FI93246B - Drive mechanism for the bottom valve in the flushing cistern of a W.C. bowl - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an operating mechanism for the bottom valve in a W.C.-bowl flushing cistern, comprising an elongate arm 2 which passes through the cistern cover 4 and which at its upper end has a pull knob 1 and at its lower end a member 3 which grips the valve's operating arm, also a limiting device 5, 6 which determines the extent of movement A of the arm 2 when the knob 1 is pulled. Over the pull knob 1 is a second pull knob whereby an additional arm 8 fastened to it can move longitudinally relative to the arm 2 over a limited extent B. When the upper knob 7 is pulled, the additional arm 8 moves freely only the limited extent B, and after that lifts the arm 2, so that the bottom valve will not open fully, so providing a partial, water-saving flush. When the lower knob is pulled upwards, the full flush is achieved. <IMAGE>

Description

93246 Toilet bowl flush tank bottom valve drive mechanism. Drivmekanism för bottenventilen i spolningsbehällaren av en WC-stol.

The invention relates to a mechanism for operating a bottom valve for a toilet bowl flush tank, comprising an elongate arm passing through the tank lid and having a pull knob at the upper end and a protrusion engaging the valve operating lever at the lower end, and a restrictor for determining the travel of the handle when pulling the pull knob.

With such a drive mechanism, the bottom valve is opened so that the amount of water collected in the flushing tank, e.g. 7 l, is discharged from the tank into the HC bowl. This amount of water is rated for a larger need for use, which occurs on average only about once a day per person. A much smaller amount of water, e.g., about 1 L, would be sufficient to flush urine. This lower need occurs on average 5-6 times a day per person. If the amount of rinsing water can be selected based on the need for use, approximately 30 1 / person of clean water can be saved daily. When the water consumption in apartment buildings is about 170-180 1 / day / person, the possibility to select the amount of rinsing water according to the need would mean a substantial saving in the consumption of clean water.

. For this purpose, it has previously been proposed to use a drive mechanism in which the traction knob and the arm have a first limited travel, which can be identified by increasing traction resistance. If the knob is not pulled up, the bottom valve will not open, resulting in a saving flush, the amount of water of which depends on the time the pull knob is held in the intermediate position. The disadvantage of this known mechanism is that the user often does not stop the pull to the intermediate position, whereby the bottom valve opens to the full flush position unnecessarily often. In this case, the desired water saving is not achieved.

93246 2

The object of the invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism with which the correct use of the choice between economy rinsing and full rinsing can be ensured and thus maximum water savings are achieved.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drive mechanism which is simple in construction and inexpensive and can be installed as a replacement in flushing tanks already in use.

These objects of the invention are achieved on the basis of the features set out in the appended claims.

The two-button operation of the drive mechanism according to the invention ensures correct use and savings.

Placing the power flush knob above the full flush knob ensures that the user performs the power flush at all times except when a full flush is required.

In the following, one embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a drive mechanism according to the invention seen from the side and Fig. 2 shows the same as Fig. 1 90 * inverted.

Attached to the knob 1 for full flushing is a tubular arm 2, the lower end of which has a serrated projection 3 which engages the operating valve of the bottom valve in a conventional manner. Instead of the protrusion 3, the gripping member can also be a hook or loop attached to the lower end of the arm 2 (as an extension thereof). The pipe arm 2 pierces the lid 4 of the rinsing tank. Inside the rinsing tank there is a stop 5 which the shoulder 6 il 3 93246 on the arm 2 impinges when the arm 2 is pulled up by a distance A. This distance A is long enough for the bottom valve to open to a position from which it cannot close until the flushing tank has been substantially emptied.

For saving rinsing, a second pull knob 7 is mounted on the pull knob 1, which is attached to an additional arm 8 inside the pipe arm 2. The tubular arm 2 has a longitudinally elongated hole 10, the lower end of which is substantially at the shoulder 6 and whose length B is considerably less than the travel A. The lower end of the extension arm 8 has a transverse pin 9 received in the hole 10. When the hole 10 impinges on opposite ends 8 with respect to the tube arm 2. When the pull knob 7 is pulled, the auxiliary arm 8 first moves freely in said limited travel B and then raises the arm 2 substantially by the difference of said travel A and B.

To ensure that when the knob 7 is pulled, the bottom valve does not open for full flushing, the travel B is slightly longer than the difference between the travel A and B.

The lower end of the additional arm 8 preferably extends so low inside the lower end of the tubular arm 2 that it does not come into the hole 10 in any mutual position of the arms 2 and 8.

With the pull knob 7 attached to the auxiliary arm 8 at the top, the primary use of the economy rinse is ensured. Pulling knob 7 does not achieve full rinsing. The arrangement is practical *. also because economy rinsing is needed significantly more often than full rinsing. There are no difficulties in using or selecting either flushing method.

Claims (3)

93246 4 A toilet bowl flush tank bottom valve drive mechanism comprising an elongate arm (2) passing through the tank lid (4) and having a pull knob (1) at the upper end and a valve gripping member (3), stop (5, 6) at the lower end, which determines the travel (A) of the arm (2) when pulled from the pull knob (1), and in connection with said pull knob (1) and the arm (2) a second pull knob (7) and an additional arm (8) attached thereto, movable with respect to said arm limited travel (B), characterized in that the arm (2) and the auxiliary arm (8) are connected via the same gripping member (3) to the bottom valve operating lever, said limited travel (B) being substantially shorter than said travel (A) of the arm (2), when the second pulling knob (7) is pulled, the auxiliary arm (8) first moves freely over said limited travel (B) and then raises said arm (2) substantially within said travel; (A and B). by a gap to open the bottom valve to a position from which it closes as soon as the pull knob (7) is released. Drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said arm (2) is tubular and said additional arm (8) is inside it, characterized in that the arm tube (2) has: a longitudinally elongated hole (10) and an additional arm (8) is a pin (9) projecting into the hole (10) which, when colliding with opposite ends of the hole (10), limits said limited free travel (B). Drive mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said limited free travel (B) is slightly longer than the difference between said travel (A and B). ti s 93246 5