EP2993274A1

EP2993274A1 - Wc with low noise

Info

Publication number: EP2993274A1
Application number: EP15183978.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Rossi
Original assignee: Mario Rossi
Current assignee: CERAMICA CATALANO S.P.A.; GRUPPO SANITARI ITALIA - G.S.I S.P.A.
Priority date: 2014-09-05
Filing date: 2015-09-04
Publication date: 2016-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-04
Also published as: PL2993274T3; PT2993274T; EP2993274B1; ES2630192T3

Abstract

WC (1) comprising a structure (2) defining at least one basin (3) delimited by an asymmetrical lateral wall (12) and a flushing water supply duct (5) obtained in a rear portion (2a) of structure (2) to be connected to a water network, extending along an axis X and communicating with said basin (3) so as to allow the flushing water to flow. The flushing water supply duct (5) is defined by at least a flowing portion (8) and by an outlet portion (9) directly connected to the flowing portion and in a lateral wall of which only one flushing opening (6) for the flowing of flushing water from the duct (5) to the basin (3) is obtained. The opening (6) has a flow-through section with an area ranging from 20 to 50% of the area of the flow-through section of the outlet portion (9) and the outlet portion (9) has a flow-through section with an area ranging from 35 to 65% of the area of the flow-through section of the flowing portion (8).

Description

The present invention relates to a WC with improved noise characteristics.
One of the most important aspects that research in the field of sanitary fixtures has focused on is that relating to noise.
Over time said aspect has become more and more critical in the choice of buying sanitary fixtures.
For a more complete understanding of the problem relating to noise, one may contemplate hotel accommodations, where substantially the number of bathrooms is comparable with that of the rooms. It is evident that in these cases the ability to lower the bathroom noise level would contribute significantly to a greater quality of the accommodation itself.
The sanitary fixture that is found to have the greatest noise problem is the WC. In fact, the water which is released inside the WC for discharging operations usually produces a particularly loud and annoying noise.
Therefore the need was felt to produce a WC having the technical characteristics for reducing the noise level of the flushing water during discharging operations.
Subject of the present invention is a WC, whose essential characteristics are disclosed in claim 1, and whose preferred and/or auxiliary characteristics are set forth in claims 2-10.
In the following an example of embodiment is provided purely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a WC according to the present invention;
Figure 1a is an enlargement of a detail of the section of Figure 1;
Figure 1b is a section along the line I-I of Figure 1a;
Figure 2 is a section along the line II-II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section along the line III-III of Figure 2.

In Figures 1 and 2 is indicated, as a whole, with 1 a WC according to the present invention.
The WC 1 comprises a single piece structure 2 made of ceramic defining a basin 3, a discharge duct 4 connected to a bottom portion of the basin 3, and a supply duct 5 of the flushing water which communicates with the basin 3 through only one flushing opening 6. The duct is obtained inside a rear portion 2a of the structure 2 so as to be connected to a water network.
The duct 5 extends along a longitudinal axis X and is defined in sequence by an inlet portion 7 where the connection with the water network is obtained and having a standard size regulated by specific requirements, by a flowing portion 8, and by an outlet portion 9 on a lateral wall 10 in which the flushing opening 6 is obtained.
As made evident from Figures 1 and 1b, the outlet portion 9 has a flow-through section equal to about half of the flow-through section of the flowing portion 8. This means that from the flowing portion 8 to the outlet portion 9 there is a narrowing of the flow-through section equal to about a half.
Preferably, the flow-through section of the outlet portion 9 has an area ranging from 35 to 65%, more preferably ranging from 45 to 55%, of the area of the flow-through section of the flowing portion 8.
The flushing opening 6 is obtained on the lateral wall 10 of the outlet portion 9 and has a flow-through section with an area equal to approximately 35% of the area of the flow-through section of the outlet portion 9. Preferably, the flow-through section of the opening 6 has an area ranging from 20 to 50%, more preferably ranging from 30 to 40%, of the area of the flow-through section of the outlet portion 9.
In particular, as made apparent from Figure 1, the outlet portion 9 comprises a bottom wall 11 inclined upwards with respect to the axis X. The inclined position of the bottom wall 11 causes the outlet portion 9 to extend beyond the flushing opening 6. In this way a diminished load of the flow of the flushing water occurs which further facilitates the effectiveness of the present invention.
As made evident from Figure 3, the basin 3 is defined by an asymmetric wall 12 that joins inferiorly with the discharge duct 4. In particular, following the flow of water as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the wall 12 is defined by a first lateral portion 13, by a front portion 14, by a second lateral portion 15 and by a bottom portion 16. The flushing opening 6 is obtained at the bottom portion 16 and faces the first lateral portion 13. The asymmetry of the wall 12 is due to the different conformation of its two lateral portions 13 and 15. Both lateral portions 13 and 15 comprise a concave upper part 13a and 15a, followed by a substantially vertical lower part 13b and 15b which joins inferiorly to the discharge duct 4.
Both concave upper parts 13a and 15a have a variable bending radius. Here and hereinafter the concept that the concave upper part 13a of the first lateral portion 13 has a greater depth concavity than the concave upper part 15a of the second lateral portion 15 means that the smallest bending radius of the concave upper part 13a is less than the smallest bending radius of the concave upper part 15a.
The concave upper part 13a has a vertical extension less than the concave upper part 15a and, consequently, has a substantially vertical lower part 13b greater than that of the lateral portion 15.
In particular, the concave upper part 13a is defined by a variation of its bending radius which, from the top to the bottom, assumes in sequence the values 64, 30.8 and 213.9; while, the concave upper part 15a is defined by a variation of its bending radius, which, from the top to the bottom, assumes in sequence the values 64, 37.2 and 103.7.
As is apparent from Figure 1, the front portion 14 of the lateral wall 12 has a more pronounced concavity with respect to the WC of the prior art and is defined by a variation of the bending radius which, from the top to the bottom, assumes in sequence the values 48.1, 69.1 and 232.9.
The values of the above radii of curvature are expressed in mm.
As can be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the lateral wall 12 is rimless, thus ensuring greater hygiene. In fact, a rimless lateral wall guarantees the absence of recesses difficult to reach during cleaning operations and therefore can represent possible locations of bacterial proliferation.
The presence of a single lateral flushing opening 6 and the particular shape of the two lateral portions 13a, 15a of the lateral wall 12 allow to significantly lessen the noise level caused by the flushing water during discharge. The effectiveness of the flow of the flushing water in terms of directionality and pressure, however, is made possible by conformational features of the supply duct 5 of the discharge water.
Finally, the shape of the front portion 14 of the lateral wall 12 further ensures the proper flow of the discharge water and consequential low noise.
As indicated by the arrows of Figure 2, the water produced from the flushing opening 6 generates a spiral flow that flows along the lateral wall 12. The spiral path of the flushing water flow ensures, therefore, that along the path itself there is no impact between different water portions. In fact, the flushing water first passes through the concave upper part 13a, then the concavity of the front portion 14 and, once crossed the concave upper part 15a, is located in a position lower than the water flowing along the concave upper part 13a. In this way, therefore, the water leaving the concave upper part 15a, instead of encountering the water flowing along the concave upper part 13a, flows until impact against the substantially vertical lower part 13b, then continues towards the discharge duct 4.
The present invention offers the great advantage of being able to ensure a low noise level of the flushing water during the discharge operation, along with a high efficiency in the cleaning of the inner walls of the WC.
Furthermore, when the characteristics are also associated with the absence of a rim of the WC, the advantage concerning a high level of hygiene is also accomplished.

Claims

A WC (1) comprising a structure (2) defining at least one basin (3) delimited by an asymmetrical lateral wall (12) and a flushing water supply duct (5) obtained in a rear portion (2a) of the structure (2) to be connected to a water network, extending along an axis X and communicating with said basin (3) so as to allow the flushing water to flow;
said WC being characterized in that said flushing water supply duct (5) is defined by at least a flowing portion (8) and by an outlet portion (9) directly connected to said flowing portion and in a lateral wall (10) of which only one flushing opening (6) for the flowing of water from the duct (5) to the basin (3) is obtained; said opening (6) having a flow-through section with an area ranging from 20 to 50% of the area of the flow-through section of the outlet portion (9) and said outlet portion (9) having a flow-through section with an area ranging from 35 to 65% of the area of the flow-through section of said flowing portion (8);
and in that said lateral wall (12) defining the basin (3) has an asymmetrical shape and comprises:
- a first lateral portion (13), which is faced by said flushing opening (6) and comprises:
a concave upper part (13a) and a substantially vertical lower part (13b), and

- a second lateral portion (15) facing the first lateral portion (13) and arranged in front of it and comprising:
a concave upper part (15a) having a larger vertical extension than the concave upper part (13a) of the first lateral portion (13) and a substantially vertical lower part (15b) with smaller dimensions than the substantially vertical lower part (13b) of the first lateral portion (13).
The WC according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening (6) has a flow-through section with an area ranging from 30 to 40% of the area of the flow-through section of the outlet portion (9).
The WC according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet portion (9) has a flow-through section with an area ranging from 45 to 55% of the area of the flow-through section of said flowing portion (8).
The WC according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said outlet portion (9) extends beyond said flushing opening (6).
The WC according to claim 4, characterized in that the outlet portion (9) comprises a bottom wall (11), which is inclined upwards with respect to the axis X.
The WC according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the concave upper part (13a) of the first lateral portion (13) has a greater depth concavity than the concave upper part (15a) of the second lateral portion (15).
The WC according to claim 6, characterized in that the concave upper part (13a) of the first lateral portion (13) is defined by a variation of its bending radius, which, from the top to the bottom, assumes in sequence the values 64 mm, 30.8 mm and 213.9 mm; and in that the concave upper part (15a) of the second lateral portion (15) is defined by a variation of its bending radius, which, from the top to the bottom, assumes in sequence the values 64 mm, 37.2 mm and 103, 7 mm.
WC according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral wall (12) comprises a front portion (14) which is defined by a variation of its bending radius, which, from the top to the bottom, assumes, in sequence, the values 48.1 mm, 69.1 mm and 232.9 mm.
The WC according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral wall (12) is rimless.
The WC according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said structure (2) is one single piece made of ceramic.