Patent Grant
11186975
This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-143531, filed Aug. 5, 2019, Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-202294, filed Nov. 7, 2019, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-091983, filed May 27, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a flush water tank apparatus, and particularly to a flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus and flush toilet apparatus comprising the flush water tank apparatus.
Published Unexamined Patent Application 2009-257061 describes a low tank apparatus. This low tank apparatus comprises a water pressure cylinder apparatus, and is constituted so that a water pressure cylinder is activated by the water pressure of supplied water to open a discharge valve in the low tank apparatus. In this low tank apparatus the supply and shutting off of a water supply to a water pressure cylinder is controlled by an electromagnetic valve. opening and closing of the discharge valve are controlled by operation of the electromagnetic valve. That is, when water supplied by activating an electromagnetic valve is caused to flow into the hydraulic cylinder apparatus, the piston in the hydraulic cylinder is pushed up, and this movement of the piston pulls up the discharge valve, thereby the discharge valve is opened. The discharge valve is closed when supply of water to the hydraulic cylinder apparatus is stopped by the electromagnetic valve.
A toilet tank apparatus is set forth in Published Unexamined Patent Application H10-311073. In the toilet tank apparatus, an electromagnetic valve, to which a water supply pipe is connected, is provided on the upper side surface of a tank main body, and a turbine is connected on the outflow side of this electromagnetic valve. A generator is attached to this turbine, and a rectifier circuit for converting AC power from the generator into DC, a battery charged by DC power from the rectifier circuit, and an electromagnetic valve control circuit operated by electrical power from the battery are provided on a circuit board.
However, in the low tank apparatus described in Published Unexamined Patent Application 2009-257061, the hydraulic cylinder apparatus is operated by the electromagnetic valve, there is a problem that the apparatus cannot be provided in environments where no external power supply is available. It is tried to consider that a generator is provided on the low tank apparatus (flush water tank apparatus), as described in Published Unexamined Patent Application H10-311073, so that electrical power is generated by the flow of supplied water, and the electromagnetic valve is operated by this electrical power. If electrical power is generated by the flow of water supplied to a flush water tank apparatus, and all the electrical power consumed by the electromagnetic valve can be supplied by the electrical power, then a flush water tank apparatus as described in Published Unexamined Patent Application 2009-257061 can be provided even in environments where no external power supply is available.
However, flush toilet apparatuses have become more water conserving in recent years, and the amount of water used for a single toilet flush has greatly diminished. Thus the amount of water supplied to a flush water tank apparatus with each toilet flush is small, so generating necessary electrical power with this small amount of water requires raising the flow speed, resulting in increased pressure losses in a generator. The force of supplied water weakens when pressure losses in the generator increase, therefore it may be anticipated that opening and closing discharge valves by a hydraulic cylinder apparatus as described in Published Unexamined Patent Application 2009-257061, would become impossible.
Therefore, one embodiment of the disclosure provides a flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus and flush toilet apparatus comprising the flush water tank apparatus.
The disclosed embodiment is a flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus, comprising a reservoir tank storing flush water supplied to the flush toilet, wherein a water discharge opening for discharging stored flush water to the flush toilet is formed in the reservoir tank; a discharge valve opening and closing the water discharge opening to supply and shut off flush water to the flush toilet; and a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion driving the discharge valve by utilizing a supply pressure of supplied tap water. The flush water tank apparatus further comprises a discharge control device supplying and shutting off water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion so that supplied tap water flows into the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion; an electromagnetic valve controlling to open and to close the discharge control device; a water supply valve supplying and shutting off water to the reservoir tank so that supplied tap water flows into the reservoir tank; a branching portion causing supplied tap water to divide so that one part divided flows into the discharge control device and the other part flows into the water supply valve; and a generator generating electrical power to operate the electromagnetic valve by using water flow. The generator is provided on a water conduit in a downstream side of the branching portion, and on the water conduit in an upstream side of the water supply valve or in a downstream side of the water supply valve.
In an embodiment thus constituted, a generator generates electrical power by water flow, and an electromagnetic valve is operated by using the electrical power. The electromagnetic valve controls the opening and closing of a discharge valve control device to supply and shut off the supply of water to a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion so that supplied tap water flows into the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion. The water supply valve supplies and shuts off water to the reservoir tank so that supplied tap water flows into the reservoir tank. Also, supplied tap water is divided in a branching portion, with one part divided flowing into the discharge control apparatus, and the other part flowing into the water supply valve. The generator is provided on a water conduit in a downstream side of the branching portion, and on the water conduit in an upstream side of the water supply valve or in a downstream side of the water supply valve.
According to an embodiment as constructed above, the generator is provided on a water conduit in the downstream side of the branching portion and on the water conduit in the upstream side of the water supply valve or in the downstream side of the water supply valve. Therefore the generator does not impart pressure losses to the flow of water supplied from a discharge control apparatus to a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion. Through research and development by the inventors, it has been proven that a discharge valve can be sufficiently driven by a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion by disposing the generator in this manner. This enables the provision of a flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus.
The disclosed embodiment is a flush toilet apparatus, wherein the flush toilet apparatus comprises the flush water tank apparatus of an embodiment disclosed, and a flush toilet flushed by flush water supplied from the flush water tank apparatus.
According to the flush water tank apparatus of an embodiment disclosed and a flush toilet apparatus comprising the flush water tank apparatus, it is possible to supply flush water to the flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus.
Next, referring to the attached drawings, a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is explained.
As shown in
As shown in
The reservoir tank 10 is a tank constituted to store flush water for supply to the flush toilet main unit 2. At the bottom portion of the reservoir tank 10 a water discharge opening 10a is formed for discharging stored flush water to the flush toilet main unit 2. Within the reservoir tank 10, an overflow pipe 10b is connected on the downstream side of the water discharge opening 10a. This overflow pipe 10b rises vertically near the water discharge opening 10a and extends above a water surface of the flush water stored in the reservoir tank 10. Therefore flush water flowing in from the top end of the overflow pipe 10b bypasses the water discharge opening 10a and flows directly out to the flush toilet main unit 2.
The discharge valve 12 is a valve body disposed so as to open and close water discharge opening 10a. The discharge valve 12 is opened when the discharge valve 12 is pulled up vertically by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, and flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is discharged to the flush toilet main unit 2, thereby the flushing bowl portion 2a is washed. The discharge valve 12 operates vertically within a casing (not shown).
The discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is constituted to drive the discharge valve 12 by utilizing the supply water pressure of flush water supplied from a municipal water supply. Specifically, the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 comprises a cylinder 14a into which water supplied from the discharge control device 18 flows, a piston 14b slidably disposed within this cylinder 14a, and a rod 15 projecting from the bottom end of the cylinder 14a to drive the discharge valve 12. In addition, a spring 14c is disposed on the interior of the cylinder 14a. The spring 14c the biases piston 14b downward, and a packing 14e is attached to the piston 14b to secure watertightness between the interior wall surface of the cylinder 14a and the piston 14b. A clutch mechanism 22 is disposed at a midway in the rod 15. The rod 15 is separated into an upper rod 15a and a lower rod 15b by means of this clutch mechanism 22.
The cylinder 14a is a cylindrical member. The axial line of the cylinder is disposed toward the vertical direction, and the piston 14b is slidably received on the interior of the cylinder. The cylinder 14a is mounted on the casing (not shown) of the discharge valve 12. An inflow pipe 24a is attached at the bottom end portion of the cylinder 14a, and water flowing out from the discharge control device 18 flows into the cylinder 14a. Therefore the piston 14b inside the cylinder 14a is pushed up in opposition to the biasing force of the spring 14c by water flowing into the cylinder 14a.
At the same time, an outflow hole is disposed on the top end portion of the cylinder 14a, and the outflow pipe 24b communicates with the interior of the cylinder 14a through the outflow hole. Therefore when water flows into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a connected to the bottom portion of the cylinder 14a, the piston 14b is pushed up from the bottom portion of the cylinder 14a, which is at a first position. When the piston 14b is pushed up to a second position above the outflow hole, water which has flowed into the cylinder 14a flows out from the outflow hole through the outflow pipe 24b. That is, the inflow pipe 24a and the outflow pipe 24b communicate through the interior of the cylinder 14a when the piston 14b is moved to a second position. The outflow pipe 24b extends downward from the cylinder 14a and releases water into the reservoir tank 10. Therefore the entire amount of water flowing out of the cylinder 14a is stored in the reservoir tank 10.
The rod 15 is a rod-shaped member connected to the undersurface of the piston 14b. The rod 15 passes through a through-hole 14f formed on the bottom of the cylinder 14a, and extends so as to project downward from the inside of the cylinder 14a. The discharge valve 12 is connected to the bottom end of the rod 15, and the rod 15 links the piston 14b and the discharge valve 12. Therefore when water flows into the cylinder 14a water pushes the piston 14b up, the rod 15 connected to the piston 14b pulls the discharge valve 12 upward, and the discharge valve 12 is opened.
A gap 14d is disposed between the rod 15 projecting from the lower portion of the cylinder 14a and the inside wall of a through-hole 14f in the cylinder 14a. A portion of water flowing into the cylinder 14a flows out from the gap 14d. Water flowing out from the gap 14d flows into the reservoir tank 10. Because this gap 14d is relatively narrow and flow path resistance is high, the pressure inside the cylinder 14a rises due to water flowing into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a, such that the piston 14b is pushed up in opposition to the bias force of the spring 14c, even in a state in which water is flowing out from the gap 14d.
In addition, a clutch mechanism 22 is disposed at a midway in the rod 15. The clutch mechanism 22 is constituted to separate the rod 15 into an upper rod 15a and a lower rod 15b when the rod 15 (the discharge valve 12) is pulled up by a predetermined distance. When the clutch mechanism 22 is separated, the lower rod 15b ceases to interlock with a movement of the upper portion which include the piston 14b and upper rod 15a, and the lower rod 15b together with the discharge valve 12, drops due to gravity as The lower rod 15 resists buoyancy.
A discharge valve float mechanism 26 is disposed close to the discharge valve 12. This discharge valve float mechanism 26 is constituted so as to delay the closing the water discharge opening 10a by descending the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 after the rod 15 is pulled up by a predetermined distance and the lower rod 15b is separated by the clutch mechanism 22. Specifically, the discharge valve float mechanism 26 comprises a float portion 26a and a latching portion 26b that moves in association with a movement of the float portion 26a.
The latching portion 26 is constructed to engage the lower rod 15b, which has been separated by the clutch mechanism 22 and has dropped, so as to stop the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from dropping and seating on the water discharge opening 10a. Next, the float portion 26a drops with falling water level inside the reservoir tank 10, and when the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 falls to a predetermined water level, the float portion 26a causes the latching portion 26b to rotate, and the engagement between the latching portion 26b and the lower rod 15b is released. Release of the engagement allows the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 to descend and seat on the water discharge opening 10a. Therefore, the closing of the discharge valve 12 is delayed, and an appropriate amount of flush water is discharged from the water discharge opening 10a.
A vacuum breaker 30 is provided on the inflow pipe 24a between the discharge control device 18 and the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. When the pressure in a side of the discharge control device 18 becomes negative, this vacuum breaker 30 causes outside air to be drawn into the inflow pipe 24a, preventing a reverse flow of water from a side of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
Next, the discharge control device 18 controls the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20, and controls a start and a stop of a supply of water to the reservoir tank 10. That is, The discharge control device 18 is connected tap water to the first branch pipe 33a branched in the water supply pipe branching portion 33 being a branching portion from the water supply pipe 32 connected to a tap water. The discharge control device 18 controls the start and the stop of a supply of water from the first branch pipe 33a to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 based on command signals from the controller 28. In the present embodiment, the entire amount of water flowing out from the discharge control device 18 passes through the inflow pipe 24a to be supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. A portion of the water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 flows out from the gap 14d between the inside wall of the through-hole 14f of the cylinder 14a and the rod 15, then flows into the reservoir tank 10. Most of the water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 passes through the outflow pipe 24b and flows out from the cylinder 14a and into the reservoir tank 10.
In the present embodiment a circuit board and a capacitor (neither shown) are built in the controller 28. A rectifier circuit for converting AC from the generator 16 into DC is disposed on this circuit board; the capacitor is charged by DC current from the rectifier circuit, and an electromagnetic valve control circuit disposed on the circuit board is activated by power from the capacitor.
Water supplied from a tap water supply is supplied through a stop cock 32a disposed on the outside of the reservoir tank 10, and through a fixed flow valve 32b disposed within the reservoir tank 10 on the downstream side of the stop cock 32a, and reached to the water supply pipe branching portion 33. The water is supplied to the discharge control device 18 from a first branch pipe 33a, divided in the water supply pipe branching portion 33. The stop cock 32a is provided to shut off the supply of water to the flush water tank apparatus 4 during maintenance or the like, and is normally used in an open-valve state. The fixed flow valve 32b is provided to cause municipally supplied water to flow into the discharge control device 18 at a predetermined flow rate, and is constituted so that a constant flow volume of water is supplied to the discharge control device 18 regardless of the installation environment of the flush toilet apparatus 1.
An electromagnetic valve 20 is attached to the discharge control device 18, and the supply of water from the discharge control device 18 to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is controlled based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20. Specifically, the controller 28 receives a signal from the remote control device 6 or the human sensor 8, and the controller 28 sends an electrical signal to the electromagnetic valve 20, thus activating it. The electromagnetic valve 20 is operated by electrical power produced by the generator 16 and stored in a capacitor (not shown) built into the controller 28.
That is, the electromagnetic valve 20 is constructed such that an electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a built into the discharge control device 18 is moved based on a signal sent from the controller 28 to open or close the pilot valve opening on the main valve body 18b of the discharge control device 18. Thereby, discharge control device the main valve body 18b of the discharge control device 18 is opened and closed based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20 so as to control the start and the stop of a supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. In the present embodiment a bi-stable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20, which is temporarily energized to move the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a, after which the state at the turning off is maintained even when power is turned off. In the electromagnetic valve 20 of this type, the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a can be restored to its original position by again applying energy in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile a second branched pipe 33b branched in the water supply pipe branching portion 33 is connected to the water supply control valve 19, and generator 16 is provided on the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19, which is on the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33.
The water supply control valve 19 is constituted so that water supplied from the second branched pipe 33b is flowed out to a tank supply pipe 25a. Water which has flowed into the tank supply pipe 25a passes through the generator 16, then is divided in two in a tank supply pipe branching portion 25b being a second branching portion. One part divided flows out into the reservoir tank 10, and the other part flows out into the overflow pipe 10b. A vacuum breaker 31 is provided between the water supply control valve 19 and the generator 16. A reverse flow of water from the side of the tank supply pipe 25a into the water supply pipe 32 when pressure in the second branched pipe 33b turns negative can thus be prevented. In the present embodiment, the tank supply pipe 25a is constituted by a flexible pipe or the like, is easy to vibrate. with the rotation of the water wheel (not shown) built into the generator 16. This structure thus enables air to be more easily discharged by vibration even if air is incorporated into the tank supply pipe 25a, the tank supply pipe 25a is constructed that it is not easy to accumulate air inside the tank supply pipe 25a.
The supply control valve 19 comprises a water supply valve main body portion 19a, and a main valve body 19b disposed in the water supply valve main body portion 19a, and a float-side pilot valve 19c. A water supply valve float 34 is connected to the water supply control valve 19, whereby the water supply control valve 19 is constructed that the float-side pilot valve 19c moves in response to a movement of the water supply valve float 34. The, the float-side pilot valve 19c is constituted so as to control the pressure in the pressure chamber provided in the water supply valve main body portion 19a by opening and closing a pilot valve opening (not shown) disposed in the water supply valve main body portion 19a.
The water supply valve float 34 is disposed within the reservoir tank 10. The water supply valve float 34 rises together with the rise of the water level in the reservoir tank 10, and the water supply valve float 34 moves the float-side pilot valve 19c through an arm portion 34a. When the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has risen to predetermined water level L1, the float-side pilot valve 19c causes the pilot valve opening (not shown) in the supply valve main body portion 19a to close. When the pilot valve opening is closed, pressure in the pressure chamber in the water supply valve main body portion 19a rises, the main valve body 19b is moved, and the water supply control valve 19 is closed.
Meanwhile, the generator 16 is placed at a midway in tank supply pipe 25a in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19 and the vacuum breaker 31. The generator 16 is constructed to generate electrical power based on the flow of water. Electrical power produced by the generator 16 is sent to the controller 28 connected to the generator 16, and charged into a capacitor (not shown) built in the controller 28. In addition, a float switch 29, being a water level detection device is connected to the controller 28. The float switch 29 is disposed inside the reservoir tank 10, and detects an event that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered by a predetermined distance from the predetermined water level L1.
Next the operation of a flush water tank apparatus 4 according to a first embodiment of the disclosure and a flush toilet apparatus comprising the flush water tank apparatus 4 is explained.
First, in the toilet flush standby state, the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is at predetermined water level L1, and the electromagnetic valve 20 is not energized. In this state, the pilot valve opening on the main valve body 18b of the discharge control device 18 is in a closed state, and the discharge control device 18 is closed. The pilot valve opening is on the main valve body 19b of the water supply control valve 19 in a closed state, and the water supply control valve 19 is also closed. Next, when a user presses the flush button on the remote control device 6 (
When the controller 28 receive the toilet flush command signal, the controller 28 energizes the electromagnetic valve 20 and causes the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a to separate from the pilot valve opening of the main valve body 18b. Pressure in the pressure chamber of the discharge control device 18 thus drops, and the main valve body 18b is unseated from the valve seat so that it is opened. In the present embodiment, a bi-stable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20. Therefore after once the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a has been opened, its open state is maintained even if power to the electromagnetic valve 20 is turned off. When the discharge control device 18 is opened, tap water is supplied to discharge control device from the water supply pipe 32 through the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the first branch pipe 33a to the discharge control device 18. The tap water flows through the discharge control device 18 and into the inflow pipe 24a.
In addition, water flowing into inflow pipe 24a flows into the interior of the cylinder 14a in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, and pushes up the piston 14b. This causes the rod 15 and the discharge valve 12 linked to the piston 14b to be pulled up, so that the water discharge opening 10a is opened and the bowl portion 2a of the flush toilet main unit 2 is flushed.
When water flows from the inflow pipe 24a into the cylinder 14a of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 and the piston 14b is pushed up to the upper portion in the cylinder 14a, the water in the cylinder 14a flows out through the outflow pipe 24b. Water flowing out through the outflow pipe 24b flows into the reservoir tank 10. A portion of water flowing into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a flows out from the gap 14d between the inner wall of the through-hole 14f of the cylinder 14a and the rod 15. This water then flows into the reservoir tank 10.
In addition, the water level in the reservoir tank 10 drops below a predetermined water level L1 when flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is discharged, therefore the water supply valve float 34 descends. This causes the arm portion 34a to rotate so that the float-side pilot valve 19c separates from the pilot valve opening on the main valve body 19b, and opens the pilot valve opening. As a result, pressure in the pressure chamber within the water supply valve main body portion 19a of the water supply control valve 19 drops, and the main valve body 19b separates from the valve seat. When the water supply control valve 19 is opened, tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 through the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and to the water supply control valve 19 via the water supply pipe branching portion 33 flows through the water supply control valve 19 and into the tank supply pipe 25a. Water flowing into the tank supply pipe 25a causes a water wheel (not shown) in the generator 16 to rotate, thereby generating electrical power. The generated electrical power charges a capacitor (not shown) built into controller 28. Water which has passed through the generator 16 is divided in the tank supply pipe branching portion 25b. One part branched flows into the overflow pipe 10b, while the remainder of flow flows into the reservoir tank 10.
On the other hand, when it is detected by the float switch 29 that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped to a predetermined water level L2, which is lower than predetermined water level L1 by a predetermined distance, the float switch 29 transmits a signal to the controller 28 that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped. When it is detected that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped, the controller 28 energizes the electromagnetic valve 20, and causes the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a to seat on the pilot valve opening in the main valve body 18b. Pressure in the pressure chamber of the discharge control device 18 thus rises, such that the main valve body 18b seats on the valve seat and is closed. After the discharge valve 12 is thus opened, the discharge control device 18 shuts off the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 before the water supply control valve 19 is closed.
That is, in the present embodiment a bistable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20, therefore the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a can be closed by energizing the electromagnetic valve 20 with the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 18a being in an open state. When the discharge control device 18 is closed, the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped, and thereafter the entire amount of tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 passes through the water supply control valve 19 to be supplied into the reservoir tank 10 and utilized for electrical generation by generator 16. When the float switch 29 detects that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has descended to the predetermined water level L2, the controller 28 closes the discharge control device 18. In contrast, as a variant example the disclosure may be constituted so that discharge control device the discharge control device 18 is closed after elapse of a predetermined time after the controller 28 opens the discharge control device 18.
Meanwhile, in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, when the piston 14b is pushed up, and thereby the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are pulled up to the predetermined position, the clutch mechanism 22 separates lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from the upper rod 15a. Thus while the discharge control device 18 is open, the upper rod 15a remains pushed and upward together with the piston 14b, while the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 descend by their own weight. However the separated lower rod 15b engages with the latching portion 26b of the discharge valve float mechanism 26, and the descent of lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are stopped. Thus after discharge control device 18 is closed, the water discharge opening 10a in the reservoir tank 10 remains in the opened state, and discharge from the reservoir tank 10 is continued.
Here, when the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 drops to a third predetermined water level L3 lower than predetermined water levels L1 and L2, the float portion 26a of the discharge valve float mechanism 26 drops, the lowering causes the latching portion 26b to move. This results in a release of the engagement between the lower rod 15b and the latching portion 26b, so that the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 again start to descend. The discharge valve 12 then causes the water discharge opening 10a of the reservoir tank 10 to close, and the discharge of flush water to the flush toilet main unit 2 is stopped. Since the discharge control device 18 and the water supply control valve 19 are in an open state even after the water discharge opening 10a is closed, water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 flows into the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, then passes through the outflow pipe 24b to flow into reservoir tank. A portion of water passing through the water supply control valve 19 passes through the tank supply pipe 25a to flow into the reservoir tank 10, so the water level in the reservoir tank 10 rises.
When the water level in the reservoir tank 10 rises to the predetermined water level L1, the water supply valve float 34 rises, the float-side pilot valve 19c is moved via the arm portion 34a, and the pilot valve opening is closed. This causes the pressure in the pressure chamber in the water supply valve main body portion 19a to rise, and the main valve body 19b is closed, so that the water supply control valve 19 is placed in a closed state. The supply of water to the reservoir tank 10 is thus shut off.
When the water supply control valve 19 is closed, the supply of water from the water supply control valve 19 to the generator 16 is stopped, and the generation of electrical power by generator 16 is ended. On the other hand when the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped due to the closing of discharge control device 18, the piston 14b in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is pushed down by the biasing force of the spring 14c. The upper rod 15a and the lower rod 15b, which had been separated by the clutch mechanism 22, are again joined when the upper rod 15a is pushed down together with the piston 14b. Therefore the next time a toilet flush is executed, the upper rod 15a and the lower rod 15b are both pulled up by the piston 14b. A single toilet flush is by this means completed, and the flush toilet apparatus is returned to a toilet flush standby state.
According to the flush water tank apparatus 4 of a first embodiment of the disclosure, the generator 16 is provided on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19, therefore the generator 16 imparts no pressure losses to the flow of water supplied from discharge control device 18 to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. By such disposing the generator 16, the discharge valve 12 can be sufficiently driven by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. This enables the provision of the flush water tank apparatus 4 supplying flush water to the flush toilet main body 2 by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus.
Also, according to the flush water tank apparatus 4 of the present embodiment of the disclosure, the generator 16 is placed on the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19 and on further upstream side than the tank supply pipe branching portion 25b. Therefore electricity can be generated by using water flowing respectively into the reservoir tank 10 and the flush toilet main unit 2, and the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is reliably operated and a sufficient quantity of electric generation can be secured.
According to the flush water tank apparatus 4 of the present embodiment, water flowing out from the water supply control valve 19 is guided through the tank supply pipe 25a constituted by a flexible pipe, to the generator 16. Therefore the tank supply pipe 25a can easily vibrate during use of the flush water tank apparatus 4 so that internally accumulated air can be effectively discharged. A reduction in generating efficiency in the generator 16 can thus be prevented.
Also, according to the flush water tank apparatus 4 of the present embodiment, the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped after the discharge valve 12 is opened. Therefore the entire amount of water supplied to the flush water tank apparatus 4 passes through the generator 16 after the discharge valve 12 is opened, and can thus be used for generating electricity. Thus, a sufficient quantity of electricity can be secured while the discharge valve is reliably opened by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
In addition, according to the flush water tank apparatus 4 of the present embodiment, the discharge control device 18 is closed when the float switch 29 detects a predetermined water level. Therefore the opening of the discharge valve 12 can be more reliably detected and the discharge control device 18 can be closed at the appropriate timing., Thus, a sufficient amount of electrical generation can be assured while the discharge valve 12 is reliably opened.
A first embodiment of the disclosure is explained above. Various changes may also be made to the above-described first embodiment. For example, the generator 16 is placed on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19 in the above-described first embodiment, but the generator 16 may also be placed on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and in the upstream side water conduit of the water supply control valve 19.
Also, according to the above-described first embodiment, electrical power generated by the generator 16 is stored in a capacitor built into the controller, but the present disclosure may also be constituted to store electrical power in a battery instead of a capacitor. In addition, in the above-described first embodiment the clutch mechanism 22 is provided between the piston and the discharge valve, but it is also possible to omit the clutch mechanism 22. In the above-described first embodiment, the piston 14b provided in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is driven in the vertical direction, but the present disclosure may also be constituted so that, for example, the piston 14b is driven horizontally. In such cases a mechanism should be provided to convert the movement direction of the piston 14a to the direction in which the discharge valve 12 is driven. In addition, in the above-described first embodiment a gap is provided between the through-hole on the bottom surface of the cylinder 14a and the rod 15, but it is also possible to make a watertight seal between the through-hole 14f and the rod 15. The present disclosure may also be constituted so that the discharge valve 12 is driven by a mechanism rotated by supply water pressure. instead of the piston 14b of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
In addition, according to the above-described first embodiment the water supply control valve 19 is arranged such that the main valve body 19b is opened and closed by the float-side pilot valve 19c driven by the water supply valve float 34, but the disclosure may also be constituted so that the main valve body 19b is directly opened and closed by an electromagnetic valve. In the above-described first embodiment, the water supply control valve 19 may be constituted to be opened and closed by an electromagnetic valve which is opened and closed in response to a detection signal from the float switch 29 instead of the water supply valve float 34. The present disclosure may also be constituted so that the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 is not detected by the float switch 29 but may be calculated based on the amount of electricity generated (generator rpm) by the generator 16. Moreover, a further generator may be provided on the outflow pipe 24b in addition to the generator 16 provided on the tank supply pipe 25a. This enables the amount of electrical generation to be increased without impeding the operation of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
Next, referring to
Since the flush toilet apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment has essentially the same constitution as the flush toilet apparatus according to the above-described first embodiment, only the points of difference between the second embodiment and first embodiment of the disclosure are explained, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same portions in the drawings, and explanations thereof are omitted.
As shown in
As shown in
The reservoir tank 10 is a tank constituted to store flush water for supply to the flush toilet main unit 2. At the bottom portion of the reservoir tank 10 a water discharge opening 10a is formed for discharging stored flush water to the flush toilet main unit 2. Within the reservoir tank 10, an overflow pipe 10b is connected on the downstream side of the water discharge opening 10a. This overflow pipe 10b rises vertically near the water discharge opening 10a and extends to further upward than the surface of the dead water level L1 of the flush water stored in the reservoir tank 10. Therefore the overflow pipe 10b causes flush water flowed in from the overflow opening at the top end of the overflow pipe 10b to bypass the water discharge opening 10a and to flow out directly to the flush toilet main unit 2.
The discharge valve 12 is a valve body disposed so as to open and close the water discharge opening 10a. The discharge valve 12 is opened by being pulled up vertically by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, and flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is discharged to the flush toilet main unit 2 and thereby the bowl portion 2a is flushed. Hence the discharge valve 12 supplies and shuts off the supply of water to the flush toilet main unit 2. The discharge valve 12 operates vertically within a casing.
The discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is constituted to drive the discharge valve 12 by utilizing the supply water pressure of municipally supplied flush water. Specifically, the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 comprises a cylinder 14a into which water supplied from discharge control device 118 flows, a piston 14b slidably disposed within the cylinder 14a, and a rod 15 projecting from the bottom end of the cylinder 14a to drive the discharge valve 12. In addition, a spring 14c is disposed on the interior of the cylinder 14a. The spring 14c biases the piston 14b downward, and a packing 14e is attached to the piston 14b to secure watertightness between the interior wall surface of the cylinder 14a and the piston 14b. A clutch mechanism 22 is disposed at a midway in the rod 15. The rod 15 is separated into an upper rod 15a and a lower rod 15b by means of this clutch mechanism 22.
The cylinder 14a is a cylindrical member. The axial line of the cylinder is disposed toward the vertical direction, and the piston 14b is slidably received on the interior of the cylinder. The cylinder 14a is mounted on the casing of the discharge valve 12. An inflow pipe 24a is attached at the bottom end portion of the cylinder 14a, and water flowing out from the discharge control device 118 flows into the cylinder 14a. Therefore the piston 14b inside the cylinder 14a is pushed up in opposition to the biasing force of the spring 14c by water flowing into the cylinder 14a.
On the other hand, an outflow hole is disposed on the top end portion of the cylinder 14a, and the outflow pipe 24b communicates with the interior of the cylinder 14a through the outflow hole. Therefore when water flows into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a connected to the bottom portion of the cylinder 14a, the piston 14b is pushed up from the bottom portion of the cylinder 14a, which is at a first position. When the piston 14b is pushed up to a second position above the outflow hole, water which has flowed into the cylinder 14a flows out from the outflow hole through the outflow pipe 24b. That is, the inflow pipe 24a and the outflow pipe 24b communicate through the interior of the cylinder 14a when the piston 14b is moved to a second position. The outflow pipe 24b extends downward from the cylinder 14a and releases water into the reservoir tank 10. Therefore the entire amount of the water flowing out of cylinder 14a is stored in the reservoir tank 10.
The rod 15 is a rod-shaped member connected to the undersurface of the piston 14b. The rod 15 passes through a through-hole 14f formed on the bottom of the cylinder 14a, and extends so as to project downward from the inside of the cylinder 14a. The discharge valve 12 is connected to the bottom end of the rod 15, and the rod 15 links the piston 14b and the discharge valve 12. Therefore when water flows into the cylinder 14a, water pushes the piston 14b up, the rod 15 connected to the piston 14b pulls the discharge valve 12 upward, and the discharge valve 12 is opened.
A gap 14d is disposed between the rod 15 projecting from the lower portion of the cylinder 14a and the inside wall of a through-hole 14f in the cylinder 14a. A portion of water flowing into the cylinder 14a flows out from the gap 14d. Water flowing out from the gap 14d flows into the reservoir tank 10. Because the gap 14d is relatively narrow and flow path resistance is high, the pressure inside the cylinder 14a rises due to water flowing into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a, such that the piston 14b is pushed up in opposition to the bias force of the spring 14c, even in a state in which water is flowing out from the gap 14d.
In addition, a clutch mechanism 22 is disposed on a midway in the rod 15. The clutch mechanism 22 is constituted to separate the rod 15 into an upper rod 15a and a lower rod 15b when the rod 15 (the discharge valve 12) is pulled up by a predetermined distance. When clutch mechanism 22 is separated, the lower rod 15b ceases to interlock with a movement of the upper portion, which include the piston 14b and the upper rod 15a, and the lower rod 15b, together with the discharge valve 12, drops due to gravity as the lower rod 15b resists buoyancy.
A discharge valve float mechanism 26 is disposed close to the discharge valve 12. This discharge valve float mechanism 26 is constituted so as to delay the closing of the water discharge opening 10a by descending the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 after the rod 15 is pulled up by a predetermined distance and the lower rod 15b is separated by the clutch mechanism 22. Specifically, the discharge valve float mechanism 26 comprises a float portion 26a and a latching portion 26b that moves in association with a movement of the float portion 26a.
The latching portion 26 is constructed to engage the lower rod 15b, which has been separated by the clutch mechanism 22 and has dropped, so as to stop the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from dropping and seating on water discharge opening 10a. Next, the float portion 26a lowers to the predetermined water level inside the reservoir tank 10, and when the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 falls to a predetermined water level, the float portion 26a causes the latching portion 26b to rotate, and the engagement between the latching portion 26b and the lower rod 15b is released. Release of the engagement allows the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 to descend and seat on the water discharge opening 10a. Therefore, the closing of the discharge valve 12 is delayed, and an appropriate amount of flush water is discharged from the water discharge opening 10a.
A vacuum breaker 30 is provided on the inflow pipe 24a between the discharge control device 118 and the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. When the pressure in the side of the discharge control device 118 becomes negative, this vacuum breaker 30 causes outside air to be drawn into the inflow pipe 24a, preventing a reverse flow of water from a side of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
Next, the discharge control device 118 controls the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20, and controls a start and a stop of a supply of water to the reservoir tank 10. The discharge valve control device 118 supplies or shuts off water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 so that supplied tap water flows into the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. That is, the discharge control device 118 is connected tap water to the first branch pipe 33a branched in the water supply pipe branching portion 33 being a branching portion from the water supply pipe 32 connected to a tap water. The discharge control device 18 controls the start and the stop of a supply of water from the first branch pipe 33a to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 based on command signals from the controller 28. In the present embodiment, the entire amount of water flowing out from the discharge control device 118 passes through the inflow pipe 24a to be supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. A portion of the water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 flows out from the gap 14d between the inside wall of the through-hole 14f of the cylinder 14a and the rod 15, then flows into the reservoir tank 10. Most of the water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 passes through the outflow pipe 24b and flows out from the cylinder 14a and into the reservoir tank 10.
In the present embodiment a circuit board and a capacitor (neither shown) are built in the controller 28. A rectifier circuit for converting AC from the generator 16 into DC is disposed on this circuit board; the capacitor is charged by DC current from the rectifier circuit, and an electromagnetic valve control circuit disposed on the circuit board is activated by power from the capacitor.
Water supplied from a municipal source is supplied through a stop cock 32a disposed on the outside of the reservoir tank 10, and through a fixed flow valve 32b disposed within the reservoir tank 10 in the downstream side of the stop cock 32a, and reached to the water supply pipe branching portion 33. The water is supplied to the discharge control device 118 from a first branch pipe 33a branched in the water supply pipe branching portion 33. The stop cock 32a is provided to shut off the supply of water to the flush water tank apparatus 104 during maintenance or the like, and is normally used in an open-valve state. The fixed flow valve 32b is provided to cause municipally supplied water to flow at a predetermined flow rate into the discharge control device 118 and/or the water supply control valve 19, and is constituted so that a constant flow rate of water is supplied to the discharge control device 118 and/or the water supply control valve 19 regardless of the installation environment of the flush toilet apparatus 101.
An electromagnetic valve 20 is attached to the discharge control device 118, and the supply of water from the discharge control device 118 to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is controlled based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20. Specifically, the controller 28 receives a signal from the remote control device 6 or the human sensor 8, and the controller 28 sends an electrical signal to the electromagnetic valve 20, thus activating it. The electromagnetic valve 20 is operated by electrical power produced by the generator 16 and stored in a capacitor (not shown) built into the controller 28. The electromagnetic valve 20 controls the opening and closing of the discharge control device 118.
As shown in
Also, the electromagnetic valve 20 attached to the discharge control device 118 comprises a solenoid coil 46 generating drive power, a plunger 48 driven with the solenoid coil 46, an electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a attached to this plunger 48, and a coil spring 52 for pressing the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a into the main valve body 118b when the valve is closed.
The main body portion 36 is a member which a connecting portion of the water supply pipe 32 is disposed on the bottom portion of the main body portion, and a connecting portion of the inflow pipe 24a is disposed on one side of the main body portion. The electromagnetic valve 20 is attached on the opposite side of the inflow pipe 24a. A valve seat 40 is formed in the inside of the main body portion 36. The valve seat 40 communicates with the inflow pipe 24a, which is connected to a connecting portion. In addition, a main valve body 118b is disposed in the interior of the main body portion 36 so as to open and close the valve seat 40, and is constituted so that when the valve is open, tap water flowing in from the water supply pipe 32 passes between the valve seat 40 and the main valve body 118b and flows out to the inflow pipe 24a.
The main valve body 118b is an approximately circular disk-shaped diaphragm-type valve body, attached to the inside of the main body portion 36 so as to be able to seat on and unseat from the valve seat 40. A pilot valve opening 38a opened and closed by the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a of the electromagnetic valve 20, is provided at the center of the main valve body 118b, and a bleed hole 38b is provided on the perimeter portion of the main valve body 118b. Also, in the main body portion 36, the pressure chamber 36a is formed in the opposite side of the valve seat 40 (the left side in
On the other hand, the electromagnetic valve 20 is attached to the main body portion 36 so as to face the valve seat 40, and is constituted to enable electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a to advance and retract within the pressure chamber 36a in the main body portion 36. That is, the plunger 48 is slidably disposed in the center portion of the electromagnetic valve 20, and a solenoid coil 46 is provided around this plunger 48. An electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a is attached to the end of the plunger 48; this electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a is pressed into the pilot valve opening 38a of the main valve body 118b by the biasing force of the coil spring 52, and closes it. Thus the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a normally acts to close the pilot valve opening 38a by the biasing force of the coil spring 52. Meanwhile, when the solenoid coil 46 is energized, the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a is pulled away from the pilot valve opening 38a by the electromagnetic force acting between the solenoid coil 46 and the plunger 48, and the pilot valve opening 38a is opened.
During standby of the toilet flush, the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 is at dead water level L1. The solenoid coil 46 of the electromagnetic valve 20 is not energized, and the pilot valve opening 38a in the main valve body 118b is in a closed state.
Tap water flowing into the main body portion 36 from the water supply pipe 32 flows into an annular-shaped space around the valve seat 40. The water flows from the space through the bleed hole 38b in the main valve body 118b and into the pressure chamber 36a. In the state in which the pilot valve opening 38a in the main valve body 118b is closed by the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a, there is no conduit for tap water flowed into the pressure chamber 36a from the bleed hole 38b to flow out, and the pressure in pressure chamber 36a rises. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 36a rises, the main valve body 118b is pressed in toward the valve seat 40 (toward the right side in
When the solenoid coil 46 in the electromagnetic valve 20 is energized, electromagnetic force acting on the plunger 48 causes the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a to separate from the pilot valve opening 38a so that water inside the pressure chamber 36a flows out from the pilot valve opening 38a, causing the pressure inside the pressure chamber 36a to drop. Main valve body 118b is thus moved so as to separate from the valve seat 40 (toward the left side in
The electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a built into the discharge control device 118 is moved based on a signal sent from the controller 28. The electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a is constructed to open or close the pilot valve opening in the main valve body 118b of the discharge control device 118. By so doing, the main valve body 118b of the discharge control device 18 is opened and closed based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20 so as to control the supply and shutting off of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. In the present embodiment a bi-stable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20, which is temporarily energized to move the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a, after which that state is maintained even when power is turned off. In the electromagnetic valve 20 of this type, the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a can be returned to its original position by again applying electric power in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, the second branched pipe 33b, branched in the water supply pipe branching portion 33, is connected to the water supply control valve 19, and the generator 16 is provided on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33, and in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19.
The water supply control valve 19 is constituted so that water supplied from second branched pipe 33b is made to flow out to a tank supply pipe 125a. Water which has flowed into the tank supply pipe 125a passes through the generator 16, then is divided in two in a tank supply pipe branching portion 125b being a second branching portion. One divided flows out into the reservoir tank 10, and the other flows out into the overflow pipe 10b. A vacuum breaker 31 is provided between the water supply control valve 19 and the generator 16. A reverse flow of water from the side of the tank supply pipe 125a into the water supply pipe 32 when the pressure in the side of the second branched pipe 33b turns negative can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the tank supply pipe 125a is constituted by a flexible pipe having a flexibility, and is easy to vibrate with the rotation of a water wheel (not shown) built into the generator 16. This structure thus enables air to be more easily discharged by vibration even if air is incorporated into the tank supply pipe 125a, the tank supply pipe 125a is constructed that it is not easy to accumulate air inside the tank supply pipe 125a. A reduction in generating efficiency by the generator 16 can thus be prevented.
A water supply valve float 34 is connected to the water supply control valve 19, and the reservoir water level in the reservoir tank 10 is set to a predetermined dead water level L1. The water supply valve float 34 is disposed inside the reservoir tank 10, and is constituted to rise as the water level in the reservoir tank 10 rises. The supply of water from the water supply control device 19 to the generator 16 is shut off when the water level rises to a dead water level L1. The water supply control valve 19 functions as a supply control device to control the supplying and shutting off of water to the reservoir tank 10 so that supplied tap water flows into the reservoir tank 10.
As shown in
The main valve body 19b is an approximately circular disk-shaped diaphragm-type valve body, attached to the inside of the main body portion 19a so as to be able to seat on and unseat from the valve seat 41. A bleed hole 39b is provided on the perimeter portion of the main valve body 19b. Inside the main body portion 19a, a pressure chamber 37a is formed on the opposite side of the valve seat 41 (on the left side in
In addition, a pressure conduit 37b extends upward so as to communicate with to the pressure chamber 37a disposed within the main body portion 19a, and a float-side pilot valve opening 44a is provided at the top end of the pressure conduit 37b. The float-side pilot valve opening 44a is open toward the upper portion, and is constituted to be opened and closed by the float-side pilot valve 19c.
At the same time, the water supply valve float 34 is supported by arm portion 42. The arm portion 42 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 42a. In addition, a float-side pilot valve 19c is connected to the arm portion 42, and the float-side pilot valve 19c is constituted to be moved up and down with the rotation of the arm portion 42. In a state in which the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has risen to the dead water level L1, the water supply valve float 34 is pressed upward, and the float-side pilot valve 19c is moved downward, and seats on the float-side pilot valve opening 44a, thereby the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is closed. On the other hand when flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is discharged and the water level in the reservoir tank 10 drops, the water supply valve float 34 descends, and the float-side pilot valve 19c moves upward, and the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is opened. During toilet flush standby, the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is at dead water level L1, and the float-side pilot valve opening 44a of the main body portion 36 is in a closed state.
Municipal water flowing into the main body portion 19a from the second branched pipe 33b flows into an annular-shaped space around the valve seat 41. The water flows from the space through the bleed hole 39b in the main valve body 19b and into the pressure chamber 37a. Here, in a state in which the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is closed by the float-side pilot valve 19c, tap water flowing into the pressure chamber 37a from the bleed hole 39b has no outflow pathway, so the pressure in pressure chamber 37a rises. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 37a thus rises, the main valve body 19b is pressed in toward the valve seat 41 (toward the right side in
On the other hand if the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped to lower level than the dead water level L1, the water supply valve float 34 drops, the float-side pilot valve 19c moves upward, and the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is opened. Thus with the float-side pilot valve opening 44a being in an opened state, the pressure inside the pressure chamber 37a does not rise, therefore the valve seat 41 is opened. Thus the float-side pilot valve 19c is constituted to control the pressure in the pressure chamber 37a by opening and closing the float-side pilot valve opening 44a.
Meanwhile, the generator 16 is placed at a midway in the tank supply pipe 125a in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19 and the vacuum breaker 31 so as to generate electrical power based on the flow of water. The generator 16 is provided on the tank supply pipe 125a being a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19, but may also be provided in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the upstream side of the water supply control valve 19. That is, the generator 16 may be provided on a water conduit which is in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the upstream side of the water supply control valve 19, or on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19. The generator 16 is provided on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the upstream side of the water supply control valve 19, or on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19. Therefore the generator 16 imparts no pressure losses relative to the flow of water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 from discharge control device 118. Also, the generator 16 is provided to further the upstream side than the tank supply pipe branching portion 125b. Research and development by the inventors has proven that by disposing the generator 16 in this manner, the discharge valve 12 can be sufficiently driven by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14. This enables providing the flush water tank apparatus 104 for supplying flush water to the flush toilet 2 by using self-generated electrical power. Since the generator 16 is provided on a water conduit in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19. The influence of the pressure losses by the generator 16 on the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 can be reduced, thereby the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 can be operated more reliably. Also, the generator 16 is placed in the downstream side of the water supply control valve 19 and in a further upstream side than tank supply pipe branching portion 125b. Therefore electricity can be generated by using water meant to flow respectively into the reservoir tank 10 and the flush toilet main unit 2, and a sufficient quantity of electric generation can be secured, while the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is reliably operated.
The electrical power produced by the generator 16 is sent to the controller 28 connected to the generator 16, and is charged a capacitor (not shown) built into the controller 28. The flush water tank apparatus 104 comprises a float switch 29 being a water level detection device for detecting the water level in a reservoir tank. The float switch 29 is connected to the controller 28, and disposed inside the reservoir tank 10, and detects that the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 has reached to a predetermined water level L2 which is lower by a predetermined distance than predetermined water level L1.
The generator 16 is constituted to generate electrical power by the flow of tap water flowed out and supplied from the water supply control valve 19. Specifically, the generator 16 comprises a water wheel 17 (see
The generator 16 comprises a generator casing 16a and an electrical parts casing 16b which are provided on an outside of the generator 16. Both the generator casing 16a and the electrical parts casing 16b constitute a casing of the generator 16. Elements of the generator 16 are affixed on the inside of generator casing 16a. The generator casing 16a is affixed to the electrical parts casing 16b. The electrical parts casing 16b is formed to surround the generator casing 16a. The electrical parts casing 16b is formed to affix and cover electrical parts and the like (not shown) disposed in proximity to the electrical parts casing 16b, such as electrical parts for the generator 16. The electrical parts casing 16b is formed in a box shape. If no electrical parts or the like are disposed around the generator casing 16a, it is possible to omit the electrical parts casing 16b. The generator casing 16a of the generator 16 or the electrical parts casing 16b may also be attached to the reservoir tank 10 via a tank attaching member (not shown). Even if the generator 16 is connected to the reservoir tank 10 via a tank attaching member in this manner, vibration from the generator 16 can be dispersed into water by a support member 54 described below, to reduce vibration transmission. The tank supply pipe 125a comprises a water inlet pipe 125c connected to an inlet on the generator 16, and a water outlet pipe 125d connected to an outlet on the generator 16.
Next, referring to
The flush water tank apparatus 104 further comprises a support member 54 for supporting the casing 16a of the generator 16. The support member 54 may also support the electrical parts casing 16b when an electrical parts casing 16b is provided. The support member 54 further comprises a casing support member 56, which connects the overflow pipe 10b and the generator casing 16a of the generator 16 (or the electrical parts casing 16b). Therefore in the present embodiment support member 54 is constituted by the casing support member 56 and overflow pipe 10b. The support member 54 may be formed by the casing support member 56 alone, or may be formed by the casing support member 56 and the overflow pipe 10b. The casing support member 56 may be connected to other devices such as the discharge valve 12, the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, the discharge control device 18, or the water supply control valve 19, and the support member 54 may be constituted by the casing support member 56 and other devices. Thus a portion of the support member 54 is constituted by members which extend into the water, such as the discharge valve 12, the discharge control device 18, and the water supply control valve 19, so that vibration is also transferred to the water as described below, and the vibration transferred to the reservoir tank 10 can be reduced.
The casing support member 56 comprises an annular-shaped engaging portion 56a, which engages with the upper portion of the overflow pipe 10b. The annular-shaped engaging portion 56a is thus affixed to the overflow pipe 10b. The annular-shaped engaging portion 56a is disposed at a position at or below dead water level L1. The casing support member 56 also comprises a rising portion 56b which rises upward from the annular-shaped engaging portion 56a. The rising portion 56b extends parallel to the overflow pipe 10b. Therefore the rising portion 56b holds the generator 16 and the generator casing 16a (or the electrical parts casing 16b) above overflow pipe 10b. The rising portion 56b extends from a position at or below dead water level L1 to a position above dead water level L1. The bottom end of the rising portion 56b connects to the engaging portion 56a, and the top end of the rising portion 56b connects to the generator casing 16a. The generator 16 and the generator casing 16a may also be supported via the electrical parts casing 16b by affixing the top end of the rising portion 56b to the electrical parts casing 16b.
The support member 54 is provided so that when the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is at dead water level L1, at least a portion of the support member 54 extends to a position at or below the dead water level L1 of the reservoir tank 10. Therefore when the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is at dead water level L1, at least a portion of the support member 54 is extending into the water in the reservoir tank 10. When the support member 54 includes a member which extends to the lower portion of the reservoir tank 10, such as the overflow pipe 10b for example, a state in which a portion of the support member 54 is in the water can be created, even when the water level has descended. The support member 54 is a member which supports the generator 16 relative to the reservoir tank 10. For example, the wall surface of the reservoir tank 10 itself does not constitute the support member 54. The support member 54 is a member extending from the bottom surface, wall surface, or the like of the reservoir tank 10. The support member 54, the generator casing 16a, and the electrical parts casing 16b are made of resin. The support member 54, the generator casing 16a, and the electrical parts casing 16b transfer vibration of the generator 16, but when these members are in contact with water, that vibration is also transferred to the water, and the vibration transferred by these members can be reduced.
Next the operation of the flush water tank apparatus 104 and the flush toilet apparatus 101 comprising the flush water tank apparatus 104 according to a second embodiment of the disclosure is explained.
First, in a toilet flush standby state, the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is at predetermined water level L1, and the electromagnetic valve 20 is not energized. In this state, the pilot valve opening 38a on the main valve body 118b of the discharge control device 118 is in a closed state, and the discharge control device 118 is closed. The float-side pilot valve opening 44a pertaining to the main valve body 19b of the water supply control valve 19 is also in a closed state, and the water supply control valve 19 is also closed. Next, when a user presses the flush button on the remote control device 6 (
When a toilet flush command signal is received, the controller 28 energizes the electromagnetic valve 20 and causes the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a to separate from the pilot valve opening 38a on the main valve body 118b. Pressure in the pressure chamber of the discharge control device 118 thus drops, and the main valve body 118b unseats from the valve seat 41 and is opened. In the present embodiment, a bi-stable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20. Therefore once the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a has been opened, its open state is maintained even if electrical power to it is turned off. When the discharge control device 118 is opened, tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 through the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the first branch pipe 33a and the water supplied into the discharge control device 118 passes through the discharge control device 118 and into inflow pipe 24a.
In addition, water flowing into the inflow pipe 24a flows into the cylinder 14a of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, and pushes up the piston 14b. By pushing up piston 14b the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are pulled up, and the water discharge opening 10a is opened. Then, the bowl portion 2a of the flush toilet main unit 2 is flushed.
When water flows from the inflow pipe 24a into the cylinder 14a of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 and the piston 14b is pushed up to the upper portion of the cylinder 14a, the water in the cylinder 14a flows out through the outflow pipe 24b. Water flowing out through the outflow pipe 24b flows into the reservoir tank 10. A portion of water flowing into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 24a flows out from the gap 14d between the through-hole 14f of the inner wall of the cylinder 14a and rod 15; this water then flows into the reservoir tank 10. Therefore the discharge control device 118 which supplies water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, also functions as a water supply control device (supply valve) to control the supply and shutting off of water to the reservoir tank 10 based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve 20.
In addition, the water level in the reservoir tank 10 drops below a predetermined water level L1 when flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is discharged, therefore the water supply valve float 34 descends. This causes the arm portion 34a to rotate so that the float-side pilot valve 19c separates from the float-side pilot valve opening 44a on main valve body 19b, such that the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is opened. As a result, pressure in the pressure chamber 37a within the water supply valve main body portion 19a of the water supply control valve 19 decreases, and the main valve body 19b separates from the valve seat 41. When the water supply control valve 19 is opened, tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 through the water supply pipe branching portion 33 and the second branched pipe 33b to the water supply control valve 19 flows through the water supply control valve 19 and into the tank supply pipe 125a. Water flowing into the tank supply pipe 125a reaches the generator 16. Water flowing into the generator 16 causes the water wheel 17 (see
On the other hand, when it is detected by the float switch 29 that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped to a predetermined water level L2 which is lower by a predetermined distance than the predetermined water level L1, the float switch 29 transmits a signal to the controller 28 that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped. When it is detected that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has dropped, the controller 28 energizes the electromagnetic valve 20, and the controller 28 causes the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a to seat on the pilot valve opening 38a in the main valve body 118b. Thus pressure in the pressure chamber 36a of the discharge control device 118 rises, such that the main valve body 118b seats in the valve seat 41 and is closed. Thus after the discharge valve 12 is opened, the discharge control device 118 shuts off the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 before the water supply control valve 19 is closed. Hence the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped after the discharge valve 12 is opened. Therefore after the discharge valve 12 is opened, the entire amount of water supplied to the flush water tank apparatus 104 can be used for generating electricity so that a sufficient quantity of electricity which is generated can be secured while the discharge valve 12 is reliably opened by the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14.
That is, in the present embodiment a bistable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve 20. Therefore the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a can be closed by energizing the electromagnetic valve 20 by electricity with the electromagnetic valve-side pilot valve 118a being in an open state. When the discharge control device 118 is closed, the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped. Thereafter the entire amount of tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 passes through the water supply control valve 19 into the reservoir tank 10 and is utilized for electrical generation by generator 16. When the float switch 29 detects that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 has descended to the predetermined water level L2, the controller 28 closes the discharge control device 118. The water discharge control device 118 is closed when the float switch 29 detects the predetermined water level L2. Therefore the opening of the discharge valve 12 can be more reliably detected and the discharge control device 118 can be closed at the appropriate timing, so that a sufficient amount of electrical generation can be assured while the discharge valve 12 is reliably opened. In contrast, as a variant example the disclosure may be constituted so that, after the controller 28 opens the discharge control device 118, then the controller 28 closes the discharge control device 118 after elapse of a predetermined time.
Meanwhile, in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14, when the piston 14b is pushed up and, according to this movement the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are pulled up to a predetermined location, the clutch mechanism 22 separates the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from the upper rod 15a. By this means, while the discharge control device 118 is open, the upper rod 15a remains pushed upward together with the piston 14b, the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are descended by their own weight. However the separated lower rod 15b engages with the latching portion 26b of the discharge valve float mechanism 26, and the descent of the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 is stopped. Thus even after the discharge control device 118 is closed, the water discharge opening 10a of the reservoir tank 10 remains in the opened state, and discharge from the reservoir tank 10 is continued.
When the water level inside the reservoir tank 10 drops to a third predetermined water level L3 lower than predetermined water levels L1 and L2, the float portion 26a of the discharge valve float mechanism 26 drops, and this movement causes the latching portion 26b to move. This results in release of the engagement between the lower rod 15b and the latching portion 26b, so that the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 again start to descend. The discharge valve 12 then causes the water discharge opening 10a of the reservoir tank 10 to close, and thus the discharge of flush water to the flush toilet main unit 2 is stopped. Because the water supply control valve 19 is in an open state even after the water discharge opening 10a is closed, water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 passes from the water supply control valve 19 through the tank supply pipe 125a and flows into the reservoir tank 10, and the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is raised.
When the water level in the reservoir tank 10 rises to the predetermined water level L1, and the water supply valve float 34 rises, and the float-side pilot valve 19c is moved via the arm portion 34a, and the float-side pilot valve opening 44a is closed. This causes the pressure in the pressure chamber 37a in the main body portion 19a to rise, and the main valve body 19b is closed, so that the water supply control valve 19 is placed in a closed state. Thus the supply of water to the reservoir tank 10 is shut off.
When the water supply control valve 19 is closed, the supply of water from the water supply control valve 19 to the generator 16 is stopped, and the generation of electrical power by the generator 16 is ended. On the other hand when the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is stopped due to the closing of discharge control device 118, the piston 14b in the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion 14 is pushed down by the biasing force of the spring 14c. The upper rod 15a and the lower rod 15b, which had been separated by the clutch mechanism 22, are again joined when the upper rod 15a is pushed down together with the piston 14b. Therefore the next time a toilet flush is executed, the upper rod 15a and the lower rod 15b are both pulled up by the piston 14b. A single toilet flush is by these operations completed, and the flush toilet apparatus is returned to a toilet flush standby state.
According to the flush water tank apparatus 104 of a second embodiment of the disclosure, the support member 54 is provided so that at least a portion of the support member 54 extends to a position at or below the dead water level L1 of the reservoir tank 10. Thereby vibration produced by the generator 16 can be more easily dispersed into water via the support member 54. Therefore vibration conveyed from the generator 16 through the support member 54 to the reservoir tank 10 can be reduced, so that noise emanating from the reservoir tank 10 can be suppressed.
Also, according to the flush water tank apparatus 104 of the present embodiment, vibration produced by the generator 16 can be more easily dispersed into water via the support member overflow pipe 10b, and vibration conveyed from the generator 16 through the support member 54 to the reservoir tank 10 can be more easily reduced, therefore noise emanating from the reservoir tank 10 can be suppressed.
Moreover, according to the flush water tank apparatus 104 of the present embodiment, vibration produced by the generator 16 can be more easily dispersed into water via the generator casing 16a or the electrical parts casing 16b, and vibration conveyed from the generator 16 through the support member 54 to the reservoir tank 10 can be more easily reduced, therefore noise emanating from the reservoir tank 10 can be further suppressed.
A flush toilet apparatus 101 comprising a flush water tank apparatus 104 of the present embodiment and a flush toilet 2 flushed by flush water supplied from the flush water tank apparatus 104. Therefore, it is possible to provide a flush toilet apparatus 101 capable of suppressing noises produced by the reservoir tank 10 in the flush water tank apparatus 104.
Various changes may be made to the flush water tank apparatus 104 of the second embodiment of the disclosure. For example, as a variant example, as shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2019-143531 | Aug 2019 | JP | national |
| JP2019-202294 | Nov 2019 | JP | national |
| JP2020-091983 | May 2020 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100212696 | Shirai | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20200190782 | Kochavi | Jun 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 10306661 | Mar 2005 | DE |
| H10-311073 | Nov 1998 | JP |
| 2009-257061 | Nov 2009 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210040717 A1 | Feb 2021 | US |
