AU631018B2 - Reversible reduced volume flush arrangement - Google Patents

Description

i 6310 1 8 S F Ref: 110804 FORM 1' COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Numbe"t- P37120 *g *r 0* Lodged: 27 October 1989 Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: S.

S

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Caroma Industries Limited 10 Market Street Brisbane Queensland 4000

AUSTRALIA

Peter Ross Dunstan Spruson F Level 33 St Sydney, New 'on, Patent Attorneys, hkcins Tower, 31 Market Street, South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Reversible Reduced Volume Flush Arrangement The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us REPRINT OF RECEIP S0CI8038 24/1/ 5815/3 -2- REVERSIBLE REDUCED VOLUME FLUSH ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to cistern mechanisms and, in particular, to a cistern mechanism for, and method of, reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern.

The manufacturers of sanitary ware are required to manufacture same subject to approval by the authority of each jurisdiction in which the sanitary ware is sold. As the regulations in jurisdictions differ, it is highly desirable for the sanitary ware manufacturer, if a single model of a cistern, for example, can be sold in a large number of jurisdictions. This is only possible if the cistern complies with all the regulations of each of the jurisdictions.

Because of its potential to delay substantial capital expenditure which would otherwise be incurred in the creation of new water storage reservoirs, in recent times many water supply authorities have been 1 introducing new regulations to reduce the volume of water consumed by each flush. Thus in many jurisdictions within Australia, the standard volume flush has been reduced from 11 litres to 9 litres in an effort to reduce water consumption. As a consequence, all cisterns sold after a predetermined date must have a standard volume flush of 9 litres rather I 20 than the previous standard of 11 litres.

In many instances, this reduced volume for the standard volume flush S applies irrespective of whether the cistern is a single flush cistern, or a j" dual flush cistern having a smaller volume flush for use where the toilet I bowl contains no appreciable solids.

It is the object of the present invention to provide both a method of, and a cistern mechanism for, reversably adjusting the flush volume of a I cistern which will avoid the substantial expenses involved in re-tooling which would be incurred if the cistern body was re-dimensioned.

That is to say, one way of achieving the reduced volume standard 6 30 flush is to reduce the overall dimensions of the cistern body so that the volume of water held within the cistern at the same water level as previously, corresponds to the desired reduced volume. However, such a course of action suffers from the disadvantage that in some jurisdictions an 11 litre flush volume is mandatory whilst in other jurisdictions the 9 litres volume is mandatory. Thus if the dimensions of the cistern body are IAD/1073o Ij I 3 changed, then not only is the cost of re-tooling incurred but two stock lines must be held. Both these results increase the sanitary ware manufacturer's costs.

Another possible line of attack is to insert a removable object within the body of the cistern which itself displaces the volume of water required to reduce the flush volume. This is essentially the same as the subterfuge of placing a house brick in a cistern during periods of severe water restriction. Clearly, such a "house brick" having a volume of 2 litres would suffice to bring about the desired reversible adjustment in a flush volume. However, the 2 litre volume item would be relatively bulky and difficult to both store after manufacture, and transport.

IE According to one aspect of the present inventi, ',here is disclosed a cistern mechanism for reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern i "having a float arm and a float connected to the free end thereof, said 15 mechanism comprising a link interposed between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant force I applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link.

I 20 According to another aspect of the present ltkvertion there is 0 disclosed a method of reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern I .00: having a float arm and a float connected to the free end thereof, said method comprising the step of interposing a link between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant 5 force applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a float arm and float of the cistern mechanism of the preferred embodiment, only the free end of the float arm being shown; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the link interposed between the float arm and float in Fig. 1.

IAD/1073o 4 The present invention utilizes an entirely conventional float 1 and float arm 2. In the conventional arrangement the float 1 is connected directly to the free end 3 of the float arm 2. This interconnection is brought about by means of a pivotal connection between a pair of hooks 4 on the float arm free end, only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 1, and a pair of inverted U-shaped loops 5 formed at the upper end of the float 1.

Only one of the loops 5 is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The spacing between the hooks 4 and the loops 5 corresponds so that in the prior art arrangement the loops 5 are directly retained on the hooks 1 0 4 and thus the float 1 depends from the free end 3 of the float arm 2.

With this arrangement the upward force of buoyancy applied by a rising water level within the cistern, is applied directly via the top of the Sfloat 1 to the hooks 4 so as to pivot the float arm 2 about its other end I! and thereby stop the flow of water into the cistern in known fashion.

.1 5 As illustrated in Fig. 1, the float 1 and float arm 2 are manufactured precisely as before thereby avoiding any capital costs arising i from a change in manufacture or any additional inventory costs arising from further, or changed, items. However, a link 10, illustrated in more detail Sin Fig. 2, is interposed between the free end 3 and the float 1. This has the effect of lowering the float 1 within the cistern but still enabling S the buoyant force experienced by the float 1 to be applied to the float arm 2.

As seen in Fg. 2, the link 10 has a pair of hooks 14 at its lower *ii end which correspond in shape and spacing to the hooks 4 on the float arm i 5 2. In addition, the link 10 is provided with a pair of apertures 11,12 adjacent its upper end which are dimensioned and spaced to mate with the I hooks 4 on the float arm 2. The hooks 14 and apertures 11,12 are spaced apart by a vertical distance because of the presence of a stem 13. The stem 13 is dimensioned so that the spacing between the hooks 14 and 30 apertures 11,12 corresponds to the change in water level within the cistern required to bring about the reduction in flush volume.

Preferably, the apertures 11,12 are shaped as illustrated in Fig. 2 to mate with bosses 15 on the hooks 14 in order to ensure that the link can only be engaged with the hooks 14 of the link 10 pointing in the same direction as the hooks4 of the float arm 2. This ensures that the float 1 will be pivoted from the link 10 in the desired manner.

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.4 _7 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the rigid link 10 enables the float 1 to pivot the float arm 2 in order to close the supply of incoming water, at a level of water within the cistern which corresponds to the desired reduced volume. Furthermore, the link 10 is itself an inexpensive item and does not incur any substantial transportation or inventory costs. Indeed, because the item is of such low cost it can be supplied with all cisterns manufactured and simply not installed in those jurisdictions where the larger, 11 litre standard flush volume is mandatory.

Furthermore, where there are a number of different cisterns already in manufacture which have different effective cross-sectional ai-eas, then different links 10 each with a stem 13 of corresponding different length, can be produced at low cost to cater for the entire range of cisterns.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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IAD/1073o

Claims (9)

1. A cistern mechanism for reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern having a float arm and a float connected to the free end thereof, said mechanism comprising a link interposed between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant force applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link.

2. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said link comprises first and second connecting means each adapted for respective connection to corresponding second and first connecting means arranged respectively at said float arm free end and at said float.

3. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first connecting means comprises at least one aperture and said second connecting means comprises at least one hook.

4. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said link comprises two said apertures and two said hooks.

A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said first and second connecting means of said link are spaced by a stem of predetermined length, said length being the adjustment to the water level i of said cistern.

6. A method of reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern having a float arm and a float connected to the free end thereof, said S method comprising the step of interposing a link between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant force applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link.

7. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said link is pivotally connected at its ends to said float arm free end and said float.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the length of said link is selected to select the maximum permitted water level of said cistern.

9. A cistern mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. A method of reversibly adjusting the flush volume of a cistern substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings IAD/10730 I_ i: i: I- -6- The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A cistern mechanism for reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern having a float arm i.nd a float connected to the free end thereof, said mechanism comprising a link interposed between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant force applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link. 2. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said link comprises first and second connecting means each adapted for respective connection to corresponding second and first connecting means arranged 6:060: respectively at said float arm free end and at said float. 3. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first S connecting means comprises at least one aperture and said second connecting means comprises at least one hook. 4. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said link comprises two said apertures and two said hooks. A cistern mechanism as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said first and second connecting means of said link are spaced by a stem of predetermined length, said length being the adjustment to the water level of said cistern. 6. A method of reversably adjusting the flush volume of a cistern having a float arm and a float connected to the free end thereof, said S method comprising the step of interposing a link between said float arm free end and said float and from which said float depends whereby a buoyant force applied to said float by a rising water level within said cistern is transmitted via said link to said float arm free end to operate same at a lower water level than hitherto before the interposition of said link. 7. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said link is pivotally connected at its ends to said float arm free end and said float. 8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the length of said link is selected to select the maximum permitted water level of said cistern. 9. A cistern mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. A method of reversibly adjusting the flush volume of a cistern substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings IAD/1073o r ii U a.a0 a.. U U -7 DATED this TWENTY-FOURTH day of OCTOBER 1990 Caroma Industries Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON *09 a. *0 a. a. a* a as a 04 *0