AU6525999A

AU6525999A - Flushing armature for a flushing cistern

Info

Publication number: AU6525999A
Application number: AU65259/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ludvic Vogrinec
Original assignee: Prosan d o o
Current assignee: Geberit Sanitarna Tehnika Proizvodno In Trgovsko Podjetje d o o
Priority date: 1998-12-18
Filing date: 1999-12-15
Publication date: 2000-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-15
Also published as: EP1010826B1; CZ9904563A3; CZ297467B6; AU754613B2; DE29920043U1; CN1257956A; EP1010826A1; SI1010826T1; SK167599A3; ATE245732T1; DE59906348D1; ES2204091T3

Abstract

A flushing system for a WC (toilet) cistern has two shafts (10,11) which are depressed by two tabs, one for partial flush and one for full flush. The shafts press onto tilt levers which operate the flushing system in conjunction with two floats. The shafts are coupled to the tilt levers by pivot action cams which effectively couple the two systems together when the full flush tab is pressed, and which leave the main flush mechanism open when the partial flush tab is pressed.

Description

S&F Ref: 488873

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

1

I

I r r r rr c r rr r r Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Prosan d.o.o.

Smolnik 17 2342 Ruse Slovenia Ludvic Vogrinec Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Flushing Armature for a Flushing Cistern The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c [R:\LIBM I 6544.doc:EYC 1 TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a flushing armature for a flushing cistern, comprising a float valve which can be optionally actuated for full flushing or partial flushing, and a float housing with a main float and a valve body, a second float connected with the valve body, locking means locking the main float at least during partial flushing, and an actuating mechanism with a first key for initiating partial flushing and a second key for initiating full flushing, and a first actuating member operatively connected with the first key to lift the valve body for partial flushing, and a second mechanism operatively connected with the second key, wherein the two actuating mechanisms each have a lever supported for swivelling above the valve body.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, a flushing armature of this type is known from FR-A-2 676 480. It can be selectively actuated for relasing partial flushing or full flushing. For this purpose, the actuating mechanism has two keys each of which cooperates with a lever mounted for swivelling. Partial flushing can be set off with a first lever. In this case, the valve body is lifted. The main float in the float housing is locked on this occasion with a locking lever S. mounted at the float housing. Thus, the main float is inactive in partial flushing.

Approximately on the middle level at the valve body there is arranged a second float retaining .i the valve body in the lifted position once the partial flushing has been started, until the level of the flushing water has dropped below this second float. If the second float is situated above the level of the flushing water, it no longer provides buoyancy to the valve body and the same drops back onto the valve seat. In the case of full flushing, the main float is unlocked at the same time via a connecting rod and the valve body is lifted. The main float arranged in the lower part of the flushing cistern cooperates with the second float, acts on the valve body, and lifts the same until the flushing cistern has been completely emptied. After the valve body has dropped back on the valve seat, the main float is automatically unlocked.

EP-A-0 723 050 shows a flushing armature which is configured with similarity to the above-mentioned generic flushing armature. Also in this case, at the float housing there is mounted a locking lever which locks the main float in the case of partial flushing. When full flushing is initiated, this lever is swivelled into an inactive position and the valve body is lifted at the same time. Thus, in the case of full flushing, the main float and the second float mounted at the valve body are operative. However, in partial flushing, only the second float is operative.

488873 DE-U-84 36 155 discloses a flushing armature which also allows selective partial flushing or full flushing. Two floats are provided also in this flushing armature. Each of the two floats is locked in the rest position by means of a downward pressing element. One of these floats is connected with the valve body. When this float is unlocked, it lifts the valve body from the valve seat and in this way initiates partial flushing. In order to initiate full flushing, both locks are simultaneously released by means of a push rod, whereupon the two floats act upon the valve tube and lift it. When partial flushing is set ofl only one lock is released with the corresponding actuating element rather lifting the valve tube as in the generic flushing armature. For lifting the valve tube in the case of partial flushing, a float of large volume is required in this design.

Applicant's DE-C-34 22 315 has disclosed a flushing armature in which the actuating mechanism comprises a lever adapted to be swivelled with a push member arranged above the same for setting off flushing and to be swivelled in the opposite direction for interrupting the flushing. In this flushing armature, interruption of the flushing operation and actuation with a push button are possible. Actuation by means of two keys has not been contemplated in that *flushing armature.

EP-A-0 801 179 shows a flushing armature in which likewise two keys are provided for the selective triggering of partial flushing or full flushing. In order to lock the main float, at the *float housing there is provided a lever which is disengaged and, hence, gives buoyancy to the main float. The actuation of this locking element is effected via a push rod and a seesaw lever.

i A compact structure, assembly work which can be automated to the greatest possible extent, and low-cost storekeeping are essential for flushing armatures. Many different components are usually provided in the known flushing armatures, implying expensive assembly work and costly storekeeping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problem underlying the invention is to create a flushing armature of the cited type which is distinguished by its simple design with few robust components and which ensures cost-effective storekeeping.

In a flushing armature of the generic type, the problem is solved in that both levers can be swivelled by means of a pushing member and that the pushing member of the second actuating mechanism in its rest position locks its lever for the purpose of locking the main float. In the flushing armature according to the invention, locking is effected in the second 488873 -2actuating mechanism by means of a pushing member rather than with a locking lever at the float housing. This pushing member is provided also at the first actuating mechanism for the purpose of swivelling the corresponding lever. Each of the two actuating mechanisms therefore has both a pushing member and a lever. The two levers are mounted for swivelling and are actuated by means of a pushing member adapted to move in the vertical direction. The two actuating mechanisms therefore have identically configured and identically supported components so that a very compact design becomes possible. The two pushing members facilitate operation by means of two push-buttons, which is especially desired in the case of ceramic flushing cisterns. In each case, it is important that the introduction of a locking lever for the main float at the valve housing is avoided. The important parts and components are o arranged above the valve body.

A particulary compact design is obtained if according to an other feature of the invention, the two actuating mechanisms are mounted in a common housing. According to an *other featuret of the invention, this common housing is attached preferably to a support rod which at its lower end is connected with the float housing. The actuating mechanism together with the float valve forms a unit, and this makes possible very simple installation work.

Since, as indicated above, locking is effected by the first actuating mechanism, in an other embodiment of the invention only a downward pressing member is required for locking the main float, which downward pressing member, in its simplest design, is a vertical rod 20 resting with its lower end on the main float.

:A particulary simple and reliable locking of the main float is ensured if according to an other embodiment of the invention, the pushing member has a head which, in the rest position, bears against the lever with an inclination relative to the vertical When this pushing member is pressed downwards, the head slides on an inclined surface toward a stop of the power arm of this lever and swivels the same to release the main float and to lift the valve body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantageous features will become obvious from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawing. An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of the drawings. There show: Figure 1, a view of a flushing armature according to the invention, with the actuating keys being omitted; Figure 2, a vertical section of two actuating keys which are mounted in a lid of the flushing 488873 -3cistern; Figure 3, a partial view of the flushing armature; Figure 4, an other view of the part shown in Figure 3; Figure 5, a section of an actuating mechanism; Figure 6, a section of the other actuating mechanism; and Figure 7, a section of the head of a pushing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The flushing armature 1 shown in Figure 1 consists basically of an actuating mechanism 2 and a float valve 23. The flushing armature 1 is attached to the bottom of a flushing cistern, not shown, with a lower cylindrical discharge socket 26 extending through an opening in the bottom of the flushing cistern. In a float housing 24 there is mounted a valve tube 28 the lower end of which has a rubber-elastic valve head 31 closing a discharge opening, not visible, when in the position illustrated. In order to set off flushing, the valve body 28 is lifted whereupon flushing liquid can flow through windows 25 of the float housing 23 into a toilet bowl, not shown. The valve body 28 consists of an overflow tube with an upper opening In the float housing 24 which is open on its top, there is arranged a float 27, which is a first float and main float and which, by means of a vertical rod, is kept in the position shown in .i Figure 1 against the buoyancy force of the water. This rod 22 therefore forms a downward pushing member and rests with its lower end 22b loosely on the top of the float 27. At the 20 upper end 22a, the rod 22 is in detachable fashion connected via an articulation 12 with a twinarm lever 8 of a second actuating mechanism 4. In the position shown in Figure 1, the lever 8 is locked by means of a second pushing member 6. Thus, the lever 8 cannot be swivelled by the buoyancy force of the main float 27. Locking of the lever 8 will be explained in detail below.

A second float 29 is mounted at the valve tube 28 above the main float 27. This second float 29, which can be adjusted preferably in its height, has a buoyancy force sufficing for keeping the valve body 28 floating when the flushing cistern is filled. The float 29 is, for example, a plastic body with a specific gravity of less than 1 or a beaker open on the downside.

By adjusting the height of the float 29, the volume of flushing water for partial flushing can be modified.

The actuating mechanism 2 comprises two actuating members 3 and 4 which are accommodated in a common housing and have rods 10 and 11, respectively, extending beyond 488873 the housing. According to Figure 2, these rods 10 and 11 are connected to keys 37 and 38, respectively, configured as push-buttons. These two keys 37 and 38 are supported in a housing 36 which is inserted from above in an opening 41 in a lid 35 of the flushing cistern.

The rods 10 and 11 are at their ends permanently joined with the respective keys 37 and 38 by means of connecting sections 39. In order to match different heights of the flushing cisterns, the rods 10 and 11 can be articulated at their upper end. The arrows 42 indicate the direction in which the keys 37 and 38 are manually moved downwards to initiate flushing. However, an other embodiment can be taken into consideration, wherein flushing is not set off manually but rather pneumatically or by some other drive means. When the key 37 is depressed, the first actuating mechanism 3 is actuated and partial flushing is set off. The right key 38 shown in Figure 2 serves to initiate full flushing. In what follows, first partial flushing and thereafter full flushing are described in greater detail.

*As mentioned, in the case of partial flushing the key 37 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow 42. This motion is transferred to rod 10 which then compresses with a body 40 a spring 16 mounted in the housing 9. At the lower extremity of the body 40, a downwardly extending head 17 is attached for limited swivelling via an articulation 14. The body 40, together with the head 17, forms a first pushing member 5. The head 17 is moved downward together with the body 40 until the head impinges on an inclined surface 7b of a *lever 7 and thereby swivels the lever 7 in the direction of the arrow 42 around a swivel axis.

The contact point of the head 17 on the lever 7 is slightly to the right of the swivel axis 19.

Thus, upon depressing the key 37, the head 17 engages the power arm of the lever 7. By the cited swivelling of the lever 17, there is lifted a pulling rod 21 which is connected with the lever 7 in detachable fashion. The lower end 21b of the pulling rod 21 is connected with the valve body 28 by means of a bridge section 32. When the rod 21 is raised, the valve body 28 is lifted accordingly. The float valve 23 is opened thereby and flushing water can flow out of the flushing cistern. Lest the valve body 28 drop back into the position of closing as a consequence of the water outflow, the valve body 28 is kept floating by the second float 29.

This buoyancy force of the second float 29 disappears as soon as the level of the flushing water has reached the underside of the second float 29. Because of the absence of the buoyancy force, the valve body 28 then immediately drops into the position of closing shown in Figure 1.

The flushing volume in such a partial flushing amounts, for example, to about three litres. The 488873 flushing cistern is then refilled via an entry valve, not shown, and contains, for example, nine litres of flushing water.

If the key 37 is released after triggering partial flushing, the first pushing member 5 is returned by the action of the spring 16 into the position illustrated in Figure 5. f for interrupting the partial flushing, the key 37 is once more moved downward, the head 17 impinges on a further control surface 7a of the lever 7 and thereby moves the rod 21 against the buoyancy force of the lateral float 29 into the position of closing shown in Figure 1. In the position of closing, the valve is retained, by the water pressure on the valve face 31, in the position of closing against the buoyancy force of the second float 29 An interruption is basically possible during any phase of partial flushing. The partial flushing is carried out "without interruption and with the preset volume of flushing water, three litres. During •partial flushing, the main float 27 remains in the position illustrated in Figure 1 and, as indicated, is inoperative.

In the case of full flushing, the key 38 is moved downward and this motion is transmitted to rod 11. As in the case of partial flushing, a guide body 40 is moved downward against the biasing force of a spring 16. The guide body 40 with a head 18 forms a second pushing member 6. This head 18 is likewise connected via a bridge member 15 with the guide body 40 for swivelling. In the rest position, this head 18 is inclined relative to the vertical as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and rests with its tip 18a on an inclined surface 8a at the work arm of the lever 8. The inclined position of the head 18 is given by two upper, accordingly inclined engagement surfaces 18b. In the rest position, the engagement surface 18b bears against the housing 9 under the force of the spring 16. If- as outlined above the pushing member 6 is moved downward, the head 18 slides in the direction of arrow 43 on the surface 8a toward the side of the power arm of the lever 8 and against a stop 8b (Figure The further movement of the pushing member 6 swivels the lever 8 in the direction of arrow 44 around the axis 19 and, hence, the rod 22 is lifted. In this way, the lower extremity 22b of the rod 22 is lifted from the main float 27 and, because of its buoyancy force, the same moves against a shoulder 34 of the valve body 28. At its underside, the lever 8 has a horizontal dog 13 contacting the underside of the lever 7, as shown in Figure 5. The dog 13 is permanently connected with the lever. If lever 8 is swivelled to set off fill flushing, the lever 7 and, hence, the rod 21 of the valve body 28 are lifted at the same time. In this way, full flushing is initiated. The raised valve body 28 is kept floating by the second float 29 and by the main float 27. If the second 488873 float 29 is above the level of the flushing water, the valve body 28 is kept floating by the main float 27 until the flushing cistern has been substantially emptied. During this full flushing, the flushing operation can be interrupted at any instant by depressing the key 37 once more, as explained above. After each flushing operation, the head 18 returns under the influence of the spring 16 into the position shown in Figure 6. For the head 18 to assume the cited inclined position and to remain in the same, it has a corresponding inclined engagement surface 45 at its rear. After each flushing operation, the head 18 is returned into the position illustrated in Figure 1. In this position, it locks the lever 8 against the buoyancy force of the main float 27, as mentioned above. A swivelling motion in the opposite direction is limited by a shoulder 46 on the support rod The actuating mechanism 2 is fastened at the upper end 20a of the support rod 20 to the same. For this purpose, the housing 9 has at its lower end locking means 9a entering between two adjacent ribs 20b. Thus, this actuating mechanism 2 is attached in detachable fashion to the support rod 20 at the upper end 20a. In order to obtain matching with different 15 flushing cisterns, the upper end 20a of this support rod 20 can be deflected. Thus, the g* o actuating mechanism 2 can be accurately positioned relative to the keys 37 and 38. In this way it can be ensured that the keys 37 and 38 are at their upper side flush with the housing 36.

*i Such a matching is required particularly in the case of ceramic flushing cisterns which, as is known, have comparatively large tolerances.

Since the two actuating elements 3 and 4 are mounted in the same housing 9, a very compact, slender design is possible. The space requirements of the actuating mechanism 2 are comparatively smwll, which is important because in flushing systems access to the lower part of the cistern interior during installation work is in this way substantially improved. The various parts of the actuating member 3 can be used also for a flushing armature in which only a push-button is provided and which allows flushing with interruption.

488873 -7-

Claims

1. A flushing armature for a flushing cistern, comprising a float valve (23) which can be optionally actuated for full flushing or partial flushing, a float housing (24) with a main float (27) and a valve body a second float (29) connected with the valve body locking means (18) locking the main float at least during partial flushing, and an actuating mechanism with a first key (37) for initiating partial flushing and a second key (38) for initiating full flushing, and a first actuating member operatively connected with the first key (37) to lift the valve body (28) for partial flushing, and a second mechanism operatively connected with the second key wherein the two actuating mechanisms 4) each have a lever 8) supported for swivelling above the valve body characterised in that the two levers 8) can be swivelled by means of a pushing member 6) and that the pushing member of the second actuating mechanism in its rest position locks its lever for the purpose of locking the main float (27).

2. The flushing armature according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lever of the second actuating mechanism is coupled to the lever of the first actuating mechanism (3) in such a way that when full flushing is set off, the lever of the first actuating mechanism is likewise swivelled and the valve body (28) is raised.

3. The flushing armature according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two actuating mechanisms 4) are mounted in a common housing

4. The flushing armature according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the second actuating mechanism comprises a vertical downward pressing member (22) the upper end (22a) of which is connected with the lever of the second actuating mechanism and the lower end (22b) of which rests on the main float (27) and locks the same at least in the case of partial flushing.

The flushing armature according to Claim 4, characterised in that the downward pressing member (22) is a rod the lower end (22b) of which rests directly on the main float (27).

6. The flushing armature according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the downward pressing member is at its upper end (22a) attached for swivelling to the lever of the second actuating mechanism 0.

7. The flushing armature according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the two pushing members 6) can be moved downward against the resetting force of a spring element.

8. The flushing armature according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the first actuating mechanism comprises a pulling rod (21) which, for setting off the partial flushing, is at its lower end (21b) connected with the valve body (28).

9. The flushing armature according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the two actuating mechanisms 4) are substantially identically configured and are arranged in side-by-side relationship on substantially the same level.

The flushing armature according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the two pushing members 6) are substantially identically configured and that each of them has a head (17, 18) which can be vertically swivelled to a limited extent and a spring-loaded guide S* body *q *oo* -1-

11. A flushing armature for a flushing cistern, the flushing armature substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 13 December, 1999 Prosan d. 0. 0. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON S S S S SO S. 5 S 555 *9 S S S *5 S S S S. S .5 S S SS S S S S *SSSSS 4 IR:LIBM] 1641 2.doc:FDP