Water supply device for cleaning water tank

Abstract

To provide a water supply device for a flush water tank which uses a double-structure float and expands the range in which a water level can be adjusted.SOLUTION: A water supply device comprises a double-structure float consisting of a float body and a small tank outside the float body that opens and closes a water supply valve, a water level adjustment shaft with a screw part that raises and lowers the small tank, a water level adjustment cylinder that rotates with the water level adjustment shaft and has a screw part that raises and lowers the float body, and a lifting arm that rises and lowers with the water level adjustment cylinder to operate the water supply valve. A first state in which the lower end of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment cylinder are directly connected, and a second state in which an extension member is interposed between the lower end of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment cylinder can be selected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water supply device that is incorporated into a flush water tank of a flush toilet. Hereinafter, the flush water tank will be abbreviated as "tank." [Background technology]

[0002] Flush toilet tanks are equipped with a water supply device that automatically starts supplying water when flush water is released from the tank and the water level drops, and automatically stops supplying water when the water level in the tank reaches a predetermined level.For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a widely used structure is one in which a float is provided on the lower side of the water supply valve body that contains the water supply valve, and when the water level in the tank rises, the float rises and closes the water supply valve.

[0003] Conventional floats such as those shown in Patent Document 1 gradually rise as the water level rises, gradually stopping the water supply. For this reason, a water supply device has been developed with a double-structure float consisting of a float body and a small tank outside it, as shown in Patent Document 2. With this structure, when the water level exceeds the top of the small tank, water from the tank flows into the small tank, causing the float body to rise rapidly, and water supply can be stopped in a very short time.

[0004] This type of double-structure float can adjust the water level at which water supply is stopped by raising and lowering the small tank together with the float body. However, the adjustable range is determined by the length of the member for raising and lowering the float body (adjustment shaft member 44 in Patent Document 2), and there is a problem that the adjustable range of the water level is narrow, about a few centimeters, and it is not possible to set a lower water level. The specific reasons for this will be explained later, along with embodiments of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-233583 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-29082 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a water supply device for a flush water tank that uses a double-structure float and has an expanded range of water level adjustment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention, which was made to solve the above problems, comprises a double-structure float consisting of a float body and a small tank outside it, which opens and closes the water supply valve, a water level adjustment shaft with a screw portion that raises and lowers the small tank, a water level adjustment cylinder that rotates with the water level adjustment shaft and has a screw portion that raises and lowers the float body, and a lifting arm that rises and lowers with the water level adjustment cylinder to operate the water supply valve, and is characterized by being able to select between a first state in which the lower end of the lifting arm is directly connected to the head of the water level adjustment cylinder, and a second state in which an extension member is interposed between the lower end of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment cylinder.

[0008] It is preferable that the water level adjustment tube is connected to the water level adjustment shaft via a key, and that the extension member has a head portion connected to the water level adjustment shaft via a key and a lower end portion that holds the head portion of the water level adjustment tube. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The water supply device of the present invention uses a double-structure float, which can stop the water supply in a very short time as soon as the water level exceeds the top of the small tank. Moreover, by inserting an extension member, it is possible to move the range in which the water level can be adjusted downward. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall view of a water supply device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the water supply device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a water supply device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the water level adjustment mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the float in a lowered state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the extension member is connected. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are a front view and a cross-sectional view of an extension member; [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view showing an engagement state between the lower end of the extension member and the head of the water level adjusting tube. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the water level adjustment range. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. (Overall structure) Fig. 1 is an overall view of the water supply device of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof. In Fig. 1, 10 is a water supply valve body, and 30 is a float. The water supply valve body 10 is equipped with a water supply fitting 12 that penetrates horizontally through a tank side wall 11, and the water supply device is attached to the inside of the tank by fastening this water supply fitting 12 to a through-hole in the tank side wall 11.

[0012] As shown in Figure 3, water supply valve body 10 has a built-in water supply valve 13. Water supply valve 13 is located midway along a water channel that leads flush water supplied through water supply fitting 12 to a water inlet 14 located below water supply valve body 10, and is a valve for turning the water supply into the tank on and off. Water supply valve 13 in this embodiment is a well-known valve called a diaphragm valve, and its structure will be briefly explained using Figure 4.

[0013] (Water supply valve structure) As shown in Figure 4, the first flow path 18 on the fitting water supply 12 side and the second flow path 19 on the water inlet 14 side are blocked by a diaphragm 70. This diaphragm 70 has a bleed hole 71 through which a cleaning pin 72 passes. A pressure chamber 73 above the diaphragm 70 communicates with the first flow path 18 through the gap between the bleed hole 71 and the cleaning pin 72. Therefore, when the water flow is stopped, the pressure chamber 73 has the same water pressure as the first flow path 18. The area of ​​the diaphragm 70 on the pressure chamber 73 side is large, and the area in contact with the lower first flow path 18 side is small. Therefore, due to the difference in pressure-receiving area, the diaphragm 70 is pressed downward, and the water supply valve 13 is closed.

[0014] When the water level in the tank drops and the float 30 drops, the lever arm 16 rotates clockwise around the axis 17 in Figure 4. This opens the pilot hole 74 at the top of the water supply valve 13, allowing the water in the pressure chamber 73 to flow out. Because the flow rate through the pilot hole 74 is designed to be greater than the flow rate through the gap between the bleed hole 71 and the cleaning pin 72, the water pressure in the pressure chamber 73 drops and the pressure on the top of the diaphragm 70 weakens. This causes the diaphragm 70 to move upward, allowing water to flow from the first flow path 18 on the lower side toward the second flow path 19 on the water inlet 14 side, supplying water into the tank.

[0015] When the water level in the tank rises due to water supply and the float rises, the lever arm 16 rotates counterclockwise and closes the pilot hole 74. This stops the outflow of water from the pressure chamber 73 and increases the water pressure in the pressure chamber 73. When the force on the upper side of the diaphragm 70 becomes greater than the force on the lower side, the diaphragm 70 is pushed down, stopping the water from flowing.

[0016] As will be explained below, the lever arm 16 is moved by a float 30 which rises and falls along a guide member 31 which extends vertically.

[0017] (Float structure) Next, the structure of the float 30 will be described. As shown in Figure 3, the float 30 of this embodiment has a double structure consisting of an outer small tank 40 and an internal float body 41. The outer small tank 40 has a holding portion 42 and can rise and fall along a guide member 31 that extends up and down. A check valve 43 is provided on the bottom of the outer small tank 40. This check valve 43 rises when the water level rises, preventing water from flowing into the small tank 40, but allowing water to flow down from the small tank 40. Therefore, when the water level in the tank rises, water does not flow into the small tank 40 from the bottom, and when the water level in the tank drops due to water being discharged into the toilet bowl, the water inside the small tank 40 also empties.

[0018] The float body 41 is box-shaped with an open bottom, and its ceiling surface 46 is located above the upper end 44 of the outer small tank 40. When the water level in the tank rises and exceeds the upper end 44 of the small tank 40, the water in the tank flows into the small tank 40 all at once. However, because there is air inside the float body 41, the float body 41 generates buoyancy. This buoyancy pushes up the lifting arm 45, which rotates the lever arm 16 and closes the water supply valve 13. As such, the water level at which water supply to the tank is stopped is determined by the height of the upper end 44 of the outer small tank 40, so a water level adjustment mechanism is built in that can adjust the height of the small tank 40. The lifting arm 45 and the water level adjustment mechanism are described in detail below.

[0019] (Water level adjustment mechanism) As shown in Figure 3, a water level adjustment shaft 50 extending vertically downward is supported on the support member 32 of the float 30. This water level adjustment shaft 50 has a tool receiving portion 51 at its upper end into which a screwdriver can be inserted, allowing it to rotate freely when adjusting the water level. The water level adjustment shaft 50 has a shape similar to a long bolt, and is formed with a long first male thread 52. The structure of the parts described below is complex, so please also refer to Figure 5, which is an enlarged version of Figure 3.

[0020] The outer small tank 40 has a first cylinder 53 that rises upward from its bottom surface. The height of the first cylinder 53 is approximately the same as the height of the upper end 44 of the small tank 40. The inner surface of this first cylinder 53 has a first spiral portion 54 that engages with the first male thread 52 of the water level adjustment shaft 50. Therefore, by rotating the water level adjustment shaft 50, the small tank 40 can be raised and lowered.

[0021] A second cylinder 55, which is open on both the top and bottom, is formed on the inner float body 41. A second spiral portion 56 is formed on the inner surface of this second cylinder 55. This second spiral portion 56 is engaged with a second male thread 58 formed on the outer surface of a hollow water level adjusting tube 57.

[0022] The head of the water level adjustment tube 57 is formed with a central hole 59 through which the water level adjustment shaft 50 passes, and a key groove 60 is formed in part of the hole. Furthermore, a key 61 is formed over a predetermined length above the first male thread 52 of the water level adjustment shaft 50. Therefore, when the water level adjustment shaft 50 is rotated, the water level adjustment tube 57 also rotates simultaneously. Therefore, the float body 41 also rises and falls due to the second male thread 58 of the water level adjustment tube 57 and the second helical portion 56 on the inner surface of the second cylinder 55 of the float body 41. Because the first male thread 52 and the second male thread 58 have the same pitch, the outer small tank 40 and the inner float body 41 always rise and fall by the same amount when the water level adjustment shaft 50 is rotated. In other words, when the water level adjustment shaft 50 is rotated, the outer small tank 40 and the inner float body 41 always rise and fall together.

[0023] An annular recess 62 is formed on the outer periphery of the head of the water level adjustment tube 57. The lower end 63 of the lifting arm 45 fits into this annular recess 62. The lifting arm 45 extends upward through the support arm 33, and as shown in Figure 3, the tip of the lever arm 16 is engaged with a shaft 64 formed at the tip of the lifting arm 45. Therefore, when the water level in the tank rises and exceeds the upper end 44 of the small tank 40, the float body 41 suddenly floats up, and the lower end 63 pushes up the lifting arm 45, which is fitted into the annular recess 62 of the water level adjustment tube 57. As a result, the lever arm 16 rotates counterclockwise in Figure 3, closing the water supply valve 13 and stopping water supply.

[0024] 6 shows the state in which the float 30 is lowered. In the state described above, the lower end 63 of the lifting arm 45 and the head of the water level adjusting tube 57 are directly connected, which is the first state described in claim 1.

[0025] (Limits on the range of water level adjustment) Here, we explain the limitations on the adjustable range of the water level in the first state. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the float 30 when it is fully raised, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the float 30 when it is lowered. When the water level adjustment shaft 50 is rotated, the float 30, consisting of the outer small tank 40 and the float body 41 inside it, descends. However, if the float 30 is further lowered from the state shown in Figure 6, the male thread 58 of the water level adjustment tube 57 disengages from the second spiral portion 56, preventing the float 30 from descending any further. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, when the float 30 is raised, the lower end of the water level adjustment tube 57 interferes with the bottom surface of the outer small tank 40, preventing the float 30 from ascending any further. Thus, the adjustable range of the water level is determined by the length of the water level adjustment tube 57, but because the above condition must be satisfied, the length of the water level adjustment tube 57 cannot be freely set. The structure of Patent Document 2 mentioned at the beginning is similar to this, and the range in which the water level can be adjusted is determined by the length of the adjustment shaft member 44 in Patent Document 2.

[0026] (Second state using extension member) Therefore, in the present invention, in addition to the first state in which the lower end 63 of the lifting arm 45 is directly connected to the head of the water level adjustment tube 57, it is possible to select a second state in which an extension member 20 is interposed between the lower end 63 of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment tube 57, as shown in Figure 7.

[0027] The structure of the extension member 20 of this embodiment is shown in Figures 8 to 10. As shown in Figure 8, the extension member 20 has a circular head portion 21 and a circular lower end portion 22, which are connected by three pillars 23. The head portion 21 has a central hole 24 through which the water level adjustment shaft 50 can pass, and is also provided with a key groove 25. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, it can be connected to the water level adjustment shaft 50 via a key 61.

[0028] The lower end 22 of the extension member 20 is partially cut out so that it can be fitted into the annular recess 62 formed in the head of the water level adjusting tube 57. In other words, it has the same shape as the lower end 63 of the annular recess 62. As shown in Figure 10, recesses 26 are formed in three places on the top surface of the head of the water level adjusting tube 57, and the three pillars 23 of the extension member 20 can be fitted into them.

[0029] 7, in the second state where the extension member 20 is interposed between the lower end of the lifting arm 45 and the head of the water level adjustment tube 57, when the water level adjustment shaft 50 is rotated, the keyed extension member 20 also rotates at the same time, and the lower water level adjustment tube 57 also rotates at the same time. In addition, by interposing the extension member 20, the entire float 30 consisting of the outer small tank 40 and the float body 41 inside it can be lowered.

[0030] (Effects of the present invention) The effect of the present invention is shown in Figure 11. In a conventional double-tank water supply device without an extension member, the water level adjustment range is the range indicated by h in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), and it could not be lowered further for the reasons described above. However, by using the second state shown in Figure 11(C), the water level adjustment range can be shifted downward by the length of the extension member 20. Note that while the water level adjustment range in the second state remains h, by selecting between the first and second states, the overall water level adjustment range can be expanded approximately twice as far as indicated by H. Thus, the present invention has the advantage that the water supply cutoff water level can be set even lower simply by using the extension member 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Water supply valve body 11 Tank side wall 12 Water supply fittings 13 Water supply valve 14 Water inlet 16 Lever arm 17 axes 18 First Channel 19 Second Channel 20 Extension member 21 Circular Head 22 Bottom edge of the circle 23 Pillars 24 Center hole 25 key grooves 26 Recess 30 float 31 Guide member 32 Support member 40 Small Tank 41 Float body 42 Holding part 43 Check valve 46 Ceiling surface 44 Top of small tank 45 Lifting arm 50 Water level adjustment shaft 51 Tool holder 52 First male thread 53 First Cylinder 54 1st spiral part 55 Second Cylinder 56 Second spiral part 57 Water level adjustment tube 58 Second male thread 59 Center hole 60 key grooves 61 keys 62 Annular recess 63 Lower end 64 axes 70 diaphragm 71 Bleed hole 72 Cleaning pin 73 Pressure Chamber 74 Pilot hole

Claims

1. A double-structure float consisting of the float body and a small tank on the outside, which opens and closes the water supply valve. a water level adjustment shaft having a screw portion for raising and lowering the small tank; a water level adjusting tube having a screw portion that rotates together with the water level adjusting shaft and raises and lowers the float body; a lifting arm that moves up and down together with the water level adjusting cylinder to open and close the water supply valve, A water supply device for a flush water tank, characterized in that it is possible to select between a first state in which the lower end of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment cylinder are directly connected, and a second state in which an extension member is interposed between the lower end of the lifting arm and the head of the water level adjustment cylinder.

2. 2. A water supply device for a flush water tank according to claim 1, wherein the water level adjusting tube is connected to the water level adjusting shaft via a key.

3. A water supply device for a flush water tank as described in claim 2, characterized in that the extension member has a head portion that is connected to the water level adjustment shaft via a key, and a lower end portion that holds the head portion of the water level adjustment tube.

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