A split air-controlled button

Abstract

The present invention relates to a split air-controlled button, which comprises a base, an intermediate housing and an outer shell fixedly arranged coaxially in sequence, a button cap nested inside the intermediate housing, and a return spring for actuating and resetting the button cap; a cavity is formed between the button cap and the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the end face of the base, and a ventilation pipe communicating with the cavity is provided in the middle of the base; the present invention is applied to the field of vacuum toilets, and is used for controlling a pneumatic controller in a vacuum toilet. A split structure design is adopted between the present invention and the pneumatic controller, and they are connected by the ventilation pipe, so that the installation is convenient; for the structure of the split air-controlled button itself, a spring-return piston structure is adopted, which has a simple and compact structure and strong applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vacuum sewage collection, transportation and treatment. Among them, vacuum sewage collection technology refers to the front-end devices or products for sewage collection at the sewage source, including but not limited to various kitchen (such as toilets, urinals, shower rooms, bathtubs, etc.) and sanitary products (such as vegetable sinks, dishwashers, etc.); vacuum sewage transportation technology refers to the related technologies for efficiently transporting the sewage collected by the front-end devices or products to the sewage post-treatment equipment, and the core components include vacuum pump stations, sewage collection tanks, underground vacuum transportation pipeline systems, vacuum wells, fault detection and diagnosis systems, etc.; vacuum sewage treatment technology refers to the post-treatment equipment or devices, and its main function is to perform solid-liquid separation and purification on the centrally collected sewage. Among them, the solid can be made into organic fertilizer, and the sewage is filtered and purified by MBR membrane technology to achieve green discharge. The present invention particularly relates to a split air control button applied to a vacuum toilet. Background Art

[0002] In the technical field of vacuum domestic sewage collection, transportation and treatment, vacuum domestic sewage collection is the most front-end technology, and its basic implementation principle is as follows: First, the sewage collection inlet pipeline (or sewage discharge inlet pipeline) in the vacuum sewage transportation system is connected to various sewage front-end collection devices, including but not limited to various kitchen (such as toilets, urinals, shower rooms, bathtubs, etc.) and sanitary products (such as vegetable sinks, dishwashers, etc.); Second, the vacuum pump group generates vacuum in the vacuum sewage transportation system; Finally, during the operation of the sewage front-end collection device, after the vacuum sewage discharge valve is turned on, the pressure difference between the external atmospheric pressure and the internal vacuum value of the pipeline in the vacuum sewage transportation system acts on the sewage and mixes with air to achieve turbulent sewage transportation into the sewage collection inlet pipeline (or sewage discharge inlet pipeline).

[0003] As is well known, vacuum toilets are typical representatives of vacuum sewage drainage systems; however, vacuum toilets have the following shortcomings during use: when flushing and draining, the user needs to stand up and turn 180 degrees before pressing the flush button of the flush toilet. Other front collectors using vacuum drainage valves (such as vacuum squat toilets driven by pneumatic controllers) also have similar problems; to be precise, the flush button of the vacuum toilet is installed on the upper cover plate behind the vacuum toilet, and the flush button at this position does not meet the ergonomic convenience of use, because the user needs to bend over to trigger the flush function, especially for some patients with lumbar disc herniation, which adds more difficulties and inconveniences, especially when the flushing noise is not effectively solved, the bending over to flush the action invisibly increases the stay time. The fundamental reason for these problems is that the flush button is integrated into the controller to form an integral structure, and because the controller structure is relatively large, it is limited that the controller with the flush button is installed in other places away from the vacuum toilet body and its cover plate, such as the left and right side walls behind the toilet sitting posture.

[0004] Over the past 30 years, researchers, mainly from Europe and the United States, have tried some methods and technologies to reduce the inconvenience of flushing vacuum toilets and other related products in vacuum collection systems. Although the domestic accumulation of related technologies has been relatively short, continuous breakthroughs have been made in the accumulation process.

[0005] At present, there are two main structural types of touch buttons (or actuating buttons) for air-controlled controllers of vacuum toilets: an integrated structure and a split structure.

[0006] Among them, regarding the integrated structure, the Chinese invention patent with patent number CN100572703C mentions a vacuum sewage system, which adopts an integrated structure mode of a trigger control button and a controller. The trigger device of the trigger control button is mainly realized by a spring and a push rod reset mechanism. The flushing action triggered by the flush button is as follows:

[0007] (1) Start the flush button action process:

[0008] After pressing the actuating mechanism 106 in the control mechanism 105, the control mechanism 105 is actuated, thereby pushing the first valve mechanism 19 having the coupling mechanism 13 forward and abutting against the diaphragm 14. This movement causes the recess 15 in the first valve stem 191 to move toward the first valve seat 192, thereby providing communication between the first chamber 1 and the second chamber 2 through the channel formed by the recess 15 and the first valve seat 192, thereby allowing atmospheric pressure to flow from the first chamber 1 into the second chamber 2, thereby achieving subsequent control.

[0009] (2) Reset flush button action flow:

[0010] Before the second valve mechanism 5 reaches its second position (i.e., the end position), the first valve mechanism 19 reaches its foremost position, where its further movement is blocked by the first valve seat 192, whereby the coupling mechanism 13 is released from the diaphragm 14; what this causes is that the first spring 18 returns the first valve mechanism 19 and the suction cup 13 to their starting positions that close the connection between the second chamber 2 and the first chamber 1, thereby completing the reset of the actuating mechanism 106.

[0011] Other patents related to push buttons of integrated structures include: 202010655551.7, 202010710038.3, CN200680003008.7, CN201580081233.1. The trigger buttons of their large and small water flushing controllers are designed as an integrated structure with the controllers. The main components of this structure include a return spring and a button piston rod.

[0012] Regarding the split structure, in the Chinese invention patent with the patent number CN 1201057C and the US invention patent with the patent number US6128789A, a split structure mode of the trigger control button and the controller is adopted. The trigger device of the trigger control button is mainly realized by using a lever mechanism, a drag line and a cam mechanism. The flushing action process triggered by its flushing button is as follows (taking the Chinese invention patent with the patent number CN 1201057C as an example):

[0013] (1) Starting the flushing button action process:

[0014] A release (start) device 23 connected to the valve arm 37 is provided in the valve 10. This device includes a locking pin 39 and a spring 40 aligned to apply a preload. The locking pin keeps the balance arm 37 pressed against the miscellaneous spring 13. By pressing the pneumatic button 22 on the release device, a drag line 24 pulls the locking pin 39 backward, thereby opening the valve hole 17 of the valve 10 and closing the valve hole 18, and then performing subsequent sewage discharge and flushing actions, thus realizing the start control function triggered by the button.

[0015] (2) Resetting the flushing button action process:

[0016] When the piston 7 reaches the uppermost position of the cylinder block 6, the cam projection 35 acts on the balance arm in the valve 10, thereby resetting and opening the valve to provide air from the atmosphere through the pipe 21; at the same time, the release device 23 is reset, so that the operating device is ready for a new drainage and flushing action of the vacuum toilet.

[0017] In summary, the integrated touch button has a simple structure and few components. However, the integrated controller composed of it and the controller has relatively high requirements for installation on other places such as walls rather than the toilet body, especially the depth (or thickness), which limits the scope of use of the product. For the split touch button technical solution, since the trigger control button is realized by a lever mechanism, a drag line (similar to a bicycle brake cable), and a cam mechanism, it has a large number of components, poor reliability, and high installation and maintenance costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a pneumatic split button for a pneumatic controller in a vacuum toilet that has a simple structure, high reliability, and is easy to install to solve the problems existing in the prior art. The present invention has developed a split pneumatic control button. After searching, no technical solution identical or similar to the present invention has been found. Summary of the Invention

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide a split pneumatic control button to solve the problems of large limitations in the use of the touch button applied to a vacuum toilet in the prior art when using an integrated structure, and a large number of components and poor reliability when using a split structure.

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention is: a split pneumatic control button, which includes a base, an intermediate housing, and an outer housing that are coaxially and fixedly arranged in sequence, a button cap nested inside the intermediate housing, and a return spring for pressing and resetting the button cap; a cavity is formed between the button cap and the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the end face of the base, and a ventilation pipe communicating with the cavity is provided in the middle of the base.

[0020] Preferably, the base has a flat columnar structure, and a ventilation pipe extending outward with both ends open is provided in the middle. A limit snap ring is provided at one end opposite to the extending direction of the ventilation pipe; the intermediate housing includes a connection disk and a middle-through sleeve that are coaxially arranged in an integrated structure. The connection disk has a flat columnar structure and is attached to the base, and is fixed by a number of locking screws distributed in a ring and sequentially passing through the connection disk and the base; a ring of male snap fasteners is also provided on the upper end face of the intermediate housing; the outer housing has a thin-walled frustum-shaped structure with both ends open, and a fixed sleeve with both ends open is provided inside. The fixed sleeve is coaxially arranged with the outer housing in an integrated structure and is sleeved outside the middle-through sleeve, and a female snap fastener for snap-fitting with the male snap fastener is provided at the end; the button cap has a hollow structure with one end open and is nested inside the middle-through sleeve and coaxially arranged with the middle-through sleeve; the return spring is arranged between the inner top wall of the button cap and the end face of the base, and one end in contact with the base is limited by the limit snap ring.

[0021] Preferably, one end of the middle-through sleeve away from the connection disk has a limit sleeve integrally structured with the middle-through sleeve. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the limit sleeve are respectively smaller than those of the middle-through sleeve, and a step surface is formed at the connection with the middle-through sleeve; the inner wall end of the fixed sleeve is stepped and is pressed on the step surface for fixation; the outer diameter of the button cap is the same as the inner diameter of the limit sleeve, and the outer wall at the open end extends outward and is arranged in fit with the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve.

[0022] Preferably, annular sealing rings are provided between the outer wall at the open end of the button cap and the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve, and between the end surface where the base and the connection disk are in fit.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] (1) The present invention is applied to the field of vacuum toilets and is used to control the pneumatic controller in the vacuum toilet. It adopts a split structure design with the pneumatic controller and is connected by a ventilation pipe, which is convenient for installation; for the structure of the split air control button itself, it adopts a spring reset piston structure, which is simple and compact in structure and has strong applicability.

[0025] (2) The base and the middle shell play a role in connection and fixation, and the design of the outer shell plays a certain role in aesthetics and can be adaptively selected according to different home styles; the installation methods of the overall structure are diverse and can be installed on the wall, on the control room cover plate behind the vacuum toilet, or on the side wall of the toilet body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and embodiments:

[0027] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a split air control button according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a split air control button according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the base, middle shell, outer shell and button cap according to the present invention.

[0030] Wherein: 1. Base, 2. Ventilation pipe, 3. Limit snap ring, 4. Middle shell, 5. Connection disk, 6. Middle-through sleeve, 7. Limit sleeve, 8. Male snap, 9. Outer shell, 10. Fixed sleeve, 11. Female snap, 12. Button cap, 13. Return spring, 14. Annular sealing ring, 15. Locking screw. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The content of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments:

[0032] As Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown, a split air-controlled button includes a base 1, an intermediate housing 4 and an outer shell 9 that are fixedly arranged coaxially in sequence, a button cap 12 nested inside the intermediate housing 4, and a return spring 13 that realizes the pressing and resetting of the button cap 12; a cavity is formed between the inner wall of the intermediate housing 4 and the end face of the base 1 by the button cap 12, and a vent pipe is provided in the middle of the base 1 and communicates with the cavity.

[0033] More specifically, the base 1 has a flat columnar structure, and a vent pipe 2 extending outward with both ends open is provided in the middle. One end opposite to the extending direction of the vent pipe 2 has a limit snap ring 3.

[0034] The intermediate housing 4 includes a connection disk 5 and a middle-through sleeve 6 that are coaxially arranged in an integral structure. The connection disk 5 has a flat columnar structure and is attached to the base 1, and is fixed by a plurality of locking screws 15 that are annularly distributed and sequentially penetrate through the connection disk 5 and the base 1; a plurality of male snap fasteners 8 are also provided on the upper end face of the intermediate housing 4 in an annular distribution; one end of the middle-through sleeve 6 away from the connection disk 5 has a limit sleeve 7 that is integrally structured with the middle-through sleeve 6. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the limit sleeve 7 are respectively smaller than the inner diameter and outer diameter of the middle-through sleeve 6, and a stepped surface is formed at the connection with the middle-through sleeve 6.

[0035] The outer shell 9 has a thin-walled frustum-shaped structure with both ends open, and a fixed sleeve 10 with both ends open is provided inside. The fixed sleeve 10 is integrally structured with the outer shell 9 and coaxially arranged, and is sleeved outside the middle-through sleeve 6. The inner wall end is stepped and presses on the stepped surface, and a female snap fastener 11 that is engaged with the male snap fastener 8 is provided at the inner end, thereby realizing the fixation of the outer shell 9.

[0036] The button cap 12 has a hollow structure with one end open, is nested inside the middle-through sleeve 6 and is coaxially arranged with the middle-through sleeve 6. The outer diameter is the same as the inner diameter of the limit sleeve 7. The outer wall at the open end extends outward and fits with the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve 6; the return spring 13 is arranged between the inner top wall of the button cap 12 and the end face of the base 1, and one end in contact with the base 1 is limited by the limit snap ring 3.

[0037] At the same time, in order to ensure the sealing of the overall structure, annular sealing rings 14 are provided between the outer wall of the open end of the button cap 12 and the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve 6, and between the end faces where the base 1 and the connection disk 5 are in contact.

[0038] The present invention is applied to the field of vacuum toilets and is used to control the pneumatic controller in the vacuum toilet. It adopts a split structure design with the pneumatic controller and is connected by a ventilation pipe 2, which is convenient for installation. Regarding the structure of the split air control button itself, it adopts a spring-return piston structure, which is simple and compact in structure and has strong applicability. When in use, by pressing the button cap 12, the air pressure change inside the cavity is realized, which in turn affects the air pressure change inside the pneumatic controller connected thereto, thereby realizing the control of the vacuum toilet, and the reliability is extremely high.

[0039] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and characteristics of the present invention, and the purpose is to enable those who are familiar with this technology to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and it cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of the present invention, the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms. Therefore, no matter from which point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description. Therefore, all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims are intended to be included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A split air-controlled button, characterized in that: it includes a base, an intermediate housing and an outer housing fixedly arranged coaxially in sequence, a button cap nested inside the intermediate housing, and a return spring for actuating and resetting the button cap; a cavity is formed between the button cap and the inner wall of the intermediate housing and the end face of the base, and a ventilation pipe communicating with the cavity is provided in the middle of the base; the base is in a flat columnar structure, with a ventilation pipe extending outward in the middle and having openings at both ends, and a limit snap ring is provided at one end opposite to the extending direction of the ventilation pipe; the intermediate housing includes a connecting disk and a middle-through sleeve coaxially arranged in an integral structure, the connecting disk is in a flat columnar structure and is attached to the base, and is fixed by a number of locking screws distributed in a ring and sequentially passing through the connecting disk and the base; a male snap is also provided in a ring distribution on the upper end face of the intermediate housing; the outer housing is in a thin-walled frustum structure with openings at both ends, and has a fixed sleeve with openings at both ends inside, the fixed sleeve and the outer housing are coaxially arranged in an integral structure and are sleeved outside the middle-through sleeve, and a female snap for snap-fitting with the male snap is provided at the end; the button cap is in a hollow structure with an opening at one end, is nested inside the middle-through sleeve and is coaxially arranged with the middle-through sleeve; the return spring is arranged between the inner top wall of the button cap and the end face of the base, and one end in contact with the base is limited by the limit snap ring; one end of the middle-through sleeve away from the connecting disk has a limit sleeve integrally arranged with the middle-through sleeve, the inner diameter and outer diameter of the limit sleeve are respectively smaller than the inner diameter and outer diameter of the middle-through sleeve, and a step surface is formed at the connection with the middle-through sleeve; the inner wall end of the fixed sleeve is in a stepped shape and is pressed on the step surface for fixation; the outer diameter of the button cap is the same as the inner diameter of the limit sleeve, and the outer wall at the open end extends outward and is attached to the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve.

2. A split air-controlled button according to claim 1, characterized in that: an annular sealing ring is provided between the outer wall of the open end of the button cap and the inner wall of the middle-through sleeve, and between the end face where the base is attached to the connecting disk.

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