GB2179684A - Flushing cistern overflow warning - Google Patents

Abstract

An overflow warning device, suitable for use with a flushing cistern, comprises a hollow body member (10) defining a liquid-flow passage (20) therethrough, means for mounting the member within a flushing cistern with one end of the passage (20), in communication with the toilet pan or other unit to be flushed, and float means (17) adapted to prevent flow of water into the other end (13) of the liquid-flow passage and mounted to permit flow of water into the passage when the float means is lifted by water in the cistern. In one form of the invention, the liquid-flow passage is enlarged to define a chamber (18) for colourant (14), so that water caused to flow through the passage by an increase in water level in the cistern becomes coloured in the colourant chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flushing cistern overflow warning This invention relates two an overflowwarning device suitable for use with a flushing cistern.

In Britain, Water Board Regulations specify that flushing water cisterns must be fitted with an overflow warning pipe, so that any overflow of water resulting from puncture of the ballcock valve float or from wear ofthe valve washerwill be immediately apparent. The purpose ofthe regulation isto encourage prompt attention to the necessary repair, so that undue wasteful loss of water is avoided.

To achieve this requirement, it is usual to pass the overflowpipethrough an external wall; in the case of large buildings such as hospitals, blocks offlats, office blocks and hotels, it is often necessaryforthe pipe to pass also through one or more internal walls.

Thus the eventual outlet from the pipe may be remote from the cistern and it often proves difficultto identify a faulty cistern from the overflow pipe outlet.

On installation,thepassing ofthepipethroughseveral walls is at best an inconvenience and may give practical difficulties, especially in a timber-framed building. Thus it is apparentthatthe regulations are often ignored in order to avoid these inconveniences; the overflow pipe may, contrary to the regulations, be led between thetoliet pan and seat or discharged into a urinal. Since eitherofthese arrangements ensures that a water overflow causes little inconvenience, the waste of water may be tolerated for much longerthanwouldbethecaseifthere- gulations had been observed.

It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide an improved overflow warning device, whereby installation is simplified and the incentive to ignore the Water Board Regulations substantially reduced.

The overflowwarning device according to the invention comprises a hollow body member defining a liquid-flow passagetherethrough, means for mounting said memberwithin a flushing cistern with one end of said liquid-flow passage in communication with the toilet pan orotherunitto beflushed,and float means adapted to prevent flow of water into the other end of said liquid-flow passage and mounted so as to permit flow of water into said passage when said float means is lifted by water in the cistern.

The overflowwarning device as defined is able to prevent overflow ofwaterfrom the cistern into the liquid passage until the liquid level in the cistern is sufficiently higher than normal to lift the float, whereupon a noticeable rush ofwaterthrough the liquid passage occurs until the falling liquid level causes the flat to seal the passage once more. Renewed build-up of water in the cistern causes this flushing cycle to recur indefinitely until the fault giving rise to the high water level in the cistern has been rectified.

In a particularly preferred form of the present invention, the liquid-flow passage includes a chamber whereinacolourant,forexamplea blockofcol- ourant, may be located, so that the cyclical rush of water may be coloured, whereby a clearly visible warning ofthe overflow condition is given.

A particularly advantageous feature ofthe overflow warning device according to the invention is that it may be mounted with the flushing unit ofthe flushing cistern so that flow of liquid from the warn ing device into the unitto be flushed isthroughthe flush pipe already provided. Thus, in the case of a conventional siphon tube flushing unit, the warning device may be formed integral with the siphon tube ordesigned for mounting upon it.

The hollow body member ofthe warning device may define a liquid-flow passage of more-or-less uniform cross-section through the member but preferably, as indicated above, the passage is enlarged so asto define a chamber in which colourant may be located. The liquid passage may be a linear, straight through passage or may conveniently include a right-angled or curved bend so that the exit from the passage may enter the flush pipe laterally.

Flow of liquid into the liquid passage is controlled by float means. The float means may be afloatcontrolled valve of the ball-cock type. However in a most preferred form ofthe device, the float means is a hollow sealed ball, designed to seat directly upon the inlettothe liquid passageandtoliftawayfrom the seating when the water in the cistern rises above a predetermined level. Preferably an open cage is mounted upon the warning device around the inlet ot the liquid passage, to restrict lateral movement ofthe sealed ball away from the inlet.

The invention will now be further described and otherfeatures thereofwill become apparent, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein; Figure lisa view in elevation and partly in vertical section of one embodiment ofthe warning device according to the present invention, formed integral with aflushing siphon; Figure2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line II II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view in elevation and largely in vertical section of a second embodiment of the warning device according to the present invention, also formed integral with a flushing siphon; and Figure 4 is a view in elevation and largely in vertical section of a third embodiment of the warning device, formed separate from a flushing siphon to which it is subsequently secured.

In the different Figures of the drawings, like reference numerals have been used for corresponding parts.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, the warning device 10 is formed as a side-branch from the flush pipe 11 of a conventional flusing siphon tube 12 . The combined unit, in this illustrated embodiment, is formed as an itegral moulding form a synthetic plastics material of the type already used for such flushing siphons. The device 10 has a through passage 20 for the flow of water and the passage 20 is enlarged at 18 to form a chamberwithin which a block 14 of coloured dye is located. The dye is preferably of an unattractive colour such as black, brown or red. The whole assembly is mounted within a flushing cistern (not shown), with the inlet 13 to the passage 20 located a short distance abovethe desired normal "full" water level 15 of the cistern. The inlet 13 is defined by the lower end of an open cage 19 located on the upper end ofthe due chamber 18.

Seated upon the inlet 13so asto preventflowof water into the chamber 18 and passage 20 is a spherical float 17, located within the cage 19. The float 17 is free to float upwardly within the cage 19 but is restrained by the cage against lateral movement.

If, by failure of the conventional bawl cock (not shown) which controls inflow of water into the cistern, the water level rises abovethe normal level 15, water will flow in through apertures in the sides of the cage 19 and surround the float 17. Only when the water in the cistern reaches the level indicated bythe numeral 16 in the drawings will thefloat 17 be buoyantenoughto rise away from the inlet 13. When this happens, excess water in the cistern is rapidly released, via the chamber 18 and passage 20, into the pipe 11 and thence into thy toilet pan or other unit flushed bythe cistern. In passing through the chamber 18,this water becomes coloured by the due 14.

In this way, an audiblewarning ofthe high level of water in the cistern is given by the rush of water through the warning unit into the toilet pan and a visual warning is afforded by the colouring of the water in the pan.

When the rush ofwater has reduced the level in the cistern, the float 17 re-seats overthe inlet 13 and a fresh build-up of water begins, followed by a further rush of water, this sequence continuing, to the intended annoyance ofthe householder, until thefaultgiving rise to the high water level is rectified. In the course ofthe necessary repair, it may be convenient to renewthe dye block 14.

It may be mentioned thatthe float 17 will normally remain naturally over the inlet 13 as the float rises andfalls;thecage 19 is mainlyan extrasafeguard against accidental dislodging ofthefloat. Siphonic flushing ofthe cistern in the normal manner is unimpeded by the device, as the float 17 will automatically re-seat (by a suction effect) as the cistern is flushed.

The modified design of unit illustrated in Figure 3 has a liquid passage 21 emerging from the side of the due chamber 18 butfunctions in exactly the same mannerasthe unitshown in Figures 1 and 2. The unit shown in Figure 4 is formed separately from the siphon unit and then secured to the flush pipe 11 by solventwelding aflange 22 on thewarning unittothe pipe 11.

Claims (9)

1. An overflow warning device for a flushing cistern ,comprising a hollow body member defining a liquid-flow passage therethrough, means for mounting said memberwithin aflushing cistern with one end of said liquid-flow passage in communication with the toilet pan or other unit to beflushed, and float means adapted to prevent flow of water into the other end of said liquid-flow passage and mounted so asto permit flow of water into said passage when said float is lifted by water in the cistern.

2. An overflow warning device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the liquid-flow passage includes a chamberto contain a colourant.

3. An overflow warning device as claimed in claim 2, containing a block of dye in said colourant chamber.

4. An overflow warning device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, mounted with aflushing unit ofthe cistern with said one end of the liquid-flow passage in communication with the flush pipe of said flushing unit.

5. An overflow warning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said warning device is formed integral with a siphon tube flushing unit.

6. An overflow warning device as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, wherein said liquid-flow passage includes a right-angled or curved bend.

7. An overflow warning device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said float means is a hollow sealed ball designed to seat directly upon the inlet to said liquid-flow passage.

8. An overflow warning device as claimed in claim 7, having an open cage mounted thereon around said inlet.

9. An overflow warning device for a flushing cistern, said device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 40fthe accompanying drawings.