Device for Actuating a Flushing System of a Toilet and Flushing System for a Toilet
Patent Information
- Application Number
- AE202602911
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AE · AE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-03-05
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-03
Smart Images
Figure ABST_2_ABST
Abstract
Description
Full specification Device for Actuating a Flushing System of a Toilet and Flushing System for a Toilet This invention relates to a device for actuating a flushing system of a toilet and a flushing system5for a toilet. Toilets of this type are used in particular to collect bodily waste. Toilets regularly comprise a toilet bowl that can be cleaned by a flushing system after use. For instance, the flushing system may comprise a cistern for holding a flushing liquid, wherein a pneu-matically controlled drain valve can be used to control a flow of the flushing liquid from the toilet10 tank into the toilet bowl. Pneumatically operated drain valves are actuated by compressed air, which can be generated by the air compressor of the device. Drain valves having only a single compressed air input can be connected to the device using only a single compressed air hose. Such single-tube drain valves can therefore only be actuated by devices that have a single air compressor. In devices that have two actuating buttons for dispensing two different volumes of15 flushing liquid to flush the toilet, the two actuating buttons have to be connected to the (single) air compressor via a complex mechanical system. As a result, the actuating buttons on the device cannot be disposed arbitrarily, which limits design flexibility. Therefore, the invention addresses the problem of solving at least a part of the issues described20 with reference to the prior art and, in particular, of providing a device for actuating a flushing system, achieving a high design flexibility. In addition, a flushing system for a toilet is also dis-closed, whose device for actuating the flushing system makes for a high degree of design flexibility. 25 These problems are solved by a device and a flushing system having the features of the inde-pendent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the de-pendent claims. It will be appreciated that the features listed individually in the claims may be combined in any technologically useful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features indicated in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.A device for actuating a flushing system of a toilet, comprising at least the components listed5below, contributes to solving the problem:a housing;a first air compressor for triggering the flushing system;a second air compressor for triggering the flushing system; anda shuttle valve having a first valve inlet, a second valve inlet, and a valve outlet, wherein the10first valve inlet is connected to the first air compressor and the second valve inlet is connected to the second air compressor.The toilet may be designed, in particular, as a (seat-type) toilet or a urinal. Furthermore, the toilet may comprise a toilet bowl that can be cleaned by a flushing system. Flushing is performed, in15 particular, by means of a flushing liquid, the release of which into the toilet bowl can be activated by pressing at least one actuating button of a device for actuating the flushing system of the toilet. The flushing system may comprise a toilet tank to receive the flushing liquid and / or a drain valve to control the discharge of the flushing liquid into the toilet bowl. The drain valve may be a pneumatically actuated drain valve. The drain valve may have one (single) compressed air input.20 The drain valve may be a single-tube drain valve. The flushing system may be attached, at least in part, to a mounting frame of the toilet, which mounting frame can be used to attach the toilet to a wall of a building. Such mounting frames are known, for instance, as false-wall elements. These are attached to the wall of the building and then covered with a false wall. Wall cladding elements, such as tiles, can be attached to the false wall. An inspection shaft or a wall opening25 may be formed in the wall and / or the false wall. The device, or a housing of the device, may be disposed, in particular, at least partially inside the inspection shaft or inside the wall opening. The toilet tank of the flushing system may be disposed, in particular, behind the device in the wall or in a cavity between the wall and the false wall.The housing of the device may be at least partially made of plastic and / or metal. For instance, the housing could be an injection-molded plastic part. An installation space is formed inside the housing of the device. The installation space may extend into the housing from an installation space opening in the housing to the bottom of the housing. In the installed state of the device, the installation space opening may, in particular, be aligned with the inspection shaft or with the wall opening in the wall and / or the false wall. The installation space opening may extend orthog-onally to a longitudinal axis of the housing or of the installation space. The longitudinal axis of the housing may be the central axis of the housing or of the installation space. The longitudinal10 axis of the housing may extend through the installation space, at least partially centered and / or concentrically with respect to the installation space. The longitudinal axis of the housing may extend, at least in part, centrally and / or concentrically through the opening in the installation space. The housing may have side panels that at least partially enclose the installation space. 15 The device comprises a first air compressor for initiating the flushing system or for actuating the drain valve of the flushing system, and a second air compressor for initiating the flushing system or for actuating the drain valve of the flushing system. The device may comprise a first actuator cartridge, which comprises the first air compressor, and a second actuator cartridge, which com-prises the second air compressor. The actuator cartridges may comprise an actuation mecha-20 nism. The air compressors or the actuator cartridges may be disposed or mounted, in particular, inside and / or at the housing or the installation space of the housing. The first air compressor and / or the second air compressor may be a bellows or may comprise a bellows. The first air compressor and / or the second air compressor may comprise a piston that is movable inside a compressed air cylinder. The piston may be a push rod or may comprise a push rod. Compressed25 air can be generated, in particular, by actuating or pressing the first air compressor, the second air compressor, the bellows, or the piston.The first air compressor may be actuated by a user of the device via a first actuating button on the device, and / or the second air compressor may be actuated via a second actuating button on the device. The discharge valve can be actuated or controlled by the air compressors. The air compressors may be of the same or identical design.The first actuator cartridge and / or the second actuator cartridge may each comprise a cartridge housing. The cartridge housing may extend along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge and / or be at least partially cylindrical in shape. The cartridge housing may have (in particular orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge) at least a partially circular cross-section. The first actuatorcartridge and / or the second actuator cartridge may each comprise a piston. The piston can be, for instance, a push rod or a driver rod. The piston can extend in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge. The first air compressor may be pressed by the user of the device, in particular via the first actuating button. The second air compressor may be pressed by the user of the de-vice, in particular by pressing the second actuating button. By pressing the first air compressor15 and / or the second air compressor, the piston of the respective air compressor may be retractable into the cartridge housing (in particular, in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge). The compressed air may be generated by inserting the piston into the cartridge housing. The first actuator cartridge and / or the second actuator cartridge may each comprise a return spring that allows the piston to be extended from the cartridge housing or returned to its original position.20 The return spring can be a coil spring. The return spring may be disposed coaxially with the piston. The piston stroke may be adjustable, for instance, by an (in particular movable) stop for the pis-ton and / or by a spacer (in particular attached to the piston). By adjusting the piston stroke, the flow rate of compressed air and / or the volume of flushing liquid can be adjusted. A large stroke allows a high flow rate of compressed air to be generated and / or a large volume of flushing liquid25 to be discharged through the drain valve, while a small stroke allows a small flow rate of com-pressed air to be generated and / or a small volume of flushing liquid to be discharged through the drain valve.The first air compressor, the second air compressor, the first actuator cartridge, and / or the sec-ond actuation cartridge may each comprise a compressed air output for the compressed air. The compressed air output may be disposed, in particular, at a second longitudinal end of the air compressor or of the actuator cartridges. A compressed-air line may be connected to the com- pressed air output. The actuator cartridges may comprise all functionally relevant components of an actuation mechanism.The device comprises an, in particular pneumatic, shuttle valve. The shuttle valve may be dis-posed inside the housing or in the housing's installation space. Alternatively, the shuttle valve may be disposed outside the housing. The shuttle valve comprises a first valve inlet for com-pressed air, a second valve inlet for compressed air, and an, in particular, single, valve outlet for compressed air. The first valve inlet is connected to the first air compressor, and the second valve inlet is connected to the second air compressor (conveying compressed air). The first valve inlet may be connected to the first air compressor via a first compressed-air line, and / or the second valve inlet may be connected to the second air compressor via a second compressed-air line. The first valve inlet may comprise a first connection nipple for the first compressed-air line, and / or the second valve inlet may comprise a second connection nipple for the second compressed-air line. The valve outlet can be connected to the drain valve (conveying compressed air). The valve outlet may have a third connection nipple for the third compressed-air line. The valve outlet may be connected to the drain valve via a third compressed-air line. In particular, the device, or the shuttle valve of the device, is connected to the drain valve via a single third compressed-air line. The shuttle valve allows the first air compressor and the second air compressor to be connected to the discharge valve via a single third air line. The first compressed-air line, the second com-pressed-air line, and / or the third compressed-air line may be configured, at least in part, as a compressed-air hose, a compressed-air duct, and / or a compressed-air pipe. The shuttle valve is designed such that compressed air flowing into the shuttle valve through the first valve inlet can only exit the shuttle valve through the valve outlet (and not through the second valve inlet), and compressed air flowing into the shuttle valve through the second valve inlet can only flow out of the shuttle valve through the valve outlet (and not through the first valve inlet). When compressed air flows into the shuttle valve through the first valve inlet, the shuttle valve can close the second valve inlet (primarily using the compressed air). When com-pressed air flows into the shuttle valve through the second valve inlet, the shuttle valve can close the first valve inlet (primarily using the compressed air). The shuttle valve allows either (only) the first air compressor (carrying compressed air) to be connected to the discharge valve, or (only) the second air compressor (conveying compressed air) to be connected to the discharge valve. 10 The shuttle valve allows for the use of two separate air compressors, which can be flexibly dis-posed inside the device or in the device’s housing, thereby increasing the design flexibility of the device, in particular with regard to the arrangement and / or design of the actuating buttons, to actuate or control a single-hose drain valve or a drain valve that has only a single compressed-air input.The shuttle valve may comprise a valve body having a control chamber, wherein a control ele-ment inside the control chamber can be moved between a first control position, in which the first valve inlet is connected to the valve outlet of the shuttle valve, and a second control position, in which the second valve inlet is connected to the valve outlet.20The valve housing may be at least partially made of metal and / or plastic. For instance, the valve housing may consist, at least in part, of polyoxymethylene (POM). The valve housing may at least partially encompass the control chamber. The control chamber may extend along a longitudinal axis of the control chamber from a first longitudinal end of the control chamber to a second longitudinal end of the control chamber. The first valve inlet may open into the control chamber at the first end of the control chamber along its longitudinal axis, and the second valve inlet may open into the control chamber at the second end of the control chamber along its longitudinal axis. The first valve inlet and the second valve inlet can be opposite each other. The first valve inlet and / or the second valve inlet may open into the control chamber in parallel or coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the control chamber and / or may extend at least partially in parallel or coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the control chamber. The valve outlet may, in particular, open directly into the control chamber between the first valve inlet and the second valve inlet. The5 valve outlet may open into the control chamber orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the con-trol chamber and / or may extend at least partially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the control chamber. The first valve inlet, the second valve inlet, and / or the valve outlet may each be formed as a bore in the housing. The control chamber may have (in particular, in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control chamber) a control chamber length of, for instance, 10 mm10 [millimeters] to 50 mm and / or (in particular, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the control chamber) a diameter of, for instance, 2 mm to 20 mm. The diameter of the control chamber may be constant (in particular along the longitudinal axis of the control chamber). The control cham-ber may have a circular cross-section (in particular orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the con-trol chamber).15The control element may be at least partially made of metal and / or plastic. For instance, the control element may consist, at least in part, of polyoxymethylene (POM). The control element may be a switching element or a slider. The control element may extend along a longitudinal axis of the control element from a first longitudinal end of the control element to a second longitudi-20 nal end of the control element. The longitudinal axis of the control element may be in parallel or coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the control chamber. The control element may have (in par-ticular, in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control element) a control element length of, for instance, 5 mm to 50 mm and / or (in particular, perpendicular to the control element's longitudi-nal axis) a control element diameter of, for instance, 2 mm to 20 mm. The diameter of the control25 element can (substantially) be equal to the diameter of the control chamber. In the control chamber, the control element can be moved (by compressed air) between the first control position and the second control position, in particular in a direction in parallel or coaxialto the longitudinal axis of the control chamber. When compressed air flows through the first valve inlet into the control chamber, the compressed air moves the control element to the first control position. If compressed air flows into the control chamber through the second valve inlet, the compressed air moves the control element to the second control position. In the first control5 position, the control element is moved inside the control chamber, in particular, all the way to-ward the second longitudinal end of the control chamber, and in the second control position, it is moved inside the control chamber, in particular, all the way toward the first longitudinal end of the control chamber. When the control element is in the first control position, it seals off the second valve inlet (airtight) and opens a connection between the first valve inlet and the valve10 outlet, such that the first valve inlet is connected to the valve outlet (conveying compressed air) via the control chamber. When the control element is in the second control position, it closes off the first valve inlet (airtight) and opens a connection between the second valve inlet and the valve outlet, such that the second valve inlet is connected to the valve outlet (conveying com-pressed air) via the control chamber.15The control element can be moved between the first control position and the second control position using compressed air at a pressure of less than 20 mbar [millibars]. In particular, the control element can be moved between the first control position and the second control position using compressed air at a pressure of 5 mbar to 20 mbar, preferably 5 mbar to 15 mbar, and most20 preferably (substantially) 10 mbar. The control element can therefore be moved even with low compressed air pressure. To this end, the control element can be designed to have a low mass and / or the friction between the control element and the control chamber can be low. In partic-ular, the control element can be moved without a spring. In particular, there is no spring in the control chamber.25he control element may be (at least partially) piston-shaped or (at least partially) spherical. The control element may be designed as a control piston or a control ball.In the second control position of the control element, a first seal can seal the first valve inlet off from the valve outlet, and in the first control position of the control element, a second seal can seal the second valve inlet off from the valve outlet. The first seal and / or the second seal may consist, at least in part, of an elastomer, rubber, and / or silicone. The first seal may be disposed5 at the first longitudinal end of the control chamber, and / or the second seal may be disposed at the second longitudinal end of the control chamber. The first seal and / or the second seal may be annular and / or designed as a flat seal. The first seal may extend around a first opening of the first valve inlet, and / or the second seal may extend around a second opening of the second valve inlet. In the second control position, the first longitudinal end of the control element may contact10 the first seal and / or be pressed against the first seal by the compressed air. In the first control position, the second longitudinal end of the control element may contact the second seal and / or be pressed against the second seal by the compressed air. Alternatively, the first seal and / or the second seal may be disposed on the control element. For instance, the first seal may be disposed in a first groove of the control element and / or the second seal may be disposed in a second15 groove of the control element. The first groove and / or the second groove may be formed on a circumferential surface of the control element, in particular in a circumferential or annular man-ner. The control element may comprise a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface. The first20 sealing surface may be formed at the first longitudinal end of the control element and / or the second sealing surface may be formed at the second longitudinal end of the control element. The first sealing surface may be a first end face, and / or the second sealing surface may be a second end face of the control element. The control element can, in the first control position, use the first sealing surface to close off, in particular, the first valve inlet and / or come into contact with25 the first seal via the first sealing surface. The control element can, in the second control position, use the second sealing surface, to close off, in particular, the second valve inlet and / or come into contact with the second seal via the second sealing surface.The first sealing surface and / or the second sealing surface may have a circumferential sealing contour. The first sealing surface may have a first circumferential sealing contour, and the second sealing surface may have a second circumferential sealing contour. The first sealing surface and / or the second sealing surface may be annular and / or coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the5 control element. The first sealing surface and / or the second sealing surface may taper, in partic-ular in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the control element, and / or may have sharp edges. The first circumferential sealing contour may at least partially dip into the first seal when the control element is in the second control position. The second circumferential sealing contour may at least partially dip into the second seal when the control element is in the first control10 position. The circumferential sealing contours can improve the sealing performance of the seals. The control element may comprise at least one guide pin. The control element may comprise a first guide pin that extends from the first longitudinal end of the control element and / or from the first sealing surface, in particular in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control element.15 The control element may comprise a second guide pin that extends from the second longitudinal end of the control element and / or from the second sealing surface, in particular in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control element. The control element may extend into the first valve input via the first guide pin and / or into the second valve input via the second guide pin. The control element may be guided by the first guide pin into the first valve input and / or by the second guide20 pin into the second valve input. The control element may comprise at least one vent duct. The at least one vent duct is designed, in particular, such that compressed air can flow back from the exhaust valve or from the valve outlet through the at least one vent duct to the first air compressor and / or to the second air compressor when the control element in the control chamber is in a central position between the first control position and the second control position, for instance, because the compressed air generated by the air compressors was insufficient to fully move the control element to the first control position or the second control position. This prevents the drain valve from remaining open continuously, which would cause flushing liquid to continuously flow into the toilet. The at least one vent duct may be formed on a circumferential surface of the control element.5 The at least one vent duct may extend along the circumferential surface at least partially in par-allel to the longitudinal axis of the control element and / or around the circumferential surface, in particular in an annular manner. Another aspect proposes a flushing system for a toilet that comprises at least the items listed10below:a toilet tank for receiving a flushing liquid;a drain valve for controlling the discharge of the flushing liquid into the toilet; anda device described herein, wherein a valve outlet of a shuttle valve of the device is connected to the drain valve.15For further details of the flushing system, reference is made in full to the description of the de-vice. The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference20 to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred variants of the in-vention, but the invention is not limited thereto. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the figures. In an exemplary and schematic manner, Fig. 1 shows a perspective representation of a toilet having a device for actuating a flushing sys-25tem; Fig. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional representation of a mounting frame of the toilet; Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the device for actuating the flushing system; Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a shuttle valve of the device; Fig. 5 shows a perspective representation of a first variant of a control element of the shuttle valve; Fig. 6 shows a perspective representation of a second variant of the control element; 10Fig. 7 shows a perspective representation of a third variant of the control element; Fig. 8 shows a perspective representation of a fourth variant of the control element; Fig. 9 shows a perspective representation of a fifth variant of the control element;15Fig. 10 shows a perspective representation of a sixth variant of the control element; Fig. 11 shows a perspective representation of a seventh variant of the control element; 20Fig. 12 shows a perspective representation of an eighth variant of the control element. Fig. 1 shows a perspective representation of a toilet 3. The toilet 3 comprises a toilet bowl 28, which is mounted to a wall 30 of a building by means of a mounting frame 29 shown in Fig. 2. The mounting frame 29 shown in Fig. 2 is concealed in Fig. 1 by a false wall 31 and wall cladding elements 32, which are designed as tiles here. The mounting frame 29 is thus disposed in a cavity 33 between the wall 30 and the false wall 31. The false wall 31 has an opening, not visible here, that connects the cavity 33 to surroundings 34. The opening is covered by a cover plate 35 of a device 1 for actuating a flushing system 2 of the toilet 3 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows the mounting frame 29 of the sanitary devices 3 shown in Fig. 1, without the false wall 31 and the wall cladding elements 32. The flushing system 2 of the toilet 3 is attached to the mounting frame 29 and comprises a toilet tank 26 for a flushing liquid. The drain valve 27 is dis-5 posed in the toilet tank 26 shown in Fig. 3, which drain valve can be used to control the flow of flushing liquid from the toilet tank 26 to the toilet bowl 28 shown in Fig. 1. The drain valve 27 can be actuated by a user (not shown here) via the device 1. Fig. 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section of the device 1 for actuating the flushing system10 2 shown in Fig. 2 of the toilet 3 shown in Fig. 1. The device 1 comprises a housing 4, in which a first air compressor 5 and a second air compressor 6 are disposed. The air compressors 5, 6 are each designed as bellows, for instance. The device 1 or the cover plate 35 has a first actuating button 36 and a second actuating button 37. By pressing the first actuating button 36, the first air compressor 5 generates compressed air , and by pressing the second actuating button 37, the15 second air compressor 6 generates compressed air. The housing 4 extends in a tubular manner along a longitudinal axis 40 of the housing and has an installation space 41 in its interior. The housing 4 has an installation space opening 44 at a first longitudinal end 42 of the housing and a bottom 45 at a second longitudinal end 43 of the hous-20 ing. The installation space opening 44 is covered by the cover plate 35 and the actuating buttons 36, 37. The toilet tank 35 is attached to the housing 4. The air compressors 5, 6 are mounted in the installation space 41. The device 1 has a shuttle valve 7 having a valve housing 11. The shuttle valve 7 is disposed in25 the installation space 41. The valve housing 11 comprises a first valve inlet 8 and a second valve inlet 9. The valve inlets 8, 9 are located opposite each other and open into a control chamber 12 of the valve housing 11. The first air compressor 5 is connected to the first valve inlet 8 via a first compressed-air line 38, and the second air compressor 6 is connected to the second valve inlet 9 via a second compressed-air line 39. A first variant of a control element 13 is disposed in the control chamber 12. The control element5 13 can be moved inside the control chamber 12 along a longitudinal axis 46 of the control cham-ber 12 between a first control position 14 shown in Fig. 3 and a second control position 15 shown in Fig. 4. The control chamber 12 extends along the longitudinal axis 46 of the control chamber from a first longitudinal control chamber end 54 to a second longitudinal control chamber end55. A first seal 16 is disposed in the control chamber 12 at the first end 54 of the control chamber,10 and a second seal 17 is disposed in the control chamber 12 at the second end 55 of the control chamber. The control element 13 extends along the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element from a first longitudinal control element end 50 to a second longitudinal control element end 51. The longitudinal axis 49 of the control element extends coaxially with the longitudinal axis 46 of the control chamber. The control element 13 has a first sealing surface 18 at the first longitudinal15 end 50 of the control element and a second sealing surface 19 at the second longitudinal end 51 of the control element. The valve housing 11 has a valve outlet 10 that is located centrally be-tween the valve inlets 8, 9 and extends orthogonally to the valve inlets 8, 9, and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 46 of the control chamber. A third compressed-air line 56 is connected to valve outlet 10, linking the valve outlet 10 to the drain valve 27.20When compressed air is generated by the first air compressor 5, it flows through the first air line 38 and the first valve inlet 8 into the control chamber 12, moving the control element 13 to the first control position 14. In the first control position 14 of the control element 13, the control element 13 makes contact with the second seal 17 via its second sealing surface 19, such that25 the second valve inlet 9 is closed and the compressed air cannot exit the control chamber 12 through the second valve inlet 9. In the first control position 14 of the control element 13, the first valve inlet 8 is connected to the valve outlet 10 via the control chamber 12, such that the compressed air can exit the control chamber 12 (only) through the valve outlet 10 and flow to the drain valve 27 to trigger a flushing cycle with a first flushing volume. Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the shuttle valve 7 after the control element 13 has been5 moved from the first control position 14 shown in Fig. 3 along the longitudinal axis 46 of the control chamber to the second control position 15. When compressed air is generated by the second air compressor 6 shown in Fig. 3, the compressed air flows through the second air line 39 and the second valve inlet 9 into the control chamber 12, moving the control element 13 to the second control position 15. In the second control position 15 of the control element 13, the first10 sealing surface 18 of the control element 13 contacts the first seal 16, such that the first valve inlet 8 is closed and the compressed air cannot exit the control chamber 12 through the first valve inlet 8. In the second control position 15 of the control element 13, the second valve inlet 9 is connected to the valve outlet 10 via the control chamber 12, such that the compressed air can exit the control chamber 12 (only) through the valve outlet 10 and flow to the drain valve 2715 shown in Fig. 3 to trigger a flushing cycle with a second flushing volume. The control chamber 12 has a control chamber length 47 (in parallel to the control chamber lon-gitudinal axis 46) and a control chamber diameter 48 (orthogonal to the control chamber length 47). The control element 13 has a control element length 52 (in parallel to the control element longitudinal axis 49) and a control element diameter 53 (orthogonal to the control element lon-gitudinal axis 49). The control element diameter 53 is (substantially) equal to the control chamber diameter 48. Fig. 5 shows a perspective representation of the first variant of the control element 13. The first25 variant of the control element 13 is piston-shaped and extends along the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element from the first longitudinal end 50 to the second longitudinal end 51 of the control element. Fig. 6 shows a perspective representation of a second variant of the control element 13. Com-pared to the first variant of the control element 13 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the second variant of the control element 13 has a vent duct 24 at its circumferential surface 25. The vent duct 24 comprises a first duct section 57 that extends from the first longitudinal end 50 of the control5 element, in parallel to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element, to a center 60 of the control element 13. The center of the control element 60 is located exactly between the first longitudinal end 50 of the control element and the second longitudinal end 51 of the control element. The vent duct 24 comprises, at the center 60 of the control element, a second duct section 58 that extends annularly around the circumferential surface 25 of the control element 13. The first duct10 section 57 and the second duct section 58 are interconnected. The vent duct 24 allows com-pressed air to flow back from the drain valve 27 shown in Fig. 3 or from the valve outlet 10 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to one of the air compressors 5 shown in Fig. 3, 6, even when the control element 13 in the control chamber 12 is in a central position between the control positions 14, 15 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This prevents the drain valve 27 from remaining open indefinitely when the con-15 trol element 13 is in the center position. Depending on the orientation of the second variant of control element 13 in the control chamber 12 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the compressed air can flow through the vent duct 24 either into the first air compressor 5 shown in Fig. 3 or into the second air compressor 6. Compressed air from the air compressors 5, 6 can escape into the surrounding area 34 shown in Fig. 1 if the air compressors 5, 6 are not actuated using the actuating buttons20 36, 37 shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a perspective representation of a third variant of the control element 13. Compared to the second variant of control element 13 shown in Fig. 6, the third variant of control element 13 has a vent duct 24 on its circumferential surface 25, which comprises a third duct section 5925 in addition to the first duct section 57 and the second duct section 58. The third duct section 59 extends from the second end 51 of the longitudinal control element, in parallel to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element, to the center 60 of the control element. The duct sections 57, 58, and 59 are interconnected. The vent duct 24 allows compressed air to flow back from the drain valve 27 shown in Fig. 3 or from the valve outlet 10 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to both of the air compressors 5 shown in Fig. 3, 6, even when the control element 13 in the control chamber 12 is in a central position between the control positions 14, 15 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 5 Fig. 8 shows a perspective representation of a fourth variant of the control element 13. Com-pared to the first variant of the control element 13 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the fourth variant of the control element 13 has a first circumferential sealing contour 20 at the first longitudinal end 50 of the control element or at the first sealing surface 18, and a second circumferential sealing contour 21 at the second longitudinal end 51 of the control element or at the second sealing10 surface 19. The seal contours 18, 19 taper toward the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element and have sharp edges. The circumferential sealing contours 20, 21 improve the sealing effect when the control element 13 contacts the seals 16, 17 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in the control posi-tions 14, 15. 15 Fig. 9 shows a perspective representation of a fifth variant of the control element 13. Compared to the first variant of control element 13 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the fifth variant of control element 13 has a first groove 61 and a second groove 62 on its circumferential surface 25. The first groove 61 is formed (directly) adjacent to the first longitudinal end 50 of the control element and to the first sealing surface 18, respectively, and the second groove 61 is formed (directly) adjacent to20 the second longitudinal end 51 of the control element and to the second sealing surface 19, re-spectively. The seals 16, 17, not shown here, such as O-rings, can be disposed in grooves 61, 62. In this case, the seals 16, 17 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 can be omitted from the control chamber 12. Fig. 10 shows a perspective representation of a sixth variant of the control element 13. The sixth25 variant of the control element 13 comprises a first guide pin 22, which extends from the first sealing surface 18 in parallel to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element, and a second guide pin 23, which extends from the second sealing surface 19 in parallel to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element. The first guide pin 22 can extend into the first valve inlet 8 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the second guide pin 23 can extend into the second valve inlet 9 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The guide pins 22, 23 can assist in guiding the control element 13 inside the control chamber 12 shown in Figures 3 and 4. The guide pins 22, 23 have a semicircular cross-section (orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element). This allows the compressed air to5 flow through valve inlets 8, 9, even when guide pins 22, 23 are located in valve inlets 8, 9. Fig. 11 shows a perspective representation of a seventh variant of the control element 13. Com-pared to the sixth variant of the control element 13 shown in Fig. 10, the guide pins 22, 23 (or-thogonal to the longitudinal axis 49 of the control element) in the seventh variant of the control10 element 13 have a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape. Fig. 12 shows a perspective representation of an eighth variant of the control element 13. Com-pared to the seventh variant of control element 13 shown in Fig. 11, the sealing surfaces 18, 19 each have a circumferential sealing contour 20, 21, respectively, which are shaped to match the15 sealing contours 20, 21 of the fourth variant of control element 13 shown in Fig. 8. This invention allows for a high degree of design flexibility of the device 1. ListofReferenceNumeralsandTerms 1device2flushing system53toilet 4housing 5first air compressor 6second air compressor 7shuttle valve108first valve inlet 9second valve inlet 10valve outlet 11valve housing 12control chamber1513control element 14first control position 15second control position 16first seal 17second seal2018first sealing surface 19second sealing surface 20first circumferential sealing contour 21second circumferential sealing contour 22first guide pin2523second guide pin 24vent duct 25circumferential surface 26toilet tank 27drain valve 28 toilet bowl29 installation frame30 wall31 false wall32wall cladding element33 cavity34 surroundings35 cover plate36 first actuating button37second actuating button38 first compressed-air line39 second compressed-air line40 longitudinal axis of body41 installation space42first longitudinal housing end43 second longitudinal housing end44 installation space opening45 bottom46 longitudinal axis of the control chamber47length of the control chamber48 diameter of the control chamber49 longitudinal axis of the control element50 first end of the longitudinal control element51 second longitudinal control element end52length control element53 control element diameter54 first longitudinal control chamber end55 second longitudinal control chamber end 56third compressed-air line57first duct section58second duct section59 third duct section 60center of the control element 61first groove 62second groove
Claims
1. A device (1) for actuating a flushing system (2) of a toilet (3), comprising at least:- a housing (4);- a first air compressor (5) for triggering the flushing system (2);- a second air compressor (6) for triggering the flushing system (2); and- a shuttle valve (7) having a first valve inlet (8), a second valve inlet (9), and a valve outlet (10), wherein the first valve inlet (8) is connected to the first air compressor (5) and the second valve inlet (9) is connected to the second air compressor (6). 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle valve (7) comprises a valve housing (11) having a control chamber (12), wherein a control element (13) can be moved inside the control chamber (12) between a first control position (14), in which the first valve inlet (8) is connected to the valve outlet (10) of the shuttle valve (7), and a second control position (15), in which the second valve inlet (9) is connected to the valve outlet (10). 3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control element (13) can be moved between the first control position (14) and the second control position (15) by compressed air at a pressure of less than 20 mbar. 4. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control element (13) is designed in the manner of a piston or a sphere. 5. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein, in the second control position (10) of the control element (13), a first seal (16) seals the first valve inlet (8) from the valve outlet (10), and wherein, in the first control position (14) of the control element (13), a second seal (17) seals the second valve inlet (9) from the valve outlet (10). 6. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control element (13) has a first sealing surface (18) and a second sealing surface (19). 7. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first sealing surface (18) or the second sealing surface (19) a circumferential sealing contour (20, 21). 8. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control element (13) comprises at least one guide pin (22, 23). 9. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control element (13) comprises at least one vent duct (24). 10. The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one vent duct (24) is formed in a circumferential surface (25) of the control element(13). 11. A flushing system (2) for a toilet (3) comprising at least:- a toilet tank (26) for receiving a flushing liquid;- a drain valve (27) for controlling the discharge of the flushing liquid to the toilet (3); and- A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a valve outlet (10) of a- shuttle valve (7) of the device (1) is connected to the drain valve (27).