EP0723050A1 - Drainage device of a flushing cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

The fitting has a floor valve for partial or full flush, and a locking unit (48) to lock a first float (10) during partial flush. The unit is connected via at least one moveable bolt (60) to the braking tank (8) containing the first float. For a full flush, an uncoupling device (58) disconnects the locking unit from the tank. The valve tube consists of an upper and a lower sections, fastened to each other esp. via a screw connection, pref. with seal. By replacing the upper section or altering its length, the unit can be adapted to different cistern types.

Description

The invention relates to a drain fitting of a cistern for a dual flush according to the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Such a drain fitting for cisterns is known from German utility model DE 84 36 155 U1, by means of which a full or a partial flush can be carried out. The drain fitting contains a bottom valve, a valve tube and two floats on which the valve tube can be supported. In the area of a lid of the cistern, locking and unlocking levers are provided which can be actuated from the outside by means of buttons or the like and act on hold-down devices in the cistern. The hold-down devices are subjected to pressure forces and as long as there is an active connection with the assigned lever, the respective float is locked. By releasing the one upper float, its buoyancy causes the valve tube to be lifted and the bottom valve to be opened for partial flushing. If, on the other hand, both swimmers are released, the buoyancy of both swimmers becomes effective and that Bottom valve is opened for a full flush. At least one hold-down for the lower float has a considerable length and must be designed to be stable in order to be able to transmit the pressure forces in a functionally reliable manner, as a result of which a considerable total weight is required, which must be borne by the lower and thus large-sized float. The drain fitting is dimensioned for a given total height of the cistern and for use in another, for example higher cistern, not insignificant changes are necessary. The bottom valve is opened by the buoyancy of the released floats and direct actuation of the valve tube is not feasible. In particular, due to limescale deposits or other soiling, it cannot be ruled out in practice that the valve tube can no longer float freely in the required manner. In such a case, the functionality cannot easily be restored from the outside by pressing the buttons.

Furthermore, from DE 36 18 671 C2 a drain fitting with a weight body is known, which is raised together with a valve tube and a valve body when a partial flush is triggered. The weight body loads the raised valve body and presses it down against a buoyancy arrangement against a buoyancy arrangement. On the other hand, when a full flush is triggered, only the valve tube is raised, while the weight body remains in a predetermined position and is not raised. The valve tube thus only gets onto the valve seat without the additional load from the weight body after the cistern has been completely emptied. A special release or locking device for the weight body is required, which means that additional effort is required. The full or partial flushing is triggered if necessary by means of one of two separate buttons which are coupled to the triggering device of the drain fitting via corresponding levers.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to further develop a drain fitting of the type mentioned in such a way that a defined dual flushing can be achieved with little production and assembly effort. The installation of the drain fitting in a cistern and any necessary cleaning or service work should be carried out in a simple manner can. The cost of materials and / or the number of components required should be reduced to a minimum. After all, the drain fitting should have a high level of functional reliability and a long service life.

This object is achieved in accordance with the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

The proposed drain fitting is characterized by a functionally reliable construction and requires no complex or fault-prone components. The drain fitting contains two floats, one of which can be fixed by means of the locking unit with respect to the brake container, so that only the upper float is effective and a part of the water can flow out of the cistern for a partial flush. The other lower float is also released for a full flush by means of the unlocking unit. The partial flushing is triggered by lifting a first driver, the locking mentioned being maintained. If necessary, the unlocking unit can be actuated by lifting a second driver, on the one hand to release the locking unit of the first float and on the other hand to raise the valve tube. When the partial rinse or the full rinse is triggered, the valve tube is lifted directly by means of the drivers and it does not have to float upwards together with the floats.

The locking unit enables a short distance within the cistern to be fixed on the brake reservoir and the upwardly directed drivers are only used to transmit tensile forces and can therefore be of lightweight construction. The locking unit contains bolts or the like, which enable a form-fitting coupling to a brake container of the first float. The brake container contains at least one coupling element with which the locking unit, in particular its bolt, can be brought into engagement. The coupling element according to the invention is designed as a projection, a hook, an opening, a groove or the like. The proposed drain fitting has a simple, functional design and easily triggers either for a partial flush or for a full flush. It can be triggered either by pressing one of the two Driver, whereby malfunctions do not occur even if both drivers are actuated, in particular raised, at the same time. The brake container expediently contains an opening whose free outflow cross section can be predetermined for the water. For this purpose, a slide assigned to the above-mentioned opening is used, by means of which the opening can be more or less opened or closed.

Further developments and special configurations of the invention are specified in the subclaims and in the description of a particular exemplary embodiment.

• Fig. 1 die Ablaufarmatur in der Ruhestellung,
• Fig. 2 die Ablaufarmatur beim Betätigen einer Teilspülung,
• Fig. 3 die Ablaufarmatur beim Beenden der Teilspülung,
• Fig. 4 die Ablaufarmatur beim Auslösen der Vollspülung,
• Fig. 5 die Ablaufarmatur beim Beenden der Vollspülung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. Each shows partly in a side view and partly in an axial section:

• 1 the drain fitting in the rest position,
• 2 the drain fitting when actuating a partial flush,
• 3 shows the drain fitting when the partial flush is ended,
• 4 the drain fitting when the full flush is triggered,
• Fig. 5 shows the drain fitting when you finish flushing.

The drain fitting shown in FIG. 1 contains a bottom valve 2, which is connected to a cistern 4, which is only indicated here, in a known manner. As an example, it should be stated that the bottom valve 2 can be screwed or plugged into the cistern 4, with appropriate seals being provided, or integrally molded onto the housing of the cistern. The bottom valve 2 extends upwards in the direction of a longitudinal axis 6 and carries a brake container 8 in which a first float 10, in particular made of polystyrene, is arranged. The float 10 is appropriately annular and can move according to the water level in the cistern 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 in the brake tank 8. The bottom valve 2 and the brake container 8 which is expediently releasably connected to this surround a valve tube, which preferably consists of a lower part 12 and an upper part 14. The valve pipe can expediently be designed as an overflow pipe and is also referred to below as an overflow pipe. The bottom valve 2 has a valve seat 16, which is associated with a valve body 18 connected to the overflow pipe or its lower part 12. The valve body 18 is designed as a disk-shaped seal consisting of an elastomer. The annular part of the floor valve 2 provided within the cistern has webs 20 distributed over the circumference and through the latter, water can flow out of the interior of the cistern 2 through an outflow nozzle 24 and a pipe connected thereto into a toilet bowl when the overflow pipe and valve body 18 are raised.

As already mentioned, the valve or overflow pipe is divided into a lower part 12 and an upper part 14 and these are connected to one another via a seal 26 and a screw connection 28. By specifying and, if necessary, replacing the overflow pipe upper part 14, the drain fitting can be easily adapted to the maximum flushing water level of, in particular, 9 l of the respective cistern. The dashed line 30 indicates, for example, the 9 l flushing water level of one cistern. If the maximum flushing water level is at a greater distance from the bottom of the cistern in another cistern, then only the length of the upper part 14 has to be increased. Accordingly, a shorter upper part 14 of the overflow pipe is to be provided in a further cistern for a lower maximum flushing water level. Due to the two-part design of the overflow pipe, the adaptation to the respective cistern can be made easily and safely without any other changes to the drain fitting.

The brake container 8 contains an opening 32 which penetrates the outer wall and through which water can flow out of the interior 34 of the brake container 8. The opening 32 is assigned a slide 36 which can be actuated from the upper edge of the cistern, in particular via a rod 38 which is guided upwards. The opening 32 can be more or less opened or closed by means of the slide 36 and thus the flow cross section for the water flowing out of the interior 34 can be adjusted. The outflow speed The water from the brake container 8 can thus be regulated, as a result of which the full flush is set continuously between two predefinable limit values, in particular between 6 and 9 l, of the flush volume. Since the rod 38 protrudes upwards, preferably above the maximum water level, the setting can be carried out without any problems when the drain fitting is installed.

The flushing quantity is adjusted by means of the slide 36, the flushing quantity being adjustable from the opening of the cistern by means of the rod 38 which is extended upwards. The water outlet from the brake container 8 is regulated via the defined opening in the brake container 8, the cross section of which can be changed via the slide 36. On account of the water outlet from the brake container which can be regulated according to the invention, the flushing volume of the cistern can be adjusted steplessly, in particular from a 6 liter full flush and 3.5 liter small flush to 9 liter full flush and 4 liter small flush. The setting of the small flush is particularly useful since more water is required for siphon rinsing in 9 liter toilets than in 6 liter toilets.

According to FIG. 2, the overflow pipe 12, 14 is raised vertically upwards by means of a driver 40 to actuate a partial or small flush, and in particular with a flush volume of 3 l, as indicated by arrow 42. The first driver 40 mentioned is firmly connected to the upper part 14 of the overflow pipe and is expediently formed in one piece with the upper part 14. As can be seen, the valve body or the seal 18 is lifted off the valve seat 16, so that water can flow out of the outlet connection 24 through the windows 22. A second float 44 is assigned to the overflow pipe or its upper part 14. The second float 44, which is preferably designed as a styrofoam ring, surrounds the overflow pipe. The second float 44 is arranged within a cover 45. The upper part 14 has a number of radial webs 46 which can rest on top of the second float 44. There is a sufficiently small gap between the second float 44 and the inside of the cover, so that the second float 44 can float in accordance with the water level without the movability of the cover 45 being significantly influenced. The cover 45 is designed as a brake container for the second float, so that in Particularly expediently, the drain fitting closes quietly even during the partial flushing. The cover 45 preferably has an opening 47 at the upper end for the upper part 14 of the overflow pipe and a second driver to be explained below. Congruent to the overflow pipe, the second float 44 can thus float up and hold the overflow pipe in the raised position.

In contrast, the first float 10 is blocked by a locking unit 48 in the brake container 8 and prevented from buoyancy. The locking unit 48 is directly assigned to the brake container 8, in which the float 10 can be locked in a short way. The cover 45, with its preferably enlarged lower part 49, surrounds the locking unit 48 and bolts, guide bodies and other mechanical parts to be explained below, which are thus reliably protected against damage from the outside. This achieves an increased emotional quality. The locking unit 48 is expediently assigned to the upper area of the brake container 8 and contains a web 50 against which the float 10 bears. In the position shown, the float 10 is locked by means of the locking unit 48 in such a way that the buoyancy of the float 10 is not effective on the valve tube 12, 14.

The cover 45 is connected to the brake container 8. For this purpose, the brake container 8 has a ring 51 or the like, which is directed radially outward in particular. By means of the cover 45 there is a liquid-tight connection to the brake container 8, in which water can therefore not flow in from above, although it has openings on its top through which the web (s) 50 of the unlocking unit 48 pass. The cover 45, and in particular its lower part 49, is preferably detachably connected at its lower end to the ring 51 mentioned. The locking unit 48, the unlocking unit to be explained below and the at least one coupling element of the brake container are arranged inside the cover 45, specifically in its lower part 49, and thus reliably protected against external influences or damage, in particular during assembly or service measures.

In Fig. 3, the drain fitting is shown when the partial or small flush is ended. Part of the water has flowed through the bottom valve 2 and the upper water level has taken a position according to the line 52, which corresponds to a water volume of 6 l, for example. Starting from the water line 30 corresponding to a water volume of 9 l, 3 l of water have therefore flowed out in the small flush. The buoyancy of the second float 44 is interrupted due to the sinking of the water line, the overflow pipe 12, 14 likewise sinking downward and the bottom valve 2 being closed by means of the sealing ring 18. The rinsing process for the partial rinse volume is then ended.

4, the triggering of the full flush is explained, which is brought about by lifting a second driver 54 in the direction of arrow 56 upwards. The second driver 54 is either connected to the lower part 12 of the overflow pipe or preferably to an unlocking unit 58, which enables the locking unit 48 and consequently the first float 10 to be released. The locking unit 48 preferably contains at least one latch 60 on a carrier 59. The carrier 59 is preferably designed in the form of a plate and on its underside is the web 50 already mentioned, which projects into the brake container 8 from above. Furthermore, the at least one latch 60 is preferably mounted on the support 59 so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis. A plurality of such bolts 60 are expediently arranged distributed over the circumference of the locking unit 48 and / or of the support 59, which is designed here as a plate. Although a pivotable mounting of the bolts has proven to be particularly expedient, the bolt or bolts can be mounted on the carrier 59 in another way, for example by means of an oblique guide. At least two, preferably three such bars are expediently arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference.

The locking unit 48 has been released by means of the unlocking unit 58, as a result of which the first float 10 was able to float upwards. When it is pulled up, the unlocking unit 58 acts on the locking unit to release the float 10. In the embodiment shown here, the latch 60 contains at the upper end a small lever 62 on which the unlocking unit 58 can act. The unlocking unit 58, which has a pull tube 63, contains at the lower end a disk 64 with recesses 66 which are assigned to the levers 62 of the respective bolt 60. The lever 62 is angled and forms an inclined plane, so that when the unlocking unit 58 is lifted, the bolt 60 is pivoted outwards into the position shown. The latch 60 has a hook 67 which corresponds to a coupling element 68 of the brake container 8 which is designed as a hook-shaped projection. As long as the latch 60 engages with the coupling element 68 of the brake container 8, the first float 10 is locked according to the invention.

By lifting the second driver 54, the coupling between the brake container 8 and the locking unit 48, as can be seen in the previous figures, is released, so that the buoyancy of the first float 10 is released. The overflow pipe, and expediently its upper part 14, has a contact body 70, which is preferably designed as an annular collar and with which the unlocking unit 58 also interacts. The upper edge of the pull tube 63 of the unlocking unit 58 engages with the collar 70 of the overflow tube. By pulling up the second driver 54, the overflow pipe is preferably also raised at the same time, since the unlocking unit 58 rests on the lower edge of the contact body or collar 70. Tensile forces act on the second driver 54 when lifting and by means of the pull tube 63, the upper edge 69 of which rests on the contact body 70 of the overflow valve tube, this is also pulled upwards. When the bottom valve is opened, there is thus a direct non-positive and / or positive coupling between the driver 54 and the valve or overflow pipe. The valve therefore does not open as a result of the buoyancy of the float, but rather directly by pulling up the driver 54.

If, after opening the bottom valve, the water level and thus also the valve tube initially carried by the upper, second float 44 has sunk somewhat, then according to FIG. 4 it goes between the unlocking unit 58 or its disk 64 and the locking unit 48 or its carrier 59 initially existing distance towards zero. There now exists between the first, lower float 10 and the valve tube 12, 14 via the locking unit 48, namely its web 50 and carrier 59, and also via the unlocking unit 58, namely via their washer 64 and draw tube 63 and the collar 70 a non-positive coupling, so that the valve tube is now supported by the two floats 10 and 44. The valve tube is consequently raised during full flushing by the buoyancy of the two floats 10, 44 and the water can flow out through the bottom valve 2.

The brake container 8 has upwardly projecting guide bodies 72 for the locking unit 48. A plurality of such guide bodies 72 are advantageously distributed over the circumference, preferably arranged in pairs, such that one of the latches 60 is located between two of the guide bodies. The smooth movement of the up and down movement of the locking unit 48 is ensured in this way and jamming or jamming of the locking unit 48 is thus prevented. The unlocking unit 58 is also guided by means of the guide bodies 72 which, like the levers 62, protrude through the recesses 66. Due to this special design, the locking unit 48 and the unlocking unit are secured against rotation with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows the drain fitting after a full flush has ended. The buoyancy of the first float 10 is interrupted after the brake container 8 has been emptied. The overflow pipe 12, 14 has sunk correspondingly downward and the seal or the valve body 18 rests on the valve seat 16, so that water can no longer flow out. As the first float 10 sinks, the locking unit 48 and the unlocking unit 58 have also sunk downward. The latches 60, which can preferably be pivoted about a horizontal axis, engage with their hooks 67 again under the associated projections 68 of the brake container 8 consequently a functionally reliable hooking of the latch 60 with the projection 68 of the brake container is ensured.

The outflow cross section of the water from the interior 34 through the opening 32 is predetermined by means of the slide 36. Depending on the position of the slide 36, starting from the maximum 9 l water level according to line 30 the water level only partially drops to line 76, 3 l of water remaining in the cistern, or the cistern can be completely emptied, as is indicated by the dash-dotted line 78 in accordance with a residual water level.

Reference numerals

2nd

Bottom valve

4th

cistern

6

Longitudinal axis

8th

Brake reservoir

10th

first swimmer

12th

Lower part of the valve tube

14

Upper part of the valve tube

16

Valve seat

18th

Valve body

20th

web

22

window

24th

Discharge nozzle

26

poetry

28

Screw connection

30th

Line / maximum water level

32

Opening in 8

34

inner space

36

Slider

38

pole

40

first driver

42

arrow

44

second swimmer

45

Cover

46

Bridge at 14

47

Opening in 45

48

Locking unit

49

Lower part of 45

50

Bridge of 48

51

Ring on 8

52

line

54

second driver

56

arrow

58

Unlocking unit

59

carrier

60

bars

62

lever

63

Draw tube

64

disc

66

Recess

67

hook

68

Coupling element / projection

69

Upper edge of 63

70

Ring collar / contact body

72

Guide body

74

Top edge of 60

76

Line / water level 3 l

78

dash-dotted line / residual water level

Claims (10)

Drain fitting of a cistern, comprising a bottom valve (2) which can be actuated for a partial flush or a full flush, a valve tube (12, 14), a first float (10) arranged in a brake reservoir (8), a second float (44) and a locking unit ( 48), for locking the first float (10) at least during the partial flushing, the valve tube (12, 14) being able to be supported on the second float (44), and further comprising an unlocking unit (58) for releasing the first float (10) when triggering the full flush,
characterized in that the locking unit (48), preferably by means of at least one movable bolt (60), engages with the brake container (8) for locking the first float (10),
that the locking unit (48) is arranged in the area of the brake container (8) and
that when the full flush is triggered by means of the unlocking unit (58), the locking unit (48) can be decoupled from the brake container (8). Drain fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking unit (48) and / or the associated unlocking unit (58) are arranged in the region of the upper end of the brake container (8) and / or that the brake container (8) has at least one coupling element (68) for the locking unit (48). Drain fitting, in particular according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve tube contains a lower part (12) and an upper part (14) which are connected in particular by means of a screw connection (28), preferably together with a seal (26), and / or that by changing and specifying the length of the upper part (14) an adaptation to differently designed cisterns can be carried out and / or that a first driver (40) which can be acted upon by tensile forces when lifting is connected to the valve tube. Drain fitting according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a web (46), by means of which the valve tube (12, 14) can be supported on the second float (44) in a known manner, in the direction of a longitudinal axis (6) of the valve tube is adjustable and / or that the web (46) is arranged on the upper part (14) of the valve tube. Drain fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking unit (48) has at least one bolt (60) which is preferably pivotably mounted, preferably about an essentially horizontal axis, and / or that the locking unit (48) has a web (50) on which the first float (10) can be brought into contact and / or which engages from above in the brake container (8) and can be brought into operative connection with the first float (10). Drain fitting according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the unlocking unit (58) contains a pull tube (63), by means of which a second driver (54) is preferably connected to trigger the full flush, and / or that the unlocking unit (58) can be brought into engagement with an annular collar (70) or the like of the valve tube (12, 14) and / or that the unlocking unit (58) surrounds the valve tube (12, 14) and when the full flushing is triggered on the annular collar (70) or the like of the valve tube comes to rest and / or that the valve tube (12, 14) can be supported on the first float (10) via the released locking unit (48) and the unlocking unit (58). Drain fitting according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the unlocking unit (58) has a particularly radially directed disc (64) or webs which can be connected to the bolt (60) in such a way that, on the one hand, when the full flush is triggered, the coupling of the Locking unit (48) is released and that, on the other hand, after completion of the full flush, the locking unit (48) and / or the bolt (60) is brought into engagement with the brake container (8). Drain fitting, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the brake container (8) has at least one guide body (72) for the locking unit (48) and / or the unlocking unit (58). Drain fitting according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the second driver (54) is connected to the unlocking unit (58), preferably in the region of the lower end of the second float (44), or to the lower part (12) of the valve tube and / or that the connection area between the lower part (12) and the upper part (14) of the valve tube is provided above the brake container (8) and / or between the latter and the second float (44) and / or that the upper part (14) has an annular collar (70) or the like, with which the unlocking unit (58) can be brought into engagement for triggering the full flush. Drain fitting according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second float (44) and / or the locking unit (48) and / or the unlocking unit (58) are arranged within a cover (45) which is designed as a brake container and / or which preferably has an expanded lower part (49), and / or that the cover (45) is connected to the brake container (8) of the first float (10), preferably in a liquid-tight manner.

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