EP1354100A1

EP1354100A1 - Flushing mechanism for toilet tank

Info

Publication number: EP1354100A1
Application number: EP02700350A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Claude Oury
Original assignee: Societe Etex de Recherches Techniques SERT
Current assignee: Aliaxis Research and Technology SAS
Priority date: 2001-01-23
Filing date: 2002-01-22
Publication date: 2003-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-22
Also published as: DE60212070T2; ES2266442T3; GB0319676D0; PT1354100E; EP1354100B1; US6920649B2; CN1524148A; DE60212070D1; GB2390617A; MXPA03006019A; CA2436945A1; ATE329094T1; US20040083542A1; GB2390617B; WO2002059431A1; CA2436945C; FR2819835A1; CN1318706C; FR2819835B1

Abstract

A flushing mechanism for toilet tank comprises an overflow tube ( 1 ) provided with a sealing valve ( 3, 4 ) co-operating with a discharge orifice ( 5 ') including a first floater ( 30 ) mounted on a height-adjusting screw ( 31 ) and a second floater ( 40 ) mounted pivoting about a fixed pin ( 41 ). The adjusting screw ( 31 ) is articulated ( 33 ) on a lever ( 34 ) articulated about a fixed pin ( 35 ), the lever ( 34 ) is provided with a snug ( 36 ) co-operating with a first locking cam ( 37 ) and the second floater ( 40 ) is provided with a snug ( 42 ) co-operating with a second locking cam ( 43 ). The invention is applicable to double-volume flushing systems.

Description

Flushing mechanism for toilet tank.

The invention relates to a flushing mechanism for a toilet tank (WC) arranged to allow the evacuation, out of the previously filled tank, into a WC bowl of two different volumes of water by action on at least one button. control, said mechanism being surrounded by a casing and comprising an overflow tube provided at its lower end with a sealing valve cooperating with a discharge orifice formed in the bottom of the bowl, said tube being overflow being arranged to occupy at least three axial positions, namely a low position for closing the discharge orifice, an intermediate position called small flush allowing the evacuation of a first volume of water and a position upper so-called large flush allowing the evacuation of a second volume of water greater than said first volume of water, control means ensuring the axial movement of the overflow tube from its low position up to the intermediate position or the high position, the mechanism further comprising a first float called small flush mounted on a height adjustment screw and a second float called large flush mounted pivoting about a fixed axis relative to one envelope.

In order to save water, which is expensive and precious, we have developed flushing mechanisms for WC tanks allowing the evacuation, at the user's choice, of two different volumes of water .

These “double flush” mechanisms, like some of the usual single flush mechanisms, generally include an overflow tube movable in vertical translation inside an envelope, the lower end of the overflow tube. full forming sealing valve between the tank and the toilet bowl. The displacement of the overflow tube is controlled by at least one control button acting on a transmission. Two floats, one called large flush and the other called small flush, determine the volume of water respectively discharged when the level of the water in the tank reaches the respective float, which releases the overflow tube , which descends to close the communication between the tank and the bowl. The adjustment of the volume of water evacuated in small flush can be obtained by adjusting the height position of the small flush float relative to the water level in the tank.

Many proposals have been made for such mechanisms, with various solutions essentially for the transmission between the control button (s) and the overflow tube and the mode of cooperation between the floats and the overflow tube. One can cite, among other documents, WO-97/17503, FR-A-2 770 547 or FR-A-2 720 421. The solutions known in one state of the art are not entirely satisfactory in terms of safety and durability of operation, access for maintenance or repair, ease of assembly and / or adjustment, size and / or maintenance of a water reserve. In addition, the costs of these known mechanisms are relatively high because they involve resorting to the assembly of a relatively large number of component parts.

EP-A-0 915 210 (US-A-6 094 753) discloses a flushing mechanism corresponding to the state of the art described above. This known mechanism has the drawback of using a lever transmission, housed inside the overflow tube, therefore difficult to access and bulky. In addition, the large flush float is held by a mechanical lock which is removed by direct action of the small flush float, which constitutes a cause of wear and a risk of malfunction. In addition, the entire mechanism has a large footprint, in particular in height.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a new dual flush mechanism for a toilet tank which does not have the drawbacks of the above mechanisms.

To this end, the mechanism according to the invention is characterized in that the adjusting screw is articulated, in the vicinity of its lower end, on one end of a lever whose other end is articulated around a fixed axis by relative to the casing, said lever is provided with a cooperating lug, during the displacement of said overflow tube from its low position to its intermediate position, with a first cam carried by the external face of said overflow tube and the second float, said to be of large flush, is provided with a cooperating lug, during the displacement of said overflow tube between its intermediate position and its high position, with a second cam carried by said overflow tube and more distant of the sealing valve as the first cam. The mechanism according to the invention offers the advantage of safe operation, even with a minimum level of water in the tank. Its constitution reduces the overall height of the mechanism and its overall cost.

Preferably, the overflow tube has a lateral shoulder, with which a lever pivots pivoting about an axis orthogonal to the direction of movement of the overflow tube, said lever being controlled in rotation by a sheathed cable, one end is fixed to said lever and the other end to a slide controlled by two different strokes by a control button with two positions.

The sheathed cable transmission between the control button and the pivoting lever allows a simple, economical, reliable and space-saving structure which also allows mounting of the flushing mechanism, either with or without fixing the cover to the tank.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings among which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the flushing mechanism mounted in a flushing tank, the cover being secured to the tank via said flushing mechanism, the cover and the tank being partially broken away for better understanding, - Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, the cover is not integral with the tank but simply placed on it,

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of the flushing mechanism, the tank being full, the envelope of the mechanism being assumed to be transparent,

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, the tank being empty, certain parts being shown in section, FIG. 5 is similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mechanism being in the small flush position,

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, the mechanism being in the flush position, - FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the mechanism and of part of the control means, the cover being open,

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show, in perspective, the double button for controlling the mechanism respectively in the rest position, with the small flush button pressed and with the large flush button pressed, FIGS. 11 to 16 respectively represent the various phases for securing the cover to the reservoir via the mechanism and, - Figure 17 illustrates a phase of disassembly of the previous assembly.

The mechanism according to the invention comprises an overflow tube 1 mounted in translation in an envelope 2. The overflow tube 1 carries, at its lower end, a head 3 provided with a flat seal 4 peripheral seal , which form a sealing valve cooperating with a base 5, integral with the casing 2 by pillars 6.

This assembly is mounted inside a tank 10 supplied with water by filling means (not shown) including a filling limitation member such as a float controlling a valve. The base 5 is housed in a lower orifice in the tank 10 so that, when the sealing valve 3, 4 is moved away from the base 5 forming the valve seat, the water contained in the tank 10 can flow into a bowl (not shown) of toilets (WC).

The tank cover 10 (Figure 1) can be secured to the tank via the flushing mechanism and a rosette 13 control button holder 12 fixed to said cover. In the example according to Figure 2, the housing 1 ₅ is simply fixed inside the tank 10 under the rosette control button.

The button 12, the structure and operation of which will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, comprises an external rosette 13 button holder housed in an opening in the cover and screwed, by a threaded projection 14 (FIGS. 8 to 10 ) on a housing 15. A sheath 16 is in abutment, at one end, on the housing 15 and, at the other end, on the casing 2. A control cable 17 (see FIG. 7) is housed in the sheath 16.

In the case of an attachment of the cover 11 of the reservoir (FIG. 1), a stirrup A is fixed between the housing 15 and the cover 11 and its arms include notches B which each cooperate with a flexible attachment C integral with the envelope 2, so that the fitting of the cover 11 can be done by simple pressure of the arms in the said flexible clips C. This connection will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17.

The overflow tube 1 has an external shoulder 20 with which cooperates a nose 21 of a lever 22 pivoting about an axis 23 orthogonal to the direction of translation of the overflow tube 1, one end of the control cable 17 being fixed to the lever 22 so that a pull on the control cable 17 produces a lifting of the overflow tube 1.

A small flush float 30 is mounted on a micrometric screw 31 for fine height adjustment which adjusts the quantity of water delivered. This screw comprises an upper screwing head 32 and its lower end is provided with a ball 33 of articulation of a lever 34 whose end opposite to the ball 33 is articulated around a axis 35 fixed relative to the casing 2. The lever 34 carries a lug 36 which cooperates with a first cam 37 carried by the overflow tube 1. The adjusting screw 31 can advantageously be made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to allow an initial positioning of the small game float 30, provided with a notch 30 ′ (FIG. 4), by force-pressing on the adjusting screw 31, the fine adjustment of the height position of the small game float 30 is conventionally by acting on the screw head 32.

A large flush float 40, pivoting about an axis 41 fixed relative to the casing 2, is mounted on a side substantially diametrically opposite the small flush float 30 relative to the overflow tube 1. The float big game 40 is provided with a lug 42 which cooperates with a second cam 43 carried by the overflow tube 1.

The operation of the mechanism which has just been described is as follows:

When the tank 10 is full (Figure 3) or when it is empty. (Figure 4), the valve 3, 4 is supported on the seat of the base ^f 5, so that the communication between the tank 10 and the bowl is closed.

A small flush pull on the control cable 17 brings the overflow tube 1 to the small flush emptying position (FIG. 5) in which the small flush float 30 is mounted, of a determined height, and the valve 3, 4 is spaced a certain height from the seat of the base 5 and frees the passage between the reservoir 10 and the bowl. The lug 36 of the lever 34 has slid along the first cam 37 and has come to be housed under a shoulder formed by this cam 37. The small flush float 30 therefore locks the overflow tube 1 and only releases it when the level of the water in the tank has dropped from a height such that the small flush float 30 no longer rests on the water and descends, by pivoting the lever 34. The lug ₃₆ then escapes the shoulder of the cam 37 and the overflow tube 1 suddenly drops, interrupting the emptying. The amount of water emptied corresponds to the small flush.

A pull on the control cable 17 of a larger amount brings the overflow tube 1 to a higher position for emptying in large flush (Figure 6). The lug 42 of the large flush float 40 is received under a shoulder of the second cam 43, so that the large flush float 40 locks the overflow tube 1. As before, the overflow tube 1 is only released when the water level in the tank 10 releases the high-flush float 40 which, by pivoting, separates the lug 42 from the cam 43. The overflow tube 1 then suddenly drops back into position the quantity of water emptied corresponding to the big game.

The traction control of the cable 17 according to two different strokes can be done by various means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 10, the button 12 comprises two sliding pushers 50 and 51 returned to the outside of the body 13 by springs 52 and 53 respectively. The pushers 50 and 51 each carry an axial extension 54,

55 sliding in the threaded projection 14, on either side of a slide 56 connected to the adjacent end of the cable 17. In the rest position (FIG. 8), the extensions _. 54, 55 are supported respectively on a lateral support 57, 58 of the slide 56. By depressing the pusher 50 of small hunting (Figure 9), the slide 56 descends under the action of the projection 54 on the support 57, d 'A predetermined stroke while, when the plunger 51 is pushed in (hunting 10), the slider 56 descends from an upper stroke under the action of the projection 55 on the support 58. The slider

56 is further provided with two lateral projections 59 cooperating respectively with a shoulder 59 'of the axial extensions 54, 55 to keep the pusher 50, 51 not actuated.

In the embodiment shown, the casing 2 of the mechanism is made in one piece of polypropylene in two half-shells articulated around a hinge 60 (Figure 7) parallel to the axis of the overflow tube 1. The open casing 2 makes it easy to assemble all the components inside. Its closure ensures the positioning of all the elements.

In addition, a sliding hatch 61 is slidably mounted on a lateral opening 61 'formed in the portion of the casing 2 forming a water retention tank so as to allow an adjustment of the residual water level from 15 to 65 mm at the bottom of the casing 2, defining the delay in closing the valve 3, 4. Furthermore, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a clearance 62 formed in the lower part of the overflow tube forms a water flow passage in the small flush position between the overflow tube 1 and the casing 2 which neutralizes the time delay when the small flush float 30 is adjusted at the bottom of the casing 2 The height of the retention tank is determined by louvers 63 formed in the casing 2, the lowest hearing determining the delay height.

The mechanism which has just been described also offers the advantage of allowing very low adjustment of the small flush, for operation with a minimum level of water in the tank (100 mm for example). This result is obtained by the independence of the floats 30 and 40, the small flush float 30 being able to be lowered by crossing the large flush float 40.

In the example shown, the base 5 does not have a projecting seat and has an internal tulip shape 5 against which comes the radius of 1 mm located on the outside diameter of the seal 4 of the valve head 3. The water flow and the flush rate are thus improved. Furthermore, the opening force of the valve ₃ is significantly reduced thanks to the reduction in the section of the water column which is applied to the flat seal 4.

It will also be noted that the device which has just been described includes a reference 65 guaranteeing a minimum evacuation level of 3 liters imposed by the standard. This mark is arranged in the upper part of the small-game float 30.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 11 to 17 which illustrate the attachment of the cover 11 to the reservoir by means of the double flush mechanism, as shown in FIG. 1. The aim sought and requested by the ceramists is to avoid any adjustment complex mechanism when fixing the cover 11 on the tank 10.

In a first phase (Figure 11), the cover 11 is supported on elastic tabs 70 that has the upper part of the stirrup A, ready to push this stirrup A down. The lowest notches B of the stirrup A are attached to the hinged ears 71 of the flexible clip C secured to the casing 2. The housing 15 is temporarily immobilized by notches 72 of the head of the stirrup A.

Then (see FIG. 12), the cover 11 is pushed by hand in order to come to rest on the top of the reservoir 10. The stirrup A descends and the hinged ears 71 are positioned respectively on two notches B. The housing 15 is temporarily immobilized in stirrup A by notches 72.

Then (see Figure 13), the rosette 13 button holder 12 is screwed by its threaded projection 14 in a nut 73 trapped in the head of stirrup A. The threaded projection 14 is terminated by a conical end 74 which engages in a corresponding hollow conical part 75 of the housing 15, which is always immobilized in the stirrup A by the notches 72.

Then continues to screw the rosette 13 into the nut 73 (Figure 14), the rosette 13 is not yet in contact with the cover 11. At the connection between the conical part 74 and the thread of the threaded projection 14 of the rosette 13 is formed a groove 76 in which engages a circular projection 77 of the hollow conical part 75 of the housing 15, so that the rosette 13 becomes integral with the housing 15 which is always temporarily immobilized in the stirrup A by the notches 72.

Then, by continuing to screw the rosette 13 into the nut 73 (FIG. 15), the rosette 13 drives the housing 15, which detaches from the stirrup A by exiting the notches 72. The rosette 13 then comes into contact with the cover 11.

The screwing of the rosette 13 in the nut 73 continues (see FIG. 16), so that the stirrup A approaches the cover 11 by crushing the elastic tabs 70. The notches B of the stirrup A positively clinging to the hinged ears 71 and the cover 11 is thus permanently fixed.

For the dismantling of the stirrup A (FIG. 17), after unscrewing and leaving the rosette 13 and dismantling the cover 11, the hinged ears 71 are removed, the end tabs 78 of which hang on the casing 2 of the flushing mechanism. The stirrup A is thus released and can be reassembled or removed.

The attachment of the cover 11 to the tank 10, by means of the flushing mechanism, is therefore extremely simple and rapid and does not require any particular adjustment or special adjustment.

Claims

1. Flushing mechanism for tank (10) of toilets (WC) arranged to allow the evacuation, out of the tank (10) previously filled, of two different volumes of water by action on at least one control button (12), said mechanism being surrounded by an envelope (2) and comprising an overflow tube (1) provided, at its lower end, with a sealing valve (3, 4) cooperating with an orifice discharge (5 ') formed in the bottom of the tank (10), said overflow tube (1) being arranged to occupy at least three axial positions, namely a low position for closing the discharge orifice (5 '), an intermediate position called small flush allowing the evacuation of a first volume of water and an upper position called large flush allowing the evacuation of a second volume of water greater than said first volume of water, control means (12, 16, 17, 21, 22) ensuring the axial displacement of the overflow tube ein (1) from its low position to the intermediate position or the high position, the mechanism further comprising a first float (30) said to be small, mounted on a height adjustment screw (31) and a second float ( 40) said of large hunting mounted pivoting about an axis (41) fixed relative to the envelope (2), characterized in that the adjusting screw (31) is articulated (33), in the vicinity of its lower end , on one end of a lever (34) whose other end is articulated around an axis (35) fixed relative to the casing (2), said lever (34) is provided with a lug (36 ) cooperating, during the movement of said overflow tube (1) from its low position to its intermediate position, with a first locking cam (37) carried by the external face of said overflow tube (1) and the second float (40) said to be of large hunting is provided with a lug (42) cooperating, during the movement of said overflow tube (1) between its intermediate position and its position high, with a second locking cam (43) carried by said overflow tube (1) and further from the sealing valve than the first cam (37). i

2. Flushing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow tube (1) has a lateral shoulder (20), with which a lever (21, 22) cooperates pivoting about an axis ( 23) orthogonal to the direction of movement of the overflow tube (1), said lever (21, 22) being controlled in rotation by a cable (17) in sheath (16) one end of which is fixed to said lever (21, 22) and the other end to a slide (56) controlled in two different strokes by a control button (12) in two positions.

3. Flushing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that said control button (12) comprises two sliding pushers (50, 51) biased towards the outside by springs (52, 53), the pushers ( 50, 51) comprising axial extensions (54, 55) arranged on either side of said slide (56) and cooperating in support respectively on a lateral support (57, 58) of the slide (56).

4. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the casing (2) of the mechanism is in one piece in two parts articulated around a hinge (60) parallel to the axis of the overflow tube (1).

5. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a base (5) mounted in the bottom of the tank (10) has no projecting seat and has an internal tulip shape (5 ') against which comes the spoke located on the outside diameter of a flat seal (4) constituting with a head (3) the sealing valve.

6. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims ₁ to 5, characterized in * that the casing (2) comprises gills (63 ₎ delimiting a water retention tank in the bottom of the casing (2).

7. Flushing mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that a slide hatch (61) is slidably mounted on a lateral opening (61 ') formed in the portion of the envelope (2) forming a tank retention to allow adjustment of the residual water level in said retention tank.

8. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the overflow tube (1) has at its lower part a recess (62) forming a water flow passage in the small flush position between the overflow tube (1) and the casing (2).

9. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the adjusting screw (31) consists of a flexible material allowing the forced flush of the small flush float (30) comprising a notch (30 ') cooperating with said adjusting screw (31).

10. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a stirrup (A) is fixed between the housing (15) and the cover (11) of the tank (10) and comprises two arms provided with notches (B) each cooperating with a flexible fastener (C) integral with the casing (2) of the mechanism.

11. Flushing mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that the stirrup (A) is provided with elastic tabs (70) for supporting the cover (11) and notches (72 ₎ for immobilizing a housing (15) arranged to be fixed at the end a threaded projection (14) of a rosette (13) button holder (12), said threaded projection (14) cooperating with a nut (73) trapped in the bracket (A), said housing (15) comprising a circular projection (77) cooperating with a groove (76) of the threaded projection (14), said threaded projection (14) having a conical end (74) cooperating with a corresponding hollow conical part (75) of the housing (15).

12. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a mark (65) disposed in the upper part of the small flush float (30) and guaranteeing a minimum evacuation volume predetermined.