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)
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 |