EP0754808A1

EP0754808A1 - Pantograph device for actuating the flushing valves of inset water-closet cisterns

Info

Publication number: EP0754808A1
Application number: EP96201846A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enzo Cecchi
Original assignee: FELTON SA
Current assignee: FELTON SA
Priority date: 1995-07-20
Filing date: 1996-07-03
Publication date: 1997-01-22
Also published as: ITMI950519V0; ITMI950519U1; IT237048Y1

Abstract

Device for actuating the flushing valves of water-closet cisterns (1) inset in a wall (2), which comprises a pantograph transmission group consisting of a pair of substantially parallel levers (6, 7), the opposite ends of which are respectively hinged on corresponding pins (5a, 6a) integral with a frame (4) fixed to the wall (2) and on pins (6b, 7b) integral with an anchor-piece (8; 108) sliding translatably on an element (9; 10, 9) for fastening to the tube (3) closing the flushing system, there also being provided a bidirectional operating plate (5) for the device effecting opening and/or controlled interruption of the flushing system.

Description

The present invention relates to a pantograph device for actuating flushing valves in particular of the type for inset water-storage cisterns for sanitary installations and the like.
In the art it is known of various forms of operating devices for opening and/or closing the flushing valve of water-storage cisterns for water closets, both of the type outside the wall and of the type inside the latter, i.e. inset or concealed.
It is also known of devices for actuating said flushing valves which are designed to allow interruption of the water supply at any time so as to avoid excessive consumption in cases where this is not required.
In the particular case of inset cisterns, i.e. which are housed in a cavity inside a wall, cladded partition or the like, the current devices for controlled operation of the flushing valve usually do not include the possibility of a simple, but extensive adjustment, depthwise and heightwise, of the lever mechanisms which are located between the actuating lever or pushbutton, normally positioned visibly in a position outside the wall, and the valve operating tube inside the cistern and the wall itself; on the contrary, it is only possible to perform adjustments which, normally, do not allow recovery, in all cases, of the differences in distance between the visible wall surface and the vertically movable tube which actuates the flushing valve, differences which are due mainly to the different thicknesses of the walls containing the tank itself.
In the cases, therefore, of considerable differences in the thickness of the wall in front of the tank, the known actuating devices must either be constructed with suitable dimensions or adapted by means of contrivances and substitute parts which do not always ensure the required functioning of the mechanisms.
It is also known from IT-000131/92U, in the name of the same Applicant, of an actuating device with a self-adjustable extension based on an actuating lever with a substantially triangular shape, oscillating eccentrically about a horizontal axis of said frame, and with a freely slidable vertex guided by associated means on a horizontal flange of an element, the other vertical flange of which has at its end a sleeve, having associated with it securing means designed to engage with the top end of a vertical tube, carrying the flushing valve of the cistern.
The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing an actuating device for said flushing valves of inset cisterns, designed to overcome the applicational limitations of the known devices and in particular designed to be easily and rapidly adaptable, during installation, to the various distances existing between the front surface of the wall which encloses the cistern and the associated actuating tube of the flushing valve.
Within the scope of this problem it is an object of the invention to provide an actuating device of the type indicated above, designed to allow said adjustments without the use of substitute parts, with varying dimensions, depending on the thickness of the wall in front of the tank, and designed to allow said adjustments to be performed automatically without the use of tools, even by non-specialized personnel, with obvious advantages both of a practical and economic nature.
Another object of the invention is that of providing an actuating device for said flushing valves which is able to allow the interruption, at any desired moment, of the flushing flow while maintaining substantially the same pressure for actuation of the operating lever or pushbutton, whatever the thickness of the wall in front of the tank.
These technical problems are resolved according to the invention by a device for actuating the flushing valves of water-closet cisterns inset in a wall, which comprises a pantograph tramsmission group consisting of a pair of substantially parallel levers, the opposite ends of which are respectively hinged on corresponding pins integral with a frame, fixed to the wall, and on pins integral with an anchor-piece sliding translatably on an element for fastening to the flushing closing tube, there also being provided a bidirectional operating plate for the device effecting opening and/or controlled interruption of the flushing system.
Further characteristic features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of some of the practical embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying illustrative plates, provided solely by way of example, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device for actuating flushing valves according to the invention, illustrated in association with an inset storage cistern having a front wall of limited thickness;
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the pin indicated by II-II in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows the device according to Figure 1, during opening of the flushing system;
Figure 4 shows the device according to the invention, applied to a wall of medium thickness, during opening of the flushing system;
Figure 5 shows the device according to the invention, applied to an inset cistern with a front wall of considerable thickness;
Figure 6 shows an alternative example of embodiment of the device according to the invention; and
Figure 7 shows a cross-section along the plane indicated by VII-VII in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 1, the inset cistern is formed by a shaped box 1 inserted into the wall 2 and provided on the bottom with a flushing hole (not shown) which may be opened/closed by means of raising/lowering of a vertical tube 3 which, being open at the top, may also function as an overflow in the event of accidental filling of the cistern beyond the preset level.
The box 1 has at the top a front opening 1a designed to allow access to the box itself as well as insertion of the actuating device described below.
Said device comprises a support frame 4 which can be mounted on the wall 2 in the region of the opening 2a of the wall itself corresponding to the opening 1a of the cistern 1.
Said frame 4 has hinged on it, by means of a pin 5a, an operating plate 5 which can be made to rotate by the user both in the clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
Preferably said operating plate of the device is formed by at least one rotating part 5b centrally arranged between two fixed side parts 5c.
The frame 4 has moreover fixed to it two additional pins 6a and 7a on which the corresponding ends of a first lever 6 and a second lever 7 are hinged, the opposite ends of which are hinged on respective pins 6b and 7b integral with an anchor-piece 8, the base of which has a dovetail seat 8a designed to be coupled with a corresponding guide 9a of an element 9 for attachment to the top end 3a of the tube 3.
Said lever 7 has moreover an end outside the cistern shaped in the manner of a "C" with horizontal arms of different length so as to cooperate with the operating plate 5 for opening or closing the flushing system, respectively.
As illustrated in Figure 3, in the case of a wall of limited thickness S1, the anchor-piece 8 is pushed to the end of its path towards the inside of the cistern 1, relative to the tube support element, allowing fixing to the wall 2 of the frame 4 rigidly connected to the anchor-piece 8 by means of the pair of levers 7 and 8.
If the thickness S2 of the wall were greater, as in the example of Figure 4, it is possible to pull out the actuating device, causing the anchor-piece 8 to slide on the guide 9a of the element 9 for attachment to the tube 3, thus keeping unaltered the distance between actuating plate 5 and tube 3 imposed by the rigid levers 6 and 7.
In the case of a considerable thickness S3 of the wall 2 it is also possible to obtain further recovery of the horizontal distance by assembling the device with the anchor-piece rotated through 180° with respect to the element for fastening to the tube 3; in this way, in addition to the length of the normal travel path on the guide 9a, it is possible to recover the length of the base of the anchor-piece 8 which is displaced in cantilever fashion towards the outside, providing a total extension of the assembly consisting of the fastening element and the anchor-piece, so as to compensate also for the depth of a wall of very great thickness.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention in which the anchor-piece 108 has a shortened base provided with a horizontal seat 108a into which can be inserted a rod 10 which has formed inside it a groove 10a with a cross-section such that it can be combined with the guide 9a of the element 9 for attachment to the tube 3.
The rod 10 is therefore translatable horizontally with respect to the element 9 at the time of prior adjustment determined by the thickness of the wall, but remains at a standstill when flushing is actuated. The anchor-piece 108, on the other hand, is movable in both directions with respect to the end of the rod 10 inserted into the seat 108a so as to allow recovery of the distance lost during the rotational movement of the lever 7.
As can be seen from the figures, the actuating device may be operated by the user in both directions - clockwise and anti-clockwise - so as to cause the corresponding opening of the flushing system and closing thereof without waiting for the latter to occur automatically as a result of gravity when the level of the water inside the cistern falls.
In other words, the user may perform an operation which interrupts flushing, without waiting for total emptying of the cistern, thus making it possible to achieve a considerable saving in water consumption.
Many variations may be introduced as regards the realization of the parts which make up the invention without thereby departing from the protective scope of the present patent as defined by the claims which follow.

Claims

Device for actuating the flushing valves of water-closet cisterns (1) inset in a wall (2), characterized in that it comprises a pantograph transmission group consisting of a pair of substantially parallel levers (6, 7), the opposite ends of which are respectively hinged on corresponding pins (5a, 6a) integral with a frame (4) fixed to the wall (2) and on pins (6b, 7b) integral with an anchor-piece (8; 108) sliding translatably on an element (9; 10, 9) for fastening to the tube (3) for closing the flushing system, there also being provided a bidirectional operating plate (5) for the device effecting opening and/or controlled interruption of the flushing system.
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one (7) of said levers has an end outside the cistern shaped in the manner of a "C" with horizontal arms of different length designed to cooperate with the operating plate (5), for opening or closing the flushing system, respectively.
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said anchor-piece (8) has a hollow base shaped in accordance with a longitudinal guide (8a) in the form of a dovetail.
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said element (9) for attachment to the tube (3) closing the flushing system has a rail (9a) with a cross-section in the form of a dovetail for coupling with the respective guide (8a) of the said anchor-piece (8).
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said anchor-piece (8) can be coupled with said element (9) supporting the tube (3) closing the flushing system, in two directions of orientation rotated through 180° with respect to one another.
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said operating plate (5) of the device is formed by at least one part (5b) rotating relative to at least one fixed part (5c).
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said anchor-piece (108) has a shortened base provided with a horizontal seat (108a) into which a rod (10) may be inserted, said rod having forming inside it a longitudinal groove (10a) with a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the guide (9a) of the element (9) for attachment to the tube (3).