AU733532B2

AU733532B2 - Flow control device

Info

Publication number: AU733532B2
Application number: AU64306/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Urs Edgar Furter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-30
Filing date: 1996-08-27
Publication date: 2001-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-27
Also published as: AU6430696A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title FLOW CONTROL DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the Applicant 1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: "FLOW CONTROL DEVICE" The invention is described in the following statement: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a flow control device, and in particular to a flow control device for use with a flushing toilet.

BACKGROUND

*o Conventional flushing toilets typically comprise a cistern with a water release 5 device incorporating a valve having a closure member connected to an overflow ee..

tube. The closure member contacts and seals a water outlet in the bottom of the cistern. The valve/closure member is generally operated by a push button/lever mechanism which provides sufficient force to lift the closure member off the water outlet to releasewater for flushing purposes. A float member sleeved upon the overflow tube allows the closure member to fall as the water level in the cistern 00. :drops and allows the closure member to reseal the water outlet. Such cisterns typically incorporate a water inlet valve connected to the water supply and which is operable by means of a float device connected thereto. When the cistern is substantially full, the float device holds the inlet valve in a closed position. When the push button mechanism is depressed, a lever lifts the closure member off the water outlet, and the water is released through the bottom of the cistern. The float device drops as the water level drops, thereby opening the inlet valve and allowing water to fill the cistern until the float device rises to a predetermined height and shuts off the inlet valve. In recent times, some cisterns have been made to provide a means of releasing a predetermined portion of the water (substantially half the water in the cistern) by depressing a separate "half-flush button or lever or by partially depressing a button or lever. Such devices are intended to conserve water, where a full cistern of "flush" water is not required.

A disadvantage of such cisterns devices is that sometimes more or even less than a "half-flush" is sufficient to flush the toilet. Sometimes a user may depress for a "half-flush" and find that it has not sufficiently flushed the toilet and thereby finds it necessary to flush again, thereby not resulting in conservation of water.

The problem with known cisterns is that the water released is in one or two predetermined amounts and does not give the user variable control of how much water is released.

1: 5 The present invention ameliorates the control of water being released, thereby improving the ability to conserve water.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention is a flow control device adapted to be fitted to the overflow tube of a cistern water release mechanism, said device comprising an elongate member having a manually grippable means at or near one end and attachment means for engagement with said overflow tube at or near its other end.

In a second aspect the present invention is a cistern valve mechanism having a closure element located at one end of an overflow tube, said closure element being adapted to contact and close a water outlet in the bottom of a cistern, said mechanism comprising a handle means projecting from said overflow tube enabling said closure element to be directly lifted away from said water outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an elevational exploded view of a flow control device in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end exploded view of a flow control device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cut away schematic of the flow control device of the Figure 1 fitted 0 to the overflow tube of a cistern.

o MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION oooo Figures 1 and 2 depict a flow control device 1, comprising an elongate rod 2 having a knob(or handle) 3 connected at a threaded end 4 thereof by means of an insert 5. A high tensile V-shaped spring 6 with a hole thereon is slid on to other end 12 of rod 2. Spring 6 is secured to rod 2 by swaged protrusions 7,8 on rod 2.

Sleeve 9 is fitted over rod 2.

Preferably, rod 2 is made of a metal material such as 316 stainless steel, whilst knob 3, is a commonly available PVC type, approximately 33 mm in diameter.

Insert 5 is preferably made of brass and spring 6 is preferably made from stainless steel material. Sleeve 9 is preferably made of nylon.

Flow control device 1 is adapted to replace the push-button/lever mechanism which lifts the overflow tube 11 and connected closure member 10 of a conventional toilet cistern device 14 away from water outlet 15, as shown in Figure 3. Flow control device 1 is fitted to overflow tube 11 by inserting end 12 of rod 2 and spring 6 into the open end of overflow tube 11 and pushing rod 2 a sufficient distance into tube 11. V-shaped spring 6 wedges (frictionally engages) within overflow tube 11, thereby securing rod 2 thereto. Knob 3 may be unscrewed from rod 2, to allow the latter to pass through the existing hole on the cistern cover. As rod 2 is wedged within overflow tube 11, lifting of knob 3 upwardly also lifts overflow tube 11 and closure member 10 away from water outlet 15. Once closure member 10 is lifted, float member 16 on overflow tube 11, allows the closure member 10 to lower as the water level in the cistern drops.

In use, knob 3 may be pulled a sufficient distance to fully or substantially empty the cistern of water through outlet 15. Release of knob 3 will allow rod 2, overflow tube 11 and closure element 10 to fall and close outlet 15, allowing cistern 12 to 1 15 refill by the conventionally fitted float valve mechanism(not shown). To partially release water from cistern 12, knob 3 may be lifted momentarily to remove closure element 10 from outlet 15 and pushed downwardly against and overcoming the o lift of float member 16 to close outlet 15. The amount of water released may be controlled by the user, depending on how quickly or slowly the user pushes knob 20 3 back down. The user is not limited to "full flush" and/or "half-flush" as in conventional systems and may control how much of the cistern water is released.

The control of released water is achieved because flow contol device 1 directly lifts and lowers tube 11 and closure element 10, when the user lifts and lowers knob 3, respectively. Where such a flow control device is fitted, a user quickly 25 becomes adept at judging the time between lift and push down of knob 3 to 0 achieve control of the amount of water to be released.

Where necessary, the rod 2 may be removed from overflow tube 11, by pulling upwardly thereon with sufficient force to release spring 6 from frictional engagement with tube 11. Such force is considerably greater than that required to operate the mechanism during normal use.

In further not shown embodiments the various components of the flow control device such as the rod, knob and the like may differ in shape, material, configuration and size. For instance, the spring means may be in the form of a different attachment means which attaches internally or externally to the outlet tube 11.

In the preferred embodiment as described, the flow control device is shown in a in a form which can be made and supplied in a kit form adapted to be fitted to conventional cisterns. In a further not shown embodiment the flow control device of the present invention may be factory fitted to or manufactured integrally with, the overflow tube of a cistern unit.

It should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the flow control device as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A flow control device adapted to be fitted to the overflow tube of a cistern water release mechanism, said device comprising an elongate member having a manually grippable means at or near one end and attachment means for engagement with said overflow tube at or near its other end.

2. A flow control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment means is a spring means which frictionally engages with the internal surface of said overflow tube.

3. A flow control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring means is of high tensile sheet metal formed in a substantially V-shape.

4. A flow control device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims, wherein said manually grippable means is threadedly connected to said elongate member. see. 99 99. S 5. A flow control device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims, wherein said elongate member is a rod fitted with a sleeve thereon.

6. A cistern valve mechanism having a closure element located at one end of an overflow tube, said closure element being adapted to contact and close a water outlet in the bottom of a cistern, said mechanism comprising a handle means projecting from said overflow tube enabling said closure

99.. element to be directly lifted away from said water outlet. 7. A flow control device as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Applicant URS EDGAR FURTER Date 26 AUGUST 1996 Attorney CARTER SMITH BEADLE