GB2024890A - Flushing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A flushing cistern (1) is divided into two compartments (6, 7) by a partitioning wall (8), the upper edge of which is below the normal water level in the cistern. Each compartment (6, 7) has its own independently- controllable outlet (10, 11) and the cistern (1) has a single water inlet (16) having associated with it a ballcock- controlled valve (13 to 15). Compartment (6) is of larger capacity than compartment (7) so that a user can select which to flush which results in a drop in the level of water above the non-flushed compartment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flushing mechanism The present invention relates to a flushing mechanism.

It is known that traditional flushing mechanisms comprise a cistern forming a watertank, which is generally open to the atmosphere in its upper part, but also sometimes sealed in order to be able to be pressurized and means for causing rapid emptying of the cistern as required.

The volume of the cistern and consequently the volume of water discharged each time the flushing mechanism is actuated, is calculated as a function of the pressure at which the water from the cistern enters the toilet bowl in order to ensure adequate flushing of the latter in order to eliminate solid matter possibly sticking thereto.

By way of example, this volume is generally of the order of 1 5 litres for a flushing mechanism operating at atmospherc pressure located immediately above the bowl and of the order of 12 litres for a flushing mechanism operating at atmospheric pressure located adjacent the ceiling.

Now it is apparent that the discharge of such a quantity of water to the toilet bowl would not always be necessary and that a lesser quantity would be sufficient particularly when it is a question of solely flushing urine from the bowl.

At the present time, it is only possible to empty the entire cistern, which leads to the wastage of water which is all the more disconcerting as one encounters ever-increasing difficulties in supplying potable water.

Consequently the object of the present invention is to propose a new design for a flushing mechanism, in order to modify the quantity of water discharged, upon each actuation of the latter, to the toilet bowl, according to the nature of the matter to be expelled therefrom.

Thus, by offering the possibility of discharging a quantity of water suited to requirements at the time of each actuation, the flushing mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to make considerable savings, since tests carried out on prototypes have shown that the rapid discharge of a volume of water of the order of 6 litres in the case of a flushing mechanism operating at atmospheric pressure located immediately above the bowl end of the order of 4 litres in the case of a flushing mechanism operating at atmospheric pre ssure located adjacent the ceiling was sufficient to expel urine from the toilet bowl, these figures naturally being given purely by way of example.

Consequently, the flushing mechanism according to the invention, comprising a cistern, means for causing rapid emptying of this cistern as required and means for supplying water to the cistern in order to maintain or re-establish its filling to a pre-determined maximum volume, is characterised in that the means for causing rapid emptying of the cistern as required comprise means for causing partial emptying of the latter as required.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the ensuing description, relating to a non-limiting embodiments, as well as to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part of this description.

The single figure is a view of a flushing mechanism operating at atmospheric pressure according to the invention, in section through a vertical plane located in the immediate vicinity of one of the long walls of the cistern.

The cistern 1 of this flushing mechanism illustrated by way of example is approximately in the form of a rectangular parallelpiped, however any other shape being possible.

It is defined by a substantially horizontal lower wall 2 and by four approximately vertical side walls, of which the walls 3, 4 and 5 are shown, the latter being connected in a sealed manner to each other and to the base.

In this case, the cistern is completely open to the atmosphere in its upper part, but could also comprise an unsealed lid. In the case of a pressurized flushing mechanism, the cistern would naturally be closed completely in a sealed manner.

To allow its partial rapid emptying as required, the cistern 1 is divided into several compartments, in this case two compartments respectively 6 and 7, for example by a water-tight partition 8 joined in a sealed manner to the side walls and base of the cistern.

In the example illustrated, this wall 8 is substantially flat and vertical and arranged along the smallest horizontal dimension of the cistern, i.e.

approximately parallel to the smaller side walls 3 and 5 of the latter. It is thus joined in a sealed manner to the base 2 of the cistern, to the larger side wall 4 of the latter and to its second large side wall which is omitted from the drawing.

The two compartments 6 and 7 which are defined in this way communicate in their upper parts, at a level slightly lower than a pre determined level, in this case shown by a broken line 9 which corresponds to the maximum level of water in the cistern.

For example, the upper edge 22 of the partition 8 is located at a level slightly lower than this pre determined maximum level 9, by a value which can be easily determined by a man skilled in the art depending on the inherent characteristics of the device for supplying the cistern with water, controlled by single means for detecting the level of water in one of the compartments, in this case the compartment 6. Naturally, any other method of providing communication, at a slightly lower level than the maximum level 9 of the water, of the compartments such as 6 and 7, otherwise separated from each other in a water-tight manner, could be envisaged without diverging from the scope of the invention.

Under these conditions, the effect of the empty ing of either of the compartments 6 and 7, in this case by actuating an outlet of known type, respectively 10 and 1 provided in the base 2 of this compartment and opening outwards of the cistern 1 into a pipe 12 leading to the toilet bowl (not shown), is to lower the level in the adjacent compartment, from the maximum level 9 common to the two compartments in the region of the intercommunication corresponding to the level of the upper edge 22 of the partition 8 in the example illustrated.

In view of the sensitivity of the device for detecting the water level, in this case located inside the compartment 6, the drop in level resulting in this compartment from the emptying of the second compartment 7 should be sufficient to cause a supply of water to the cistern in order to re-establish the maximum level 9 in both compartments, the water being able to be supplied through either of the latter and overflowing through the intercommunication between the compartments.

In the example illustrated, the level of water inside the compartment 6 is detected in known manner by a ball valve 1 3 connected by a lever 14 to a valve 1 5 connecting or disconnecting a water supply pipe 16 and a pipe 1 7 leading into the compartment 6 in the vicinity of the base 2, but any other device could naturally be used without diverging from the scope of the invention.

Similarly, different means for rapid emptying, having a separate control for each of the compartments, could be envisaged.

The method of control illustrated, using levers provided with an outer handle respectively 1 8 and 1 9 for the outlet 10 for emptying the compartment 6 and 20 and 21 for the outlet 11 for emptying the compartment 7, corresponds to the case of a flushing mechanism located immediately above the toilet bowl and in particular the outer handles 19 and 21 could be replaced by chains provided with a handle in the case of a flushing mechanism intended to be located adjacent the ceiling. All other types of control currently used for traditional flushing mechanisms could also be used.

Preferably, means for identifying the compartment to which each handle corresponds or more generally each member for controlling the rapid emptying of this compartment are provided on this handle or this control member, since the two tanks preferably have a different capacity in order to correspond to the nature of the matter to be expelled from the toilet bowl.

In the example illustrated, the compartment 6 has a volume greater than that of the compartment 7 and corresponding substantially to the volume of the cisterns of traditional flushing mechanisms. For example, the volume is of the order of 1 5 litres for a flushing mechanism located immediately above the toilet bowl and of the order of 12 litres for a flushing mechanism located adjacent the ceiling, these figures naturally being given solely by way of example. This compartment 6 is consequently intended to be emptied in order to discharge solid matter from the bowl.

For example, the compartment 7 has a volume of the order of 6 litres for a flushing mechanism located immediately above the toilet bowl and 4 litres for a flushing mechanism located adjacent the ceiling, these figures naturally being given solely by way of example. The compartment 7 is consequently intended to discharge purely liquid matter.

According to one variation of the flushing mechanism according to the invention, it would be possible to provide the possibility of emptying either only one compartment of the cistern, or all the latter, as required.

For example, to this end, it would be possible to provide, at the lower part of the partition 8, a valve comprising control means making it possible to interconnect the two compartments as required.

In this case, it is the entire cistern which would have a useful volume corresponding to that of a traditional flushing mechanism.

The invention has been described with reference to a flushing mechanism operating at atmospheric pressure, but naturally also relates to pressurized flushing mechanisms.

Claims (9)

1. Flushing mechanism comprising a cistern, means for causing rapid emptying of the cistern as required and means for supplying water to the cistern in order to maintain or re-establish its filling to a pre-determined maximum volume, - characterised in that the means for causing rapid emptying of the cistern as required comprise means for causing partial emptying of the latter as required.

2. Flushing mechanism according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cistern is divided internally into at least two water-tight compartments which are interconnected at a level lower than the pre-determined maximum level of the water in the cistern but adjacent this level such that emptying of one compartment results in a drop in the level of water in the other compartment, in that the means for causing partial emptying of this cistern as required comprise means for emptying one and/or other compartment and in that the supply means are common to the two compartments in order to maintain or re-establish filling of each compartment to the pre-determined maximum level.

3. Flushing mechanism according to claim 2, characterised in that the supply means comprise single means for detecting the level of water in one of the compartments in order to supply water to the compartments when the level of water in this compartment drops below the common predetermined maximum level.

4. Flushing mechanism according to one of claim 2 and 3, characterised in that the supply means comprise a water supply pipe in either compartment.

5. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the compartments are defined by at least one water-tight partition located inside the cistern, joined in a sealed manner to the side walls and base of the latter and whereof the upper edge is located at least partially at a level lower than the predetermined maximum level but close to the latter.

6. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the means for emptying one and/or the other compartment comprise for each compartment, emptying means belonging to this compartment.

7. Flushing mechanism according to Claim 6, characterised in that the means for emptying each compartment comprise an outlet at the bottom of the latter, opening to the outside of the cistern and means for actuating said outlet.

8. Flushing mechanism according to one of Claims 6 and 7, characterised in that it comprises identification means and emptying means associated with each compartment.

9. Flushing mechanism according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the compartments have different capacities.