FR2778682A1 - AUTOMATIC WATER FLUSH - Google Patents

Abstract

The flushing system comprises a cistern (12) to hold the water for flushing the toilet, fed through a valve and designed to be refilled when the water level drops below a given point. The valve is actuated by a float (30) and a thrust arm (26) which connects the float via a transmission mechanism (16) to a valve opening mechanism (61). When the water reaches a set upper level the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve (28) opened, flushing the toilet, and once the water drops to a certain level the outlet valve is closed and the inlet valve opened again to refill the cistern.

Description

5338.DOC

  The invention relates to a flush opening device

toilet water.

  The invention relates more particularly to a toilet flushing device, of the type which comprises a water tank supplied by a tap connected to a water distribution network, and which is capable of being opened. to cause the filling of the reservoir when the water level drops below a determined lower limit, and of the type which comprises a lower discharge orifice and a discharge valve Io associated with this orifice, which is capable of occupy a closed position to retain water inside the tank or an open position to drain water to a toilet bowl, There are many known toilet flush devices in which a tank has an element opening capable of sliding vertically through a tank cover to activate a discharge valve intended to open the flush to allow the flow

  water to a toilet bowl.

  Generally, the discharge valve opens when the opening element is actuated and only closes when

  the water level in the tank has reached a lower limit.

  When the water level has reached this lower limit, the valve closes and a float, which is lowered at the same time as the water level in the tank, activates a filling tap so that the tank fills

for a new use.

  The major drawback of such a device is that it must be manually controlled by a user, which, in the case of public premises where frequenting the toilets is high and of short duration, is a source of forgetfulness, and can

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  cause certain inconvenience to users

  following if the flush has not been activated.

  To solve this problem, it has been proposed to carry out automatic flushing systems which, when the user leaves the toilet, automatically trigger the actuation of the tank opening element in order to cause the evacuation of the to the toilet bowl. However, the energy required to actuate the opening element being large, these devices are generally driven by an electric motor supplied by the electrical network of the building in which the toilets are installed, which poses problems both in term of installation of the toilets, since it is necessary to carry out i5 an electrical installation for each toilet, only in term of cost. To avoid these drawbacks, the invention proposes a device which uses the principle of Archimedes' thrust in order to actuate the opening element of the reservoir, the control of this principle then being able easily to be ensured by an electromagnet operating in low voltage and independently. To this end, the invention proposes a device for opening a toilet flush of the type previously described, characterized in that it comprises a float which, when the tank is full, is immersed so as to urge the valve. towards its open position by means of a transmission mechanism, and in that the transmission mechanism comprises a blocking finger capable of occupying a blocking position to keep the valve closed or of occupying a retracted position for

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  allow the float to drive the valve from its position

closed in its open position.

  According to other characteristics of the invention - the transmission mechanism is arranged in the tank and comprises a thrust arm, movable between a high position and a low position, which has a first end carrying the float, and of which a second end is likely to transmit a thrust from the float to an opening mechanism intended to open the valve; the transmission mechanism comprises a valve opening element, one upper end of which is linked to the opening mechanism, one lower end of which acts on the discharge valve and which is movable between a closing setpoint position and a opening setpoint position i5 in which the opening element opens the valve; - The opening mechanism is capable of being actuated by the pushing arm when it passes from its low position to its high position, to pass the valve opening element from its closing setpoint position to its opening set position, and comprises an actuating bar, integral in its movements with the valve opening element; - The push arm and the actuation bar are linked to each other and the opening mechanism comprises a pivoting cam which is capable, when it is blocked by the locking finger, of immobilizing the arm thrust in the low position and the actuation bar to keep the valve closed, and which is likely, when the locking finger is retracted, to be forced into tilting by releasing the thrust arm and the actuation bar low position to high position to bring the opening element of its

B338.DOC

  closing setpoint position to its opening setpoint position and open the valve; the valve is controlled directly by the opening element, the opening and closing setpoint positions of the valve corresponding to the open and closed positions of the valve; - The cam is returned to the initial position by its weight, then is again blocked by the locking finger, and has a bearing surface to maintain the thrust arm and the actuating bar in an intermediate position in which the opening element keeps the valve open, and in that, when the locking finger is retracted again, the weight of the thrust arm and of the actuating bar make it possible to force the cam again in tilting so that the push arm and the actuating bar fall back into the low position so that the opening element returns from its opening set position to its closing set position and closes the valve; - the opening element controls only the opening of the valve, the thrust arm and the actuating bar being returned to the low position by their weight, and the valve closing independently when the water level drops below the lower limit determined; the cam is kept tilted by a counterweight and is brought back to the initial position by the weight of the push arm and of the actuating bar; - The push arm and the actuating bar are independent and respectively linked to a first and a second latch wheel of the opening mechanism which are susceptible, when the first latch wheel is blocked by the locking finger, immobilize the push arm and the bar

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  actuation to keep the valve closed, and which are likely, when the locking finger is retracted, to be forced in tilting, the first knock wheel linked to the thrust arm, which passes from its low position to its high position , s driving the second latch wheel to place the opening element in the opening set position and open the valve; - The first toc wheel is brought back to the initial position by the weight of the push arm when it passes from its high position to its low position by going back to a position in which the first toc wheel forces the locking finger to retract, and in that the second toc wheel is biased by the weight of the actuating bar to place the opening element in the closing setpoint position, the valve closing independently when the water level drops below the determined lower limit; - the locking finger is retracted again to release the first toc wheel from the position of the push arm, and in that the first toc wheel is returned to the initial position by the weight of the push arm when it passes from its high position to its low position, the second toc wheel being recalled by the weight of the actuating bar to place the opening element in the closing set position and close the valve; - the locking finger is linked to an electromagnet and is

  retracted when the electromagnet is energized.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows

  for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

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  respectively representing the device in a locking finger locking position, the tank being full, and a retracted position of the locking finger, the tank emptying - Figures 3 to 6 are perspective views of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention respectively representing the device according to - a blocking position of the blocking finger, the reservoir being full, - a retracted position of the blocking finger, the reservoir emptying and the actuating bar rising, - a blocking position of the blocking finger, the empty tank and the actuating bar being in contact with the cam, and - a retracted position of the blocking finger, the empty tank and the actuating bar forcing the cam into tilting; - Figure 7 is a perspective view of a device according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention showing the device in a locking position of the locking finger, the reservoir being full; - Figures 8 to 11 are schematic sectional views of the device according to the third preferred mode of

  realization of the invention representing the device respec-

  according to: - the locking position of the locking finger, the tank being full, - a retracted position of the locking finger, the tank emptying and the first latch wheel driving the second latch wheel,

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  - A position in which the first wheel toc returns to its initial position by retracting the locking finger, and - a locking position of the locking finger, the reservoir being empty; and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the different phases of a method for controlling an electromagnet used

by the present invention.

  In the description which follows, elements

  o10 identical or having similar functions carry the same

reference figures.

  FIG. 1 shows a set of a device 10 for opening a toilet flushing device produced in accordance with

  to a first embodiment of the invention.

  In known manner, the device 10 comprises a reservoir 12 supplied by a tap (not shown) connected to a water distribution network. The tap (not shown) is capable of opening depending on the level of water contained in the tank 12 to cause the filling of the

water reservoir.

  In the configuration of Figure 1, the water level

  contained in the reservoir 12 occupies a corresponding H position

  laying at the maximum filling of the tank 12.

  The reservoir 12 is of substantially parallelepep form

  pedic and is likely to be closed at the top

  by a cover (not shown).

  In a lower part of the reservoir 12 is arranged an evacuation orifice 14 which is capable of ensuring the evacuation of the water contained in the reservoir 12 in

  direction of a toilet bowl.

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ú8333 8.DOC 2778682

  A transmission mechanism 16 is arranged in the reservoir 12 and makes it possible to seal the orifice.

  discharge 14 as shown in Figure 1.

  The transmission mechanism 16 is arranged in the reservoir 12 by means of a transverse plate 18, produced in the form of a horizontal plate which extends between two

  opposite inner side faces 20 of the reservoir 12.

  Advantageously, the plate 18 can be made of a plastic material and be fitted into notches (not shown) carried by the inner lateral faces 20 of the

tank 12.

  In an intermediate part of the plate 18 are arranged two holes 22 and 24 which allow respectively the passage of a push arm 26 and a

valve opening element 28.

  The push arm 26 consists of a rod capable of sliding vertically in the bore 22 and a float 30 arranged at the lower end of the push arm 26. Advantageously, the float is produced by means of a hollow sphere of plastic material, or of a ball of expanded polystyrene threaded on a rod 32 of the arm of

push 26.

  The opening element 28 of the valve comprises, in its upper part, a rod 34 which is received in vertical sliding in the bore 24 of the plate 18, and a body 36 which contains a valve 38, described later with reference to the Figure 2, which is likely to block the discharge port 14

of the tank 12.

  In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the opening element 28 controls only the opening of the valve 38 to cause the evacuation of the water contained in the tank 12, the closure of the valve 38 being

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  independent of the movements of the opening element 28 so that the valve 38 closes only when the water level contained in the tank has reached a lower limit

  determined, for example when the tank is empty.

  The rods 32 of the push arm 26, and 34 of the opening element 28, are both connected to an actuating bar 40 which extends transversely in the same direction as the plate 18 and which is articulated to a of its ends 42 on the plate 18 by means of a pivot 1o 44, integral with the plate 18, and with a horizontal axis

  perpendicular to the transverse direction of the bar 40.

  The vertical rod 32 of the push arm 26 is articulated on the actuating bar 40 by means of a pivot 46, with an axis parallel to the pivot 44, and which is produced by means of an axis 48 which passes through the actuating bar 40 and a head arranged at the upper end of the rod 32 of the pushing arm 26. The rod 34 of the opening element 28 is linked to the actuating bar 40 by means of a sliding pivot 52 which is produced by means of an axis 54 parallel to the pivot 44 passing through a head 56 arranged at the upper end of the rod 34 of the opening element 28, the axis 54 being guided in translation in a light 58 of the actuating bar 40 which extends in the general transverse direction of the bar

actuation 40.

  In this way, when the actuating bar 40 is rotated around a pivot 44 carried by the plate 18, the two rods 32 of the thrust arm 26 and 34 of the opening element 28 can be with the same vertical sliding movement in the holes

  respective 22 and 24 of the plate 18.

  At its end opposite to pivot 44, the upper face

  of the plate 18 comprises an opening mechanism 59.

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  o The opening mechanism 59 comprises a support 60 which is advantageously welded to the plate 18 or made integrally with the plate 18. The support 60 has substantially the shape of a square whose elbow is opposite the actuating bar 40, and of which a branch 62, generally horizontal and adjacent to the actuating bar, carries a cam 64 which is capable of pivoting about an axis 66 of direction perpendicular to the direction

  transverse of the plate 18 and parallel to the pivot 44.

  io The cam 64 also has the shape of a square whose concavity is turned towards the concavity of the bracket formed by the support 60, of which a first generally horizontal branch 68 is articulated around the axis 66, and of which a second generally horizontal branch 70 crosses a light t5 72 of the support 60 to form a counterweight of the cam 64. The light 72 is arranged in one face of the

vertical branch 74 of the support 60.

  On the branch 70, near the elbow joining the two branches 68 and 70 of the cam 64, is arranged a first notch 76 which, in the initial rest position of the cam 64, is oriented upwards and is capable of receiving a locking finger 78 of a cylindrical electromagnet, of substantially vertical axis and fixed to the support 60. As will be seen later, the substantially vertical position of the axis of the electromagnet 80 makes it possible to lower the finger of blocking 78 by gravity. The branch 68 of the cam 64 has a second notch 82 oriented towards the free end 84 of the actuating bar 40 and which is capable of cooperating with this end 84 to immobilize the actuating bar 40 in rotation relative to the pivot 44 in order to

  block the transmission mechanism 16.

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  This configuration is described with reference to FIG. 1. In this position of the opening mechanism 59, the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80 is received in the notch 76 and blocks the cam 64 in its initial position, not tilted, so that the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 is received and locked in the notch 82 of the cam 64. Thus, the reservoir 12 being full, the actuating bar 40 is substantially horizontal and immobilizes simultaneously the opening element 28 and the thrust arm 26 which, under the effect of the Archimedes' thrust which applies to the submerged float 30, exerts a vertical force on the actuating bar 40. In this configuration, the mechanism of

  transmission 16 is ready to be released.

  When a pulse is supplied by an electronic control unit i5, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 12, to the electromagnet 80, the locking finger 78 is retracted upwards and leaves the notch 76 of the cam 64, so that under the vertical force due to the Archimedes push exerted by the push arm 26 on the actuating bar 40, the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 leaves the notch 82 of the cam 64 and the actuating bar 40 pivot, clockwise in

  considering Figure 1, around the pivot 44 going up.

  In this way, and as can be seen in FIG. 2, the pushing arm 26 is free to slide vertically from its low position to its high position and the opening element 28 is actuated upwards by the bar d actuation 40 while occupying a set position for opening the discharge valve 38. The opening of the valve 38 being caused by the actuation of the opening element 28, the discharge valve 38 opens and the tank 12 begins to empty

through the discharge port 14.

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  EiB338DOC 2778682 Furthermore, the cam 64 has tilted under the action of the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 and it remains tilted under the effect of the counterweight formed by its branch 70, so that the notch 76 of the cam 64 disappears in the lumen 72 of the support 60, and so that the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80 is retained in abutment in a position

  intermediate against an upper face 86 of the cam 64.

  After the configuration described with reference to FIG. 2, the water in the tank 12 drops to a 0o level for which the float 30 is no longer submerged but floats on the surface of the water. In this way, the level continuing to descend, the thrust arm 26 descends and drives the actuating bar 40 which gradually descends into the notch 82 of the cam 64 to cause it to tilt again

i5 in the initial position.

  In this state (not shown), the notch 76 of the cam 64 comes out of the support 60 and allows the resetting of the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80, the transmission mechanism 16 returning to its initial configuration of FIG. 1 when the water level has reached a lower limit B. Consequently, the discharge valve closing when the water level in the reservoir 12 has reached its lower limit B, the tap (not shown) can again command filling. from tank 12, so the flush is again

  filled for a new use.

  The second embodiment shown according to different operating steps in Figures 3 to 6 has differences related to the closure of the discharge orifice 14 and related to the shape of the cam 64 of the

opening mechanism 59.

  In this embodiment, the opening element 28 directly controls the opening and closing of the orifice

B338DOC

  evacuation 14. Thus, when the opening element 28 is actuated in vertical sliding upwards by the actuating bar 40, the shutter valve 38, integral with the opening element 28 in this mode embodiment, no longer closes the evacuation orifice 14. Similarly, when the opening element 28 is actuated in vertical sliding downwards by the actuating bar 40, the evacuation valve 38

  closes the discharge opening 14 to close the tank 12.

  Furthermore, the cam 64 has substantially the shape io of a right triangle, the hypotenuse of which includes the notch 82 for immobilizing the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 previously described, and the height of which, in transverse withdrawal relative to the support 60, delimits (in the initial rest position of the cam 64) a gap 88 intended to receive the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80 when the latter is not retracted. Furthermore, the cam 64 has an inclined face 90 facing the actuating bar 40 and corresponding to the hypotenuse of the cam

64 in the shape of a right triangle.

  This inclined face 90 is arranged above the notch 82 of the cam 64 so as, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, to provide a support plane for

  the end 84 of the actuating bar 40.

  In this second embodiment, the cam 64 differs significantly from the cam 64 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 because it does not have a second branch and,

  therefore, no counterweight.

  Furthermore, the end 84 of the actuating bar has a bevel shape intended to cooperate with the

inclined face 90 of the cam 64.

  In the position of the transmission mechanism 16 described with reference to FIG. 3, the reservoir 12 is full and

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  the notch 82 of the cam 64 immobilizes the actuating bar by opposing the Archimedes thrust exerted by the thrust arm 26, in order to maintain the opening element 28 of the valve in the closing set position , so that the valve 38 is closed and the discharge orifice 14 is closed. In this position, the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet occupies a locking position in the gap 88 located between the cam 64 and the support 60 while holding the cam 64 in

  immobilization position of the actuating bar 40.

  o0 As shown in Figure 4, when a first electrical pulse is applied to the electromagnet 80, the locking finger 78 is retracted and leaves the gap 88 between the cam 64 and the support 60, so that the cam 64 is forced into tilting by the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 and releases the actuating bar 40 for an upward rotational movement. At this stage of operation, the float 30, by acting on the thrust arm 26, causes the actuating bar 40 and the opening element 28 to rise, which rises vertically, and places the element d opening in a set position for opening the exhaust valve, which releases the orifice

  evacuation 14 so that the tank 12 can empty.

  When the water has reached an intermediate level between the maximum level H and the lower limit of level B, and as shown in FIG. 5, the float 30 is no longer submerged and it then floats on the surface of the water. The actuating bar 40 therefore descends at the same time

than the water level.

  Furthermore, the cam 64 returns by itself to its initial position by its own weight, thus allowing the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80 to be reinserted into the gap 88 delimited by the cam 64 and the support 60 . When

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  the level has dropped sufficiently, the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 falls in abutment on the surface 90 of the cam 64 and the water level continues to drop in the reservoir 12 without the actuating bar 40 continuing to go down. The evacuation of water within the tank 12 is therefore independent of the position of the bar

actuation 40.

  As described with reference to FIG. 6, when the reservoir 12 is empty and has reached the lower limit B, an o0 second electrical pulse delivered to the electromagnet 80 makes it possible to retract the locking finger 78 again and to release the cam 64. Under the action of the beveled end 84 of the actuating bar 40 which is supported on the surface 90 of the cam 64, the cam 64 is pushed back in tilting in i5 in the trigonometric direction to allow the end 84 of the actuating bar 40 to be reinserted into the notch 82 of the cam 64, under the action of its own weight and the weights of the thrust arm 26 and the opening element 28. Thus, the assembly constituted by the actuating bar 40, the thrust arm 26 and the opening element 28 falls back into its initial configuration of closing the valve 38 and closing the evacuation orifice 14. Consequently , the tap (not shown) is likely to refill the tank see 12. Advantageously, this second embodiment makes it possible to dispense with the use of a complex opening valve 38, the opening element 28 being able to directly block or release the discharge orifice 14. This allows a significant reduction in the manufacturing costs of such a device 10 for opening the flush. Furthermore, the risks of malfunction in the opening mechanism 59 are considerably

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  reduced as far as o, the cam 64 not having an arm 70 similar to that described with reference to FIG. 1, the risks of jamming with respect to the light 72 of the support described above, which are always possible in a humid atmosphere, are here reduced. The third embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 11 illustrates a transmission mechanism 16 representing the preferred embodiment of the invention. In a similar manner to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the water tank 12 comprises the lower discharge orifice 14, a valve opening element 28, substantially vertical and comprising a discharge valve (not shown), and the upper rod 34 of which is articulated, by means of a sliding pivot 55, on the actuating bar 40, linked to an opening mechanism 61 of the

device 10.

  Similarly, the push arm 26 carries the float 30 and

  is linked to the opening mechanism 61.

  The opening mechanism 61 of this third embodiment differs significantly from the opening mechanism 59 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In fact, in this embodiment, the thrust arm 26 is not linked to the actuating bar 40 but directly to the opening mechanism 61. The opening mechanism 61 comprises first and second coaxial lashing wheels 92 and 94, located in two parallel vertical planes, pivotally mounted on an axis 95 perpendicular to the transverse direction, and which are respectively linked to the pushing arm 26 and to the bar

actuation 40.

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  The first and second knock wheels 92 and 94 respectively comprise a first knock 96 and a second knock 98 whose contact surfaces 100 and 102 are intended to cooperate by contact with each other so that the first knock wheel 92 is likely to cause, when the first contact surface 100 comes into contact with the second contact surface 102, the second lug wheel 94 in clockwise rotation. The drive is only possible, as will be seen later, in this direction and the second knock wheel 94 cannot drive the first knock wheel 92. Furthermore, the first knock wheel 92 comprises, in an area close to its periphery, a finger 104 which extends perpendicular to the plane of the first knock wheel 92, and which is received in a slot 106 of a pivoting lever 108 of the opening mechanism 61, so as to drive the latter ci in tilting when the first sprocket wheel 92 rotates, the rocking lever 108 being moreover articulated in rotation around a

  axis 110 also perpendicular to the transverse direction.

  In the initial position of the opening device 10 described with reference to FIG. 7, the rocking lever 108 is substantially vertical and an abutment face 112 of the lever 108, facing the side of the opening mechanism 61 in which the rocking lever 108 is moved, is at

  contact of the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80.

  The electromagnet 80 is, as in the previous embodiments of the invention, cylindrical, of vertical orientation, and

  fixed to a support 114 integral with the reservoir 12.

  In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever 108 is articulated around the axis 110 so as to substantially reduce the force applied by the abutment face 112 on the locking finger 78 when the opening device occupies her

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  open position. To this end, the lever 108 has the form of a square whose branch length ratio is such that the force exerted by the abutment face 112 on the locking finger 78 is approximately ten times less than that exerted by The axis 104 in the light 106. Initially, the device 10 for opening the flush is in a configuration described with reference to the diagram in FIG. 8, similar to the view in FIG. 7, in which the level d water H corresponds to the maximum filling of the reservoir 12. The float 30 of the thrust arm 26 is then immersed and exerts an action, due to Archimedes' thrust, vertically from bottom to top on the thrust arm 26, which is linked to the first wheel with knock 92, and which tends

  to cause it to rotate clockwise.

  1 5 In the initial position shown in FIG. 8, the first sprocket wheel 92 is locked in rotation by means of the contact of the abutment face 112 of the lever 108 on the locking finger 78 of the electromagnet 80. in this way, the thrust arm 26 is kept in the low position and the float 30 is kept submerged, the second toc wheel 94, the actuating bar 40 and the opening element 28 also being, and by their own weights, held in one position

  in which the discharge valve is kept closed.

  Advantageously, in the third embodiment of the invention, the discharge valve is a valve whose closure is independent of the opening element 28, so that when the opening element 28 determines a position of opening instruction of the evacuation valve (not shown), the evacuation valve opens, the evacuation valve closing itself when the water level in the tank 12 reaches the lower limit B, that is to say

when the tank 12 is empty.

B338.DOC

  When an electrical pulse is supplied to the electro-

  magnet 80, the locking finger 78 is retracted and authorizes the clockwise rotation of the lever 108, and consequently of the first lash wheel 92, which allows the thrust arm 26 to go up under the action of the float 30 initially submerged. In this way, the first toc 96 cooperates with the second toc 98, through the contact between the respective surfaces 100 and 102 of the toc 96 and 98, and causes the rotation of the second toc wheel 94 clockwise. , which ensures a rise of the actuating bar 40, which causes, in a vertical sliding movement upwards, the opening element 28 which determines (not shown) an opening setpoint position the valve, which opens. The reservoir 12 i5 begins to empty, the float 30 progressively rising from a low submerged position to a high position in

  which it floats on the water contained in the tank 12.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the water level has reached the lower limit B, the rotational movement of the first sprocket wheel 92 is reversed, and the thrust arm 26 descends at the same time as the float 30 In this way, the first and second knock wheels 92 and 94 each return independently to their initial position, and the valve opening element returns to a closing setpoint position, the discharge valve remaining open as long as the water level has not reached the lower limit B reached

when the tank 12 is empty.

  The reverse rotational movement of the first sprocket wheel 92 causes the lever 108 to rotate counterclockwise, a retracting surface 116 of which forces the finger

  blocking 78 of the electromagnet 80 to retract in passing.

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  The flush opening device 10 then finds itself in a position of the opening mechanism 61 similar to the initial position, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 11, the water level being at the lower limit of level B. The second knock wheel 94 comes into abutment against the first knock wheel 92 by means of the contact between the respective surfaces 102 and 100 of knock 98 of the second knock wheel 94 and of knock 96 of the first knock wheel 92. The reservoir 12 is therefore capable of being refilled by the tap (not

  shown) for a new use.

  As a variant (not shown), the architecture of the third embodiment of the flushing device 10 can be used with a discharge valve

  integral in its movements with the opening element 28.

  In such a fourth embodiment, the opening mechanism 61 differs from the previous one in that the lever 108 does not have a retraction surface 116 similar to that described with reference to FIG. 10, and cannot retract the finger of locking 78 of the electromagnet 80, so that the actuating bar 40, descending with the opening element 28, cannot return the second lash wheel 94 to its initial position as long as the locking finger 78 the electromagnet 80 was not retracted a second time. The opening element 28 then remains in an opening setpoint position, the valve remaining open, and only a second electrical pulse on the electromagnet 80 makes it possible to release the lever 108.

  to close the exhaust valve.

  Advantageously, the architecture of the third and fourth embodiments of the invention makes it possible to produce a device 10 for opening a flush, which is simple to assemble since it can be assembled in a single block in a tank 12, unlike the first two modes. of

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  realization in which requires a part mounting by

part in tank 12.

  Furthermore, this device 10 also makes it possible to associate with the rotation of the first and second knock wheels 92 and 94 a control system allowing the subsequent opening of the tap intended to ensure filling of the

tank 12.

  Finally, FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic control unit intended to cause the retraction 1o of the locking finger 78 by sending an electrical pulse into the electromagnet 80. As can be seen, batteries 118 allow the supply of a cascade of modules, comprising an electronic detection module 120 which transmits information, relating to the presence or absence s5 of a user P, to an amplification module 122, which transmits this information to a central unit 124 which determines the time of presence of the user and, when the presence of the user P is no longer detected after a certain time, triggers the sending of a pulse to a control module of the electromagnet 126, which provides an electric pulse to the electromagnet 80 so that it acts on the opening mechanism 16 of the

flush.

  As can be seen, this device 10 for opening the flush is particularly advantageous since it makes it possible to use only elements supplied under a low voltage supplied by batteries 118, the buoyancy push constituting the main source of energy for all efforts that consume a lot of energy. In this way, when installing such toilets, it is possible to dispense

  a power supply from the sector.

B338.DOC

Claims (13)

  1. Device (10) for flushing toilets, of the type which comprises a water tank (12) supplied by a tap connected to a water distribution network, and which is capable of being open to cause the filling of the reservoir (12) when the water level drops below a determined lower limit (B), and of the type which comprises a lower discharge opening (14) and a discharge valve ( 38) associated with this orifice (14), which is capable of occupying a closed position for retaining the water inside the tank (12) or an open position for discharging the water towards a toilet bowl, characterized in that it comprises a float (30) which, when the tank (12) is full, is immersed so as to urge the valve (38) towards its open position by means of a transmission mechanism (16), and in that the transmission mechanism (16) comprises a locking finger (78) capable of occupying a po blocking position to keep the valve (38) closed or to occupy a retracted position to allow the float (30) to drive the valve   (38) from its closed position to its open position.   2. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission mechanism (16) is arranged in the tank (12) and comprises a thrust arm (26), movable between a high position and a low position, which has a first end carrying the float (30), and a second end of which is capable of transmitting a thrust from the float (30) to an opening mechanism (59, 61) intended to open the valve (38). B33; DOC B338.DOC 2778682   3. Device (10) for flushing opening according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission mechanism (16) comprises an opening element (28) of the valve (38), one upper end of which is linked to the opening mechanism (59, 61), one lower end of which acts on the discharge valve (38) and which is movable between a closing setpoint position and an opening setpoint position in which the element opening (28) opens the valve (38).   4. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 3, characterized in that the opening mechanism (59, 61) is capable of being actuated by the thrust arm when it passes from its low position in its high position, for passing the opening element (28) of the valve i5 (38) from its closing setpoint position to its opening setpoint position, and comprises an actuating bar (40 ), integral in its movements with the opening element (28) of the valve (38).   5. Device (10) for flushing the opening according to claim 4, characterized in that the thrust arm (26) and the actuation bar (40) are linked to one another and in that the opening mechanism (59) comprises a pivoting cam (64) which is capable, when it is blocked by the locking finger (78), of immobilizing the thrust arm (26) in the low position and the actuating bar (40) to keep the valve closed (38), and which is capable, when the locking finger (78) is retracted, of being forced into tilting by releasing the thrust arm (26) and the bar actuation (40) from the low position to the high position to bring the opening element (28) from its closing setpoint position to its opening setpoint position and open the valve (38). B338.DOC 2778682   6. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 5, characterized in that the valve (38) is controlled directly by the opening element (28), the opening setpoint positions and for closing the valve (38) corresponding to the open and closed positions of the valve. 7. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 5, characterized in that the cam (64) is returned to the initial position by its weight, then is again blocked by the locking finger (78) , and has a bearing surface (90) for holding the push arm (26) and the actuating bar (40) in an intermediate position in which the opening element (28) holds the valve (38) open, and in that, when the locking finger (78) is retracted again, the weight of the push arm (26) and the actuating bar (40) allow the cam (64) to be forced again into tilting so that the thrust arm (26) and the actuation bar (40) fall back into the low position so that the opening element (28) returns from its opening setpoint position to its setpoint position closing and closes the valve (38).   8. Device (10) for flushing opening according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening element (28) controls only the opening of the valve (38), the thrust arm (26) and the actuating bar (40) being returned to the low position by their weight, and the valve (38) closing independently when the water level drops below   of the determined lower limit (B).   9. Device (10) for flushing opening according to claim 8, characterized in that the cam (64) is kept tilted by a counterweight (70) and is brought back to the initial position by the weight of the thrust arm. (26) and operating bar (40). B338DOC 2778682   10. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 4, characterized in that the thrust arm (26) and the actuation bar (40) are independent and respectively linked to a first (92) and a second (94) latch wheel of the opening mechanism (61) which, when the first latch wheel (92) is blocked by the locking finger (78), can immobilize the push arm (26 ) and the actuating bar (40) to keep the valve (38) closed, and which are liable, when the locking finger (78) is retracted, to be forced in tilting, the first toc wheel (92 ) linked to the thrust arm (26), which passes from its low position to its high position, driving the second knock wheel (94) to place the opening element (28)   in the opening setpoint position and open the valve (38).   11. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 10, characterized in that the first toc wheel (92) is returned to the initial position by the weight of the thrust arm (26) when it passes from its high position to its low position by going back through a position in which the first knock wheel (92) forces the locking finger (78) to retract, and in that the second knock wheel (94) is recalled by the weight of the actuating bar (40) to place the opening element (28) in the closing set position, the valve (38) closing independently when the water level   goes below the determined lower limit (B).   12. Device (10) for flushing the toilet according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking finger (78) is again retracted to release the first latch wheel (92) and return it to the initial position. under the weight of the push arm (26) when it goes from its high position to its low position, the second lug wheel (94) being returned by the weight of the actuating bar (40) and the element B338.DOC 2778682   opening (28) to place the opening element (28) in   closing setpoint position and close the valve (38).   13. Flush opening device (10) according to the   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the locking finger   (78) is linked to an electromagnet (80) and is retracted when   the electromagnet (80) is supplied.