Second generation toilet tank
A two-tank system with a float valve mechanism recycles washing machine water to autonomously supply the toilet cistern, effectively halving drinking water consumption for flushing.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024000275
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-01-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing toilet systems consume a significant amount of drinking water for flushing, and there is a need for a more efficient method to reduce this consumption.
A device comprising two stackable tanks, one for collecting and distributing water from a washing machine, and a lower tank with compartments and a float valve system, which autonomously supplies water to the toilet cistern, reducing the need for direct drinking water intake.
The device effectively halves the consumption of drinking water for toilet flushing by recycling washing machine water, ensuring a continuous water supply to the toilet cistern.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Toilet tank allowing the use of water from a washing machine
[0001] Device for recycling at home the water used by a washing machine for toilet use. The device is connected to the washing machine by its drain pipe, if it is sufficiently close, or by a 32 or 40 mm PVC water evacuation tube, if it is located in another room ([Fig.3]). Adaptable to toilet bowls with a fitted cistern, the center distance and installation diameter meet current standards. The device is made up of two stackable tanks ([Fig.l]).
[0002] The upper tank A is provided with an orifice on the side (1), near the upper edge to accommodate the washing machine drain pipe or the PVC tube, depending on the connection method chosen.
[0003] On the bottom of the tank A, in the center, a 40 mm orifice (2) on which a PVC drain tube (3) of a height slightly lower than that of the tank A, is fixed, to allow the flow of water from the washing machine in the event of overflow, from the tank A, to the lower tank B. The water will thus flow into the bowl, through the overflow (4) of the flushing mechanism located just below, in the central compartment.
[0004] On the bottom of tank A, a 20 mm orifice (5) on which is fixed on the outside, therefore plunging into tank B once the two tanks A and B are superimposed, a low pressure float valve (6), to allow the flow of water by gravity from tank A to tank B. This float valve (6) will control the desired water level in tank B by stopping the flow coming from tank A, to reach the same level as that of the central compartment.
[0005] Tank A has a cover (7).
[0006] Tank B has no cover.
[0007] Tank B has a central compartment (8) adjoining only the front wall of tank B, in order to allow water to circulate on each side of said compartment ([Fig.2]).
[0008] On the bottom wall of the central part, two 8 mm holes (9) with a center distance of 155 mm will allow the device to be screwed onto the bowl using fixing screws. In the center of this center distance, a 60 mm hole (10) will accommodate the flush mechanism (11).
[0009] On the side, near the upper edge, a 16 mm hole (12) is drilled, for the passage of a water supply tube to the float valve (13) located in the central compartment of tank B.
[0010] In the central compartment with the float valve (13), a flushing mechanism (11) is located in its center.
[0011] On the front side of the tank B, in the center and 3 cm from the upper edge, a 20 mm hole (14) is drilled in which the push button of the flushing mechanism will be installed.
[0012] The water present in the central compartment being evacuated with each flushing action, the circulation of the water present in the tank B is done automatically, according to the principle of communicating vessels through the passage equipped with a simple non-return valve (15) (40 mm PVC water evacuation connection), located at the lowest level of the wall, on the bottom of the tank, so that the water can pass into the central compartment.
[0013] In this way, the installation of the non-return valve (15) does not allow water to escape from the central compartment towards the tank B, when the device is no longer supplied with water from the washing machine, the central compartment of the tank B remains autonomous like a WC tank, since it is equipped with a float valve connected to the home water network.
[0014] For the proper functioning of the method, the washing machine drain pipe is placed at a height greater than the inlet of the device, in order to prevent any water from returning to the washing machine.
[0015] Due to the height of the device (51 cm for 60 liters), the inlet of the device is located 90 cm from the ground.
[0016] Each time the washing machine is used, all of the water used by it is sent using its drain pump, into the drain pipe to the device.
[0017] Each time the flush located in the central compartment is used, the water available in tanks A and B is directed by gravity and by communicating vessels into the central compartment.
[0018] The float valve (13) positioned in the central compartment is supplied by the home water network, when it is in operation, it tops up with the water which arrives at the same time from tank B, until the water level in the central compartment is reached. The second float valve (6) positioned under tank A makes it possible to maintain the water level in tank B as long as water is present in tank A.
[0019] By this process, the user can halve his consumption of drinking water for using his toilets.
Claims
Claims
1. Device for recycling the water drained from a washing machine, to be screwed onto a toilet bowl, characterized in that it consists of two separate tanks which are superimposed, the upper tank A receives the water from the washing machine, which then flows by gravity into the lower tank B, then by communicating vessels, to the central compartment (8) equipped with a float valve (13) and a flushing mechanism (11) for use with the toilet.
2. Device according to claim 1 characterized by an orifice (1) on the side, near the upper edge to accommodate the washing machine drain pipe or the PVC water evacuation tube.
3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the bottom of the tank A comprises in its center a 40 mm orifice (2) on which is fixed a PVC water evacuation tube (3) of a height slightly less than the height of the tank A, allowing the flow by gravity of the overflow from said tank A towards the tank R
4. J->. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a low pressure float valve (6) is fixed to the bottom and outside the tank A.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank B, in the center, has the central compartment (8) adjoining only the front wall of said tank B.
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulation of water from tank B into the central compartment passes through an orifice equipped with a non-return valve. (15) (40 mm PVC water evacuation connection).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the float valve (13) and the flushing mechanism (11) are positioned in the central compartment of the tank B.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a 20 mm orifice (14) is located on the front side of the tank B, in the center and 3 cm from the upper edge in which the push button of the flushing mechanism is installed.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central compartment of the tank B comprises near the upper edge a 16 mm drilled hole (12) for the passage of a water supply tube to the float valve (13).
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank B comprises, near the upper edge, a 16 mm pierced orifice (12) for the passage of a water supply tube to the float valve (13) of the central compartment.
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central compartment is provided on the bottom with two 8 mm holes (9) with a center distance of 155 mm allowing the device to be screwed onto the bowl using fixing screws provided for this purpose.
12. Device according to claim 11 characterized in that the central compartment is provided on the bottom in the center of this center distance of 155 mm, with a 60 mm orifice (10) accommodating the flushing mechanism (11).
13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank A has a cover (7)