CA2125750A1 - Water saving devices - Google Patents
Water saving devicesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2125750A1 CA2125750A1 CA 2125750 CA2125750A CA2125750A1 CA 2125750 A1 CA2125750 A1 CA 2125750A1 CA 2125750 CA2125750 CA 2125750 CA 2125750 A CA2125750 A CA 2125750A CA 2125750 A1 CA2125750 A1 CA 2125750A1
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- flow
- water
- flow distributor
- distributor
- tube
- Prior art date
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- Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)
Abstract
Water saving devices for flush toilets. The device proportions refill water between the toilet tank and a toilet bowl refill tube, diverting water normally directed to the toilet bowl into the toilet tank. This results in a shorter flush cycle and a reduction in the volume of water flowing into the toilet in that cycle. The device has no moving parts or components requiring adjustment, and it may be molded in one piece from a polyethylene or other polymer.
Description
~ 1~?5~5~
WATER SAVING DEVICES
This application is related in part to Canadian application No. 2,112,433 filed December 24, 1993.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to water saving devices and in particular to water saving devices for flush toilets.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Conservation of water continues to be a pressing need in many countries as populations expand and the supplies of potable water shrink.
One device which consumes vast quantities of water is the common and ubiquitous flush toilet. In widespread use are toilets which require from 3.5 up to 7 gallons of water per flush. Many if not most of these toilets are on the average flushed fifteen or more times each day.
Considerable effort has been devoted to the development of schemes for reducing the amount of water used for flushing toilets. One approach is the recently made available 1.5-gallon toilet. Even limited experience has however shown that these toilets have a serious if not fatal flaw; viz., they have a pronounced tendency to clog the lines into which they empty, typically to the extent that a plumber must be called to remedy the problem.
A second approach to conserving the water used in ~er~
. ~las~s~
flushing toilets has been the development of devices which can be installed in an existing toilet or incorporated in a new toilet to reduce the flush volume. While some of these devices have been able to achieve modest success in saving water, they fallen short of an ideal or optimum savings in water. Furthermore, these devices have been complicated in structure and design, leading to high manufacturing costs, high prices, relatively difficult installation, and potential operational malfunctions.
Representative are those devices disclosed in U.S. patents Nos. 2,807,024 issued 24 September 1957 to Kapp and 4,980,932 issued 1 January 1991 to Stemples.
A much superior water saving device for flush toilets is disclosed in related application No. 2,113,433.
That device is designed to divert part of the water normally directed into a toilet's overflow pipe to the toilet tank. The result is that the tank fills faster and the flow of water to the toilet is shut off sooner, decreasing the volume of refill water flowing into the toilet.
The novel, improved, water saving devices disclosed in the related application consist of a flow distributor, a separate inlet tube, and two separate outlet tubes. The flow distributor is a monolithic member which has an inlet, two outlets, and an internal flow passage providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlets. The inlet tube provides fluid communication between the toilet refill pipe and the fluid distributor while the two outlet tubes respectively direct water flowing through the distributor into the toilet bowl through the overflow pipe and into the toilet tank. The ~j alas~so internal passages of the two outlet tubes are dimensioned so that the larger part of the water directed to the distributor will flow into the toilet tank.
The water saving devices disclosed in the related application have many advantages over those theretofore proposed. They have none of the valves, adjustment mechanisms, complicated mounting features, or irregularly shaped components common to prior art devices. Instead, they are very simple, which leads to a much lower manufacturing cost.
Second, the devices disclosed in the related application may be installed in as little as fifteen seconds, and all flow rates are designed into the device to minimize any chance of misinstallation or adjustment error by the user.
Furthermore, installation of the devices disclosed in the related application do not require any significant modification of existing toilet tank structure.
A fourth major advantage of a water saving device as disclosed in the related application is that a toilet equipped with that device will flush harder and refill faster than a conventional toilet or a toilet equipped with a prior art water saving device. The toilet flushes harder because water from the tank travels a further distance along the inner surface of the toilet bowl when the toilet is initially flushed. The harder flushing action has the advantages of more thoroughly cleaning the toilet bowl and of ejecting solids and semisolids from the toilet in a manner which will significantly if not entirely eliminate clogging of the line into which the toilet discharges.
Additionally, the total flushing cycle takes less ~1~5 ~5 o time to complete because the water discharged from tank refill tube is supplemented by water discharged from the distributor of the water saving device into the tank through the second, larger diameter outlet tube. On the average, the device will end the flushing cycle an average of 25 percent sooner.
Still another major advantage of the invention disclosed in the related application will save far more water than prior art devices. Such savings may range from 1 to 1.3 gallons per flush for a 3.5 gallon toilet up to an estimated 2 plus gallons per flush for a 7 gallon toilet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There have now been invented, and disclosed herein, certain new and novel water saving devices for flush toilets which have all the advantages of, but are materially superior to, the devices of the same character disclosed in related application No. 2,112,433. These newer and novel devices have the advantage that they can be molded in one piece from an appropriate, typically polyethylene polymer rather than being assembled from four separate components as are the previously disclosed water saving devices. The result is equally effective devices which can be manufactured at a significantly lower cost.
Yet another important advantage of the novel water saving devices disclosed herein is that they are designed to be positively connected to the associated toilet bowl overflow pipes rather than being merely rested on the upper end of the tube as is done with those water saving devices disclosed in the parent application. The result is that surges, air in the toilet refill line, and other anomalies will not unseat the water saving device and make the toilet inoperative.
At the same time, water sav~ing devices embodying the principles of the present invention are dimensioned so that they do not more than partially close off the upper end of the toilet bowl refill tube with which they are associated. Consequently, if for some reason the path followed by toilet refill water to and through the water saving device should be blocked, the refill water will flow into the bowl through the still partially open upper end of the overflow pipe rather than overfilling and spilling out of the toilet tank.
Still other important features and advantag-es as well as the objects of the present invention will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion of the invention proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of a flush toilet tank, the toilet being equipped with a water saving device embodying the principles of the present invention, the tank top being removed, and part of its front wall being broken away to show the water saving device and the internal components in the toilet tank;
212~750 FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the toilet;
FIG. 3 is perspective view of the water saving device;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the water saving device and the upper end of the overflow pipe to which that device is assembled in accord with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the water saving device and the overflow pipe;
FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 2, showing the toilet toward the beginning of the flush cycle; and FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 2, showing the toilet toward the end of the flush cycle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a flush toilet 20 equipped with a water saving device 22 constructed in accord with, and embodying, the principles of the present invention.
Flush toilet 20 is of conventional construc-tion. It has the usual bowl 24 and a tank 26 with a removable top 28. Housed in tank 26 are a pivotable flapper valve 30, inlet valve-operating float 32, overflow pipe 34, and water inlet pipe 36.
A flush cycle is initiated by depressing or rotating a flush handle 38 in the direction indicated by arrow 40 in FIG. 1 to open flapper valve 30.
Handle 38 is operatively connected to the flapper valve by a shaft 42 rotatably supported in the front wall 44 of tank 26, a rigid link 45 which is fixed to and rotates with shaft 42, and a flexible link 46 extending between link 45 and the flapper valve.
This lifts flapper valve 30 away from its seat 47 and allows the water 48 in tank 26 to flow into toilet bowl 24 as indicated by arrows 50 in FIG.
6. As a result, the water 52 in toilet bowl 24 rises from the level indicated in FIG. 2 by reference character 54 to a higher level at which the hydraulic head on the body of water 52 in the toilet bowl will cause the water to be siphoned over toilet bowl weir 56 until the toilet bowl is emptied.
As the level of water 48 in toilet tank 26 falls, float 32 rides down toward the bottom of the tank, opening the water inlet valve 58 at the upper end of water inlet pipe 36 to which the float is connected by actuator rod 59. This allows water to 21257~0 flow into tank 26 through valve outlet pipe 59A and also into a flexible inlet line 60 which, in the absence of the present invention, extends into over-flow pipe 34 at its outlet end 61.
As the level of the water in tank 26 drops to near the bottom of the tank, flapper valve 30 closes; the water discharged into tank 26 from inlet pipe 36 refills the tank (see arrows 63 in FIG. 7);
and the water flowing into toilet bowl 24 through inlet line 60 and overflow pipe 34 refills the toilet bowl, typically to a level one-fourth to three-fourths inch above the level indicated in FIG. 2 by reference character 54, during the last one-third or so of the tank refill part of the flush cycle. This is a source of waste in a conventional flush toilet as the water above level 54 simply flows over weir 56 and out of the toilet until the water drops to that level.
It is the function of water saving device 22 to eliminate this waste of refill water, to effect a further savings of water by decreasing the toilet tank refill time, and to reduce clogging of the toilet and the drain to which it is connected by producing a "harder" flush of the toilet than would otherwise be the case.
Water saving device 22, best shown in FIGS.
3-5, is a one-piece object typically molded from a polyethylene or other suitable polymer. The water saving device is made up of a flow distributor 62; an integral, rigid, inlet conduit 64; and also rigid and integral outlet conduits 66 and 68 via outlets 82 and 84.
Flow distributor 62 has a rectangular cross-section and a generally parallelepipedal external configuration. An internal, main flow passage 70 extends from an inlet 72 at one end 74 of the flow distributor to the opposite end 76 of that component.
Passage 70 provides flow communication between inte-gral inlet conduit 64 and parallel, branch flowpassages 78 and 80 which are respectively located toward the inlet conduit end 72 of the flow distribu-tor at the opposite end 76 of that component. The branch flow passages have outlets 82 and 84, respec-tively. Branch flow passages 78 and 80 connect themain flow passage 70 in distributor 62 to integral outlet conduits 66 and 68 via outlets 82 and 84.
Water saving device 22 is installed by assembling it to the open, upper end 86 of overflow pipe 34 and slipping the outlet or discharge end 61 of flexible inlet line 60 onto inlet conduit 64 so that incoming water will flow into flow distributor 62 instead of directly into overflow pipe 34 (if it is too long, the inlet line 60 may be cut to a shorter length before the line is connected to the integral inlet conduit 64 of water saving device 22).
The water flowing into water saving device 22 from inlet line 60 (arrows 88 in FIG. 4) divides and flows in parallel into outlet conduits 66 and 68 as indicated by arrows 89 and 90 in the same figure.
As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outlet conduits 66 and 68 respectively discharge the water flowing into them from flow distributor branch passages 78 and 80 into overflow pipe 34 and directly into toilet tank 26. Because the diameter of the flow passage 92 in outlet conduit 68 is larger than the diameter of the flow passage 94 in outlet conduit 66, because the two flow passages 92 and 94 are of equal length, and because internal branch flow passages 78 and 80 are equal in length and have the same diameters as outlet flow conduit passages 92 and 94, the fluid flow resistance in passage 94 is lower than that in passage 92. Therefore the greater part of the refill water introduced into water saving device 22 is discharged directly into toilet tank 26 with the smaller part being discharged through overflow pipe 34 into toilet bowl 24. In a representative, commercially available water saving device of the character under discussion, for example, the diameter of flow passage 92 is 0.075 in; and the diameter of flow passage 94 is 0.186 in.
Consequently, in the flush cycle of toilet 20, approx-imately 86 percent of the water reaching flow distrib-utor 62 is discharged directly into toilet tank 26 torefill the tank while the remaining 14 percent is discharged through overflow pipe 34 to refill toilet bowl 24. The consequence of this is that toilet tank 26 is typically refilled approximately 25 percent faster and water inlet valve 58 closed that much sooner than would be the case if water saving device 22 were absent. As mentioned above, this translates into a per flush water savings ranging from 1 to 1.3 gallons for a 3.5 gallon toilet up to 2 plus gallons for a 7 gallon toilet.
As shown in FIG. 2, this earlier closing of water inlet valve 58 results in toilet bowl 24 only being filled to a level 96 typically about one and five-eights inches below the level 54 to which the toilet bowl is filled absent the water saving device.
Nevertheless, the depth of the water 52 in the toilet bowl is still adequate to prevent a backflow of gases from the waste line 98 connected to the toilet.
WATER SAVING DEVICES
This application is related in part to Canadian application No. 2,112,433 filed December 24, 1993.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to water saving devices and in particular to water saving devices for flush toilets.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Conservation of water continues to be a pressing need in many countries as populations expand and the supplies of potable water shrink.
One device which consumes vast quantities of water is the common and ubiquitous flush toilet. In widespread use are toilets which require from 3.5 up to 7 gallons of water per flush. Many if not most of these toilets are on the average flushed fifteen or more times each day.
Considerable effort has been devoted to the development of schemes for reducing the amount of water used for flushing toilets. One approach is the recently made available 1.5-gallon toilet. Even limited experience has however shown that these toilets have a serious if not fatal flaw; viz., they have a pronounced tendency to clog the lines into which they empty, typically to the extent that a plumber must be called to remedy the problem.
A second approach to conserving the water used in ~er~
. ~las~s~
flushing toilets has been the development of devices which can be installed in an existing toilet or incorporated in a new toilet to reduce the flush volume. While some of these devices have been able to achieve modest success in saving water, they fallen short of an ideal or optimum savings in water. Furthermore, these devices have been complicated in structure and design, leading to high manufacturing costs, high prices, relatively difficult installation, and potential operational malfunctions.
Representative are those devices disclosed in U.S. patents Nos. 2,807,024 issued 24 September 1957 to Kapp and 4,980,932 issued 1 January 1991 to Stemples.
A much superior water saving device for flush toilets is disclosed in related application No. 2,113,433.
That device is designed to divert part of the water normally directed into a toilet's overflow pipe to the toilet tank. The result is that the tank fills faster and the flow of water to the toilet is shut off sooner, decreasing the volume of refill water flowing into the toilet.
The novel, improved, water saving devices disclosed in the related application consist of a flow distributor, a separate inlet tube, and two separate outlet tubes. The flow distributor is a monolithic member which has an inlet, two outlets, and an internal flow passage providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlets. The inlet tube provides fluid communication between the toilet refill pipe and the fluid distributor while the two outlet tubes respectively direct water flowing through the distributor into the toilet bowl through the overflow pipe and into the toilet tank. The ~j alas~so internal passages of the two outlet tubes are dimensioned so that the larger part of the water directed to the distributor will flow into the toilet tank.
The water saving devices disclosed in the related application have many advantages over those theretofore proposed. They have none of the valves, adjustment mechanisms, complicated mounting features, or irregularly shaped components common to prior art devices. Instead, they are very simple, which leads to a much lower manufacturing cost.
Second, the devices disclosed in the related application may be installed in as little as fifteen seconds, and all flow rates are designed into the device to minimize any chance of misinstallation or adjustment error by the user.
Furthermore, installation of the devices disclosed in the related application do not require any significant modification of existing toilet tank structure.
A fourth major advantage of a water saving device as disclosed in the related application is that a toilet equipped with that device will flush harder and refill faster than a conventional toilet or a toilet equipped with a prior art water saving device. The toilet flushes harder because water from the tank travels a further distance along the inner surface of the toilet bowl when the toilet is initially flushed. The harder flushing action has the advantages of more thoroughly cleaning the toilet bowl and of ejecting solids and semisolids from the toilet in a manner which will significantly if not entirely eliminate clogging of the line into which the toilet discharges.
Additionally, the total flushing cycle takes less ~1~5 ~5 o time to complete because the water discharged from tank refill tube is supplemented by water discharged from the distributor of the water saving device into the tank through the second, larger diameter outlet tube. On the average, the device will end the flushing cycle an average of 25 percent sooner.
Still another major advantage of the invention disclosed in the related application will save far more water than prior art devices. Such savings may range from 1 to 1.3 gallons per flush for a 3.5 gallon toilet up to an estimated 2 plus gallons per flush for a 7 gallon toilet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There have now been invented, and disclosed herein, certain new and novel water saving devices for flush toilets which have all the advantages of, but are materially superior to, the devices of the same character disclosed in related application No. 2,112,433. These newer and novel devices have the advantage that they can be molded in one piece from an appropriate, typically polyethylene polymer rather than being assembled from four separate components as are the previously disclosed water saving devices. The result is equally effective devices which can be manufactured at a significantly lower cost.
Yet another important advantage of the novel water saving devices disclosed herein is that they are designed to be positively connected to the associated toilet bowl overflow pipes rather than being merely rested on the upper end of the tube as is done with those water saving devices disclosed in the parent application. The result is that surges, air in the toilet refill line, and other anomalies will not unseat the water saving device and make the toilet inoperative.
At the same time, water sav~ing devices embodying the principles of the present invention are dimensioned so that they do not more than partially close off the upper end of the toilet bowl refill tube with which they are associated. Consequently, if for some reason the path followed by toilet refill water to and through the water saving device should be blocked, the refill water will flow into the bowl through the still partially open upper end of the overflow pipe rather than overfilling and spilling out of the toilet tank.
Still other important features and advantag-es as well as the objects of the present invention will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion of the invention proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of a flush toilet tank, the toilet being equipped with a water saving device embodying the principles of the present invention, the tank top being removed, and part of its front wall being broken away to show the water saving device and the internal components in the toilet tank;
212~750 FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the toilet;
FIG. 3 is perspective view of the water saving device;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the water saving device and the upper end of the overflow pipe to which that device is assembled in accord with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the water saving device and the overflow pipe;
FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 2, showing the toilet toward the beginning of the flush cycle; and FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 2, showing the toilet toward the end of the flush cycle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a flush toilet 20 equipped with a water saving device 22 constructed in accord with, and embodying, the principles of the present invention.
Flush toilet 20 is of conventional construc-tion. It has the usual bowl 24 and a tank 26 with a removable top 28. Housed in tank 26 are a pivotable flapper valve 30, inlet valve-operating float 32, overflow pipe 34, and water inlet pipe 36.
A flush cycle is initiated by depressing or rotating a flush handle 38 in the direction indicated by arrow 40 in FIG. 1 to open flapper valve 30.
Handle 38 is operatively connected to the flapper valve by a shaft 42 rotatably supported in the front wall 44 of tank 26, a rigid link 45 which is fixed to and rotates with shaft 42, and a flexible link 46 extending between link 45 and the flapper valve.
This lifts flapper valve 30 away from its seat 47 and allows the water 48 in tank 26 to flow into toilet bowl 24 as indicated by arrows 50 in FIG.
6. As a result, the water 52 in toilet bowl 24 rises from the level indicated in FIG. 2 by reference character 54 to a higher level at which the hydraulic head on the body of water 52 in the toilet bowl will cause the water to be siphoned over toilet bowl weir 56 until the toilet bowl is emptied.
As the level of water 48 in toilet tank 26 falls, float 32 rides down toward the bottom of the tank, opening the water inlet valve 58 at the upper end of water inlet pipe 36 to which the float is connected by actuator rod 59. This allows water to 21257~0 flow into tank 26 through valve outlet pipe 59A and also into a flexible inlet line 60 which, in the absence of the present invention, extends into over-flow pipe 34 at its outlet end 61.
As the level of the water in tank 26 drops to near the bottom of the tank, flapper valve 30 closes; the water discharged into tank 26 from inlet pipe 36 refills the tank (see arrows 63 in FIG. 7);
and the water flowing into toilet bowl 24 through inlet line 60 and overflow pipe 34 refills the toilet bowl, typically to a level one-fourth to three-fourths inch above the level indicated in FIG. 2 by reference character 54, during the last one-third or so of the tank refill part of the flush cycle. This is a source of waste in a conventional flush toilet as the water above level 54 simply flows over weir 56 and out of the toilet until the water drops to that level.
It is the function of water saving device 22 to eliminate this waste of refill water, to effect a further savings of water by decreasing the toilet tank refill time, and to reduce clogging of the toilet and the drain to which it is connected by producing a "harder" flush of the toilet than would otherwise be the case.
Water saving device 22, best shown in FIGS.
3-5, is a one-piece object typically molded from a polyethylene or other suitable polymer. The water saving device is made up of a flow distributor 62; an integral, rigid, inlet conduit 64; and also rigid and integral outlet conduits 66 and 68 via outlets 82 and 84.
Flow distributor 62 has a rectangular cross-section and a generally parallelepipedal external configuration. An internal, main flow passage 70 extends from an inlet 72 at one end 74 of the flow distributor to the opposite end 76 of that component.
Passage 70 provides flow communication between inte-gral inlet conduit 64 and parallel, branch flowpassages 78 and 80 which are respectively located toward the inlet conduit end 72 of the flow distribu-tor at the opposite end 76 of that component. The branch flow passages have outlets 82 and 84, respec-tively. Branch flow passages 78 and 80 connect themain flow passage 70 in distributor 62 to integral outlet conduits 66 and 68 via outlets 82 and 84.
Water saving device 22 is installed by assembling it to the open, upper end 86 of overflow pipe 34 and slipping the outlet or discharge end 61 of flexible inlet line 60 onto inlet conduit 64 so that incoming water will flow into flow distributor 62 instead of directly into overflow pipe 34 (if it is too long, the inlet line 60 may be cut to a shorter length before the line is connected to the integral inlet conduit 64 of water saving device 22).
The water flowing into water saving device 22 from inlet line 60 (arrows 88 in FIG. 4) divides and flows in parallel into outlet conduits 66 and 68 as indicated by arrows 89 and 90 in the same figure.
As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outlet conduits 66 and 68 respectively discharge the water flowing into them from flow distributor branch passages 78 and 80 into overflow pipe 34 and directly into toilet tank 26. Because the diameter of the flow passage 92 in outlet conduit 68 is larger than the diameter of the flow passage 94 in outlet conduit 66, because the two flow passages 92 and 94 are of equal length, and because internal branch flow passages 78 and 80 are equal in length and have the same diameters as outlet flow conduit passages 92 and 94, the fluid flow resistance in passage 94 is lower than that in passage 92. Therefore the greater part of the refill water introduced into water saving device 22 is discharged directly into toilet tank 26 with the smaller part being discharged through overflow pipe 34 into toilet bowl 24. In a representative, commercially available water saving device of the character under discussion, for example, the diameter of flow passage 92 is 0.075 in; and the diameter of flow passage 94 is 0.186 in.
Consequently, in the flush cycle of toilet 20, approx-imately 86 percent of the water reaching flow distrib-utor 62 is discharged directly into toilet tank 26 torefill the tank while the remaining 14 percent is discharged through overflow pipe 34 to refill toilet bowl 24. The consequence of this is that toilet tank 26 is typically refilled approximately 25 percent faster and water inlet valve 58 closed that much sooner than would be the case if water saving device 22 were absent. As mentioned above, this translates into a per flush water savings ranging from 1 to 1.3 gallons for a 3.5 gallon toilet up to 2 plus gallons for a 7 gallon toilet.
As shown in FIG. 2, this earlier closing of water inlet valve 58 results in toilet bowl 24 only being filled to a level 96 typically about one and five-eights inches below the level 54 to which the toilet bowl is filled absent the water saving device.
Nevertheless, the depth of the water 52 in the toilet bowl is still adequate to prevent a backflow of gases from the waste line 98 connected to the toilet.
Furthermore, as is apparent from FIG. 2, this level 96 is below the top of weir 56. Consequently, and in contrast to what occurs when the water saving device is absent, no water is wasted by seepage over the top of weir 56 when toilet bowl 24 is filled.
Another advantage of the lower water level 96 is the greater distance between that level and the bottom of tank 26. The consequence is a harder flush and, typically, a more thorough cleaning of the toilet bowl.
Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, it was pointed out above that water saver devices of the type disclosed in related application No. 2,112,433 can be literally blown off of the overflow pipe on which they were seated by surges in water pressure, air in water inlet line 60, and other anomalies. Thereafter, the toilet cannot be properly flushed until the device is reseated on the overflow pipe.
In toilets equipped with water saving devices embodying the principles of the present invention, this not uncommon and unwelcome phenomenon is eliminate by providing a positive connection between water saving device 20 and overflow pipe 34.
In particular, and as perhaps best shown in FIGS.
Another advantage of the lower water level 96 is the greater distance between that level and the bottom of tank 26. The consequence is a harder flush and, typically, a more thorough cleaning of the toilet bowl.
Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, it was pointed out above that water saver devices of the type disclosed in related application No. 2,112,433 can be literally blown off of the overflow pipe on which they were seated by surges in water pressure, air in water inlet line 60, and other anomalies. Thereafter, the toilet cannot be properly flushed until the device is reseated on the overflow pipe.
In toilets equipped with water saving devices embodying the principles of the present invention, this not uncommon and unwelcome phenomenon is eliminate by providing a positive connection between water saving device 20 and overflow pipe 34.
In particular, and as perhaps best shown in FIGS.
3 and 4, the flow distributor 62 of water saving device 22 has an arcuate slot 100 opening onto the lower surface 102 of the flow distributor. The width of this slot is smaller than the wall thickness of overflow pipe 34 -- e.g., 0.065 versus 0.067 in. Consequently, when water saving device 22 is installed by moving it downwardly as indicated by arrow 100 in FIG. 4, the upper end 86 of the overflow pipe will slide upwardly through slot 96 until it reaches the closed inner end 104 of the slot, distorting the water saving device flow distributor 62 and producing an interference fit between the flow distributor 62 of that device and the upper end 86 of the overflow pipe.
This clamps the water saving device to overflow pipe 34 and positively retains it in place.
Referring still primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, a recessed, downwardly facing surface 116 is formed at the inlet conduit end 74 of flow distributor 62. That surface 100 is at the same level as the inner end 106 of the arcuate groove or slot 100 in the flow distrib-utor. With the water saving device 22 installed, surface 110 is seated on the upper end 86 of overflow pipe 34 at a location on the pipe opposite groove 100 to promote stability between the water saving device and the overflow pipe.
Many flush toilets have an overflow pipe 111 with a 1.110 in inner diameter rather than the 0.960 in diameter pipe discussed above. To accommodate these toilets, a second arcuate groove or slot 112 of the character just described is formed in flow dis-tributor 62 so that the water saving device can be clamped and positively connected to the larger diame-ter overflow pipe via the just-described interference fit technique. In the illustrated, exemplary water saving device 22, the center-to-center spacing between the two grooves 100 and 112 is 0.176 in, and the diameter of the second groove 112 is 1.125 in. In this representative application of the invention, both grooves are 0.250 in deep.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the width w of the water saving device flow distributor 62 is smaller than the inside diameter of the overflow pipe 34 or 111 -- for example, 0.500 vs. 0.960 or 1.110 in. This leaves gaps 114 and 116 between the overflow pipe and the water saver device flow distrib-utor 62 at the upper end of the overflow pipe.
Consequently, if the water inlet line 60 or one of the flow passages 70, 92, or 94 in water saving device 22 should clog or plug, water can still flow into over-flow pipe 34 instead of overflowing toilet tank 26.
The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essential charac-teristics of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illus-trative and not restrictive, the scope of the inven-tion being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
This clamps the water saving device to overflow pipe 34 and positively retains it in place.
Referring still primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, a recessed, downwardly facing surface 116 is formed at the inlet conduit end 74 of flow distributor 62. That surface 100 is at the same level as the inner end 106 of the arcuate groove or slot 100 in the flow distrib-utor. With the water saving device 22 installed, surface 110 is seated on the upper end 86 of overflow pipe 34 at a location on the pipe opposite groove 100 to promote stability between the water saving device and the overflow pipe.
Many flush toilets have an overflow pipe 111 with a 1.110 in inner diameter rather than the 0.960 in diameter pipe discussed above. To accommodate these toilets, a second arcuate groove or slot 112 of the character just described is formed in flow dis-tributor 62 so that the water saving device can be clamped and positively connected to the larger diame-ter overflow pipe via the just-described interference fit technique. In the illustrated, exemplary water saving device 22, the center-to-center spacing between the two grooves 100 and 112 is 0.176 in, and the diameter of the second groove 112 is 1.125 in. In this representative application of the invention, both grooves are 0.250 in deep.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the width w of the water saving device flow distributor 62 is smaller than the inside diameter of the overflow pipe 34 or 111 -- for example, 0.500 vs. 0.960 or 1.110 in. This leaves gaps 114 and 116 between the overflow pipe and the water saver device flow distrib-utor 62 at the upper end of the overflow pipe.
Consequently, if the water inlet line 60 or one of the flow passages 70, 92, or 94 in water saving device 22 should clog or plug, water can still flow into over-flow pipe 34 instead of overflowing toilet tank 26.
The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essential charac-teristics of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illus-trative and not restrictive, the scope of the inven-tion being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims (19)
1. The combination of a flush toilet and a device for reducing the amount of water used in flushing said toilet;
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal flow passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets; and means for clamping said flow distributor to the upper end of said tube with the first of said outlet conduits positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit posi-tioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tank.
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal flow passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets; and means for clamping said flow distributor to the upper end of said tube with the first of said outlet conduits positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit posi-tioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tank.
2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said flow distributor has an arcuate groove opening onto a lower surface thereof, the upper end of said tube being fitted into said groove, the upper end of said tube having a circular configuration, and the diameters of said groove and said tube being suffi-ciently different that the assembly of said device to said tube results in distortion of said flow distribu-tor and the generation of a force which frictionally clamps said flow distributor to said tube.
3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the flow distributor and the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device are inte-gral components of a molded, one-piece object.
4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device have flow passages therethrough, said flow passages being connected in parallel by said first and second outlets to the internal passage in the flow distributor, and the flow area of the second outlet conduit being sufficiently larger than the flow area of the first outlet conduit that the rate of flow of water from the flow distributor through the second outlet conduit into said tank is greater than the flow of water from the flow distributor through the first outlet conduit into said tube.
5. The combination of a flush toilet and a device for reducing the amount of water used in flushing said toilet;
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end in said tank through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets;
said flow distributor having a slot with a closed inner end opening onto a lower surface thereof and a ledge spaced from said slot and having an exposed, downwardly facing surface spaced upwardly from said lower flow distributor surface;
one upper end portion of said tube extending into said slot to the closed inner end thereof and the exposed ledge surface resting upon a second, opposite position of the upper end of said tube with the first of said outlet conduits positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tank.
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end in said tank through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets;
said flow distributor having a slot with a closed inner end opening onto a lower surface thereof and a ledge spaced from said slot and having an exposed, downwardly facing surface spaced upwardly from said lower flow distributor surface;
one upper end portion of said tube extending into said slot to the closed inner end thereof and the exposed ledge surface resting upon a second, opposite position of the upper end of said tube with the first of said outlet conduits positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said flow distributor directly into said tank.
6. A combination as defined in claim 5 in which the configurations of said flow distributor slot and the upper end of said tube are sufficiently different to produce an interference fit therebetween and the consequent generation of a frictional force for clamping said device to said tube.
7. A combination as defined in claim 5 in which the flow distributor and the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device are inte-gral components of a molded, one-piece object.
8. A combination as defined in claim 5 in which the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device have flow passages therethrough connected in parallel by said first and second outlets to the internal passage in the flow distributor and the flow area of the second outlet conduit is suffi-ciently larger than the flow area of the first outlet conduit that the rate of flow of water from the flow distributor through the second outlet conduit into said tank is greater than the flow of water from the flow distributor through the first outlet conduit into said tube.
9. The combination of a flush toilet and a device for reducing the amount of water used in flushing said toilet;
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end in said tank through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said distributor through said first and second outlets;
the flow distributor of said device being seated on the upper end of said tube with the first outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tank; and the width of said flow distributor being sufficiently smaller than the width of the opening in the upper end of the tube that water can flow into the tube around said flow distributor.
said toilet comprising a bowl, a tank, and a vertically oriented tube with an open upper end in said tank through which water can flow to refill the bowl after said bowl has been emptied to carry away the contents of said toilet bowl; and said water saving device comprising: a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets; an inlet conduit for introducing water into said flow distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said distributor through said first and second outlets;
the flow distributor of said device being seated on the upper end of said tube with the first outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tube and the second outlet conduit positioned to discharge water from said distributor directly into said tank; and the width of said flow distributor being sufficiently smaller than the width of the opening in the upper end of the tube that water can flow into the tube around said flow distributor.
10. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which the flow distributor and the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device are inte-gral components of a molded, one-piece object.
11. A combination as defined in claim 9 in which the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device have flow passages therethrough connected in parallel by said first and second outlets to the internal passage in the flow distributor and the flow area of the second outlet conduit is suffi-ciently larger than the flow area of the first outlet conduit that the rate of flow of water from the flow distributor through the second outlet conduit into said tank is greater than the flow of water from the flow distributor through the first outlet conduit into said tube.
12. A water saving device for reducing the amount of water used in flushing a toilet, said device comprising:
a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets;
an inlet conduit for introducing water into said distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets;
said flow distributor comprising integral means for frictionally attaching said device to a toilet overflow pipe therefore.
a flow distributor with an inlet, first and second outlets, and an internal passage extending from said inlet to said first and second outlets;
an inlet conduit for introducing water into said distributor through said inlet; and first and second outlet conduits for water discharged from said flow distributor through said first and second outlets;
said flow distributor comprising integral means for frictionally attaching said device to a toilet overflow pipe therefore.
13. A device as defined in claim 12 in which inlet is located at one end of said flow dis-tributor and said distributor has a ledge which is located at said end of said distributor and has a downwardly facing surface that is adapted to rest on said support.
14. A device as defined in claim 12 in which said attaching means comprises an accurate, support-receiving groove opening onto a downwardly facing surface of said flow distributor.
15. A device as defined in claim 14 in which inlet is located at one end of said flow dis-tributor and said flow distributor has a ledge which is located at said end of said flow distributor and has a downwardly facing surface that is adapted to rest on said support.
16. A device as defined in claim 14 which said attaching means comprises a second, alternately employable, arcuate, support-receiving groove spaced from the first-mentioned, support-receiving groove and also opening onto said downwardly facing surface of said flow distributor.
17. A device as defined in claim 16 in which said inlet is located at one end of said flow distributor and said flow distributor has a ledge which is located at said end of said flow distributor and has a downwardly facing surface that is adapted to rest on said support.
18. A device as defined in claim 12 in which said flow distributor and said first and second outlet conduits are integral components of a molded, one-piece object.
19. A device as defined in claim 12 in which the first and second outlet conduits of the water saving device have flow passages therethrough and are connected in parallel by said first and second outlets to the internal passage in the flow distribu-tor and the flow area of the second outlet conduit is sufficiently larger than the flow area of the first outlet conduit that the rate of flow of water from the flow distributor through the second outlet conduit is greater than the parallel flow of water from the flow distributor through the first outlet conduit.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US24202094A | 1994-05-12 | 1994-05-12 | |
| US08/242,020 | 1994-05-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2125750A1 true CA2125750A1 (en) | 1995-11-13 |
Family
ID=22913149
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2125750 Abandoned CA2125750A1 (en) | 1994-05-12 | 1994-06-13 | Water saving devices |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2125750A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2475599C1 (en) * | 2011-08-19 | 2013-02-20 | Евгений Юрьевич Бондарев | Water supply system |
-
1994
- 1994-06-13 CA CA 2125750 patent/CA2125750A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2475599C1 (en) * | 2011-08-19 | 2013-02-20 | Евгений Юрьевич Бондарев | Water supply system |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |