GB2301157A

GB2301157A - Toilet bowl flushing water pipe coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2301157A
Application number: GB9510738A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Weston
Original assignee: ITT Jabsco Ltd
Current assignee: Xylem Jabsco Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-26
Filing date: 1995-05-26
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-26
Also published as: GB9510738D0; GB2301157B

Abstract

A toilet bowl flushing water coupling and seal arrangement comprises a tubular elbow coupling 20 and a resilient tubular seal 23. The seal 23 fits over one end 21 of the coupling 20, which is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end, and is effective to cause retention and sealing of the coupling 20 to a toilet bowl 26 by compression upon insertion of the coupling into a cooperating receiving aperture 25 in the toilet bowl.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TOILET BOWL FLUSHING WTER COUPLINGS This invention relates to a toilet bowl flushing water coupling and seal arrangements and more particularly to an arrangement and method which permit sealing retention without the use of a coupling nut.

One way of coupling an intake elbow to a toilet bowl for directing flushing water to the bowl is illustrated in the assembly sequence illustrated by Figures 1 to 4. The coupling and seal arrangement comprises a first tubular portion 10 which has an outer surface that is outwardly tapered to one end 11 to a diameter which just permits insertion into a receiving aperture 12 in a toilet bowl 18 the outer surface of the other end of the first tubular portion is screw threaded to receive a coupling nut 13 and to permit screw connection of a tubular elbow 14. A short tubular resilient seal 15 having an outwardly directed flange 16 fits over the first tubular portion 10 followed by a washer 17 and the nut 13 to provide an assembly ready for insertion in the aperture 12 of the toilet bowl as is illustrated in Figure 2.The end 11 is then inserted into the aperture 12 and the seal 15 is positioned so that it extends inside the aperture with the flange 16 against the outer face of the toilet bowl where it surrounds the aperture 12. The nut 13 is then tightened and causes the outwardly tapered end 11 of the tubular portion 10 to compress the resilient seal 15 against the periphery of the aperture 12, and to press the flange 16 against the outer surface of the toilet bowl thereby to seal the tubular portion 10 in the aperture and secure it to the toilet bowl as is shown in Figure 2.An O ring 19 is then placed on the end of the tubular portion 10 of the coupling 10 and the tubular elbows 14 can then be fitted and tightened onto the tubular portion 10 as shown in Figure 4 to compress the "O" ring, to seal the tubular elbow 14 to the threaded portion of the tubular portion 10 and serves for connection to a flushing water source.

The construction described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 comprises six parts, is fairly costly to manufacture and difficult to connect to the toilet bowl, due to difficulty of access in normal use, and there is a problem in ensuring that when the elbow is tightened that it is aligned in the correct direction. Again due to poor access it is difficult to loosen the nut and twist the assembly once the elbow is connected.

The present invention addresses the previously mentioned problems and seeks to provide a simplified arrangement and method of connection to a toilet bowl.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a toilet bowl flushing water coupling and seal arrangement, comprising a resilient tubular seal for insertion into the inlet aperture of a toilet bowl and a tubular coupling having an insertion end which fits into the tubular seal, wherein the outer surface of the coupling is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end and is effective upon insertion of the coupling into the seal when located in a cooperating receiving aperture in a toilet bowl to cause retention and sealing of the coupling to the toilet bowl by compression of the seal.

The outer surface of the tubular coupling may have a taper angle of from 0.5 to 4.5 and preferably 0.80 + 0.150.

The seal may have an outwardly extending flange which limits its insertion into the receiving aperture in a toilet bowl.

The coupling may have an outwardly extending stop means spaced from said one end on its outer surface which limits its insertion into a toilet bowl. The stop means may be formed by a flange which extends around the outer surface of the coupling.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of sealingly connecting a flushing water tubular coupling to a toilet bowl by providing the coupling with an outer surface which is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end, inserting a resilient tubular seal into a receiving aperture in the toilet bowl and inserting the end of the tubular coupling into the seal such that the seal is compressed between the bowl and coupling and effects retention of the coupling in the aperture.

In order that the invention and its various other preferred features may be understood more easily, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional exploded view showing the components of a coupling and seal arrangement of a type previously known to us and as previously described herein, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with some of the parts assembled, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the assembled parts secured in an aperture in a toilet bowl, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a completed assembly.

Figure 5 is a rear view showing a coupling and seal arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention mounted on a toilet bowl and, Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line X - X in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 a tubular coupling 20, which is elbow shaped and is preferably injection moulded from 30 coupled glass fibre reinforced polypropylene, has one end 21 which is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end, preferably with a taper angle of 0.50 to 4.50 and ideally 0.80 + 0.150. Set inwardly from the end 21 there is provided an outwardly extending flange 22. A resilient tubular seal 23 which has an outwardly projecting flange 24 at one end is fitted over the end 21 such that the flange 24 abuts the flange 22 on the coupling 20. The outer diameter of the seal 23 is slightly greater than the inner diameter of an aperture 25 provided in the back of a toilet bowl 26 which aperture we have found to be made to relatively close tolerances in conventional bowls e.g. + lmm.The elbow is force fitted into the toilet bowl by pressing in the direction Z. The tapered nature of the end 21 resists such insertion but once inserted results in resistance to withdrawal. The insertion can be further facilitated by "lubricating" the outer surface of the seal 23 with for example, water, soap, or a grease. Insertion causes the seal to be compressed between the outer surface of the coupling and the inner surface of the aperture thereby sealing the coupling in the aperture. By fitting by direct pressure, the other end of the elbow can normally be arranged to be directed with the correct orientation but can be twisted in the aperture to correct misalignment. It has been found that the seal is preferably moulded from Chloroprene rubber complying with the requirements of British Standard 2752.C65 for example Neoprene rubber (Neoprene is a Trade Mark of Dupont).

A shore hardness of between 60 and 70 degrees ideally 65 degrees is preferred. If the seal is made of a material which is too soft then there is a tendency for the connection to the toilet bowl to come away under the weight of a hose attached between the elbow and a source of flushing water whilst if it is too hard then it is difficult to insert into the aperture in the toilet bowl.

The construction described employs only two components and considerably simplifies the connection to a toilet bowl and provides excellent sealing and retention.

The illustrated embodiment has a seal 23 which projects right through the aperture and an end 21 of the coupling 21 which projects right through the aperture. This arrangement is preferred and provides excellent sealing and retention. However, a construction in which either or both the seal 23 and end 21 do not extend beyond the end of the aperture is intended to fall within the scope of this invention.

The illustrated embodiment has an elbow shaped connector but alternative shapings are possible for specific applications e.g. the connector may be straight. The connector end will normally be of circular cross section but alternative tubular cross sections e.g rectangular are also possible and are intended to fall within the scope of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A toilet bowl flushing water coupling and seal arrangement, comprising a resilient tubular seal for insertion into the inlet aperture of a toilet bowl and a tubular coupling having an insertion end which fits into the tubular seal, wherein the outer surface of the coupling is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end and is effective upon insertion of the coupling into the seal when located in a cooperating receiving aperture in a toilet bowl to cause retention and sealing of the coupling to the toilet bowl by compression of the seal.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein taper angle of the outer surface of the coupling is from 0.50 to 4.50.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the taper angle is 0.80 + 0.150.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seal has an outwardly extending flange which limits its insertion into the receiving aperture in a toilet bowl.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling has an outwardly extending stop means spaced from said one end on its outer surface which limits its insertion into a toilet bowl.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stop means is formed by a flange which extends around the outer surface of the coupling.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the seal has a shore hardness of from 60 to 70 degrees.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the seal is formed from a chloroprene rubber.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the seal is formed from Neoprene rubber.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling is in the form of an elbow.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling is moulded from coupled glass fibre reinforced polypropylene.

12. A toilet bowl flushing water coupling and seal arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 5 & 6 of the drawings.

13. A toilet bowl provided with a flushing water coupling and seal arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims inserted and retained in a receiving aperture in a toilet bowl.

14. A toilet bowl as claimed in claim 13, wherein the length of the seal and of the end of the coupling is such that they project right through the receiving aperture in the toilet bowl.

15. A method of sealingly connecting a flushing water tubular coupling to a toilet bowl by providing the coupling with an outer surface which is outwardly tapered towards its insertion end, inserting a resilient tubular seal into a receiving aperture in the toilet bowl and inserting the end of the tubular coupling into the seal such that the seal is compressed between the bowl and coupling and effects retention of the coupling in the aperture.