GB2339909A

GB2339909A - Overflow warning apparatus for a flushing WC cistern

Info

Publication number: GB2339909A
Application number: GB9815600A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Terence Mcmanus
Original assignee: B Mcmanus
Current assignee: B Mcmanus
Priority date: 1998-07-18
Filing date: 1998-07-18
Publication date: 2000-02-09
Also published as: GB9815600D0

Description

2339909 OVERFLOW WARNING APPARATUS The present invention relates to

apparatus for warning a user or observer of an overflow, or impending overflow situation, in a flushing WC cistern.

WC cisterns have either an external overflow system, in which case the stream of overflowing water would be obvious (usually the overflow pipe would protrude out of the wall, for example by a door or window), or an internal overflow system whereby overflowing water simply drains away without necessarily being noticed.. Water regulations specify that in the case of an internal overflow system a warning must be given of any overflow, and this is conventionally achieved by way of a tundish, which maybe an enclosed housing with an observation window at the front and inlet and outlet pipes at the back, whereby a stream of water is observed through the window in the event of an actual or impending overflow from the cistern.

Such an arrangement has certain disadvantages, not least in that once the water has entered the tundish it must then be discharged somewhere, and in certain situations there are restrictions on how and where the water can be discharged. There is also a need for a more readily understandable warning, as a user may not necessarily recognise that the stream of water in the tundish means that the cistern is overflowing, and wastage of water results.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an easily understood and obvious warning of any actual or impending overflow from a WC cistern, which also overcomes the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an overflow warning apparatus for connection to a flushing WC cistern, the apparatus comprising a housing having at least one water inlet for admitting overflowing water from the cistern into the housing, a float arranged to move within said housing, and indicator means to signal a warning should the water level in the housing rise above a predetermined level.

The indicator means may be audible, visual, electronic, and/or remote, or a combination of any of these means. However, in the preferred arrangement the indicator is a simple visual warning comprising a message printed either directly or indirectly on an appropriate part of the float, and an aperture or window is provided in the housing through which the message is visible in an overflow situation.

Preferably, the housing also includes a vent pipe which allows the air displaced fi7om the inside of the housing to escape, to avoid the housing becoming air-locked. This vent pipe can alternatively or additionally be used as an overflow outlet when the apparatus is connected to a cistern without an internal overflow system.

Conveniently, the housing also includes a drain outlet, which can be blocked or opened as required, to enable water which has collected in the housing to be removed.

Preferably, the float is open at its base and includes a flange extending from its back surface, such that when the float is in position within the housing the inlet and vent pipes are not blocked by the float itself Conveniently, the float is weighted towards its back surface, such that as it moves up and down it has a slight tilt away from the front of the housing, which helps to prevent the float from fouling on the interior surface of the fi7ont of the housing, within which the float is otherwise a relatively close fit.

According to a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a method of converting an existing tundish having inlet and outlet means, the method comprising blocking off the outlet means and positioning a float inside the tundish housing and applying to the housing and/or the float indicator means for signalling a warning should the water level in the housing exceed a predetermined level., According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a flushing WC cistern provided with an overflow warning system according to the fifth paragraph hereof Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure I illustrates the appearance of the apparatus in the non-overflow and overflow situations, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus showing the two situations of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the apparatus, Figure 4 illustrates the apparatus fitted to a cistern with internal overflow pipe, Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus fitted to a cistern without internal overflow pipe, Figure 6 shows how the apparatus would be fitted to a concealed cistern, Figure 7 shows how the apparatus would be fitted to an external cistern, and Figures 8 & 9 illustrate the apparatus generally from different views.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus 10 according to the present invention comprises a housing 12 with an observation window 14 located in an upper part of the front of the housing.

A float 13 is located within the housing 12, the float being open at its base and having a flange 13a extending around a part of its periphery (see Figure 9) which serves to ensure that the float 13 does not block water inlet 12a and vent outlet 12b, when the float rises in the housing as will be explained hereinafter. The float has a written message 16 printed thereon, which reads, for example "OVERFLOW ALERT - THE INLET VALVE IS LEAKING' The housing 12 also has a drain outlet 12c, which can be covered by a cap 18 if not required.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the apparatus 10 is connected to a cistern 30, in this case onewith an internal overflow pipe, via pipe 20, at the level shown, which is the water level at which the water would discharge down the internal overflow pipe, the drain outlet 12c being covered by cap 18. Should water overflow, some ofthe overflowing water enters the housing, causing the float 13 to rise until it and hence the warning message is visible through the window 14. Once the inlet valve is fixed, the cap 18 is removed, the water drained out of housing 12, and the housing is replaced.

An alternative is shown in Figure 5, where the apparatus 10 is connected via pipe 22 to the cistern 32 which does not have an internal overflow. In this case, the pipes 20 and 22 are interchanged and the vent pipe (now 20) is used as an overflow outlet pipe fi7om the housing, this pipe serving to drain the overflowing water into a convenient outlet.

The housing and float are both preferably made from plastics material, but could equally be made of stainless steel, or any other suitable watercompatible material. In Figure 6 the apparatus is shown fitted to a cistern concealed by a panel 36, and a particularly pleasing aesthetic effect is achieved by the use of a stainless steel facia 34 (see also Figure 8).

In Figure 7, the apparatus 10 is simply fixed directly to the side of an exposed cistern 3 8.

CIADIS 1. An overflow warning apparatus fbr connection to a flushing WC cistern, the apparatus comprising a housing having at least one water inlet for admitting overflowing water from the cistern into the housing, a float arranged to move within said housing, and indicator means, to signal a warning should the water level in -the housing fm above a predetermined level.

Claims

2. An overflow warning apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the

indicator means is audible, visual, electronic, and/or remote, or a combination of any of these means.

3. An overflow warning apparatus according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the indicator is a simple visual warning comprising a message printed either directly or indirectly on an appropriate part of the float, and an apertu, or window is provided in the housing through which the message is visible in an overflow situation.

4. An overflow warning apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the housing also includes a vent pipe which allows the air displaced from the inside of the housing to escape, to avoid the housing becoming air-lockedL 5. An overflow warning apparatus according to Claim4, wherein the vent pipe is alternatively or additionally be used as an overflow outlet when theapparatus is connected to a cistern without an internal overflow system- 6. An overflow warning apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the housing also includes a drain outlet, which can be blocked or opened as required, -to enable water which has collected in the housing to be removed.

7. An overflow warning apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the float is open at its base and includes a flange extending from its back surface, such that when the float is in position within the housing the inlet and vent pipes are not blocked by the float itself.

8. An overflow warning apparatus according to any ofthe preceding Claims, wherein the float is weighted towards its back surface, such that as it moves up and down it has a slight tilt away from the front of the housing, which helps to prevent the float from fouling on the interior surface of the front of the housing, within which the float is otherwise a relatively close ft 9. A method of converting an existing tundish having We and outlet meaas, the method comprisingbloddng off the outlet means-and positioning a float inside the-ttuidish housing and applying to the housing arWor the float indicator means for signalling a warning should the water level in the housing exceed a predetermined level.

10. A flushing WC cistern provided with an overflow warning system according to any of Claims I to-S.

11. An overflow warning apparatus -substantially as herein described with reference to, the accompanying-drawings.