Electronically controlled filling system for an exposed or concealed toilet cistern.
The electronic management system for toilet tanks addresses inefficiencies in current filling systems by allowing users to select filling levels, ensuring precise and punctual filling, and reducing water consumption and mechanical stress.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021005928
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-04
AI Technical Summary
Current toilet tank filling systems are inefficient, leading to high water consumption due to leaks and improper filling levels, often caused by limestone buildup and mechanical failures.
A filling system with electronic management that allows for punctual filling triggered by user selection via half-load or full-load buttons, using a solenoid valve, calibrated orifice, and electronic probes to ensure precise filling and minimize leaks.
The system achieves significant water savings, reduces leaks, and extends the longevity of materials by ensuring the tank is mostly empty, allowing for precise filling and reducing mechanical stress.
Smart Images
Figure 00000006_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: System for filling an electronically managed exposed or recessed toilet cistern.
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for filling the tank of an electronically controlled exposed or built-in toilet.
[0002] The filling is punctual, it is therefore no longer permanent, the filling is done when a person enters the toilet and chooses the filling level (full load / half load) according to their needs.
[0003] Currently, tanks fill up as their level drops, either when the toilet is flushed or because of a leak in the float or the flush seal. This leak is often due to a blockage by limescale which jams the mechanisms, which will generate high water consumption.
[0004] With the present invention, filling is triggered by pressing a half-load or full-load button (3 or 6 liters for example, adjustable). The advantage of the system is then economical. Filling is done by pressing one of the two buttons which are marked green for the half-load selection (example 3 liters) and blue for the full-load selection (example 6 liters), this choice is made at the time of filling.
[0005] A provided operating mode notice can be affixed to the toilet because the present invention requires a change of habit when using this type of system.
[0006] Thanks to this process, leaks and seizures of the drain mechanism are non-existent. Currently, dual selection systems are complex for emptying, and the filling floats tend to seize or block because 99% of the time the tank is full of water and causes scaling with limestone, which results, among other things, in the deterioration of the various plastics into microparticles which are then found in the water.
[0007] In the present invention, 99% of the time the tank is empty, which considerably limits leaks, in addition, the levels are managed electronically by adjustable half-load or full-load probes which gives filling precision to the millimeter.
[0008] The present invention is self-sufficient in energy requirements for its operation during regular use. The energy requirements are supplied by a micro-generator and a rechargeable battery coupled to a supercapacitor (which makes it possible to reduce the capacity requirements of the battery), all managed electronically, including battery charge control, and half and full control. charging by a solenoid valve. In addition, a USB port is present for recharging the battery, in the event of a prolonged shutdown of the system which has approximately 6 months of autonomy.
[0009] The water flow is regulated by a connection with a calibrated orifice which limits the filling flow so that it is lower than the overflow flow of the flush, which has the effect of preventing overflows. In addition, this part helps to reduce the noise of the tank filling and prevents water hammer.
[0010] This calibrated orifice allows for a half-load (20 to 40 seconds) and full-load (approximately 40 to 80 seconds) filling time depending on the water network pressure. After choosing a half-load, the user always has the option of switching to a full-load by pressing the dedicated button, once the half-load cycle is complete.
[0011] The operating principle is as follows: open stop valve (2) the tank (16) is empty. A person enters the toilet and acts on one of the half / full load buttons (13 or 14) of the control box (12). The action causes the opening of the solenoid valve (4) in filling mode, the control of the water flow (calibrated orifice (3) and electronic box (5)), the production of electricity (generator (6)), the control of the charge of the accumulators (battery and supercapacitor + USB port on the electronic box (5)), and the control of the half and full load water level (electronic box (5), level electrodes (8), (9) and (10) and solenoid valve (4)).
[0012] The tank reaches the level following the prior selection on the buttons of the control box (12).
[0013] The closing electrode (10) is used to close the solenoid valve (4).
[0014] The use of the generator (6) for the production of electricity allows the system to be autonomous.
[0015] The solenoid valve (4) switches to closing, the toilet remains to be flushed, the tank (16) empties and remains empty until the next action on one of the filling buttons (13 and 14) of the control box (12).
[0016] The safety electrode (7) is used to send a pulse to the closing electrode (10) in order to close the solenoid valve (4) following a problem either with the water supply or with the level electrodes (8 and / or 9).
[0017] The stop valve (2) and the filling solenoid valve (4) are connected to the calibrated orifice (3) for the injection of water with flow limitation, which allows for a filling time ranging from 20 to 80 seconds depending on the network pressure so that the flow rate is lower than the overflow from the flush.
[0018] The filling solenoid valve (4) is bistable because it is energy-saving.
[0019] The use of a battery coupled with a supercapacitor makes it possible to optimize the size and longevity of the system.
[0020] The use of a flexible filling pipe (11) made of flexible material makes it possible to reduce noise.
[0021] The control button (13) for half-load filling is green and the control button (14) for full-load filling is blue.
[0022] The water level is regulated by the electronic probes (7, 8, 9 and 10) which are adjustable to adjust the half-load (9) and full-load (8) water quantities, the filling being thus adjustable.
[0023] A safety electrode (7) is used to send a pulse to the closing electrode (10) in order to close the solenoid valve (4) following a water supply problem or a problem with the level electrodes (8 and / or 9).
[0024] The half-load (13) and full-load (14) buttons or any other process / equipment, automatic or manual, which is used to start the filling of a visible or built-in WC cistern with punctual filling triggered by the action or not of a person.
[0025] An operating information label is affixed due to the change in user habits.
[0026] The advantages of this invention are as follows: no more tank kept permanently charged, the charge is punctual; water saving; filling precision; longevity of the equipment; no more degraded plastic (micro particles) and less plastic required for the flushing mechanism; fewer moving parts; quieter; flushing is mechanically simplified thanks to the preselection of half-load or full load by a single action on a button. In addition, this system has the advantage of being able to equip most toilets currently in service. Old toilets are therefore not necessarily obsolete.
[0027] The parts used in the system are as follows: (see [Fig.l])
[0028] - Filling device (entire system), - Water supply shut-off valve (2), - Calibrated orifice (3) (between shut-off valve (2) and solenoid valve (4)), - Bistable solenoid valve (4), opening / closing device, - Electronic box (5), including the USB port and the energy reserve, - Electricity generator (6), - Safety electrodes (7), full load (8), half load (9) and closing (10), - Flexible hose (11), - Control box (12) with half load (13) and full load (14) buttons, - Connection cable (15) between the electronic box (5) and the box of command (12).
Claims
Claims
1. System for filling a toilet tank comprising a half-load button (13) and a full-load button (14), a solenoid valve (4) controlled to open to let the water pass and fill the tank and to close to stop the water, level electrodes (8, 9) of the water in the tank, an electronic box (5) which controls the opening of the solenoid valve (4) when a button (13, 14) is activated and which controls the closing of the solenoid valve (4) when the water level detected by the level electrodes (8, 9) corresponds to the activated button (13, 14).
2. Filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electricity generator (6) for the production of electricity.
3. Filling system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the solenoid valve (4) is bistable.
4. Filling system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a safety electrode (7) provided to send a pulse to the closing electrode (10) in order to close the solenoid valve (4).
5. Filling system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the level electrodes (8, 9) are adjustable to adjust the half-load (9) and full-load (8) water quantities.