GB2356408A

GB2356408A - Noise-reduction fitting for a flushing cistern

Info

Publication number: GB2356408A
Application number: GB0023143A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Smyth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-22
Filing date: 2000-09-21
Publication date: 2001-05-23
Also published as: GB0023143D0; GB9922296D0

Abstract

In a flushing cistern, the water inlet is arranged such that entry of water is below the surface level of water in the cistern thereby reducing the noise that is created by the splashing of water during the filling of the cistern. The arrangement is suitably achieved by means of a flexible tube (50) attached at one end to the inlet and at the other end to a weighted float or ballcock (12) such that the inlet is movable with the changing level of water in the cistern.

Description

2356408

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved water storage and distribution system, particularly but not exclusively relating to water tanks and cisterns.

Water storage tanks are present in the majority of buildings, both domestic and commercial, for storing water until required. Such storage tanks include the small self-filling water tanks connected to the bowl of toilets and the main water tank for re-filling the toilet tank once its water has been used to Rush the toilet bowl.

Generally, a toilet tank or cistern is linked to a water supply through a pipe under the tank. The pipe is connected to a re-fill valve in the tank that is provided with a float to control water flow into the tank. In the centre of the tank is a large hole that leads to the rim of the toilet bowl. A stopper is provided for sealing the hole and a chain links the stopper to the toilet handle on the front or top of the tank. In this manner, when the toilet handle is turned or pushed, the stopper is lifted out of the hole to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl. As the water level in the tank falls, the float control of the refill valve drops to enable water to flow into the tank from the main supply, via an outlet tube situated near to the top of the tank.

A problem associated with this type of water storage and distribution system is that a large amount of noise is created by the refilling of the tank. This is caused by the water f9ling from a height onto an empty tank or on to the reservoir of water building up in the tank as it refills. This is clearly undesirable, particularly in the home where the flushing of the toilet may disturb other persons in the house. The 2 problem is accentuated by the fact that once the toilet tank has refilled, the main tank that has supplied the toilet tank must then receive fin- ther water from an external water supply which creates additional noise due to the water splashing from a height onto the lower level water in the tank.

It is an airn of the present invention to provide an improved water storage and distribution system that overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid storage and distribution system comprising an inlet for entry of the liquid into a vessel, an outlet for exit of the liquid therefrom and valve means for opening and closing the inlet when the liquid in the vessel falls below or rises above a predetermined level, the inlet being arranged such that entry of liquid is below the surface level of liquid in the vessel.

More preferably, the inlet is movable with the changing level of liquid in the vessel wherein the inlet rises or falls with a corresponding rise or fall of the liquid in the vessel.

A conventional inlet of a water storage and distribution system may be provided with an add-on component for extending the inlet below the surface of the liquid. Preferably, the component is in the form of a tube, for example being made of a plastics material, that may be attached over the free end of the inlet, the tube being movable with the changing level of the liquid in the vessel. Preferably" the tube is flexible. More preferably, the tube is provided with means for keeping its mouth just below the surface of the liquid. For example, the free end of the tube may be provided with a weighted float whereby the float allows the tube to rise and fall with the changing level of liquid in the vessel whilst the weight ensures that the mouth of the tube is kept just below the surface of the liquid. Alternatively, the tube may be 3 attached to, for example the ballcock, by suitable fixing means such as an epoxy resin. Preferably, the free end of the tube is attached to the lowest point of the ballcock.

Preferably, the opposite end of the tube to the mouth is provided with a connector for attachment of the tube to the inlet. In this manner, connectors of different sizes may be provided to enable the tube to be attached to inlets of differing diameters. Additional fastening means may be provided to secure the connector to the inlet, such as a jubilee clip. Alternatively or additionally the connector may be made of an elastomeric material to allow it to be expanded over the end of the inlet and then contract so as to form a tight seal therearound.

Alternatively, the tubing may be formed integrally as an extension to the inlet of the water storage and distribution system. The free end of the tubing may be provided with a weighted float as. described above or alternatively the free end may pass through the conventional float or ballcock provided in the vessel to control the entry of liquid therein.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the inlet is extended to form a tubular arm for carrying the float or ballcock of the system. Preferably, the free end of the tube passes through and protrudes from the float or ballcock to deliver water to the vessel. Preferably, the free end of the tube emerges from the lowest point of the float or ballcock.

The present invention may be installed in any type of self-filling liquid storage and a distribution system but is particularly suitable for toilet cisterns.

4 For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure I is a schematic diagram of a prior art toilet cistern;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an add-on component for a toilet cistern according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a toilet cistern according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a toilet cistern according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure I of the accompanying drawings, a conventional water tank for a toilet is illustrated. The tank 2 for storing water between flushes of the toilet has an inlet pipe 4 that is connected to a refill valve 6 having an outlet 8. This is attached to an arm 10 having a float 12 or ballcock at the end thereof for controlling water flow into the tank. A hole 14 is provided in the centre of the base of the tank having a pipe 16 running therefrom into the toilet bowl (not shown). A stopper 18 is provided for sealing the hole 14 between flushes. The stopper is linked by means of a chain 20 to the toilet handle 22. The tank is also provided with an overflow tube 24.

In operation, movement of the handle 22 causes the stopper 18 to become disengaged from the hole and allows water from the tank to flow into the bowl via pipe 16. This causes the level of the water in the tank to fall causing a corresponding drop in the float 12 which opens the refill valve 6 to allow water to enter the tank from the inlet pipe 4 through the outlet 8. Once the level of water in the tank rises to a critical level, the supply of water to the tank is shut off. However, the refilling of the tank with water is noisy due to the outlet of the inlet pipe being positioned close to the top of the tank to assist in efficient re-filling of the tank. This creates noise due to water falling from a height onto the empty or partially empty tank.

Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an add-on component for a water storage and distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The component consists of a long piece of flexible tubing 30 having at one end a connector 32 and at the other end a weighted float 34. The connector comprises a tube of material, such as rubber, having one end of larger diameter than the other end to allow the connector to be attached to the larger outlet of the water supply of the tank and to the end of the narrower tubing. The elastomeric nature of the connector enables it to be expanded over the inlet and the end of the tubing and then contract to form a tight connection therewith. Additional fastening means may also be provided (not shown), such as a jubilee clip, to assist in retaining the connection between the outlet and the tubing. The weighted float consists of a circular hollow ball or bulb having a circular weighted disc attached to the base thereof. The flexible tubing passes through the float such that the mouth of the tube lies below the weighted disc.

In this manner, the component may be attached to the outlet of a conventional water tank by means of the connector to cause the mouth of the outlet to lie just below the water level of the tank due to the presence of the weighted float. As the water level in the tank rises and falls with the filling and emptying of the tank, the mouth of the outlet remains just below the surface of the water thereby minimising any noise created by refilling of the toilet tank but avoiding the high pressure that 6 would build up on the outlet if the outlet of the inlet pipe was provided at the base of cistem rather than the top of the cistern.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Identical features already described in relation to Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals and only the differences will be described in detail. The flexible tubing 40 is formed integrally with the ballcock 12' of the water system. One end of the tubing is provided with a connector 42 for attachment of the tubing to the outlet and the other end passes through the ballcock. Water is able to pass from the outlet 8 through the tubing and the ballcock into the tank below the surface of the water.

Alternatively, the water delivery pipe may replace the arm of the ballcock (identified by the numeral 10 in Figure 1). For example, the arm maybe in the form of a hollow, rigid tube 50 that is attached at one end of the outlet of the water supply and supports and passes through the ballcock 12" at the other end, as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

It is to be appreciated that a similar mechanism could be employed with any other liquid storage and distribution tank, such as the self-filling main water tank normally situated in the loft of houses. Existing systems maybe adapted using the add-on component of the present invention or new systems may be installed having the improvement formed integrally therewith.

7

Claims

1. A liquid storage and distribution system comprising an inlet for entry of the liquid into a vessel, an outlet for exit of the liquid therefrom and valve means for opening and closing the inlet when the liquid falls below or rises above a predetermined level, the inlet being arranged such that entry of the liquid is below the surface level of liquid in the vessel.

2. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet is movable with the changing level of liquid in the vessel, the inlet rising or falling with a corresponding rise or fall of the liquid in the vessel.

3. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein an add-on component is attached to a conventional inlet positioned above the surface level of the liquid to extend the inlet below the surface.

4. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claimed in claim 3 wherein the add-on component is a tube attached at one end to the inlet.

5. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tube is flexible.

6. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the tube is provided with means for keeping its mouth just below the surface of the liquid.

7. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the free end of the tube is provided with a weighted float.

8. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the free end of the tube is attached to the underside of a ballcock.

8

9. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the add-on component is provided with a connector for attachment to the inlet.

10. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 9 wherein fastening means is provided for securing the connector to the inlet.

11. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the connector is made of an elastomeric material.

12. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim I wherein the inlet is extended to form a tubular arm carrying a ballcock or float.

13. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the free end of the tubular arm passes through and protrudes from the float or ballcock to deliver water to the vessel.

14. A liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the free end of the tubular arm emerges from the lowest point of the float or ballcock.

15. A liquid storage and distribution system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A toilet cistern comprising a liquid storage and distribution system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.