GB2517131A

GB2517131A - Dispenser for use with sanitary appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2517131A
Application number: GB1310236.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Mclean
Original assignee: PERRYMAC Ltd
Current assignee: PERRYMAC Ltd
Priority date: 2013-06-09
Filing date: 2013-06-09
Publication date: 2015-02-18
Also published as: GB201310236D0

Abstract

A dispenser comprises a reservoir 22 for a liquid; and a discharge means responsive to flushing of the cistern to dispense the liquid into the cistern. The discharge means may comprise a peristaltic pump (60 figure 1) and a float switch 26 positioned within the cistern and which operates the pump upon flushing the cistern. The dispenser may further comprise a valve assembly 24 connected to the reservoir and which operates upon flushing. The valve assembly may comprise a float 26 and a valve member 30 held closed by the float but free to open when the cistern water level drops. The valve assembly may comprise a chamber (40, Fig. 4) for holding a fixed quantity of the liquid which is emptied upon flushing and refilled whilst the cistern water rises. The valve assembly may direct the dispensed liquid towards the point of water entry into the cistern. The liquid may be a coloured disinfectant. A later embodiment relates to a method of dispensing a liquid into a flushing cistern comprising the dispenser.

Description

I

DISPENSER FOR USE WITH SANITARY APPLIANCES

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a dispenser for use in dispensing liquids such as disinfectants in sanitary appliances such as WC5 and urinals.

Background to the invention

It is common practice to apply disinfectants in WCs and urinals by hanging a solid block of material in the cistern or under the rim of the WC pan. Such substances typically include a dye which colours the flushing water and water left in the pan, a blue colour being commonly used. The presence of blue-coloured water is taken by some users as an indication that the appliance is in good order.

There are some drawbacks to this arrangement. One is that the dye is not dosed in a measured fashion and thus the colour of the water can vary, stain the pan, or even disappear before the block itself is exhausted.

It is also known to feed disinfectant into the cistern from a reservoir on a time interval basis using an external sanitiser. A typical external sanitiser would comprise a valve opened by a timing circuit. Sanitisers of this type have drawbacks, for example the amount of disinfectant used is unrelated to the amount of flushing water used, which can lead to wastage.

There is therefore a need for an improved means for supplying disinfectants in such appliances.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a liquid substance in sanitary appliances fed with flushing water from a cistern; the dispenser comprising: -a reservoir for the liquid substance; and -discharge means responsive to flushing of the cistern to dispense the liquid substance into the cistern.

In one form of the invention the discharge means comprises a pump and a float switch positioned, in use, within the cistern and operable to energise the pump on flushing of the cistern. The pump is preferably a peristaltic pump. The pump may deliver a pre-determined volume of the liquid substance.

In another form of the invention the discharge means comprises a valve assembly connected to the reservoir and operable by flushing of the cistern to discharge the liquid substance.

The valve assembly may include a float and a valve member normally held closed by the float and free to open when water level in the reservoir drops upon flushing. The valve assembly preferably comprises a valve member acting upon a valve seat forming part of the reservoir wall.

Alternatively, the valve assembly may comprise a chamber for holding a fixed quantity of the liquid substance, the chamber being emptied upon flushing and refilled following the cistern water rising after flushing is complete.

Preferably the valve assembly includes an outlet arranged to direct the discharged liquid substance towards the point of water entry to the cistern.

From another aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing a liquid substance into a flushing cistern of a sanitary appliance; the method comprising releasing the liquid substance from a reservoir in response to flushing of the cistern.

In certain embodiments the liquid substance is pumped into the cistern.

In other embodiments, a valve is provided which includes a float which closes the valve when the cistern is full and allows the valve to open when the water level within the cistern drops upon flushing.

Preferably the liquid substance is a disinfectant, is coloured is microbiological, inhibit lime scale, create a foaming effect and/or deliver odour neutralising properties

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section of a flushing cistern including a dispenser according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows one form of dispenser to an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative form of dispenser; and Fig. 5 shows a modification.

Description of preferred embodiments

Referring to Fig. 1, a WC has a pan 56 and a cistern 10. A water inlet 14 fills the cistern 10 via a float valve or ball valve (not shown). A dispenser is provided in the form of a reservoir 58 containing disinfectant liquid, a pump 60, a disinfectant inlet 62, and a float switch 64 positioned within the cistern 10 and connected to the pump 60 by a cable 66.

In use, when the cistern 10 is flushed the float switch closes to energise operation of the pump 60, thereby pumping disinfectant from the inlet 62. Pumping will continue until refilling of the cistern 10 opens the float switch 64; alternatively the float switch could trigger a time delay circuit to give a fixed period of discharge. The inlet 62 is positioned to discharge the disinfectant into water entering through the inlet 14, to promote mixing.

In the embodiment shown the pump 60 is a peristaltic pump. This is preferred as it can produce accurate dosage of small quantities, but other forms of pump may equally be used.

Fig. 1 is schematic only, and it will be appreciated that the various parts of the dispenser can be combined in an integrated unit suitable for placement inside the cistern, for example.

The invention may also be embodied in an entirely mechanical manner.

Referring to Fig. 2, a cistern 10 containing flushing water 12 has a water inlet 14, a ball valve 16 and a flush pipe 18. The flushing mechanism is not shown; various farms of flushing mechanism are well known in the art. A dispenser generally indicated at 20 comprises a reservoir 22, a valve 24 and a float 26. The dispenser may be a self-contained unit which is held in the cistern, for example, by hooks (not shown) engaging over the rear wall of the cistern. It would also be possible for the dispenser to be integrated into the cistern during manufacture.

Turning to Fig. 3, the reservoir 22 contains a disinfectant liquid 28. The valve 24 comprises a valve member 30 mounted on a vertically slidable valve stem 32 and engageable with a valve seat 34 around an aperture in the base of the reservoir 22.

The valve stem 32 is connected to the float 26.

In the position shown in Fig. 3, the cistern water level is full, and the float 26 urges the valve member 30 upwardly into engagement with the valve seat 34, thus closing the reservoir 22. When the cistern is flushed, the water level drops allowing the valve member 30 to drop away from the seat 34 and allowing disinfectant liquid to discharge through a valve outlet 38. The discharge will continue until the cistern water returns to its high level. The valve outlet may be dimensioned to deliver an appropriate quantity of disinfectant liquid in this time.

The valve may simply open under gravity; alternatively means such as a coil spring around the valve stem may be provided to assist in ensuring reliable opening.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative form of valve in which the dosage is more precisely controlled. In Fig. 3, the valve 24 comprises a chamber 40 having upper and lower valve seats 42 and 44, and the valve stem carries upper and lower valve members 46 and 48, thus forming upper and lower valves. When the cistern is full, as shown, the upper valve is open and the lower valve is closed. When the cistern is flushed, the upper valve closes and the lower valve opens; this allows a fixed volume of disinfectant liquid within the chamber 40 to be discharged.

A small additional amount of liquid will be discharged as the valve return to its initial state. This can be eliminated by a more complex mechanism, such as a lost-motion linkage between the upper and lower valves.

It will be apparent that in both Figs. 3 and 4 guides must be proved for motion of the valve stem. These have not been shown as suitable arrangements will be readily apparent.

It is desirable for the disinfectant liquid to be thoroughly mixed in the cistern water.

For this purpose, the discharge from the dispenser can be directed into or adjacent the water entering the cistern from the water inlet 14. In Fig. 2, the dispenser is located such that the valve outlet 38 is directed towards the outlet of the ball valve 16. In many modern cisterns, the water inlet is via a combined float valve and dip tube, to achieve more silent filling. Fig. 5 shows such an arrangement with a dip tube 50 extending from an inlet float valve 52. The dispenser valve outlet 38 discharges via a flexible tube 54 having its outlet positioned near the lower end of the dip tube 50.

Modifications may be made to the foregoing embodiments within the scope of the invention.

List of parts cistern 12 flushing water 14 water inlet 16 balI valve 18 flush pipe dispenser 22 reservoir 24 valve 26 float 28 disinfectant liquid valve member 32 valve stem 34 valve seat 38 valve outlet chamber 42 uppervalve seat 44 lower valve seat 46 upper valve member 48 lower valve member dip tube 52 inlet float valve 54 flexible tube 56 pan 58 reservoir pump 62 disinfectant inlet 64 float switch 66 cable

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid substance in sanitary appliances fed with flushing water from a cistern; the dispenser comprising: -a reservoir for the liquid substance; and -discharge means responsive to flushing of the cistern to dispense the liquid substance into the cistern.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, in which the discharge means comprises a pump and a float switch positioned, in use, within the cistern and operable to energise the pump on flushing of the cistern.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, in which the pump is a peristaltic pump.
4. A dispenser according to claim 1, in which the discharge means comprises a valve assembly connected to the reservoir and operable by flushing of the cistern to (0 discharge the liquid substance.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4, in which the valve assembly includes a float 0 and a valve member normally held closed by the float and free to open when water level in the reservoir drops upon flushing.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5, in which the valve assembly comprises a valve member acting upon a valve seat forming part of the reservoir wall.
7. A dispenser according to claim 5, in which the valve assembly comprises a chamber for holding a fixed quantity of the liquid substance, the chamber being emptied upon flushing and refilled following the cistern water rising after flushing is complete.
8. A dispenser according to any of claims 4 to 7, in which the valve assembly includes an outlet arranged to direct the discharged liquid substance towards the point of water entry to the cistern. a
9. A method of dispensing a liquid substance into a flushing cistern of a sanitary appliance; the method comprising releasing the liquid substance from a reservoir in response to flushing of the cistern.
10. A method according to claim 9, in which the liquid substance is pumped into the cistern.
11 A method according to claim 9, comprising providing a valve including a float which closes the valve when the cistern is full and allows the valve to open when the water level within the cistern drops upon flushing.
12. A method according to any of claims 9to 11, in which the liquid substance is a disinfectant.et
13. A method according to any of claims 9to 12, in which the liquid substance is coloured.CD a)