EP0578892B1 - Flushing device allowing the delivery of different, predetermined quantities of water - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flushing device allowing the delivery, at the user's choice, of different, predetermined quantities of water. In this device, the draining of the water from the tank (1) is effected by a single valve (25, 26), the movable head (25) of which is integral with a support (21). The operating member (9) includes several elements (11, 12) acting on the same control rod (13) so as to cause the translation of the movable valve head (25). The support (21) is fitted with retaining means (32, 33) arranged opposite mutually independent blocking systems (34, 35). The presence of water generates on one and/or the other of the blocking systems (34, 35) a thrust which tends to bring about the cooperation of at least one blocking system (34, 35) with the retaining means (32, 33) associated therewith, in order to maintain the valve (25) in the open position. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a flushing device for delivering, at the option of the user, a volume of water chosen from a plurality predetermined volumes of water.

We know that the corresponding water consumption the use of flushing devices toilet is very important and generates a volume wastewater often in excess of the quantity of water that would have been just necessary to ensure a satisfactory cleaning of the toilet bowl associated with flushing. Indeed, in the devices of the classic type, each request for a user flushing results in spillage of the entire contents of the cistern, this tank being dimensioned so that in cases the most difficult, sufficient water flow to remove organic matter contained in the bowl of these toilets. It is quite clear that such a quantity of water is considerably in excess, when the bowl does not contains only liquid products.

In order to save water and reduce water treatment costs by reducing the volume of wastewater, we have already proposed flushes arranged so that the user has the choice between delivering two volumes of water predetermined in the toilet bowl. However, the devices proposed to date to allow what we can call a "double flush" have always provided for the use of two flush valves (see, for example, the French utility certificate 2 372,937 and French patent 2,423,594: a first consequence of this fact is that the devices cannot be easily adapted on pre-existing "single flush" devices; but, moreover, the obligation to use two valves instead of one, increases the price of the flushing device. We have, in in addition, proposed in French patent 2,420,612, to arrange the two flush valves of coaxially, to reduce the size of all; one or the other of the valves is operated by the same control button depending on the strength of the traction applied to this control button by the user.

For the sake of simplification, and with a view to improve the adaptability of duplicate devices hunting on existing tanks, the patent French 2,473,586 proposed a device which also includes two valves, the first valve being a valve of the state of the art disposed at the base of a vertical tube and the second valve being constituted by a cover which closes off the part upper of the aforementioned tube. In the devices of conventional flush, the tube in question is a tube of overflow, which allows the contained water to be evacuated in the tank as soon as a maximum level is achieved; placing a cover on this tube obviously eliminates the evacuation function of the overflow which was provided for said tube in previous devices. The operating device comprises an axial rod which operates the valve lower and a sleeve surrounding said rod which operate the cover; when we pull the sleeve, the water located above the cover flows through the axial tube; when we pull the rod, the whole axial tube and its cover is raised which allows complete emptying of the tank by the valve inferior. This device presents, in addition to the disadvantage due to the presence of the second valve, the disadvantage of removing the overflow function of the axial tube; it is certainly planned to restore this function by vertical lights made in the sheath associated with the cover; But such lights do not have a section of sufficient passage to ensure the function of too full with security.

GB-A-2 047 301 describes a hunting system comprising a single operating member actuating in rotation a lever arm serving to support the movable valve head. The end of the lever arm acts successively on cam surfaces arranged on two arms, the rotation of a first arm releasing the rotation of the cam surfaces of the other arm, the blocking systems not being Therefore, not independent.

The object of the present invention is to provide a likely flushing device ensure, at the user's choice, the delivery a plurality of predetermined water volumes. The originality of this "multi-flush" system comes from the makes it use only one flap, like the "single-flush" devices of the state of the art and that it is therefore easily adaptable to devices "single flush", which equip the tanks currently installed. In addition, avoiding the presence of an additional valve is an element favorable for the cost price of the device. In the device according to the invention, the associated axial tube the valve retains its function of evacuating the overfull. According to the invention, to produce a device "multi-flush", we maintain the opening of the valve unique device up to a specific level water in the tank, the choice of this level being defined by the operating element on which the user acted to trigger the flush.

In other words, the choice of flush volume is not defined by the choice of a valve positioned appropriately in the tank but is defined by maintaining the opening of the single valve until the water level has reached the desired height. he note that if you want to be able to choose between more than two hunting volumes, the devices state of the art required the use as many valves as there were flush volumes to be implemented while the device according to the invention makes it possible to achieve such a distribution by keeping a single valve and by simply associating with said valve as many locking systems as you want different hunting volumes.

The present invention therefore has for object a flushing device for deliver, at the user's choice, different predetermined volumes of water, this device comprising, in a tank equipped with a water inlet, a valve hunting disposed at the lower part of said tank and associated with an operating member actuable in the upper part of said tank, said valve comprising, on the one hand, an integral movable head a support which ensures its displacement and, on the other hand, a seat secured to the lower part of the tank, said operating member comprising several elements that can be operated independently, one of the other ; according to the invention, each element of the operating member is capable of cooperating with the support of the movable head of the valve to cause the translation of said movable head relative to the valve seat, said support being provided with n means retainers arranged opposite n blocking systems operated independently of each other, n designating an integer greater than 1, the presence water in the generating tank, on one and / or the other of the n blocking systems, depending on the level of water in the tank, a push tending to ensure the cooperation of at least one blocking system with the retaining means associated with it, to maintain in the valve open position, the support the movable head of said valve, when it has been there brought by one of the elements of the operating member, substantially complete flushing of water from the reservoir causing the suppression of cooperation of all blocking systems with their associated retaining means to allow closing of the valve by gravity.

It can be foreseen that the means of retaining the support are projections carried externally by said support. Advantageously, each blocking system has a boss which moves relative to the support depending on the level of water in the tank, the boss coming to cooperate with the projection, which is associated, under the action of an Archimedes push due to the presence of water in the tank and deviating by gravity of said projection during disappearance of said thrust; each blocking system can consist of a lever articulated on a fixed shaft relative to the reservoir, said lever carrying a side of the tree a float and on the other the boss; the branch of the lever, which carries the float, is, of preferably arranged to allow adjustment of the position of said float on said branch, for example by being fitted with a rack while the float is secured to a pawl cooperating with said rack. Advantageously, each projection has the shape of a sawtooth, one side of which constitutes a ramp forming an acute angle with the middle line of the valve head support, the top of said angle being on the opposite side from where the head of valve, and the other side of which is substantially perpendicular to said mean line of support for constitute the support of the restraint on the system associated blocking.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, the other side of the sawtooth is tilted in such a way that the bearing force on this side on the articulated lever of the locking system generates, on said lever, a moment of rotation tending to unlock the locking system.

Each element of the operating member can be a pusher capable of being moved in translation by user action, the pushers having different strokes and the means of restraint being offset from each other by distances substantially corresponding to the differences in stroke of the pushers taking into account the reports of motion transmission to the support, every elements of the operating member acting on a same control rod; the control rod causes, preferably, by a lever, a translation towards the top of the valve head support, when the pusher is moved down by the user; the return of a pusher to its initial position, when user action disappears, takes place under the action of at least one spring arranged inside of the fixed part of the operating member.

In a preferred embodiment, the support of the valve head is a tube open to its two ends, the valve being formed annularly around said tube, said tube ensuring evacuation out of the tank of a possible overflow.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for "double hunting ", that is to say in the case where n is equal to of them. In this case, the two levers, which constitute the locking system, are advantageously arranged side by side in two substantially parallel planes and they can be articulated on the same tree carried by a plate secured to the valve seat; the bosses each have a cylindrical profile, the generators are parallel to the axis of said shaft, the contact between each boss and its associated projection taking place substantially along a generator of the boss; the normal plane to the profile of the boss on the contact generator can contain the shaft axis articulation of the levers; the plate may include, in its central zone, a sheath in which the support for the valve head slides, the sheath being provided with an opening in its side wall for the free movement of the projections of the support; a stop fixed to the valve seat can be provided for each lever put in the release position by compared to the projections.

To better understand the purpose of the invention, we will now describe it, as purely illustrative and non-limiting example, a embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 représente, en élévation, un réservoir de chasse d'eau comportant un dispositif selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente, partiellement en coupe et partiellement en élévation, le dispositif de chasse d'eau, qui se trouve dans le réservoir de la figure 1, lorsque ledit réservoir est rempli ;
• la figure 3 représente, en perspective, les deux leviers qui constituent les systèmes de blocage du clapet du dispositif de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 représente, en élévation, le dispositif de la figure 2, lorsque l'utilisateur vient d'appuyer sur le poussoir de l'organe de manoeuvre qui commande la vidange complète du réservoir ;
• la figure 5 représente le dispositif de la figure 4 lorsque le réservoir s'est complètement vidé;
• la figure 6 représente une vue selon VI-VI de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 représente, en perspective, une vue de détail des saillies et bossages du dispositif selon l'invention dans la position où ils se trouvent sur la figure 4;
• la figure 8 représente le dispositif de la figure 2 après que l'utilisateur ait appuyé sur le poussoir qui, correspond à la vidange d'une partie seulement du réservoir;
• la figure 9 représente, en perspective et en détail, les saillies et bossages du dispositif selon l'invention dans la position où ils se trouvent sur la figure 8 ;
• la figure 10 représente le dispositif de la figure 8 lorsque la vidange partielle du réservoir a été effectuée et que le clapet s'est refermé ;
• la figure 11 représente, en perspective partielle, le clapet du dispositif et les leviers constituant les systèmes de blocage.
• la figure 12, enfin, est un schéma d'une variante de réalisation des saillies en dents de scie.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 shows, in elevation, a flush tank comprising a device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows, partially in section and partially in elevation, the flushing device, which is located in the tank of Figure 1, when said tank is filled;
• Figure 3 shows, in perspective, the two levers which constitute the valve blocking systems of the device of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 represents, in elevation, the device of FIG. 2, when the user has just pressed on the pusher of the operating member which controls the complete emptying of the tank;
• Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 4 when the tank is completely emptied;
• Figure 6 shows a view along VI-VI of Figure 5;
• 7 shows, in perspective, a detailed view of the projections and bosses of the device according to the invention in the position where they are in Figure 4;
• Figure 8 shows the device of Figure 2 after the user has pressed the button which corresponds to the emptying of only part of the tank;
• Figure 9 shows, in perspective and in detail, the projections and bosses of the device according to the invention in the position where they are in Figure 8;
• FIG. 10 represents the device of FIG. 8 when the partial emptying of the tank has been carried out and the valve has closed;
• FIG. 11 represents, in partial perspective, the valve of the device and the levers constituting the blocking systems.
• Figure 12, finally, is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the sawtooth projections.

Referring to the drawing, we see that we have designated by 1 the flush tank and by 2 the cover with which this tank is fitted. The reservoir 1 is supplied with water by a pipe 3; the water supply is controlled by an associated tap 4 to a float 5 to maintain in the tank a constant level. The tank 1 feeds by a valve designated by 6 as a whole a pipe 7, which is connected to a toilet bowl 8. The operation of the cistern is carried out thanks to an operating member 9 disposed above the cover 2, substantially on the axis of the valve 6.

The operating member 9 comprises a fixed part 10 and two movable pushers 11 and 12 capable of sliding relative to the fixed part 10. Each pushbutton 11 and 12 has approximately the shape of a half-cylinder, the assembly of the two pushers constituting substantially a cylinder of circular section. Inside each pusher 11 and 12 is a skirt in the form of a half-cylinder 11 a and 12 a respectively, these two skirts penetrating into suitable housings 10 a and 10 b respectively, formed in the fixed part 10. The length of the skirt 11 a is greater than the length of the skirt 12 is such that depression of the plunger 11 inside the fixed part 10 is carried out on a smaller that depression of the plunger 12 running in the same fixed part 10. Each of the pushers 11 and 12 is supported by its central zone 11b , 12b respectively on a control rod 13 arranged along the axis of the operating member 9. Each of the pushers 11, 12 is subjected to the action of a return spring 11 a, 12 a respectively housed inside the fixed portion 10 of the operating member 9, said springs pushing the push upwards. The control rod 13 is capable of moving in translation inside a sleeve 14, on which the fixed part 10 is screwed; the sleeve 14 is carried, at its other end, by a connecting piece 15 crossed by the rod 13. The connecting piece 15 has in its side wall an opening bordered by two wings 16 between which is an arm 17. The arm 17 is articulated between the wings 16 by means of an axis 18 carried by said wings. The arm 17 supports, by simple support, by one of its ends, the base of the rod 13; it is connected, by its other end, to a rod 19 the axis 18 is disposed between the two aforementioned ends. The rod 19 has one of its ends curved to be hung on the arm 17 while the other end is curved to be hung on a lug 20 secured to an overflow tube 21. The connecting piece 15 is fixed, by its base 15 a , to the head end piece 24 of a fixing rod 23. The fixing rod 23 is arranged along the axis of the overflow tube 21.

The overflow tube 21 has, in its upper part, a slightly conical shape, and in its lower part, a cylindrical shape. The lower part of the overflow tube 21 is secured to an annular valve head 25 which cooperates with an annular valve seat 26. The central zone defined by the seat 26 constitutes the inlet of a pipe 27 which passes through the bottom of the reservoir and is connected to the pipe 7. The pipe 27 contains a centering ring 27 a whose radial centering arms 27 b support a socket 27 c in which is fixed the base of the fixing rod 23. The seat 26 and the pipe 27 are integral with an annular base, which is fixed with the interposition of a seal 28 on the bottom of the tank 1. The base carries two diametrically opposed brackets 29, on the upper part of which a plate 30 is snapped The plate 30 constitutes an arm arranged diametrically between the two brackets 29, said arm comprising in its central zone a sleeve 31, which is crossed by the lower part of the overflow tube 21. The sleeve 3 1 is open on a part of its side wall to allow free passage to two sawtooth projections 32 and 33 formed on its outer wall. Guiding and orientation of the tube of overflow 21 into the sheath 31 are provided by two ribs 31a carried by the sleeve in vis-à-vis the opening of the sheath for the passage of the projections 32, 33 and three ribs 21 a carried by the tube 21, one of which slides between the ribs 31 a . The projections 32 and 33 are identical: each consists of a ramp 32 a and 33 a respectively forming an acute angle with the axis of the tube 21, the apex of this angle being on the side of the cover 2; these two ramps are connected to the wall of the tube 21 by sides 32 b , 33 b respectively, which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube 21.

The plate 30 carries two parallel levers 34 and 35, which are articulated around the same shaft 36 carried by the plate 30. The levers 34 and 35 are identical: they comprise a branch formed by a rectilinear flat 34 a , 35 a respectively and a branch 34 b , 35 b , very short compared to the previous one and forming an acute angle with it; the branches 34 b and 35 b are terminated by bosses 37 and 38 respectively. The bosses 37 and 38 have a cylindrical profile; their axis is parallel to the shaft 36; they are capable, by pivoting of the levers 34 and 35 around the shaft 36, to come into abutment against the wall of the tube 21 in which case the dishes 34 a and 35 a have their mean lines parallel to the axis of the tube 21; the levers 34, 35 each comprise a lug 34c, 35 c abutting against a stop 30 is secured to the plate 30 when the plates 34 a and 35 a have their average lines parallel to the axis of the tube 21. According that the tube 21 is more or less pulled upwards by the rod 19, the bosses 37 and 38 can occupy different positions relative to the saw teeth 32 and 33. The saw tooth 32 is parallel to the saw tooth 33 but it is offset downward relative to the latter by a length corresponding to the difference in travel between the pushers 11 and 12 taking account of the transmission ratio constituted by the lever 17.

In the rest state shown in Figure 2, we see that the two bosses 37 and 38 are both in abutment against the wall of the tube 21 above the two saw teeth 32 and 33; if the pusher 12 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 4, the two bosses 37 and 38 are also in abutment against the wall of the tube 21 but both below the two saw teeth 32 and 33, the sawtooth 32 being supported on the boss 37; if the contrary is pressed the pusher 11, as shown in Figure 8, the boss 37 is supported on the ramp 32 and the boss 38 bears against the wall of the tube 21, the sawtooth 33 leaning on said boss 38 (see FIG. 9). The contact between, on the one hand, the sides 32 b and 33 b of the saw teeth 32 and 33 respectively and, on the other hand, the bosses 37 and 38 takes place along a generatrix of said bosses; provision can be made for the plane normal to the profile of the boss along this generatrix to pass through the axis of the articulation shaft 36 so that the pivoting of a lever 34 or 35 is possible without lifting the tube 21 when the corresponding sawtooth 32 or 33 is supported on the associated boss 37 or 38.

The plates 34 a and 35 have levers 34 and 35 each carry a float 39 and 40 respectively. Each of the dishes carries, on one of its edges, a notch constituting a rack and each float is associated with a pawl 39 a , 40 a respectively, which cooperates with the teeth of the rack of the corresponding dish, so that the position of the float along the dish can be adjusted at will. The float 39 associated with the lever 34 is disposed at the very bottom of the dish 34 a , in the vicinity of the shaft 36; the float 40 is disposed at a higher level, said level determining, as will be explained below, the importance of partial hunting to be carried out. It is understood that the floats 39 and 40 can be made in any way, including by using a bell open downwards.

The operation of the device which has just been described, is detailed hereinafter: the device in the rest condition shown in Figure 2. In this state, the two plates 34a and 35a have their average lines parallel to the axis of the tube 21; the two bosses 37 and 38 are supported on the wall of the tube 21 above the saw teeth 32 and 33; valve 25-26 is closed. The level of water in the tank 1 is that which is defined by the constant level tap 4.

If the user presses the plunger 12 of the operating member, it causes the maximum descent of the rod 13 and, via the lever 17 and the rod 19, the maximum rise of the tube 21 (see FIG. 4 ). In this position, the valve 25, 26 is wide open; during the rise of the tube 21 the two bosses 37, 38 have slipped on the ramps 32 a , 32 b respectively and have come back against the wall of the tube 21 below the saw teeth 32, 33. When the user releases his support on the pusher 11, the sawtooth 32 comes to rest vertically on the boss 37; the two levers 34 and 35 are held in the initial position due to the Archimedes thrust which is exerted respectively on the floats 39 and 40; consequently, the support of the sawtooth 32 on the boss 37 cannot cause the lever 34 to tilt and the overflow tube 21 remains in contact with the boss 37. When the water level comes down of the float 40, the lever 35 swings under the action of the weight of the float which has no consequence for the tube 21 since the latter is in abutment on the boss 37 only. When the water level reaches the bottom of the float 39, the lever 34 switches which removes the support of the sawtooth 32 and causes, by gravity, the fall of the tube 21 and the closure of the valve 25-26 . It can therefore be seen that pressing on the pusher 12 has resulted in a total emptying of the container 1.

Of course when the tank 1 is emptied and that the valve 25-26 is closed, the valve 4 allows filling it and returning to the initial position as shown in Figure 2.

If the user presses the push-button 11, it causes the rod 13 to sink in with a reduced amplitude compared to the previous case and, consequently, by means of the arm 17 and the rod 19, a lifting of the tube 21 of an amplitude lower than that of the previous maneuver. In this case, the boss 38 comes to be positioned below the saw tooth 33 but the boss 37 remains in abutment on the ramp 32 a of the saw tooth 32. When the user releases his support on the pusher 11, the tube 21 bears on the boss 38 by the face 33 b of the sawtooth 33; the position of the lever 35 is maintained, despite the support exerted on the boss 38, due to the buoyancy, which is exerted on the float 44. The lifting of the overflow tube 21 has caused the opening of the valve 25-26 so that the tank is emptied but, when the water level reaches the lower part of the float 40, which is shown in FIG. 10, the lever 35 swings under the action of the weight of the float 40, this tilting being made possible despite the support of the sawtooth 33 due to the particular shape given to the profile of the boss 38. The tube 21 is no longer maintained falls by gravity and the valve 25-26 closes. During this movement of the tube 21, the boss 37 has slid along the ramp 32 a and returned to bear against the wall of the tube 21. It is therefore seen that the support of the user on the pusher 11 resulted in a partial emptying of the tank 1 up to the level of the lower part of the float 40.

It can be seen that the device which has just been described makes it possible to obtain a "double flush" depending on whether the user presses the plunger 11 or 12 of the operating member 9; pressing the pusher 12 causes a large volume flush with complete emptying of the tank 1; pressing the pusher 11 causes a small volume flush with partial emptying of the tank to a level defined by the positioning of the float 40 on the dish 35 a . This “double flush” device can be implemented in an installed flush tank since it is sufficient, on the same piece forming a valve seat 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 already fixed to the bottom of the tank 1, to put in place a new plate 30 carrying levers 34 and 35 associated with a tube 21 and an operating member 9, all of these parts constituting a transformation kit; the flush tank 1 and the seat part, which is integral therewith, therefore does not have to be modified.

It is understood that the mode of embodiment described above is in no way limiting and may give rise to any modifications desirable, without departing from the framework of the invention; in particular we can plan on the plate 30 stops to limit the travel of levers 34, 35 when the bosses 37 and 38 move away from the wall of the support 21.

Figure 12 illustrates a variant of advantageous realization of sawtooth projections 132, 133 provided on the wall of the tube 121.

As in the case of FIG. 9, one side of each saw tooth constitutes a ramp 132 a , 133 a , forming an acute angle with the mean line of the support 121 of the valve head, the apex of this angle being on the side opposite to where the valve head is located.

On the other hand, the other side 132 b , 133 b of the sawtooth (that is to say the lower side) is inclined, relative to the middle line of the support 121, so that the bearing force , on this side on the associated articulated lever 134, 135 of the blocking system generates, on said lever, a moment of rotation tending to unlock the blocking system.

Practically, it can be considered that the bearing force, F133 for example the sawtooth 133, is perpendicular to side 133 b. Unlocking is obtained by rotation, in the clockwise direction according to the example considered, of the lever 135 around the axis 136 located below. The inclination of the side 133 b is such that the F133 force passes above the axis 136 at a distance h (or lever); thus, the support of the sawtooth 133 on the lever 135 creates a moment of rotation urging this lever 135 in the clockwise direction, that is to say in the unlocking direction. This allows the system to function properly as soon as the float associated with the lever is no longer subjected to the thrust of the water.

It can be noted that the release path of the lever 135, when it rotates clockwise, is constituted by an arc of a circle C. The inclination of the side 133 b , defined previously, is such that this side 133 b is reading at an angle e with respect to the tangent T to the path C, at the sawtooth / lever support point. It can thus be seen that by turning clockwise, the lever 135 does not have to push up the sawtooth 133, which facilitates unlocking.

Of course, similar remarks apply to sawtooth 132 and lever 134, also articulated around axis 136.

Claims (15)

1. Water flushing apparatus for delivering, by the selection of the user, different predetermined volumes of water, this apparatus having, in a cistern (1) provided with a water inlet (4), a scouring valve disposed in the lower part of the said cistern (1) and associated with a control member (9) which can be actuated in the upper part of the said cistern (1), the said valve comprising, on the one hand, a movable head (25) integral with a support (21) ensuring the displacement thereof and, on the other hand, a seat (26) integral with the lower part of the cistern (1), the said control member (9) having a plurality of elements (11, 12) that can be actuated independently of one another, each element (11, 12) of the control member (9) being capable of cooperating with the support (21) of the movable head (25) of the valve in order to cause translation of the said movable head (25) relative to the valve seat (26), characterised in that the said support (21) is provided with n retaining means (32, 33) disposed opposite n blocking (34, 35) systems actuated independently of one another, n designating a whole number greater than 1, the presence of the water in the cistern (1) generating at one and/or the other of the n blocking systems, according to the level of water in the cistern (1), a thrust tending to ensure the cooperation of at least one blocking system (34, 35) with the retaining means (32, 33) associated therewith, in order to keep the support (21) of the movable head (25) of the valve in the open position of the said valve when it has been brought there by one of the elements (11, 12) of the control member (9), the substantially complete flushing of the water from the cistern (1) ending the cooperation of all of the blocking systems (34, 35) with their associated retaining means (32, 33) to allow for closure of the valve by gravity.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining means of the support (21) are projections (32, 33) carried externally by the said support (21).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that each blocking system (34, 35) comprises a boss (37, 38) which is displaced relative to the support (21) according to the level of water in the cistern (1), the boss (37, 38) cooperating with the projection (32, 33) associated therewith by means of buoyancy resulting from the presence of the water in the cistern (1) and moving away from the said projection (32, 33) by gravity when the said thrust disappears.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that each blocking system consists of a lever (34, 35) hinged on to a shaft (36) fixed relative to the cistern (1), the said lever carrying a float (39, 40) on one side of the shaft (36) and the boss (37, 38) on the other.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the arm (34a, 35a) of the lever (34, 35) which carries the float (39, 40) is adapted to allow for adjustment of the position of the said float (39, 40) on the said arm (34a, 35a).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the arm (34a, 35a) of the lever (34, 35) which carries the float (39, 40) is provided with a rack, the float (39, 40) being integral with a catch (39a, 40a) cooperating with the said rack.
7. Apparatus according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that each projection is in the form of a saw tooth (32, 33), one side of which constitutes a ramp (32a, 33a) forming an acute angle with the median line of the support (21) of the valve head (25), the vertex of the said angle being on the side opposite to that of the valve head (25), and the other side of which is substantially perpendicular to the median line of the support (21) in order to form the rest for the retaining means (32, 33) on the associated blocking system (34, 35).
8. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that each projection is in the form of a saw tooth (132, 133), one side of which forms a ramp (132a, 133a) forming an acute angle with the median line of the support (121) of the valve head, the vertex of the said angle being on the side opposite to that of the valve head, and the other side (132b, 133b) of which is inclined in such a manner that the supporting force of this side (132b, 133b) on the hinged lever (134, 135) of the blocking system generates a moment of rotation on the said lever tending to release the blocking system.
9. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that each element of the control member (9) is a push-button (11, 12) capable of being displaced in translation by the action of the user, the push-buttons (11, 12) having different strokes and the retaining means (32, 33) being offset in relation to one another by distances corresponding substantially to the differences in the strokes of the push-buttons, taking account of the ratios of transmission of movement to the support (21), all of the elements of the control member (9) acting on one single control rod (13).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the control rod (13) causes, via a lever (17), upward translation of the support (21) of the valve head (25) when the push-button (11, 12) is displaced downwards by the user.
11. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the support (21) of the valve head (25) is a tube open at its two ends, and the valve is provided in an annular manner around the said tube (21), the said tube (21) ensuring the evacuation from the cistern (1) of any overflow.
12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that n is equal to two.
13. Apparatus according to claims 4 and 12 taken simultaneously, characterised in that the two levers (34, 35) which form the blocking systems are disposed side by side in two substantially parallel planes.
14. Apparatus according to claims 7 and 13 taken simultaneously, characterised in that the two levers (34, 35) which form the blocking systems are hinged on to the same shaft (36) carried by a plate (30) made integral with the valve seat (26) and that the bosses (37, 38) each have a cylindrical profile, the generatrices of which are parallel to the shaft (36), the contact between each boss (37, 38) and its associated projection (32, 33) being effected substantially along a generatrix of the boss (37, 38).
15. Apparatus according to claims 11 and 14 taken simultaneously, characterised in that the plate (30) comprises in its central zone a sleeve (31) in which the the support (21) of the valve head (25) slides, the sleeve (31) being provided with an opening in its lateral wall for the free passage of the projections (32, 33) of the support (21), wherein a stop integral with the valve seat can be formed for each lever (34, 35).

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