EP3196370A1

EP3196370A1 - Toilet flushing system

Info

Publication number: EP3196370A1
Application number: EP17151086.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Angel Munar Saura
Original assignee: Roca Sanitario SA
Current assignee: Roca Sanitario SA
Priority date: 2016-01-22
Filing date: 2017-01-11
Publication date: 2017-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-11
Also published as: ES2910786T3; EP3196370B1; ES2626494A1; ES2626494B1

Abstract

It comprises a tank (1) for storing water and means for propelling the water stored in the interior of said tank (1) to a bowl (3) of the toilet (4) for the purpose of carrying out a flushing cycle of water of said toilet (4) and is characterised in that said propelling means comprise an air injection device (8) and said tank (1) a dry compartment (7) susceptible of housing said air injection device (8), said dry compartment (7) being disposed in the interior of the tank (1) such that it is connected to a second compartment (9) of the tank (1) destined for storing the water, wherein the air injected by said injection device (8) is susceptible of propelling the water from the second compartment (9) to the toilet seat (4) when the injection device (8) is functioning in the interior of the dry compartment (7).

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet flushing system. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for flushing the water of a toilet that includes means for propelling the water stored in the interior of a tank to the toilet bowl for the purpose of carrying out a water flushing cycle.

Background of the invention

Toilets are known that comprise a water cistern or tank where they store the water that is discharged into the toilet bowl when a user actuates the button that gives rise to the toilet water flushing cycle.
The water tanks of some of these toilets are disposed elevated at a height with respect to the upper rim of the toilet bowl. This position makes it possible to take advantage of the force of gravity to discharge the water into the toilet bowl. These tanks may be incorporated behind the bathroom wall or installed on top of the toilet bowl, on the rear part of the bowl.
In recent years, the possibilities of integrating the water tank in the toilet bowl itself are being investigated. This arrangement makes it possible to gain space in the bathroom. However, toilets that incorporate a tank of this type have the main drawback that the propulsion of the tank water requires the use of pumping or propelling devices to discharge the water into the toilet bowl. These pumping or propelling devices are noisy and occupy space, due to which they are bothersome and make it difficult to obtain a toilet with a reduced and compact design.

Description of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to obtain a toilet water flushing system which has the advantage of having a reduced and compact design and also has the advantage of being silent.
In accordance with this objective, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a toilet flushing system that comprises a tank for storing water and means for propelling the water stored in the interior of said tank to a bowl of the toilet for the purpose of carrying out a water flushing cycle of said toilet, and is characterised in that said propulsion means comprise an air injection device and said tank a dry compartment susceptible of housing said air injection device, said dry compartment being arranged in the interior of the tank such that it is connected to a second compartment of the tank destined for storing the water, wherein the air injected by said injection device is susceptible of propelling the water of the second compartment to the toilet bowl when said injection device operates in the interior of said dry compartment.
In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a toilet that incorporates the flushing system claimed. This toilet may be, for example, a toilet having bidet functions or a standard toilet.
In the system of the present invention, the water can be propelled by means of an air injection device housed in a dry compartment of the tank itself. This dry compartment has the peculiarity of being disposed in the interior of the tank such that it is connected to a second compartment of the tank destined for housing the water that must be propelled to the toilet bowl. As a result, the water of the tank itself acts as acoustic insulation for the injection device, thereby obtaining a very silent flushing system.
Additionally, in the system of the present invention, when the injection device is functioning, air is suctioned from the exterior to the interior of the dry compartment and is then injected in the second compartment from the interior of the tank. As a result, the system can dispense with connection pipes and occupy a very small space, facilitating the obtainment of very compact and low-cost toilet designs.
Preferably, the dry compartment of the tank comprises an open air injection conduit connected to the second compartment destined for housing or storing the water, said injection device being susceptible of being housed in the interior of said open conduit.
In this manner, the injection device can suction and inject the air from the interior of the tank, through said conduit.
Advantageously, the walls of said dry compartment define said air injection conduit.
Preferably, said second compartment destined for storing the toilet flushing water includes a discharge conduit that is associated with the toilet bowl to allow the water to flow out. Therefore, when the device is functioning, the air injected in the dry compartment propels the water stored in the second compartment to the aforementioned conduit to flush the toilet bowl.
According to a preferred embodiment, said water storage tank comprises a water inlet disposed above the water level (h) of the tank and an overflow to allow the water to flow out when the water level inside the tank exceeds a predetermined height.
In this manner, a flushing system compliant with European protection standard EN1717 is obtained, since the overflow can eventually allow the contaminated water to flow out in case of reflux.
According to this preferred embodiment, advantageously, the flushing system comprises means for preventing the water from being discharged through said overflow when the injector device is functioning.
Preferably, said means for preventing the water from being discharged through the tank overflow comprise a section of the second compartment of the tank that includes the overflow and a dividing wall provided with a valve arranged such as to prevent the entry of water in this section of the tank when the injector device is functioning.
In this manner, when the device injects the air that propels the water towards the discharge conduit, the aforementioned valve is actuated to seal off or close the inflow of water to the section that includes the overflow, thereby avoiding loss of water.
Advantageously, this section of the tank also includes a buoy associated with a sensor that activates the water intake source when the water level inside the reservoir falls below a certain value.
Preferably, the bottom of the water storage tank is disposed below the height defined by the upper rim of the toilet bowl.
According to one embodiment, the water storage tank is integrated in a hidden manner around the toilet bowl. Therefore, a flushing system with an extremely compact design is obtained.
Optionally, the tank may be integrated in the body of the toilet bowl such as to form a single piece with the bowl. This bowl body may be, for example, a conventional porcelain body that defines a space with water storage tank functions in its interior.
Alternatively, the tank may be configured as an independent reservoir susceptible of being removable housed in the interior of the toilet bowl body, such that it is integrated in a hidden manner in the body of said bowl.
This reservoir may be, for example, a one-piece independent plastic reservoir that can be removable housed in the aforementioned interior space. This plastic tank includes the dry compartment arranged in connection to the aforementioned second water storage compartment. The dry compartment of the tank also includes an open air injection conduit wherein the air injection device can be housed.
Preferably, the air injector device comprises an air blower susceptible of being housed in the interior of the dry compartment of the toilet water storage tank. This blower may be, for example, a blower provided with an electric motor such as, for example, a brushless motor or a blower provided with a mechanical motor.
Advantageously, said air blower includes an air injection nozzle susceptible of being oriented towards an air outlet of the dry compartment that is connected to the second compartment destined for housing the water.

Brief description of the drawings

In order to better understand the foregoing, a set of drawings is attached which, schematically and by way of a non-limiting example only, represent a practical case of embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a toilet incorporating the flushing system claimed. In this case, a drag flushing system. In this figure 1, for the sake of clarity the toilet has been represented without the seat ring and cover.
Figures 2 to 4 show three different sections of a toilet incorporating the flushing system claimed having an independent water storage reservoir that acts as a tank. In these figures 2 to 4, the tank has been represented full of water ready for a flushing cycle.
Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the toilet of figure 1 that incorporates the flushing system, which has been represented with the air injector device functioning at the start of air injection.
Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section of the toilet of figure 1 functioning while a flushing cycle is carried out with the air injected by the device that is in the dry compartment.
Figure 7 shows a cross-section of the toilet of figure 1 with an intermediate water level in the tank or reservoir while being filled with water after a flushing cycle.

Description of a preferred embodiment

Following is an embodiment of the flushing system of the present invention, making reference to figures 1 to 7.
Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a toilet 4 incorporating an embodiment of the flushing system claimed that includes a tank for storing water configured in the manner of an independent reservoir 1 susceptible of being removable housed in an internal space 2 of the body of the bowl 3 of a toilet 4.
As can be observed in the figures, the water storage tank or reservoir 1 is integrated in a hidden manner in the bowl 3 body, whereupon the bottom of the reservoir 1 is disposed below the height defined by the rim of the toilet 4 seat 3.
Figures 2 to 4 show three different sections of the toilet 4 of figure 1 that incorporates the flushing system claimed with an independent water storage reservoir 1. In these figures 2 to 4 the reservoir 1 has been represented full of water up to the level determined by a buoy 5 that is associated with a level sensor 6 responsible for activating a water intake source 14 when the level falls below the desired height. The reservoir 1 comprises a dry compartment 7 susceptible of housing an air injection device such as, for example, an air blower 8 actuated by an electric motor, for example a brushless motor.
As can be observed in the sections of figures 2 to 4, the dry compartment 7 is connected to a second compartment 9 of the reservoir 1 through an air injection conduit 10 that is open to the exterior of the reservoir 1. In the embodiment being described, the air blower 8 has been arranged housed in the interior of the injection conduit 10 such as to suction and inject air from the exterior from the dry compartment 7 itself. Additionally, in this embodiment, the walls 7a of the dry compartment itself define the aforementioned injection conduit 10, due to which the outflow of air is carried out in a very simple and efficient manner.
As mentioned in the description of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment such as that described, the water storage reservoir 1 comprises a water inlet 14 disposed above the water level in the reservoir and an overflow 11 to allow water to flow out when the water level in the tank or reservoir 1 exceeds a predetermined height. In this manner, a flushing system compliant with European safety standard EN1717 is obtained, since the overflow 11 can eventually allow contaminated water to flow out in case of reflux.
In order to make the flushing system of the present invention compatible with the requirements of the aforementioned European standard EN1717, it has been envisaged that the second compartment 9 of the water storage reservoir 1 will include a section 9a with an overflow 11 and a dividing wall 12 provided with a hole 12a with a valve 13 disposed such as to prevent water from entering this section 9a of the reservoir 1 when the blower 8 is functioning. In this manner, when the blower 8 injects the air that propels the water, the aforementioned valve 13 is actuated to seal off or close the inflow of water to section 9a, thereby avoiding loss of water through the overflow 11.
Following is a description of the operation of the system making reference to figures 5 to 7.
In the flushing system claimed, when a user wishes to flush the toilet to evacuate the waste in the toilet 4 bowl 3, the user presses a button that actuates the air blower 8 so that it begins to suction and inject air through the air injection conduit 10 of the dry compartment 7 of the reservoir.
As can be observed in figures 5 and 6, the air flow "F" injected by the device, in this case the blower 8, propels the water stored in the second compartment 9 to a water discharge conduit 15 that discharges the water into the interior of the bowl 3. While the air injection is being carried out, the valve 13 seals the water inlet hole 12a of the wall 12 of section 9a of the second compartment 9. In this manner, the outflow of water through the overflow 11 is avoided and the water is directed towards the toilet.
When the water level in the reservoir 1 drops after flushing, the level sensor 6 associated with the buoy 5 activates the opening of the water inlet 14 to recover the initial water level of the reservoir 1 (see figure 7), such that the toilet 4 is ready for a new flushing cycle.
As mentioned in the description of the invention, in the flushing system claimed, the water of the tank itself acts as acoustic insulation for the injection device housed in the dry compartment 7, due to which a flushing system with a very simple and silent design is obtained.
Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident for the person skilled in the art that the flushing system described is susceptible of many variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent ones without detracting from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims. For example, although the described embodiment relates to a flushing system incorporated to a standard toilet 4, the same system could be incorporated to a toilet with bidet functions such as, for example, the toilet disclosed in patent application 201431485 by the same applicant. Likewise, although in the present invention reference has been made to an air blower, it would also be possible to use any other type of device that enables air injection such as, for example, a device that injects compressed air.

Claims

A toilet (4) flushing system comprising a tank (1) for storing water and means for propelling the water stored in the interior of said tank (8) towards a bowl (3) of the toilet (4) in order to carry out a flushing cycle of the water of said toilet (4), characterised in that said propulsion means comprise an air injection device (8) and said tank (1) a dry compartment (7) susceptible of housing said air injection device (8), said dry compartment (7) being arranged in the interior of the tank (1) such that it is connected to a second compartment (9) of the tank (1) destined for storing the water, wherein the air injected by said injection device (8) is susceptible of propelling the water from the second compartment (9) to the toilet (4) bowl when the injection device (8) operates in the interior of the dry compartment (7).
The flushing system, according to claim 1, wherein said dry compartment (7) comprises an open air injection conduit (10) connected to the second compartment (9) destined for housing water, wherein the injection device (8) is susceptible of being housed in the interior of said open air injection conduit (10).
The flushing system, according to claim 2, wherein walls (7a) of said dry compartment (7) define said open air injection conduit (10).
The flushing system, according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising an injection device (8) having an air injection nozzle susceptible of being oriented towards an air outlet of the dry compartment (7) that is connected to the second compartment (9) destined for housing the water.
The flushing system, according to claim 1, wherein said second compartment (9) destined for storing the toilet (4) flushing water includes a discharge conduit (15) for discharging water that is associated with the toilet (4) bowl (3).
The flushing system, according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said water storage tank (1) comprises a water inlet (14) placed above the water level (h) of the tank (1) and an overflow (11) to enable the water to flow out when the water level in the tank (1) exceeds a predetermined height.
The flushing system, according to claim 6, that comprises means for preventing water from being discharged through said overflow (11) when the injector device (8) is functioning.
The flushing system, according to claim 7, wherein said means for preventing water from being discharged through said overflow (11) of the tank (1) comprises a section (9a) of the second compartment (9) of the tank (1) that includes the overflow (1) and a dividing wall (12) provided with a hole (12a) with a valve (13) arranged to prevent water from entering this section (9a) of the tank (1) when the injector device (8) is functioning.
The flushing system, according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bottom (1a) of said water storage tank (1) is below the height defined by the upper rim (3a) of the toilet (4) bowl (3).
The flushing system, according to claim 9, wherein said water storage tank (1) is integrated in a hidden manner around the toilet (4) bowl (3).
The flushing system, according to claim 10, wherein said water storage tank (1) is integrated in the toilet (4) bowl (3) such as to form a single piece with the bowl (3).
The flushing system, according to claim 10, wherein said tank (1) is configured in the manner of a reservoir susceptible of being housed in an internal hollow space of the toilet (4) bowl (3), in such a manner that it is integrated in a hidden manner around said bowl (3).
The flushing system, according to claim 1, wherein said air injector device (8) comprises an air blower susceptible of being housed in the interior of the dry compartment (7) of the water storage tank of the toilet (4).
A toilet (4) comprising a flushing system, according to any of claims 1 to 13.
A toilet with bidet functions that comprises the flushing system, according to any of claims 1 to 14.