Toilet flushing system

Abstract

A flushing system (50) mounted in a tank (2) comprises: a movable shut-off device (100) between a lower position where a flapper (102) closes the tank's discharge opening (4) and a raised position; a user-controllable lifting system (150) for the shut-off device, comprising: a drive device (250) that, under the pressure of water entering through an inlet (203), is movable from an inactive position to an active position, causing the shut-off device to move to its raised position; a circuit (301) for conveying water from a water supply network (56) to said inlet (203); a valve (310) mounted in the circuit that can be in a blocked or open state; and an actuation device (400) that is user-controllable and configured to move the valve (310) from its blocking state to its conducting state. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Toilet flushing system

[0001] The invention relates to a toilet flushing system, as well as a toilet flushing assembly comprising a tank having an outlet, such a flushing system housed in the tank, and a control device activable by a user.

[0002] Typically, a toilet flushing system includes a shut-off device with a flapper to close the tank's discharge opening. When a user activates a control device, such as a push button or a pull chain, a system lifts the shut-off device to open the discharge opening.

[0003] The systems for lifting the shutter device are most often based on the movement of mechanically linked parts, this movement being caused by the movement of the control device activated by the user.

[0004] With such an operation, it is necessary that the initial displacement of the control device be sufficient to cause the lifting system components to move and overcome the force of the water tending to press the flapper against the tank's discharge opening. However, some people cannot exert the force required to operate such a toilet flushing system.

[0005] The invention aims to remedy this problem.

[0006] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a toilet flushing system, intended to be installed in a tank having a drain opening, the flushing system comprising, in the operating position: - a sealing device comprising a valve holder extending substantially vertically and a valve mounted at the lower end of the valve holder, said sealing device being movable in translation between a lower position, in which the valve is able to seal the drain opening of the tank, and a higher position, in which the drain opening is open; and - at least one lifting system for the shutter device, controllable by a user;

[0007] According to a general definition of the invention, the lifting system comprises: - a drive system which includes an inlet orifice and a drive device which, under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet orifice, moves from an inactive position in which it does not act on the sealing device to an active position, causing the sealing device to move from its lower position to its upper position; - a water supply system to the inlet of the drive system, comprising:

[0008] — a circuit for conveying water, said circuit having an upstream opening intended to be connected to a water supply network, and a downstream opening connected to the inlet port of the drive system;

[0009] — a valve mounted in the circuit, capable of occupying a blocking state, in which it prevents the circulation of water in the circuit, or a passing state, allowing the circulation of water in the circuit, an upstream conduit of the circuit being defined between the upstream opening of the circuit and the valve, and a downstream conduit of the circuit being defined between the valve and the downstream opening of the circuit;

[0010] — a user-controllable actuation device configured for to switch the valve from its blocked state to its open state.

[0011] Thus, the invention provides hydraulic assistance for actuation of the toilet flushing system. Specifically, the flushing system uses the pressure of the water supply network to complete the action initiated by the user on the control device. It is therefore possible, thanks to the invention, to place the closing device in the raised position even with minimal force exerted by the user, since the user's force is not used directly to lift the closing device, but only to move the valve to the open position. The force required for the actual lifting of the closing device is provided by the water pressure of the network, and not by the user.

[0012] Another advantage of the invention is that it does not require the use of an external power source, for example, an electrical supply. It only takes advantage of the existing installation, namely the water supply network, which is already used for filling the tank.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the actuation device is induced by a return means to a closed position, the actuation device being mobile against the force of the return means, following the user's command, from its closed position to an open position, which causes the valve to pass from its blocking state to its operating state.

[0014] For example, the return means has a stiffness of less than 5 N / mm, or even 1 N / mm, for example on the order of 0.6 N / mm. By choosing a very low stiffness, activation of the control device is made easy, even for a user with little strength.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the valve comprises a body including a first chamber having a hole open to the outside of the valve and a second chamber in communication with the circuit, an opening being provided between said chambers. The valve further comprises a shutter disposed in the opening, said obturator can move from a state of obturating, corresponding to the blocking state of the valve, to a state of release, corresponding to the passing state of the valve, under the effect of the variation of the pressure inside the first chamber which is caused by the passage of the actuating device from its closed position, in which the actuating device obturates the hole, to its open position, in which the actuating device does not obturate the hole.

[0016] The actuation device may include a plug suitable for sealing the hole.

[0017] The second chamber can be provided to have an upstream zone with an orifice for communication with the upstream conduit of the circuit and a downstream zone with an orifice for communication with the downstream conduit of the circuit, the body having a passage between the upstream and downstream zones. Thus, depending on the pressure difference between the first and second chambers, the obturator can be in a state of blocking the passage or in a state of unblocking the passage.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the actuation device comprises a first element configured to cooperate with a user-activated control device and a second element that is movable relative to the valve and that includes: - an actuator sector configured to cooperate with the valve to change it from its blocked state to its open state; and - an actuated sector configured to cooperate with the first element.

[0019] The first element can act on the actuated sector, for example by means of a support.

[0020] The second element may comprise a movable arm pivoting relative to the valve. The pivoting may take place around an axis orthogonal to the arm (i.e., orthogonal to the general direction of the arm), for example, located in the central zone of the arm. The term "central zone" does not refer solely to the center of the arm, and should be understood as meaning "at a distance from the ends of the arm." The actuating sector may be located on one side of the axis and include a plug suitable for sealing the hole in the closed position of the actuating device. The actuated sector may be located on the other side of the axis and include a support zone for the first element. The plug and / or the support zone are, for example, located near an end of the arm.

[0021] The first component may include a lever that can be moved from an inactive position, in which the lever does not act on the second component, to an active position, in which the lever cooperates with the second component, so as to move the valve from its blocked state to its open state. Thus, by activating the control device (for example, specifically, by pressing a control button), the user moves the lever to its active position. The movement of the lever is therefore indirectly controlled by the user.

[0022] The lever can be provided to be movable by pivoting relative to the valve. The pivoting can occur about an axis orthogonal to the lever. The lever may include a support member configured to cooperate with the bearing area of ​​the arm of the actuating device when said lever is in the active position. The pivot axis of the lever may be parallel to the pivot axis of the arm.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the drive device comprises a rigid part having a side wall and a top wall and open at its lower end. The drive system further comprises a housing in which the inlet orifice is provided, said rigid part being mounted in the housing in a vertical sliding manner and being movable from a lower position to an upper position under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet orifice.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the drive device further comprises a bellows arranged in and coaxially with the rigid part. The bellows has a side wall with folds, a closed upper wall, and a lower opening communicating with the inlet orifice, such that water entering through the inlet orifice enters the bellows and causes the bellows to move from a retracted state to an extended state. The bellows is thus configured to cause the rigid part to move from its lower position to its upper position. Alternatively, other sealing means could be considered.

[0025] The housing may include a chimney arranged coaxially with the rigid part and the bellows, between the rigid part and the bellows. The chimney guides the bellows' movements between its retracted and extended states.

[0026] The housing may include a core engaged in the bellows by the lower end of the bellows, said core having a closed side wall and a closed upper wall. The core reduces the usable volume inside the bellows, so that a reduced volume of water is sufficient to expand the bellows.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the lifting system of the shutter device further or at least includes a wing coupled to the flap holder. Said wing extends laterally from the flap holder and is located at least partially above the drive device, such that the drive device, when it moves vertically upwards from its inactive position to its active position, moves said wing upwards. This consequently causes the shutter device to move from its lower position to its upper position.

[0028] The flushing system may be provided that it comprises a first lifting system for the sealing device configured to allow the evacuation of a first volume of water through the evacuation orifice, and a second lifting system for the sealing device which is separate from the first lifting system for the sealing device and which is configured to allow the evacuation a second volume of water, different from the first volume, is drawn through the drain opening. This results in a system capable of flushing a large volume or a small volume, depending on the user's command.

[0029] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a toilet flushing assembly comprising a tank having an outlet, a flushing system as previously described, housed in the tank, and a control device activable by a user, to control the actuation device.

[0030] A possible embodiment of the invention is now described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures:

[0031] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a toilet flushing assembly according to a mode of realization of the invention, comprising a reservoir, a flushing system and a control device;

[0032] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the flushing system of [Fig.1];

[0033] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view of the flushing system of [Fig.2], showing including two training systems;

[0034] [Fig.4] is a partial, cross-sectional view of the flushing system of [Fig.2], showing in particular a valve in the blocked state;

[0035] [Fig.5] is a detail view of [Fig.3];

[0036] [Fig.6] is a view analogous to [Fig.4], after a user command;

[0037] [Fig.7] is a view analogous to [Fig.6], the valve having been switched to its conducting state;

[0038] [Fig.8] shows the water circulation in a water supply system of the system of hunting ;

[0039] [Fig.9] shows the lifting of a closing device of the flushing system by the drive system;

[0040] [Fig. 10] is a view analogous to [Fig.3], a drive device of one of the drive systems being in the active position and a drive device of the other of the drive systems being in the inactive position.

[0041] Fig. 1 represents a toilet flush assembly 1.

[0042] The assembly 1 includes a reservoir 2 which can be formed of a lower part 3 (visible in [Fig.1]) and an upper part (not shown in [Fig.1]), assembled to the lower part 3. The reservoir 2 has a discharge orifice 4 which is preferably located in the lower wall 5 of the reservoir 2.

[0043] Assembly 1 also includes a flushing system 50 housed in tank 2.

[0044] Assembly 1 further includes a user-activated control device 10 to trigger the release of water from the reservoir 2 through the discharge port 4 into a toilet bowl (not shown).

[0045] For example, and as schematically represented in [Fig. 4], the control device 10 comprises a button 11 mounted in a plate 12 intended to be assembled to a frame 13, itself fixed in a hole made in a wall such as a wall 14 of the room containing the toilet. The button 11 may be push-in, that is to say, activated by pressing it by a user.

[0046] The description is given in the operating position, where the lower wall 5 of the tank 2 extends globally in a horizontal plane (X,Y) orthogonal to the vertical Z. The wall 14 extends in a vertical plane (Y,Z). The X direction is therefore defined as the direction orthogonal to the wall 14; the term "front" designates elements located further from the wall 14 along the X direction than elements designated by the term "rear".

[0047] The control device 10 also includes a rod 15 attached to or coupled with the button 11 so as to be moved when the button 11 is pressed. The rod 15 extends in the direction X, from the button 11 and forwards.

[0048] The flushing system 50 includes a sealing device 100 which has a flapper holder 101 extending substantially vertically and a flapper 102 mounted at the lower end of the flapper holder 101. The sealing device 100 is movable in translation, vertically, between a lower position, illustrated in particular in [Fig.3], in which the flapper 102 is able to seal the discharge orifice 4 of the tank 2, and a higher position, illustrated in particular in [Fig.10], in which the discharge orifice 4 is released, the water contained in the tank 2 thus being able to flow into the toilet bowl.

[0049] The valve holder 101 can form an overflow tube. It can be housed in a sleeve 51 with a vertical axis engaged with a seal in the discharge orifice 4, said sleeve 51 having an internal shoulder 52 on which the valve 102 makes a sealable contact in the lower position of the sealing device 100 (see [Fig.3]).

[0050] The flushing system 50 further includes a tank filling system 90. The filling system 90 includes a tube 91 having an upstream end connected to a pipe 55, itself connected to a water supply network 56, and an open downstream end inside the tank 2. Between the upstream end of the tube 91 and the pipe 55 is a valve 92 suitable for allowing or preventing the flow of water from the network 56 to the tube 91. The filling system 90 further includes a float 93 and a linkage system 94 between the float 93 and the valve 92. The linkage system 94 is suitable for triggering the opening or closing of the valve 92 depending on the position of the float 93, i.e., the water level in the tank 2.

[0051] The flushing system 50 further includes at least a lifting system 150 for the closure device 100, said lifting system 150 being controllable by a user by means of the control device 10.

[0052] The figures illustrate a toilet flushing assembly 1 providing a full flush and a half flush. In this embodiment, given by way of example, the flushing system 50 comprises: - a first lifting system 150a of the sealing device 100, configured to allow the evacuation of a first volume of water through the evacuation orifice 4; and - a second lifting system 150b of the sealing device 100 which is separate from the first lifting system 150 a and which is configured to allow the evacuation of a second volume of water through the evacuation orifice 4, different from the first volume of water.

[0053] In the example illustrated in [Fig.3], the first lifting system 150a (on the left) includes a first float 155 and provides a large volume of flushing, while the second lifting system 150b (on the right) includes a second float 156 located lower than the first float 155, and provides a small volume of flushing.

[0054] Advantageously, the first and second lifting systems 150, 150a, 150b are identical or similar, and therefore include substantially the same components. A single description will therefore be provided.

[0055] The lifting system 150 includes a drive system 200 capable of causing the movement of the sealing device 100 from its lower position to its upper position by means of a flow of water, and a water supply system 300 from the water supply network 56 to the drive system 200.

[0056] The drive system 200 includes a housing 201, which is a fixed part relative to the tank 2 and a drive device 250, which is a movable part relative to the housing 201.

[0057] The housing 201 includes a base 202 which is fixedly mounted on the sleeve 51, and which preferably extends globally horizontally, laterally, outside the sleeve 51. The base 202 includes an inlet port 203 for water from the water supply network 56.

[0058] The housing 201 also includes a cylinder 204 extending vertically upwards from the base 202, and which is open at its upper end. The cylinder 204 is offset laterally relative to the sleeve 51.

[0059] In addition, the housing 201 may include a chimney 205 extending vertically upwards from the base 202 and open at its upper end. The chimney 205 is shorter than the cylinder 204 and has a smaller diameter smaller than that of cylinder 204. At its lower part, chimney 205 has a radial collar 206 which extends generally parallel to the base 202.

[0060] The housing 201 may further include a core 207 which extends vertically upwards from the base 202, inside the chimney 205. The core may have substantially the same height as the chimney 205. The core 207 is preferably arranged not coaxially with the chimney 205 and the cylinder 204, but offset, the annular space formed between the core 207 and the chimney 205 thus having a wider portion 208 and a narrower portion 209 (see [Fig.5]).

[0061] The inlet orifice 203 provided in the base 202 is located between the core 207 and the chimney 205, and opens for example into the wider portion 208 of the annular space formed between the core 207 and the chimney 205.

[0062] The core 207 has a closed upper wall and a closed side wall except for a low-height light 210, located in the vicinity of the base 201, preferably opposite the inlet orifice 203.

[0063] The drive device 250 comprises a rigid part 251 having a side wall 252 and an upper wall 253, preferably substantially closed, and open at its lower end. The upper wall 254 may have a central well 255 in the side wall of which slots 256 may be provided. The slots 256 allow the water contained in the well 255 to drain during flushing.

[0064] The rigid part 251 is mounted in the housing 201, coaxially with it, for example between the cylinder 204 and the chimney 205. The rigid part 251 is mounted to slide vertically relative to the housing 201. This sliding can be guided by the cylinder 204 and / or by the chimney 205. A bead 257 can be provided on the outside of the lower part of the side wall 252 of the rigid part 251 to come into contact with the inner face of the cylinder 204.

[0065] Under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet orifice 203, the rigid part 251 is mobile from a low position, in which it can be substantially fully housed in the housing 201 (Figures 3 and 5), to a high position in which it protrudes beyond the upper edge of the housing 201 ([Fig. 10], left).

[0066] The drive device 250 further comprises a bellows 260 arranged in and coaxially with the rigid part 251. The bellows 250 has a side wall with folds and a closed upper wall which is preferably in the immediate vicinity of the upper wall 253 of the rigid part 251 (here with the bottom of the well 255) when the rigid part is in the lowered position. The bellows 260 also has a lower opening.

[0067] The bellows 260 is mounted in the housing 201, between the chimney 205 and the core 207, so that the lower opening of the bellows is in communication with the inlet orifice 203. The core 207 is therefore engaged in the bellows 260 by the lower end of the bellows 260.

[0068] At its lower part, the bellows 260 has a radial collar 261 which extends generally parallel to the base 202. According to one embodiment, the radial collar 206 of the chimney 205 and the radial collar 261 of the bellows 260 are sandwiched between the base 202 and the lower edge of the chimney 204, as seen in [Fig.5], so that the bellows 260 defines an inner space and an outer space which are hermetically sealed.

[0069] The lifting system 150 of the sealing device 100 may further include at least one wing 151 coupled to the valve holder 101, said wing extending laterally from the valve holder 101 and being located at least partially above the drive device 250. The wing 151 may have a horizontal wall 152 and, preferably, a downward-projecting protrusion 153. The protrusion 153 minimizes the gap between the upper wall 253 of the rigid part 251 and the wing 151, in order to limit the free travel of the rigid part 251 during operation. Preferably, the protrusion 153 is not intended to penetrate the well 255 and, for this reason, has at least one transverse dimension greater than the corresponding transverse dimension of the well 255.

[0070] The wing 151 can be fixed to the flap holder 101, as in the first lifting system 150a shown on the left in [Fig. 3]. Alternatively, the wing 151 can be fixed to an intermediate piece 103 that is separate from the flap holder 101, as in the second lifting system 150b shown on the right in [Fig. 3]. However, the intermediate piece 103 is coupled to the flap holder 101 via the interaction between an upper shoulder 104 of the piece 103 and a lower shoulder 105 of the flap holder 101, allowing the intermediate piece 103 to move the shutter device 100 to its upper position.

[0071] Thus, water entering through the inlet port 203 of the drive system 200 enters the bellows 260 and causes the bellows 260 to move from a retracted state ([Fig. 3], left bellows) to an extended state ([Fig. 10], left bellows). Furthermore, the bellows 260 is configured to cause the rigid part 251 to move from its lower position to its upper position, via the thrust exerted by the upper wall of the bellows 260 on the upper wall 253 (or the well 255) of the rigid part 251.

[0072] The drive device 250 therefore moves under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet orifice 203: - from an inactive position (where the rigid part 251 is in the lower position and the bellows 260 is in the retracted state) in which it does not act on the closing device 100; - to an active position (where the rigid part 251 is in the raised position and the bellows 260 is in the extended state).

[0073] This vertical upward movement causes the wing 151 to move upwards, that is to say, causes the closure device to move from its lower position to its upper position.

[0074] The drive system 200 is therefore couplingable to the valve carrier 101. More specifically, the drive system 200 can be decoupled from the valve carrier 101 in the inactive position, but, when moving from the inactive position to the active position, the drive system 200 is coupled to the valve 101 from an intermediate position to the active position.

[0075] The water supply system 300 to the inlet port 203 of the drive system 200 includes a circuit 301 for conveying the water. This circuit 301 has an upstream opening 302 connected to the pipe 55, and therefore to the water supply network 56, and a downstream opening 303 connected to the inlet port 203. The upstream opening 302 can be located between a shut-off valve 57 and the valve 92 that allows / prevents the filling of the tank 2.

[0076] The water supply system 300 also includes a valve 310 mounted in the circuit 301, that is, mounted between the upstream openings 302 and downstream openings 303 of the circuit 301. An upstream conduit 304 of the circuit 301 is defined between the upstream opening 302 of the circuit 301 and the valve 310, and a downstream conduit 305 of the circuit 301 is defined between the valve 310 and the downstream opening 303 of the circuit 301. The valve 310 is located above the maximum water level in the reservoir 2.

[0077] The valve 310 can occupy a blocking state, in which it prevents the circulation of water in the circuit 301, or a passing state, allowing the circulation of water in the circuit 301.

[0078] The valve 310 comprises a body 315 including a first chamber 311, or backpressure chamber, and a second chamber 312, or water circulation chamber, which is in communication with the circuit 301. An opening 313 is provided between the first and second chambers 311, 312, the valve 310 including a shutter 320 disposed in the opening 313.

[0079] The first chamber 311 has a hole 314 open to the outside of the valve 310, preferably located opposite the opening 313. The second chamber 312 may have an upstream zone 316 having a communication orifice with the upstream conduit 304 of the circuit 301 and a downstream zone 317 having a communication orifice with the downstream conduit 305 of the circuit 301. The body having a passage 318 provided between the upstream zones 316 and downstream zones 317.

[0080] The obturator 320 comprises a deformable diaphragm 321, the peripheral area of ​​which is fixed to the body 315 of the valve 310, and a rigid part 322 mounted on the part central part of the diaphragm 321 and no fixed to the body 315 of the valve 310. The rigid part 322 has a head 323 which can engage in the passage 318 provided between the upstream 316 and downstream 317 zones of the second chamber 312. When the diaphragm 321 is in a tight seal against the peripheral zone of the passage 318, as illustrated in figures 4 and 6, the obturator 320 is in a closed state, corresponding to the blocking state of the valve 310.

[0081] Depending on the pressures prevailing in the first and second chambers 311, 312, the obturator 320 can transition from its closed state to a released state, corresponding to the open state of the valve 310. In the released state, the diaphragm 321 has deformed and the rigid part 322 has moved rearward, i.e., towards the first chamber 311. As a result, the diaphragm 321 is no longer in a tight seal against the peripheral area of ​​the passage 318, as illustrated in [Fig. 7], and water can flow through the passage 318.

[0082] The lifting system 150 includes a user-operable actuation device 400 configured to move the valve 310 from its blocked state to its open state. In other words, the control device 10 is user-operable to control the actuation device 400.

[0083] The actuation device 400 includes a first component configured to cooperate with the control device 10. In one embodiment, the first component comprises a lever 401 that is pivotally movable relative to the valve 310 about an axis A401. The lever 401 is, for example, an elongated part extending globally in the Z direction in the inactive position, i.e., when the control device 10 is not activated. The axis A401 may be orthogonal to the lever 401 and extend in the Y direction. The axis 401 may be located at one end of the lever 401, here the upper end. As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the axis 401 can be provided on the frame 13. In addition, the rod 15 can be mounted in a bore 402 located, for example, in the central part of the lever 401. The lever 401 further includes a support member 403 which is located on the side of the bore 402 opposite the axis A401, for example, in the vicinity of the lower end of the lever 401.

[0084] The actuation device 400 also includes a second component which is movable relative to the valve 310 and which comprises: - an actuator sector configured to cooperate with valve 310 to switch it from its blocked state to its open state; and - an actuated sector configured to cooperate with the first organ, namely with the support organ 403 of the lever 401.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the second component comprises an arm 405 which is movable by pivoting relative to the valve 310 about an axis A405. The arm 405 is, for example, an elongated part extending globally in the Z direction when the Control device 10 is not activated. Axis A405 can be orthogonal to arm 405 and extend along the Y direction. Axis A405 can be located in the central area of ​​the arm. Axis A405 can be integral with the body 315 of valve 310.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the actuator sector is located on one side of the axis A405, preferably near the lower end of the arm 405. The actuator sector includes a plug 406 adapted to close the hole 314 provided in the first chamber 311 of the valve 310. The actuated sector is located on the other side of the axis A405, preferably near the upper end of the arm 405. The actuated sector includes a bearing area 407 for the control device 10, the bearing area 407 being configured to cooperate with the support member 403 of the lever 401.

[0087] The actuating device 400 is actuated by a return means 420 towards a closed position. Specifically, the return means 420 is arranged between the body 315 of the valve 310 and actuates the arm 405 towards a position where the plug 406 closes the hole 314. Furthermore, the actuating device 400 is movable against the force of the return means 420, following a command from the user, from its closed position to an open position, which causes the valve 310 to change from its blocked state to its open state.

[0088] The return means 420 preferably has a stiffness of less than 1 N / mm, for example of the order of 0.6 N / mm, which makes the flushing system 50 according to the invention easy to operate, even for a person with very little strength.

[0089] The operation of the toilet flushing system 50 is now described.

[0090] We start from an initial configuration illustrated in figures 1 to 5, where the reservoir 2 is filled with water and the discharge orifice 4 is closed by the valve 52. The control device 10 is not activated; the valve 310 is in the blocking state; the drive device 200 is in the inactive position.

[0091] To trigger the water evacuation, a user activates the control device 10, for example by pressing the pushable button 11, or the one of the pushable buttons 11 which corresponds to the first or second lifting system 150a, 150b depending on the desired flush volume.

[0092] Consequently, the rod 15 is moved forward in the X direction and rotates the lever 401 around the axis A401. The lever 401 thus moves from an inactive position, illustrated in [Fig. 4], in which the lever 401 does not act on the arm 405, to an active position, illustrated in [Fig. 6], in which the lever 401 cooperates with the arm 405. In the embodiment given by way of example, the support member 403 of the lever 401 cooperates with the support area 407 of the arm 405.

[0093] More specifically, during its movement from its inactive position, the lever 401 reaches an intermediate position in which it comes into contact with the arm 405 to move the actuation device 400 from its closed position to its open position, where the lever 401 is then in the active position.

[0094] The action of the lever 401 on the arm 405 causes the arm 405 to pivot around the axis A405, as seen in [Fig.6], the plug 406 then releasing the hole 314 of the valve 310, which will cause the valve 310 to pass from its blocked state to its open state.

[0095] Indeed, due to the release of the hole 314, some of the water contained in the first chamber 311 flows out through the hole 314, and the first chamber 311 is brought to atmospheric pressure, that is to say, to a pressure lower than that prevailing in the second chamber 312, which is the pressure of the water supply network 56. Consequently, the obturator 320 changes from its closed state to its released state ([Fig.7]), and connects the upstream 304 and downstream 305 conduits of the circuit 301. Water at the network pressure is thus brought to the inlet port 203 of the drive system 200, as indicated by the arrows on [Fig.8].

[0096] Water entering through the inlet orifice 203 causes the bellows 260 to move from its retracted state to its extended state and, consequently, the rigid part 251 from its lowered position to its upper position, as illustrated in [Fig. 10], on the left. The rigid part 251 thus pushes the wing 151 upwards, i.e., raises the valve carrier 101 and the valve 102, as indicated by the arrows in [Fig. 9]. The discharge orifice 4 of the reservoir 2 is thus opened, and the water can flow out of the reservoir 2.

[0097] The user's action, here pressing button 11, required very little effort, as the force needed to lift the sealing device 100 was provided by the mains water pressure, the user having merely initiated the process. Since the mains water pressure 56 tends to move the arm 405 in the direction the flush is activated, it is only a matter of overcoming the force of the return means 420. By way of example, the force required by a user to operate the flushing system 50 can be on the order of 5 newtons. Furthermore, the movement required to operate the actuation device 400 is a very small thrust, for example, on the order of 2 to 3 mm, instead of approximately 2 cm in known systems. This gesture is therefore much easier to perform, especially for a person with little strength, and is also more pleasant.

[0098] Generally, the user's command lasts a very short time, on the order of a second. When the user ceases their action on the control device 10, the actuation device 400 returns to its closed position due to the return means 420.

[0099] The hole 314 of the valve 310 is therefore closed again. Consequently, and since a communication hole (not visible in the figures) is provided in the obturator 320 to connect the first and second chambers 311, 312, these two chambers 311, 312 come to the same pressure, namely the pressure of the water supply network 56. The difference in surface area of ​​the obturator 320 on the side of the first chamber 311 and on the side of the second chamber 312, on the one hand, as well as the natural tendency of the deformable membrane 321 to return to its unconstrained position, on the other hand, cause the obturator 320 to return to its obturated state.

[0100] The passage of the actuation device 400 to its closed position thus results, with a certain time delay, in the passage of the valve 310 to the blocking state.

[0101] With the valve in the blocked position, no more water is supplied to the inlet 203 of the drive system 200. The bellows 260 remains in the extended position, and the water level in the bellows 260 drops along with the water level in the reservoir 2. The water contained in the bellows 260 flows out through the opening 210, causing the bellows 260 to return to its retracted position. This causes the rigid part 251 and the wing 151 to descend, the sealing device 100 returning to its lowered position, and the valve 102 closing the discharge port 4 of the reservoir 2.

[0102] In parallel, the filling system 90 ensures that the reservoir 2 is filled to the initial level. The cycle can then begin again.

[0103] Thus, the invention provides a decisive improvement over the prior art by considerably reducing the actuation effort required to flush a toilet, using the energy present in the water supply network. This actuation effort is independent of the button pressed (small flush or large flush).

[0104] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but includes all technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

1. Demands Toilet flushing system (50), intended to be installed in a tank (2) having a discharge orifice (4), the flushing system (50) comprising, in the position of use: - a sealing device (100) comprising a flapper holder (101) extending substantially vertically and a flapper (102) mounted at the lower end of the flapper holder (101), said sealing device (100) being movable in translation between a lower position, in which the flapper (102) is able to seal the discharge orifice (4) of the tank (2), and a high position, in which the discharge orifice (4) is free; - at least one lifting system (150) for the shuttering device (100), controllable by a user; the lifting system (150) comprising: - a drive system (200) which includes an inlet port (203) and a drive device (250) which can be moved, under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet port (203), from an inactive position in which it does not act on the sealing device (100) to an active position, causing the sealing device (100) to move from its lower position to its upper position; - a water supply system (300) to the inlet port (203) of the drive system (200), comprising: — a circuit (301) for conveying water, said circuit (301) having an upstream opening (302) intended to be connected to a water supply network (56), and a downstream opening (303) connected to the inlet port (203) of the drive system (200); — a valve (310) mounted in the circuit (301), which can occupy a blocking state, in which it prevents the circulation of water in the circuit (301), or a passing state, allowing the circulation of water in the circuit (301), an upstream conduit (304) of the circuit (301) being defined between the upstream opening (302) of the circuit (301) and the valve (310), and a downstream conduit (305) of the circuit (301) being defined between the valve (310) and the downstream opening (303) of the circuit (301); — a user-controllable actuation device (400) configured to switch the valve (310) from its blocked state to its open state, characterized in that the drive device (250) comprises a rigid part (215) which has a side wall (252) and a top wall (253) and which is open at its lower end, the drive system (200) further comprising a housing (201) in which the inlet orifice (203) is provided, said rigid part (251) being mounted in the housing (201) in a vertically sliding manner and being movable from a lower position to a high position under the effect of the pressure of the water entering through the inlet orifice (203), and in that the drive device (250) further comprises a bellows (260) which is arranged in and coaxially with the rigid part (251), the bellows (260) having a side wall having folds, a closed top wall, and a lower opening in communication with the inlet orifice (203),so that the water entering through the inlet orifice (203) enters the bellows (260) and causes the bellows (260) to move from a retracted state to an extended state, the bellows (260) being configured to thus cause the rigid part (251) to move from its lower position to its upper position.

2. A flushing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation device (400) is induced by a return means (420) to a closed position, the actuation device (400) being movable against the force of the return means (420), following the user's command, from its closed position to an open position, which causes the valve (310) to pass from its blocked state to its open state.

3. Toilet flushing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the return means (420) has a stiffness of less than 5 N / mm, for example of the order of 0.6 N / mm.

4. A toilet flushing system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the valve (310) comprises a body (315) including a first chamber (311) having a hole (314) open to the outside of the valve (310) and a second chamber (312) in communication with the circuit (301), an opening (313) being provided between said chambers (311, 312), the valve (310) further comprising a shutter (320) disposed in the opening (313), said shutter (320) being able to pass from a closed state, corresponding to the blocked state of the valve (310), to a released state, corresponding to the open state of the valve (310), under the effect of the pressure variation inside the first chamber (311) which is caused by the passage of the actuating device (400) from its closed position, in which the actuating device (400) closes the hole (314), to its open position, in which the actuating device (400) does not close the hole (314).

5. A toilet flushing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuation device (400) comprises a first member (401) configured to cooperate with a user-activated control device (10) and a second member (405) which is movable relative to the valve (310) and which includes: - an actuator sector (406) configured to cooperate with the valve (310) to move it from its blocked state to its open state; and - an actuated sector (407) configured to cooperate with the first member (401).

6. A toilet flushing system according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the second member comprises an arm (405) movable by pivoting relative to the valve (310) about an axis (A405) orthogonal to the arm (405) and located in the central area of ​​the arm (405), the actuating sector being located on one side of the axis (A405) and comprising a plug (406) suitable for closing the hole (314) in the closed position of the actuating device (400), the actuated sector being located on the other side of the axis (A405) and comprising a support area (407) for the first member (401).

7. A flushing system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first member comprises a lever (401) movable from an inactive position, in which the lever (401) does not act on the second member (405), to an active position, in which the lever (401) cooperates with the second member (405), so as to move the valve (310) from its blocked state to its open state.

8. A toilet flushing system according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the lever (401) is movable in pivoting relative to the valve (310) about an axis (A401) orthogonal to the lever (401) and includes a support member (403) configured to cooperate with the support area (407) of the arm (405) of the actuating device (400) when said lever (401) is in the active position.

9. A flushing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing (201) comprises a chimney (205) arranged coaxially to the rigid part (251) and the bellows (260), between the rigid part (251) and the bellows (260), and / or comprises a core (207) engaged in the bellows (260) by the lower end of the bellows (260), said core (207) having a closed side wall and a closed upper wall.

10. A flushing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lifting system (150) of the sealing device (100) further comprises at least one wing (151) coupled to the flapper holder (101), said wing (151) extending laterally from the flapper holder (101) and being located at least partly above the drive device (250), such that the drive device (250), when it moves vertically upwards from its inactive position to its active position, moves said wing (151) upwards.

11. A flushing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a first lifting system (150a) of the sealing device (100) configured to allow the evacuation of a first volume of water through the evacuation orifice (4), and a second lifting system (150b) of the sealing device (100) which is separate from the first lifting system (150a) of the sealing device (100) and which is configured to allow the evacuation of a second volume of water through the evacuation orifice (4), different from the first volume of water.

12. A toilet flushing assembly comprising a reservoir (2) having a discharge orifice (4), a water flushing system (50) according to any one of the preceding claims housed in the reservoir (2), and a user-activated control device (10) for controlling the actuation device (400).

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