GB2344832A

GB2344832A - Syphonic cistern discharge volume control

Info

Publication number: GB2344832A
Application number: GB9922611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Trevor Flight; Linda Elaine Toombs; Michael Andrew Flight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-27
Filing date: 1999-09-27
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-27
Also published as: GB9922611D0; GB2344832B

Abstract

The improvement comprises an addition to an existing or a new siphonic cistern which gives it the facility to have an infinitely variable control of the discharged water volume based on the toilet flushing requirements. The normal cistern siphonic action is interrupted at an appropriate time during the flush when a siphon breaking tube normally sealed by cistern water level becomes exposed as the level is lowered during flushing. The level of the siphon breaking tube is adjustable and it is also possible to terminate the flush instantly if desired. Two options are shown using separate control levers and one option is given using the existing flushing handle.

Description

CISTERN DISCHARGE VOLUME CONTROL This invention relates to the control of the volume of water discharged from a cistern.

A cistern is normally used in conjunction with a toilet to flush the toilet contents to the disposal point or route.

In providing this requirement the common cistern uses a siphonic action to provide the disco of water to the toilet. This disarge usuaUy removes most of the water contained in the cistern in one flushing action. Some cisterns have a provision for providing a half flush, or a full flush, controlled from the dstem flush hand).

According to the present invention there is provided a means of infinitely controlling the volume of discharged water from the cistern by breaking the cistern siphonic action at a chosen discharge volume dependent on the flushing requirements of the toilet.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be descnbed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Flg 1 shows a typical cistern (1) and the flushing volume control arrangement (2-6).

Fig. 2 shows a typical cistern (1) with the flushing control arrangement (2-6) incorporated on the same spindle (7) as the normal flushing control handle.

FW 3 is similar to fig.2 except that the volume control handle (5) is deleted as the volume control is regulated using the flushing handle.

Refaring to fig.1 the normal cistern (1) siphonic action tubing (2) is shown with an angled tube insert (3) in the area of the siphon tubing top. A flexible plastic tube (4), or other suitable material, is taken from the insert to a seize volume control handle anangemeot (5) whete the tube (4) is guided into a connolled position below the cistern water levez The separate volume control handle arrangement (5) can utilise the existing entez opening which is pmvided on many cisktns to enable a choice of flush operating position to be choses. The teduodani position is used in this instance.

By appropriate design the handle arragnement (5) allons a guide pipe (6) to pivot in an arc around the handle spindle centre line such that at the bottom of the arc the guide pipe (6) is adjacent to the bottom of the cistern tank (1). When me handle (5) is pivoted about its spindle the guide pipe (6) moves through an arc up to the surface of the water in the cistern. lU tube (4) is routed down the guide tube (6) and s wiffi an open end in the vicinity of the guide tube end.

The positioning of the control handle arragement (5) connls the level at which the end of the guide tube (6) waits within the cistern for the cistern water level to drop to it during flushing. When the cistern water level reaches tube 4 open end air enters the tube and stops the sipbonic action in the siphon tube 2 thus terminating any furS discharge of water from the cistern.

There are many ways of arranging for the siphon breaking arrangement to be carried out and for the method shown in fig. 1 it is possible to use a standard flushing handle fitting with the addition of a guide tube (6) suitably designed to be fitted to this arrangement. i. e. all that is required, in addition to the standard handle, is a guide tube (6), a flexible tube (4) and an insert (3) suitably sealed into siphon tube (2).

Where modification is being earned out to an emsting flushing cistern it might well be that the intégral clearances will not allow guide tube (6) to pivot past the ball valve. In this situation the volume control lever arrangement (5) shows in fig. 2 can be used with the guide tube pivoting on the same spindle (7) as the main flush handle (8). Ihis could well be the preferred arrangement for some situations. For this arrangement a non standard sleeve design would be incorporated around the standard flush lever spie to enable both systems (nomal flushing and volume cu to be operated separately.

Fig. 3 also shows the guide tube (6) pivoting about the same spindle (7) as the main flushing handle (8). In this instance the guide tube is attached to this spindle so that it moves with the flushing handle, i.e. no separate control arrangement (5). The guide tube is attached such that when the flush handle is in its normal waiting position the guide tube end is adjacent to the bottom of the cistern (1). When the ilush handle is operated to its maximum extent the guide tube pivots in an arc towards the top of the cistern but stops before it es the dstem top water level. The volume of water above the end of the flexible tube (4) represents the minimum flush and is operated by depressing the flush handle and holding it dpaeased. For a full volume flush the flush handle is depressed to start the flush then released back to its start position and left there. For the variable control once flushing has proceeded depress the flushing handle a second time to allow the siphon to be broken through tube 4.

Whilst figures 1 & 2 indicate the use of separate guide tubes (6) with siphon breaking tube (4) passing down inside the guide tube it would be possible for the guide tube (6) to incorporate a connection near its pivot position for tube (4) to be attached at this point thus Ymbnsz the guide tube part of the siphon breaking tube.

Various methods of holding the guide tube in position can be designed. It is possible to use the friction of the guide tube against the cistem side as a simple form of control if the tube is slightly sprung against the side wall of the cistern.

The principle can be applied to any form of siphonic flushing action form a cistem or tank with any suitable fluid if appropriate mechanical design is applied to a given situation for the control lever action.

Claims

1 A siphonic cistern water volume discharge control which is infinitely variable by means of bfealig the discharge siphon action at a preset level within the cistern using an extemal lever which can be adjusted to suit the individual flush requirement. 2 A cistern water discharge control, as claimed in claim 1, that can termite de flow at any time during the flushing action by moult of the discharge control lever in the appmpnate direction. 3 A cistern water discharge control, as claimed in claim 1, but using the existing flushing handle instead of a separate lever and following an operating procedure to give mimitely valable control between a minimum volume and full volume discharge of water Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1 Apparatus for controlling the volume of water discharged from a siphon-discharge flushing system characterised by means of affording an aperture and adjustable means for situating said aperture at a desired system water level, wherein the adjustable means comprises a tube pivotally attache to and guided by the flushing handle spindle, one end of the tube being fixed to the interior of the siphon and the other end of the tube being free to rotate in an arc about the flushing handle spindle such that when the cistern water level falls, air is allowed to enter the tube via the aperture and thus break the siphon action.

2 Apparatus as claim in claim 1 wherein the tube as arrange is such that when the flush handle is fully depressed the aperture is below normal system water level by a sufficient amount to give a minimum volume flush when the handle is held fully depressed until the end of the flush.

3 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube as arrange is such that when the flush handle is fully depressed and then immediately released, maximum flush occurs.

4 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube as arranged is such that when the flush handle is fully depressed and immediately released and then, after a chosen interal fi depressed for a second time, an intermediate volume flush is obtained.

5 Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.