Foot Pedal Flush Actuator Retrofit for Sanitary Toilet Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toilet flushing mechanisms are unsanitary and prone to damage or injury, especially in public settings, as they require manual handling, which can lead to contamination and accidents.
Innovation Solution
A foot pedal-activated flush actuator device that replaces the traditional handle, using a control box and hydraulic control line to open the flush valve, allowing for sanitary and safe operation without direct hand contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional handle is used for flushing, then the toilet can be operated, but it causes sanitation issues and potential injury in public settings
Solution Approach 1:
A foot pedal actuator serves as an intermediary between the user and the flush valve mechanism. The user activates the flush by pressing a foot pedal located away from the toilet reservoir, which transmits force through a linkage system to open the flush valve. This eliminates direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces while maintaining flushing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional manual handle operation is replaced with a foot-actuated mechanical system. The foot pedal connects to the flush valve through a series of linkages, levers, and cables, converting foot pressure into the mechanical motion needed to open the flush valve without requiring hand contact with the toilet.
2Ease of operation
If foot kicking is used to operate the handle, then hand contact is avoided, but it can damage the handle or toilet and cause slips and falls
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pedal actuator serves as a controlled intermediary that translates foot pressure into precise mechanical motion. Instead of direct kicking of the handle, the user presses a dedicated pedal that activates a controlled linkage system, distributing the force safely and preventing damage to the flush valve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation mechanism changes from direct mechanical impact (kicking the handle) to controlled pressure application (pressing the foot pedal). This parameter change in how force is applied - from impulsive impact to sustained pressure - allows for safer operation that prevents fixture damage while maintaining hand-free operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a foot pedal actuator is installed, then sanitation and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flush actuation system is segmented into separate functional components: a foot pedal activation mechanism, a transmission linkage system, and the existing flush valve. This segmentation allows the complex foot-actuated portion to be isolated from the toilet reservoir, making installation and maintenance easier while achieving the sanitation goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot pedal actuator assembly serves as an external intermediary system that interfaces with the existing toilet flush mechanism. By placing the complex activation mechanism outside the reservoir and using it to trigger the existing flush valve, the patent adds sanitation functionality without completely redesigning the internal toilet structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If existing toilets are retrofitted with foot pedal actuators, then expensive fixture replacement is avoided, but installation complexity arises
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pedal actuator is designed as a universal retrofit kit that can be installed on existing toilets with standard flush valve mechanisms. The system uses common mechanical components like cables, linkages, and mounting brackets that can adapt to various toilet models, enabling widespread installation without custom fabrication for each fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator system serves as an external intermediary that interfaces with the existing flush valve through standard mounting points and linkage mechanisms. This allows the complex foot-actuated portion to be added without modifying the core toilet structure, simplifying installation while achieving the sanitation improvement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a sanitary and safe flushing mechanism that reduces the risk of contamination and injury, while being easily retrofittable to existing toilets without the need for expensive fixture replacements.
Implementation Method 1
The control line is configured to hydraulically transfer an input from the foot pedal to the control box to thereby cause the control box to move the lever arm and actuate opening of the flush valve.
Implementation Method 2
The drive piston is in fluid communication with the plurality of passages within the drive block. The input from the foot pedal is transferred through the plurality of passages within the drive block to the drive piston such that the input causes the drive piston to change from the extended position to the retracted position
Implementation Method 3
The top pulley is located a distance away from the drive block and drive piston, such that the top pulley is connected to an end of the drive piston by a drive wire extending from the end of the drive piston and along a periphery of the top pulley.
Data Source
AI summary
A flush actuator device with a foot pedal for actuating a flush action at a toilet is provided. The flush actuator device may replace or supplement a manual handle on a conventional toilet and allows flushing action to be initiated by depressing a foot pedal on a floor surface adjacent the toilet. With the flush actuator device, a flush action can be performed using the foot pedal without necessitating any contact with the other parts of the toilet which may be deemed dirty or unsanitary, particularly in public restroom settings. A method of installing the flush actuator device onto an existing toilet is provided. Further, a method for actuating flushing of a toilet using a flush actuator device having a foot pedal is described. The ability to retroactively fit the flush actuator device to an existing toilet eliminates the need for complicated and expensive plumbing fixture replacement.