EP0892117B1 - Toilet cistern flush valve - Google Patents

Description

Drain fitting for a cistern, with a valve body, with a for a partial flush or a full flush of the valve body can be actuated Drain valve, with one in a float housing for a cistern arranged first buoyancy body, which during a partial flush on a Buoyancy is prevented, with a second buoyancy body and with a Actuator for selectively lifting the valve body for the Trigger the full flush or the partial flush, the valve body at the Full flushing on at least the first buoyancy element and in the partial flushing is supported only on the second buoyancy body.

Such a drain fitting is for example by DE 195 01 355 A1 has become known.

For flushing a toilet bowl in general Drinking water uses about 9 liters per rinse cycle. However, only for a small part of the flushing process the total amount of water in a cistern really needed. Therefore, it makes sense if from the user between a full flush with the whole in the cistern existing water volume or a partial rinse with only one Part of the amount of water in the cistern can be selected can.

Such a drain fitting is known from DE 195 01 355 A1, with either a full flush or a partial flush can be triggered. To trigger a rinse a valve body designed as an overflow pipe is raised, which opens a bottom valve in the cistern. In the Partial rinse prevents a first float from buoyancy and the valve body only on a second float supported so that according to the result of the sinking Water level in the cistern reduces the buoyancy of the second Float the valve body also sinks down and finally the bottom valve closes. So can only part of the amount of water in the cistern drains away. On the other hand, the full flush is the floating of the first float possible so that after lifting the valve body this during the full flush due to the buoyancy the first swimmer stays raised and the water through the bottom valve can flow out. When the first swimmer no buoyancy after emptying the float housing receives more, the valve body is also down accordingly sunk and the bottom valve closed.

To the first float in the partial flush on a buoyancy to prevent but release at full flush, is a mechanical locking mechanism in the known drain fitting intended. Prevented during partial rinsing a locking element floating the first Float. A cover surrounds the locking element as well as other mechanical parts to protect them from damage reliable protection from the outside. With full flushing is by actuating a driver with the help of an unlocking element the coupling between the float housing and locking element released so that now floating even the first swimmer is possible. However, lie in this known drain fitting for locking and unlocking required parts in the cistern periodically Water and are so susceptible to contamination and wear.

DE 31 23 501 A1 describes a system for expanding functions conventional toilet cistern with float-controlled sealing bell for Closure of the drain pipe described. The possibility is to be created are, by an additional device at least two different sizes Deliver water. This is achieved by one around the Sealing bell freely movable additional float with a buoyancy body and is provided with an additional weight and in the rest position of one on the toilet cistern attached magnet is held. Through one from the outside The controlling actuator is integrated into the additional float Steel disc separated from the magnet, so that the additional float at sinking water level with its resulting weight on the Sealing bell sets and leads to a premature closure of the drain pipe, whereby some of the water remains in the toilet cistern.

The FR 2 576 620 also shows a toilet flush with a full and Partial flush. This device has a valve body in its upper area has a suitably arranged magnet, which depending on Operation of the valve body allows a full or a partial flush.

In contrast, it is the object of the present invention to further develop a drain fitting of the type mentioned at the beginning, that if possible none sensitive to pollution Parts such as Locking and unlocking elements under Water.

In contrast, the object is achieved in that the first buoyancy body during the partial flushing by magnetic force in the Float housing is held and that on the bottom of the Float housing and together on the bottom of the first buoyancy body magnetically interacting parts are provided.

The first buoyancy element is therefore excluded from the partial rinse Function set so that only the second buoyancy body supports the raised valve body and the drain valve holds open until the buoyancy of the second Buoyancy body smaller than the weight of the valve body is. The decrease in buoyancy occurs with the decrease in the water level in the cistern and is therefore individually adjustable. In the case of full flushing, however, the magnetic connection between the first float and Float housing released, and the first buoyancy body holds the valve body raised until the water level begins to sink within the float housing and accordingly the buoyancy of the first buoyancy body reduced. After the water is completely out of the cistern has escaped, it still flows in the float housing water in the cistern, so that the first Buoyancy body and thus the valve body continue to sink, until the drain valve closes and the first buoyancy body again held in place by magnetic force in the float housing is. By the magnetic force and the associated cancellation of the floating of the first buoyancy body the partial rinsing enables. According to the invention are for coupling the first buoyancy body to the float housing or other fixed parts of the cistern no mechanical Parts required. The two buoyancy bodies can e.g. be made of styrofoam, and if possible inside Hollow valve body can be used as an overflow pipe in a known manner be designed, while as an actuating device e.g. two optionally operable carriers can be provided, the mechanical or electrical and manual or automatic can be triggered.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention can be one or more single or Ring magnets and corresponding counterparts are provided be preferably in the float housing and the first Buoyancy bodies are embedded.

In a first particularly advantageous embodiment of the Invention are one or more for generating the magnetic force Permanent magnets are provided.

When to generate in a second preferred embodiment the magnetic force provided one or more electromagnets the partial rinse can be activated as required the electromagnets are activated. Another The advantage of this embodiment is that several individually activated electromagnets of different magnetic strength can be used so that e.g. by increasing the magnetic force the attraction of the opposite Float housing raised first buoyancy body increased and so an earlier compared to a weaker magnetic force Closing the drain valve can be effected. So lets the strength of the magnetic force also for a full flush required amount of water, at least in certain Limit, reduce and adjust.

To keep the depth of the cistern as low as possible, is the second buoyancy body above the first buoyancy body arranged. However, the two buoyancy bodies also interlock, preferably the second buoyancy body engages in the first buoyancy body.

The first buoyancy body is preferably on the valve body slidable between its fixed lower and its upper layer supporting the valve body. In the first layer, the first buoyancy body can e.g. on one Supporting projection or a disc of the valve body issue.

To individually adjust the partial water volume to be drained with the partial rinse being able to adjust is the second buoyancy body axially adjustable with respect to the valve body, so that the Decrease in buoyancy according to decrease in water level in the cistern with respect to the second buoyancy body is changeable.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. Likewise, the above mentioned and the features listed further according to the invention individually for themselves or for several in any Combinations are used. The shown and Embodiments described are not intended to be final Understand enumeration, but rather have exemplary Character for the description of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer teilweise aufgeschnittenen erfindungsgemäßen Ablaufarmatur, die in einen WC-Spülkasten eingebaut ist, mit geschlossenem Ablaufventil;

Fig. 2

die Ablaufarmatur der Fig. 1 mit für eine Vollspülung geöffnetem Ablaufventil; und

Fig. 3

die Ablaufarmatur der Fig. 1 mit für eine Teilspülung geöffneten Ablaufventil.

It shows:

Fig. 1

is a schematic side view of a partially cut drain valve according to the invention, which is installed in a toilet cistern, with the drain valve closed;

Fig. 2

the drain fitting of Figure 1 with open drain valve for a full flush. and

Fig. 3

1 with the drain valve open for a partial flush.

The drain fitting designated 1 in the drawing is installed in a toilet cistern 2 and has a drain valve 4 closing or releasing the drain opening 3 of the cistern 2. The valve body 5 of the drain valve 4 forms a vertically aligned overflow pipe, at the lower end of which there is a sealing washer 7 which interacts with a valve seat 6 of the cistern 2. The drain valve 4 remains closed due to the water pressure acting on the sealing disk 7 (FIG. 1).

The valve body 5 extends upwards through a cup-shaped float housing 8 which is open at the top and which is fastened to the partition walls 10 in the interior 9 of the cistern 2. A first buoyancy body 11 and a second buoyancy body 12 are provided around the valve body 5 above the first buoyancy body 11. The first buoyancy body 11 is located within the float housing 8, while the second buoyancy body 12 only partially projects into the float housing 8. In other embodiments, the second buoyancy body 12 can also be located above the float housing 8.

The valve body 5 is continuously supported on the second buoyancy body 12 by means of a hold-down device 13 , while it rests on the first buoyancy body 11 with the aid of a contact disk 14 only when the drain valve is closed (FIG. 1) and during full flushing (FIG. 2). For this purpose, the first buoyancy body 11 is displaceably guided on the valve body 5 between its fixed lower position and its upper position supporting the valve body 5.

In the closed starting position of the drain fitting 1 shown in FIG. 1, the first buoyancy body 11 is held stationary in the float housing 8 by magnetic force. For this purpose, parts 16 arranged on the bottom 15 of the float housing 8 and parts 17 arranged below on the first buoyancy body 11 interact magnetically with one another. The magnetic holding force of the parts 16 and 17 is greater than the sum of the buoyancy forces of the first buoyancy body 11 and the second buoyancy body 12.

In the case of full flushing (FIG. 2), by lifting a driver 18 in the pulling direction 19 via a driver basket 20 which engages under the first buoyancy body 11, the first buoyancy body 11 is raised into its upper position and the valve body 5 resting thereon via the contact disk 14. As a result, the drain valve 4 is opened so that the water present in the cistern 2 can flow out via the outflow opening 3.

By lifting the first buoyancy body 11 via the carrier basket 20, the magnetic connection between the first buoyancy body 11 and the float housing 8 is released, so that the first buoyancy body 11 keeps the valve body 5 raised due to its buoyancy in the water of the float housing 8. At the latest when the water in the cistern 2 (for example 9 liters) has completely flowed out of the cistern 2, the water still in the float housing 8 also flows out of the float housing 8 via relief openings 21 , so that the water level in the float housing 8 begins to drop. The first buoyancy body 11 and the valve body 5 supported on it thus lower until the drain valve 4 closes when the valve body 5 is completely lowered. The magnetic holding force acts now at the latest, and the first buoyancy body 11 is again magnetically connected to the float housing 8.

In order to actuate the partial flushing (FIG. 3), the valve body 5 is raised in the pulling direction 19 by means of a driver 22 , whereby the drain valve 4 is opened and the water level 23 in the cistern 2 begins to decrease. Since the magnetic holding force of the parts 16 and 17 is greater than the buoyancy force of the first buoyancy body 11, the latter is still held stationary in the lower position in the float housing 8 and is therefore rendered inoperative. That is, the first buoyancy body 11 is prevented from buoyancy and does not support the raised valve body 5, which is now held in its raised position, which opens the drain valve 4, only by the buoyancy force of the second buoyancy body 12.

When the sinking water level 23 in the cistern 2 reaches the second buoyancy body 12, it floats on the water and sinks with the water level, which continues to decrease. Accordingly, the valve body 5, which is supported on the second buoyancy body 12 via the hold-down device 13, also lowers until it closes the drain valve 4. The water level then still prevailing in the cistern 2 is designated 23 ′ in FIG. 3 and defines the amount of water that has flowed out for the partial flushing.

By axially adjusting the second buoyancy body 12 to the valve body 5, the amount of water flowing out during the partial flushing can be adjusted individually, for example between 3 and 6 liters. For this purpose, a plurality of annular grooves 24 are provided axially one behind the other on the outer circumference of the valve body 5 designed as an overflow pipe, in which the hold-down device 13 can be locked in accordance with the desired amount of water for the partial flushing.

Claims (7)

1. Discharge fitting (1) for a flushing cistern (2), having a valve body (5), having a discharge valve which can be actuated for partial flushing or full flushing of the valve body (5), having a first float (11), which is arranged in a float housing (8) for a flushing cistern (2) and is prevented from floating during the partial flushing, having a second float (12), and having an actuating device for optionally raising the valve body (5) for triggering the full flushing or the partial flushing, the valve body (5) being supported on at least the first float (11) during full flushing and being supported only on the second float (12) during partial flushing, characterized in that, during partial flushing, the first float (11) is retained in a stationary manner in the float housing (8) by a magnetic force, and in that magnetically interacting parts (16, 17) are provided on the base (15) of the float housing (8) and at the bottom of the first float (11).
2. Discharge fitting according to Claim 1, characterized in that one or more permanent magnets are provided in order to generate the magnetic force.
3. Discharge fitting according to Claim 1, characterized in that one or more electromagnets are provided in order to generate the magnetic force.
4. Discharge fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second float (12) is arranged above the first float (11).
5. Discharge fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first float (11) is guided on the valve body (5) such that it can be displaced between its bottom position, in which it is retained in a stationary manner, and its top position, in which it supports the valve body (5).
6. Discharge fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second float (12) can be adjusted axially in relation to the valve body (5).
7. Flushing cistern having a discharge fitting according to one of the preceding claims.

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