WO2013038142A1

WO2013038142A1 - Toilet flushing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2013038142A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/052103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Ward; Malcolm Moore
Original assignee: Yourtech Limited
Priority date: 2011-09-15
Filing date: 2012-08-28
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: GB201115930D0

Abstract

A toilet flushing unit including an actuator for operating a manually actuable toilet flushing device, a control system for operating the actuator after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a previous operation of the actuator.

Description

Toilet Flushing Unit

The present invention relates to a toilet flushing unit.

Known toilets have a cistern of water which is emptied into the toilet bowl to flush the contents thereof away after the toilet has been used. Flushing of the toilet is initiated by the user operating a handle mounted on the cistern or pressing a button mounted on the cistern. Typically, the operating of a lever or the pressing of the button will create a siphon which will empty the contents of the cistern into the toilet bowl. When the cistern is substantially empty the siphon effect is broken and the cistern refills with water from the mains.

Other types of cistern are known wherein a button or lever opens a valve (typically in the form of a plug) in the bottom of the cistern, which then empties into the toilet bowl.

Such cisterns are reliant upon the toilet user operating the lever or pushing the button. In other systems, typically commercial systems found in large establishments such as airports, it is not necessary for the user to push or activate a flush handle or button, rather the user's presence is detected by an infrared system or the like and once the user has finished using the toilet the system will automatically flush. In other systems, again in large establishments such as public houses, a series of urinals are flushed periodically by an automatic system wherein a cistern is trickle fed with water from the mains and once the level in the cistern reaches a certain height a siphon is completed and the cistern empties. The system will flush again depending upon how long it takes to refill the cistern, which itself is dependent upon the water pressure of the mains. Typically the urinals will be flushed several times per hour.

Thus, known systems are aimed at flushing human waste and are reliant on the presence of a user. Systems used in large establishments are aimed at flushing the toilet/urinal at regular intervals throughout the day, in the expectation that they will be used at regular intervals throughout the day. However, there is a problem with domestic toilets which may not be used at all for long periods of time. For example, a "holiday home" on the Mediterranean coast may not be used for several months and as such the toilets will also not be used for several months. Due to the warm nature of the Mediterranean climate, evaporation of the water trap can take place thereby allowing odours from the sewerage system to permeate the house. This is clearly unhygienic. Furthermore, some insects can lay their eggs in the water of a toilet bowl and when those eggs hatch, the home can become infested with flies and the like. This is not a problem if the toilet it used regularly, but it does become a problem when the toilet is not used for several days, or weeks, or months at a time.

There is therefore a problem of ensuring that water in toilet bowls is not a breading ground for flies and the like and also the water in toilet bowls does not evaporate over the course of a few weeks. Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a toilet flushing unit including an actuator for operating a manually actuable toilet flushing device, a control system for operating the actuator after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a previous operation of the actuator. Advantageously, by securing the unit adjacent the push button or handle of a domestic toilet the toilet can be flushed, even in the absence of the household owner.

Preferably, the predetermined amount of time is at least one day, or at least two days, or at least three days, or at least four days, or at least five days, or at least six days, or at least seven days.

By setting a time period of at least one day between flushes means that water within the bowl will not have time to evaporate, even when in warmer climates. Furthermore, water in a toilet bowl will not become a breeding ground for flies and the like, because their gestation period within water is longer than one day.

In one embodiment the predetermined amount of time is selectable by a user. Thus, depending upon the particular circumstances and the particular time of year, the user can set the amount of time between toilet flushes. Thus, in relatively cool and humid areas, the time taken for water to evaporate will be longer than when compared with relatively hot dry climates. The time period can be set according to the expected atmospheric conditions whilst the house will be unoccupied.

In areas where insect infestation may become a problem, then the time period between flushes can be set at just less than the gestation period of eggs within water of the particular local type of fly or insect. In this way, the eggs are flushed into the sewer system before they hatch.

The invention will not be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a toilet flushing unit according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of the toilet flushing unit of figure 1 and, Figure 3 is a cross section side view of the toilet flushing unit of figure 1.

With reference to the drawings there is shown a toilet flushing unit 10 having a body 12, a control unit 14, a power source 16, operator controls 18, an actuator arrangement 20 and an attachment mechanism 22. The body consists of two mouldings 12A and 12B.

The control unit includes a printed circuit board.

The power source 16 consists of a pack of batteries. In this case eight A A batteries are used but in further embodiments different numbers of batteries or different battery types could be used or an electricity mains supply could be used. The battery pack is housed within body half 12B and a cover 24 closes the aperture for the battery pack in body half 12B. The operator controls 18 consist of an on-off switch 26 and a programming switch 28. The actuator arrangement consists of an electric motor 30, a lead screw 32, a nut 34 and a spring 36. The electric motor has a mounting flange 30A and an output shaft 30B. The output shaft 30B is secured rotationally fast with the lead screw 32 via a screw 38. The lead screw includes an external thread (not shown) which is in threaded engagement with an internal thread (not shown) of the nut 34. A collar 40 is secured in the two body halves 12A and 12B. One end 36A of the spring abuts the collar 40. An opposite end 36B of the spring abuts the nut 34.

A foot 42 is secured to the bottom of the lead screw via a screw 43. Fixings 44 are attached to the mounting flange 30A of the electric motor in a manner that allows the motor to slide up and down (i.e. in the direction of arrow A of figure 3 and in the direction of arrow B of figure 3) ribs 45 of body halves 12A and 12B (the rib of body half 12B is not shown, but is a mirror image of the rib of body half 12A). Electrical leads (not shown) connect the power source 16 to the control unit 14. Further electrical leads (not shown) connect a control unit to the electric motor 30, and, as will be described below, these leads are of such a length to allow the motor to move up and down. The attachment mechanism 22 is a known suction unit having an elastomeric suction pad 50 and a body 51. The body includes a mechanism (only part of which is shown) 52. When placed on a flat smooth surface, the mechanism 52 can be operated via rotating lever 53 about axis 54 to move the lower surface of the suction pad 50 from position C shown in solid line in figure 3 to position D shown in chain line in figure 3. This creates a suction which holds the attachment mechanism onto the appropriate surface. The control unit has a display 14A which is visible to a user through a hole 12C in body half 12A.

Operation of the toilet flushing unit is as follows :-

New batteries are fitted into the battery pack which is inserted into the body 12. The cover 24 is replaced. The unit is then placed on toilet cistern 60 (see figure 3) such that the axis E of the lead screw is directly in line with the flush button 61 of the cistern. The lever 53 is then rotated so as to secure the unit in place on the cistern 60.

The unit is then turned on by the operator operating the on-off switch 26.

The programming switch 28 can then be used to programme the desired time interval between flushes. Typically, the time period may be a day, or a multiple of a day. However, alternative time periods could be chosen. Once the time period has been selected the programming switch 28 can be operated such that the toilet flushing unit carries out a test flush. Under these circumstances the control unit powers the electric motor 30 which causes the output shaft 30B to rotate, which in turn rotates the lead screw 32. Due to the threaded engagement between the lead screw and the nut 34 as the lead screw rotates it progresses in the direction of arrow B towards the button 61 and then depresses the button 61 causing the toilet to flush. As will be appreciated, as the lead screw advances in the direction of arrow B, then it draws with it the electric motor 30. Once the siphon within the toilet has been initiated, the control unit causes the motor to rotate in a reverse direction and the lead screw and motor together return, in the direction of arrow A, to the position shown in figure 3. Once the test flush has been successfully completed, then the timer will start and subsequent flushes will occur after the selected time (e.g. one day later).

The spring 36 and collar 40 act as a safety device in the event that unit is misaligned when it is attached to the cistern. Thus should the foot 42 be inadvertently aligned with another part of the cistern instead of being aligned with the button 61, then when the foot engages the cistern it will not be able to travel any further, and under these circumstances continued rotation of the lead screw will cause the nut 34 to move in the direction of arrow A against the pressure of the spring 36 and no damage will occur. As described above, the controlled unit will then power the motor in a reverse direction and the nut will then move in the direction of arrow B and return to the position shown in figure 3, following which the lead screw will move in the direction of arrow A and ultimately return to the position shown in figure 3. The operator can then detach the unit from the cistern, reposition the foot 42 correctly over the button 61 and reattach the unit and then carry out a test flush to ensure that it is now correctly positioned. As described above, the unit will carry out repeat flushing operations after a predetermined time after the initial test flush. Thus, for example, if the unit is set to flush every day, and the first test flush takes place at 5.00am, then subsequent flushes will occur every day at 5.00am. In further embodiments, the unit may be set up to flush at the same time each day, irrespective of when the first test flush took place. Thus, in another embodiment, the unit can be set to flush at noon every day and if the first test flush occurs at 5.00am on day 1, then subsequent flushes will occur at noon on day 1, day 2, day 3 etc. This is advantageous when the user has to leave the house in the night or very earlier morning (for example so as to be able to catch a flight home) but where subsequent flushing of the toilet at that time might disturb the neighbours. As such, flushing can occur at a time of day when disturbing of neighbours is less likely to occur.

Advantageously, by arranging the time period between flushes to be selectable by the operator, it can be set to longer or shorter periods depending upon particular circumstances. If the time period is set to a longer period, then advantageously this both saves water, since fewer flushes are carried out, but also saves electrical power. As described above, whilst embodiments of the unit can either be battery powered or mains powered, it is generally more convenient to arrange for battery power since often there is no readily available electrical power source in bathrooms and the like. Under these circumstances when battery power is being used, then it is advantageous for the user to choose a longer time period (provided that this time period will still flush the toilet sufficiently regularly so as not to encounter the problems described above) thereby saving battery power. Thus, if the unit is set to flush once a week rather than once a day, over, for example, a four month period when the house will not be occupied, then only 16 flushes will have occurred as opposed to if the unit is set to flush once a day, than 112 flushes will have occurred. As will be appreciated, when the unit is powered by batteries, this can be advantageous.

The display 14A can be used during programming to indicate the time period, for example in days between flushes. Furthermore the display can be used to indicate the total number of flushes carried out since the unit was set up and the house left unoccupied. The user, when returning to the house after a long period, will expect to see the number "16" in the display if it has been left for four months and the timer is set to flush once per week. If a number other than 16 appears (for example 2, or 50) then this is an indication that the unit is malfunctioning and appropriate action can be taken.

Whilst other attachment mechanisms may be used, advantageously a single attachment unit means that the area around the foot 42 is relatively clear and is not visually obstructed. Accordingly a single attachment mechanism makes it easier to align the foot 42 with the cistern button 61.

As mentioned above, the desired time interval between flushes can be programmed and typically the desired time interval may be a day or a multiple of a day. In some embodiments the time interval flushes may be a minimum of 1 day, i.e. may not be possible to program the toilet flushing unit to flush more often than once a day.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments a test flush takes place (in the example above at 5 am) followed by a flush at noon on the same day, followed by flushes at noon on all subsequent days. In some embodiments the time period between the second (noon on the first day) and third (noon on the second day) and subsequent flushes may be a minimum of 1 day, i.e. the system may be arranged such that it is not possible to have a time interval between a second and third and all subsequent flushes of less than 24 hours. According to further aspects of the present invention there is provided a method of flushing a toilet, the method including providing a toilet bowl and a cistern for supplying water to flush the toilet bowl, providing a toilet flushing unit including an actuator for operating a manually actuable toilet flushing device, a control system for operating the actuator after a predetermined amount of time has been elapsed since a previous operation of the actuator,

attaching the toilet flushing unit to an outside of the cistern, arranging the control system to operate the actuator to operate the manually actuable toilet flushing device. The manually actuable toilet flushing device may be a push button. The manually actuable toilet flushing device may be a toilet flushing handle rotatable about an axis.

Claims

A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of time is at least one day, or at least two days, or at least three days, or at least four days, or at least five days, or at least six days, or at least seven days.

A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the predetermined amount of time is selectable by a user.

A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the predetermined amount of time is selectable from at least two of:

at least one day,

at least two days,

at least three days,

at least four days,

at least five days,

at least six days,

at least seven days.

A toilet flushing unit as defined in any preceding claim including a suction device for securing the unit in place.

A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 5 wherein the suction device includes a lever or the like for creating/increasing suction of the suction device.

7. A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 5 or 6 wherein the suction device is a single suction device.

8. A toilet flushing unit as defined in any preceding claim including an indicator for indicating the number of actuator operations performed.

9. A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 8 wherein the indicator indicates the number of actuator operations since the toilet flushing unit was last reset.

10. A toilet flushing unit as defined in any preceding claim wherein the actuator is battery powered.

11. A toilet flushing unit as defined in any preceding claim wherein the actuator is a linear actuator.

12. A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 11 wherein the linear actuator includes a rotary electric motor in driving engagement with a lead screw.

13. A toilet flushing unit as defined in claim 12 wherein the rotary motor is fixed relative to a body of toilet flushing unit and the lead screw moves relative to the body of the toilet flushing unit.