US20110314597A1

US20110314597A1 - Flushing arrangement for flushing a toilet bowl, water closet having such a flushing arrangement and toilet bowl

Info

Publication number: US20110314597A1
Application number: US13/114,602
Authority: US
Inventors: Mario Von Ballmoos
Original assignee: Geberit International AG
Current assignee: Geberit International AG
Priority date: 2010-06-29
Filing date: 2011-05-24
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: CN102330464A; AU2011202245A1; EP2402519A1

Abstract

The flushing arrangement has a flush tank (28), from which an amount of flushing water can be supplied to the toilet bowl (6). Said amount of flushing water is divided into two part amounts for cleaning an upper region of the toilet bowl (6) and a further part amount for moving water that is present in the toilet bowl (6). A flushing eddy is generated with one of these two part amounts, said flushing eddy flowing along an inner surface (10) of the toilet bowl (6) and cleaning said toilet bowl at least in one upper region (A). There are preferably four part amounts provided which are in each case deliverable in a controlled manner by a valve (30, 31, 32, 80). The flushing arrangement makes a more thorough cleaning of the toilet bowl possible with comparatively little water.

Description

The invention relates to a flushing arrangement for flushing a toilet bowl according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a water closet with such a flushing arrangement and to a toilet bowl.
Flushing arrangements of this type have been known for a long time. In the case of a flushing operation, the constituent parts present in the siphon are flushed into the waste disposal pipe, the inner surface of the toilet bowl is cleaned and finally the siphon is refilled again with water. It has long since been the aim of such flushing arrangements to carry out the flushing operation and the cleaning of the toilet bowl as efficiently as possible and using as little water as possible. The efficiency of the flushing operation can be improved in a known manner by providing a so-called jet nozzle in the siphon. Part of the flushing water is supplied to said jet nozzle at a comparatively high pressure. Another part amount is supplied to a flushing channel which includes a plurality of nozzles, through which the flushing water is delivered for cleaning the inner surface of the toilet bowl.
A flushing operation of the named type has been made known, for example, by WO 2009/000881. The water present in the flush tank is supplied to a pump, which supplies part of the water to a flushing channel and another part to a jet nozzle that is arranged in a siphon.
The object underlying the invention is to create a flushing arrangement of the named type that makes even more thorough cleaning and flushing of the toilet bowl possible. This is to be possible with a comparatively small amount of flushing water. A toilet bowl is also to be created which can be cleaned particularly thoroughly and with as little water as possible.
This object is achieved according to claim 1. In the case of the flushing arrangement according to the invention, to clean the toilet bowl a further part amount of flushing water is generated for forming a flushing eddy. The cleaning of the toilet bowl can, consequently, be effected with two part amounts, the flushing eddy being generatable with one part amount and a usual flushing stream being generatable by means of a flushing channel with the other part amount. An upper region of the inner surface of the bowl is cleaned with these two part amounts of flushing water. The cleaning of said region is effected, consequently, with two different types of streams, one of which is the flushing eddy. This means that it is possible to clean the named region thoroughly with even less water.
The named further part amount, according to a further development of the invention, is a fourth part amount of the flushing water. An upper region of the inner surface is flushed and cleaned with a first part amount and the fourth part amount, a central region of the inner surface of the toilet bowl is flushed and cleaned with a second part amount and the siphon is cleaned and flushed with a fourth part amount. This means that a flushing operation that as a rule requires no re-cleaning can be achieved with comparatively little flushing water.
According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the flushing eddy is generatable below an upper flushing ring of the toilet bowl. In addition, it is preferably provided that the further part amount is deliverable into the toilet bowl at an outlet which is situated below the named upper flushing ring. According to a further development, in each case one valve and one control means are provided for the part amounts. The part amounts can then be delivered chronologically at suitable intervals corresponding to the control means. The first and the fourth part amounts can be delivered to the toilet bowl together, one after the other or overlapping chronologically. This also makes it possible to control the necessary amount of flushing water and, in particular, to adapt to different toilet bowls.
By dividing the amount of flushing water into at least three part amounts, it is possible to clean the inner surface of the toilet bowl in a more targeted manner in at least three different regions and to introduce the flushing operation. The knowledge underlying the invention is that the inner surface of a toilet bowl can be divided, as a rule, into three regions that are dirtied to different extents. An upper region is dirtied comparatively little and here it is sufficient to wet the inner surface of the toilet bowl. This can be effected at comparatively low water pressure and with a comparatively small amount of flushing water. This region can be cleaned with a first part amount of the flushing water. The flush tank can be in the form of a cistern with an inlet and outlet valve; however, other flush tanks are also conceivable here.
A second region that is dirtied to a medium extent is situated below the named upper region. This region can be cleaned in a targeted manner with the second part amount of water. In this case, a higher water pressure and also a greater amount of water are provided compared to the first part amount.
A third region is situated on the inner surface in the siphon. This region, as a rule, is dirtied the most. It also contains the substances to be removed. The cleaning and the flushing operation can be carried out with the third part amount. The water pressure provided here is even higher than the water pressure of the second part amount. In addition, the volume of said third part amount can also be greater than the volumes of the two other part amounts.
Consequently, the arrangement according to the invention makes it possible, for cleaning and flushing a toilet bowl, to clean and flush three different regions with different part amounts and at different water pressures. The four part amounts can be adapted in an optimum manner to the functions to be fulfilled or to the different regions. This also applies to the respective time of the triggering. Where it is optimized in a corresponding manner, with the flushing arrangement according to the invention it is possible to achieve cleaning that does not require any re-cleaning, for example with a brush. This is possible with a comparatively small amount of flushing water, for example with approximately 4 litres or less.
The invention also relates to a water closet with such a flushing arrangement and to an especially suitable toilet bowl.
Further features and advantages of the invention are produced from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawing.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below by way of the drawing, in which, in detail:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a section through a water closet according to the invention, and

FIGS. 2 a-2 d show a schematic representation of the course of the individual flushing streams or cleaning streams in the toilet bowl.

The water closet 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a flushing arrangement 2 which is provided for flushing and cleaning a toilet bowl 6. The flushing arrangement 2 includes a flush tank 28 for storing flushing water 43. The flush tank 28 can be provided in the usual manner with an actuating device (not shown here) for triggering a flushing operation and with an outlet valve. In order to refill the flush tank 28 again after a flushing operation, said flush tank is connected to a water pipe 27. During a flushing operation, the water passes via a pipe 26 to a pump 29, in which the flushing water is put under a provided pressure. From here the water is delivered to a distributing arrangement 30 which delivers the flushing water to a first valve 31, a second valve 32, a third valve 33 and to a fourth valve 80. Said valves 31 to 33 and 80 are preferably adjustable independently of each other such that finally four different part amounts of flushing water can be delivered to the toilet bowl 6. The valves 31 to 33 and 80 are manually adjustable valves or electric valves which are connected to a control device (not shown here). The pump 29 can be arranged outside or inside the flush tank 28. Conceivable also is a cistern which is a pressurized cistern or in which a device is arranged in which part of the flushing water 43 is pressurized, as is disclosed in the Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,517.
The part amount of the flushing water delivered via the valve 31 in the event of a flushing operation passes via a first pipe 34 to a connecting piece 65 of a connection 25 of the toilet bowl 6. Said connecting piece 65 is suitable, for example, for a plug-in connection to the first pipe 34. From the connecting piece 65, the named first part amount passes into a flushing ring 18, which is formed in a circumferential manner on an inner surface 10 of the toilet bowl 6 corresponding to the cross section of the toilet bowl 6 in this region. As shown in FIG. 1, the flushing ring is provided in a lower region with an outlet 64 which can be formed by a gap or by several nozzle-shaped openings. The water flowing downward through the outlet 64 runs towards the bottom along the inner surface 10 and finally passes into a siphon 12. The inner surface 10 is thereby wetted and cleaned in an upper region A and in a central region B. The upper region A is a region of the inner surface 10 that is usually dirtied comparatively little. The central region B, contrary to this, is a region of the inner surface 10 which, as a rule, is dirtied more than the upper region A. The line 67 in FIG. 1 specifies where, approximately, the region A merges into the region B. The region B merges approximately at the level of the dot dash line 68 into a lowermost region C that, as a rule, is dirtied the most. The line 68 is situated approximately at the height of the level of the siphon water. Consequently, the regions A and B are wetted and the region A is essentially completely cleaned and the region B at least partially cleaned by means of the amount of flushing water delivered from the flushing ring 18.
The flushing stream which is delivered by means of the flushing ring 18 is indicated in FIG. 2 a by the arrows 37. The siphon water 69 is also indicated and the level 69 a of the siphon water is indicated by a line.
The flushing water delivered through the second valve 32 during a flushing operation passes via a second pipe 35 to a connecting piece 66 of the connection 25. From the connecting piece 66, the second part amount of flushing water passes into a flushing channel 16, which is arranged on an upper edge 8 of the toilet bowl 6. The flushing channel 16 is situated above the flushing ring 18 and also extends preferably over the entire periphery of the edge 8. The flushing channel 16 forms, with the upper edge 8, an opening 7 of the toilet bowl 6. In a lower region, the flushing channel 16 is open at a plurality of nozzle openings 17 such that said second part amount can be delivered through said nozzle openings 17 to the toilet bowl 6. The nozzle openings 17 form a second outlet and are directed such that the water flowing out impacts with a comparatively high level of energy onto the inner surface 10 in the region B. During a flushing operation, several streams are formed that are directed in a targeted manner against the region B and which clean said region B. The volume of the second part amount is preferably greater than the volume of the first part amount and is preferably also at a higher pressure. Consequently, a higher pressure and a greater volume of the flushing water is used to clean the region B. The delivery of said two part amounts can also be staggered in time. It is provided, in particular, that the first part amount is delivered prior to the second part amount. However, it is also conceivable for both part amounts to be delivered substantially simultaneously and consequently synchronously. The arrow 22 in FIG. 1 indicates the direction in which the first part amount streams into the flushing ring 18. The arrow 23 indicates the direction in which the second part amount streams into the toilet bowl 6. The arrows 21 indicate the direction of the water jets, by means of which the region B is cleaned.
The water delivered by the third valve 33 forms a third part amount which is delivered to a ring nozzle 19 via a third pipe 36. Said ring nozzle 19 is arranged on an outer surface 9 of the toilet bowl 6 and is also formed in a circumferential manner. The ring nozzle 19 has a connecting piece (not shown any further here) at which the third pipe 36 is connected, for example in a plug-in manner, to the ring nozzle 19. Inside the ring nozzle 19 extends a circumferential channel 19 a, which is connected to a plurality of nozzle openings 20. During a flushing operation, this third part amount flows in the direction of the arrows 24 into the siphon 12 through said nozzle openings 20, which form a third outlet. The water jets that leave the nozzle openings 20 are preferably directed against a position 70 on an inner surface 71 of the siphon 12. The position 70 is situated, for instance, in front of the deepest point 72 of the siphon 12. The impacting water is reflected at this point 70 and accelerates the water located in the siphon 12 to an outlet opening 14 of a siphon connecting piece 13. The water flowing out of the nozzle openings 20 and the reflected water also clean the inner surface 71 of the siphon 12. Consequently, the third part amount brings about a flushing operation and also cleans the inner surface 71. The third part amount flows in the third pipe 36 at a pressure that is considerably higher than the pressure of the second part amount in the second pipe 35. In addition, the volume of the third part amount is greater than the volume of the second part amount.
The water flowing into the toilet bowl 6 when the fourth valve 80 is open forms a fourth part amount. The water of said part amount flows in the toilet bowl 6 from an inlet 81 to an outlet 82. At the outlet, the water on the inner surface 10 passes substantially horizontally into the toilet bowl 6 and flows downward along the inner surface 10 as a flushing eddy. Said flushing eddy is indicated in FIG. 2 a by an arrow 83. The flushing eddy flows downward in the manner of a spiral along the inner surface 10 and at the same time cleans the inner surface 10 below the nozzle openings 17. The diameter of the flushing eddy becomes smaller towards the bottom corresponding to the funnel-shaped development of the inner surface 10 and brings about an additional cleaning of the regions A and B. This means that the amount of water in the ring channel 16 can be reduced in a considerable manner without the entire cleaning effect being diminished. Consequently, the total amount of flushing water available is preferably divided into four part amounts which are adapted to the regions A, B and C with reference to volume and pressure. The valves 31, 32, 33 and 80 make it possible to control said part amounts in a suitable chronological manner. The volumes of said part amounts are also able to be controlled in an optimum manner.
After a flushing operation and, consequently, emptying of the siphon 12, said siphon is refilled again with water. Said water preferably flows through the flushing ring 18 into the toilet bowl 6. Said water once again cleans the inner surface 10 in the regions A, B and at least partially the region C. Said refilling is indicated in FIG. 2 d by the arrows 40. FIG. 2 b shows by arrows 38 the flowing-in of the second part amount and FIG. 2 c by arrows 39 the flowing-in of the water of the third part amount. With regard to the controlling of the part flows and the preparation of the flushing or cleaning water, reference is made to European Patent Application No. 09405215.6-2315 of the Applicant dated 9 Dec. 2009.


LIST OF REFERENCES

1	Water closet
2	Flushing arrangement
6	Toilet bowl
7	Opening
8	Edge
9	Outer surface
10	Inner surface
11	Body
12	Siphon
13	Siphon connecting piece
14	Outlet opening
15	Siphon bend
16	Flushing channel
17	Nozzle opening
18	Flushing ring
19	Ring nozzle
20	Nozzle opening
21	Arrow
22	Arrow
23	Arrow
24	Arrow
25	Connection
26	Pipe
27	Water pipe
28	Flush tank
29	Pump
30	Distributing arrangement
31	First valve
32	Second valve
33	Third valve
34	First pipe
35	Second pipe
36	Third pipe
37	Arrow
38	Arrow
39	Arrow
40	Arrow
43	Flushing water
64	Outlet
65	Connecting piece
66	Connecting piece
67	Line
68	Line
69	Siphon water
70	Point
71	Inner surface
72	Point
80	Fourth valve
81	Inlet
82	Outlet
83	Arrow
A	Upper region
B	Central region
C	Lower region

Claims

1. A flushing arrangement for flushing a toilet bowl (6), said flushing arrangement having a flush tank (28), from which an amount of flushing water can be supplied to the toilet bowl (6), wherein said amount of flushing water is divided into a part amount for cleaning an upper region of the toilet bowl (6) and a part amount for moving water that is present in the toilet bowl (6), characterized in that the amount of flushing water is subdivided into a further part amount and in that with said further part amount, a flushing eddy is generated in the toilet bowl (6) during the flushing operation for cleaning said toilet bowl.

2. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one upper region (A) of the inner surface of the toilet bowl (6) is flushable and can be cleaned with a first part amount and a central region (B) of the inner surface of the toilet bowl (6) is flushable and can be cleaned with a second part amount and a siphon (12) of the toilet bowl (6) is flushable and can be cleaned with a third part amount and in that the further part amount is a fourth part amount.

3. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part amount is deliverable to the toilet bowl (6) at a higher pressure than the first part amount and the third part amount is deliverable to the toilet bowl (6) at a higher pressure than the second part amount.

4. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part amount is deliverable into the toilet bowl (6) during a flushing operation on account of the force of gravity or of a difference in height.

5. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the volume of the second part amount is greater than the volume of the first part amount and the volume of the third part amount is greater than the volume of the second part amount.

6. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part amount is delivered at a pressure less than 0.3 bar, preferably equal to or less than 0.2 bar and even more preferred equal to or less than 0.1 bar.

7. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part amount is delivered at a pressure between 0.1 and 0.6 bar, preferably at a pressure between 0.2 and 0.4 bar.

8. The flushing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that for dividing the amount of flushing water there is provided a distributing arrangement (30), which includes a junction (47) at which the amount of flushing water is divided, wherein the first part amount of water is supplied to a first valve (31), the second part amount of water is supplied to a second valve (32), the third part amount of water is supplied to a third valve (33) and the further part amount of water is supplied to a fourth valve (80).

9. A water closet having a flushing arrangement according to claim 1 and a toilet bowl (6), characterized in that the toilet bowl (6) has an inlet (81) for the further part amount and said inlet is arranged below an upper flushing ring (16).

10. The water closet according to claim 9, characterized in that the toilet bowl (6) has an outlet opening for the further part amount, said outlet opening being arranged below the upper flushing ring (16).

11. A toilet bowl for a water closet, said toilet bowl having means (25) for the connection of a flushing arrangement (2) and an edge (8) that forms an opening (7), an inner surface (10) that tapers downward and a siphon (12) with an outlet opening (14), characterized in that for a flushing operation said toilet bowl has at least four outlets (64, 17, 20), wherein a first outlet (64) is provided for cleaning at least one first upper region (A), a second outlet (17) is provided for cleaning a central region (B), a third outlet (20) is provided for flushing and cleaning the siphon (12) and a fourth outlet is provided for generating a flushing eddy.

12. The toilet bowl according to claim 11, characterized in that the fourth outlet is arranged below an upper flushing ring (16).