Water-washable toilet

Abstract

To provide a flush toilet with high cleanability of the waste receiving surface and high waste discharge capacity. [Solution] The flush toilet bowl 12 comprises a toilet bowl portion 18 having a waste receiving surface 60 and a water reservoir portion 62 recessed downward from the lower edge of the waste receiving surface 60; a first water outlet 28A that forms a water flow into the water reservoir portion 62 from the rear by flushing water discharged from a first water outlet 30A that opens on one side of the toilet bowl portion 18 in the left-right direction; and a second water outlet 28B that discharges flushing water at a faster flow rate than the first water outlet 30A from a second water outlet 30B that opens on the other side of the toilet bowl portion 18 in the left-right direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flushing toilet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various studies have been made on cleaning methods for discharging excrement. Patent Document 1 discloses a flushing toilet that can form an induction flow for pushing excrement into the inlet of a drainage channel by forming a swirling flow that goes backward in the regions on the left and right sides of a toilet bowl portion and causing a part of the swirling flow to flow into a water storage portion of the toilet bowl portion from the rear.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a flushing toilet, it is desirable to improve the cleaning performance of the excrement receiving surface and the excrement discharging ability so that the user can use it comfortably.

[0005] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a flushing toilet having a high cleaning performance of the excrement receiving surface and a high excrement discharging ability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure for solving the above problems is a flushing toilet. The flushing toilet according to one aspect includes a toilet bowl portion having an excrement receiving surface and a water storage portion that is recessed downward from the lower edge of the excrement receiving surface, a first water discharging portion that forms a water flow that flows into the water storage portion from the rear by the washing water discharged from a first water discharging port that opens on one side of the toilet bowl portion in the left-right direction, and a second water discharging portion that discharges washing water at a flow rate higher than that of the first water discharging portion from a second water discharging port that opens on the other side of the toilet bowl portion in the left-right direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a flush toilet in an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a flush toilet in an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a toilet device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the flow of the cleaning water. [Figure 5] Another diagram showing the flow of the washing water. [Figure 6] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of BB. [Figure 7] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a flush toilet in an embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 2. [Figure 9] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the DD. [Figure 10] This is a graph showing the radius of curvature of the connecting surface in the embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of CC. [Figure 12] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the first water channel of the comparative example. [Figure 13] This figure shows an enlarged view of the first waterway and its surroundings in Figure 3. [Figure 14] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing a flush toilet of an embodiment. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of EE in Figure 14. [Figure 16] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the FF. [Figure 17] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a flush toilet. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In each drawing, for convenience of explanation, components may be appropriately omitted, enlarged, or reduced. The drawings are to be viewed in accordance with the orientation of the reference numerals. The shapes referred to in this specification include not only the shapes that exactly match the referred shapes, but also the shapes shifted by the amount of errors such as dimensional errors and manufacturing errors. In this specification, "connection" includes cases where the two members satisfy the referred conditions directly, as well as cases where they satisfy the conditions through other members, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0009] Hereinafter, regarding the positional relationship of each component, three mutually orthogonal directions will be used for explanation. These directions are the front-rear direction X, the left-right direction Y, and the up-down direction Z. When the toilet device 10 is installed in the toilet room, ideally, the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y are horizontal directions, and the up-down direction Z is a vertical direction. In this state, the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y correspond to the front, rear, left, and right of a user sitting in a normal posture on a toilet seat (not shown) attached to the washlet toilet 12.

[0010] Refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 3 shows the A-A cross section of FIG. 2 together with the configuration diagram of the toilet device 10. The toilet device 10 mainly includes a washlet toilet 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as the toilet 12) and a water supply device 14 that supplies washing water to the toilet 12. The water supply device 14 is configured using, for example, a flush valve, a tank, etc. The water supply device 14 supplies washing water to the toilet 12 through a water supply pipe 16 connected to the toilet 12.

[0011] The toilet 12 of this embodiment is a Western-style toilet. The toilet 12 of this embodiment is a wall-mounted type that is arranged at an interval from the floor of the toilet room. This toilet 12 is fixed in a state of being hung on a support member (not shown) such as a frame arranged on the back side of the wall body W of the toilet room. The wall body W is provided so as to rise from the floor of the toilet room. The material of the toilet 12 of this embodiment is ceramics. The material of the toilet 12 is not particularly limited, and for example, resin or the like may also be used.

[0012] The toilet bowl 12 includes a bowl-shaped toilet bowl portion 18 for receiving excrement, a top surface portion 20 where the upper end opening of the toilet bowl portion 18 opens, a drain pipe 26 connected to the bottom of the toilet bowl portion 18, a pair of outer wall portions 22 facing outward in the left-right direction Y, a first water ejection portion 28A and a second water ejection portion 28B for ejecting washing water into the toilet bowl portion 18, and a common water passage 38 for supplying the washing water supplied from the water supply device 14 to the first water ejection portion 28A and the second water ejection portion 28B. The top surface portion 20 is provided so as to extend from the upper end opening of the toilet bowl portion 18 in the front, rear, left, and right directions.

[0013] The outer wall portion 22 forms an outer exposed surface that is exposed to the outside. The outer wall portion 22 is continuous with the outer peripheral edge portion 20a of the top surface portion 20 within the range from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the top surface portion 20, and is provided so as to extend downward from the outer peripheral edge portion 20a. The outer wall portion 22 of the present embodiment includes a recessed portion 24 that is recessed in the left-right direction.

[0014] The drain pipe 26 is connected to a drain pipe (not shown) installed in the building. The drain pipe 26 serves as a passage for excrement and the like discharged from the toilet bowl portion 18 into the downstream water passage on the sewage side.

[0015] The first water ejection portion 28A includes a first water ejection port 30A for ejecting washing water and a first water passage 34A for supplying the washing water to the first water ejection port 30A. The second water ejection portion 28B includes a second water ejection port 30B for ejecting washing water and a second water passage 34B for supplying the washing water to the second water ejection port 30B.

[0016] Washing water is supplied to the common water passage 38 from the water supply device 14 through the water supply pipe 16. The first water passage 34A and the second water passage 34B branch from the downstream end portion of the common water passage 38. The branching point 40 of the first water passage 34A and the second water passage 34B is provided behind the toilet bowl portion 18. In the present embodiment, the branching point 40 is provided at the central portion of the toilet bowl 12 in the left-right direction Y. The first water passage 34A branches to the left from the common water passage 38. The second water passage 34B branches to the right from the common water passage 38.

[0017] The first water channel 34A is provided to pass through the left rear side of the toilet bowl section 18. The first water channel 34A is continuous with the first outlet 30A and supplies flushing water supplied from the common water channel 38 to the first outlet 30A.

[0018] The first water outlet 30A in this embodiment is formed on the upper part of the left rear portion 18a of the toilet bowl portion 18, which is the left side of the left-right center line La and the rear of the front-rear center line Lb. The first water outlet 30A in this embodiment is formed behind the water reservoir portion 62. The left-right center line La is a straight line that, in a plan view, bisects the dimension of the inner surface portion of the toilet bowl portion 18 along the left-right direction Y and extends along the front-rear direction X. The front-rear center line Lb is a straight line that, in a plan view, bisects the dimension of the inner surface portion of the toilet bowl portion 18 along the front-rear direction X and extends along the left-right direction Y. The first water outlet 30A is open to the right rearward and discharges washing water toward one side in the circumferential direction, that is, counterclockwise in a plan view.

[0019] The second water channel 34B is provided to pass through the right rear side of the toilet bowl section 18. The second water channel 34B is continuous with the second outlet 30B and supplies the flushing water supplied from the common water channel 38 to the second outlet 30B.

[0020] In this embodiment, the second water outlet 30B is formed in the right portion 18b, which is the right side of the toilet bowl portion 18 on the right side of the left-right center line La. In a plan view, the second water outlet 30B is formed in a position that overlaps with the water reservoir portion 62 in the left-right direction Y. The second water outlet 30B is open towards the front and, like the first water outlet 30A, discharges cleaning water toward one side in the circumferential direction, that is, counterclockwise in a plan view.

[0021] The toilet bowl portion 18 includes a bowl-shaped waste receiving surface 60 for receiving waste, and a water reservoir portion 62 that is recessed downward from the lower edge of the waste receiving surface 60.

[0022] The water reservoir 62 has a bottom wall surface 62a, a left vertical wall surface 62b rising from the left side of the bottom wall surface 62a, a right vertical wall surface 62c rising from the right side of the bottom wall surface 62a, and a rear vertical wall surface 62d rising from the rear side of the bottom wall surface 62a, and is formed in a concave shape. The line Lc connecting the deepest parts of the water reservoir 62 at each front-rear position is slightly offset from the left-right center line La. An inlet 26a for the drainage pipe 26 opens at the rear of the bottom wall surface 62a. Washing water is stored in the water reservoir 62.

[0023] The left vertical wall surface 62b and the right vertical wall surface 62c are positioned so that they are closer to each other towards the front. Therefore, the water reservoir 62 has a shape that tapers towards the front when viewed from above. This configuration contributes to the formation of the induced flow Fwg (see Figure 5), which will be described later. The front ends of the left vertical wall surface 62b and the right vertical wall surface 62c are smoothly connected via a first concave curved surface 62e. The rear end of the left vertical wall surface 62b is smoothly connected to the rear vertical wall surface 62d via a second concave curved surface 62f. The rear end of the right vertical wall surface 62c is smoothly connected to the water reservoir 62 via a third concave curved surface 62g. In this specification, "smoothly" means that the surface being referred to is smooth and free of bumps or steps.

[0024] A portion of the area extending inward (towards the center of the toilet bowl 18) from the outer peripheral edge 60b of the waste receiving surface 60 constitutes a shelf surface 66. The shelf surface 66 is slightly inclined so that it becomes lower towards the inside. In this embodiment, the shelf surface 66 is provided on the periphery of the waste receiving surface 60, excluding a portion of the front. The shelf surface 66 is continuous with the inner lower surface of the first water outlet 30A and the inner lower surface of the second water outlet 30B. The shelf surface 66 explains the operation of the first water outlet 30 toilet device 10. When the predetermined flushing start conditions are met, the water supply device 14 supplies a predetermined amount of flushing water to the inside of the toilet bowl 12 through the water supply pipe 16. It guides the flushing water discharged from A and the second water outlet 30B to swirl.

[0025] The above describes the basic configuration of the toilet unit 10. Next, the operation of the toilet unit 10 will be explained. When the predetermined flushing start conditions are met, the water supply unit 14 supplies a predetermined amount of flushing water to the inside of the toilet 12 through the water supply pipe 16. The flushing start conditions are, for example, receiving a flushing start command from an external operating device such as a remote controller. The flushing water supplied to the flush toilet 12 passes through the common water channel 38, the water channels 34A and 34B, and is discharged from the outlets 30A and 30B into the toilet bowl section 18. The toilet bowl section 18 is cleaned by the flushing water, and the waste inside the toilet bowl section 18 is discharged through the drainage pipe 26.

[0026] Next, the flow of the washing water supplied to the toilet bowl section 18 will be explained. Refer to Figure 4. In Figure 4, the rear region 70, the left region 72, the right region 74, and the front region 76 represent four regions of the waste receiving surface 60 separated by dashed lines. The rear region 70 is the region of the waste receiving surface 60 behind the water reservoir 62. The left region 72 is the region of the waste receiving surface 60 to the left of the water reservoir 62 and the rear region 70. The right region 74 is the region of the waste receiving surface 60 to the right of the water reservoir 62 and the rear region 70. This is the region of the waste receiving surface 60 in front of the water reservoir 62, the left region 72, and the right region 74.

[0027] The first water discharge section 28A forms a first water flow Fwa and a second water flow Fwb with the cleaning water discharged from the first water outlet 30A. The first water flow Fwa is a water flow that mainly flows down the rear vertical wall surface 62d and into the water reservoir 62 from the rear. "Inflowing from the rear" means that cleaning water (water flow) with a forward velocity component flows into the cleaning water accumulated in the water reservoir 62. The second water flow Fwb is a water flow that moves counterclockwise around the shelf surface 66 behind the first water flow Fwa and proceeds to the right-side area 74. The second water flow Fwb cleans the right-side area 74.

[0028] The second water discharge section 28B forms a third water flow Fwc and a fourth water flow Fwd with the washing water discharged from the second water outlet 30B. The third water flow Fwc is a water flow that mainly washes the right side of the front area 76 and flows into the water reservoir 62 from the front. The fourth water flow Fwd is a water flow that moves forward through the right area 74, passes through the front area 76 and thus the front end of the waste receiving surface 60, moves backward through the left area 72 and merges with the washing water discharged from the first water outlet 30A.

[0029] A portion of the fourth water flow Fwd is reflected by the first water flow Fwa and forms a fifth water flow Fwe that flows into the reservoir 62 from the rear. The remainder of the fourth water flow Fwd merges with the second water flow Fwb to form a sixth water flow Fwe.

[0030] Refer to Figure 5. The first water flow Fwa changes direction upward and backward upon impact with the bottom wall surface 62a or the left vertical wall surface 62b of the reservoir 62, and then rises within the reservoir 62 before descending due to its own weight, forming a guided flow (vertical swirling flow) Fwg. The guided flow Fwg rises backward and then descends within the reservoir 62, creating a flow that pushes waste into the inlet 26a of the drainage pipe 26. In this way, the reservoir 62 is configured to form a guided flow Fwg that pushes waste into the drainage pipe 26 by flowing in from the rear along the rear vertical wall surface 62d or the right vertical wall surface 62c.

[0031] Next, we will explain the following 11 characteristic features of the toilet device 10, from (1) to (11).

[0032] (1) Refer to Figures 4-6. Figure 6 is a front view of the first spout 30A. The first spout 30A is formed in a vertically elongated shape. "Vertically elongated" means that the dimension D1 in the vertical direction (i.e., the up-and-down direction Z) is larger than the dimension D2 in the horizontal direction (i.e., the width direction, which is the horizontal direction).

[0033] To ensure the cleaning of the right-side area 74, it is necessary to deliver a second water flow of a moderate amount and at a moderate speed to the right-side area 74. To achieve this, the cleaning water must be discharged from the first outlet 30A at a predetermined flow velocity or higher. In this case, if the first outlet 30A is not vertically elongated, and therefore the first water flow Fwa is formed in a relatively thin film, the first water flow Fwa flows along the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18 (i.e., the waste receiving surface 60, the rear vertical wall surface 62d, and the right vertical wall surface 62c). In other words, it flows while being supported by the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18. In this case, since the first water flow Fwa falls over a relatively long period of time, most of the first water flow Fwa wraps around to the right vertical wall surface 62c before flowing into the cleaning water accumulated in the water reservoir 62. That is, the first water flow Fwa flows relatively far forward into the water reservoir 62.

[0034] The Discloser has investigated the induced flow Fwg and found that if the water flow is directed further back in the reservoir 62, the force of the induced flow Fwg is amplified, thereby improving the waste discharge capacity. In contrast, in this embodiment, the first discharge port 30A is formed in an elongated shape, and therefore, a bundle of washing water with an elongated cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the discharge direction, similar to water discharged from a hose, is discharged from the first discharge port 30A. The first water flow Fwa is an elongated bundle of water flow, at least immediately after being discharged from the first discharge port 30A. The portion of the first water flow Fwa that is in contact with the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18 (i.e., the lower portion of the first water flow Fwa) flows along the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18, supported by the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18. The portion of the first water flow Fwa that is not in contact with the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18 (i.e., the upper portion of the first water flow Fwa) falls without being supported by the inner surface of the toilet bowl 18. The upper portion of the first water flow Fwa falls relatively quickly, and therefore does not wrap around to the right vertical wall surface 62c, but flows into the washing water accumulated in the water reservoir 62 from the rear vertical wall surface 62d. In other words, the first water flow Fwa flows relatively far back into the water reservoir 62, and as a result, the water pressure of the guiding flow Fwg is amplified, improving the waste discharge capacity.

[0035] In addition, the membrane-like fourth water flow Fwd merges with the elongated, or thick, first water flow Fwa. In this case, the fourth water flow Fwd is more easily repelled by the first water flow Fwa. Therefore, more of the fourth water flow Fwd becomes the fifth water flow Fwe and flows into the reservoir 62 from the rear. As a result, the force of the guiding flow Fwg is amplified, improving the waste discharge capacity.

[0036] (2) Refer to Figures 3-4. If the first outlet 30A is open to the side, i.e., to the right, and cleaning water is discharged from the first outlet 30A toward the right, then most of the cleaning water will inevitably pass through the rear vertical wall surface 62d, and either flow along the rear vertical wall surface 62d into the cleaning water accumulated in the water reservoir 62, or wrap around from the rear vertical wall surface 62d to the right vertical wall surface 62c and flow along the right vertical wall surface 62c into the cleaning water accumulated in the water reservoir 62. In this case, the amount of cleaning water reaching the right-side area 74 of the waste receiving surface 60 will be insufficient, and the cleaning performance of the right-side area 74 will decrease.

[0037] In contrast, in the toilet bowl 12 of this embodiment, the first water outlet 30A is open to the right rear, and flushing water is discharged from the first water outlet 30A diagonally to the right rear, specifically toward the area of ​​the shelf surface 66 located behind the water reservoir 62. In other words, the first water outlet 28A of this embodiment is configured to discharge flushing water from the first water outlet 30A diagonally to the right rear, thereby forming a second water flow Fwb that flows toward one side in the circumferential direction (i.e., counterclockwise) toward one side in the circumferential direction of the area of ​​the shelf surface 66 located behind the water reservoir 62. In this case, an appropriate amount of flushing water discharged from the first water outlet 30A can reach the right-side area 74, thereby improving the flushing performance of the right-side area 74.

[0038] (3) Refer to Figures 3-4. The toilet bowl 12 is formed such that the height position (position in the vertical direction Z) of the inner lower surface of the second water outlet 30B is lower than the height position of the inner lower surface of the first water outlet 30A. "Height position of the inner lower surface of the water outlet" refers to the height position of the lowest part of the inner lower surface. In this case, the fourth water flow Fwd that joins the first water flow Fwa will eventually rise to a height position higher than the height position of the inner lower surface of the second water outlet 30B. As a result, the velocity component of the fourth water flow Fwd heading backward is decelerated and becomes more easily bounced back by the first water flow Fwa. Therefore, more of the flushing water of the fourth water flow Fwd becomes the fifth water flow Fwe and flows into the water reservoir 62 from the rear. As a result, the water force of the induced flow Fwg is amplified, and the waste discharge capacity is improved.

[0039] (4) Refer to Figures 3-4. The shelf surface 66 located behind the water reservoir 62 is formed such that the central part C in the left-right direction is higher than the inner lower surface of the first water outlet 30A. In this case, the second water flow Fwb rises from the height of the inner lower surface of the first water outlet 30A to the higher height of the central part C, and is therefore decelerated. A portion of the decelerated second water flow Fwb flows down the rear vertical wall surface 62d and into the washing water accumulated in the water reservoir 62. In other words, the amount of washing water flowing in from the rear vertical wall surface 62d can be increased, the force of the guiding flow Fwg is further amplified, and the waste discharge capacity can be improved.

[0040] The shape of the shelf surface 66 is not particularly limited, and it may be formed so that the height increases from the inner lower surface of the first outlet 30A toward the central part C, or it may be raised in a stepped manner. The shelf surface 66 may include a portion between the central part C and the first outlet 30A where the height decreases from the first outlet 30A side toward the central part C side, provided that the central part C is higher than the inner lower surface of the first outlet 30A.

[0041] (5) Refer to Figures 3 and 7. The toilet bowl 12 is formed such that the width W1 of the center of the shelf surface 66 located behind the water reservoir 62 in the left-right direction is smaller than the width W2 of the first spout 30A. The width W2 of the first spout 30A may be the width of the lowest surface of the first spout 30A, or it may be the maximum width of the first spout 30A. When the above relationship is satisfied, the amount of flushing water from the second water flow Fwb that swirls around the shelf surface 66 behind the water reservoir 62 and heads towards the right-side area 74 can be increased, and the water pressure of the guided flow Fwg can be further amplified. In other words, the flushing water of the second water flow Fwb can reach the right-side area 74 to ensure the flushing of the right-side area 74, while the water pressure of the guided flow Fwg can be further amplified to improve the waste discharge capacity.

[0042] (6) Refer to Figures 8-10. The toilet bowl section 18 has connecting surfaces 80 that connect the shelf surface 66 and the vertical wall surfaces of the water reservoir section 62. The connecting surfaces 80 are provided on the shelf surface 66, which has a convex curved shape with a single radius of curvature in a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction X. The connecting surfaces 80 are provided on at least the rear portions of the left region 72 and the right region 74 of the waste receiving surface 60. In this embodiment, the connecting surfaces 80 are provided so as to be continuous from the rear region 70 of the waste receiving surface 60 to the left region 72 and the right region 74.

[0043] Positions A-F and B'-F' in Figure 10 correspond to positions A-F and B'-F' in Figure 8. The toilet bowl 12 is formed such that, at the same front-to-back position, the radius of curvature of the connecting surface 80 in the left region 72 (the right connecting surface 80 in Figure 9) is larger than the radius of curvature of the connecting surface 80 in the right region 74 (the left connecting surface 80 in Figure 9). In other words, at the same front-to-back position, where the distance from the left-to-right center is equal, the connecting surface 80 in the left region 72 is lower than the connecting surface 80 in the right region 74, meaning the distance from the upper surface 20b of the upper surface portion 20 is longer (see Figure 9). In this embodiment, these relationships hold not only at positions in the front-to-back direction X that overlap with the first spout 30A in the left-to-right direction Y, but also at positions in the front-to-back direction X that do not overlap with the first spout 30A in the left-to-right direction Y. These positions may also be described as positions in the front-to-back direction X that are forward of the first spout 30A.

[0044] As a result, at the same front-to-back position, the lateral range in which the connecting surface 80 is formed in the left region 72 is narrower than the lateral range in which the connecting surface 80 is formed in the right region 74. In other words, the connecting surface 80 in the left region 72 is formed relatively narrowly in the lateral direction, while the connecting surface 80 in the right region 74 is formed relatively wide in the lateral direction.

[0045] In this case, compared to the case where the connecting surface 80 in the left-side region 72 is formed to be relatively wide in the left-right direction, the fifth water flow can flow more easily into the water reservoir 62. As a result, a stronger guiding flow Fwg can be formed, improving the waste discharge capacity.

[0046] Furthermore, in this case, compared to the case where the connecting surface 80 in the right-side region 74 is formed to be relatively narrow in the left-right direction, more of the second water flow Fwb that reaches the right-side region 74 can be merged with the third water flow Fwc. As a result, the amount of washing water flowing into the water reservoir 62 from the front increases, the force of the guiding flow Fwg is further amplified, and the waste discharge capacity can be improved.

[0047] (7) Refer to Figure 7. The toilet bowl 12 is equipped with a splash-suppressing wall 90 that extends in the direction of water discharge from the outer edge 36 of the first water outlet 30A on the central side of the toilet bowl portion 18. The upper end of the splash-suppressing wall 90 is continuous with the upper surface portion 20. In this embodiment, the splash-suppressing wall 90 extends only from the upper side of the outer edge 36. In this embodiment, the splash-suppressing wall 90 extends further the higher it is. Therefore, the lower surface 90a of the splash-suppressing wall 90 has a curved shape. The splash-suppressing wall 90 suppresses the splashing of flushing water that may occur immediately after it leaves the first water outlet 30A. This prevents flushing water from splashing onto the upper surface b of the upper surface portion 20 or onto the user's buttocks.

[0048] (8) Refer to Figures 3, 11-12. The first water channel 34A has a minimum area section 32, which is the part with the smallest cross-sectional area. The area of ​​the minimum area section 32 is designed and manufactured to be such that the flow rate of the cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A is the desired flow rate. For example, when the first outlet 30A is elongated vertically, as in the configuration of (1), if the vertical dimension of the first outlet 30A is larger than the vertical dimension of the minimum area section 32, it is necessary to widen the vertical dimension of the first water channel 34A between the minimum area section 32 and the first outlet 30A.

[0049] In the comparative example, the first water channel 34A includes a small section 50 having the same vertical dimension as the minimum area section 32, and a large section 52 having the same vertical dimension as the first outlet 30A (see Figure 12). In the comparative example, the small section 50 and the large section 52 are continuous. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the first water channel 34A changes abruptly from the vertical dimension of the minimum area section 32 to the vertical dimension of the first outlet 30A. In this case, cleaning water does not easily flow into the upper part 52a of the upstream end of the large section 52, and air contained in the cleaning water accumulates. The accumulated air is then included in the cleaning water as large bubbles at a certain point and discharged from the first outlet 30A. The popping sound when the discharged bubbles burst may cause discomfort to the user.

[0050] In contrast, the first water channel 34A of this embodiment includes a gradually expanding section 54 between the small-dimension section 50 and the large-dimension section 52 (see Figure 11). The inner upper surface 54a of the gradually expanding section 54 is an inclined surface that is higher towards the downstream side. That is, the vertical dimension of the gradually expanding section 54 gradually increases toward the downstream side. In this case, there is no part that is difficult for cleaning water to flow into, such as the upper part 52a of the upstream end of the large-dimension section 52 in the comparative example, so the accumulation of air in the first water channel 34A is suppressed. Therefore, large air bubbles are suppressed from being contained in the cleaning water and discharged from the first discharge port 30A.

[0051] (9) Refer to Figure 13. In Figure 13, the flow of washing water in the first water channel 34A is indicated by arrows. The first water channel 34A includes a first section 84 extending generally to the left and forward from the common water channel 38, a second section 86 extending forward from the first section 84, and a third section 88 extending generally to the right and rear from the second section 86. The third section 88 is not connected to the front end of the second section 86, but is connected at a position slightly rearward from the front end. The flow path width W3 in the left-right direction on the front side of the second section 86 gradually widens as it moves from the front end towards the rear, in other words, as it approaches the third section 88 in the front-rear direction from the front end. The flow path width W3 at least at its widest point on the front side of the second section 86 (flow path width W3 max As shown, the flow path width W4 in the left-right direction on the rear side of the second section 86 is wider than the flow path width W5 of the third section 88. In this case, the cleaning water that flows from the first section 84 to the rear end of the second section 86 flows through the second section 86 toward its front end, turns back within the second section 86, and then flows into the third section 88. Therefore, the effective length of the first water channel 34A is longer compared to the case where the third section 88 is connected to the front end of the second section 86. If the length of the first water channel 34A is longer, the flow resistance of the first water channel 34A increases accordingly, and the cleaning water flowing through the first water channel 34A is slowed down. Furthermore, the cleaning water flowing through the first water channel 34A is also slowed down by the interference between the cleaning water flowing through the second section 86 toward its front end and the cleaning water turning back within the second section 86. In other words, the second part 86 and the third part 88 function as deceleration units that reduce the flow rate of the washing water to a desired velocity.

[0052] (10) Refer to Figures 14 to 16. The inner lower surface of the first water channel 34A includes a first horizontal region 42A that is continuous with the inner lower surface of the first discharge port 30A, and a first lower region 44A provided upstream of the first horizontal region 42A in the first water channel 34A. The inner lower surface of the second water channel 34B includes a second horizontal region 42B that is continuous with the inner lower surface of the second discharge section 28B, and a second lower region 44B provided upstream of the second horizontal region 42B in the second water channel 34B. In Figure 14, the axial direction of the lower regions 44A and 44B is shown by dashed lines. The axial direction here refers to the direction along the central axis of the first water channel 34A and the second water channel 34B mentioned.

[0053] The first horizontal region 42A and the second horizontal region 42B are provided parallel to the horizontal plane. Here, "parallel" includes not only cases where they are geometrically perfectly parallel to the horizontal plane, but also cases where they are inclined to the horizontal plane within a range of 0° to 1°.

[0054] The first lower region 44A is located lower than the first horizontal region 42A. In this embodiment, the first lower region 44A is continuous with the upstream end of the first horizontal region 42A without forming a step between it and the first horizontal region 42A. The second lower region 44B is located lower than the second horizontal region 42B. In this embodiment, the second lower region 44B is continuous with the upstream end of the second horizontal region 42B without forming a step between it and the second horizontal region 42B.

[0055] The first low-level region 44A and the second low-level region 44B in this embodiment are inclined surfaces that become higher towards the downstream side. The first low-level region 44A and the second low-level region 44B may be either flat or curved surfaces. The first low-level region 44A and the second low-level region 44B in this embodiment are formed such that their inclination angles with respect to the horizontal plane are the same. The inclination angle is, for example, in the range of 2° to 5°.

[0056] On the inner lower surface of the common waterway 38, a downward-sloping recessed portion 48 is formed at the branching point 40 of the first waterway 34A and the second waterway 34B.

[0057] The upstream end of the first low-level region 44A and the upstream end of the second low-level region 44B are located at the same height (see Figure 15). The downstream end of the first low-level region 44A and the downstream end of the second low-level region 44B are located at the same height. The first horizontal region 42A and the second horizontal region 42B are located at the same height (see Figure 16). The inner lower surface of the first outlet 30A and the inner lower surface of the second outlet 30B are located at the same height. Here, "height" refers to the position in the vertical direction Z.

[0058] The first water channel 34A and the second water channel 34B are formed such that, in a plan view, the axial length of the first lower region 44A (hereinafter referred to as the first length) and the axial length of the second lower region 44B (hereinafter referred to as the second length) are equivalent. In this specification, "equivalent" includes cases where the two items being compared are identical, as well as cases where they are nearly identical. Here, "nearly identical" includes cases where the difference between the two items being compared is within ±5% of the magnitude of one of them (in this case, the first length L1).

[0059] Consider a situation where the supply of cleaning water to the water channels 34A and 34B is complete, and some of the cleaning water remains in the water channels 34A and 34B as residual water. In this embodiment, the water channels 34A and 34B include horizontal regions 42A and 42B that are continuous with the inner lower surfaces of the outlets 30A and 30B. The residual water remaining in the horizontal regions 42A and 42B of the water channels 34A and 34B near the outlets 30A and 30B is less likely to flow toward the outlets due to its own weight. Therefore, compared to the case where a downward sloping surface is provided on the inner lower surface of the water channels 34A and 34B, the amount of residual water in the water channels 34A and 34B that flows out from the outlets 30A and 30B can be reduced. This downward sloping surface is continuous with the inner lower surface of the outlets 30A and 30B and has a downward slope toward the outlets 28A and 28B.

[0060] The residual water in the water channels 34A and 34B forms a film. As the thickness of this residual water decreases, it becomes more susceptible to movement in random directions due to surface tension. Let's consider the case where horizontal areas 42A and 42B are provided over the entire inner lower surface of the water channels 34A and 34B. In this case, the residual water on the horizontal areas 42A and 42B tends to have a thickness that is close to a constant size overall. Therefore, the residual water over the entire inner lower surface of the water channels 34A and 34B becomes more susceptible to movement due to surface tension and may flow out from the water channels 34A and 34B through the outlets 30A and 30B.

[0061] In contrast, in this embodiment, a portion of the water channels 34A and 34B includes lower regions 44A and 44B. The thickness of residual water in the lower regions 44A and 44B is greater than the thickness of residual water in the horizontal regions 42A and 42B. Therefore, the residual water in the lower regions 44A and 44B is less likely to move due to surface tension compared to the residual water in the horizontal regions 42A and 42B. As a result, the amount of residual water that may move due to surface tension can be reduced compared to the case where horizontal regions 42A and 42B are provided throughout the entire area of ​​the water channels 34A and 34B. Consequently, the amount of residual water in the water channels 34A and 34B that flows out from the outlets 30A and 30B can be reduced.

[0062] As a result of the above factors, the duration for which streaky water flows due to residual water in the water channels 34A and 34B can be shortened. Consequently, the deterioration in appearance caused by toilet flushing can be suppressed.

[0063] Consider the case where a cleaning tool such as a cloth is pushed from the outside of the spouts 30A and 30B to the back of the water passages 34A and 34B. In this case, if the water passages 34A and 34B are provided with downward sloping surfaces continuous with the spouts 30A and 30B, the cleaning tool is likely to get caught on the downward sloping surface. In contrast, according to this embodiment, horizontal areas 42A and 42B continuous with the spouts 30A and 30B are provided in the water passages 34A and 34B. Compared to the case where the aforementioned downward sloping surfaces are provided in the water passages 34A and 34B, it becomes easier to push the cleaning tool to the back, resulting in better cleaning performance.

[0064] In order to regulate the flow of cleaning water discharged from outlets 30A and 30B, it is desirable to keep the dimensions of outlets 30A and 30B in the vertical Z direction constant in the axial direction. Let's consider the case where a downward sloping surface continuous with outlets 30A and 30B is provided on the inner lower surface of the water passages 34A and 34B. In this case, if we try to keep the dimensions of outlets 30A and 30B constant in the vertical Z direction, the shape of the inner lower and inner upper surfaces of outlets 30A and 30B becomes complex. Consequently, there are more places within outlets 30A and 30B where cleaning water hits, leading to instability in the flow of cleaning water discharged from outlets 30A and 30B. In contrast, in this embodiment, horizontal areas 42A and 42B are provided on the inner lower surface of the water passages 34A and 34B at locations continuous with outlets 30A and 30B. Therefore, compared to the case where a downward sloping surface is provided on the inner lower surface of the water passages 34A and 34B, the simpler structure allows the dimensions of the outlets 30A and 30B in the vertical Z direction to be kept constant. Consequently, the number of areas within the outlets 30A and 30B that are hit by the cleaning water can be reduced, making it easier to stabilize the flow of the cleaning water discharged from the outlets 30A and 30B.

[0065] The horizontal areas 42A, 42B and the lower areas 44A, 44B described above are provided in the first water channel 34A and the second water channel 34B, respectively. Therefore, even when there are multiple water channels 34A and 34B, as described above, the amount of residual water in the water channels 34A and 34B that flows out from the discharge ports 30A and 30B can be reduced.

[0066] The first length L1 is equivalent to the second length L2. Therefore, the inclination angles of the upward inclined surfaces 46 formed by each lower region 44A and 44B can be kept the same, while the inner lower surfaces of each outlet 30A and 30B can be positioned at the same height. By keeping the inclination angles of the upward inclined surfaces 46 of each lower region 44A and 44B the same, the surface data corresponding to each lower region 44A and 44B can be easily obtained in a 3D CAD (Computer-Aided Design) model by inverting it in the left-right direction Y. Consequently, the burden of drafting work can be reduced.

[0067] In addition, since the inner lower surfaces of each spout 30A and 30B can be positioned at the same height, it is not necessary to provide many areas with a circumferential slope in the toilet bowl portion 18 of the toilet bowl 12. Consequently, the shape of the toilet bowl portion 18 can be simplified, resulting in good manufacturability.

[0068] The lower regions 44A and 44B of the water channels 34A and 34B are upward sloping surfaces 46 that are continuous with the horizontal regions 42A and 42B. Therefore, there is no step at the boundary between the lower regions 44A and 44B and the horizontal regions 42A and 42B. As a result, if foreign matter enters the water channels 34A and 34B, it can be easily flushed out and prevented from remaining in the channels.

[0069] (11) Refer to Figure 4. The toilet bowl 12 is configured such that the following (a) to (f) are satisfied with respect to the flow rate and volume of the flushing water.

[0070] (a) The flow velocity of the cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A is slower than the flow velocity of the cleaning water discharged from the second outlet 30B. In this case, the first water flow Fwa has a relatively slow flow velocity, and the third water flow Fwc has a relatively fast flow velocity. The first water flow Fwa, which has a relatively slow flow velocity, does not easily wrap around to the right vertical wall surface 62c, and therefore most of the first water flow Fwa flows along the rear vertical wall surface 62d and into the water reservoir 62. As a result, the water force of the guiding flow Fwg is amplified. The third water flow Fwc, which has a relatively fast flow velocity, thoroughly cleans the front area 76, which is a wide area in front of the dirt receiving surface 60 where dirt tends to adhere. A portion of the third water flow Fwc, which has a relatively fast flow velocity, moves backward along the left area 72 after cleaning the front area 76 due to its high flow velocity and centrifugal force, and flows into the water reservoir 62 from the rear. This further amplifies the water pressure of the induced flow Fwg. In other words, if the above relationship is satisfied with respect to the flow velocity of the flushing water discharged from the outlets 30A and 30B, a toilet bowl 12 can be obtained that has high cleaning performance of the waste receiving surface 60 and high waste discharge capacity. Thus, the water pressure of the induced flow Fwg is amplified, and the waste discharge capacity is improved.

[0071] (b) The amount of cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A is greater than the amount of cleaning water from the second outlet 30B that joins it. In other words, Fwa + Fwb > Fwd holds true. In this case, the fourth water flow Fwd is more likely to be repelled because it collides with a water flow that has a larger volume than itself. Therefore, a larger amount of the fourth water flow Fwd forms the fifth water flow Fwe that flows into the reservoir 62 from the rear.

[0072] (c) The total volume of cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A and the cleaning water from the second outlet 30B that joins it is greater than the volume of cleaning water discharged from the second outlet 30B. In other words, Fwa + Fwb + Fwe + Fwf > Fwc + Fwd holds true. By increasing the amount of cleaning water flowing through the rear region 70, the amount of water flowing into the reservoir 62 from the rear can be increased.

[0073] (d) The amount of flushing water discharged from the second outlet 30B is greater than the amount of flushing water discharged from the first outlet 30A. In this case, the relatively large amount of flushing water from the second outlet 30B can thoroughly clean the front area 76, which is a wide area on the front side of the waste receiving surface 60. Furthermore, if the flow velocity of the flushing water is fast, a portion of it will, due to the fast flow velocity and centrifugal force, move backward through the left area 72 after cleaning the front area 76 and flow into the water reservoir 62 from the rear. This further amplifies the water pressure of the guiding flow Fwg. In other words, when the above relationship is satisfied with respect to the amount of flushing water discharged from the outlets 30A and 30B, a toilet 12 can be obtained that has high cleaning performance of the waste receiving surface 60 and high waste discharge capacity. Thus, the water pressure of the guiding flow Fwg is amplified, and the waste discharge capacity is improved.

[0074] (e) With respect to the cleaning water from the second outlet 30B that joins the cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A, the amount of cleaning water flowing into the reservoir 62 from the rear is greater than the amount of cleaning water swirling around the shelf surface 66 at the rear of the reservoir 62. In other words, Fwe > Fwf holds true. In this case, more than half of the cleaning water from the second outlet 30B that joins the cleaning water from the first outlet 30A can be contributed to the formation of the induced flow Fwg.

[0075] (f) The ratio of the amount of cleaning water flowing into the reservoir 62 from the rear to the amount of cleaning water discharged from the first outlet 30A is 2 / 3 or more. That is, Fwa / (Fwa+Fwb)≧2 / 3 holds true. In other words, the main flow, the first water flow Fwa, flows into the reservoir 62 from the rear. In this specification, "main flow" refers to the water flow formed by 50% or more of the cleaning water discharged from one outlet. In this case, a large amount of cleaning water can be allowed to flow into the reservoir 62 from the rear, improving the waste discharge capacity.

[0076] The present disclosure has been described above based on embodiments. These embodiments are illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in combinations of their components and processing steps, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications will be described below.

[0077] (Variation 1) Unlike the embodiment, the toilet bowl 12 may be a floor-standing type.

[0078] (Modification 2) Unlike the embodiment, the toilet bowl 12 may have only the first water outlet 28A and may not have the second water outlet 28B. See Figure 17. In this modified example, the first water outlet 30A is formed on the upper part of the left front portion 18c, which is the part of the toilet bowl 18 that is to the left of the left-right center line La and in front of the front-rear center line Lb. The first water outlet 30A may also be formed on the upper part of the left rear portion 18a, similar to the embodiment. The toilet bowl 12 is configured to form a first water flow Fwa, a second water flow Fwb, a third water flow Fwc, and a fourth water flow Fwd with the flushing water discharged from the first water outlet 30A.

[0079] (1) to (2), (4) to (10), and part of (11) can also be adopted in this modified form. For example, when the configuration of (1) is adopted and cleaning water is discharged in a vertical bundle from the vertically elongated first outlet 30A to form a vertically elongated bundle of water flow, the upper part of the water flow that is not in contact with the waste receiving surface 60 is less affected by the waste receiving surface 60 and is therefore easier to reach the desired position on the waste receiving surface 60. This makes it possible to form the desired water flow.

[0080] (Variation 3) The first water outlet 28A and the second water outlet 28B may be positioned in opposite positions to the positions in the embodiment. In this case, the first water outlet 28A and the second water outlet 28B discharge cleaning water into the toilet bowl 18 in a clockwise direction in a plan view, thereby forming water flows in which the first water flows Fwa to the sixth water flows Fwf are reversed left and right.

[0081] (Modification 4) The lower regions 44A and 44B only need to be located lower than the horizontal regions 42A and 42B in the water channels 34A and 34B. To achieve this, the lower regions 44A and 44B may be horizontal surfaces instead of the upward sloping surface 46. The lower regions 44A and 44B may form a stepped section with respect to the horizontal regions 42A and 42B.

[0082] The length of the first channel and the length of the second channel may be set to different lengths.

[0083] The embodiments and modifications have been described in detail above. In understanding the technical concept abstracted from the embodiments and modifications, that concept should not be interpreted restrictively to the content of the embodiments and modifications. The embodiments and modifications described above are merely examples. The content of the embodiments and modifications allows for many design changes, such as changes, additions, and deletions of components. In the embodiments described above, the content that allows for such design changes is emphasized with the notation "embodiment." Design changes are also permitted for content without such notation. The hatching applied to the cross-section in the drawings does not limit the material to which the hatching is applied. Any combination of the above components is also valid. For example, any explanatory item of the modifications may be combined with the embodiments.

[0084] The following is a description of each claim in the claims of the original application. (Claim 1) A toilet bowl having a waste receiving surface and a water reservoir recessed downward from the lower edge of the waste receiving surface, A first water outlet that opens to one side of the toilet bowl in the left-right direction and forms a water flow into the water reservoir from the rear by discharging cleaning water from the first water outlet, It comprises a second water outlet that opens to the other side of the toilet bowl in the left-right direction, and a second water outlet that discharges cleaning water at a faster flow rate than the first water outlet, The amount of cleaning water discharged from the second water outlet is greater than the amount of cleaning water discharged from the first water outlet. A portion of the washing water discharged from the second water outlet travels forward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on the other side in the left-right direction, passes through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface forward of the water reservoir, travels backward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on one side in the left-right direction, is bounced back by the water flow, and flows into the water reservoir from the rear. Flush toilet. (Claim 2) The second water outlet is provided on the front side of the center of the toilet bowl in the front-to-back direction. A flush toilet according to claim 1. (Claim 3) The total volume of cleaning water discharged from the first discharge section and the volume of cleaning water discharged from the second discharge section that merges with the cleaning water discharged from the first discharge section is greater than the volume of cleaning water discharged from the second discharge section. A flush toilet according to claim 1. (Claim 4) The second water discharge section forms a water flow that travels through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface located in front of the water reservoir section. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 3. (Claim 5) The first discharge section has a first water channel branching off from the water channel, The second water discharge section has a second water channel branching off from the water channel, The first water channel has a deceleration unit that slows down the washing water flowing through the first water channel. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 4. (Claim 6) The amount of cleaning water discharged from the first water outlet is greater than the amount of cleaning water discharged from the second water outlet that merges with the cleaning water discharged from the first water outlet. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 5. (Claim 7) The first discharge section has a first water channel branching off from the water channel, The second water discharge section has a second water channel branching off from the water channel, The aforementioned first waterway is It has a first extending portion that extends in the front-rear direction, and a second extending portion that is continuous with the front side of the first extending portion and extends from there toward the center and rear in the left-right direction and is continuous with the first water outlet, The maximum flow path width on the front side of the first extension is wider than the flow path width on the rear side of the first extension. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 6. (Claim 8) The waste receiving surface has a shelf surface for guiding a portion of the washing water discharged from the first water outlet to the other side in the left-right direction. The shelf surface is formed such that its height increases from the inner lower surface of the first water outlet toward the center in the left-right direction of the region of the shelf surface located behind the water reservoir. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 7. (Claim 9) The waste receiving surface has a shelf surface for guiding a portion of the washing water discharged from the first water outlet to the other side in the left-right direction. The width of the central part in the left-right direction of the region of the shelf surface located behind the water reservoir is narrower than the width of the first spout. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 8. (Claim 10) The waste receiving surface has a shelf surface for guiding a portion of the washing water discharged from the first water outlet to the other side in the left-right direction. The toilet bowl portion further has a connecting surface that connects the vertical wall surface of the water reservoir portion and the shelf surface, In the left-right direction, the portion of the connecting surface on one side and the portion of the connecting surface on the other side in the left-right direction are at the same front-to-back position and at the same distance from the center of the toilet bowl in the left-right direction, but their height positions are different from each other. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 9. (Claim 11) The washing water discharged from the first water outlet further forms a separate water flow that travels along the area of ​​the waste receiving surface behind the water reservoir towards the other side in the left-right direction, Another portion of the washing water discharged from the second water outlet travels forward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on the other side in the left-right direction, passes through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface forward of the water reservoir, travels backward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on one side in the left-right direction, and merges with the other water flow. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 10. (Claim 12) The inner lower surface of the second spout is lower than the inner lower surface of the first spout. A flush toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 11. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0085] 10 Toilet equipment, 12 Flush toilet bowl, 18 Toilet bowl section, 26 Drainage pipe, 28A First water outlet, 28B Second water outlet, 30A First water outlet, 30B Second water outlet, 60 Waste receiving surface, 62 Water reservoir section.

Claims

[Claim 1] A toilet bowl having a waste receiving surface and a water reservoir recessed downward from the lower edge of the waste receiving surface, A first water outlet that forms a water flow into the water reservoir from the rear by discharging washing water from a first water outlet that opens on one side of the toilet bowl in the left-right direction, It comprises a second water outlet that opens to the other side of the toilet bowl in the left-right direction, and a second water outlet that discharges cleaning water at a faster flow rate than the first water outlet, The amount of cleaning water discharged from the second water outlet is greater than the amount of cleaning water discharged from the first water outlet. A portion of the washing water discharged from the second water outlet travels forward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on the other side in the left-right direction, passes through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface forward of the water reservoir, travels backward through the area of ​​the waste receiving surface on one side in the left-right direction, is bounced back by the water flow, and flows into the water reservoir from the rear. Flush toilet.

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