SYPHONIC CISTERN DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a syphonic flushing device. More particularly, the syphonic flushing device of the present invention is intended for use in a water or toilet cistern.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, syphonic flow in a toilet cistern has been initiated by means such as that provided by the original Crapper method where a bell, submerged in water, hangs from the end of a lever over the open end of a vertical pipe, the other end of the lever being provided with a pull chain and handle. A sharp pull on the chain causes the bell to rise and carry a quantity of water up and into the vertical pipe thus starting the syphonic action. The modern day method varies in that the bell remains stationary, but contains a piston which forces water up into an inverted U-shaped syphon tube when the piston is raised by operating a hand lever on the outside of the water cistern. Regardless of the method however, a problem is that a good deal of energy and force is required to operate the flushing action.

The invention will endeavour to provide an improved syphonic flushing device, and one which requires a reduced amount of force or energy needed to operate the flushing action over conventional devices. In addition the invention will seek to provide a device capable of delivering variable or reduced quantities of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus in one form the invention resides in a syphonic flushing device for attachment to a water cistern characterised in that the device comprises a syphon member having a float compartment and having a first inlet and an outlet to allow the flow of air or water through the syphon member, the device being movable between a first position corresponding to an upper water level in the cistern and a second position corresponding to a lower water level in the cistern,

wherein when the device is operated water will flow through the syphon member to substantially fill the float compartment causing the syphon member to move to the second position whereupon air enters the device as the water level in the cistern falls below the first inlet causing the flushing action to cease whereupon air will flow through the syphon member to substantially fill the float compartment causing the syphon member move to the first position as the water level in the cistern rises.

The float compartment of the syphon member may comprise two interconnected chambers.

In another form the invention resides in a syphonic flushing device for attachment to a water cistern characterised in that the flushing device comprises a syphon member comprising a first chamber interconnected with a second chamber and having a first inlet provided in the first chamber and an outlet provided in the second chamber to allow the flow of air or water through the device, the device being moveable between a first position corresponding to an upper water level in the cistern and a second position corresponding to a lower water level in the cistern, whereby in the first position the first chamber is substantially filled with water and the second chamber substantially filled with air so that when the device is operated water in the first chamber flows into the second chamber to initiate the syphonic flow of water from the cistern causing the syphon member to move to its second position whereupon air enters the device through the first inlet as the water level in the cistern falls below the first inlet causing the flushing action to cease whereupon the second chamber refills with air to enable the syphon member to move to the first position as the water level in the cistern rises.

Preferably the first and second chambers are disposed relative to each other such that the first chamber is an outer chamber and the second chamber is an inner chamber.

Preferably the device is movably mounted onto a stand pipe provided in the cistern. The stand pipe may be provided with means for returning the device to its first position from its second position.

The syphon member may be in the form of a substantially enclosed container. Preferably the outer chamber surrounds the inner chamber. Preferably the first inlet is located at the bottom of the outer chamber and the outlet located at the top of the inner chamber. The outer and inner chambers are preferably interconnected at the top portion of the syphon member. The inner chamber may be provided with means to restrict the flow of air therethrough which may be in the form of a baffle plate. Preferably this arrangement allows an undulating flow of water through the syphon member.

The outlet may be connected to a neck portion to allow the device to be mounted on the stand pipe.

The top of the cistern may be provided with releasable attachment means to hold the device in the first position. Preferably the attachment means is released by a push button mechanism provided through the cistern whether actuated directly or in a remote manner.

Preferably when the device is operated the attachment means is released causing the device to be further submerged into the water causing water in the outer chamber to flow into the inner chamber so that when the inner chamber is substantially filled the syphonic action will be initiated. At the same time the syphon member will move towards the second position as a result of its increased weight and/or a reduction in the pressure within the syphon member.

A second inlet may be provided in the outer chamber. Preferably the second inlet is located at a level above the first inlet. The reason for the second inlet is to allow the device to provide a reduced quantity of water for the flushing action.

Preferably means is provided to selectively open and close the second inlet which may be in the form of a float arrangement comprising a float chamber moveable between open and closed positions. When the second inlet is closed and the device operated, the water level in the cistern will be discharged until it falls below the level of the first inlet whereupon air will enter into the device through the first inlet thereby ceasing the flushing action. When the second inlet is open and the device operated water in the cistern will be discharged until the water level falls below the second inlet whereupon air will enter into the device through the second inlet causing the flushing action to cease.

Preferably an actuating means is provided to control the movement of the float arrangement between the open and closed positions.

Preferably the actuating means when not actuated and in an at rest state maintains the float chamber in the open position. When the actuating means is actuated the float chamber floats upwards to the closed position thereby closing the second inlet.

The actuating means may be in the form of a projection which when at rest maintains the float chamber in the open position. The projection is operated by virtue of an operating lever. Preferably the operating lever can be operated by a push button mechanism provided through the cistern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is side cross sectional view of the flushing device at its first position where the float arrangement is in the open position;

Figure 2 is a side cross sectional view of the flushing device at its second position where the float arrangement is in the open position;

Figure 3 is the flushing device of Figure 1 where the float arrangement is in the closed position;

Figure 4 is the flushing device of Figure 2 where the float arrangement is in its closed position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the flushing device located in a water cistern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment is directed to a syphonic flushing device 10 for attachment to a water cistern (not shown). The device 10 comprises a syphon member 12 in the form of a container 30 of generally cylindrical proportions having an integral cover 32. The cover 32 is provided with a raised central portion 33. The syphon member 12 has a float compartment comprising an outer chamber 14 and an

inner chamber 16 arranged such that the outer chamber 14 surrounds or encircles the inner chamber 16.

A bottom end 18 of the outer chamber 14 is provided with a first inlet 22 which extends around the full circumference of the outer chamber 1.4. A top end 20 of the outer chamber 14 opens into the inner chamber 16 through a passageway 48. The inner chamber 16 is defined by an outer side wall 24a and inner side wall 24b and a base 26. The inner chamber 16 is provided with a baffle plate 28 to divide the inner chamber 16 into an outer compartment 34 and an inner compartment 36. The baffle plate 28 extends between one half to the full height of the inner chamber 16 such that the two compartments 34 and inner 36 are interconnected adjacent the base 26 of the inner chamber 16 by means of a passageway 37.

The inner compartment 36 is open at its uppermost end to provide an outlet 46 which extends around the full circumference of the inner chamber 16.

The inner side wall 24b of the inner chamber 16 is attached to a neck portion 38 at an uppermost end 39 thereof. The neck portion 38 is centrally located within the container 30 and extending away from the cover 32.

The neck portion 38 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical section of suitable width to allow the device 10 to be slidably mounted on to a stand pipe 40 which is connected to a water outlet 42 of the water cistern. The stand pipe 40 has a flexible sleeve or bellows 110 provided thereabout. An upper end of the sleeve 110 is connected to the neck portion 38. A lower end of the sleeve 110 is fixed to a base of the stand pipe 40. The sleeve 110 serves to prevent leakage of water between the neck portion 38 and the stand pipe 40.

The inner chamber 16, outer chamber 14 and arrangement of walls therein is such that air or water is able to flow through the syphon member 12 by firstly flowing into the first inlet 22 up into the outer chamber 14, through the connecting passageway 48 down into the outer compartment 34, then up into the inner compartment 36 via the passageway 37 and downwardly out through the neck portion 38 via the outlet 46, and finally through the stand pipe 40 and a water outlet 42 of the cistern. This arrangement causes the undulating flow of water or air through the syphon member 12. An upper end of the stand pipe 40

has provided therein a venturi 41 so as to aid the syphonic flow of water through the stand pipe 40, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 4.

The cover 33 of the syphon member 12 is provided with an upstanding shaft member 50 centrally located on the cover 32 on a mounting block 54. The upper portion of the shaft member 50 is provided with a continuous groove 52, best seen in Figures 2 and 4 as encircling the shaft member 50.

The top of the cistern is provided with an attachment means 56. The attachment means 56 is located on a shelf 58 transversely mounted to opposing side walls 13 of the cistern such that the shelf 58 is disposed a short distance below a lid 60 of the cistern as shown in Figure 5. The central portion of the shelf 58 has a circular aperture 59 provided therein in order to accommodate the shaft member 50. As seen in Figure 2 the attachment means 56 comprises in part the shelf 58 and the aperture 59. Adjacent the aperture 59 is a tab member 66 which is mounted on a cylindrical member 68 which is pivotally movable within a pair of spaced apart supports 70 provided therefor.

The tab member 66 is able to be inclined such that when the shaft member 50 is received in the aperture 59, an end of the tab member 66 lies within the groove 52 such that the tab member 66 supports the shaft member 50 in position in the aperture 59 as shown in Figures 1 , 3 and 5. The shaft member 50 has a bevelled uppermost end allowing easy passage thereof past the tab member 66.

Also located on the cylindrical sleeve 68 is a lever arrangement 71 one end of which is provided with a weight 72 and the other end of which has provided thereon a bearing plate 74. The lever arrangement 71 is mounted on the member 68 such that the weight 72 is disposed adjacent the shaft member 50. The weight 72 ensures that the tab member 66 is held within the groove 52 of the shaft member 50 as described above thereby locating the flushing device 10 at the top of the cistern.

Also located on the cover 32 is an aperture 80 which opens into the passageway 48 between the inner and outer chambers, 16 and 14 respectively. The aperture 80 is connected to an inlet portion 82 which generally is in the form of a tubular extension. The inlet portion 82 provides the syphon member 12 with a second inlet 84 and is located at a level above the first inlet 22. The second inlet 84 is

provided in this manner to allow the device 10 to provide a reduced quantity of water for flushing purposes if such is desired.

The second inlet 84 is provided with means to selectively open and close it in the form of a float arrangement 90. The float arrangement 90 is located on the exterior side of the container 30 and comprises a base plate 92 extending outwardly from and attached to the container 30. The base plate 92 has a float chamber 94 provided on a support member 96 such that a space 98 is provided therebetween. When the water level in the cistern is above the second inlet 84, water will enter the space 98 causing the float chamber 94 to float up and bear against the second inlet 84 thereby closing it. This is the closed position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the water level in the cistern falls, water will flow from between the support member 96 and float chamber 94 causing the float chamber 94 to fall back in its initial position against the base plate 92 thereby opening the second inlet 84. This is the open position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A flap valve means comprising a flap 62 and a tab 64 is provided on the inlet portion 82, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 4. The flap 62 is able to move between an open position in which air can escape from the inlet portion 82 (Figures 1 and 3) and a closed position in which it cannot (Figures 2 and 4). A retaining means 65 projects from the inlet portion 82 to provide the flap 62 with a maximum open position.

The flushing device 10 is provided with an actuating means 99 to control the movement of the float arrangement 90 between the open and closed positions. The actuating means 99 is in the form of a projecting arm 100 which when not actuated or at rest maintains the float chamber 94 in the open position. The projecting arm 100 is weighted such that it will always tend towards bearing against the float chamber 94. This is the non-actuated position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The projecting arm 100 depends from an operating lever 102, a central portion of which is pivotally mounted onto a mounting extension 104 upstanding from the inlet portion 82. The other end of the operating lever 102 is provided with an operating arm 106. The projecting arm 100 prevents the float chamber 94 from floating to the closed position when the cistern is full of water.

The operating arm 106 extends towards the attachment means 56, and the lever arrangement 71 of the attachment means 56 extends towards the actuating means 99 such that the end portions of the operating arms 106 and lever arrangement 71 are disposed side by side as clearly seen in Figure 5.

Located above this arrangement and through the cistern itself is a push button mechanism 108, as seen in Figures 1 to 4. Two buttons are provided. A first button 112 is disposed such that when depressed it only contacts the lever arrangement 71 by means of its bearing plate 74. This enables the device 10 to discharge a reduced or "half quantity of water for the flushing action. Consequently, the first button 112 is the "half flush" button 112. The second button 114 is disposed such that when depressed it contacts both the lever arrangement 71 and operating arm 106. This enables the device 10 to discharge a normal or "full" quantity of water for the flushing action. Further, the button 114 is the "full flush" button.

The embodiment will now be explained in operation.

When water in the cistern is at an upper level F-F the flushing device 10 will be in the position shown in Figure 1 , where the syphon member 12 is attached to the top of the cistern by means of the attachment means 56. The actuating means 99 is not actuated and is at rest so that the float arrangement is in the open position. In this position the water level in the outer chamber 14 will be just below the passageway 48 so that water cannot enter the inner chamber 16. At this stage the water level in the outer chamber 14 will correspond to the upper water level F-F in the cistern. If the user requires a half flush, they depress the half flush button 112. This in turn causes the button 112 to depress the lever arrangement 71 thereby disengaging the tab member 66 from the groove 52 causing the syphon member to submerge into the water such that the outer chamber 14 becomes full of water causing water to flow through passageway 48 and into the inner chamber 16 as shown in Figure 2. The flap 62 of the flap valve means is open thereby allowing air within the outer chamber 14 to be expelled. The action however of the water striking the tab 64 as the syphon member 12 sinks closes the flap valve means.

When the inner chamber 16 is filled water will flow out of the syphon member 12 through outlet 46 and down through the neck portion 38 and through the stand

pipe 40 to commence the syphonic flushing action. At the same time the syphon member 12 will sink downwardly to the position shown by Figure 2 because of its increased weight and/or a reduction in the pressure inside the syphon member 12. The suction produced by the syphonic flow of water through the syphon member 12 ensures the flap valve means remains closed. .In this position the syphon member 12 is at the bottom of the cistern.

As soon as the water level drops past the second inlet 84 to a half level H-H air will flow into the syphon member 12 through second inlet 84 and inlet portion 82 thereby ceasing the syphonic discharge of water. The flap valve means will subsequently open in the absence of the syphonic flow through the syphon member 12. The weight of the tab 64 also aids in opening the flap valve means. The syphon member 12 will float to the surface of the water because of the buoyancy created by the air-filled inner chamber. As the water level in the cistern rises during refilling the syphon member 12 will rise to the top of the cistern and the shaft member 50 will re-engage the tab member 66. When this engagement initially occurs the water level in the cistern is between the F-F and H-H levels and the outer chamber is only partially filled with water.

As the water level in the cistern continues to rise the outer chamber will be filled until the water level reaches level F-F. It is the weight of water in the inner chamber 16 which causes the syphon member to initially submerge into the water when the attachment means 56 is released.

If the user requires a full flush, he or she depresses the full flush button 114. This in turn causes the button 114 to depress both lever arrangement 71 and operating arm 106 at the same time as depicted at Figure 3. Depressing the lever arrangement 71 causes the attachment means 56 to release the syphon member 12 as explained above. Depressing the operating arm 106 causes the projecting arm 100 to disengage the float chamber 94 allowing the float chamber 94 to float upwards to the closed position thereby closing the second inlet 84. Water will then flow through the syphon member 12 in the same manner as described with the half flush discharge and the syphon member 12 will sink to the bottom of the cistern. Due to the closure of the second inlet 84, water will be discharged until the water level in the cistern falls below the first inlet 22 to a level E-E as shown in Figure 4 whereupon air will flow into the syphon member 12 thereby ceasing the syphonic discharge of water. As the cistern refills with

water the syphon member 12 will move upwards to the top of the cistern as described with the half flush discharge of water.

The float chamber 94 is held in the closed position against the second inlet by a suction effect created by the syphonic flow of water through the syphon member 12 and transferred through the inlet portion 82. When air enters the first inlet 22 the suction effect ceases thereby causing the float chamber 94 to fall back to the open position and allowing the projecting arm 100 to resume its non-actuated or at rest position. This ensures that the syphon member is always reset to the half flush position after use.

It is envisaged that the container 30 comprising the syphon member 12 may be provided in a form other than generally cylindrical. Further, the aperture 59 need not necessarily be circular as long as it is capable of receiving therein the shaft member 50.

It should be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.