GB2182368A

GB2182368A - Ventilating a water closet

Info

Publication number: GB2182368A
Application number: GB08625775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Ashcroft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-29
Filing date: 1986-10-28
Publication date: 1987-05-13
Also published as: GB8526658D0; GB2182368B; GB8625775D0

Abstract

A conventional siphon body 7 having an inlet leg 8 and an outlet leg 9 is connected to air passage 11 via oneway valve 10. The air passage 11 is provided with an air extractor 13 so that air can be drawn from the W.C. pan 1, through the flush pipe 2 connecting the pan to the cistern 3, then through the siphon body to the air passage 11 via valve 10, and then to an outlet outside the room in which the W.C. is located. The air passage 11 also has a downwardly extending branch pipe 15, which enables the passage 11 to function as an overflow; because the outlet is outside the room, the overflow functions as a conventional overflow warning pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water closets The present invention is concerned with water closets.

Flushable water closet systems have, of course, been known for many years. Such systems essentially involve a pan which can be flushed by rapid release of water from a cistern.

One problem which has not yet been solved satisfactorily in connection with water closets is the problem of masking or removing unpleasant odours. One approach to the removal of unpleasant odours involves the use of an exterior fan fitted to a wall, window or ceiling of the room in which the water closet is located. The use of an extractor fan in this way has the serious disadvantage that essentially a complete air change is needed for thorough removal of odours.

Another approach involves the provision of an air extraction system connected directly to the pan; examples of such systems are disclosed in U.K.

Patent Specifications 2143872, 1400498, 1182567 and 1145377 and U.S. Patents 4125906,4094023, 3790970 and 3230551. All the systems referred to involve complex modifications of a W.C. seat or the provision of ducting beneath the seat, which is undesirable from a hygiene point of view.

A further approach involves the provision of an air extractor which is arranged to extract air via the down pipe (or flushing pipe); examples of such systems are disclosed in U.K. Patent Specifications 902250,976026,2072232 and 2091772 and Canadian Patent 1179801. This approach involves minimal modification of the pan or seat as the existing pipe connection between the cistern and the pan provides the necessary airline.

The flow of flushing water from the cistern to the pan via the downpipe is typically controlled by means of a siphon (as in U.K. Patent Specifications 902250,2072232 and 2091772) or by means of a valve member disposed at the base of the cistern (as in U.K. Patent Specification 976026 and Canadian Patent 1179801). The present invention seeks to provide an air extraction system for use with siphon-operated flushing cisterns.

According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a water closet comprising a W.C.

pan, and a cistern from which water can be delivered to the pan via a siphon mechanism and a flush pipe connected to the outlet leg of said siphon mechanism, in which said siphon mechanism is connected via valve means and an air channel to an air outlet outside the room in which the water closet is located, said air channel being further provided with means for driving air through said air outlet, said air channel comprising the overflow warning pipe of said cistern.

The flush pipe may be the down pipe or, in the case of the type of system known as "close coupied", the conduit which directly connects the cistern to the W.C. pan.

An overflow pipe is conventionally provided for W.C. cisterns such that, if the water level rises too high, it is channelled either direct to the pan orto an outlet through an external wall. The latter type of overflow pipe (that is, one in which the overflowing water is channelled through an external wall) is known as an overflow warning pipe (so called because the overflowing water provides a warning of malfunction to persons remote from the W.C).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary water closet according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a modification of the cistern of Figure 1, in which certain parts are shown in more detail for the purposes of clarity; Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, but shows a bottom feed cistern instead of a side feed cistern; Figure 4 is a schematic representation showing the airflow in a pan and downpipe of a water closet according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation showing the airflow in a pan of a close-coupled water closet according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1,aW.C. pan 1 is connected via a downpipe 2 to a cistern 3; the free end 4 of the pipe 2 is connected in conventional manner to a channel Sat the underside of rim 6, such that supply of flushing water along downpipe 2 causes water to flow from the channel 5 to flush the pan 1.

Within the cistern 3 is a flushing siphon mechanism 7 comprising an inlet leg 8 and an outlet leg 9; the upper end of outlet leg 9 is connected via a one-way valve 10 to an air channel 11 which passes through the sidewall 12 of the cistern 3 and then through the wall 18 of the room in which the W.C. is located. The air channel 11, which can function as a conventional overflow warning pipe, is provided with an air extractor fan 13 at the outlet thereof.

The air channel 11 is further provided with a teepiece 14 and a dip-tube 15; the purpose of this is to ensure that channel 11 will still operate as a water overflow even if the water inlet valve (not shown) maifunctions.

The pan 1 is further provided with a seat 16 of conventional construction; a switch unit 17 is disposed between the seat 16 and the pan 1. In the embodiment illustrated, the switch unit 17 is actuated by the body weight of a user sitting on the seat 16; the switch unit 17 is arranged to actuate the fan 13 when someone sits on the seat 16. In operation, therefore, suction by fan 13 causes air to be exhausted from the pan 1 via channel 5, downpipe 2, siphon 7 and air channel 11.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the cistern of Figure 1, in which the air extractor fan is disposed within the cistern. Referring in detail to Figure 2 (in which like parts are denoted by like reference numerais), the cistern 3 has a siphon mechanism 7 therein. The latter is operable by means of a handle 21 connected via connecting rod 22 to piston (not shown); pivoting of the handle raises the piston to cause water to be drawn successively through the inlet leg 8 and the outlet leg 9 of the siphon mechanism 8 and thence to the pan (not shown) via downpipe 2.

The upper end of outlet leg 9 is connected via valve member 10 to air channel 11 which passes through the side wall 12 of cistern housing and thence through the wall of the room to constitute an overflow warning pipe. Air channel 11 has a T-joint 24 connected thereto with a downwardly extending branch pipe dip-tube 15 forming the upright arm of the T-joint.

In the vicinity of the T-joint and within the cistern 3 is air extraction fan 13; the latter is located above the normal level of water 25 in operation. The fan 13 serves to draw air from the outlet leg 9 of the siphon, along air channel 11 towards the outlet in the direction of arrow A.

The valve member 10 comprises a flexible flap 26 (of rubber, for example) which is normally resiliently biassed so as to close aperture 27 between the outlet leg 9 and air channel 11; the flap is further biassed into the closed position by the partial vacuum of the siphon mechanism 7. Operation of the fan 13 exerts a suction effect on flap 26, to cause it to move away from the aperture and permit air to be extracted therethrough.

When a fan is employed within the cistern, it should, of course, be within a waterproof casing.

The siphon mechanism 7 is generally an injection moulded body, to which air channel 11 is bonded.

The water supply to the cistern in the embodiment of Figure 2 is via a conduit 28 in side wall 29 opposed to side wall 12.

In a further embodiment as illustrated in Figure 3 (in which like parts are denoted by like reference numerals), the water supply conduit 28 passes through the base 30 of the cistern housing, as does the air channel/overflow warning pipe 11.

Referring to Figure 4, operation of the extractor fan in the water closet according to the invention causes air to be drawn downwardly in the direction of arrows B from the vicinity of the seat and upwardly from the trap 30 in the direction of arrows C, towards the gap around the rim of the pan in the direction of arrows D, then along the downpipe, through the siphon mechanism and, ultimately, through the wall of the room (not shown).

The airflow in the embodiment of Figure 5 is largely self-explanatory and will therefore not be described in detail.

Various modifications of the illustrated embodiments are possible; for example instead of a pressure-actuated switch on the underside of the seat, a proximity-detecting switch may be employed, or a manually operable switch at some suitable location.

Claims

1. A water closet comprising a W.C. pan, and a cistern from which water can be delivered to the pan via a siphon mechanism and a flush pipe connected to the outlet leg of said siphon mechanism, in which said siphon mechanism is connected via valve means and an air channel to an air outlet outside the room in which the water closet is located, said air channel being further provided with means for driving airthrough said air outlet, said air channel comprising the overflow warning pipe of said cistern.

2. A water closet according to claim 1, in which the connection between the outlet leg and air channel is above the operational water level in the cistern.

3. A water closet according to claim 2, in which said connection is above the cistern overflow level.

4. A water closet according to claim 2 or 3, in which the air channel is provided with an openended branch pipe the open end of which is below said water level.

5. A water closet according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the air driving means is an extractor fan.

6. A water closet substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A water closet according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which said valve means comprises a valve member movable between a closed position in which communication between said outlet leg and said air channel is prevented and an open position in which communication between said outlet leg and said air channel is permitted, said valve member being biassed towards said closed position by a partial vacuum in said siphon mechanism and biassed towards said open position by operation of said air driving means.

7. A water closet substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: *(a) Claims 1-7 above have been deleted or textually amended.

*(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- CLAIMS

1. A water closet comprising a W.C. pan; a cistern from which water can be delivered to said pan via, in succession, a siphon mechanism and a flush pipe connected to the outlet leg of said siphon mechanism; and an overflow warning pipe connecting the cistern to an overflow outlet outside the room in which the water closet is located; in which the interior of said siphon mechanism is connected via valve means and an air conduit to said overflow warning pipe, said air conduit being further provided with means for driving air from said siphon interiorthrough said overflow warning pipe, and having connected thereto a downwardly directed tube which is open only below the operational water level in said cistern.

2. A water closet according to claim 1, in which the connection between said siphon mechanism and said air conduit is above said water level.

4. A water closet according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which said air driving means is an extractor fan.

5. A water closet according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which said valve means comprises a valve member movable between a closed position in which communication between said outlet leg and said air conduit is prevented, and an open position in which communication between said outlet leg and said air conduit is permitted, said valve member being biassed towards said closed position by a partial vacuum in said siphon mechanism and biassed towards said open position by operation of said air driving means.