EP2089582A1

EP2089582A1 - Water savable toilet

Info

Publication number: EP2089582A1
Application number: EP07833931A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Se-Hwan Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-15
Filing date: 2007-11-08
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Also published as: JP5094873B2; EP2089582A4; WO2008060067A1; JP2010509524A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water savable toilet, and more particularly, to a water savable toilet that can easily operate an operation switch of the water savable toilet including an enclosed water tank as well as automatically adjust air pressure within a tank and uniformly maintain a discharge amount of washing water regardless of variations of water pressure. The water savable toilet includes an opening and closing guide, a division, a washing water outlet pipe, a flash valve, and a toilet bowl. The opening and closing guide includes an opening and closing ball and is disposed inside the closed water savable toilet. The division is disposed around the opening and closing guide and divides an inner space of the water tank. The washing water outlet pipe is disposed at a lower end of the water tank. The flash valve is communicated with one side of a washing water outlet pipe. The toilet bowl is disposed below the flash valve. Since the closed water tank is installed to use water pressure and air pressure at the same time, the air pressure can be adjusted by automatically flowing into the closed water tank. A using amount of the washing water is uniform even if inlet pressure of the washing water is varied. The using amount of the washing water is remarkably reduced because the washing water can easily pass through an inverted U-shaped pipe even if the using amount of the washing water is low.

Description

Description WATER SAVABLE TOILET

Technical Field

[1] The present disclosure relates to a water savable toilet, and more particularly, to a water savable toilet that can easily operate an operation switch of the water savable toilet including an enclosed water tank as well as automatically adjust air pressure within a tank and uniformly maintain a discharge amount of washing water regardless of variations of water pressure. Background Art

[2] In general, a toilet is used for removing bad smells within a rest room and for sanitation purposes. The toilet is designed such that the inside of the toilet is washed using water pressure obtained by containing a certain amount of washing water in a water tank.

[3] The toilet includes an inverted U-shaped pipe for inducing a siphon phenomenon in a connection portion of a drain pipe to prevent the bad smalls or insects from entering. A principal of the siphon phenomenon is to discharge sewage and the washing water at the same time using suction force generated by a pressure difference within the drain pipe.

[4] There is a limitation that a conventional toilet consumes a large amount of washing water (about 13 L) in order to induce the siphon phenomenon.

[5] To solve this limitation, a water savable toilet that can wash the inside of the toilet using the washing water of about 3 L because air pressure and the water pressure are supplied at the same time using a closed water tank has been disclosed in Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 0530575 applied Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) by the present applicant of the present invention. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] In case where a conventional water savable toilet is applied to a toilet including an inverted U-shaped pipe, an operation thereof doesn't function properly and a constitution is too complex because a flexible tube is disposed at an upper portion of the toilet in order to inject air into a closed water tank, thereby decreasing practicality.

[7] Also, a using amount of washing water is not uniform because pressure fluctuation of the washing water supplied to a home or a building is very large. Technical Solution

[8] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water savable toilet including a closed water tank and a toilet bowl where a reservoir is disposed at an lower portion thereof, the water savable toilet including: a closed water tank including: an opening and closing guide including a plurality of holes in a lower end side thereof; a hole defined in a middle portion of an upper end of the opening and closing guide around a washing water outlet disposed at a lower end of the opening and closing guide; an opening and closing ball inserted in the opening and closing guide 214; an air pressure adjustment line adjustable from the outside, the air pressure adjustment line being disposed over the hole; both divisions separated from the opening and closing guide; and a pressurized water inlet inside the divisions; a washing water outlet pipe connected to the washing water outlet and having one side connected to a water supply pipe where an air intake valve is disposed; a flash valve including a piston therein, wherein the flash valve is communicated with the other side of the washing water outlet pipe, connected to a pressurized water inlet pipe connected to the pressurized water inlet of the water tank at an upper end of the flash valve, and connected to a pressurized water outlet pipe where a button is disposed to be separated from the pressurized water inlet pipe; and a washing water pipe line connected to a supply pipe connected to a lower end of the flash valve at an upper end side of the washing water pipe line and communicated with the supply pipe at a surrounding inner wall of a reservoir containing washing water, wherein the washing water pipe line is connected to an upper washing water outlet disposed at an inner upper end of the reservoir and a lower washing water outlet disposed at a lower end of the reservoir.

Advantageous Effects

[9] A water savable toilet according to the present invention has the following effects.

[10] (1) Since a closed water tank is installed to use water pressure and air pressure at t he same time, the air pressure can be adjusted by automatically flowing into the closed water tank. [11] (2) A using amount of washing water is uniform even if inlet pressure of the washing water is varied. [12] (3) The using amount of the washing water is remarkably reduced because the washing water can easily pass through an inverted U-shaped pipe even if the using amount of the washing water is low.

Brief Description of the Drawings [13] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water savable toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [14] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a water tank of the water savable toilet according to the embodiment of the present invention. [15] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water tank of a water savable toilet according to another embodiment of the present invention. [16] Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the water tank of the water savable toilet of

Fig. 3.

[17] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a water savable toilet according to further another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[18] According to the present invention, a water savable toilet including a closed water tank 200 and a toilet bowl 100 where a reservoir 180 is disposed at an lower portion thereof, the water savable toilet includes: a closed water tank 200 including: an opening and closing guide 214 including a plurality of holes in a lower end side thereof; a hole 242 defined in a middle portion of an upper end of the opening and closing guide 214 around a washing water outlet 210 disposed at a lower end of the opening and closing guide 214; an opening and closing ball 212 inserted in the opening and closing guide 214; an air pressure adjustment line 240 adjustable from the outside, the air pressure adjustment line 240 being disposed over the hole 242; both divisions 230 separated from the opening and closing guide 214; and a pressurized water inlet 220 inside the divisions 230; a washing water outlet pipe 300 connected to the washing water outlet 210 and having one side connected to a water supply pipe 310 where an air intake valve 312 is disposed; a flash valve 400 including a piston 420 therein, wherein the flash valve is communicated with the other side of the washing water outlet pipe 300, connected to a pressurized water inlet pipe 222 connected to the pressurized water inlet 220 of the water tank 200 at an upper end of the flash valve 400, and connected to a pressurized water outlet pipe 410 where a button 410a is disposed to be separated from the pressurized water inlet pipe 222; and a washing water pipe line 112 connected to a supply pipe 110 connected to a lower end of the flash valve 400 at an upper end side of the washing water pipe line 112 and communicated with the supply pipe 110 at a surrounding inner wall of a reservoir 180 containing washing water, wherein the washing water pipe line 112 is connected to an upper washing water outlet 114 disposed at an inner upper end of the reservoir 180 and a lower washing water outlet 116 disposed at a lower end of the reservoir 180.

[19] The water tank 200 is a closed water tank having a spherical shape in which front and rear directions of the water tank 200 are formed substantially in a hemisphere shape and a meddle portion of the water tank 200 is formed substantially in a cylinder shape. A washing water outlet 210 and pressurized water inlet 220 are respectively disposed in a lower end of the water tank 200.

[20] A confirmation window 205 for confirming a water level inside the water tank 200 is defined in a lower portion of the water tank 200.

[21] An opening and closing guide 214 is disposed around the washing water outlet 210 inside the water tank 200. A hole 242 is defined in an upper end of the opening and closing guide 214, and a plurality of holes are defined in a lower side the opening and closing guide 214.

[22] An opening and closing ball 212 is disposed inside the opening and closing guide

214. The opening and closing ball 212 vertically moves along the opening and closing guide 214 to open and close the washing water outlet 210.

[23] A division 230 separated from the opening and closing guide 214 of the water tank

200 is disposed to divide the inside of the water tank 200 by a predetermined height.

[24] The division 230 divides a space storing the washing water of the water tank 200 by the predetermined height. The washing water first fills a gap between an inner circumference of the division and an outer circumference of the opening and closing guide 214 and then overflows into an outer space of the division 230 when pressure inside the water tank 200 is above a predetermined level.

[25] Backflow preventing valves 232 are disposed at a lower portion of the division 230.

The backflow preventing valves 232 prevents the washing water from flowing from an inner space to an outer space of the division 230 and allows the washing water to flow from the outer space to the inner space of the division 230.

[26] The division 230 may divides an inner space of the water tank 200 into three equal parts based on the opening and closing guide 214 and be separated from the opening and closing guide 214 by a predetermined space in a circle such as the opening and closing guide 214.

[27] Alternatively, a division 230 may include two backflow preventing valves at each of upper and lower portions as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. There is disposed a subdivision 237 which extends from a portion of the division 230 between the upper and lower backflow preventing valves to the outside such that a height of an upper end of the subdivision 237 is almost equal to that of an upper end of the division 230.

[28] The subdivision 237 again receives washing water overflowing over the division

230 to continually maintain much higher air pressure and water pressure.

[29] An adjustment knob 243 disposed at an upper end of an air pressure adjustment line

240 is inserted into a hole 242 defined in an upper end of an opening and closing guide 214. An adjustment bolt 241 is disposed at an upper end of the air pressure adjustment line 240 such that the air pressure can be adjusted from the outside. The adjustment knob 243 having a shape of a reverse cone is connected to the adjustment bolt 241 via the air pressure adjustment line 240.

[30] In the adjustment knob 243, a size of the hole 242 is adjusted by inserting a point of the cone into the hole 242. A drop time of an opening and closing ball 212 is adjusted by adjusting the size of the hole 242 to uniformly maintain the air pressure inside a water tank 200. [31] The opening and closing ball 212 is mounted on a packing 210a disposed on a washing water outlet 210 to prevent a leakage of air. Then, when the washing water again flows into the opening and closing guide 214, the opening and closing ball 212 stops at the last upper portion of the opening and closing guide due to buoyancy.

[32] A pressurized water inlet 220 is separated from the washing water outlet 210. The pressurized water inlet 220 is communicated with a pressurized water inlet pipe 222. A time adjustment valve 450 is disposed at the middle portion of the pressurized water inlet pipe 222. A lower end of the pressurized water inlet pipe 222 is connected to an upper end of a flash valve 400.

[33] An upper end of a washing water outlet pipe 300 is communicated with the washing water outlet 210. The washing water outlet pipe 300 has one end communicated with a water supply pipe 310 and the other end communicated with the flash valve 400.

[34] The water supply pipe 310 includes a conventional water supply adjustment valve

314, a backflow preventing valve 316, and an air intake valve 312.

[35] A diameter of the washing water outlet pipe 300 is more than twice as large as that of the water supply pipe 310. This is done in order to intake a sufficient amount of air from the air intake valve 312 when the washing water is introduced into the water tank 200 through the washing water outlet 210.

[36] A piston 420 vertically moves inside the flash valve 400 to open and close a supply pipe 110.

[37] A pressurized water outlet pipe 410 is communicated with an upper end of the flash valve 400. A button 410a is disposed at an end of the pressurized water outlet pipe 410. An exit pipe 430 has one end communicated with the button and the other end communicated with a side surface of the supply pipe 110.

[38] A washing water pipe line 112 is communicated with the supply pipe 110 at a surrounding inner wall of a reservoir 180. The washing water pipe line 112 is connected to an upper washing water outlet 114 and a lower washing water outlet 116 to supply the washing water.

[39] The lower washing water outlet 116 is disposed to obtain strong initial pressure such that the washing water easily passes through an inverted U-shaped pipe 500. Preferably, a pipe diameter of the lower washing water outlet 116 is about 5~7mm.

[40] If the pipe diameter of the lower washing water outlet 116 is below about 5~7mm, initial presses increases and an amount of the washing water decreases to not allow the washing water to pass through the inverted U-shaped pipe 500. On the other hand, if the pipe diameter of the lower washing water outlet 116 is above about 5~7mm, the initial presses decreases and the amount of the washing water increases to also not allow the washing water to pass through the inverted U-shaped pipe 500.

[41] As illustrated in Fig. 5, according to further another embodiment of the present invention, a water savable toilet 200 includes: a washing water storage division 10 modifying the division 230, the washing water storage division 10 being separated from the opening and closing guide 214; and a substorage division 20 modifying a subdivision 237, the substorage division 20 being mounted such that an upper end of the washing water storage division 10 is obturated, having a diameter greater than that of the washing water storage division 10 such that the substorage division 20 is protruded from a periphery of the washing water storage division 10, including a communication pipe 22 communicated with the washing water storage division 10 and protruded toward an upper side, and defining a communication hole 23 communicated with the washing water storage division 10 in an lower end of the substorage division 20.

[42] The washing water storage division 10 is lower in a height and larger in a diameter such that storage capacity of the washing water storage division 10 is the same as that of the division 230.

[43] A check valve introducing washing water is disposed at a lower end side of the washing water storage division 10.

[44] An upper end of the substorage division 20 is opened and a lower end of the substorage division 20 is closed. A communication pipe 22 is disposed in a middle portion of the substorage division 20. Thus, the substorage division 20 has a doughnut shape.

[45] A communication hole 23 communicated with the washing water storage division

10 is defined in a lower end of the substorage division 20.

[46] The substorage division 20 is mounted on an upper end of the washing water storage division 10 such that the upper end of the washing water storage division 10 is obturated. A diameter of the substorage division 20 is greater than that of the washing water storage division 10, resulting in protruding from the washing water storage division 10.

[47] According to the constitution descried above, the closed water tank 200 can operate without additional air pressure when a capacity of the closed water tank is about 7-10 L and operate without a backflow preventing valve 316 of a water supply pipe 310.

[48] Hereinafter, an operation of the water savable toilet according to preferable embodiments of the present invention and a method of using the same will be described below.

[49] When the water savable toilet is installed at first, the water supply adjustment valve

314 is closed and an air is sucked through the air intake valve 312 such that the pressure inside the water tank 200 reaches about 2 bar. Then, the hole size is adjusted using the adjustment bolt 241 of the air pressure adjustment line 240, the water supply adjustment valve 314 is opened, and then introduces the washing water into the water tank 200.

[50] When the washing water is introduced into the water tank 200, the washing water overflows over the division 230 onto a bottom of the water tank 200 by about 4~5cm.

[51] In order to use the water savable toilet, a user presses the button 410a to discharge the washing water inside of the water tank 200 into the reservoir 180.

[52] When the button 410a is pressed, the washing water filling a space over the piston

420 inside the flash valve 400 is discharged through the exit pipe 430 to reduce an inner pressure of the flash valve 400. As a result, an inner pressure of the washing water outlet pipe 300 is relatively high to push up the piston 420. Therefore, the washing water is discharged through the supply pipe 110.

[53] Thereafter, when the pressed button 410a is released, the exit pipe is closed. Here, the washing water is introduced into the space over the piston 420 inside the flash valve 400 through the pressurized water inlet pipe 222, and at the same time, discharged toward the supply pipe 110 through the washing water outlet pipe 300 to decrease the inner pressure of the washing water outlet pipe 300. Therefore, the piston 420 descends to close the supply pipe 110.

[54] Here, if a discharge amount of the washing water is reduced because the flash valve

400 rapidly descends, the time adjustment valve 450 is adjusted to delay descent time of the piston 420.

[55] If the pressure of the washing water introduced through the water supply pipe 310 is lower than an initial pressure thereof, the washing water is filled only in the division 230 and the discharge amount of the washing water is continually uniformly maintained.

[56] If the pressure of the washing water introduced through the water supply pipe 310 is higher than an initial pressure thereof, the washing water overflows over the division 230 to fill the outer space of the division 230. Here, the all washing water inside the inner space of the division 230 is discharged and then the washing water inside the outer space of the division 230 flows into the inner space of the division 230 to uniformly maintain the discharge amount of the washing water.

[57] Also, the air pressure adjustment line 240 is adjusted to adjust the size of the hole

242 so that the opening and closing ball 212 is slowly descended. As a result, a portion of the excessive air pressure inside the water tank 200 is discharged through the washing water outlet 210 to uniformly maintain the air pressure inside the water tank 200.

[58] As described above, according to the water savable toilet of the present invention, the discharge amount of the washing water is limited to an amount of the washing water of the inner space of the division 230. Therefore, the water savable toilet can consume about 1.5—2 L of washing water for the purpose of washing the reservoir 180.

Claims

[1] A water savable toilet including a closed water tank (200) and a toilet bowl (100) where a reservoir (180) is disposed at a lower portion thereof, the water savable toilet comprising: a closed water tank (200) including: an opening and closing guide (214) including a plurality of holes in a lower end side thereof; a hole (242) defined in a middle portion of an upper end of the opening and closing guide (214) around a washing water outlet (210) disposed at a lower end of the opening and closing guide (214); an opening and closing ball (212) inserted in the opening and closing guide (214); an air pressure adjustment line (240) adjustable from the outside, the air pressure adjustment line (240) being disposed over the hole (242); both divisions (230) separated from the opening and closing guide (214); and a pressurized water inlet (220) inside the divisions (230); a washing water outlet pipe (300) connected to the washing water outlet (210) and having one side connected to a water supply pipe (310) where an air intake valve (312) is disposed; a flash valve (400) including a piston (420) therein, wherein the flash valve is communicated with the other side of the washing water outlet pipe (300), connected to a pressurized water inlet pipe (222) connected to the pressurized water inlet (220) of the water tank (200) at an upper end of the flash valve (400), and connected to a pressurized water outlet pipe (410) where a button (410a) is disposed to be separated from the pressurized water inlet pipe (222); and a washing water pipe line (112) connected to a supply pipe (110) connected to a lower end of the flash valve (400) at an upper end side of the washing water pipe line (112) and communicated with the supply pipe (110) at a surrounding inner wall of a reservoir (180) containing washing water, wherein the washing water pipe line (112) is connected to an upper washing water outlet (114) disposed at an inner upper end of the reservoir (180) and a lower washing water outlet (116) disposed at a lower end of the reservoir ( 180).

[2] The water savable toilet of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the opening and closing guide (214) comprises the hole (242) in the upper end thereof and a plurality of holes in a lower end side thereof such that the washing water flows.

[3] The water savable toilet of claim 1, wherein a time adjustment valve (450) is disposed at a middle portion of the pressurized water inlet pipe (222). [4] The water savable toilet of claim 1, wherein the air pressure adjustment line

(240) comprises: an adjustment bolt (241) adjustable from the outside of the water tank (200); and an adjustment knob (243) having a shape of a reverse cone, the adjustment knob

(243) being disposed at an end of the air pressure adjustment line (240) and connected to the adjustment bolt (241) via the air pressure adjustment line (240), wherein the adjustment knob (243) is inserted into the hole (242) defined in the upper end of the opening and closing guide (214). [5] The water savable toilet of claim 1, wherein the division (230) divides an inner space of the water tank (200) into three equal parts based on the opening and closing guide (214) or is separated from the opening and closing guide (214) by a predetermined space in a circle such as the opening and closing guide (214). [6] The water savable toilet of claim 1, further comprising: two backflow preventing valves (232) at upper and lower portions of the division

(230); and a subdivision (237) which extends from a portion of the division (230) between the upper and lower backflow preventing valves (232) to the outside such that a height of an upper end of the subdivision (237) is equal to that of an upper end of the division (230). [7] A water savable toilet including a closed water tank (200) and a toilet bowl (100) where a reservoir (180) is disposed at a lower portion thereof, the water savable toilet comprising: a closed water tank (200) including: an opening and closing guide (214) including a plurality of holes in a lower end side thereof; a hole (242) defined in a middle portion of an upper end of the opening and closing guide (214) around a washing water outlet (210) disposed at a lower end of the opening and closing guide (214); an opening and closing ball (212) inserted in the opening and closing guide 214; an air pressure adjustment line (240) adjustable from the outside, the air pressure adjustment line (240) being disposed over the hole (242); both divisions (230) separated from the opening and closing guide (214); and a pressurized water inlet (220) inside the divisions (230); a washing water outlet pipe (300) connected to the washing water outlet (210) and having one side connected to a water supply pipe (310) where an air intake valve (312) is disposed; a flash valve (400) including a piston (420) therein, wherein the flash valve is communicated with the other side of the washing water outlet pipe (300), connected to a pressurized water inlet pipe (222) connected to the pressurized water inlet (220) of the water tank (200) at an upper end of the flash valve (400), and connected to a pressurized water outlet pipe (410) where a button (410a) is disposed to be separated from the pressurized water inlet pipe (222); a washing water pipe line (112) connected to a supply pipe (110) connected to a lower end of the flash valve (400) at an upper end side of the washing water pipe line (112) and communicated with the supply pipe (110) at a surrounding inner wall of a reservoir (180) containing washing water, wherein the washing water pipe line (112) is connected to an upper washing water outlet (114) disposed at an inner upper end of the reservoir (180) and a lower washing water outlet (116) disposed at a lower end of the reservoir (180); a washing water storage division (10) modifying the division (230), the washing water storage division (10) being separated from the opening and closing guide (214); and a substorage division (20) modifying a subdivision (237), the substorage division (20) being mounted such that an upper end of the washing water storage division (10) is obturated, having a diameter greater than that of the washing water storage division (10) such that the substorage division (20) is protruded from a periphery of the washing water storage division (10), including a communication pipe (22) communicated with the washing water storage division (10) and protruded toward an upper side, and defining a communication hole (23) communicated with the washing water storage division (10) in an lower end of the substorage division (20). [8] The water savable toilet of claim 7, wherein the substorage division (20) comprises a doughnut shape where an upper end of the substorage division (20) is opened, a lower end of the substorage division (20) is closed, and the communication pipe (22) is disposed in a middle portion of the substorage division (20).