GB2304742A

GB2304742A - Dual-flush facility for a siphon-discharge flushing cistern

Info

Publication number: GB2304742A
Application number: GB9518130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen Morgan; Daniel Waterson
Original assignee: CARADON BATHROOMS Ltd
Current assignee: CARADON BATHROOMS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-06
Filing date: 1995-09-06
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-06
Also published as: GB9518130D0; GB2304742B

Abstract

A dual-flush facility for a syphon-discharge flushing cistern wherein a first volume of flushing liquid is discharged by momentary actuation of the operating (flushing) handle and a reduced volume of flushing liquid is discharged by retained actuation of the flushing handle comprises syphonic apparatus 1 having a bleed hole 8 on the front of a housing 4 and a reciprocable fork member 9 straddling the housing. Fork member 9 is movable linearly upwards or downwards to open or close the hole 8 to air in the cistern surrounding housing 4, via movement of piston rod 6 connected to link 7. On depressing the operating handle fork 9 is moved upwardly to uncover the hole 8 resulting in a reduced flushing action if the operating handle is kept depressed.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SYPHONIC APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in or relating to syphonic apparatus and is more particularly concerned with variable or dual flush facility syphons utilised in flushing water from a w.c. cistern.

The applicant has previously proposed syphonic apparatus (see Patent Specification No. 2213846B, the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporated by reference) having a selectively variable flush facility.

As explained in that Patent Specification, the quantity of water used for flushing may be selected according to whether or not a sealing plug is fitted into an aperture or hole in the bell or housing of the syphonic apparatus.

Additionally, the syphonic apparatus can be modified to permit "dual flush" operation (see the paragraph bridging pages 7 and 8 of Patent Specification No. 2213846) so that a full flush action will take place when the syphon piston or plunger is raised and held in its raised position, usually by pressing continuously downwardly on the operating handle of the cistern. If the handle is released almost immediately after initial depression and the piston or plunger subsequently falls back to its original position after syphonic action is started, the syphonic apparatus will be in the so-called "half-flush" mode. Other arrangements have been proposed for dual flush syphonic apparatus in which full-flush is effected on continuous depression of the operating handle and half-flush is effected by quick release of the operating handle after initial depression.Even though such dual flush apparatus has been known for some years it is believed that such apparatus tends to be disadvantageous, for example, in that, if the user is unaware of the dual flush facility or has to leave urgently, and thus operates the lever momentarily, then only a reduced flush volume will be provided whereas the intention may have been to utilise a full flush facility.

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the aforementioned, or other, problem and/or to provide syphonic apparatus which is improved in at least some respect.

According to the present invention there is provided syphonic apparatus for use in a flushing water cistern by means of an operating handle or member, the arrangement being such that a volume of flushing liquid can be discharged from the syphonic apparatus on actuation and substantially immediate release of the operating handle or member and, when the handle or member remains held in an actuated position, a reduced volume of flushing liquid is discharged.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a cistern including syphonic apparatus according to the immediately preceding paragraph.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of discharging liquid from syphonic apparatus on actuation of an operating handle or member, said method comprising discharging a first volume of flushing liquid by momentary actuation of the operating handle or member or retaining the operating handle or member in the actuated position to discharge a reduced volume of flushing liquid.

The reduced volume of flushing liquid is preferably approximately half the volume of said first-mentioned volume of flushing liquid that can be discharged on actuation and substantially immediately release of the operating handle/member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a hole is provided in a housing of the syphonic apparatus said hole being covered by a (vertically movable) shutter means connected to said operating handle/member. On actuation or depression of the handle/member the shutter means may be lifted or moved clear of the hole so that a reduced volume of flushing liquid will be discharged whilst the hole is at least partially uncovered. On release of the operating handle/member the shutter means will fall downwardly or be returned to cover the hole so that a full volume of flushing liquid may then be discharged instead. The shutter means may be in the form of a fork member straddling the housing having one limb covering the hole positioned on the front wall of the housing. Guide means may be provided to guide the shutter means upwardly or downwardly on appropriate actuation of the handle/member.

The housing may be provided with ribs that act at least partially as such guide means.

The fork member may be connected to a piston rod which is in turn connected to a link connected to the operating handle/member. Preferably, the link is provided with a portion matching the contour of the shutter means and said link may have a flat portion contacting a flat portion of said shutter means (fork member). Providing matching surfaces on the link and shutter means in the form of a fork member will assist in stabilising the fork and keeping it level during upward and downward movement.

In one embodiment, additional holes may be provided vertically spaced from one another on said housing and preferably in alignment therewith with the vertical length of the shutter means being adjustable in order to provide different volumes of reduced flush. Where the shutter means is in the form of a fork member, one or more limbs of the fork may be provided with snap-off sections so that said reduced volume of flushing is generally irreversible, although a further degree of reduced flushing may be selected by removing a further snap-off section. Rather than providing a series of holes, said first-mentioned hole may be in the form of an elongate slot partially covered by the shutter means (fork member) in a reduced flushing position.

As an alternative to providing a vertically movable shutter means uncovering the hole/s one embodiment of the present invention provides a valve at the top of a housing of the syphonic apparatus. The valve may include an internal or external valve member urged generally downwardly onto a valve seat by spring means provided internally or externally of said housing. Where the valve member and spring means are provided internally of the housing said spring means may comprise a conical helical spring acting on said valve member that may be lifted from its valve seat by means provided on a plunger or piston of the syphonic apparatus. Said means may comprise a peg which passes through said hole at the top of the housing and into engagement with said valve member lifting same from said valve seat as said piston is raised by actuation of the operating handle/member.

Where the valve member is provided externally of the housing, said valve member may take the form of a tapered rubber bung held in said hole at the top of the housing by a spring arm, preferably secured at one end thereof to the top of the housing by means of a push-fit retaining cup pushed up onto a locating post moulded on the top of the housing. Any alternative means may be provided for retaining the spring arm to the housing. Said piston or plunger may be provided with an upwardly extending peg which in use engages the rubber bung and lifts it from the hole on upward movement of said piston/plunger.

Further according to the present invention there is provided syphonic apparatus for use in a variable flushing cistern by means of an operating handle or member; said apparatus comprising a fork member straddling a housing of the syphonic apparatus and said fork member being movable on actuation of said operating handle or member to open or cover a hole in said housing in order to vary the volume of flushing liquid discharged by the syphon.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided syphonic apparatus for use in a variable flushing water cistern by an operating handle or member, said apparatus comprising a valve located at or towards the top of a housing of the syphonic apparatus, means being provided on a plunger or piston of the syphonic apparatus such that the valve may be opened or closed by said means acting on a valve member of the valve, on appropriate actuation of said operating handle/member, to vary the volume of flushing liquid discharged.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided syphonic apparatus having one or more of the following features:a) A fork member preferably covering a hole in a housing of said apparatus, in a full flush mode, b) A flat bottomed link, c) An external or internal spring-loaded valve that can be opened or closed by means on a piston or plunger of the apparatus.

Many other advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

Embodiments of syphonic apparatus for a flushing w.c.

cistern in accordance with the present invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying simplified and somewhat diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the syphonic apparatus; FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the apparatus looking in the direction of arrow A in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 shows a view similar to FIGURE 1 but of a second embodiment of syphonic apparatus; FIGURE 4 shows a view similar to FIGURE 2 but of a third embodiment of syphonic apparatus, and FIGURE 5 shows a cut-away fragmentary front view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, syphonic apparatus 1 is generally of known form and shape comprising a moulded plastics tubular body of inverted Ushape having one upstanding limb 2 forming an outlet tube which is secured at the lower end thereof to a base (not shown) of a cistern (not shown) by means of screw threaded spigot portion 2a in a manner which is known per se.

The other vertical limb 3 of the inverted U-shape comprises an inlet tube connected at its lower end to an open-ended bell or housing 4 defining an internal chamber containing a vertically reciprocable piston or plunger 5 (shown in chain-dotted lines) operable by a piston rod 6 which projects through a close-fitting bore in the top of the bell or housing 4 and which is connected through a link 7 to the usual operating handle or lever (not shown). The piston or plunger 5 is of a conventional type fitted in its head with a flexible diaphragm 5a which permits unidirectional flow of water past the piston or plunger in an upwards direction within the bell or housing 4, but not in the reverse direction.In its normal rest position, the piston or plunger 5 lies adjacent the open bottom end of the bell or housing as shown in FIGURES 1 AND 2, so that, on being raised it lifts water above it and initiates the syphonic action.

The normal water level in the cistern when filled in relation to the syphonic apparatus 1 will be above the housing 4 (see FIGURE 1 of Patent Specification No.

2213846). After operating the piston or plunger 5 to start syphonic action in a full flush the syphonic action will continue until the water level in the cistern has fallen to the bottom open end of the housing 4, at which point air becomes drawn into the housing and terminates the syphonic action. The quantity of water discharged in this full flush thus depends upon the difference between these two levels (for example L1 and L2 in FIGURE 1 of Patent Specification No. 2213846). Typically the value of water discharged in a full flush would be about 7 litres.

The differences between the conventional syphonic apparatus and the apparatus 1 reside in the provision of a bleed hole 8 in the front of the housing 4 and a shutter means in the form of vertically reciprocable fork member 9.

The fork member 9 can be moved linearly upwards or downwards by an amount to open or close off the hole 8 to the air in the cistern surrounding housing 4, via movement of piston rod 6 connected to modified link 7.

The fork 9 straddles the housing 8 (see FIGURE 2) and respective limbs 9a and 9b contact the front and rear walls of the housing 4 respectively with vertically spaced horizontal ribs 10 to 15 having central portions thereof removed in order to receive the associated limb 9a or 9b of the fork to act in part to guide the fork 9 in generally upward and downward displacement, thus preventing sideways movement of the fork. FIGURE 2 shows the fork 9 in its normal lowered position with limb 9a covering bleed hole 8.

On depressing the operating handle (not shown) link 7 will pull the fork 9 upwardly into the position as shown in chain-dotted lines in FIGURE 2 with the end of the limb 9a being above the bleed hole 8. If the fork remains in this position (for example by continued depression of the handle) then air will be admitted into the housing 4 through the bleed hole 8 resulting in a reduced flushing facility which may be a half flush. On the other hand, if the operating handle is depressed momentarily the fork 9 will quickly fall back below the position as shown in chain-dotted lines covering the bleed hole 8 resulting in a full syphonic discharge of water (full flush mode).

It is to be noted that the link 7 has been modified to have a flat bottom portion 7a rather than a curved bottom portion and this will assist in stabilising the fork 9 and keeping it level during upward and downward movement, said flat portion 7a contacting a flat top portion 9c of the fork 9. Thus, the length of the link 7 will be decreased from the standard size by approximately 10 mm in practice so that the overall length will be reduced to about 457 mm. The overall width of the fork will be 89 mm with an inside width of about 79 + .5 mm and an overall height of about 111 mm. As shown in FIGURE 2 the fork is symmetrical about a central vertical axis X-X and is provided with a portion 9d,9e inclined at about 45" lying on a respective side of said vertical axis. Each inclined portion 9d,9e joins its associated vertical limb 9a,9b.

The underside of the top portion 9c of the fork rests on the horizontal top portion 16 of the housing 4.

Any form of guide means may be employed which allows the fork 9 to be guided in a satisfactory manner during upwards and downwards movement, such that the bleed hole 8 is opened and closed at the appropriate moment to provide a first reduced flushing volume when the operating handle is held down or depressed continuously and a second greater or full flushing volume when the operating handle is released quickly. Although the embodiment as described in FIGURES 1 and 2 utilises a fork 9 straddling the housing 4, alternate embodiments could instead comprise a vertically slidable shutter (equivalent to the limb 9a) moveable to expose or cover the bleed hole 8.

Although not shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to account for constantly changing regulations, a series of holes, similar to bleed hole 8, could be provided in vertical alignment with bleed hole 8; the fork 9 could be provided with snapoff sections so that one, two, three or more bleed holes could be uncovered (depending upon how many snap-off sections of the fork are removed) when the fork is in the fully raised position. Clearly, this arrangement would mean that the reduced degree of flushing would be irreversible as more fork sections were removed, although of course it is possible that separate plugs could be provided to block off one or more of the holes if a reversible arrangement is in fact required or the fork sections themselves may be reattachable.Additionally, the bleed hole 8 could be replaced by a continuous vertical slot with the fork still being provided with snap-off sections, the more snap-off sections removed providing a greater length of exposed slot in the raised position.

Thus, a single syphonic apparatus could be made very versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications.

It is even possible that bleed holes could be provided on the back wall of the cistern in co-operation with limb 9b or the fork could be provided with several parallel prongs on the front and/or on the back of the cistern, once again co-operating with an associated bleed hole or bleed holes.

In any event, the main point of the present invention is to provide a dual flushing facility in which a reduced flushing volume is provided on continued actuation or depression of the operating handle. Other ways of accomplishing this end may be realisable. Accordingly FIGURES 3 to 5 show two further alternative arrangements to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Instead of providing a fork 9 that can be raised to uncover a bleed hole 8 on the front of housing 4, FIGURE 3 shows a valve V provided internally at the top of housing 101 of syphonic apparatus 100. The valve V includes a disc valve member V1 urged downwardly onto its seat V2 by way of a conical helical spring V3 located internally of the housing 101. In contrast to the arrangement shown in FIGURE 3, the arrangement shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 includes syphonic apparatus 200 provided with an external valve F with external spring loading provided by spring arm F2 in a manner to be described later.

Returning to the syphonic apparatus 100 as depicted in FIGURE 3, the disc valve member V1 is biased to close off hole 102 provided towards the upper end of the housing 101. Plunger or piston 105 has an upwardly depending peg P which engages in hole 102 on raising of the plunger 105 to a suitable level by the piston 106. Accordingly peg P lifts the disc valve member V1 from its valve seat V2 against the biassing action of the spring V3, to allow air into the housing 4 and thus providing a reduced flush volume syphonic discharge, as long as the operating handle (not -shown) of the cistern is held depressed. As should be self evident, once the operating handle has been released, plunger 105 falls and peg P moves downwardly beyond the hole 102 allowing the disc valve member V1 to be returned onto valve seat V2 thereby closing off the hole and allowing a full flush volume discharge.

The syphonic apparatus 200 shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 operates similarly to that shown in FIGURE 3 except that the spring loading of the valve member F1 (flat frusto conical rubber or neoprene centralising/sealing bung) is provided externally of the housing 201. The tapered rubber valve member F1 is secured to the underside of the shorter limb F2' of the spring steel arm F2, the longer limb F2,' being secured at one end thereof to the top of the housing 201 by means of a push-fit retaining cup 202 pushed onto the locating prong 203 moulded onto the top of the housing 201. Any alternative means may be provided for retaining the spring arm to the housing, for example a self-tapping screw may be utilised.

As should be evident from FIGURE 5, the piston or plunger 204 is provided with an upwardly extending peg 205 the length of which is somewhat greater than peg P of the FIGURE 3 embodiment. However peg 205 operates in a similar manner to peg P in that on depression of the operating handle (not shown) peg 205 will contact the rubber bung F1 lifting it out of hole 206 against the spring biassing force provided by the spring steel arm F2, thereby allowing air into the housing 201. Thus, a reduced flush is achieved with the piston 204 in a raised position and once the handle is released the piston falls and peg 205 disengages from the rubber bung F1 thereby allowing the bung to close the hole 206 to give a full flush volume if required. It is to be noted that the rubber bung F1 has angled surfaces inclined at 45".

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced or supplemented by any equivalent or generic term.

Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions related to the syphonic apparatus or parts thereof alone or in combination might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural or vice versa. In particular, any disclosure in this specification of a range for a variable or parameter shall be taken to include a disclosure of any selectable or derivable sub-range within that range and shall be taken to include a disclosure of any value for the variable or parameter found within or at an end of the range.

Claims

1. Syphonic apparatus for use in a flushing water cistern by means of an operating handle or member, the arrangement being such that a volume of flushing liquid can be discharged from the syphonic apparatus on actuation and substantially immediate release of the operating handle or member and, when the handle or member remains held in an actuated position, a reduced volume of flushing liquid is discharged.

2. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the reduced volume of flushing liquid is approximately half the volume of said first-mentioned volume of flushing liquid that can be discharged on actuation and substantially immediately release of the operating handle/member.

3. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which a hole is provided in a housing of the syphonic apparatus, said hole being covered by a shutter means connected to said operating handle/member.

4. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which the shutter means is vertically movable.

5. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 in which on actuation or depression of the handle/member, the shutter means is lifted or moved clear of the hole so that a reduced volume of flushing liquid will be discharged whilst the hole is at least partially uncovered.

6. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which, on release of the operating handle/member, the shutter means falls downwardly or is returned to cover the hole so that a full volume of flushing liquid can be discharged.

7. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6, the shutter means being in the form of a fork member straddling the housing and having one limb thereof covering the hole, which hole is positioned on the front wall of the housing.

8. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 having guide means provided to guide the shutter means upwardly or downwardly on appropriate actuation of the handle/member.

9. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which the housing is provided with ribs that act at least partially as such guide means.

10. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or any claim dependent therefrom in which the fork member is connected to a piston rod which is in turn connected to a link connected to the operating handle/member.

11. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 in which the link is provided with a portion matching the contour of the shutter means.

12. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 in which said link has a flat portion contacting a flat portion of said shutter means.

13. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or any claim dependent therefrom in which additional holes are provided vertically spaced from one another on said housing.

14. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 in which said additional holes are in alignment with one another, with the vertical length of the shutter means being adjustable in order to provide different volumes of reduced flush.

15. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or any claim dependent therefrom in which one or more limbs of the fork member is/are provided with snap-off sections so that said reduced volume of flushing is generally irreversible, although a further degree of reduced flushing may be selected by removing a further snap-off section.

16. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or any claim bar Claim 13, said hole being in the form of an elongate slot partially covered by the shutter means in a reduced flushing position.

17. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 having a valve at the top of a housing of the syphonic apparatus.

18. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 17 in which the valve includes an internal or external valve member urged generally downwardly onto a valve seat by spring means provided internally or externally of said housing.

19. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 in which the valve member and spring means are provided internally of the housing, said spring means comprising a conical helical spring acting on said valve member that can be lifted from its valve seat by means provided on a plunger or piston of the syphonic apparatus.

20. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 19 in which said last mentioned means comprises a peg which passes through said hole at the top of the housing and into engagement with said valve member capable of lifting the valve member from said valve seat as said plunger or piston is raised by actuation of the operating handle/member.

21. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 18 in which the valve member is provided externally of the housing, said valve member being a tapered bung held in said hole at the top of the housing by a spring arm.

22. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 in which the bung is secured at one end thereof to the top of the housing by means of a push-fit retaining cup pushed up onto a locating post moulded on the top of the housing.

23. Syphonic apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 or 22 in which the syphonic apparatus includes a piston or plunger provided with an upwardly extending peg which, in use, engages the rubber bung and lifts it from the hole on upward movement of said piston/plunger.

24. Syphonic apparatus for use in a variable flushing cistern by means of an operating handle or member; said apparatus comprising a fork member straddling a housing of the syphonic apparatus and said fork member being movable on actuation of said operating handle or member to open or cover a hole in said housing in order to vary the volume of flushing liquid discharged by the syphon.

25. Syphonic apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, or FIGURE 3, or FIGURES 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A cistern including syphonic apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

27. Syphonic apparatus for use in a variable flushing water cistern by an operating handle or member, said apparatus comprising a valve located at or towards the top of a housing of the syphonic apparatus, means being provided on a plunger or piston of the syphonic apparatus such that the valve may be opened or closed by said means acting on a valve member of the valve, on appropriate actuation of said operating handle/member, to vary the volume of flushing liquid discharged.

28. Syphonic apparatus having one or more of the following features a) A fork member preferably covering a hole in a housing of said apparatus, in a full flush mode, b) A flat bottomed link, c) An external or internal spring-loaded valve that can be opened or closed by means on a piston or plunger of the apparatus.

29. A method of discharging liquid from syphonic apparatus on actuation of an operating handle or member, said method comprising discharging a first volume of flushing liquid by momentary actuation of the operating handle or member or retaining the operating handle or member in the actuated position to discharge a reduced volume of flushing liquid.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 29 and substantially as herein described.