The present invention relates to a flush toilet, and in particular to a flush toilet for discharging waste using flush water supplied from a flush water supply source.
As shown in Japanese patent unexamined publication 2005-98003 (patent document 1), a conventional flush toilet for discharging waste by flushing the toilet with flush water is known. In the conventional toilet, the inner circumference of a rim portion formed at the top edge of the bowl portion of the flush toilet is formed to have a vertical or outward-spreading shape, whereby flush water is spouted in a horizontal direction from a water spouting port formed on the rear side of this rim portion so as to form a swirl flow, and is spouted toward a discharge trap from a jet spouting port erected at the bottom and front end of the bowl portion to generate a siphon effect, thereby discharging waste.
In the flush toilet of the above-described patent document 1, however, because the inner circumference formed on the top edge of the bowl portion is formed in a vertical or outwardly-spreading shape, when the flush water spouted from the rim spouting port is spouted horizontally and circulates around the shelf portion within the bowl portion to reach the rim spouting port, the problem arises that this arriving flush water collides with flush water newly spouted from the rim spouting port and produces splash-up, and also splashes outside the toilet.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flush toilet capable of suppressing collisions of swirl flows of flush water spouted from the water spouting portion and suppressing the occurrence of splash-ups.
The above object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a flush toilet for discharging waste using flush water supplied from a flush water source, the flush toilet comprising a bowl portion including a bowl-shaped waste receiving surface, a rim portion formed on the top edge portion thereof, and a shelf portion formed between the rim portion and the waste receiving surface; a water discharge path for discharging waste, the path including an inlet which is connected at the bottom of the bowl portion; a water spouting portion for spouting flush water onto the shelf portion of the bowl portion to form a swirl flow; and a water conduit for supplying flush water to the spouting portion; wherein the water spouting portion is formed on the rim portion, and a first swirl trajectory of a first circulation and a second swirl trajectory of a second circulation are mutually different when flush water spouted from the water spouting portion swirls along the rim portion.
In the present invention thus constituted, because the first swirl trajectory of the first circulation and the second swirl trajectory of the second circulation are mutually different when flush water spouted from the water spouting portion swirls along the rim portion, it is possible to suppress the splash-up produced when the second circulation swirl flow collides with the first circulation swirl flow spouted from the water spouting portion.
In the present invention, the water spouting portion is preferably formed at a predetermined distance above the shelf portion.
In the present invention thus constituted, because the water spouting portion is formed on the rim portion a predetermined distance above the shelf portion, flush water spouted from the water spouting portion swirls without flowing down onto the shelf portion in the first swirl trajectory of the first circulation, and swirls onto the shelf portion in the second swirl trajectory of the second circulation, therefore especially in the vicinity of the water spouting portion where splashing is prone to occur, the production of splash-ups by the mutual collision of flush water in the first swirl trajectory and second swirl trajectory swirling on the rim portion can be suppressed.
In the present invention, the water spouting portion is preferably formed on the rim portion positioned on the outer edge side of the shelf portion so that the first swirl trajectory is positioned outside the second swirl trajectory when seen in plan view.
In the present invention thus constituted, the water spouting portion is formed on the rim portion positioned on the outer edge side of the shelf portion, therefore the first swirl trajectory is positioned outside the second swirl trajectory when seen in plan view, so that in the vicinity of the water spouting portion where splashing is particularly prone to occur, the occurrence of splash-ups caused by collisions between the first swirl trajectory and the second swirl trajectory can be effectively suppressed.
In the present invention, the water spouting portion is preferably disposed near the smallest curvature radius portion positioned at the front end of the rim portion, and spouts flush water toward this smallest curvature radius portion.
In the present invention thus constituted, flush water spouted from the water spouting portion makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion after passing over the smallest curvature radius portion at the front end of the rim portion, but since the flow of flush water flowing down the shelf portion from the water spouting portion is suppressed due to the effect of centrifugal force when passing over this smallest curvature radius portion of the rim portion, collision with the swirl flow on the shelf portion when the first circulation swirl has already ended and the second circulation swirl is about to begin can be suppressed. Therefore in the vicinity of the water spouting portion where splashing is particularly prone to occur, the occurrence of splash-up when the first swirl trajectory and second swirl trajectory of flush waters swirling on the rim portion collide can be effectively suppressed.
In the present invention, the rim portion is preferably formed such that the inner circumferential surface near the water spouting portion thereof is formed into an inwardly protruding overhanging shape.
In the present invention thus constituted, the rim portion is formed such that the inner circumferential surface near the water spouting portion thereof is formed into an inwardly protruding overhanging shape, therefore near the water spouting portion of the rim portion where splashing is particularly prone to occur upon the merging of the first circulation swirl and the second circulation swirl, splashing outside of the toilet can be prevented even if splash-up occurs.
In the present invention, the upper surface forming the water spouting port of the water spouting portion and the inner circumferential surface of the rim portion are preferably continuously formed.
In the present invention thus constituted, the upper surface forming the water spouting port of the water spouting portion and the inner circumferential surface of the rim portion are continuously formed, therefore flush water spouted from the water spouting portion can smoothly flow along the inner circumferential surface of the rim portion, and the occurrence of splash-up caused by swirling flush waters colliding with one another can be effectively suppressed.
In the present invention, the water spouting portion is preferably formed such that the water spouting port thereof is inclined from bottom to top toward the direction in which water is spouted.
In the present invention thus constituted, the water spouting portion is formed such that water spouting port thereof is inclined from bottom to top toward the direction in which water is spouted, therefore even if an uncleaned portion occurs at the border between the first swirl trajectory and the second swirl trajectory, flush water spouted from the water spouting portion drops and flows, so this occurrence of an uncleaned portion can be prevented.
According to the flush toilet of the present invention, the mutual collision of flush waters in swirl flows of flush water spouted from water spouting portions can be suppressed, and the occurrence of splash-ups can hence also be suppressed.
a) is an example of the results of an analysis of the distribution of flow rates in the rim spout water and the jet spout water when a toilet is flushed using a flush toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16(b) shows the results of an analysis of flow rate distribution for rim spout water and jet spout water when a toilet is flushed using a conventional flush toilet, as a comparative example relative to the analytic results shown in
a) is an example of the results of an analysis of the distribution of flow rates in the jet spout water and the appearance of the flow when a toilet is flushed using a flush toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Referring to the attached drawings, a flush toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in
Note that with respect to the flush water source supplying flush water to the toilet main unit 2, there is no limitation to a tank-type apparatus such as the gravity fed reservoir tank 6 shown in this embodiment; flush water may also be supplied by a water main direct pressure system directly utilizing water main supply pressure, or by a flush valve, or by pump assisted pressure, etc.
As shown in
In addition, a water discharge trap pipe 12 serving as a discharge path for discharging waste inside the bowl portion 8 is formed at the bottom of the bowl portion 8.
The bowl portion 8 is provided with a bowl-shaped waste receiving surface 14, a rim portion 16 formed along the top edge portion of the bowl portion 8, and a shelf portion 18 formed between this waste receiving surface 14 and the rim portion 16.
The bowl portion 8 is provided with a concave portion 20 formed in a region below the waste receiving surface 14 and connected to the water discharge trap pipe 12; this concave portion 20 is provided with a bottom surface 20a and a wall surface 20b connecting the bottom surface 20a and the bottom edge portion 14a of the waste receiving surface 14.
In addition, seen from the front side of the toilet main unit 2 with respect to center line A1 (see
An inlet port 12a on the above-described water discharge trap pipe 12 opens at the back and rear of the concave portion 20 of the waste receiving surface 14 of the bowl portion 8; a rise path 12b extends rearward from this inlet port 12a. A fall path 12c connects to this rise path 12b; the bottom end of this fall path 12c is connected to an underfloor discharge pipe (not shown) via a discharge socket 24.
Note that in the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, one example of a floor discharge-type flush toilet in which the bottom end of the fall path 12c on a water discharge trap pipe 12 is connected to an underfloor discharge pipe (not shown) is described, but the flush toilet is not limited to this form, and may also be applied to an above-floor discharge-type flush toilet in which the end of the fall path 12c is disposed on the rear wall side of the flush toilet and is connected to an above-floor discharge pipe.
Next, referring to
As shown in
The rim water conduit 10d branches from the shared water conduit 10a in the vicinity of the back surface of the bowl portion 8, extending toward the front along the interior of the rim portion 16 positioned on the left side as seen from the front side of the toilet main unit 2 relative to the center line A1 (see
The jet water conduit 10b branches from the shared water conduit 10a in the vicinity of the back side of the bowl portion 8, extending forward so as to circumvent the outside of the left side wall surface 20b of the concave portion 20 of the bowl portion 8 seen from the front side of the toilet main unit 2 relative to the center line A1 (see
Note that it is sufficient for the rim spouting port 26 and the jet water spouting port 22 to be formed on the same side on either the left or the right of the bowl portion 8.
By forming the rim spouting port 26 on the front side of the jet water spouting port 22, even if splashing outside of the concave portion 20 of the bowl portion 8 by the swirl flow (referred to below as “diagonal swirl flow f4”) of flush water spouted from the jet water spouting port 22 occurs, it can be restrained by the force of the swirl flow (referred to below as “swirl flow f5”) spouted from the rim spouting port 26.
Furthermore, the route length L1 of the rim water conduit 10d is set to be longer than the route length L2 of the jet water conduit 10b as a means of setting the timing of water spouting so that jet spouting of flush water conducted to the jet water spouting port 22 through the jet water conduit 10b from the shared water conduit 10a begins prior to commencing rim spouting of flush water conducted to the rim spouting port 26 through the rim water conduit 10d from the shared water conduit 10a. This form of setting permits air present in the shared water conduit 10a at the time of flush start to be evacuated from the jet water spouting port 22 via the jet water conduit 10b, so that air discharged from the rim spouting port 26 when water spouting at the rim spouting port 26 begins can be reduced using a simple structure. The popping sound and splash-up produced when air, having flowed from the shared water conduit 10a into the rim water conduit 10d together with flush water, is compressed within the rim water conduit 10d and discharged from the rim spouting port 26 can be prevented, as can the splashing of water to outside the toilet 1.
Also, even if water splash-up occurs when air compressed within the jet water conduit 10b is discharged together with flush water at the jet water spouting port 22, the jet water spouting port 22 is positioned at the bottom in the bowl portion 8—i.e. on the side wall surface 20b of the concave portion 20 between the waste receiving surface 14 and the water discharge trap pipe 12, therefore water splashing outside of the toilet 1 can be prevented.
Furthermore, even if the air present within the shared water conduit 10a when flushing begins mixes in with flush water flowing from the shared water conduit 10a to the rim water conduit 10d, a rim spouting port 26 is formed on the front region F of the bowl portion 8, so that the rim water conduit 10d forms a comparatively long path from the shared water conduit 10a in the vicinity of the back surface of the bowl portion 8 to the rim spouting port 26, and air becomes sufficiently diffused as it flows through the rim water conduit 10d that the poping sound and water splash-up produced when water is spouted from the rim spouting port 26 can be suppressed.
Note that in the present embodiment, it is explained as an example of a means for starting jet water spouting before the start of rim water spouting a form whereby the route length L1 of the rim water conduit 10d is set to be longer than the route length L2 of the jet water conduit 10b, but the present invention is not limited to this form, and it is also acceptable to set the respective flow rates and volumes within the rim water conduit and the jet water conduit so that jet water spouting is started before the start of rim water spouting.
It is also acceptable to provide a pipe member communicating with the shared water conduit 10a and the interior of the concave portion 20 in place of the jet water conduit 10b as a way of evacuating air inside the shared water conduit 10a.
Next, referring to
As shown in
The front region F of the bowl portion 8 is provided with a region F1 which is disposed symmetrically relative to the center line A1 and the front end portion 16a (the inner circumferential front end portion 16a) of the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16, and includes the front end portion 16a, a region F2 positioned behind the region F1, and a region F3 positioned yet further behind this region F2.
The front end portion 16a within the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 has the smallest curvature radius p1 within the entire perimeter of the rim portion 16; the rim spouting port 26 is formed within the front region F2 positioned behind the front end portion 16a within the front region F1 of the rim portion 16, and flush water is spouted toward this front end portion 16a.
In other words, the rim spouting port 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the minimum curvature radius portion positioned at the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16, and by spouting flush water toward this minimum curvature radius portion, the water spouting direction vector and the water flow force of the flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 can be stabilized so that after passing through the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 while maintaining a comparatively high water flow force, flush water can swirl to the rear region R of the rim portion 16. By so doing, the easily dirtied rear region R of the bowl portion 8 can be properly washed, and since the flush water continues to swirl with its flow force maintained after passing through the rear region R, a situation is prevented whereby cleaning is poor due to an inability to also swirl in the vicinity of the rim portion 16 front end portion 16a.
Flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 after passing the smallest curvature radius portion of the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16, but the flow of flush water flowing down from the rim spouting port 26 to the shelf portion 18 is suppressed by the effect of centrifugal force acting on the outer side of the rim portion 16 when passing the smallest curvature radius portion of this rim portion 16, therefore a collision with the swirling flow on the shelf portion 18 can be restrained when the first circulation swirl has ended and the second circulation swirl is seeking to begin.
In addition, the rim spouting port 26 is adjacent on the left side as seen from the front side of the toilet main unit 2 relative to the front end portion 16a within the front region F1 of the bowl portion 8 rim portion 16, and is formed within the front region F2, which is the part in which the curvature radius p2 changes from a large curvature radius to a small curvature radius from the rear toward the front. Flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 thus immediately reaches the front end portion 16a on the rim portion 16 with a strong flow force maintained, and can thereafter swirl to the rear region R of the rim portion 16, thus preventing a situation in which cleaning is poor due to an inability to swirl in the vicinity of the smallest curvature radius front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16. Moreover, a moderate energy loss arising when flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 at a strong flow force toward the front end portion 16a in the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 passes over the front end within the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 formed at the minimum curvature radius p1 results in moderate restraint of flow force so that splashing of flush water outside the toilet due to over-strong flow force can be prevented.
Also, the majority of the rear region R of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 forms a portion (an arc shape) of a true circle having a fixed radius (curvature radius p3). Therefore since the curvature radius p3 (the radius of the circle) does not change in the majority of the rear region R of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8, loss of energy in the flush water when passing over rear region R of the rim portion 16 can be restrained, and flush water can be made to more reliably swirl, such that swirling occurs with a comparatively strong flow force maintained up to the rim portion 16 rear region R, and the rear region R of the bowl portion 8, which is easily-dirtied, can be reliably cleaned. Also, since the majority of the rear region R of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 forms a portion of a true circle of a predetermined radius (curvature radius p3), the majority of the rear region R of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 which is most prominent when seen by a user from diagonally forward and above forms a portion of a true circle with a predetermined radius (curvature radius p3), thereby improving the aesthetic appeal of the entire bowl portion 8.
Within the front region F, the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 is provided with a front region F3 formed at a curvature radius p4, equal to the curvature radius p2 and larger than the curvature radius p3 (p4=p2>p3); this front region F3 is disposed to be closely proximate to the vicinity of the front end portion 16a within the front region F1 between the front region F2 and the rear region R. Thus flush water which has passed from the rim spouting port 26 through the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 passes through the front region F2 proximate to the vicinity of the front end portion 16a in the front region F1 of the bowl portion 8 rim portion 16 and maintains a comparatively strong flow force as it flows into the front region F3. By flowing through the front region F3 of the rim portion 16 formed with a curvature radius p4, which is larger than the curvature radius p3 of the rear region R of the rim portion 16, this flush water is able to flow smoothly to the rear region R of the rim portion 16, maintaining in a stable state the flow force of the flush water from front regions F1 and F2, which is comparatively stronger than that of the front region F3, so that even if the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16 has a shape rising essentially vertically, splashing to the outside of the flush toilet 1 by flush water flowing in the rim portion 16 can be prevented.
Note that in this embodiment, it is explained the form in which the curvature radius p1 in the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 is set to be smaller than the curvature radius p3 of the rear region R of the rim portion 16, but the flush toilet is not limited to this form, and it is also acceptable to set the curvature radius p1 of the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 to be equal to the curvature radius p3 of the rear region R of the rim portion 16. Alternatively, it is also acceptable to set any one of the curvature radii p1, p2, or p4 of the front regions F1, F2, and F3 of the rim portion 16 to be equal to the curvature radius p3 of the rear region R of the rim portion 16.
The bowl portion 8 rim portion 16 is provided with an overhanging part 16b, formed in a shape such that the top edge portion from the rim spouting port 26 in the front region F2 facing toward the front side up to the vicinity of the front end portion 16a within the front region F1 of the rim portion 16 protrudes locally inward, and the top of the rim spouting port 26 is covered by this overhanging part 16b.
The rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 is provided with a rising portion 16c shaped to rise in an appropriate vertical direction in the region of the inner circumferential surface 17 outside the overhanging part 16b.
Thus an inward-facing overhang shape is formed by the overhanging part 16b in the front regions F1 and F2 around the front end portion 16a of the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16, and in the front region F3 and rear region R outside the vicinity of the rim portion 16 front end portion 16a, is formed into an approximately vertical rising shape, so that in the vicinity of the smallest curvature radius p1 front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16, there is no splashing of water outside the flush toilet 1, and the flow force of flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 can be increased. Also, since flush water can swirl up to the rear region R of the rim portion 16 while sufficiently maintaining a comparatively strong flow force, the easily dirtied rear region of the bowl portion 8 can also be more reliably cleaned.
Also, because of the overhanging part 16b in the front regions F1 and F2 in the vicinity of the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16, even if splash-up occurs near the rim spouting port 26 of the rim portion 16 where it is particularly prone to occur, that splash-up hits the top edge portion of the overhanging part 16b on the rim portion 16, therefore splashing outside the toilet 1 can be prevented.
In addition, since the inner circumferential surface 17 of the bowl portion 8 rim portion 16 is formed to rise approximately vertically in the region of the front end, any waste which may adhere there can be easily removed, and sanitation improved.
Note that in the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, it is explained as an example a form in which the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16 is provided with a rising portion 16c, but as an alternative to this rising portion 16c, this could also be set to an overhang shape over essentially the entire perimeter of the inner circumferential surface of the rim portion, or could be what is known as the open rim type, in which the inside of a rim water conduit formed along the circumferential direction of the rim portion 16 is left open.
The rim spouting port 26 is positioned by a predetermined distance h above the height position of the shelf portion 18 of the bowl portion 8, and is formed at the top end side of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8. Thus flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 forms a flow (swirl flow f1) which passes the vicinity of the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 where the curvature radius is small and swirls to the rear side of the rim portion 16, forming a falling flow (falling flow f2) from the top end side of the rim portion 16; the interior of the bowl portion 8 can thus be effectively cleaned by this swirl flow f1 and falling flow f2. The flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26, which is in a comparatively high position disposed at the top end side of the rim portion 16, enables reliable cleaning around the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8.
Moreover, by forming the rim spouting port 26 on the rim portion 16 at a predetermined distance h above the shelf portion 18, flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 swirls, as will be described in detail below using
In addition, because the rim spouting port 26 is formed at the top end side of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8, the rim spouting port 26 reliably falls into the blind angle of the overhanging part 16b of the rim portion 16 from the standpoint of a user looking at the bowl portion 8 from diagonally forward and above, making it more difficult for the user to see the rim spouting port 26. Furthermore, in addition to improving the sense of cleanliness perceived by the user, the overall aesthetic appeal of the bowl portion 8 can also be improved.
Moreover, the rim spouting port 26 is formed on the rim portion 16, which is positioned further outside (on the outside portion 18b side of the shelf portion 18) than the inner edge portion 18a of the shelf portion 18 of the bowl portion 8, and as will be described in detail below using
Also, the rim portion 16 on the bowl portion 8 is provided with a continuously formed portion 26c, continuously formed from a top edge portion 26b forming the top surface of a water passageway 26a formed within the rim spouting port 26, facing downstream to the rising portion 16c on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16; this continuously formed portion 26c is positioned on the inner circumferential surface 17 of the rim portion 16 to the right of the center line A1 (see
The overhanging part 16b in the front regions F1 and F2 of the rim portion 16 extend from the rim spouting port 26 toward the front side to the front end portion 16a within the front region F1 of the rim portion 16, and from this front end portion 16a to the continuously formed portion 26c; seen from above, the bowl portion 8 is symmetrically left-right disposed relative to the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16. The rim spouting port 26 is thus formed in the vicinity of the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16, and the overhanging part 16b of the rim portion 16 covers the rim spouting port 26, so that viewed by user from diagonally forward and above, the rim spouting port 26 cannot be observed. Furthermore, the overhanging part 16b of the rim portion 16 is formed to be left-right symmetrical in the vicinity of the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8, thus enabling the overall aesthetic appeal of the bowl portion 8 to be improved.
Also, facing in the direction of spouting from the rim spouting port 26a, the perimeter portion 26d on the rear side of the rim spouting port 26 is tilted from bottom to top. Flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 by means of the perimeter portion 26d of the rim spouting port 26 tilted from bottom to top thus forms a flow (swirl flow f1) passing the vicinity of the front end portion 16a of the small curvature radius rim portion 16 and swirling toward the rear side of the rim portion 16, and forms a falling flow (falling flow f2) from the top end side of the rim portion 16; the front end portion 16a of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 can thus be effectively cleaned by this swirl flow f1 and falling flow f2.
The incline from bottom to the top of the rim spouting port 26 perimeter portion 26d in the direction of water spouting thus enables flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 to flow downward even if an uncleaned portion is created at the boundary between the first swirl trajectory T1 and the second swirl trajectory T2, thereby preventing the occurrence of such uncleaned portions.
Additionally, part of the flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 can be made to drop by the rim spouting port 26 perimeter portion 26d inclined from the bottom to the top in this water spouting direction, and this falling flush water allows more effective suppression of the tendency for splashing to the outside by the swirl flow f4 spouted from the jet water spouting port 22. In the concave portion 20 of the bowl portion 8, the addition of rim spout water falling in this way to water spouted from the jet water spouting port 22 results in the creation of a swirl flow f4 provided with a strong rotational force in which the horizontal swirl flow and the vertical swirl flow are combined, thereby raising waste discharge performance. Moreover, splash-ups arising when rim spout water and jet spout water collide can also be more effectively suppressed.
The bowl portion 8 rim portion 16 is formed to be left-right symmetrical in the rear region R and front region F3, etc. within the bowl portion 8 visible to the user when the bowl portion 8 is viewed diagonally from forward and above; the inside circumference of the rim spouting port 26 is open but the top is covered by the overhanging part 16b, so is not visible to a user looking at the rim portion 16 diagonally from forward and above the bowl portion 8, and the overall aesthetic appeal of the bowl portion 8 can thus be improved.
In particular, as shown in
I.e., in the bowl portion 8 rim portion 16 front regions F1 and F2, the rim spouting port 26 is formed within an indented space B, formed so as to protrude forward of and by a predetermined width to the left and right relative to a virtual surface 16d, which is flush with the inner circumferential surface 17 forming the rising portion 16c rising essentially vertically in the rear region R and front region F3 of the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8. The top edge portion of this concave space B matches the overhanging part 16b, and the bottom end of the front end portion 16a of the inner circumference surface 16f in the concave space B matches the front end 18c of the outside portion 18b of the shelf portion 18.
The rim spouting port 26 is positioned forward of the rear edge 16e of the top edge portion 16b of indented space B and behind the front end 18c of the outside edge portion 18b of the shelf portion 18; a water passageway 26a extending from the rear end of the rim spouting port 26 perimeter portion 26d along the inner circumference surface 16f within the indented space B up to the vicinity of the front end portion 16a is formed within the indented space B, and the extended part 26e extending from this water passageway 26a through the front most portion 16a of the inner circumference surface 16f within the indented space B is continuously formed from within the indented space B to the continuously formed portion 26c of the rim portion inner circumferential surface 16c. It is thus difficult for users viewing the bowl portion 8 diagonally from forward and above to see the rim spouting port 26, and the sense of cleanliness perceived by the user can thus be improved.
Furthermore, although discussed in detail below using
Next, referring to
As shown in
As shown in
In addition,
Also, as shown in
Next, referring to
First, toilet flushing is started when a user operates an operating lever (not shown) in order to flush the toilet, and flush water in the reservoir tank 6 flows through the shared water conduit 10a, branching into jet water conduit 10b and rim water conduit 10d. After spouting from the jet water spouting port 22 has started at the beginning, spouting from the rim spouting port 26 then begins at a delay. At this point, the water spouting direction D1 in the jet water spouting port 22 (arrow D1 in
As shown in
On the other hand, jet spouted water spouted diagonally downward toward the front (spouting direction D1) from the jet water spouting port 22 flows along the front side wall surface 20b and the bottom surface 20a on the front side within the concave portion 20, and after swirling as it rises diagonally upward from the bottom toward the rear side, forms a diagonal swirl flow f4, which swirls along the rear side wall surface 20b within the concave portion 20. This diagonal swirl flow f4 forms a left-rotation swirl flow when the concave portion 20 is seen in plan view from above; the swirl direction of the rim-spouted water and the swirl direction of the jet-spouted water are the same (left-rotating) when seen in plan view.
As shown in
Next, as shown in
Also, as shown in
Finally, the comparatively strong rotational force of the diagonal swirl flow f4 in the concave portion 20 after merging with the rim spout water enables high specific gravity waste to be pushed into the water discharge trap pipe 12 from the bowl portion 8, and enables low specific gravity floating waste to be sent into the water discharge trap pipe 12 from the bowl portion 8 by the comparatively fast post-merge rotating diagonal swirl flow f4.
Next,
The shading of the flush water shown in
In contrast, the flush toilet in the comparative example shown in
Next,
First, the shading of the flow lines in the flush water shown in
In contrast, the flush toilet of the comparative example shown in
According to the flush toilet 1 of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, because the first swirl trajectory T1 when flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 is mutually different from the second swirl trajectory T2 when the flush water makes a second circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 and the shelf portion 18 after ending the first circulation swirl in the first swirl trajectory T1, the production of splash-ups by the mutual collision of flush waters forming swirl flows f1 and f3 respectively in the first circulation and second circulation along the rim portion 16 can be suppressed.
Also, according to the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 on the rim portion 16 disposed a predetermined height h above the shelf portion 18 of the bowl portion 8 makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 in the first swirl trajectory T1 positioned above the second swirl trajectory T2, then makes a second circulation swirl along the rim portion in a second swirl trajectory T2 which differs from the first swirl trajectory T1, therefore in the vicinity of the rim spouting port 26 where splashing is particularly prone to occur, the production of splash-ups caused by mutual collisions of flush water in the first swirl trajectory T1 and second swirl trajectory T2 swirling on the rim portion 16 can be suppressed.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 in the first swirl trajectory T1 positioned above and outside the second swirl trajectory T2, then makes a second circulation swirl along the rim portion in a second swirl trajectory T2 which differs from the first swirl trajectory T1, therefore in the vicinity of the rim spouting port 26 where splashing is particularly prone to occur, the production of splash-ups caused by mutual collisions of flush water in the first swirl trajectory T1 and second swirl trajectory T2 swirling on the rim portion 16 can be effectively suppressed.
According to the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, flush water spouted from the water spouting port 26 makes a first circulation swirl along the rim portion 16 after passing over the smallest curvature radius portion at the front end 16a of the rim portion 16, but since the flow of flush water flowing down the shelf portion 18 from the water spouting port 26 is suppressed due to the effect of centrifugal force when passing over this smallest curvature radius portion of the rim portion 16, collision between the first circulation swirl f1 and the swirl flow f3 on the shelf portion 18 which has already completed a first circulation swirl and is about to start a second swirl can be suppressed. Therefore in the vicinity of the water spouting portion 26 where splashing is particularly prone to occur, the occurrence of splash-up produced by the collision of the first swirl trajectory T1 and second swirl trajectory T2 of flush waters swirling on the rim portion 16 can be effectively suppressed.
In addition, according to the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, an overhanging part 16b projecting inward on the top edge portion of its inner circumferential surface is provided in the rim portion 16 rim spouting port 26 and its vicinity where splashing is particularly prone to occur, therefore even if by some chance the flush water swirling on the rim portion 16 were to collide at the rim spouting port 26 or its proximity so as to produce a splash-up, splashing of water outside the flush toilet 1 can be prevented.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet 1 of the present embodiment, the rim portion 16 of the bowl portion 8 is continuously formed from the top edge portion 26b of water passageway 26a formed within the rim spouting port 26 to the rising portion 16c on the inner circumferential surface of the rim portion extending toward the downstream side, enabling flush water spouted from the rim spouting port 26 to flow smoothly along the rising portion 16c of the rim portion inner circumferential surface, so that the occurrence of splash-ups produced by mutual collisions between flush waters swirling on the rim portion 16 can be effectively suppressed.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet 1 of the present invention, the port perimeter portion 26d of the rim spouting port 26 is inclined from bottom to top toward the direction in which water is spouted, therefore even if an uncleaned portion occurs at the border between the first swirl trajectory T1 and the second swirl trajectory T2, flush water spouted from the water spouting portion drops and flows, so this occurrence of an uncleaned portion can be prevented.
Note that in the flush toilet 1 of the above-described embodiment, a flush toilet of the wash-down type is explained as an example, but the flush toilet may also be a siphon-type of flush toilet in which the siphon effect is utilized to draw in waste in the bowl portion and discharge it all at once from a discharge trap pipe.
Furthermore, in the flush toilet 1 of the above-described present embodiment, it is explained a form whereby jet spouting is performed using a jet water conduit 10b and a jet water spouting port 22, and rim spouting is performed using a rim water conduit 10d and a rim spouting port 26, but the invention is not limited thereto, and may also be applied to a form in which jet spouting by the jet water conduit 10b and the jet water spouting port 22 is omitted, and only rim spouting by the rim water conduit 10d and the rim spouting port 26 is performed.
Although the present invention has been explained with reference to specific, preferred embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that modifications and improvements can be made while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is determined solely by appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-182902 | Aug 2011 | JP | national |