FR2719858A1 - Reservoir emptying system control mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The control mechanism consists of a hollow support (8) which can be fixed to the cistern cover and pass through a hole in it, with a control button (19) mounted in the support so it can be moved axially from outside. The button is connected to a pusher (10) inside the cistern.The pusher comprises a first element (11) connected to the button, and a second element (12) which is mounted on the first element, can move axially relative to it and makes contact with the emptying mechanism (2). The second element can be adjusted relative to the first, and has a number of detachable sections (12B) which allow its length to be altered as necessary.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the emptying mechanism of a tank. In a preferred, although not exclusive, application, the device is intended for controlling the mechanism for emptying a flush tank allowing, when the mechanism is triggered as a result of an action on the control device, drain the water from the tank towards the bowl to clean it.

We know that the manufacture of cisterns by porcelain manufacturers causes, for the same type of tank, dimensional variations in particular in height, between the bottom of the tank and the tank cover, which can reach several millimeters, or even a few centimeters. Also, when the assembly of the drain mechanism and the control device is carried out by a specialist, such as a plumber, the latter intervenes directly on the appropriate elements of the drain mechanism and the control device to adapt and adjust them. depending on the height of the tank to be fitted, and thus compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

On the other hand, if the assembly is carried out by a non-specialist, malfunctions of the emptying mechanism may appear quickly in use, as a result of approximate adjustments.

In addition, due to competition and customer requirements, in particular with regard to aesthetic and space requirements, porcelain manufacturers are led to design and offer tanks whose dimensions, particularly in height, can be very variable between the different types of tanks. This multiplicity of types of tanks leads to the provision of emptying mechanisms and control devices capable of adapting to each of them, while being confronted with the aforementioned dimensional problems inherent in the manufacture of the tanks.

Also, the present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and relates to a control device whose design makes it possible to compensate for the dimensional variations of the same type of tank without necessarily having recourse to specialists, and to be able to adapt to the heights different types of tank, with the same emptying mechanism.

To this end, the device for controlling the mechanism for emptying a tank, in particular a flush tank, of the type comprising - a hollow support capable of being fixed to the cover
of said reservoir and crossing a passage formed in said
cover - a control button mounted, axially movable,
in said hollow support which can be actuated externally
and - a control push button associated with said button and passing through
said hollow support for cooperating with said mechanism
drainage fixed inside said tank, is remarkable, according to the invention, in that said control pusher comprises at least a first element fixed to said control button, and a second element mounted, axially displaceable, on said first element for coming into contact with said emptying mechanism, by axial adjustment of the second element relative to said first element.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the control device can easily be adapted to any type of tank whatever its height, by simply adjusting the second movable element of the pusher relative to the first fixed element, during assembly of the device, guaranteeing a secure and permanent mechanical connection with the emptying mechanism, which can then be the same for all types of tank.

Advantageously, said second displaceable element of the pusher is provided with means for presetting in position of said pusher.

In a preferred embodiment, said presetting means can be defined by a plurality of breakable parts arranged one after the other on said second element. Thus, depending on the height of the tank, one or more breakable parts are broken, if necessary, to bring the pusher to the length closest to the final adjustment to be made.

In particular, the adjustment in the final position of said pusher is defined by a notched sliding connection, between the two elements to bring said second element into contact with said mechanism and mark said final position with notches. It is thus noted, that the presetting, then the adjustment in the final position of the pusher are carried out without any tool, only by possible removal of breakable parts then, by automatic adjustment of the sliding between the two elements during the installation of the device, which allows it to be assembled by low-skilled operators.

For example, said first fixed element may be tubular and cooperate, at its upper end, with said control button and, at its lower end, with said second movable element, and the latter may have a tubular part, in the passage of which is engaged, via the notched sliding link, the lower end of said first element, and which is extended by said breakable parts.

In a preferred embodiment, said lower end of the first element is slotted to define two elastically deformable tabs, provided externally with notches which cooperate with corresponding notches provided in the internal passage of said tubular part of the second element.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for locking in the final position of the two elements adjusted relative to one another. For example, said locking means are constituted by a rod extending said button axially and passing through said first tubular element, to separate said elastically deformable tabs from the first element and to press the notches of said tabs into the notches of the internal passage of said second element. Thus, the adjusted elements of the pusher are firmly held in position.

Furthermore, said control button is secured to the pusher by engagement of lateral ribs, provided on the rod of said button, in the first tubular element, the latter being immobilized in rotation with said hollow support, but axially displaceable with said button. Consequently, simultaneously with the locking in position of the elements, the control button is joined when it is assembled with the pusher automatically adjusted in position by contact of the movable element on the emptying mechanism.

In addition, said first element is provided with two stops delimiting the maximum travel of movement of said button between its rest position and its actuated position, said stops cooperating respectively with said fixed hollow support.

Preferably, said control button comprises two actuation keys for respectively triggering the total emptying and the partial emptying of the tank according to a maximum or partial stroke. A return spring is also provided between said control button and said fixed support, spontaneously returning said button to the rest position, after actuation.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

FIG. 1 schematically represents a flush tank, equipped with the device for controlling the mechanism for emptying the tank.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of said device according to the invention, mounted on the cover of the tank but before the adjustment of the pusher and the installation of the means for locking the pusher.

FIG. 3 is a transverse view of the control button of the device, with two operating keys.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the locking means illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows the device after adjustment of the pusher for a maximum height of the reservoir and installation of the locking means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the locking means illustrated in FIG. 5.

Figure 7 shows the device of Figure 2 after adjusting the pusher for a minimum height of the tank and setting up the locking means.

Figures 8 and 9 respectively show the actuation of the two buttons on the control button, triggering the partial or total emptying of the tank.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the support in two respective mounting positions, and equipped with a single button button.

The flush tank 1, shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a draining mechanism 2 fixed to the bottom 3 of the tank and communicating with a bowl not shown, with a device 4 for supplying water to the tank , fixed in the upper part of one of the side walls 5 of the tank, and of a control device 6 of the mechanism 2, fixed to the cover 7 of the tank and acting directly on the emptying mechanism. There is also shown, in this Figure 1, the height H between the bottom 3 and the cover 7 of the tank 1, also called overlapping height, and it is therefore understood that, depending on this height of the tank to be equipped, it It is necessary to adjust in particular the control device 6 to ensure the proper functioning of the emptying mechanism.

The control device 6, shown in FIG. 2, mainly comprises a hollow support 8, a control button 9 and a control pusher 10. In particular, the hollow support or rosette 8 has a generally cylindrical shape and comprises a base 8A able to come into contact with the upper face 7A of the cover, and a tubular part 8B, extending the base 8A and passing through a passage 7B formed in said cover. The tubular part 8B of the hollow support 8 is threaded, so that a tightening nut 13 secures the support to the cover by bearing on the lower face 7C of the cover, opposite to the upper face 7A to which the '' base 8A.

The control button 9 is mounted, axially movable, in the support 8 and it comprises, in this embodiment, two actuation keys 9A and 9B respectively intended, as will be seen later, to trigger the total emptying and partial drainage of water from the tank, towards the bowl. A return spring 15 is provided between the base 8A of the support and the actuation keys 9A, 9B of said button to spontaneously recall the latter in the initial position after actuation of one of the keys.

As for the control pusher 10, it is associated with the button 8 to communicate the movement of the latter to the emptying mechanism 2, and for this it passes axially through the hollow support 8 to cooperate with said mechanism.

According to the invention, in order to be able to easily adapt to the different heights H of tanks, the control pusher 10 of the device 6 consists of two elongated elements 11,12 arranged one inside the other and displaceable axially relatively one compared to each other. More particularly, the first element 11 is fixed on the control button 9, while the second element 12 is slidably mounted on the first element 11, so as to be brought into contact with the emptying mechanism 2 by axial adjustment.

Structurally, the first element 11 has a cylindrical tubular shape capable of being fixed, at its upper end 11A, to the control button 9 as will be seen later, and cooperating with the second element at its lower end 11B. The second element 12 has, for its part, a hollow cylindrical part 12A in which the lower end 11B of the first element is received, thereby defining a sliding connection between the two elements, allowing precise adjustment in the final position of said pusher. In addition, due in particular to the significant difference which may exist between the heights of tanks, the second movable element 12 of the pusher is provided with presetting means in position which are, for example, defined by a plurality of breakable parts 12B axially extending the hollow cylindrical part 12A, and arranged one after the other.

These breakable parts 12B can have a flattened or cross section and are connected to each other by zones of least resistance 12C. Each breakable part thus covers a preset range corresponding to ranges of tank heights, which makes it possible to preset, in the corresponding range, the length of the pusher 10 closest to the height H of the tank to be equipped. The final position of the pusher is obtained by adjusting the sliding connection between the two elements, the marking of which in the final position is obtained by notches respectively provided in 12D in the hollow tubular part 12A of the second element and in llC on the lower end llB of the first element. In this connection, the end llB is axially split and defined by two elastic end tabs llD provided externally with the notches llC and each having an internal rim 11E, as shown more particularly in FIG. 4.

Also, to maintain the marking in the final position of the two elements of the pusher, the device comprises locking means 14. These are defined by a rod 9C which extends axially the actuation button for total emptying 9A of the control button 9 and which engages in the internal passage of the first element 11, so that its free end 9D is at the lower end llB of the first element, that is to say between the elastic tabs llD, but upstream of internal flanges 11E before the installation of the locking means, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Furthermore, in the upper part of the rod 9C, close to the keys 9A, 9B, there are provided lateral ribs 9E projecting radially from the rod which are intended, after assembly of the device, to engage in the upper end liA of the first element for linking in rotation and in translation the button 9 of element 11 of the pusher. In addition, the element 11 is linked in rotation to the support 8 by flats 11F, while of course being axially movable relative to the latter.

As for the maximum travel of movement of the pusher following the actuation of the button 9A of the control button, it is defined by two stops respectively shaped as an external annular shoulder 11G terminating the upper end liA of the first element, and in radial projections 11H provided along said first element 11.

The establishment and adjustment of the device 6 on the cover 7 of a tank to be equipped is carried out as follows.

First of all, the flushing mechanism 2 is mounted on the bottom 3 of the tank 1, which is then fixed to the bowl, not shown. The cover 7 is then placed on the tank 1, then the height H, called "cover dimension" and between the bottom 3 of the tank and the upper face 7A of the cover, is measured. Obviously, the height h separating the bottom of the reservoir from the control base 2A of the emptying mechanism mounted in the reservoir, is also known, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

From there, one seeks the correspondence of the height H raised, on the breakable parts 12B of the pusher, which define a preset distance DP and on which are indicated preset dimensions, regularly staggered, of the control device. One breaks, if necessary, at the level of the zone of least resistance 12C, one or more breakable parts 12B to approach at best and, therefore, preset the pusher relative to the control base of the mechanism, as will be seen below. after with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7. Then, the pusher 10 is pulled to the maximum, that is to say that the two elements 11 and 12 have a maximum length, so that the adjustment distance
DR of the notched sliding link is maximum.

We then proceed to mount the control device 6 on the cover 7, by introducing it through the passage 7B so that the base 8A of the support 8 is applied to the upper face 7A of the cover. Then, the nut 13 is screwed onto the threaded tubular part 8B of the support, until it comes into contact with the lower face 7C of the cover. At this time, the device 6 has the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, with the preset preset distances DP, in this example, and DR, while the control button 9 is not yet secured to the first element of the pusher 10 , being distant from the base 8A of the support by the spring 15.

FIGS. 5 and 7 show the two possible extreme settings of the device mounted respectively in two tanks having maximum and minimum heights H.

In FIG. 5, the height H or covering dimension is maximum, so that the breakable parts 12B of the pusher are then preserved. The cover 7, fitted with the device 6, is then placed on the tank then the operator presses the control button 9, compressing the spring 15 as much as possible, on the one hand, engaging the ribs 9E in the internal passage of the first element 11, which secures them and, on the other hand, bring the free end 12E of the second element 12 into contact with the base 2A of the mechanism, the valve of which is not shown is open, which automatically regulates the pusher 10 and locks the two elements 11 and 12 in position. In fact, the engagement of the end 9D of the rod 9C between the internal flanges 11E causes the elastic tabs 11D of the first element to spread apart and immobilizes the notches llC in the corresponding notches 12D of the second element 12. The locking in position is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The control device 6 then occupies the position shown in FIG. 5, ready to operate.

The height H being minimum in FIG. 7, the breakable parts 12B are all removed, so that the free end of the second element 12 is defined by the bottom 12F of the tubular part 12A. This is drawn with respect to the first element, so that the distance DR is maximum.

When the cover 7 is mounted on the reservoir, the bottom 12F necessarily comes into contact with the base 2A of the mechanism since the distance DR is greater (for example of the order of 10 mm) than the height of a breakable part 12A . Consequently, by the contact of the bottom 12F with the base 2A, the tubular part 12A of the second element sinks and slides relative to the first element 11, to be adjusted automatically without manual intervention, the position being marked by the notched connection . In our extreme case, the distance DR becomes zero. The locking in the position thus marked of the two elements 11, 12, and the connection of the control button 9 of said pusher 10 are obtained by action of the operator on the button 9, as previously described. The device 6 shown in Figure 7 is then ready to operate.

Any other intermediate adjustment of the device is of course possible, which allows it to be adapted to tanks of various heights and to compensate for the manufacturing clearances. The assembly of the device can thus be carried out by any person, even unqualified in this field, since the adjustment is automatic and requires no tools, only the measurement of the covering height, the possible cutting of the breakable parts, and the action on the control button being carried out manually by one operator.

As shown in FIG. 3, the two actuation keys 9A, 9B of the control button 9 are linked to each other by an axially sliding guide, by means of elastic tabs 9F provided transversely on the key 9B , for example, and engaging in corresponding notches 9G formed in the button 9A. The rod 9 and, therefore, the pusher 10 is directly integral with it, while, as shown in FIG. 5, the key 9B is coaxially distant from a distance "d" from the shoulder llG forming a stop for said pusher .

It is therefore understood, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, that when the user presses the button 9B, the descent stroke c of the pusher 10 is reduced due to the initial distance d from the button 9B, which triggers the emptying partial of the tank. On the other hand, when the user presses the button 9A, the downward travel C of the pusher is maximum since said button is integral with the pusher, the shoulder llG coming to bear on the base 8A of the support, which triggers total emptying of the tank. The return spring 15 spontaneously returns to the initial high position, the control button 9, whatever the button pressed, the lateral projections 11H of the pusher being in abutment against the tubular part 8B of the base.

In the variant embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the control button 9 is mounted recessed in the base 8A of the support, which is respectively flush or projecting relative to the cover 7 of the tank.

For this, a hollow intermediate piece 16 is provided, of frustoconical shape, between the base 8A of the support and the cover 7. In FIG. 10, the large base of the frustoconical piece 16 is placed on the upper face 7A of the cover, while the base 8A rests, by an external annular rim 8C, on the small frustoconical base of the part 16. The clamping nut 13, located on the other side of the part relative to the cover, ensures the fixing of the support 8 of the device on the cover. The actuation button 9A of the button 9, which is for example simple emptying, has a convex shape which extends that, identical, of the annular rim 8C of the base.

In FIG. 11, the base 8A is housed in the passage 7B of the cover and rests, by its external annular rim 8C on the external face 7A of the cover, while the large base of the part 16 is applied on the internal face 7C of the cover by means of the tightening nut 13 resting on the small base of the part 16. The rim 8C and the button 9A, of convex shape, come flush with the upper face 7A of the cover.

From the above, it appears that the device according to the invention requires a reduced assembly time thanks to the automatic adjustment of the pusher, relative to the emptying mechanism installed, and allows a precise adjustment adjustment of the order of + 0 , 5 mm, obtained without tools and removal of the cover. In addition, the subsequent disassembly and reassembly of the cover does not modify the initial setting of the device.

Claims (12)

1. Device for controlling the mechanism for emptying a tank, in particular a flush tank, of the type comprising - a hollow support (8) capable of being fixed to the cover  of said reservoir and crossing a passage formed in said  cover - a control button (9) mounted, axially movable  ment, in said hollow and actuable external support  is lying ; and - a control button (10) associated with said button and  passing through said hollow support to cooperate with said  emptying mechanism fixed inside said tank, characterized in that said control pusher (10) comprises at least a first element (11) fixed to said control button, and a second element (12) mounted, axially displaceable , on said first element to come into contact with said emptying mechanism (2), by axial adjustment of the second element relative to said first element. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second displaceable element (12) of the pusher is provided with means for presetting in position (12B) of said pusher. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said presetting means are defined by a plurality of breakable parts (12B) arranged one after the other on said second element. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adjustment in the final position of said pusher (10) is defined by a notched sliding connection (12A, llB), between the two elements to bring said second element (12) in contact with said mechanism and mark said final position with notches (12D, 11C). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said first fixed element (11) is tubular and cooperates, at its upper end (liA), with said control button (9) and, at its lower end (lob), with said second movable element (12), and in that the latter has a tubular part (12A) in the passage of which is engaged, by means of the notched sliding connection, the lower end (lob) of said first element , and which is extended by said breakable parts (12B). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said lower end (lob) of the first element is split to define two elastically deformable tabs (lad), provided externally with notches (bed) which cooperate with corresponding notches (12D) provided in the internal passage of said tubular part (12A) of the second element. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises locking means (14) in the final position of the two elements (11,12) adjusted relative to one another . 8. Device according to the preceding claim 7, characterized in that said locking means (14) consist of a rod (9C) extending said button axially and passing through said first tubular element (11), to separate said elastically deformable tabs from the first element and press the notches (bed) of said legs in the notches (12D) of the internal passage of said second element. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said control button is secured to the pusher by engagement of lateral ribs (9E), provided on the rod (9C) of said button, in the first tubular element (11), the latter being immobilized in rotation with said hollow support, but axially displaceable with said button. 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said first element (11) is provided with two stops (ilG, llH) delimiting the maximum travel of movement of said button between its rest position and its actuated position , said stops respectively cooperating with said fixed hollow support (8). 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said control button (9) comprises two actuation keys (9A, 9B) for respectively triggering the total emptying and the partial emptying of the tank, according to a maximum or partial stroke. 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a return spring (15) is provided between said control button (9) and said fixed support (8), spontaneously returning to the rest position. said button, after actuation.