FI114873B - Non-contact toilet flush - Google Patents

Description

114873

NON-CONTACT TOILET RINSE - BERÖRINGSFRI TOALETTSPOLAR-ANORDNING

The present invention relates to a non-contact toilet flushing device 5 suitable for existing toilets or installations / configurations for new toilets or similar sanitary material. The device can be used alone, which not only enables non-contact operation but can also be combined with a commonly known manual function to avoid possible malfunction. In addition, the device may be combined with a container for a liquid fluid to be injected with the purpose of, for example, avoiding unpleasant odors. In addition, there is a predetermined valve for this spraying operation which, in one embodiment, can be used to spray a metered amount of sanitary fluid when the toilet is flushed.

15 The requirement for contactless sanitary ware has evolved tremendously since the mid-1980s, partly forced by legislation and requirements to place sanitary ware, especially in public places, and partly by the requirement and desire to reduce the number of points of contact per person in a public place.

. . 20 / One of the places where the vast majority of users come into contact with sanitary ware is an actuator for toilet flushing. This may have been formatted '·' · in various ways, such as a push button, a mechanism that has to be pulled up, a button that has to be pressed down or sideways or the like. Toilet flushing thus becomes a point of contact for the vast majority of users and is thus a major source of bacterial transmission, etc. However, recent legislation and health, environmental and safety requirements require that: · limit the number of contact points where there is a risk of infection; · Such as toilet seats and toilet flush function. Many different solutions can be • «« *. 30 imagine reducing contact between the user and the toilet flush function,. but the best solution so far is to completely remove the touch.

»· T '·, ·. * · From the prior art solutions to the problem area, it is natural to look at the use of an electronic detector, a photocell, or the like 2 114873

in connection with sanitary installations. Such sensors may, for example, initiate a flushing of the urine basin or the like when persons enter or leave the sanitary facility. Technical solutions for contactless toilet flushing are described in EP 0.453.702, GB 2.260.998, US 5,4941.515, US 5,062,453, US 5,313,674, US 5,423,959. In the said EP

0.453.702 specifically shows a device connected to a toilet tank. The device comprises a non-contact sensor and an actuator for performing the toilet flush function.

Compared to prior art solutions, the elements required to perform the non-contact flushing function are substantially associated with the device of the present invention. The structural coupling thus differs greatly from the present invention in the solutions known in the art for fitting the device to the toilet tank and existing flushing mechanisms, thereby facilitating the use of the device of the present invention with existing toilets. In addition, the non-contact function in the present invention may be replaced by a standard manual function, or it may be further provided with a manually operated function. The user can thus use non-contact sanitary material in the same manner. , 20 as a standard known manual function.

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It is a known practice on behalf of the sanitary liquid tank and of devices for introducing liquid into the toilet *: water tank to place the tank on the outside of the toilet seat, e.g., on a wall near the toilet seat. The reservoir is connected to the water reservoir 25 via a conduit such as a water hose or the like and communicates with a valve device therein that allows the sanitary fluid to drip from the reservoir to the water reservoir.

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However, the previously known solution for introducing sanitary liquid *. In addition, 30 is often the target of vandalism, and in addition to existing systems for the introduction of sanitary • tea, results in a high use of this liquid without the desired effect to be achieved. At the same time, it has been found that overuse of the sludge liquid can have a detrimental effect on the sanitary material, especially in connection with seals, sealing rings and the like.

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In order to overcome the above problems, while satisfying the above requirements for reducing the risk of contamination and avoiding contact, especially in public areas, the present invention has provided a non-contact toilet flusher whose design ensures that the user does not have to touch the toilet flush operation. In addition, the device of the present invention is designed in such a way that it can be adapted to both new toilet installations and equally well to be retrofitted to existing toilet installations. The device itself may be shaped in a relatively homogeneous manner and by altering the fastening elements to the device, the device may be adapted to integrate with a majority of differently shaped lids for the toilet water tank. The device can thus be easily fitted to different toilets of different designs and sizes.

The embodiment of the device of the present invention may further comprise a tank for sanitary fluid, which tank is provided with a valve which, in a preferred embodiment, dispenses this sanitary fluid during and / or after the initial flushing process in the toilet. This prevents an increase in sanitary liquid during periods when the toilet is rarely used, therefore substantially reducing the consumption of such a liquid as compared to a conventional drip system. In addition, the injection of the sanitary liquid can be more conveniently accommodated in the flushing process, which results in the liquid essentially remaining in the toilet bowl after flushing, rather than being lost with water flushed down the toilet, as is the case with known systems. By connecting the sanitary liquid tank to the inside of the water tank, it is additionally protected from vandalism. However, the connection causes the need to be equipped for the tank to be replenished, preferably without the need to replace the water tank cover.

· * · The standard filler opening can be easily fitted. Similarly commonly known. · '. the sensor may be provided to indicate when it is necessary to add sanitary liquid.

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The non-contact toilet flushing device of claim 1 is formed by special technical structural features in accordance with the characterization portion of claim 1 4 1U873 in the present application, and may also be found in the additional features according to the following dependent claims.

The subject matter of the application essentially consists of a sensor body or recording body 5 operatively connected to one or more housings or box-like articles which together comprise at least an actuator actuated by the sensor body and actuating the toilet flush activation mechanism through the transmission body. The actuator may be controlled by a stored actuator, such as a battery, a hydrostatic battery or the like. The operating device and the stored actuator, possibly together with the control means and the transition between the sensor body and the actuator, are housed in a housing or adjacent to a box-like body, thereby enabling the device to be installed in a toilet water tank. This provides for the possibility of retrofitting to existing water tanks, where the device may be specifically fitted to new water tanks and factory installed inside them. The sensor body is usually placed on the top of the toilet or on the lid, or it can be placed in a convenient location near the toilet. However, it is natural for the user to locate the sensor body in the same place where manual operation is normally provided. In addition, a sensor body can be used, which can be adapted to its sensitivity, thus providing maximum security for unwanted or unintentional toilet. activation of the flushing mechanism.

, '·· In a preferred embodiment, the valve for dispensing the sanitary fluid may further be connected to a separate float mechanism that dispenses the correct: ··: 25 amount of sanitary liquid at the right time. Alternatively, the dosing valve may be connected to the flushing device as a result of the contactless activation of the flushing also activating the sanitary fluid dosing.

t i t, ···. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

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'' Figure 1 is a sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional top view of an embodiment of the invention of Figure 1; 5 1U873

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of a portion of a sanitary fluid container in connection with the device of the present invention with a dispensing valve embodiment.

In Figure 1, two housings 15a, 15b are illustrated, where the necessary components according to the invention are divided between two housings. Housing 15a is provided with a servo motor 1 with a transmission body 2, one end of which is pivotally connected to the servomotor mechanism and having one end provided with a loop 4 which balances the angular differences between the transmission body 2 and element 3 brought into contact with the toilet activation mechanism, when the toilet flush is activated. Further, the second housing 15b of the device includes a storage drive means, which in this embodiment is a battery 8 together with an electrical control means 9, which in turn is connected to the sensor body 16 via a duct connection 17. The sensor body 16 may be located on the lid of the toilet seat 15, or in another convenient location near the toilet. In the upper part of the housings 15a and 15b, the device is further provided with fastening elements 10 which, in the present embodiment, along the three sides of the housings 15a and 15b respectively, are folded outwardly in the direction of the interior of the housings 15a 15b. This edge 10 may be used to hang the device inside the toilet water tank 20 under the lid, or the device may be hung in a suitable cavity inside the water tank. I weather. However, the device must be located close to the toilet flushing mechanism and preferably near the actuator 1 so that the transmitter body 2 between the actuator and the activation mechanism for the toilet flushing is not unnecessarily long or complicated in shape.

25

In the present embodiment, it is further illustrated that the lower portions 7a, 7b of the enclosures 15a and 15b are filled with a special sanitary fluid that can be injected through the opening / injector 14 by means of a toilet flushing mechanism. The embodiment also illustrates a passage 12 between the housings 15a 15b 30 in the lower portions connecting 7a and 7b.

Further, between the housings 15a and 15b, there is provided a bracket or bracket 5, which: also has a mounting hole 6 for attaching the devices to the toilet. In addition, the stock; The tumbler 5 is provided with a stop 11 which is used to arrest the activation mechanism previously used in connection with toilet flushes if the device is retrofitted to a toilet previously used manually.

The actuator 1 located in the housing 15a may, of course, consist of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor or any other type of actuator which may have a stored source with the actuator such as a hydraulic or compressed air battery, a battery or the like. In the present embodiment, the drive body 1 and the stored actuator 8 as well as the control device 9 are housed in two different housings 15a and 15b, since the device may well consist of one or more housings and different functional elements such as actuator 1, stored actuator or control consists of more than one housing. Further, the injection of a sanitary liquid or the like, which in the present embodiment is contained in the chambers 7a and 7b, is an alternative to the present invention. In addition, the mounting means for the device may vary and adapt to different types of toilets, and it may also be imagined that the functional elements of the device of the present invention may be divided into a plurality of chambers and not necessarily interconnected but located inside the toilet water / enclosures or counter-. i david outside the toilet. Among other things, this allows: a sensor housing together with the electrical control means 9 to be mounted in a suitable location on the housing, while the drive frame 1 and the storage ··: the actuator 8 can be mounted close to the toilet flush actuation mechanism.

In this case, the two chambers / housings are connected by a duct connection 17,: '1': which substantially connects the sensor body 16 with the control device 9 and also with the actuator 1.

, ···. In most cases, the non-contact toilet flusher works by flicking your hand · · * 30 or other object over the sensor body for a predetermined period of time to activate the »» * * · '* toilet flush mechanism. In cases where the non-contact * 'toilet flush is disabled for any reason, the toilet flush may be operated manually or the manual operation operation function is additionally connected (> t non-contact).

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Fig. 3 further illustrates an embodiment of a sanitary liquid dispensing valve 20 mounted in connection with the sanitary liquid chambers 7a and 7b (Figs. 1 and 2). The valve 20 consists essentially of a housing 21 5 with an inner chamber 24 and a lid 22 disposed within the chamber. The housing is located in a hole in the fluid reservoir 7a, 7b with an intermediate seal 34 which prevents leakage from the fluid reservoir to the water reservoir. Outside the fluid reservoir 7a, 7b, the outlet 28 is connected to the housing 21 through openings in the container 24. However, the outlet tubes are sealed by a seal 23 to the piston 24 internally in the chamber 24. The piston 25 is moved when the water in the water tank drips 32 through. The float arm 32 is further rotatably secured to the holding device 29 at the pivot point 31. Thus, the time to dispense sanitary fluid to the valve can be controlled by moving the float 33 along the float arm 32. In the preferred embodiment, the sanitary fluid is dispensed at the end of the flushing process. The chamber 24 communicates with the sanitary fluid container 7a, 7b through openings 26 which may be provided with non-return valves (not illustrated).

The metered amount of sanitary fluid can be further regulated by a screw device 35 which limits the stroke length of the piston 25 within the chamber 24. The screw device 35 is located in the cover 22 and, in an alternative embodiment, may be omitted, wherein the cover 22 may also provide a simpler shape and connection to the housing 21;

25: ***: The present invention has been illustrated by embodiments above and should not be considered as a limitation when selecting a sensor body, drive type, or other elements. Therefore, the device may be composed of a plurality of different sets of different types of operating frames, as shown in the following claims.

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Claims (7)

A non-contact toilet flushing device for installation inside a toilet water tank, comprising one or more housing (15a, 15b) comprising at least an actuator (1), a stored actuator (8) and an actuator (1) for the control circuit (9). ), and the transmission from the stored actuator (8) to the actuator (1), the housing (15a, 15b) further comprising a transmission body (2) rotatably connected to the actuator (1) at one end and provided with a loop ( 4) connected to the element 10 (3) adapted to be brought into contact with the toilet flush activating mechanism, and which toilet flushing device further comprises one or more observation bodies (16) arranged to register activation actions in the toilet flush. for flushing without contact, the observation body (16) operatively connected to the actuator (1) via a control circuit (9) 15, u that the housing (15a, 15b) is provided with an injector (14) coupled to the control circuit (9), which can inject the additional fluid in the portion (7a, 7b) of the housing (15a, 15b) during activation of the toilet flush. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the observation body 20 (16) is a motion sensor, a heat sensor or the like, which registers the presence of an activation action for flushing the toilet. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuator (1) is an electrically operated servomotor or the like. *; 25 Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the stored functional device (8) is a battery. account. Device according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one or more chambers (7a, 7b) are provided in connection with the device for auxiliary fluid, such as sanitary fluid. • »» «i» t t I 9 114873 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that one or more chambers (7a, 7b) are provided with a metering valve (20) activated by a floating device (33). Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the dispensing valve (20) comprises a housing (21) having a movable piston (25) connected to the carriage device (33). = »» * I «* i i» »i i I I» »* * t S · 10 1 14873