IE60414B1 - Sanitary unit with automatic cleaning - Google Patents

Description

This invention concerns sanitary units with automatic cleaning, that is to say sanitary units which may he installed in public or semi-public places and whose cleaning operations are controlled automatically when the user has left the enclosure of said unit.

Sanitary units are known in particular where people have to pay to use them and which form a self-contained construction which can be installed in any open space# such as a pavement or public square. These sanitary units of a known type comprise an enclosed interior which comprises a partition separating two areas# an area for use which is entered by the users and access to which is generally controlled by a door with a coin slot, and a technical area which users are not allowed to enter.

A lavatory pan is positioned against the partition and is mounted so as to rotate about an axis 'parallel to said partition so as to pivot between a use position, in which the pan is approximately horizontal against said partition, and a cleaning position in which said pan is raised vertically into an opening in said partition, so as to be turned towards the technical area which incorporates cleaning components. In such sanitary units, the pan does not incorporate any opening for discharging faeces, and the pan is emptied into a drainage chute when it is in the cleaning position, the matter which it contains running away over the rear rim of th© seat.

A certain reticence on th© part of users in using these known sanitary units can be noted for a number of reasons. Firstly, the pan has an unusual appearance different from toilets of a known type, in which th© pan incorporates either a discharge U-bend or a bottom discharge opening controlled by a hinged flap.

The sanitary units with automatic cleaning which have just been described are generally for public use, and a mistrust on the part of the users is noted with respect to the cleaning carried out after each use because of the fact that this cleaning is effected automatically when the user has left the enclosure. This reticence stems from the fact in particular that the user does not himself control the cleaning and that he does not even see how this cleaning .is carried out.

Another problem lies in the fact that the x'ear upper rim of the pan forns both the discharge for the natter contained in the pan and the rear part of the seat; in consequence this rear rim must be carefully cleaned, which is in fact done, but because of the fact that the user does not know how the deeming is achieved, this increases his mistrust still more. These reservations generally lead the users of such public sanitary units to use them in Turkish fashion even though these are English style toilets, since the user wishes to avoid any contact with the pan.

The cleaning operations are preceded by a tilting movement of the pan which presents a danger for any person who unfortunately happens to be in the enclosure during the cleaning operations; this is why complex safety devices are used making it possible to 2o detect the presence of a parson in the us© area. These safety devices are costly and in addition it is difficult to prevent all possibility of accidents, Consequently it is desirable to provide a cleaning system whose operation does not in itself present a danger25 This invention is concerned with a sanitary unit of the type which has just been described known for example from FR-A-2496733 and which does not present the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a sanitary unit with automatic cleaning consisting of an separating two areas, a lavatory pan mounted so as enclosure incorporating a partition separating two areas, an area for use and a technical area , positioned against the partition and to rotate on a shaft parallel to said partition in such a way that it pivots between a use position, wherein the pan is more or less horizontal against said partition, and a cleaning position in which said pan is raised vertically into an opening in said partition so as to be turned towards the technical area incorporating the cleaning components, the top opening of the pan being divided into two sections parallel to the partition, of the pan said baffle by a baffle more or less extending towards the bottom but terminating above it, and the upper face of forming the rear part of the pan seat so as to produce a section for use and a section for emptying whose opening communicates with a discharge chute when the pan is in the cleaning position» In this way? whilst retaining a pan which does not incorporate a lower emptying orifice, two areas are produced, an area for us© comprising in particular the seat whose rear part is formed hy the aforesaid baffle? and an area serving to empty the matter contained in the pan. Furthermore? because of the presence of the dividing baffle? the pan then has an appearance recalling pans of a known type which are provided with a U-bend for the discharge.

In accordance with another characteristic of th© invention? the sanitary unit incorporates a cleaning and drying tube which is arranged in the technical area so as to he. facing the seat where the pan is in the cleaning position; advantageously, a cleaning device is provided in addition which can move between two positions? a stand-by position? and a cleaning position wherein it traverses said cleaning tube and enters the use section of the pan when the latter is in the cleaning position. This cleaning device consists for example of blades fitted with nozzles and rotated by the pressure of the liquid which is directed to then. This makes it possible to achieve perfect cleaning of the seat? particularly with regard to the drying achieved, and also of the use section, which is the only part visible to the user.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, all the moving parts of the sanitary unit are driven fro» a single motor driving a drive chain; a torque limiter is fitted upstream of the drive chain so as to limit the forces exerted by the various moving parts to a level which is not capable of causing an accident, even if a user is for example trapped in the movement of the various moving parts. β In accordance with yet another characteristic of the invention, the cleaning cycle may be started by the user froa inside the use area; in addition, the sanitary unit incorporates a display device giving information about the course of the cleaning cycle.

In this wav, any mistrust on the part ox the users as to th® effectiveness of the cleaning can be overcome, since it is possible for them to make it take place in front of them and since th© progress of this cleaning is shown by means of th© display device which is for example arranged in the dividing partition above the pan. It is obvious that th© possibility of making the cleaning cycle take place when the user is present in the use area is made possible by the absolute safety measure constituted by the aforesaid torque limiter.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description and from the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a pan of a sanitary unit in accordance with the invention.

- Figure 2 the pan ©f is a rear perspective view of a Figure 1, first embodiment of - Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the pan ©f Figurs 1, - Figures 4 to 7 are views in longitudinal section along the axis of the pan showing the sanitary unit in accordance with this 25 invention and showing in particular the various components of the drive chain driving the moving parts.

- Figure 8 is a diagram explaining one part of said drive chain, and - Figures 9 and 10 show a variation of the invention.

Figures 1 to 3 show an important element of the invention, namely th© pan which is also seen in section in Figures 4 to 7. In particular it can he seen in these figures that the bottom of the pan 1 does not incorporate any discharge orifice? in fact this pan has no discharge orifice at all. In accordance with the invention, its top opening 2 is divided into two parts hy a dividing baffle 3 which is at right angles to the axis of symmetry 4 of the pan? this dividing baffle extends from the level of the opening 2 towards the bottom 1 of the pan but stops above the latter. The upper face 5 of the baffle 3 forms the rear part of the seat 6 of the pan on which the user sits, since this is a so-called ’’English style” sanitary unit.., As can b© seen in particular in figures 2 to 7, the dividing baffle 3 defines two sections in the top opening 2 of the pan, namely a section for use 7 which alone is visible to the user and a discharge section 8 which, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 6, opens out into the technical area 9 of the sanitary unit when the pan is in the horizontal position of use and therefore cannot be seen by the users.

As can be seen in Figures 4 to 7, the pan 11 is arranged in an enclosed interior, access to which is controlled by a coin slot? this enclosure is divided in two by a partition 12 so as t© define an area for use 13 which alone is accessible to the user and a technical area 9 which comprises in particular all the cleaning components with their mechanical drives. The pan 11 is arranged against the partition 12, its axis of symmetry 4 being at right angles to the. latter and, as indicated above, only the section for use 7 is in th© use area 13 when the pan is arranged horizontally in the use position? the rear part of the pan 11 which comprises in particular the discharge section s is located in an opening in the partition 12 and projects into the technical area 9.

The pan 11 is capable of rotating around a horizontal axis of rotation 14 which is parallel to the partition 12. In the first position, the use position which is shown in Figures 4 and 6, th® pan is arranged horizontally,, that is to say that its seat 6 is horizontalf and because of the duct 15 which is arranged between the rear part 16 of the pan and the baffle 3 and connecting the discharge section 8 to the empty space 17 existing below the baffle 3, the user has the impression that this is a pan of & well-known type incorporating a U-bend.

The pan 11 can pivot approximately a quarter of a turn around the shaft 14 to reach, its cleaning position which is shown in Figures 5 to 7s in this position, the discharge section 8 communicates with a discharge chute 18 in the form of a. funnel which opens out into a drain pipe 19, for example a waste water drain pipe. Consequently, in this position the contents of the pan 11 are discharged into the drain pipe 19.

Because of the fact that there is no U-bemd, a flap valve 21 is provided which shuts off the connection between the pipe 19 and the chute 18 when the pan is in its use position (Figures 4 and 6) in order to avoid the spread of odours coming from the drain pipe 19. A mechanism which will be described later enables this flap valve 24 to be opened when the pan is in its cleaning position as shown in Figures 5 and 7.

In the technical area 9 a cleaning and drying pipe 22 is. provided which is approximately circular, its shape corresponding to the shape of the seat 6. This cleaning pipe 22 is arranged in the technical area in such a way that it is opposite the seat 6 when the pan 11 is in the cleaning position. This pipe is provided with atomising nozzles which are intended to spray liquid cleaning and disinfecting products onto the seat 6. This pipe 22 incorporates in addition a device for drying the seat, this device advantageously being able to use the same nozzles as for g the cleaning. In accordance with a variation of the invention, the drying may be carried out by air suction instead of blowing.

As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, the partition 12 incorporates and opening 23 which is arranged above the pan when the latter is in the use position,· the front part 25 of the pan passes through this opening 23 when the pan pivots to move into the cleaning position, and the opening is normally closed by a shutter 24 which withdraws during the rotatory movement. In the example shown, this shutter moves vertically in translation along th® partition 12 to reach the position shown in Figure 7; this translational movement is obtained through a mechanism which will be described below.

As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, a cleaning device 26 is arranged in the technical area 9 when the pan is in its use position and traverses the pipe 22 to enter into the use section, of the pan when the latter is in the cleaning position. This cleaning device 26 consists advantageously of two blades 27 mounted so as to rotate on a support arm 29 and fitted with atomising nozzles. Blades of this type are used for example in dishwashers and their rotation is controlled by the pressure of the water fed into the cleaning nozzles- The mechanism fosmoving the arm 29 will be described below.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a cleaning pipe 31 can advantageously be provided, which is arranged along the internal wall of the chute 18 and which is intended to clean the latter.

The operation of the various devices which have been described above has been shown diagrammatically in th® two series of Figures 4 and 5 on the one hand and 6 and 7 on the other hand for reasons of clarity. When the pan 11 is in the use position, the flap valve 21 shuts off the connection between the chute 18 and the drain pipe 19, the shutter 24 is in its closed position (Figure 6) and the cleaning device is in the technical area 9 1© (Figure 5). When the pan pivots to move into the cleaning position, the shutter 24 slides upwards, the flap valve 21 opens and the cleaning device 26 moves into th® use section 7 of the pan 11» The pipes 22 and 31 are set in operation together with the cleaning device 26; a cleaning effect is therefor® obtained in the use section 7 on the seat 6 and in the funnel-shaped chute 18. The pipe 22 in addition carries out a drying operation on the seat 6, and when this is finished the pan returns to the use position.

The user, who' can then enter the enclosure! of the sanitary unit, finds a perfectly clean and dry seat and a use section, which is the only part visible to him, which is clean. The drive mechanisms for the various moving parts described above will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 8. in accordance with the invention, all the moving parts of the sanitary unit are driven from a single motor, for example an electric motor, which drives a drive chain comprising devices for driving the various moving parts. In order to avoid the motion of each of each of the moving parts constituting a danger for a user in the use area during the cleaning stage, a torque limiter is provided which is arranged upstream of the aforesaid drive chain so that if an abnormally high force arises in one ©f the movements provided in th® cleaning cycle, the drive chain is stopped. By adjusting the cut-off point of the torque limiter it can be ensured that no dangerous force can be exerted by one of the moving parts of the unit on a user in the use area.

Advantageously, safety devices can also be provided which will detect abnormal movements of th© shutter 24 and cause the drive motor to stop; for example a microswitch can be provided, arranged behind the shutter 24 and detecting any pressure against the latter, and also a similar sensor arranged in the downward path of th© shutter 24 detecting the introduction of an object into th© opening 23 during the cleaning cycle.

Advantageously, the motor rotates the pan 11 directly, and all the other movements are obtained through the pan 11? in this case the torque limiter is arranged directly on the motor shaft.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a fixed pulley can be seen at 41 which is driven directly by the motor with the torque limiter interposed; this pulley drives through a belt 42 another pulley 43 which is rigidly secured to the pan il and mounted on the axis of rotfjstion 14 of the latter. As can b®. seen in Figure 5, rotation of the pulley 41 in an anticlockwise direction drives the tilting of th© pan from the use position to the cleaning position.

The device which actuates the flap valve 21 is shown in Figures 4 and 5. Said flap valve moves horizontally by translation and is actuated by a system of two connecting rods 44 and 45 which are hinged around a fixed shaft 346» The free end of the connecting rod 44 is hinged on th© flap valve 21 and the free end of the connecting rod 45 supports an idle roller 47. In addition# the rear face of the pan 11 incorporates a cylindrical part 48 which is centred on the axis of rotation 14 of the pan and which serves as a track on which the idle roller 47 rolls. A recess 49 is arranged in the cylindrical part 48 so as to accommodate the roller 47 when the pan 11 is in the use position. This entire drive system is subjected to a restoring force which tends to make the connecting rod 45 rotate in -an anticlockwise direction, that is to say so as to return the flap valve 21 to a closed position. During the rotation of th© pan 11 and, in particular, its cylindrical part 48, the roller 47 is first of all driven by the recess 49 from which it disengages in order to roll on the cylindrical part 43, which makes it possible to obtain a complete opening of the flap valve.

During the return movement of the pan 11 to its use position, the roller first of all rolls on the surface 48 and then enters the recess 49 under the action of the return device to return t© the position shown in Figure 4.

As explained above, the matter contained in. the pan ll empties into the chute 18, passing over the rear part of the pan 11, that is to say the cylindrical part 48. As result the latter may be soiled and a cleaning tube 51 may be provided which will be brought into use. during the return movement of the pan 11., In Figures 6 and 7 the devices for driving the shutter 24 and cleaning device © have been shownThe shutter 24 is driven by a catch 52 which engages in the shutter 24 and which is carried by a belt 53 which, runs round a top pulley 54 and two bottom pulleys 55 and 56; This belt 53 is secured at 57 to th® upper edge of the cylindrical wall 48. The pulley 55 is a return pulley which is arranged in such a way that the bottom part of the belt 53 lies flat against the cylindrical part 48. &s can be seen in the figure, the shutter 24 comprises two walls, an external wall 53 and an internal wall 59 which does not extend as low as the external wall 58. When the pan is in th® use position as shown above? the driving catch 52 is arranged at a certain distance from the internal wall 59 in which it engages so as to achieve a delay in the start of th® vertical translational movement of th© shutter, fthen the pan 11 pivots towards its cleaning position, the shutter moves into the open position shown in. Figure 7» The transfer motion of the cleaning device 26 is also controlled through the pan ll which to this end incorporates, as can be seen ia particular in Figures 2 and 3, a guide groove 61 which is arranged in a side wall of the rear part of the pan? this groove serves to guide a roller 62 which is mounted freely on a spindle S3 which is secured to the end. of an arm 64, the other end of wfcicfe is rigidly secured t© a pulley 65. Said pulley ss is mounted so as to rotate on a fixed spindle 66; said pulley 65 drives a belt 67 which furthermore engages on a pulley 68 which rotates around a fixed spindle 69 and which is rigidly secured to an ana 71. The arm 71 bears at its upper end a spindle 72 on which is mounted, so as to rotate freely, a pulley 73 which is rigidly secured to the support arm 29 supporting the cleaning device 26. The pulley 73 drives a belt 74 which also engages on a fixed pulley 75 which is rigidly secured to the spindle 69. All these various components are shown diagrammatically in Figure 8.

This drive mechanism operates as follows- As can be seen in particular in Figures 6 and 7, the guide groove 61 incorporates a circular part 76 which is centred on the axis 14 of rotation of the pan and which is extended by a straight part 77 which is approximately horizontal when the pan is in the use position. During the rotatory movement of the pan, whilst the roller 62 is moving in the circular part 76 of the groove 61, no movement is produced; on the other hand, when the roller 62 is moving along the straight part 77, the arm 64 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction, which causes the rotation of the pulley S5 and in consequence the rotation of the pulley 68 in the same direction so that the arm 71 rotates anticlockwise to move into the position shown in Figure 7.

The unfolding of the arm 29 supporting the cleaning blades 27 takes place in th© following manner. As indicated above, during the rotatory movement of the pan 11 towards its cleaning position,, the ara 71 rotates in an anticlockwise direction around the spindle 69? in this movement it drives the pulley 74 which, because the pulley 75 is fixed, is rotated in a clockwise direction, which causes th© rotation of the arm 29 in a clockwise direction around the spindle 72, and said arm 29 unfolds with respect to the arm 73L. As has been seen above, this movement is delayed by the inactive circular part 76 of the guide groove 61.

Advantageously, the belt 53 can be fitted with a stop 78 arranged just above the shutter 24 when the pan is in its use position? this stop serves as a safety device and prevents any manual activation when said shutter is in the closed position.

In accordance with the invention, it can be arranged that a. washing cycle can be controlled by a user inside the sanitary module; said cycle can be a normal cleaning cycle or a shorter cycle. 'This is possible since, as indicated above, the sanitary unit'is totally safe because of the presence of the torque limiter. Advantageously, a display device 79 providing explanations on the operation and progress of the cleaning cycle is for example provided in the partition 12 above the pan 11.

Said display device can incorporate, for example, coloured indicators symbolising the different stages (cleaning, disinfection, drying, etc).

Since the technical area is small, it is not possible to provide access to it through the outside of the enclosure of the sanitary unit? consequently a cover is provided, arranged in the partition 12, and opening which makes it possible to maintain the various mechanical components off the unit.

In accordance with one variation shown in Figures 9 and 10, a vertical hinged cover 91 is also provided which can open to giv© access to the technical area 9, and access to said technical area, which is of reduced sise, is also facilitated by the fact that the pan 92 also forms a cover covering the main part of the drive mechanism, and this pan 92 may be removed as shown in Figure 10 to gain access to the drive mechanisms. It can also be arranged that the parts '93, 94 off the dividing wall which are arranged on either side of the pan 92 are mounted so as to be able to open as shown in Figure 10 so that access can be gained to the. whole of the technical area 9.

In order to simplify the maintenance operations, it is advantageous to provide a centralised lubrication system for the various mechanical components, fed by a cartridge containing a lubricant and which is replaced regularly.

In order to avoid any liquid being projected into the use area during the cleaning cycle, a flexible protective flap 81 can be provided, fitted on to th® periphery of the opening arranged in the partition 12 which is closed off in the use position by the shutter 24 and whose shape corresponds to th© outline of the seat.

In Figures 2 and 3, two variations of the rear part of the seat 11 are shown; in the embodiment in Figure 2, two recesses 82 and S3 are provided on either side of the cylindrical part 48 which are intended to accommodate the drive mechanism for rotating the pan and which are closed off by two removable side partitions 34 and 85. In this embodiment, all the pan drive mechanism is thus concealed by the partitions 34 and 85. In the embodiment in Figure 3, the mechanical device for driving the pan Is arranged outside the latter.

It can be seen that the invention makes it possible to produce a sanitary unit in which the cleaning operations are carried out in complete safety; in particular, perfect cleaning and drying of the seat are achieved in such a way that the user has no reticence in using It In the normal manner. Furthermore, the facility for the user to activate th© washing cycle and the explanations provided by th© display device make It possible to overcome any reticence which may exist.

The sanitary unit in accordance with th® invention is of small size and it is more particularly intended for sheltered public or semi-public places such as railway stations, service stations, etc. The size of this unit is sufficiently small to make it possible to envisage its being incorporated in a private dwelling.

Claims (13)

1. claims separating two areas, a lavatory pan mounted so as 1., Sanitary unit with automatic cleaning consisting of an enclosure incorporating a partition separating two areas, an area for use and, a technical area , positioned against the partition and to rotate on a shaft parallel to said partition in such a way that it pivots between a use position, wherein the pan is more or less horizontal against said partition, and a cleaning position in which said pan is raised vertically into an opening in said partition so as to be turned towards the technical area incorporating the cleaning components, the top opening of the pan being by a divided into two sections parallel to the partition, of the pan said baffle baffle more or less extending towards the bottom but terminating above it, and the upper face of forming the rear part of the pan seat so as to produce a section for use and a section for emptying whose opening communicates with a discharge chute when the pan is in the cleaning position.

2. Sanitary unit in accordance with claim 1, which incorporates a cleaning and drying tube the technical area so as to be facing the seat pan .is in- -the cleaning position. arranged in when the

3. Sanitary unit in accordance with claim 1 or 2, which incorporates a cleaning device moving between two positions, a stand-by position and an operating position in which it traverses said tube and enters the use section of the pan when the latter is in the cleaning position.

4. Sanitary unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, which incorporates a flap valve arranged between the discharge chute and a waste water drain pip®, said flap valve opening when the pan

5. In the cleaning position. 5» Unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the partition incorporates a vertically moving shutter , sliding upwards when the pan position. arranged above the pan moves into the cleaning

6. Unit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said shutter incorporates safety devices which detect abnormal forces and cause the cleaning cycl© to stop.

7. Sanitary unit in accordance with any one of claims l wherein the motion of all the moving parts produced from a single motor driving a drive chain, limiter being fitted upstream of said drive chain. to δ, is a torque

8. Unit in accordance with any on® of claims 1 to 7, wherein the partition incorporates a cover 20 giving access to the technical area from the use area.

9. Sanitary unit in accordance with any on© of claims l to S, wherein the cleaning and drying shaft carries out drying by means of suction. XO. Sanitary unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, 25 which incorporates a centralised lubrication system for the various mechanical parts.

10. 11. Sanitary unit in accordance with, any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning cycle can be started from inside the use area .

11. 12. Unit in accordance with claim 11# which incorporates a display device ' giving information about th course of the cleaning cycle.

12.

13. A sanitary unit according to claim 1, substantially as 5 hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.