WO2004029491A1

WO2004029491A1 - Water saving apparatus with function of deodorization

Info

Publication number: WO2004029491A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001943
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Hyun Cho
Original assignee: Sung-Hyun Cho
Priority date: 2002-09-25
Filing date: 2003-09-24
Publication date: 2004-04-08
Also published as: AU2003263648A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, which is capable of not only detecting a user using a toilet and removing odor from the toilet when the user is using the toilet, but also detecting the user moving away from the toilet and automatically flushing the toilet when the user moves away from the toilet. The water saving apparatus includes a detection unit, a control unit, a connection path opening/closing drive unit, a blower drive unit, a connection path opening/closing motor, a connection path blocking plate, a blower motor, a blower, a waste drain drive unit, a washing water supply drive unit, a waste drain motor, a washing water supply motor, a waste outlet blocking plate, and a washing water supply valve.

Description

WATER SAVING APPARATUS WITH FUNCTION OF DEODORIZATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to water saving apparatuses with a function of deodorization, and more particularly, to a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, which is capable of not only detecting a user using a toilet and removing odor from the toilet when the user is using the toilet, but also detecting the user moving away from the toilet and automatically flushing the toilet when the user moves away from the toilet by a preset distance.

Background Art

In general, a toilet is installed in a house or public place so that various persons can use it. The toilet is designed so that water contained in a toilet tank flows into a toilet bowl and is drained along with excrements contained in the toilet bowl by manipulating a lever or button after using the toilet in the state in which the toilet bowl is filled with a certain amount of water. A conventional toilet will be described in detail. The conventional toilet includes a toilet bowl provided with a cover on the top of the toilet bowl and an outlet in the lower portion of the toilet bowl, a drainage connected to the outlet formed in the lower portion of the toilet bowl to drain water by the action of a pressure of water flowing into the toilet bowl, a toilet tank located at the top of the back of the toilet bowl and connected to the toilet bowl and a drainpipe, and an opening/closing valve located in the toilet tank to selectively open and close the drainpipe by manipulating a lever or button.

In the conventional toilet, water contained in the toilet bowl is not completely drained and remains at a certain level due to a "U"-shaped bend pipe provided at the middle of the drainage. When the user pushes the lever or button after using the toilet in the state in which a certain amount of water is held in the toilet tank, the opening/closing valve closing the drainpipe is opened so that the water held in the toilet tank flows into the toilet bowl through the drainpipe. Accordingly, excrements are drained along with water through the drainpipe by the action of the pressure of water flowing into the toilet bowl.

However, the conventional toilet has a problem in that a user who is using the toilet and the next user may be offended by the odor generated when the user uses the toilet.

Additionally, the conventional toilet is flushed only when the user performs a preset mechanical operation by manipulating the lever or button after using the toilet. Accordingly, if the user does not manipulate the lever or button, another problem arises in that the next user may be offended by excrements remaining in the toilet bowl. Furthermore, the elderly and children unskilled in the operating of the toilet may not easily flush the toilet to discharge excrements.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, which is capable of not only detecting a user using a toilet and removing odor from the toilet when the user is using the toilet, but also detecting the user moving away from the toilet and automatically flushing the toilet when the user moves away from the toilet by a preset distance.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, including a detection unit for detecting a user using a toilet and moving away from the toilet after using the toilet and outputting corresponding detection signals; a control unit for receiving the detection signals output from the detection unit and outputting control signals corresponding to the detection signals to discharge odor from the toilet and drain excrements from the toilet; a connection path opening/closing drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to selectively open and close a connection path to discharge the odor; a blower drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to discharge the odor; a connection path opening/closing motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the connection path opening/closing drive unit; a connection path blocking plate to be opened/closed so that the odor is moved from the toilet into the connection path by operation of the connection path opening/closing motor; a blower motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the blower drive unit; a blower to be rotated so that the odor is discharged from the toilet by the operation of the blower motor; a waste drain drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to discharge waste; a washing water supply drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to supply waste drain washing water; a waste drain motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the waste drain drive unit; a washing water supply motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the washing water supply drive unit; a waste outlet blocking plate to be selectively opened and closed so that excrements in the toilet are drained into a waste drain path by the operation of the waste drain motor; and a washing water supply valve to be selectively opened and closed so that washing water for draining excrements is supplied into the toilet by the operation of the washing water supply motor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing odor inlets and washing water injecting holes of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the odor inlets and washing water injecting holes of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the state in which a connection path blocking plate is opened in the water saving apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing the water saving apparatus of the embodiment with a waste outlet blocking plate being opened;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of a waste drain motor of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment; FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing the opening of the waste outlet blocking plate of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment in stages;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system for controlling the water saving apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a system for deodorizing a toilet in the water saving apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing another structure of the waste drain motor in the water saving apparatus of the embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view showing the opening of a waste outlet blocking plate by the rotation of the waste drain motor of FIG. 10 in stages.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing odor inlets and washing water injecting holes of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the odor inlets and washing water injecting holes of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing the state in which a connection path blocking plate is opened in the water saving apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing the water saving apparatus of the embodiment with a waste outlet blocking plate being opened. FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of a waste drain motor of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing the opening of the waste outlet blocking plate of the water saving apparatus of the embodiment in stages. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system for controlling the water saving apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a system for deodorizing a toilet in the water saving apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing another structure of the waste drain motor in the water saving apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is an exemplary view showing the opening of a waste outlet blocking plate by the rotation of the waste drain motor of FIG. 10 in stages.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization according to the present invention includes a detection unit 100, a control unit 200, a connection path opening/closing drive unit 300, a blower drive unit 400, a connection path opening/closing motor 500, a connection path blocking plate 600, a blower motor 700, a blower 800, a waste drain drive unit 900, a washing water supply drive unit 1000, a waste drain motor 1100, a washing water supply motor 1200, a waste outlet blocking plate 1300, and a washing water supply valve 1400. The detection unit 100 detects a user using the toilet and moving away from the toilet after using it, and outputs corresponding detection signals. The control unit 200 receives the detection signals output from the detection unit 100, and outputs control signals corresponding to the detection signals to remove odor from the toilet and drain excrements from the toilet.

The connection path opening/closing drive unit 300 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200, and outputs driving signals to selectively open and close a connection path 5 for discharging the odor. The blower drive unit 400 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200, and outputs a driving signal to discharge the odor.

The connection path opening/closing motor 500 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the connection path opening/closing drive unit

300. The connection path blocking plate 600 is opened/closed so that the odor in the toilet is moved into the connection path 5 by the operation of the connection path opening/closing motor 500.

The blower motor 700 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the blower drive unit 400. The blower 800 is operated by the operation of the blower motor 700 so as to remove odor from the toilet.

The waste drain drive unit 900 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to discharge waste. The washing water supply drive unit 1000 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to feed washing water that is used to drain wastes.

The waste drain motor 1100 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the waste drain drive unit 900. The washing water supply motor

1200 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the washing water supply drive unit 100.

The waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is selectively opened and closed so that excrements in the toilet are drained into a waste drain path 6 by the operation of the waste drain motor 1100. The washing water supply valve 1400 is selectively opened and closed so that washing water for draining excrements is supplied into the toilet by the operation of the washing water supply motor 1200.

The operation of the water saving apparatus with the function of deodorization constructed as described above will be described below.

When the user approaches or sits on a toilet installed in a house or building, as shown in FIG. 1, the detection unit 100 mounted on the toilet detects the approaching or sitting of the user and outputs a corresponding detection signal, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Then, the control unit 200 receives the detection signal output from the detection unit 100 and outputs a control signal corresponding to the detection signal to deodorize the toilet. The connection path opening/closing drive unit 300 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to selectively open and close the connection path 5 for discharging the odor. Subsequently, the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the connection path opening/closing drive unit 300. The connection path blocking plate 600 is opened so that the odor in the toilet is moved into the connection path 5 by the operation of the connection path opening/closing motor 500. At this time, the blower drive unit 400 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to discharge the odor. The blower motor 700 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the blower drive unit 400. The blower 800 is operated so that the odor in the toilet is removed by the operation of the blower motor 700. Meanwhile, a structure of the toilet for removing the odor from the toilet will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. A group of washing water injecting holes 2 and a group of odor inlets 1 are formed in the inside of the upper end of the toilet to be separate from each other.

This structure is designed to prevent the life span of the blower motor 700 from being rapidly reduced by the repetition of the phenomenon in which, when odor is drawn through the washing water injecting holes 2, part of washing water flows through an odor outlet at the time of injecting the washing water, or excessive moisture is drawn from a washing water supply path at the time of drawing the odor, and to facilitate the drawing and discharging of the odor.

In addition, a washing water inflow path 3 is formed to communicate with the washing water injecting holes 2, and water flowing through a water supply path 4 is injected into the toilet bowl of the toilet through the washing water injecting holes 2 by opening the washing water supply valve 1400 that is selectively opened and closed manually or by electric power.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a connection path 5 is formed to connect the odor inlets 1, the waste drain path 6 and a waste outlet 7 so that drawn odor can be discharged into a septic tank through the waste drain path 6.

The connection path blocking plate 600, which can be selectively opened and closed between the odor inlets 1 and the waste drain path 6, and the blower

800 are provided in the connection path 5. When odor is discharged, the connection path blocking plate 600 is opened and simultaneously the blower 800 is operated, so the odor is drawn and discharged into the septic tank through the waste drain path 6. Meanwhile, the connection path blocking plate 600 is connected to an opening/closing lever 510 through a rotating shaft 520, and is opened and closed as it is rotated around a fixed shaft 530 of the opening/closing lever 510.

In addition, the connection path opening/closing motor 500 with a first cam 540 mounted on its rotating shaft is provided at a right side of the opening/closing lever 510. When the first cam 540 of the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the connection path blocking plate 600 is opened. When the first cam 540 of the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the connection path blocking plate 600 is closed. The operation procedure and principle of the water saving apparatus will be described in connection with a control circuit as shown in FIG. 9.

When a user approaches or sits on the toilet, a photo transistor PTR1 of the detection unit 100 in the control circuit of FIG. 9 receives a reflected infrared signal emitted from the tenth pin of a control unit 200 through an infrared (IR) diode. The received infrared signal is amplified in an operational amplifier Ul, and then is input into the third pin of the control unit 200 as digital data. Then, the phase of the sixth pin of the control unit 200 is changed from "LOW" to "HIGH" according to a preset program, and accordingly transistors Q8 and Q9 are opened.

At this time, as the first cam 540 of the connection path opening/closing motor 500 of FIG. 4 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the opening/closing lever 510 is pushed and the connection path blocking plate 600 is completely opened, so the first cam 540 is not rotated any longer. Accordingly, an overcurrent instantaneously flows into the connection path opening/closing motor 500 due to overload, so that the phase of a collector of a transistor Q12 of the connection path opening/closing drive unit 300 is changed from "LOW" to "HIGH" by a resistor R32 that is used to set an overcurrent detection criterion.

Accordingly, when the phase of the first pin of the control unit 200 becomes "HIGH", the phase of the sixth pin of the control unit 200 is changed from "HIGH" to "LOW" according to the preset program, so that the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is stopped and the connection path blocking plate 600 is kept opened. At the same time, the phase of the eleventh pin of the control unit 200 becomes "HIGH" according to the preset program, so that a detection indication lamp LED1 is turned on (i.e., is lit) and blower driving transistors Q5 and Q4 are opened to operate the blower motor 700. Accordingly, the odor is drawn through the odor inlets 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3, and is discharged into the septic tank through the connection path 5 and the waste drain path 6.

In that case, when the user moves away from the toilet after using it, a data input from the detection unit 100 to the third pin of the control unit 200 is stopped. Then, the phase of the seventh pin of the control unit 200 becomes "HIGH" according to the preset program and transistors Q6, Q7 and Qll of the connection path opening/closing drive unit 300 are opened to apply a reverse voltage to the connection path opening/closing motor 500. Then, as the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is rotated in a reverse direction, the connection path blocking plate 600 of FIG. 4 is closed to block a reverse flow of the odor. In addition, as the first pin of the control unit 200 becomes "HIGH" due to the overload as described above, the phase of the seventh pin is changed from "HIGH" to "LOW", and accordingly the connection path opening/closing motor 500 is stopped.

Simultaneously, as the phase of the eleventh pin of the control unit 200 is changed from "HIGH" to "LOW", the detection indication lamp LED1 is turned off (i.e., is extinguished) and the transistors Q5 and Q4 are closed to stop the blower motor 700.

Meanwhile, when the user moves away from the toilet by a preset distance, the detection unit 100 detects the user moving away from the toilet and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detection.

Then, the control unit 200 receives the detection signal output from the detection unit 100 and outputs a control signal corresponding to the detection signal to drain excrements from the toilet. The waste drain drive unit 900 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to drain wastes.

Subsequently, the waste drain motor 1100 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the waste drain drive unit 900, and the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is opened, as shown in FIG 5, so that excrements in the toilet are drained into the waste drain path 6 by the operation of the waste drain motor

1100.

At this time, the washing water supply drive unit 1000 receives the control signal output from the control unit 200 and outputs a driving signal to feed waste drain washing water supplied through the water supply path 4 so that excrements can be discharged into the waste drain path 6 when the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is opened. Then, the washing water supply motor 1200 is operated in response to the driving signal received from the washing water supply drive unit 100, and the washing water supply valve 1400 is opened so that washing water for draining excrements from the toilet is supplied into the toilet through the washing water inflow path 3 and the washing water injecting holes 2 by the operation of the washing water supply motor 1200.

The process in which the waste drain motor 1100 is operated so that the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is opened to drain excrements into the waste drain path 6 will be described in more detail, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A second cam 1120 and a third cam 1130 are mounted on a rotating shaft 1110 of the waste drain motor 1100, and are rotated by the operation of the waste drain motor 1100.

Then, the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is opened by an opening/closing shaft 1140 attached to the second cam 1120. When a limit switch 1160 is switched by a lever 1150 moved upward by the rotation of the third cam 1130, the waste drain motor 1100 is rotated in a reverse direction and closes the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 after a certain period of time.

Additionally, the washing water supply motor 1200 is rotated in a reverse direction and is stopped after a certain period of time so that a certain amount of water is maintained in the toilet after the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is closed by the reverse rotation of the waste drain motor 1100, thereby supplying a certain amount of water so as to allow the next user to conveniently use the toilet.

In the meantime, in order to selectively open and close the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 using a rack gear 1170, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, without using the second cam 1120 and the third cam 1130, the rack gear 1170 is engaged with the rotating shaft of the waste drain motor 1100, and is moved forward or backward by the operation of the waste drain motor 1100.

Then, the opening/closing shaft 1140 on which a fourth cam 1180 and a fifth cam 1190 are mounted is moved by the movement of the rack gear 1170, and opens the waste outlet blocking plate 1300. In that case, when the limit switch 1160 is switched by the fourth cam after the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 is opened, the waste drain motor 1100 is rotated in a reverse direction and closes the waste outlet blocking plate 1300 after a certain period of time. Thereafter, the limit switch 1160 is switched by the fifth cam and stops the waste drain motor 1100 to close the waste outlet blocking plate 1300.

Meanwhile, the opening/closing shaft 1140 is formed of a half rotating shaft 1141 at an end portion thereof, which is coupled to the waste outlet blocking plate 1300, so that the end portion of the opening/closing shaft 1140 can make a half rotation to easily discharge excrements.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, which is capable of minimizing exposure to unpleasant odor generated from the toilet by drawing the odor and discharging the odor into a septic tank, and by intercepting a drain path to prevent the odor from flowing backward while a drain operation is stopped. Additionally, the apparatus can detect a user moving away from the toilet after using the toilet by a preset distance, so that it is possible to flush the toilet using a small amount of water, which results in excellent water saving. In addition, a washing function is automatically performed, so that it is possible to minimize exposure to unpleasant excrements remaining in the toilet bowl even if a user does not operate a lever or button, and to allow the elderly and children unskilled in the operation of the toilet to easily discharge the excrements. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A water saving apparatus with a function of deodorization, comprising: a detection unit for detecting a user using a toilet and moving away from the toilet after using the toilet and outputting corresponding detection signals; a confrol unit for receiving the detection signals output from the detection unit and outputting control signals corresponding to the detection signals to discharge odor from the toilet and drain excrements from the toilet; a connection path opening/closing drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to selectively open and close a connection path to discharge the odor; a blower drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to discharge the odor; a connection path opening/closing motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the connection path opening/closing drive unit; a connection path blocking plate to be opened/closed so that the odor is moved from the toilet into the connection path by operation of the connection path opening/closing motor; a blower motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the blower drive unit; a blower to be rotated so that the odor is discharged from the toilet by the operation of the blower motor; a waste drain drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to discharge waste; a washing water supply drive unit for receiving the control signal output from the control unit and outputting a driving signal to supply waste drain washing water; a waste drain motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the waste drain drive unit; a washing water supply motor to be rotated in response to the driving signal received from the washing water supply drive unit; a waste outlet blocking plate to be selectively opened and closed so that excrements in the toilet are drained into a waste drain path by the operation of the waste drain motor; and a washing water supply valve to be selectively opened and closed so that washing water for draining excrements is supplied into the toilet by the operation of the washing water supply motor.

2. The water saving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a group of odor inlets and a group of washing water injecting holes are formed in an upper circumference of the toilet to be separate from each other, and a connection path is formed to connect the odor inlets, a waste drain path and a waste outlet so that odor can be drawn and discharged.

3. The water saving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection path opening/closing motor comprises an opening/closing lever, a rotating shaft, a fixed shaft and a first cam, and the connection path blocking plate mounted on the rotating shaft is selectively opened and closed by operation of the connection path opening/closing motor so that the odor is discharged through the connection path by the blower.

4. The water saving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second cam and a third cam are mounted on a rotating shaft of the waste drain motor and are rotated by operation of the waste drain motor, the waste outlet blocking plate is opened by operation of an opening/closing shaft attached to the second cam, and when a limit switch is switched by a lever moved upward by rotation of the third cam, the waste drain motor is rotated in a reverse direction and closes the waste outlet blocking plate after a certain period of time.

5. The water saving apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a rack gear is engaged with the rotating shaft of the waste drain motor and is moved forward or backward by operation of the waste drain motor, the opening/closing shaft on which a fourth cam and a fifth cam are mounted is moved by movement of the rack gear and opens the waste outlet blocking plate, and when the limit switch is switched by the fourth cam after the waste outlet blocking plate is opened, the waste drain motor is rotated in a reverse direction and closes the waste outlet blocking plate after a certain period of time, and the limit switch is switched by the fifth cam and stops the waste drain motor.

6. The water saving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the opening/closing shaft is formed of a half rotating shaft at an end portion thereof, which is coupled to the waste outlet blocking plate, so that the end portion of the opening/closing shaft can make a half rotation.