GB2392454A

GB2392454A - Automatic urinal flushing system

Info

Publication number: GB2392454A
Application number: GB0220279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert George Dent
Original assignee: PHS GROUP PLC
Current assignee: PHS GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2002-08-31
Filing date: 2002-08-31
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Also published as: GB0220279D0

Abstract

A water management system for managing the flushing out of a number of urinals. The system being arranged to flush after a predetermined time interval, which interval is varied by the number of persons detected by a sensing means, such that the timing is shortened as more people are detected.

Description

Water Management Svstem This invention concerns a water management system,

and particularly but not exclusively a water management system for managing flushing of urinals. With urinals it is important to flush regularly to remove urine and hence remove unpleasant smells and prevent build up of uric acid crystals. It is also important to save water and hence only flush when required.

Previously a slow filling cistern was used which automatically flushed when full. This system is however very inflexible and does not provide extra flushes when required, and wastes water when flushing is not required. More recently systems have been provided which detect movement in a washroom, which movement initiates an adjustable time delay following which a flush will take place. This is an improvement but still does not prove an accurate supply of flushes.

According to the present invention there is provided a water management system, the system including flushing means for flushing an installation, time means for actuating the flushing means to cause a flushing operation after a predetermined time interval, and sensing means for detecting persons in the vicinity of the installation, the apparatus being arranged such that the time interval is varied by the number of persons detected by the sensing means, such that the time interval is shortened as more people are detected. The installation may comprise one or more urinals. The system may be arranged so as to flush the installation after a person is detected, and thereafter to flush the installation again after the time interval.

The system may be arranged so as to count the number of persons detected by the sensing means to determine the time interval.

The system may be arranged such that the time interval has a maximum value, and the time interval has this value when nobody is detected following a flushing operation.

The system may include a valve locatable in the mains water supply, and a cistern arranged to cause a flush when full to a required level, such that a flushing operation comprises opening of the valve to fill the cistern, thereby causing a subsequent flush, and thereafter closing of the valve.

The system may be arranged such that the time taken to fill the cistern can be input, and will then be memorised by the system. The system may include a micro controller connected to the other components of the system.

The micro controller may be battery operated.

The valve may comprise a solenoid valve.

The sensing means may comprise a passive infra red detector.

A voltage booster may be provided between the micro controller and the valve. A control may be provided to permit manual operation and/or adjustment of the system.

Visual display means may be provided to indicate operation of the system and/or the status of the system. The visual display means may comprise a plurality of lights or LEDs.

A low battery indicator may be provided and the system may be arranged such that when low battery power is indicated, no further flushing operations will take place.

The system may be arranged to automatically dispense air freshener and

may be arranged such that air freshener is dispensed at intervals proportional to the number of people detected.

The system may be arranged to dispense sanitising fluid or the like into the installation, and may be arranged to only dispense sanitising fluid when the time interval has a maximum value.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of components of a system according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 illustrates the components of a water management system 10 according to the present invention suitable for managing the flushing at a number of urinals. The system to comprises a micro controller 12 with a passive infra red detection sensor 14 connected thereto. Also connected to the micro controller 12 is a voltage booster 16 which connects with a solenoid valve 18. The solenoid valve 18 can be connected into a water mains feed to selectively direct water to a cistern (not shown). The cistern is arranged to flush the urinals when full.

The system 10 also comprises five LEDs 20 providing a visual display 22.

A push button control 24 is provided. All of the items mentioned above save for the valve 18 are located in a housing (not shown).

In use, the system 10 is operable as illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 2.

Firstly the power is switched on and the micro controller l 2 checks whether a fill time has been recorded 26. If not this is recorded and would typically be recorded upon installation of the system. The fill time is recorded by pressing the control 24 when the valve 18 is opened, and pressing the control 24 again

when the system is full. This fill time is held in the memory in the micro controller 12, and ensures that the valve 18 stays open sufficiently long for the system to flush, but not too long.

The system then checks whether 28 anyone has been detected by the sensor 14. If not the system then decides whether a hygiene flush 30 is needed.

This is a flush provided for instance every eight hours to prevent any build up of smell or formation of uric acid etc. and to cleanse the system and would typically operate throughout the night. If the relevant time period had elapsed a flush 32 would be caused by opening of the valve 18 allowing water to fill the cistern. Whether or not a flush takes place, the system lO again checks at 28 whether a person has been detected. If a person has been detected a flush is caused at 34 thereby ensuring that after use of the urinals they are always flushed. A cleansing flush is then scheduled at a time interval after the flush 34 and the basic interval for example would be 30 mins. Again the system decides at 36 whether anyone has been detected. If not the system decides at 38 whether the time interval, in this instance 30 mins, has finished. If so a flush is caused at 40. If not the system again checks to see whether anyone has been detected at 36. If a further person is detected before the end of the time interval one is added to a use counter at 42, and the use counter produces subsequent time intervals After the flush 40 the time interval is reduced subject to the number of uses counted. For instance, if the detector 14 has detected sixteen movements, which is equivalent to eight users entering and leaving, within the time interval, this would reduce the interval to 10 mins. If less users are detected a proportionally larger time interval would be selected. A further flush is scheduled 46 for the time interval 44 decided upon by the counter.

Again the system 10 checks to see whether anyone is detected 48 in this time interval. If so, the next flush is confirmed as a cleansing flush 50 and detection continues until the time interval has finished and a flush 40 takes place. If no one is detected and the time interval finishes the system moves back to the detection at 28. If no one is detected for a significant time, eventually the hygiene flush 32 will take place.

The visual display unit 22 provides indications as follows. There are four yellow LEDs and a fifth green one. A clockwise flashing pattern will indicate that a system fill time has not been recorded. If just the green LED 20 is flashing the valve is opened. If the yellow LEDs 20 show a slow countdown this shows that the control 24 has been pushed for example when recording the fill time. Also the button 24 can be pushed when changing the batteries to send the unit to sleep to retain the memories as the batteries are filled. During sleep mode no LEDs are lit, but when the button 24 is pushed to exit sleep mode a faster flashing pattern of LEDs is shown. The LEDs 20 will flash in response to the detection of movement of a person, and the number of LEDs lit show how close to the next flush, i.e. if all four are lit the unit is due to flush in a fifth of the interval time, so if the flush interval is 10 mins, within the next two minutes. When a low battery level is detected the first yellow and the green LEDs 20 flash together when movement is detected, and all filling and flush cycles are suspended at this point.

There is thus described a water management system which is significantly more sophisticated than previous arrangements and provides for flushes when required i.e. after use of the urinals and in response to the number of flushes, but only limited flushes when not required. The system always ensures that after use there is always a flush, therefore providing cleaning of the urinals. Whilst providing improved operation the system is of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, in one embodiment a system is arranged to emit air freshener at intervals of time dependent on the number of uses counted.

Also in this embodiment sanitising fluid is supplied into the installation during the maximum time intervals, and significantly before a hygiene flush is due.

This substantially prevents sanitising fluid being wasted by being used immediately prior to a flush. Various other modifications can be made, for instance different detection means could be provided and different time periods could be employed. Whilst described in relation to a system for urinals, this system could be usable in other applications.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to

those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims

1. A water management system, the system including flushing means for flushing an installation, time means for actuating the flushing means to cause a flushing operation after a predetermined time interval, and sensing means for detecting persons in the vicinity of the installation, the apparatus being arranged such that the time interval is varied by the number of persons detected by the sensing means, such that the time interval is shortened as more people are detected. 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the installation comprises one or more urinals.

3. A system according to claims 1 or a, wherein the system is arranged so as to flush the installation after a person is detected, and thereafter to flush the installation again after the time interval.

4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged so as to count the number of persons detected by the sensing means to determine the time interval.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the system is arranged such that the time interval has a maximum value, and the time interval has this value when nobody is detected following a flushing operation.

6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system includes a valve locatable in the mains water supply, and a cistern arranged to cause a flush when full to a required level, such that a flushing operation comprises opening of the valve to fill the cistern, thereby causing a subsequent flush, and thereafter closing of the valve.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system is arranged such that the time taken to fill the cistern can be input, and will then be memorised by the system. 8. A system according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.

9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system includes a micro controller connected to the other components of the system.

lo. A system according to claim 9, wherein the micro controller is battery operated. As. A system according to claim to, wherein a low battery indicator is provided. As. A system according to claim As, wherein the system is arranged such that when low battery power is indicated, no further flushing operations will take place. 3. A system according to any of claims 9 to o when dependent upon any of claims 6 to 8, wherein a voltage booster is provided between the micro controller and the valve.

4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing means comprises a passive infra red detector.

5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a control is provided to permit manual operation and/or adjustment of the system.

6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein visual display means is provided to indicate operation of the system and/or the status of the system.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the visual display means comprises a plurality of lights or LEDs.

18. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged to automatically dispense air freshener.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the system is arranged such that air freshener is dispensed at intervals proportional to the number of people detected. no. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system is arranged to dispense sanitising fluid or the like into the installation.

o1. A system according to claim no, wherein the system is arranged to only dispense sanitising fluid when the time interval has a maximum value.

ma. A water management system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

a3. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.