GB2287485A

GB2287485A - Variable flush facility for valve-discharge flushing cistern

Info

Publication number: GB2287485A
Application number: GB9404964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Requena Jose Luis Jerez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-03-15
Filing date: 1994-03-15
Publication date: 1995-09-20
Also published as: GB9404964D0; WO1995025204A1

Abstract

A flushing installation comprising a cistern 11 providing for a free surface level 16 for a working volume of water in the cistern; an flush outlet 14 from the cistern located in a lower part of the cistern whereby water can pass out of the cistern; a first trigger system 18 adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a first volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the first volume being a minor proportion (say about 25%) of the maximum water capacity; the major proportion (say at least 70%) of the maximum water capacity continuing to be retained in the cistern; and a second trigger system 19 adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a second volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the second volume being a major proportion (say at least 70%) if not all of the water contained in the given water capacity. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, FLUSHING This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for a flushing system. In particular it is concerned with a flushing system for a water closet or other collecting volume into an outlet from the collecting volume where a supply of water is retained in a cistern from which it can be released by way of a triggering action to cause water from the cistern to flow into the working volume to displace any material located therein for subsequent passage through the outlet. Hereafter such a flushing system is referred to as being of the type described.

It is a characteristic of water closet flushing system of the type described that the cistern is substantially emptied of water stored within it when the flushing action is triggered. Once emptied the cistern is refilled from a supply connected to the cistern. A typical cistern has a water capacity of about 12 litres and consequently on triggering a conventional system it is a water volume of this order which is caused to flush through the working volume of WC system. Water supplied to the cistern has usually been obtained by way of an expensive treatment process.

In conventional systems when the flushing operation is triggered merely to flush away, say, a quarter litre of urine or a cigarette butt or a lock of hair or a toothpick a considerable amount of water is wasted. In addition downstream of the closet the frequent passage of full loads of water can overload a drainage system.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing water from a working volume of water contained in a cistern by way of an outlet from the cistern wherein, during a non-dispensing phase, a predetermined working volume of water is retained in the cistern and, during a dispensing phase, water is dispensed in a manner characterised by the selection of first or second triggering actions; use of the first triggering action providing for a first, relatively low, proportion of the working volume to be dispensed from the outlet; use of the second triggering action providing for a second, relatively large proportion, if not the entire working content of the cistern, to be dispensed from the outlet.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a column so that during the non-dispensing phase water is retained in the cistern by virtue of the column extending water tightly from the outlet to a region above a free surface of water in the cistern; the first triggering action serve to open a first part of the column to allow the first proportion of the working volume to enter the column and from thence pass to the outlet and so out of the cistern; and the second triggering actions serve to open a second part of the column, below the first, to allow the second proportion of the working volume to enter the column and from thence pass to the outlet and so out of the cistern.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a water dispensing system for a flushing installation comprising: 1 a cistern for a working volume of water and providing for a free surface level for a working volume the cistern; 2 an flush outlet from the cistern located in a lower part of the cistern whereby water can pass out of the cistern to a flushable unit; 3 a first trigger system adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a first volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the first volume being a minor proportion (say about 2570) of the maximum water capacity; the major proportion (say at least 70%) of the maximum water capacity continuing to be retained in the cistern; and 4 a second trigger system adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a second volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the second volume being a major proportion (say at least 70%) if not all of the water contained in the given water capacity.

According to a first preferred version of the second aspect of the present invention the outlet from the cistern in or near the lower part of the cistern is isolated from the system by way of a column which in a non-flushing configuration extends from the aperture to a level above the free surface level so as to isolate the aperture from water in the working volume; the first triggering means serving to open the column at a first vertical region along the column length for a period so that the first volume can pass from the working volume into the lower part of the column and pass thereby to the output by way of the column; and the second triggering means serving to open the column at a second vertical region along the column length for a period so that the second volume can pass from the working volume into the lower part of the column and pass thereby to the output by way of the column.

According to a second preferred version of the second aspect of the invention or the first preferred version thereof the first and second triggering means each incorporate a lost motion device, such as a float, so that when operated to open the column the period for which column remains open is established by operation of the lost motion device.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a water closet of which the sole figure is a sectional elevation.

Cistern 11 is made up of a body 12 with a cover 13. The body 12 opens by way of aperture 14 into a flush pipe 15 in this case leading to a water closet pedestal of conventional type.

Cistern 11 is shown with a full water content having a free surface 16. Free surface of 75% of full capacity is indicated by broken line 17. Water flow into the cistern 11 by inlet pipe W is regulated by a conventional float valve shown as block V to provide for clarity in the drawing.

Cover 13 has mounted on it a pair of coaxially mounted flushing handles: minor flushing handle 18 and major flushing handle 19.

Minor flushing handle 18 is coupled by pull rod 20 to an annular rubber disk 21.

The pull rod 20 has slidably mounted on it a lost motion device in the form of a float 22 whose ability to float up to free water surface within the cistern is limited by stops on the pull rod 20. Bell 23 is mounted on the pull rod 20 and has at its lower end a periphery 24.

Major flushing handle 19 is coupled by pull rod 25 to a sleeve 26 on whose lower end 27 there is mounted an annular rubber disc 28. Upper end 29 of sleeve 26 has an annular lip 30 to receive disk 21. The sleeve 26 has slidably mounted upon it a float 31 whose ability to float upwardly is limited by stops on the sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 is shrouded by a bell 32.

The aperture 14 in the bases of the cistern 11 is surrounded by an annular lip 33.

In the non-dispensing phase when the cistern 11 is full as shown and the system is quiescent the disc vale 28 seats on lip 33 and disc valve 21 seats on lip 30. With this arrangement water cannot flow into the flush pipe 15 from the cistern. Either a minor flush or a major flush of the water closet pedestal can now be undertaken.

Minor flush When the minor flush handle 18 is briefly pulled up and released a gap is created between the valve 21 and lip 30 and water in the upper part of the cistern 11 is enabled to flow down the interior of sleeve 26 and so out of the cistern 11 along flush pipe 15 to provide a flow of water amounting to about 25% of the cistern contents. The sleeve 26 in this operation remains with valve disc 28 seated on the lip 33 so that no water can flow out of the cistern once the water level has dropped to level 17. The valve 21 on being drawn upwards does not immediately re-seat on lip 30 when the handle 18 is released but descends slowly under the lost motion action of the float 22 falling with the falling free water surface.

Major flush When the major handle 19 is briefly pulled up and released the valve disc 28 is lifted clear of the lip 33. Thereafter the major part of the water previously held in the cistern passes into the flush pipe 15 to provide a substantial flushing flow to the pedestal. The float 31 sinks with falling water level within the cistern 11 providing a lost motion effect to maintain disc vale 28 clear of lip 33 for a period to enable the major part of the water originally held in the cistern to pass into the flush pipe 15.

A wide variety of alternative cistern equipment can be used to embody the present invention. In the described embodiment two draw handles and associated disc valve are used. Typically a piston type making use of a bell and syphon arrangement of conventional type can be used can be used in a cistern together with the addition of a vent pipe, lever and a float providing for the top of the vent pipe to be varied in position depending on the type of flush required. For a minor flush initiated by a first handle the water level falls below the vent pipe allowing air to enter the syphon bell to neutralise the syphoning action. For a major flush the vent pipe only comes into action once a larger volume of water has been dispensed from the cistern.

Apart from the use of handles or levers as described other triggering devices can be used. It is also envisaged that by using an electrical, hydraulic or gas powered system the volume of water used in the flushing action of one or more water closets can be regulated remotely so as to govern the amount of water flowing from the cistern.

Claims

CLAIMS IA method of dispensing water from a working volume of water contained in a cistern by way of an outlet from the cistern wherein, during a non dispensing phase, a predetermined working volume of water is retained in the cistern and, during a dispensing phase, water is dispensed in a manner characterised by the selection of a first or second triggering action; use of the first triggering providing for a first, relatively low, proportion of the working volume to be dispensed from the outlet; use of the second providing for a second, relatively large proportion of the water content, if not the entire working water content, of the cistern, to be dispensed from the outlet. 2 A method of dispensing water as claimed in claim 1 characterised by the provision of a column such that during the non-dispensing phase water is retained in the cistern by virtue of a column extending water tightly from the outlet to a region above a free surface of water in the cistern; the first triggering action serves to open a first part of the column to allow the first proportion of the working volume to enter the column and from thence pass to the outlet and so out of the cistern; and the second triggering actions serve to open a second part of the column, below the first, to allow the second proportion of the working volume to enter the column and from thence pass to the outlet and so out of the cistern. 3 A water dispensing system for a flushing installation comprising

1 a cistern for a working volume of water providing for a free surface level for a working volume of water in the cistern;

2 an flush outlet from the cistern located in a lower part of the cistern whereby water can pass out of the cistern;

3 a first trigger system adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a first volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the first volume being a minor proportion (say about 25%) of the maximum water capacity; the major proportion (say at least 70So) of the maximum water capacity continuing to be retained in the cistern; and

4 a second trigger system adapted on operation to provide for the passage of a second volume of water from the cistern by way of the outlet; the second volume being a major proportion (say at least 70%) if not all of the water contained in the given water capacity.

4 A water flushing system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the outlet from the cistern in or near the lower part of the cistern is isolated from the system by way of a column which in a non-flushing configuration extends from the aperture to a level above the free surface level so as to isolate the aperture from water in the working volume; the first triggering means serving to open the column at a first vertical region along the column length for a period so that the first volume can pass from the working volume into the lower part of the column and pass thereby to the output by way of the column; and the second triggering means serving to open the column at a second vertical region along the column length for a period so that the second volume can pass from the working volume into the lower part of the column and pass thereby to the output by way of the column.

5 A water flushing system as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the first and second triggering means incorporates a lost motion device such as a float so that when operated to open the column the column does not immediately close but only does so following a period established by operation of the lost motion device.

6 A water flushing system as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.