US2105794A - Combination closet tank cover and ventilator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1s, 193s. Q C, Noms j 2,105,794

COMBINATION CLOSET TANK COVER AND VENTILATOR Filed Feb. 8, 19.37

s rwvrm l Char/ef C Vo/wif Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION CLOSET TANK COVER AND VENTILATOR 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of Ventilating water closets. More particularly the invention resides in the provision of improved means for the positive ventilation of water closet bowls.

Ventilation of the Water closet bowl is usually accomplished by means of a blower, or exhaust fan, and suitable conduits associated therewith to conduct the gases from the bowl to a point remote from the room Where the water closet is located. The blower is often installed in the room with the Water closet. If the blower is located in the room with the water closet it takes up space, and in the modern home presents an y undesirable appearance. Usually if the blower is located in the tank of the water closet it must of necessity be driven by a water motor as the atmosphere in the tank is so damp as to make it an impracticable place for the installation of an electric motor. Furthermore, the limited space available in the tank is a disadvantage and if the blower is located there, both the blower and the ordinary working parts of the water closet are then rendered diii'icult of accessibility.

The blower may be located at a. point remote from the water closet tov be ventilated, but this type of construction has the disadvantage of higher cost, since it is difcult to install and usually entails additional material.

In View of the disadvantages of the present methods of Ventilating water closets it is a primary object of this invention to provide a ventilating attachment for water closets which overcomes all of the disadvantages of the present methods of ventilation and which is in-the form of a combination tank cover and Ventilating unit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a Ventilating attachment for water closets which may be easily and quickly installed on either a 40 one-piece or two-piece water closet at the time the water closet is installed or at any subsequent time.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a Ventilating attachment of the type indi-l cated which will eiciently and positively ventilate the bowl of a water closet and which may be operable as desired. In this connection it is an object to provide means for giving a sensible indication when the device is operating.

These objects are attained in the structure shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a modern water closet embodying a preferred form of the invention. A portion of the water closet is broken away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the tank cover member and the upper portion of the tank on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 4 4 of Fig. l, shown turned at 90 degrees.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modied form of the invention for use on water closets which are placed ilush with the wall of a building.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral I I generally indicates the bowl of a modern onepiece water closet above which is located a flush tank I2. Reference numeral I3 generally indicates a combination tank cover and Ventilating unit adapted to t over and form the top closure of the tank I2.

Establishing communication between the ush tank and the bowl in the ordinary water closet construction is a iiush pipe (not shown) which has an inlet in the tank and an outlet in the perforated conduit I4 in the rim of the bowl. It is the usual construction of water closets to include an overflow pipe which has its inlet in the upper portion of the nush tank just above the desired normal water level and which has its outlet in the perforated conduit in the rim of -the bowl. The position and construction of these overflow pipes vary in the different types of water closets,

so for purposesr of illustration a modern onepiece water closet which has the overow pipe cast in one corner of the tank has been shown. Referencenumeral YI5 indicates the overiow pipe which communicates with the conduit I4 in the bowl'by means of passage I6.

Thisinvention contemplates the use of the overflow pipe as the means for conducting the undesirable gases from the bowl vto the upper portion of the tank. It is evident that if a partial vacuum is created in space I l in the upper part of the tank the gases in the bowl will enter the water outlet holes I4' in the conduit rIii and be drawn through the overow pipe I5 into space I'I.

The invention lies principallyin the provision of unique means for eiecting the partial vacuum in the space I 1, it being understood that overflow vpipes as described above have been used in connecton with other Ventilating apparatus. The

means for eiectingthispartial vacuumin the f `space I'I consists of a combination tank cover and Ventilating, unit generally indicated by I3. The cover differs from the ordinary tankr cover ,mini that it has a convex enlarged portion I 9 which l'us provides room for housing a blower unit, generally indicated by reference numeral 2'0 in the cover member. Around its lower edge the cover has a depending ange portion` 2| adapted to fit over the tank I2. The flange portion 2I terminates in a shoulder 22. Adapted to be positioned against shoulder 22 is a sealing means 23 which may be formed of sponge rubber or other suitable material. This sealing means is interposed between the upper edge of the tank I2 and the shoulder 23 of the cover and thus provides a iluid seal between the cover and the tank.

A floor 25 is mounted in the cover by means of suitable screws (not shown) for the purpose of supporting and encasing the blower unit 20 in the enlarged portion I9 of the cover. The blower 20 is secured to the floor 25 by means of bolts 26. It has an inlet 21 which extends through a hole 25' in the floor 25 and which is in open communication with the space I'I in the tank I2. The blower has an outlet, or exhaust, 28 which extends through a hole I9 in the rear of the enlarged portion I9 of the cover 20.

Between the inlet 21 and oulet 28 is an impeller, or fan, 29 mounted on shaft 30. The shaft is driven by an electric motor 3l which is connected to any suitable source of electric potential by means of cord 31. In the motor circuit is a snap switch 32 which extends through an opening 33 in the front of the enlarged portion I9 of cover I8. Also electrically connected in the motor circuit is a lamp generally indicated by reference numeral 34 which has a suitable protective and decorative slotted cover 35. The lamp extends through an opening 36 in the enlarged portion I9 of the cover I8. Both the switch and lamp are mounted on a bracket 38, which, for convenience is mounted between the oor 25 and the blower 20 on one of the bolts 26.

A suitable cover plate 39 is placed over the outlet 28 and is attached to the `cover by means of screws 40. This plate serves to seal the opening I9' in the enlarged portion I9 of the cover I8. In this connection the outlet 28 as shown in Fig. 3 is so located that it may be brought out at right angles to the rear side of the enlarged portion I9 through the hole I9 which is centrally disposed with relation to the ends of the cover. The outlet 28 of the blower is adapted to be connected to a vent pipe 42 although it is not necessary that the ends of these pipes be tightly fitted together, as such pipes areusually sealed in the Wall at their inner ends during construction of the building. The vent pipe 42 is located within the wall of the building, one portion of the wall being indicated at 43, and may have its outlet at any suitable point. In this connection it is not essential to use a vent pipe if the outlet 28 is sealed into a wall which has an outlet at a suitable point.

In the form of the invention wherein the water closet is adapted to be spaced from the wall a short distanceAas in Fig. 3, a anged collar 45 is provided which fits over the outlet 28 and is provided with a set screw 46 for adjustably mounting it on the outlet. Mounted on the flanged side 45' of the collar is a ring 41 of suitable sealing material, such as sponge rubber. This ring serves to seal the outlet 28 into the wall 43 and any gas discharged from the outlet will be con veyed away through the vent pipe 42.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modied construction for 'use in sealing the outlet, here indicated as 28a of the blower unit into the wall 43 when it is desired to place the water closet flush with the wall. In order to provide adequate room between the wall and the rear of the cover the enlarged portion, here indicated as I9a, is formed closer to the front of the cover, thereby leaving the shelf portion 50. This construction leaves a space 5I between the enlarged portion I9a of the cover and the wall 43a which is of ample size to accommodate the sealing means, here generally indicated as 52.

In the operation of the invention, the switch 32l is closed, thereby completing an electric circuit through the motor 3| in the blower 20 and through the lamp 34. The lamp thus gives a sensible indication that the device is in operation. Operation of the motor in the blower serves to rotate impeller 29 which forces gas out through the outlet 28 and through the vent pipe 42, thus creating suction in the inlet pipe 21 and suction or a partial vacuum in the space I1 in the upper portion of the tank I2. The normal atmospheric pressure of the air forces the noxious gases in the bowl II into the flushing water outlet holes as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 and in turn The gases are then;

into the overow pipe I5. conducted through pipe I5 into space I1 and into inlet 21 of the blower, and are forced out through the outlet 28 and through vent pipe 42 to its outlet.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description of this invention that it has many advantages over the present apparatus used for the ventilation of water closets. By reason of the fact that a simple unitary Ventilating unit comprising a tank cover housing the ventilator is provided the necessary apparatus extraneous to the water closet itself is reduced to a minimum. This materially facilitates installation and reduces the cost of Ventilating installations.

The construction whereby the blower outlet is centrally disposed with relation to the ends of the cover also facilitates installation of the device, since the plumber knows that the vent pipe in the wall should be opposite the center of the water closet.

Finally, the invention described above gives a positive sensible indication when it is operating so that there is little chance that it Will be left in operation when not needed.

Although the invention has been set forth as embodying a specific construction, it is possible to change details in the construction Without departing from the scope of the invention which is indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A Ventilating attachment for use in combination with a water closet having a bowl and a flush tank which comprises a hollow cover adapted to t over the tank and form the top closure thereof, and a blower unit housed within said cover.

2. A Ventilating attachment for use in combination with a water closet having a bowl and a flush tank which comprises a cover adapted to t over the tank to form the top closure thereof, and a blower housed in said cover, said blower having an inlet in open communication with the tank above the water level therein and having an outlet externally of said cover.

3. A Ventilating attachment for use in combination with a waterA closet having a bowl and a ush tank which comprises a cover for the tank, a blower housed in said cover, said blower having a iluid inlet in open communication with the tank and having an outlet externally of the .u

tank, and an electric motor housed in said cover for operating said blower.

4. In combination with a water closet having a bowl and a ush tank therefor, means for removing gases from the bowl comprising a cover for the tank, a blower housed in the cover, open conduit means from the bowl to the upper part of the tank above the water level therein, means providing a seal between the tank and said cover, and gas outlet means in said cover.

5. In combination with a water closet bowl and a building wall having a vent pipe therein, Ventilating means comprising a ush tank, conduit means for connecting the upper portion of said tank with the interior of said bowl, a hollow cover member for the tank, means providing a seal between said cover member and said tank, a blower housed in said cover member having an inlet portion in open communication with the upper portion of said tank and having an outlet conduit extending externally of said cover member, for conducting gases from said blower into said vent pipe, a collar adiustably mounted on said outlet conduit, and sealing means mounted on said collar and adapted to engage said wall to seal said pipeY in the building wall.

6. For use in combination with a water closet having a bowl and a flush tank and having open conduit means between said bowl and the upper portion of said tank, a Ventilating unit comprising; a cover member for the flush tank, said cover member having an enlarged upper portion and having a bottom closure member for said enlarged portion; and a blower mounted in said cover member above said closure member, said blower having an inlet below said closure member in open communication with said flush tank above the water level therein and having an outlet extending through said cover member.

7. For use in combination with a water closet having a bowl and a ush tank and having open conduit means between said bowl and the upper portion of said tank, a Ventilating unit comprising: a cover member for the flush tank, said cover member having an enlarged upper portion and having a bottom closure member for said enlarged portion; a blower mounted in said cover member above said closure member, said blower having an inlet below said closure member in open communication with said flush tank above the water level therein and having an outlet eX- tending through said cover member; an electric motor in said cover member for operating said blower; a switch mounted in said cover and extending therethrough, said switch and said electric motor being connected in an electric circuit so that the closing of said switch completes a circuit through said motor.

8. In combination with a water closet bowl having a flush tank, Ventilating means comprising: conduit means for connecting the upper portion of the tank with the interior of said bowl; a cover member for the tank; means providing a seal between said cover member and said tank; a blower; means providing open ooml

Images