Second generation toilet cistern

Abstract

Toilet cistern allowing the use of water from a washing machine. The invention relates to a device for recycling water used and drained by a washing machine for use in toilets. It consists of two stackable tanks: an upper tank (A) for collecting, storing, and distributing the drained water to a lower, compartmentalized tank (B) that supplies a central reservoir (8) equipped with a float valve (13) and a flushing mechanism (11). The device according to the invention is particularly intended to reduce the consumption of potable water in toilets. (Short figure: Fig. 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Toilet cistern allowing the use of water from a washing machine

[0001] A device for recycling used washing machine water for toilet flushing at home. The device is connected to the washing machine via its drain hose, if it is sufficiently close, or via a 32 or 40 mm PVC drain pipe if it is located in another room ([Fig. 3]). Adaptable to toilet bowls with a surface-mounted cistern, the mounting hole spacing and diameter comply with current standards. The device consists of two stackable tanks ([Fig. 1]).

[0002] The upper tank A is provided with an opening on the side (1), near the upper edge to accommodate the washing machine drain hose or the PVC tube, depending on the connection method chosen.

[0003] On the bottom of the tank A, in the center, a 40 mm opening (2) on which a PVC drain tube (3) of a height slightly less than that of the tank A, is fixed, to allow the flow of water from the washing machine in case 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 from tank A, to reach the same level as that of the central compartment.

[0005] Tank A has a lid (7).

[0006] Tank B does not have a lid.

[0007] Tank B has a central compartment (8) attached only to 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-to-center distance of 155 mm will allow the device to be screwed onto the toilet bowl using fixing screws. In the center of this center-to-center distance, a 60 mm hole (10) will accommodate the flushing mechanism (11).

[0009] On the side, near the upper edge, a 16 mm orifice (12) is drilled, for the passage of a water supply tube to the float valve (13) located in the central compartment of the 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 (14) hole 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 action of the toilet flush, 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 fitting), 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 into 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 toilet tank, since it is equipped with a float valve connected to the home's water supply.

[0014] For the proper functioning of the process, the washing machine drain pipe is placed at a height greater than the inlet orifice of the device, in order to prevent any backflow of water towards the washing machine.

[0015] Due to the height of the device (51 cm for 60 litres), the entrance 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 by means of its drain pump, into the drain pipe to the device.

[0017] Each time the toilet 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) located in the central compartment is supplied by the household water network. When in operation, it tops up the water supply with water arriving simultaneously from tank B until the water level in the central compartment is reached. The second float valve (6) located below tank A maintains the water level in tank B as long as water is present in tank A.

[0019] By this process, the user can halve their drinking water consumption for the use of their toilet.

Claims

Demands

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 in the toilet.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized by an opening (1) on the side, near the upper edge to accommodate the washing machine drain hose or the PVC water drainage tube.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom of tank A comprises in its center a 40 mm orifice (2) to which is fixed a PVC drain pipe (3) of a height slightly less than the height of tank A, allowing the overflow from said tank A to drain by gravity into 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 of 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) attached only to 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 drainage fitting).

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 (14) orifice 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. A 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 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 includes near the upper edge a 16 mm bored 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 at the center of this center distance of 155 mm, with a 60 mm orifice (10) housing the flushing mechanism (11).

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the tank A has a lid (7)

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