Dual volume discharge outlet valve apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6691332
  • Patent Number
    6,691,332
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, March 14, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 17, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A dual volume discharge apparatus for selectively discharging a full flush or a half flush of liquid from a reservoir, said discharge apparatus including: actuator means (1) selectively moveable from a closed position to either a full flush position or a half flush position, sealing means (11) moveable by said actuator means (1) from a closed position to either a full flush position or a half flush position, said sealing means being biased toward said closed position when in said half flush position, liquid outlet (17) which is sealed by said sealing means (11) to prevent flow of liquid out of said reservoir when said sealing means (11) is in said closed position and which allows flow of liquid out of said reservoir when said sealing means (11) is in the full flush position or the half flush position, stop means (21) co-operable with said sealing means and being biased towards position capable of holding said sealing means in said half flush position when said actuator means in said half flush position until a predetermined volume of liquid has been discharged from said reservoir and then allowing said sealing means (11) to move to said closed position thereafter.
Description




The present invention relates to valves, more particularly to outlet valves to control the flow of liquid. It will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to outlet valves for cisterns, especially water cisterns for use in toilets although it will be appreciated that the invention may have wider application.




Environmental concerns about the excessive use of water has lead to numerous domestic practices aimed at reducing water wastage. One such practice involves the use of more water-efficient toilet flushing systems, in particular cisterns which allow the user the option of flushing using a full volume of water or a reduced volume. Building regulations differ from country to country but generally such regulations specify the particular minimum and maximum volumes of water to be used, for example a full flush of 6 liters and a half flush of 3 liters. Although the terms “full flush” and “half flush” are used throughout the description and claims of this specification, it will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that “half flush” is not necessarily exactly half the volume of a “full flush” but, for example, a full flush may equate to 9 liters and a half flush to 6 liters. The term “half flush” should therefore be considered to refer to any desired reduced flushing volume.




A wide variety of dual-flush cistern outlet valves have been proposed and used. Many of these comprise apparatus for dividing the cistern into two separate reservoirs each having separate outlet valves: when a half flush is required, one of the outlet valves is opened so that one of the reservoirs empties. When a full flush is required, both valves are opened so that both reservoirs empty. These and many other dual-flush apparatus generally require two separate actuating systems to open the two valves. It is desirable to reduce the number of separately manufactured parts for a dual flush system.




SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a dual flush outlet valve which can be made using a minimum of separate moveable parts. It is a further object to provide a dual flush outlet valve which can be suitably adjusted to allow a variety of full and half flush volumes without the need for differently dimensioned components so that the one apparatus can be used throughout the world and adjusted easily to comply with differing regulatory requirements on flushing volumes. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a dual flush apparatus which utilises a pivoting or ‘flapper” valve rather than a plunger valve.




Most known dual flush outlet valves also have limited scope to provide variable or extra capacity for overfilling relief from the reservoir, for example In the case of failure of the reservoir filling valve to shut-off when the reservoir has been filled to its desired level. It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a dual flush outlet valve with added fixed or variable overflow protection.




In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dual volume discharge apparatus for selectively discharging a full flush or a half flush of liquid from a reservoir, said discharge apparatus including:




actuator means selectively moveable from a closed position to either a full flush position or a half flush position,




sealing means moveable by said actuator means from a closed position to either a full flush position or a half flush position, said sealing means being biased toward said closed position when in said half flush position,




liquid outlet which is sealed by said sealing means to prevent flow of liquid out of said reservoir when said sealing means is in said closed position and which allows flow of liquid out of said reservoir when said sealing means is in the full flush position or the half flush position,




stop means co-operable with said sealing means and being biased towards position capable of holding said sealing means in said half flush position when said actuator means is moved to said half flush position until a predetermined volume of liquid has been discharged from said reservoir and then allowing aid sealing means to move to said closed position thereafter.




The actuator means is selectively moveable from a closed position to either a full flush position or to a half flush position. The actuator means preferably further includes means for selecting either the half flush or full flush functions. In a preferred embodiment the actuator means includes twin selection means, a first selection means being adapted to move said actuator means from the closed position to the half flush position, and a second selection means being adapted to move the actuator means from the closed position to the full flush position. Said means may be in the form of a dual press-button device where each button when depressed causes the actuator means to move a certain distance, the two buttons each moving the actuator means a different distance. Preferably the half flush position is intermediate the closed and full flush positions and the distance the first selection means moves the actuator means when depressed by the user is less than the distance the second selection means moves the actuator means when depressed.




The actuator means moves the sealing means from a closed position to either a full flush position or to a half flush position. In a preferred embodiment the sealing means is a flapper-type valve and the actuator means acts on the sealing means to cause the sealing means to pivot between said closed, half flush and full flush positions.




The sealing means seals the liquid outlet when the actuator means is in. the closed position. When the sealing means is moved to either of the flush positions, the liquid outlet is opened and liquid in the reservoir is able to flow by gravity out of the liquid outlet.




When in the half flush position, the sealing means is biased toward the closed position. Preferably this bias is caused by the resolved static and dynamic fluid and gravitational forces acting on the sealing means when the sealing means is in the half flush position. When the sealing means has been moved from the closed position, liquid will flow out of the reservoir causing a venturi effect. This will result in a lower pressure acting on the lower surface of the sealing means and a greater pressure acting on the upper surface of the sealing means, the resultant net forces acting to urge the sealing means toward the closed position. Preferably when the sealing means is a flapper-valve, less pivotal movement of the sealing means away from the liquid outlet is required to put the sealing means in the half flush position than in the full flush position. In other words, when the actuator means is moved to the half flush position, the sealing means moves a first distance away from the liquid outlet, but when the actuator means is moved to the full flush position, the sealing means moves a further distance away from the liquid outlet.




Preferably when the sealing means is in the full flush position, the resolved forces acting upon it urge It to remain in that position, at least until the liquid level in the reservoir drops to a point where the sealing means is no longer covered with liquid. The sealing means may include a float which provides a buoyant force greater than any downward acting forces on the sealing means such that it remains in the full flush open position while there is still water in the reservoir but when the water level drops to below the float, the lack of buoyancy will cause the sealing means to close.




The apparatus further includes stop means co-operable with the sealing means. The stop means is biased towards a position capable of holding said sealing means in a half flush position when the actuator is moved to the half flush position. The stop means then holds the sealing means in the half flush position until a predetermined volume of liquid has been discharged from the reservoir. Thereafter, the sealing means moves to the closed position so that no more liquid is able to flow out of the liquid outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the stop means includes a cam which is capable of moving into a locking position when the sealing means is moved into the half flush position and there it is engaged by cooperating latching means associated with the sealing means. The stop means may move into the locking position by way of a float which biases the stop means toward the locking position when the float is providing upward buoyant forces, i.e. when there is liquid at least partially around the float. When the liquid level has dropped so that the float no longer provides upward buoyant forces the stop means may move away from the locking position so that the resultant forces acting on the sealing means cause the latter to move to the closed position and thus prevent further outflow of water from the reservoir.




In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a dual volume discharge apparatus for discharging liquid from a reservoir, said apparatus including:




a main liquid outlet communicating between said reservoir and a discharge passage,




valve means selectively moveable between a closed position where liquid is prevented from flowing out of said reservoir into said discharge passage through said main liquid outlet and an open position where liquid is able to flow out of said reservoir into a discharge passage through said main liquid outlet,




a first overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, and




at least one additional overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, such that when said valve means is in said closed position and liquid in said reservoir reaches said selected fill level liquid will flow into said overflow passages and flow into said discharge passage.




Preferably the additional overflow passage or passages are connected to the apparatus in parallel with the first overflow passage. The additional overflow passages may connect to the apparatus in a modular fashion by for example, a friction fit into an openable port in the apparatus. The additional discharge passages may have a telescopic extension sleeve allowing adjustment of the height of the inlet.




The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The description will refer to a preferred form of the invention when utilised in a toilet cistern. It is to be understood that the drawings and the following description relate to a preferred embodiment only, and are not to limit the generality of the present invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:





FIG. 1

is an exploded view of separate parts of an apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a side elevation of an apparatus of the present invention shown in the closed position.





FIG. 3

is a side elevation of an apparatus of the present invention shown in the half flush position.





FIG. 4

is a side elevation of an apparatus of the present invention shown in the full flush position.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




In

FIG. 1

, activator means


1


collectively comprises half flush button


3


, full flush button


5


, push rod


7


and connecting arm


9


. Sealing means


11


collectively comprises float seal


13


and cantilever arm


15


. Liquid outlet


17


is located in apparatus body


19


. Stop means


21


collectively comprises float


23


and float guide


25


.




Half and full flush buttons


3


and


5


are biased toward an upper position where they do not apply any force to the head of push rod unless they are being depressed by the user. Half and full flush buttons


3


and


5


are preferably mounted on the cover (not shown) of the cistern, and are exposed and visible to the user. The remaining parts of the apparatus are most suitably housed within the cistern and may be submerged under water when the cistern is full as is conventional in the art.




Push rod


7


has adjustment stop


27


on its shank


29


which rests on an shoulder


31


in connecting arm


9


. Preferably the adjustment stop


27


can be screwed to a selected position along a thread


33


on shank


29


so that the push rod


7


can be adjusted to an optimal position relative to connecting arm


9


and half and full flush buttons


3


and


5


. Alternative arrangements to a screw thread may be provided for the adjustment stop


27


, although it is considered that a screw thread will provide the greatest degree of adjustability. Push rod


7


may pass through a guide


35


so as to keep its motion (when activated by either of the flush buttons) substantially linear.




In

FIG. 2

the apparatus is shown in the closed position. This position correlates to the situation where the cistern is filled with water to the desired level and is ready to be activated to provide either a half flush or a full flush. Connecting arm


9


transfers linear downward motion of the push rod


7


to hinge point


37


where surface


39


of connection arm


9


contacts actuating end


41


of cantilever arm


15


. Preferably connecting arm


9


passes around body


19


which acts as a guide to keep the motion of connecting arm


9


linear. Desirably cantilever arm


15


is hinged about pivot


43


on body


19


. Seal end


45


of cantilever arm


15


has pivotally mounted thereon float seal


13


which consists of sealing gasket


47


and float


49


shown in FIG.


1


. Preferably seal end


45


of cantilever arm


15


includes recesses


51


on the upper side


53


of seal end


45


, said recesses


51


being capable of retaining water therein when the cistern is empty so as to provide ballast to the seal end


45


of cantilever arm


15


after the cistern has been emptied by a full flush. This ballast is the amount of water which can be retained in the recesses


51


will preferably be sufficient so as to weight down the seal end


45


to cause the sealing gasket


47


fall and come into contact with annular outlet rim


55


. Seal end


45


may include a lip


57


adapted to bear upon part


59


of the upper surface


61


of sealing gasket


47


to assist in sealing liquid outlet


17


. Cantilever arm


15


includes cam follower


63


between pivot


43


and seal end


45


.




Body


19


is hollow and incorporates internal overflow passage


65


which extends from overflow inlet


67


to outlet


17


. It will be appreciated that outlet


17


communicates with toilet pan (not shown) such that water flushed from cistern flows into the toilet pan, and water flowing down the overflow passage


65


will also flow into the pan. Overflow passage


65


includes telescopic extension sleeve


69


co-axial with the overflow passage


65


and capable of being adjusted up or down along the axis


71


of overflow passage


65


. Accordingly the height of inlet


67


may be varied as desired so that the level reached by water in the cistern may be selected and determined by the degree to which the telescopic extension sleeve


69


has been extended. Telescopic extension sleeve


69


may include O-ring seal


73


to ensure water does not flow from the cistern into the overflow passage


65


through any gap between the overflow passage


65


and the extension sleeve


69


. The extension sleeve


69


also preferably includes a locking clip


75


to ensure that once it has been extended to a desired height, it is locked into position. Guide


35


may be connected to and extend from telescopic extension sleeve


69


.




The apparatus may further include one or more additional overflow passages


77


in parallel with the overflow passage


65


previously described. The additional overflow passage


77


or passages may be connected in a modular fashion to chamber


79


. Similar to the primary overflow passage


65


, the additional passage(s) may have a telescopic extension sleeve (not shown) allowing adjustment of the height of the respective overflow inlet


81


, or alternatively the additional overflow passages


77


may be of fixed length. The additional overflow passages


77


may be provided to give further protection against overflow of the cistern if the cistern filling valve should fail and water continues to enter the cistern despite reaching the selected filling level.




When in the closed position and when the cistern is full, the weight of water acting on the upper surface


61


of the sealing gasket


47


will hold the gasket


47


against the annular outlet rim


55


of the outlet


17


and this will cause the hinge point


37


of actuating end


41


of cantilever arm


15


to act upon surface


39


of connecting arm


9


to keep connecting arm


9


and hence push rod


7


in an upper position.




Apparatus also includes stop means


21


which facilitates and is essential to the half flushing function of the apparatus. Stop


21


comprises a body


25




19


having a cam end


85


, a float end


87


and a hinge point


89


intermediate said ends


85


and


87


. The hinge point


89


is preferably hinged to the body


19


and the stop


21


is capable of pivoting between a locking position and a release position. On float end


87


there is a float


23


which is adjustably mounted to track


83


. Float


23


may be adjusted along track


83


to a desired height. When cistern is full of water, float


23


will preferably be submerged below the surface of the water so that it provides a buoyant force acting upwardly on hinged stop


21


.




Cam end


85


of hinged stop


21


includes three cam surfaces; a closed cam surface


91


, a half flush cam surface


93


and a full flush cam surface


95


. When the apparatus is in the closed position cam follower


63


bears against the closed cam surface


91


. In this position the downward force of water acting on the upper surface


61


of the sealing gasket


47


is sufficient to overcome any buoyant forces acting on the float


23


so that the hinged stop


21


is held in a downwardly pivoted position. The half flush and full flush cam surfaces


93


and


95


will be described in more detail in relation to later figures.




Turning to

FIG. 3

, this figure illustrates the configuration of the apparatus when a half flush has been initiated by the user and the water level in the cistern is reducing from a full level to above the selected half flush level. The half flush position is initiated by the user depressing the half flush button


3


. When the half flush button


3


is depressed fully it presses upon the push rod


7


which travels distance A and causes cantilever arm


15


to raise float seal


13


distance B. In the process of moving cantilever arm


15


into the half flush position, cam follower


63


ceases to beer upon the closed cam surface


91


and hinged stop


21


is able to pivot by virtue of the buoyant forces acting on float


23


until half flush cam surface


93


comes into contact with cam follower


63


. The transition from the closed position to the half flush position will generally take only a fraction of a second, being the time it takes for a user to fully depress the half flush button


3


. The half flush button will then react to its normal position.




Once in the half flush position, water will evacuate from the cistern through the outlet


17


as the seal between the sealing gasket


47


and the annular outlet rim


55


will have been broken. Accordingly, the level of water in the cistern will begin to drop. The outflow of water around the seal end


45


and sealing gasket


47


and out of the outlet


17


will result in a net downward force acting on the upper surface


61


of the sealing gasket


47


such that it is urged towards the closed position. The downward forces may be made up of the mass of water above the seal end


45


and sealing gasket


47


acting downwardly on the upper surfaces


53


and


61


of those components. Additionally it is considered that there will also be a significant venturi effect caused by flow of water out of the outlet


17


resulting in a reduced pressure on the underside


97


of the sealing gasket


47


. This added to the other downward forces will urge the sealing gasket


47


towards the closed position. In the half flush position however, the half flush cam surface


93


comes into contact with the cam follower


63


. The shape of the half flush cam surface


93


is such that when the hinged stop


21


is biased upwardly by float


23


said surface engages with the cam follower


63


so as to prevent movement of the cantilever arm


15


towards the closed position. In other words the half flush cam surface


93


provides a temporary lock against which the cam follower


63


acts and is prevented from moving past. The locking action is sufficient to resist the downward acting forces on the seal end


45


and float seal


13


as long as there is an upward force acting on the hinged stop by virtue of the float


23


being immersed in water. Accordingly the locking action of the hinged stop


21


will remain to hold the cantilever arm


15


and float seal


13


in the half flush position until such time as the water level drops in the cistern to a point where the float


23


is no longer immersed in water. As described above, position of the float


23


can be selected by moving it up or down along track


83


. Therefore by selecting an appropriate position for the float


23


on the track


83


, this dictates the level at which the hinged stop


21


ceases to provide the half flush locking function and thus the sealing gasket


47


will close to prevent further flow of water out of the cistern.




When the water level has dropped to a point where the float


23


no longer provides an upward force on the hinged stop


21


, the hinged stop


21


will pivot back to the downwardly pivoted position, the same as when the apparatus is in the closed position. The half flush cam surface


93


will therefore move back away from the cam follower


63


allowing the cantilever arm


15


to move to the closed position.





FIG. 4

shows the apparatus in the full flush position. This position is adopted when the user depresses the full flush button


5


. The full flush button


5


moves push rod


7


distance C, which is greater than distance A. This causes cantilever arm


15


to raise float seal


13


distance D. It can be seen that in the process of moving cantilever arm


15


into the full flush position, cam follower


63


moves past the half flush position until it bears on full flush cam surface


95


. Again the transition from the closed position to the full flush position will generally only take a fraction of a second, being the time it takes for a user to fully depress the full flush button


5


. Full flush button then retracts to its normal position. The speed of actuation is such that half flush cam surface


93


of the hinged stop


21


does not have time to engage the cam follower


63


as the cantilever arm


15


is moved from the closed position through the half flush position to the full flush position. The cam follower


63


may abut the full flush cam surface


95


although the action between this surface and the cam


63


is not critical.




When in the full flush position, water will evacuate from the cistern through the outlet


17


as the seal between the sealing gasket


47


and the annular outlet rim


55


will have been broken. The level of water in the cistern will drop. In the full flush position, although water will be flowing around the sealing gasket


47


and the seal end


45


, sealing gasket


47


will be positioned such a distance away from the any venturi effect described above such that there is little if any such downward force acting upon it. Further, float


23


will have an upwardly acting buoyancy force acting upon its surface because float


23


will be surrounded with water, unlike the situation in the half flush position. The net forces acting on the cantilever arm


15


in the full flush position while the water level is above the seal end


45


and float


23


will cause it to remain in that position.




As the water level drops to a point where the float


23


no longer provides a dominant upward force, which will generally be when the water level has dropped to the position of the float


23


, the downward forces acting on the seal end


45


will cause the cantilever arm


15


to move to the closed position. At such a point, a full flush volume of water will have been discharged from the cistern. Water trapped in the recesses


51


of the seal end


45


will provide a mass to assist in moving the apparatus to the closed position. As the water level rises to fill the cistern in preparation for a future flush the mounting downward forces acting on the sealing gasket


47


will hold it in the closed position.




The apparatus may be made from any suitable materials by any suitable means. For example, various components of the apparatus may be made by injection moulding of polymeric materials.




The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A dual volume discharge apparatus for selectively discharging a full flush or a half flush of liquid from a reservoir, said discharge apparatus including:sealing means pivotable between a closed position, a half flush position and full flush position and having a cam engaging portion engageable with a cam when said sealing means is in said half flush position, said sealing means being biased to said closed position when in said half flush position; actuating means capable of selectively moving said sealing means to either of said half flush or full flush positions; a fluid outlet which is sealed when said sealing means is in said closed position and which allows discharge of said flush from said reservoir when said sealing means is in said half flush or full flush positions; and stop means having a cam and a float mounted to a track thereon, said stop means being pivotable between a first position where said cam co-operates with said cam engaging portion when said float is substantially immersed in said liquid and a second position where said cam disengages with said cam engaging portion when said float is not substantially immersed in said liquid; wherein when the actuating means selectively moves said sealing means to said half flush position, said cam and cam engaging portion co-operate to keep said sealing means in said half flush position until said float is no longer substantially immersed in said liquid, whereupon said sealing means reverts to said closed position.
  • 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes means for selecting either the full flush or the half flush.
  • 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuator means includes a first selection means adapted to move said actuator means from the closed position to said half flush position, and a second selection means adapted to move said actuator means from said closed position to said full flush position.
  • 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second selection means each comprise a pressable button.
  • 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said half flush position is intermediate the closed and full flush positions and the distance the first selection means moves said actuator means when depressed is less than the distance the second selection means moves the actuator means when depressed.
  • 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is a flapper valve and said actuator means acts on said valve to cause the valve to pivot between said closed, half flush and full flush positions.
  • 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said sealing means is in said full flush position, the sealing means remains in said full flush position until the liquid level in the reservoir drops to where said sealing means is no longer covered with liquid.
  • 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means includes a float such that when said sealing means is moved to said full flush position, said float holds said sealing means in said full flush position while there is liquid surrounding said float.
  • 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stop means includes a cam capable of moving into a locking position when said sealing means is moved into said half flush position and is engaged by co-operating latching means on said sealing means.
  • 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said stop means includes a float which biases said stop means towards said locking position when liquid at least partially surrounds said float, and wherein said stop means moves to a closed position when the liquid level has dropped to a predetermined level.
  • 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a main liquid outlet communicating between said reservoir and a discharge passage,a first overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage, and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, and at least one additional overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, such that when said sealing means is in said closed position and liquid in said reservoir reaches said selected fill level, liquid flows into said overflow passages and into said discharge passage.
  • 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said additional overflow passage or passages are connected to said apparatus in parallel to said first overflow passage.
  • 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further including an overflow passage which is telescopically extendable.
  • 14. A dual volume discharge apparatus for selectively discharging a full flush or a half flush of liquid from a reservoir, said discharge apparatus including:a seal pivotable between a closed position, a half flush position and full flush position and having a cam engaging portion engageable with a cam when said seal is in said half flush position, said seal being biased to said closed position when in said half flush position; an actuator capable of selectively moving said seal to either of said half flush or full flush positions; a fluid outlet which is sealed when said seal is in said closed position and which allows discharge of said flush from said reservoir when said seal is in said half flush or full flush positions; and a stop having a cam and a float mounted to a track thereon, said stop being pivotable between a first position where said cam co-operates with said cam engaging portion when said float is substantially immersed in said liquid and a second position where said cam disengages with said cam engaging portion when said float is not substantially immersed in said liquid; wherein when the actuator selectively moves said seal to said half flush position, said cam and cam engaging portion co-operate to keep said seal in said half flush position until said float is no longer substantially immersed in said liquid, whereupon said seal reverts to said closed position.
  • 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, and further including an overflow passage which is telescopically extendable.
  • 16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said seal includes a float such that when said seal is moved to said full flush position; said float holds said seal in said full flush position while there is liquid surrounding said float.
  • 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said actuator is selectively movable between the full flush or the half flush.
  • 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said actuator includes a first selector adapted to move said actuator from the closed position to said half flush position, and a second selector adapted to move said actuator from said closed position to said full flush position.
  • 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first and second selectors each comprise a pressable button.
  • 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said half flush position is intermediate the closed and full flush positions and the distance the first selector moves said actuator when depressed is less than the distance the second selector moves the actuator when depressed.
  • 21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said seal is a flapper valve and said actuator acts on said valve to cause the valve to pivot between said closed, half flush and full flush positions.
  • 22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when said seal is in said full flush position, the seal remains in said full flush position until the liquid level in the reservoir drops to where said seal is no longer covered with liquid.
  • 23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said stop includes a cam capable of moving into a locking position when said seal is moved into said half flush position and is engaged by co-operating latching means on said seal.
  • 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said stop includes a float which biases said stop towards said locking position when liquid at least partially surrounds said float, and wherein said stop moves to a closed position when the liquid level has dropped to a predetermined level.
  • 25. The apparatus according to claim 14, and further including a main liquid outlet communicating between said reservoir and a discharge passage,a first overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage, and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, and at least one additional overflow passage having an outlet into said discharge passage and an inlet positioned at a selected fill level in said reservoir, such that when said seal is in said closed position and liquid in said reservoir reaches said selected fill level, liquid flows into said overflow passages and into said discharge passage.
  • 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said additional overflow passage or passages are connected to said apparatus in parallel to said first overflow passage.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
PQ2935 Sep 1999 AU
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of PCT/AU00/01120 filed Sep. 15, 2000.

US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
4811432 Harris Mar 1989 A
5121510 Ricalde Medina Jun 1992 A
5465432 Miller Nov 1995 A
5685025 Chen Nov 1997 A
5699563 McClure Dec 1997 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number Date Country
3258184 Mar 1985 AU
4317785 Dec 1985 AU
1060892 Aug 1992 AU
3916695 Jun 1996 AU
4080496 Jul 1996 AU
268 265 May 1989 DE
9629481 Sep 1996 WO
9717503 May 1997 WO
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/AU00/01120 Sep 2000 US
Child 10/096748 US