US20110004988A1

US20110004988A1 - Toilet Seat with Self-Generating Power

Info

Publication number: US20110004988A1
Application number: US12/499,569
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen Deng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-08
Filing date: 2009-07-08
Publication date: 2011-01-13

Abstract

A toilet seat with self-generating power includes a main body, a power generating device and a toilet containing a tank, wherein the main body is disposed with a control device and a water spraying device for cleaning; the power generating device has a space for connecting an inlet pipe and at least one outlet pipe therein, the space further has a plurality of blades disposed therein with the inlet pipe connected to a water supply in the building, the outlet pipe is connected to a water spraying device and the tank, when the water spraying device is being used or the water in the water tank is being flushed, the water drives the plurality of blades to enable the power generating device for outputting power to the control device or electrically coupling with a power storing device of the control device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toilet seat, and more particularly, to a toilet seat with self-generating power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advance of technology makes a lot of contribution to the progress of human society; however, it also causes threats to the nature. With rising environmental concerns, people are aware of the importance and the urgency of environmental protection and make it a daily practice. Water is vital to our lives, since the water supplies for most toilet tanks are coming from water tower or repository in the building, therefore, how to make the most use of the limited water supply and the inlet water pipes of the toilet tanks to generate renewable energy without polluting the environment have become challenges in dealing with energy depletion and environmental protection issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water spraying seat which can provide self-generating power capability to meet environmental protection demands.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a water spraying seat, in which a power storing device for providing power to a control device is electrically connected to the power generating device and stores the power generated by the power generating device.
The present invention discloses a toilet seat with self-generating power, which comprises a main body, a power generating device and a toilet containing a tank, wherein the main body is disposed with a control device and a water spraying device for cleaning; the power generating device has a space for connecting an inlet pipe and at least one outlet pipe therein, the space further has a plurality of blades disposed therein with the inlet pipe connected to a water supply in the building, the outlet pipe is connected to a water spraying device and the tank, when the water spraying device is being used or the water in the water tank is being flushed, the water drives the plurality of blades to enable the power generating device for outputting power to the control device or electrically coupling with a power storing device of the control device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention which serves to exemplify the various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a toilet seat with self-generating power in the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an operation flow of the toilet seat with self-generating power.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 for a toilet seat 3 with self-generating power, which mainly comprises a main body 1, a power generating device 2 and a toilet 51 containing a tank 52, wherein the main body is disposed with a control device 11 and a water spraying device 12 for cleaning with water; the power generating device 2 has a space 23 for connecting an inlet pipe 21 and at least one outlet pipe 22 therein, the space 23 further has a plurality of blades 24 disposed therein with the inlet pipe 21 connected to a water supply in the building, the outlet pipe 22 is connected to a water spraying device 12 and the tank 52, when the water spraying device 12 is being used or the water in the water tank 52 is being flushed, the water drives the plurality of blades 24 to enable the power generating device 2 for outputting power to the control device 11 or electrically coupling with a power storing device 113 of the control device 11.
The power generating device 2 in the present invention is disposed with two outlet pipes 22, one of the outlet pipe 22 is connected with the water spraying device 12, wherein the water spraying device 12 comprises a nozzle disposed at its front end, the nozzle comprises an outlet at its top end, when water flows into the water spraying device 12, the nozzle sprays water onto the anus or genitals of a person; another outlet pipe 22 is connected with the water tank 52, the water tank 52 connects with the toilet 51 via a flushing pipe, wherein the tank defines a temporary water repository for the toilet 51 and comprises a flushing going through the bottom of the tank and connecting with the toilet 51 (not shown in figure).
The water spraying seat includes a main body 1 comprising the control device 11, a seat 3 and a seat cap 4, wherein the water spraying seat is fixed on the toilet 51 via the main body 1 and connected to an outlet of the building. The control device 11 in the main body 1 further comprises a power storing device 113 to provide a small amount of power for a indicator light or the control device 11 in standby mode; wherein the power storing device 113 is a battery electrically connected to the power generating device 2 and stores the power generated by the power generating device 2, and also provides the small amount f power required by the control device 11.
The power generating device 2 connects to the water supply of the building via the inlet pipe 21, when water in the water spraying device 12 is used for flushing the anus or genitals of a person, or water in the tank is guided through the flushing pipe to flush the toilet 51, the water spraying device 12 or the tanks needs to be refilled with water; therefore, when water flows through the inlet pipe 21 to the space 23 and drives the plurality of blades 24 of the power generating device 2 to enable its operation, the power generated by the power generating device 2 is electrically coupled with the control device 11 to let the control device 11 charge the power storing device 113 through a charging circuit 112. The control device 11 further includes a rectifying circuit 111 coupling to the power generating device, the rectifying circuit 111 converting an AC power supplied by the power generating device 2 into a DC power so as to let the DC power charge the power storing device 113 immediately.
The present invention installs a water spraying seat on a traditional toilet 51, when the water level of the tank 12 is at a water reserving state, a ball-cock is used for controlling a stop valve, so the stop valve of the tank 12 is at a restraining position to stop the water from flowing into the tank 52 via the inlet pipe 21; when the ball-cock descends with the lowering water level, it drives the stop valve to open gradually to let water flowing into the tank 52 via the inlet pipe 21; when the water flows into the tank 52 via the inlet water pipe 21, the water drives the plurality of blades 24 of the power generating device 2 to generate power and output power to the control device 11 in the main body 1 to let the control device 11 charge the power storing device 113 with a charging circuit 112 immediately; wherein the control device 11 is consisted of electro-mechanical or solid state components, the included charging circuit 112 can input power to the power storing device 113 for charging operation.
The control device 11 can also convert the power generated by the power generating device 2 into a charging current having suitable frequency for charging the power storing device 113; wherein the power generating device 2 mainly comprises at least one set of transmission units and a power generator, when the plurality of blades 24 are directly or indirectly disposed in the inlet pipe 21 via a shaft, the shaft can be an input end of the power generator or the shaft can be coupled with the input end of the power generator via the transmission units; when the shaft is connected to the power generator via the transmission units, the shaft can connect to a gear wheel having a large diameter engaging with a gear wheel having a small diameter, or the two gear wheels can have a transmission gear disposed within to increase the rotating speed at the input end.
Alternatively, if the cross-section area of the inlet pipe 21 at the front end of the power generating device is reduced, since flow throughput=flow rate×cross-section area and the flow throughput is proportional to the flow rate, for the flow throughput of the inlet pipe 21 remaining constant due to the pressurized water current, when the cross-section area is reduced, the flow rate is increased to drive the plurality of blades 24 of the power generating device 24 with faster speed.
The relation between flow throughput, flow rate, cross-section area and water pressure is as followed:
Q=μ×A×(2×P/ρ)̂0.5
wherein
Q (m/s) is the flow rate;
μ is the coefficient of flow rate and is related to shapes of valve or pipes, the value of μ is around 0.6˜0.65;
A (m²) is the area;
P (Pa) is the difference of the pressure between both sides of the valve; and
ρ (Kg/m³) is the density of the fluid.
The present invention discloses a toilet seat with self-generating power, while compared with prior art techniques, is advantageous in:
The present invention discloses a toilet seat with self-generating power, which uses water current to directly drive the power generating device and can control the flow rate of the water current to form a power generating device 2 with better power generating efficiency for powering the control device 11.
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet seat with self-generating power comprising a main body and a power generating device, wherein the main body is disposed with a control device and a water spraying device for cleaning; the power generating device has a space for connecting an inlet pipe and at least one outlet pipe therein, the space further has a plurality of blades disposed therein with the outlet pipe connected to a water spraying device, when the water spraying device is being used, the water drives the plurality of blades to enable the power generating device for outputting power to the control device.

2. The toilet seat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water tank connected to another outlet pipe, wherein the water tank is disposed on a toilet and connected with the toilet seat via a flushing pipe.

3. The toilet seat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water supply connected to the inlet pipe, wherein the water supply is installed in the building.

4. The toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device further includes a rectifying circuit coupling to the power generating device, the rectifying circuit converting an AC power supplied by the power generating device into a DC power.

5. The toilet seat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one set of transmission units connected to an output of the plurality of blades, wherein the least one set of transmission units comprises an output pivotally connected to an output of the power generating device.

6. The toilet seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device further includes a power storing device for electrically connecting to the power generating device and storing the electric energy generated by the power generating device, and also providing power to the control device.