FR2772060A1 - EASE OF INSTALLATION WITH AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND MOBILE BOWL IN TRANSLATION AND ITS CLEANING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic WC installation has a bowl (6) fitted with a seat (7) and is moved in translation by a motor driven mechanism, passing through a window (8) in the wall (5) covering the cleaning system (4). The cleaning system directs a jet of liquid onto the seat and has a facility to dry the seat before returning the seat to its position in readiness for the next user.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of sanitary installations

  with automatic cleaning and, more particularly, with toilets or

  toilets for public or collective use.

  In the above field, facilities are known comprising a sanitary room accessible to users or to the public and inside which is placed a toilet bowl, called "English". The sanitary room is contiguous to a technical room with controlled access closing various means making it possible to ensure automatic cleaning of the bowl and the sanitary room after the

passage of a user.

  The prior art has proposed various automatic cleaning devices which it

  It is in particular possible to distinguish according to whether the bowl is fixed or mobile.

  As an example of a device of the first category, it is worth mentioning the patent application EP O 059 134 according to which the fixed bowl is placed inside a sanitary room and leaned against a partition separating the sanitary room from 'a technical room. This partition has, near the seat of the bowl, a window closed by an independent movable panel, controlled in opening and closing. In addition, the installation includes, inside the technical room, a flushing system and, opposite said window, an extendable device for automatic cleaning of the seat and the front of the bowl. This device is formed by a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders, oriented in a horizontal direction and at the end of which is fixed a second pair of cylinders directed vertically towards the ground. The second pair of cylinders carries, at its end, a rotating brush. Finally, the operation of this installation is ensured so

  automatic by a control block.

  After passage of a user and triggering of the flushing, the control unit ensures a cleaning cycle of the bowl. To do this, the panel is raised to free the passage for the cleaning device which is brought into extension to bring the rotary brush in contact successively with the seat and the front of the bowl. After this cleaning cycle, the device is returned to the

  technical room and closed panel.

  Such an installation effectively makes it possible to ensure automatic cleaning of the bowl, but nevertheless has certain drawbacks. Indeed, the cleaning of the bowl in the sanitary room contributes to dirtying the latter by the projection of stains which are then difficult to remove and detrimental to the aspect of cleanliness which the toilet installation should present. Such a drawback is generally found for all fixed bowl installations for which cleaning is ensured.

in the sanitary room.

  In order to overcome the drawbacks inherent in installations comprising a fixed bowl and a mobile cleaning device, the prior art has proposed

  self-cleaning toilet facilities in which the bowl is movable.

  The invention relates, more particularly, to this second category of installations.

  There are known, for example, toilet facilities, comprising movable bowls and a fixed automatic cleaning device. Such an installation comprises a partition separating the technical and sanitary premises and comprising, at its base, a panel movable around a vertical axis. On either side of this panel are suspended two identical bowls connected to a single evacuation pipe forming one of the pivots of the panel. After a user has passed, the panel pivots by a half-turn reversing the positions of the bowl used and that previously cleaned, previously located in the technical room. The bowl used is thus placed inside the technical room under a fixed device which ensures

automatic cleaning.

  This device is entirely satisfactory for alternating cleaning of the bowls, but has major drawbacks due to its structure. First of all, such a design doubles the number of bowls, imposes a control mechanism of the panel and therefore gives rise to a high manufacturing price. Then, the existence of a swivel joint at the base of the panel constitutes a source of malfunction, due to the constraints resulting from the overhang generated by the use of the bowl located in the sanitary room. Finally, the rotation of the bowls requires a certain free space which is at the origin of the large size of such an installation. In order to overcome the problem of space, the prior art also knows sanitary installations with automatic cleaning which comprise a single movable bowl between the sanitary room and the technical room in which the bowl undergoes an automatic cleaning cycle. Thus, by way of example of this type of installation, it is worth mentioning the patent application FR 2 415 173, according to which the bowl is mounted on a partition separating the sanitary room from the technical room and switches inside the latter to undergo a draining and cleaning cycle after passage of a user. Such a device certainly allows effective cleaning of the bowl, but has complex kinematics and automatisms which involve a high manufacturing cost and reduce the reliability of the installation, thus resulting in a particularly heavy operating cost. In addition, the kinematics and the movement mechanism of the bowl present the risk

  to carry a user of light weight in the cleaning device.

  An object of the invention is to remedy all of the above drawbacks by proposing a method for cleaning a toilet installation with a movable bowl which has simple kinematics, a guarantee of reliability, and which offers guarantees

sufficient hygiene.

  To achieve these objectives, the method of cleaning a toilet installation comprising a toilet bowl provided with a seat and movable between a sanitary room and a technical room separated from the sanitary room by a partition,

  at least spraying and drying the seat.

  According to the invention, this method consists in: - ensuring a return travel, in translation, of the bowl between an extension position in the sanitary room and a retraction position in the technical room under means for projecting liquid under pressure and drying, - supply the projection means to spray at least the entire surface of the seat, - supply the drying means to dry at least the entire surface of the seat,

  - ensure an outlet stroke in the opposite direction.

  30. Another object of the invention is to obviate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned installations by proposing a toilet installation which has, on the one hand, a reduced manufacturing cost and, on the other hand, a hygiene guarantee and reliability of

  operation ensuring low operating cost.

  To achieve these objectives, the toilet installation includes - a toilet bowl provided with a movable seat between a sanitary room accessible to the public and a technical room separated from the sanitary room by a partition, - an automatic cleaning device, at least the seat of the bowl, located in the technical room, - motor means for moving the bowl, - and a control unit for controlling at least the operation of the

  cleaning device and motor means.

  According to the invention, the installation is characterized in that the bowl is integral with a crew, movable in translation, actuated by the motor means to move, through a passage window provided in the partition, the bowl between an extension position in the sanitary room and a retraction position, in the technical room, under the cleaning device comprising means for spraying liquid under pressure towards at least the seat and means for drying the seat.

  Various other characteristics emerge from the description given below in

  reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples,

  embodiments and implementation of the objects of the invention.

  Fig. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an installation

according to the invention.

  Fig. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a phase of

operation of the installation.

  Fig. 3 is a section of the installation along the line InII-I of FIG. 2.

  The installation of ease 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed to form an autonomous sanitary module intended to be installed on the public highway. Of course, such a module is only a preferred embodiment of an installation according to the invention which could also be, for example, placed inside a

  building for use by members of a community.

  The installation 1 comprises a sanitary room 2 accessible to users by a door 3 and separated from a technical room 4 by a partition 5. In accordance with its destination, the installation also includes a toilet bowl 6, called "at the English ", comprising a seat 7. The bowl 6 is movable between an extension position A inside the sanitary room, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and one

  retraction position B inside the technical room 4, as shown in fig. 2.

  According to the invention, the bowl 6 is movable in translation between positions A and B through a window 8 formed in the lower part of the partition 5. To this end, the bowl 6 is secured to a movable element 10 located at the rear of the bowl 6 and forming an integral part of the latter. Of course, the bowl 6 could also be added and fixed in a console on such a movable element 10. Preferably, the sliding element 10 is supported and guided in translation by at least two slides 11 arranged, preferably but not exclusively, on either side of said crew 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The slides 11 are, for example, each formed by a guide 12 secured to one side of the crew 10 and sliding on a tube 13 fixed on a support structure 14 internal to the technical room 4. The movable crew 10 is then actuated by motor means consisting of a geared motor 15 which is adapted to the movable assembly 10 and whose pinion 16 meshes with a fixed rack 17 secured to the carrying structure 14. The geared motor 15 is connected by line 18 to a unit or block

  20 which controls the operation.

  The bowl 6 comprises a siphon 21 connected by a flexible pipe 22 to a pipe 23 for evacuating valve or waste water. The bowl 6 is connected by a flexible pipe 25 to a flushing system 26, or the like, arranged in the technical room 4. This system 26 consists of a reservoir 27 placed high up and of a solenoid valve 28 controlling the pipe 25. The solenoid valve 28 is connected by a line 29 to the control unit 20 which ensures its control. The reservoir 27 is, moreover, connected to a water distribution network 30 and provided with a distributor 31 adding to the water a chlorinated antiseptic product or the like,

  depending on the filling of the tank 27.

  To ensure the cleaning of the bowl, the installation 1 also comprises a device 35, preferably fixed and under which the bowl is intended to be placed in the retraction position B. The cleaning device 35 is designed to clean at least the seat 7 of the bowl 6 and comprises, for this purpose, means 36 for spraying pressurized liquid towards the seat, and means 37 for drying the latter. The projection means 36 are connected by a pipe 38 to a supply source 39 of pressurized liquid, such as for example, a booster connected to the reservoir 27 by a pipe 40 and connected to the control unit 20 by a line 41. The pipe 38 is controlled by a solenoid valve 42 connected by a line 43 to the control unit 20. The projection means 36 are designed so as to cover or reach the entire seat 7 when the bowl 6 is in the position of retraction B. For this, the projection means 36 can, for example, be constituted by a system of rotary nozzles which, on the one hand, project the liquid under pressure towards the seat 7 and, on the other hand, spray the internal walls of the bowl 6. The projection means 36 could also consist of fixed nozzles suitably arranged. The drying means 37 are preferably formed by a nozzle connected to a source of forced air 44, such as for example an electric fan connected by a line 45 to the control unit 20. This forced air is preferably at ambient temperature but it could also be heated by resistors equipping the source 44. The drying means 37 could also be produced under

  in the form of radiant heat sources, such as infrared tubes.

  As with the projection means 36, the drying means 37 are designed to cover at least the entire surface of the seat 7, when the latter is in the retraction position B. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle 37 is preferably defined by a casing 45 open towards the bowl, so as to cover at least the entire surface of the seat. This casing 45 is provided with a central deflector 46 arranged so as to be above the opening delimited by the seat 7, when the bowl 6 is in the retraction position B. The deflector 46 covers the surface of the opening delimited by the seat 7 to direct the air flow channeled by the casing towards said seat 7. Preferably, the system of rotary nozzles forming the projection means 36 is placed under the deflector 46 which thus avoids the projections of liquid to the interior

housing 45.

  The control unit 20 controls the sequential operation of the installation 1, as just described, to ensure, in particular, the cleaning of the

  bowl 6, according to the method according to the invention.

  After a user has passed, controlled by known means and not directly within the scope of the invention, and automatic or not triggering of the flushing by means of a temporary opening of the solenoid valve 28, the unit 20 ensures the retraction of the bowl 6 from its extension position A to its retraction position B inside the technical room under the cleaning device 35. In order to cancel the risk of injury a user by the movements of the bowl, the gear motor 15 and / or the control unit 20 are equipped with a detector 47 of mechanical torque which makes it possible to detect a possible obstacle to the movement of the bowl to interrupt the movements of this one up

total disappearance of the obstacle.

  The control unit 20 then triggers a seat cleaning cycle 7.

  This cycle comprises two distinct phases, a first of spraying of sanitizing liquid and a second of drying. Preferably, the reservoir 27 has sufficient capacity to allow several user passages and several

  cleaning cycles without requiring refilling.

  During the first phase, the unit 20 controls the operation of the booster 39 and the opening of the solenoid valve 42 to supply the projection means 36. Lateral jets of the rotary system then ensure projection of liquid under pressure towards the seat 7 and sweep all of it by their rotation, while nozzles directed downwards project the liquid under pressure towards the internal walls of the bowl 6, so that any

  soiling adhering to it is peeled off.

  Given the aseptic nature of the liquid and the pressure, this sweeping ensures disinfection of the seat 7 and the interior of the bowl 6, as well as the elimination of any stains by the displacement of water fronts generated.

by rotary nozzles.

  After spraying the bowl 6, the unit 20 starts the operation of the source of forced air 44 to supply the drying means 37. In order to obtain the most effective drying possible, the casing 45 and the deflector 46 are designed so that the outlet section of the nozzle has a plan shape substantially similar to that of the seat 7 and is located just above the latter, so that the air flow,

  channeled through the nozzle, is preferably directed there.

  The unit 20 then interrupts the operation of the source of forced air 44 and controls the outlet of the bowl 6 in the extended position B to place

  installation 1 in a situation where a new user is received.

  The method according to the invention ensures complete and effective cleaning of the bowl without soiling the sanitary room. In addition, it appears that such a toilet installation and more particularly the sliding assembly 10 carrying the bowl 6, as well as the cleaning device 35, have simple kinematics involving a limited number of elements having a low cost. of

  manufacturing and guaranteeing a high operational reliability of the assembly.

  According to a variant of the installation 1, the window 8 is equipped with a shutter element 50 motorized and controlled by the control unit 20. The shutter element 50 may, for example, be constituted by a flap roller stored on a motorized drum 51 connected by a line 52 to the unit 20. During the cleaning cycle, the unit 20 then closes the shutter member 50 after retraction of the bowl 6 in position B. Thus, technical room 4 is isolated

  sanitary room 2 and no projection of the cleaning liquid can occur there.

  After the seat 7 has dried, the unit 20 controls the opening of the element

  shutter 50, then exit from bowl 6.

  According to another alternative embodiment, the sanitary room 2 is equipped with a spraying boom 54 directed towards the ground 55 and connected to the source of pressurized liquid 39 by a pipe 56 controlled by a solenoid valve 57 which is connected by a line 58 at the control unit 20. This ramp 54 for spraying the floor 55 of the sanitary room is activated by the unit 20 after the user exits. The water flowing on the ground 55 is recovered by means

  evacuation 59 arranged, for example, along the lower part of the partition 5.

  In order to ensure automatic cleaning of this lower part of the partition 5, the latter can also be equipped with a spray bar 60 connected to the source of pressurized liquid 39 by a pipe 61 controlled by a solenoid valve 62. After retraction of the bowl 6 and closing of the obturation element 50, the control unit 20 controls the solenoid valve 62, so as to spray the lower part of the partition 5 located in the sanitary room 2 by the ramp 60. The unit 20 can also simultaneously control the operation of the ramp 54 in the direction of the ground 55. Then, the unit 20 interrupts the spraying of the partition and the ground 55 and controls, for example, the operation of drying means 65 of the sanitary room, such as an air directing fan

  pulsed towards the ground 55 and the lower part of the partition 5.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown, because

  various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:   1 - Method for cleaning a toilet installation (1) comprising a toilet bowl (6) provided with a seat (7) and movable between a sanitary room (2) and a technical room (4) separate from the sanitary room (2) by a partition (5), of the type involving spraying and drying operations of the seat at least, characterized in that it consists in: ensuring a return travel, in translation, of the bowl (6) between an extension position (A) in the sanitary room (2) and a retraction position (B) in the technical room (4) under means for spraying liquid under pressure (36) and drying ( 37), - supplying the projection means (36) to spray at least the entire surface of the seat (7), supplying the drying means (37) to dry at least the entire surface of the seat,   - ensure an outlet stroke of the bowl (6) in the opposite direction.   2 - A cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists - in ordering, after the reentry stroke, the closing by a shutter element (50) of a passage window (8), for the bowl (6), made through the partition (5), - to control, after the seat has dried (7), the opening of the element shutter (50).   3 - A cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists in spraying the seat (7) and the internal walls of the bowl (6) by means of rotary jets.   4 - Toilet installation of the type comprising - a toilet bowl (6) provided with a seat (7) and movable between a sanitary room (2) accessible to the public and a technical room (4) separate from the sanitary room ( 2) by a partition (5), - an automatic cleaning device (35), of the seat (7) at least of the bowl (6), arranged in the technical room (4), - motor means (15) for move the bowl (6), - and a control unit (20) to control at least the operation of the cleaning device (35) and the motor means (15), characterized in that the bowl (6) is integral with an assembly (10) movable in translation actuated by the motor means (15) to move, through a passage window (8) formed in the partition (5), the bowl (6) between an extended position ( A) in the sanitary room (2) and a retraction position (B), in the technical room (4), under the cleaning device (35) comprising means (36) for projecting liquid fluid under pressure towards at least the seat (7) and the   means (37) for drying the seat (7).   - Ease of installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the mobile assembly is slidably mounted on two lateral guide rails (11) and comprises the motor means (15) constituted by a geared motor, the   pinion (16) meshes with a fixed rack (17).   6 - Ease of installation according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a shutter element (50), motorized and controlled by the unit   control to close the window (8).   7 - Ease of installation according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in   what the cleaning device comprises: - the drying means formed by a nozzle (37) connected to a source of forced air (44) and defines a casing (45) which is open towards the bowl (6), so to cover at least the entire surface of the seat (7) and which is provided with a central deflector (46) disposed above * the opening delimited by the seat (7), so as to cover the surface for directing the air flow channeled by the casing, towards the seat (7), - and projection means (36) of a pressurized liquid constituted by a system of rotary nozzles placed under the deflector and oriented to spray, on the one hand, at least the entire surface of the seat (7) and, on the other   apart, the internal walls of the bowl (6).   8 - Ease of installation according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in   what it includes a spray bar (54) from the floor (55) in the room sanitary (2).   9 - Ease of installation according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in   what it includes a spray bar (60) at least from the lower part, in   the sanitary room, the partition (5).   10 - Ease of installation according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it   includes drying means (65) of the sanitary room.