WO2021083470A1

WO2021083470A1 - A toilet flush valve for flushing with sludge-filled water, use of an impregnated rope and use of a silicone gasket

Info

Publication number: WO2021083470A1
Application number: PCT/DK2020/050296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lisbeth PEDERSEN SYLVESTRE; Nils Uwe Karstensen
Original assignee: Ecobeta A/S
Priority date: 2019-11-01
Filing date: 2020-10-30
Publication date: 2021-05-06
Also published as: GB202207507D0; GB2606073A

Abstract

An aspect of the invention is achieved by a toilet flush valve for a toilet tank filled with sludge-filled water. The toilet flush valve comprises a valve part having a through-going channel with a first end and an opposite second end, a valve seat at the first end, and a connector between the ends for connecting with an outlet of a toilet tank. The channel may support, between the ends, a rod, which rod may extend through the first end thereby defining a displacement direction. The toilet flush valve may further comprise a hollow shaft surrounding the rod. The shaft may be displaceable relative to the rod. An actuator may be connected to the shaft for displacing the shaft along the displace- ment direction and a gasket extending from the shaft and engaging the valve seat, when the shaft is in a lower most position, wherein the gasket is made of silicone.

Description

A TOILET FLUSH VALVE FOR FLUSHING WITH SLUDGE-FILLED WATER, USE OF AN IMPREGNATED ROPE AND USE OF A SILICONE GASKET

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toilet flush valve capable of flushing with sludge- filled water, use of impregnated rope and use of a silicone gasket.

Background of the Invention

Experience has shown that toilet flush valves used in Europe are not suitable for all markets, because the quality of the water used to flush in Europe is of higher quality compared to certain markets.

An example of a toilet flush valve is disclosed in GB2397634. A plastic seal engages a valve seat in order to close the flush valve and is elevated from the valve seat in order to allow the water to flush through the valve. The valve seat is pointed in order to pro vide a well-defined engagement with the flexible plastic seal. However, the hollow en circling the pointed part of the valve seat will fill with sludge, sediment sand and other debris, and over time to such an extent that the plastic seal/gasket will not be able to close the valve.

A further example of a toilet flush valve is disclosed in US2001/0042265. Here the seal will also not properly engage the valve seat if sediment or other debris is present in the flushing water. The overall construction with a large number of moving parts will also not be suitable for use with water/sludge containing particles, as the parts will be im mobilised by the sludge/particles.

The main quality difference is that the flush water in Europe is filtered, cleared and treated such that the water is free from impurities, sludge, sand, sediments and other polluting small items. The water used to flush toilets is normally taken from the normal domestic water supply, which water supply is also used for consumption, cocking etc. Although the use of “grey” water (water having been used in for example a washing machine) is becoming more widespread for applications not necessitating pure treated drinking water, the grey water is always filtered before re-use. The use of grey water is done in order to preserve drinking water, as clean water is becoming a sparse resource in many areas. In other areas - particularly less developed countries, the water supply has a much lower standard than what we are used to in the developed part of the world. This fact - of unclean water, or water containing a high content of impurities causes a number of the appliances we use in the developed world to malfunction or have a very short service life, when used in the less developed part of the world.

The consequence of insufficient filtration of the water is a severe creation of sludge inside the water tanks, which causes leakages and in some cases causes the toilet flush valve to stop working.

Thus, there is a need for a toilet flush valve capable of being used in markets with sludge-filled water.

Furthermore, there is a need for a toilet flush valve being water efficient and capable of being used in markets with sludge-filled water.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a toilet flush valve overcoming the limitations of the prior art.

Description of the Invention

An aspect of the invention is achieved by a toilet flush valve for a toilet tank filled with sludge-filled water. The toilet flush valve comprises a valve part having a through-going channel with a first end and an opposite second end, a valve seat at the first end, and a connector between the ends for connecting with an outlet of a toilet tank. The channel may support, between the ends, a rod, which rod may extend through the first end thereby defining a displace ment direction. The toilet flush valve may further comprise a hollow shaft surrounding the rod. The shaft may be displaceable relative to the rod. An actuator may be connected to the shaft for displacing the shaft along the displacement direction and a gasket ex tending from the shaft and engaging the valve seat, when the shaft is in a lower most position. In an embodiment, the gasket may be made of silicone.

Experiments have surprisingly shown that a gasket made of silicone is particular suita- ble for use in a water tank having sludge-filled water as the sludge is less likely to adhere to the silicone compared to a gasket made of rubber or plastics. Furthermore, the sili cone is more flexible and deformable, and as such may/will deform, and thereby provide a substantially tight seal, in any case far better than conventional plastic or rubber gas kets. Thereby, the function of the toilet flush valve is improved as it enables the water tank to be filled for a flush. And furthermore water - being a scarce resource, is being saved as the toilet will not be constantly “running” to no use.

Thereby, leakages are avoided by the silicone gasket. In an embodiment the shaft and the rod are adapted to function as an overflow as over flow water can flow through the hollow shaft and through the channel.

Furthermore, the unfiltered water may contain other kinds of dirt or sediment, which is not sludge. The dirt may be large particles.

The silicone gasket has proven to prevent sediments to get stuck around the edges of the valve and the valve seat. This effect has been observed to increase, i.e less sediment and better sealing with increased thickness of the silicone gasket The valve seat may have outwardly directed conical shape.

The conical shape of the valve seat together with the silicone gasket has proven to be even better at preventing sediments to get stuck around the edges of the valve sheet. In an embodiment, the gasket may have a thickness of at least 3 mm or preferably at least 4 mm in the displacement direction.

Further experiments showed that the effect of the silicone gasket increased with the thickness as the gasket becomes more resilient towards the sometimes heavy sludge. The improvement in resilience was first observed at a thickness of 3 mm, however 4 mm thickness gave even better results. The thicker silicone gasket is especially good to prevent dirt or sediment around the edges of the valve sheet, thereby malfunctioning of toilet flush valve is prevented.

The results were even greater if the valve seat has an outwardly directed conical shape i.e. horn-like shape.

In an embodiment, an impregnated rope may interconnect the shaft and the actuator.

The impregnated rope is chemical stable in the sludge-filled water and thus the func tioning of the toilet flush valve is improved as the rope will not corrode over time.

In an embodiment, the rope may be tied using a gadget, which gadget may have at least three tines positioned to frictionally lock the rope.

Thereby, the impregnated rope can easily be tied without using a knot, which tests have shown to be unreliable over time in the sludge-filled water. Furthermore, the gadget enables easier installation of the toilet flush valve as the rope does not need to be tied in a knot and the slack of the rope can easily be adjusted.

The distance between the tines affects the size of friction and the skilled person would be able to choose the proper distance for the present purpose.

In an embodiment the gadget has five tines positioned to frictionally lock the rope.

In an embodiment, one or more of the tines have one or more protrusions facing neigh- bouring tines.

The protrusions further secure the rope by increasing the friction in a direction parallel to the tines. In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a lever connected to the shaft at a first lever end and the actuator at a second lever end distal to the first lever end.

Thereby a simple and robust solution is provided for actuating the toilet flush valve.

The first lever end may be connected to the shaft by means of the impregnated rope.

The rope may easily and in a fast manner be secured to the lever by the use of the gadget.

In an embodiment, the actuator may comprise a button at a service end, the button com prises an outer ring having when in use a larger horizontal extent than the button.

The outer ring enables a single button including housing to be made for all the different markets having different standards for the size of lid holes of the water tanks as the outer ring can easily be made with the correct inner and outer radius for the different standards.

The skilled person would know that the button will actuate the level.

The outer ring may be made of plastic as plastic is more corrosive resistant than metal. In an embodiment, the shaft may comprise a body of buoyancy.

Thereby, the toilet flush valve becomes a dual flush toilet valve having only one button. If the shaft is actuated shortly, then the toilet flush valve will remain open due to the body of buoyancy. The water level in the water tank will thus drop and at some point the water level will reach an upper part of the body of buoyancy and the body of buoy ancy and thus shaft and gasket will drop as the water level drops further until the toilet flush valve is closed once more.

If the shaft is actuated for a longer period of time then the toilet tank will flush until the toilet tank is empty. The toilet tank will begin to fill once the toilet flush valve is closed again. An aspect of the invention is achieved by use of impregnated rope in a toilet tank with sludge-filled water for interconnecting an actuator and a valve.

Thereby, the lifetime of the connection between the actuator and the valve is extended considerably. The effect is achieved because the impregnated rope is chemically inert relative to the sludge-filled water.

An aspect of the invention is achieved by use of a gasket in a toilet tank with sludge- filled water for establishing a water tight connection with a valve seat, wherein the gas- ket is made of silicone.

Experiments have surprisingly shown that a gasket made of silicone is particular suita ble for use in a water tank having sludge-filled water as the sludge is less likely to adhere to the silicone compared to a gasket made of rubber. Thereby, the function of the toilet flush valve is improved as it enables the water tank to be filled for a flush.

The silicone gasket may have a thickness of at least 3 mm or more preferred at least 4 mm as the gasket’s ability to block sludge increases with the thickness of the gasket. Further experiments showed that the effect of the silicone gasket increased with the thickness as the gasket become more resilient towards the sometimes heavy sludge.

The improvement in resilience was first observed at a thickness of 3 mm, however 4 mm thickness gave even better results. The silicone gasket will typically be in the shape of a solid cylinder or an annular cyl inder and the thickness in the present application would be equal to the height of the solid cylinder or height of the annular cylinder.

Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 discloses a toilet flush valve; Fig. 2 discloses a second embodiment of a toilet flush valve; and Fig. 3 discloses a button with an outer ring. Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 discloses a toilet flush valve 10. Fig. 1A discloses the embodiment of the toilet flush valve 10 and Fig. IB discloses a valve part 20 supporting a rod 30. The toilet flush valve 10 has all the features disclosed in Fig. IB.

The toilet flush valve 10 is adapted for a toilet tank filled with sludge-filled water.

The toilet flush valve 10 comprises a valve part 20 having a through-going channel 22 with a first end 281 and an opposite second end 2811, see fig. IB. The toilet flush valve 10 comprises a valve seat 24 at the first end 281, and a connector 26 between the ends 281, 2811 for connecting with an outlet of a toilet tank. The channel 22 supports, between the ends 281, 2811, a rod 30, which rod 30 extends through the first end 281 and thereby defines a displacement direction 100. The rod 30 is only visible in Fig. IB.

The toilet regulator 10 further comprises a hollow shaft 32 surrounding the rod 30 and the shaft 32 being displaceable relative to the rod 30, an actuator 40 connected to the shaft 32 for displacing the shaft 32 along the displacement direction 100 and a gasket 50 extending from the shaft 32 and engaging the valve seat 24, when the shaft 32 is in a lower most position, wherein the gasket 50 is made of silicone. The actuator 40 comprises a lever 42 connected to the shaft 32 at a first lever end 441 and a button 70 at second lever end 4411 distal to the first lever end 441. The pressing of the button 70 will cause a displacement of the shaft in the upwardly direction 100.

An impregnated rope 52 interconnects the shaft 32 and the first lever end 441. The shaft 32 further comprises a body of buoyancy 54

Thereby, the toilet flush valve 10 becomes a dual flush toilet valve having only one button 70. If the shaft 32 is actuated shortly, then the toilet flush valve 10 will remain open due to the body of buoyancy 54. The water level in the water tank will thus drop and at some point the water level will reach an upper part of the body of buoyancy 54 and the body of buoyancy 54 and thus shaft and gasket will drop as the water level drops further until the toilet flush valve is closed once more.

If the shaft is actuated for a longer period of time then the toilet tank will flush until the toilet tank is empty. The toilet tank will begin to fill once the toilet flush valve is closed again. Fig. 2 discloses a second embodiment of a toilet flush valve 10. The toilet flush valve 10 has all the features disclosed in Fig. 1A and IB.

In addition, the toilet flush valve 10 comprises a gadget 60 to which the rope 52 is tied. The gadget 60 has five tines 62 positioned to frictionally lock the rope 52, see fig. IB.

The distance between the tines 62 is adapted to get the sufficient frictional force to lock the rope 52. Each tine 62 has one or two protrusions facing neighbouring tines 62, thereby the fric tional force in a direction parallel to the tines 62 is increased significantly.

Fig. 3 discloses a button 70 with an outer ring 72. The figure discloses part of the actu ator 40.

The two embodiments shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. IB may both be equipped with an outer ring 72.

The button 70 comprises an outer ring 72 having a larger horizontal extent than the button 70.

Thereby, the same button 70 including housing can be used in different markets with different standard for lid holes of water tank as the outer ring 72 can bridge the gap between the lid hole and the button 70.

The outer ring 72 may be made of plastic.

Claims

1. A toilet flush valve (10) for a toilet tank filled with sludge-filled water, the toilet flush valve (10) comprising a valve part (20) having a through-going channel (22) with a first end (281) and an opposite second end (2811), a valve seat (24) at the first end (281), and a connector (26) between the ends (281, 2811) for connecting with an outlet of a toilet tank, the channel (22) supports, between the ends (281, 2811), a rod (30), which rod (30) extends through the first end (281) thereby defining a displacement direction (100), the toilet flush valve (10) further comprising a hollow shaft (32) surrounding the rod (30) and the shaft (32) being displaceable relative to the rod (30), an actuator (40) connected to the shaft (32) for displacing the shaft (32) along the displacement direction (100) and a gasket (50) extending from the shaft (32) and engaging the valve seat (24), when the shaft (32) is in a lower most position, wherein the gasket (50) is made of silicone wherein the gasket (50) has a thickness of at least 3 mm or preferably at least 4 mm in the displacement direction (100).

2. The toilet flush valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein an impregnated rope (52) interconnects the shaft (32) and the actuator (40).

3. The toilet flush valve (10) according to claim 3, wherein the rope (52) is tied using a gadget (60), which gadget (60) has at least five tines (62) positioned to frictionally lock the rope (52).

4. The toilet flush valve (10) according to claim 3, wherein one or more of the tines (62) have one or more protrusions (64) facing neighbouring tines (62).

5. The toilet flush valve (10) according to one or more of claims 1-4, wherein the actu ator (40) comprises a lever (42) connected to the shaft (32) at a first lever end (441) and the actuator (40) at a second lever end (4411) distal to the first lever end (441).

6. The toilet flush valve (10) according to one or more of claims 1-5, wherein the actu ator (40) comprises a button (70) at a service end, the button (70) comprises an outer ring (72) having when in use a larger horizontal extent than the button (70).

7. The toilet flush valve (10) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the shaft (32) comprises a body of buoyancy (54).

8. Use of impregnated rope (52) in a toilet tank with sludge-filled water for intercon- necting an actuator and a valve.

9. Use of a gasket (50) in a toilet tank with sludge-filled water for establishing a water tight connection with a valve seat (24), wherein the gasket (50) is made of silicone.