TOILET FLUSHING USING AIRE UNDER PRESSURE FOR FLUSHING AND WATER TO REPLENISH THE TRAP

Technical Field

The present invention relates to water flushed toilets

Background of the Invention Typically toilets employ a bowl to which there is attached a flushing mechanism including a cistern that is operated to deliver a surge of water to the toilet bowl to flush and clean the toilet bowl. The cisterns need to be placed above the toilet bowl so that the water delivered to the toilet bowl has sufficient energy (velocity) to flush the bowl and to clean the bowl. The cisterns also need to provide sufficient volume of water to address these tasks.

A disadvantage of the above discussed toilets is the volume of water employed. Air craft use cabin air to flush the toilet, hi the base of the bowl there is located a "flap" that is opened and exposes the bowl to a vacuum that causes air to rush through the bowl to "flush" the bowl. The above discussed aircraft toilets suffer the disadvantage that this air stream cannot properly clean the toilet bowl.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a toilet assembly including: a bowl surrounding a bowl interior and providing an upper rim surrounding an upper opening; a water trap communicating with said interior and leading to an outlet; a lid attached to the bowl and movable relative to said opening between an open position providing for use of the toilet assembly by a user, an a closed position closing said interior; a catch releasably securing the lid in the closed position and operable to release the lid for movement to the open position; and a flush device including: a first reservoir, the reservoir being provided to store air under pressure; a pump to deliver air under pressure to said reservoir;

a second reservoir, said reservoir being provided to store water under pressure; duct means extending from the reservoirs to the bowl; and valve means operable to deliver the air from said first reservoir to cause flushing of said bowl when the lid is in the closed position, and then water from said second reservoir to fill said trap.

Preferably, the valve means is operable to deliver the water from the second reservoir when the lid is in the closed position.

Preferably, said assembly includes a housing containing the reservoirs and said valve means. Preferably, said duct means includes a first duct extending from the first reservoir to said bowl, and a second duct extending from said second reservoir to said bowl, and said valve means includes a first valve operable to discharge air from said first reservoir to said bowl via said first duct, and a second valve operable to discharge water from said second reservoir via said second duct to said bowl. Preferably, said pump is electrically operated.

Preferably, said first duct includes a plurality of outlets in said bowl.

Preferably, said lid includes a seal to engage said bowl to sealingly connect the lid with the bowl to sealingly close said opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l is a schematic isometric view of a toilet assembly; Figure 2 is a schematic isometric parts exploded view of the toilet assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of portion of the bowl and lid of the toilet assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of the toilet assembly of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic front elevation of the toilet assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of the toilet assembly of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a toilet assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a bowl 11 having a top rim 12 surrounding an opening 13. The bowl 11 further includes a water "trap" 14 which receives water 15 to sealingly

disconnect the outlet 16 from the interior 17 of the bowl 11 and therefore operatively disconnect the interior 17 from the main sewer line downstream of the outlet 16.

Pivotally attached to the bowl 11 is a lid 18 that is movable angularly about a generally horizontal axis 19 between an opened (raised) position not depicted, providing for use of the toilet assembly 10, and a lowered (closed) position as illustrated in Figures

4 and 5. In the closed position the lid 18 sealingly closes the interior 17 by engaging the rim 12. The rim 12 includes a step 20 that is engaged by a seal 21 fixed to the lid 18 to sealingly connect the lid 18 to the bowl 11. The seal 21 has a lip 22 that projects downwardly to engage the step 20 so as to be urged into contact with the step 20 by air pressure within the interior 13. This aids in sealingly connecting the lid 18 and bowl 11.

The assembly 10 further includes a flushing device 23 that is operable by a user to flush the bowl 11.

The device 23 includes a housing 24 that is hollow so as to contain a first reservoir 26 that is to receive and store air under pressure. The reservoir 26 is attached to an air pump 27 that takes air from the surrounding atmosphere and delivers it under pressure to the interior of the reservoir 26 by means of a conduit 28. Extending from the first reservoir 26 is a first duct 29 that delivers air to the interior 17 via an aperture in the bowl 11. An electrically operated valve 31 is operated to release air from the reservoir 26 so as to cause air to rush through the interior 17, flushing the interior 17 and causing the water and any waste 15 to be delivered to the outlet 16.

A second reservoir 25 is located in the housing 24, and is adapted to receive water from a mains pressure supply via a pipe 39. The pipe 39 leading to a valve 32 that would prevent backward flow from the reservoir 25 into the pipe 39.

Extending from the reservoir 25 to a plurality of outlets 30 in the bowl 11 is a second duct 33 that delivers water from the reservoir 25 to the interior 17. A valve 34 is electrically operated to control delivery of water from the reservoir 25 to the interior 17.

Also contained within the housing 24 is an electronic control module 35 that controls the valves 31 and 34 and the pump 27 in conjunction with a user operated button 36. Securing the lid 18 in the closed position is a catch 37 that is also electrically operatively associated with the control unit 35 so as to provide a signal indicative of whether the lid 18 is sealingly connected to and secured to the bowl 11.

In operation of the above described toilet assembly 10, when the lid 18 is in the raised position, the toilet assembly 10 may be used. To flush the toilet assembly 10, the

lid 18 is moved to the closed position and a catch 37 engage with the lid 18 and bowl 11 to retain the lid 18 in the closed position. A user then presses the button 36 to cause operation of the control unit 35. The control unit 35 operates the valve 31 so that air from the reservoir 26 is delivered to the interior 17 to cause flushing of the interior 17 and delivery of waste and water 15 to the outlet 16. This will only occur if the control module 35 is aware that the lid 18 is retained in the closed position. Once this has occurred and flushing has been completed, the valve 31 is closed. The valve 34 is then operated to allow delivery of water under pressure from the reservoir 25 to the outlets 30, to thereby refill the trap 14 with water 15. This will also aid in cleaning of the interior surfaces of the bowl 11. In that regard it should be appreciated the reservoir 25 is also connected to the pump 27 and/or the reservoir 26 so that the water contained therein is under pressure thereby providing for the delivery of water from the reservoir 25 to the interior 17 with sufficient velocity to aid in cleaning the interior surfaces surrounding the interior 17. More particularly in this embodiment, the pump 27 is connected to the reservoir 25 by means of an air pipe 37. Once the reservoir 25 has been discharged, the valve 34 is again closed and the interior of the reservoir 25 vented to atmosphere so that water may enter the interior of the reservoir 25 via the pipe 39. The toilet assembly 10 is then ready for use upon the catch 37 being released providing for movement of the lid 18 to the open position. If required a valve 38 can be located down stream of the trap 14 and electrically controlled by the module 35 to open after air under pressure has been delivered to the interior 17.

Preferably, below the lid 18 is a toilet seat that rests on the bowl 11 but allows the lid 18 to sealingly close the interior 17.