EP2886728A1

EP2886728A1 - A cistern with a product dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP2886728A1
Application number: EP14382463.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manuel Losada Campos
Original assignee: Losada Campos Manuel
Current assignee: Losada Campos Manuel
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2014-11-21
Publication date: 2015-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-21
Also published as: ES2725303T3; EP2886728B1

Abstract

A product dispenser to be connected to a cistern tank (4), for dispensing a certain amount of a cleaning, disinfectant or air freshening product each time the water (5) in the cistern (4) is flushed, said dispenser comprising three elements:
- a dispensing mechanism (2), located inside the cistern (4), and comprising a dispensing tank (21);
- an outer tank (1), attached to the outside of the cistern (4) (see Figure 1), or fixed to a wall close-by (see Figure 4);
- and connection means (3) between the two previous elements, through which the product is transferred from the outer tank (2) to the dispensing tank (21) and wherein air is released in the opposite direction to the product.

Description

A product dispenser in a cistern tank or similar.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device that makes it possible to dispense a cleaning, disinfectant or air freshening product, etc., in small dosages. In general, said products will be a liquid, a certain dosage of which, according to recommendations, should be added to the water in the cistern, in order for the same to fulfil the function for which it was designed. This device optionally enables different liquid products to be dispensed into the water in a tank in small dosages, by placing one dispenser per liquid.

Background of the invention

A wide range of solid product dispensers currently exist, however, the water treatment material or additive tends to disintegrate and deteriorate relatively quickly. Document EP 0 528 073 A1 describes a device that aims to control the speed at which the water treatment material is dispersed.
Document ES 1 028 501 U describes a tank with a dispenser device to be placed inside toilet cisterns, which is made up of a deposit hung upside-down inside the cistern, which also has a dispenser device located at the lower opening of said tank. This consists of a plug, which houses a floater, which closes with the pressure of the water, whilst opening when the water is emptied, thus enabling a portion of the product to be released.
Logically, in those cases in which the product to be dispensed is a solid or is found in granular form, the same must be replaced when it runs out, thus meaning the cistern tank must be opened. Most of the devices that dispense a liquid or paste-like product in small dosages experience the same problem, which often means that the product to be dispensed runs out without us even realising.
External installations also exist, which include a deposit that is usually fixed to the bathroom wall, with a manual operating mechanism, which enables the user to discharge a certain amount of product when they so desire. This type of installation does not solve the problem of adding product each time the cistern is flushed automatically, without the user having to remember to do so.

Description of the invention

The product dispenser in a cistern tank or similar of the present invention favourably resolves these problems, since, on the one hand, it includes a product tank inside the cistern, from which a portion of liquid is released every time the same is flushed, this inner tank is being constantly refilled from another refillable tank outside, thus meaning it is not necessary to open the cistern other than the first time the piece of apparatus is installed. Furthermore, the outer tank may be transparent, so that the user may see, without having to open the cistern, how much product is left at all times and when this tank must be replaced or refilled.
The dispenser object of the present invention has three bodies:

a tank that contains the product to be dispensed in small dosages, which is fixed to the side of the cistern;
a dispensing mechanism, which is located inside the cistern and;
a connection means between both elements, through the side inlet of the cistern that is not used to connect to the water network, through which the product is transferred to the inner dispenser.

The tank containing the product to be dispensed, which is fixed externally to the cistern, has a tube for transferring said product, which reaches the bottom of the tank, in addition to an air inlet tube, which emerges upwards towards the upper area of said tank, both of which are coupled via a connecting means to both homologous tubes connected to the dispenser itself, hung inside the cistern. This tank is provided with an upper opening with a screw thread closure, so that it may be refilled by the user. On the side, it has a hole in which a connector is coupled, which the air and liquid transfer tubes pass through, thus making it possible to connect the tank to the cistern.
The dispensing mechanism, which acts each time water is flushed, is located inside the cistern, below the outer tank, in order for the product to be dispensed to fill the inner dispenser by means of its own weight, as the product is released. This mechanism includes a filling tank for dispensing liquid, which is closed at the top and is linked to the outer device through both the product and air inlet tubes. Below, it is provided with a bottleneck-like extension, upon which a cup-shaped discharge tank is located on the outside, which is linked below to a floater supported by a rod in the tank. This cup moves upwards and downwards, separating from the opening of the extension when the cup falls as the cistern empties, this being filled with product to be dispensed, and closing as the water level in the cistern rises as a result of the effect the floater placed below it produces.
The discharge tank is accompanied by an outer cylinder, which is an extension of the filling tank, which has a series of air drainage holes, which enable the dispensed liquid to be mixed with the water in the cistern and the air that remains in said cylinder to be released.
The length of the rod that supports the aforementioned floater determines the movement made by the cup-shaped discharge tank, relative to the extension below the filling tank of the dispenser and, as a result, the amount of product dispensed in each flush. Said rod ends in a stub, which adapts to the outlet hole in the tank, closing it when the cistern is completely discharged, the cup and floater held by said rod falling downwards as a result.
The liquid input tube in the dispenser shall also be provided with an end discharge tube, open at the top, which determines the height to which the tank is emptied of product, since the liquid must overflow from the same and, as a result, if it goes below this level, the product in the dispenser will not continue to be discharged. This discharge tube is placed so as to prevent air from entering into the product transfer duct and the dispenser from being drained. When the dispenser is installed, or in the event of it having been drained, a vertical extremity, which is closed by means of a plug, is provided for in the liquid inlet tube from the tank to the dispenser, which enables air to be purged from this duct.
The connection means between the dispenser itself, located inside the cistern, and the tank that contains the product, located outside, give continuity to the product transfer and air inlet tubes on either side of the cistern, this connection means being suitable for fixing to the unused inlet of a conventional cistern, thus keeping the tank on the outside, in a vertical position and in an arrangement ready to be filled, with the dispensing mechanism hanging inside the cistern, submerged in the water contained therein, when it is full.
In an alternative embodiment, the tank that contains the product to be dispensed is located in such a way that it is hung from a wall close-by, above the connection means between this tank and the dispenser inside the cistern. In this case, the product is transferred when the outer tank reaches a level above that of the communication element. In this case, there is also the possibility of substituting both the liquid and air circulation tubes with a single tube with a larger diameter, which would enable liquid and air to pass through the same tube at the same time, so that the product would be transferred from this tank to the dispenser tank, as a result of the difference in height between them.

Description of the figures

In order to complement the present description, with the aim of making the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings, in which the following are represented in an illustrative, non-limiting way:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation view of a device installed in a cistern (4).
Figures 2 and 3 are both elevation views of the dispenser itself (2), when the cistern (4) is empty and full of water (5), respectively.
Figure 4 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment, in which the tank (1) is fixed to a wall adjacent to the cistern (4).

Preferred embodiment of the invention

This device serves to incorporate a certain amount of liquid (cleaning, disinfectant or air freshening fluid, etc.) into the water in a cistern, each time the same is filled and, as can be seen in the figures, it is made up of three elements:

A dispenser (2) placed inside the cistern;
An outer tank (1), attached to the outside of the cistern (4) (see Figure 1) or fixed to a wall close-by (see Figure 4) and;
A connection element (3) between the two previous elements, through which the product is transferred and air is released.

The outside tank (1) contains and stores the air freshening, disinfectant or cleaning liquid (6), which is to be incorporated into the water (5) of the cistern with each flush thereof. This device incorporates a liquid extraction tube (12), which is connected to another tube (27) via the connection element (3), said tube (27) ending in the product filling tank (21) in the dispenser (2). This tube (12) has a downwards bend, such that it almost reaches the bottom of the tank (1). Likewise, a second tube (11) reaches the tank (1), which ends in the upper area of the same and is connected to a second tube (28), which ends in the upper portion of the filling tank (21) of the dispenser, the purpose of these tubes being to return air stored in the upper portion of the tank (21) when some of the product is emptied through the dispenser to the tank (1), when said tank (21) is completely refilled with product (6).
This tank (1) is provided with a filler neck in its upper portion, with a hermetically closing lid (14) and a hole in the side, which adopts a concave shape in order to enable the tank (1) to be attached to a wall of the cistern (4). The connection element (3), which is provided with connection means between the product and air transfer tubes, is installed in said hole.
The dispenser itself has been referenced in the Figures as (2) and it is a small element with a cylindrical configuration that hangs inside the cistern (4), supported and held by two tubes (27) and (28), the purpose of which is to transfer product and air from the outer tank (1) to the dispenser tank (21) and vice versa. This element is made up of three parts:

1) Liquid and air circulation tubes: Consisting of two tubes with a rigid configuration (27-28), which are joined by a membrane and run parallel. In the upper portion thereof a tube is hermetically coupled in each of the inner holes of the connection element (3), to then describe a 90º angle in its course, which enables it to continue to project vertically downwards, alongside the inner wall of the cistern (4).

The liquid circulation tube (27), at the bending point where a 90º angle is described, it minimally extends vertically and upwards, by way of a chimney (32), the purpose of which is to enable the air that has accumulated in said tube to be drained. Said extension (32) of the liquid conduit tube is minimal, it being at a lower level than that the filling level of the outer tank, and once the air has been emptied by the filling action of the outer tank to the point where the liquid reaches the outlet through the upper hole of the tube, said hole or outlet is then closed with a plug (31), which causes the tube to be closed hermetically at this point.
With the aim of controlling the emptying level of the outer tank, the liquid circulation tube (27) does not discharge directly into the dispensing tank (21), but rather the liquid is discharged in the discharge tube (29), which consists of a tube with a significantly larger diameter than that of the liquid circulation tube, shorter in length than the section thereof that extends downwards, maintaining sufficient width between both to enable the liquid to pass between the walls of both tubes (27-29). Said discharge tube (29) is closed in its lower portion and its end or upper outlet (through which the air circulation tube is inserted), once placed, is at a higher level than the lower end of the liquid extraction tube (12) used to extract liquid from the outer tank (1), thus preventing level of liquid in the external tank from reaching the lower end of the extraction tube and the air inlet thereof.

2) The dispenser tank: Consists of a hollow cylinder, divided internally into two approximately equal portions or cylinders by a membrane or transversal wall, with a smaller sized hole in its central portion, which enables the cleaning liquid to pass through from the filling tank of the dispenser (21) to the discharge tank (22), as well as enabling the rod (24) of the discharge tank (22) to run through the dispensing tank. The cylinder in the upper portion of said membrane constitutes the filling tank of the dispenser (21) and the lower extension of the cylinder that is developed from said membrane protects the discharge tank of the dispenser, as well as the floater.

Moreover, a concentric, cylindrical extension (23) develops downwards from said membrane at a significantly greater length than the height of the discharge tank, to the protection element of the discharge tank, there being a space between the walls of both that enable the discharge tank and floater to easily move vertically upwards and downwards, as well as pouring the cleaning liquid into the water of the cistern, when it is pushed upwards by the floater in the filling process of the cistern.
The outer cylinder, in the section that protects the discharge device and the floater, has air drainage holes (26) at the height of halfway along the concentric cylinder inside the same. These holes enable, on the one hand, the dispensed liquid to be mixed with the water in the cistern, and on the other hand, the air remaining in the chamber that forms said outer cylinder to be released, and the water in the cistern to enter up to the height of the holes located in the upper portion, in addition to the same, there being an air chamber between both cylinders, which prevents the water in the cistern, when it is full, from reaching the upper portion of the discharge tank and the cleaning liquid from mixing with the water before it is dispensed.

3) The discharge tank consists of a cylinder, divided approximately in the middle by a membrane, such that there is a cylinder in the upper portion and another in the lower portion thereof. The upper cylinder is a discharge tank (22) and the lower cylinder is a floater or floatation element (25), which is closed and uses the air chamber created therein, as the cistern is being filled.

The cleaning fluid is collected from the discharge tank (22) and passes through the same from the dispenser tank, through the central hole in the membrane that divides it. Furthermore, the rod (24) of the discharge tank passes through said hole. The discharge tank (22) has a diameter suitable for enabling free, easy flow between the extension (23) of the dispenser tank and the section of the dispenser (2), which has air drainage holes (26).
The height of the cylinder of the discharge tank (22) is significantly lower than the length of the inner concentric extension (23) located in the lower portion of the dispenser tank (21).
The discharge tank (22) is provided with a central rod (24), which runs through the central hole in the membrane that divides the dispenser tank. The limit or stop is placed at the end of said guide-shaft by means pressure, screwing or a click system, once it has been placed across the aforementioned hole of the dispensing tank and serves two purposes: limiting the displacement path of the discharge tank (22), thus preventing it from becoming dislodged from its location in the space between the concentric cylinders below the dispenser, and, via the opportune joint supported on the limit of the rod (24), closing the through-hole for liquid in the dispenser tank to travel through to the discharge tank, during the process of filling the outer tank, thus preventing liquid from being lost.
The connection element (3) between the outer deposit (1) and the dispenser (2) is placed in a hanging position, thus making use of the free hole out of the two that tend to be found in the upper section of the cistern, with one on each side thereof (one of them being designed as the water inlet for enabling water to the system, the connection element described being installed in the free hole). This element consists of a screw, with a head or limit, inside which two separate ducts run in parallel, with communication outlets through both ends thereof. The connection element is firmly fixed to the wall of the cistern, holding the wall of the same, on the inner side thereof via the head of the screw and on the outer portion via a threaded nut ¿(13)?. This threaded nut has a cylindrical hollow extension, in order to adjust to the extension, which is also hollow and cylindrical, of the outer thread used to support the liquid extraction and air circulation ducts installed inside the outer tank (1). The screw is greater in length than the thickness of the cistern wall, such that once the holding thread is placed and tightened to the cistern wall, part of the screw is left over outside and is covered by the extension cylinder of the thread (the surplus screw section of the thread that is covered by the extension cylinder thereof, serves to couple and support the outer tank). The support screw must be placed such that the two ducts that run inside it are at an equal level and horizontal.
The connection element links the outer tank (1) and the dispenser (2) and in turn, serves to support the same.
The alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4 is an alternative to the absorption system and in this case, is a drop system. In this case, the outer tank (1) is not backed against the cistern (4), but is rather backed against a wall close to the cistern, via the corresponding support and is placed at a higher level to that of the communication element (3). The air drainage chimney (31) of the liquid circulation tube, which was considered in the previous embodiment, is not necessary and neither is the cup (29) or any installation inside the outer tank (1), in which the side hole is removed, the same being provided with two holes in exchange, namely one liquid outlet (12) and another air inlet (11), in the lower portion or at the bottom of the outer tank, each one being linked to the corresponding tubes identified as air circulation and liquid extraction tubes, which are linked to the dispenser. In this drop system, as the outer tank (1) is higher than the communication element (3), there is also the possibility of substituting both liquid and air circulation tubes with a single tube with a greater diameter, which will enable liquid and air to pass through at the same time.
In order to install this piece of equipment, the connection element (3) must firstly be placed in the hole in the side wall of the cistern, firmly adjusted to the cistern wall and ensuring that the holes that run inside the same are parallel to the ground or in other words, at the same level, and then the dispenser tubes (27) (28) and the tubes of the outer tank (11) (12) are coupled to the holes of the communication element (3) using pressure.
As the dispenser is set into motion, the cistern must remain empty or be discharged. When in this state, the outer tank (1) is filled with the liquid that will be poured. It must be filled completely during set up, thus enabling and giving the liquid enough time to pass through the liquid extraction and air circulation ducts, to fill the filling tank of the dispenser (21), which may be checked when the liquid starts to come out of the air drainage chimney (32) of the air circulation tube, at which time the plug is placed on the chimney, the tube thus being hermetically closed at this end. Then, the lid (14) of the outer tank is placed, hermetically closing the latter and thus enabling the cistern to then be filled with water, with which the set up process of the dispenser is ended.
The nature of the invention, as well as an exemplary preferred embodiment, having been sufficiently described, it must be stated for all purposes that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, provided that this does not alter the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below:

Claims

A product dispenser in a cistern tank or similar, of the variety that includes a product tank, from which a certain amount of liquid is released each time the cistern is flushed, which comprises:
- a tank (1) containing the product to be dispensed (6), fixed externally to the cistern (4), which has a tube (12) for transferring said product, which reaches the bottom of the tank (1) and an air inlet tube (11), which emerges upwards towards the upper area of said tank (1), both coupled by means of a connecting means (3), with both homologous tubes (26) and (27) connected to the dispenser itself (2) hanging inside the cistern (4);

- a dispensing mechanism (2), which acts each time the water (5) inside the cistern (4) is flushed (5), said cistern located below the outer tank (1), which comprises a filling tank (21) to be filled with the liquid to be dispensed (6), which is closed at the top and is linked to the tank (1) via both the product (27) and air (28) inlet tubes, provided with a bottleneck-shaped extension (23) below, on the outside of which a cup-shaped discharge tank (22) is located, which is linked to a floater (25) below, supported by a rod (24) in the tank (21), this cup (22) moving upwards and downwards, separating from the opening of the extension (23) when the cup (22) falls as the cistern empties, thus filling with the product to be dispensed, which it pours into the water by overflowing as it is lifted when the level of water in the cistern rises as a result the effect produced by the floater (25) placed below it;

- connection means (3) between the dispenser (2) itself, located inside the cistern (4) and the tank (1) containing the product located outside, giving continuity to the product transfer (12-27) and air inlet (11-28) tubes, located on either side of the cistern, said connection means (3) being suitable for being fixed in the unused inlet of a conventional cistern, keeping the tank (1) on the outside, in a vertical position and in an arrangement so as to be filled, and the dispensing mechanism (2) held by the liquid (27) and air (28) circulation tubes, hanging inside the cistern and submerged in the water (5) contained therein, when it is full.
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the tank (1) containing the product to be dispensed (6) has an upper opening with a screw thread closure (14) so that it may be refilled manually, and a side hole, in which an adapter (13) is coupled, through which the air (11) and liquid (12) transfer tubes pass, the tank (1) being connected to the cistern (4).
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the tank (1) containing the product to be dispensed (6) has an upper opening with a screw thread closure (14) so that it may be refilled manually, it being hung from a wall close-by, above the connection means (3), so that product is transferred from this tank (1) to the dispenser tank (21) as a result of the difference in height between the two.
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the transfer tube (27) for transferring the liquid to be dispensed (2) is protected below by means of a discharge tube (29), open at the top, which determines the height to which the tank (1) is emptied of product (6).
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the liquid inlet tube (27) from the tank (1) to the dispenser (2) has a vertical extremity, which is closed by means of a plug (31), which enables the air to be purged from this duct the first time the circuit is filled with liquid (6).
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the discharge tank (22) is accompanied by an outer cylinder, which is an extension of the filling tank (21), which has a series of air drainage holes (26) or slits that enable the liquid dispensed to mix with the water in the cistern and the air that remains in said cylinder to be released, located such that an air chamber is created in the upper portion, which prevents the water in the cistern (5) from mixing with the liquid (6) whilst the dispenser is submerged.
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the floater (25) is supported by a rod (24) in the tank (21), thus determining the length of movement that the cup (22) carries out relative to the extension (23) below the filling tank (21) of the dispenser and, as a result, the amount of product that is dispensed with each flush, in addition preventing the mobile element of the dispenser from being displaced.
The dispenser, according to claim 1, characterised in that the rod (24) ends in a stub, which adapts to the output hole in the tank (21), thereby closing it when the cistern has been flushed completely, the cup (22) and floater supported by said rod (24) falling downwards as a result.