EP2039838B2 - Toilet flushing device with height-adjustable siphon - Google Patents

Description

The field of the present invention is that of sanitary appliances and in particular flush toilets.

The devices for actuating a toilet flush are mainly of two types. The former are based on the opening of a valve placed at the bottom of the tank which is raised to release the water contained in the tank, the second on a siphon which can take the form of a mobile bell or a U overturned whose two branches plunge into the water and one of which is connected to the discharge pipe to the bowl. These siphon systems have the advantage over traditional valve systems of having better resistance to leakage. In the last configuration mentioned above, to trigger the flush, a piston is disposed inside the end of the second leg of the U which is extended by a cylinder shape; the lifting of the piston fills the neck of the siphon which thus begins and triggers the emptying of the water of the tank. A diaphragm acting as a non-return valve is generally associated with this piston so that the water located above the piston is retained by it and driven during priming, but also so that the water can pass through the piston during the filling of the tank and during its emptying following the priming of the siphon.

One of the drawbacks associated with this type of flushing is the positioning of the neck of the siphon in the tank so that the actuation of the hunt is not too hard. A too low position of the siphon neck will limit the height of water in the tank, whereas a positioning too high will increase the effort to make trigger the priming and even may require to perform several operations to obtain this priming . A second disadvantage lies in the lack of means for adjusting the hunting pressure while controlling the amount of water discharged during this hunt. Several systems have been proposed so that the effort to be done is minimal, positioning the neck of the siphon just above the water level in the tank. They relate for example to fixed systems relative to the bottom of the tank but whose length must be adjusted so that the neck of the siphon only slightly exceeds the level of the water. In this case, this adjustment requires either a set of several tubes of different lengths (see patent GB 321831 ) or a large tube which must then be cut to bring it to the correct size (see patent US 5,761,748 ). This is an important disadvantage for the installer who must, in the first case, bring to the site a large number of parts and, in the second, perform an additional operation of locating the appropriate height and sectioning the tube. Other systems have been proposed that introduce floats supporting the top of the siphon; they have the disadvantage that the cylinder may be away from the bottom of the tank which has the effect that only part of the tank water is used during the hunt. The siphon is defused as soon as the level of the water in the tank reaches the bottom of the cylinder.

A siphon flush device with two branches of the sliding siphon is described in the document GB 2,083,851 A .

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a siphon flush actuating system that allows all at once, to choose the water level in the tank so as to obtain a hunting pressure sufficient to position the neck of the siphon above the water by a very simple operation, while allowing a fine adjustment of the position of this neck, and independently adjust each of the two branches of the siphon so as to position the bottom of the cylinder at the most appropriate position, regarding the circulation of water in the tank and optimizing the amount of water consumed. It thus makes it possible to manufacture in factory a unique system adaptable to all water levels and to all the sizes of tanks that the installer will be able to meet. It also makes it possible to simplify the maintenance of the device, by the possibility of disassembly without breaking the seal at the level of the evacuation pipe towards the bowl.

For this purpose, the problem is solved by a device according to claim 1.

The invention thus makes it possible, on the one hand, to adjust the height of the neck of the siphon so as to adapt the device to all types of tanks and to obtain the right flushing pressure and, on the other hand, the height of the cylinder to adjust the amount of water consumed at each hunt.

Advantageously, the drain branch of the siphon is adjustable in position relative to the discharge tube to ensure the adjustment of the neck of the siphon above the water level of the tank.

It is then possible to choose, without constraint provided by the flush system, a water height adapted to the desired pressure by playing on the filling device and then adjust the height of the siphon so that it is located immediately beyond above the water level and the effort required to prime the siphon is low.

According to the invention, the suction branch of the siphon is adjustable in position relative to the suction tube to ensure the adjustment of the cylinder relative to the base of the tank.

In this configuration it is possible to choose the height at which the cylinder is positioned and thus the amount of water from the tank sucked during the hunt.

Preferably, between the exhaust branch and the evacuation tube is disposed a first seal.

This configuration is also necessary when the junction between this branch and this tube is placed below the water level in the tank. In any case it avoids a call for air between the branch and the tube during the hunt and the defusing is done too early.

Advantageously, between the suction branch and the suction tube is arranged a second seal.

This improves the priming of the siphon and avoids inadvertent defusing. This seal also provides a sealing function when it is below the water level.

In another particular embodiment, the exhaust and suction branch is annealed, with a pitch less than or equal to 5 mm, and the evacuation tube and the suction tube each carry a connecting means capable of cooperating with one of said rings, so as to ensure the positioning, respectively, of the siphon and / or the cylinder.

Preferably at least one of the connecting means is constituted by a flange made in two parts so as to allow its assembly after installation of the branch of the siphon with which it cooperates in the corresponding tube.

Preferably, the evacuation and suction tube each has at its upper end slots oriented along its generatrices and, between said slots, beads adapted to be inserted into notches positioned respectively on the discharge branch and suction and wherein a locking sleeve, slidably positioned around said discharge and suction tube, is adapted, in the locked position, to maintain said beads under pressure in said notches.

In another particular embodiment, the evacuation tube is extended upwards by an intermediate tube slidable on said evacuation tube and fixed to the evacuation tube by removable assembly means and in which the co-operation of the discharge tube with the discharge branch is provided by the intermediate tube.

Advantageously, the removable assembly means are of the quick coupler type, such as clipping.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un dispositif de chasse d'eau à siphon selon un art antérieur;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe schématique donnant le principe de fonctionnement d'un dispositif de chasse d'eau à siphon selon l'invention;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un dispositif de chasse d'eau à siphon non couvert par les revendications;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe d'une réalisation, dans la position de repli maximal non couvert par les revendications;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe d'une réalisation, dans la position d'extension maximale non couvert par les revendications.
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues en coupe d'une variante de réalisation de l'invention, la branche d'évacuation étant respectivement en position de pré-assemblage et en position assemblée,
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe d'une seconde variante de réalisation de l'invention, dans la position de repli maximal.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of several embodiments of the invention given as examples. purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached schematic drawings. On these drawings:

• the figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a siphon flush device according to a prior art;
• the figure 2 is a schematic sectional view giving the principle of operation of a siphon flush device according to the invention;
• the figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a siphon flush device not covered by the claims;
• the figure 4 is a sectional view of an embodiment, in the maximum fallback position not covered by the claims;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view of an embodiment, in the maximum extension position not covered by the claims.
• the Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views of an alternative embodiment of the invention, the exhaust branch being respectively in the pre-assembly position and in the assembled position,
• the figure 8 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, in the maximum folded position.

Referring to the figure 1 , we see the operation of a siphon flush device according to a prior art. It consists of a tank 1, filled with water to a level 2. The tank filling system can be of any known type and is not shown. In this tank is installed an inverted U-shaped siphon with two branches, one forming a discharge tube 3, which is connected to the water discharge pipe to the bowl and the other forming the suction tube. 4 which ends with a cylinder 5 immersed in water. The two suction and discharge tubes are interconnected by a neck 6 located above the water level 2.

In the cylinder 5 is installed a piston 7 actuated by a pull tab 8 which can lift towards the upper part of the cylinder in order to fill the neck 6 and to start the siphon. Once it is primed, the water from the tank is sucked by the suction tube 4 and flows into the toilet bowl through the discharge tube 3. A membrane 9 is placed on the upper part of the piston 7 and is attached at its center so that it can lift and let the water to the suction tube 4 but also prevents water from going down when the piston is actuated upwards. On the figure 1 there is also shown a return device such as a spring (not referenced) which brings the piston down after the flushing action.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 we see how it works a siphon flush device according to the invention. The elements identical to the embodiment of the prior art are designated by the same reference numeral and are not described again. The invention differs in that here the suction and evacuation tubes are of limited height. The discharge tube 3 is, as before, connected to the water discharge pipe to the bowl and the suction tube 4 is extended by a cylinder 5 immersed in the water tank. The inverted U-shaped siphon comprises a neck 6 arranged between two branches, a discharge branch 13 and a suction branch 14. These branches of the siphon are inserted and slide in the evacuation and suction tubes 3 and 4 to adjust the height of the siphon and the cylinder. After mounting the neck 6 is located just above the water level 2 and the bottom of the cylinder 5 is at a height "h" from the bottom of the tank that determines the amount of water that will be consumed during the hunting and the one that will remain in the tank after defusing the siphon and the end of the hunt. The connection of the discharge branch 13 of the siphon to the evacuation tube 3 is generally below the water level 2, a first seal 10e is placed between these two elements to seal the water. inside the tube opposite the tank water; it also avoids premature defusing during the hunt. A second seal 10a may also be positioned between the suction branch 14 and the suction tube 4, so as to improve the suction during the priming of the siphon and to avoid, again, an inadvertent defusing during the hunt.

On the Figures 3, 4 and 5 we see a particular embodiment of a flushing device not covered by the claims. The evacuation 3 and suction tubes 4 are shown in the form of smooth tubes, however, having a retaining ring at its high end, while the branches 13 and 14 of the siphon are carrying a male thread. This configuration has the advantage of being able to continuously adjust the height of the branches of the siphon relative to the tubes and ensure a fine adjustment of this height.

The branches 13 and 14 are fixed to the corresponding tubes 3 and 4 by means of connecting means such as flanges referenced respectively 11 for evacuation and 12 for suction. These rotate freely around the retaining ring and carry a female thread adapted to cooperate with the male thread of the exhaust branches 13 and suction 14 so as to adjust the relative height of these branches 13 and 14 with respect to the tubes 3 and 4. These flanges are made in two parts, which assemble for example by clipping, to allow their mounting on the evacuation and suction tubes after the establishment of the branches of the siphon inside these tubes.

The branches 13 and 14 of the siphon carry towards their lower ends, housings in which are inserted first and second seals 10e and 10a of the kind joined to double lips or O-rings, which seal and anti- defusing.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in the Figures 6 and 7 , the branches can be annealed, the pitch between two consecutive rings being chosen so as to adjust the height of the branches with the desired accuracy, which may for example be 4 or 5 mm. The upper part of the evacuation tube 3 is split along several generatrices so as to give flexibility to this upper part and to make it suitable, in the first place, to deviate to allow the passage to the lower end of the exhaust branch 13 and, secondly, to tighten under the action of a locking sleeve 15, which slides along the discharge tube 3, so as to maintain said exhaust branch in place. The discharge tube 3 ends, at its upper end, with a thickened portion extending towards the inside of the tube, forming due to the opening of the slots, a series of beads 16. The rings of the branch d 13 evacuation have, in turn, the form of notches recessed 17 in which are inserted the beads 16 of the discharge tube 3, when it is fixed on the discharge tube 3 and the sleeve 15 is raised in the locking position.

Referring to figures 4 and 5 the steps of mounting a siphon flush device will now be described. The assembly formed by the siphon and the suction tube is pre-assembled and assembled using the suction flange 12, the two parts of which are clipped on one another to fix the suction tube 4 at an intermediate height on the suction branch 14. The installer begins by fixing the discharge tube 3 on the bottom of the tank 1 and by connecting it to the discharge pipe to the bowl. It places the exhaust branch 13 of the siphon in the evacuation tube 3 at a waiting height, corresponding approximately to the filling water depth of the tank which will give the desired hunting power. Then it assembles this exhaust branch 13 on the discharge tube 3 by clipping the two parts of the discharge collar 11. After adjusting the water level 2 in the tank, it adjusts the siphon to a height such as that his collar 6 is just above this water level. For this it rotates on itself the discharge flange 11, which pivots on the evacuation tube 3 and causes a relative longitudinal displacement of the exhaust branch 13.

It then adjusts in the same manner, thanks to the suction flange 12, the position of the suction tube and its actuating mechanism, at a height "h" which defines the amount of water that will consume each hunt and that he agrees to leave in the bottom of the tank at the end of the hunt. If it chooses to keep only a minimal amount of water, it positions the cylinder as low as possible, but leaving however a sufficient clearance between it and the bottom of the tank, so that the water can circulate unhindered and pass through the suction tube when hunting.

The maintenance of such a system, and in particular a membrane exchange, is carried out in a very simple manner since it is sufficient to disassemble the exhaust flange 11 so that the entire device, excluding the tube of 3, can be removed from the tank and possibly removed for maintenance. And during all this operation the seal between the discharge tube and the bottom of the bowl is not affected.

In a second variant of the invention, represented on the figure 8 and intended to improve maintenance, the evacuation tube 3 is made in two parts, which allows disassembly of the device without touching the discharge collar 11 and therefore without modifying the height adjustment of the evacuation branch 13. In this variant, the upper end of the evacuation tube 3 does not bear a retaining ring as before but is in the form of a smooth cylinder, able to fit into an intermediate tube 23. This intermediate tube carries a retaining ring which cooperates with the discharge collar 11 as did the tube 3 in the previous version.

The evacuation tube has, in its intermediate part, a first protrusion 24 which extends radially from the tube 3 and which carries a flexible means 25. The intermediate tube 23 is positioned around the evacuation tube 3 resting on the first protrusion 24 and having, vis-a-vis the first protrusion 24, a second protrusion 26 which terminates in a female portion 27 into which the flexible means 25 snap-fit.

The means for attaching the intermediate tube to the evacuation tube is described here as a clipping but may be replaced by any means of removable assembly, preferably of the quick coupler type, that is to say not requiring tools, in order to facilitate the setting up or removal of the device.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto.

Claims (5)

1. Siphon-type water-flushing device for a sanitary installation with a cistern comprising, at its base, an evacuating pipe for the water, the said device comprising, intended to be mounted in the cistern (1), a fixed evacuating tube (3) which can be connected to the evacuating pipe for the water, a suction tube (4) linked to a cylinder (5) in which the means (7, 8, 9) for priming the siphon are disposed, the siphon being in the form of an inverted U and made up of two limbs (13, 14) and a neck (6), and the evacuating limb (13) of the siphon being mounted in a sliding manner in relation to the evacuating tube (3), characterised in that the suction limb (14) of the siphon is mounted in a sliding manner in relation to the suction tube (4),
   in that the evacuating limb (13) of the siphon is adjustable in position in relation to the evacuating tube (3) in order to carry out the fitting of the neck of the siphon above the water level (2) in the cistern (1),
   in that the suction limb (14) of the siphon is adjustable in position in relation to the suction tube (4) in order to carry out the fitting of the cylinder (5) in relation to the base of the cistern (1),
   in that the device comprises adjusting means selected from the group consisting of means according to which:

   (i) the evacuating limb (13) and the suction limb (14) are ringed with a pitch which is less than, or equal to, 5 mm, and the evacuating tube (3) and the suction tube (4) carry each a linking means (11, 12) which is capable of cooperating with one of the said rings so as to carry out the positioning of the siphon and/or cylinder (5) and

   (ii) the evacuating tube (3) and the suction tube (4) have each, at their upper ends, slots which are oriented along their generatrices and, between the said slots, beads (16) which are capable of being inserted in notches (17) positioned on the evacuating limb (13) and the suction limb (14) respectively, and wherein a locking sleeve (15), which is positioned in a sliding manner around the said evacuating limb (13) and the suction limb (14), is capable, in the locked position, of holding the said beads (16) in position in the said notches (17) under pressure.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein a first seal (10e) is disposed between the evacuating limb (13) and the evacuating tube (3).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a second seal (10a) is disposed between the suction limb (14) and the suction tube (4).
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the evacuating tube (3) is prolonged upwards by an intermediate tube (23) which is capable of sliding on the said evacuating tube and is fixed to the said evacuating tube by demountable assembling means (25, 27), and wherein cooperation of the evacuating tube (3) with the evacuating limb (13) is brought about by the intermediate tube (23).
5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the demountable assembling means (25, 27) are of the quick-action fastener type, such as a clipping arrangement.

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