Patent Grant
8281424
The present invention relates to a flush toilet, and more particularly to a flush toilet cleaned by pressurized flush water.
Conventionally flush toilets have been known in which, as shown in Patent Document 1 for example, a reservoir tank is provided, and cleaning is accomplished by pressurizing flush water in the reservoir tank using a pressurizing pump and supplying this pressurized water to a toilet main unit.
The flush toilet set forth in this Patent Document 1 is one in which the toilet is cleaned by supplying flush water from a water main source to a rim water path and to a reservoir tank, pressurizing the flush water in the reservoir tank using a pressurizing pump, and supplying a jet-hole.
In addition, a check valve and an atmosphere release valve are provided on the guide path for supplying flush water to the jet-hole in this flush toilet; backflow of flush water from the toilet main unit to the reservoir tank is prevented by this check valve, and air remaining in the water guide path is discharged using an atmosphere released valve, thereby partitioning the toilet main unit and the reservoir tank.
Furthermore, an overflow pipe for conducting flush water overflowing from the reservoir tank is provided on the rim water path in this toilet, and a negative pressure breaker valve is provided on this overflow pipe.
Patent Document: JP-A-2005-264469
In the flush toilet according to Patent Document 1, backflow of flush water from the toilet main unit to the reservoir tank is prevented, and flush water overflowing from the reservoir tank can be discharged externally, but this requires the provision of a check valve, an atmosphere release valve, a negative pressure breaker valve, and the like, leading to a complex structure, an increased number of parts, and other problems. For this reason, further improvements to the flush toilet shown in Patent Document 1 have been desired.
The present invention was thus undertaken to resolve the above-described problems, and has the object of providing a flush toilet capable of preventing backflow from the toilet main unit to the reservoir tank, and of externally discharging flush water overflowing from the reservoir tank with a simplified structure and a reduced number of parts.
In order to resolve the above-described problem, the present invention is a flush toilet cleaned by pressurized flush water, the flush toilet comprising a toilet main unit provided with a bowl portion, a rim water spouting port and a jet water spouting port both for expelling flush water, and a drain trap pipe; a reservoir tank for storing flush water; flush water supply means for supplying flush water to the rim water spouting port and replenishing the reservoir tank; a pressurizing pump for pressurizing flush water in the reservoir tank; a jet-side water supply path, formed in a convex shape pointing upward, for supplying flush water pressurized by the pressurizing pump to the jet water spouting port; an overflow path, the lower end of which is connected downstream of the highest position of the jet-side water supply, and the upper end of which opens in the upper side of the reservoir tank; and backflow prevention means, provided on the overflow path, for preventing backflow of flush water from the jet-side water supply path to the reservoir tank; wherein a highest position L1 of the jet-side water supply path is set to be equal to or higher than the position of a highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank during a normal operation; an upper end position L2 of the overflow path is set to be equal to or higher than the position of the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank; the upper end position L2 of the overflow path is set to be higher than the position of a lower end L6 of the overflow path and the position of an accumulated water level L7 in the bowl; and the position of a lower end L6 of the overflow path is set to be equal to or higher than the position of the accumulated water level L7 in the bowl.
In the present invention thus constituted, the jet-side water supply path highest position L1 is first set to be at the equal or higher position as the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank during the normal operation; therefore when water is supplied to the reservoir tank, flush water stored inside the reservoir tank is not supplied to the bowl portion via the jet-side water supply path, and the highest reservoir tank water level L3 can thus be obtained when supplying water to the tank. Next, the overflow path upper end position L2 is set to be equal to or higher than the position of the reservoir tank highest water level L3; the overflow path upper end position L2 is set to be higher than the overflow path lower end position L6 and the bowl portion accumulated water level L7, and the overflow path lower end position L6 is set to be equal or higher position as the bowl portion accumulated water level L7; therefore when the volume of flush water in the reservoir tank increases and the water level in the tank exceeds the highest water level L3, flush water is discharged from the overflow path to the jet-side water supply path, but at this point, because the overflow path upper end position L2 to set to be higher than the lower position L6 thereof, flush water is able to flow smoothly within the overflow path, and because the overflow path lower end position L6 is set to be equal to or higher than the position of the bowl portion accumulated water level L7, air is supplied from the overflow path upper end position L2 to the jet-side water supply path to accomplish a partition. Also, air accumulated in the jet-side water supply path when the pressurizing pump turns ON can be discharged through the overflow path into the reservoir tank, reducing the air discharged from the jet water spouting port, and reducing the sound generated by the discharge of air at the jet water spouting port.
In the present invention, the highest position L1 of the jet-side water supply path and the upper end position L2 of the overflow path are preferably set to be higher than an overflow edge position L5 of the toilet main unit.
In the present invention thus constituted, the jet-side water supply path highest position L1 and the overflow path upper end position L2 are set to be higher than the toilet main unit overflow edge position L5, therefore even if by some chance the drain trap pipe became blocked, backflow into the reservoir tank of dirty water in the bowl portion could be prevented.
In the present invention, the pressurizing pump is preferably a non-self priming pump, and the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank during the normal operation is set to be higher than an upper end position L4 of a pump chamber of the pressurizing pump.
In the present invention thus constituted, the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank during the normal operation is set to be at a higher position than the pressurizing pump chamber upper end position L4 when the pressurizing pump is a non-self priming pump, therefore the air cavitation which occurs in non-self priming pumps due to air remaining in the pump chamber can be prevented.
In the present invention, the reservoir tank is preferably an open-type reservoir tank open to the atmosphere at the upper side thereof, and an overflow edge position L0 of the open type reservoir tank is set to be higher than the overflow edge position L5 of the toilet main unit.
In the present invention thus constituted, for cases in which the reservoir tank is an open-type reservoir tank, the overflow edge position L0 of this open type reservoir tank is set to be higher than the position L5 of the overflow edge on the toilet main unit, therefore even if for some reason such as a breakage or a blockage of the drain trap type, flush water exceeding the capacity of the overflow path flowed into the reservoir tank and the water level therein rose, the flush water would leak away from the toilet main unit overflow edge, which would cause the user to notice the anomaly in the toilet and take appropriate action.
The flush toilet of the present invention enables the prevention of backflow from the toilet main unit to the reservoir tank, and provides for a simplification of structures for externally draining flush water overflowing from the reservoir tank and an accompanying reduction in the number of parts required.
Next, referring to be attached drawings, a flush toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, referring to
As shown in
Formed on the toilet main unit 2 are a bowl portion 12 for receiving waste, a drain trap pipe 14 extending from the lower portion of the bowl portion 12, a jet water spouting port 16 for jet water spouting, and a rim water spouting port 18 for rim water spouting.
The jet water spouting port 16 is formed at the bottom of the bowl portion 12, configured to expel flush water toward the inlet to the drain trap pipe 14, and disposed approximately horizontally, pointing toward the inlet of the drain trap pipe 14 so as to expel flush water toward the drain trap pipe 14.
The rim water spouting port 18 is formed at the left side upper rear of the bowl portion 12, and expels flush water along the edge of the bowl portion 12.
The drain trap pipe 14 comprises an inlet portion 14a, a trap ascending pipe 14b rising from the inlet portion 14a, and a trap descending pipe 14c dropping from the trap ascending pipe connecting port 14b; between the trap ascending pipe 14b and the trap descending pipe 14c is a peak portion 14d.
The flush toilet 1 is directly connected to a water main supplying flush water; flush water is expelled from a rim water spouting port 18 under water main supply pressure. As discussed below, jet water spouting is accomplished by expelling from a jet water spouting port 16 a large volume of flush water stored in a reservoir tank 20 built into a functional portion 10 and pressurized by a pressurizing pump 22.
Next, referring to
As shown in
This constant volume valve 32, diaphragm-type electromagnetic on/off valve 34, and water supply path switching valve 36 are integrally assembled as a single unit 37, as shown in
In addition, a rim-side water supply path 38 for supplying flush water to the rim water spouting port 18, and a tank-side water supply path 40 for supplying flush water to the reservoir tank 20, are connected to the downstream side of the water supply path switching valve 36.
Here, the purpose of the constant volume valve 32 is to restrict flush water flowing through the strainer 28 and the splitter hardware 30 down to a predetermined flow volume or less. Flush water which has passed through the constant volume valve 32 flows into the electromagnetic on/off valve 34, and flush water which as passed through the electromagnetic on/off valve 34 is supplied from the rim-side water supply path 38 on the rim side to the rim water spouting port 18 by the water supply path switching valve 36, or from the tank-side water supply path 40 on the tank side to the reservoir tank 20. Here the water supply path switching valve 36 can supply flush water to both the rim-side water supply path 38 and the tank-side water supply path 40 at the same timing, allowing for optionally changing the proportion of respectively supplied water volumes to the rim side and the tank side.
A pump-side water supply path 45 is connected to the bottom portion of the reservoir tank 20, and a pressurizing pump 22 furnished with a pump chamber 22a is connected to the downstream end of this pump-side water supply path 45. In addition, the pressurizing pump 22 and the jet water spouting port 16 are connected by the jet-side water supply path 46, and the pressurizing pump 22 pressurizes flush water held in the reservoir tank 20 and supplies it to the jet water spouting port 16.
The jet-side water supply path 46 is formed in an upward pointing convex shape as shown in
Next, a rim water spouting vacuum breaker 48 is provided on the above-described rim-side water supply path 38, preventing backflow from the rim water spouting port 18 when negative pressure occurs on the water supply path 24. Also, as shown in
A vacuum breaker 42 serving as a check valve is also provided on the tank-side water supply path 40, thereby preventing backflow from the reservoir tank 20.
Here, the reservoir tank 20 is a sealed reservoir tank, and a ball-type check valve 43 is provided on a connecting portion between the tank-side water supply path 40 and the reservoir tank 20. Because of this ball-type check valve 43, even if the reservoir tank 20 in a full state exceeds the position of the upper end 70a of the overflow path 70 described below, the ball 43a floats, and the portion connecting to the tank-side water supply path 40 is closed, therefore flush water will not flow back into the tank-side water supply path 40.
Similarly, a ball-type check valve 44 is provided on the connecting portion with the return pipe 50, so that even if the reservoir tank 20 exceeds the position of the upper end 70a of the overflow path 70 described below, there is no backflow to the return pipe 50.
Furthermore, a jet water spouting flapper valve 56 serving as a check valve, and a drain plug 58 are provided on the pump-side water supply path 45. This jet water spouting flapper valve 56 and drain plug 58 are disposed at a height near the bottom end portion of the reservoir tank 20, below the pressurizing pump 22. Therefore flush water in the reservoir tank 20 and in the pressurizing pump 22 can be drained for maintenance and the like by opening the drain plug 58. Also by disposing the jet water spouting flapper valve 56 between the reservoir tank 20 and the pressurizing pump 22, flush water will flow back from the pressurizing pump 22 to the reservoir tank 20 when the water level in the reservoir tank 20 falls below the height of the pressurizing pump 22, therefore freewheeling of the pressurizing pump 22 if the pressurizing pump 22 is emptied of flush water can be prevented. A water receiving tray 60 is also disposed beneath the pressurizing pump 22 to receive condensed water droplets or leaks.
A controller 62 for controlling the operation of the electromagnetic on/off valve 34, the operation of the water supply path switching valve 36, and the rpm, operating time, and the like of the pressurizing pump 22 is built into the functional portion 10.
An upper end float switch 64a and a lower end float switch 64b are disposed inside the reservoir tank 20.
The upper end float switch 64a switches to ON when the water level inside the reservoir tank 20 reaches a predetermined level L10 slightly below the highest water level L3 under normal use; the controller 62 senses this and closes the electromagnetic on/off valve 34.
The lower end float switch 64b switches to ON when the water level inside the reservoir tank 20 reaches a predetermined level L12 slightly below the lowest water level L11 under normal use; the controller 62 senses this and stops the pressurizing pump 22.
An overflow path 70 is further provided; the upper end 70a of this overflow path 70 opens into the reservoir tank 20; the lower end 70b thereof is connected on the downstream side of (on the jet water spouting port 16 side of) the highest position L11 of the jet-side water supply path 46.
A flapper valve 72 serving as a check valve is attached to the overflow path 70. The overflow path 70 and the flapper valve 72 prevent backflow of flush water from the jet water spouting port 16 and enable those parts to be partitioned.
To explain the flapper valve 72 more specifically, the flapper valve 72 has a valve body 72a, and the valve body 72a is rotatable around a valve body axis 72b provided on the upper end thereof, as shown in
The flapper valve 72 valve body 72a is in the open position shown by the solid line when the pressurizing pump 22 is in the normal non-driven state; in this position air in the reservoir tank 20 can be supplied to the jet-side water supply path 46. Also, immediately after the pressurizing pump 22 has started, the valve body 72a is in the open position shown by the solid line, therefore air remaining in the jet-side water supply path 46 can be exhausted through the overflow path 70 into the reservoir tank 20 shown by the arrow A. In the open position, when the water level in the reservoir tank 20 exceeds the overflow path 70 upper end 70a, flush water which overflowing inside the reservoir tank 20 passes through the overflow path 70 and is discharged into the jet-side water supply path 46 as shown by the arrow B.
At the same time, after the pressurizing pump 22 starts and air remaining in the jet-side water supply path 46 is discharged to the reservoir tank 20 side, the flapper valve 72 valve body 72a goes to the closed position, as shown by the dotted line, under pressure of the flush water when the flush water in the reservoir tank 20 is pressurized by the pressurizing pump 22 and supplied to the jet water spouting port 16, such that flush water flowing in the jet-side water supply path 46 does not backflow to the overflow path 70.
The controller 62, in response to operation of a toilet flushing switch (not shown) by a user, sequentially operates the electromagnetic on/off valve 34, the water supply path switching valve 36, and the pressurizing pump 22, first spouting water from the rim water spouting port 18; while continuing to spout rim water, it next commences spouting water from the jet water spouting port 16 to flush the bowl portion 12. Furthermore, the controller 62 opens the electromagnetic on/off valve 34 after flushing is completed, switching the water supply path switching valve 36 over to the reservoir tank 20 side to replenish flush water to the reservoir tank 20. When the water level inside the reservoir tank 20 rises, and the upper end float switch 64a detects a predetermined water volume, the controller 65 closes the electromagnetic on/off valve 34 and stops the supply of water.
Next, referring to
As shown in
Next, between times t3-t4, the water supply path switching valve 36 is switched from the tank-side fully open position to the rim-side fully open position, flush water is supplied to the rim water spouting port 18, and flush water is spouted from the rim water spouting port 18.
Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed from time t2 (e.g. 5 seconds), jet water is spouted in the interval between times t5-t11 by turning ON the pressurizing pump 22 and using the pressurizing pump 22 to supply flush water in the reservoir tank 20 to the jet water spouting port 16, thereby spouting flush water from the jet water spouting port 16.
Next, the controller 62 controls the rpm of the pressurizing pump 22 while this jet spouting is going on as follows.
First, at time t6-t7, the pressurizing pump 22 is kept at a relatively slow speed (e.g., 1000 rpm), by which means air remaining in the vicinity of the jet-side water supply path 46 peak portion 46a (i.e., the portion positioned above the accumulated water surface of the bowl portion 12) is discharged from the jet water spouting port 16. As a result, the sound of air being discharged from the jet water spouting port 16, which is generated when the pressurizing pump 22 is suddenly started at its originally intended high rotation speed, can be prevented.
Next, at time t8-t9, the pressurizing pump 22 is rotated at a high speed (e.g., 3500 rpm). This causes the pressurizing force of the pressurizing pump 22 to increase, so that a large flow volume of flush water is spouted from the jet water spouting port 16. At this point, rim water is being continuously spouted from the rim water spouting port 18, therefore the flow volume of flush water spouted from the rim water spouting port 18 is added thereto, and a large flow volume of flush water flows into the drain trap pipe 14 inlet portion 14a, such that a siphon effect is rapidly induced, and accumulated water and waste in the bowl portion 12 is quickly discharged. At this point the flow volume flowing into the drain trap pipe 14 inlet portion 14a (the first flow volume) is between 75 liters/minute-120 liters/minute as the total flow volume coming from rim water spouting and from jet water spouting, which is a large flow volume compared to conventional examples.
Next, at time t9-t11, the flow volume of flush water flowing into the drain trap pipe 14 inlet portion 14a (the second flow volume) is set to be a smaller flow volume than the flow volume described above (the first flow volume), therefore the pressurizing pump 22 rpm is slightly decreased. In this
Thus a second flow volume of flush water, smaller than the first flow volume, is caused to flow into the drain trap pipe 14 inlet portion 14a immediately before the siphon effect generated by the first flow volume ends (time t9).
Next, at time t11, operation of the pressurizing pump 22 is stopped when the flush water level in the reservoir tank 20 drops and the lower end float switch 64b turns ON. At this point the pressurizing pump 22 rpm is slowly decreased between time t11-t12 so that spouting of water from the jet water spouting port 16 gradually decreases. This enables the prevention of a siphon cutoff sound arising from a sudden interruption in the siphon action.
Next, at time t11, jet water spouting has ended, but at this point rim water spouting continues as it was, and during a predetermined period from time t11 to time t13 (e.g. 4 seconds), only rim water spouting (latter rim water spouting) is continued.
Subsequently, at time t13-t14, the water supply path switching valve 36 switches from the rim-side fully open to tank-side fully open position. Flush water is thus accumulated in the reservoir tank 32.
Next, at time t15, the upper end float switch 32b turns ON due to the rise in water level in the reservoir tank 20, which turns OFF the electromagnetic on/off valve 34 (a closing operation) such that the inflow of flush water to the reservoir tank 20 is stopped.
Next, at time t16, the water supply path switching valve 36 returns to the neutral position at which it communicates with both the rim side and the tank side, and is restored to the standby state (the same state as at time t0).
Next, returning to
Assuming the highest position in the jet-side water supply path 46 is L1, the upper end position of the overflow path 70 (the position of the upper end 70a) is L2, the highest water level in normal use within the reservoir tank 20 is L3, the upper end position of the pressurizing pump 22 pump chamber 22a is L4, the position of the toilet main unit 2 overflow edge is L5, the lower end position of the overflow path 70 (the position of the lower end 70b) is L6, and the level of accumulated water in bowl portion 12 is L7, the following positional relationships are established for the flush toilet of the present embodiment.
First, the highest position L1 in the jet-side water supply path 46 is set to be equal to or higher than the position of the highest water level L3 inside the reservoir tank during the normal operation. By setting L1 and L3 in this way, flush water stored in the reservoir tank 20 will not pass through the pump-side water supply path 45 and the jet-side water supply path 46 to be supplied to the bowl portion 12 when water is supplied to the reservoir tank 20, therefore the highest level L3 in the reservoir tank 20 can be achieved.
Next, the upper end position L2 of the overflow path 70 is set to be equal to or higher than the reservoir tank 20 highest water level L3, and the overflow path 70 upper end position L2 is set to be higher than the overflow path lower end position L6 and the accumulated water level L7 in the bowl portion. At this point the overflow path 70 lower end position L6 is set to be equal to or higher than the accumulated water level L7 in the bowl portion 12.
Setting L2, L3, L6, and L7 to have this positional relationship enables correct functioning of the overflow of flush water in the reservoir tank 20, and permits air to be supplied to the jet-side water supply path 46 for reliable partitioning between the reservoir tank 20 and the jet water spouting port 16 so as to stabilize the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank 20, thereby promoting the discharge toward the reservoir tank 20 side of air accumulated in the jet-side water supply path 46. That is, when the flush water volume increases in the reservoir tank 20 and the water level in the tank exceeds the highest level L3, flush water is discharged from the overflow path 70 to the jet-side water supply path 46. At this point, the upper end position L2 of the overflow path 70 is set at a higher position than the lower end position L6, therefore flush water is able to flow smoothly in the overflow path 70. Furthermore, because the lower end L6 of the overflow path 70 is set to be equal to or higher than the accumulated water level L7 in the bowl portion 12, flush water in the jet-side water supply path 46 is smoothly discharged into the bowl portion 12. When the water level in the reservoir tank 20 drops after the pressurizing pump 22 is driven, air is supplied from the overflow path 70 upper end position L2 through the lower end L6 to the jet-side water supply path 46, and a partition between the reservoir tank 20 and the jet water spouting port 16 can thus be accomplished. Note also that air accumulated in the jet-side water supply path 46 at the time of the next pressurizing pump operation is discharged into the reservoir tank 20 via the overflow path 70, as a result of which less air is discharged from the jet water spouting port 16, thus reducing the noise accompanying the air discharge at the jet water spouting port 16.
Moreover, the jet-side water supply path 46 highest position L1 and the overflow path 70 upper end position L2 are set to be higher than the position L5 of the overflow edge on the toilet main unit 2, therefore even if by some chance the drain trap pipe became blocked, backflow into the reservoir tank 20 of dirty water in the bowl portion could be prevented.
Note that the jet-side water supply path 46 highest position L1 and the overflow path 70 upper end position L2 are higher than the accumulated water level L7 in the bowl portion 12, therefore in normal use backflow from the bowl portion 12 to the reservoir tank 20 is prevented.
In addition, when the pressurizing pump 22 is not a self-priming pump, the highest water level L3 in the reservoir tank 20 under normal use is set to be higher than the upper end position L4 of the pressurizing pump 22 pump chamber 22a, therefore the pressurizing pump 22 pump chamber 22a is filled with flush water, and air cavitation, which occurs in non-self priming pumps due to air remaining in the pump chamber 22a, can be prevented.
Next, referring to
As shown in
In another flush toilet embodiment, the ball-type check valves 43 and 44 in the embodiments described above are not provided.
Here, the overflow edge position L0 of the open-type reservoir tank 80 is set to be higher than the overflow edge position L5 of the toilet main unit 2. As a result, in this flush toilet according to another embodiment, if flush water were ever to exceed the capacity of the overflow path 70 in the reservoir tank 80 and flow inward due to a breakage of blockage of the drain trap pipe 14 or the like, such that the water level rose, that flush water would leak away from the toilet main unit 2 overflow edge. As a result, the user would note the anomaly in the toilet and could take some action. This is because the user would not notice a leakage of water, since the reservoir tank 80 is covered by said panels 11.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-170795 | Jun 2007 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2008/061746 | 6/27/2008 | WO | 00 | 8/13/2009 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009/001932 | 12/31/2008 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-264469 | Sep 2005 | JP |
| 2006-104669 | Apr 2006 | JP |
| 2006-177051 | Jul 2006 | JP |
| 2006-257870 | Sep 2006 | JP |
| 2007-138432 | Jun 2007 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100132105 A1 | Jun 2010 | US |
