AU7822201A - Flush toilets - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 0 0 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: JANOVATIONS LIMITED PETER JANSEN WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Flush Toilets The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 "Flush Toilets" 2 3 Introduction 4 This invention relates to toilets with improved flushing arrangements.

6 7 There is increasing pressure to reduce usage of water, even in areas such as the UK 8 which have relatively high rainfall. One area of interest for reducing water 9 consumption is the flushing of toilets, but this must be balanced against requirements of hygiene.

11 12 All current flush toilets use water for two separate purposes, namely the removal of 13 waste matter from the toilet pan and the provision of a seal against escapes of sewer 14 gas into buildings. This second purpose determines the minimum volume of water 15 required for any remotely conventional toilet to function. But much more water is o• 16 currently used. This is because part of it is needed to impart sufficient kinetic energy 17 to swimming waste matter to force it round the trap.

*18 19 Statements of Invention 0 .a.021 According to the present invention, a toilet includes a pan, a trap which normally So 22 retains water as a gas seal, and an outlet; and the trap is arranged for movement, 23 during flushing of the toilet, in a manner which causes said retained water to transfer 24 by gravity to the outlet.

o• 26 The trap, in some forms of the invention, is a rigid conduit arranged for rotary or i..

27 pivotal movement. In other forms, the trap is constituted by a length of flexible hose.

28 The hose may normally form a curve in which said water is retained and be 29 straightened during flushing by relative movement between the pan and the outlet.

The trap generally takes the form of a continuous conduit connecting the pan and the 31 outlet and is designed to hold a body of water between flushes, which body acts as a 32 gas seal.

33 1 The trap is preferably moved by means linked to the flushing mechanism of an 2 associated cistern. Said flushing mechanism may be a conventional siphon or, more 3 preferably, a bell mechanism of known type. Alternatively the flushing mechanism 4 may comprise a flexible hose having a partial loop which is moved to initiate flushing.

6 7 Preferably, the arrangement is such that the initiation of flushing causes cleaning 8 water to be supplied to the pan before or while movement of the trap commences.

9 Detailed Description of the Invention 11 12 The embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 uses a mechanical trap in conjunction 13 with an immobile toilet pan.

14 Figure 1 shows a vertical section through relevant parts of a slightly modified flush 16 toilet. The toilet pan 1 terminates more or less horizontally. There would actually be 17 functional advantages in pointing downwards at a small angle (say 50). It is linked to o. 18 the trap management pipe 2 which empties into the pipe 3 leading to the drains. The seals 4 at both ends of the trap management pipe 2 allow said trap management pipe 20 2 to rotate slightly (450 will be sufficient) relative to the toilet pan 1 and the pipe 3.

21 22 Figure 2 shows one implementation of a possible link with the flushing mechanism.

23 It represents a view, from the front, of all relevant components installed behind the 24 toilet. The trap management pipe 2 is shown in a position 45% inclined against the vertical. This could be its normal position when the toilet is not in use. A user 0 0* 26 flushing the toilet would push down the lever 7, which is hinged at point 11. This 27 pushes down the link 6 pressing the trap management pipe 2 to the floor. Once that 28 has happened the water in the trap can flow to the drains without further 29 impediments, carrying any waste matter with it. Once the lever 7 is released the spring 10 which is anchored to the floor or other parts of the whole mechanism, 31 pulling on the lever 5 returns the trap management pipe 2 to its rest position.

32 33 Flushing can be achieved by an additional direct link from the lever 7; for example, 34 the spindle of a conventional flushing mechanism could be linked to the lever at 11.

1 But preferably a spring 9 could operate a wire pull 8 to trigger the flush. A 2 traditional type flushing bell would probably work better than a syphon, because the 3 flush can be initiated faster as the bell does not need to be held in its trigger position 4 as long as a syphon.

6 To preserve an acceptable appearance for the whole assembly the entire mechanism, 7 apart from the lever 7, would typically be enclosed in a box.

8 9 Instead of making the seals 4 watertight one could have a durable flexible hose pipe extending from the toilet pan 1 all the way through the bend in pipe 3. The trap 11 management pipe 2 would then merely guide the hose pipe through the positions 12 required for its function.

13 14 Figure 3 illustrates a toilet where the trap makes use of flexible hose which undergoes bending, rather than twisting, motion.

16 17 The toilet pan 1 is linked to the trap management hose 12 at the immobile seal 14.

18 The pan is held at the sides by sliding tracks 13 which allow it to be moved forward 19 and upward in a frame (not shown), that is fixed to the floor. Preferably, the moving ••20 parts have an integrated back rest 18. If any toilet lid is fitted this back rest 18 21 ensures that when the pan is moved in its frame the lid does not tilt further ••22 backwards, sliding down the front of the cistern and possible becoming trapped 23 below it. To slide the toilet pan one would typically pull at one of the handles 24 One such handle is preferably incorporated at the top of the backrest 18 in a position convenient for adult users. A second handle, for example below the front of the 26. toilet pan, can be provided for children.

27 28 The pulling action straightens the trap management hose 12 and lifts the water 29 trapped in the area of the seals 14 to a height from which it can flow to the drains without further impediment.

31 32 The balance between forward and upward motion of the toilet pan 1 is determined by 33 the length of the hose 12 and the height to which the pan 1 must be lifted to achieve 34 free flow water and waste.

1 2 Various mechanical means can be employed to ensure that the waste management 3 pipe 12 is confined to shapes acceptable for the operation of the toilet. One of these 4 methods could be prevention of sideways motion relative to the toilet by confinement between two vertical parallel plates (not shown).

6 7 As in the implementation described in Figures 1 and 2, this different design allows a 8 direct mechanical link to the flushing mechanism. One such link is shown in Figure 9 3. Again, a wire pull 8 is pulled via a spring 9. The roller 17, connected with a wall or the cistern, changes the direction of the pulling force. Alternatively, a Bowden 11 cable could be used. In this implementation, as described in Figures 1 and 2, a 12 flushing bell is preferable to a syphon.

13 14 Because the toilet pan moves relative to the cistern the water used in flushing has to travel through another hose pipe 17, from which it enters the pan at 16. The upper 16 part of the pan can have the same shape as a conventional toilet, directing water to all 17 partsofthepan.

•18 19 Because a hose pipe 17 is used between the cistern and the toilet pan the method for flushing can be simplified. The wire pull 8, spring 9 and roller 17 can be dispensed 21 with, as can the flushing bell or syphon in the cistern. Instead, the flush can be 22 controlled by the hose pipe 17 itself.

23 24 Details of one way of achieving this are shown in Figure 4, which shows only the relevant parts of the total assembly from the front.

•26 27 The cistern 19 does not contain mechanical devices for flushing at all. Instead, the 28 hose pipe 17 is attached to the cistern at the bottom of the latter. There is always 29 water in the hose pipe. But the section of the hose pipe closest to the cistern is normally held up beyond the height of the entrance to the overflow pipe 20 of the 31 cistern 19. In the implementation shown in Figure 4 the hose pipe can move freely 32 through the ring 21 which is shown more closely in Figure 5 where one can see the 33 main ring 21 with a number of smaller rings 29 rotating on it. Returning to Figure 4, 34 we see that the ring 21 is attached to a lever 22 which is hinged at point 25. A spring 1 23 attached at point 24 normally holds up the lever and thus the hose pipe 17. When 2 the toilet pan is moved forward and upward the hose pipe 17 is pulled by the same 3 action. This allows the cistern to be drained through the hose pipe. As in traditional 4 flushing mechanisms the hose pipe acts as a syphon once enough water has passed its highest point.

6 7 Further rings like the ring 21 can be employed along the path of the hose pipe 17 to 8 ensure smooth operation of the mechanism. To preserve an acceptable appearance of 9 the whole assembly, substantially the whole flushing mechanism would typically be enclosed in a box.

11 12 In some parts of the world there may be regulatory objections to having a hosepipe 13 linked to a self replenishing water vessel. Problems of possible leakage could be 14 overcome with a slightly more elaborate design, such as the one shown in Figure 6.

Only the relevant parts are shown, namely the attachment of the hose pipe to the 16 cistern and the overflow as well as the attachment to the toilet pan. No 19 again .i 17 indicates the cistern itself with its overflow 20. There are now two hose pipes, one o 18 within the other. The inner hose pipe 17 has the same function as in Figures 3 and 4.

19 It is enclosed in an outer hose pipe 28 which is communicating with the overflow •20 through a short pipe 26 at its point of attachment to the cistern 19 either above (or as 21 shown here) below the base of the cistern. The outer hose pipe 28 is divided from 22 the cistern itself as well as the toilet pan. These blocked ends are marked with the 23 number 27 in Figure 6.

24 The foregoing are purely mechanical embodiments of the invention.

26 27 All of these could obviously be operated by electric motors. Electronic timing 28 devices or mechanical systems (such as systems involving cams) can be used to 29 optimise control of the flushing relative to the draining of the trap. Cisterns could then be dispensed with altogether and electrically controlled valves used to control 31 the flushing. If an electric motor is used for controlling the trap the latter can be of a 32 design not appropriate for any of the mechanical versions. One such managed trap is 33 shown in Figure 7.

34 1 As in Figure 1 there is a toilet pan 1 ultimately draining into a pipe 3. The waste 2 management coil 30 is a pipe that can rotate freely in the seals 4. Just as the version 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is beneficial if the path from the toilet pan to the pipe 3 4 is slightly downhill. To drain the trap, the waste management coil 30 is rotated around the common axis of the whole assembly. The water in the trap together with 6 any waste matter is thereby removed on the principle of the endless screw. This 7 makes it possible to maintain a seal against sewage gas at all times, provided the 8 flushing of the toilet is controlled in such a way that new water is added at the time 9 when the old water drains into the pipe 3.

11 It is desirable that the toilet pan is cleaned before the trap is drained. All fully 12 mechanical versions therefore incorporate devices that initiate flushing as soon as the 13 user begins to drain the trap. To illustrate the principles of the various designs the 14 mechanically most simple versions have been drawn. In all mechanical versions it would be preferable to have a slightly more complicated trigger mechanism. This is 16 because in the simple versions shown the user does not just initiate the draining of 17 the trap but has some control over its timing. When toilets are used by children, this o.18 involves the risk that they will not just pull levers or pans but hold them in the trigger .*19 position until the cistern is empty. In that case the seal against sewage gas is not reestablished.

21 22 Electrical operation does not involve this problem at all. It would even be possible to .23 improve on the water saving effect by having two separate flushing programs.

24 Regardless whether there is one flushing program or two, preferably the operation would begin by releasing enough water to clean the toilet pan. Depending on the 26 design this would be followed or accompanied by draining the trap, which in turn 27 would be followed (or accompanied in its last stage) by the release of more water to 28 refill the trap. In an implementation with two flushing programs these would only 29 differ in the first stage. Where nothing more than urine is to be removed, a very small quantity of water would initially be released for cleaning the pan. The other 31 version could either release a predetermined larger quantity of water or, up to a 32 predetermined maximum, as much water as the user requires (until the user's trigger 33 action stops).

34 1 Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment, in this version the trap management pipe 31 2 is immobile relative to the toilet pan 1. But it can slide into and out of the pipe 32.

3 The trap is drained by tipping out the toilet pan and its trap management pipe. This 4 is done by tilting up the whole mechanism, including its frame 34 around the axis 33.

This slides the trap management pipe 31 into the pipe 32 against which it is sealed by 6 the seal 35 in which it can slide freely.

7 8 The embodiment of Figure 8 is described here for completeness. However, this 9 embodiment is not preferred, and is in fact impracticable.

11 This is because hygiene dictates that the upper rim of a toilet pan should always be 12 horizontal. Otherwise waste matter from the walls of the toilet pan can be tipped into 13 the room as, in case of blocked pipes, can the entire contents. Moreover, as flushing 14 has to begin as soon as one starts to tip up the toilet, water would rarely reach the upper part of the front of the toilet and could splash into the room from parts that 16 have been raised higher than the rear of the toilet. Finally, children and physically 17 weak people would find it unacceptably difficult to use such a toilet.

18 19 Referring now to Figs 9 and 10, there is described a further embodiment. Figure 9 shows substantially the same type of toilet with sliding pan as Figure 3. Again, pipe 21 3 leads to the drains. All parts of the toilet and its frame are unchanged, with a single 22 exception at the bottom of the toilet pan. The toilet pan now terminates in a shorter S23 section of pipe falling at a steeper angle.

24 25 Instead of managing the trap by a hose 12 there is now a short section of pipe o *26 containing a permanently fixed solid object 36 that blocks the flow of water and 27 waste matter from the toilet pan when the latter is in its rest position. The upper end 28 of the pipe 40 and the lower end of the discharge pipe of the toilet pan are connected 29 with an extensible hose 37 (made of rubber or some similarly elastic material), part of which is shown in greater detail in Figure 10. The flanges 39 securely seal the 31 connection of this hose 37 with the toilet pan 1 and the pipe 40 against water and 32 sewer gas. The hose can expand and contract on the turtle neck principle in its 33 section denoted with the number 38.

34 9 1 When the toilet is not in use the hose 37 is in firm contact with the obstacle 36, 2 holding a small quantity of water in the toilet pan. When the toilet pan is pulled 3 forward by one of its handles 15 a gap opens between the toilet pan's discharge pipe 4 and the obstacle 36, allowing water and waste matter to flow through the pipes and 3 to the sewers. When the toilet pan slides back the seal is automatically re- 6 established. As the tightness of the seal depends on close contact between the 7 obstacle 36 and the lip of the hose 37 it would be advantageous if the part of the 8 obstacle 36 in actual contact with the lip of the hose 37 would be spherical.

9 Preferably, the relevant part of the obstacle should be hollow, so as to give it the required flexibility to secure a tight seal.

11 12 It would obviously be possible to depart from the design described above by having a 13 fixed connection between a fixed toilet pan and the sewers and to achieve the effect 14 described above by having a movable obstacle inside one of the pipes near the toilet pan. This, however, would have the disadvantage that complicated moving parts 16 would be within that part of the whole toilet system that is open to the sewers and 17 that has water and soil flowing through it, so that the mechanism would have a o. 18 greater tendency to become clogged. Furthermore, it would then be necessary to 19 provide additional seals against sewer gas escaping through the actuating mechanism.

21 .22 In comparison with the other implementations of the invention described earlier the 23 design shown in Figure 9 has the advantage of saving much more water. This can be 24 seen by comparing Figures 3 and 9. In Figure 3 it is necessary to have water in the bottom of the toilet pan 1 as well as part of the hose 12. In Figure 9 only the bottom °26. of the toilet pan needs to contain water. With appropriate dimensions the quantity of 27 water consumed on each flush, besides that required to clean the toilet pan itself, can 28 be reduced to significantly less than 1 litre. With appropriate control over the flow 29 of fresh water into the toilet pan this can be the only water loss when only urine is removed. Compared to some traditional toilets reductions in water consumption 31 approaching 90% could thus be achieved.

32 1 The invention thus provides toilet arrangements which can operate in a satisfactory 2 and hygienic manner with a low water consumption, since there is no requirement for 3 flushing water to impart kinetic energy to floating waste.

4 Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing *ooo *~o

Claims (1)

1. 3. A toilet as claimed in Claim 1 in which the trap is constituted by a length of flexible hose. 11 12 4. A toilet as claimed in Claim 3 in which the hose normally forms a curve in which said water 13 is retained and is arranged to be straightened during flushing by relative movement between the pan 14 and the outlet. 16 5. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trap is moved by means linked to a 17 flushing mechanism of an associated cistern. 18 19 6. A toilet as claimed in Claim 5 in which the flushing mechanism is a conventional siphon or a S" 20 bell mechanism of known type. 21 S 22 7. A toilet as claimed in Claim 5 in which the flushing mechanism comprises a flexible hose 23 having a partial loop which is moved to initiate flushing. 24 25 8. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim including means which upon initiation of flushing 26 causes cleaning water to be supplied to the pan before or while movement of the trap commences. DATED this fourth day of October 2001 JANOVATIONS LIMITED Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for Applicant