GB2268944A

GB2268944A - Toilet syphon having selectively openable valve

Info

Publication number: GB2268944A
Application number: GB9315208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Stewart Mckenzie; David Stewart Mckenzie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-23
Filing date: 1993-07-22
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-22
Also published as: GB9315208D0; GB2268944B; GB9215689D0

Abstract

A toilet syphon (1) has a selectively openable valve (4,5) disposed on the syphon (1) and is provided with a remotely operable control means (15) which is coupled to the valve (4, 5) to close or open the valve (4, 5). The valve (4, 5) is preferably located adjacent the upper bend of the syphon (1) and when opened permits air to enter into the syphon (1) in order to stop a flush before the cistern (20) is empty. <IMAGE>

Description

TOILET SYPHON This invention relates to a toilet syphon for use in a toilet cistern.

The volume of water used when a toilet is flushed is very large. Generally, the amount of water used in a flush of a toilet cannot be varied and this results in water wastage as the whole cistern is completely emptied with each flush.

According to the present invention, there is provided a toilet syphon having a selectively openable valve disposed on the syphon with remotely operable control means.

Most preferably, the syphon valve is disposed at the top of the syphon so that it is above the water level of the cistern.

Preferably, the control means is in the form of an existing toilet flushing means, for example a handle or chain which can selectively activate the valve and the flush.

Preferably, means are provided for connecting the syphon valve with the control means.

Preferably, means are also provided to ensure that the syphon valve is closed when the control means is not activated.

Preferably, the means for connecting the syphon valve with the control means is in the form of an arm pivoted about a cantilever extending from the syphon, the arm being balanced by a weight.

Preferably, the syphon valve allows air into the syphon when opened in order to stop the flow of water through the syphon.

The syphon valve may have a biasing means to ensure that the valve remains closed except during activation of the control means. Typically, the biasing means could be provided by a weight which acts to close the valve. Typically, where an arm is provided, the weight could be the weight which balances the arm.

Alternatively, the biasing means could be in the form of a spring.

Preferably, the syphon valve is interchangeable so that the valve can be replaced or permanently closed.

An example of a toilet syphon in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a toilet cistern including the toilet syphon; and Fig 2 is a plan of a syphon water inlet of the toilet syphon shown in Fig 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a toilet syphon 1 inside a toilet cistern 20 (see Fig. 1). The toilet syphon 1 has an inlet 2 and outlet 3, and the outlet 3 leads into a toilet bowl (not shown). A syphon valve seat 4 surrounds an aperture in the wall off the syphon 1 and the seat 4 is situated at or near the top of the syphon 1 and has a closing means in the form of a valve member 5. The valve member 5 is attached to an arm 6, which pivots about a support 7 which is attached to the top of the syphon 1. An end 9 of the arm 6 has a weight 8 positioned on the opposite side of the valve member 5 from the support 7. An opposite end 10 of the arm 6 is coupled to a toilet handle 15 via a coupling link 18 and an operating rod 17 which are connected to a backing plate 12 and flexible sheet 11 (see Fig. 2) which form the syphon inlet 2.

In use, the toilet when ready to be flushed has a cistern 20 full of water. The valve member 5 is closed against the seat 4 when not in use in order to allow an initial flow through the syphon 1. Water is only able to flow into the syphon inlet 2 thereby maintaining water in one side 13 of the syphon 1 before the flow of water is started. When the toilet is flushed by depression of a handle 15 or pulling of a chain, the backing plate 12 and flexible sheet 11 are lifted by means of the operating rod 17 connected to the handle 15. This causes the water in the side 13 to be forced around the bend of the syphon 1. As water flows down into the toilet bowl, water is drawn from the cistern into the syphon 1 through the one way syphon inlet 2.

The syphon inlet 2 allows water in as the water flows through the rigid holed backing 12 and pushes the flexible sheet 11 in to the syphon 1, allowing water past. However, no water can escape out of the syphon 1 through the syphon inlet 2 as the flexible sheet 11 is forced against the rigid backing 12.

Once flow through the syphon 1 has started it will continue as long as the water level in the cistern is above the syphon inlet 2. If a short flush is required the toilet handle 15 or other form of valve operating means can be activated to open valve member 5. In the case of the toilet handle 15 this is achieved by pulling the handle 15 back up. This pushes rod 17 and the coupling link 18 down to lift valve member 5 off the valve seat 4 by pulling the end 10 of the arm 6 down.

As valve seat 4 is above the water level in the cistern 20, when the valve member 5 is lifted off the seat 4 air enters the syphon 1 through the aperture in the valve seat 4 and breaks the flowgof water through the syphon 1 thereby stopping the flush. The weight 8 on the first end 9 of the arm 6 ensures that the valve 4 is closed again ready for the next flush. The valve member 5 may have a spring closing means to ensure that the valve member 5 remains shut either as an alternative to or in addition to the weight 8. The toilet cistern 20 then refills with water to replace the water used in the flush. The invention also has the advantage that if necessary less water can be used to flush the toilet. If a shorter flush is selected, less water is needed to refill the cistern 20. There is also the advantage that the toilet can be flushed successively without waiting for the cistern to refill.

In an alternative embodiment the syphon valve 4 can be operated by a control means which is distinct from the toilet flush operating means. For example, in the form of a further handle or button.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet syphon having a selectively openable valve disposed on the syphon and a remotely operable control means coupled to the valve to selectively open and close the valve, the valve when in the open position permitting air to enter the syphon.

2. A toilet syphon according to Claim 1, wherein the valve is disposed adjacent to the upper bend of the syphon.

3. A toilet syphon according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the control means also activates a flush of water through the syphon.

4. A toilet syphon according to any of the preceding Claims, and further including biasing means which biases the valve to the closed position.

5. A toilet syphon according to Claim 4, wherein the biasing means comprises a weight which acts to close the valve.

6. A toilet syphon according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring which biases the valve to the closed position.

7. A toilet syphon substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.