GB2283030A - Dual flush W.C. cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

A dual-flush valve-discharge W.C. cistern comprises a water tank with a water inlet controlled by a float arrangement and two water outlet chambers, each chamber having its own outlet valve, control of said valves being by means of a handle assembly comprising concentric shafts, one shaft being connected to each outlet valve. <IMAGE>

Description

THE TWO STAGE FLUSH DESCRIPTION This two stage flush relates to a domestic & commercial toilet flush system.

The toilet flush is a simple but important innovation by the organised society of western culture. This makes it possible for a toilet to function in a closed room "with a water supply for flushing", cleaning the basin and preventing the rise and spread of the sewer gas. This practice is conducive to community health - specially in the densely populated urban areas.

System normally consists of this flushing toilet, basin, downpipe connecting the basin to the underground sewer, a seat, a cistern with water chamber, valve, the operating mechanism assembly, an operating handle, water inlet and outlet pipes, overflow sprout, and wall fixing arrangement for the cistern (normally).

A complete toilet with flushing system, although costly, cannot be said to be very expensive compared to the total price of the house. Without it the hygienic standards of the house will be jeopardised and living in modern tower blocks will become very difficult.

But when the water wastage is taken into consideration during the whole life time of a single stage flush it turns out to be an expensive item of everyday use.

The sketches No. SKM/W.C.3 (shows the general arrangement of the proposed two stage flush) and No. SKM/W.C.4 (shows the general arrangement of a telescopic dual-shaft assembly) are included for elucidation, with a familiarity with the single stage flush it is not difficult to understand the proposed two stage flush. The sketch No. SKM/W.C.3 (copies enclosed) shows the essential technical features of a two stage flush.

Also, SKM/W.C.4 shows the general arrangement of a telescopic dual shaft assembly for a half and full flush of the basin with choice of any one of the modes.

The operation of a single stage flush is simple and a common place experience. At the end of a toilet visit the handle for operation is turned through an angle of 300 (say) clockwise, the shaft rotates, spindle operates and opens a valve in the water chamber. The water in the cistern rushes out. Water level in the cistern falls. A float with a long stem and elbow descends.

The elbow opens or closes a water inlet. Water enters the cistern, again the water level rises.

The rising water level raises the float with it and also closes the spring controlled exhaust valve. Finally the ascending float with the stem and elbow (switch) cuts-off the water inlet completely. The flush is now ready for next operation.

In the system described above there is no provision for discrimination between a short visit and a long visit. Thus flushing each time uses same quantity of water, a cistern full.

Compared to this, the new system (pl. see SKM/W.C.3 & ) proposes to use one handle-one flexible, telescopic shaft assembly capable of dual operations, two chambers at two different levels each with an water outlet valve of its own. Although dimensions and fixing arrangements are different care has been taken to retain some features of a single stage flush.

H2 is the new handle of operation. At its end a hollow cylindrical shaft S21 is rigidly fixed. C2 is the new cistern covered, substantial, moulded case with holes pierced at the leatherhard stage of manufacturing. These holes are for assembly, pipe connections, wall fixing etc. When H2 is turned clockwise through an angle i, the spindle SP21 operates the valve V21. The valve opens and half of the cistern is emptied. Notice the level (the valves V21 and V22 are spring controlled & BR< normally closed) of chamber C2l and valve V21. These cannot empty the second half of the cistern.

On the other hand, if the handle H2 is pressed inwards by about l (30.0mum) it engages the shaft No. S22, - and shaft S21 and shaft S22 are now coupled to operate together. This opens valves V21 and V22 and these empty the system fully - vigorously, together, for the first half and gently for the second, alone.

At a predetermined point the float switch opens water entry (clears the hole open) and the cistern is refilled for next operation. H2 is spring return to the starting position (all movements). The advantages of this proposed system are simple, cumulative, massive and nationwide. This new system (SK- No.

SKM/W.C.3-4) does not require any advance technology.

Application of simple techniques will suffice.

The two stage flush is not an intelligent machine, but a friendly machine.

Enclosure (the cistern): consists of three parts - moulded.

Material: stoneware or porcelain or bone china. The first two parts are joined together to form the cistern. The third shall form a lid.

For a prototype all three materials may be tried. The following are two of the recipes for clay mixture without percentage compositions. It might make economic sense to use commercially available mixtures from British Suppliers. "Good clay suppliers will give firing ranges for their clays".

PORCELAIN BONE CHINA Standard porcelain Eckalite No 1 Bone china and China clay kaoline porcelain are of Potash felspar Bone ash natural considerable Quartz (sieved properly) Potash Filspart strength Bentonite Silica Thinnerwalls compared to stonewares - will suffice.

Drying, leatherhard piercing, biscuit firing, glazing and final firing are standardised processes for the type of clay used. For porcelain the final firing is at temperature between 1280 - 13000C. Others, as in Potters manual previous British Patent Appl. No. GB 9321718.0, 21st Oct. 1993 Water is one of our most important heritages. More than 90% of all water on earth is salty. Fresh water is only a small part of it. Glaciers & polar ice caps have 77.5% of all our fresh water locked in them. Only 3% will be found in the lakes, rivers and atmosphere. Some in the underground reservoirs. Due to nature's maldistribution simultaneous flood and scarcity of drinking water in a same country are not unoften. Europe is fortunate - but should we spend wastefully nature's generous gift. Judicious policy and habits now can avoid crisis and rationing later.

Estimated 27% of all domestic use of water is for toilet flushing. Potentially about a third of this water can be saved.

A simple calculation below shows that compared to what this tiny tot(TSF) can save, one billion gallons (109) of fresh clean water looks insignificant - "chicken feed".

The present way of life and life itself cannot continue if water supply stops. Water is wasted almost everywhere.

How this new device below can save water:

Water line - Cistern full Water line - 1 gallons added to "lowest water line" Lowest water line, toilet flushed Inlet closed.

Base line - inside surface Toilet cistern (Tank) On bucket of water, a measured quantity of water 1F gallons, is added when water line is at E. with the inlet closed. New hight M is 6.5". At F with the tank full and inlet closed the height is 8".

Therefor by proportion the volume of water required for a full flush (level "F" to level E)= 1.5 aallons x 4.8 3.3 = 2.18 gallons (G) Volume (approx) required for e flush = 1.09 gallons Therefore water saved per every half flush = 1.09 G If "SKM" uses half flush for every short visit and full flush for every long visit and he averages 4 short visits a day, then water saved per year by him = 1.09 x 4 x 365G o 1591.4 G Assumptions: (i) at least 60% of U.K. population use single stage flush now (ii) Mr and Mrs Briton average four short visits/day, and (iii) U.K. population now is 56 million. Then water saving per year by two stage flush = 56 x 106 x 0.6 x 1591.6 = 53.48 x 109 gallons.

Thus, water saved in the U.K. per year will be about 53 billion gallons.

On both sides of the Atlantic and in other continents, wherever the western system has gone, a large number of single stage flush has been in operation.

The proposed Two Stage Flush will save a massive amount of fresh water and indeed one billion gallons will look like a "Chickenfeed" compared to that volume.

Claims (14)

1. THE TWO STAGE FLUSH This patent application will cover 1. A two stage toilet flush operated by a single handle consisting of a wall or base fixing moulded cistern with a lid.
2. 2. A two stage toilet flush as described in Claim 1 where two chambers for water outlet are provided in place of a normal one.
3. 3. A two stage toilet flush as in Claims 1 and 2 and each chamber having its own spring controlled water exhaust valve joined to spindle by steel wire loops.
4. 4. A two stage toilet flush as in Claims 3 also with a telescopic shaft assembly consisting of a hollow cylindrical outer shaft (to operate value V21) and a solid inner shaft (to operate valve V22) and capable of joint operation at a "press - and - turn" handle movement.

   Handles and shafts - spring return to starting position.
5. 5. A two stage toilet flush as claimed in Claim 4 offering choice of materials like stoneware; strong, thin, translucent porcelain; and very strong and delicate bone china. All enclosures with matching glaze.
6. 6. This new flushing system will reduce water used for toilet flushing by about a third.
7. 7. If an integrated plan, as visualised by the originator, is implemented fully in co-operation with the others concerned including the organised or decentralised manufacturing sector, then the complete program will create very considerable quantity of real work in moulding, packing, machine shops, assembly line, re-packing shipping, transport and fitting at site.
8. 8. Upto a thousand new jobs will slowly emerge nationwide for process and supply of raw materials including storage and wholesale/retailing.
9. 9. The pay back time will not be v.short. If a pro Rota discount is made available from the water authorities for deduced water consumption, it should pay for itself.
10. 10. Billions of gallons of fresh clean water will be saved.
11. 11. Consequent Energy Saving.
12. 12. One frugal national habit will follow another for "waste not - want not".
13. 13. United Kingdom will find new confidence to urge friendly governments (EC, Americas Commonwealth etc.) to adopt
14. 14. Decentralisation of production of this item will provide some useful work and income to weaker areas of economy.

    This will require agreement of the innovator.