GB2260998A - Automatic flushing device for toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic flushing device for a toilet comprises an infra-red detector for detecting a user of the toilet and then passing a signal to an electric motor (2) connected via a set of step-down gears to a drive shaft (36) which, in turn, is connected via driving gear and linkage (6) to a discharge valve (7). <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOMATIC OPENING DEVICE FOR TOILET WATER TANK'S FLUSH DOOR DESCRIPTION This invention relates te an automatic opening device for toilet water tank's flush door, and particularly to a new one that upon the leaving of toilet user can right away get the water tank's flush door te open for flushing away the waste te keep cleanliness.

Ccnventicnal flush toilet, as we are aware, is typical of a handle on the exterior cf its water tank which if pressed down can get the water tank's flush door to open for an immediate flushing away of the waste in the toilet. This way keeps the toilet to be clean and prevents the rest room from the leaking cf bad smell. It is practical in this sense. But due to its artificial cperaticn, pressing dcwn the handle after toilet use is easy te be forgotten by some toilet users in a hurry.If that happens, the rest room will soon be filled with bad smell and makes entering it next time substantially difficult.

Such happening is particularly common in the public rest room.

The primary objective of the invention is to sclve the problem.

above by prcviding an automatic opening device for toilet water tank's flush door which has features: 1. It, in place cf only the flush door's artificial opening structure, still makes use of the water tank's original water initiating and flushing structure and can, therefore, be wide applied to any sort of conventional water tank.

2. It is cf a small volume that makes it able to be mounted hidden in the water tank. Moreover, Its action force in perpendicularity to water tank's flush door is thus reduced to be the least and enables the less burdened motor te have a prolonged work life.

This automatic opening device for toilet water tanks flush door consists of an infrared monitor and an actuating device. The infrared monitor, mounted cn nearby wall at a higher level than water tank, senses the approaching of someone and upon his leaving after toilet use sends out a signal leading to the operation of motor. The actuating device, sealed in a case, includes a motor and a set of slow-down transmission gears connected to motor's output shaft for actuating a driving shaft into action. A compression wheel, mounted on the driving shaft, is with a vacancy on its periphery which is inserted by the button of a microswitch opposing against in normal time.The operation of motor, thereby,is under the control of compressicn wheel which may cease it once the driving shaft, driven by motor operation, has made a turning and brought the button back within the vacancy.

A driving gear, also mounted on the driving shaft, has a partly tcothed periphery of which the toothless part opposes against a following gear mounted on a following gear nearby. The driving gear in cperation may engage and bring following gear te turn along. The following shaft has its one end extending cut cf the case and connected with a fixed pulley. Via an actuating rope or chain, the fixed pulley is in connecticn with the water tank's flush door.The turning of the fixed pulley which is driven by following shaft, therefore, will roll up the actuating rope cr chain and get the flush door te be pulled cpen. Actuating rope or chain then will be pulled back to its original length by an automatic closing cf the flush door after the flushing is over.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference te the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention positioned in the water tank of a toilet wherein its tank cover is partly omitted; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the seat plate of the invention in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inside structure of the actuating device sealed in case in Fig. 1, and with the case body omitted mostly; Fig. 4 shows the interacting between the compression wheel and microswitch thereof in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along A A line in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows the in-use state cf the invention in water tank.

As Fig. 1 shows, the invention comprises an infrared monitor 1 and an actuating device 2. Infrared monitor 1, mounted on nearby wall at a higher level than water tank 3, is a case body arranged with the infrared detecting circuit in it. Infrared monitor 1 senses the approaching cf someone and upon his leaving after toilet use sends cut a signal te touch IC te start motor cperaticn. Since the infrared detecting circuit is a general one and is not the target of the inventicn's application, more descripticn about it is omitted.

Actuating device 2, sealed in case 4, is adjustably fixed by means cf seat plate 2 at the open part cf water tank 3. Adjusting actuating device 2 to be perpendicular te the draw part of water tank's flush dccr 7 (as Fig. 6 shows) would result in the least use of action fcrce.

As Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show, actuating device 2 in case 4 includes a small motor 8 and a worm 9 connected to motcr's cutput shaft and meshed with worm wheel 10. A slow-down transmission small gear 11, mounted cn the same axis with worm wheel 10, meshes with a big wheel 12 which is positioned on a driving shaft 28. At one end of driving shaft 28, there is a driving gear 13 which has a periphery with only about a half circle of teeth around it and puts its toothless part in opposition against a following gear 37. Following gear 37 is relatively small in diameter and positioned on a following shaft 36 near driving gear 13. In operation, driving gear 13 would engage and bring following gear 37 to turn along.Following shaft 36 has its one end extending outside of the side wall of case 4 and connected with a fixed pulley 38 (as Fig. 5 shows). Fixed pulley 38 has con necticn with the upper end of an actuating rope or chain 6, while the lower end of it links te water tank's flush door 7 (as Fig. 6 shows). As can be found, at the other end, or other suitable place, of driving shaft 28 is mounted a compression wheel 31 with a vacancy 32 on its periphery which is inserted by the button 34 of a microswitch 33 opposing against it (as Fig. 4A shows). As button 34 is within the vacany 32, microswitch 33 is in open circuit.In case that button 34 is driven away from vacancy 32 and-gets pressed by compression wheel's periphery, microswitch 33 then is in closed circuit.

From microswitch 33, a power lead 22 is connected to the negative pole of small motor 8 and the other power lead 23 to the power source's negative pole. Between power leads 22, 23 is connected an IC 24 (as Fig. 3 shcws). In normal time, but ton 34 of microswitch 33 is within vacancy 32, and the power source of small motor 8 is in open circuit.

As the leaving cf toilet user is detected by infrared monitor 1 (as Fig. 1 shows), a signal sent out will lead to the starting of small motor 8. At that time, with IC 24 supply temporary electricity, com- pression wheel 31 is driven to turn. Once button 34 of microswitch 33 deviates from vacancy 32 and gets pressed by compression wheel's periphery, microswitch 33 then is in closed circuit leading to con ducticn for electricity supply (as Fig. 4B shows). At the same time, the driving gear 13, at the other end of driving shaft 28, is driven to turn in a direction as arrow 35 shows and gets meshed with following gear 37.The turning of following gear 37 hence leads to the turning of fixed pulley 38, which therefore rolls up actuating rope or chain 6 and gets flush door 7 to be pulled open. As compression wheel 31 has made a turning and brought back the microswitch 33 to vacancy 32, electricity supply ceases and operation of small motor 8 comes to an end. At that time, driving gear 13 releases following gear 37 and once again puts its toothless part in opposition against it.

Actuating rope or chain 6 then will be pulled back to its original length by an automatic closing cf flush door 7 after the flushing is voter.

As Figs. 1, 2 show, actuating device 2 in case 4 is connected beneath a seat plate 5, which is a plane one with two lengthwise slots 25 for connecting case 4 and allcwing adjustment to the case's front and back positicn in water tank 3. The case's left and right pcsiticn in water tank 3 is adjusted by moving seat plate 5. In this way, fixed pulley 38 and actuating rope cr chain 6 of actuating device 2 can be adjusted to be perpendicular to flush door 7 (as Fig. 6 shows) to prevent unnecessary divisicn force.

At four angles cf seat plate 5, there are arranged a turnable hook rcd 25 and a hook strip 27 respectively. 3y means cf turning hcck rod 26, the invention may be coordinated with any different thick water tank 3. And tank ccver may still ccver water tank 3 after hook strip 27 hocks the upper rim cf water tank 3.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS:

1. An automatic opening device for toilet water tank's flush door comprising: -an infrared monitor on nearby wall at a higher level than water tank for generating a signal to start motor into operation upon the leaving cf toilet user; and with major characteristics in an actuating device which comprises:: -a small motor having its output shaft connected with a set of slow down transmission gears for actuating a driving shaft into action, the negative pole of the motor via a power lead connecting an IC, said IC positioned between the power leads of motor's negative pole and power source's negative pole and between two power leads from a microswitch so as to supply temporary electricity for the motor's starting;; -a driving shaft connected with a compression wheel at its one end cr other suitable position, said compression wheel with a vacancy cn its periphery being inserted by the button of a microswitch in opposition in order to cease the cperaticn cf said motor whenever driving shaft has made a turning; -a driving gear connected to said driving shaft's other end and having a partly toothed periphery of which the toothless part is put opposing against a following gear, said following gear relatively small in diameter mounted on a following shaft, said driving gear in its beginning to turn meshing with said following gear and bring it to turn along;; said following shaft having its one end extending outside of the case's side wall where to connect a fixed pulley, said pulley connected with the upper end of an actuating rope or chain while its lower end connects the water tank's flush door; Whereby as the leaving of a toilet user is detected by infrared monitor, a signal sent out will lead to the starting of motor, bringing the driving shaft to make a turning to result in the opening of the water tank's flush door for a flushing.

2. An automatic opening device for toilet water tanks flush door according to claim 1 wherein said actuating rope or chain will be pulled back to its original length by an automatic closing of the water tank's flush door after the flushing is over.

3. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

4. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.