GB2039564A

GB2039564A - An intermittent flushing system

Info

Publication number: GB2039564A
Application number: GB7901156A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FANTOM T
Current assignee: FANTOM T
Priority date: 1979-01-11
Filing date: 1979-01-11
Publication date: 1980-08-13

Abstract

An intermittent flushing system, e.g. for a urinal manifold 13, comprises a cistern 11 which empties by syphonic action when full, a constant head cistern 10 for supplying water at a controlled rate through a disc feed member 12 to the syphonic cistern 11, and a switch-off device 17 consisting of an electrical solenoid-operated valve controlled by a time switch and disposed in the supply-line 15 to the constant head cistern. The switch-off device 17 can be preset to open its valve and so supply the flushing cisterns only at selected times of the day and/or week. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An intermittent flushing system This invention relates to an intermittent flushing system.

Consumption of mains water in many industrial and public premises is measured by a meter, and a charge is rendered by the appropriate water authority in accordance with the quantity of water consumed during a given period. In many instances a considerable amount of this water is fed to intermittent flushing systems such as those used in urinals, and in cases where buildings are unoccupied at night or at weekends, or during longer periods of vacation, the flushing systems continue to operate unnecessarily during those periods.

Therefore, apart from excessive expenditure there is a considerable waste of water under such conditions accompanied by the risk of flooding due to a fault in the system, which would go unnoticed in the absence of personnel in attendance.

Much importance is attached to water conservation and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system incorporating means for preventing undue waste of mains water.

According to the present invention, an intermittent flushing system comprises a cistern adapted to empty by syphonic action when filled to a predetermined level, a delivery pipe connected to the outlet of said cistern, means for supplying waterto said cistern at a controlled rate, an electrical solenoidoperated valve disposed in the supply line to said cistern, and a time swith connected to said valve and capable of being preset to enegise same at selected times to permit the flow of water to said cistern accordingly.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an intermittent flushing system for urinals; and Figure2 is a schematic illustration of a control device therefor, made in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the flushing system comprises a constant head cistern 10 which supplies water to a flushing cistern 11 arranged, when filled to a predetermined level to empty automatically into a delivery pipe or flushing manifold 13 by syphonic action. A disc feed member 12 is provided at the outlet of the cistern 10 to provide a controlled trickle feed into the cistern 11.

The cistern 10 is provided with the usual overflow outlet pipe 14 and is fed from the mains supply by an inlet pipe 15 having a stopcock 16 therein. A device 17 is provided upstream of the cistern 10 ad is adapted to control the supply of water thereto.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the device 17 comprises a box 18 having a hinged and lockable lid 19, through which passes the feed pipe 15. Within the box 18 the pipe 15 is interrupted buy a normallyclosed electrical solenoid-operated valve 20 which is connected to a time switch 21 having a dial 22 which can be preset to eneroise and thus open the valve 20 automatically at selected times during a period of 24 hours. Preferably the switch 21 is also capable of being programmed to open the valve at selected times during selected days of the week.

Optionally, a pipe 23 having a manually operable stop valve 24 therein is arranged to by-pass the electrical valve 20 thus to enable flow through the pipe 15 to be established in the event of breakdown of the electrical system. The bypass pipe 23 will, however, be omitted in cases wherein it is important that the automatic system must not be orverriden by non-authorised personnel, unless it is considered that sufficient security against this is provided by the lockable lid 19 of the box 18.

It will be seen therefore that the device 17 provides the facility for arresting the intermittent flushing of the system during periods of non-use thus providing a considerable saving of water in addition to a cost saving in cases where the user is charged for water according to the quantity used.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in cases where the whole flushing system and the control device are placed behind a facing wall, the box 18 could be omitted. Furthermore, the constant head cistern 10 can be omitted where the establishment of a constant period between flushing cycles is unnecessary. In this case the outlet end of the pipe 15 downstream of the device 16 is arranged to feed directly into the flushing cistern 11 via a disc feed member.

1. An intermittent flushing system comprising a cistern adapted to empty by syphonic action when filled to a predetermined level, a delivery pipe connected to the outlet of said cistern, means for supplying water to said cistern at a controlled rate, an electrical solenoid-operated valve disposed in the supply line to said cistern, and a time switch connected to said valve and capable of being preset to energise same at selected times to permit the flow of water to said cistern accordingly.

2. An intermittent flushing system according to claim 1,wherein said means for supplying water to the cistern at a controlled rate comprises a constant head cistern connected to the mains water supply and having at its outlet a disc feed member to provide a controlled trickle feed therefrom.

3. An intermittent flushing system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said electrical solenoidoperated valve is of the kind which opens when energised and returns to its normal closed position when de-energised.

4. An intermittent flushing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said time switch can be preset to energise the valve at selected times during a 24-hour period.

5. An intermittent flushing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said time switch can be preset to energise said valve at selected times during selected days of the week.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An intermittent flushing system This invention relates to an intermittent flushing system. Consumption of mains water in many industrial and public premises is measured by a meter, and a charge is rendered by the appropriate water authority in accordance with the quantity of water consumed during a given period. In many instances a considerable amount of this water is fed to intermittent flushing systems such as those used in urinals, and in cases where buildings are unoccupied at night or at weekends, or during longer periods of vacation, the flushing systems continue to operate unnecessarily during those periods. Therefore, apart from excessive expenditure there is a considerable waste of water under such conditions accompanied by the risk of flooding due to a fault in the system, which would go unnoticed in the absence of personnel in attendance. Much importance is attached to water conservation and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system incorporating means for preventing undue waste of mains water. According to the present invention, an intermittent flushing system comprises a cistern adapted to empty by syphonic action when filled to a predetermined level, a delivery pipe connected to the outlet of said cistern, means for supplying waterto said cistern at a controlled rate, an electrical solenoidoperated valve disposed in the supply line to said cistern, and a time swith connected to said valve and capable of being preset to enegise same at selected times to permit the flow of water to said cistern accordingly. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an intermittent flushing system for urinals; and Figure2 is a schematic illustration of a control device therefor, made in accordance with the invention. Referring now to the drawings, the flushing system comprises a constant head cistern 10 which supplies water to a flushing cistern 11 arranged, when filled to a predetermined level to empty automatically into a delivery pipe or flushing manifold 13 by syphonic action. A disc feed member 12 is provided at the outlet of the cistern 10 to provide a controlled trickle feed into the cistern 11. The cistern 10 is provided with the usual overflow outlet pipe 14 and is fed from the mains supply by an inlet pipe 15 having a stopcock 16 therein. A device 17 is provided upstream of the cistern 10 ad is adapted to control the supply of water thereto. With particular reference to Figure 2, the device 17 comprises a box 18 having a hinged and lockable lid 19, through which passes the feed pipe 15. Within the box 18 the pipe 15 is interrupted buy a normallyclosed electrical solenoid-operated valve 20 which is connected to a time switch 21 having a dial 22 which can be preset to eneroise and thus open the valve 20 automatically at selected times during a period of 24 hours. Preferably the switch 21 is also capable of being programmed to open the valve at selected times during selected days of the week. Optionally, a pipe 23 having a manually operable stop valve 24 therein is arranged to by-pass the electrical valve 20 thus to enable flow through the pipe 15 to be established in the event of breakdown of the electrical system. The bypass pipe 23 will, however, be omitted in cases wherein it is important that the automatic system must not be orverriden by non-authorised personnel, unless it is considered that sufficient security against this is provided by the lockable lid 19 of the box 18. It will be seen therefore that the device 17 provides the facility for arresting the intermittent flushing of the system during periods of non-use thus providing a considerable saving of water in addition to a cost saving in cases where the user is charged for water according to the quantity used. It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in cases where the whole flushing system and the control device are placed behind a facing wall, the box 18 could be omitted. Furthermore, the constant head cistern 10 can be omitted where the establishment of a constant period between flushing cycles is unnecessary. In this case the outlet end of the pipe 15 downstream of the device 16 is arranged to feed directly into the flushing cistern 11 via a disc feed member. CLAIMS

6. An intermittent flushing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said valve and said switch are contained within a box having a lockable lid.

7. An intermittent flushing system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a bypass pipe connected to carry water past said valve and having a manually operable stop valve therein which can be opened to permit flow to the cistern in the event of failure of said valve or switch.

8. An intermittent flushing system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, ad as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.