GB2044820A - Syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern with two independent controls - Google Patents

Abstract

A normal size cistern tank is divided into three Chambers A B C. Chamber A with an independent set of operating components and its control lever (23) has a first siphon- discharge tube with a short up-leg 1 and supplies a precise flush of 4.5 litres; Chamber C also with an independent set of operating components and its control lever (24) has a second siphon-discharge tube with a longer up-leg 2 and supplies a precise flush of 9.0 litres. The central Chamber B supplies the supplementary water requirements independently for both Chambers A and C through horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates 33,34 mounted at the bottom of the two divisional plates 31,32 forming the three Chambers. The half and full discharges ultimately connect together to form one common flushing outlet 'Y'. In each chamber A, C the respective siphon- discharge tube is primed to initiate flushing by depressing a respective float to raise the water level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern with two independent controls This invention relates to improvements in dual discharge toilet cisterns.

More particularly, the invention relates to a new concept in low-levei valveless syphonic dual discharge cisterns of normal size which provide for two precise quantitites of water for separate half and full water discharge, each discharge independently operated by its respective control lever.

A disadvantage of known and existing syphonic dual discharge cisterns is that they are operated by one control lever only and the "partial" and the "full" discharge quantities rely entirely on the holding and the releasing periods of that one control lever. Such quick or delayed lever-release actions by the user result in discharge quantities being varied, hence the water saving is not constant. The 1 973 BSI Specification, BS.1125, framed for a dual type cistern provides for a "short" discharge of 4.5 litres with a plus margin of 1.0 litres (equalling a tolerance of 22%) and the full discharge of 9.0 litres with a plus or minus margin of 0.5 litres (a 5% tolerance).

In effect therefore dual discharges by one control lever defeat the principal reason for the use of a dual cistern, i.e. the economy of water. Better utilization of water in this class of domestic amenity is necessary for water conservation.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above defect of water wastage by providing a low-level valveless syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern incorporating within a normal size cistern tank two complete and independently controlled syphonic units, one for a precise half syphonic water discharge of 4.5 litres for liquid disposal, and the other for a precise full syphonic water discharge of 9.0 litres for solid disposal (both without tolerances) According to the invention, a valveless syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern comprises a normal size cistern tank divided into three equal water Chambers by two divisional plates with a syphonic unit, an operational assembly, and a water displacement float all mounted in each of the two outer Chambers A and C, the central Chamber B providing the supplementary water supply for both discharges for Chambers A and C through horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates mounted at the bottom of each divisional plate, each syphonic unit in Chambers A and C comprising an inverted 'U' tube with a vertical up-leg and a vertical down-leg the vertical up-leg in Cham ber A being shorter for the half flush and the vertical up-leg in Chamber C being longer for the full flush, both vertical up-legs opening into their respective water supply Chamber A or C at different heights such heights determining the quantity of each syphonic discharge, means for initiating a syphonic discharge in either Chamber A or C by the pivotal turndown movement of the respective external control lever simultaneously actuating the respective internal 'N'-shaped thrust immersing member for slidably contacting and depressing the respective water displacement float, the suction by the respective syphonic unit causing the respective horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate to open from Chamber B to provide supplementary water supply until the flushing water descends to the inlet level of the respective vertical up-leg in Chamber A or C thus terminating the syphonic discharge, means for the two vertical down-legs of the syphonic units ultimately connecting together to form one common flushing outlet.

A further description embodying references to the invention will now be defined with the accompanying drawings. The indexing for the various components has been arranged for odd numbers to refer to the half syphonic discharge components in Chamber A and for even numbers to refer to the full syphonic components in Chamber C.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a syphonic dual discharge cistern of three equally divided chambers, according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of Fig. 1 and sectional elevation of the inverted 'U' tubes forming the half and full syphonic units leading to one common flushing outlet.

Figures 3 and 4 are the end sectional elevations of Fig. 1 illustrating the half and full syphonic units, the operational assemblies, the water displacement floats, and the external control levers.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the half flush operational assembly. (The full flush operational assembly is identical).

Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the water displacement float in detail for the half flush.

(The one for the full flush is identical).

Figure 9 refers to the divisional plate dividing Chambers A and B, with a horizontalhanging and swinging water-way gate mounted at the bottom. (The divisional plate between Chambers B and C is identical).

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts a normal size low-ievel valveless syphonic dual discharge cistern comprising three equally divided water Chambers A B and C. The two outer Chambers A and C each comprise a syphonic unit, an operational assembly, and a rectangular water displacement float. The centralized Chamber B provides the supplementary water supply to both Chambers A and C through horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates 33-34 which open outwardly only from Chamber B and which are mounted at the bottom of each of the two divisional plates 31-32.

Fig. 2 depicts the short vertical up-leg 1 mounted in the water in Chamber A which provides for a half syphonic water discharge of 4.5 litres for liquid disposal; the long vertical up-leg 2 mounted in the water in Chamber C provides for a full syphonic water discharge of 9.0 litres for solid disposal. Vertical up-legs 1-2 connected by domes 3-4 to vertical down-legs 5-6 form the two independent syphonic units in Chambers A and C.

The vertical down-legs 5-6 join a Y-shaped fitting, externally mounted to form one common flushing outlet "Y". Actuated by the syphonic suction of the water into the vertical up-legs 1-2 and vertical down-legs 5-6 in Chambers A and C, the horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates 33-34 open outwardly from Chamber B to provide the supplementary water supply to Chambers A and C to complete the respective flush after which the horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates 33-34 are self-closing. The water line in the three Chambers is always at the base level of the domes 3-4 when the cistern's operating water content is replaced by the normal water inflow.

Fig. 3 depicts the syphonic unit with a short vertical up-leg 1 for the 4.5 litres flush, the operating assembly being actuated by its external control lever (in operating position), the water displacement float 1 9 in the descending position, and the horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate 33 in the open position to provide from Chamber B the supplementary water supply for Chamber A.

Fig. 4 depicts the syphonic unit with a long vertical up-leg 2 for the 9.0 litres flush, the operating assembly being actuated by its external control lever (in operating position), the water displacement float 20 in the descending position, and the horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate 34 in the open position to provide from Chamber B the supplementary water supply for Chamber C.

Fig. 3 indicates that the half syphonic water discharge has been initiated in Chamber A.

The turndown movement of the external control lever 23 by the user simlutaneously actuates the pivotal movement of the 'LU'-shaped thrust immersing member 1 5 for contacting the fixed ramp 1 3 mounted on the major axis of the water displacement float 1 9 which is depressed and immersed by this movement.

The water displacement float 1 9 is slidably guided in a downward movement by vertical sleeve 21 and fixed rod 25 thus causing displacement of water. This displacement raises the water level in the vertical up-leg 1 in Chamber A and floods the dome 3 of the syphonic unit which in turn expells the air and creates a syphonic action in the vertical downleg (see Fig. 2 also) for a half syphonic discharge to take place. The half syphonic discharge is determined by the depth of the vertical up-leg 1 in the water in Chamber A as the syphonic discharge ends when the water line descends to the inlet level of the vertical up-leg 1.

The full syphonic discharge (Fig. 4) is initiated in Chamber C in the same manner as the half syphonic discharge in Chamber A.

The operational assembly, the external control lever, the water displacement float and com ponents in Chamber C are identical to those embodied in Chamber A except the vertical up-leg 2 of the syphonic unit in Chamber C is longer for the full flush, as illustrated in Fig.

4. The full syphonic discharge is determined by the depth of the vertical up-leg 2 in the water in Chamber C as the syphonic discharge ends when the water line descends to the inlet level of the vertical up-leg 2.

Fig. 5 depicts the operating assembly for the half flush (odd numbers) consisting of an external control lever 23 which is firmly at tached by a cotter pin 27 to one end of a spindle 11 to which is rigidly fixed a shaped thrust immersing member 15, the other end of the spindle 11 being inserted in the machined boss 9 attached to the assembly bracket 7.The spindle 11 and the external control lever 23, both in alignment with the machined boss 9, provide a pivotal downward movement of the 1J'-shaped thrust immers ing member 1 5 to contact in a slidable action the fixed ramp 1 3 mounted on the major axis of the water displacement float 1 9. The Ll'- shaped thrust immersing member 1 5 de presses and immerses the water displacement float 1 9 to initiate a syphonic discharge.As the water displacement float 1 9 descends (see Figs. 3 8 4), the Ill'shaped thrust immersing member 15, with the aid of the balance weight 29 attached to the external control lever 23, returns to the operational position at the underside of the stop bracket 17.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate for the half flush three different angles of the water displace ment float 1 9 with two component parts firmly attached, i.e. a fixed ramp 13 and a slidable vertical sleeve 21. The fixed ramp 1 3 is rigidly attached to the top half of the major axis of the water displacement float 1 9 to provide a slidable movement for the L'- shaped thrust immersing member 1 5 to de press and to immerse the water displacement float 1 9. The slidable vertical sleeve 21 is firmly attached through the centre of the minor axis of the water displacement float 1 9 to provide a vertical and slidable descent and ascent movement of the said water displace ment float 1 9 which is centrally and slidably guided by a fixed rod 25 mounted at the bottom of Chamber A.

Chamber C for the full flush embodies an identical water displacement float and compo nents which are actuated and operated in the same manner as those for the half flush (Figs.

6, 7 8 8).

Fig. 9 illustrates the divisional plate 31, two of which are mounted in the cistern forming three equally divided water Chambers A B and C. Both divisional plates 31-32 are mounted with a horizontal-hanging and swinging waterway gate 33-34 made to open outwards only from Chamber B to Chambers A and C, through which the supplementary water requirements are supplied. The opening of each horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate 33-34 is actuated by the suction of the syphonic unit in the respective Chamber A or C the said gate 33-34 remaining open for the duration of the syphonic discharge, after which the horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate 33-34 is self-closing.

From the foregoing it is seen that the valveless syphonic dual type discharge method here in introduced for this particular type of toilet cistern provides for two complete and identical sets of components to operatc separately and independently-a half syphonic discharge and a full syphonic discharge, resulting in maximum water economy.

Claims (2)

1. A syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern with two independent controls comprising a normal size cistern tank divided into three equal water Chambers by two divisional plates with a syphonic unit, an operational assembly, and a water displacement float all mounted in each of the two outer Chambers A and C, the central Chamber B providing the supplementary water supply for both discharges for Chambers A and C through horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gates mounted at the bottom of each divisional plate, each syphonic unit in Chambers A and C comprising an inverted 'U' tube with a vertical up-leg and a vertical down-leg the vertical up-leg in Chamber A being shorter for the half flush and the vertical up-leg in Chamber C being longer for the full flush, both vertical up-legs opening into their respective water supply Chamber A or C at different heights such heights determining the quantity of each syphonic discharge, means for initiating a syphonic discharge in either Chamber A or C by the pivotal turndown movement of the respective external control lever simultaneously actuating the respective internal 'W'-shaped thrust immersing member for slidably contacting and depressing the respective water displacement float, the suction by the respective syphonic unit causing the respective horizontal-hanging and swinging water-way gate to open from Chamber B to provide supplementary water supply until the flushing water descends to the inlet level of the respective vertical up-leg in Chamber A or C thus terminating the syphonic discharge, means for the two vertical down-legs of the syphonic units ultimately connecting together to form one common flushing outlet.

2. A syphonic dual discharge toilet cistern with two independent controls substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.