EP1598490B1

EP1598490B1 - Improvements to toilet tank flush systems

Info

Publication number: EP1598490B1
Application number: EP04706192A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pablo Fominaya Agullo
Original assignee: Fominaya SA
Current assignee: Fominaya SA
Priority date: 2003-02-06
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-29
Also published as: EP1598490A1; ES2342063T3; PT1598490E; ES2244272A1; ATE459763T1; ES2244272B2; TNSN05191A1; CN1771371A; DE602004025795D1; CN1771371B; WO2004070124A1; MXPA05008291A; MA27617A1

Abstract

The improvements are centered on a new arrangement and coupling of several floating parts with retaining means of the overflow tube (20) in order to keep it in a stable position, either during partial flushing and/or during total flushing. <??>The invention is also centered on the particular structure of the base hood (1) that is coupled to the outlet of the water from the tank. <??>It is important to point out that the new floating parts are easily adaptable to different flushers of toilet tanks. <??>Other improvements are centered on the off-center duct (24) integral to a bridge support and to the structure of a particular part connected to the flushing device, at the same time that the duct also acts as a guide of the overflow tube (20) along its top edge. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention consists of some improvements in flushers of toilet tanks used for those flushers in which it is possible to select at will the volume of water, although the improvements are also applicable to other flushers, since one of the advantages lies on the adaptability and universality of the design of the basic parts of the flusher, which in practice results in the elimination of large stocks upon making it possible to use common parts in different models of flushers.
They are applicable to simple flush flushers and also to double flush flushers.
In all cases, the invention proposes a new and effective system that ensures the immobilization of the overflow tube, be it during partial flushing or during total flushing.
The invention also deals with the correct vertical guiding of the overflow tube, as well as of some parts of the operating device of the flusher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays there are different flushing devices, such as for example, European patent of invention number E-96200356 and utility model number 9701307 .
Both refer to double flush flushers of the so-called reversed hood type, since their operation is based on the action of some floats located in the inside of a glass type cavity open at the top.
Two floats located in a diametrically opposite position and provided with means to retain the overflow tube at a certain moment, due to the floating of both of them, carry out their work in this cavity.
These registrations include a third float assembled on the overflow tube and with the possibility of adjusting the height thereof, which determines the volume of water of the partial flushing.
The operation of these two flushers is the following.
First of all, there are two push mechanisms that make the overflow tube rise to different heights.
When we push for partial flushing, the overflow tube moves upward less than during the pushing for total flushing, in such a way that this overflow tube is not blocked by the action of the wedges of the bottom floats that remain floating.
When the water stops making the top float float, there not being any part that keeps it afloat, the float and overflow tube drop and close the opening.
If the pushing (greater) makes the wedges actuate on a retaining area of the overflow tube, this overflow tube will drop closing the opening, until the water level drops below the location of the two bottom floats and the reversed hood is emptied in the necessary amount, at which moment, the wedges will release the overflow tube, dropping and obtaining total flushing.
In both documents two different types of floats are used and the reversed hood where the bottom floats operate is integral to the main body. Besides, in the two cited registrations complicated mechanisms are used to differentiate between the type of pushing. This is due to the fact that as there is a float assembled directly on the overflow tube, the movement of the overflow tube needs to be limited, since it tends to float and will always cause total flushing.
On the other hand, this makes it necessary to have a larger stock of parts, and on the other hand, it limits the use of the body or hood of the flusher or other parts, to the exclusive use in this type of operation, when the market requires different types, flushing by pushing, with a pull mechanism, single flushing, etc.
This all implies that this type of flusher becomes much more expensive, which makes it difficult to introduce it onto the market despite the unquestionable ecological advantages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the aims and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the preceding sections, the invention proposes some improvements in flushers of toilet tanks that are characterized by the features according to claim 1. They comprise a new base hood structure that will allow us to have the different parts that will later comprise the flusher in its different versions.
The base hood is characterized in that it includes anchoring means of the parts that form the body of the flusher.
In turn, the base hood is characterized in that it includes some grooves that make it possible to divert part of the liquid of the flushing towards the top surface of the sealing joint during partial flushing. This diversion of the liquid will exert pressure on the top surface of the joint enabling a rapid drop thereof as soon as the pre-established volume has been emptied.
The hood is also characterized in that it includes individual anchoring shafts of some bottom floats that jointedly couple to these shafts, in such a way that this individuality results in a better and gentler operation, and a less complicated assembly. Besides, these shafts include float centering means.
Optionally, these bottom floats will be able to be assembled on another pair of shafts identical to the preceding ones and also located on the neck of the base hood, a bit further up for the purpose of raising the location of the floats, getting them to actuate before and therefore, empty less water when totally flushing the toilet tank.
In this case, the overflow tube will have an additional anchoring groove in order to interact with the floats in this new position.
Another characteristic of the base hood is that its neck, aside from acting as a bottom guide of the overflow tube, includes some openings or windows that permit some projecting wedges of the bottom jointed floats to operate in order to retain the overflow tube while the flushing takes place.
These advantages will not only be used in the case of locating the floats in the shafts located in the bottom part of the neck.
With this alternative in the location of the bottom floats, the sealing of the tank takes place beforehand than if the floats had been assembled on the bottom shafts. Complete emptying of the liquid would not be produced and hence, complete and sufficiently effective flushing is achieved with this, but a considerable volume of water is saved.
In order to empty the water to make the bottom floats at least one outlet is included.
This hole empties the type of glass that forms the base hood when the different complementary parts that form the flusher are assembled on it.
Likewise, it has been provided for that in the event that the cited outlet is located in the side part of said glass, the discharge of the water can be regulated by using a simple movable sealing joint, comprised of a rotating ring that is assembled on the outside of the hood.
Now dealing with the different types of usable mechanisms, that we have when the flusher is operated by pushing, either by a double flush mechanism or by a total flush mechanism, a support bridge has been provided for, whose bottom base forms together with the base hood the above-mentioned reversed hood where the jointed floats are located.
In this case of the support bridge, this bridge includes anchoring means where other top adjustable floats responsible for keeping the overflow tube at the designed height are located. This adjustment is done in terms of the volume that is desired or needed to drain when a double flushing system is used. These anchoring means are aligned vertically with the anchorings of the bottom floats in order to permit the use of similar or identical parts.
When the double flush is used, the improvements of the invention permit us to use a single type of float, in such a way that the two pairs of floats will be identical, and besides, unlike already known patents the top adjustable floats are not assembled on the overflow tube, but rather as we have seen they are jointedly anchored to the support bridge, in such a way that they are independent from the movements of said overflow tube. This circumstance makes its lighter, as it does not depend on extra weight that hampers the movements thereof.
The support bridge includes some stops in order to limit the tilting of said floats.
Said top floats will optionally be assembled on a complementary support part, in which case this complementary part is the one that is anchored at the desired height on the support and the floats are perfectly operative.
This alternative ensures that during the assembly of the floats no mistakes are made in placing them at different heights on the support bridge, which would make the partial flush system inoperative.
On the other hand, the flusher operating device can be comprised in principle by a classic wedge system that actuates a lever, such as in patent of invention no. 9701529 for example.
Nonetheless, the operating device includes different new aspects that will be explained in detail hereinafter.
Hence, first of all, in the part of the support bridge there is a duct that houses, a wedge that actuates the lever, as an angular part responsible for transmitting movement from the push mechanisms.
Another characteristic of the operating device of the flusher is that the jointing shaft of the lever is moved away from the center of the flusher, in a point closer to the actuation area of the wedge. In this way we gain a gentler operation, which the small slant towards the center that said wedge has when it actuates on the lever contributes to.
Another characteristic of the operating device of the flusher is that the above-cited angular part includes a recess in order not to limit the rise of the overflow tube, as well as some ribs to reduce the friction with the inside walls of the duct where the angular part is guided along one of its branches. In turn, this duct acts as a top outside guide also of the overflow tube in its vertical movement.
The operation is similar to that of conventional flushers with the difference that a top float, assembled on the overflow tube, is not used, but rather two symmetric floats assembled on independent shafts identical to the bottom ones and whose purpose is to block the overflow tube at the desired height, in terms of the volume of water that is desired to be flushed.
Now then, once the toilet tank has been filled, the floats press with the projections or stubs on the surface of the overflow tube, since they tend towards being horizontal due to their floating.
When we actuate the operating device, a certain distance (partial flushing) we lift the overflow tube until the projections of the top floats are inserted in a ring-shaped recess of the cited overflow tube, causing it to maintain this position while the water drops until the floating of the floats that tilt and release the overflow tube. The overflow tube will drop causing the sealing. This is all helped by the fraction of water that is introduced through the diverting grooves that we have provided for in the base hood.
In order to carry out the total flushing the locking of the overflow tube is then carried out by the bottom floats in another recess of the overflow tube, in such a way that this overflow tube is not released until the water level of the tank has dropped below the floats and the reversed glass, formed by the connection of the bridge and the base hood has been emptied.
The base hood also permits double flush flushers to be formed, but also complete flushing flushers, by the pull mechanism as well as by the push mechanism.
This hood will then have some radial stubs as means for assembling a bridge with a pull system with an eccentric. So that the pull mechanism is extendible in height an over-hood that will act as the reversed glass will be assembled on said base hood and by the over-hood the height adjustable overflow tube will move, that will be guided at the top by said over-hood.
The part to be assembled on the base hood will always act as a support of the parts that complement the flusher and in turn the reversed glass; as we have commented above.
Finally and as an option for manufacturing and example of the versatility of the base hood, it is provided for that the main double flush model may be manufactured with a single bottom float, using for the locking or blocking of the overflow tube some movable wedges that, when said float floats, touch the overflow tube managing to block it when the ring-shaped recess is located at the height of the ends in a total flushing phase.
Finally, when the float stops floating, these wedges tilt, in other words, they open and stop touching the overflow tube in order to rest on the guide neck. At that time, the sealing and/or end of the total flushing of the tank would be produced.
Hereinafter to provide a better understanding of this specification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures wherein the object of the invention has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner are attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a flusher of toilet tanks that includes the improvements of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a base hood that forms part of the improvements of the flusher.
Figures 3 and 4 show different views of two flushers that include the improvements of the invention.
Figures 5 and 6 show two sectional views of the bottom part of a flusher, in an open position and another one in a closed position.
Figure 7 shows a view of the top floats assembled on the optional support part.
Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the anchoring of the top floats on the support bridge using the optional support part.
Figure 9 shows a view similar to figure 2 and wherein other improvements of the invention have been included.
Figure 10 represents a view of the bottom part of the flusher where a sealing part is essentially shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the invention referring to the numbering used in the figures is described hereinafter.
In principle, it comprises a base hood (1) that has a structure prepared for placing upon it the different parts, which will later constitute the flusher in its different versions and embodiments.
The base hood (1) has in principle some radial stubs (2) used as anchoring means of the parts that form the body of the flusher.
The base hood (1) also includes some narrow grooves (5) additional to the conventional emptying openings (6), grooves (5) that serve to divert part of the liquid after the discharge to the upper surface of the sealing joint (7) which is also conventional, during partial flushing as it has already been commented on in the preceding sections, in such a way that in a partial flushing the sealing joint (7) takes on a lower position than during total flushing.
Hence, this small amount of water that passes through the grooves (5) of the base hood (1) will exert pressure on the top surface of said joint (7) enabling the rapid drop (sealing) thereof as soon as the pre-established volume of water has been emptied and the floats stop actuating.
The base hood (1) also includes individual anchoring shafts and jointing shafts (8) for the coupling of some bottom floats (9).
It is important in order to facilitate the assembly of these floats that the shafts are individual and in this way to also reduce possible friction that could damage the mobility thereof. These shafts (8) include stops (10) to ensure the perfect centering of each float.
The base hood includes a guide neck (11) wherein the overflow tube (20) is conveyed and guided and this neck (11) includes some openings (12) that permit the actuation of some stubs or projections (13) on the overflow tube (20). This permits us to have longer guiding for the overflow tube (20). The projections (13) form part of the bottom floats (9) and they fit in a ring-shaped recess (33) provided for in the overflow tube.
On the other hand, in order to remove the water from a reversed hood (3), that forms part of the body of the flusher, at least one outlet (14) has been included. Other conventional flushers already have this outlet.
When they are systems operated by pushing (a double flush mechanism and a total flushing mechanism), there is a new support bridge (15), whose bottom base (16) forms part together with the base hood (1), the above-cited reversed hood (3) wherein we will place the floats (9).
Optionally, the base (16) could include at least a side hole (17) in order to empty the water from the inside of the reversed hood, in a similar way as the above-cited hole (14).
In the vertical sections of said support bridge (15), we have anchoring means defined by pairs of stubs (18) for the assembly of top floats (19) that are responsible for keeping the overflow tube (20) at the desired height, in terms of the volume that is desired to be flushed in the tank when a double flushing system is used.
These anchoring means defined by pairs of stubs (18) are aligned vertically in the anchorings of the bottom floats (9) in order to permit the use of identical parts.
In an optional embodiment (Figures 8 and 9), the top floats (19) will be assembled directly on a new support part (39), that will be the one that is anchored at the desired height of the support bridge (15').
For this purpose, said support part (30) will have pairs of stubs (18') similar in shape and function to the stubs (18).
The entire assembly will be located on the support bridge, but this time using some elastic projections (40) that will be introduced in some new holes (41) connected to each other by narrowings (42), in such a way that the position of said elastic projections may be varied, and therefore, the location of the floats without the need to remove them from the line that said holes (41) form.
A gentle pressure towards the center of the flusher will suffice to align the cited holes (41) with the narrowing (43) of the elastic projections (40) so that they may rise and drop.
The support part (39) includes some longitudinal protrusions (44) that will be introduced in the guiding grooves (45) of the support bridge (15'), in order to prevent the lateral movement of the assembly formed by the floats (19) and the cited support part (39).
One of the most important advantages of this invention is the possibility of using a single type of float, in other words, the four floats used in this flusher are identical, and besides, unlike the already known patents, the adjustable floats (19) are not assembled on the overflow tube (20), but rather as we have seen they are jointedly anchored on the support bridge (15), in such a way that they are independent from the movements of said overflow tube, which makes it lighter as no extra weights which hamper the movements thereof are depended on.
The support bridge includes some stops (21) in order to limit the tilting of the floats (19).
On the other hand, the operating device comprises a classical wedge system (patent of invention no. 9701529 ) that actuates on a lever (23), which also has certain new aspects, which are the following:

In the top part of the bridge support (15) there is a duct (24) that houses the wedge (22) as well as the angular part (25) responsible for transmitting the movement of the push mechanisms (located above the plate (26) not represented).
The jointing shaft (27) where the lever (23) is coupled moves said shaft from the center of the flusher bringing it towards the area actuating the wedge (22). This makes it possible to gain movement in the opposite end of the lever (23), thus also gaining gentleness, which the small slant towards the center that said wedge (22) adopts when it actuates the lever contributes to.
The angular part (25) includes a recess (28) in order not to limit the rise of the overflow tube (20) and some ribs (29) to reduce the friction with the inner walls of the duct (24), which in turn act as a vertical guide of the movement of said overflow tube (20), that as we see, has a small edge (30) that slides gently along the outside surface (31) of the cited duct (24).

It is important that the overflow tube (20) rises and drops in an absolute vertical manner in order to ensure correct operation.
Operation is similar to that of conventional flushers with the difference that a top float assembled on the overflow tube is not used, but rather two symmetric floats (19) assembled on independent shafts identical to the bottom ones and whose purpose is to block the overflow tube at the desired height, in terms of the volume of water that is to be flushed.
In this sense, and once the tank is full, the floats (1) press on the projections (32) on the surface of the overflow tube (20), they tend to become horizontal due to their floating.
When we actuate the operating device (disk or plate 26), a certain distance (partial flushing) we lift the overflow tube until the projections (32) of the bottom floats are inserted in a ring-shaped recess (33) of the cited overflow tube (20) forcing it to keep this position whereas the water drops until the floating of the floats (19) is released and the floats tilt and release the overflow tube (20), that drops causing the sealing. This is all helped by the fraction of water that is inserted through the diverting grooves (5) provided for in the base hood (1).
The volume of water to be emptied will logically be in terms of the position in which we have locked the floats (19).
In order to carry out total flushing, the locking of the overflow tube is done by the bottom floats (9) in another ring-shaped recess (33). Later the latter is not released until the level of water in the tank has dropped below the floats and the reversed glass has been emptied.
In order to convert this flusher into a total flushing system, only the top floats (19) have to be removed.
In order for the pull mechanism to be extendible the over-hood or semi-hood (4) will be assembled with the overflow tube (20') whose height can be adjusted, a semi-hood that includes at least a side opening (38) for emptying water.
This semi-hood (4) will have some radial stubs (34) in order to assemble a bridge (35) for a push system with an eccentric (36).
As we see, the base hood (1) makes it possible to form, not only double flush flushers, but also full flush flushers, by a pull mechanism as well as by a push mechanism.
Optionally, the bottom floats (9) will be able to be mounted on another pair of shafts (8') (Figures 9, 10), just like the anterior ones (8) and also located on the neck (11) of the base hood (1) but somewhat higher, for the purpose of lifting the location of these floats (9), getting the floats to actuate before and therefore, less water is emptied as a total flushing of the tank is carried out.
In this case, the overflow tube (20) will have an additional anchoring groove (33) in order to interact with the floats in this new position.
The openings (12) will only be used in the event of placing the floats on the shafts located in the bottom part of the neck and not in this new location.
With this alternative in the placement of the bottom floats (9), the sealing of the tank is produced beforehand than if said floats had been assembled on the bottom shafts (8), as the total emptying of the liquid contained in the tank has not taken place. This achieves a complete and sufficiently effective flushing but saving a considerable volume of water.
In order to empty the water that makes said bottom floats float inside the reversed hood (3), at least one outlet (14, 17) has been provided for, as we have said above.
This hole completely empties this glass formed by the base hood when the different complementary parts that form the flusher are mounted on the base hood.
In this sense the adjustment of the discharge of water when it is carried out through the hole (17) has been provided for, by using a simple movable seal (46), comprised of a rotating ring that is assembled on the outside of the reversed hood (3) or bottom base (16), in such a way that in both cases an inside space laterally limited by a perimetric wall is created.
Finally and as a manufacturing option and example of the versatility of the base hood (1), it is provided for that the main double flush flusher can be manufactured with a single bottom float (9'), using for the locking or blocking of the overflow tube (20) some movable wedges (37) that, when said float (9') floats, touch the overflow tube managing to block it when the recess (33) of the overflow tube is located at the height of the ends thereof in a total flushing phase.
When the float (9') stops floating, said wedges (37) tilt, in other words, they open and stop touching the overflow tube in order to rest on the guiding neck (11), at which time the sealing and/or end of the total flushing of the tank would be produced.

Claims

Flushers of toilet tanks, whose flushers include:
- a base hood with a center neck where an overflow tube connected to a bottom sealing joint fits in and is guided underneath;

- a flushing device;

- at least one float;
characterized in that they include several pairs of individual shafts upon each one of which is jointedly coupled a floating part with retaining means of the overflow tube when it actuates on the flushing device, said means no longer having effect when the floating parts are at least partially released by the liquid contained in the tank.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pairs of individual shafts (8, 8') are integral to the base hood (1).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 2, characterized in that the pairs of individual shafts (8) integral to the base hood (1) are located in a bottom area.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 2, characterized in that the pairs of individual shafts (8') integral to the base hood (1) are located in a top area, shafts (8') that originate from a raised area of the center neck (11).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pairs of individual shafts consist of some stubs (18) integral to the branches of a support bridge (15) that originates from the base hood (1).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pairs of individual shafts consist of some stubs (18') that form part of an independent part (39) that is coupled to a support bridge (15') that originates in the base hood (1).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 6, characterized in that the independent part (39) consists of a ring-shaped body with an angular profile that includes two diametrically opposite elastic projections (40) that are jointedly coupled in one of the several pairs of opposite holes (41) located in vertical alignments established in the branches of the support bridge (15'), the independent part (39) also including some longitudinal protrusions (44) that are guided in two vertical grooves (45) arranged underneath on the branches of the bridge (15') in the same direction as each one of the vertical alignments of holes (41); all in order to be able to adjust the height of the independent part (39) and to prevent its lateral movement keeping it horizontal.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 7, characterized in that the opposite holes (41) established in the two branches of the support bridge (15') are communicated to each other by narrow passages (42) that constitute together with the holes (41) continuous channels.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the two elastic cylindrical-shaped projections (40) have some diametric narrowings (43); all in order to facilitate the coupling of the independent part (39) in one of the several pairs of opposite holes (41) previously moving it laterally until the diametric narrowings (43) are made to coincide with the continuous channels corresponding with the holes (41) and narrow passages (42).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means of the overflow tube consist of some wedges connected to the floating parts, wedges that are complemented with some ring-shaped recesses (33) established in the overflow tube.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 10, characterized in that the retaining wedges are stationary parts defined by some inside projections (13).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 10, characterized in that the wedges consist of some movable parts (37) coupled to the top surface of the floats (9').
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 3 and 10, characterized in that the neck (11) of the base hood (1) includes radial openings (12) that act as a passage to the retaining wedges of the overflow tube, wedges that are connected to the floating parts.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 4 and 10, characterized in that the floating parts coupled to the individual shafts (8') arranged on a raised part of the neck (11) of the base hood (1), such floating parts including some wedges that retain the overflow tube in an area located above the free edge of said neck (11).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual shafts (8) include some stops (10) that ensure the centering of the floating parts.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that around the bottom floating parts there is a perimetric wall that limits an inside space (47) where such floating elements above the base hood (1) are located.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the base hood (1) includes at least one radial groove (5)arranged above the emptying openings (6), the base of the hood (1) also including at least a top hole (14).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a top hood in a reversed position (4) coupled to the base hood (1), the former including at least one radial opening (38).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the support bridge (15) includes some tilting stops (21) of the top floating parts (19).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the support bridge (15) hooks to some radial anchoring stubs (2) integral to the base hood (1).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 16, characterized in that there is a ring-type rotating moveable seal (46) coupled around the perimetric wall that limits the inside space (47), a ring that can seal the radial hole (17), depending on the angular position of said ring (46).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to any one claim of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the support bridge includes an off-center guiding top duct (24) of the vertical branch of an angular part (25) connected by its other horizontal branch to the actuating disk (26) and also connected to the flushing device.
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 22, characterized in that the overflow tube includes an over-elevated edge (30) that slides and is guided outside upon the top duct (24).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 22, characterized in that the angular part (25) includes a recess (28) in order not to limit the rising of the overflow tube and some ribs (29) in order to reduce the friction with the inside surface of the off-center duct (24).
Flushers of toilet tanks, according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring means of the pairs of floating parts located at different heights are vertically aligned all in order to be able to use similar parts.