Patent Application
20230313512
The present invention relates to a flush water tank device, and particularly to a flush water tank device that stores flush water for flushing a flush toilet, and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same.
A flush water tank device for flushing a flush toilet is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-60181. The flush water tank device includes a flush water tank and a discharge valve device provided in a bottom portion of the flush water tank. The discharge valve device includes a discharge valve that opens and closes a discharge port, and the discharge valve is opened during a toilet flush until a water level in the flush water tank is lowered from a predetermined full water level to a predetermined water level. The discharge valve device causes the discharge valve to be opened to drain the flush water in the flush water tank to the flush toilet, whereby the flush toilet is flushed.
As in the flush water tank device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2019-60181, a low-silhouette type flush water tank is often designed to have a large bottom area of the water flush tank to store a sufficient amount of flush water. Therefore, the water level in the flush water tank is lowered very slowly during the toilet flush in which the flush water in the flush water tank is drained. On the other hand, the discharge valve configured to open and close the discharge port of the flush water tank falls down with lowering of the water level in the flush water tank, and finally causes the discharge port to be closed.
However, when a lowering speed of the water level in the flush water tank is slow, a problem occurs in that operation of the discharge valve falling down following the lowering of the water level is not stable. When the operation of the discharge valve is not stable, a flush state of the flush toilet varies for each one flush, which may cause reduction in flushing performance. When a slightly open state of the discharge port is continued immediately before the discharge port is closed by the discharge valve, a small flow rate of flush water is continuously drained from the flush water tank without contributing to the toilet flush, whereby waste water is generated.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flush water tank device capable of reducing variation in flushing performance by stabilizing the operation of a discharge valve, and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same.
To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a flush water tank device that stores flush water for flushing a flush toilet, the flush water tank device including a flush water tank main body that includes a discharge port and is configured to store the flush water, a water supply valve that causes the flush water supplied from a water supply source to flow into the flush water tank main body, and a discharge valve that is provided in the flush water tank main body and is configured to open and close the discharge port to switch between discharging and stopping of the flush water stored in the flush water tank main body to the flush toilet, in which during a flush of the flush toilet, the discharge valve is opened until a water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from a predetermined full water level to a predetermined dead water level, a lowering speed of the water level in the flush water tank main body changes at a predetermined inflection water level between the full water level and the dead water level, and the lowering speed of the water level between the inflection water level and the dead water level is faster than the lowering speed of the water level between the full water level and the inflection water level.
In the present invention configured as described above, the flush water supplied from the water supply source flows into the flush water tank main body by the water supply valve, and the flush water stored in the flush water tank main body is discharged to the flush toilet by opening the discharge valve. The water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered in which the lowering speed of the water tank between the inflection water level and the dead water level is set to be faster than the lowering speed of the water level between the full water level and the inflection water level.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the lowering speed of the water level is set to be faster during a time period between the inflection water level and the dead water level, the discharge valve approaching the discharge port closes the discharge port rapidly, whereby the operation of the discharge valve can be stabilized and the variation in flushing performance can be reduced. Since the lowering speed of the water level is set to be slower during a time period between the full water level and the inflection water level, a sufficient amount of flush water can be discharged to the flush toilet during this time period, whereby the necessary amount of the flush water can be secured.
In the present invention, preferably, during a flush of the flush toilet, a time period required for lowering the water level in the flush water tank main body from the full water level to the inflection water level is longer than a time period required for lowering the water level in the flush water tank main body from the inflection water level to the dead water level.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the time period required for lowering the water level in the flush water tank main body from the full water level to the inflection water level is long, the sufficient amount of the flush water can be discharged to the flush toilet during this time period, whereby the sufficient flushing performance can be secured.
In the present invention, preferably, during a flush of the flush toilet, an amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port while the water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from the full water level to the inflection water level is larger than the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port while the water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from the inflection water level to the dead water level.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port while the water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from the full water level to the inflection water level is large, the sufficient amount of the flush water can be discharged to the flush toilet while increasing the lowering speed of the water level near the dead water level, whereby the sufficient flushing performance can be secured.
In the present invention, preferably, the flush water tank main body is formed so that a horizontal cross-sectional area on a side upper than the inflection water level is larger than a horizontal cross-sectional area on a side lower than the inflection water level.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the horizontal cross-sectional area on the side upper than the inflection water level is larger than the horizontal cross-sectional area on the side lower than the inflection water level, the lower speed of the water level can be increased on the side lower than the inflection water level when the flow rate of the flush water discharged from the discharge port is constant, whereby the lower speed of the water level can be changed with a simple configuration.
In the present invention, preferably, the discharge valve is placed on one side with respect to a centerline in a horizontal direction of the flush water tank main body.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the discharge valve is placed on one side with respect to the centerline in the horizontal direction of the flush water tank main body, the cutout portion can be created easily on the other side of the flush water tank main body on which the discharge valve is not placed, which results in effective utilization of a space.
In the present invention, preferably, the flush water tank main body is configured so that a volume on one side with respect to the centerline in the horizontal direction of the flush water tank main body is larger than a volume on the other side, and the discharge valve is placed on the side having a larger volume with respect to the centerline in the horizontal direction of the flush water tank main body.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the discharge valve is placed on the side having a larger volume with respect to the centerline in the horizontal direction of the flush water tank main body, the discharge valve and a mechanism configured to drive the discharge valve can be easily accommodated in the flush water tank main body.
In the present invention, preferably, at least a part of a bottom surface of the flush water tank main body is sloped so that a portion of the bottom surface in which the discharge valve is provided is set low.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the bottom surface of the flush water tank main body is sloped so that the portion of the bottom surface in which the discharge valve is provided is set low, the flush water in the flush water tank main body is collected in the portion in which the discharge valve is provided, which makes it possible to effectively utilize the flush water in the flush water tank main body.
In the present invention, preferably, the water supply valve is configured to cause the flush water supplied from the water supply source to flow into the flush water tank main body during a time period from when the discharge valve is opened until the water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from the full water level to the inflection water level, and to stop the flush water flowing in from the water supply source or reduce a flow rate of the flush water flowing in the flush water tank main body when the water level in the flush water tank main body becomes lower than the inflection water level.
In the present invention configured as described above, the water supply valve causes the flush water to flow into the flush water tank main body during the time period from when the discharge valve is opened until the water level in the flush water tank main body is lowered from the full water level to the inflection water level. When the water level is lower than the inflection water level, the water supply valve stops the flush water flowing into the flush water tank main body or reduces the flow rate of the flush water.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the water is discharged while being supplied to the flush water tank main body while the water level is lowered from the full water level to the inflection water level, which enables the lowering speed of the water level to be reduced. Therefore, even when a normal flush water tank main body in which the horizontal cross-sectional area is substantially constant is used, the lowering speed of the water level between the inflection water level and the dead water level can be faster than the lowering speed of the water level between the full water level and the inflection water level.
The present invention is a flush toilet apparatus including a flush toilet that includes a bowl, and a rim spout port and a jet spout port configured to discharge flush water for washing the bowl, and the flush water tank device of the present invention configured to store the flush water to be discharged from the jet spout port.
According to a flush water tank device of the present invention and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same, the operation of the discharge valve can be stabilized and variation in flushing performance can be reduced.
Next, a flush water tank device according to embodiments of the present invention and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
As a modified example, the present invention can be also constituted so that washing of the bowl 2a is brought about by operation of a remote control device (not illustrated) attached to a wall surface. Alternatively, the present invention can be also constituted so that the washing of the bowl 2a is brought after an elapse of a predetermined time period after a human sensor (not illustrated) provided in a toilet seat detects that a user has stood from the toilet seat. In this case, the human sensor (not illustrated) may be provided in the toilet seat or at any position where user's motions of sitting on, standing from, approach to and departure from the toilet seat, and holding his/her hand over the sensor can be detected, and, therefore, may be provided in the flush toilet main body 2 or the flush water tank device 4, for example. The human sensor (not illustrated) may be any sensor capable of detecting the user's motions of sitting on, standing from, approach to and departure from the toilet seat, and holding his/her hand over the sensor, and therefore, for example, an infrared sensor or a microwave sensor may be used as the human sensor.
Next, as illustrated in
Here, during a toilet flush, the flush water stored in the reservoir tank 10 is drained by opening the discharge valve 12, and then is discharged from a jet spout port 2b provided in a lower portion of the bowl 2a of the flush toilet main body 2 and a rim spout port 2d provided in a rim 2c of the bowl 2a. Furthermore, a water discharge trap pipe 2e communicates with the lower portion of the bowl 2a, and an inlet of the water discharge trap pipe 2e is directed to face the jet spout port 2b. After the toilet flush, the water supply valve 19 causes flush water supplied from the waterworks C to flow into and be stored in the reservoir tank 10 in order to use the flush water for a next toilet flush.
Next, a configuration of the flush water tank device 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The reservoir tank 10 is a tank configured to store the flush water to be supplied to the jet spout port 2b and the rim spout port 2d (
The reservoir tank 10 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and is provided with a cutout portion 10b in the lower portion on one side in front view. Therefore, the reservoir tank 10 has a larger horizontal cross-sectional area above the cutout portion 10b and has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area below the cutout portion 10b. A sloping surface 10c is provided in a part of the bottom surface of the reservoir tank 10, and the discharge port 10a is provided in a lowered portion of the bottom surface of the reservoir tank 10.
Furthermore, the discharge port 10a, the discharge valve 12, and the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 are provided on one side (a right side in
The discharge valve 12 is a valve body placed to open and close the discharge port 10a and is opened when the discharge valve 12 is pulled up upward, whereby the flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is drained into the flush toilet main body 2 and is discharged from the jet spout port 2b and the rim spout port 2d which are provided in the bowl 2a.
On the other hand, the flush water supplied to a water supply pipe 32 from the waterworks C is introduced into the reservoir tank 10 via a stop cock 32a and a fixed flow valve 32b, and splits into the water spout control valve 18 and the water supply valve 19 (
The stop cock 32a is provided to stop the water supply to the flush water tank device 4 at the time of maintenance or the like and is normally used in an open state. The fixed flow valve 32b is provided to cause the water supplied from the waterworks C to flow thereinto at a predetermined flow rate and is configured to supply the water to the flush water tank device 4 at a constant flow rate regardless of a placement environment of the flush toilet apparatus.
The water supply valve 19 (
The water supply valve 19 includes a water supply valve main body, a main valve body placed in the water supply valve main body, and an electromagnetic valve pilot valve (these are not illustrated). Furthermore, the water supply valve 19 is connected with an electromagnetic valve for water supply control (not illustrated), and the electromagnetic valve for water supply control moves the electromagnetic valve pilot valve on the basis of a signal transmitted from the controller 28. That is, the electromagnetic valve pilot valve is configured to open and close a pilot valve port (not illustrated) provided in the water supply valve main body, and when the pilot valve port is opened, the pressure inside a pressure chamber provided in the water supply valve main body decreases, and the main valve body of the water supply valve 19 is opened. In addition, when the pilot valve port (not illustrated) is closed, the pressure inside the pressure chamber increases, and the main valve body is closed. Accordingly, the main valve body of the water supply valve 19 is opened and closed in response to the operation of the electromagnetic valve for water supply control to thereby control supply and stop of the water into the reservoir tank 10.
Next, the water spout control valve 18 is configured to cause the water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 to flow out to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14. The water spout control valve 18 includes a control valve main body 18a, a main valve body 18b placed in the control valve main body 18a, and an electromagnetic valve pilot valve (not illustrated). Furthermore, the water spout control valve 18 is connected with an electromagnetic valve for water spout control (not illustrated).
The electromagnetic valve for water spout control (not illustrated) is configured to move the electromagnetic valve pilot valve (not illustrated) incorporated in the water spout control valve 18 to open and close a pilot valve port (not illustrated) on the basis of a signal transmitted from the controller 28. When the pilot valve port (not illustrated) is opened, the pressure inside a pressure chamber provided in the control valve main body 18a decreases, and the main valve body 18b of the water spout control valve 18 is opened. In addition, when the pilot valve port (not illustrated) is closed, the pressure inside the pressure chamber increases, and the main valve body 18b is closed. Accordingly, the main valve body 18b of the water spout control valve 18 is opened and closed in response to the operation of the electromagnetic valve for water spout control to thereby control supply and stop of the water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14. Note that in the present embodiment, as the electromagnetic valve for water spout control, there is used a bistable latching solenoid that moves the electromagnetic valve pilot valve when the energization is performed once and maintains this state even when the energization is stopped. This type of electromagnetic valve can return the electromagnetic valve pilot valve to an original position when the energization is performed again in the opposite direction.
Specifically, the controller 28 receives a signal from the lever handle 8 and transmits an electric signal to the electromagnetic valve for water spout control (not illustrated), to actuate the electromagnetic valve for water spout control, which causes the water spout control valve 18 to be opened. The water spout control valve 18 controls supply and stop of the supplied flush water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 on the basis of an instruction signal from the controller 28. In the present embodiment, the total amount of the flush water that has flowed out of the water spout control valve 18 is supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 through an inflow pipe 23.
Next, the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 is configured to drive the discharge valve 12 using the water supply pressure of the flush water supplied from the waterworks C. Specifically, the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 includes a cylinder 14a into which the water supplied from the water spout control valve 18 flows, a piston 14b slidably placed in the cylinder 14a, and a rod 15 that protrudes from a lower end of the cylinder 14a to drive the discharge valve 12. Furthermore, a spring 14c is placed inside the cylinder 14a, and urges the piston 14b downward.
The cylinder 14a is a cylindrical member that is placed so that an axis thereof is oriented in the vertical direction, and slidably accommodates the piston 14b therein. The inflow pipe 23 is connected to a lower end portion of the cylinder 14a so that the water that has flowed out of the water spout control valve 18 flows into the cylinder 14a. Therefore, the piston 14b in the cylinder 14a is pushed up against the urging force of the spring 14c by the water that has flowed into the cylinder 14a.
On the other hand, an outflow hole is provided in an upper end portion of the cylinder 14a, and an outflow pipe 24 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 14a via the outflow hole. Accordingly, when the water flows into the cylinder 14a from the inflow pipe 23 connected to the lower portion of the cylinder 14a, the piston 14b is pushed up upward from the lower portion of the cylinder 14a. Then, when the piston 14b is pushed up to above the outflow hole, the water that has flowed into the cylinder 14a flows out of the outflow hole through the outflow pipe 24. That is, the inflow pipe 23 and the outflow pipe 24 communicate with each other via the interior of the cylinder 14a when the piston 14b is moved upward. The flush water that has flowed out of the outflow pipe 24 flows into the reservoir tank 10.
The rod 15 is a rod-shaped member connected to a lower surface of the piston 14b and extends to protrude downward from the inside of the cylinder 14a through a through hole formed in a bottom surface of the cylinder 14a. The discharge valve 12 is connected to a lower end of the rod 15, and the rod 15 connects the piston 14b and the discharge valve 12. Therefore, when the water flows into the cylinder 14a and the piston 14b is pushed up, the rod 15 connected to the piston 14b lifts the discharge valve 12 upward, whereby the discharge valve 12 is opened.
Furthermore, a clutch mechanism 22 is provided in the middle of the rod 15. The clutch mechanism 22 is configured to separate the rod 15 into an upper rod 15a and a lower rod 15b when the discharge valve 12 is lifted up by a predetermined distance together with the rod 15. In a state in which the clutch mechanism 22 is disengaged, the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 attached thereto cease to move in association with the movement of the upper portion including the piston 14b and the upper rod 15a. The lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 separated from the upper rod fall down toward the discharge port 10a with lowering of the water level in the reservoir tank 10. When the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 fall down and are seated on the discharge port 10a, the flush water stops being discharged from the discharge port 10a.
The controller 28 incorporates a circuit board therein and is configured to control the electromagnetic valve for water spout control (not illustrated) connected to the water spout control valve 18 and the electromagnetic valve for water supply control (not illustrated) connected to the water supply valve 19, and the like in response to the operation of the lever handle 8. A microprocessor, a memory, an interface circuit, and the like (these are not illustrated) are provided on the circuit board, and these are operated by software for controlling the toilet flush.
Next, the flush toilet apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and operation of the flush water tank device 4 will be described with reference to
First, in a standby state of a toilet flush at time to in
Next, when a user operates the lever handle 8 at time t1 in
When the water spout control valve 18 is opened, tap water (flush water) supplied from the water supply pipe 32 is supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 through the water spout control valve 18 and the inflow pipe 23. The flush water supplied to the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 flows into the cylinder 14a, pushes up the piston 14b, and flows out of the outflow pipe 24. Hereby, the rod 15 connected to the piston 14b and the discharge valve 12 are also lifted up, whereby the discharge port 10a is opened. That is, when the flush operation is performed at time t1 in
Hereby, the flush water stored in the reservoir tank 10 flows out through the discharge port 10a. The flush water that has flowed out of the reservoir tank 10 is discharged as jet water discharge from the jet spout port 2b (
On the other hand, when the piston 14b is pushed up in the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 and accordingly the rod 15 and the discharge valve 12 are lifted up to a predetermined position, the clutch mechanism 22 separates the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from the upper rod 15a. The lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 separated from the upper rod fall down toward the discharge port 10a by gravity with lowering of the water level in the reservoir tank 10 while receiving buoyancy from the flush water in the reservoir tank 10.
After the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are separated from the upper rod, the controller 28 (
On the other hand, as shown in
When the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is further lowered and the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered up to the height of the cutout portion 10b, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the reservoir tank 10 is reduced at the height of the cutout portion 10b, and therefore the lowering speed of the water level in the reservoir tank 10 increases. That is, when the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is between the full water level L1 and an inflection water level L2 which is the height of the cutout portion 10b, the lowering speed of the water level is slow, and when the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is equal to or lower than the inflection water level L2, the lowering speed of the water level increases.
That is, after the discharge valve 12 is opened at time t1 in
Furthermore, when the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered, and the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered up to a dead water level L3 at time t4 in
During a flush, a time period (times t1 to t3) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank 10 from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is longer than a time period (times t3 to t4) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank 10 from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3. The reservoir tank 10 is configured so that the volume of the flush water stored in a side upper than the inflection water level L2 is larger than the volume of the flush water stored in a side lower than the inflection water level L2 (and a side upper than the dead water level L3). Therefore, during a flush, an amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is larger than the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3.
Next, after the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered up to the dead water level L3, the controller 28 performs the energization to the electromagnetic valve for water supply control (not illustrated) of the water supply valve 19, whereby the water supply valve 19 is opened. Note that in the present embodiment, since a bistable latching solenoid is used as the electromagnetic valve for water supply control, once the pilot valve port (not illustrated) of the water supply valve 19 is opened, the valve open state is maintained even when the energization is stopped.
When the water supply valve 19 is opened, the flush water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 flows into the reservoir tank 10 through the water supply valve 19. Hereby, the water level of the flush water in the reservoir tank 10 rises. When the water level of the flush water in the reservoir tank 10 rises to the predetermined full water level L1, the controller 28 performs the energization to the electromagnetic valve for water supply control (not illustrated) of the water supply valve 19 again, whereby the water supply valve 19 is closed. Hereby, the flush toilet apparatus 1 returns to the standby state and completes one toilet flush.
Note that the present invention can be also constituted so that when a float switch (not illustrated) detects that the water level in the reservoir tank 10 rises to the full water level L1, the controller 28 transmits a control signal to the water supply valve 19 on the basis of the detection of the float switch.
In the above-described embodiment, after the discharge valve 12 is closed, the water supply valve 19 is opened, and the supply of the flush water to the reservoir tank 10 is started. In contrast, as the modified example, the present invention can be also constituted so that the flush water is supplied to the reservoir tank 10 along with the discharge of the flush water from the discharge port 10a. Furthermore, the present invention can be also constituted so that after the discharge valve 12 is closed, the flush water supplied from the waterworks C flows as refill water into the bowl 2a. For example, a part of the flush water that has flowed in through the water supply valve 19 may branch so that the branched flush water flows into the bowl 2a. In this case, an overflow pipe (not illustrated) allowing communication between the interior of the reservoir tank 10 and the bowl 2a by bypassing the discharge valve 12 is provided in the reservoir tank 10, so that the branched flush water flows into the overflow pipe.
According to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, since the lowering speed of the water level is set to be faster during a time period between the inflection water level L2 and the dead water level L3, the discharge valve 12 approaching the discharge port 10a closes the discharge port 10a rapidly, whereby the operation of the discharge valve 12 can be stabilized and the variation in flushing performance can be reduced. Since the lowering speed of the water level is set to be slower during a time period between the full water level L1 and the inflection water level L2, a sufficient amount of flush water can be discharged to the flush toilet main body 2 during this time period, whereby the necessary amount of the flush water can be secured.
According to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the time period (times t1 to t3) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank 10 from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is longer than the time period (times t3 to t4) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank 10 from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3, the sufficient amount of the flush water can be discharged to the flush toilet main body 2 during this time period (times t1 to t3), whereby the sufficient flushing performance can be secured.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level in the reservoir tank 10 is lowered from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is larger than the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level is lowered from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3, the sufficient amount of the flush water can be discharged from the flush toilet main body 2 while increasing the lowering speed of the water level near the dead water level L3, whereby the sufficient flushing performance can be secured.
According to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the reservoir tank 10 is formed so that the horizontal cross-sectional area on the side upper than the inflection water level L2 is larger than the horizontal cross-sectional area on the side lower than the inflection water level L2, the lower speed of the water level can be increased on the side lower than the inflection water level L2, whereby the lower speed of the water level can be changed with a simple configuration.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the discharge valve 12 is placed on one side with respect to the centerline CL in the horizontal direction of the reservoir tank 10, the cutout portion 10b can be created easily on the other side of the reservoir tank 10 on which the discharge valve 12 is not placed, which results in effective utilization of a space.
According to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the discharge valve 12 is placed on a side having a larger volume with respect to the centerline CL in the horizontal direction of the reservoir tank 10, the discharge valve 12 and the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 configured to drive the discharge valve 12 can be easily accommodated in the reservoir tank 10.
Furthermore, according to the flush toilet apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the sloping surface 10c is provided in the bottom surface of the reservoir tank 10 so that a portion of the bottom surface in which the discharge valve 12 is provided is set low, the flush water in the reservoir tank 10 is collected in the portion in which the discharge valve 12 is provided, which makes it possible to effectively utilize the flush water in the reservoir tank 10.
Next, a flush water tank device according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same will be described with reference to
In the above-described first embodiment, the cutout portion 10b is provided in the lower portion of the reservoir tank 10, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the upper portion of the reservoir tank 10 is larger than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the lower portion of the reservoir tank 10. In contrast, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in which no cutout portion is provided in the reservoir tank, and the horizontal cross-sectional area of the reservoir tank is substantially constant (not illustrated) from the full water level to the dead water level.
First, in a standby state of a toilet flush at time t10 in
When the water spout control valve 18 is opened, tap water (flush water) supplied from the water supply pipe 32 flows into a cylinder 14 of a discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14, whereby a piston 14b is pushed up. Hereby, a rod 15 connected to the piston 14b and the discharge valve 12 are also lifted up, whereby a discharge port 10a is opened. That is, when the flush operation is performed at time t11 in
Hereby, the flush water stored in the reservoir tank is discharged from a jet spout port 2b (
As shown in the upper stage in
On the other hand, when the piston 14b is pushed up in the discharge valve hydraulic drive part 14 and accordingly the rod 15 and the discharge valve 12 are lifted up to a predetermined position, the clutch mechanism 22 separates the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 from the upper rod 15a. The lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 separated from the upper rod fall down toward the discharge port 10a by gravity with lowering of the water level in the reservoir tank 10 while receiving buoyancy from the flush water in the reservoir tank 10. After the lower rod 15b and the discharge valve 12 are separated from the upper rod, the controller 28 (
On the other hand, as shown in
Next, at time t13 when the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered up to a predetermined inflection water level L2, the controller 28 (
Hereby, after the discharge valve 12 is opened at time t11 in
Note that in the present embodiment, when the float switch (not illustrated) detects the water level in the reservoir tank and detects that the detected water level is lowered up to the predetermined inflection water level L2, the controller 28 (
Furthermore, when the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered, and the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered up to the dead water level L3 at time t14 in
Furthermore, also in the present embodiment, during a flush, a time period (times t11 to t13) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank 10 from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is longer than a time period (times t13 to t14) required for lowering the water level in the reservoir tank from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3. Furthermore, during a flush, an amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2 is larger than the amount of the flush water discharged from the discharge port 10a while the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered from the inflection water level L2 to the dead water level L3.
Next, after the water level in the reservoir tank is lowered up to the dead water level L3, the controller 28 opens the water supply valve 19 to cause the flush water supplied from the water supply pipe 32 to flow into the reservoir tank. When the water level of the flush water in the reservoir tank rises to the predetermined full water level L1, the controller 28 closes the water supply valve 19. Hereby, the flush toilet apparatus 1 returns to the standby state and completes one toilet flush.
According to the flush toilet apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention, while the water level is lowered from the full water level L1 to the inflection water level L2, the water is discharged while being supplied to the reservoir tank, which enables the lowering speed of the water level to be reduced. Therefore, even when a normal reservoir tank in which the horizontal cross-sectional area is substantially constant is used, the lowering speed of the water level between the inflection water level L2 and the dead water level L3 can be faster than the lowering speed of the water level between the full water level L1 and the inflection water level L2.
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various changes may be added to the above-described embodiments. In particular, in the above-described embodiments, the flush water is supplied from the reservoir tank to the rim spout port and the jet spout port, but the present invention can be constituted so that the flush water is directly supplied from the waterworks to any one of the rim spout port and the jet spout port. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the rim spout port and the jet spout port are provided as the spout ports, but the present invention can be applied to a flush toilet having an arbitrary spout port. The present invention can be constituted by optionally combining the above-described optional structural elements included in each embodiment of the present invention with configurations of the other embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-059285 | Mar 2022 | JP | national |
