Hydraulically controlled flushing device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024716748
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-04-02
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-11
AI Technical Summary
Traditional toilet flushing devices have independent filling and emptying mechanisms that can lead to excess water consumption due to failures, inefficient water flow, and lack of adjustability, resulting in overconsumption and irregular efficiency.
A hydraulically controlled flushing device with a mini-hydraulic generator, double solenoid valve, and a control module connected to level sensors, which manages the filling and emptying mechanisms to optimize water usage based on tank levels and user needs, including leak detection and adjustable flush quantities.
The solution reduces water consumption by ensuring efficient filling and emptying, preventing overconsumption, and providing adjustable flush options, ensuring constant efficiency and minimizing noise during filling.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024058851_10102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED FLUSHING DEVICE
[0003] Technical field of the invention
[0004] The present invention relates to the general field of toilets, commonly designated by the letters WC corresponding to the initials of the English words "Water Closet". It relates more specifically to a flushing device, also simply called a flush, arranged to be installed in a toilet tank, said flushing device maximizing the efficiency of existing flushing devices, reducing daily water consumption, detecting, minimizing and / or eliminating the risks of excess water consumption due to possible leaks from the flushing device.
[0005] State of the art
[0006] The flushing systems known from the prior art are, traditionally, associated with a toilet tank and consist of: - a mechanical filling mechanism allowing the toilet tank to be filled with a predefined quantity of water, - a mechanical emptying mechanism.
[0007] Each of these two mechanisms operates completely independently of each other. Thus, if the filling mechanism fails, the tank continues to fill up to the overflow level, with water then flowing out at a loss. Similarly, if the emptying mechanism fails, water flows continuously, with the filling mechanism never reaching the water cut-off level.
[0008] Furthermore, the effectiveness of this type of mechanism is never constant and depends on the tank's fill level. If the user flushes the toilet again when the tank is not sufficiently full, the water flow will be ineffective or partially effective. Similarly, if the user flushes completely or partially when the need is less, the water flow will be over-effective.
[0009] Furthermore, if the emptying mechanism is equipped with a partial emptying control, its adjustment allows, during a flush, to release all or only part of the water reserve contained in the cistern. If certain variants of the prior art contribute to a relative reduction in water consumption by allowing the flow of a flush to be interrupted, they add mechanical complexity without remedying the other disadvantages.
[0010] Summary of the invention
[0011] The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a flushing device designed to be installed in a toilet tank making it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, namely:
[0012] - independent filling and emptying mechanisms,
[0013] - excess water consumption due to the possible failure of said filling or emptying mechanisms
[0014] - excessive water consumption inherent in triggering either an ineffective flush due to an insufficient tank fill rate, or an over-effective flush due to the minimum quantity flushed by a full tank trigger,
[0015] - unnecessary water consumption because the quantity of water used is neither adjustable nor suited to different needs
[0016] - a lack of preventive and curative maintenance,
[0017] - an irregularity of efficiency by conditioning the triggering of the flush to a previously defined state of filling of the tank, and
[0018] - slowness and significant filling noise inherent in known filling mechanisms.
[0019] In accordance with the invention, there is therefore proposed an arrangement for installation in a tank conventionally arranged above a toilet bowl and provided with a water network inlet, remarkable in that it comprises a mini-hydraulic generator installed on said water inlet upstream of all the other elements of the flushing device, a double solenoid valve supplied with water via the mini-hydraulic generator and connected to two conduits, a control module provided with a battery recharged by said mini-hydraulic generator and ensuring the control of said double solenoid valve, and a hydraulically controlled filling / emptying mechanism similar to a double-rod, double-acting cylinder and comprising:
[0020] - a mechanism body with a base at the top terminating a rear chamber and a nose at the bottom terminating a front chamber, said base and nose of the rear and front chambers being provided respectively with a passage orifice,
[0021] - a piston moving in the body and being subjected either to the action of pressure exerted in the rear chamber via the conduit, or to that exerted in the front chamber via the conduit, and
[0022] - a movable valve whose positioning obstructs or allows the passage of water through a support base ensuring the lower seal of the tank and directing the water towards the bowl during a flush, and a rod secured to the piston and the valve and passing through the respective passage orifices of the bottom and nose of the rear and front chambers.
[0023] The control module advantageously has a user interface and is connected to a plurality of level sensors.
[0024] The respective passage holes of the bottom and nose of the rear and front chambers are preferably without seal.
[0025] Advantageously, the stem is hollow and ensures the safety function of overflow.
[0026] The filling / emptying mechanism preferably includes a filling deflector integral with the rod outside and above the mechanism body.
[0027] According to another embodiment, the flushing device can define the corresponding quantity of water at each level using a timing system.
[0028] The present invention also relates to a so-called "intelligent" management method, that is to say that it conditions each of its functions and each of its operating states, said management method implementing the flushing device according to the invention, remarkable in that it comprises the following steps: si) the flushing device comes out of a standby mode, following a predetermined period of non-use, s2) the flushing device, via its control-command module, checks the initial full level state by one of its level sensors and possibly ensures the pre-filling of the tank by activating the double solenoid valve and the filling / emptying mechanism via the activation of the second outlet and the associated conduit, s3) the control-command module signals, if necessary, a leak detection on its user interface, s4) the flushing device, via its control-command module,triggers the flush opening by activating the double solenoid valve and the filling / emptying mechanism via the activation of the first outlet and the associated conduit, s5) the control-command module detects and controls, via its level sensors, that the required quantity of flush water released has been reached, or that an interruption is requested by a user via the user interface, and stops emptying to refill the cistern by deactivating the first outlet and activating the second double solenoid valve outlet, s6) the flushing device, via its control-command module, detects the return to the full state of the cistern by its sensors, or the possible leakage of the flushing mechanism, and stops filling by deactivating the second double solenoid valve outlet, and s7) the flushing device, via its control-command module, triggers a cycle again at step s4) if a user so requests,or returns to standby mode while waiting for a new user request according to step si).,
[0029] Brief description of the figures
[0030] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the attached schematic figures in which:
[0031] [Fig 1] is a perspective view of a flushing device according to a particular embodiment of the invention integrated into a toilet cistern shown in transparency,
[0032] [Fig 2] is a side view of the flushing device of Figure 1,
[0033] [Fig 3] is an exploded perspective view of a filling / emptying mechanism of the flushing device of Figure 1,
[0034] [Fig 4] is a front view and a vertical sectional view of the filling / emptying mechanism of Figure 3 along axis IV - IV, in the filling position,
[0035] [Fig 5] is a front view and a vertical sectional view of the filling / emptying mechanism of Figure 3 along the V - V axis, in the emptying position, and
[0036] [Fig 6] is a front view of the flushing device of Figure 1.
[0037] Description of the embodiments
[0038] With reference to figures 1, 2 and 6, there is shown, in accordance with the invention, a flushing device (dce) arranged to be installed in a tank (e) conventionally arranged above a toilet bowl (not shown), said tank (e) being provided with an inlet from the water network (not shown).
[0039] The flushing device (dce) according to the invention makes it possible to ensure the filling of the tank (e) to its maximum capacity, for the benefit of a maximum water column height and optimum thrust efficiency when it is triggered. For this, said flushing device (dce) comprises at least one hydraulic generator (a), a double solenoid valve (b), a control module (c) provided with an internal battery, not shown, recharged by said mini hydraulic generator (a) and ensuring the control of said double solenoid valve (b), and a filling / emptying mechanism (d).
[0040] It is understood that the hydraulic generator (a) is of reduced dimensions so that it can be placed with the other elements constituting said flushing device (dce) inside the tank (e). Thus, the hydraulic generator (a), subsequently called mini-hydraulic generator (a), is contained in a cube whose side does not exceed ten centimeters.
[0041] Furthermore, herein referred to as "double solenoid valve (b)" comprising a single inlet (be.l) and two outlets (bs.l, bs.2), hereinafter referred to as the first outlet (bs.l) and the second outlet (bs.2), which can be activated independently.
[0042] Furthermore, "activated output" means that the water entering the double solenoid valve (b) through the inlet (be.l) comes out through the said outlet.
[0043] The mini-hydraulic generator (a) is arranged to be connected to the water supply network, and ensures the recharging of the internal battery of the control-command module (c) when one of the first or second outputs (bs.l, bs.2) of the double solenoid valve (b) is activated. Thus, during all phases of water consumption, this mini-hydraulic generator (a) ensures the recharging of the internal battery of the control-command module (c) of the toilet flushing device (dce) according to the invention, ensuring the latter its own energy independence. Furthermore, the mini-hydraulic generator (a) is arranged upstream of all the other elements of the toilet flushing device (dce) so as to allow the internal battery of the control-command module (c) to be recharged as soon as there is a flow of water at the water supply, regardless of the state of said other elements.
[0044] As previously stated, the control module (c) operates on an internal battery. In addition, it advantageously has a user interface (cl), and is connected to a plurality of level sensors (c.2). It controls the double solenoid valve (b), and generally manages the flushing device (dce).
[0045] The double solenoid valve (b) is supplied with water from the network via the mini-hydraulic generator (a) connected to its inlet (be.l). Furthermore, the double solenoid valve (b) is controlled by the control module (c), and is connected by two conduits (bl, b.2) to the filling / emptying mechanism (d), said conduits (bl, b.2) being connected respectively to the first and second outlets (bs.l, bs.2) of said double solenoid valve (b).
[0046] With reference to figures 3 to 5, the filling / emptying mechanism (d) is a hydraulically controlled mechanism whose operation is similar to a double-rod, double-acting cylinder. Thus, the filling / emptying mechanism (d) is connected by two conduits (bl, b.2) to the double solenoid valve (b), itself connected to the hydraulic mini-generator (a) connected to the inlet of the water network of the tank (e). The double solenoid valve (b) is controlled by the management method of the device according to the invention described later. As detailed later, one of the first and second outputs (bs.l, bs.2) of said double solenoid valve (b) ensures the function of opening the flush and emptying the tank (e), the other of the first and second outputs (bs.l, bs.2) ensures the function of closing the flush and filling the tank (e).
[0047] Thus, said filling / emptying mechanism (d) comprises at least one support base (dl), a valve (d.2), a mechanism body (d.3), a piston (d.4), a rod (d.6) extending substantially vertically on either side of said piston (d.4), and advantageously a filling deflector (d.5).
[0048] Said support base (dl) allows said filling / emptying mechanism (d) to be integrated into the bottom of the tank (e) and ensures the lower seal of said tank (e) and directs the water towards the bowl during a flush.
[0049] The valve (d.2) constitutes the lower end of the rod (d.6) and whose positioning obstructs or allows the passage of water through the support base (dl)
[0050] The mechanism body (d.3), which is advantageously made in two parts for assembly purposes, makes up the fixed part of the filling / emptying mechanism (d) and is similar to a body of a double-acting cylinder. Said mechanism body (d.3) comprises at the top a base (d.31) terminating a rear chamber (car) provided with a passage orifice (do.31) for the rod (d.6), and at the bottom a nose (d.32) terminating a front chamber (cav) provided with a passage orifice (do.32) for the rod (d.6). The conduits (b 1, b2) are connected respectively to the front (cav) and rear (car) chambers of the mechanism body (d.3) of the filling / emptying mechanism (d).
[0051] The respective passage holes (do.31, do.32) of the bottom (d.31) and nose (d.32) do not have a seal so as to allow water to leak from the rear (car) and front (cav) chambers between said passage holes (do.31, do.32) and the rod (d.6), this being essential for the operation of the flushing device (dce), as explained in more detail below.
[0052] Thus, during an emptying action, the double solenoid valve (b) subjects, via its first outlet (bs.l) and the conduit (b.1), the front chamber (cav) to a hydraulic pressure with the consequence of a thrust of the piston (d.4) upwards, that is to say towards the bottom (d.31). The passage orifice (do.31) of the bottom (d.31) thus allows the evacuation of the water contained in the rear chamber (car), and authorizes the movement of the piston (d.4) upwards (Cf. figures 2 and 5).
[0053] Conversely, during a filling action, the double solenoid valve (b) subjects, via its second outlet (bs.2) and the conduit (b.2), the rear chamber (car) to a hydraulic pressure with the consequence of a downward thrust of the piston (d.4), that is to say towards the nose (d.32). The passage orifice (do.32) of the nose (d.32), lets the pressure escape from the rear chamber (car), authorizes the movement of the piston (d.4) downwards, and makes it possible to carry out the function of filling the tank (e), in conjunction with the closing action of the valve (d.2) (Cf. figures 2 and 4).
[0054] As in the operation of a double-acting cylinder, the piston (d.4) is arranged in the mechanism body (d.3) between the front (cav) and rear (car) chambers, and is movable inside said mechanism body (d.3) along the longitudinal axis of the latter between the bottom (d.31) and nose (d.32), being subjected either to the action of water pressure exerted in the rear chamber (car) via the conduit (b.2), or to that exerted in the front chamber (cav) via the conduit (bl), the piston (d.4). Being integral with the rod (d.6), the movement of the piston (d.4) therefore causes the movement of the rod (d.6) and, in fact, that of the valve (d.2).
[0055] Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment, said filling / emptying mechanism (d) comprises a filling deflector (d.5) secured to the rod (d.6) outside and above (i.e. on the side of the bottom (d.31)) of the mechanism body (d.3), it is positioned vertically to the passage orifice (do.31) of the bottom (d.31) of said mechanism body (d.3), and has the role of stopping and redirecting downwards the projections coming from the evacuation of the rear chamber (car) and exiting through said passage orifice (do.31). Furthermore, since the flow is maintained in the submerged part of the tank, the noise inherent in filling the tank is less than that of filling it above water. Finally, the filling / emptying mechanism (d) comprises the rod (d.6) secured to the piston (d.4) and the valve (d.2), it forms with these latter elements the mobile part of the flushing mechanism. According to a complementary embodiment, the rod (d.6), of a suitable length, is hollow and also ensures the safety function of overflow.
[0056] As previously written, the control-command module (c) is connected to a plurality of level sensors (c.2).
[0057] According to a first embodiment, the level sensors (c.2) are at least two in number and consist of:
[0058] - a "full level" sensor which allows the tank (e) to be filled to its maximum functional capacity, and
[0059] - an “overflow” sensor allowing the detection of a possible leak from the double solenoid valve (b).
[0060] Thus configured, the flushing device (dce) according to the invention ensures the filling of the tank (e) only in the two cases described below.
[0061] Case 1: Following the triggering of a flush, in order to restore the optimum filling level of the tank (e):
[0062] During this filling, if the "full level" is not reached after a predefined period, the control-command module (c) of the flushing device (dce) detects an error and stops the filling of the tank (e). This functionality makes it possible to remedy excess water consumption due to a failure of the filling / emptying mechanism (d).
[0063] Case 2: Following a user request and / or exit from standby mode of the flushing device (dce): From then on, the control-command module (c) of the flushing device (dce) ensures control over the "full level" and "overflow" sensors. A detection of "overflow" level will result in the detection of a failure of the filling / emptying mechanism (d) and / or a probable leak at the double solenoid valve (b), and no filling action will be carried out. A detection of "full level" will be interpreted as a normal standby state. A non-detection of "full level" will result in the detection of a leak or a previous malfunction of the filling / emptying mechanism (d) with the consequences of signaling the fault, and a resumption of the filling action as described in the previous case 1.
[0064] Apart from the two previous cases, the control-command module (c) of the flushing device (dce) according to the invention inhibits any filling action. Thus, the flushing device (dce) according to the invention eliminates the risk of excess water consumption in the event of a previous malfunction of the filling / emptying mechanism (d) and prevents the risk of leakage from the double solenoid valve (b).
[0065] According to a second embodiment, in addition to the two level sensors (c.2) "full level" and "overflow" described previously, the control-command module (c) is also connected to several other level sensors (c.2) allowing the flushing device (dce) and its control-command module (c) to trigger several flushing levels, each being characterized by a predefined quantity of water.
[0066] Thus, the flushing device (FED) according to the invention makes it possible to define four levels corresponding, for example, to the following four quantities of flushing water:
[0067] - a quantity of flushing water,
[0068] - a quantity of flushing water for a "man's need",
[0069] - a quantity of flush water for a "female need", and
[0070] - a quantity of flush water for a “complete need”.
[0071] Thus, whatever the level of flushing required, the flushing device (dce) according to the invention will only trigger a flush when the tank is completely full beforehand in order to always benefit from the maximum water column height offered by the tank (e), ensuring constant efficiency of the flushing device (dce).
[0072] Furthermore, at any time, the flushing device (FED) according to the invention makes it possible to cancel or interrupt the execution of a flush, and thus to choose the quantity of water finally used.
[0073] Finally, the flushing device (dce) according to the invention defines the quantity of water corresponding to each level thanks to a plurality of level sensors (c.2), as described previously, but the flushing device (dce) can also define the quantity of water corresponding to each level thanks to a timing system. The present invention also relates to a so-called "intelligent" management method, that is to say that it conditions each of its functions and each of its operating states, said management method implementing the flushing device (dce) according to the invention.
[0074] Thus, when a user requests the control-command module (c), advantageously via its user interface (cl), the flushing device (dce) then operates according to the following steps: si) the flushing device (dce) comes out of a standby mode, following a predetermined period of inactivity, s2) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), checks the initial full level state by one of its level sensors (c.2) and possibly ensures the pre-filling of the tank (e) by activating the double solenoid valve (b) and the filling / emptying mechanism (d) via the activation of the second output (bs.2) and the associated conduit (b.2), s3) the control-command module (c) signals, if applicable, a leak detection on its user interface (c.l), s4) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), triggers the flush opening by activating the double solenoid valve (b) and the filling / emptying mechanism (d) via the activation of the first output (bs.1) and the associated conduit (b.1), s5) the control-command module (c) detects and controls, via its level sensors (c.2), that the required quantity of flush water released is reached, or that an interruption is requested by a user via the user interface (cl), and stops emptying to refill the cistern (e) by deactivating the first output (bs.1) and activating the second output (bs.2) of the double solenoid valve (b), s6) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), detects the return to the full state of the cistern by its sensors (c.2), or a possible leak of the filling / emptying mechanism (d), and stops filling by deactivating the second output (bs.2) of the double solenoid valve (b) s7) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), triggers a cycle again at step s4) if a user requests it, or returns to standby mode while waiting for a new user request according to step si). The flushing device (dce) according to the invention finds a particular application in the filling / emptying of tanks, and more particularly in toilet flushing tanks, but can however be adapted for a smaller tank. Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of flushing devices (dce) according to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Toilet flushing device (dce) arranged to be installed in a tank (e) conventionally arranged above a toilet bowl and provided with a water network inlet, characterized in that it comprises a mini-hydraulic generator (a) installed on said water inlet upstream of all the other elements of the toilet flushing device (dce), a double solenoid valve (b) supplied with water via the mini-hydraulic generator (a) and connected to two conduits (b.1) and (b.2), a control module (c) provided with a battery recharged by said mini-hydraulic generator (a) and ensuring the control of said double solenoid valve (b), and a hydraulically controlled filling / emptying mechanism (d) similar to a double-rod, double-acting cylinder and comprising: - a mechanism body (d.3) with at the top a base (d.31) terminating a rear chamber (car) and at the bottom a nose (d.32) terminating a front chamber (cav), said base (d.31) and nose (d.32) of the rear (car) and front (cav) chambers being provided respectively with a passage orifice (do.31, do.32), - a piston (d.4) moving in the body (d.3) and being subjected either to the pressure action exerted in the rear chamber (car) via the conduit (b2), or to that exerted in the front chamber (cav) via the conduit (b 1), - a movable valve (d.2) whose positioning obstructs or allows the passage of water through a support base (dl) ensuring the lower seal of the tank (e) and directing the water towards the bowl during a flush, and a rod (d.6) secured to the piston (d.4) and the valve (d.2) and passing through the respective passage orifices (do.31, do.32) of the bottom (d.31) and nose (d.32) of the rear (car) and front (cav) chambers.
2. Toilet flushing device (dce) according to claim 1 characterized in that the control-command module (c) has a user interface (cl), and is connected to a plurality of level sensors (c.2).
3. Flushing device (dce) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the respective passage orifices (do.31, do.32) of the bottom (d.31) and nose (d.32) of the rear (car) and front (cav) chambers are without seal.
4. Flushing device (dce) according to claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the rod (d.6) is hollow and ensures the safety function of overflow.
5. Toilet flushing device (dce) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the filling / emptying mechanism (d) comprises a filling deflector (d.5) integral with the rod (d.6) outside and above the mechanism body (d.3).
6. Toilet flushing device (dce) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it can define the quantity of water corresponding to each level using a timing system.
7. Management method implementing the flushing device (dce) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: si) the flushing device (dce) comes out of a standby mode, following a predetermined period of inactivity, s2) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), checks the initial full level state by one of its level sensors (c.2) and possibly ensures the pre-filling of the tank (e) by activating the double solenoid valve (b) and the filling / emptying mechanism (d) via the activation of the second output (bs.2) and the associated conduit (b.2), s3) the control-command module (c) signals, if applicable, a leak detection on its user interface (c.l), s4) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), triggers the flush opening by activating the double solenoid valve (b) and the filling / emptying mechanism (d) via the activation of the first output (bs.l) and the associated conduit (b.1), s5) the control-command module (c) detects and controls, via its level sensors (c.2), that the required quantity of flush water released is reached, or that an interruption is requested by a user via the user interface (cl), and stops emptying to refill the cistern (e) by deactivating the first output (bs.l) and activating the second output (bs.2) of the double solenoid valve (b), s6) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module. control (c), detects the return to the full state of the tank by its sensors (c.2), or a possible leak from the filling / emptying mechanism (d), and stops the filling by deactivating the second output (bs.2) of the double solenoid valve (b) s7) the flushing device (dce), via its control-command module (c), triggers a cycle again at step s4) if a user requests it, or returns to standby mode while waiting for a new user request according to step si).