CA2209726A1 - Odour removal apparatus and/or methods - Google Patents

Abstract

Odour removal apparatus far a flush type toilet (1) which includes an adaptor located over the internal overflow (25) of the toilet. The adaptor allows a substantially gas tight seal to be made between the internal overflow and a fan (15) so that gases and entrained odours may be removed from the toilet pan (6)upon activation of the fan (15).The internal overflow still functions to remove excess water from the cistem. The invention also provides a fan (15) that is sufficiently small to fit within a wall (3) cavity but has sufficient vacuum and flow rate characteristics for efficient operation. A controller is also provided to allow variable speed (47) fan operation,variable fan on time (18) in response to activation of an infrared detector (52), and night light (59) operation.

Description

FIEID OF Tt IE IhlVEN~ON
Thi~ invention relat~ to odour remaval appi3ratus arld nlethocls. In parbcul~r, the ir~ention relates to odo~r r~moval apparatLs and rne~o~s f~r rernavir~g gases whioh 5 include und~si~le odours fn~m the v~cinily o~ a loilet ~owl~ HoweYer, ~e invention is nat lirni~ to this applio~d~n.
E~ACK~iROUr~ AF;:T
Most kno~lvn me~ods of odour removal for toilcts use ~ f~n o~ the bke whi~ is mounted on an ext~rior wall of ~e room irl whioh ~e toilet is lo~tecl. ~iuch e~c~action fans 10 are often operated when a user enters the roorn in wh~h the toilet is 1~ ~nti tl~ms on a l~ht for ex~mple. A d;s~ n~ of ~is known system is ~t adours must le~e 1t~e toilet ~owl and ent~r the room ~efore ~ey can ~e removed from the roorn. Thus the syst~m really only prevents odours esc~ g Irorn the room in which U~e toilet is lo~d r~erthan rernoving odours befor~ ~ey enter~e room.
Another dis~ranta~e wi~ these and ~imil~r sy~ems is ~t they use altemating wrrent (AC~ rnotors to drive the fan impel~r The speed of A~ n~ot4r~ ~ oon51~,1itled by the ~quen~y of the m~in~ pC~ !~;upply. AC motn~ of ~ size sui~able for u5e in toilet pan odour ~noval systems do not h~Ye ~deq~te pe,~l",ar~ i~ for effective odaor remov~l in modwn tdlets.
~0 The fan ~onstructions used in the~e knowrl systems ~ Iso c~l"b~l~ol~le, rn~king tnem ~ ncl expensive to ins~ll. FL~ UI~ ~ey d~ not have any control system that allows ch~r~terishcs of the l~n to be alte~cl to imp~ ~iency, pe~orrnance or to pro~ide a user with a greater ran~e of ap~l~"!a ~ondibiolns Fnr ~ir~, ~tr!~ the known systems ~re pn~ne to ~e nalsy ~hich nan ~e bothersome to n~ny L~ and there is no~5 provision f~r alterin~ farl oper~bn~ p~rdmel~r~, slJch as spe0d, to reduoe the n~e Knouun fans ~re often left r~nnin~ for long periods of hnle, whiCh is In~fr~rll and reclu~es ~e life oF
the fan.
BRIEF C~E~i~RlP~lON OF THE I~IVENTION
It is arl ~bject of ~e present in~renti~n tD proYid~ o~our removal cnpparatus and10r me~otis which will at least ~o some way to Nard o~e, ~o" . ,g the fore~oln~ di5~d~rantages or ~her disad~ntases of known cons~u~tions, or whi~ ill at leas~ provide ~he p~blic u~h a us I choioe Ac~Drtiiny~y~ in one ~spect, ~e inventlion can~ in ot~o~r removal app~ratus for a flush ~pe toilet ~Yin~ a ~isten~ int~n~al overflow ~:onduit, ~ app~r~tus ~ rnprising over~ow ~daptor means ad~pted for gaseoLls communication with a ga$es extr~ction means for inducing a flow of gases, ~e ovelflow adaptor me~ns ~ein~ in use located a~out an entry to the in~ern~l overflow oonduit where~y a sul.~L~nLially ~s tlght seal is made belhNeen th~
intema1 o~reRlow oon~uit and the aver~low adapt~r means when the cistem wate~
lev~l is ~t i~ non-nal f~JII le~el so ~at gases ~nd 0ntrained odolJrs may be extr~cte~l tron~ the toilet p~n through the internal ouerllow ~onduit hy the ~ases extr~ction mei~ns, and ~hen the ~istem level reaches the ent~y t~ the internal ov~rflow conduitl water from tlle ci~tern is free to flow throu~h th~ intemal over~ow ~ondl~it to the pan.

In a f lrther aspe~t the invention ~onsi~ts in ~ flu~h type ~ilet comprising, a cistem, ~n Intemal o~terflnw conduit within the asiem, gases ext~bon means for inducing a flow of gases ~nd entrained o~ou~s, overFlow ~d~ptor means in y~seous commLlnic~tion wrth a ~a~es extr~ction means for induclng a flow o~ gases and the averflow ad~ptor ~neans ~eing located about an enb~ to the intern~l ~verFlow ~oncluit, whereby a substanbially g~s ti~3ht seal i5 made between the intemal ovelflow ~0 ~on~uit and the overflow ~daptor means ~luhen the cistern w~ter level is at its nor~n~l full level ~o that gases and entr~ined odours may be e~ f~om ~e toilet pan through the intem~l oYerflow ~nduit by the ~ases ex~ract~on me~ns, ~n~
when ~e cistem level reaches the entry to the intemal overflow ~on~uit, w~ter from the o~stern is ~ree t~ flo~,u throl~gh ~e intem~l o~erflow con~lJ~t to th~ pan.

In a furU~I~t aspect ~e inventi4n ~nsi~t5 in toilet odour ren~oval appar~t ls oomprising a fan means oper~ble to induce a flo~ nf gases and entrained odours for r~mo~al of the odours from the Yi~inity of a toilet c~ntrol means for controllin~ ~e opera~on of the f~n the contr~l me~ns including flow rate sele~tion me~ns ~n allow a u~er to ~a~y the r~te ~f gases flow in~uce~ by the fan m~ns.

3~ In ~ hrther ~spe~ the irl~ention ~cnsist~ in a toile~ odour e~ ion fan ~mprisiny a housing, a motor within ~he housin~, an impeller proYided within tile housin~ and onllpled tn the motnr ~ ~at nper~tinn ~f the m~or impar~; rot~tion~l energy to ~e impeller, ~n inlet pro~ided in the hoLIslng ~n~pted ~or ~LL~ch",~nt to a ~as inlet cDnduit, an outlet provided in the housing adapted for ~ cllr"~. ,I to a gas outlet conduit, ~nd the wi~th of the housing ~ein~ not substantially ~reat~3rtharl the width of the inlet or width of the outlet In a f~her aspe~ the invention c~nsists in a toilet odour extr~ction fan çomprising a housing, ~ dlrect ~un ent motor w~thin ffl~ housin~, an impeller provided w'rthin the hc)~sing ~nd cn~pled t~ the motor so that oper~tion o~ the m~tor imparts rotation31 energy to the impe[ler, I j an inlet prov~ded in the housing adapted for attachment to ~ ~as inlet conduit, an~
an outlet provided in the housrn~ a~apted for atta¢hment to ~ g~ outlet conduit In a further aspe~t the inuention consists in rnethods disclose~ herein.
~0 To those skilled in the art to whir;h ~le inverltion relates, mar~ r;h~nges in consbl~tion an~ widely ~ifferin~ embodiments ~r~ 2ppli~;3tions of the inrvenbon will su.~gest themseh~es withollt d~ frorrl ~e scope of ttle in~n~on as define~ in the appended daims. The disclos~ s and the desr~riptions herein are pu~ly illu~tive ~nd are not irrt~ndecl to l~e in any sens~ lin~ibn9.
rne rnYentiOn consists in ~e foregoing and also er,J~ages constru~tions of which~7e foilowin~ ~ives examples.
BF;~ ESC~I PTlOhl t}F THE ~RAWINGS
One preferre~ form ~f ~e invention 3nd mod~- ~ n~s thereof will n~w be ~es~ihed ~,~ w~ ,efere~nae ~ln the ac~i"p2il~jnQ d~awings in which fi~ure I i~ ~ ~li~r~ln)~lie s~e elev~on in part;a[ cross se~i~n of a toilet system mounted in a buil~ing and indudin~ ~clnur remoual apparatus in ac~or~ance with ~e present inYenbon;
fiigure 2 i~ a plan ViWI/ oF the toilet pan ~f fi~ure 1 wi~ Ule se~t rernoved;
,5 fi~re 3 is a front eleYatian in C~55 section throu~h a part of a toil~t pan;

h~ure 4 is a ~lid~ ,atic side ele~atinn in partial cross se~ion of a toilet system mourlted in a ~uilding and incllldin~ odo~r rçmoval ç~ ratus in ~or~an~e with the present inYen60n;
figure 5 i~ a c~ dl~ln~t;c frorrl eleYa~ion of the ~ile~ sys~rn of fi~u~ 4, show~n~~ some alternatiYe ~ y~l.~"~ e odoL~r remnYal apparatus, figure ~; is a fLIrther ciia~ra~,nç~lic front e,ev~ of the toilet system of figure 4 showing a further ~ 113~'Ç 3rr~n~ernent of ~e 0~4ur removal ~ppar~sl hgures 7 and ~ are ~;dylc~ ldliC si~e elevations af the tul~et sys~ern of F~ure 4 w~th furUlçr ~H~m~bve ~rlcll ,y~ll ,er,;J of the o~our remoY~I apparabus ligures ~ ~nd 10 are dia r~nd~lL front elevations of fi~Lnes 7 ~nd ~ respectively;
h~r~res 11 and 1~ ~r~ di~ r"rl,dtil side ele~abons of a fur~er tc~ilet syst~m h~ve odour remo~l ~pparatu~ in ac~ nce ~h ~e present invention:
f~ure 13 is ~ ~iagl~t~,naLi~; side elevation in partial ~o~ ser~t~on o~ a toilei cistem rno~nted ag~inst ~ wall, sho~ng odour remov~l ~p~ar~s in accorrianoe ~ ~e pre$~nt l~ invention;
h~ i5 a dic~ bc elev~tion in p~rti~l uoss se~ion uf an al~ern~tive em': - '~ tlent o~ odour rem~v~l ~pparahls fi~ur~ 15 is a didg~n",~h~, side elevahnn of a toilet systern in~lu~ing odou~ r~moval apparatu~ in accor~anoe witl~ resent inverrti~n;
figure 1~ is a d;dgnam, nalic fr~nt elev~bon of ~e app~r~tu~ of fi~u~e 14, fi~ure 1~ is a di~gr~mrnahc ~ide eleuation of 3 toilet 5ystem indu~ing ~ seal for odour ~n~oval in ~ , ~ with the present inver~inn;
figure 1~ is ~ ,r"~tic plan view of the seal of l~g~re 16;
figure 1~ is a fn~nt elev~tion of a f~e plate for ~ol appa~atus ~n accor~Jance w~th the presen~ invention, figure 20 is ~ front ele~nn o~ ~ mounting plate in acco~lance w~th th~ present inver~ion;
fi~ur~ 21 is ~ side ele~tion in cros~ section of the faoe plate of fi~ure 1~ themounbn~ plate of f~ure 20 and a back plate.
3 0 fi~u~ 21 ~3 is a plan vi~w in cross section oF ~e ~ of fi~ 21;
figur~ ~ is a rear ele~on ~f the ~pp~tu~ of fi~l~re 21 Wi~Ollt ~e ha~k plate;
ffg~re Z3 is a side eieY~tion of ~e ~pparahs of fi~ure ~1;
FigulE 24 is a r~ar ele~on of ~e ~pparatus of figure 21;
Figure 25 is a pl~n view of the ~pp~ratus of figure ~1;
3~ figure ~B is ~ s~hen~i~ di~ram uF contr~l ~pparah~s in dUCUll~ldl lOe with the presen~
invenUon, fi9ure ~7 is ~ fror~ e~vabon of a f~n assembly in acc~,d~,l~ with thY pres~nt ention; and hgure 2~ is ~ cross secti~n in ~ront elev3tion oF ~e aF~}arab~s of F~ure i:lETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREI:~ EMBODIMENTS
ReferTir~ to figure 1, a tnjlet is shown generally ,~r~ d 1 bein~ rhounlt3~ upon a flaor 2 adja~ent ~o a ~113 ~elou~ iling 4 ahove whkh a roof 5 is provided.
The toilet 1 c~mpnses ~ toilet bO~I or pan ~, a se~t ~ and ~ ciste~n 8. The converltional flushing pip~ which would norrnally be present ~e2ueen the cist~n flushiny outlet 9 an~ the flushing horn 10 of the p~n h~$ been removed ~nd replaced ~y a ~r j~int 1() 1~ The cv~"l~iiun point 13 ~f the 'T' joint opposrte U~at ~onne~3~ to the flushi~y hom 10 is conne~l~d to a ~s e~dclion conduit 14 whid~ in tum is co,me~d to a gas exlra~ion means ~r"~n~,g a f~n for example~ su~h as axial fan 15 whi~ h~s an ou~let 1~ fordelivery of ~cted gases to a l~cation rem~te ~rnm the room in whi~h the toilet i~ loeated.
~t will ~e seen th~t the gas e~:L~ r~uit is pr~vide~ in ~e wall 3. ~his is primarily for co~r"~L~ purposes The oonduit 14 could be provided ;nsicle ~e room~ or p~ss dire~tly outside, A nurnber of desired arran~emcnts may be used as long as the res~
~nsferr~ng the L~clLd ~ases to a remote loc~tion is e,fFeçted. It will als~ be seen that ~e ~an 15, ~mprising ~ m~tor and fan impeller is prwided wi~hin the wall 3, This is achie~e~
by desi~nin~ the f~n cornponents in~udin~ ~he h~ing in su~h ~ way that the h~using 15 ~0 not substanti~lly lar~er than the air inlet arld oudet 4f thç ho~sing In respect of flushing, the toil~t sy~t~m op~ in tne known way; w~tr~ in ~e qs~em is flLlshed thrnL~h the IT' jnint ~nd intn ~e pan via flushing hom 10 so ~s to flush the toilet pan. The portion of the 'T joint ~etween c~nnech'on pdnt 1~ and outlet ~ slopes downw;~rdly from point 13 to ~e flushing horn 10, that is tn say the lowest point ~f the ~onner~ion p~int 13 is higher than the Inwest poln~ ~f ~e flushing hnm 10 ~is ensures th~t flu~hin~ w~er dnes n~ rr~n~in in the ~ joint where noise may ~e generated due to water mwement as ~ir i~ ~r~l past ~ w~ter by ff~e fan.
In use ~e fan 15 is in operation, ~t least ~hen ~ persrm is usin~ ff~e toilet. A number of ~iifferent devices may be used to acnYate ~e ~n, ~s dis~ssed below. The fan h~s ~e efFect nf cr~atin~ a ne~tiYe air pressure ~relative ~ no~phe~ pressure) in conduit 14 which creates a ne~a~e air pressure wi~in the t~ilet pan ~ ~hil~ removes or ex~cts ~ases fr~m the p~n. The ~as passage is inc~lca~d ~y a row 17 The ~led gases and entrained odours are expelle~ f~rn the rwm in which tne toilet is located to a loc;~tion remote f~m the roorn. Thus the system has ~e effect of ue~ting ~ negative pressure in the toilet pan or bo~l to rerno~ ses indudin~ odours in the pan ~rc~h one or mor~ flushing ~perh~res ~f the p~n, so ~t Uie n~oLns ~re effeob~ely removed before ~ey erTter the rnorn.

The creation of a neg~tNe ~ir pressu~ in the pan i~seH rel~tive to atrnospheric pressure ensu~s ~emoY3l of o~our~. A rel~bYe pre~sure that is n4t neg~bve h~s been fo~ o he insufficient &:1 allow effec~ive opera~ion of the invent~on.
Thus in use ~e f~n 1~ is prefer~bly élctiv~ted ~efor~ ancl while i3 user is using the toilet so th~t g~ses ~at include u"de~ odolJrs ar~ ~:FF~ Iy ~m~vea ~rom ~e tnilet h~wl hefore ~hey erlter the rwm, ~nd U ~ ru, ~ ~efore ~hey are detected by Ule u~er. Gas~
~r~ not ~ while the toilet is beir~g flushed, but this makes Ye~ Irttle difference to the operation of Ule in~ention as odaurs ~re remoYed by U~e appar~ efore ~ushing, and ~h,e sour~ of odours is ~mo~d by flushir~.
Referring to fi~ure 2 the toilet pan ~ is shw~n in pl~n vie~v with the seat remoYecl.
There are three flushing holes 2n 77 tl~ gh u hich water may tr~vel when entering the pan from the cistern. rhe c~r~l hole 21 dire~ts w~r to the ~entre of ~e pan while ~e holes 20 ~nd 2~ direc~ water around the rims 2~ at ei~e~ side o~ the bowl. It :an be seen that by ~nne4t'.1~ the ~ oncluit 14 to th~ flushing horn the holes 2~2 ~re being used to 15 e~ct ~e yases li~rn ~e p~n, and ~e desiyn of the holes nlakes the ~ ~ l of gqses and e, ~ led od~ur~ from the entire pan ve~ eff~;tiYe~
Fi~ure$ 3a ~nd 3h show a p~rt of ~ç p~n in ~rns~ sectinn so ~at ~e diflerent forrns of rim 23 ~n ~e seen more cle~rly. Figure 3~ illust~ates a stAnd~rd 'lopen~ rirn. F~ur~ 3h illus~tes ~ Ubcoc'' rim which is SU~ Y endosed haYing a number of i~ p~pl-ldt~
~0 flushing apertures lo~te~ ~round the rlrn in the base c~ the 1~ seetion Tuminy to fiyure 4, ~n ~matiYe ernbodiment nf ~e invert~on is shown on a toilet in uvhich ~he ustem i5 il l l~ di~hl~ ~djacent to the p~n Sl~ch a toile~ i~ usually referred t4 as ~
~CI~e Coupled~ toilet The fan 15 in this ~dngel"er~ is pr~vided in the ceiting7 but as mentioned ~ba~e, ~e present inven~irN~ allaw~ the fan to ~e located in ~ n~ er of other ?5 l0~3ns, such as ~e wall cavity as il~ by lere~ence ~a which shou~ the ~an in broken outline in the wall ~vity as an ~Iternahve loca~ion. Th~ location of the fan 15 in ~uch v~ried lo~tions i~ a¢hievable by vi~e of the design of the f~n ~F the present irr~entiun whjch i~ pro~id~d in an enclosed housing of suffiaent dimensinn tn be provided in lo: ~t - ns 5u~ as ~ wall ~vity of a ~omestic dwelling ~0 Still referrin~ to figl~re 4, ne3~y all do~e coupled tnilets h~ve an intemal o-~elflow oonduit ~5 whioh has the effeet ~f allo~4ing e~ess wat~r in ~e ustem to drain into an en~y to t~e ~on~luit 25 which ~elivers it to the pan ~ia ~e flushing aperh~res In ~e pan. Recau~e ~e overRow conduit ~5 is oonne~ed to ~e pan flushin~ ape~res, it can ~e used to exb~ct ~ases from ffle pan to provide ~e deslred result refer~ to in ~e des~ an of ~e 1~ilet 3~ odour ~b~l ~; rl system of figure ~.

Fig~re 4 ill~ates one altema~e for use of the overflow cond~lit 25 to extract yases achie~ed ~y hansferriny the ex~3cted ga~es through ~e air space ~ in the cistem ab~ve the w~ter level 77. Thus ~e ~aclion ~ndu~t 14 ente~ ~e cis~em ~n~ i~ open to ffle air sp~ce 26 within the astem. llle çistçrn is sç~led in a sllbstantially y~s ffg~t manner s~ ~hat the ne~ive ~it pres~ure g~ d by ~e fan is pr~sen~ in the pan. This ~an he ~dlieved ~y sealing ff~e c~tern wi~ a sili~on ~ompo~md or ~e like or bqf using a rubber o~
plasbcs y~ r1l~l abo~ the area of entry of the ~ n c~nd~it and ~e dstern lid Figure 5 shnu~ two oth~r ahange~en~ ~y wh-~h the cnr~uit 14 rnay enter ~e dstem ~ effe~ the me~o~ of o~our ~no~ escri~ec with reference to fi~-Jre 4 Ano~er a"d"g~,llent ~s shown in fig~re ~ in which the fan 15 i5 pr~vided on an external wall of ~he ~uilding. Slmiia~y, hgures 7 ~nd Y show sj~e ele~ations of further ~rr~ngemer~s for ext~mal luGffion of th~ ~an, and fi~aures 8 and 10 show the ~pe~ive front elevabons of ~ese ~"an~er~,ent~.
Flg~re 11 shows ~not~ler forrn o~ ~ilet syste~n in which the pan is dependant fi~ ~
1~ wall and the cistern is prcvided wi~ir~ the wall SlJoh systems are co"l",orlly referr~d t~ as II Mounted~. A~ain the ~Ud~ n cond~it is shown in the usbern ~ir sp~oe so ~h;3t the ~ir space is used for ~e e~ c~al af gases as des~ibed above w~ ref~renoe to hgures 4 tn 10. Wall mo~nte~ toilets rn~y alsu have automatic flushing sys~ems. These sys~rer~s ar~
~su~lly ~otiYa~ n ir~Fr3r~ or offler form o~ p~ximi~ sensor. The ~ ,~ic flushing ~0 mechanisrn is usually connec~l to the p~n flushin~ hom by ~ flushin~ pipe in th~ ~nn of an elbovv. This ~llnus the c~nduft 1~ to ~ conrle~te~ ~ the flushing pipe i",..,~ bov~
the el~ow nr i,nn~ t~y prior to the entry to the p~n ~s sho~n in fig~e 1.
In flyure 12 tne wall moun~ed sy~em is sh~wn u~ th~ ~as ~t,d~1ion conduit 14 c~nnec~ed ~o ~ç ~ush pipe 30 b~en ~e usterr~ and the pan. This afran~ement is simil~r to ~at desnri~ed with ,~f~r~nce to figure 1. A fu~r additinn i5 the pr~vision of ~ we~the~
pf OO~ hat 31 to the f~n outlet.
A pr~fo"~d ~mfbo~iment of tne ~esent in~entlo~l in~ludes a ~ases exlra~bon p~
~at uses ~e cistem int~m~l overf ow pipe without fequirin~ the cistem ~ be air~ight and does not require a direct connec~ion to ~e oYerflow p~ipe so that the o~/erflow pipe i5 not JCI preventt3d frorn al~o providin~ an overRow path. Figure 13 illustrates use of a g~s e~b4~;ol1 conbuit ~3t h~s an end 35 which is adapte~ to fit over the er~y to ffle intem~l ove~llow condl~ The adaptar 3h is provided sufficien~y far over ~e over~ nndu~ 7~ so as ~ he pro~rided below the no Tnal cis~em w~ter leYel 27 when the ~tem is in ~s norm~ ll state.
There is a ~ap 2~ p~vicled ~ een ttle wdlls ~f the adaptor 3~ ~nd the w~lls o~ the 3~ ouerRow pipe ~5. When the dstern water level i~ ~ ~e norrnal full le~el as shown in figure 1 S, the water pr~sent in the gap ~ sul~la, ILii311y airtjght se~l so ~t a~r p~esent in the cistern is not remo~ed by the acbon of the fan 15. Instead, ~ases an~ en~ained odour~
are ~moved frorn the p~n through by n~e~ns of ~he over~w con~llit which is in o~seou~
connecti~n ~uith the pan flushing ~per~ures. When the toil~ has re~ een flushe~, so th~t t~e ~stem w~er le~J~ ~s betow the nomlal ~ull ieYel 27, w~r ~l r~o~ be prese~ in gap 5 Z~, so no seal ~Mill exis~ Therefore, in tnis situa~on, ~e n~ of gase~ from ~e pan uili not oe ~ery ~ nless U~e ~istern is su~s~nn~lly ~ hn tlowe~er it will h~ seen ~at ~e ci~tem doe~ not need to be se~led ber~ e affer- flushin~a use ~ the toilet h~s ceased so ~ere ar~ no udours t~ remoYe When the cistem fllls again u~ water for ~ next flush, the se~l will he t~e~t~blished ready for odours ~o be e~cted when the toiiet is nex~ used. If, 10 for some reason~ ~e ~r leYel regulation system in the cistern fails and the dstem wat~r le~el rises un~ ly, the water YYill bf~gin to flow d~wn the overflPYu oond~it 25 ~hen it ~e~ches ~e enL-ance of ~e o~erflcw because ~ has ac~;ess to the overflow enb~nce~rwyh gap ~
Refeming ~ figur~ 14, ~n embDdiment of a st~n~ alone ~daptor member 35 is 15 sho~n in ioc~bion wer an inlet tc ~e ir temal overfl~ condui~ 25. The adaptor ~~ is~:, an ir~egr~l par~ ~f the ~s ~ , Li~r~ condurt 14. However, it may be prwided as a sep~rate component for clihch~l~ent to the conduil 14 or for attach~nent di~c~y to ~e fan, ar it could be provided as an integral part of the ~an housin~. The adaptor has a shrol~J or mantle portion 3B whi~h in fi~re 14 is ex~anded to ensure that a suKicient gap 28 i~ proYi~ed for overflow to o~ur. An ou~et portion 42 is provided for ~tl~d-r"ent to Mle ~as E~A~J~I;O
~n~uit 14 or for dir~c~ ~r ll l- rl tn the f~n inle~
The ~ g~rl~ esc~ed in h~ures 1~ and 14 whi~h u~e ~Item~ve a~aptor me1hod~ pr~vi~e the :,lyl .ifi~"L c~dVc~l IL~e ~at the cistem does not ne~d to ~e ~ir tiyht, as the water pr~,rides a seal behl~een the two ~n~uits. It ~l al50 be seen that this ~5 eint,ng~l"ent still ~nOws the overRow ~;onduit to function should the ustem waber level ~et too high.
Refe~ing to the embodirnent illustr~ed in f~ures 15 and 16, the ~l~ seat 7 is provided uith appropriat~ ~ir ~LI, L~ I aper~ures ~not sh~ uhich ~re in dir~t gasr~ous ~nne~ion wth the condu~ 14. Extracting g~ses throu~h the aperbure~ in the toilet se~t 30 provides a similar effect ~n remoY~I throu~h the flu~hln~ apef~res in the em~odimen~
refe~ed to ~boY~.
Referr~ng to figures 17 ~n~ n em~odlment i~ sha~n in whkh the s~l 40 beh~3en ~e cistem ~nd the pan ~f ~ ~ose :ou~ed tolet is p~vide~ with an ~perture 32 which is open tn the gases CAI~ conduit 14. The se~l including conduit 14 is shov~ tn more ~et~il in fi~ur~ 19. The ~or~uit 14 is in~ined rel~ive to h~ri~un~l so th~t ~ere i~ a sli~ a.~ d slope to~3rd ~e se~l ~0 In this way any w~ter th~t e~e~ the con~uit 14 will ~r~in into ~e pan. This pre~lents noise prohlems in use as mentioned in reL~tion t~ e bou~ lof fi~ure 1 ab~ve A5 can ~e seen from ~e pr~oe~ fi~ur~?s, d~penderll on the set up required, the ,on ~onduit 14 ~n enter ~le cistem from ~ny n4rnber of convenjent k.~;JI~s, for ex~rnpb frorn ~he ci5te~ sel ~ck or si~e5. The ~isteln m~y ~e pr~vided ~ith the appropri~te knockouts or holes to effect these eonstm~on5 Ano~er forrn ~f toibt system u hich is not illustrated ~s that which is usu,~ily refçrred to as U~ One Pieoe" toilet in which the pan an~ the cis~em are integr~lly moulded together as a ~ingle uni~ry item~ It will be seen that as long as this fo~n of toilet sysberrll or any other 10 toilet system, has a ~IJshing aperb~re or ~verRow pipe wni~h ~n ~e flr~cserl ~o e~ct gases ~e~Lth~uugh, then ~e p~sentinYention is appli~ble.
~ he fan 1~ is ~ [~hly activ~ s~l~ç~ o th~t nper~inn i5 effiaient Thus, although th~ hn may be oper~ted in respon~e to ~t;tivabion of a light ~Mit~ a5 with other liull syst~ms, ~is method is nnt pl~ned as the fan rnay be left on for unnecessarily l~ long perio~s af ~m~. A ~ren~ m~od of ~-e,~Li~l i~ to have a proXim~ sen~or whidl sense~ close prox~mrty to, or use of, the toilet and a~v~tes ~e fan. Sudl a sensor may w, l ~ an in~a-red sensor for ex~mple ~s r~ I fu ther helow, or a rnotion serls~r, or a pressure t ans~u~er loc~ ~n ~e toilet. It w~ll ~e $een th~t many o~er forms of s~nsor may al~o ~e ~
~0 Referrirlg t~ ~i~re 1g a face pl~tf~ ~û for ~ de~e~Dr such as a passive inf~recl (PIR) detector is shown . The face plate ~overs a nlountin~ plate ~3 ~refer ~gure~ ~0~ h control appara~s wmprisinE3 e~ectric an~i electronic circuitry 4~ ~reier h~ure~ 21 and ~) is mounted for operation of ~e ~n in~lJding the po~,uer ~upp~ for ~e fan motor. Thewnsbu~lion p~ides ~onsider~ble advantages for e~e ~nd ll,ellgf~,~ reduction in cost~ o~
~5 i.,~i ~ " ' 1. The u~it op~ rl is desuibed fur~er below.
The mounting plate ~3 ~refer figure ~1~ ha~ a de~haL,le l~ns ~ rer ~4 hehind which the PIF~ sensor 52 is l~d. The appar~tus is sho~n in side elevatiorl in figu~es 21 and 21a in which it can also be seerl that a sensor lens 57 is pro~ided, being lo~ated in lhe lens ~~ver ~4. The lens eover 54 is cleta~hal~le ~o ~llouu ~ light bulh 5~ which is used as a nig~t 30 li~ht to be easi~ inst~ nd r~pl~ he ~pp~r~lus ~n be moL~r~ted on a wall within the vicinity of ~e toilet SO as to detect the prtse"ce of persuns in ~e gener~l vicinity of th~
toilet In figure ~1 ~e rnounting pbt~ 53 can be seen as can ~e ba~k pl~te SS \Ivhl~h cou~s the elec~ic and ~le~u~, ~ component!; at the re~r of ~e mounting plate. I he ba~lc pl~le 55 ensures th~t the di~ut ~oar~ 49 on which the ele~-~ nd el~l,~ni~ uit u~r",uonents 3j ~re mour~d is ~deqll:-tely sewred and pr~ledl:d a~ainst a~r moven~ent, d~n ~ge and ~i4, ~ I ,L temperah re chan~es ~at unll aFFecl: the PIR sensor.

The ~pp~rab~s is sl~4n in re~r elev~bon and in plan vi~w ~rom be~ow in fi~ures ~4 and 25. Mounting holes 56 that c~mply wi~ intem~tional st~ndards are ptovided in ~e mounting plate ~ for mounting the apparatus on a ~Ivall. Re~ening ta Fi~ 24, ~penings ~8t and ~ allov~ connec~ian of ~e fan motor power supp~y lines ~ a DC power supply provided on U~e cir~uit hoar~ mounted on ~e rnoLmting plate 53. Openin~s 60 and ~1 allow o~nn~ction ~ a rn~ins p~er supp~y. In f~ure 2~ fur~r ~";, ~ shown in ha~lc plate ~5 for screw t~m~"~'~ ~B~, ~ and ~ and ~1 are pro~ide~ for ~ccessing the sorews ~f the tem~înals f~rwirin~ instal~a~ion p~
Referring to fi~ure ~ ~ schematic qr~ di~r~m is shclwn. The mains ~upply is pr~vi~ t te"-,;n~ and 61. Seie~i~n apparat~s is provi~ed at block 70 for selecting ~e voltage levei of ~e m3ins altema~ng current input volt~e, ~or exarnple ~240 volts or 11~11~ Yo~ts AC. The l}C pou~r supply may be derived in a number of different ways, anc p~ ly comprises an nff line switch mode power 5Upply 74 The 5l~pply may haue a numberof DC~ outpLn volt~e levels for motor speed conbl~l. A~rnatively, ~ncl plLrel-d~ly, a 1~ f~n speed c~ntrolier switch 47 is provided whieh uses Pul~ Wid~ hlodu]~tion (PWI~A~ to ~nn~ e spe~ of ~e fan in in~rement~l ~ges, ~or example ten in~remer~l stages. The sele~t~hle C~C output levels ~llow a selec~on of nC ~0~3ges mnging fr3m 6 to 17 volts in ten i,~,~r"~n~al sta~es to ~e supplied to ~e f~n motor, depending on ~e required fanpe~rv~ d~lw A run timer4~ is prwided, ha~nng ~n a~justable run time period, for ~x~rn,~L, ~0 1 minute to 16 rrlinutes in t~ i' 1~ rl lenldl stages, ~a~ ~n be selected by a manu~l seleotor as i lus~ated l~y seleotor ~B in hgure 20.
The power su~ply 74 al~o provides ~ ~C supply tl~ ~e PIR dete~or ~ (whiK~h i5 pr~nided behirKi lens 57 in hgure 1~ vation of the PIR dete~or ~ ~vates timer 4~whl~h activates Yne mot~r sw~h gO ~nd the ni~ht li~ht ~or~oller 9~ ch in tum ~ctivates '~ ni~ht light ~g ~nd begins timing the selected time peri~d. The night light 5~ is ~tiv~t~d t~
pr~vide ligh~ for a user of the toi~et A dayllght detector 93 ~refer fi~ure 20) dete~:ts the level of am~ient light in the vidrui~f of b' e toile~ to ensure th~t the ni~ht liyht does n~t function when there is suffident light, ~r exarnple dunng daylight psriods, which also reduces electrici~ consllmp~on dunn~ d~y time use. The light 59 is plt r~ ly a dirnma~ light ~0 Ac~v~tinn of the rnotor switch ~0 sunplies the power ~upply to ~e D~ mo-t~
ct)nr~ecbon tenninals ~ so that the motor g~ receives ~e ~C~ sL~pply at the volta~e level selected or spec~ed PWM sele~ted by ~ele~r 47 and jB OPeI':3LO~1aI SO Ulat the impeller i5 r~tated. Once ~e brner 4~ ~imes ot~t, the ni~ht li~h~ ~g is de~cbh~ted ~nd t~e motor su~tch 90 i5 der~ te~, ~rnin~ ~e motor off The L~se of a ~C rnotor provides ~)~ ~dLl~ ~d~nt~ges Frstly, ~e speer~ of operal~n ~f ~e m~ur rnay be mudl higher than ~at of the AC motors used in p1ior i3rt fan~, the spe~ of which is ~ons~r~ine~ ~y ~ m~ins supp~ l~uen :3r. l~e speed of operat~on of the Dire~ Cllrrent motor of th~ present irn~ntion allows the in~rention to tle usecl effectively on rnodem toilet ~pp~ra~s.
The u~e ~f ~ UC mot~ Ilow59re;ltetspeecl ~nd t~r4ue to ~e ~hie~ed for .~ n S mot~r 5L2~! th~n pnor art e~ .udi,.~r~ls. The~fore, ff~e present invenbon ~llaJvs a gre~ter v~cuum to be aohiev~d ~n ~e prior a~t ern~odiments and thuS a much hi~her ~s flow rate or g~s movement capacity than the fans of ~e pnor art systen s A hi~h flow rate i5 neoes~a~y for effectiv~ gas e~l,a~iL, and thus eff~tive od~Jr rem~val on moclern toilet Tile use of a C)C supply also ~ I,ises the risk of electri~ sho~ to 3 L~ser and E~the ni* ~F fite ~huuld ~e motor develnp a ~L~K. Th~ ~bili~r to se~ e ~l~nal speed ~f the CX: moto~ (an~ thus the flow r~te nf U~e fzn~ allow~ some fne tunin~ of the ~p~, ~ IS durin~ or aflYr ,., ' " ~i n. F~r example, ~ the appar~S is not very ~ffective at removing odours at ~n initial Ydt~ge level orf~n rotational speed sudl as that corresponding 1~ to B Yolt~ (pO~Sibly due to pipe si~e r~ Lr n-~ for e~cample), the leYel can ~e adjustecl to a higher leuel ~p tn th~t ~rr~s~onding to 12 vnlts ~or gre~ter if re~uired) in ten in~m~ntal stages to in~reas~ fan speed untll efFectNe oper~on is ~hleved. Sirnilarly, ~ the apparatu~
is r~perating ~t a level ~re g~s removal is very effe~ive, but too much n~e is bein~
generated, the vol~age level may be decreased The 3djustable r~nge of f~n ~rnpell~r speed~ is pr~F~r~l: ly ~etween ~pr~xil "..t~y 4000 revolutinns per minute~ lrpm) i~
appr~"l~t~ly 17nOO ~m An ~Iternative to controllin~ ~e voHa~e level is to provide current limfflng t~ con~rol the motor sp.~edftor~ue ~ ,c, ~L~Iisbes T~e pr~visior, of ~e power supply, ~olt~ge adjustme rt, ~imer, timer ~djustn~er~, acbvation detec~torl ni~ht light and o'~yli~ht det~tor ~11 as one u nit provides si~nificart .~ a.~vantages for ease of instal~tion and ~erefare r~d~cti~n in installation and ",~;.,' nc~
co~. R~.ther tharl h~ve the con ~ nt comp~nents indiuidu~lly wired into the system durng inst~llabon, there is ~ single un~ whieh only nee~ e conne.~ted to the mains supph" ~nd t~ the nl~r ~ahle.
R~r~ri"~ to fi~ures 27 and 28 lhe f2n ~ss~r"~ly, generally ~ferenced 1~ ~s showrt ~0 ~t~ , ''y and in cross se~on, ~e~pecbvely. The fan ~s~e~bly 15 ~ pri$e~ ~ fan housing 1~0 Ihat is preferably proYided in separate parts 10~, 1n~ and 1 OR for ease ~f rnanufa~ure ~nd ~sselllLly. ~he hn~sing p~s a~e prere~d~ly moulded fr~m a plas~ PolY~in~1nhlnri~Q
(PVC) matenal ~n~ 2.re glue~ toye~erto wl ~ Lh: ass0mbly l~ousin~ part 1U2 ~4n~pns~s ~e oenb~l part of ~e housing arxi inclLI~es mot~r n~oun~ng hracket 110 th~t is preferab~
3 5 In~ y n~ ed with p~rt 1~ An ~pe~re 1 12 is p~o~ided f~r ently of a cahle 1 14 for the motor power 5Upply ni~e~t Current Motor 92 is mounted onto br~cket 110 by ~rew~ 116 fo~ example whioh engage ~vith the enti of the motor ad~acenl to the outp~t shai~ o hoid the motor rel~bve f3~ ~e hoLl~ing. The fan impeller 120 i$ ~a~he~ to ~e output shaft 11 ~y ghlinç3 For e~3mple, or by a fniction~l en~ag~ent or a sptin~ loade~ circ~ip for example.
Parts 10~ and 108 of Ihe housing aJ~ Jrise tl~ h~L~sing çn~l ~ps whioh ~re en~a~ed with oentral part 10~. End ~p 10~ h~s an inlet 1~1 and end ~;ap 108 h~s an outlet 1~2. The inle~ 3nd o~t~ ~ce~ve ~ases ~on~uit 14.
2d g~es ~re in use draunl into th~ f~n housihg ~tough inlet 1~1, so Ule dire~i:ion of ~ses fhw is as ill~s~ated ~ anow 124 ~h~ure 27~, they pass throu~h the bl~es 12~ of ~e mt~3ting irnpeller ~3nd U~ drL~ through ~aps pron~ided in the rnour~tir-~
lO br~dcet 11~ which indudes mdial webs 111 ~at a~ ~55tator vanes to linearise the gas flaw and to provide minimal imped~n~e ~o the gas flow. The gases e~dt the ~se,"bl~ through outlet 1Z.
It will be seen ~t~t the f~n ~ssem~y design prcvides ~ numb~r ~f adv~ntages. Thefirst is the v~idth fi.e. ~e ~iamet~r) of the ho~sing i~ in the r~nge of ~nly c~ ly 6~n~m 1~ ~o 80 mm, and is pr~ '~r~Lly 7~mm whkh i~ no~ s~h~tan~lly grP~er than ~t of the fann inlet 121 ~r au~et 12~ whi~h ~orrespnnd t~ the width ~f condt~t 14 which is pr~rer~ly d~pru,ci~,a~ly 40mrn to 60mm. This all~w~ the a~seml~ly to be lo~ted in w~ll ~ities of residenbal ch~vellings so that the appar~us ~an be ins~lle~ easilyuvhich reduces cost. Al5o, the resultar~ inst~llation i5 easily hidden, whe~er i~ is mounte~ inside a wall ~Yi~y or on an ~0 e~temal ~ur~ace of a yuall nue to the size ~n~ design of ~e fan 1~, the installation is aes~etically pleasing. The ~4nstn~ion is ~Iso ~ rly ~O~L~$~ ~he f3n is ~ self cont3ined unit whi~h c~n be pl~ t a numt~er oF points in ~e syS~n~ Row palh.
In installabons in wt~ he e~bdc~d gas~s ~3re remo~ed via the intemal nverflow ~on~uit, ~e f~n 1~ shDuld ~e provi~ed at a level which is abav~ the overRow lev~l oF the 25 aistem so as to ~ lise the risk nf ~e fan burnin~ out in Ule event of ~ flood. ~he low vol~age DC power supply lirnits ~e nsk of f~e or ele~ut~n.
Fur~errnore, it will t)e seen that the f~n 1~ may be proYided at a num~e~ of ~fher luc~ s in ~ system ~lependent on the ~c~ ~ or ~nce..'~"~nt re-lu Hl~llL~ of a user. For ex~rnple~ ffle fan co~d ~e prwid~d in or ~boYe the ci~tern, or in Hle w~
30 imrnediately bel~ ~e cistem, or ~bave the raof 5 if required. Also, ~ single tan. or source of negative~ air pressure can he used ~ e~r~ gases frr rn a plurality of toilet sy~tems. For example, ~ ven~ila~ion sh~ft 00nl~nsl,lg p~rt ~ ~ air ~ndii~rq~", ,g system of a ~uil~mg may be ~sed in place of the f~n 15 for providin~ ~e source of ne~aat~ve ~ pressllre req~ d to extract ~e ~ases 3~ The preserrt invention provi~es si5~,~ir,~"l advar~e~ over pnor art systerns as it :an he easily installe~ in ~arious types nf tolet, in parli~ular ~lose Coupled ~rpe~. The sy~tem ~n be e~sily inst~lled usin~ plasties PV~ :;orlduits, for exam~e ~onstruGted from PVG which c~n ~e ~lue~ for e~se of ~rlr ~ nd se~ling. Without the use of a DC fan motor, which enables s~mUent v~cuum ~nd flow r~tes to be achie~Jed for the size of motor.
the syst~m cloes n~t work s~ rily in modem toilet in ' " ': ls ~nfen their restrictive S piping configuratior~s This is espe~i~lly ~ fi~, .l ~eoause modem toilets ~re mos~y of ~e ~lo~e ~upled ~pe and are often lo~ted m roorns in the middle of houses ~i.e. rooms th~t are not imi"e~ ly aq~oent to an extemal wall) so th~t hidden installation of an effectiYe system providing s~ff~ient v~um and llow rates c~nnot he a~hieved without ~e p~esent invention.

Claims (16)

1. Odour removal apparatus for a flush type toilet having a cistern internal overflow conduit, the apparatus comprising overflow adaptor means adapted for gaseous communication with a gases extractor means for including a flow of gases, the overflow adaptor means being in use located about an entry to the internal overflow conduit whereby a substantially gas light seal is made between the internal overflow conduit and the overflow adaptor means when the cistern water level is at its normal full level so that gases and entrained odours may be extracted from the toilet pan through the internal overflow conduit by the gasesextraction means; and when the cistern level reaches the entry to the internal overflow conduit, waterfrom the cistern is free to flow through the internal overflow conduit to the pan.

2. Odour removal apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the overflow adaptor means comprises a body having a circumferential wall adapted to be located about the entry to the internal overflow conduit and spaced away from the entry,and an outlet for gases to flow to the gases extraction means.

3. A flush type toilet comprising, a cistern, an internal overflow conduit within the cistern, gases extraction means for inducing a flow of gases and entrained oudours, overflow adaptor means in gaseous communication with a gases extraction means for inducing a flow of gases the overflow adaptor means being located about an entry to the internal overflow conduit, whereby a substantially gas tight seal is made between the internal overflow conduit and the overflow adaptor means when the cistern water level is at its normal full level so that gases and entrained odours may be extracted from the toilet pan through the internal overflow conduit by the gases extraction means, and when the cistern level reaches the entry to the internal overflow conduit, waterfrom the cistern is free to flow through the internal overflow conduit to the pan.

4. Toilet odour removal apparatus comprising a fan means operable to induce a flow of gases and entrained odours for removal of the odours from the vicinity of a toilet control means for controlling the operation of the fan the control means including flow rate selection means to allow a user to vary the rate of gases flow induced by the fan means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the control means includes sensing means operable to activate the fan means upon sensing usage or probable usage of the toilet.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the control means includestiming means for providing predetermined time period after activation of the fan means, the fan means being deactivated once the predetermined time period elapses.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including timer control means whereby the duration of the predetermined time period is selectable by a user.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fan meansinclude an electric motor and the flow rate control means comprise motor speed adjustment means to vary the rotational speed of the motor.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a light andwherein the control means include light activation means for activating the light.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the control means include ambient light sensing means to sense the level of ambient light in the vicinity of the toilet and activate the light if the ambient light level is below a predetermined minimum level.

11. A toilet odour extraction fan comprising a housing, a motor within the housing, an impeller provided within the housing and coupled to the motor so that operation of the motor imparts rotational energy to the impeller, an inlet provided in the housing adapted for attachment to a gas inlet conduit, an outlet provided in the housing adapted for attachment to a gas outlet conduit, and the width of the housing being not substantially greater than the width of the inlet or width of the outlet.

12. A toilet odour extraction fan as claimed in claim 11 wherein the width of the housing is substantially between 60mm and 80mm.

13. A toilet odour extraction fan comprising a housing, a direct current motor within the housing, an impeller provided within the housing and coupled to the motor so that operation of the motor imparts rotational energy to the impeller, an inlet provided in the housing adapted for attachment to a gas inlet conduit, and an outlet provided in the housing adapted for attachment to a gas outlet conduit.

14. A fan as claimed in claim 13 wherein the operating rotational speed of the motor is substantially between 4000 revolutions per minute and 17000 revolutions per minute.

15. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

16. Any novel method disclosed herein.