Water flushing toilet 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 more particularly to a flush toilet apparatus that flushes with 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 the 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 outlet. In other words, the water conduit formed inside the flush toilet body branches 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 rim spouting and one for jet spouting, and by opening these drain valves, water is spouted from the rim spout and 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 systems equipped with a single drain valve, water spouting begins from the rim spout and jet spout at approximately the same time. As a result, 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 spout and jet spout, making it possible to start spouting water from the rim spout and jet spout 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 spout. For this reason, even the flush toilet described in Patent Document 1 is unable to achieve a sufficient effect in 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 using 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 bottom of the bowl portion; a flush water tank that is located 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 discharging flush water from a rim spout provided on the upper edge of the bowl portion and stopping it; a second drain valve that opens and closes a second drain outlet provided in the flush water tank to switch between discharging flush water from a jet spout provided on the bottom of the bowl portion and stopping it; and a water pressure drive mechanism that uses the water supply pressure of flush water supplied to the flush water tank from the water main line to open the first drain valve or second drain valve.

[0009] According to the present invention configured in this way, 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 it is possible to effectively flush the bowl part of the flush toilet body with a small amount of flush water. Also, because the first drain valve 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 to open 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 second drain valve to open with a delay between the opening of one and the opening of the other, making it possible to start water discharge from the rim spout and jet spout at a time that is required depending on the configuration of the flush toilet main body, and effectively flushing the bowl while reducing the amount of flush water used.

[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 drops to a predetermined position, flush water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism, so that the supply of flush water to the water hydraulic drive mechanism can be started at an appropriate time based on the water level in the flush 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 hydraulic 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 way, 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 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 appropriate 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 drops 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 drops to a predetermined second water level that is lower than the first water level.

[0019] The present invention configured in this way is equipped 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 hydraulic 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 hydraulic drive mechanism can be freely set, and water discharge can be started at a timing suitable for flushing. [Effects 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 explanation 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. [Figure 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. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 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. 1 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. [Figure 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] 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the flush toilet apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 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. 10 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] 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. 10 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] 6 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 INVENTION

[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 apparatus 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 apparatus 1 of this embodiment is configured so that flushing is carried out after use by operating a lever handle 4a provided on the flush water tank 4. As a variant, the present invention can also be configured so that flushing is carried out 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 tap via a stop valve 8, and the supplied flush water is stored in the flush water tank 4 up to a predetermined water level. Stop valve 8 is provided to stop the supply of flush water to the flush water tank 4 during maintenance etc., and is normally left in the "open" position. In addition, first drain valve 10 and second drain valve 12 are built into the flush water tank 4, and are configured to open and close first drain outlet 4b and second drain outlet 4c, respectively, which are 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 spout 2d. Therefore, the first drain valve 10 switches between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from the rim water spout 2d by opening and closing the first drain outlet 4b provided in the flush water tank 4. Furthermore, 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 spout 2e. Therefore, the second drain valve 12 switches between turning on and off the discharge of flush water from the jet water spout 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 flush 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 that 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 main body 2, and has a first drain outlet 4b and a second drain outlet 4c formed at the bottom for discharging the stored flush water into the flush toilet main 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 when the first drain valve 10 is pulled upward. This causes 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 then ejected from the rim spout 2d.

[0030] In this embodiment, when the user rotates the lever handle 4a provided on the flush water tank 4, a ball chain 10a (schematically shown in Figure 2) connected to the first drain valve 10 is pulled, and the first drain valve 10 is pulled up. In this embodiment, the first drain valve 10 is a valve body equipped with a float 10b, and after being pulled up from the first drain port 4b and opened, it gradually drops as the water level in the flush water tank 4 drops, and is configured to close when the water level drops 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) in the flush toilet 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 has been 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] Furthermore, in this embodiment, float ball 12b of second drain valve 12 is attached at a higher position than float ball 10b of first drain valve 10, so it sits on second drain outlet 4c and closes it when the water level in flush water tank 4 is relatively high. In other words, when first drain valve 10 and second drain valve 12 move down as the water level in flush water tank 4 drops, second drain valve 12 sits on 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 element 20 arranged in this main body 18, a valve seat 22 on which this main valve element 20 sits, an arm 26 that is rotated by a float 24, and a pilot valve 28 that is moved by the rotation of this arm 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 drops to a predetermined position.

[0036] The main body 18 is a component having a connection for the inlet pipe 14a at its bottom and a connection for the outlet pipe 14b on one side. A valve seat 22 is formed inside the main body 18, and this valve seat 22 is connected to the outlet pipe 14b connected to the connection. A main valve element 20 is also disposed inside the main body 18 to open and close the valve seat 22. When the valve is open, tap water flowing in from the inlet pipe 14a passes through the valve seat 22 and flows out into the outlet pipe 14b. The outlet pipe 14b is connected to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16.

[0037] The main valve element 20 is a generally disc-shaped diaphragm-type valve element that is attached inside the main body 18 so that it can seat on and lift off from a valve seat 22. A bleed hole 20a is provided around the periphery of the main valve element 20. A pressure chamber 18a is formed inside the main body 18 on the opposite side of the main valve element 20 from the valve seat 22 (the left side in FIG. 3 ). That is, the pressure chamber 18a is defined by the inner wall surface of the main body 18 and the main valve element 20. When the pressure inside this pressure chamber 18a increases, this pressure presses the main valve element 20 against the valve seat 22, causing it to seat on the valve seat 22.

[0038] Furthermore, a pressure passage 18b extends upward 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 the pilot valve 28.

[0039] Meanwhile, 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 is configured so that the pilot valve 28 moves up and down as the arm portion 26 rotates. As a result, when the water level in the flush water tank 4 has risen to or above a predetermined set water level L1, the float 24 is pushed upward, which causes the pilot valve 28 to move downward and seat on the pilot valve port 28a, 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, causing the pilot valve 28 to move upward and opening the pilot valve port 28a. 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 element 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 increases. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a increases in this way, this pressure presses the main valve element 20 toward the valve seat 22 (to the right in FIG. 3), and the main valve element 20 closes the valve seat 22.

[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, 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 element 20 to move away from the valve seat 22 (to the left in FIG. 3), opening the valve seat 22. In this way, with the pilot valve port 28a open, the pressure in the pressure chamber 18a does not rise, and the valve seat 22 remains open.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 will be described with reference to FIG. The water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is configured to drive the second drain valve 12 using the water supply pressure of flush water supplied to the flush water tank from the water main. Specifically, the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 has a cylinder 16a into which water supplied from the ball tap 14 flows, a piston 16b slidably disposed within the cylinder 16a, and a rod 30 that protrudes from the bottom end of the cylinder 16a and drives the second drain valve 12. Furthermore, a spring 16c is disposed inside the cylinder 16a and urges 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. Furthermore, a clutch mechanism 32 is provided at the bottom end of the rod 30, and this clutch mechanism 32 connects and disconnects the rod 30 and the valve stem 12a of the second drain valve 12.

[0043] Cylinder 16a is a cylindrical member that is disposed with its axis oriented vertically and that slidably accommodates piston 16b inside. An outlet pipe 14b extending from ball tap 14 is connected to the lower end of cylinder 16a, allowing flush water flowing out from ball tap 14 to flow into cylinder 16a. As a result, piston 16b inside cylinder 16a is pushed up against the biasing force of spring 16c by the water that has flowed into cylinder 16a.

[0044] Meanwhile, an outflow hole is provided at the upper end of cylinder 16a, and water supply pipe 34 communicates with the interior of cylinder 16a via this outflow hole. Therefore, when water flows into cylinder 16a from outflow pipe 14b connected to the bottom of cylinder 16a, piston 16b is pushed upward from the bottom of cylinder 16a. Then, when piston 16b is pushed up to a position above the outflow hole, the water that has flowed into cylinder 16a flows out from the outflow hole into water supply pipe 34. Also, flush water that has flowed into water supply pipe 34 falls into flush water tank 4, supplying flush water to 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 valve stem 12a of the second drain valve 12 is connected to the lower end of the rod 30 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 pushes up the piston 16b, 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 rod 30 protruding from below cylinder 16a and the inner wall of the through-hole in cylinder 16a, and some of the water that flows into cylinder 16a flows out from this gap. The water that flows out from the gap flows into flush water tank 4. Note that this gap is relatively narrow and has high flow resistance, so even when water is flowing out from the gap, the water flowing into cylinder 16a from outlet pipe 14b increases the pressure inside cylinder 16a, and piston 16b is pushed up against the biasing force of spring 16c.

[0047] Furthermore, a clutch mechanism 32 detachably connects the rod 30 and the second drain valve 12. When the second drain valve 12 is lifted up a predetermined distance together with the rod 30, the clutch mechanism 32 is configured to disconnect the valve stem 12a of the second drain valve 12 from the rod 30. With the clutch mechanism 32 in a disconnected 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 new reference to Figures 5 to 9, the operation of the flush toilet apparatus 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 apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a time chart showing the operation of the flush toilet apparatus 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 second drain outlet 4c of the flush water tank 4 are closed by the first drain valve 10 and second drain valve 12, respectively, as shown in Figure 2. Also, in the standby state, the initial water level L2 in the flush water tank 4 is higher than the 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 (Figure 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, as shown in Figure 5, and the first drain outlet 4b opens. When the first drain outlet 4b opens, the flush water that had been 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 discharge 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 element 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 flows 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 stem 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 second drain outlet 4c is opened, flush water stored in flush water tank 4 flows from second drain outlet 4c into jet water conduit 2g (Fig. 1) and is discharged from jet water outlet 2e. The jet water discharged from jet water outlet 2e fills drain trap pipe 2c, inducing siphon action. Due to the occurrence of siphon action, the accumulated water and waste in bowl portion 2a are sucked into drain trap pipe 2c and discharged into the sewer pipe (not shown).

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

[0055] In the state shown in Figure 7, the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14 is in an open state, 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 in an open state, so the flush water in the flush water tank 4 flows out from the first drain outlet 4b and is discharged from the rim spout 2d. After the jet water spouting is stopped at time t3 in Figure 9, the flush water discharged from the rim spout 2d is used as refill water to return the water level in the bowl section 2a to the stored 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 closes, as shown in Figure 8. This stops rim spouting from rim spout outlet 2d.

[0057] Furthermore, even after first drain valve 10 is closed, main valve body 20 of ball tap 14 remains open, so flush water supplied from water supply source 6 (tap water) flows into flush water tank 4 from water supply pipe 34 via ball tap 14 and water pressure drive mechanism 16. 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) closes.

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

[0059] When the water supply to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is stopped, the piston 16b (Figure 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 stem 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 Figure 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 closes (time t5 in Figure 9), and the timing when the main valve element 20 of the ball tap 14 closes (time t6 in Figure 9). Then, between times t5 and t6, the main valve element 20 is open, so the supply of flush water continues, and when the main valve element 20 closes at time t6, the water level in the flush water tank 4 reaches an 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 apparatus 1 is in its standby state will be higher than the predetermined set water level L1 at which the pilot valve 28 is closed. For this reason, in its standby state, at the time the user operates the lever handle 4a (time t1 in Figure 9), the water level in the flush water tank 4 will be higher than the set water level L1, and the main valve element 20 of the ball tap 14 will not be 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 will be opened, and the main valve element 20 of the ball tap 14 will also be opened. As a result, at time t2, water supply to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 will begin, the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 will open the second drain valve 12, and jet spouting will begin.

[0062] According to the flush toilet apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention, the discharge of flush water from the rim spout 2d is switched on and off by the first drain valve 10, and the discharge of flush water from the jet spout 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 a small amount of 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, with the flush toilet device of this embodiment, the ball tap 14, which is a delay mechanism, causes the second drain valve 12 to open later than the first drain valve 10 (Figure 9), so water can be started to be discharged from the rim spout 2d and jet spout 2e when needed depending on the configuration of the flush toilet main body 2, effectively cleaning the bowl portion 2a while reducing the amount of flush water used.

[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), it is possible to adjust the timing at which water starts to be discharged from the jet water outlet 2e, and the timing at which jet water starts to be discharged 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 described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. The flush toilet apparatus of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the delay mechanism provided inside the flush water tank. Therefore, below, only the configuration and operation 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 a 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 with 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 element of the ball tap 14, also in the same way as the first embodiment. Here, in this embodiment, in addition to the ball tap 14, a small tank 40 is provided as a delay mechanism, which is arranged to surround the float 24 of the ball tap 14.

[0069] This small tank 40 is a small tank that is placed 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 placed 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 the shape of a box that is open at the top so as to receive the float 24 from above, and its upper end is placed in 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 inside the flush water tank 4, and the small tank 40 is filled with flush water.

[0070] Furthermore, a discharge hole 40a is provided in the bottom surface of the small tank 40, and this discharge 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 discharge hole 40a. The check valve float 42 is attached to the bottom surface of the small tank 40 so that it can move up and down to open and close the discharge hole 40a.

[0071] In other words, the check valve float 42 is configured so that it is pushed upward by the buoyancy of 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 buoyancy presses the packing of the check valve float 42 against the discharge hole 40a on the bottom of the small tank 40, causing the discharge hole 40a to close. 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 discharge hole 40a and causing 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. This action delays the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism 16 and the opening of the second drain valve 12.

[0073] Next, with new 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 causes flush water in the flush water tank 4 to be 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 discharge 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 discharge hole 40a. Then, at time t12 in Figure 12, when the water level in the small tank 40 falls below the predetermined set water level L3, the float 24 of the ball tap 14 drops, and the pilot valve opens, as shown in Figure 11. This opens the main valve body 20 of the ball tap 14, and water begins to be supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16. When water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, the second drain valve 12 is pulled up by the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, and water begins to be discharged from the jet water outlet 2e.

[0076] After water discharge from jet water outlet 2e begins at time t12, the action of closing second drain valve 12 at time t13 and the action of closing first drain valve 10 at time t14 are the same as in the first embodiment described above, so explanation will be omitted. After first drain valve 10 is closed at time t14, the water level in flush water tank 4 rises. Then, even when the water level in flush water tank 4 becomes higher than the bottom of small tank 40, the buoyancy acting on check valve float 42 closes discharge hole 40a of small tank 40, so the water level in small tank 40 does not rise. If the water level in flush water tank 4 rises further and becomes higher than the top end of small tank 40, flush water will begin to flow into small tank 40, and the water level in small tank 40 will also rise.

[0077] Then, at time t15, when the water level in the small tank 40 rises above the predetermined set water level L3, the pilot valve closes. Furthermore, at time t16, the main valve element of the ball tap 14 closes, and water supply to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is stopped. This causes the rod extending from the piston 16b of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 to lower, and the clutch mechanism 32 reconnects the rod to the valve stem of the second drain valve 12. This completes one toilet flush, and the flush toilet apparatus 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 drops 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., it is possible to freely set the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism 16, and water discharge can be initiated 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 the configuration of the delay mechanism provided inside the flush water tank. Therefore, below, only the configuration and operation 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 the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 13, 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 first ball tap 50, a second ball tap 52, and a water pressure drive mechanism 16.

[0082] Furthermore, 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 and to commence 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 element 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 hydraulic drive mechanism 16, and when the main valve of the first ball tap 50 is opened, the supply of flush water to the second ball tap 52 begins. The second ball tap 52 is equipped 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. In other words, the structure of the second ball tap 52 is similar to the structure of the ball tap 14 in the first embodiment described above. 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 open and the second ball tap 52 is closed, the entire amount of flush water that flows out of 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. Therefore, the second ball tap 52 is configured so that it opens 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 hydraulic drive mechanism 16 begins.

[0085] Next, with new 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 causes flush water in the flush water tank 4 to be discharged from the rim spout.

[0086] As flush water is discharged from first drain outlet 4b, the water level in flush water tank 4 drops. Then, when the water level in flush water tank 4 drops to a predetermined first water level L4, the main valve element of first ball tap 50 opens. In this state, the main valve element of second ball tap 52 is not open, so the entire amount of flush water that is supplied from the water source and passes through first ball tap 50 flows into flush water tank 4 from water inlet 58. Here, the flow rate of flush water discharged from first drain outlet 4b is greater than the flow rate that flows into flush water tank 4 from water inlet 58, so the water level in flush water tank 4 continues to drop even after 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 element of the second ball tap 52 is also opened. As a result, water begins to be supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 at time t22 in Figure 14. When water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 pulls up the second drain valve 12, and water begins to be discharged from the jet spout 2e. Furthermore, the flush water supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 flows into the flush water tank 4, passing through the cylinder of the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16. Note that when the main valve element of the first ball tap 50 and the main valve element of the second ball tap 52 are open, some 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 has been 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 Figure 14, the second drain valve 12 seats on the second drain outlet 4c, and water spouting from the jet water spout 2e stops. Even after the second drain valve 12 is closed, the first ball tap 50 and 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 section 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 discharge from the rim spout 2d stops. 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 second water level L5, the main valve element of second ball tap 52 closes. This causes all of the flush water supplied from the water supply source to flow into flush water tank 4 from water supply port 58. Furthermore, when the supply of flush water from second ball tap 52 to water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 is stopped, the rod extending from piston 16b of water hydraulic drive mechanism 16 lowers, and the clutch mechanism 32 reconnects the rod to the valve stem of second drain valve 12.

[0091] Furthermore, at time t26, when 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 supply source to the flush water tank 4. This completes one toilet flush, and the flush toilet apparatus returns to the toilet flush standby state shown in Figure 13.

[0092] The flush toilet apparatus 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 hydraulic drive mechanism 16 at a second water level L5 that is lower than this first water level L4 (time t22 in Figure 14). For this reason, by setting the float 56 of the second ball tap 52, it is possible to freely set the timing at which flush water is supplied to the water hydraulic drive mechanism 16, and to start water discharge 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-described embodiment. In particular, in the above-described embodiment, jet water spouting begins with a delay after rim water spouting has begun, but the present invention can also be configured so that rim water spouting begins after jet water spouting has begun. In this case, the present invention can be configured so that the water pressure drive mechanism opens the first drain valve, which switches between discharging and stopping flush water from the rim spout port.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second drain outlets of the flush water tank were 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 and second drain outlets are provided concentrically, with the inner drain outlet being opened and closed by a circular drain valve and the outer drain outlet being 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 pipe 2D Rim Spout 2e Jet spout 2F Rim Waterway 2g Jet Waterway 4 Cleaning water tank 4a Lever handle 4b First drain 4c Second drain 6 Water source 8 Stop valve 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 rods 32 Clutch mechanism 34 Water supply pipe 40 Small Tank 40a Discharge hole 42 Check valve float 50 First ball tap 52 Second ball tap 56 Float 58 Water inlet

Claims

1. A flush toilet device that flushes using 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 discharging and stopping flush water from a rim spout provided on the upper edge of the bowl portion by opening and closing a first drain outlet provided in the flush water tank; a second drain valve that switches between discharging and stopping flush water from a jet spout 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. A flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism is provided with a ball tap that operates in conjunction with the water level in the flush water tank, and when a float on the ball tap drops to a predetermined position, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism.

5. A flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism comprises a ball tap equipped with a float, a small tank equipped with a drain hole that is 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 the predetermined water level, flush water is supplied to the water pressure drive mechanism.

6. A flush toilet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay mechanism comprises a first ball tap that starts the supply of water into the flush water tank when the water level in the flush water tank drops to a predetermined first water level, and a second ball tap that starts the supply of flush water to the water pressure drive mechanism when the water level in the flush water tank drops to a predetermined second water level that is lower than the first water level.

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