EP0712966A1

EP0712966A1 - Toilet bowl flush tank

Info

Publication number: EP0712966A1
Application number: EP95914531A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka; Takahiro Kusano; Yoshiki Ohta; Tomokazu Goda
Original assignee: Toto Ltd
Current assignee: Toto Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-31
Filing date: 1995-04-06
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Also published as: TW276284B; WO1995033101A1; CA2168234A1; EP0712966A4; JPH07324362A

Abstract

A toilet bowl flush tank which comprises a large flush valve and a small flush valve for switching over flush water supplied to a toilet bowl between a large amount and a small amount. The large flush valve (A) and the small flush valve (B) are coaxially arranged, and buoyancy imparted to valve discs (5, 7) is used for detection of valve closing water levels, so that closing of the flush valves (A, B) are controlled.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a toilet flushing water tank apparatus, and more particularly to a toilet flushing water tank apparatus which is capable of selectively changing the amount of water fed from a water holding tank into the toilet stool in two steps of large and small, based on the type of the waste material to be flushed, that is, based on whether the waste material to be flushed is fecal matter or urine.

Background Art

In the past, this type of toilet flushing water tank apparatus generally had a large flushing valve for flushing fecal matter and a small flushing valve for flushing urine, these large and small flushing valves being selectively switched, a typical known example of this type of toilet flushing water tank apparatus being as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 36781/1981.
With regard to the above-noted disclosure, the two valves in the tank are separated in vertical position so that of the two valves inside the tank (the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve) the height of one valve (the small flushing valve) is made higher than the height of the other (the large flushing valve), so that the difference in heights of the two valves causes a difference in the amount of water discharged by each valve, the flushing valve itself, which is fixed to the bottom of the tank being a protruding furcated tube, which is provided so that the upper end opening of the drain tube part of the small flushing valve at the top and upper end opening of the drain tube part of the large flushing valve at the bottom are mutually offset to the front and rear or to the left and right, so that their axes do not overlap. Valve discs which open and close each of the drain tube parts are rotatably attached to a hinge part provided on the periphery of this flushing value, thereby forming a large flushing valve and small flushing valve. By selectively lifting either the large flushing valve disk or the small flushing valve disc by means of an operating fixture, it is possible to select between a large amount and a small amount of flushing water.
However, in an arrangement such as noted above, in which a large flushing valve and a small flushing valve are provided separately, so as to be mutually offset to the front and rear or to the left and right, because of the nature of the structure, the large and small flushing valves exist spread out from left to right, this making the space in the tank narrow, necessitating the provision of a large tank.
Additionally, in the case in which the drain apparatus closes a valve by sensing the water level in the tank using a float or the like, if the large and small flushing valves are spread apart to the left and right as noted above, the float of one of the flushing valves will be positioned at or near the water discharge position of the bowl tap valve, so that the force of waves and splashing caused by the discharge of water causes the float to move, so that the water level in the tank becomes unstable, or so that reliable closing of the flushing valve is not achieved.
In consideration of the above-noted shortcomings in the prior art, the present invention has as an object, in a toilet flushing water tank apparatus which is capable of selectively changing the amount of water fed from a water holding tank into the toilet stool in two steps of large and small, based on the type of the waste material to be flushed, that is, based on whether the waste material to be flushed is fecal matter or urine, the enabling of the achievement of a small tank and also the elimination of influence of the discharged water from the bowl tap valve cap on the flushing valves.

Disclosure of the Invention

To achieve the above-noted object, the toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to the present invention has a tank which holds flushing water, in which is provided a large flushing valve and a small flushing valve, a valve opening fixture opening these flushing valves, the timing of the valve closing being controlled by sensing the valve-closing water level by using the buoyancy imparted to a valve disc inside the tank, and the large flushing valve and small flushing valve being disposed coaxially.
The above-noted valve disc buoyancy is generated by providing float which is separate from the flushing valve disc, the float being linked so that the small flushing valve disk moves in concert with the motion of the float, so as to track its motion.
It is also possible form a float as one with the small flushing valve disc, so that the small flushing valve disc serves also as the float.
It is desirable that the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve be provided coaxially, so that the valve seat of the small flushing valve is formed on the disc of the large flushing valve, with the disc of the small flushing valve and the disc of the large flushing valve superposed.
Additionally, in the case in which the disc of the small flushing valve and the disc of the large flushing valve are superposed in this manner, it is desirable that a means be provided on the small flushing valve for pressing the disc of the large flushing valve onto its seat in accordance with the transmitted operating force from the valve opening fixture.
It is desirable that the valve opening fixture be such that it is operated to open the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve at a single actuating part, and it is also possible for the valve opening fixture to be linked separately to the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve by means of two operating force linkages, but also possible to achieve operating with one operating force linkage.
Additionally, in the case in which a single operating force linkage is used to link the valve opening fixture to the large and small flushing valves, it is possible to link the small flushing valve to the large flushing valve, so that if the operating force linkage is linked to the small flushing valve and operates the small flushing valve beyond the prescribed range of operation of the small flushing valve, the operating force transmitted by means of the above-noted operating force linkage is transmitted to the large flushing valve. In addition, it is possible to have the operation of the valve operating fixture pull the operating force linkage upward, and to make the structure of the operating force linkage means and the discs of the small and large flushing valves be such that when the upward pulling distance of the operating force linkage is within a prescribed range the operating force linkage engages with only the disc of the small flushing valve so as to pull up the disc of the small flushing valve, but that the upward pulling distance of the operating force linkage is beyond a prescribed range the operating force linkages the disc of the large flushing valve, thereby pulling up the disc of the large flushing valve.
In addition, it is possible to make the construction such that the operating force linkage is pushed outward toward the front by the operation of the valve opening fixture, so that when this pushing out distance is within a prescribed range the operating force linkage pushes the disc of the small flushing valve up from the bottom thereby opening the disc of the small flushing valve, but that when the pushing out distance is beyond a prescribed range the operating force linkage pushes up on the disc of the large flushing valve, so that the large flushing valve is opened.
Furthermore, it is possible to make the construction such that with the disc of the small flushing valve and the disk of the large flushing valve superposed one over the other and the operating force linkage being provided on the disc of the small flushing valve, operation of the valve opening fixture causes the disc of the small flushing valve to swing about its axis or to be pulled upward, a mating part being provided on the small flushing valve and large flushing valve which engages and disengages in response to rotational angle of the disc of the small flushing valve, so that when the small flushing valve disc is at a prescribed angle the engaging part disengages so that only the disc of the small flushing valve is lifted upward, and when it is at other angles the engaging part engages and disc of the large flushing valve is pulled upward together with the disc of the small flushing valve.
In a construction in which the above-noted small flushing valve disc is formed as one with a buoyant part, so that the small flushing valve serves also as a float, while it is possible to cause the floating part to be positioned at the prescribed position above the seating position of the disk into the small flushing valve, thereby setting valve-closing water level of the small flushing valve high, in the case in which the discs of the small and large flushing valves are superposed one over the other, by forming the disc of the large flushing valve so that its thickness-direction dimension is large, it is possible to separate the seat of the disc of the small flushing valve upward from the seat of the disc of the large flushing valve, enabling the setting of a high valve-closing water level when performing small flushing.
It is possible to use the above-noted small flushing valve, which serves also as a float, as a large flushing valve as well, enabling selecting large/small flushing switching with a single flushing valve.
With a drain valve having the constitution as described above, because the large flushing valve and small flushing valve are provided coaxially, the overall width of the flushing value is reduced, this reducing also the lateral space the flushing valve occupies inside the tank, thereby enabling both the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve to be disposed at a location that is distant from the position of the discharge of the bowl tap valve.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a toilet flushing water tank apparatus which shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view which shows an enlarged view of a flushing valve, which is a major constituent element of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view drawing which shows the operating condition when performing small flushing.
FIG. 4 is a front view drawing which shows the operating condition when performing large flushing.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view which shows an enlarged view of a valve opening fixture.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line (6)-(6) of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view which shows the operating condition.
FIG. 9 is a drawing which shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the tank in the third embodiment of the present invention, in which the condition during a small flushing operation is shown.
FIG. 10 is the cross-sectional view as FIG. 9, this drawing showing the condition during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, this drawing showing the condition of the float when the prescribed amount of water has discharged and the large flushing valve has closed.
FIG. 13 is the same cross-sectional view as presented in FIG. 12, this drawing showing the condition of the float when more than the prescribed amount of water has been discharged and the tank has been emptied.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a front view which give a cross-sectional view of the tank of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line (16)-(61) of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts.
FIG. 18 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a small flushing operation.
FIG. 19 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 20 a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the eight embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a drawing which shows a yet further enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts, this drawing showing the valve-closed condition.
FIG. 22 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a small flushing operation.
FIG. 23 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 25 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a small flushing operation.
FIG. 26 is the same cross-sectional view, this drawing showing the condition during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 27 is front view which shows the main parts of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is an enlarged top plan view of the side edge part of the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve.
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view along the line (29)-(29) of FIG. 28, this drawing showing the valve-closed condition.
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of an opening/closing operating fixture which shows the opening/closing operating fixture in the condition of FIG. 28.
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view along the line (29)-(29) of FIG. 28, this drawing showing the condition during a small flushing operation.
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of an opening/closing operating fixture which shows the opening/closing operating fixture in the condition of FIG. 31.
FIG. 33 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line (33)-(33) of FIG. 32.
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view along the line (29)-(29) of FIG. 28, this drawing showing the condition during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of an opening/closing operating fixture which shows the opening/closing operating fixture in the condition of FIG. 34.
FIG. 36 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line (36)-(36) of FIG. 35.
FIG. 37A is a partial cross-sectional view which shows a different embodiment of the opening/closing operating fixture, this drawing showing the condition in which both the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve are closed.
FIG. 37B is a cross-sectional view along the line (37B)-(37B) of FIG. 37A.
FIG. 38A is a partial front cross-sectional view which show the same embodiment, with the condition in which the flushing valve is open being shown, the condition during a large flushing operation being shown with solid lines and the condition during a small flushing operation being shown with two dotted lines.
FIG. 38B is a cross-sectional view along the line (38B)-(38B) of FIG. 37A.
FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 41A is a cross-sectional view which shows the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, this drawing showing the condition in which the setting to enable a small flushing operation is made.
FIG. 41B is a cross-sectional view along the line (41B)-(41B) of FIG. 41A.
FIG. 42A is a cross-sectional view which shows the same embodiment, this drawing showing the condition in which the setting to enable a large flushing operation is made.
FIG. 42B is a cross-sectional view along the line (42B)-(42B) of FIG. 42A.
FIG. 43 is a front cross-sectional view which shows the tank of the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 44 is a front cross-sectional view which shows the tank of the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view which shows the main parts of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, this drawing showing the valve-closed condition.
FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view along the line (46)-(46) of FIG. 45.
FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view showing the condition of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention during a large flushing operation.
FIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view showing the condition of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention during a small flushing operation.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 through 6 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B are coaxially disposed and superposed one over the other, each of these flushing valves being implemented as a flapper valve.
Valve seat 4 of the large flushing valve A (hereinafter referred to as the large flushing valve seat) is mounted on the bottom of the tank 1, in a manner so as to pass through the bottom of the tank 1, this being formed by the edge of an opening which is formed at the inclined opening at the top end of the flushing valve 3, which is connected outside the tank 1 to a drainpipe 2.
Opposing the above-noted large flushing valve seat 4, a valve disc 5 (called the large flushing valve disc) which forms the large flushing valve A is rotatably attached via rotatable attachment arm 5a to an overflow pipe linking part 3a.
Large flushing valve disc 5 has an approximately angle-shaped chain attachment part 5b extending to the side opposite that to which the rotatable attachment arm 5a extends toward the overflow pipe linking part 3a, a first chain 8 being linked to its angled part, and a first float 9 being also mounting to this angled part.
The above-noted first float 9 is formed from a hollowed out block-shaped piece, on the edge on one side of which a hole 9a which passes through it is formed so as to be surrounded by walls, this hole 9a being fitted into the angled part of the chain mounting part 5b of the large flushing valve disc 5.
The above-noted first chain 8 extends upward from the hold 9a of the first float 9 and is connected to a large flushing operating lever 11 of a valve opening operating fixture 10, a stopper (not shown in the drawing) being mounted immediately above the first float 9, thereby pressing onto the top of the first float 9, thereby preventing the first float 9 from floating upward from the angled part of the chain mounting part 5b and coming off of the large flushing valve disc 5.
The seat 6 of the small flushing valve (called the small flushing valve seat hereinafter) is formed on the above-noted large flushing valve disc coaxially with the large flushing valve seat 4 so that it seats into the large flushing valve seat 4, the diameter of a water passage hole 12 which opens to the large flushing valve disc 5 and is surrounded by the small flushing valve seat 6 being formed smaller than the inner diameter of the large flushing valve seat 4.
Opposite this small flushing valve seat 6, the valve disc 7 which forms the small flushing valve B (hereinafter called the small flushing valve disc) is rotatably attached to the overflow pipe linking part 3a via the rotatable attachment arm 7a at the same location as the large flushing valve disc 5.
The above-noted small flushing valve seat 6 if formed by a concave groove 14a provided in the outer periphery of an annular sheet material 14 made of rubber provided at the opening edge of the opening 13 made in the large flushing valve disc 5, the bottom surface of this sheet material opposing the large flushing valve seat 4 as the sheet of the large flushing valve disc 5, and the upper surface of this sheet opposes the small flushing valve disc 7 as the small flushing valve seat 6.
The small flushing valve disc 7 has linked to it upper surface a second chain 16 which hangs downward from a small flushing operating lever 15 of the valve opening operating fixture 10, and has formed on its bottom surface an annular protrusion 7b, so that this annular protrusion 7b makes intimate contact with the above-noted small flushing valve seat 6 when the valve is closed. Furthermore, the annular protrusion 7b can alternately be formed on the large flushing valve disc 5, for example, on the above-noted ring-shaped sheet material 14 made of rubber, rather than on the small flushing valve disc 7.
Midway in the above-noted second chain 16 is mounted a second float 17, this being mounted so as to be at a position that is higher than the first float 9 which is mounted to the large flushing valve disc 5. The vertical position of this second float 17 is lower than the water level when the tank is full.
The valve opening operating fixture 10 is chiefly formed from a spindle 18 which provided so as to pass through a side wall of the tank 1, a lever handle 19 which is mounted to the end of the spindle 18 that protrudes outward from the tank 1, and operating levers 11 and 15, for large flushing and small flushing, respectively, which are mounted to the part of the spindle 19 which is inside the tank 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the above-noted spindle 18 is inserted through and held by a spindle guide 20 that is fixed a side wall of the tank 1 in such as manner to enable it to be rotated through the desired angles in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
The small flushing operating lever 15 is formed by a lever part 15a and a cylindrical part 15b which is formed as one with this lever part 15a on one end of the lever part 15a, the above-noted cylindrical part 15b being fitted around the outside of the spindle 18, thereby mounting it to the spindle 18 so that mutual rotational and axial direction movement between these elements are prevented. The lever part 15a normally extends downward from the spindle 18.
The large flushing operating lever 11 is formed by a lever part 11a and a cylindrical part 11b, which is formed as one with this lever part 11a on one end of the lever part 11a, and which has a cutout 11c that extends circumferentially through a prescribed angle at one axial direction end, the cylindrical part 11b being mated in the base part outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 15b of the above-noted small flushing operating lever 15, and its cutout 11c being mated in the direction of the end, thereby providing support which allows rotation but not linear movement of the small flushing operating lever 15. The lever part 11a normally extends downward from the spindle 18.
The above-noted small flushing operating lever 15 has a protruding part 15c formed on it so that it engages with the cutout 11c of the large flushing operating lever, for the purpose of transmitting the rotation of the small flushing operating lever 15 to the large flushing operating lever 11, this being shown in FIG. 6.
The protruding part 15c is formed so that when it is engaged with the cutout 11c, it comes into contact with the bottom surface 11d of the cutout 11c.
In this manner, if the lever handle 19 of the valve opening operating fixture 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the small flushing operating lever 15 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the large flushing operating lever 11 also rotates in the clockwise direction, because of the engaged condition between the cutout 11c of the large flushing operating lever 11 and the small flushing operating lever 15, so that the small flushing valve disc 7 and the large flushing valve disc 5 are pulled upward by the chains 16 and 8, respectively. Therefore, the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B open simultaneously, and a large flushing operation is performed.
If, however, the lever handle 19 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, this action will cause the small flushing operating lever 15 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, thereby pulling the small flushing valve disc upward, this counterclockwise rotation of the small flushing operating lever 15 causes the protruding part 15c of this lever to move in a direction away from the cutout 11c of the large flushing operating lever 11, so that the large flushing operating lever 11 does not rotate, which results in no lifting upward of the large flushing valve disc 5. Therefore, only the small flushing valve disc 7 is opened, and a small flushing operation is performed.
In the case of a small flushing operation, because of the reduction of water pressure applied to small flushing valve disc 7 due to the start of the discharge of water, even if the operation of the handle 19 is not maintained to pull up the small flushing valve disc 7, the small flushing valve disc 7 will remain pulled up by the buoyancy of the small flushing valve disc 7 and the second float 2, that is, the small flushing valve B will be held in the open condition, so that the discharge of water continues.
In this condition, because the diameter of the water passage hole 12 is smaller than the inner diameter of the large flushing valve seat 4, so that a differential pressure is applied to the large flushing valve disc to the extend of the difference in the two areas thereof, the buoyancy of the large flushing valve disc 5 and the buoyancy of the first float 9 mounted thereto prevent he opening of the large flushing valve A.
When the discharge of water causes the water level in the tank 1 to reach the position of the second float 17, so that the second float 17 protrudes upward from the surface of the water, the buoyancy of the second float 17 drops, making it impossible to continue pulling the small flushing valve disc 7 upward, so that the small flushing valve disc 7 drops, thereby closing the small flushing valve B and stopping the discharge of water.
In the case of a large flushing operation, because the discharge of water causes almost no difference in water pressure applied to the discs 5 and 7 of the large and small valves, respectively, even if the operation of the handle 19 is not continued to pull up the large flushing valve disc 5, the buoyancy of these two valve discs 5 and 7, and the buoyancy of the first float 9 maintain the large flushing valve disc 5, with the small flushing valve disc 7 resting thereon, in the lifted condition, that is, the large flushing valve A is maintained in the opened condition and the discharge of water continues.
When the discharge of water causes the water level inside the tank 1 reach the position of the first float 9, so that the first float 9 protrude upward from the surface of the water, the buoyancy of the first float 9 drops, making it impossible to continue pulling the large flushing valve disc 5 upward, so that this large flushing valve disc 5 drops.
When this occurs, the buoyancy of the second float 17 does not act upon the small flushing valve disc 7, and because the chain 16 which is linked to it is in the slack state, the small flushing valve disc 7 remains in contact with the large flushing valve disc 5, these dropping in concert. This closes the large flushing valve A, thereby stopping the discharge of water.
Therefore, in contrast to the case of a small flushing operation, in which only the water above the position of the second float 17 which is provided on the second chain 16 at a relatively high position inside the tank 1 is discharged, in the case of a large flushing operation, all the water above the first float 9 which is provided as one with the large flushing valve disc 5, at a relatively low position, is discharged.
If the large flushing valve A and small flushing valve B are made coaxial in this manner, and the large flushing valve disc 5 and small flushing valve disc 7 are superposed one over the other, in spite of the fact that there are the two flushing valves A and B, the left-to-right width of the flushing apparatus can be made approximately as compact as in the case of a flushing apparatus which has only one flushing valve.
Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiment of the present invention, because the small flushing valve seat 6 was formed by the rubber annular sheet material 14 which is mounted to the large flushing valve disc 5, because of the adhesion of the rubber, when the small flushing valve B is open, the small flushing valve disc 7 adheres to the large flushing valve disc 5, so that the large flushing valve disc 5 might in some cases be lifted upward together with the small flushing valve disc 7.
The second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, solves the above-noted problem.
While the second embodiment is approximately the same as the first embodiment, in terms of basic construction, a lever 21 is provided on the top surface of the small flushing valve disc 7, one end of this lever 21 being bent downward to make contact with the top surface of the large flushing valve disc 5, and the other end of the lever 21 being linked to the second chain 16.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the second chain 16 is pulled upward by means of a small flushing operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the lever 21 pushes the large flushing valve disc 5 downward, the small flushing valve disc 7 being pulled away from the rubber annular sheet material 14 which forms its valve seat 6, so that when a small flushing operation is performed there is no problem of the large flushing valve disc 5 adhering to and being pulled up by the small flushing valve disc 7.
In the above-noted embodiment, while a single valve opening operating fixture 10 is used to open both the large and small flushing valves A and B, it is of course possible, as in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, to provide two valve opening operating fixtures, so that the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B are opened by distinctly separate valve opening operating fixtures.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, the reference numeral 101 denotes the large flushing valve opening operating fixture, and 102 is a small flushing valve opening operating fixture, each of these being formed, respectively, by spindles 181 and 182 which are provided so as to pass through a side wall of the tank 1, lever handles 191 and 192 which are mounted on the ends of 181 and 182, respectively, and actuating levers 111 and 151 which are provided as extensions on the ends of the spindles 181 and 182. The spindles 181 and 182, in the same manner as in the above-noted embodiment, have protrusions (not shown in the drawing) provided which engage with cutouts provided on the end parts of spindle guides 20 (not shown in the drawing), this engagement enabling the mounting of the spindles to the spindle guides 20 so that they can be rotated through the desired angle a prescribed direction, for example, in the clockwise direction.
The end the actuating lever 111 of the large flushing valve opening operating fixture 101 is linked to the large flushing valve disc 5 by means of the first chain 8, and the end of the actuating lever 151 of the small flushing valve opening operating fixture is linked to the small flushing valve disc 7 by means of the second chain 16, thereby enabling rotational movement of the associated lever handles 191 and 192 to cause, via chains 8 and 16, the lifting of the valve discs 5 and 7, thereby causing them to move away from the valve seats 5 and 6.
In this embodiment of the present invention, a first float 9 is provided midway in the first chain 8 and a second float 17 is provided midway in the second chain 16, the first float 9 being positioned relatively high inside the tank 1 and the second float being positioned relative low inside the tank 1, and, in the same manner as the above-noted embodiment, the first float 9 can optionally be mounted directly to the large flushing valve disc 5.
In this manner, the apparatus of this embodiment, with the exception of the fact that the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B are opened separately buy the valve opening operating fixtures 101 and 102, operates precisely the same as the first embodiment. By changing the mounting positions of the floats 9 and 17 to the chains 8 and 16, however, it is possible to increase or decrease the amount of water discharged, not only for a small flushing operation, but also for a large flushing operation, this representing an improvement which enables application to toilets which use a variety of different amounts of water.
Next, in the fourth embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 11, instead of mounting the first float 9 directly to the large flushing valve disc 5, as is done in the first embodiment, and instead of mounting the first float 9 to a first chain 8 which links the large flushing valve disc 5 to a valve opening operating fixture 101, the large flushing valve disc itself is made to function as the first float.
In this embodiment, the large flushing valve disc 105 is formed by mounting an arm 105a for swingable attachment to an overflow pipe linking part 3a to a hollowed out annular float 22, the bottom surface of this float being opposite the large flushing valve seat 4, thus forming the large flushing valve A, and the top surface being opposite the small flushing valve disc 107 as the small flushing valve seat 106.
The first chain 8, which is linked to the large flushing valve disc 105, is linked to the end of this valve disc on the opposite side from the direction in which the arm 105a extends to the overflow pipe linking part 3a. This chain 8 does not have a float attached to it.
The small flushing valve disc 107 is of a construction that is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, the second chain 16, which links this small flushing valve disc 107 to the small flushing operating lever of the valve opening operating fixture having a float 17 mounted midway on it.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the small flushing valve B operates in precisely the same manner as in the first embodiment, with the large flushing valve A operating as follows.
When the valve opening operating fixture is operated to pull up the large flushing valve disc 105, the large flushing valve disc 105 is pulled up with the small flushing valve disc 107 resting on top of it, so that the large flushing valve opens, this open condition being held by means of the buoyancy of the float 22.
In this embodiment, the large flushing valve disc 105 which is formed by the float 22, is formed so that, when the large flushing valve 105 is open, the surface area of the part which extends to the outside of the large flushing valve seat 4 is smaller than the surface area of the part which is inside the above-noted valve seat 4, so that the buoyed part is more on the inside of the large flushing valve seat 4.
The reason that the large flushing valve disc 105 is constructed in this way, is to achieve reliable filling of water in the tank 1 from the condition in which the tank 1 is empty.
This will be described below.
In a flushing valve of this type which establishes the amount of discharged flushing water by means of the position of the float 17, if for example in the case in which a large flushing operation is performed, even after reaching the normal valve-closing water level, if the valve opening operating fixture is operated, the flushing valve will be open and water will be flushed. In such as case, there are cases in which the water level is below the bottom surface of the valve disc, for example in the case in which it has dropped to the position of the valve seat.
If water feed is done in this condition and the amount of fed water is small, there are cases in which a delicate balance occurs between the amount of water fed, the amount of water flushed, and the weight and buoyancy of the valve seat, which can result in maintenance of the flushing valve in the open condition, so that water never accumulates in the tank.
To avoid the occurrence of this type of condition, it is necessary to set the height of the float sufficiently high to provide a margin. In that case, however, after performing a normal flushing operation to flush the water, when the valve is returned to the closed condition, there is a problem in that there is a large amount of water that remains in the tank and is not flushed, this being called dead water.
In addition, to prevent freezing in cold climates the water is sometimes removed from the tank at night, in which case the tank is almost completely empty.
In such cases in which the tank is filled from the empty condition, because there is no water pressure applied from the top to the valve disc, when the water level rises to the position of the top surface of the valve disc, the action of the buoyancy of the valve disc causes a condition in which the valve disc momentarily floats away from the valve seat. When this occurs, if the amount of fed water is small, in the same manner as described above, the flushing valve is maintained in the open condition, so that water never accumulates in the tank.
To solve the above-noted problem, it is necessary to prevent the valve disc from floating open even when water feed is started with the water level is below the position of the valve seat, and to do that it is necessary to make the sum of the downward forces of acting on the valve disc, which are the weight of the valve disc and the water pressure from the top, at any time during the filling with water, be greater than the upward forces occurring by virtue of the buoyancy of the valve disc and the float.
In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as described above, because the buoyant part of the large flushing valve disc 105 is caused to be mostly on the inside of the large flushing valve seat 4, and the part of that extends outside of the large flushing valve seat 4 and is acted upon by buoyancy is made small, there is little increase in buoyancy until the time when this valve disc becomes fully submerged, so that the above-noted force relationship is maintained until the valve disc 105 becomes completely submerged, thereby preventing the floating of the valve disc 105 and the resulting undesirable opening of the large flushing valve A.
Therefore, even if the tank 1 is filled with water from the empty condition, water will reliably be accumulated in the tank.
By doing this, the need to locate the float at an excessively high position, which was present in the prior art, is eliminated, and it is possible to lower the lever of dead water remaining in the tank after flushing, thereby improving the efficiency of utilization of the space inside the tank.
As described above, in the fourth embodiment, by reducing the increase in buoyancy acting on the large flushing valve disc 105 until the valve disc 105 becomes completely submerged, by means of the weights of the large flushing valve disc 105 and small flushing valve disc 107 themselves and water pressure, the sum of the forces acting downward on the large flushing valve disc 105 is made larger than the buoyancy of the large flushing valve disc 105, enabling achievement of reliable filling of the tank 1 from the empty condition, and it is also possible to achieve the same effect in the cases in which the water level is the same or lower than the height of the large flushing valve seat 4 by making the weight of the large flushing valve disc large.
This embodiment is illustrated as the fifth embodiment in FIGS. 12 and 13, and as the sixth embodiment in FIG. 14.
In the fifth embodiment, a hole 117a passes completely through from the top to the bottom of the second float 117, this hole 117a being formed in the center of the float 117, with a second chain 116 passing through this hole 117a, its bottom end linked to the center of the top surface of the small flushing valve disc 7, and the above-noted hole 117a of the second float 117 formed so as to be sufficiently large with respect to the thickness of the second chain 116, thereby enabling the second float 117 to slide up and down on the second chain 116.
The second chain 116 has a stopper 116a of diameter larger than the above-noted hole 117a, mounted on it at a prescribed position that is higher than the first float 9.
Therefore, the range of movement of the above-noted second float 117 is from the link part 116b to the small flushing valve disc 7 to the stopper 116a, so that when the water level inside the tank 1 is higher than the position of the height of the stopper 116a, the float hit up against the stopper 116a and is at a position that is higher than the first float 9. However, when the water level in the tank 1 drops to a position lower than the stopper 116a, the second float 117 slides down in position along the second chain 116.
In this manner in this embodiment, in normal use the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B operate in the same way as described in each of the previously presented embodiments. However, in the case of a large flushing operation, the water level at which the large flushing valve A closes is, of course, lower than the height position of the stopper 116a on the second chain 116, so that, as shown in FIG. 12, the second float 117 slides on the second chain 116 to lower itself to that level.
Also, when either the linking operation of the valve opening operating fixture 10 or the drain of water from the tank 1 causes the water level to fall below the large flushing valve seat 4, emptying the tank 1, as shown in FIG. 13, the second float 117 slides even further downward on the second chain 116, so that it rest on top of the small flushing valve disc 7.
In this condition, the second float 117 acts as a weight, via the small flushing valve disc 7, on the large flushing valve disc 5, the large flushing valve disc 5 becoming heavier by the amount of the weight of the second float 117.
In this condition, therefore, even if water feed is done and the water level starts to rise, causing force to act so as to raise the large flushing valve disc 5, because the weight of the large flushing valve disc 5 is increased, as noted above, it is not easily raised, thereby preventing the opening of the large flushing valve A. Therefore, the water level reliably rises, this rise in water level causing the second float 117 to slide along the second chain 116, so that it loses it action as a weight. However, at that point the large flushing valve disc 5 and the small flushing valve disc 7 are completely submerged, so that water pressure acts on the two valve discs 5 and 7. For this reason, even if the amount of fed water is small, opening of the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve is prevented, the tank being filled reliably with water.
In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, by providing a water-accumulation depression 23 on the small flushing valve disc 127, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the above-described fifth embodiment.
Specifically, in this embodiment, a downwardly sunken depression is formed in the center of the top surface of the rear side of the small flushing valve disc 127, thereby forming the water-accumulation depression 23, this water-accumulation depression 23 forming a protrusion on the rear side of the small flushing valve disc 127, so that it fits into the large flushing valve seat 4 of the large flushing valve disc 5 when the small flushing valve B is closed.
In this embodiment then, there is always water accumulated within the water-accumulation depression 23 of the small flushing valve disc 127, so that when either the water level becomes lower than the large flushing valve seat 4 or the tank becomes empty, the water which had accumulated within this water-accumulation depression 23 acts as a weight upon the large flushing valve disc 5, thereby preventing the floating of the large flushing valve disc 5 accompanying the rise in water level caused by water feed.
Therefore, in this embodiment, in the same manner as the above-noted fifth embodiment, when water is fed into the tank 1 either when the water level has fallen to lower than the large flushing valve or when the tank is empty, even if the amount of water fed is small, the opening of the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B is prevented, and the tank 1 is reliably filled with water.
Furthermore, in FIGS. 12 and 13 which show the fifth embodiment and in FIG. 14 which shows the sixth embodiment, while the first float 9 is mounted midway on the first chain 8, it is also possible to mount this first float 9, as shown in the first embodiment, to the large flushing valve disc 5, so that it is formed virtually as one with this large flushing valve disc 5, and it is further possible, as shown in the fourth embodiment, to form the large flushing valve disc 5 as a float, thereby causing the large flushing valve disc itself to function as the first float, which makes possible the elimination of the first float 9.
Turning now to the seventh embodiment, shown in FIGS. 15 through 19, to the eight embodiment, shown in FIGS. 20 through 23, and to the ninth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 24 through 26, in contrast to the first through the sixth embodiments, in which a operating fixture 10 communicates with a large flushing valve 5 and a small flushing valve 7 via distinctly separate chains 8 and 16, that is, via separate operating force transmission parts, in the seventh through the ninth embodiments, the large flushing valve 5 and the small flushing valve 7 communicate with an operating fixture 110 via a common, that is, a single, chain 24.
First, the seventh embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, a large flushing valve 5 and a small flushing valve 7 must both be opened by a single operating fixture 110, this operating fixture 110 being chiefly made up of a spindle 118 which passes through a wall of the tank 1, via a spindle guide 120, which is immovably mounted to the a wall of the tank 1, an operating lever handle 119 which is mounted to an end of the spindle 118 which protrudes to the outside of the wall of the tank 1, and an actuating lever 25 which is mounted to part of the spindle inside the tank 1, the end of the actuating lever 25 being linked to the center of the top surface of the small flushing valve disc 7 by means of a chain 24.
The above-noted spindle 118 is normally in the condition in which the actuating lever 25 extends downward, so that the operating lever handle is rotated from this condition in either the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction. The angle of the rotation of this spindle 118 in either the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 16, is limited by means of the engagement of a cutout 26 which is provided in the end of the spindle guide 20 and a protrusion 27 which is provided on the spindle 118. In contrast to counterclockwise rotation, which is limited only so that the small flushing valve disc 7 can be lifted up sufficiently to open the small flushing valve B from the small flushing valve seat 4 which is provided on the large flushing valve disc 5, clockwise rotation is set so that the rotational angle can be set for more rotation than this.
The constructions of the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B are approximately the same as described for the first embodiment, except that a chain mounting part 5b, which is fitted into a hole 9a which is surrounded by a wall and provided on the edge on one side of a float 9 is provided in the direction that is opposite that in which the rotatable attachment arm 5a extends toward the overflow pipe linking part 3a of the large flushing valve disc 5, instead of communicating with the operating fixture 10, communicates with the side which is opposite the direction in which the rotatable attachment arm 7a extends toward the overflow pipe linking part 3a of the small flushing valve disc 7, via a short chain 28.
The short chain 28 is formed to have a length so that while small flushing valve disc 7 is between the position in which it is seated onto the small flushing valve seat 6 in the position in which the small flushing valve B is closed and the position in which the small flushing valve B is open, the short chain which links the above-noted large flushing valve disc 5 and small flushing valve disc 7 has a small amount of slack (refer to FIG. 18), and when the small flushing valve disc 7 is pulled upward beyond the position at which the small flushing valve B reaches the completely open condition, the chain is tensioned between the large and small flushing valves 5 and 7.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the lever handle 119 of the operating fixture 110 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the small flushing valve disc 7 is pulled up and away from the small flushing valve seat formed in the large flushing valve disc 5, thereby opening the small flushing valve B and performing a small flushing operation.
On the other hand, if the lever handle 119 is rotated in the clockwise direction, first the small flushing valve disc 7 is pulled up and away from the small flushing valve seat 6 which is formed in the large flushing valve disc 5, thereby opening the small flushing valve B. However, because the spindle rotating angle, that is, the operating lever rotating angle, is larger than in the case of counterclockwise rotation, the small flushing valve disc 7 is raised even further, this causing a tensioning of the short chain 28, the large flushing valve disc 5 being pulled upward by this short chain 28, which opens the large flushing valve A, thereby causing a large flushing operation.
The operation of the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B for during a large flushing operation and a small flushing operation is the same as in first embodiment.
Next, in the eight embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 20 through 23, while the construction of the valve opening operating fixture and the communicating structure between the valve opening operating fixture operating lever and the small flushing valve are the same as in the seventh embodiment, the linking structure between the small flushing valve and the large flushing valve differs from that of the seventh embodiment.
Specifically, in this embodiment, a rotatable attachment arm 137a of the small flushing valve disc 137 is rotatably mounted to the middle part of a rotatable attachment arm 135a of the large flushing valve disc 135. The rotatable attachment arm 135a of the large flushing valve disc 135 has immovably mounted to it a bearing part 29, a stopper 30 being additionally formed on this bearing part 29. The upward swinging of the small flushing valve disc 137 is limited by means of the engagement of the stopper 30 with the protrusion 32 of the pivot 31 provided on the rotatable attachment arm 137a. In this case, when the chain 24 is pulled upward in response to rotation of the operating lever 25 in the counterclockwise direction, while the above-noted protrusion 32 of the pivot 31 does not collide with the stopper 30 of the bearing part 29, when the chain is pulled upward in response to rotation of the operating lever 25 in the clockwise direction, midway in the rotation of the operating lever 25 the above-noted protrusion 32 of the pivot 31 collides with the stopper 30 of the bearing part 29.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the lever handle of the operating fixture is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the small flushing valve disc 137 is pulled up and away from the small flushing valve seat 136 formed in the large flushing valve disc 135 by the short chain 24, this causing the small flushing valve B to open, resulting in a small flushing operation. On the other hand, if the lever handle is rotated in the clockwise direction, first, the same as in the case of the small flushing operation, the small flushing valve disc 137 is pulled up and away from the small flushing valve seat 136 which is formed in the large flushing valve disc 135 by the chain 24, thereby opening the small flushing valve B. However, because the rotation of the operating lever is greater than in the case of counterclockwise rotation, the protrusion 32 which is provided on the pivot 31 of the rotatable attachment arm 137a of the small flushing valve disc 137 collides midway in its travel with the stopper 30 which is provided on the bearing part 29 of the rotatable attachment arm 135a of the large flushing valve disc 135, after which the engagement of the protrusion 32 and the stopper 30 cause the small flushing valve disc 137 to pulled the large flushing valve disc 135 upward as the rotation continues, this causing it to move away from the large flushing valve seat 134, which opens the large flushing valve A, thereby performing a large flushing operation (refer to FIG. 23).
In the ninth embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 24 through 26, a single chain 24, which is mounted to the operating lever of a valve opening operating fixture, directly opens the small flushing valve disc 147 and large flushing valve disc 145, the chain 24, which hangs downward from the operating lever of the valve opening operating fixture, being connected to the chain connecting pieces 33 and 34, which are provided on the large flushing valve disc 145 and the small flushing valve disc 147, respectively.
The above-noted large chain connecting fixtures 33 and 34 of the large flushing valve disc 145 and the small flushing valve disc 147 are, respectively, provided as upright elements at the locations at which the first float 9, which is formed as one with the large flushing valve disc 145 and the small flushing valve disc 147 are in proximity, the top ends of these being bent so as to face one another, holes 35 and 36, through which the chain 24 passes, being formed on the bent parts 34a and 35a thereof.
The height of the large flushing valve disc 145 side chain connecting piece 33 is lower than the height of the small flushing valve disc 147 side chain connecting piece 34, chain 24 having a stopper 37 mounted to it between the hole 35 of the large flushing valve disc 145 side chain connecting piece 33 and the hole 36 of the small flushing valve disc 145 side chain connecting piece 34, and also has a stopper 38 mounted to it at its end which extends downward after passing through the hole 35 of the large flushing valve disc 145 side chain connecting piece 33. The reference numerals 144 and 145 denote the large flushing valve seat and small flushing valve seat, respectively.
In this embodiment, therefore, when the lever handle of the valve opening operating fixture is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the upper-position stopper 37 which is provided on the chain 24 engages with the bent part 34a of the small flushing valve disc 147 side chain connecting piece 34, thereby pulling up the small flushing valve disc 147, thus opening the small flushing valve B (refer to FIG. 25).
When, however, the lever handle of the valve opening operating fixture is rotated in the clockwise direction, at first, just as in the case with counterclockwise rotation, the upper-position stopper 37 which is provided on the chain 24 engages with the bent part 34a of the small flushing valve disc 147 side chain connecting piece 34, thereby pulling up the small flushing valve disc 147, thus opening the small flushing valve B. However, since the rotation of the operating lever in this case is greater than the case of counterclockwise rotation, the chain 24 is pulled further upward, the stopper 38 which is provided on its bottom end engaging the bent part 33a of the large flushing valve disc 145 side chain connecting piece 33, this pulling the large flushing valve disc 145 upward, causing the large flushing valve A to open (refer to FIG. 26).
Furthermore, in this embodiment, independent of the chain 24, via which the above-noted operating fixture communicates with the large and small flushing valves, a linking element 39 for the purpose of linking to a float is specially provided on the small flushing valve disc 147, the second float 17 being mounted to the small flushing valve disc 147 via this linking element 39.
Next, in the tenth embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 27 through 38, a single lead wire 40 is used as the operating force linkage to transmit the operating force of the valve opening operating fixture 210 to the large flushing valve disc 155 and the small flushing valve disc 157, the operation of the valve opening operating fixture 210 pushing the lead wire 40 out so that it pushes upward on the large flushing valve disc 155 and the small flushing valve disc 157. On the side edge parts of the large flushing valve disc 155 and the small flushing valve disc 157, as shown in FIG. 28, are provided wire receivers 41 and 42, a hole 43 being provided in the large flushing valve disc 155 wire receiver 41, and wire receiver 42 of the small flushing valve disc 157 being positioned above this hole 43. The end of the lead wire 40, which extends from the valve opening operating fixture 210, which is mounted to side wall of the tank 1, faces the above-noted hole 43 from the bottom. Reference numerals 154 and 155 denote the large and small value seats, respectively.
The lead wire 40 passes through a pipe-like wire guide 140 which is provided so that the lead wire 40 does not interfere with other parts, and a jaw 43 which is larger than the width of hole 43 is provided on slightly below the end part of wire guide 140 which faces the hole 43 of the above-noted large flushing valve disc 155 wire receiver 41.
On the valve opening operating fixture 210 is provided a switching mechanism which switches the push-out length of the lead wire 40 in two steps, for large flushing operation and small flushing operation, the end of the lead wire 40 pushed out by the operation for a small flushing operation passing through the hole 43 of the wire receiver 41 of the large flushing valve disc 155 and pushing up the wire receiver 42 of the small flushing valve disc 157, thereby opening the small flushing valve B (refer to FIG. 31). By means of the operation for a large flushing operation, the lead wire 40 is pushed out farther than the case of a small flushing operation, the jaw 44 pushing up on the wire receiver 41 of the large flushing valve disc 155, thereby opening the large flushing valve A (refer to FIG. 34).
That is, the above-noted valve opening operating fixture 210 has a tubular casing 45 which is mounted so that it passes through a side wall of the tank 1 and which links the rear end of the wire guide 43, and a operating rod 47 which is provided so as to pass completely through the above-noted casing 43, the inside end rotatably linked to the rear end of the lead wire 40, and the outside end having an operating handle 46, a slit-shaped hole 48 being made in the rear end surface of the above-noted casing 45, a stopper having the same shape as the slit-shaped hole 48 being provide on the part of the operating rod 47 that protrudes from the casing 45, this normally being perpendicular with respect to the slot-shaped hole 48, so that it aligns with the hole 48 if the rod 48 is rotated 90 degrees. In this operating fixture, with a normal push-in operation of the prescribed length of push-in, the stopper 49 catches on the hole 48 so that the rod 47 cannot be pushed in any further (refer to FIGS. 32 and 33), but when the rod 47 is rotated 90 degrees and pushed in, the limitation presented by catching on the hole 48 is removed, so that it is for the rod to be pushed in more deeply (refer to FIGS. 35 and 36).
Furthermore, the reference numeral 50 denotes a spring for the purpose of restoring the rod 47 an the lead wire 40 to their original position after operation.
The switching mechanism which switches the push-in length of the lead wire 40 in two steps has the construction as shown in FIGS. 37A, 37B, 38A, and 38B.
That is, pulling out the operating rod 47, which is linked to the lead wire 40, to the outside of the tank 1 by the prescribed amount, the operating handle 46, the rear surface of has a tapered surface 51, is mounted onto the side wall of the tank in proximity to the protruding part of the operating rod 47 so that the above-noted tapered surface 51 opposed and makes contact with the protruding part of the operating rod 47.
The handle shaft 52 of the operating handle 46 is such that it can rotate freely with respect to the bearing 80 which is mounted to the side wall of the tank 1, the engaging of a cutout 53 formed in the bearing 80 and a protrusion provided in the handle shaft 52 limiting the rotation of the handle 46 in such a manner that the angles of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations are different, so that the amount of push-out of the lead wire 40 differs between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the handle 46.
Although in the above-described embodiments, a second float 17 is provided independently of the small flushing valve disc 157, it is also possible to form the small flushing valve disc 157 together with the second float 17, so that the small flushing valve disc 157 serves also as the second float 17. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 39 and thereafter.
In the eleventh embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 39, except for the fact that the small flushing valve disc 167 serves also as the second float 17, it has precisely the same construction as the first embodiment.
In this embodiment, with the exception of the rotatable attachment arm 167a to the overflow pipe linking part 3a, the small flushing valve disc 167 is nearly cylindrical, one part at the top of which being hollowed, the remaining part being solid, so that a buoyant part 55 is formed as one with the valve disc 167, a second chain 16 which hangs down from the opening/closing operating fixture being linked to the center part of the top surface thereof.
The above-noted buoyant part 55 controls the closing of the small flushing valve B in place of the second float, and it is necessary for it to be considerably higher than the small flushing valve seat 166, that is, at a position of approximately the same height as the second float 17 in the first embodiment. For that reason, the height direction dimension of the above-noted solid part 56 is made approximately the same as the length from the stopper 57 which prevents downward movement of the second chain 16 in the first embodiment to the bottom end of the chain 16. The reference numeral 164 denotes the large flushing valve seat, while 165 is the large flushing valve disc.
By using the above-noted construction, in which the small flushing valve disc 167 serves also as the second float, the construction of the flushing apparatus is simplified, and there are reductions in both parts count and number as assembly steps.
Furthermore, it is also possible, when necessary for structural reasons, to use, for example, cross-configured supporting legs in place of the solid part 56.
In the twelfth embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 40, the height dimension of the large flushing valve disc 175 is made larger than the installed height of the small flushing valve disc 177, and by making the position of the small flushing valve seat 176 which is provided on the top surface of the large flushing valve disc 175 high, it is possible to set the water-stopping water level for small flushing operations to a high position. By forming the small flushing valve disc 177 so as to be hemispherical, the buoyant part 55 is formed as one with the small flushing valve disc 177, an annular protrusion 177a formed in the flat part thereof being opposite to the small flushing valve seat 176.
In this embodiment, while, the same as was the case in the fourth embodiment, not only does the small flushing valve disc 177, but also the large flushing valve disc 175 serves also as the first float, it is also possible to provide this float separate from the valve discs.
In such an embodiment as this, by making the height dimension of the large flushing valve disc 175 which has a small flushing valve seat 176 large, and setting the water-stopping water level for small flushing operations to a high position, it is possible to establish the water-stopping water level with even further precision.
In the drawing, the reference numeral 57 denotes a guide which provides a guide for the rise of the small flushing valve disc 177, while 174 is the large flushing valve seat.
Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a rotatable attachment arm on the small flushing valve disc in the same manner as previously described embodiments, so that it is rotatably mounted to, for example, the overflow pipe linking part of the drain valve itself.
In the thirteenth embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 41A, 41B, 42A, and 42B, similar to the case of the above-described twelfth embodiment, the small flushing valve disc 187 and the large flushing valve disc 185 serve also as the second float and first float, respectively, the height dimension of the large flushing valve disc 185 being made large and the position of the small flushing valve seat 186 which is provided on the top surface thereof being made high, thereby establishing a high water-stopping water level for small flushing operations. In this embodiment, a single valve opening operating fixture 310 and a single operating force linkage 58 are used to open both the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B.
That is, the large flushing valve 185 is formed by a float 22, which is a hollow hemispherical body, the spherical surface thereof being causes to oppose the large flushing valve seat 184, and an opening 59, which is surrounded by a wall, being provided in the center part thereof so as to pass through it in the thickness direction. The opening 59 is basically a circular hole, an annular groove 60 being formed midway in the axial direction of the hole, a pair of mutually opposing vertical grooves 61 being formed from this groove so as to extend to the top surface of the valve disc.
The small flushing valve disc 187 being a circular disc of approximately the same size as the flat part of the large flushing valve disc 185, this disc being formed as one with a hollowed out buoyant part 55, which is formed by causing the top surface to bulge outward spherically, an annular protrusion 187a being formed on the bottom surface of the circular disc, this annular protrusion being opposite the small flushing valve seat 186 which is formed on the top surface of the large flushing valve disc 185 and which surrounds the opening 59. Furthermore, the above-noted annular protrusion 187a is formed, of course, to have a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the annular groove 60.
The above-noted small flushing valve disc 187 has an operating rod 58 which is formed on the top of the buoyant part 55 which is formed as a hemisphere, this operating rod 58 extending to the outside of the tank by passing completely through the top surface of the tank 1, a handle 62 being mounted to the extended end thereof.
In the central part of the bottom surface of the small flushing valve disc 187 hangs downward a reverse-T-shaped large flushing operation mating part 63, the vertical part 63a of this large flushing operation mating part 63 corresponding to the length of the vertical grooves 61 of the large flushing valve disc 185, and the horizontal part 63b of this large flushing operation mating part 63 being formed of a length which corresponds to the diameter of the annular groove 60.
The above-noted large flushing valve mating part 63 is located within the opening 59 of the large flushing valve disc 185 during a small flushing operation, with either the horizontal part 63b aligned with the vertical grooves 61 of the large flushing valve disc 185 or engaged with the annular groove 60.
Therefore, in the condition in which the horizontal part 63 is aligned with the vertical grooves 61 of the large flushing valve disc 185 (refer to FIG. 41B), if the handle 62 is held and the operating rod 58 is lifted, the small flushing valve disc 187 will be pulled upward, thereby opening the small flushing valve B. If, the handle 62 is rotated so that the horizontal part 63b is engaged with the annular groove 60, the engagement of 63b and 60 causes both the large flushing valve disc 185 and the small flushing valve disc 187 to be pulled upward, thereby opening the large flushing valve A.
The closing of the flushing valves A and B is done when the water level within the tank 1 drops and the buoyancy of the valve discs 185 and 187 is reduced, which is accompanied by a lowering of the valve disks 185 and 187, so that they rest onto the valve seats 184 and 185.
While in all of the embodiments described up to this point, the large flushing valve disc and small flushing valve disc were formed coaxially and superposed on over the other by forming the small flushing valve seat on the large flushing valve disc, it is also possible, such as shown in the fifteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 43 and in the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 44, to have provide the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve so as to be disposed at a distance from each other.
In the fifteenth embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 43, the large flushing valve seat 194 is formed by the aperture part of the inclined aperture of the flushing valve 3 itself, which protrudes inward in to the tank 1, while the small flushing valve seat 196 is formed as a protrusion midway in an overflow pipe 3b which is linked to an overflow linking pipe 3a which has an L-bend slightly below the above-noted large flushing valve seat 194, valve seats 194 and 196 being coaxial and vertically separated from one another by an appropriate distance.
The large flushing valve disc 195 is rotatably attached to the overflow linking part 3a which is formed as one with the flushing valve 3 via a rotatable attachment arm 195a, while the small flushing valve disc 197 is rotatably attached to the overflow pipe via a rotatable attachment arm 197a.
As is the case in the first embodiment, the large flushing valve disc 195 has mounted on it a first float 9 on the side opposite the direction in which the rotatable attachment arm 195a extends, a first chain 8 which extends from a large flushing actuating lever 11 of the valve opening operating fixture 10 being linked to the mounting part of this float, a second chain 16 which extends from the small flushing actuating lever 15 of the valve opening operating fixture 10 being linked to the center part of the top surface of the small flushing valve disc 197, and a second float 17 being mounted midway on this second chain 16.
The constructions of the above-noted valve opening operating fixture 10 and other parts are the same as was described for the first embodiment.
In this manner, while this embodiment operates almost in the same manner as the first embodiment, the valves A and B operate completely independently, and there is no simultaneous operation of the small flushing valve B during a large flushing operation.
In the sixteen embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 44, while the positional relationship between the large flushing valve A and the small flushing valve B is the same, the overall small flushing valve disc 207 is formed as a hollow ring shaped float, so that this itself has the function of the second float, this being similar to the above-described eleventh and twelfth embodiments, in which the small flushing valve disc 207 serves also as the second float, this being for the purpose of lowering the parts count and simplifying assembly by eliminating the second float.
Furthermore, in this embodiment and the above-noted fifteenth embodiment, in which the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve are provided so that they are disposed with mutual vertical separation, compared to the embodiments up to the fourteenth embodiment explained above, it is difficult to avoid a slight increase in the overall size of the flushing apparatus. However, the valves A and B operate absolutely independent of each other, and because there is absolutely no influence on the large flushing valve disc 205 from the weight or buoyancy of the small flushing valve disc 207, there is a high degree of freedom afforded in the design of the valves A and B.
Next, the sixteenth embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 45 through 48 not only uses a single valve disc 65 as both the small flushing valve disc and the large flushing valve disc, but also shares a float.
Therefore, in this embodiment, by having only a single valve seat 66, which serves as both the small flushing valve seat and the large flushing valve seat, this valve seat 66 is formed by the opening edge of a flushing valve 3 which is connected to an external drain pipe and which protrudes into the inside of the tank by passing through the bottom part of the tank and being mounted thereto.
The combined large/small flushing valve disc 65 is formed by cutting an approximately cylindrical shape in quarters in the axial direction, and also forming as one with this a hollow block float 55 on one end thereof, positioning an overflow pipe 67 as one with this at the center, positioning the hollow buoyant part 55 to the right side, and further placing the overflow pipe 67 over the valve seat 66 and so that their centers are aligned.
A rotatable attachment arm 68, which stands up in the axial direction, is provided, facing in the direction of the axis center, at the center of the valve 65 on the side in contact with the overflow pipe 67, and a chain attachment arm 69 is provided at the center of the axial direction edge on the other side, these being provided on the overflow pipe 67 in pendulum fashion, via the rotatable attachment arm 68, and a chain 70 which hangs down from the valve opening operating fixture being linked to the chain attachment arm 69.
Furthermore, the above-noted valve seat 66 has a curvature which follows the curved surface of the valve disc 65. Therefore, the above-noted valve disc 65 can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise so that it slides against the valve seat 66.
Although the valve opening operating fixture is not shown in the drawing, it has substantially the same construction as the valve opening operating fixture described with regard to the seventh embodiment.
Therefore, by means of clockwise rotation of the actuating lever 25, the valve disc 65 is rotated over the valve seat 66 in the clockwise direction (to the left in the drawing), moving away from the valve seat 66 so that the valve is opened, with the buoyant part 55 being at the lowest position of the valve disc 65.
If water in the tank is discharged in this condition, when the water level falls to the position of the buoyant part 55, that is, to a low position within the tank, the buoyant part 55 loses its buoyancy, and the valve disc 65 rotates in the counterclockwise direction to its original position, thereby closing the valve. That is, in this case it is possible for the valve to act as a large flushing valve in discharging a large amount of water (refer to FIG. 47).
By means of a counterclockwise rotation of the actuating lever 25, the valve disc 65 is rotated over the valve seat 66 in the counterclockwise direction (to the right in the drawing), moving away from the valve seat 66 so that the valve is opened, with the buoyant part 55 being at the highest position of the valve disc 65.
If water in the tank is discharged in this condition, when the water level falls to the position of the buoyant part 55, the buoyant part 55 loses its buoyancy, and the valve disc 65 rotates in the clockwise direction to its original position, thereby closing the valve. That is, in this case it is possible for the valve to act as a small flushing valve in discharging a relatively small amount of water (refer to FIG. 48).
In a case such as this embodiment, in which a single valve and a single operating force linkage is used to perform both large and small flushing operations, in spite of the fact that the flushing apparatus is capable of discharging given prescribed amounts of water or both a small flushing operation and a large flushing operation, it has only one prior art flushing valve, yet can be made approximately the same size as a prior art flushing apparatus which is capable of discharging only one given amount of water.

Exploitation in Industry

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, by providing a large flushing valve and a small flushing valve so that they are coaxial, it is possible to reduce the overall width of the flushing apparatus. Therefore, in spite of the fact that the apparatus has two valves, both a small flushing valve and a large flushing valve, the flushing apparatus takes up a small amount of space inside the tank, enabling a reduction in the size of the tank.
Additionally, it is possible to locate both the large flushing valve and the small flushing valve at a distance from the discharge position of the bowl tap, so that there is no problem with the force of waves and splashing causes a float to sway, so that the water level in the tank becomes unstable, or so that reliable closing of the flushing valve is not achieved.

Claims

A toilet flushing water tank apparatus comprising:
a tank which accumulates flushing water;
a large flushing valve and a small flushing valve, which are both disposed within said tank, and which both control the discharge of accumulated water in said tank; and
a valve opening operating fixture which is linked to said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve, and which actuates the valve opening of said flushing valves;
wherein said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve each sense a valve-closing water level by means of the buoyancy imparted to a valve disc, the opening of said valves being controlled by said sensing, said large flushing valve and small flushing valve being disposed in a mutually coaxial manner, and of said two valves at least said small flushing valve having buoyancy imparted to it by means of a float which is provided separate from the valve disc of said small flushing valve, the valve-closing operating controlled so as to track said float.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus comprising:
a tank which accumulates flushing water;
a large flushing valve and a small flushing valve, which are both disposed within said tank, and which both control the discharge of accumulated water in said tank; and
a valve opening operating fixture which is linked to said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve, and which actuates the valve opening of said flushing valves;
wherein said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve each sense a valve-closing water level by means of the buoyancy imparted to a valve disc, the opening of said valves being controlled by said sensing, said large flushing valve and small flushing valve being disposed in a mutually coaxial manner, and of said two valves at least said small flushing valve having buoyant part which is provided as one with valve disc of said small flushing valve.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a valve seat of said small flushing valve is formed on the valve disc of said large flushing valve, and wherein said valve disc of said small flushing valve and said valve disc of said large flushing valve are disposed so as to be superposed one over the other.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one end of said valve disc of said small flushing valve makes physical contact with the upper surface of said valve disc of said large flushing valve, the other end of said valve disc having swingably mounted to it a lever which is linked to said valve opening operating fixture.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said valve opening operating fixture, which opens a flushing valve opens said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve by operation of an actuating part at a single location.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said valve opening operating fixture is linked to said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve by means to two operating force linkages.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said valve opening operating fixture is linked to said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve by means of a single operating force linkage.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said valve disc of said small flushing valve has a buoyant part which is formed as one with said valve disc, this provided at a location that is removed from the seating part of the seat of said small flushing valve.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said valve seat of said small flushing valve is formed on said valve disc of said large flushing valve, so that said valve disc of said small flushing valve and said valve disc of said large flushing valve are superposed one over the other, and further wherein the thickness direction dimension of said valve disc of said large flushing valve is made large, the height position of said valve seat of said small flushing valve which is formed on the upper surface thereof being made higher than the height position of said valve seat of said large flushing valve.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a single valve seat and valve disc serve as both as said large flushing valve and said small flushing valve, and further wherein said valve disc has formed as one with it a buoyant part which senses the water-closing water level.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operating force linkage is linked to said small flushing valve, the action of said small flushing valve moving beyond a prescribed movement range causing the operating force transmitted from said operating force linkage to be transmitted to said valve disc of said large flushing valve by linking to said disc.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operating force linkage is constructed so as to be pulled upward by the operation of said valve opening operating fixture, and further wherein an engagement part is provided on said operating force linkage, large flushing valve disc and small flushing valve disk, so that when the pulling-up distance is within a prescribed limit said operating force linkage engages with only the said small flushing valve disc, the operating force thereof being transmitted to said small flushing valve disc, and when the prescribed range is exceeded said operating force linkage engages with at least said large flushing valve disc, the operating force thereof being transmitted to said large flushing valve disc.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operating force linkage is pushed upward by the operation of said valve opening operating fixture, and wherein when the pushing-up distance is within a prescribed range the small flushing valve disc is pushed up from its valve seat, and when the prescribed range is exceeded at least the large flushing valve disc is pushed up from its valve seat.
A toilet flushing water tank apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said valve disc of said small flushing valve and said valve disc of said large flushing valve are made to be superposed one over the other by forming said valve seat of said small flushing valve on said valve disc of said large flushing valve, and wherein by means of an operation of said valve-opening fixture, said operating force linkage is selectively rotated about its shaft axis and pulled upward, and further wherein in the case of rotation, the rotational force, and in the case of upward pulling, the upward pulling force, is transmitted to the small flushing valve disc, an engaging part being provided on said small flushing valve disc and said large flushing valve disc which engages and disengages in response to the rotational angle of said small flushing valve disc.