Water closet device

Abstract

To provide a water closet device capable of performing effective washing with a small amount of washing water by accurately setting a valve opening timing for each drain valve.SOLUTION: A water closet device (1) includes a water closet body (2), a washing water tank (4), a first drain valve (10) for selecting washing water to be discharged / stopped from a rim water discharge port (2d) by opening / closing a first drain port (4b) provided in the washing water tank, a second drain valve (12) for selecting washing water to be discharged / stopped from a jet water discharge port (2e) by opening / closing a second drain port (4c) provided in the washing water tank, and a water pressure drive mechanism (16) utilizing water supply pressure of the washing water supplied from a water supply to the washing water tank for opening the first drain valve or the second drain valve.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flush toilet apparatus, and in particular to a flush toilet apparatus that performs flushing using flush water stored in a flush water tank. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional tank-type flush toilet systems, a single drain valve is provided in the flush water tank, and flush water discharged from the flush water tank is branched off into a rim spout and a jet spout, with water being discharged from each spout. In other words, the water conduit formed inside the flush toilet body is branched off midway, and flush water is directed to the rim spout and jet spout, respectively.

[0003] Furthermore, WO 2005 / 085538 (Patent Document 1) describes a flush toilet. This flush toilet is a tank-type flush toilet, and is equipped with a tank that stores flush water for rim spouting, and a tank that stores flush water for jet spouting. Each flush water tank is provided with a drain valve for the rim spouting and the jet spouting, and by opening these drain valves, water is spouted from the rim spout and the jet spout, respectively. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2005 / 085538 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional flush toilet devices equipped with a single drain valve, water spouting begins from the rim spout and jet spout almost simultaneously. For this reason, flush water is not necessarily spouted from the appropriate spout at the appropriate time, and some of the flush water used is not fully utilized for flushing. In other words, water is wasted due to flush water that is not fully utilized for flushing.

[0006] Meanwhile, the flush toilet described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with separate drain valves for the rim water spout and the jet water spout, making it possible to start spouting water from the rim water outlet and the jet water outlet at different times. However, the flush toilet described in Patent Document 1 is designed so that each drain valve is pulled up by a ball chain connected to an operating lever, making it impossible to freely set the time when water starts to be spouted from each outlet. For this reason, even with the flush toilet described in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to achieve a sufficient effect of reducing wasted water.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a flush toilet apparatus that can flush effectively with less flush water by accurately setting the opening timing of each drain valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a flush toilet device that flushes with flush water stored in a flush water tank, and is characterized by having a flush toilet main body with a bowl portion and a drain trap pipe extending from the lower part of the bowl portion, a flush water tank that is arranged at the rear of the flush toilet main body and stores flush water for flushing the bowl portion of the flush toilet main body, a first drain valve that opens and closes a first drain outlet provided in the flush water tank to switch between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from a rim spout provided in the upper edge of the bowl portion, a second drain valve that opens and closes a second drain outlet provided in the flush water tank to switch between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from a jet spout provided in the lower part of the bowl portion, and a water pressure drive mechanism that uses the water supply pressure of flush water supplied from a water main to the flush water tank to open the first drain valve or the second drain valve.

[0009] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the discharge of flush water from the rim spout is switched on and off by the first drain valve, and the discharge of flush water from the jet spout is switched on and off by the second drain valve, so it is possible to freely and independently set the timing of rim spouting and jet spouting, and the bowl part of the flush toilet body can be effectively flushed with less flush water. Also, because the first or second drain valve is opened by a water pressure drive mechanism using the flush water supply pressure, there is no need to pull up the drain valve with electrical power such as a motor, and it is possible to set the opening timing without using a complex mechanism for opening the drain valve.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, a delay mechanism is further provided, and the first drain valve and the second drain valve are opened with a delay relative to the other when the bowl portion is being washed by the delay mechanism.

[0011] In conventional flush toilet devices in which water is discharged from the rim spout and jet spout using a single drain valve, water begins to be discharged from the rim spout and jet spout almost simultaneously, which can result in water being discharged at a time that is not necessarily required, resulting in some flush water being wasted. According to the present invention configured as described above, the delay mechanism causes the first drain valve and the second drain valve to open with a delay relative to the other, so water can be discharged from the rim spout and jet spout at the required time depending on the configuration of the flush toilet main body, and the bowl can be effectively flushed while suppressing the amount of flush water.

[0012] In the present invention, the water pressure drive mechanism is preferably configured to open the second drain valve.

[0013] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the second drain valve is opened by the water pressure drive mechanism, so that by adjusting the timing at which cleaning water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism, the timing at which water starts to be sprayed from the jet water outlet can be adjusted, and the timing at which jet water spraying starts can be freely set.

[0014] In the present invention, the delay mechanism preferably includes a ball tap that operates in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank, and when the float of this ball tap drops to a predetermined position, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism.

[0015] According to the present invention configured in this manner, when the float of the ball tap is lowered to a predetermined position, cleaning water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism, so that the supply of cleaning water to the water hydraulic drive mechanism can be started at an appropriate time based on the water level in the cleaning water tank, and water can be started to be discharged from the jet water outlet.

[0016] In the present invention, the delay mechanism preferably comprises a ball tap with a float, a small tank with a drain hole arranged in the flush water tank surrounding the float, and a check valve float configured to open the drain hole of the small tank when the water level in the flush water tank drops to a predetermined water level, and flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism when the water level in the small tank drops to the predetermined water level.

[0017] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the delay mechanism comprises a small tank and a check valve float, and when the water level in the small tank drops to a predetermined water level, flush water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism. Therefore, depending on the configuration of the small tank, etc., the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism can be freely set, and water discharge can be started at a timing suitable for flushing.

[0018] In the present invention, the delay mechanism preferably comprises a first ball tap that starts supplying water to the flush water tank when the water level in the flush water tank is lowered to a predetermined first water level, and a second ball tap that starts supplying flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism when the water level in the flush water tank is lowered to a predetermined second water level lower than the first water level.

[0019] The present invention configured in this manner is provided with a first ball tap that starts the supply of water into the flush water tank at a first water level, and a second ball tap that starts the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism at a second water level that is lower than the first water level. Therefore, by setting the second ball tap, the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism can be freely set, and water discharge can be started at a timing suitable for flushing. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the flush toilet apparatus of the present invention, by accurately setting the opening timing of each drain valve, flushing can be performed effectively with a small amount of flush water. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a ball tap built into the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a water pressure drive mechanism built into the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the flush toilet device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 5 is a time chart showing the operation of a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 5 is a time chart showing the operation of a flush toilet apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Next, a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a flush toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a ball tap built into the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a water pressure drive mechanism built into the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, a flush toilet device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is made up of a flush toilet main body 2, which is a flush toilet, and a flush water tank 4 located at the rear of this flush toilet main body 2. The flush toilet device 1 of this embodiment is configured so that flushing is performed after use by operating a lever handle 4a provided on the flush water tank 4. As a modified example, the present invention can also be configured so that flushing is performed based on a control signal from a remote control device (not shown), or a detection signal from a human presence sensor (not shown).

[0024] The flush toilet body 2 comprises a bowl portion 2a and a drain trap pipe 2c extending from the bottom of the bowl portion 2a. A rim water outlet 2d is provided on the upper edge of the bowl portion 2a, and a jet water outlet 2e is provided on the bottom of the bowl portion 2a. When flushing the toilet, flush water is discharged from the rim water outlet 2d and the jet water outlet 2e at a predetermined timing, cleaning the waste receiving surface of the bowl portion 2a and discharging the waste and flush water from within the bowl portion 2a into the drain trap pipe 2c. The waste and flush water discharged into the drain trap pipe 2c pass through a drain socket (not shown) and are discharged into the sewer pipe (not shown).

[0025] Flush water is supplied to the flush water tank 4 from a water supply source 6, such as a water line, via a stop valve 8, and the supplied flush water is stored in the flush water tank 4 up to a predetermined water level. The stop valve 8 is provided to stop the supply of flush water to the flush water tank 4 during maintenance, etc., and is normally kept in the "open" position. The flush water tank 4 also has a first drain valve 10 and a second drain valve 12 built in, which are configured to open and close a first drain outlet 4b and a second drain outlet 4c, respectively, provided at the bottom of the flush water tank 4.

[0026] Flush water that flows out from the first drain outlet 4b passes through the rim water conduit 2f formed inside the flush toilet main body 2, and is discharged from the rim water outlet 2d. Therefore, the first drain valve 10 switches between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from the rim water outlet 2d by opening and closing the first drain outlet 4b provided in the flush water tank 4. Also, flush water that flows out from the second drain outlet 4c passes through the jet water conduit 2g formed inside the flush toilet main body 2, and is discharged from the jet water outlet 2e. Therefore, the second drain valve 12 switches between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from the jet water outlet 2e by opening and closing the second drain outlet 4c provided in the flush water tank 4.

[0027] Next, the internal structure of the flush water tank 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Figure 2, the cleaning water tank 4 has a first drain valve 10 that opens and closes the first drain outlet 4b, a second drain valve 12 that opens and closes the second drain outlet 4c, a ball tap 14 which is a delay mechanism, and a water pressure drive mechanism 16.

[0028] The flush water tank 4 is a tank configured to store flush water to be supplied to the flush toilet body 2, and has a first drain outlet 4b and a second drain outlet 4c formed in its bottom for discharging the stored flush water into the flush toilet body 2.

[0029] The first drain valve 10 is a valve body arranged to open and close the first drain outlet 4b, and the first drain outlet 4b is opened by pulling the first drain valve 10 upward. This causes the flush water in the flush water tank 4 to be discharged into the rim water conduit 2f (Figure 1) of the flush toilet body 2 and discharged from the rim water outlet 2d.

[0030] In this embodiment, the user rotates lever handle 4a provided on flush water tank 4, which pulls ball chain 10a (schematically shown in FIG. 2) connected to first drain valve 10, thereby pulling up first drain valve 10. Also, in this embodiment, first drain valve 10 is a valve body equipped with a float 10b, and after being pulled up from first drain port 4b and opened, it is configured to gently drop as the water level in flush water tank 4 drops, and to close when the water level has dropped to a predetermined level.

[0031] The second drain valve 12 is a valve body arranged to open and close the second drain outlet 4c, and the second drain outlet 4c is opened by pulling the second drain valve 12 upward. This causes the flush water in the flush water tank 4 to be discharged into the jet water conduit 2g (Figure 1) of the flush toilet main body 2 and sprayed from the jet water outlet 2e.

[0032] In this embodiment, the second drain valve 12 is configured to be pulled up from the second drain port 4c by the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16. The second drain valve 12 is a valve body that includes a valve stem 12a that extends upward and a float ball 12b, and the valve stem 12a is pulled up by the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16. Then, when it is pulled up to a predetermined height, it is disconnected from the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 and gently descends as the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, closing the second drain port 4c.

[0033] Also, in this embodiment, the float 12b of the second drain valve 12 is attached at a higher position than the float 10b of the first drain valve 10, so that it seats on the second drain outlet 4c and closes it when the water level in the flush water tank 4 is relatively high. In other words, when the first drain valve 10 and the second drain valve 12 move down as the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, the second drain valve 12 seats on the second drain outlet 4c first and is closed.

[0034] The ball tap 14, which is a delay mechanism, is configured so that flushing water supplied from the water source 6 flows in through the inlet pipe 14a, and in this embodiment, due to the action of this ball tap 14, the second drain valve 12 opens later than the first drain valve 10.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the ball tap 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 3, the ball tap 14 has a main body 18 to which the inlet pipe 14a and the outlet pipe 14b are connected, a main valve body 20 arranged in this main body 18, a valve seat 22 on which the main valve body 20 sits, an arm portion 26 that is rotated by a float 24, and a pilot valve 28 that is moved by the rotation of the arm portion 26. In other words, the ball tap 14 is equipped with a float 24 that operates in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank 4, and is configured to supply flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 when the float 24 descends to a predetermined position.

[0036] The main body 18 is a member having a connection part for the inflow pipe 14a at the bottom and a connection part for the outflow pipe 14b on one side. A valve seat 22 is formed inside the main body 18, and this valve seat 22 is configured to communicate with the outflow pipe 14b connected to the connection part. A main valve body 20 is disposed inside the main body 18 to open and close the valve seat 22, and is configured so that when the valve is open, tap water flowing in from the inflow pipe 14a flows through the valve seat 22 and out to the outflow pipe 14b. The outflow pipe 14b is connected to the water pressure drive mechanism 16.

[0037] The main valve element 20 is a generally disc-shaped diaphragm-type valve element, and is attached inside the body 18 so as to be able to seat on and release from the valve seat 22. A bleed hole 20a is provided on the periphery of the main valve element 20. A pressure chamber 18a is formed inside the body 18 on the opposite side of the valve seat 22 (the left side in FIG. 3 ) of the main valve element 20. That is, the pressure chamber 18a is defined by the inner wall surface of the body 18 and the main valve element 20, and when the pressure inside this pressure chamber 18a increases, the main valve element 20 is pressed against the valve seat 22 by this pressure and seats on the valve seat 22.

[0038] Furthermore, a pressure passage 18b extends upward so as to communicate with the pressure chamber 18a provided within the main body 18, and a pilot valve port 28a is provided at the upper end of this pressure passage 18b. This pilot valve port 28a opens upward and is configured to be opened and closed by a pilot valve 28.

[0039] On the other hand, the float 24 is supported by an arm portion 26, which is rotatably supported by a support shaft 26a. Furthermore, a pilot valve 28 is connected to the arm portion 26, and the pilot valve 28 is configured to move up and down as the arm portion 26 rotates. As a result, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 rises above a predetermined set water level L1, the float 24 is pushed upward, and the pilot valve 28 moves downward accordingly, seating on the pilot valve port 28a and closing it. On the other hand, when the flush water in the flush water tank 4 is drained and the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, the float 24 moves downward, the pilot valve 28 moves upward, and the pilot valve port 28a opens. For this reason, during standby for toilet flushing when the water level in the flush water tank 4 is higher than the set water level L1, the pilot valve port 28a of the main body portion 18 is in a closed state.

[0040] Furthermore, tap water that flows into the main body 18 from the inlet pipe 14a flows into the annular space around the valve seat 22, and from there flows into the pressure chamber 18a through the bleed hole 20a of the main valve body 20. Here, when the pilot valve port 28a is closed by the pilot valve 28, there is no path for the tap water that has flowed into the pressure chamber 18a from the bleed hole 20a to flow out, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a rises. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a rises in this way, this pressure presses the main valve body 20 toward the valve seat 22 (to the right in FIG. 3), and the valve seat 22 is closed by the main valve body 20.

[0041] On the other hand, when the first drain valve 10 is opened by the flushing operation and the water level in the flush water tank 4 falls below the set water level L1, the float 24 moves downward, the pilot valve 28 moves upward, and the pilot valve port 28a opens. When the pilot valve port 28a opens, the water in the pressure chamber 18a flows out from the pilot valve port 28a, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a drops. This causes the main valve body 20 to move away from the valve seat 22 (to the left in FIG. 3), and the valve seat 22 opens. In this way, when the pilot valve port 28a is open, the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a does not rise, so the valve seat 22 is in an open state.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 will be described with reference to FIG. The water pressure drive mechanism 16 is configured to drive the second drain valve 12 using the water supply pressure of flush water supplied from the waterworks to the flush water tank. Specifically, the water pressure drive mechanism 16 has a cylinder 16a into which water supplied from the ball tap 14 flows, a piston 16b slidably arranged within the cylinder 16a, and a rod 30 that protrudes from the lower end of the cylinder 16a and drives the second drain valve 12. Furthermore, a spring 16c is arranged inside the cylinder 16a to urge the piston 16b downward, and a packing is attached to the piston 16b to ensure watertightness between the inner wall surface of the cylinder 16a and the piston 16b. In addition, a clutch mechanism 32 is provided at the lower end of the rod 30, and the clutch mechanism 32 connects / disconnects the rod 30 and the valve shaft 12a of the second drain valve 12.

[0043] The cylinder 16a is a cylindrical member, and is disposed with its axis oriented vertically, and slidably receives a piston 16b inside. An outlet pipe 14b extending from the ball tap 14 is connected to the lower end of the cylinder 16a, so that the flushing water flowing out from the ball tap 14 flows into the cylinder 16a. Therefore, the piston 16b in the cylinder 16a is pushed up against the biasing force of the spring 16c by the water flowing into the cylinder 16a.

[0044] Meanwhile, an outflow hole is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 16a, and the water supply pipe 34 communicates with the inside of the cylinder 16a through this outflow hole. Therefore, when water flows into the cylinder 16a from the outflow pipe 14b connected to the lower part of the cylinder 16a, the piston 16b is pushed upward from the lower part of the cylinder 16a. Then, when the piston 16b is pushed up to a position above the outflow hole, the water that has flowed into the cylinder 16a flows out from the outflow hole into the water supply pipe 34. Also, the flush water that has flowed into the water supply pipe 34 falls into the flush water tank 4, supplying flush water to the flush water tank 4.

[0045] The rod 30 is a rod-shaped member connected to the underside of the piston 16b, and extends through a through hole formed in the bottom surface of the cylinder 16a so as to protrude downward from within the cylinder 16a. The lower end of the rod 30 is connected to the valve shaft 12a of the second drain valve 12 via a clutch mechanism 32, and the rod 30 connects the piston 16b and the second drain valve 12. Therefore, when water flows into the cylinder 16a and the piston 16b is pushed up, the rod 30 connected to the piston 16b lifts the second drain valve 12 upward, and the second drain valve 12 opens.

[0046] Furthermore, a gap is provided between the rod 30 protruding from below the cylinder 16a and the inner wall of the through hole of the cylinder 16a, and some of the water that flows into the cylinder 16a flows out from this gap. The water that flows out from the gap flows into the flush water tank 4. Note that this gap is relatively narrow and has a large flow resistance, so even if water flows out from the gap, the pressure inside the cylinder 16a increases due to the water flowing into the cylinder 16a from the outflow pipe 14b, and the piston 16b is pushed up against the biasing force of the spring 16c.

[0047] Furthermore, the clutch mechanism 32 detachably connects the rod 30 and the second drain valve 12. When the second drain valve 12 is lifted a predetermined distance together with the rod 30, the clutch mechanism 32 is configured to separate the valve stem 12a of the second drain valve 12 from the rod 30. With the clutch mechanism 32 in a disengaged state, the second drain valve 12 is no longer linked to the movement of the piston 16b and the upper part of the rod 30, and the second drain valve 12 descends as the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops.

[0048] Next, with additional reference to Figs. 5 to 9, the operation of the flush toilet device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Figures 5 to 8 are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation of the flush toilet device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a time chart showing the operation of the flush toilet device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] First, in the standby state for toilet flushing as described above, the first drain outlet 4b and the second drain outlet 4c of the flush water tank 4 are closed by the first drain valve 10 and the second drain valve 12, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. Also, in the standby state, the initial water level L2 in the flush water tank 4 is higher than a predetermined set water level L1 (the reason why the initial water level L2 is higher than the set water level L1 will be described later). As a result, the pilot valve port 28a of the main body 18 (Fig. 3) of the ball tap 14 is in a closed state, and the valve seat 22 is closed by the main valve body 20.

[0050] Next, at time t1 in Figure 9, when the user rotates the lever handle 4a of the flush water tank 4 to flush the toilet, the ball chain 10a connected to it pulls up the first drain valve 10. This causes the first drain valve 10 to be pulled away from the first drain outlet 4b, opening the first drain outlet 4b, as shown in Figure 5. When the first drain outlet 4b is opened, flush water stored in the flush water tank 4 flows from the first drain outlet 4b into the rim water conduit 2f (Figure 1) and is discharged from the rim water outlet 2d. The rim water discharged from the rim water outlet 2d creates a swirling flow on the waste receiving surface of the bowl portion 2a, cleaning the waste receiving surface.

[0051] As flush water is discharged from first drain outlet 4b, the water level in flush water tank 4 drops. Then, at time t2 in Figure 9, when the water level in flush water tank 4 falls below set water level L1, float 24 of ball tap 14 drops and pilot valve 28 (Figure 3) opens. This causes the pressure in pressure chamber 18a to drop, opening main valve body 20 and starting the supply of water to water pressure drive mechanism 16, as shown in Figure 6.

[0052] When flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16, the flush water that has flowed into the cylinder 16a (FIG. 4) pushes up the piston 16b against the biasing force of the spring 16c. This causes the rod 30 connected to the piston 16b to pull up the valve shaft 12a of the second drain valve 12, opening the second drain port 4c. In other words, the second drain valve 12 is driven and opened by the water supply pressure of the tap water supplied via the ball tap 14.

[0053] When the second drain outlet 4c is opened, flush water stored in the flush water tank 4 flows from the second drain outlet 4c into the jet water conduit 2g (Fig. 1) and is discharged from the jet water outlet 2e. The jet water discharged from the jet water outlet 2e fills the drain trap pipe 2c, inducing a siphon action. The siphon action causes the retained water and waste matter in the bowl portion 2a to be sucked into the drain trap pipe 2c and discharged into the sewer piping (not shown).

[0054] When the second drain valve 12 is raised to a predetermined height together with the piston 16b of the hydraulic drive mechanism 16, the valve stem 12a of the second drain valve 12 is separated from the rod 30 by the clutch mechanism 32 (FIG. 4). As a result, the second drain valve 12 descends toward the second drain port 4c. Then, at time t3 in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 7, the second drain valve 12 seats on the second drain port 4c, and the second drain port 4c is closed. This stops the jet water spouting from the jet water spouting port 2e. As described above, since the float 12b of the second drain valve 12 is attached at a relatively high position, the second drain valve 12 seats on the second drain port 4c earlier than the first drain valve 10.

[0055] In the state shown in Fig. 7, the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14 is open, so flush water supplied from the water supply source 6 (tap water) is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 via the ball tap 14 and flows into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply pipe 34 connected to the cylinder 16a. Meanwhile, the first drain valve 10 is still open, so flush water in the flush water tank 4 flows out from the first drain outlet 4b and is discharged from the rim water outlet 2d. After the jet water spouting is stopped at time t3 in Fig. 9, the flush water discharged from the rim water outlet 2d is used as refill water to restore the water level in the bowl section 2a to the retained water level in the standby state.

[0056] Here, the flow rate of flush water flowing out from first drain outlet 4b is greater than the flow rate of flush water flowing into flush water tank 4 from water supply pipe 34, so in the state shown in Figure 7, the water level in flush water tank 4 drops and, along with this, first drain valve 10 also drops. Then, at time t4 in Figure 9, when the water level in flush water tank 4 drops to dead water level DWL, first drain valve 10 seats on first drain outlet 4b and first drain valve 10 is closed, as shown in Figure 8. This stops rim spouting from rim spout 2d.

[0057] Furthermore, because main valve body 20 of ball tap 14 remains open even after first drain valve 10 is closed, flush water supplied from water supply source 6 (tap) flows from water supply pipe 34 via ball tap 14 and water pressure drive mechanism 16 into flush water tank 4. This causes the water level in flush water tank 4 to rise. Then, at time t5 in Figure 9, when the water level in flush water tank 4 rises to set water level L1, float 24 of ball tap 14 rises and pilot valve 28 (Figure 3) is closed.

[0058] In this way, when the pilot valve 28 is closed, flush water that has flowed into the pressure chamber 18a from the bleed hole 20a provided in the main valve element 20 of the ball tap 14 cannot flow out, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a rises. Then, at time t6 in Figure 9, the main valve element 20 is pressed by the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a and seats on the valve seat 22, closing the main valve element 20. This stops the supply of water from the water supply source 6 to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 via the ball tap 14, and stops the supply of flush water into the flush water tank 4.

[0059] When the water supply to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is stopped, the piston 16b (Fig. 4) inside the cylinder 16a, which had been pushed up by the water supply, is pushed down by the biasing force of the spring 16c. As a result, the rod 30 attached to the piston 16b also drops. When the rod 30 drops to a predetermined position, the clutch mechanism 32 reconnects the rod 30 to the valve shaft 12a of the second drain valve 12. This completes one toilet flush, and the flush toilet device 1 returns to the toilet flush standby state shown in Fig. 2.

[0060] In this way, there is a certain time lag between the timing when the water level in the flush water tank 4 rises to the set water level L1 and the pilot valve 28 is closed (time t5 in FIG. 9), and the timing when the main valve element 20 of the ball tap 14 is closed (time t6 in FIG. 9). Then, between times t5 and t6, the main valve element 20 is open, so the supply of flush water continues, and at the point when the main valve element 20 is closed at time t6, the water level in the flush water tank 4 reaches the initial water level L2, which is higher than the set water level L1.

[0061] As a result, the initial water level L2 in the flush water tank 4 when the flush toilet device 1 is in the standby state is higher than the predetermined set water level L1 at which the pilot valve 28 is closed. For this reason, in the standby state, at the point in time when the user operates the lever handle 4a (time t1 in Figure 9), the water level in the flush water tank 4 is higher than the set water level L1, and the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14 is not opened. Then, between times t1 and t2, a predetermined amount of flush water is discharged from the first drain outlet 4b as rim spouting, and when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops to the set water level L1, the pilot valve 28 is opened, and the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14 is also opened. As a result, at time t2, water supply to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 begins, the water pressure drive mechanism 16 opens the second drain valve 12, and jet spouting begins.

[0062] According to the flush toilet device of the first embodiment of the present invention, the discharge of flush water from the rim outlet 2d is switched on and off by the first drain valve 10, and the discharge of flush water from the jet outlet 2e is switched on and off by the second drain valve 12, so it is possible to freely and independently set the timing of rim spouting and jet spouting, and the bowl section 2a of the flush toilet main body 2 can be effectively flushed with less flush water (Figure 1). Also, because the second drain valve 12 is opened by a water pressure drive mechanism 16 using the flush water supply pressure, there is no need to pull up the drain valve with electrical power such as a motor, and it is possible to set the opening timing without using a complex mechanism for opening the drain valve.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the flush toilet device of this embodiment, the second drain valve 12 opens with a delay relative to the first drain valve 10 due to the ball tap 14, which serves as a delay mechanism (Figure 9), so water can be started from the rim spout 2d and jet spout 2e at the required time depending on the configuration of the flush toilet main body 2, effectively flushing the bowl portion 2a while reducing the amount of flush water.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the flush toilet device 1 of this embodiment, the second drain valve 12 is opened by the water pressure drive mechanism 16, so by adjusting the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 (time t2 in Figure 9), the timing at which water starts to be discharged from the jet water outlet 2e can be adjusted, and the timing at which jet water spouting begins can be freely set.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the flush toilet device of this embodiment, when the float 24 of the ball tap 14 is lowered to a predetermined position, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16, so that the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 can be started at an appropriate time based on the water level in the flush water tank 4, and water can be started to be discharged from the jet water outlet 2e.

[0066] Next, a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. The flush toilet device of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in terms of the configuration of the delay mechanism provided inside the flush water tank. Therefore, below, only the configuration and action of the second embodiment of the present invention that differs from the first embodiment will be explained, and similar configurations will be given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

[0067] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of the flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the flush water tank in a flush toilet apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a time chart showing the operation of a flush toilet apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] As shown in Figure 10, the flush water tank 4 provided in the flush toilet device of this embodiment has a first drain valve 10, a second drain valve 12, a ball tap 14, and a water pressure drive mechanism 16. Also, as in the first embodiment described above, the ball tap 14 has a float 24, which opens and closes the pilot valve and opens and closes the main valve body of the ball tap 14, also as in the first embodiment. Here, in this embodiment, in addition to the ball tap 14, a small tank 40 arranged to surround the float 24 of the ball tap 14 is provided as a delay mechanism.

[0069] This small tank 40 is a small tank arranged inside the flush water tank 4 so as to surround the float 24, and the float 24 moves up and down depending on the water level inside the small tank 40. Also, in the standby state of the flush toilet apparatus shown in Figure 10, the small tank 40 is arranged in the flush water tank 4 in a state where it is entirely submerged. That is to say, the small tank 40 is formed in a box shape with an open top so as to receive the float 24 from above, and its upper end is arranged at a position lower than the initial water level L2 inside the flush water tank 4. For this reason, in the standby state shown in Figure 10, the small tank 40 is entirely submerged in the flush water in the flush water tank 4, and the small tank 40 is filled with flush water.

[0070] Furthermore, a drain hole 40a is provided in the bottom surface of the small tank 40, and this drain hole 40a is configured to be opened and closed by a check valve float 42 provided on the bottom surface of the small tank 40. This check valve float 42 is equipped with a float portion that receives buoyancy from the flush water in the flush water tank 4, and a packing for closing the drain hole 40a. The check valve float 42 is attached to the bottom surface of the small tank 40 so as to be able to move up and down to open and close the drain hole 40a.

[0071] That is, the check valve float 42 is configured so as to be pushed upward by the buoyancy applied to the float portion. For this reason, when the level of flush water in the flush water tank 4 is higher than the bottom of the small tank 40, the packing of the check valve float 42 is pressed against the drain hole 40a in the bottom of the small tank 40 by buoyancy, and the drain hole 40a is closed. On the other hand, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, the check valve float 42 also drops under its own weight, opening the drain hole 40a and allowing the flush water in the small tank 40 to be discharged into the flush water tank 4.

[0072] With this configuration, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, the water level in the small tank 40 drops later than the water level in the flush water tank 4. As the float 24 of the ball tap 14 drops in conjunction with the water level in the small tank 40, the main valve body of the ball tap 14 opens later than the drop in the water level in the flush water tank 4. As a result of this action, the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 and the opening of the second drain valve 12 are delayed.

[0073] Next, with additional reference to Figures 11 and 12, the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. First, at time t11 in Figure 12, when the user rotates the lever handle 4a of the flush water tank 4, the ball chain 10a connected to it pulls up the first drain valve 10. This opens the first drain outlet 4b, and flush water in the flush water tank 4 is discharged from the rim spout.

[0074] As flush water is discharged from first drain outlet 4b, the water level in flush water tank 4 drops. However, when the water level in flush water tank 4 is higher than the bottom surface of small tank 40, the water level in small tank 40 does not change because drain hole 40a of small tank 40 is closed by check valve float 42. For this reason, float 24 in small tank 40 does not drop either, and the main valve body of ball tap 14 is maintained in a closed state.

[0075] When the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops further and becomes lower than the bottom surface of the small tank 40, the check valve float 42 of the small tank 40 opens, and flush water in the small tank 40 also begins to flow out from the drain hole 40a. Then, at time t12 in FIG. 12, when the water level in the small tank 40 becomes lower than the predetermined set water level L3, the float 24 of the ball tap 14 drops and the pilot valve opens, as shown in FIG. 11. This opens the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14, and water begins to be supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16. When water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16, the second drain valve 12 is raised by the water pressure drive mechanism 16, and water begins to be discharged from the jet water outlet 2e.

[0076] After the jet water outlet 2e starts discharging water at time t12, the second drain valve 12 is closed at time t13, and the first drain valve 10 is closed at time t14. These operations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and so will not be described here. After the first drain valve 10 is closed at time t14, the water level in the flush water tank 4 rises. Even when the water level in the flush water tank 4 is higher than the bottom surface of the small tank 40, the discharge hole 40a of the small tank 40 is closed due to the buoyancy acting on the check valve float 42, so the water level in the small tank 40 does not rise. If the water level in the flush water tank 4 rises further and becomes higher than the top end of the small tank 40, flush water will flow into the small tank 40, and the water level in the small tank 40 will also rise.

[0077] Then, at time t15, when the water level in the small tank 40 becomes higher than the predetermined set water level L3, the pilot valve is closed. Furthermore, at time t16, the main valve body of the ball tap 14 is closed, and water supply to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 is stopped. This causes the rod extending from the piston 16b of the water pressure drive mechanism 16 to lower, and the rod is reconnected to the valve stem of the second drain valve 12 by the clutch mechanism 32. This completes one toilet flush, and the flush toilet device returns to the toilet flush standby state shown in Figure 10.

[0078] According to the flush toilet apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention, the delay mechanism comprises a small tank 40 and a check valve float 42, and when the water level in the small tank 40 falls below a predetermined set water level L3, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 (Figure 11). Therefore, depending on the configuration of the small tank 40 etc., the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 can be freely set, and water discharge can be started at a timing suitable for flushing.

[0079] Next, a flush toilet apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14. The flush toilet apparatus of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in terms of the configuration of the delay mechanism provided inside the flush water tank. Therefore, below, only the configuration and action of the third embodiment of the present invention that differs from the first embodiment will be explained, and similar configurations will be given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

[0080] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of the flush water tank provided in a flush toilet apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is a time chart showing the operation of a flush toilet apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 13, the flush water tank 4 provided in the flush toilet device of the present embodiment has a first drain valve 10, a second drain valve 12, a first ball tap 50, a second ball tap 52, and a water pressure drive mechanism 16.

[0082] Moreover, like the ball tap 14 in the first embodiment described above, the first ball tap 50 is configured to operate in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank 4 to start the supply of water into the flush water tank. That is, the first ball tap 50 has a float 24, which moves up and down in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank 4, thereby opening and closing the pilot valve and opening and closing the main valve body of the first ball tap 50. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the first ball tap 50, a second ball tap 52 is provided as a delay mechanism.

[0083] The second ball tap 52 is provided downstream of the first ball tap 50 and upstream of the water pressure drive mechanism 16. When the main valve of the first ball tap 50 is opened, the supply of flush water to the second ball tap 52 is started. The second ball tap 52 is provided with a float 56 and is configured to open and close the built-in main valve in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank 4. That is, the structure of the second ball tap 52 is similar to the structure of the ball tap 14 in the above-mentioned first embodiment. In addition, a water supply port 58 is provided in the pipe between the first ball tap 50 and the second ball tap 52. Then, when the first ball tap 50 is opened and the second ball tap 52 is closed, the entire amount of flush water flowing out from the first ball tap 50 is discharged from the water supply port 58 and flows into the flush water tank 4.

[0084] The first ball tap 50 is configured so that its main valve body opens when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops to a predetermined first water level L4, and the second ball tap 52 is configured so that its main valve body opens when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops to a predetermined second water level L5 that is lower than the first water level L4. The second ball tap 52 is therefore configured to open with a delay after the first drain valve 10 is opened and the water level in the first tank portion 54a begins to drop. When the second ball tap 52 is opened, water supply to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 begins.

[0085] Next, with additional reference to FIG. 14, the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained. First, at time t21 in Figure 14, when the user rotates the lever handle 4a of the flush water tank 4, the ball chain 10a connected to it pulls up the first drain valve 10. This opens the first drain outlet 4b, and flush water in the flush water tank 4 is discharged from the rim spout.

[0086] As flush water is discharged from the first drain port 4b, the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops. Then, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops to a predetermined first water level L4, the main valve body of the first ball tap 50 is opened. In this state, the main valve body of the second ball tap 52 is not opened, so the entire amount of flush water that is supplied from the water source and passes through the first ball tap 50 flows into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply port 58. Here, the flow rate of flush water discharged from the first drain port 4b is greater than the flow rate of flush water flowing into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply port 58, so the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops even after the first ball tap 50 is opened.

[0087] When the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops further and reaches a predetermined second water level L5, the main valve body of the second ball tap 52 is also opened. As a result, water supply to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 begins at time t22 in FIG. 14. When water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, the second drain valve 12 is raised by the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, and water discharge from the jet water outlet 2e begins. Furthermore, flush water supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 flows into the flush water tank 4 through the cylinder of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16. Note that, when the main valve body of the first ball tap 50 and the main valve body of the second ball tap 52 are open, a portion of the flush water supplied to the flush water tank 4 flows into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply port 58, and the remaining flush water flows into the flush water tank 4 through the cylinder of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16.

[0088] After time t22, when the second drain valve 12 is raised to a predetermined height, the clutch mechanism 32 separates the second drain valve 12 from the rod of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, and the second drain valve 12 begins to descend. Then, at time t23 in Fig. 14, the second drain valve 12 seats on the second drain port 4c, and water spouting from the jet water outlet 2e stops. Even after the second drain valve 12 is closed, the first ball tap 50 and the second ball tap 52 remain open, so the flow of flush water into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply port 58 and the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 continues.

[0089] Because the first drain valve 10 remains open even after the second drain valve 12 is closed, the water level in the first tank portion 54a drops even if flush water flows into the flush water tank 4. Then, at time t24 in Figure 14, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops to a predetermined dead water level, the first drain valve 10 seats on the first drain outlet 4b, and water spouting from the rim spout 2d is stopped. With the first drain valve 10 closed, the water level in the flush water tank 4 begins to rise.

[0090] Then, at time t25, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 exceeds the second water level L5, the main valve element of the second ball tap 52 is closed. As a result, the entire amount of flush water supplied from the water supply source flows into the flush water tank 4 from the water supply port 58. Also, when the supply of flush water from the second ball tap 52 to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is stopped, the rod extending from the piston 16b of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is lowered, and the rod is reconnected to the valve stem of the second drain valve 12 by the clutch mechanism 32.

[0091] Furthermore, when, at time t26, the water level in the flush water tank 4 exceeds the first water level L4, the main valve element of the first ball tap 50 closes, and the supply of flush water to the flush water tank 4 is also stopped. This stops the supply of flush water from the water source to the flush water tank 4. This completes one toilet flush, and the flush toilet device returns to the toilet flush standby state shown in Figure 13.

[0092] The flush toilet device of the third embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a first ball tap 50 that starts the supply of water into the flush water tank 4 at a first water level L4 (time t21 in Figure 14), and a second ball tap 52 that starts the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 at a second water level L5 that is lower than this first water level L4 (time t22 in Figure 14). Because of this, by setting the float 56 of the second ball tap 52, the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 can be freely set, and water discharge can be started at a timing suitable for flushing.

[0093] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications can be made to the above-mentioned embodiment. In particular, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the jet water spouting starts with a delay after the rim water spouting starts, but the present invention can also be configured so that the rim water spouting starts after the jet water spouting starts. In this case, the present invention can be configured so that the water pressure drive mechanism opens the first drain valve for switching between discharging and stopping flush water from the rim water spout port.

[0094] In the above-described embodiment, the first drain outlet and the second drain outlet of the flush water tank are provided separately, but these drain outlets may be configured to overlap each other when viewed from above. In this case, for example, the present invention can be configured so that the first drain outlet and the second drain outlet are provided concentrically, and the inner drain outlet is opened and closed by a circular drain valve, and the outer drain outlet is opened and closed by a donut-shaped drain valve. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 Flush toilet device 2 Flush toilet body 2a Bowl section 2c Drain trap line 2d rim spout 2e Jet outlet 2f Rim Waterway 2g Jet Waterway 4 Cleaning water tank 4a Lever handle 4b First drain 4c Second drain 6 Water source 8. Stopcock 10 First drain valve 10a ball chain 10b Floating ball 12 Second drain valve 12a Valve stem 12b Floating ball 14 Ball tap (delay mechanism) 14a Inflow pipe 14b Outflow pipe 16 Water Hydraulic Drive Mechanism 16a Cylinder 16b Piston 16c spring 18 Main body 18a Pressure chamber 20 Main valve body 20a bleed hole 22 Valve seat 24 Float 26 Arm section 26a Support shaft 28 Pilot valve 28a Pilot valve port 30 Rod 32 Clutch mechanism 34 Water supply pipe 40 Small Tank 40a Discharge hole 42 Check valve float 50 First ball tap 52 2nd ball tap 56 Float 58 Water inlet

Claims

1. A flush toilet device that flushes with flush water stored in a flush water tank, a flush toilet body having a bowl portion and a drain trap pipe extending from a lower portion of the bowl portion; a flush water tank that is disposed at the rear of the flush toilet main body and stores flush water for flushing the bowl portion of the flush toilet main body; a first drain valve that switches between opening and closing a first drain outlet provided in the flush water tank to start and stop the discharge of flush water from a rim spout provided on the upper edge of the bowl portion; a second drain valve that switches between discharging and stopping flush water from a jet water outlet provided at the bottom of the bowl portion by opening and closing a second drain outlet provided in the flush water tank; a water pressure drive mechanism that uses the water supply pressure of flush water supplied from a water main to the flush water tank to open the first drain valve or the second drain valve; A flush toilet apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The flush toilet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a delay mechanism, wherein the first drain valve and the second drain valve are opened with a delay relative to the other when flushing the bowl portion due to the delay mechanism.

3. 3. The flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water pressure drive mechanism is configured to open the second drain valve.

4. 3. A flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism is equipped with a ball tap that operates in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank, and when a float of this ball tap drops to a predetermined position, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism.

5. A flush toilet apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism comprises a ball tap equipped with a float, a small tank equipped with a drain hole arranged within the flush water tank so as to surround the float, and a check valve float configured to open the drain hole of the small tank when the water level in the flush water tank drops to a predetermined water level, and when the water level in the small tank drops to a predetermined water level, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism.

6. 3. The flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism comprises: a first ball tap that begins supplying water to the flush water tank when the water level in the flush water tank is lowered to a predetermined first water level; and a second ball tap that begins supplying flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism when the water level in the flush water tank is lowered to a predetermined second water level that is lower than the first water level.

Images