1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flushing device for a lavatory, having a flushing cistern in which is arranged a pressure vessel, which has a feed line for water and a discharge valve and in which at least some of the flushing water can be subjected to pressure and can be discharged through the discharge valve for flushing purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional flushing cisterns have, as discharge valve, a float valve which is opened, for the purpose of triggering a flushing operation, for example by the actuation of a button. The flushing cistern is arranged above the toilet bowl which is to be flushed and, when the float valve is opened, the flushing water flows, as a result of the gravitational force, through a flushing pipe into the toilet bowl. However, flushing devices in the case of which the flushing water is subjected to pressure in the flushing cistern are also known. During flushing, the flushing water, as a result of the increased pressured, leaves the flushing cistern with an increased amount of energy and, correspondingly, the flushing action is greater.
For example, WO 98/39522 discloses a flushing cistern with a pressure vessel which has a base with a flushing valve. To prepare for a flushing operation, water from a supply line is introduced into the spherical pressure vessel. In addition, air is fed to the pressure vessel. This air is compressed when the water is introduced and builds up a pressure in the vessel. If the flushing valve is opened, then the water flows out of the pressure vessel as a result of the expanding air and, on account of the gravitational force, flows through the open flushing valve into the toilet bowl. As a result of the enhanced flushing action, less water can be used for flushing. The disadvantage with this flushing device is that it has to be designed for a comparatively high pressure, and that it is difficult to set the appropriate pressure in the vessel.
The applicant's WO 95/04196 discloses a flushing device which has a flushing cistern with two water outlets. Through one outlet, of the flushing processes, water is introduced as usual into the toilets bowl. The other outlet is connected to a nozzle which is arranged in a siphon of the toilet bowl and is intended to accelerate the water of the siphon during flushing. The flushing water is not subjected to pressure in the case of this flushing device. A flushing device with two outlets and a nozzle in the siphon involves comparatively high outlay and is not suitable in all cases.
The object of the invention is to provide a flushing device of the abovementioned type which generates less noise and can be adapted to different toilet bowls. The flushing device according to the invention is characterized by at least one pressure-cylinder unit in which flushing water can be subjected to pressure and can be discharged by way of a spring-loaded pressure piston for flushing purposes. In the cases of the flushing device according to the invention, rather than air being compressed, a spring is subjected to stressing. This has the significant advantage that the flushing capacity can be easily optimized, and adapted to specific toilet bowls, by a corresponding setting of the spring or by additional weights.
According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the pressure piston is locked in a starting position and can be unlocked for flushing purposes. This results in a precisely defined flushing quantity and in a pressure piston subjecting the flushing water to a defined pressure during flushing.
The pressure piston can be unlocked mechanically, pneumatically or electrically.
According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the pressure-cylinder unit accommodates essentially all the flushing water. A pressure-cylinder unit may be integrated in a very space-saving manner in a cistern body. It is preferably provided that the pressure-cylinder unit is formed, at least in certain regions, by an outer wall of the flushing-cistern body. This allows particularly space-saving and cost-effective production.
According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the discharge valve is a servovalve. According to a development of the invention, such a valve may have a diaphragm, which closes the valve under water pressure. This allows flushing to take place essentially without any closing noise.
If the servovalve has an air-extracting member, then flushing can be triggered by this member being actuated. Such triggering is comparatively straightforward and can take place mechanically, pneumatically or electrically.
If the flushing device has two pressure cylinders which are arranged in the flushing cistern, then two different types of flushing are possible. In the case of a half flush, only one of the two pressure-cylinder units is emptied. For a full flush, both pressure-cylinder units are emptied at the same time. The quantity of flushing water is precisely defined in both cases. The two pressure-cylinder units may have the same quantity, or different quantities, of flushing water.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow, with reference to the drawing, in which:
The flushing device has a flushing cistern 1, which has a cistern body 2 preferably produced from plastic. This cistern body 2 has a top wall 2a, a base wall 2b and a casing 2c. An inspection opening 10 is arranged on the front side, although it is also possible for this opening to be arranged in the top wall 2a. Located in the bottom region of the casing 2c is a discharge connector 21, which is connected to a toilet bowl (not shown here). The discharge connector 21 leads horizontally into the toilet bowl.
The cistern body 2 contains two pressure-cylinder units 8 and 9, which each have a respective piston 11, 12. The pistons 11 and 12 can each be displaced vertically in a respective pressure chamber 14, 15 and are sealed by sealing rings 13 in relation to a respective cylinder wall 41, 42. These walls 41 and 42 each have a respective base 18, 19, in which a respective through-passage 16, 17 is arranged. These through-passages 16 and 17 lead into a common chamber 20, in which a discharge valve 27 is arranged. The discharge valve 27 is a servovalve and has, as closure body, a bellows 44 comprising a flexible diaphragm. The bellows 44 interacts with a valve seat 43 arranged on the discharge connector 21. As, for example,
The bellows 44 also forms an inner chamber 40, which is always connected to the chamber 20 via a through-passage 28. The chamber 40 is connected via a water line 7, according to
The pistons 11 and 12 are each provided, on the top side, with a pin 23 which is directed vertically upward and interacts with a securing means 24 in each case in order to arrest the piston 11, 12. The securing means 24 each have a bearing 25, on which locking means 26 are fitted. These locking means 26 may be used to lock the pistons 11 and 12 in a releasable manner in the top, starting position, which is shown in
Supported on each of the bearings 25 is a compression spring 22, which butts, at a bottom end, against the piston 11, 12. If the piston 11, 12 in the bottom position, which is shown on the left in
The operation of the flushing device 1 according to the invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow.
In order to trigger a partial flushing operation, in the case of which flushing takes place, for example, with three liters of water, the unlocking device 30 is activated, by virtue of the button 32a which is shown in
If the piston 1 is in the position which is shown in
For a further flushing operation, then, it is possible to make a selection between partial flushing, in the case of which merely the pressure chamber 14 is emptied, and full flushing, in the case of which the pressure chamber 14 and the pressure chamber 15 are emptied. Full flushing may be triggered using the button 32b (
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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544-01 | Mar 2001 | CH | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CH02/00167 | 3/21/2002 | WO | 00 | 3/12/2004 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO02/077377 | 10/3/2002 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2868493 | Gray | Jan 1959 | A |
2957181 | Lamping | Oct 1960 | A |
5005226 | Basile et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5136732 | Andersson | Aug 1992 | A |
5386596 | Hennessy | Feb 1995 | A |
5406652 | Hennessy | Apr 1995 | A |
6457187 | Andersson et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2732379 | Oct 1996 | FR |
WO 9504196 | Feb 1995 | WO |
WO 9839522 | Sep 1998 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040128753 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |