said ends and of the first and second paddles being different from one paddle to another.

The inversion device makes it possible to further reduce the size of the system in the longitudinal direction LGD, since part of the length of the CNR control rod will somehow be compensated by the inversion of its displacement in the longitudinal direction LGD.

Such a variant makes it possible to compact the dimensions of the SELM selection means in the longitudinal direction LGD, which allows their implantation in a BMC box suitable for being inserted into a plasterboard with a thickness of about 10mm, then that the known systems devoid of inversion devices require the implementation of plasterboard panels of at least 17mm, and therefore much more expensive. In the position of the system shown here, the distal ends of the first and second paddles (PALI, PAL2) are located at a maximum distance A vis-à-vis an FRP front wall of the BMC housing.

In the particular embodiment shown here, the SELM selection means include a stop BTC2 making it possible to limit the stroke of the control rod CNR when the second pallet PAL2 is actuated.

This variant makes it possible to size in a simple manner the length of the stroke of the CNR control rod, and therefore the maximum volume of water released when the second pallet PAL2 is actuated.

In the particular embodiment shown here, the axes AX1 and AX2 are substantially parallel to the vertical direction VRD, but, in other embodiments, they may have other configurations while remaining substantially perpendicular to the LGD longitudinal direction.

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the flushing system described above, presented in a first intermediate position. This figure is to be compared to Figure 4, which for its part shows a side view of this flushing system, in this same first intermediate position.

In this first intermediate position, pressure from the user of the flushing device on the distal end DEX1 of the first pallet PALI, caused the latter to pivot about its axis AX1. This movement is reflected in particular by the reduction of the distance B1 with respect to the maximum distance A mentioned above. This caused a displacement of the proximal PEX1 end of said first PALI vane in the LGD direction, thus causing an equivalent longitudinal displacement of the CNR control rod. This longitudinal movement, transformed by means of the ACV conversion means into a vertical movement of the VEC control valve, made it possible to control the movement of the lower end of the VEC flow valve which thus rose to a distance El from the lower end of the flush tank CVD thus allowing a relatively low flow of water from the flush tank CVD.

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of the flushing system described above, shown in a first end-of-travel position. This figure is at compare to FIG. 6, which shows a side view of this flushing system, in this same first end-of-travel position.

In this first end-of-travel position, the pressure of the user of the flushing device on the distal end DEX1 of the first PALI pallet caused the latter to continue to pivot around its axis AX1, until it contacts the FRP front wall of the BMC box. In this position, the distal end of the first PALI pallet is located at a minimum distance C1 vis-à-vis the FRP front wall of the BMC housing.

This new displacement caused a displacement of the proximal end PEX1 of said PALI pallet in the LGD direction, thus causing an equivalent additional longitudinal displacement of the CNR control rod. This longitudinal displacement, transformed through the ACV conversion means into a vertical movement of the VEC control valve, made it possible to control an additional displacement of the lower end of the VEC flow valve which thus amounted to a distance F1 from the lower end of the flush tank CVD thus allowing a maximum flow of water from the flush tank CVD.

FIG. 7 is a top sectional view of the flushing system described above, shown in a second intermediate position. This figure is to be compared to FIG. 8, which in turn shows a side view of this flushing system, in this same second intermediate position.

In this second intermediate position, starting from the rest position illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, pressure from the user of the flushing device on the distal end DEX2 of the second pallet PAL2 led to the latter. ci to pivot around its axis AX2. This movement is notably reflected by the reduction of the distance B2 with respect to the maximum distance A mentioned in the commentary on FIGS. 1 and 2. This caused a displacement of the proximal end PEX2 of said second pallet PAL2 in the direction LGD, thus resulting in an equivalent longitudinal displacement of the CNR control rod. This longitudinal movement, transformed by means of the ACV conversion means into a vertical movement of the VEC control valve, made it possible to control the movement of the lower end of the VEC flow valve which thus rose to a distance E2 from the lower end of the CVD flush tank thus allowing a relatively low flow of water from the CVD flush tank. FIG. 9 is a top sectional view of the flushing system described above, shown in a second end-of-travel position. This figure is to be compared to FIG. 10, which shows a side view of this flushing system, in this same second end-of-travel position.

In this second end-of-travel position, the pressure of the user of the flushing device on the distal end DEX2 of the first pallet PAL2 caused the latter to continue to pivot around its axis AX2, until it comes into contact with the BTC2 stopper located on the FRP front wall of the BMC box. In this position, the distal end of the first pallet PAL2 is located a minimum distance C2 from the FRP front wall of the BMC housing, but greater than the minimum distance of C1 shown in the context of the first position. limit switch shown in Figures 5 and 6.

This new displacement caused a displacement of the proximal end PEX2 of said second pallet PAL2 in the direction LGD, thus causing an equivalent additional longitudinal displacement of the control rod CNR. This longitudinal displacement, transformed through the ACV conversion means into a vertical movement of the VEC control valve, made it possible to control an additional displacement of the lower end of the VEC flow valve which thus amounted to a distance F2 from the lower end of the cistern CVD thus allowing a flow from the cistern CVD of a volume of water greater than that released in the second intermediate position, but less important than the one released in the first end position.

Claims

Claims 1. i Flushing system, including: . a flow device (DEC) adapted to be placed in at least a first or a second configuration, in which said flow device allows a discharge of a first or a second predetermined volume of water; . selection means (SELM) allowing a user of the system to configure the flow device in the first or the second configuration; system characterized in that it further includes: . a single control rod (CNR) extending in a so-called longitudinal direction (LGD) and able to be set in motion in said direction; . a single control member (UCD) of the configuration of the flow device, able to be set in motion in a so-called vertical direction (VRD) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (LGD); and . means for converting (ACV) the amplitude of longitudinal displacement of the control rod (CNR) into an amplitude of vertical displacement of the control member (UCD), the selection means (SELM) being able to print at the control rod (CNR) a longitudinal displacement having a first or a second predetermined amplitude according to the actions of the user of the system. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow device (DEC) includes a single flow valve (VEC) capable of allowing the passage of one or the other of the first and second volumes of predetermined water depending on the position of the control unit (UCD). 3. System according to one of claims 1 or 2, the selection means (SELM) include a device for reversing the direction of longitudinal movement printed on the control rod by the user of the system. 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the selection means (SELM) include a first and a second pallets (PALI, PAL2), arranged on either side of the control rod (CNR) and able to pivot around axes (AX1, AX2) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (LGD), a so-called proximal end (PEX1, PEX2) of each pallet (PALI, PAL2) resting in contact with a shoulder (EPL) arranged on the control rod (CNR), a so-called distal end (DEX1, DEX2) of each pallet (PALI, PAL2) being free and able to be actuated by the user, the maximum amplitudes of movement of said ends proximal (PEX1, PEX2) and distal (DEX1, DEX2) of the first and second paddles (PALI, PAL2) being different from one paddle to another. 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the selection means (SELM) include a stop (BTC2) making it possible to limit the stroke of the control rod (CNR) when the second pallet (PAL2) is actuated.