Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6502252
-
Patent Number
6,502,252
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 13, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 7, 200322 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 004 300
- 004 334
- 004 353
- 004 354
- 004 363
- 004 901
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
Disclosed is a water supplying and draining apparatus for preventing water leakage. A feed pipe supplies water, which is introduced from an outside water source to the toilet bowl. A reservoir tank receives the washing water, the reservoir being made of an extendable and contractible material, the reservoir having a plurality of branch pipes. A valve opens an opening or shuts the branch pipes in order to provide the water, which is supplied from the outside water source through the feed pipe, to the branch pipe. An expandable protecting cover attaches to an outer surface of the reservoir tank, wherein the other ends of the branch pipes fluidly connects with the valve which is arranged at positions outside of the reservoir tank. One end of the feed pipe fluidly connects with the toilet bowl and the other end of the feed pipe communicates with the valve. One end of the exhaust pipe fluidly connects with the valve and the other end of the exhaust pipe fluidly connects with the toilet stool.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a water supply and drain apparatus for a toilet bowl, and more particularly, to prevent leakage of valve mechanism and noise of water supply.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional form of toilet bowl for flush reducing is shown in
FIG. 1. A
toilet bowl comprises a toilet housing
100
, a toilet tank
200
for storing washing water, a handle part
300
supplying the washing water into the toilet housing
100
. The toilet tank
200
is connected with an introduction pipe
120
, in which the washing water is stored. A valve instrument
400
is mounted at the internal of the toilet tank
200
for blocking the supply as the washing water is sufficiently filled. The handle part
300
interlocks with the valve instrument
400
. The valve instrument
400
comprises a ball valve
420
, a refill tube
440
, a saver tube
460
, a discharge valve
480
and a flapper valve
500
. The handle part
300
comprises a handle
320
, a lever
340
raising with handspikes, and a chain
360
connecting at the lever
340
in order to open the discharge valve
480
.
The above-described conventional water supply and discharge apparatus for a toilet bowl is operated as below.
An intake pipe
120
is receives washing water through a saver tube
460
into the toilet tank
200
. A flapper valve
500
operates a ball valve
420
by flapping along the surface of water. A ball valve
420
is connected at the intake pipe
120
so as to open and close a refill tube
440
. Then, a refill tube
440
is closed by the ball valve
420
and the toilet tank
200
is sufficiently filled with the washing water.
When a handle
320
is operated by a user, the handle
320
lifts the chain
360
connecting to the discharge valve
480
which opens and closes a discharge outlet
600
which is connected between a toilet housing
100
and a toilet tank
200
. Thereby, a discharge valve
480
is opened by chain
360
and the washing water flows into a toilet housing
100
from toilet tank
200
. The washing water flushes out a waste material from a toilet housing
100
.
After the washing water is discharged from a toilet housing
100
, the discharge valve
480
closes a discharge outlet
600
. Then the flapper valve
500
dropps along to the surface of water in the toilet tank
200
and opens the refill tube
440
. The washing water is flows into the toilet tank
200
through intake pipe
120
.
In the above-described conventional water supply and discharge apparatus for a toilet bowl, the toilet tank
200
receives a washing water having an hydraulic pressure in proportion to capacity of the toilet tank
200
, thereby generating noise by high hydraulic pressure.
There are some disadvantages associated with the prior water supply and discharge apparatus for a toilet bowl given as below. That is, precision of the valve instrument
400
may cause waterproofing trouble. As a result, users have a lot of difficulty.
As a prior art to deal with the aforementioned disadvantages, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,025, issued Jan. 5, 1999 is disclosed, which reduces generated noise and controlled a quantity of use when the washing water flows into the toilet tank, to which is supplied storage water through âTâ, shaped tube and then directly poured into the flapper valve, thereby the storage water overflows and changes.
There is problem in that the prior art has reduced durability according to complex elements and requires precision in design of the elements.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to prevent leakage of washing water by supplying water that is properly sealed.
It is a further object of the present invention to minimize noise generated by water supply and drain by supplying water to the storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
This invention will be better understood and its various objects and advantages will be more fully appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a conventional water supplying and draining apparatus for a toilet bowl with parts broken away;
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of water supplying and draining apparatus for a toilet bowl according to the present invention;
FIG. 3A
,
FIG. 3B
shows water supply and drain apparatus for a toilet bowl of
FIG.2
in an operation condition; and
FIG. 4
is a side view of water supply and drain apparatus for a toilet bowl according to the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of water supply and drain apparatus for a toilet bowl according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a feed pipe
16
, a reservoir tank
20
, a valve
40
and a protecting cover
28
. The feed pipe
16
supplies washing water, which is introduced from an outside water source, to the toilet bowl. The reservoir tank
20
, which is made of an expandable and contractible material, receives the washing water. The reservoir tank
20
has a plurality of branch pipes of which one end of each of the branch pipes is in fluid connection with the reservoir tank
20
.
FIG.
3
A and
FIG. 3B
show water supply and drain apparatus for a toilet bowl of
FIG. 2
in an operational condition. As shown in
FIGS. 3
a
and
3
b,
the reservoir tank
20
includes a first chamber
22
and a second chamber
24
. The first chamber
22
has a first branch pipe
32
among the plurality of branch pipes. One end of the first branch pipe
32
is in fluid connection with the reservoir tank
20
, and thus the first branch pipe
32
can introduce the washing water into the first chamber
22
. The second chamber
24
has a second branch pipe
34
among plurality of branch pipes. One end of the second branch pipe
34
is in fluid connection with the second chamber
22
, and the second branch pipe
34
can introduce the washing water into the second chamber
24
.
The first chamber
22
and the second chamber
24
can be made of a soft rubber, which can expand due to the hydraulic pressure of water. Thus, the chambers can expand when filled with water. When water drains from the first chamber
22
or second chamber
24
, the respective chamber can then contract. Therefore, each of the first chamber
22
and the second chamber
24
is capable of repeatedly expanding and contracting.
A valve
40
opens and shuts the branch pipes
32
,
34
in order to provide the water, which is supplied from the outside water source through the feed pipe
16
, to the branch pipes
32
,
34
. The valve
40
comprises an exhaust port
48
, a feed port
46
, a first port
42
, a second port
44
, a valve membrane
52
and a valve assembly. The exhaust port
48
is in fluid connection with the exhaust pipe
18
. The feed port
46
is in fluid connection with the feed pipe
16
. The first port
42
is in fluid connection with one end of the first branch pipe
32
. The second port
44
is in fluid connection with one end of the second branch pipe
34
. The valve membrane
52
is in fluid connection with the feed port
46
, the first port
42
and the second port
44
. The valve membrane
52
can thus simultaneously open the exhaust port
48
and the feed port
16
. The valve assembly can have a flush handle
50
mounted at the valve membrane
52
.
A second end of each of the branch pipes is in fluid connection with the valve
40
arranged at positions outside of the reservoir tank
20
. A first end of the feed pipe
16
is in fluid connection with the outside water source and a second end of the feed pipe
16
is in fluid connection with the valve
40
. A first end of the exhaust pipe
18
is in fluid connection with the valve
40
and a second end of the exhaust pipe
18
is in fluid connection with the toilet stool
10
.
A protecting cover
28
is attached to an outer surface of the reservoir tank
20
. The protecting cover
28
can be made of a hard rubber capable of expanding due to hydraulic pressure of water during the filling of the reservoir tank
20
with water.
The operation and effect of a water supplying and draining apparatus for a toilet bowl having an exhaust pipe for supplying water to a toilet stool according to the present invention constructed as above will be described below. The first branch pipe
32
and the second branch pipe
34
are in fluid connection with valve
40
. Also, the feed pipe
16
and exhaust port
48
are in fluid connection with valve
40
. Washing water is supplied from an outside water source into the first chamber
22
or the second chamber through the feed pipe
16
. When water is discharged into the exhaust pipe
18
from the first chamber
22
, the washing water is supplied into the second chamber
24
. The first chamber
22
discharges the washing into the toilet stool
10
through the discharge pipe
18
, which gradually contracts by increasing volume of the washing water which is received in the second chamber
24
.
A valve assembly opens or shuts the first branch pipe
32
and second branch pipe
34
in order to provide the water to the first chamber
22
and second chamber
24
. The valve membrane
52
turns to the position indicated in
FIG. 3
a
whereupon the feed port
46
connects with the first port
42
, and the exhaust port
48
connects with the second port
44
. Washing water, which is introduced from an outside source, is only supplied into the first chamber
22
. At that time, the washing water, which is stored into the second chamber
24
, is supplied through the exhaust port
48
and exhaust pipe
18
to the toilet stool
10
.
The valve membrane
52
turns to the position indicated in
FIG. 3
b
whereupon the feed port
46
connects with the second port
44
and the exhaust port
48
connects with the first port
42
. Water, which is introduced from an outside source, is only supplied into the second chamber
24
. At that time, the washing water, which is supplied into the first chamber
22
, is discharged through the exhaust port
48
to the exhaust pipe
18
.
When the valve membrane
52
turns to the position indicated in
FIG. 3
a,
the washing water is provided to the first chamber
22
since the feed port
46
connects with the first port
42
. Then, the first chamber
22
expands while the second chamber
24
contracts.
When a user turns the flush handle
50
in the counterclockwise rotation, the valve membrane
52
rotates the same. The exhaust port
48
connects with the first port
42
while the feed port
46
connects with the second port
44
. The washing water of the first chamber
22
drains into the toilet
10
through the exhaust pipe
18
via the exhaust port
48
which connects with the first port
42
. As the washing water drains from the first chamber
22
, the first chamber
22
contracts. Water, which is supplied from the feed pipe
16
, is supplied into the second chamber
24
. As the second chamber
24
fills with water, it expands due to the hydraulic pressure of the water.
As the second chamber
24
expands, the first chamber
22
easily and quickly contracts. This easily discharges the washing water of first chamber
22
into the toilet stool
10
. When the second chamber
24
expands and closely adheres to the protecting cover
28
, the protecting cover
28
prevents expansion of the second chamber
24
. Therefore, the supply of water to reservoir tank
20
is cut off through the feed pipe
16
.
When a user turns the flush handle
50
in the clockwise rotation, the valve membrane
52
rotates in the opposite direction, as will be described below. The feed port
46
connects with the first port
42
while the exhaust port
48
connects with the second port
44
. The washing water from the first chamber
22
is discharged to the toilet stool
10
. The second chamber
24
contracts. Meanwhile, water which is introduced from an outside water source is supplied into the first chamber
22
by means of the feed pipe
16
. Therefore, the second chamber
24
contracts while the first chamber
22
expands. Accordingly as the valve
40
is selectively turned, each of the first chamber
22
and the second chamber
24
is repeatedly expands and contracts.
Water, which is supplied from outside water source, is discharged into the first chamber
22
and second chamber
24
which are contracting. When the water is supplied, noise is repressed by the meeting and collision of water, which prevents noise by extending and contracting due to closely adhering to the first chamber
22
and second chamber
24
. Because water is supplied into the first chamber
22
and second chamber
24
in the sealed state, water leakage is prevented during supplying the chambers
22
,
24
with the washing water.
Additionally, the first chamber
22
and second chamber
24
can be mounted to inner parts of the toilet stool
10
. In effect, this can minimize the space necessary for installation, and it can increase the allowable area.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus for supplying and draining water through an exhaust pipe to and from a toilet bowl, the apparatus comprising:a feed pipe for supplying the washing water from an outside water source to the toilet bowl; a reservoir tank for receiving the water, wherein the reservoir tank is comprised of an expandable and contractible material, wherein the reservoir tank has a plurality of branch pipes of which a first end of each of the branch pipes is in fluid connection with the reservoir tank; a valve for opening and shutting the branch pipes in order to provide the branch pipes with the washing water supplied from the outside water source through the feed pipe; an expandable protecting cover attached to an outer surface of the reservoir tank, wherein the expandable protecting cover is made of a hard rubber capable of expanding due to hydraulic pressure of water during filling of the reservoir tank; and wherein a second end of each of the branch pipes operably connects with the valve arranged at positions outside of the reservoir tank, wherein a first end of the feed pipe is in fluid connection with the outside water source and a second end of the feed pipe is in fluid connection with the valve, wherein a first end of the exhaust pipe is in fluid connection with the valve, and wherein a second end of the exhaust pipe is in fluid connection with the toilet bowl.
- 2. The water supplying and draining apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank comprises:a first chamber having a first branch pipe among the branch pipes, wherein the first branch pipe guides the washing water into the first chamber, and a first end of the first branch pipe is in fluid connection with the reservoir tank; a second chamber having a second branch pipe among the branch pipes, wherein the second pipe guides the washing water into the second chamber, and wherein a first end of the second branch pipe is in fluid connection with the first chamber; and wherein each of the first chamber and the second chamber is capable of repeatedly expanding and contracting in response to the hydraulic pressure.
- 3. The water supplying and draining apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are made of a soft rubber capable of expanding due to the hydraulic pressure of water during the filling of the respective chamber with water.
- 4. The water supplying and draining apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve comprises:an exhaust port in fluid connection with the exhaust pipe; a feed port in fluid connection with the feed pipe; a first port in fluid connection with the first branch pipe of the first chamber; a second port in fluid connection with the second branch pipe of the second chamber; a valve membrane in fluid connection with the feed port, the first port and the second port, wherein the valve membrane can simultaneously open the exhaust port and the feed port; and a valve assembly having a flush handle which is mounted to the valve membrane.
- 5. A water supplying and draining apparatus using an exhaust pipe to supply water for a toilet bowl, the apparatus comprising:a feed pipe for supplying washing water from an outside water source to the toilet bowl; a reservoir tank having a first chamber and a second chamber, the reservoir having a plurality of branch pipes of which a first end of the branch pipes is in fluid connection with the reservoir tank; a valve for opening or shutting the branch pipes in order to provide the water, which is supplied from the outside water source through the feed pipe, to the branch pipes; an expandable protecting cover attached to an outer surface of the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the expandable protecting cover is made of a hard rubber capable of expanding due to hydraulic pressure of water during filling of the reservoir tank; wherein the first chamber independently expands by receiving water therein from the outside water source through the feed pipe, wherein the second chamber independently expands by receiving water therein from the outside water source through the feed pipe, wherein if water filled in the first chamber is discharged from the first chamber toward the toilet stool due to operation of the valve and thereby the first chamber is contracted, then water is introduced from the outer water source through the feed pipe to the second chamber and thereby the second chamber simultaneously expands during contracting of the first chamber; and wherein a second end of the branch pipes is in fluid connection with the valve arranged at positions outside of the reservoir tank, wherein a first end of the feed pipe is in fluid connection with the outside water source and wherein a second end of the feed pipe is in fluid connection with the valve, wherein a first end of the exhaust pipe is in fluid connection with the valve, and wherein a second end of the exhaust pipe is in fluid connection with the toilet bowl.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/KR00/00023 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/51719 |
7/19/2001 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2 200 729 |
Aug 1988 |
GB |
25440 |
Feb 1977 |
JP |