WO1989011570A1

WO1989011570A1 - Flushing valve for cisterns

Info

Publication number: WO1989011570A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Robin Orbell
Original assignee: Joseph Robin Orbell
Priority date: 1988-05-16
Filing date: 1989-05-16
Publication date: 1989-11-30
Also published as: GB2236773B; GB2236773A; GB9024690D0

Abstract

The invention provides a flushing valve for a cistern (10) comprising a closure member (22) and a pivotally mounted container (20). The container (20) contains a first sealed compartment (28) filled with gas and a second open compartment (30) with a bleed hole (32). A plunger (18) can cause the container (20) and closure (22) to pivot rapidly to an open position to enable the cistern (10) to be flushed, means is also described for achieving partial flush.

Description

TITLE FLUSHING VALVE FOR CISTERNS DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a flushing valve for cisterns.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The valve of the present invention is particularly envisaged for use with toilet cisterns but it is to be understood that the valve is of utility with any type of cistern where flushing is required.

The valve of the present invention also preferably used in conjunction with an inlet valve of the type described in co-filed International Patent Application No. in the name of the present applicant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a flushing valve for a cistern characterised in that the valve comprises mounting means for mounting the valve in a cistern, a container pivotally attached to the mounting means, the container comprising a first compartment which is sealed and filled with fluid lighter than liquid retained in the cistern, in use, and a second compartment which is unsealed and is arranged to be filled with ambient fluid, and a closure member arranged to close off a flushing outlet of the cistern, the closure member being mounted to the container externally thereof adjacent the sealed compartment, such that the container and closure member can pivot between a closed position in engagement with the flushing outlet and an open position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cistern fitted with a flushing valve in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of a cistern at uppermost water level, with a front wall removed for great clarity, containing a flushing valve in accordance with the present invention in a closed condition;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a container forming part of the flushing valve of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic front elevation of a cistern at lowermost water level, with a front wall removed for greater clarity, containing a flushing valve in accordance with the present invention in open condition;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic front elevation of a cistern, with a front wall removed for greater clarity, containing a flushing valve in accordance with the present invention in which the cistern is partially full of water and the flushing valve is open; and Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Figure 5 with a flushing outlet omitted for greater clarity. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, there is shown a cistern 10 containing a flushing valve 12.. The cistern 10 is any type of cistern but the present invention is particularly envisaged for use with toilet cisterns.

The cistern 10 may be arranged to contain any liquid but will henceforth be described with particular reference to water.

The valve 12 comprises a bracket 14 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 16 pivotally mounted on a member (not shown) fixed to an interior wall of the cistern 10 by any suitable means. As can be seen in Figure 2, the bracket 14 comprises a pair of spaced apart plates 17. A plunger 18 extends from the upper end of the cistern 10 and has a laterally extending prong 19 bearing against one of the plates 17 adjacent an end thereof as can be seen in Figure 1.

The bracket 14 has affixed to it, at its end remote from the plunger 18, a container 20.

A circular closure member or bung 22 is mounted on an external side of the container 20 and is arranged to be sealingly engaged with a flushing outlet 24 as shown in

Figure 1 when the liquid level in the cistern is uppermost as shown by the line 26. As shown in Figure 3, the closure member 22 has an exposed top surface 23.

The container 20 contains a first chamber 28 and a second chamber 30. The first chamber 28 is sealed and is filled with a fluid which is lighter than water or other liquid in the cistern. Typically, the chamber 28 is filled with gas which is usually air.

The second chamber 30 contains a bleed hole 32 in its wall. Depending on the liquid level in the cistern 10, the chamber 30 is thus either full of the liquid in the cistern such as water or the ambient gas which is usually air. Further, the chamber 30 has an open end 33 which is uppermost when the cistern is flushed as will be described. In use, when the closure member 22 is in the horizontal position as shown in Figure 1 and the cistern 10 has water at the level of the tine 26, the closure member is in sealing engagement with the flushing outlet 24 of the cistern 10.

As the cistern fills with water, beyond the level of the valve 12, pressure is exerted on the exposed top surface 23 of the closure member 22 which pressure exceeds lift created by the contents of the sealed chamber 28. Thus, the valve 12 remains closed as the cistern 10 fills up.

This situation will remain until the seal round the closure member 22 is broken by slightly lifting the closure member 22. This is done by pressing down on the plunger 18 so as to cause the prong 19 to depress the adjacent end of the bracket 14 and cause the bracket 14 to pivot about the pin 16 and lift the container 20 and closure member 22 slightly. At this point, the seal is broken and the lift from the chamber 28 predominates as the pressure on the closure member 22 is equalised above and below. Thus the container 20 and the closure member 22 pivot rapidly to the upright position shown in Figures 4 and 5 about the pin 16. The container 20 and the closure member 22 are maintained in this position as the water in the chamber 30 keeps the centre of gravity of the container 20 over centre relative to the pin 16 as can be best appreciated from Figure 4. This prevents the container 20 and the closure member 22 from falling back immediately to the closed position shown in Figure 1. The flushing outlet 24 is thus fully open and resulting in

- unrestricted flow of liquid out of the flushing outlet 24. The liquid level in the cistern 10 falls to a lowermost level flush with the upper end of the flushing outlet 24 as shown by the line 34 in Figures 4 and 5. In the case of toilet cisterns this has the advantage of quietly and quickly emptying the cistern whilst efficiently flushing the pan.

However, the level of water in the chamber 30 drops gradually as water leaks out of the chamber 30 through the bleed hole 32 at a controlled rate. At a certain point, as the water level in the chamber 30 drops, the centre of gravity of the container 20 and the closure member 22 will move to the side of the pin 16 closest to the flushing valve 24 because of the weight of the closure member 22. Once this happens the weight of the closure member 22 will cause the container 20 to pivot on the bracket 14 about the pin 16 until the closure member 22 is once again in engagement with the flushing outlet 24. Refilling of the cistern in known manner returns the system back to the initial condition in which the closure member is firmly engaged and in sealing engagement with the flushing outlet 24 because of water pressure exerted on the exposed surfaces 23. The prong 19 of the plunger 18 bears against an upper surface of a plate 17 of the bracket 14 and is arranged so that once the plunger 18 is depressed the container 20 moves to the fully upright position shown in Figure 3. The plunger 18 is not in contact with the bracket 14 in this position as can be seen in Figure 3. In this arrangement the cistern is flushed completely and the liquid level falls to the level of the line 34.

However, many toilet cisterns have a provision for a partial flush as an optional alternative to a full flush. Thus, as can be seen in Figure 2, the cistern 10 may comprise an additional plunger 36 which engages with the other plate 17. As can best be seen in Figure 6, the other plate 17 has a rearwardly projecting tongue 38 and an adjacent recess 40. Further, the plunger 36 is provided with a pair of spaced laterally extending prongs 42. The prongs 42 engage with the other plate 17 on opposite sides of the tongue 38. One of the prongs 42 fits into the recess 40 whilst the other one engages with a depression 44 in an upper edge of the other plate 17. In this embodiment of the present invention the plunger 36 is depressed to achieve a partial flush. However, the prongs 42 ensure that the plunger 36 always remains in engagement with the other plate 17. Further, the uppermost prong 42 engages with the upper end of the other plate 16 in the depression 44 as the plunger 36 is depressed such that the container 20 is prevented from pivoting to its fully upright position as described hereinabove. In fact, the container 30 rises to a partially upright position as shown in Figure 6. In use, as the water level falls below the uppermost end o the container 20 in the raised position shown in Figure 6, as lift of sealed compartment 28 is lost, and the plunger 36 is released, the weight of the closure member 22 will cause the container 20 to pivot back to the position shown in Figure 1 whilst the water level is at an intermediate position as shown by the line 46.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A flushing valve for a cistern characterised in that the valve comprises mounting means for mounting the valve in a cistern, a container pivotally attached to the mounting means, the container comprising a first compartment which is sealed and filled with a fluid lighter than liquid retained in the cistern, in use, and a second compartment which is unsealed and is arranged to be filled with ambient fluid, and a closure member arranged to close off a flushing outlet of the cistern, the closure member being mounted to the container externally thereof adjacent the sealed compartment, such that the container and closure member can pivot between a closed position in engagement with the flushing outlet and an open position.

2. A flushing valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the mounting means comprises a bracket pivotally mounted on a pin which pin is arranged to be secured to the interior of the cistern.

3. A flushing valve according to claim 2, characterised in that there is provided a first plunger arranged to bear down on the bracket on a side thereof opposite the side to which the container is mounted so that, in use, the plunger is depressed to break a seal between the closure member and a flushing outlet.

4. A flushing valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unsealed compartment has a bleed hole to enable liquid to drain from the unsealed compartment when the container is pivoted into an upright position.

5. A flushing valve according to claim 4, characterised i that an end of the unsealed compartment remote from the bleed hole is open.

6. A flushing valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised that the valve comprises a second plunger and the mounting means is arranged to engage with the second plunger such that the container is only partially pivoted towards an upright position to enable the cistern to be flushed partially.

7. A cistern characterised in that it contains a flushing valve according to any one of the preceding claims.