GB2056517A - Dual flush cisterns - Google Patents

Abstract

A w.c. cistern 1 has a lift discharge valve 8 surrounded by a fixed cylinder 3 having a port 6. If the port 6 is open the whole cistern contents are discharged; if the port 6 is closed only part of the contents is discharged. The port 6 is opened and closed by rotating a cylinder 5 concentrically within the cylinder 3 to bring its port 7 into or out of register with the port 6. The cylinder 5 is rotated to select a full or partial flush by rotating the lift discharge knob 10 whose spindle 9 has a cross bar 11 engaging forks 12 on the rotatable cylinder 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Economy system for sanitary flushings This invention relates to an economy system for sanitary flushings, for reducing the water consumption of such devices by providing selection means for at least two different flushing volumes.

The invention in particuiar relates to flushing devices for use with toilets, water-closets and the like, to make it possible to adapt the amount of used flushing water to the real requirements.

It is indeed of common knowledge that toilets and water-closets make consumption of considerable amounts of water.

Such flushing devices are however often used to their full capacity, even when a much smaller amount of water would be sufficient. This is in particularthecaseaftera "number one" use.

It has been calculated that in this way some 100 hectoliter of water may be wasted each year for each person.

The purpose of this invention was to provide a solution to this problem, by allowing a reducing of the water consumption of sanitary flushings.

Therefor the new economy system in accordance with the invention comprises means which make selection possible between at least two different flushing volumes.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, said means comprise a separate space in the flushing-cistern, which can be selectively isolated from the remainder of said cistern and which is connected to the outlet of the flushing-cistern.

The space which can be isolated from the remainder of the cistern preferably consists of: - a first cylinder which closely fits to the bottom of the flushing-cistern and which is provided in its cylinder surface with one or more apertures, and - a second cylinder, which fits into or over said first cylinder and which is also provided with one or more apertures in its cylinder surface, in such way that said second cylinder is positioned in or over the first cylinder in a revolving and closely fitting manner, whereby in one position of the revolving cylinder the inner space of the cylinders is isolated from the remainder of the flushing-cistern in a substantially tight manner, whereas in another position of the revolving cylinder the inner space of the cylinders communicates with the remainder of the flushing-cistern through the overlapping apertures in the cylinder surfaces.

In this latter embodiment of the system according tithe invention, which appears to be particularly appropriate with a draw-off stopper mechanism, the drawer-knob and drawer-rod may very suitably be provided in a revolving way whereby the drawer-rod is fitted with a transverse spindle, which fits into a fork-provision which is provided to the revolving cylinder, so that rotating the drawer-knob of the flushing may turn the revolving cylinder selectively in its closing respectively open position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, said means for selecting between at least two different flushing volumes consist of two separate outlet apertures, one of which is provided at the bottom of the flushing-cistern, so that the total volume of the cistern may flow therethrough, whereas the other outlet aperture is provided at the upper side of a pipe, so that only a part of the volume of the cistern may flow therethrough.

The features and characteristics of the invention will now be set forth in more detail in the description of one specific embodiment thereof. This description is provided by way of mere illustrative example, and should by no means be considered as a limitation of it.

In the description, reference is made to the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a section through a flushing-cistern comprising an economy system in accordance with the invention, represented in the position for reduced water consumption; - Figure 2 is a similar section as figure 1, represented in a situation in which flushing has been performed in the position for reduced water consumption; - Figure 3 is a similar section as figures 1 and 2, represented in a position for using the full flushing capacity, in a situation in which flushing has been performed.

In these figures like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Figures 1 to 3 show a flushing-cistern 1 for a water-closet (not represented), of the type provided with a draw-off stopper mechanism 2.

In the cistern 1 a cylinder 3 is fitted hermetically to the bottom 4 of the cistern 1.

Inside this first cylinder 3 is a second cylinders having a somewhat smaller diameter, and which is provided in a revolving way, substantially hermetically with respect to the first cylinder 3. The cylinders 3 and 5 are each provided with an aperture 6 respectively 7. The draw-off stopper mechanism 2 comprises a closing stopper 8 which can be drawn up by means of a drawer-rod 9 and a drawer-knob 10.

The drawer-rod 9 is revolvingly connected to the closing stopper 8, whereas the drawer-knob 10 is fixedly connected to said drawer-rod 9.

The revolving drawer-rod 9 is further fitted with a horizontal spindle 11, which fits into two forks 12 at the upper side of the revolving inner cylinder 5.

By turning the drawer-knob 10, the revolving cylinder 5 is thus moved by said horizontal spindle 11.

In this manner one may selectively move the apertures Sand 7 in cylinders 3 and 5 away from each other, or bring said apertures into communication with each other.

In the position represented in figures 1 and 2, for cylinder 5 with respect to cylinder 3, the apertures 6 and 7 do not communicate. When the flushingcistern fills up, the room 13 inside the cylinders 3 and 5 is filled with water over the upper rim 14 of the cylinders (see figure 1).

When drawing-off the closing stopper 8, by means of drawer-knob 10 and drawer-rod 9, only that part of the water can flow away, which stands above the upper rim 14 of the cylinders as well as that part which stands inside the isolated room 13 (see figure 2).

In this position of cylinders, one thus achieves a reduction of the flushing volume with respect to the full flushing capacity of the flushing-cistern.

In the position shown in figure 3 for cylinder 5 on the other hand, the apertures 6 and 7 of cylinders 3 and 5 stand in communication. When drawing-off the closing stopper 8, the entire volume of the flushing-cistern may now flow away through the exhaust pipe 15 (see figure 3).

In order to indicate the operation of the system according to the invention, the drawer-knob 10 may for instance be provided with a pointer 16, whereby the economy position and full flushing position may be represented with appropriate marks or representations on a cover-plate 17.

It should be observed that in the above description only those parts were disclosed which specifically realize the performance of the new system in accordance with the invention. There are of course other parts which cooperate to the performance of flushing devices, for which the new system according to the invention may be used. Thus the float which has to control the inlet flow of water to the flushing-cistern, and which has not been represented in the accompanying drawings for reasons of clarity.

Such further conventional parts of flushing devices will not give rise to any problem to the art worker in respect to the new system according to the invention, and in particular one will readily be able to put in place a practically unmodified disposition of the float mechanism.

In the embodiment specifically disclosed above, the float may for instance very appropriately be provided inside (or possibly along) the cylinders 3 and 5.

It should further be observed that the invention is not at all limited to the features and embodiments disclosed hereabove, and that numerous mod ifications will be obvious to the skilled art man, without leaving the actual scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. Economy system for sanitary flushings for reducing the water consumption of such devices, comprising means which make selection possible between at least two different flushing volumes.

2. Economy system according to claim 1, in which said means comprise a separate space in the fiushing-cistern, which can be selectively isolated from the remainder of said cistern and which is connected to the outlet of the flushing-cistern.

3. Economy system according to claim 2, in which said space which may selectively be isolated from the remainder of the cistern consists of -a first cylinder which closely fits to the bottom of the flushing-cistern and which is provided in its cylinder surface with one or more apertures, and - a second cylinder, which fits into or over said first cylinder and which is also provided with one or more apertures in its cylinder surface, in such a way that said second cylinder is positioned in or ovel the first cylinder in a revolving and closely fitting manner, whereby in one position of the revolving cylinder the inner space of the cylinders is isolated from the remainder of the flushing-cistern in a substantially tight manner, whereas in another position of the revolving cylinder the inner space of the cylinders communicates with the remainder of the flushing-cistern through the overlapping apertures in the cylinder surfaces.

4. Economy system according to claim 3, specifically designed for flushing with a draw-off stopper mechanism, in which a drawer-knob and drawer-rod are revolvingly connected to said stopper, whereby the drawer-rod is fitted with a transverse spindle, which fits into a fork-provision which is provided to the revolving cylinder, so that rotating the drawer-knob of the flushing may turn the revolving cylinder selectively in its closing respectively open position.

5. Economy system according to claim 1, in which said means comprise two separate outlet apertures, one of which is provided at the bottom of the flushing cistern, so that the total volume of the cistern may flow therethrough, whereas the other outlet aperture is provided at the upper side of a pipe, so that only a part of the volume of the cistern may flow therethrough.

6. An economy system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.