WO1988006662A1

WO1988006662A1 - Odour extractor

Info

Publication number: WO1988006662A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000061
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Walter George Truss
Original assignee: James Walter George Truss
Priority date: 1987-03-05
Filing date: 1988-03-04
Publication date: 1988-09-07

Abstract

An odour removal apparatus in which a fan (11) is coupled by ducting (20) to the flush pipe (12) of a toilet bowl (16) by a connector (13). Fan (11) exhausts foul odours to an existing vent (18).

Description

TITLE: "ODOUR EXTRACTOR"

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an odour removal means which is applicable to toilets. PRIOR ART

Various forms of chemical based products are marketed by which odours that are generated within a toilet may be overcome. The manner in which these products operate is generally to disseminate a masking aroma of a selected character so as to swamp that which offends. These products are not always effective and require a continual supply of chemical to replace that which is exhausted from whatever dispenser is employed so as to disperse the aroma. Various electromechanical devices have been devised whereby foul odours are collected and either exhausted untreated or treated by filtering etc. This type of device is the subject matter of the following

Australian patent specifications: 102474; 238034; 258520; 493870 and 452709. In these devices, in addition to a fan and its connecting ducting, there are proposed various specific additional apparatus to be positioned at the toilet bowl to effect collection of foul gases. These additional devices are costly complications to the overall apparatus.

OBJECT OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an odour removal means which is operative to vent undesirable odours from a toilet by means of device that takes advantage of the existing toilet structures to reduce the complexity of components to be utilised in the device.

The device of the present invention comprises a combination of parts that are applicable to the range of existing toilet bowls without adaptation of the bowls. Other objects, and various advantages of the present invention will hereinafter become apparent.

The invention achieves its objects by providing an odour removal means for a flush type toilet comprising: a fan or other like means whereby air and entrained odours may be drawn via piping from within the bowl of the toilet; characterised in that there is provided: a pipe coupling means whereby a coupling may be established in the line leading flush water from a cistern to the toilet; and a housing for the fan having an inlet thereto whereat piping may be coupled between the housing and the pipe coupling means? action of the fan drawing air through the flush water pipe via the pipe coupling means through piping to the fan housing to be exhausted thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:-

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a toilet which is fitted with an odour removing means which is in accordance with the present invention;

FIG-.- 2 is a front elevation of the toilet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a coupling for use with the odour removing means of the invention; and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a housing for a fan and motor therefor for use with the odour removing means of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 and 2 a fan draws air and entrained odours through flush pipe 12, between cistern 19 and toilet bowl 16, via a pipe 20 coupled to flush pipe 12 using a coupling 13 (described in greater detail below). The fan may be provided in a housing 11 so that air is pushed via pipe 21 to some convenient location such as an existing vent pipe 18. The fan housing 11 is mounted above the cistern, preferably at least 30 cm. The fan may be operated either automatically with a microswitch or other suitable sensor actuated by entry of a person to the toilet, by use of a pressure switch beneath the toilet seat, for example, or the fan may be operated manually by a push button 14, at a convenient location, so that a user may actuate the switch at his discretion. A manual operation may involve a button actuated time delay so as to keep the fan in operation for a preset period of time. Upon operation of the fan a flow 15 of air is established from the bowl, via the flush pipe and exhaust pipe 20.

Pipe 20 is provided with a vertical run such that any flush water that might back up duct 20 from coupling 13 does not reach fan 11 to interfere with its operation.

In FIG. 1, fan 11 is shown mounted externally of the toilet. Obviously this need not be so. Ducting may run vertically within the toilet or within the toilet wall. The fan may be in the vertical run with ducting continued on to the outside where it may communicate with the existing vent pipe 18.

The above described odour removing means comprises a system of parts which may be adapted to suit any existing installation, the basic requirements being a coupling 13, piping 20, fan housing 21, with suitable motor therein and power connection points for the motor, and an actuation means such as push button 14 which might be provided with a time delay.

FIG. 3 shows a coupling which may be used in the present invention which coupling comprises front saddle 23 and back saddle 24 shown in plan and end views. The two saddles are provided with complementary holes 25, 26 and 27, 28 by which the two parts may be clamped about a cistern flush pipe, and the standard nut retaining recesses may be moulded into the product at 27 and 28 so as to assist interconnection by nuts and bolts. The back saddle 24 is provided with a hole 29 whereat a connecting pipe may be received into the cistern flush line. A rubber washer 38 may be fitted to the inside of back saddle 24. Hole 29 may be surrounded by a cylindrical intrusion 30 in which a connecting pipe may be fitted and bonded. Standard plastic moulding may be employed as is used with plumbing fittings, and a pipe's connection may involve standard solvent type adhesives. To fit the saddles in place, a hole is drilled in the flush pipe and the saddles are fitted thereover.

FIG. 4 shows housing 11, with an inlet 32 and outlet 33, for supporting a motor 31 centrally therein between motor mounts 34 and 35 having shaped recesses 36 and 37 therein for receipt of the motor 31 so as to hold and lock it in place against rotation. The inlet and outlet bores may be provided with a slightly tapered entry for receipt of pipe sections therein. The motor 31 is supported axially with room thereabout to allow air flow therepast. A hole 38 may be provided for passage of electrical wiring to convey power to the motor.

The above described system of extraction might be applied in commercial situations where a plurality of toilet bowls might be ganged together with a single fan being employed to extract odours from a selected one or more of the plurality of bowls.

Whilst the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that many modifications and variations, as will occur to persons skilled in the art, may be made thereto which are within the scope and spirit of the invention herein set out.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Odour removal means for a flush type toilet comprising: a fan or other like means whereby air and entrained odours may be drawn via piping from within the bowl of the toilet; characterised in that there is provided: a pipe coupling means whereby a coupling may be established in the line leading flush water from a cistern to the toilet; and a housing for the fan having an inlet thereto whereat piping may be coupled between the housing and the pipe coupling means; action of the fan drawing air through the flush water pipe via the pipe coupling means through piping to the fan housing to be exhausted thereby.

2. Odour removal means as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the.pipe coupling means comprises a saddle means to be clamped astride the flush water pipe, the saddle means overlaying a hole therein and providing a pipe connector means communicated therewith.

3. Odour removal means as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the saddle means comprises a locating means projected inwardly of the flush water pipe hole.

4. Odour removal means as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the saddle means comprises a pair of clamping portions whereby the saddle may be placed about the flush water pipe and clamped thereto.

5. Odour removal means as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the clamping portions comprise complementary mating flanges having aligned^' holes therethrough for receipt of connecting elements.

6. Odour removal means as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the pipe coupling means comprises a two part saddle means sealably able to be clamped over a hole in the flush water pipe each part having a pair of opposed flanges to be mated with the complementary flanges of the other part, the flanges being adapted for interlocking.

7. Odour removal means as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the fan is an electrically driven impellor mounted axially to an electric motor that itself is mounted axially within a cylindrical housing the opposed ends of which comprise pipe connectors for receipt of inlet and outlet pipes.

8. A method for removal of odours from toilets wherein: a fan is employed to entrain gases and pipe them to a disposal point characterised in that: connection is made to the flush water pipe of a toilet whereby odours may be entrained in air drawn through piping thereto by action of the fan; the fan operating to expel the air and entrained gases to a selected location.

9. The method of Claim 7 wherein the expelled air and entrained gases are piped to the vent pipe of a toilet.

10. The method as claimed in either one of Claims 8 or 9 wherein the fan is selectively operable at the discretion of a user.