The present invention concerns an actuation device for a discharge valve of a flushing device for the purpose of selective initiation of a full flush action or a partial flush action in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1, and a cistern arrangement with an actuation device in accordance with Claim 10.
From the prior art flushing equipment for the purpose of initiating full flush actions and partial flush actions is of known art. EP 0 722 020, for example, shows flushing equipment of the type cited. In accordance with EP 0 722 020 a closure body is lifted off a valve seat, whereby the flush water can then be supplied from the cistern of the equipment to be flushed, such as for example, a water closet or a urinal. The closure body is lifted via two pulling elements or levers. Here one of the two pulling elements serves to initiate the partial flush action and the other of the two pulling elements serves to initiate the full flush action. For this purpose one or the other of the two pulling elements must in each case be actuated by an actuation unit. This actuation has usually been achieved in that two pulling elements are provided, which can be actuated via two actuation buttons.
After the lifting of the closure body the pulling elements move back into their initial positions, and the closure body is held open by means of a float. As soon as the water level in the cistern has fallen to an appropriate level, the closure body is closed, in the case of a partial flush action via a weight, and in the case of a full flush action via the ventilation of the float.
In summary it can therefore be said that the initiation procedure takes place with mechanical means, and that the closing procedure then takes place via the discharge fitting by means of floats and/or weights.
The initiation procedure usually has a relatively complex mechanism. This is disadvantageous because by virtue of the complexity the effort required for manufacture is relatively high, and moreover the susceptibility to faults in elements that have not been correctly fitted by installation technicians is likewise high.
From EP 1 493 873 a device is moreover of known art, which is driven by an electric motor. Here the electric motor is securely connected with the discharge valve. The opening of the discharge valve and also the closing of the discharge valve take place directly via the servomotor. Here the outflow quantity is essentially regulated as a function of time; this has the disadvantage that the desired discharge quantity cannot be manipulated manually. Furthermore this constrained coupling has also shown that uncontrolled forces act on the motor during the closing procedure; this has a negative effect on the service life of the latter.
Based on this prior art the task underlying the invention is that of specifying an automatically driven, in particular, an electrically driven, actuation device with which a discharge fitting can be actuated in as simple a manner as possible. Furthermore the actuation device is to be designed to have as long a life as possible in terms of the number of actuations.
Such a task is solved by the actuation device in accordance with Claim 1. Accordingly an actuation device, for the actuation of a discharge fitting of a flushing device for the purpose of selective initiation of a full flush action or a partial flush action by the lifting of a closure body of the discharge fitting, comprises a full flush lever for the purpose of initiating a full flush action and a partial flush lever for the purpose of initiating a partial flush action. The full flush lever can be moved from a neutral position into a full flush position and the partial flush lever can be moved from a neutral position into a partial flush position. The actuation device further comprises a single drive, preferably a motor, in particular an electric motor or a servomotor, with an output element, which output element engages loosely with the full flush lever or the partial flush lever and serves to provide movement of the driven lever. The partial flush lever and the full flush lever are connected with one another via a coupling element such that the movement of the flush lever driven by the output element can be transferred onto the other flush lever that is uncoupled from the output element, or more particularly, is not directly connected with the output element.
Thus of the two flush levers it is either the partial flush lever, or the full flush lever, that is actively driven by the drive and the output element.
The inventive device has the advantage that the movement between the full flush lever and the partial flush lever is coupled via the coupling element, as a result of which a single drive can be arranged. By this means a device of a particularly simple design can be provided. Furthermore the drive always travels out of the neutral position to just two positions, namely the partial flush position, or the full flush position, a fact that significantly increases the service life of the drive.
A further advantage ensues from the fact that the output element just engages loosely with one of the two flush levers, that is to say, it is not in a secure connection with the same. The flush lever is preferably lifted against the force of gravity.
The actuation device preferably further comprises a switching element, with which the connection between the partial flush lever and the full flush lever provided by the coupling element can be released, whereby the switching element is located on the length between the neutral position and the full flush position, or between the neutral position and the partial flush position. The removal of the connection between the two flush levers has the advantage that one discharge fitting connected with both flush levers can simply be operated.
When the neutral position has been reached the coupling element latches again with the flush lever with which the coupling element is not connected, such that the connection between the two flush levers can again be made.
The coupling element is particularly preferably designed as a catch, which can be pivoted relative to the appropriate flush lever, whereby the other flush lever without the coupling element has a slave element, which enters into a latching connection with the catch.
The output element can preferably be brought into engagement with the full flush lever or the partial flush lever during the movement from the neutral position into the full flush position or into the partial flush position. In the neutral position the output element of the drive accordingly is not connected with the flush lever, and engages after actuation of the flush lever has taken place. Immediately after the desired flush position has been reached the output element can be moved into the neutral state, as a result of which the connection between output element and flush lever can again be released. Via the appropriate flush units, such as, for example, a full flush unit or a partial flush unit, the discharge fitting is held open for as long as necessary until the desired flush quantity has been extracted from the cistern.
The output element of the drive preferably engages on a lever section formed on the full flush lever or the partial flush lever.
The switching element is preferably provided in terms of a stop, against which the coupling element abuts during the movement, whereby when the stop has been reached the connection between the full flush lever and the partial flush lever can be released.
A cistern arrangement comprises an actuation device in accordance with the above description, a cistern with a wall bounding an interior, and with an inlet opening passing through the wall, and with an outlet opening passing through the wall with a valve set and a discharge fitting with a closure body in the interior, which closure body can be lifted, and in a closure position closes the outlet opening, whereby the closure body can be moved from the closure position into a flush position that releases the outlet opening. The discharge fitting comprises a full flush unit that can be actuated with the full flush lever, and a partial flush unit that can be actuated with the partial flush lever, which flush units are connected with the closure body. With actuation of a partial flush action the full flush unit is bypassed, or not actuated, and with actuation of a full flush action the partial flush unit is bypassed, or not actuated.
Further forms of embodiment are specified in the dependent claims.
Preferred forms of embodiment of the invention are described in the following paragraphs with the aid of the drawings, which serve solely to provide explanation, and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
a shows a side view of the actuation device in accordance with
b shows a frontal view of
a/b show views in accordance with
a/b show views in accordance with
a/b show views in accordance with
The actuation device 1 comprises essentially a full flush lever 2 for purposes of initiating a full flush action, and a partial flush lever 3 for purposes of initiating a partial flush action. In the case of a full flush action a larger quantity of water is extracted from the cistern than in a partial flush action.
The discharge fitting to be actuated by means of the actuation device 1, as shown in
The full flush lever 2 can be moved from a neutral position into a full flush position. During the movement of the full flush lever 2 into the full flush position the closure body 51 of the discharge fitting 50 is lifted off the closure position on the valve seat 52 into the flush position. The full flush unit 53 then holds the closure body 51 in the flush position until the appropriate quantity of water has flowed out of the cistern.
The partial flush lever 3 can likewise be moved from a neutral position into a partial flush position. In the case of a partial flush action the closure body 51 of the discharge fitting 50 is likewise lifted off the closure position on its valve seat 52 into the flush position. In an analogous manner to the full flush action, the partial flush unit 54 of the discharge fitting holds the closure body 51 in the flush position until the appropriate quantity of water has flowed out of the cistern.
The actuation device 1 further comprises a single drive 4, preferably in the form of a motor 4, with an output element 5. The output element 5, which is driven from the motor 4, engages with either the full flush lever 2 or the partial flush lever 3, and serves to provide the movement of the driven flush lever 2, 3. In the present form of embodiment the output element 5 engages with a lever section 8, which extends away from the partial flush lever 3. Here the output element 5 therefore engages with the partial flush lever 3.
In this context the expression “engage” or “loosely engage” is understood to mean that there is no fixed connection between the output element 5 and the appropriate flush lever 2, 3. Rather the output element 5 serves simply to lift the appropriate flush lever 2, 3 from its neutral position into the appropriate flush position. No fixed connection prevails between the connecting element 5 and the flush levers 2, 3.
During the movement from the neutral position into the full flush position, or into the partial flush position, the output element 5 is brought into engagement with the full flush lever 2 or the partial flush lever 3. In the neutral state the output element is not in engagement with the corresponding flush levers, which has the advantage that if necessary the flush action can also be initiated manually. Immediately after the desired flush position has been reached the output element 5 is moved back into the neutral state.
The drive can be designed in various ways. It preferably takes the form of an electric motor 4, in particular a servomotor. Alternatively the drive can be designed in another manner, for example, as a mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic drive. In the following paragraphs the expression “motor” is used to represent the drive, and to include all types of suitable drives.
The motor 4 travels out of the neutral position and into essentially two positions, namely the partial flush position and the full flush position. When the appropriate flush position has been reached the motor 4 then travels back again into the neutral state. The motor 4 is activated via appropriate communications elements. The communications elements are connected with an actuation plate, not shown. The user actuates the actuation plate, and a signal is generated via the communications lines to the motor 4. Depending upon the actuation of the actuation plate the signal is associated with a partial flush or a full flush.
With respect to the water level as seen in a cistern, the two flush levers are located at different heights; the full flush lever is preferably located above the partial flush lever. In this manner the two flush positions can differ from one another and a prioritisation of the flush action is possible.
The partial flush lever 3 and the full flush lever 2 are connected with a coupling element 6, such that the movement of the flush lever 2, 3 driven by the output element 5 can be transferred onto the other flush lever 2, 3 that is uncoupled from the output element 5 and is not being directly driven by the latter.
In the present form of embodiment the output element 5, as has already been mentioned above, engages with the partial flush lever 3. Accordingly the movement is transferred from the output element 5 onto the partial flush lever 3, and then from the latter, via the coupling element 6, to the full flush lever 2. Furthermore by virtue of the coupling between the two flush levers 2, 3 a single motor is provided. Accordingly one output element 5 therefore lifts both flush levers 2, 3, and with this one element and the motor 4 both the full flush quantity and also the partial flush quantity can be initiated. By this means the mechanical composition of an actuation device is significantly simplified.
In operation, which is explained in more detail further below in conjunction with
The actuation device 1 further comprises a switching element 7. With the switching element 7 the coupling between the partial flush lever 3 and the full flush lever 2 provided by the coupling element 6 can be lifted. Here the switching element 7 can be located on the length between the neutral position and the full flush position, or between the neutral position and the partial flush position. The removal of the connection between the partial flush lever 3 and the full flush lever 2 has the advantage that the two flush levers, that is to say the full flush lever 2 and the partial flush lever 3 are designed such that they can be separated from one another, as a result of which the functionality of the actuation device 1 is significantly improved. This is explained in more detail in conjunction with the description of
In this form of embodiment the coupling element 6 is arranged between the full flush lever 2 and the partial flush lever 3. The coupling element 6 is preferably connected with the partial flush lever 3. The coupling element 6 is preferably mounted such that it can be rotated or pivoted relative to the corresponding flush lever.
The switching element 7 is preferably provided in terms of a stop 9. The coupling element 6 abuts against this stop 9 during the movement, whereby when the stop 9 is reached the connection between the full flush lever 2 and the partial flush lever 3 can be released.
From
The mounting element 10 furthermore comprises an optional suspension section 13, with which the mounting element 10 can be suspended in a cistern.
In the present form of embodiment the function of the full flush lever is assigned to the one flush lever, and the function of the partial flush lever is assigned to the other flush lever. The functions can also be exchanged such that the flush lever designated above as the full flush lever is provided for the partial flush quantity, and vice versa.
The actuation of the actuation device 1 is now explained with the aid of
In
The coupling element 6, as already explained, is connected with the partial flush lever 3, and here latches on a slave element 14, which is connected with the full flush lever 2, such that when the two levers 2, 3 move they are coupled with one another. This is shown more precisely in Detail Z, where it is easy to see that here the coupling element 6 has a slave section 15, which is correspondingly connected with the slave element 14, or more particularly, enters into engagement with the slave element 14, as soon as the two levers 2, 3 move from the neutral state into the flush position.
In
In
In Detail Y of
a and 4b show the output element 5 in the full flush position. The full flush lever 2 has thus reached its end state, that is to say, the full flush position 2. With reference to the discharge fitting with the closure body it should here be mentioned that the full flush unit 53 has now likewise reached the position determined for the full flush action and thus the closure body is arranged at an appropriate distance from the valve seat. The closure action, that is to say, the reverse movement of the closure body onto the valve seat, thereby preferably takes place controlled as a function of level, that is to say, that if the level of the flush water has reached a predetermined lower level the closure body automatically moves back onto the valve seat.
Immediately after the full flush position has been reached the output element 5 is moved back into the neutral state.
The full flush action accordingly takes place without any decoupling between the full flush lever 2 and the partial flush lever 3. On the one hand this is possible by virtue of the design of the discharge fitting, either because the partial flush unit by virtue of its arrangement has not been actuated, or else because the said elements have been bypassed. On the other hand, as can easily be seen from the figures, the full flush lever 2 can be located with respect to the water level in the cistern with an offset above the partial flush lever 3. This offset has the effect that the full flush action has priority over the partial flush action, because when the full flush position has been reached the partial flush position has not yet been reached.
In
En route into the partial flush position the coupling element 6 comes into contact with the switching element 7. The coupling between the full flush lever 2 and the partial flush lever 3 is hereby correspondingly released. This can easily be seen in Detail W of
With regard to the full flush unit 53 it should be noted that this is correspondingly bypassed, i.e. is not connected, i.e. is not actuated, if the partial flush action is initiated. In other words, that is to say, when the full flush lever 2 travels past the full flush position the full flush unit 53 on the discharge fitting 50 is accordingly disconnected, i.e. is bypassed.
With the aid of
The full flush action is explained with reference to
In the case of a full flush action the partial flush unit 53 is similarly lifted. Here, however, the lift of the partial flush unit 53 is too small to enable the partial flush unit 53 to be actuated, i.e. connected. If the lift in the case of the full flush action were larger, the partial flush unit 53 would not be connected.
The partial flush action is explained with reference to
The float 59 could also be a closing weight, in which case the function of the device would be somewhat different.
For the disconnection of the full flush unit 53 or the partial flush unit 54 the flush units 53, 54 are provided, for example, with a switching device, which latches on a counterpart that is preferably fixed in location in the cistern 55, such that the appropriate flush action is not actuated.
The full flush action and the partial flush action in the discharge fitting can also be embodied in terms of the device in EP 0 722 020.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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12166622 | May 2012 | EP | regional |
Number | Date | Country |
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0722020 | Jul 1996 | EP |
1493873 | Jan 2005 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130291296 A1 | Nov 2013 | US |