EP1554440A1

EP1554440A1 - Water savable flush toilet

Info

Publication number: EP1554440A1
Application number: EP03798578A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Se-Hwan Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-24
Filing date: 2003-09-22
Publication date: 2005-07-20
Also published as: AU2003263645A1; CN1685115A; WO2004029373A1; JP2006500496A

Abstract

Disclosed is a water savable flush toilet including a sealed water tank provided with a water discharge hole opened and closed by a ball-shaped closure disposed therein, a portion of the water tank being connected to a water supply tube and the water discharge hole being formed in a funnel shape; an opening device for opening the water discharge hole by moving the ball-shaped closure, the opening device being disposed in a water discharge tube connected to the water discharge hole, a toilet bowl connected to the water discharge tube to receive the water and provided at a bottom with a water/filth discharge hole on which a magnet is installed, and a bowl closure connected to the opening means by a wire supported on a roller to be opened to discharge water/filth through the water/filth discharge hole and to be closed by the magnet.

Description

WATER SAVABLE FLUSH TOILET

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a water savable flush toilet, and more particularly, to a water savable flush toilet that can discharge filth and wash a toilet bowl using a small amount of water by supplying a large amount of air into a sealed water tank to increase air pressure therein, and to thereby maintain a high water pressure until the water is completely exhausted.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, flush toilets have become widely used in houses and other buildings. A flushing operation of such flush toilets will be described hereinafter.

The flush toilet includes a water tank having a volume of about 13-2, and it is covered with a lid and blocked by a water plug. A toilet bowl of the flush toilet also contains a predetermined amount of water. When a user flushes the toilet after urinating or defecating, the water plug is opened so that the water contained in the water tank is directed to the toilet bowl and is then discharged together with the filth through an exhaust pipe. The discharge is realized by a siphon action. A pressure difference between the toilet bowl and the discharge pipe at the highest level of a reversed U-shaped pipe (i.e., a siphon trap) allows the water with the filth to be exhausted at one time. That is, when a flush lever is rotated, the water contained in the water tank is directed to the toilet bowl to increase the water level of the toilet bowl. At this point, when the water level is increased to higher than the highest level of the reversed U-shaped pipe, the water with the filth is discharged through the discharge pipe at the same time.

In addition, the water filling the reversed U-shaped pipe prevents odors or bugs from coming into the toilet bowl .

However, in the conventional flush toilet, a high level of water pressure is required to clearly discharge the water with the filth through the reversed U-shaped pipe, resulting in the consumption of a large amount of water. For example, 13-8 water is consumed for each flushing. That is, since the water pressure depends on only the amount of water contained in the toilet bowl, a relatively large amount of water is required to obtain a high level of water pressure .

Therefore, an additional object such as a brick and a bottle filled with water is. often disposed in the water tank to reduce the consumption of the water. However, this is not enough to save a significant amount of water, and it sometimes causes the water with the filth not to be completely discharged. Therefore, one more flushing is required, increasing the consumption of the water.

To solve the above problems, a variety of water saving devices has been developed. However, the water saving devices have a water saving effect limited to only 6-1 Α, and they increase the manufacturing costs.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a water savable flush toilet that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a water savable flush toilet that can save water by reducing the discharging water by eliminating a reversed U- shaped pipe .

A second object of the present invention is to provide a water savable flush toilet that can save water by forming air pressure in a sealed water tank to increase water pressure .

A third object of the present invention is to provide a water savable flush toilet having a water tank that can be employed to a conventional toilet bowl associated with a reversed U-shaped pipe. Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention.

The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings . To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a water savable flush toilet including a sealed water tank provided with a water discharge hole opened and closed by a ball- shaped closure disposed therein, a portion of the water tank being connected to a water supply tube and the water discharge hole being formed in a funnel shape; an opening device for opening the water discharge hole by moving the ball-shaped closure, the opening device being disposed in a water discharge tube connected to the water discharge hole, a toilet bowl connected to the water discharge tube to receive the water and provided at a bottom with a water/filth discharge hole on which a magnet is installed, and a bowl closure connected to the opening means by a wire supported on a roller to be opened to discharge water/filth through the water/filth discharge hole and to be closed by the magnet.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water savable flush toilet according to a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state before it is flushed;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a water savable flush toilet depicted in FIG. 1, illustrating a state after it is flushed;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a modified example of a discharge hole depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a water tank according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an air pressure controller depicted in FIG. 4;

FIGs. 6 to 8 are schematic views of a water savable flush toilet where a water tank depicted in FIG. 4 is employed according to a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operating states of the flush toilet; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a toilet bowl seat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGs. 1 and 2 show a water savable flush toilet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the inventive flush toilet comprises a sealed water tank 110 provided with a water discharge hole 140 opened and closed by a ball-shaped closure 120 disposed therein, a portion of the water tank 110 being connected to a water supply tube 150 and the water discharge hole 140 being formed in a funnel shape; opening means for opening the water discharge hole 140 by moving the ball-shaped closure 120, the opening means being disposed in a water discharge tube 240 connected to the water discharge hole 140; a toilet bowl 310 connected to the water discharge tube 140 to receive the water and provided at a bottom with a water/filth discharge hole 320 on which a magnet 420 is installed; and a bowl closure 410 connected to the opening means by a wire supported on a roller 430 to be opened to discharge water/filth through the water/filth discharge hole 320 and to be closed by the magnet 420. The opening means comprise a pinion gear 210 on which an operating lever (flush lever) is installed; a rack gear 220 engaged with the pinion gear 210 and designed to ascend by the opening operation of the operating lever 211 to move the ball-shaped closure 120; and an elastic spring 230 compressed by the ascending of the rack gear 220 and expanding by the closing operation of the operating lever 211 to return the operating lever 211 to an initial position. The pinion gear 210, the rack gear 220, and the elastic spring 230 are disposed on a central portion of the water discharge tube, and a water discharge passage 250 is defined around the central portion.

The water tank 110 is tightly sealed to prevent air from leaking when the water is supplied through the water supply tube 150, thereby forming air pressure as the air is compressed. This allows the toilet bowl 310 to be cleaned by a small amount of water, about 1-1.5-2. The toilet bowl 310 is integrally connected to a surplus water passage 330 to uniformly maintain a predetermined level in the toilet bowl 310 by discharging surplus water/filth when the water/filth is excessively supplied to the toilet bowl 310. That is, the surplus water passage 330 is provided to maintain a balance between an amount of supply water and an amount of discharge water/filth.

The bowl closure 410 installed on the water/filth discharge hole 320 of the toilet bowl 310 is designed to pivot by a hinge 450 to open and close the water/filth discharge hole 320. To ensure the closing operation of the closure 410, it is preferable that a torsion spring is further installed on the hinge 450 to provide a returning force in addition to the magnetic force of the magnet 420.

The operation of the above-described flush toilet will be described more in detail hereinafter.

When a user rotates the operating lever 211 in a state where water is filled in the water tank 110 as shown in FIG. 1, the pinion gear 210 rotates upwards to push the rack gear 20 upwards, compressing the elastic spring 230. The rack gear 220 pushed upward pushes the bottom of the ball- shaped closure 120 so that the closure 120 can be separated from the water discharge hole 140 and be floated on the water.

At this point, as the rack gear 220 vertically moves upwards, the wire connected to the bottom of the rack gear 220 is pulled by the rotation of the roller, thereby opening the closure 410. As the ball-shaped closure 120 is separated from the water discharge hole 140, the water contained in the water tank 110 is discharged to the water discharge passage with a high pressure from the internal air/water pressure, and is then applied to the water stored in the toilet bowl 310. At this point, as the closure 410 is opened, the water in the toilet bowl 310 is discharged with filth by dropping force.

Meanwhile, when the floated ball-shaped closure 120 reaches a middle level of the water tank 110, water supplied from the water supply tube 150 is applied to the ball-shaped closure 120 by a water supply guide 160 installed on the water supply hole 130 to accelerate the floating of the closure 120 and reduce the water resistance, thereby accelerating the discharge of the water through the water discharge hole 140.

As described above, the bowl closure 410 closed by the magnet 420 is opened by the operating lever 211 operated by the user, thereby quickly discharging the water/filth using only dropping force. Even when the user releases force applied to the operating lever 211, the bowl closure 410 maintains the opened state to continuously discharge the water/filth. That is, the high water pressure discharged from the water tank 110 and applied to the toilet bowl 310 is greater than the magnetic force of the magnet 420, so the bowl closure 410 can maintain the opened state.

As the water/filth is discharged, the water pressure from the water tank is reduced to be lower than the magnetic force, after which the bowl closure 410 is closed and the wire is pulled to release the operating lever 211 secured by the elastic spring 230, and at the same time, the rack gear 220 moves downwards to return the operating lever 211 to the initial position. In addition, the ball-shaped closure 120 in the water tank 110 moves downward by gravity to block the water discharge hole 140.

FIG. 3 shows a modified example of the water/filth discharge hole. A water/filth discharge hole of this example is extended from a central bottom of the toilet bowl 510 and bent in a direction so that water/filth pressure cannot be directly transmitted to the bowl closure 410. The reference numeral 520 in FIG. 3 indicates a surplus water passage. FIG. 4 shows a water tank according to another embodiment of the present invention. A water tank 1 of this embodiment is tightly sealed. A rubber packing 18 is installed on a water discharge hole 5 formed on a bottom of the water tank 1. To open and close the water discharge hole 5, an open/close device 3 with a closure part 2 is installed on the water tank 1. A weight 2a is installed on an inner-lower portion of the open/close device 3 so that the weight of the open/close device 3 can be directed downwards. A plurality of guides 4 for guiding a vertical movement of the open/close device 3 is vertically disposed on an outer wall of the open/close device 3. A water supply hole 14 formed spaced away from the water discharge hole 5 is connected to a water supply tube 15 to which a water supply valve 17 for controlling an amount of supply water and an air intake valve 16 for supplying air are connected. The water discharge hole 5 is connected to a water discharge tube 24, and an air pressure controller 6 is installed on an inner-upper portion of the water tank 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the air pressure controller 6 comprises a cylindrical body with a hole 6a formed on a lower-sidewall of the body and an air discharge plate 7 formed on a middle portion of the body; a floating member 8 for opening and closing the air discharge plate 7, the floating member 8 being disposed below the air discharge plate 7 and provided with a plurality of grooves 8a and projections 8b; a shielding plate 9 disposed above the air discharge plate 7 with a spring 10 disposed on the shielding plate 9 and a depressing plate 11 disposed above the spring 10; and an adjusting screw 13 installed on a nut portion 12 fixed above the depressing plate 11 and provided with an air hole 12a for adjusting internal air pressure. A top of the air pressure controller 6 is covered by a cover 19 provided with an air hole 19a.

The water tank 1 is connected to the toilet bowl 310 that is described above with reference to FIGs. 1 to 3.

When the water is supplied to the water tank 1 through the water supply tube 15, a predetermined level of air pressure is formed at an inner-upper portion of the water tank 1, and the water level is increased to a high level A. When the open/close device 3 is opened, the water is discharged until the water level is decreased to a low level B by the water/air pressure (see FIG. 8) . At this point, the amount of discharged water is about 1.5-2.5-2.

Opening means of this embodiment are identical to that described with reference to FIGs. 1 to 3.

The open/close device 3 is designed such that the closure portion 2 can be oriented downwards by the weight 2a to close the water discharge hole by seating on the rubber packing 18 by water/air pressure as well as gravity.

The water supply valve 17 for controlling an amount of water supplied to the water tank 1 and the air intake valve 16 are installed on the water supply tube 15 so as to uniformly maintain the water level and air pressure. Disposed on the water supply hole 14 is an inverse-flow- preventing valve 14a for preventing the water from inversely flowing to the water supply tube 15 even when the internal pressure of the water tank is increased to a predetermined level. As shown in FIGs. 6 and 9, illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, a toilet seat 50 on which a user can sit is installed on the toilet bowl 31 by a hinge 54. An elastic tube 52 is installed on a bottom of the seat 50. The elastic tube 52 is formed of a rubber or silicon material so that the internal hollow portion thereof can be easily recovered even when it is compressed. That is, the elastic tube 52 is designed to function as an air pump. In addition, the elastic tube 52 is divided into two halves along a shape of the seat 50. First check valves 55 are installed on distal ends of the two halves of the elastic tube 52. The two halves of the tube 52 are joined as a single tube behind the hinge 54. The single tube 52 is connected to an air injection pipe 52a by a second check valve 56. The air injection pipe 52a extends in the water tank such that a distal end thereof is disposed at a portion that is slightly higher than the low level B. A third check valve is installed on the distal end of the air injection pipe 52a. When the user sits on the toilet seat 50, the elastic tube 52 is compressed to direct air to the air injection pipe 58a such that pressure in the air injection pipe 58a becomes higher than the internal air pressure of the water tank 1. As a result, air is injected from the air injection pipe 58a into the water tank 1 to increase the internal air pressure of the water tank 1. When the air is excessively supplied into the water tank 1, the amount of supply water may be reduced. In this case, the air pressure controller 6 is operated to maintain the internal air pressure to a predetermined level. Rubber packings 180, 260, and 460 are installed between the water discharge hole 5 and the closure portion 2, between the rack gear 220 and the water discharge passage 250, between the magnet 420 and the closure 410, and between the air injection pipe 52a and the water tank 1 so as to prevent water leakage.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described in more detail hereinafter.

When the open/close device 3 is ascended by the opening means, .the water is discharged through the water discharge tube 24 to remove the water/filth in the toilet bowl. When the water/filth in the toilet bowl is removed, the open/close device is closed by the weight 2a and water is supplied to the water tank 1 through the water supply hole 16 while forming air pressure in the water tank 1. When the air pressure in the water tank 1 is increased above a predetermined level, a portion of the air in the water tank is directed to the grooves 8a of the floating member 8 through the hole 6a formed on the sidewall of the air pressure controller to push the shielding plate 9 blocking the air discharge plate 7, after which it is exhausted to the outside through the air hole 12a formed on the nut portion 12 and the hole 19a formed on the cover 19, passing through the air discharge plate 7.

When a portion of the air in the water tank is exhausted to the outside, the shielding plate 9 blocks the air discharge plate 7 by the elastic force of the spring 10. That is, when the internal air pressure is greater than a predetermined level, when the water is discharged to the low level B, the shielding plate 9 is quickly pushed upwards to open the air discharge plate 7, thereby maintaining the air pressure at the predetermined level. The predetermined level of the internal air pressure can be adjusted by the adjusting screw 13 to vary the amount of supply/discharge water.

That is, by adjusting the predetermined level of the internal air pressure of the water tank 1, it is possible to use the water tank 1 with a conventional toilet bowl associated with a reversed U-shaped pipe.

INDUSTRICAL APPLICABILITY As described-above, the water savable flush toilet of the present invention requires 1-1.5-6 of water at the most for each use, while the conventional one requires 13-2 of water. The actual water saving effect is remarkably improved. In addition, the inventive water savable flush toilet can save water by reducing the discharging water by eliminating a reversed U-shaped pipe and by forming air pressure in a sealed water tank to increase water pressure. Furthermore, the water savable flush toilet has a water tank that can be employed to a conventional toilet bowl associated with a reversed U-shaped pipe.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A water savable flush toilet comprising:

a sealed water tank provided with a water discharge hole opened and closed by a ball-shaped closure disposed therein, a portion of the water tank being connected to a water supply tube and the water discharge hole being formed in a funnel shape; opening means for opening the water discharge hole by moving the ball-shaped closure, the opening means being disposed in a water discharge tube connected to the water discharge hole; a toilet bowl connected to the water discharge tube to receive the water and provided at a bottom with a water/filth discharge hole on which a magnet is installed; and a bowl closure connected to the opening means by a wire supported on a roller to be opened to discharge water/filth through the water/filth discharge hole and to be closed by the magnet.

2. The water savable flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the opening means comprise: a pinion gear on which an operating lever is installed; a rack gear engaged with the pinion gear and designed to ascend by the opening operation of the operating lever to move the ball-shaped closure; and an elastic spring compressed by the ascending of the rack gear and expanding by the closing operation of the operating lever to return the operating lever to an initial position.

3. The water savable flush toilet of claim 1, wherein a surplus water passage is provided communicating with the toilet bowl .

4. The water savable flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the water/filth discharge hole is extended from a bottom central portion of the toilet bowl and bent in a direction.

5. The water savable flush toilet of claim 1, wherein a torsion spring is installed on a hinge for the bowl closure .

6. The water savable flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the water tank is formed in a sphere-shape.

7. A water savable flush toile comprising a water tank and a chamber port, wherein the water tank is tightly sealed, an open/close device with a closure part for opening and closing a water discharge hole is installed on the water tank, a plurality of guide for guiding a vertical movement of the open/close device is vertically disposed on an outer wall of the open/close device, a water supply tube is installed spacing away from the water discharge hole, an inverse-flow-preventing valve is disposed between the water tank and the water supply tube to prevent the water contained in the water tank from inversely flowing to the water supply tube, a water supply valve for controlling an amount of supply water and an air intake valve for supplying air are connected to the water supply tube, a water discharge tube is connected to the water discharge hole, an air pressure controller is provided to control air pressure in the water tank, an air injection pipe is inserted into the water tank from a bottom to a predetermined level, and an elastic tube is provided for supplying air to the air injection pipe by compressing air contained therein.

8. The water savable flush toilet of claim 7, the air pressure controller comprises a cylindrical body, a hole formed on a lower-sidewall of the body, an air discharge plate formed on a middle portion of the body, a floating member for opening and closing the air discharge plate, the floating member being disposed below the air discharge plate and provided with a plurality of grooves and projections, a shielding plate disposed above the air discharge plate, a spring disposed on the shielding plate, a depressing plate disposed above the spring, and an adjusting screw installed on a nut portion fixed above the depressing plate and provided with an air hole for adjusting internal air pressure.

9. A water savable flush toile comprising a water tank and a chamber port, wherein the water tank is tightly sealed, an open/close device with a closure part for opening and closing a water discharge hole is installed on the water tank, a plurality of guide for guiding a vertical movement of the open/close device is vertically disposed on an outer wall of the open/close device, a water discharge tube is connected to the water discharge hole, an air pressure controller is provided to control air pressure in the water tank, an inverse-flow-preventing valve is disposed being spaced away from the water discharge hole to prevent the water contained in the water tank from inversely flowing, a water supply valve for controlling an amount of supply water and an air intake valve for supplying air are connected to a water supply tube, an air injection pipe is inserted into the water tank from a bottom to a predetermined level, an elastic tube is provided for supplying air to the air injection pipe by compressing air contained therein, a toilet bowl seat is disposed on the toilet bowl seat and is connected to an compression cylinder by a link for a pivotal motion, opening means is provided for opening the water discharge hole by moving the closure, a magnet is installed on a water/filth discharge hole formed on the toilet bowl, and a bowl closure connected to the opening means by a wire supported on a roller to be opened to discharge water/filth through the water/filth discharge hole and to be closed by the magnet .

10. The water savable flush toilet of claim 9, wherein The opening means comprises a pinion gear on which an operating lever is installed; a rack gear engaged with the pinion gear and designed to be ascended by the opening operation of the operating lever to move a closure for closing the water discharge hole; and an elastic spring compressed by the ascending of the rack gear and expanding by the closing operation of the operating lever to return the operating lever to an initial position.

11. The water savable flush toilet of claim 9, wherein the toilet bowl seat is installed on the toilet bowl by a hinge, an elastic tube is installed on a bottom of the seat and is divided into two halves along a shape of the seat, first check valves are installed on distal ends of the two halves of the elastic tube, the two halves of the tube are joined as a single tube, the single tube is connected to the air injection pipe by a second check valve, the air injection pipe extends in the water tank such that a distal end thereof is disposed at a predetermined level, and a third check valve is installed on the distal end of the air injection pipe.