GB2332455A

GB2332455A - Toilet bowl ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2332455A
Application number: GB9724845A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mike Robert Harding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-04
Filing date: 1997-11-26
Publication date: 1999-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-26
Also published as: GB2332455B; GB9724845D0; GB2332455A9

Abstract

Apparatus for removing foul air from a toilet bowl comprises a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a partially sealed cistern (10) for supplying water to the toilet bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; and an overflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an extractor means (4) for reducing the atmospheric pressure within the cistern and by which means draws bad air through the overflow pipe (7), through the partially sealed cistern (10), through the modified siphon (3) that incorporates the air extract pipe (1), through the flushing pipe (8) and from the toilet bowl itself.

Description

2332455 TOILET BOWL VENTILATOR (mrhinvla)25111197

Technical Field: This invention relates to a Toilet Bowl Ventilator.

Background: Toilet ventilation is a serious matter that affects us all but rarely gets paid serious attention. Fumes emitted from the toilet imminently used are a nuisance and more so for those whose lavatories that are in poorly situated areas and for those in close and multiple living spaces, be it in a domestic or a public/commercial environment.

Cubical ventilation is uncommon and relatively expensive and often involves some not inconsiderable structural alterations. These are beyond most people's scope in a domestic situation. If and when the effort is made to fit a cubical air extraction unit, the effects are limited and as a result there is far less public interest than there otherwise should be and that rests mainly upon the principle that a toilet cubical is a high volume space to purge of fumes and an equally high output from the ventilation is therefore demanded.

Detection of offensive fumes is all too easy even in the mildest of diluted forms. This has the effect of inconveniencing would-be following users of the toilet and those in surrounding cloak/washing facilities and in the near vicinity, this has also the embarrassment and discomfort upon would-be w.c. users and those close by.

Present high power extractors have the disadvantage of having a real effect on the heating losses of the living space and the consequential discomfort of a cold toilet in the winter time. Equally in air conditioned buildings, the needless discarding of conditioned air, hot or cooled, is wasteful and expensive.

However high performing any ventilation is, the unit can only ever reduce the offensive air within the cubical and then only by an ever decreasing percentage. Technically the likelihood of totally purging the toilet area is low over short time duration using conventional extraction methods. This approach when effective can leave the toilet space draughty and often cold and still unpleasant in atmosphere. The cycle times for this method are invariably 5 to 20 minutes or more and for that period it can be assumed that there would be a flow of approximately 100 cu. meters per hour, a possible energy loss of some magnitude.

i ToVis new unit comparisons are worthy of note. An anticipated maximum flow would be measures in only a few litres/second. The running time would be for that period the toilet was being used and no run-on time would be necessary and therefore there would be a fraction of the air discharge compared to the present extraction units, and finally, the offensive odors removed, are at the point of contamination and they are contained within a lower air pressure zone. Therefore escape to the living space environment is very much reduced and effectively eliminated. It would not be an exaggeration to say that should this new ventilation concept be accepted within building standards and recommendations, there could be a fresh approach to the installation and positioning of toilets within the construction industry and just so long as there is access to an overflow pipe in the case of the siphon flushing cistern toilets, or there is the means to provide flush valve operated cistern toilets with a small bore conduit from the cistern to a suitable discharge point, there is no reason why all present day toilets could not be converted and why all new installations should not likewise provide an inodorous lavatory.

This toilet bowl ventilation system removes the bad air from the toilet bowl direct. The effect is that this very much reduced volume of contaminated air (approximately 0.01 cubic meters) is very rapidly refreshed with incoming fresh air from outside the toilet bowl thereby massively reducing the discharge of conditioned air from within the building - to outside.

Volumes of toilet cubical vary a great deal. For a toilet cubical of minimal proportions (say 1.2 meters by 2.2 meters by 1.3 meters) this would equate to approximately 2.8 cubic meters. Therefore to purge the toilet bowl requires in the region of 11280th (0.3%) of even the smallest cubical volume and is far more likely to be effective because the extraction takes place directly at the point of contamination and within a contained enclosure under negative atmospheric pressure therefore preventing bad air from within the toilet bowl from mixing with the conditioned outside 1ving spacd' environment. In a domestic situation, bathroom/toilet facilities are very much larger in volume and could often equate to something in the region of 15 cubic meters or more and in this case we can be comparing the volume ratio between a toilet bowl and this size of room as being close to 111500 (or 0.06%) by volume.

To install a toilet bowl ventilation system such as described herein, use can be made of the existing plumbing of a normal flush-down toilet in its various presentations. Close Coupled and Standard Wall Mounted cistern type & High Level cistern type. 2 1 Cistem types fall into various categories - the Siphon operated flush type (ref. to fig. 1) and the Flush Valve operated type (ret to fig.2). Both are represented by way of example in Figures 1 and 2.

All toilet types are represented by way of example in the Figures 1 to 4 that follow.

In the case of the Siphon type (fig. 1), use is made of the overflow pipe (7) from the cistern that would normally lead to the "outside environment" or discharge point. This may be a connection to the normal building air extraction system or to an individual extraction means (4) as depicted by way of example in Figures 1 & 3.

Or:- in the case of the Flush Valve type (fig 2). the cistern overflow would run to the toilet bowl by means of the overflow pipe (7) that is joined to the flushing pipe (8). It would therefore be necessary for any cistern of this type, to have provided as part of the new installation, a conduit running from the cistern to an uoutside environment' or discharge point.

As a final point of consideration in support of using this new apparatus, there has been some recent theory expressed that contaminated foul air within toilet facility washing zones has the effect of introducing harmful bacterial growth and in particular around warm air units which, it is suspected, collect airborne debris and bacteria. This thereby creates an environment to transmit the bacteria to all users of the facility. This concern although un-quantifiable can be remedied by the near total exclusion of contaminated air from the w. c. facility and a fresh atmosphere can only be regarded as a positive step towards eliminating this concern and that of the growing problems of Ubuilding sickness" syndrome that is another phenomenon brought about by of modern day living conditions. We should be looking for ways in making the everyday living space a more pleasant place to be.

3 1 Essential Technical Features:

According to the invention there is provided a fume extract apparatus for removing bad air from a lavatory bowl, comprising: a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a cistern for supplying water to the toilet bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed; a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing the toilet, an overflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; an air extractor means (4) for reducing the atmospheric pressure within the cistern and by which means draws air through flushing pipe (8) and then from the toilet bowl itself.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1. is a depiction of a flush-down toilet having a cistern housing a modified siphon (3) flushing means to flush the toilet bowl. The overflow means from the cistern being by way of example, a conduit from the cistern tank to an overflow discharge point outside the toilet area. The Gaskets (9) between the lid and the tank of the cistern forms a semi- airtight seal.

Figure 2. is a depiction of a flush-down toilet having a cistern housing a flushing valve (11) means to flush the toilet bowl. The overflow means to the cistern being by way of example an overflow pipe (7) running direct to the toilet bowl. The means by which air can be removed from the cistern is by way of example, a conduit, the air extract pipe (1) from the cistern tank to the discharge point outside the toilet area. The Gaskets (9) between the lid and the tank of the cistern form a semi- airtight seal.

Figure 3. is a depiction of how the full extraction system may be installed into a Lavatory and shows (by way of example), the flushing tube (8) connecting the w.c. bowl to the modified siphon (3). There is a gasket (9) that forms a seal between the lid of the cistern and the main body. This seal may not be required for a well fitting cistern lid, Q those being most likely being of a plastic molding. There is then the modified siphon A (3) that has its delivery down pipe (2) modified (refer to fig. 5) but attached in the 4 1 normal way, to the outlet aperture of the cistern and this in turn is connected to the flushing pipe (8).

Figure 4. is an example of the cistern that may be used for either high level, standard or close coupled, using a modification to the siphon flushing system. It depicts by way of example the increase in internal dimension that the siphon down pipe (2) must have to compensate for the introduction of the air extract pipe (1) and maintain flushing performance rates.

Figure is a detailed diagram of what modification the siphon unit may take.

Figures 1,3 &A. show by way of example the cistern layout having a modified siphon (3) with air extraction pipe (1) and the gasketIs (9) sealing the lid of the cistern to the main body and thereby effectively allowing the cistern to become a 'lower than atmosphere pressure'vessel throughout the duration of air extraction.

Figure 2 shows by way of example the cistern layout having a flushing valve flushing operation and the means by which the extraction of air takes place. This can be represented in the form of an air extract pipe (1) leading from the cistern tank and away from the toilet area to an air extraction (4) means. The gasketIs (9) partially seal the lid of the cistern to the main body and thereby effectively enabling the cistern to become a 'lower than atmosphere pressure'vessel throughout the duration of air extraction.

Fiqure 1, 3,4 & 5 are by way of example, depictions showing the modified siphon (3) incorporating the air extraction pipe (1). At a suitable point along the overflow pipe (7) the air extraction means (4) may be connected. By way of example, the air extraction unit (4) is shown at the discharge end of the overflow pipe (7) outside the w.c. enclosure.

Figure 1 shows by way of example, the air extraction unit (4) for the siphon flush operated unit and any extraction means is designed to locate at a suitable point along the discharge end of the overflow pipe (7). This may be within the toilet facility or outside the building altogether.

The air extraction unit (4) has means to separate any cistern overflow water from the extracted air that has been drawn from the air space in the cistern thereby preventing this overflow water from damaging the components of the air extraction unit (4).

The air extraction unit (4) has means to allow this overflow water to drain and by way of example a non return valve (6) has been adopted at the outlet end of the overflow water drain off (5). Figure 3.

By way of example the air extraction (4) means is sufficiently represented by a 25 Watt extractor fan and powered from an intrinsically safe, power supply.

In the case of Fiqures 1, 2 & 3, fresh air is drawn into the lavatory bowl between the seat and the periphery of the lavatory bowl throughout the duration of reduced air pressure within the cistern's internal air space. This reduced air pressure needs only to be maintained during that time the toilet is in use. The bad air is then extracted through the water outlet holels within the lavatory bowl, up the flushing tube and into the air space within the part-sealed cistern.

At a suitable position along the air extraction conduit running from the cistern, air is withdrawn and discharged outside the w.c. location.

Throughout the duration of flushing the lavatory, the flushing tube, being temporarily filled with water from the cistern, cannot pass extract air through the flushing pipe (8).

The reduced air pressure in the cistern can be regarded as having little or no effect on the flushing systemlaction and similarly should have no capability of drawing flushing water up the air extract pipe (1), in the case of the siphon operated cistern, or the overflow pipe (7) in the case of the flushing valve cistern.

6 1

Claims

1. As a fume extract apparatus for removinq bad air from a lavatorv bowl, comprising: a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a partially sealed cistern (10) for supplying water to the toilet bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; and an overflow Pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an extractor means (4) for reducing the atmospheric pressure within the cistern and by which means draws bad air through the overflow pipe (7), through the partially sealed cistern (10), through the modified siphon (3) that incorporates the air extract pipe (1), through the flushing pipe (8) and from the toilet bowl itself. (refer to w.c. "siphon flush type" figure 1).

2. As a fume extract apparatus for removinq bad air from a lavatorv bowl, comprising: a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a partially seated cistern (10), for supplying water to the toll et bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; and an overflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an extractor means (4) for reducing the atmospheric pressure within the cistern and by which means draws bad air through the air extract pipe (1), through the partially sealed cistern (10), through the overflow pipe (7), through the flushing pipe (8) and then from the toilet bowl itself. (refer to w.c. "flush valve type" figure. 2).

3. A fume extract apparatus for removing bad air from the lavatory bowl as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 comprising of a flush down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; an accessible flushin-q pipe (8) between the cistern and the toilet bowl and through which water is directed when the toilet is flushed. The discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the cistern and an air extract pipe (1) for the removal of bad air from the toilet bowl in which the air above the water level in the cistern is maintained below atmospheric pressure during w.c. use.

7

4. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and 2, comprising of a partiall sealed cistem L10 for supplying water to the toilet bowl and that, whilst the w.c. is in use and the extraction apparatus is working, has a partial vacuum created within the free space above the water, within its enclosure.

5. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and as depicted in Fiqure 1 and 2 and comprising of a standard cistern that has qasketls (9) partially sealing the lid to the main body and that as a result the cistern can, by its connection to a working air extraction means (4), support a continual reduction in atmospheric pressure within.

6. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Fiqures 3, 4 & 5. and comprising of a modified siphon requiring a down pipe (2) that incorporates the air extract pipe (1) and that it must maintain sufficient flushing flow during operation to conform to flushing specifications for all toilet bowls for which it can be used.

7. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Figure 1, 3 & 4 including an air extract pipe (1 incorporated to a modified siphon.

8. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 and as depicted in Figure 2, including an air extract pipe (1 that draws air from the partially sealed cistern and transfers it to a ventilation or extraction means (4).

9. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Fiqure 1, 3, 4 & 5 and comprising of a modified siphon (3) with an air extract pipe (1) that extends with the siphon down pipe (2) to a point where it connects to the flushing pipe (8) at the water outlet aperture at the bottom of the cistern.

10. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 and comprising of a modified siphon (3) that maintains all existing specifications and that incorporates an additional air extract pipe (1) that is attached to the down pipe (2) of the siphon and that maintains the legally required water flow for the flushing water from the cistern through the siphon and into the flushing pipe (8).

11. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and as depicted in figures 1, 2 and 3 and comprising of an air extraction means (4) that attaches to the partially sealed cistern (10) and that reduces the air pressure within this vessel to a level that sufficiently maintains negative pressure within the toilet bowl whilst in use and 8 i thus so prevents the escape of bad air from within the toilet bowl escaping into the toilet facility and that the discharge of air from the air extraction means (4) is discharged away from the toilet facility to a convenient discharge point.

12. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as described herein with reference to Fiqures 1, 2, 3. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9 Legend Sheet LAVATORY BOWL VENTILATOR efer to Figs.' Type 1 U..

1) Air Extract Pipe.

3) Modified Siphon. 4) Air Extract Means. 11516) 7) Overflow Pipe. 8) Flushing Pipe. 11:9) Cistern lid Sealing Gasket.

1 1 10) Partially Sealed Cistern.

11) Flush Valve..

Refer to Figs.' 3;4M.

1) Air Extract Pipe.

2) Siphon Down Pipe.

3) Modified Siphon.

4) Air Extract Unit.

516) Drain Off and Non-Retum Valve.

7) Overflow Pipe.

8) Flushing Pipe.

9) Cistern lid Sealing Gasket.

10) Partially Sealed Cistern.

1 1