AU691991B2

AU691991B2 - Flushing device in a toilet flushing cistern

Info

Publication number: AU691991B2
Application number: AU39166/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alois Diethelm
Original assignee: Geberit Technik AG
Current assignee: Geberit Technik AG
Priority date: 1994-12-01
Filing date: 1995-11-30
Publication date: 1998-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-30
Also published as: EP0715033B1; CZ288307B6; AU3916695A; CZ317795A3; ES2138715T3; EP0715033A1; ATE182941T1; SK148195A3; DE59506524D1; DK0715033T3; DE29516313U1

Abstract

The equipment has an operating device (11), in which a valve body (2) is lifted from a discharge unit (10), by a pulling element (3), in order to cause a full or partial flushing process. In the case of a partial flush, the body is loaded with an additional weight (4). During a partial flush, the element engages on the weight, and the weight engages on the body. After a partial flush, the device can be uncoupled by an member (1) on the discharge unit. This may be a lever with two arms, and one arm (6) may lift the valve body by engaging on the weight. The other arm may be forced to make a switching movement to release the weight before the body reaches its upper end position.

Description

S F Ref: 317151

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r r e r o o o o r IC- ~IILIII_ ~-_111~ Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Geberit Technik Schachenstrasse CH-8645 Jona

SWITZERLAND

Alois Diethelm Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Flushing Device in a Toilet Flushing Cistern The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845 The invention relates to a flushing device in a toilet flushing cistern, possessing an actuating mechanism with which a valve body of a discharge set can be lifted by means of a pulling element for selectively triggering either a full or partial flush, whereat in the case of a partial flush the valve body is loaded with an additional weight, and possessing means for disengaging the actuating mechanism after a partial flush has been triggered.

A flushing device of this kind has become known to the state of the art by EP-A-0 448 092. In this case, a lever system is proposed for triggering the partial flush, having two separately supported levers between which a coupling *device is disposed with a hook that is arranged angularly rotatable at a free end section of a first lever, with 15 guiding means being formed by an inclined part that protrudes, in place of the said hook attached to the said first lever, in order to permit engagement of the said hook with the second lever. This very complex actuating mechanism in principle ensures that the closing movement of the valve body cannot be influenced by the operator after triggering a partial flush. In particular, the closing movement will be carried out in a precise manner even if the operator keeps pushing the corresponding press key.

,With this flushing device, it is regarded as 25 disadvantageous that it requires a relatively complex system of levers and that for example an actuating arrangement using a push-button is not achievable. The lever system is situated at least partially above the flushing water and is very susceptible to calcium deposits which can lead to malfunctions.

A flushing arrangement with an actuating mechanism that selectively permits either a full or a partial flush has furthermore become known from DE-A-36 18 671 of the applicant. In this, in the case of a partial flush the extra weight is suspended at the valve body by means of a reversing device disposed at the upper end of the valve -3body. Engagement of the actuating mechanism after a partial flush has been triggered is not proposed here.

Finally, DE-U-92 15 972 shows a flushing device in which, for the partial discharge of the flushing cistern, a float that is connected to an additional auxiliary valve is assoc.iated with an actuating mechanism. This arrangement is of a very complicated construction and consists of many individual parts.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a discharge fitting to be received within a toilet flush tank, which is to receive water to a predetermined level, the fitting being selectively operable to provide a full or a partial flush, said fitting including: a valve body which is raised to expose a valve opening to drain water from Swithin the tank; a float attached to the valve body to urge the valve body to a position exposing said valve opening; weight means operatively associated with the valve body to provide the partial flush by raising the valve body when the weight means is raised; an engaging means which connects the weight means to the valve body when the weight means is raised, the weight means when engaged with the valve body urges 20 said valve body to close said opening; operating means to raise said valve body to provide the full flush or said weight means to provide said partial flush; coupling means operatively associated with the operating means to connect the operating means with the weight means when a partial flush is to be provided; and uncoupling means to engage the coupling means to release said weight means after said operating member is connectable with said valve body, said coupling being located so as to be positioned below said water level.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [N:\LIBLL]O1381;PVH Fig. 1 a longitudinal section of a flushing device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section as per Figure 1 but after a partial flush has been triggered.

The flushing device 50 shown in the drawing is inserted into a customary flushing cistern 12 that is shown here only partially. It consists essentially of a discharge set and an actuating mechanism 11, by means of which a valve body 2 that may at the same time serve as an overflow pipe is lifted from a valve seat 19, whereupon water situated in the flushing cistern 12 enters a float housing 15 via lateral apertures 17 and from there reaches a toilet bowl that is not shown here via an opening 49.

S"The valve body 2 is kept suspended by the buoyancy of a 15 float 16 disposed in the float housing 15 until the 9 9 S flushing cistern is partially or completely emptied.

Discharge sets 10 with a float 16 and a liftable valve body 2 have been known for quite some time. To attach them, a connection piece 18 of the float housing 15 is inserted 20 into the bottom of the flushing cistern 12 through an opening A'l and is fixed with a securing nut 14 screwed on from underneath.

The actuating mechanism 11 is so formed as to permit either a full flush or a partial flush, as desired. For implementing a full flush the actuating mechanism 11 possesses a lever 25 that pivotably runs in bearings at a fixed link 24 and which possesses a press key 26 that is accessible from the outside of the flushing cistern. With one end 51 the lever 25 engages into a slot 22 of a strap 21 integrally formed with the valve body 2. The lever may also be a push-button, as it is used particularly with ceramic flushing cisterns. It is merely essential to be able to lift the valve body 2 by its operation. When the key press 26 is depressed, the valve body 2 with the valve disk 20 is lifted so that the discharge valve opens. The P II-~ float 16 keeps the lifted valve body 2 suspended until the flushing cistern 12 is essentially completely emptied.

Subsequently, the valve body 2 falls downward once more and closes the valve, whereupon the flushing cistern is filled once more up to a predetermined level by means of an inlet valve that is not shown here.

For triggering a partial flush the actuating mechanism 11 is equipped with a second lever 30 which is also pivotable at the fixed link 24 and possesses a key press 31 that is operable from outside. Here, too, the key press 31 is merely a handhold, which could also consist of, for example, a push-button. A lower end 52 of the lever engages into an opening 28 of a strap 27 that is attached go ~at the upper end of a pulling element 3, in particular a 15 pull rod. The pull rod 3 is slideably guided in a drillhole 41 of a lug 40 formed integrally with a weight body 4 and extends downwards up to a lid 38 of the float housing At the lower end of the pull rod 3 is attached a bearing part 34 at which a coupling element 1 pivotably runs in bearings. The coupling element 1 consists of a two-arm lever, with a downward-pointing arm 5 engaging in the lid 38 of the float housing 15 through an opening 36. The other 4 arm 6 points upwards obliquely ana is inclined against the 0. outside of the valve body 2. A projection 39 is integrally 25 formed with the coupling element 1 which contacts the upper side of the lid 38 in the position as per Figure 1. A further projection 53 formed integrally with the coupling element 1 bears on a cam 35 of the lid 38 in the position shown in Figure 1 and maintains the arm 6 in the position shown.

When the pull rod 3 is moved upward by pivoting of the lever 30, the coupling element 1 is pulled upwards at the same time. Hereby the arm 6, pivoted inward, grips the weight body 4 at a shoulder 55 from below and also pulls this one upwards with it. Since at the same time a contact surface 7 at the upper end of the weight body 4 bears against a shoulder 23 of the valve body 2, this is also moved upwards. The final position of this upward movement is shown in Figure 2. This position is reached after press key 31 has been depressed completely. The discharge valve is open in this position and the flushing water can flow outward in the direction of the arrow 48 into the toilet bowl, which is not shown here. Shortly before this final position is reached, a guide surface 37 disposed at the lower end of arm 5 engages a rim 56 of the opening 36 whereby the arm 5 is pivoted about the bearing element 34 in a counter-clockwise direction, and the arm 6 is also pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction. The engagement of the arm 6 at the shoulder 55 is thus undone in the final position shown in Figure 2. In this position, the pull rod S 15 3 is therefore no longer coupled to the weight body 4, so that this latter can move downwards independently of the S"position of the pull rod 3.

Simultaneously with the said uncoupling, a single-arm lever 8 that pivotably runs in bearings on an axle 62 of the weight body 4 is pivoted until a tooth 61 at the lower end of this lever 8 is disposed at a short distance above a shoulder 29 of the valve body 2. The pivoting is carried out by means of connecting links 45 that are guided in an opening 44 of the lid 38. As Figure 2 shows, a lower S.o.

25 contact surface 57 of the tooth 61 is situated only a little above the shoulder 29 when the valve is completely open. When the weight body 4, uncoupled from the pull rod 3, moves downwards along the valve body 2, the tooth 61, after short travel, bears on the shoulder 29, whereby the said movement is interrupted and the valve body 2 is weighted with the weight body 4. The total weight of the valve body 2 and the weight body 4 is so dimensioned that the buoyancy of the float 16 is insufficient to prevent a premature closing movement of the valve body 2. The valve body 2 therefore moves downwards relatively fast after engagement of the weight body 4 until the valve disk it 7 bears upon the valve seat 19. Due to the premature closure of the valve a predetermined amount of the flushing water remains in the flushing cistern 12.

During the closing movement of the valve body 2 the tooth 61 glides downwards on a guide surface 58 disposed on an insert 42 of the discharge set 10. This guide surface 58 is so shaped that the engagement element 8 is directed outward shortly before the closure of the discharge valve, whereby the engagement of the tooth 61 at the shoulder 29 is undone. About at the same time the coupling element 1 is pivoted back, by an engagement of the cam 35 at the projection 39, into the initial position shown in Figure 1.

During the said closing movement the pulling element 3 °oo descends automatically due to its own weight. It is now see.* 15 essential that the closing movement occurs even when the press key 31 is held, during the closing movement, in the lower position shown in Figure 2. This is feasible due to the uncoupling detailed above. The coupling element 1 in this case remains in the position shown in Figure 2, whereas the weight body 4 moves downwards and accommodates the coupling element 1 in a recess 59. When the key press ft 31 is finally released, the pull rod 3 with the coupling element 1 descends into the initial position shown in ease Figure 1. After closure of the discharge valve the flushing *see 25 cistern 12 is filled up once again in a known manner by means of an inlet valve that is not shown here. The flushing device 50 is thereupon ready once more for a selectable full or partial flush.

Compared with a customary flushing device without partial flush the flushing device according to the present invention can be implemented using few and robust supplementary parts. These supplementary parts, that is in particular the two coupling elements 1 and 8, can be integrated into the discharge set 10, whereby results a particularly compact and easily installed construction. The valve body 2 is freely rotatable within the float housing l L~-a 8 and is not weighted with additional coupling parts. As mentioned earlier, the actuating mechanism 11 may vary greatly in constructive design, so that the flushing device according to the invention is useable with virtually all customary flushing cisterns and particularly also with ceramic and built-in flushing cisterns.

Despite the considerable advantages of the flushing device according to the invention it is clearly capable of implementation using relatively few, simple and robust constructive parts, so that a flushing device'has been created according to the invention that not only takes into account, in an outstanding manner, the requirements of sanitary engineering but is cost-effective and extremely reliable in operation thanks to its simple and robust manner of construction.

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Claims

2. The dicharge fitting of claim 1, wherein said operating means include Sa first operating member, which first operating member lifts said weight means, and a second operating member which lifts said valve body, and said coupling means is mounted on said first member. 25 3. The discharge fitting of claim 1, wherein said coupling and uncoupling means is a coupling element pivotally attached to said first member; said coupling element including a first arm which engages said weight means to lift the weight means; and a second arm which is operable to release said weight means when said weight means reaches a predetermined raised position.
4. The discharge fitting of claim 3, wherein means are arranged on a housing at least partly surrounding the valve body, to engage said second arm to release said weight means. The discharge fitting of claim 3, wherein bearings are arranged at a lower end of said first member to provide said pivotal attachment with said coupling element. -N:\LIBLLI01381:PVH
6. The discharge fitting of claim 4, wherein said means to engage said second arm is arranged on a cap mounted on said housing.
7. The discharge fitting of claim of any preceding clai.,i wherein said engaging means is an engaging element pivotally attached to said weight means and includes an arm which is operable to detachably secure said weight means to said valve body.
8. The discharge fitting of claim 7, wherein means are arranged on a housing at least partly surrounding the valve body to engage said engaging element to detach said weight means from said valve body when said valve body is being lowered.
9. The discharge fitting of claim 7, wherein bearings are arranged on said weight means to provide said pivotal connection with said engaging element. 10 The discharge fitting of claim 8, wherein said means to engage said engaging element is arranged on a cap mounted on said housing.
11. The discharge fitting of any preceding claim, wherein a stop is arranged on said weight means to provide an effective engagement with said valve body to raise said valve body when said weight means is being raised by said operating means.
12. A discharge fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 19 March, 1998 Gerberit Technik AG Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON IN:\LIBLL101381 :PVH Flushing Device in a Toilet Flushing Cistern Abstract A valve body of a discharge set (10) can be lifted by means of an actuating mechanism (11) for selectively triggering a full or partial flush. In the case of a partial flush the valve body is weighted with an additional weight Means for uncoupling the actuating mechanism (11) are disposed at the discharge set During a partial flush the pulling element acts 10 upon the additional weight and the latter upon the valve body A reliable partial flush is possible using few supplementary parts that can be integrated in the discharge set 6"