U.S. patent application number 10/441671 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-06 for siphon action toilet.
Invention is credited to Kitamura, Masaki, Miyahara, Hidetaka, Ohtani, Takayuki, Sakemi, Koji, Shibata, Shinji, Shimbara, Noboru, Shimizu, Takeshi, Shinkawa, Masahiro, Sou, Masaya, Tomonari, Hiroshi, Yoneda, Toshifumi.
Application Number | 20030204902 10/441671 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29268653 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030204902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoneda, Toshifumi ; et
al. |
November 6, 2003 |
Siphon action toilet
Abstract
A toilet 10 has a bowl 20, a connection pathway 31, an ascending
pathway 32, and a descending pathway 33 across a weir 34. The
descending pathway 33 includes an expanded section 33a having a
greater pipeline diameter and a tapered end 33b having a narrower
opening area than that of the expanded section 33a, and is
connected with a drain socket 70. The drain socket 70 has an inner
drain conduit socket member 72 that is attached to be located
inside a drain conduit 90. The inner drain conduit socket member 72
has an extended socket section 75, which is located below a floor
surface FL of a lavatory and has a greater pipeline diameter, and a
tapered conduit section 76, which has a narrowed diameter. These
sections 75 and 76 constitute a siphon action induction module.
Inventors: |
Yoneda, Toshifumi;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Sou, Masaya;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Shibata, Shinji;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Ohtani, Takayuki;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Miyahara, Hidetaka;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Shimbara, Noboru;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Sakemi, Koji;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Shinkawa, Masahiro;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Kitamura, Masaki;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Tomonari, Hiroshi;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) ; Shimizu, Takeshi;
(Kitakyushu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEYER WEAVER & THOMAS LLP
P.O. BOX 778
BERKELEY
CA
94704-0778
US
|
Family ID: |
29268653 |
Appl. No.: |
10/441671 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10441671 |
May 19, 2003 |
|
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10111125 |
Apr 19, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/420 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 11/16 20130101;
E03D 11/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/420 |
International
Class: |
E03D 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toilet comprising a bowl that keeps cleansing water as
reserved water during a non-cleansing time and a trap module that
defines a conduit, through which a new supply of cleansing water
fed to the bowl is flown out together with the remaining reserved
water, the trap module comprising: an ascending conduit that
defines an ascending pathway connecting with the bowl; and a drain
conduit that defines a draining pathway for leading a flow of
cleansing water passing through the ascending conduit to outside of
the toilet, the drain conduit comprising a retention module that
causes the flow of cleansing water to be temporarily retained in
the course of passage through the draining pathway, so as to induce
a siphon action, the drain conduit comprising: a protruded conduit
section that is part of the draining pathway protruded downward
from a floor surface on which the toilet is installed, the
retention module being disposed in the protruded conduit
section.
2. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protruded
conduit section is provided with the retention module in a
neighborhood of or on one end of the draining pathway.
3. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drain conduit
has a plurality of retention modules.
4. A toilet in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of the
plural retention modules is disposed in the protruded conduit
section of the draining pathway, and at least another one of the
plural retention modules is disposed in the draining pathway other
than the protruded conduit section.
5. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retention
module comprises an enlarged conduit section having an enlarged
conduit diameter to allow temporary retention of the flow of
cleansing water.
6. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retention
module comprises a contracted conduit section having a narrower
diameter to allow temporary retention of the flow of cleansing
water.
7. A toilet in accordance with claim 6, wherein the contracted
conduit section is formed by extending a range of a narrowed
conduit diameter along a longitudinal axis of the draining
pathway.
8. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the trap module is
formed separately from a toilet body having the bowl and is
attached to the toilet body.
9. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drain conduit
has a separate drain conduit section including the protruded
conduit section, and the separate drain conduit section is attached
to the other part of the draining pathway to complete the drain
conduit.
10. A toilet in accordance with claim 8, wherein a sealing member
is disposed at a position of the attachment to attain water
tightness of the drain conduit.
11. A toilet in accordance with claim 1, wherein one end of the
protruded conduit section is located in an existing external drain
conduit set in the floor on which the toilet is installed.
12. A toilet with a siphon trap, wherein the siphon trap comprises:
a first descending conduit that is arranged downstream a curved
portion; and a second descending conduit that defines a downstream
pathway and is connected to a drain conduit outside the toilet to
lead cleansing water to the drain conduit, wherein the second
descending conduit is provided with a regulation module that
regulates and increases a flow rate of cleansing water passing
through the second descending conduit in a terminal stage of a
siphon action, which is end of the siphon action induced by a full
water level of the siphon trap.
13. A toilet in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second
descending conduit is constructed separately from the siphon trap
including the first descending conduit and is interposed between
the first descending conduit and the drain conduit.
14. A toilet in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second
descending conduit constructed separately is a drain socket
comprising: a regulation module disposed in the socket flow path to
regulate and increase a flow rate of cleansing water passing
through the socket flow path in a terminal stage of a siphon
action, which is the end of the siphon action induced by a full
water level of the siphon trap.
15. A toilet in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second
descending conduit constructed separately is replaceable with a
drain socket comprising: a regulation module disposed in the socket
flow path to regulate and increase a flow rate of cleansing water
passing through the socket flow path in a terminal stage of a
siphon action, which is the end of the siphon action induced by a
full water level of the siphon trap.
16. A toilet with a siphon trap, the toilet comprising a drain
socket comprising a regulation module disposed in a socket flow
path to regulate and increase a flow rate of cleansing water
passing through the socket flow path in a terminal stage of a
siphon action, which is the end of the siphon action induced by a
full water level of the siphon trap, said drain socket being
interposed between the siphon trap and a drain conduit outside the
toilet, and comprising a socket flow path for leading a flow of
cleansing water passing through the siphon trap to the drain
conduit.
17. A siphon action-type toilet comprising a bowl that receives
excrement and keeps water therein as reserved water, and a drain
conduit that defines a drain flow path, through which a supply of
cleansing water fed to the bowl is flown out together with the
reserved water, wherein the drain conduit comprises: a retention
module that temporarily retains a flow of cleansing water through
the drain flow path and thereby induces a siphon action; and a
delay module that is disposed downstream the retention module and
lowers a flow velocity of cleansing water when a flow rate or a
flow velocity of cleansing water passing through the retention
module is not greater than a preset level.
18. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the retention module comprises a restriction element that
is protruded from an inner wall of the drain conduit and reduces a
flow path area of the drain flow path.
19. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the retention module comprises a separation element that
leads cleansing water flown along an inner wall of the drain flow
path to be apart from the inner wall.
20. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the separation element is a separation convex that is
protruded from an inner wall of the drain flow path.
21. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 20,
wherein the delay module is designed not to receive a flow of
cleansing water, which has been hit against the separation convex,
when the cleansing water has a flow velocity or flow rate of
greater than a preset level, but to receive the flow of cleansing
water when the cleansing water has the flow velocity or flow rate
of not greater than the preset level.
22. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 21,
wherein the delay module comprises a delay convex protruded from an
inner wall of the drain flow path, and the delay convex is designed
to receive a flow of cleansing water passing through the separation
convex when the cleansing water has a flow velocity or flow rate of
not greater than a preset level.
23. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the delay module comprises a flow direction change
sub-module that changes a flow direction of the cleansing water
passing through the drain flow path.
24. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the flow direction change sub-module comprises a guide
member that causes the cleansing water passing through the drain
flow path to be flown in a spiral form along an inner wall of the
drain flow path.
25. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein at least one of the retention module and the delay module
is disposed inside the drain conduit integrated with the bowl.
26. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 17,
wherein the drain conduit is formed separately from the bowl and
comprises a drain socket, which connects a drainage port of the
bowl to a drain conduit leading to sewer, and the drain socket is
provided with the retention module and the separation element.
27. A siphon action-type toilet in accordance with claim 26,
wherein the drain socket comprises a socket main body that defines
the drain flow path, and the retention module and the separation
element are detachably attached to the socket main body.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional application of
co-pending U.S. Application No.10/111,125, filed Apr. 18, 2002,
which is the U.S. National stage filing for PCT Application No.
PCT/JP00/07525, filed Oct. 26, 2000, and is also related to U.S.
application No. 10/___/___, filed May 19, 2003, entitled "DRAINAGE
DEVICE FOR SIPHON ACTION TOILET," all of which are commonly
assigned and incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a toilet that induces
siphon action to cleanse excrement out of a toilet bowl, a drainage
device used for induction of the siphon action, and a lavatory with
such a toilet placed therein.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] There has been a high demand for saving water used for
cleansing a toilet. A decrease in flow rate of cleansing water
fulfills such requirement of water saving. The simple decrease in
quantity of cleansing water flown along the toilet bowl, however,
leads to insufficient cleansing of the bowl and lowers the
certainty of transporting and discharging excrement with cleansing
water out of the toilet. The widely applied technique devices the
shape of a trap in the toilet body to induce the siphon action in
the flow of cleansing water and suck water kept in the bowl by
means of the siphon action, thereby saving water.
[0004] The trap of the toilet body is curved between the floor
surface on the toilet is installed and a predetermined height in
the toilet. The layout of the mechanism of inducing the siphon
action is under the restriction of the shape of the trap. The
mechanism of inducing the siphon action is accordingly disposed on
the trap under the restriction.
[0005] A drain socket is often used for induction of the siphon
action. For example, JAPANESE PATENT LAID-OPEN GAZETTE No. 8-326136
has proposed a drain socket shown in FIG. 80. In the illustrated
prior art structure of the toilet, a drainage port 102J of a toilet
body 100J is connected to a drain conduit P set on a floor surface
FL via a drain socket 110J. The drain socket 110J is curved in a
longitudinal direction of the toilet body 100J. The drain socket
110J has a curved socket flow path 112J formed therein and a
concaved trap receiving section 111J on the wall surface thereof.
In the drain socket 110J, a turbulent flow is generated by the
curved flow path and the concaved trap receiving section to
facilitate induction of the siphon action.
[0006] A restriction element 116J is provided on the joint of the
drain socket 110J with the drain conduit P, that is, between a flow
outlet 114J of the socket flow path 112J and the upper end of the
drain conduit. The restriction element 116J functions to
temporarily retain the flow of cleansing water through the socket
flow path 112J into the drain conduit P, thus accelerating
induction of the siphon action.
[0007] The conventional restriction element 116J is formed
separately from the drain socket 110J and is simply interposed
between the drain socket 110J and the opening on the upper end of
the drain conduit P. The restriction element 116J is thus readily
shifted in position or falls into the drain conduit P by the force
applied for drainage. The positional shift of the restriction
element reduces the effect of inducing the siphon action. The fall
of the restriction element into the drain conduit P may clog the
drain conduit P. Attachment of the restriction element to a preset
position is rather troublesome.
[0008] The object of the present invention is thus to enhance the
suction efficiency of reserved water in the bowl by the siphon
action, regardless of the shape of the trap.
[0009] The object of the present invention is also to provide a
drain socket that attains quick induction of the siphon action
without any positional deviation of the restriction element and has
excellent workability.
[0010] The drain socket 110J is provided with the curved flow path
and the concaved trap receiving section 111J on the inner wall
surface thereof, and accordingly has the complicated conduit
structure. Cutting dies of a die assembly having a complicated
shape are accordingly required, for example, in the case of
injection molding the drain socket 110J. From the viewpoint of
molding ability, it is required to modify the complicated structure
of the drain socket 110J. The siphon action 110J can thus not be
designed to have the optimum shape for inducing the siphon
action.
[0011] The object of the present invention is thus to provide a
drain socket that has a simple construction, is easily
manufactured, ensures instant induction of the siphon action, and
gives a sufficient power of siphon action.
[0012] The distance between the floor surface or the wall surface
on which the toilet is installed (hereinafter referred to as the
installation plane) and the end of the drain conduit depends upon
the type of the toilet. A variety of drain sockets having different
heights are thus required as products for installation of diverse
toilets via the drain socket. This interferes with efficient
reduction in number of different products of drain socket.
[0013] The toilets are independently designed and manufactured by a
large number of manufacturers in the world, and it is practically
impossible to prepare drain sockets corresponding to all options of
the diverse toilets. For example, when the distance between the
installation plane of the toilet and the end of the drain conduit
is longer than the length of the drain socket, a plate member or
any equivalent member is laid under the drain socket to supplement
the insufficient length. This, however, worsens the working
efficiency. When the distance between the installation plane of the
toilet and the end of the drain conduit is shorter than the length
of the drain socket, on the other hand, a flange is inconveniently
used for connection of the toilet with a soil pipe. The connecting
function of the drain socket is accordingly not usable for some
types of the toilets.
[0014] In the prior art drain socket, the hollow cylindrical space
defined in the socket is used as the flow path of water. The
position of the restriction element disposed in the flow path is
not changeable in each field. For example, in the case of the
siphon action-type toilet, the location of the restriction element
below the floor surface enhances the sucking force of reserved
water or cleansing water by the induced siphon action. The prior
art drain socket, however, does not allow such change of the
position. The prior art drain socket attains the continuous siphon
action, but has a significant loss of the sucking force of reserved
water or cleansing water by the continuous siphon action.
[0015] The object of the present invention is thus to provide a
drain socket applicable to various types of toilets and diverse
conditions of installation fields.
[0016] The siphon action disappears when the siphon pipeline is not
filled with water (cleansing water) due to invasion of the air or a
decrease in flow rate. In the above cited reference, a decrease in
quantity of cleansing water in the toilet lowers the flow rate of
cleansing water flown into the drain socket and thus reduces the
quantity of the water current changing its direction in the curved
socket flow path. The reduced quantity lowers the degree of change
in direction of the water current and causes the cleansing water to
be directly flown into the drain conduit outside the toilet. This
decreases the ratio of the occupation area of cleansing water to
the cross section of the conduit and easily allows invasion of the
air from the downstream. The siphon action then discontinues and
disappears. In general, excrement (toilet paper and floating
diarrheal stool) floating in the reserved water in the bowl is
sucked into the trap and discharged in the terminal stage of the
siphon action. The prior art technique often causes disappearance
of the siphon action in its terminal stage with a reduced flow rate
and may not completely suck or discharge the floating
excrement.
[0017] The object of the present invention is thus to enhance the
sucking efficiency of reserved water in the bowl in the terminal
stage of the siphon action.
[0018] In the siphon action-type toilet, it is preferable to induce
a high-speed siphon action in the initial stage of the cleansing
process and quickly flow out excrement with a high water head and a
low pressure loss. This enables excrement in the bowl to be
discharged with a less quantity of cleansing water and saves water.
Shortening the time of flow of cleansing water for the purpose of
water saving may cause floating excrement in the bowl not to be
smoothly discharged but to partly remain, while large excrement and
paper are quickly flown out.
[0019] The object of the present invention is thus to attain quick
discharge of floating excrement in the bowl.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0020] At least part of the above and the other related objects is
attained by a first toilet of the present invention, which includes
a bowl that keeps cleansing water as reserved water during a
non-cleansing time and a trap module that defines a conduit,
through which a new supply of cleansing water fed to the bowl is
flown out together with the remaining reserved water. The trap
module has: an ascending conduit that defines an ascending pathway
connecting with the bowl; and a drain conduit that defines a
draining pathway for leading a flow of cleansing water passing
through the ascending conduit to outside of the toilet. The drain
conduit is provided with a retention module that causes the flow of
cleansing water to be temporarily retained in the course of passage
through the draining pathway, so as to induce a siphon action. The
drain conduit includes a protruded conduit section that is part of
the draining pathway protruded downward from a floor surface on
which the toilet is installed. The retention module is disposed in
the protruded conduit section.
[0021] In the first toilet of the present invention having the
above construction, the trap module has the ascending pathway and
the drain conduit connecting thereto. Part of the draining pathway
is protruded below the floor surface, on which the toilet is
installed, to form the protruded conduit section. The retention
module induces the siphon action in the protruded conduit section.
There is a large difference between the level of cleansing water
temporarily retained in the protruded conduit section by means of
the retention module and the level of reserved water in the bowl.
This increases the different in water head at the time of induction
of the siphon action and thereby enhances the sucking force of
reserved water and the suction efficiency of the siphon action.
[0022] In accordance with one preferable application of the first
toilet of the present invention, the drain conduit has a plurality
of the retention modules. At least one of the plural retention
modules is disposed in the protruded conduit section of the
draining pathway while at least another one of the plural retention
modules is disposed in the draining pathway other than the
protruded conduit section.
[0023] The retention modules at a plurality of different places
respectively induce the siphon action and thus enhance the sucking
force of reserved water and the suction efficiency by the siphon
action.
[0024] The retention module of the protruded conduit section may be
located in a neighborhood of or on one end of the draining pathway
.
[0025] This arrangement increases the water head difference in the
process of inducing the siphon action and thus advantageously
enhances the sucking force of reserved water and the suction
efficiency by the siphon action.
[0026] The retention module may be an enlarged conduit section
having an enlarged conduit diameter to allow temporary retention of
the flow of cleansing water, or alternatively may be a contracted
conduit section having a narrower diameter to allow temporary
retention of the flow of cleansing water.
[0027] The enlarged conduit section or the contracted conduit
section temporarily retains the flow of cleansing water and thus
effectively induces the siphon action.
[0028] The retention module may include a plurality of the
contracted conduit sections or more specifically have upper and
lower contracted conduit sections along the draining pathway. This
arrangement enhances the effect of inducing the siphon action and
thus improves the sucking force of reserved water and the suction
efficiency.
[0029] The contracted conduit section may be formed by extending a
range of a narrowed conduit diameter along a longitudinal axis of
the draining pathway.
[0030] The contracted conduit section of this structure retains the
flow of cleansing water for a relatively long time and then allows
passage of the cleansing water through this contracted conduit
section. This arrangement extends the time of inducing the siphon
action and thereby enhances the sucking force of reserved water and
the suction efficiency.
[0031] The trap module may be formed separately from a toilet body
having the bowl and is attached to the toilet body. The drain
conduit may have a separate drain conduit section including the
protruded conduit section, and the separate drain conduit section
is attached to the other part of the draining pathway to complete
the drain conduit.
[0032] The pottery toilet body is not required to have any
projection from the bottom. This structure is advantageous in
manufacture, installation, transport, and wrapping. The place of
attachment may be sealed with a sealing member to attain water
tightness of the drain conduit. This desirably prevents leakage of
cleansing water and excrement from the drain conduit. One end of
the protruded conduit section, which is formed separately from the
other part of the draining pathway, may be located in an existing
external drain conduit set in the floor on which the toilet is
installed. This allows utilization of the existing toilet body and
is thus advantageous in manufacture.
[0033] At least part of the above objects is attained by a first
drain socket that is connected to a toilet, in order to discharge a
flow of cleansing water from the toilet to an external drain
conduit set in a floor on which the toilet is installed. The drain
socket includes: a connection unit that is connected to one end of
an inner-toilet trap conduit to flow out cleansing water kept as
reserved water in a bowl of the toilet during a non-cleansing time,
together with a new supply of cleansing water fed to the bowl; and
a conduit defining member that is joined with the connection unit
and defines a draining pathway communicating with the inner-toilet
trap conduit. The conduit defining member forms the draining
pathway that reaches inside of the external drain conduit. The
conduit defining member has a retention module that causes a flow
of cleansing water to be temporarily retained in a specific part of
the draining pathway located inside the external drain conduit, so
as to induce a siphon action.
[0034] The drain socket of the above construction is connected to
the end of the inner-toilet trap conduit of the toilet, in order to
discharge the flow of cleansing water from the toilet to the
external drain conduit. Like the toilet discussed above, there is a
large difference between the level of cleansing water temporarily
retained by the retention module and the level of reserved water in
the bowl. This drain socket induces the siphon action under the
condition of the large water head difference and thus enhances the
sucking force of reserved water and the suction efficiency by the
siphon action. The drain socket is connectable to the existing
toilet and accordingly allows utilization of the existing toilet
body. This is advantageous in manufacture.
[0035] In the drain socket, the conduit defining member may have a
plurality of the retention modules, or may be provided with the
retention module in a neighborhood of or on one end of the draining
pathway.
[0036] The retention modules at a plurality of different places
increase the water head difference in the process of inducing the
siphon action, thus enhancing the sucking force of reserved water
and the suction efficiency by the siphon action.
[0037] In accordance with one preferable application, the
connection unit has an element that is positioned and fixed in the
inner-toilet trap conduit, and the conduit defining member includes
an element that is positioned relative to the external drain
conduit and is fixed on the floor surface, on which the toilet is
installed.
[0038] This arrangement effectively prevents the drain socket from
being shifted relative to the toilet or the external drain conduit
by the force of the flow of cleansing water in the process of
cleansing the toilet and ensures stable induction of the siphon
action.
[0039] The conduit defining member may define the draining pathway
by laying a connection part of the drain conduit joined with the
connection unit and the specific part of the draining pathway
inside the external drain conduit in an eccentric manner. This
arrangement enables the inner-toilet trap conduit to be connected
to the external drain conduit by means of the drain conduit of the
drain socket even when the inner-toilet trap conduit is misaligned
with the external drain conduit.
[0040] At least part of the above objects is attained by a lavatory
with a toilet that is connected to an external drain conduit set in
a floor, on which the toilet is installed. The external drain
conduit has a retention module that is disposed in a specific
pipeline section, through which cleansing water passing through an
inner-toilet draining pathway flows. The retention module causes
the flow of cleansing water to be temporarily retained, so as to
induce a siphon action.
[0041] In the lavatory of the above construction, the external
drain conduit is provided with the retention module to induce the
siphon action, like the toilet discussed above. Connection of the
existing toilet to the external drain conduit directly or via a
drain socket enables cleansing water used for cleansing the toilet
to be effectively discharged through induction of the siphon
action. Locating the retention module below the floor surface, on
which the toilet is installed, induces the siphon action under the
condition of the large water head difference and enables the toilet
to be effectively cleansed with the high sucking force of reserved
water and the high suction efficiency. In this application, the
toilet may or may not have the function of inducing the siphon
action. This arrangement accordingly has the enhanced
flexibility.
[0042] At least part of the above objects is attained by a first
drainage device of a toilet, which includes: a drain socket that
has a flow inlet connecting with a drainage port of a toilet body,
a flow outlet connecting with a drain conduit leading to sewer, and
a socket flow path connecting the flow inlet with the flow outlet
in an eccentric layout; and a restriction element that is formed
integrally with the drain socket and causes a flow of cleansing
water flowing through the socket flow path to be temporarily
retained, so as to induce a siphon action.
[0043] In the first drainage device of the present invention,
cleansing water discharged out of the toilet body is flown out to
the drain conduit through the flow inlet, the socket flow path, and
the flow outlet of the drain socket. The drain socket has the flow
inlet and the flow outlet that are eccentric to each other. The
flow of cleansing water is accordingly curved along the eccentric
flow path to be retained. The restriction element enhances the
effect of retaining the flow of cleansing water and thereby induces
the siphon action. Compared with the structure of retaining the
flow of cleansing water by the single restriction element or by the
single eccentric flow path, this structure with the combination of
the eccentric flow path and the restriction element desirably
prevents the excessively curved flow path or the excessively
narrowed restricted flow path but ensures smooth discharge of
excrement.
[0044] The restriction element is formed integrally with the drain
socket and is thus not shifted nor stripped off by the force of
cleansing water in the drainage process. This arrangement ensures
induction of the desired siphon action and attains easy
maintenance. The integral formation of the restriction element with
the drain socket does not require positioning in forward or
backward attachment of the drain socket and has the excellent
workability.
[0045] The restriction element is disposed at various locations
preferable for induction of the siphon action and has diverse
shapes. For example, the restriction element may be formed as a
restricted flow path eccentric to the socket flow path at the
position of the restriction element. Combination with the flow in
the eccentric socket flow path has the better effect. The
restriction element may be disposed in a neighborhood of the flow
outlet. This arrangement increases the quantity of cleansing water
retained in the upstream by means of the restriction element, thus
heightening the power of the siphon action and enhancing the
discharge power of excrement.
[0046] In another preferable application, the socket flow path is
extended below a fixation unit of the drain socket, which is fixed
to the floor surface, and the restriction element is disposed on
the lower end of the extended flow path. This arrangement also
effectively increases the quantity of cleansing water retained by
the restriction element.
[0047] The restriction element is formed integrally with the drain
socket, so that there is no need of specifying the position of
attachment in the work of installing the toilet. This arrangement
attains the excellent workability. Here the `integrally formed`
state means integration in the work of installing the toilet to
ensure the good workability. The restriction element may thus be
molded integrally with the drain socket, or may be molded
separately from the drain socket but assembled together to ensure
fixation and positioning.
[0048] For effective induction of the siphon action, a toilet
restriction unit may be provided in a neighborhood of the drainage
port of the toilet, and the toilet restriction unit may be located
to be eccentric to the flow inlet.
[0049] At least part of the above objects is attained by a second
drainage device of a toilet, which includes: a drain socket having
a toilet connection member with a flow inlet that connects with a
drainage port of a toilet body, a drain conduit connection member
with a flow outlet that connects with a drain conduit leading to
sewer; and a socket flow path that connects the flow inlet with the
flow outlet; and a cleansing water retention module that is formed
separately from the drain socket, is fixed to the drain socket, and
causes a flow of cleansing water flowing through the socket flow
path to be temporarily retained, so as to induce a siphon
action.
[0050] In the second drainage device of the present invention,
excrement and cleansing water discharged from the toilet body pass
through the drainage port and the socket flow path of the drain
socket and are flown out of the flow outlet to the drain conduit.
The cleansing water retention module is fixed to the drain socket.
The cleansing water retention module temporarily retains the flow
of cleansing water in the socket flow path and thereby induces the
siphon action. The cleansing water retention module is formed
separately from the drain socket. This enables the drain socket to
have the simple construction and to be manufactured by taking into
account only the optimum design condition for induction of the
siphon action.
[0051] The drain socket has the simple construction and is readily
manufactured without any restriction of the manufacturing
conditions, for example, removal from the die, in injection or
another molding process. The cleansing water retention module is
designed to meet the optimum condition for induction of the siphon
action when being fixed to the drain socket, and ensures quick
induction of the sufficient siphon action without any restriction
of the manufacturing condition.
[0052] In one preferable embodiment, the cleansing water retention
module is designed to change a flow path area in a flow direction
of cleansing water. One preferable embodiment of changing the flow
path area continuously decreases the flow path area from the
upstream side to the downstream side of the socket flow path.
Another preferable embodiment of changing the flow path area
provides a restriction element that partly narrows the flow path
area. In one preferable embodiment, the restriction element is
formed to reduce its flow path area from the upstream side to the
downstream side.
[0053] The cleansing water retention module may have an enlarged
flow path, which is formed upstream of the restriction element to
have a greater flow path area, or may be provided with a plurality
of restriction elements. These arrangements desirably ensure quick
induction of the siphon action of the cleansing water flowing
through the socket flow path, thus effectively saving water.
[0054] In the structure of the cleansing water retention module
with the restriction element, the restriction element may be
positioned in a neighborhood of the flow outlet. This arrangement
increases the power of the siphon action specified by the
difference between the water level of cleansing water reserved in
the bowl of the toilet body and the water level in the flow outlet,
thus attaining the excellent drainage performance.
[0055] The cleansing water retention module may have a fixation
unit that is positioned and fixed to the drain socket. This
arrangement effectively prevents a shift of the cleansing water
retention module relative to the drain socket by the force of the
flow of cleansing water and thus ensures induction of the stable
siphon action.
[0056] At least part of the above objects is attained by a second
drain socket that is connected to a toilet. The toilet has a bowl,
in which cleansing water is kept as reserved water during a
non-cleansing time, and a drain conduit for flowing out the
reserved water together with a new supply of cleansing water fed to
the bowl. The drain socket connects the drain conduit with an
outside soil pipe and makes the reserved water or cleansing water
flown from the drain conduit into the soil pipe. The drain socket
includes at least two members separable in a flow direction of the
reserved water or cleansing water.
[0057] The drain socket consists of the at least two members
separable in the flow direction of reserved water or cleansing
water. Various combinations of the at least two members attain
diverse forms of the flow path of reserved water or cleansing
water.
[0058] It is preferable that the drain socket further has a
variable module that varies a length of the drain socket in the
flow direction of the reserved water or cleansing water. This
arrangement allows connection of the toilet with the soil pipe in a
plurality of different layouts, thus ensuring application of the
same drain socket to such different layouts.
[0059] In accordance with one preferable application, the at least
two members separable in the flow direction of reserved water of
cleansing water include at least a first member that is arranged in
either a floor surface or a wall surface with the soil pipe
embedded therein, and a second member combined with the first
member. The drain socket further has a positional relation change
module that changes a positional relation between the first member
and the second member. The positional relation change module is
activated to change the positional relation, so as to vary the
length of the drain socket in the flow direction of the reserved
water or cleansing water. The length of the drain socket is
variable relative to the floor surface or the wall surface as the
reference. The same drain socket is thus applicable to connect the
toilet having different distances between the floor surface or the
wall surface and the drain conduit with the soil pipe. This
enhances the applicability.
[0060] In one preferable embodiment, the drain socket further has a
display unit that is disposed in at least one of the first member
and the second member to display information with regard to the
varied length of the drain socket. This enables the length of the
drain socket to be adjusted while checking the varied whole length
of the drain socket, thus enhancing the workability in adjustment.
A distance between either the floor surface or the wall surface
with the soil pipe embedded therein and a connection of the drain
socket with the drain conduit may be displayed in the display unit
as the information with regard to the length. In this arrangement,
there is no requirement of positioning the drain socket to the
drain conduit of the toilet and adjusting the size to adequately
connect the drain socket with the drain conduit of the toilet. The
only required operation is to measure the distance between the
floor surface or the wall surface and the position of connection of
the drain socket with the drain conduit and adjusts the size of the
drain socket based on the measurement. This ensures the smooth
adjustment work.
[0061] In accordance with another preferable application, the at
least two members separable in the flow direction of the reserved
water or cleansing water include at least a first flow path
defining member that defines a flow path communicating with an end
of the drain conduit, and a second flow path defining member that
is constructed separately from the first flow path defining member
and extends the flow path defined by the first flow path defining
member to a downstream side. The drain socket further has a flow
path change module that changes a length of an extended flow path
by the second flow path defining member. The flow path change
module is activated to change the length of the extended flow path
by the second flow path defining member, so as to vary the length
of the drain socket in the flow direction of the reserved water or
cleansing water. This arrangement allows the flow path length of
the drain socket to be changed to a desired length.
[0062] In one preferable embodiment, the second flow path defining
member includes a plurality of members, and the flow path change
module changes the length of the extended flow path by a
combination of the plurality of members. This arrangement enables
the flow path length of the drain socket to be easily changed by
the simple operation.
[0063] In accordance with one preferable application, the second
flow path defining member has a mark set in advance to show a
cutting position of the second flow path defining member, and the
length of the extended flow path by the second flow path defining
member is changed by cutting the second flow path defining member
based on the mark. This arrangement allows the flow path of the
drain socket to be cut to a desired length and facilitates the
cutting work. In the above application, the second flow path
defining member is capable of extending the flow path defined by
the first flow path defining member to be lower than an
installation plane of the toilet, and a distance of the extended
flow path by the second flow path defining member to be lower than
the installation plane of the toilet is displayed in advance in a
vicinity of the mark. The length of the second flow path defining
member is specified not to interfere with the sewer located below
the installation plane of the toilet.
[0064] In accordance with another preferable application, the
second flow path defining member is detachably attached to a
predetermined site of the drain socket, and the length of the
extended flow path by the second flow path defining member is
changed by shifting a position of attachment of the second flow
path defining member. This arrangement allows the flow path length
of the drain socket to be readily changed by the simple
operation.
[0065] In one preferable embodiment, a first flow path defining
member that defines a flow path communicating with an end of the
drain conduit, and a second flow path defining member that is
constructed separately from the first flow path defining member and
extends the flow path defined by the first flow path defining
member to a downstream side are provided as the at least two
members separable in the flow direction of the reserved water or
cleansing water. The first flow path defining member includes a
first member that is arranged in either a floor surface or a wall
surface with the soil pipe embedded therein, and a second member
combined with the first member. The drain socket further has a flow
path change module that changes a length of an extended flow path
by the second flow path defining member, and a positional relation
change module that changes a positional relation between the first
member and the second member. The flow path change module is
activated to change the length of the extended flow path by the
second flow path defining member, so as to vary the length of the
drain socket in the flow direction of the reserved water or
cleansing water. The positional relation change module is activated
to change the positional relation between the first member and the
second member, so as to vary the length of the drain socket in the
flow direction of the reserved water or cleansing water. This
arrangement allows both the length of the drain socket relative to
the floor surface or the wall surface as the reference and the flow
path length of the drain socket to be freely adjusted, thus
widening the range of application of the drain socket. The same
drain socket is preferably applicable to various types of toilets
and diverse conditions of sewer by adjusting the height of the
drain socket from the floor surface and the flow path of the drain
socket.
[0066] It is also preferable that the second flow path defining
member is provided with a restriction element that reduces a cross
sectional area of the second flow path defining member from an
inlet area of the second flow path defining member. This
arrangement allows the position of the restriction element to be
freely adjusted. Adjusting the position of the restriction element
specifies a desired degree of the suction force of reserved water
or cleansing water after induction of the siphon action by taking
into account the type of the toilet and the conditions of the
sewer.
[0067] The present invention may be directed to a toilet with any
of the drain sockets discussed above or a toilet connecting with
any of the drain sockets discussed above. For example, in the
toilet connecting with the drain socket having the variable module,
the distance between the floor surface and the end of the drain
conduit is adjustable by changing the length of the drain socket
relative to the floor surface or the wall surface as the reference.
This allows the height of the end of the drain conduit to be
relatively freely designed or produced in the design or manufacture
of the toilet. In the toilet connecting with the drain socket
having the flow path change module, the guide route of reserved
water or cleansing water to sewer and the retaining state of
reserved water or cleansing water are adjustable by changing the
flow path length of the drain socket. This ensures the sufficient
cleansing performance of the toilet without requiring any
complicated structure.
[0068] The present invention is further directed to a socket flow
path extension member that is attached to a drain socket, which
connects an end of a drain conduit of a toilet with an external
soil pipe, and extends a flow path formed inside the drain socket
to a downstream side. At least 2 numerical values representing
length of the extended flow path are displayed.
[0069] The socket flow path extension member having the above
construction readily specifies a desired length of extension when
extending the flow path of the drain socket. Different numerical
values corresponding to the types of toilets or installation
conditions of the toilet may be given as the at least two numerical
values. This enables the flow path in the drain socket to be
extended to a desired length.
[0070] At least part of the above objects is attained by a third
drain socket that is interposed between a siphon trap of a toilet
and a drain conduit outside the toilet and has a socket flow path
for leading a flow of cleansing water passing through the siphon
trap to the drain conduit. The drain socket is provided with a
regulation module disposed in the socket flow path to regulate and
increase a flow rate of cleansing water passing through the socket
flow path in a terminal stage of a siphon action, which is end of
the siphon action induced by a full water level of the siphon
trap.
[0071] In the third drain socket of the present invention having
the above construction, the flow rate of cleansing water passing
through the socket flow path is increased in the terminal stage of
the siphon action. This arrangement does not reduce the ratio of
the occupation area of the flow of cleansing water to the cross
sectional area of the pipeline. The arrangement accordingly
prevents invasion of the air from the downstream and extends the
effective siphon action. This enhances the suction efficiency of
reserved water in the bowl in the terminal stage of the siphon
action and the reliability of suction and discharge of floating
excrement.
[0072] The terminal stage of the siphon action is specified by the
flow rate of cleansing water fed to the toilet for cleansing, the
quantity of water reserved in the bowl, and the pipeline diameter
of the siphon trap, and is determined according to the elapse of
time from the start of the flushing action. The timing of the
increase is thus specified according to the elapse of time.
[0073] In accordance with one preferable application of the third
drain socket of the present invention, the regulation module
includes a supplement unit that supplements the cleansing water
passing through the socket flow path with reserved cleansing water
in the terminal stage of the siphon action.
[0074] This arrangement increases the flow rate of cleansing water
passing through the socket flow path with the supplement of
cleansing water to extend the effective siphon action, thus
enhancing the suction efficiency of reserved water in the bowl in
the terminal stage of the siphon action and the reliability of
suction and discharge of floating excrement.
[0075] In the above application, the regulation module may have a
plurality of supplement units to supply cleansing water at a
plurality of different places. This ensures extension of the
effective siphon action with the supplement of cleansing water.
[0076] The drain socket or the siphon trap of the toilet may be
provided with a siphon induction mechanism, which temporarily
retains the flow of cleansing water and thereby induces the siphon
action. The supplement unit of the drain socket may be disposed in
the vicinity of the siphon induction mechanism. This arrangement
enables supplement of cleansing water in the vicinity of the siphon
action-inducing place, thus ensuring the extension of the effective
siphon action and enhancing the reliability.
[0077] In accordance with another preferable application, the
supplement unit has a reservoir unit that reserves part of
cleansing water passing through either one of the socket flow path
and the siphon trap, prior to the terminal stage of the siphon
action.
[0078] The application enables the supply of cleansing water fed to
the toilet for cleansing to be partly used for the supplement of
cleansing water without requiring any specific water system for
supplement of cleansing water. This arrangement does not
undesirably increase the quantity of cleansing water, while
simplifying the construction.
[0079] In accordance with still another preferable application, the
regulation module has a unit that restricts a flow of cleansing
water through the socket flow path before the terminal stage of the
siphon action and relieves the restriction in the terminal stage of
the siphon action.
[0080] The application relieves the restriction in the terminal
stage of the siphon action to increase the flow rate, thus
extending the effective siphon action and enhancing the suction
efficiency of reserved water in the bowl in the terminal stage of
the siphon action. A power-driven device may be applied to relive
the restriction. In this case, the device is driven to relieve the
restriction, based on the elapse of time since the start of the
flushing action.
[0081] The present invention is also directed to a second toilet
with a siphon trap, wherein the siphon trap includes: a first
descending conduit that is arranged downstream a curved portion;
and a second descending conduit that defines a downstream pathway
and is connected to a drain conduit outside the toilet to lead
cleansing water to the drain conduit. The second descending conduit
is provided with a regulation module that regulates and increases a
flow rate of cleansing water passing through the second descending
conduit in a terminal stage of a siphon action, which is end of the
siphon action induced by a full water level of the siphon trap.
[0082] In the second toilet of the present invention, the flow rate
of cleansing water passing through the second descending conduit is
increased in the terminal stage of the siphon action. The toilet of
the above construction thus extends the effective siphon action and
enhances the suction efficiency of reserved water in the bowl in
the terminal stage of the siphon action and the reliability of
suction and discharge of floating excrement.
[0083] The second descending conduit may be constructed separately
from the siphon trap including the first descending conduit and be
interposed between the first descending conduit and the drain
conduit.
[0084] This arrangement advantageously allows application of the
existing siphon trap to the pottery toilet body.
[0085] The second descending conduit constructed separately may
form or replace any of the drain sockets discussed above.
[0086] The toilet with the siphon trap may be provided with any of
the drain sockets discussed above.
[0087] At least part of the objects mentioned above is also
attained by a third siphon action-type toilet, which includes a
bowl that receives excrement and keeps water therein as reserved
water, and a drain conduit that defines a drain flow path, through
which a supply of cleansing water fed to the bowl is flown out
together with the reserved water. The drain conduit has: a
retention module that temporarily retains a flow of cleansing water
through the drain flow path and thereby induces a siphon action;
and a delay module that is disposed downstream the retention module
and lowers a flow velocity of cleansing water when a flow rate or a
flow velocity of cleansing water passing through the retention
module is not greater than a preset level.
[0088] In the third toilet of the present invention, excrement and
cleansing water discharged out of the bowl pass through the drain
flow path defined by the drain conduit and are flown out to a drain
conduit leading to sewer. The cleansing water flowing in the drain
flow path passes through the retention module and the delay module.
The retention module temporarily retains the flow of cleansing
water through the drain flow path and thereby induces the siphon
action. This arrangement causes the cleansing water and the
excrement in the bowl to be quickly flown out through the drain
conduit.
[0089] In the cleansing process, the flow of cleansing water
passing through the retention modules goes to the delay module. The
delay module allows direct flow of cleansing water when the
cleansing water has a flow rate or flow velocity of greater than a
preset level to attain instant discharge, but increases the flow
resistance and lowers the flow velocity of cleansing water when the
cleansing water has the flow rate or flow velocity of not greater
than the preset level. Namely the flow of cleansing water instantly
discharges excrement in an initial stage or an intermediate stage
of the siphon action, when the cleansing water flown out of the
bowl has a high flow velocity. The flow of cleansing water is, on
the other hand, delayed and retained in a terminal stage of the
siphon action, when the cleansing water has a low flow velocity.
This arrangement enables even floating excrement, which requires a
relatively long time for discharge, to be discharged from the bowl
without failure.
[0090] In accordance with one preferable application of the third
toilet of the present invention, the retention module has a
restriction element that is protruded from an inner wall of the
drain conduit and reduces a flow path area of the drain flow path.
The restriction element traps the flow of cleansing water in the
drain flow path and thereby induces the siphon action. The
retention module may be provided with a separation element that
leads cleansing water flown along an inner wall of the drain flow
path to be apart from the inner wall. In one preferable embodiment,
the separation element is a separation convex that is protruded
from an inner wall of the drain flow path. The separation convex
changes the flow direction of cleansing water through the drain
flow path and instantly induces the siphon action.
[0091] In one preferable embodiment, the delay module may have a
delay convex protruded from an inner wall of the drain flow path.
The delay convex is designed to receive a flow of cleansing water
passing through the separation convex when the cleansing water has
a flow velocity or flow rate of not greater than a preset level.
This slows down the flow of cleansing water.
[0092] The delay module has a flow direction change sub-module that
changes a flow direction of the cleansing water passing through the
drain flow path. The flow direction change sub-module makes a flow
in a diversity of directions, for example, in a direction
perpendicular to an inner wall of the drain flow path, in a
circumferential direction of the inner wall, or in a spiral form
along the inner wall. One preferable embodiment of the flow
direction change sub-module is a guide member that causes the
cleansing water passing through the drain flow path to be flown in
a spiral form along the inner wall. The guide member makes the
spiral flow of cleansing water and thereby extends the total flow
time.
[0093] At least one of the retention module and the delay module
may be disposed inside the drain conduit integrated with the bowl,
or may be separate from the drain conduit. In the latter structure,
the drain conduit is formed separately from the bowl and includes a
drain socket, which connects a drainage port of the bowl to a drain
conduit leading to sewer. The drain socket is provided with the
retention module and the separation element. In one preferable
embodiment, the drain socket has a socket main body that defines
the drain flow path, and the retention module and the separation
element are detachably attached to the socket main body. This
arrangement facilitates die molding of the retention module and the
separation element of even complicated contours.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0094] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 10 in one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0095] FIG. 2 illustrates a top face of the toilet 10;
[0096] FIG. 3 illustrates application of the present invention to
another toilet having a descending pathway 33 of simple pipeline
structure in one modified example;
[0097] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a drain socket 70 of
another modified example, in which a socket main body 71 is
integrated with an inner drain conduit socket member 72;
[0098] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the main part of the
drain socket 70 in still another modified example
[0099] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the main part of the
drain socket 70 in another modified example;
[0100] FIG. 7 illustrates the drain socket 70 of still another
modified example adopted in a structure that the descending pathway
33 of the trap conduit is off to a drain conduit 90;
[0101] FIG. 8 is a decomposed perspective view illustrating a drain
socket joint member applied to a lead drain conduit 90;
[0102] FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket
joint member;
[0103] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the drain socket joint member;
[0104] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a toilet 110 with a
drain socket 120 in a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0105] FIG. 12 shows drain conduits P of four different
specifications connecting with the drain socket;
[0106] FIG. 13 shows layout of the drain conduit P in the floor
surface FL of the lavatory;
[0107] FIG. 14 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket
120 of FIG. 11;
[0108] FIG. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket
120 taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
a toilet body 111;
[0109] FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of a drain conduit joint member 124;
[0110] FIG. 17 is a side view of the drain socket 120;
[0111] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the drain socket 120;
[0112] FIG. 19 shows a process of setting the drain socket 120;
[0113] FIG. 20 shows a process of installing the toilet with the
drain socket 120;
[0114] FIG. 21 shows another process of installing the toilet with
the drain socket when the drain conduit is disposed at a different
position from that of FIG. 20;
[0115] FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the drain socket 120;
[0116] FIG. 23 is a sectional view illustrating another drain
socket 120B in a third embodiment;
[0117] FIG. 24 is a sectional view illustrating still another drain
socket 120C in a fourth embodiment;
[0118] FIG. 25 is a sectional view illustrating another drain
socket 120D in a fifth embodiment;
[0119] FIG. 26 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of a restriction element 124Db in the fifth
embodiment;
[0120] FIG. 27 illustrates the vicinity of another restriction
element 124Ea;
[0121] FIG. 28 is a plan view illustrating the restriction element
124Ea;
[0122] FIG. 29 is a sectional view illustrating the vicinity of
another drain socket 120F in a sixth embodiment;
[0123] FIG. 30 shows the positional relationship between a trap
drain conduit of a toilet body and the drain socket;
[0124] FIG. 31 is a sectional view illustrating the vicinity of a
toilet 210 with a drain socket 220 in a seventh embodiment of the
present invention;
[0125] FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the drain
socket 220 shown in FIG. 31;
[0126] FIG. 33 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket
220 taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
a toilet body 211;
[0127] FIG. 34 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of a drain conduit joint member 224;
[0128] FIG. 35 is a side view of the drain socket 220;
[0129] FIG. 36 is a bottom view of the drain socket 220;
[0130] FIG. 37 shows a process of setting the drain socket 220;
[0131] FIG. 38 shows a process of installing the toilet with the
drain socket 220;
[0132] FIG. 39 shows another process of installing the toilet with
the drain socket when the drain conduit is disposed at a different
position from that of FIG. 38;
[0133] FIG. 40 is a sectional view illustrating a cleansing water
retention module 230;
[0134] FIG. 41 is a top view illustrating the cleansing water
retention module 230;
[0135] FIG. 42 is a sectional view illustrating a drain socket 220B
and a cleansing water retention module 230B in an eighth
embodiment;
[0136] FIG. 43 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230C;
[0137] FIG. 44 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230D;
[0138] FIG. 45 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230E;
[0139] FIG. 46 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230F;
[0140] FIG. 47 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230G;
[0141] FIG. 48 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230H;
[0142] FIG. 49 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230J;
[0143] FIG. 50 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230K;
[0144] FIG. 51 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230L;
[0145] FIG. 52 illustrates a cleansing water retention module
230M;
[0146] FIG. 53 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 310 with a drain socket 360 connected
thereto in a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
[0147] FIG. 54 shows the detailed structure of the drain socket
360;
[0148] FIG. 55 shows a top face of a base member 380;
[0149] FIG. 56 shows a cross section of an engaging element 382,
taken on a centerline C-C in FIG. 54;
[0150] FIG. 57 is a perspective view illustrating the base member
380;
[0151] FIG. 58 shows the front side of the drain socket 360, where
four engagement pieces 389a and 389p are fitted in lower-most
horizontal grooves 382c and 382r;
[0152] FIG. 59 shows the drain socket 360 after adjustment of the
height of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL to 200
mm;
[0153] FIG. 60 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the drain
socket 360 adjusted to a height of 200 mm from the floor surface FL
and attached to another toilet 510;
[0154] FIG. 61 is a vertical sectional view illustrating connection
of a toilet 810 to a drain conduit 8390 via a drain socket 8360 in
a tenth embodiment of the present invention;
[0155] FIG. 62 shows an inner drain conduit socket member 372
attached to a different position of a main body member 8371;
[0156] FIG. 63 is a vertical sectional view illustrating connection
of a toilet 1310 to a drain conduit 1390 via a drain socket 1360 in
an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0157] FIG. 64 shows the appearance of a first cylindrical section
1372b;
[0158] FIG. 65 shows attachment of a cut inner drain conduit socket
member 1372 to a fringe 1379a;
[0159] FIG. 66 shows a first cylindrical section 2372b as a
modified example;
[0160] FIG. 67 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 410 in a twelfth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0161] FIG. 68 shows behaviors of cleansing water passing through a
siphon trap and a socket conduit 472;
[0162] FIG. 69 shows a modified structure of a drain socket
470;
[0163] FIG. 70 illustrates a drain socket 1470 in a thirteenth
embodiment;
[0164] FIG. 71 shows a drain socket 1470A in a modified
example;
[0165] FIG. 72 illustrates a drain socket 2470 in a fourteenth
embodiment;
[0166] FIG. 73 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 610 in a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0167] FIG. 74 shows the top face of the toilet 610;
[0168] FIG. 75 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the drain socket 670 of FIG. 73;
[0169] FIG. 76 is a perspective view illustrating the partly broken
drain socket 670 to show the details of the vicinity of a cleansing
water retention module 680;
[0170] FIG. 77 shows a time-based variation in flow rate of
cleansing water flown out of a drainage port in a cleansing
process;
[0171] FIG. 78 shows initial and middle stages in the cleansing
process;
[0172] FIG. 79 shows a terminal stage in the cleansing process;
and
[0173] FIG. 80 is a sectional view showing the periphery of a
drainage device attached to a prior art toilet.
BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0174] In order to clarify the construction and functions of the
present invention described above, toilets according to the present
invention are discussed below as preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a
vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon jet action-type
toilet 10 in one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present
invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a top face of the toilet 10. The
siphon jet action-type toilet 10 makes cleansing water ejected from
a jet nozzle 22 discussed later to induce the siphon action.
Respective constituents of the toilet 10 are discussed below with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0175] Referring to FIG. 1, the toilet 10 has a bowl 20 to receive
excrement therein. A peripheral wall of the bowl 20 has a
water-submerged surface 23 that is in contact with reserved water
RW even in a non-cleansing time of the toilet 10 and an exposed
surface 24 that is not in contact with the reserved water RW in the
non-cleansing time of the toilet 10.
[0176] Referring to FIG. 2, the jet nozzle 22 is connected to a jet
supply nozzle 45, which is an inlet of water ejected from the jet
nozzle 22, via a jet supply conduit 46 curved inside the toilet.
The jet nozzle 22 is located to substantially face a drainage port
25 across a recess 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Energy of cleansing water
is thus transmitted to a drainage mechanism of and after the
drainage port 25 without any significant waste. This leads to
instant induction of the siphon action.
[0177] The toilet 10 is provided with a mechanism for supplying
water to the bowl 20 (hereinafter referred to as the supply
mechanism) and a mechanism for discharging excrement in the bowl 20
toward a drain conduit 90 (hereinafter referred to as the drainage
mechanism).
[0178] The supply mechanism is discussed first. A cleansing water
supply aperture 40, which is a hole connecting with a water supply
pipe SL of a water tank WT, is provided behind the toilet 10. A
cleansing water supply conduit 41, which defines a flow path of
cleansing water led from the water tank WT, is disposed inside the
toilet 10 along a passage from the cleansing water supply aperture
40 towards the bowl 20. The cleansing water supply conduit 41
divisionally forms a retention space 41a as a space interposed
between the jet supply conduit 46 for ejecting a jet of cleansing
water towards the bowl and a lower end of a drain conduit of the
water tank WT. In response to each flushing action, cleansing water
discharged from the drain conduit is flown into the retention space
41a and passes through the jet supply conduit 46 and a branch hole
42 discussed later to rim supply conduits 43. The retention space
41a functions as an air gap without cleansing water during the
non-cleansing time.
[0179] Water (cleansing water) kept in the tank is pressed by free
fall and is fed at once to the cleansing water supply conduit 41.
The retention space 41a, the lower oblique division of the
cleansing water supply conduit 41, is filled with water after start
of each flushing action. Part of the cleansing water is supplied
from the branch hole 42 to the rim supply conduits 43. The flow of
cleansing water supplied to the rim supply conduits 43 is ejected
from water outlets 44 (see FIG. 2) formed in a rear face of a rim
member 21.
[0180] As shown in FIG. 2, there are five different types of water
outlets 44 having various shapes, that is, a large aperture 44a of
7 mm in diameter, medium apertures 44b of 4 mm in diameter, small
apertures 44c of 3 mm in diameter, and quasi rectangular slots 44d
and 44e, provided on the rear face of the rim member 21. The water
outlets 44 are typically formed in the course of production of the
rim member 21. A distributor with water outlets may otherwise be
attached to the rear face of the rim member 21.
[0181] A total opening area S.sub.A of the water outlets 44, that
is, the large aperture 44a, the medium apertures 44b, the small
apertures 44c, and the slots 44d and 44e, is calculated as
summation of the product of the area of each water outlet and its
number. An area ratio (S.sub.H/S.sub.A) of an effective pathway
area (opening area for leading out cleansing water) S.sub.H of the
branch hole 42, which leads the flow of cleansing water to the
respective water outlets, to the total opening area S.sub.A is set
equal to approximately 1.23. The flow of cleansing water fed to the
rim supply conduits 43 is regulated by the opening of the branch
hole 42. The flow rate is regulated in a substantially linear
relation corresponding to the area ratio. A variation in area ratio
results in a significantly large variation in flow rate. The
presence of the branch hole 42 thus enables the flow rate to be
regulated effectively. This arrangement also ensures easy setting
of the flow rate without any trial and error in design and
inspection.
[0182] Among the water outlets 44, the slots 44d and 44e are
provided to give a swirl force to the cleansing water ejected out
of the water outlets 44. The cleansing water pressed forward in the
toilet 10 is led into the left and right rim supply conduits 43, is
distributed according to the opening diameters of the water outlets
44 and the pressing force of cleansing water, and is ejected out of
the respective water outlets 44a through 44e. The cleansing water
of the large pressing force is ejected from the slot 44d, which is
formed on the right back side close to the branch hole 42 in the
rear face of the rim member 21, toward the exposed surface 24 on
the slightly left side in the front portion of the toilet. A large
quantity of the clockwise flow of cleansing water through the rim
supply conduits 43 is ejected from the slot 44e, which is formed on
the slightly right side position in the front portion of the toilet
10, toward the exposed surface 24 in the rear left portion of the
toilet 10. The cleansing water ejected from the slots 44d and 44e
makes a main stream and gives the clockwise swirling force to the
cleansing water ejected out of the water outlets 44. The swirling
force is transferred to reserved water RW in the bowl 20. This
makes a clockwise swirl flow of water in the bowl 20.
[0183] The above description regards one of the methods of giving
the swirl force to the cleansing water ejected out of the water
outlets 44. Any of the other methods is also applicable for the
same purpose. One applicable method designs some of the water
outlets 44 to have a certain angle in the swirling direction.
Another method makes the flow of water in a single direction in the
rim supply conduits 43. In the structure of the first embodiment
according to the present invention, cleansing water is ejected from
the rim as discussed above. One possible modification makes simple
free fall of cleansing water from the rim. Another modification
makes no ejection or fall of cleansing water from the rim.
[0184] The cleansing water reaching the retention space 41a goes
into the jet supply nozzle 45, which is formed in the side wall of
the retention space 41a. This leads to supply of cleansing water
into the jet supply conduit 46. The cleansing water supplied to the
jet supply conduit 46 is jetted out of the jet nozzle 22. When the
retention space 41a is filled with the new supply of cleansing
water, the cleansing water is led to the rim supply conduits 43 via
the branch hole 42 and is ejected out of the water outlets 44 of
the rim.
[0185] The distribution into the total flow rate of water ejected
out of the water outlets 44 and the flow rate of water jetted out
of the jet nozzle 22 is set arbitrarily by regulating the effective
pathway area (opening area for leading out cleansing water)
S.sub.H.
[0186] The drainage mechanism has the construction discussed below.
As shown in FIG. 1, a connection pathway 31 that is curved in an
oblique upward direction from the drainage port 25, an ascending
pathway 32 that is extended in the curved direction of the
connection pathway 31 and is then curved in a lateral direction,
and a descending pathway 33 that is curved in the lateral direction
and subsequently in a downward direction are formed as a flow path
(trap) of water and excrement and are disposed after the drainage
port 25, which is formed behind the recess 26 working as the
excrement reservoir. The connection pathway 31 and the ascending
pathway 32 correspond to the ascending conduit of the present
invention.
[0187] The descending pathway 33 includes an expanded section 33a
having a greater pipeline diameter and a tapered end 33b having a
narrower opening area than that of the expanded section 33a. The
expanded section 33a and the tapered end 33b of the descending
pathway 33 function to temporarily retain the flow of cleansing
water, so that the descending pathway 33 induces the siphon action.
The end of the descending pathway 33 is connected to the drain
conduit 90, which rises upward from a floor surface FL of a
lavatory at the installation position of the toilet, via a resin
drain socket 70.
[0188] The distance from the rear end of the toilet 10 illustrated
in FIG. 1 to the center of the drain conduit 90 is 180 mm, and the
distance from the rear end of the water tank WT attached to the
toilet 10 to the center of the drain conduit 90 is 190 mm. Namely
arrangement of the drain conduit 90 rising upward to a position of
about 200 mm apart from the wall of the lavatory enables the
assembly of the toilet 10 and the water tank WT to be installed
with a clearance of 10 mm between the rear face of the water tank
WT and the wall of the lavatory. Installation of the assembly of
the toilet 10 and the water tank WT under such conditions allows
the layout of the drain conduit 90 at a position close to the
construction wall. This layout shortens the distance from the drain
conduit 90 to a pipe space and ensures smooth transport of
excrement. The distance may be 200 mm or less when no consideration
is given to the clearance from the wall of the lavatory.
[0189] The flow paths discussed above are formed integrally with
the toilet 10 made of pottery by utilizing a plaster or resin mold,
although the flow paths may be made of a different material
separately from the toilet 10. For example, all or part of the flow
paths may be made of another material like resin and connected to
the drainage port 25.
[0190] The drain socket 70 includes a socket main body 71 that is
positioned above the floor surface FL of the lavatory and is fixed
to the floor surface FL of the lavatory, for example, with a bolt,
and an inner drain conduit socket member 72 that is attached to be
located inside the drain conduit 90. The socket main body 71 has a
descending pathway fitting element 71a, which receives a lower end
of the descending pathway 33 fitted therein, and a first water pipe
73 disposed below the fitting element 71a. The first water pipe 73
has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lower end
of the descending pathway 33. The socket main body 71 has a drain
conduit fitting element 74, which receives the upper end of the
drain conduit 90 extending upward. The fitting of the drain conduit
90 in the drain conduit fitting element 74 positions the drain
socket 70 relative to the drain conduit 90. Location of the lower
end of the first water pipe 73 below the upper end of the drain
conduit 90 effectively prevents the flow of cleansing water through
the first water pipe 73 from leaking out of the upper end of the
drain conduit 90.
[0191] The inner drain conduit socket member 72 has a first tapered
cylindrical section 72b with an upper jaw end 72a, and a second
straight cylindrical section 72c extending from the first
cylindrical section 72b. Since the first cylindrical section 72b is
tapered, the inner drain conduit socket member 72 is fitted in and
attached to the drain conduit 90 regardless of a slight variation
in diameter of the drain conduit 90, such that the jaw end 72a is
in contact with or slightly apart from the upper end of the drain
conduit 90. Application of a sealing sheet like a rubber sheet to
the space between the upper outer circumferential part of the first
cylindrical section 72b and the rear face of the jaw end 72a in the
inner drain conduit socket member 72 desirably seals the upper
opening of the drain conduit 90 and attains the water tightness of
the pipeline.
[0192] The inner drain conduit socket member 72 attached to the
drain conduit 90 has an extended socket section 75, which is
located below the first water pipe 73 and has a greater diameter
than the diameter of the first water pipe 73, and a tapered conduit
section 76, which is located below the extended socket section 75
and has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the first
water pipe 73. The extended socket section 75 and the tapered
conduit section 76 are positioned below the floor surface FL of the
lavatory to form a drainage pipeline of cleansing water. The
extended socket section 75 and the tapered conduit section 76
positioned below the floor surface FL of the lavatory function to
temporarily keep the flow of cleansing water and thereby induce the
siphon action.
[0193] The socket main body 71 and the inner drain conduit socket
member 72 of the drain socket 70 are both resin molded objects
formed separately from the toilet 10 or more specifically from the
descending pathway 33, although they may be integrated with the
descending pathway 33. In the latter structure, a pipe like the
first water pipe 73 is connected to the expanded section 33a across
the tapered end 33b, and an extended section like the extended
socket section 75 and a conduit like the tapered conduit section 76
communicate with the lower end of the pie and are made of the same
material as that of the descending pathway 33. The socket main body
71 and the inner drain conduit socket member 72 of the drain socket
70 as the resin molded objects may be made of the same vinyl
chloride resin as the material of the drain conduit 90. Any of
other diverse resins, such as ABS resin, PP (polypropylene), PE
(polyethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), MA (acrylic resin),
and POM (polyacetal) is also applicable.
[0194] In this structure, the inner drain conduit socket member 72
may be separate from the socket main body 71 and thus be attachable
independently to the drain conduit 90. The drain conduit 90 itself
then induces the siphon action.
[0195] In the toilet 10 with the drain socket 70 attached thereto,
the descending conduit for drainage of cleansing water is formed to
be extended downward from the floor surface FL of the lavatory. The
expanded section and the tapered section for inducing the siphon
action are formed in the extension from the floor surface FL of the
lavatory.
[0196] Referring again to FIG. 1, in the toilet 10 before a
flushing action, the reserved water RW in the connection pathway
31, the ascending pathway 32, and the bowl 20 reaches the standard
height of water level WL. The reserved water RW effectively
prevents a reverse flow of offensive odor and invasion of vermin
from the drainage mechanism to the bowl 20. The structure of the
first embodiment ensures a wide area of retained water as 185 mm in
width.times.225 mm in length, while reducing the quantity of the
reserved water RW. This arrangement effectively prevents adhesion
of excrement to the bowl 20 and effusion of offensive odor from the
exposed surface 24.
[0197] The reserved water RW includes water kept in the bowl 20
before the drainage port 25 (hereinafter this water is referred to
as the bowl storage water or the sealing water), water kept in the
connection pathway 31 and the ascending pathway 32 after the
drainage port 25 (hereinafter this water is referred to as the flow
path storage water), and water kept in the lower portion of the
retention space 41a and the jet supply conduit 46 of the toilet 10
(hereinafter this water is referred to as the jet storage water).
As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path storage water is kept at only one
place along the connection pathway 31 or the ascending pathway 32,
out of the flow path of sanitary sewage including the connection
pathway 31, the ascending pathway 32, and the descending pathway
33. Here the `sanitary sewage` means dirt water mixed with
excrement like stool and urine and paper.
[0198] The water level WL generally depends upon the height of a
weir 34, which is the highest position of the lower inner wall of
the ascending pathway 32. The lower portion of the retention space
41a, the jet supply nozzle 45, and the jet supply conduit 46 are
located below the weir 34 in the toilet 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In
the stationary state of the toilet 10, the jet storage water is
kept at the above water level in the lower portion of the retention
space 41a and the jet supply conduit 46. The lowered height of the
weir 34 lowers the water level of the reserved water RW and
decreases the total quantity of the bowl storage water, the flow
path storage water, and the jet storage water.
[0199] The following describes the process of discharging the
sanitary sewage and excrement by means of the drainage mechanism
having the above construction. A release of cleansing water from
the water tank WT first flows into the retention space 41a. The
potential energy of the released cleansing water works as kinetic
energy and causes the jet storage water in the jet supply conduit
46 to flow into the bowl storage water (sealing water) in the bowl
20. This starts a jet of cleansing water from the jet nozzle 22
toward the trap described above. While the release of cleansing
water continues, the released cleansing water is continuously
jetted from the jet nozzle 22 by means of its potential energy. In
the initial stage of the water jet action, the retention space 41a
is filled with the new release of cleansing water. In the
subsequent stage, the release of cleansing water passes through the
branch hole 42 and is ejected out of the water outlets 44.
[0200] When the cleansing water is ejected out to the bowl 20, the
water level in the ascending pathway 32 rises and the water reaches
its full level at the curved joint portion of the ascending pathway
32 and the descending pathway 33 (hereinafter simply referred to as
the curved portion). The flow of cleansing water then passes
through the descending pathway 33, and is temporarily retained in
the expanded section 33a on the lower end of the descending pathway
33 as well as in the extended socket section 75 and the tapered
conduit section 76, which are located below the floor surface FL of
the lavatory. There is a pressure difference between the
temporarily retained cleansing water and the reserved water in the
bowl 20. This pressure difference generates a downward pulling
force, which causes the excrement together with the cleansing water
(sanitary sewage) in the ascending pathway 32 and the connection
pathway 31 and the cleansing water (sanitary sewage) in the bowl to
be vigorously led into the drain conduit 90. This process induces
the siphon action.
[0201] In the siphon jet action-type toilet 10 of the first
embodiment thus constructed, the siphon action is induced not only
by the expanded section 33a and the tapered end 33b on the lower
end of the descending pathway 33 but by the extended socket section
75 and the tapered conduit section 76 of the drain socket 70
located lower than the floor surface FL of the lavatory. This
arrangement gives the advantages discussed below.
[0202] The siphon action is induced by the two different places,
that is, the lower end of the descending pathway 33 and the drain
socket 70. This arrangement enhances the sucking force of reserved
water in the bowl 20 and the suction efficiency by means of the
siphon action.
[0203] The extended socket section 75 and the tapered conduit
section 76 of the drain socket 70 formed for the purpose of
inducting the siphon action are located below the floor surface FL
of the lavatory. This increases the head difference in the process
of inducing the siphon action. This further enhances the sucking
force of reserved water and the suction efficiency by means of the
siphon action. The lower end of the pipeline for drainage of
cleansing water forms the tapered conduit section 76, and the
extended socket section 75 is provided in the vicinity of this
lower end of the pipeline. This arrangement ensures a greater head
difference in the process of inducing the siphon action and thereby
effectively enhances the sucking force of reserved water and the
suction efficiency.
[0204] The tapered end 33b formed on the lower end of the
descending pathway 33 and the tapered conduit section 76 of the
drain socket 70 are the tapered parts of the pipeline functioning
as the siphon action-inducing parts. These tapered parts are
arranged vertically along the descending pathway. This arrangement
ensures temporary retention of the flow of cleansing water and
effectively induces the siphon action to enhance the sucking force
of reserved water and the suction efficiency. The tapered conduit
section 76 of the drain socket 70 extends by a certain length
(about 40 mm) in the direction of the pipeline. Such extension
interferes with the direct flow of cleansing water and elongates
the time of water retention. This lengthens the siphon action
induction time and thus ensures the effective enhancement of the
sucking force of reserved water and the suction efficiency.
[0205] The drain socket 70, which is separate from the toilet 10,
is used as the siphon action-inducing part located below the floor
surface FL of the lavatory. The toilet 10 is accordingly made of
pottery as the conventional toilet and is not required to have any
extended part from its bottom face. This arrangement does not
require production of a new mold and is thus advantageous in
manufacture. This arrangement also facilitates installation,
transport, and packing of the toilet. Since the drain socket 70
forms the siphon action-inducing part below the floor surface FL of
the lavatory, the existing toilet 10 is advantageously
applicable.
[0206] The siphon action-inducing part of the drain socket 70 is
formed below the floor surface FL of the lavatory by attaching the
inner drain conduit socket member 72, which is separate from the
socket main body 71 of the drain socket 70, to the existing drain
conduit 90. This arrangement does not require relocation of the
drain conduit. The toilet 10 of the first embodiment is thus
readily installed at the time of reforming the lavatory.
[0207] Some examples of possible modification are discussed below.
The first embodiment regards the toilet in which the descending
pathway 33 itself induces the siphon action by the function of the
expanded section 33a on its lower end. The technique of the present
invention is, however, also applicable to another toilet, in which
the descending pathway 33 forms a simple pipeline and is not
provided with the siphon action-inducing part. FIG. 3 illustrates
application of the present invention to another toilet having the
descending pathway 33 of simple pipeline structure in one modified
example. In the modified example, the extended socket section 75
and the tapered conduit section 76 located below the floor surface
FL of the lavatory induces the siphon action by taking advantage of
a large head difference, thus effectively enhancing the sucking
force of reserved water and the suction efficiency. In this
modified example, setting a smaller diameter to the first water
pipe 73 defined by the socket main body 71 than the diameter of the
pipeline of the descending pathway 33 before the first water pipe
73 makes the first water pipe 73 function as the tapered portion
for inducing the siphon action. This arrangement desirably ensures
induction of the siphon action at a plurality of different
places.
[0208] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket 70
of another modified example, in which the socket main body 71 is
integrated with the inner drain conduit socket member 72. In the
drain socket 70 of this modified example, the socket main body 71
defines the first water pipe 73 below the descending pathway 33,
while the inner drain conduit socket member 72 defines the extended
socket section 75 of a greater diameter connecting with the first
water pipe 73 and the tapered conduit section 76 having a diameter
substantially equal to the diameter of the first water pipe 73. In
the drain socket 70 of this modified example, the extended socket
section 75 and the tapered conduit section 76 function as the
siphon action-inducing part located below the floor surface FL of
the lavatory. In the modified example, the inner drain conduit
socket member 72 is a blow molded object having a swelled middle
portion, and is screwed to the lower end of the first water pipe 73
defined by the socket main body 71 at the threaded part formed in
the inner circumference of the upper opening. The drain socket 70
of this modified example also induces the siphon action by taking
advantage of a large head difference, thus effectively enhancing
the sucking force of reserved water and the suction efficiency. The
drain socket 70 is an integral body in this modified example and
thereby simplifies attachment to the drain conduit 90.
[0209] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the main part of the
drain socket 70 in still another modified example. As illustrated,
in this modified example, a sealing member 77 is applied on the
descending pathway fitting element 71a, which receives the lower
end of the descending pathway 33 fitted therein. The sealing member
77 is made of an elastic material like rubber. In response to
insertion of the descending pathway 33, a tapered inner
circumference of the sealing member 77 is stretched to be in close
contact with the outer circumference of the descending pathway 33
to attain sealing. The structure of this modified example ensures
water tightness at the lower end of the descending pathway, so as
to prevent leakage of cleansing water and excrement from the
pipeline. The drain socket 70 is positioned relative to the
descending pathway 33 via the sealing member 77.
[0210] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the main part of the
drain socket 70 in another modified example. In this modified
example, the drain conduit 90 is not protruded upward from the
floor surface FL of the lavatory. As illustrated, sealing members
78, for example, disc rubber sheets, are applied on the upper and
lower faces of the jaw end 72a of the inner drain conduit socket
member 72, and the inner drain conduit socket member 72 is then
attached to the drain conduit 90. The socket main body 71 is fixed
to the floor surface FL of the lavatory in such a manner that a
sealing wall 73a extending downward to surround the first water
pipe 73 defined by the socket main body 71 comes into contact with
the sealing member 78 on the upper face of the jaw end 72a to
attain sealing. In the structure of this modified example, even
when the drain conduit 90 is not extended from the floor surface FL
of the lavatory, the siphon action-inducing part is provided below
the floor surface FL of the lavatory to exert the effects discussed
above. The sealing members 78 ensure the water tightness of the
drain conduit 90 and effectively prevent leakage of cleansing water
and excrement from the pipeline.
[0211] There are other possible modifications of the first
embodiment discussed above.
[0212] For example, in the structure of the first tank, a low tank
connecting with the toilet is applied for the water tank. A
diversity of tanks other than the low tank, for example, corner and
front installation tanks that are connected to the toilet via a
wash pipe and located at the wall of the lavatory, may be
applicable for the water tank. In such cases, the water tank may be
a high tank located at a high position.
[0213] The above description regards application of the technique
of the present invention to the siphon jet action-type toilet 10
and the siphon action-type toilet. The technique of the present
invention is also applicable to combinations of these toilets with
other devices and members. One application is a wash down-type
toilet that utilizes the force of cleansing water supplied to the
toilet and washes down excrement in the bowl of the toilet and dirt
water or sanitary sewage including excrement. Other applications
include sanitary cleansing appliances with the functional toilet
seat to attain diverse functions like personal cleansing and
heating, lavatory furniture including lavatory cabinets and wash
basins, and lavatories including structural materials, like wall
materials, floor materials, and ceiling materials.
[0214] In the drain socket 70 of the above embodiment, the
descending pathway 33 is directly opposite to the drain conduit 90.
The technique of the present invention is also applicable to
another structure in which the descending pathway 33 is located off
to the drain conduit 90. FIG. 7 illustrates the drain socket 70 of
such structure in still another modified example. The drain socket
70 of this modified example has the descending pathway fitting
element 71a that receives the lower end of the descending pathway
33 fitted therein and is eccentric to the first water pipe 73, the
extended socket section 75, and the tapered conduit section 76
located inside the drain conduit 90. The socket main body 71 is
curved or bent according to such positional deviation. Even when
the descending pathway 33 is off to the position of the drain
conduit 90, this arrangement enables the descending pathway 33 to
be connected to the drain conduit 90 via the drain socket 70 and
ensures induction of the siphon action by means of the first water
pipe 73, the extended socket section 75, and the tapered conduit
section 76 in the drain socket.
[0215] The present invention is also applicable to the lead drain
conduit 90. FIG. 8 is a decomposed perspective view illustrating a
drain socket joint member applied to the lead drain conduit 90.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket joint
member. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the drain socket joint
member.
[0216] As shown in these drawings, in the case of the lead drain
conduit 90, a metal flange 171 is fixed to the floor surface FL of
the lavatory with screws 172, while the drain conduit 90 is
protruded upward. The protrusion of the drain conduit 90 from the
floor surface FL of the lavatory is approximately 15 mm. The
opening of the drain conduit 90 is extended along a tapered slope
179 of the metal flange 171. A tapered P seal gasket 173 is placed
to fit the tapered extended opening of the drain conduit 90, is
pressed by an adaptor 174, and is fixed to the metal flange 171
with bolts 175. The drain socket 70 discussed above is then fixed
to the upper cylindrical part of the fixed adaptor 174. Even in the
case of the lead drain conduit 90, the arrangement of this modified
example enables the descending pathway 33 to be connected to the
drain conduit 90 via the drain socket 70 and ensures induction of
the siphon action by means of the first water pipe 73, the extended
socket section 75, and the tapered conduit section 76 in the drain
socket.
[0217] Other embodiments are discussed below.
[0218] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a toilet 110 with a
drain socket 120 in a second embodiment of the present invention.
The toilet 110 has a pottery toilet body 111 including a bowl 111a
integrated with a trap drain conduit 111b, a resin drain socket
120, and a water tank. The drain socket 120 connects a drainage
port 116 of the toilet body 111 to a drain conduit P protruded from
the floor surface FL.
[0219] Referring to FIG. 12, the drain conduit P disposed in the
floor surface FL of the lavatory follows any of four specifications
as combinations of two outer diameters D1 and D2 and two wall
thicknesses t1 and t2. A drain conduit PA has the outer diameter D1
and the wall thickness t1. A drain conduit PB has the outer
diameter D1 and the wall thickness t2. A drain conduit PC has the
outer diameter D2 and the wall thickness t1. A drain conduit PD has
the outer diameter D2 and the wall thickness t2. Here the outer
diameters and the wall thicknesses satisfy the relations of
D1<D2 and t1<t2. FIG. 13 shows layout of the drain conduit P
in the floor surface FL of the lavatory. As shown in FIG. 13, the
distance between the drain conduit P(PA) and a front wall WF of the
lavatory is not fixed, but the drain conduit P(PA) is installed at
different distances L1 (120 mm) and L2 (200 mm) according to the
building layout and other conditions. The drain socket 120 is
applicable to the four different drain conduits P and the two
rough-in dimensions. The drain socket 120 is discussed below in
detail.
[0220] FIG. 14 is a sectional view illustrating the drain socket
120 of FIG. 11. FIG. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the drain
socket 120 taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the toilet body 111. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the drain
socket 120 includes a toilet joint member 121, a connection conduit
123, a drain conduit joint member 124, a socket fixation member 128
(see FIG. 17), and toilet fixation members 129 (see FIG. 15), which
are integrally made of a resin.
[0221] The toilet joint member 121 has a sealing member 122 to seal
the outlet end of the trap drain conduit 111b. The outlet end of
the trap drain conduit 111b is inserted into an opening 122a of the
sealing member 122 to attain sealing and connect the drainage port
116 of the trap drain conduit 111b to a flow inlet 121a.
[0222] The toilet joint member 121 and the connection conduit 123
define a socket flow path 123a, which connects the flow inlet 121a
with a flow outlet 124a in an eccentric manner. An eccentric
distance La of the connection conduit 123 is set to satisfy the
relation of La=(L2-L1)/2. A step 123b is formed above the
connection conduit 123 at a position between the connection conduit
123 and the toilet joint member 121. The socket flow path 123a is
designed to create a turbulent flow when the cleansing water hits
against the step 123b, thereby leading to retention of the flow of
cleansing water.
[0223] The drain conduit joint member 124 has an outflow
cylindrical member 125 with the flow outlet 124a, as well as a
first cylindrical joint element 126 and a second cylindrical joint
element 127, which are concentric with the flow outlet 124a. The
outflow cylindrical member 125 is inserted into the drain conduit P
led to the sewer, so as to prevent leakage of cleansing water.
[0224] A restriction element 124b working for area reduction is
formed in the middle of the outflow cylindrical member 125. The
flow path of the restriction element 124b is concentric with the
socket flow path 123a of the outflow cylindrical member 125 but has
a narrower flow passage area. The abrupt reduction of the flow
passage area of the outflow cylindrical member 125 generates the
instant siphon action. The restriction element 124b is formed
integrally with the outflow cylindrical member 125 by injection
molding.
[0225] FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the drain conduit joint member 124. Referring to FIG.
16, the first cylindrical joint element 126 and the second
cylindrical joint element 127 are cylindrical bodies used to
alternatively connect with the drain conduits P of the different
outer diameters D1 and D2 (see FIG. 12). A gap d1 between the
outflow cylindrical member 125 and the first cylindrical joint
element 126 and a gap d2 between the first cylindrical joint
element 126 and the second cylindrical joint element 127 are
designed to be greater than the wall thickness t2 of the drain
conduit P. These gaps d1 and d2 can receive the drain conduits P of
the different wall thicknesses t1 and t2 inserted therein. The
connection surface of the first cylindrical joint element 126 or
the second cylindrical joint element 127 is bonded to the outer
circumferential face of the drain conduit P fitted therein via an
adhesive.
[0226] The specific structure discussed below facilitates the
bonding work. The first cylindrical joint element 126 is formed to
be protruded downward from the outflow cylindrical member 125,
whereas the second cylindrical joint element 127 is formed to be
protruded downward from the first cylindrical joint element 126.
Namely the inner cylinder is shorter than the outer cylinder. This
arrangement gives a space for the bonding work and assures smooth
application of the adhesive on the connection surface of the first
cylindrical joint element 126 or the connection surface of the
second cylindrical joint element 127, thereby facilitating the
bonding work.
[0227] FIG. 17 is a side view of the drain socket 120. FIG. 18 is a
bottom view of the drain socket 120. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,
the socket fixation member 128 is formed integrally with the bottom
of the drain socket 120. The socket fixation member 128 is a site
functioning to fix the drain socket 120 to the floor surface FL.
The socket fixation member 128 includes a socket fixation leg 128d
around the outer circumference of the second cylindrical joint
element 127, and a quasi-quadrangular flat plate 128a extending
from the socket fixation leg 128d in the horizontal direction. The
drain socket 120 is fixed to the floor surface FL by means of
screws 128c via four tapped holes 128b formed in the flat plate
128a.
[0228] Referring back to FIG. 15, the toilet fixation members
129,129 are formed on the side of the drain socket 120. The toilet
fixation members 129,129 are a site functioning to fix the toilet
body 111 above the drain socket 120. The toilet fixation members
129,129 have screw fixation elements 129a,129a on the respective
upper faces thereof. The screw fixation elements 129a,129a are
formed to be symmetrical both about the longitudinal axis of the
toilet body 111 and about the axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. Even in the case where the orientation of the
drain socket 120 is front side back, the screw fixation elements
129a,129a are placed to face socket fixation elements hid of the
toilet body 111.
[0229] The following describes the installation process of the
toilet 110. In a first example, the toilet body 111 is installed
with the drain socket 120 when the drain conduit PA shown in FIG.
12(A) is disposed at the distance L1 (120 mm) shown in FIG.
13(A).
[0230] FIG. 19 shows a process of setting the drain socket 120. The
drain conduit P is cut at a predetermined height (for example, 60
mm) from the floor level. The procedure then checks the front-back
orientation of the drain socket 120, adjusts the centerline of the
drain socket 120 with the imaginary installation centerline of the
toilet body 111, inserts the first cylindrical joint element 126 of
the drain socket 120 into the drain conduit P, and tentatively
positions the drain socket 120 as shown in FIG. 20. The drain
socket 120 is tentatively laid to make the toilet joint member 121
face front. The procedure then utilizes the tapped holes 128b of
the socket fixation member 128 (see FIGS. 17 and 18) to form
prepared holes in the floor surface FL.
[0231] The procedure detaches the drain socket 120 from the floor
surface FL and applies the adhesive on the connection surface of
the first cylindrical joint element 126 of the drain socket 120 and
the outer circumferential face of the drain conduit P. The first
cylindrical joint element 126 is then returned to the tentatively
positioned place and fitted in the drain conduit P. The first
cylindrical joint element 126 is accordingly bonded to the drain
conduit P via the adhesive as shown in FIG. 14. The drain socket
120 is fixed to the floor surface FL by means of the screws in the
four tapped holes 128b formed in the socket fixation member
128.
[0232] The procedure subsequently positions the drainage port 116
of the toilet body 111 at the flow inlet 121a of the toilet joint
member 121 of the drain socket 120 as shown in FIG. 15, and lays
the toilet body 111 on the floor surface FL. This causes the
drainage port 116 to be inserted through the flow inlet 121a of the
toilet joint member 121 and sealed with the sealing member 122.
Insertion of screws 129b,129b through the socket fixation elements
111d of the toilet body 111 and the toilet fixation members 129,129
fixes the toilet body 111 to the drain socket 120.
[0233] In a second example, the drain socket 120 is connected when
the drain conduit PA is disposed at the distance L2 (200 mm) from
the front wall WF of the lavatory as shown in FIG. 13(B). This
process is identical with the process of the first example, except
that the orientation of the drain socket 120 is front side back.
The procedure of the second example disposes the drain socket 120
to make the toilet joint member 121 face the front wall WF as shown
in FIG. 21. When the drain conduit P is disposed at the different
positions, the toilet body 111 is installed at the identical
position expressed by (L1+L2)/2 as the distance between the front
wall WF and the flow inlet 121a by simply changing the orientation
of the drain socket 120.
[0234] When the drain conduit P is disposed at the different
positions, the structure of this embodiment enables the toilet body
111 to be installed at the identical position in the lavatory by
simply changing the orientation of the drain socket 120. It is
accordingly not necessary to provide different drain sockets 120
corresponding to the layout positions of the drain conduit P.
[0235] In a third example, the toilet body 111 is installed to the
drain conduit P of a different outer diameter. The process with
regard to the drain conduit PC or the drain conduit PD of the outer
diameter D2 shown in FIGS. 12(C) or 12(D) is identical with either
of the above processes, except that the adhesive is applied on the
connection surface of the second cylindrical joint element 127 of
the drain socket 120 shown in FIG. 14. The same drain socket 120 is
applicable with a change of the adhesive application face
corresponding to the outer diameter of the drain conduits PC and
PD. The gap d1 between the outflow cylindrical member 125 and the
first cylindrical joint element 126 and the gap d2 between the
first cylindrical joint element 126 and the second cylindrical
joint element 127 are greater than the wall thickness t2 of the
drain conduits PB and PD as shown in FIG. 16. The same drain socket
120 is thus connectable with the thicker drain conduit P having the
wall thickness t2.
[0236] The same drain socket 120 is applicable to the diverse drain
conduits P having the different outer diameters, wall thicknesses,
and layout positions as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 under the same
installation conditions by adequately selecting the orientation and
the adhesive application face. The drain socket 120 accordingly has
the excellent workability.
[0237] The drain socket 120 has the construction discussed below to
ensure the instant siphon action. FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional
view illustrating the vicinity of the drain socket 120.
[0238] The drain socket 120 has the step 123b formed between the
toilet joint member 121 and the connection conduit 123. The
cleansing water hits against the step 123b and changes its flow
direction to form a water film, which effectively delays the flow
of cleansing water and induces the siphon action. The step 123b is
formed by the eccentric layout of the socket flow path 123a to the
flow inlet 121a and the flow outlet 124a.
[0239] The restriction element 124b is formed at the flow outlet
124a of the drain socket 120. The restriction element 124b enhances
the delay effect of the flow of cleansing water in the vicinity of
the flow outlet 124a. The combined effects of the restriction
element 124b with the step 123b ensure the instant and effective
siphon action.
[0240] The restriction element 124b is formed integrally with the
drain socket 120 by injection molding of a resin. The restriction
element 124b is not required to be attached to the drain conduit P
unlike the prior art technique, and is not shifted by water
pressure during drainage. This arrangement accordingly ensures the
excellent workability and the effective siphon action.
[0241] The embodiment discussed above thus exerts the functions and
effects discussed below.
[0242] (1) The drain socket 120 is screwed to the floor surface FL
by means of the socket fixation member 128. This assures the secure
joint of the drain socket 120 with the drain conduit P.
[0243] (2) The drain conduit P is bonded to either the first
cylindrical joint element 126 or the second cylindrical joint
element 127 of the drain socket 120 via the adhesive. This
arrangement ensures the secure joint and effectively prevents water
leakage in the case of back flow.
[0244] (3) The toilet body 111 is screwed and fixed at the toilet
fixation members 129. This ensures secure fixation. The fixation
position at the rear of the toilet body 111 is located above the
floor surface FL. This facilitates cleansing.
[0245] (4) The outflow cylindrical member 125 is provided in the
inner-most circumference of the drain socket 120, so that the flow
of cleansing water is all led into the drain conduit P. This
arrangement effectively prevents water leakage from the joint of
the drain conduit P with either the first cylindrical joint element
126 or the second cylindrical joint element 127.
[0246] FIG. 23 is a sectional view illustrating another drain
socket 120B in a third embodiment. The drain socket 120B shown in
FIG. 23 includes a connection conduit 123B that defines an inclined
socket flow path 123Ba, which connects a toilet joint member 121B
with an outflow cylindrical member 125B. The socket flow path 123Ba
forms a passage along an inclined surface 123Bb on the inner wall
of the connection conduit 123B. A restriction element 124bb is
formed to connect with the lower end of the inclined surface 123Bb.
The restriction element 124bb defines a restricted flow path 124Bc
that is eccentric to the center axis of the restriction element
124bb having a preset diameter. The restricted flow path 124Bc and
the lower end plane of the inclined surface 123Bb define a
retention surface 124Bd.
[0247] In this drain socket 120B, the cleansing water flown into
the toilet joint member 121B flows along the inclined surface 123Bb
of the connection conduit 123B, changes its flow direction to the
horizontal direction at the retention surface 124Bd, and is flown
out of the restricted flow path 124Bc. In the drain socket 120B,
the flow direction of cleansing water is changed to the horizontal
direction by the positional relationship between the inclined
surface 123Bb of the connection conduit 123B and the restricted
flow path 124Bc of the restriction element 124bb. This arrangement
ensures generation of a water film in the vicinity of the
restriction element 124bb and thus instantly induces the siphon
action.
[0248] FIG. 24 is a sectional view illustrating still another drain
socket 120C in a fourth embodiment. The differences from the drain
socket 120B shown in FIG. 23 are that a restriction element 124Cb
is provided on the lower end of an outflow cylindrical member 125C,
that is, in the vicinity of the flow outlet 124a and that a
restricted flow path 124Cc defined by the restriction element 124Cb
is eccentric to an inclined surface 123Cb.
[0249] The flow path between the lower end of an inclined surface
123Cb and the restriction element 124Db is relatively longer to
have a height H. The restricted flow path 124Cc defined by the
restriction element 124Cb is formed in an eccentric layout, so that
the cleansing water flowing along the inclined surface 123Cb hits
against a retention surface 124Cd provided opposite to the inclined
surface 123Cb. In the structure of this drain socket 120C, the
cleansing water flowing along the inclined surface 123Cb of a drain
conduit joint member 124C hits against the retention surface 124Cd
of the restriction element 124Cb to stay in the space between the
lower end of the inclined surface 123Cb and the restriction element
124Cb, so as to induce the siphon action. The eccentric layout of
the restriction element 124Cb ensures instant induction of the
siphon action of the cleansing water flowing along the inclined
surface 123Cb. The cleansing water is kept in the long flow path
(height H) between the inclined surface 123Cb and the restriction
element 124Cb. This increases the difference in water level from
the cleansing water reserved in the bowl of the toilet body, thus
enhancing the siphon action.
[0250] FIG. 25 is a sectional view illustrating another drain
socket 120D in a fifth embodiment. The drain socket 120D shown in
FIG. 25 has an outflow cylindrical member 125D extended to be lower
than a socket fixation leg 128Dd, and a restriction element 124Db
is provided on the lower end of the outflow cylindrical member
125D. The illustration of FIG. 25 regards the case of installing a
toilet in a lavatory on a second floor in a multi-story building.
The drain socket 120D is fixed to the floor surface FL by means of
the socket fixation leg 128Dd. The outflow cylindrical member 125D
of the drain socket 120D is extended downward from the floor
surface FL of the second floor and is inserted into a drain conduit
P laid in a space between the ceiling of the first floor and the
floor surface FL of the second floor. The drain conduit P is
connected to a traverse drain conduit PS bent substantially at
right angles.
[0251] The restriction element 124Db is attached to the lower end
of the drain socket 120D. FIG. 26 is an enlarged sectional view
illustrating the vicinity of the restriction element 124Db. The
restriction element 124Db is detachably attached to the lower end
of the outflow cylindrical member 125D. The restriction element
124Db has a restriction plate 124Dd that defines a restricted flow
path 124Dc. A female screw 124De is formed on the outer
circumference of the restriction plate 124Dd. The female screw
124De engages with a male screw 125Da formed on the lower end of
the inner circumference of the outflow cylindrical member 125D. The
restriction plate 124Dd is thus detachably attached to the lower
end of the outflow cylindrical member 125D. An attachment tab 124Df
is formed on the lower end of the outer circumference of the
restriction plate 124Dd to facilitate the attachment work.
[0252] In the drain socket 120D of this embodiment, the outflow
cylindrical member 125D is extended below the floor surface FL, and
the restriction element 124Db is provided on the lower end of the
outflow cylindrical member 125D. This increases the difference in
water level and thereby enhances the siphon action. The restriction
element 124Db is formed separately from the drain socket 120D. This
facilitates manufacture of the drain socket 120D. The restriction
element 124Db is securely attached to the outflow cylindrical
member 125D by means of the male screw 125Da and the female screw
124De. This arrangement thus effectively prevents detachment or
shift of the restriction element 124Db, which undesirably affects
induction of the siphon action.
[0253] The restriction element may have another construction for
attachment; for example, the structure of a restriction element
124Ea shown in FIG. 27 and the plan view of FIG. 28 is applicable.
Engagement projections 124Ec are formed on both sides of a
restriction plate 124Eb of the restriction element 124Ea. The
engagement projections 124Ec are inserted into recesses 125Ea
formed on the lower end of an outflow cylindrical member 125E, and
are pressed by engagement arms 125Eb pivotably supported on the
lower end of the outflow cylindrical member 125E. In this
construction, the restriction element 124Ea is positioned in the
circumferential direction by the positional relationship between
the engagement projections 124Ec and the mating recesses 125Ea.
Even when the restricted flow path has an eccentric layout, this
arrangement ensures the secure attachment of the restriction
element at a predetermined position and thereby inductions of the
desired siphon action.
[0254] FIG. 29 is a sectional view illustrating the vicinity of
another drain socket 120F in a sixth embodiment. FIG. 30 shows the
positional relationship between a trap drain conduit 111Fb of a
toilet body 111F and the drain socket 120F. This embodiment is
characterized by the structure of a restriction element 116Fa
provided on a drainage port 116F of the toilet body 111F and the
structure of a toilet joint member 121F of the drain socket 120F
positioned by the trap drain conduit 111Fb. The restriction element
116Fa provided in the vicinity of the drainage port 116F causes the
flow of cleansing water to be retained in the upstream of the drain
socket 120F and advances the induction timing of the siphon action.
This leads to a decrease in required flow rate of cleansing
water.
[0255] A positioning notch 111Fc is formed on the lower end of the
trap drain conduit 111Fb. A positioning projection 121Fa of a
toilet joint member 121F of the drain socket 120F mates with the
positioning notch 111Fc. The positioning engagement enables the
drain socket 120F to be fixed to the toilet body 111F without
deviating the position of the restriction element 116Fa.
[0256] The restriction element 116Fa may be formed integrally with
or separately from the trap drain conduit 111Fb. The restriction
element 116Fa may have another structure, for example, a step-like
structure or an eccentric layout.
[0257] There are some modifications of the second through the sixth
embodiments.
[0258] (1) An attachment mark may be provided at any easily visible
position, for example, on the outer wall of the drain socket, as a
marker for clearly showing the front or back of the drain socket in
the process of attachment of the drain socket. The attachment mark
assures accurate attachment of the drain socket and thereby enables
the restriction element to be attached to the toilet body at the
right position.
[0259] (2) The outflow cylindrical member 125, the first
cylindrical joint element 126, and the second cylindrical joint
element 127 of the toilet joint member 121 are not restricted to be
concentric, but may have an eccentric layout to instantly induce
the siphon action as long as it assures the smooth discharge of
excrement.
[0260] (3) The above embodiments regard the drain conduits P of
polyvinyl chloride. The technique of the present invention is,
however, also applicable to a lead drain conduit via an
adaptor.
[0261] (4) The outer wall of the outflow cylindrical member 125 of
the drain socket 120 and the inner wall of the first cylindrical
joint element 126, as well as the outer wall of the first
cylindrical joint element 126 and the inner wall of the second
cylindrical joint element 127 may have a slope with an increasing
diameter toward the downstream. Such arrangement facilitates the
joint work with the drain conduit P and removal from the die in the
process of injection molding the drain socket 120.
[0262] (5) Notches may be formed in the outflow cylindrical member
125 and the first cylindrical joint element 126, in order to
facilitate application of the adhesive on the connection surfaces
of the first cylindrical joint element 126 and the second
cylindrical joint element 127. In this modified structure, the
outflow cylindrical member 125 and the first cylindrical joint
element 126 may have an identical length of downward extension
according to the requirements.
[0263] Seventh and eighth embodiments are discussed below.
[0264] FIG. 31 is a sectional view illustrating the vicinity of a
toilet 210 with a drain socket 220 in a seventh embodiment of the
present invention. The toilet 210 has a pottery toilet body 211
including a bowl 211a integrated with a drain conduit 211b, a resin
drain socket 220, a cleansing water retention module 230 attached
to the drain socket 220, and a water tank. The drain socket 220
connects a drainage port 216 of the toilet body 211 to a drain
conduit P protruded from the floor surface FL.
[0265] The procedure discussed in the second embodiment with
reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is applicable for connection with the
drain conduit P. The drain socket 220 may be disposed at different
distances L1 (120 mm) and L2 (200 mm) from the front wall WF of the
lavatory, and is applicable to the four different specifications of
the drain conduit P and the two different layouts. The drain socket
220 and the cleansing water retention module 230 are discussed in
detail.
[0266] FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the drain
socket 220 and the cleansing water retention module 230 shown in
FIG. 31. FIG. 33 is a sectional view illustrating the vicinity of
the drain socket 220 taken in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the toilet body 211. As shown in FIGS. 32 and
33, the drain socket 220 includes a toilet joint member 221, a
connection conduit 223, a drain conduit joint member 224, a socket
fixation member 228 (see FIG. 35), and toilet fixation members 229
(see FIG. 33), which are integrally made of a resin. The cleansing
water retention module 230 for inducing the siphon action is
attached to the upper portion of the drain socket 220.
[0267] The toilet joint member 221 receives the outlet side of the
drain conduit 211b inserted therein, so as to connect the drainage
port 216 of the drain conduit 211b to a flow inlet 221a.
[0268] The connection conduit 223 defines an inclined connection
flow path 223a, which connects the flow inlet 221a with a flow
outlet 224a in an eccentric manner. An eccentric distance La of the
connection conduit 223 is set to satisfy the relation of
La=(L2-L1)/2.
[0269] The drain conduit joint member 224 has an outflow
cylindrical member 225 with the flow outlet 224a, as well as a
first cylindrical joint element 226 and a second cylindrical joint
element 227, which are concentric with the flow outlet 224a. The
outflow cylindrical member 225 is inserted into the drain conduit P
led to the sewer, so as to prevent leakage of cleansing water.
[0270] FIG. 34 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the drain conduit joint member 224. Referring to FIG.
34, the first cylindrical joint element 226 and the second
cylindrical joint element 227 are cylindrical bodies used to
alternatively connect with the drain conduits P of the different
outer diameters D1 and D2 (see FIG. 12). A gap d1 between the
outflow cylindrical member 225 and the first cylindrical joint
element 226 and a gap d2 between the first cylindrical joint
element 226 and the second cylindrical joint element 227 are
designed to be greater than the wall thickness t2 of the drain
conduit P. These gaps d1 and d2 can thus receive all the drain
conduits P inserted therein. The inner wall surface of the first
cylindrical joint element 226 or the second cylindrical joint
element 227 is bonded to the outer circumferential face of the
drain conduit P fitted therein via an adhesive.
[0271] The specific structure discussed below facilitates the
bonding work. The first cylindrical joint element 226 is formed to
be protruded downward from the outflow cylindrical member 225,
whereas the second cylindrical joint element 227 is formed to be
protruded downward from the first cylindrical joint element 226.
Namely the inner cylinder is shorter than the outer cylinder. This
arrangement assures smooth application of the adhesive on the inner
wall surface of the first cylindrical joint element 226 or the
inner wall surface of the second cylindrical joint element 227,
thereby facilitating the bonding work.
[0272] FIG. 35 is a side view of the drain socket 220. FIG. 36 is a
bottom view of the drain socket 220. As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36,
the socket fixation member 228 is formed integrally with the bottom
of the drain socket 220. The socket fixation member 228 is a site
functioning to fix the drain socket 220 to the floor surface FL.
The socket fixation member 228 includes a quasi-quadrangular flat
plate 228a extending from the outer circumference of the second
cylindrical joint element 227 in the horizontal direction. The
drain socket 220 is fixed to the floor surface FL by means of
screws 228c via four tapped holes 228b formed in the flat plate
228a.
[0273] Referring back to FIG. 33, the toilet fixation members
229,229 are formed on the side of the drain socket 220. The toilet
fixation members 229,229 are a site functioning to fix the toilet
body 211 above the drain socket 220. The toilet fixation members
229,229 have screw fixation elements 229a,229a on the respective
upper faces thereof. The screw fixation elements 229a,229a are
formed to be symmetrical both about the longitudinal axis of the
toilet body 211 and about the axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. Even in the case where the orientation of the
drain socket 220 is front side back, the screw fixation elements
229a,229a are placed to face lower end fixation elements 211d of
the toilet body 211.
[0274] FIG. 40 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the cleansing water retention module 230 attached to
the upper portion of the drain socket 220. FIG. 41 is a top view
illustrating the cleansing water retention module 230. With
referring to FIGS. 40 and 41, the cleansing water retention module
230 includes a retention body 231 and a rubber attachment 232. The
retention body 231 has a cylindrical side wall 231a that is fitted
in the toilet joint member 221 on the upper portion of the drain
socket 220, a lower restriction 231b that is extended toward the
inner circumference from the lower end of the side wall 231a, and
defines a flow path 231c, and a support recess 231d that supports
the rubber attachment 232. These constituents of the retention body
231 are integrally made of a resin. The rubber attachment 232 has a
ring-shaped fixation projection 232a, which is pressed into the
support recess 231d and is accordingly attached to the retention
body 231, a sealing member 232b that seals the outer circumference
of the drainage port 216 of the drain conduit 211b, a large number
of folds 232c that are formed along the inner circumference of the
sealing member 232b to support the periphery of the drain conduit
211b, and an upper restriction 232d. These constituents of the
rubber attachment 232 are integrally made of a rubber. The
retention body 231 of the cleansing water retention module 230 is
attached to the upper portion of the drain socket 220, while the
sealing member 232b of the rubber attachment 232 seals the outer
circumference of the drain conduit 211b of the toilet body. The
cleansing water retention module 230 has the two restrictions along
the stream of cleansing water, that is, the upper restriction 232d
and the lower restriction 231b. These two restrictions narrow the
flow path area to temporarily retain the cleansing water discharged
from the drainage port of the drain conduit 211b and induce the
siphon action.
[0275] The following describes the installation process of the
toilet 210. In a first example, the toilet body 211 is installed
with the drain socket 220 when the drain conduit PA shown in FIG.
12(A) is disposed at the distance L1 (120 mm) shown in FIG.
13(A).
[0276] FIG. 37 shows a process of setting the drain socket 220. The
drain conduit P is cut at a height of 60 mm from the floor level.
The procedure then checks the front-back orientation of the drain
socket 220, adjusts the centerline of the drain socket 220 with the
imaginary installation centerline of the toilet body 211, inserts
the first cylindrical joint element 226 of the drain socket 220
into the drain conduit P, and tentatively positions the drain
socket 220 as shown in FIG. 38. The drain socket 220 is tentatively
laid to make the toilet joint member 221 face front. The procedure
then draws lines for positioning along the lower side of the drain
socket 220 and utilizes the tapped holes 228b of the socket
fixation member 228 (see FIGS. 35 and 36) to form prepared holes in
the floor surface FL.
[0277] The procedure detaches the drain socket 220 from the floor
surface FL and applies an adhesive on the inner wall of the first
cylindrical joint element 226 of the drain socket 220 and the outer
circumferential face of the drain conduit P. The first cylindrical
joint element 226 is then returned to the tentatively positioned
place and fitted in the drain conduit P. The first cylindrical
joint element 226 is accordingly bonded to the drain conduit P via
the adhesive as shown in FIG. 32. The drain socket 220 is fixed to
the floor surface FL by means of the screws in the four tapped
holes 228b formed in the socket fixation member 228.
[0278] The procedure subsequently positions the drainage port 216
of the toilet body 211 at the flow inlet 221a of the toilet joint
member 221 of the drain socket 220 as shown in FIG. 33, and lays
the toilet body 211 on the floor surface FL. This causes the
drainage port 216 to be inserted through the flow inlet 221a of the
toilet joint member 221 and sealed with the sealing member 232b of
the rubber attachment 232. Insertion of screws 229b,229b through
the lower end fixation elements 211d of the toilet body 211 and the
toilet fixation members 229,229 fixes the toilet body 211 to the
drain socket 220. The toilet body 211 is then fixed to the floor
surface FL via non-illustrated fixation members.
[0279] In a second example, the drain socket 220 is connected when
the drain conduit PA is disposed at the distance L2 (200 mm) from
the front wall WF of the lavatory as shown in FIG. 13(B). This
process is identical with the process of the first example, except
that the orientation of the drain socket 220 is front side back.
The procedure of the second example disposes the drain socket 220
to make the toilet joint member 221 face the front wall WF as shown
in FIG. 39. When the drain conduit P is disposed at the different
positions, the toilet body 211 is installed at the identical
position by simply changing the orientation of the drain socket
220.
[0280] When the drain conduit P is disposed at the different
positions, the structure of this embodiment enables the toilet body
211 to be installed at the identical position in the lavatory by
simply changing the orientation of the drain socket 220. It is
accordingly not necessary to provide different drain sockets 220
corresponding to the layout positions of the drain conduit P.
[0281] In a third example, the toilet body 211 is installed to the
drain conduit P of a different outer diameter. The process with
regard to the drain conduit PC or the drain conduit PD of the outer
diameter D2 shown in FIGS. 12(C) or 12(D) is identical with either
of the above processes, except that the adhesive is applied on the
inner circumferential face of the second cylindrical joint element
227 of the drain socket 220 shown in FIG. 32. The same drain socket
220 is applicable with a change of the adhesive application face
corresponding to the outer diameter of the drain conduits PC and
PD. The gap d1 between the outflow cylindrical member 225 and the
first cylindrical joint element 226 and the gap d2 between the
first cylindrical joint element 226 and the second cylindrical
joint element 227 are greater than the wall thickness t2 of the
drain conduits PB and PD as shown in FIG. 34. The same drain socket
220 is thus connectable with the thicker drain conduit P having the
wall thickness t2.
[0282] The same drain socket 220 is applicable to the diverse drain
conduits P having the different outer diameters, wall thicknesses,
and layout positions as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 under the same
installation conditions by adequately selecting the orientation and
the adhesive application face. The drain socket 220 accordingly has
the excellent workability.
[0283] The drain socket 220 has the cleansing water retention
module 230 as shown in FIG. 40 to ensure instant induction of the
siphon action.
[0284] A supply of cleansing water fed from a non-illustrated
cleansing water supply unit to the bowl 211a of the toilet body 211
is flown into the drain socket 220 via the drain conduit 211b. The
cleansing water retention module 230 has the upper restriction 232d
in the vicinity of the flow inlet 221a and the lower restriction
231b along the stream of cleansing water. The local change of the
flow path area in two stages enhances the effect of delaying the
flow of cleansing water in the connection flow path 223a, thus
readily inducing the siphon action. The arrangement of the
two-stage restrictions, the upper restriction 232d and the lower
restriction 231b, allows a greater flow path area per restriction,
compared with the arrangement of the single restriction. This
arrangement thus ensures the smooth and quick discharge of sanitary
sewage including excrement.
[0285] The cleansing water retention module 230 is formed
separately from the drain socket 220. The lower restriction 231b
and the upper restriction 232d of complicated shapes can thus be
formed by taking into account the optimum design conditions for
induction of the siphon action, without any restriction of the
manufacturing conditions, for example, removal from the die, in the
process of injection molding the drain socket 220.
[0286] The drain socket 220 has the connection conduit 223 that
defines the inclined connection flow path 223a to make the flow
outlet 224a eccentric to the flow inlet 221a. This gives the effect
of delaying the flow of cleansing water in the upstream of the
connection flow path 223a, thus readily inducing the siphon
action.
[0287] The connection flow path 223a is not required to have a
large draft of the die in the process of injection molding, that
is, to have an unnecessarily large flow path area. This arrangement
enables a less flow rate of cleansing water to instantly induce the
sufficient siphon action.
[0288] The following describes a drain socket in another
embodiment. FIG. 42 is a sectional view illustrating a drain socket
220B and a cleansing water retention module 230B in an eighth
embodiment. As shown in FIG. 42, the drain socket 220B is
characterized by a straight pipe structure having concentric flow
inlet 221Ba and flow outlet 224Ba and by the cleansing water
retention module 230B fitted in and bonded to an outflow
cylindrical member 225B.
[0289] The cleansing water retention module 230B has a cylindrical
side wall 231Ba and a restriction element 231Bb projected from the
side wall 231Ba toward the inner circumference. The outer
circumferential face of the side wall 231Ba is bonded to the inner
circumference of the outflow cylindrical member 225B. The
restriction element 231Bb is provided separately from the drain
socket 220B, and is accordingly tapered to have a narrower flow
path area toward the downstream as the optimum condition for
inducing the siphon action, without being limited by the contour of
the drain socket 220B.
[0290] FIGS. 43 through 45 are sectional views illustrating
modified examples of the cleansing water retention module 230B of
FIG. 42. A cleansing water retention module 230C shown in FIG. 43
has a restriction element 231Cb disposed on the upper stream side
relative to the cleansing water retention module 230B of FIG. 42. A
cleansing water retention module 230D shown in FIG. 44 has a
restriction element 231Db disposed on the lower stream side. A
cleansing water retention module 230E shown in FIG. 45 has a
restriction element 231Eb on the lowest-most stream side and a flow
path 231Ec having a temporarily increasing flow path area from the
upstream side to the downstream side. The flow path 231Ec of such
construction enhances the effect of temporarily retaining the flow
of cleansing water on the upstream side of the restriction element
231Eb, thus allowing instant induction of the siphon action.
[0291] FIGS. 46 through 52 are sectional views illustrating
cleansing water retention modules of other structures. These
cleansing water retention modules are characterized by the
construction that a resin plate with a restriction element is fixed
to the lower end of the outflow cylindrical member. A cleansing
water retention module 230F shown in FIG. 46 has a ring-shaped
engagement member 230Fa, which is disposed on the outer
circumference thereof and receives the outer circumference of the
lower end of the outflow cylindrical member 225B fitted
therein.
[0292] A cleansing water retention module 230G shown in FIG. 47 is
a resin plate, which is bonded to a flange 225Ga formed on the
lower end of an outflow cylindrical member 225G.
[0293] A cleansing water retention module 230H shown in FIG. 48 has
a positioning step 231Ha formed on the upper face of the outer
circumference thereof. The step 231Ha engages with a positioning
step 225Ha formed on the outer circumference of the lower end of an
outflow cylindrical member 225H, so as to attain positioning.
[0294] A cleansing water retention module 230J shown in FIG. 49 has
a positioning projection 231Ja formed on the upper face of the
outer circumference thereof. The positioning projection 231Ja is
fitted in an engagement aperture 225Jb formed in a flange 225Ja of
an outflow cylindrical member 225J, so as to attain
positioning.
[0295] A cleansing water retention module 230K shown in FIG. 50 has
a plurality of engagement apertures 231Ka formed in the outer
circumferential part thereof. Elastic projections 225Ka formed on
an outflow cylindrical member 225K are pressed into the engagement
apertures 231ka.
[0296] A cleansing water retention module 230L shown in FIG. 51 has
a flange 231La formed on the outer circumference thereof. The
flange 231La is joined with and fixed to a flange 225La formed on
an outflow cylindrical member 225L via screws 231L.
[0297] A cleansing water retention module 230M shown in FIG. 52 is
bonded and fixed to the lower end of an outflow cylindrical member
225M, which has a skirt element 225Ma of an increasing flow path
area toward the downstream.
[0298] The seventh and the eighth embodiments discussed above may
be changed or modified in diverse ways as mentioned below.
[0299] The structure of the drain socket is not specifically
restricted. For example, the drain socket may have eccentric flow
inlet and flow outlet or a straight pipe structure. The drain
socket may also be a wall drain type disposed on a front wall.
[0300] The following describes ninth through eleventh
embodiments.
[0301] FIG. 53 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 310 with a drain socket 360 connected
thereto in a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The siphon
jet action-type toilet 310 makes cleansing water ejected from a jet
nozzle 322 discussed later to induce the siphon action. Respective
constituents of the toilet 310 are discussed below with reference
to FIG. 53.
[0302] Referring to FIG. 53, the toilet 310 has a bowl 320 to
receive sanitary sewage including excrement and toilet paper
therein. A peripheral wall of the bowl 320 has a water-submerged
surface 323 that is in contact with reserved water RW even in a
non-cleansing time of the toilet 310 and an exposed surface 324
that is not in contact with the reserved water RW in the
non-cleansing time of the toilet 310.
[0303] The toilet 310 is provided with a mechanism for supplying
water to the bowl 320 (hereinafter referred to as the supply
mechanism) and a mechanism for discharging excrement in the bowl
320 toward a drain conduit 390 (hereinafter referred to as the
drainage mechanism).
[0304] The supply mechanism is discussed first. A cleansing water
supply aperture 340, which is a hole connecting with a water supply
pipe SL of a water tank WT, is provided behind the toilet 310. A
cleansing water supply conduit 341, which defines a flow path of
cleansing water led from the water tank WT, is disposed inside the
toilet 310 along a passage from the cleansing water supply aperture
340 towards the bowl 320. A branch hole 342 is formed on the upper
side of the inner wall of the cleansing water supply conduit
341.
[0305] A specific part of the cleansing water supply conduit 341
downstream the branch hole 342 forms a retention space 341a
extended to have an inclined down slope. A jet supply nozzle 345 is
formed in the side wall of the retention space 341a and is
connected to the jet nozzle 322, which faces a drainage port 325,
via a jet supply conduit 346 curved inside the toilet.
[0306] The cleansing water supply conduit 341 communicates with rim
supply conduits 343 via the branch hole 342. The rim supply
conduits 343 are hollow spaces formed behind a rim member 321 and
along the inner circumference on the upper end of the bowl 320. A
large number of water outlets 344 are formed in a bottom wall of
the rim supply conduits 343 at preset intervals.
[0307] A supply of cleansing water fed from the high water level in
the water tank WT to the cleansing water supply aperture 340 by
free wall is guided by the inclined down slope of the cleansing
water supply conduit 341 and is flown into the retention space
341a. The cleansing water reaching the retention space 341a then
enters the jet supply nozzle 345, which is a hole formed in the
side wall of the retention space 341a. The supply of cleansing
water is then fed to the jet supply conduit 346 and ejected from
the jet nozzle 322. The jet nozzle 322 is located to substantially
face the drainage port 325 across a recess 326 as shown in FIG. 53.
Energy of cleansing water is thus transmitted to the drainage
mechanism of and after the drainage port 325 without any
significant waste.
[0308] Water kept in the water tank WT is pressed by free fall and
is fed as a supply of cleansing water at once to the cleansing
water supply conduit 341. The retention space 341a, the lower
oblique division of the cleansing water supply conduit 341, is
filled with water after start of each flushing action. Part of the
cleansing water is supplied from the branch hole 342 to the rim
supply conduits 343. The flow of cleansing water supplied to the
rim supply conduits 343 is ejected from the water outlets 344
formed in a rear face of the rim member 321.
[0309] The drainage mechanism has the construction discussed below.
As shown in FIG. 53, a drain conduit 330 is formed as a flow path
of water and excrement and is disposed after the drainage port 325,
which is formed behind the recess 326 working as the excrement
reservoir. The drain conduit 330 has a connection pathway 331 that
is extended from the drainage port 325 in an oblique upward
direction, an ascending pathway 332 that communicates with the
connection pathway 331 and is extended in the oblique upward
direction, and a descending pathway 333 that communicates with the
ascending pathway 332 and is extended in a downward direction. The
height between a floor surface FL, on which the toilet 310 is
installed and the lower end of the descending pathway 333 is set to
be approximately 120 mm.
[0310] The descending pathway 333 goes over a weir 334, which is
the highest point of the lower inner wall of the ascending pathway
332, and is extended downward in a practically vertical direction
toward the drain conduit 390 as shown in FIG. 53. The drain conduit
330 in a neighborhood of the weir 334 accordingly has a curved
shape. This part of the curved shape is hereinafter referred to as
a curved section 335.
[0311] These flow paths are formed integrally with the toilet 310
made of pottery by utilizing a plaster or resin mold, although the
flow paths may be made of a different material separately from the
toilet 310. For example, all or part of the flow paths may be made
of another material like resin and connected to the drainage port
325.
[0312] The cleansing water is vigorously jetted from the jet nozzle
322 toward the drainage port 325. This jet action causes the
reserved water RW in the connection pathway 331 and the ascending
pathway 332 and the excrement in the recess 326 to be pressed up
toward the weir 334. The water level in the ascending pathway 332
thus abruptly rises and exceeds the standard height of water level
WL to make the connection pathway 331, the ascending pathway 332,
and the curved section 335 filled with water. There is accordingly
a water level difference between the full water level in the curved
section 335 and the surface of the reserved water RW in the bowl
320. The water level difference causes a pressure difference
between the descending pathway 333 and the bowl 320 and produces a
downward pulling force. This series of phenomena is called the
siphon action. The siphon action causes the excrement in the bowl
320 to be drawn toward the weir 334, together with the dirt
reserved water RW and the cleansing water.
[0313] The descending pathway 333 includes an expanded section 333a
having a greater pipeline diameter and a tapered end 333b having a
narrower opening area than that of the expanded section 33a. The
restriction structure, which defined by the expanded section 33a
and the tapered end 333b, functions to temporarily retain the flow
of cleansing water passing through the descending pathway 333 and
extend the duration of the siphon action.
[0314] The descending pathway 333 is connected to the drain conduit
390, which is composed of polyvinyl chloride and rises from the
floor surface FL, via a resin drain socket 360. The drain conduit
390 corresponds to the `sewer` in claims.
[0315] The distance from the rear end of the toilet 310 illustrated
in FIG. 53 to the center of the drain conduit 390 is 180 mm, and
the distance from the rear end of the water tank WT attached to the
toilet 310 to the center of the drain conduit 390 is 190 mm. Namely
arrangement of the drain conduit 390 rising upward to a position of
about 200 mm apart from the wall of the lavatory enables the
assembly of the toilet 310 and the water tank WT to be installed
with a clearance of 10 mm between the rear face of the water tank
WT and the wall of the lavatory. Installation of the assembly of
the toilet 310 and the water tank WT under such conditions allows
the layout of the drain conduit 390 at a position close to the
construction wall. This layout shortens the distance from the drain
conduit 390 to a pipe space and ensures smooth transport of
excrement. The distance may be 200 mm or less when no consideration
is given to the clearance from the wall of the lavatory.
[0316] The detailed structure of the drain socket 360 is
illustrated in FIG. 54. The drain socket 360 mainly has two
members, a base member 380 that is fixed to the floor surface FL
with bolts 385 and a main body member 371 that is connected to the
base member 380 and defines a main conduit 373 as the flow path of
the reserved water RW, cleansing water, and excrement. The base
member 380 and the main body member 371 respectively correspond to
the first member and the second member in the claims. The details
of the respective members are discussed below.
[0317] As shown in FIG. 54, the main body member 371 has a
descending pathway fitting element 371a on the upper end thereof,
which receives the lower end of the descending pathway 333 therein.
The lower end of the descending pathway 333 is placed on a setting
plane 371b of the descending pathway fitting element 371a. The
drain socket 360 is connected to the descending pathway 333 on this
setting plane 371b.
[0318] The hollow and cylindrical main conduit 373 is formed below
the descending pathway fitting element 371a. The main conduit 373
defines the flow path of the reserved water, cleansing water, and
excrement flown through the descending passage 333. The flow path
sectional area of the main conduit 373 abruptly decreases in the
vicinity of the inlet of the main conduit 373 and then gradually
decreases toward the outlet of the main conduit 373. Namely the
main conduit 373 has the large and small restrictions.
[0319] Two recesses, a first ring-shaped recess 364 and a second
ring-shaped recess 362, are formed around the outer circumference
of the main conduit 373. Here the first ring-shaped recess 364 is
closer to the main conduit 373 than the second ring-shaped recess
362. Both the first ring-shaped recess 364 and the second
ring-shaped recess 362 are grooves concentric with the outer
circumference of the main conduit 373. Formation of the first
ring-shaped recess 364 and the second ring-shaped recess 362
defines a first ring-shaped projection 374 protruded downward in a
cylindrical shape therebetween.
[0320] As shown in FIG. 54, the drain conduit 390 is inserted into
the second ring-shaped recess 362. The drain conduit 390 is clamped
by the resilient force of ribs 366 provided on the inner
circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall on the
upper side of the second ring-shaped recess 362.
[0321] The ribs 366 are provided by bonding a rubber material
having a little elasticity and a preset thickness to the inner
circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall. The ribs
366 on the inner circumferential wall are positioned to face the
ribs 366 on the outer circumferential wall. There is an interval of
approximately 1.5 mm between the ribs 366 on the inner
circumferential wall and the ribs 366 on the outer circumferential
wall. The drain conduit 390 is interposed between the ribs 366 on
the inner circumferential wall and the ribs 366 on the outer
circumferential wall and softly clamped by the ribs 366. The drain
conduit 390 is connected to the main body member 371 via such
clamping.
[0322] As shown in FIG. 54, a second ring-shaped projection 368
protruded downward in a cylindrical shape is formed outside the
second ring-shaped recess 362. The second ring-shaped projection
368 has engagement pieces 389 protruded in the outer
circumferential direction. The drain socket 360 is assembled by
fitting the second ring-shaped projection 368 with the engagement
pieces 389 in the base member 380. The engagement pieces 389 are
formed at four positions on the end of the second ring-shaped
projection 368. The arrangement will be discussed later with the
method of fitting the second ring-shaped projection 368 into the
base member 380.
[0323] In the assembled drain socket 360, a cover member 387, which
is the lower circumferential wall of the main body member 371,
covers over the base member 380. A window 388 discussed later (not
shown in FIG. 54) is formed in part of the cover member 387.
[0324] The following describes the base member 380. The base member
380 is a donut-shaped member having a hollow center of a slightly
greater diameter than the outer diameter of the drain conduit 390.
A circumferential groove is formed in the base member 380 from its
top face to a depth that is close to the bottom and is
substantially equal to the dimension of the second ring-shaped
projection 368. This circumferential groove forms a ring-shaped
recess 384. The second ring-shaped projection 368 of the main body
member 371 is inserted into this ring-shaped recess 384.
[0325] Engaging elements 382 are provided on the outer
circumferential wall of the ring-shaped recess 384 to be mated with
the engagement pieces 389 on the end of the second ring-shaped
projection 368. The construction of the engaging elements 382 is
discussed with reference to FIGS. 55 through 57. FIG. 55 shows the
top face of the base member 380. As shown in FIG. 55, three
standard engagement piece-engaging elements 382a and one protruded
engagement piece-engaging element 382p are formed as the engaging
elements 382 on the base member 380. The front side of the base
member 380 is the right side in the drawing of FIG. 55. The
protruded engagement piece-engaging element 382p is positioned on
the front side of the base member 380 (that is, on the right side
in FIG. 54).
[0326] As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 55, three
standard engagement pieces 389a having a shorter length and one
protruded engagement piece 389p having a longer length are formed
on a specific end of the second ring-shaped projection 368 closer
to the main body member 371. The standard engagement piece 389a is
mated with the standard engagement piece-engaging element 382a on
the base member 380, whereas the protruded engagement piece 389p is
mated with the protruded engagement piece-engaging element 382p on
the base member 380. As clearly seen in FIG. 55, the standard
engagement pieces 389a are protruded from the outer circumferential
face of the base member 380 in the mated state.
[0327] Referring to FIG. 55, a vertical groove 382b or 382q
extended straightly from a top face 380a to the bottom of the base
member 380 and horizontal grooves 382c or 382r extended in a
horizontal direction from the vertical groove 382b or 382q are
formed on the standard engagement piece-engaging element 382a or
the protruded engagement piece-engaging element 382p. The vertical
groove 382q and the horizontal grooves 382r are cut to a greater
depth than that of the vertical groove 382b and the horizontal
grooves 382c. The vertical groove 382q penetrates through the outer
circumferential wall of the base member 380.
[0328] The vertical groove 382b and the horizontal grooves 382c
formed in the standard engagement piece-engaging element 382a are
shown in FIG. 56. FIG. 56 shows the cross section of the engaging
element 382, taken on a centerline C-C in FIG. 54. As shown in FIG.
56, the standard engagement piece-engaging element 382a has eight
horizontal grooves 382c along the vertical groove 382b. The width
of the vertical groove 382b and the height of the horizontal
grooves 382c are set to allow insertion of the engagement piece
389a. The horizontal groove 382c has a slightly less height in the
vicinity of a middle projection 381. The protruded engagement
piece-engaging element 382p also has eight horizontal grooves 382r
in the same layout.
[0329] The main body member 371 is covered over the base member 380
having the above construction, and the four engagement pieces 389a
and 389p on the end of the second ring-shaped projection 368 are
inserted into the vertical grooves 382b and 382q of the respective
mating engaging elements 382a and 382p as shown in FIGS. 55 and 56.
The main body member 371 is then rotated clockwise at a preset
position, and the four engagement pieces 389a and 389p enter the
horizontal grooves 382c and 382r of the respective mating engaging
elements 382a and 382p. The rotation of the main body member 371
with a force of or over a predetermined level causes the four
engagement pieces 389a and 389p entering the horizontal grooves
382c and 382r to ride over the projections 381 and to be mated with
the corresponding engaging elements 382a and 382p. The main body
member 371 is accordingly attached to the base member 380.
[0330] In the example of FIGS. 53 and 54, the four engagement
pieces 389a and 389p on the end of the second ring-shaped
projection 368 are fitted in the lower-most horizontal grooves 382c
and 382r. This leads to the minimum height of the drain socket 360
from the floor surface FL.
[0331] The drain socket 360 has the construction discussed above.
The method of attaching the drain socket 360 to the descending
pathway 333 of the toilet 310 and the drain pie 390 is discussed
below. The procedure first applies an adhesive on the rear face of
the base member 380, places the drain conduit 390 through the
hollow center of the base member 380, and bonds and fixes the base
member 380 onto the floor surface FL with four bolts 385. The main
body member 371 is covered over the base member 380 to make the
second ring-shaped projection 368 inserted into the ring-shaped
recess 384, so that the drain conduit 390 is fitted in the second
ring-shaped recess 362 of the main body member 371.
[0332] The procedure then adjusts the height of the drain socket
360 from the floor surface FL to the distance between the floor
surface FL and the lower end of the descending pathway 333. The
method of adjustment is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 57
through 59. FIG. 57 is a perspective view illustrating the base
member 380. As shown in FIG. 57, the vertical groove 382q and the
eight horizontal grooves 382r are exposed to the outer
circumferential face on the front side of the base member 380.
Eight scale lines are engraved adjacent to the respective
horizontal grooves 382r at pitches of 10 mm along the height.
Numerical values are engraved adjacent to the respective sale lines
to represent the heights from the floor surface FL to the setting
plane 371b on which the descending pathway 333 is placed. More
specifically, numerical values of 130 mm to 200 mm are shown by the
unit of 10 mm as shown in FIG. 57.
[0333] FIG. 58 shows the front side of the drain socket 360, where
the main body member 371 is covered over the base member 380 with
the engraved numerical values and the four engagement pieces 389a
and 389p are fitted in the lower-most horizontal grooves 382c and
382r. As shown in FIG. 58, in the state of attachment of the main
body member 371 to the base member 380, the protruded engagement
piece 389p, the horizontal groove 382r that receives the protruded
engagement piece 389p fitted therein, and the `scale line with the
numerical value of 130 mm` engraved adjacent to the horizontal
groove 382r are observable through the window 388, which is a
horizontal slot formed by cutting part of the front side of the
outer circumference of the main body member 371. When the four
engagement pieces 389a and 389p are fitted in the lower-most
horizontal grooves 382c and 382r, the height of the drain socket
360 from the floor surface FL to the setting plane 371b is 130 mm.
The protruded engagement piece 389p arranged at the height
corresponding to the `scale line with the numerical value of 130
mm` is accordingly seen through the window 388.
[0334] FIG. 58 illustrate the drain socket 360 of FIG. 53 seen from
the front face (that is, the face on the side of the free end of
the toilet 310 when the drain socket 360 is attached to the toilet
310). In the toilet 310 shown in FIG. 53, the height from the floor
surface FL, on which the toilet 310 is installed, to the lower end
of the descending pathway 333 is approximately 130 mm. The drain
socket 360 is thus arranged under the condition of the least height
(the height of 130 mm) from the floor surface FL to the setting
plane 371b.
[0335] The height of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL
is adjusted according to the following procedure. When the main
body member 371 engaged via the horizontal grooves 382c and 382r is
rotated counterclockwise with a force of or over a predetermined
level, the four engagement pieces 389a and 389p ride over the
projections 381 and move to the vertical grooves 382b and 382q.
This releases the engagement of the four engagement pieces 389a and
389p and makes the main body member 371 movable in the vertical
direction along the vertical grooves 382b and 382q. The drain
conduit 390 is softly clamped by the ribs 366. The ribs 366 slide
on the surface of the drain conduit 390 with a vertical movement of
the main body member 371. This arrangement effectively prevents the
drain conduit 390 from being moved in the vertical direction with
the movement of the main body member 371.
[0336] The procedure then vertically moves the main body member 371
to a desired position. The movement to the desired position is
checked by referring to the `scale line engraved with the
corresponding numerical value` discussed above. For example, when
the height of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL is
raised from 130 mm to 200 mm, the main body member 371 is elevated
until the protruded engagement piece 389p reaches the position of
the `scale line with the numerical value of 200 mm`.
[0337] The window 388 is open with a little margin in the direction
of setting the protruded engagement piece 389p in the horizontal
groove 382r (leftward in the drawing of FIG. 58). In the example of
FIG. 58, the window 388 is open to have a margin on the left side
of the head letter `1` of the numerical value representing the
height of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL. Even when
the position of the window 388 is shifted counterclockwise with the
counterclockwise rotation of the main body member 371 to release
the engagement for adjustment of the height, all the letters of the
numerical value representing the height of the drain socket 360 are
observable through the window 388, together with the protruded
engagement piece 389p located in the vertical groove 382q. This
arrangement allows the user to check the current position of the
main body member 371 by referring to the numerical value in the
process of adjustment of the height of the drain socket 360 from
the floor surface FL.
[0338] FIG. 59 shows the drain socket 360 after adjustment of the
height of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL to 200 mm.
The protruded engagement piece 389p and the window 388 are both
provided on the main body member 371 and are shifted in the
vertical direction with the vertical movement of the main body
member 371. When the height of the drain socket 360 from the floor
surface FL is adjusted to 200 mm, the protruded engagement piece
389p moved upward with the window 388 is fitted in the upper-most
horizontal groove 382r. The protruded engagement piece 389p
arranged at the height corresponding to the `scale line with the
numerical value of 200 mm` is accordingly observable through the
window 388 as shown in FIG. 59. The height of the drain socket 360
from the floor surface FL is expressed by the position of the
protruded engagement piece 389p on the front side of the drain
socket 360.
[0339] After adjustment of the height of the drain socket 360 from
the floor surface FL to the distance between the floor surface FL
and the lower end of the descending pathway 333, a seal member for
preventing water leakage is set on the descending pathway fitting
element 371a, and the lower end of the descending pathway 333 of
the toilet 310 is inserted into the descending pathway fitting
element 371a. This completes the attachment of the drain socket 360
to the descending pathway 333 and the drain conduit 390.
[0340] Adjustment of the height of the drain socket 360 from the
floor surface FL changes the overall length of the drain socket
360. The overall length of the drain socket 360 represents the
distance between a site of the drain socket 360 closest to the
descending pathway 333 and another site closest to the drain
conduit 390. In the example of FIG. 54, the overall length of the
drain socket 360 is a distance 11 between the top face of the
descending pathway fitting element 371a and the bottom of the base
member 380 that is in contact with the floor surface FL.
[0341] FIG. 60 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the drain
socket 360 adjusted to the height of 200 mm from the floor surface
FL and attached to another toilet 510. Like the toilet 310
discussed above, the toilet 510 has a drain conduit including a
connection pathway, an ascending pathway, and a descending pathway
533. Unlike the toilet 310, however, the distance between the floor
surface FL and the lower end of the descending pathway 533 is
approximately 200 mm.
[0342] In the state of FIG. 60, the four engagement pieces 389a and
389p on the end of the second ring-shaped projection 368 are fitted
in the upper-most horizontal grooves 382c and 382r. This makes the
main body member 371 attached to the base member 380. The main body
member 371 clamps the drain conduit 390 via the ribs 366 provided
on the deeper section of the second ring-shaped recess 362 and is
thereby connected to the drain conduit 390. The lower end of the
descending pathway 533 having the height of approximately 200 mm
from the floor surface FL is placed on the setting plane 371b of
the descending pathway fitting element 371a, so that the main body
member 371 is connected to the descending pathway 533. Even when
the height of the drain socket 360 is adjusted and the overall
length of the drain socket 360 is changed, the descending pathway
533 is smoothly connectable to the drain conduit 390 via the drain
socket 360.
[0343] The positional relation between the main body member 371 and
the base member 380 in FIG. 60 is changed to be apart from each
other, compared with the positional relation in FIG. 54. More
specifically, the distance from the floor surface FL to the setting
plane 371b of the main body member 371 is changed to 130 mm to 200
mm. A distance 12 between the top face of the descending pathway
fitting element 371a and the bottom of the base member 380 is
accordingly longer by 70 mm than the distance 11 shown in FIG.
54.
[0344] In the ninth embodiment discussed above, the drain socket
360 includes the multiple members, the main body member 371 and the
base member 380 that are separable in the direction of extending
the main conduit 373. Various combinations of these members form
diverse flow paths of the reserved water RW and cleansing water.
The overall length of the drain socket 360 is freely variable. The
common drain socket 360 is thus applicable to a plurality of
different connections of the toilet 310 with the drain conduit
390.
[0345] In the arrangement of the ninth embodiment, the overall
length of the drain socket 360 is changed by varying the height of
the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL. The same drain
socket 360 is thus applicable to toilets having different heights
from the floor surface FL to the lower end of the descending
pathway 333. This enhances the applicability.
[0346] In the drain socket 360 of the ninth embodiment, the height
of the drain socket 360 from the floor surface FL to the setting
plane 371b after adjustment is observably shown on the side face of
the main body member 370. The arrangement enables the user to
adjust the height of the drain socket 360 while checking the
current position of the drain socket 360. This improves the
workability in adjustment. Adjustment of the scale on the drain
socket 360 to the designed dimension representing the height from
the descending pathway of the toilet 310 to the floor surface FL
attains the favorable connection. This application ensures the
smooth adjustment without requiring measurement of the distance
from the floor surface FL to the setting plane 371b and the
distance from the floor surface FL to the lower end of the
descending pathway 333 and without requiring change of the length
of the drain socket 360 in the process of positioning the drain
socket 360 relative to the toilet 310 in the field.
[0347] In the ninth embodiment, the height of the drain socket 360
from the floor surface FL to the setting plane 317b is expressed by
the position of the protruded engagement piece 389p. The height is
thus readily shown without any special mechanism for display.
[0348] Clamping the drain conduit 390 via the ribs 366 discussed in
the ninth embodiment is only one example of the technique of
connecting the drain conduit 90 to the drain socket 360. Another
technique may be applicable to connect the drain conduit 390 with
the drain socket 360. For example, a resilient body other than
rubber may be applied for the ribs 366. In another example, an
identical material is applied to both the ribs 366 and the main
body of the drain socket 360, and the ribs 366 are formed
integrally with the second ring-shaped recess 362. In the structure
that prevents water passing through the drain socket 360 from
leaking outside the drain conduit 390, the drain conduit 390 may
not be fitted in or bonded to the drain socket 360, but may be
simply inserted in the second ring-shaped recess 362.
[0349] In the arrangement of the ninth embodiment, the drain
conduit 390 is connected to the second ring-shaped recess 362
formed in the main body member 371 of the drain socket 360. In one
possible modification, an equivalent structure to the second
ring-shaped recess 362 is formed in the base member 380, and the
drain conduit 390 is connected to the base member 380 of the drain
socket 360.
[0350] The engagement construction of the four engagement pieces
389a and 389p on the main body member 371 with the corresponding
engaging elements 382a and 382p of the base member 380 in the ninth
embodiment is only one example of changing the positional relation
between the main body member 371 and the base member 380. Another
structure may be applied to change the positional relation between
the main body member 371 and the base member 380. In one applicable
structure, one aperture is formed in the main body member 371, and
multiple apertures are formed in the base member 380 along the
height thereof. The position of the aperture formed in the main
body member 371 is adjusted to the position of a selected aperture
formed in the base member 380, and a pin is inserted through these
apertures.
[0351] In the ninth embodiment, the base member 380 is bonded and
fixed to the floor surface FL with the bolts 385. Fixation of the
base member 380 to the floor surface FL may, however, not always be
required, but the base member 380 may just simply be placed on the
floor surface FL. In the latter case, the height of the drain
socket 360 may be adjusted as discussed above after the base member
380 is placed on the floor surface FL. Adjustment prior to the
placement of the base member 380 on the floor surface FL, however,
favorably enhances the working efficiency. The procedure
pre-assembles the base member 380 with the main body member 371 and
adjusts the height of the drain socket 360 to a desired level. The
base member 380 assembled with the main body member 371 is then
placed on the floor surface FL.
[0352] The following describes a tenth embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 61 is a vertical sectional view illustrating
connection of a toilet 810 to a drain conduit 8390 via a drain
socket 8360 in the tenth embodiment of the present invention. The
toilet 810 and the drain socket 8360 shown in FIG. 61 have
substantially common constituents to those of the toilet 310 and
the drain socket 360 discussed above. In the drawing of FIG. 61,
these common constituents are expressed by assignment of the
numerals used in FIG. 54 to the lower three places of the
respective symbols.
[0353] The drain socket 8360 has a base member 8380 and a main body
member 8371 like the structure of the ninth embodiment. The
structure thus allows adjustment of the height from the floor
surface FL to a setting plane 8371b of the main body member
8371.
[0354] The drain socket 8360 of the tenth embodiment has three
primary members, that is, an inner drain conduit socket member 372
attached to the main body member 8371, in addition to the base
member 8380 and the main body member 8371. The base member 8380
corresponds to the first member in the claims. The main body member
8371 corresponds to the first member or the first flow path
defining member in the claims. The inner drain conduit socket
member 372 corresponds to the second flow path defining member in
the claims.
[0355] A hollow cylindrical main conduit 8373 is formed below a
descending pathway fitting element 371a. The main conduit 8373
defines the flow path of reserved water, cleansing water, and
excrement flown through a descending pathway 833. Like the main
conduit 373 of the ninth embodiment, the main conduit 8373 has two
restrictions.
[0356] Referring to FIG. 61, the inner drain conduit socket member
372 is inserted into a first ring-shaped recess 8364 formed around
the outer circumference of the main conduit 8373. The inner drain
conduit socket member 372 is constructed by a combination of two
members, a first cylindrical section 372b of a quasi-cylindrical
shape with a second cylindrical section 372c of a cylindrical
shape. More specifically, the inner drain conduit socket member 372
is provided by joining the upper end of the second cylindrical
section 372c with the lower end of the first cylindrical section
372b.
[0357] The inner drain conduit socket member 372 is bonded to a
desired position on the outer circumferential wall of the first
ring-shaped recess 8364. Such bonding makes the inner drain conduit
socket member 372 integrated with the main body member 8371. The
bonding of the inner drain conduit socket member 372 causes the
first cylindrical section 372b to form an expanded conduit 375
having a greater pipeline diameter than that of the main conduit
8373 as the flow path communicating with the main conduit 8373. The
second cylindrical section 372c defines a straight line conduit 376
having practically the same diameter as that of the main conduit
8373 as the flow path communicating with the expanded conduit 375.
The inner drain conduit socket member 372 accordingly extends the
main conduit 8373, which is formed in the main body member 8371 as
the flow path of the reserved water RW, cleansing water, and
excrement, to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 61, the inner
drain conduit socket member 372 extends the flow path of the
reserved water RW, cleansing water, and excrement to a specific
position in the drain conduit 8390 below the floor surface FL.
[0358] The first cylindrical section 372b includes a non-restricted
element 372p that has a substantially equal cross sectional area to
the cross sectional area at the starting end of the first
cylindrical section 372b, and a first restriction 372q that is
arranged on the terminal end of the non-restricted element 372p and
has a decreasing cross sectional area toward the terminal end of
the first cylindrical section 372b. The terminal end of the first
cylindrical section 372b is protruded in the horizontal direction
toward the center of the expanded conduit 375 and is then extended
downward in the vertical direction. The cross sectional area of the
first cylindrical section 372b thus further decreases at the
terminal end of the first cylindrical section 372b. The terminal
end of the first cylindrical section 372b having such construction
defines a second restriction 372r.
[0359] The overall length of the drain socket 8360 having the above
construction is varied by changing the position of attachment of
the inner drain conduit socket member 372 to the main body member
8371. In the example of FIG. 61, the overall length of the drain
socket 8360 is a distance 13 between the top face of a descending
pathway fitting element 8371a and the lower end of the second
cylindrical section 372c of the inner drain conduit socket member
372.
[0360] FIG. 62 shows the inner drain conduit socket member 372
attached to a different position of the main body member 8371. The
first cylindrical section 372b of the inner drain conduit socket
member 372 in FIG. 62 is attached at a lower position on the outer
circumferential wall of the first ring-shaped recess 8364, compared
with the position in FIG. 61. A distance 14 between the top face of
the descending pathway fitting element 8371a and the lower end of
the second cylindrical section 372c of the inner drain conduit
socket member 372 is accordingly longer than the distance 13 shown
in FIG. 61.
[0361] Bonding of the inner drain conduit socket member 372 at the
lower position enables the second cylindrical section 372c of the
inner drain conduit socket member 372 to be inserted into a deeper
position in the drain conduit 8390. The first restriction 372q and
the second restriction 372r are thus arranged at lower positions
relative to the floor surface FL as the reference. This arrangement
also lengthens the expanded conduit 375 and the straight line
conduit 376 as the extended flow path of the main conduit 8373.
[0362] In the tenth embodiment described above, the drain socket
8360 includes the multiple members, the main body member 8371, the
base member 8380, and the inner drain conduit socket member 372
that are separable in the direction of extending the main conduit
8373. Various combinations of these members form diverse flow paths
of the reserved water RW and cleansing water. The overall length of
the drain socket 8360 in the tenth embodiment is also freely
variable. The common drain socket 8360 is thus applicable to a
plurality of different connections of the toilet 810 with the drain
conduit 8390.
[0363] In the structure of the tenth embodiment, the overall length
of the drain socket 8360 is varied by changing the position of
attachment of the inner drain conduit socket member 372 to the main
body member 8371. This allows the length of the flow path formed in
the drain socket 8360 to be changed to a desired value. In the
tenth embodiment, the inner drain conduit socket member 372 is
formed separately from the main body member 8371. The length of the
flow path can be varied to a desired value by simply changing the
position of attachment of the inner drain conduit socket member 372
to the first ring-shaped recess 8364. Namely the arrangement
facilitates the variation in flow path length.
[0364] The inner drain conduit socket member 372 is constructed by
the combination of the multiple sections, the first cylindrical
section 372b and the second cylindrical section 372c. This
arrangement facilitates the variation in flow path length. For
example, a desired flow path length is set by simply selecting one
among three optional patterns: both the first cylindrical section
372b and the second cylindrical section 372c are bonded to the
first ring-shaped recess 8364; only the first cylindrical section
372b is bonded to the first ring-shaped recess 8364; and neither
the first cylindrical section 372b nor the second cylindrical
section 372c is bonded to the first ring-shaped recess 8364.
[0365] The inner drain conduit socket member 372 has the two
restrictions, that is, the first restriction 372q and the second
restriction 372r. The positions of the restrictions are arbitrarily
specified by taking into account the type of the toilet and the
conditions of the drain conduit 8390.
[0366] For example, in the case of application of the drain socket
8360 to a siphon action-type toilet using a low flow rate of
cleansing water, the inner drain conduit socket member 372 is set
in the state shown in FIG. 62 (where the inner drain conduit socket
member 372 is attached to the lower position in the first
ring-shaped recess 364). This lowers the water retaining position
in the expanded conduit 375 and increases the water head between
the water retaining position and the vicinity of the weir. The
greater water head enables the sucking force of reserved water and
cleansing water produced by the siphon action to be utilized with a
higher efficiency.
[0367] In the case where the drain conduit 8390 has only a little
rise (that is, the depth from the upper end of the drain conduit
8390 to the inner bottom plane) from the laterally laid drain
conduit 8390, for example, because of installation of the toilet
810 on the upper floor, only the first cylindrical section 372b of
the inner drain conduit socket member 372 is bonded to the first
ring-shaped recess 8364. Alternatively the first cylindrical
section 372b is bonded to the upper portion of the first
ring-shaped recess 8364. This arrangement lowers the water
retaining position in the expanded conduit 375, while preventing
the potential interference with the drain conduit 8390. The
arrangement of the embodiment thus enhances the cleansing
performance of the toilet, regardless of the rise of the drain
conduit 8390.
[0368] In the case of application of the drain socket 8360 to a
non-siphon action-type toilet, there is little necessity of
retaining water in the drain socket 8360, so that the inner drain
conduit socket member 372 is not required to be attached to the
first ring-shaped recess 8364. The drain socket 8360 is thus
commonly applicable to both the non-siphon action-type toilet and
the siphon action-type toilet.
[0369] The construction of the tenth embodiment allows variations
of both the height of the drain socket 8360 from the floor surface
FL and the flow path length of the drain socket 8360. This
arrangement ensures the cleansing performance of a substantially
constant level, irrespective of the type of the toilet and the
conditions of the sewer.
[0370] For example, application of the drain socket 8360 to two
siphon action-type toilets having different heights from the floor
surface FL to the lower end of the drain conduit gives the
substantially equivalent cleansing power to the two siphon
action-type toilets. The concrete procedure adjusts the height of
the drain socket 8360 from the floor surface FL and attaches the
inner drain conduit socket member 372 to the first ring-shaped
recess 8364 in such a manner that the lower end of the inner drain
conduit socket member 372 is placed at a substantially identical
height. The flow rate of cleansing water and the water retaining
position in the drain socket in one toilet are thus practically
coincident with those in the other toilet. This arrangement thus
ensures the equivalent cleansing power.
[0371] The following describes an eleventh embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 63 is a vertical sectional view
illustrating connection of a toilet 1310 to a drain conduit 1390
via a drain socket 1360 in the eleventh embodiment of the present
invention. The toilet 1310 and the drain socket 1360 shown in FIG.
63 have substantially common constituents to those of the toilet
310 and the drain socket 360 or 8360 discussed above. In the
drawing of FIG. 63, these common constituents are expressed by
assignment of the numerals used in FIGS. 53, 54, and 61 to the
lower three places of the respective symbols.
[0372] Unlike the structure of the ninth embodiment, the drain
socket 1360 of the eleventh embodiment has a non-separable
structure of the base member 380 and the main body member 371. The
drain socket 1360 accordingly includes two members, that is, a main
body member 1371 and an inner drain conduit socket member 1372
attached to the main body member 1371.
[0373] As shown in FIG. 63, the main body member 1371 defines a
main conduit 1373 as the flow path of reserved water RW, cleansing
water, and excrement. The main body member 1371 corresponds to the
first flow path defining member in the claims. Attachment of the
inner drain conduit socket member 1372 to the main body member 1371
extends the main conduit 1373 toward the downstream side to a
specific position in the drain conduit 1390 below the floor surface
FL. The inner drain conduit socket member 1372 corresponds to the
second flow path defining member in the claims.
[0374] Like the tenth embodiment, the inner drain conduit socket
member 1372 is constructed by a combination of two members, a first
cylindrical section 1372b of a quasi-cylindrical shape with a
second cylindrical section 1372c of a cylindrical shape. More
specifically, the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 is
provided by joining the upper end of the second cylindrical section
1372c with the lower end of the first cylindrical section
1372b.
[0375] Referring to FIG. 63, the first cylindrical section 1372b
defines an expanded conduit 1375 having a greater pipeline diameter
than that of the main conduit 1373 as the flow path communicating
with the main conduit 1373. The second cylindrical section 1372c
defines a straight line conduit 1376 having practically the same
diameter as that of the main conduit 1373 as the flow path
communicating with the expanded conduit 1375. The inner drain
conduit socket member 1372 is provided with a non-restricted
element 1372p, a first restriction 1372q, and a second restriction
1372r like the tenth embodiment.
[0376] A different technique from that of the tenth embodiment is
applied for attachment of the inner drain conduit socket member
1372 to the main body member 1371 as discussed below. A ring-shaped
projection 1379 is formed around the main conduit 1373 defined by
the main body member 1371. A fringe 1379a is formed integrally with
the ring-shaped projection 1379 on the inner circumferential wall
of the ring-shaped projection 1379. The first cylindrical section
1372b of the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 is bonded to
this fringe 1379a. The whole length of the drain socket is
accordingly a distance 15 between the top face of a descending
pathway fitting element 1371a and the lower end of the second
cylindrical section 1372c of the inner drain conduit socket member
1372 as shown in FIG. 63.
[0377] The drain conduit 1390 rising from the floor surface FL is
inserted into the fringe 1379a, to which the inner drain conduit
socket member 1372 is bonded. The drain conduit 1390 is bonded to
the inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped projection 1379.
The bonding connects the drain socket 1360 with the drain conduit
1390.
[0378] Marks representing the optional cutting positions of the
first cylindrical section 1372b are curved on the first cylindrical
section 1372b of the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 as
shown in FIG. 64. FIG. 64 shows the appearance of the first
cylindrical section 1372b. Three scale lines are curved on the
outer circumferential face of the first cylindrical section 1372b
at pitches of 20 mm along the height.
[0379] Numerical values representing the lengths of the first
cylindrical section 1372b extended below the floor surface FL in
the state of attachment of the first cylindrical section 1372b to
the fringe 1379a are curved in the vicinity of the respective scale
lines. More specifically, numerical values of 40 mm to 100 mm are
shown by the unit of 20 mm in the example of FIG. 64. For example,
when the whole first cylindrical section 1372b without cutting is
bonded to the fringe 1379a, a lower end 1372g of the first
cylindrical section 1372b is located at a position below the floor
surface FL by 100 mm. The numerical values 40 mm, 60 mm, and 80 mm
respectively represent the length of the first cylindrical section
1372b extended below the floor surface FL when the first
cylindrical section 1372b is cut at the position of the scale line
above each numerical value. For example, when the first cylindrical
section 1372b cut at the position of the scale line of 60 mm is
bonded to the fringe 1379a, the lower end 1372g of the first
cylindrical section 1372b is located below the floor surface FL by
60 mm. Other numerical values may alternatively be used to
represent the lengths of the first cylindrical section 1372b and
the second cylindrical section 1372c extended below the floor
surface FL.
[0380] Each of the numerical values is shown on the side face of
the remaining member, which is cut at each scale line and used as
the first cylindrical section 1372b. This arrangement enables the
user to check the length of the first cylindrical section 1372b in
the process of attachment of the first cylindrical section 1372b
after cutting. The first cylindrical section 1372b without cutting
is illustrated in FIG. 63.
[0381] FIG. 65 shows attachment of the inner drain conduit socket
member 1372 to the fringe 1379a, where the first cylindrical
section 1372b is cut at the scale line of 60 mm and is joined with
the second cylindrical section 1372c. As shown in FIG. 65, since
the bonded first cylindrical section 1372b has been cut, a distance
16 between the top face of the descending pathway fitting element
1371a and the lower end of the second cylindrical section 1372c of
the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 is shorter than the
distance 15 shown in FIG. 63. The length of the inner drain conduit
socket member 1372 extended below the floor surface FL is the sum
of 60 mm or the length of the first cylindrical section 1372b and
the length of the second cylindrical section 1372c.
[0382] In the drain socket 1360 of the eleventh embodiment
discussed above, the length of the inner drain conduit socket
member 1372 extended below the floor surface FL is varied by
cutting the first cylindrical section 1372b. This arrangement
enables the flow path of the drain socket 1360 to be changed to an
arbitrary length. The optional cutting positions of the first
cylindrical section 1372b are shown by the scale lines. This
ensures the smooth cutting work. The numerical value is shown in
the vicinity of each scale line to represent the length of the
first cylindrical section 1372b, which is cut at the scale line and
extended below the floor surface FL. The adequate length of the
inner drain conduit socket member 1372 is thus specified to prevent
the potential interference with the drain conduit 1390 rising from
the floor surface FL.
[0383] FIG. 66 shows a modified structure of the first cylindrical
section 1372b. A first cylindrical section 2372b shown in FIG. 66
does not have the non-restricted element 1372p of the eleventh
embodiment, but has a first restriction 2372q having a cross
sectional area gradually decreasing from the start end to the
terminal end of the first cylindrical section 2372b.
[0384] Three scale lines are curved at pitches along the height on
the outer circumferential face of the first cylindrical section
2372b as marks representing the optional cutting positions of the
first cylindrical section 2372b. A numerical value representing the
inner diameter of the first cylindrical section 2372b at the
cutting position of each scale line is curved above the scale line.
In the example of FIG. 66, numerical values of 40 mm, 45 mm, and 50
mm are shown. Each of the numerical values is shown on the side
face of the remaining member, which is cut at each scale line and
used as the first cylindrical section 2372b. This arrangement
enables the user to check the inner diameter at the end of the
first cylindrical section 2372b in the process of attachment of the
first cylindrical section 2372b after cutting.
[0385] Attachment of the first cylindrical section 2372b cut at an
arbitrary scale line to the fringe 1379a shown in FIG. 63 regulates
the degree of restriction in the first cylindrical section 2372b.
For example, cutting at the position of the inner diameter of 50 mm
shortens the length of the first cylindrical section 2372b and
weakens the retaining power applied to the reserved water RW or the
flow of cleansing water passing through the first cylindrical
section 2372b. The first cylindrical section 2372b gives the
desired retaining power in the drain socket 1360 according to the
performance of the toilet, to which the drain socket 1360 is
attached.
[0386] In the tenth and the eleventh embodiments discussed above,
the inner drain conduit socket member 372 or 1372 is constructed by
the two separate members, the first cylindrical section 372b or
1372b and the second cylindrical section 372c or 1372c. The inner
drain conduit socket member 372 or 1372 may, however, be
constructed by one integral member.
[0387] The inner drain conduit socket member 372 or 1372 may
otherwise be constructed by three or more separator members. In the
structure of the tenth embodiment, the fringe 1379a is formed
integrally with the ring-shaped projection 1379. In one possible
modification, a member equivalent to the fringe 1379a is formed
separately from the ring-shaped projection 1379, and a combination
of the fringe-like member 1379a, the first cylindrical section
1372b, and the second cylindrical section 1372c is attached as the
inner drain conduit socket member 1372 to the ring-shaped
projection 1379. Such modification allows the position of
attachment of the fringe-like member 1379a to the ring-shaped
projection 1379 to be freely changed. For example, when the
position of attachment of the fringe-like member 1379a to the
ring-shaped projection 1379 is specified according to the rising
height of the drain conduit 1390 from the floor surface FL, the
drain conduit 1390 is tightly fitted in a space defined by the
inner circumferential wall of the ring-shaped projection 1379 and
the fringe-like member 1379a. This arrangement assures successful
attachment of the drain socket 1360 without cutting the drain
conduit 1390, which may have various rising heights.
[0388] In the tenth and the eleventh embodiments discussed above,
the bonding technique is applied to attach the inner drain conduit
socket member 372 or 1372 to the main body member 371 or 1371. Any
adequate technique other than bonding, for example, fitting or
engagement, may be applied to change the position of the inner
drain conduit socket member 372. In one modified structure, the
inner drain conduit socket member 372 is slidably fitted in the
circumferential wall of the first ring-shaped recess 364.
[0389] The degrees of restriction provided in the main conduit 373
or 1373 and the expanded conduit 375 or 1375 are specified
arbitrarily according to the layout of the flow path of cleansing
water. The straight line conduit 376 or 1376 may have an additional
restriction. In the above embodiments, the center of the main
conduit 373 or 1373 may be eccentric to the center of the expanded
conduit 375 or 1375.
[0390] In the above embodiments, the numerical values representing
the `lengths of the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 cut at
the respective scale lines and extended below the floor surface FL`
or the numerical values representing the `inner diameters of the
inner drain conduit socket member 1372 at the respective cutting
positions` are used as the numerical values curved on the side face
of the inner drain conduit socket member 1372. The curved numerical
values may otherwise be any values or information based on the
different conditions of the installation fields or based on the
diverse types of toilets.
[0391] For example, it is generally thought that the distance from
the floor surface FL, on which the toilet is installed, to the
drain conduit horizontally laid under the floor surface FL is about
800 mm on the first floor of a house and about 100 mm to 200 mm on
the second floor. The numerical values representing the `lengths of
the inner drain conduit socket member 1372 cut at the respective
scale lines and extended below the floor surface FL` are shown on
the side face of the inner drain conduit socket member 1372. The
worker who installs the toilet then does not hesitate to select the
cutting position among the multiple marks but readily determines
the adequate cutting position according to the floor on which the
toilet is installed. This arrangement thus ensures the smooth and
adequate attachment of the drain socket.
[0392] The siphon action-type toilets of different models or
different product numbers may have different quantities of
cleansing water. The product numbers of toilets may thus be shown
in the vicinity of the respective scale lines, instead of the
numerical values representing the `lengths of the inner drain
conduit socket member 1372 cut at the respective scale lines and
extended below the floor surface FL` or the numerical values
representing the `inner diameters of the inner drain conduit socket
member 1372 at the respective cutting positions`. This arrangement
enables the worker who installs the toilet to readily determine the
adequate cutting position based on the product number of the
toilet, while ensuring the desired water retaining state in the
drain socket by taking into account the difference in flow rate of
cleansing water among the toilets.
[0393] Packing the inner drain conduit socket member 372 or 1372
with the toilet effectively prevents the potential delay of
installation due to the missing inner drain conduit socket member
372 or 1372 or the loss of the inner drain conduit socket member
372 or 1372 in the field. Single sale of the inner drain conduit
socket member 372 or 1372 is preferable in the case where the state
of the drain conduit 390 or the type of the toilet 310 is not
changeable.
[0394] The ninth through the eleventh embodiments may be modified
as discussed below.
[0395] For example, in the drain socket 360 or 1360 of the above
embodiments, the lower end of the descending pathway 333 or 1333 is
placed on the setting plane 371b of the descending pathway fitting
element 371a. The lower end of the descending pathway 333 or 1333
is, however, not required to be in contact with the setting plane
371b. The only requirement is that the lower end of the descending
pathway 333 or 1333 is located in the range of the height of the
descending pathway fitting element 371a. This is because the load
of the toilet 310 or 1310 is not applied to the setting plane 371b
but is received by the floor surface FL.
[0396] The drain sockets 360 and 1360 of the above embodiments are
applicable to the lead drain conduits 390 and 1390. In this case,
the drain socket 360 or 1360 is connected to the drain conduit 390
or 1390 via an adaptor, which is separately provided to allow
connection with lead pipes.
[0397] In the above embodiments, the drain conduit 390 rises from
the floor surface FL to construct the floor drainage system. The
technique of the present invention is also applicable to the wall
drainage system, where the drain conduit 390 is extended from the
wall surface of the lavatory with the toilet 310. There are mainly
two variations of toilets corresponding to the different building
conditions. One is an S-trap type, where the end of a drain conduit
faces the floor. The other is a P-trap type, where the end of the
drain conduit faces the wall. Different models of the same P
trap-type toilets may have different distances between the end of
the drain conduit and the wall surface. In the wall drainage
system, the length of the drain conduit extended from a rising pipe
behind the wall is varied in different places, as in the case of
the floor drainage system. A joint member that joins the drain
conduit extended from the wall with the end of the drain conduit in
the P-trap type toilet preferably has a variable overall length.
This allows the common joint member and enhances the application of
the lavatory.
[0398] The above embodiments regard the siphon jet action-type
toilets, but the technique of the present invention is applicable
to other types of toilets. The other types of toilets include the
siphon action-type toilets that induce the siphon action without
the jet flow of cleansing water from the jet nozzle and the
washout-type toilets that do not utilize the siphon action but flow
out excrement and reserved water by the force of cleansing water.
In the washout-type toilet having a vertically curved drain
conduit, the water level in the drain conduit approaches to a full
level in the process of cleansing the toilet, and a phenomenon
similar to the siphon action may occur. The drain socket 8360 or
1360 of the above embodiment is preferably applied in such cases.
The retaining position of reserved water RW or cleansing water is
arbitrarily regulated by changing the position of attachment of the
inner drain conduit socket member 8372 or 1372. This heightens the
sucking force of the reserved water RW or cleansing water toward
the drain conduit 8390 or 1390 and thereby enhances the cleansing
power.
[0399] The above embodiments regard application of the technique of
the present invention to the siphon jet action-type toilets or
other toilets. The technique of the present invention is also
applicable to combinations of these toilets with other devices and
members. Examples of such application include sanitary cleansing
appliances with the functional toilet seat to attain diverse
functions like personal cleansing and heating, lavatory furniture
including lavatory cabinets and wash basins, and lavatories
including structural materials, like wall materials, floor
materials, and ceiling materials.
[0400] The following describes twelfth through fourteenth
embodiments.
[0401] FIG. 67 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 410 in a twelfth embodiment of the present
invention. The siphon jet action-type toilet 410 makes cleansing
water ejected from a jet nozzle 422 discussed later to induce the
siphon action.
[0402] Referring to FIG. 67, the toilet 410 has a bowl 420 to
receive excrement therein. A peripheral wall of the bowl 420 has a
water-submerged surface 423 that is in contact with reserved water
RW even in a non-cleansing time of the toilet 410 and an exposed
surface 424 that is not in contact with the reserved water RW in
the non-cleansing time of the toilet 410.
[0403] The jet nozzle 422 is disposed in a recess 426 on the bottom
of the bowl 420 to substantially face a suction opening 425 of a
siphon trap conduit. The jet nozzle 442 is connected to a jet
supply nozzle 445, which is an inlet port of cleansing water to the
jet nozzle 422, via a jet supply conduit 446 curved to surround the
bowl 420 in the toilet. A jet of cleansing water from the jet
nozzle 422 enters a siphon trap of and after the suction opening
425 without any significant energy loss, based on the positional
relation between the jet nozzle and the suction opening of the
siphon trap. This arrangement enables the conduit to be quickly
filled with water and instantly induces the siphon action.
[0404] A water tank WT is set behind the toilet 410 to feed a
supply of cleansing water to the bowl 420 for cleansing the toilet.
The toilet 410 is provided with a cleansing water supply apertures
440, into which the supply of cleansing water from the water tank
is flown through a water supply pipe SL, and a cleansing water
supply conduit 441 disposed below the cleansing water supply
aperture 440 as the flow path of cleansing water. The cleansing
water supply conduit 441 divisionally forms a retention space 441a
as a space interposed between the jet supply conduit 446 for
ejecting a jet of cleansing water towards the bowl and a lower end
of a drain conduit of the water tank WT. In response to each
flushing action, cleansing water released from the drain conduit is
flown into the retention space 441a and is ejected from the jet
nozzle 422 via the jet supply nozzle 445 and the jet supply conduit
446. After the retention space 441a is filled with water, the
cleansing water in the retention space 441a is flown out to rim
supply conduits 443 via a branch hole 442 disposed above the
retention space 441a and ejected from a rim nozzle 444 formed on a
lower end of a rim member 421.
[0405] The drainage mechanism including the siphon trap is
discussed. As illustrated, the siphon trap includes a connection
pathway 431 that is curved in an oblique upward direction from the
suction opening 425 in the recess 426 as the excrement reservoir,
an ascending pathway 432 that is extended in the curving direction
of the connection pathway 431 and is curved in a lateral direction,
and a descending pathway 433 that is curved downward from the
lateral extension and functions as a first descending conduit.
[0406] The descending pathway 433 includes an expanded section 433a
having a greater pipeline diameter and a tapered end 433b having a
narrower opening area than that of the expanded section 433a. The
expanded section 433a and the tapered end 433b of the descending
pathway 433 function to temporarily retain the flow of cleansing
water, so that the descending pathway 433 induces the siphon
action. The end of the descending pathway 433 is connected to a
drain conduit 490, which rises upward from the floor surface FL at
the position of installation of the toilet, via a resin drain
socket 470 functioning as a second descending conduit.
[0407] These flow paths are formed integrally with the toilet 410
made of pottery by utilizing a plaster or resin mold, although the
flow paths may be made of a different material separately from the
toilet 410. For example, all or part of the flow paths may be made
of another material like resin and connected to the suction opening
425.
[0408] The drain socket 470 has a socket main body 471 that is
located on the floor surface FL of the lavatory and fixed to the
floor surface FL with bolts, and a conduit defining member 473 that
defines a socket conduit 472 for leading the flow of cleansing
water, which has passed through the siphon trap, to the drain
conduit 490. The conduit defining member 473 has a spiral recess
474 that surrounds the socket conduit 472 in a spiral form. The
socket conduit 472 has a diameter substantially equal to that of
the tapered end 433b.
[0409] The socket main body 471 has a descending pathway fitting
element 471a that receives the lower end of the descending pathway
433 therein, and a drain conduit fitting element 475 that receives
the upper end of the drain conduit 490 inserted upward and fitted
therein. The drain conduit fitting element 475 receives the drain
conduit 490 fitted therein and thereby positions the drain socket
470 relative to the drain conduit 490. Since the lower end of the
conduit defining member 473 is located below the upper end of the
drain conduit 490, the flow of cleansing water passing through the
conduit defining member 473 does not leak from the upper end of the
drain conduit 490.
[0410] Both the socket main body 471 and the conduit defining
member 473 of the drain socket 470 are resin molded objects and are
formed separately from the toilet 410 or more specifically from the
descending pathway 433, although they may be integrated with the
descending pathway 433 (that is, with the siphon trap). In the
integrated structure with the descending pathway 433, a conduit
like the socket conduit 472 with the spiral recess 474 is formed in
the descending pathway 433 to communicate with the expanded section
433a across the tapered end 433b. In another modification, the
siphon trap of the toilet 410 does not have the siphon action
inducing mechanism like the tapered end 433b, while the drain
socket 470 connecting with the siphon trap has the siphon action
inducing mechanism like the tapered end 433b, in addition to the
socket main body 472 and the conduit defining member 473. The
polyvinyl chloride resin, which is the material of the drain
conduit 490, may be used as the material of the resin molded
objects of the socket main body 471 and the conduit defining member
473. Any of diverse resins, such as ABS resin, PP (polypropylene),
PE (polyethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), MA (acrylic), and
POM (polyacetal), is also applicable.
[0411] As illustrated, in the toilet 410 before a flushing action,
the reserved water RW in the connection pathway 431, the ascending
pathway 432, and the bowl 420 reaches the standard height of water
level WL. The reserved water RW effectively prevents a reverse flow
of offensive odor and invasion of vermin from the drainage
mechanism to the bowl 420.
[0412] The reserved water RW includes water kept in the bowl 420
before the suction opening 425 (hereinafter this water is referred
to as the bowl storage water or the sealing water), water kept in
the connection pathway 431 and the ascending pathway 432 after the
suction opening 425 (hereinafter this water is referred to as the
flow path storage water), and water kept in the lower portion of
the retention space 441a and the jet supply conduit 446 of the
toilet 410 (hereinafter this water is referred to as the jet
storage water). As shown in FIG. 67, the flow path storage water is
kept in only one place along the connection pathway 431 or the
ascending pathway 432, out of the flow path of sanitary sewage
including the connection pathway 431, the ascending pathway 432,
and the descending pathway 433. Here the `sanitary sewage` means
dirt water mixed with excrement like stool and urine and paper.
[0413] The water level WL generally depends upon the height of a
weir 434, which is the highest position of the lower inner wall of
the ascending pathway 432. The lower portion of the retention space
441a, the jet supply nozzle 445, and the jet supply conduit 446 are
located below the weir 434 in the toilet 410 as shown in FIG. 67.
In the stationary state of the toilet 410, the jet storage water is
kept at the above water level in the lower portion of the retention
space 441a and the jet supply conduit 446. The lowered height of
the weir 434 lowers the water level of the reserved water RW and
decreases the total quantity of the bowl storage water, the flow
path storage water, and the jet storage water.
[0414] The following describes the process of discharging the
sanitary sewage and excrement by means of the drainage mechanism
having the above construction. A release of cleansing water from
the water tank WT first flows into the retention space 441a. The
potential energy of the released cleansing water works as kinetic
energy and causes the jet storage water in the jet supply conduit
446 to flow into the bowl storage water (sealing water) in the bowl
420. This starts a jet of cleansing water from the jet nozzle 422
toward the trap described above. While the release of cleansing
water continues, the released cleansing water is continuously
jetted from the jet nozzle 422 by means of its potential energy. In
the initial stage of the water jet action, the retention space 441a
is filled with the new release of cleansing water. In the
subsequent stage, the release of cleansing water passes through the
branch hole 442 and is ejected out of the rim nozzle 444.
[0415] When the cleansing water is ejected out to the bowl 420, the
water level in the ascending pathway 432 rises and the water
reaches its full level at the curved joint portion of the ascending
pathway 432 and the descending pathway 433 (hereinafter simply
referred to as the curved portion). The flow of cleansing water
then passes through the descending pathway 433, and is temporarily
retained in the expanded section 433a on the lower end of the
descending pathway 433. The trap conduit is then filled with
cleansing water to form the siphon pipeline. There is a pressure
difference between the cleansing water of the siphon pipeline and
the reserved water in the bowl 420. This pressure difference
generates a downward pulling force, which causes the excrement
together with the cleansing water (sanitary sewage) in the siphon
trap (that is, in the ascending pathway 432 and the connection
pathway 431) and the cleansing water (sanitary sewage) in the bowl
to be vigorously led into the drain conduit 490. This process
induces the siphon action.
[0416] The behaviors of cleansing water after induction of the
siphon action are discussed below. FIG. 68 shows behaviors of
cleansing water passing through the siphon trap and the socket
conduit 472.
[0417] After induction of the siphon action, the flow of cleansing
water passes through the expanded section 433a and the socket
conduit 472 as shown by the open arrow in FIG. 68(a). Part of the
cleansing water enters the spiral recess 474 surrounding the socket
conduit 472 to be retained therein. The cleansing water retained in
the spiral recess 474 is flown down in a spiral form through the
spiral recess 474 as shown by the dotted line. The cleansing water
retained in the spiral recess 474 is alternatively flown down by
its dead weight through the recess openings and joins the flow of
cleansing water shown by the open arrow.
[0418] In the terminal stage of the siphon action when the supply
of a predetermined flow rate of cleansing water from the water tank
WT and the jet of cleansing water from the jet nozzle are
practically terminated, the flow rate of cleansing water passing
through the siphon trap and reaching the socket conduit 472 is
reduced. In this state, the flow rate of cleansing water directly
passing through the socket conduit 472 (hereinafter such cleansing
water is referred to as the direct flow of cleansing water as a
matter of convenience) is lowered as shown in FIG. 68(b). The
retained cleansing water is present in the spiral recess 474 and is
flown down in a spiral form along the spiral recess 474 or joins
the direct flow of cleansing water. The retained cleansing water is
accordingly supplementary cleansing water added to the direct flow
of cleansing water. This increases the total flow rate of cleansing
water passing through the middle or the end of the socket conduit
472. The ratio of the occupation area of cleansing water to the
cross section of the socket conduit 472 is greater than the ratio
in the conventional structure without the spiral recess 474. The
cleansing water having the greater occupation area effectively
prevents invasion of the air from the drain conduit 490. Even in
the terminal stage of the siphon action having the reduced flow
rate of cleansing water, this arrangement extends the effective
siphon action, so as to enhance the suction efficiency of the
reserved water in the bowl in the terminal stage of the siphon
action and heighten the reliability of suction and discharge of
floating excrement.
[0419] The supplementary cleansing water is supplied to the direct
flow of cleansing water from the respective steps of the spiral
recess 474. The arrangement ensures supply of the supplementary
cleansing water to the direct flow of cleansing water and thereby
extends the effective siphon action. This enhances the suction
efficiency of the reserved water in the bowl in the terminal stage
of the siphon action and heightens the reliability of suction and
discharge of floating excrement.
[0420] The spiral recess 474 is provided immediately below the
tapered end 433b of the connection pathway 431 that induces the
siphon action. Namely the cleansing water is supplemented in the
vicinity of the place of induction of the siphon action. This
ensures extension of the effective siphon action and enhances the
reliability.
[0421] Part of the direct flow of cleansing water is led into the
spiral recess 474 as the supplementary cleansing water. This
arrangement does not require any special water system for
supplement of cleansing water, thus simplifying the construction
while not increasing the total flow rate of cleansing water used
for cleansing the toilet.
[0422] The spiral flow of cleansing water in the spiral recess 474
swirls along the socket conduit 472. The swirl of cleansing water
also effectively prevents invasion of the air from the drain
conduit 490. This arrangement further enhances the suction
efficiency in the terminal stage of the siphon action and heightens
the reliability of suction and discharge of floating excrement.
[0423] In the structure of this embodiment, the socket conduit 472
is formed to have the spiral recess 474. One possible modification
may use a spiral-shaped plate, which is inserted in and attached to
the socket conduit 472.
[0424] One modification of the above embodiment is discussed here.
FIG. 69 illustrates a modified structure of the drain socket 470.
As illustrated, the drain socket 470 of the modified example has a
plurality of ring-shaped recesses 474a, which are extended outside
the socket conduit 472 at preset intervals. Part of the flow of
cleansing water is temporarily retained in the respective
ring-shaped recesses 474a and supplied to the direct flow of
cleansing water by its dead weight. In this modified structure, the
cleansing water retained in the respective ring-shaped recesses
474a joins the direct flow of cleansing water in the socket conduit
472, thus attaining the effects discussed above.
[0425] The following describes still another embodiment. FIG. 70
illustrates a drain socket 1470 in a thirteenth embodiment. As
illustrated, the drain socket 1470 of this embodiment has a socket
main body 1471 for fixation to the floor surface. An upstream
socket conduit 1472 and a downstream socket conduit 1474, which are
eccentric to each other, are formed inside the socket main body
1471 to lead the flow of cleansing water to the drain conduit 490.
The drain socket 1470 further includes a step 1475, which faces the
lower end of a conduit defining member 1473 that defines the
upstream socket conduit 1472, and a retention chamber 1476 that is
disposed above the step 1475 and surrounds the conduit defining
member 1473. The upstream socket conduit 1472 and the downstream
socket conduit 1474 have diameters virtually identical with the
diameter of the tapered end 433b.
[0426] The descending pathway 433 is fitted in a descending pathway
fitting element 1471a on the upper end of the socket main body
1471, and the socket main body 1471 is fixed to the floor surface.
A sealing member 1477 is disposed on the upper end of the drain
conduit 490 for sealing. In the drain socket 1470, the lower end of
the downstream socket conduit 1474 is located below the upper end
of the drain conduit 490. This arrangement effectively prevents
leakage of cleansing water from the upper end of the drain conduit
490. This drain socket 1470 is composed of any resin mentioned
above, for example, the polyvinyl chloride resin or the ABS
resin.
[0427] In the drain socket 1470, the flow of cleansing water
passing through the upstream socket conduit 1472 hits against the
step 1475 to change its flow direction as shown by the arrow, and
is flown into the downstream socket conduit 1474. The retention
chamber 1476 is located above the step 1475 as an extension. This
structure combines with the step 1475, which changes the flow
direction, to temporarily retain the flow of cleansing water and
contribute to induction of the siphon action. In the toilet 410
with the drain socket 1470 attached thereto, the siphon action is
induced at two different positions, that is, at the tapered end
433b and at the step 1475 in the drain socket 1470. This
effectively enhances the sucking force of the reserved water and
the suction efficiency. Since the siphon action is also induced in
the drain socket 1470, attachment of this drain socket 1470 to the
toilet 410 having the straight end of the siphon trap, that is, the
straight end of the descending pathway 433, effectively induces the
siphon action.
[0428] The following describes the behaviors of cleansing water in
the drain socket 1470. The flow of cleansing water passing through
the upstream socket conduit 1472 (that is, the direct flow of
cleansing water) by induction of the siphon action hits against the
step 1475 and is flown into the downstream socket conduit 1474.
Part of the cleansing water is flown into the retention chamber
1476 by means of the pressure for inducing the siphon action, the
water head (head difference) from the water surface of the reserved
water in the bowl 420. The air, which is present in the retention
chamber 1476, is compressed by the pressure of cleansing water. The
flow rate of cleansing water corresponding to the compressed air is
accordingly retained in the retention chamber 1476. Namely this
retention chamber 1476 functions as a kind of accumulator.
[0429] In the terminal stage of the siphon action, the flow rate of
cleansing water that passes through the upstream socket conduit
1472 and is flown into the downstream socket conduit 1474 is
reduced, while the pressure of cleansing water that blocks the
lower end of the retention chamber 1476 is lowered. Under such
conditions, the cleansing water retained in the retention chamber
1476 is flown out of the retention chamber 1476, due to its water
pressure and dead weight and increases the flow rate of cleansing
water passing through the downstream socket conduit 1474. The ratio
of the occupation area of cleansing water to the cross section of
the downstream socket conduit 1474 is greater than the ratio in the
conventional structure that does not have the retention chamber
1476 and only changes the flow direction of cleansing water by the
step 1475. The cleansing water having the greater occupation area
effectively prevents invasion of the air from the drain conduit
490. The drain socket 1470 of the thirteenth embodiment thus exerts
the similar effects to those of the embodiments discussed
above.
[0430] In the drain socket 1470, the cleansing water is supplied
from the retention chamber 1476, which surrounds the upstream
socket conduit 1472, around the circumference of the upstream
socket conduit 1472 on the lower end thereof. This readily
increases the total flow rate of cleansing water.
[0431] The drain socket 1470 of the thirteenth embodiment has the
retention chamber 1476, which surrounds the upstream socket conduit
1472. In one possible modification, the retention chamber may be
disposed on one side of the upstream socket conduit 1472. FIG. 71
shows a drain socket 1470A in a modified example. The drain socket
1470A has a projection 1478 that is provided in a neighborhood of
the lower end of the upstream socket conduit 1472, and a retention
chamber 1476 that is disposed on the side facing the projection
1478. In this drain socket 1470A, the flow of cleansing water hits
against the projection 1478 and changes its flow direction to enter
the retention chamber 1476 as shown by the arrows. The drain socket
1470A of the modified example thus attains supply of cleansing
water from the retention chamber 1476, as in the structure of the
thirteenth embodiment discussed above.
[0432] The following describes a fourteenth embodiment. FIG. 72
illustrates a drain socket 2470 in the fourteenth embodiment. As
illustrated, the drain socket 2470 of this embodiment has a socket
main body 2471 for fixation to the floor surface. A socket conduit
2472 is formed inside the socket main body 2471 for leading the
flow of cleansing water to the drain conduit 490. The drain socket
2470 also has a restriction mechanism that narrows and adjusts the
pipeline diameter of the socket conduit 2472. The restriction
mechanism includes a pair of conduit restriction members 2473 that
are arranged in the socket conduit 2472 to face each other, an
actuator 2474 that advances and retreats the conduit restriction
member 2473 in the socket conduit 2472, and a non-illustrated
actuator controller.
[0433] The conduit restriction members 2473 are made of a resilient
material having good water resistance and durability, such as a
rubber or an elastomer, and are fixed water-tightly to a wall 2475
of the socket conduit 2472. The actuator 2474 receives an
instruction output from the actuator controller and advances the
conduit restriction members 2474 in a curved shape into the socket
conduit 2472 or retreats the conduit restriction members 2474
toward the wall of the socket conduit 2472. The actuator controller
detects the terminal stage of the siphon action and drives and
controls the actuator in response to the detection, based on the
elapse of time since a start of cleansing the toilet and a
variation in pressure in the socket conduit 2472.
[0434] When cleansing of the toilet starts in response to an
operation of a non-illustrated handle or button, the actuator
controller gives an advance instruction to the actuator 2474 and
drives the actuator 2474 to advance the conduit restriction members
2473 into the socket conduit 2472 as illustrated. Such movement
narrows the socket conduit 2472 and thereby restricts passage of
the cleansing water through the socket conduit 2472. Under such
restrictions, the siphon action is induced at the tapered end 433b
of the descending pathway 433, while the flow of cleansing water
passes through the socket conduit 2472. This arrangement thus
ensures sufficient suction of reserved water and excrement without
any specific troubles. The narrowed pipeline by the advance of the
conduit restriction members 2473 does not have any troubles in
transport of excrement. The illustrated advance position of the
conduit restriction members 2473 may be set as the position of the
origin of the restriction mechanism. In this case, the above
process of driving the actuator is not required.
[0435] In response to detection of the terminal stage of the siphon
action, for example, based on the elapse of time, the actuator
controller gives a retreat instruction to the actuator 2474 and
drives the actuator 2474 to retreat the conduit restriction members
2473 toward the wall surface of the socket conduit 2472. This
expands the socket conduit 2472 to the original state and relieves
the restriction of passage of cleansing water due to the narrowed
socket conduit 2472, thus increasing the flow rate of cleansing
water passing through the socket conduit 2472 downstream the
restriction mechanism. In the terminal stage of the siphon action,
the occupation area of cleansing water in the socket conduit 2472
downstream the restriction mechanism increases to extend the
effective siphon action and enhance the suction efficiency of the
reserved water in the bowl. This arrangement thus attains the
similar effects to those of the embodiments discussed above.
[0436] The twelfth through the fourteenth embodiments may be
modified as discussed below.
[0437] In the above embodiments, a low tank connecting with the
toilet is applied for the water tank. A diversity of tanks other
than the low tank, for example, corner and front installation tanks
that are connected to the toilet via a wash pipe and located at the
wall of the lavatory, may be applicable for the water tank. In such
cases, the water tank may be a high tank located at a high
position.
[0438] The above embodiments regard application of the technique of
the present invention to the siphon jet action-type toilet 410 or
the siphon action-type toilet. The technique of the present
invention is also applicable to combinations of these toilets with
other devices and members. Examples of such application include
sanitary cleansing appliances with the functional toilet seat to
attain diverse functions like personal cleansing and heating,
lavatory furniture including lavatory cabinets and wash basins, and
lavatories including structural materials, like wall materials,
floor materials, and ceiling materials.
[0439] The following describes a fifteenth embodiment.
[0440] FIG. 73 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a siphon
jet action-type toilet 610 in a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 74 shows the top face of the toilet 610. The toilet
610 makes cleansing water ejected from a jet nozzle 622 discussed
later and thereby induces the siphon action. Respective
constituents of the toilet 610 are discussed below with reference
to FIGS. 73 and 74.
[0441] The toilet 610 includes a pottery toilet body 611, a resin
drain socket 670, and a water tank. The drain socket 670 connects a
drainage port of a drain conduit 630 included in the toilet body
611 with a drain conduit P protruded from the floor surface FL.
[0442] The toilet body 611 has a bowl 620 to receive excrement
therein. A peripheral wall of the bowl 620 has a water-submerged
surface 623 that is in contact with reserved water RW even in a
non-cleansing time of the toilet 610 and an exposed surface 624
that is not in contact with the reserved water RW in the
non-cleansing time of the toilet 610.
[0443] Referring to FIG. 74, the jet nozzle 622 is connected to a
jet supply nozzle 645, which is a water inlet, via a jet supply
conduit 646 curved inside the toilet. The jet nozzle 622 is located
to substantially face a drainage port 625 across a recess 626 as
shown in FIG. 73. Energy of cleansing water is thus transmitted to
a drainage mechanism of and after the drainage port 625 without any
significant waste. This leads to instant induction of the siphon
action.
[0444] The toilet 610 is provided with a supply mechanism for
supplying water to the bowl 620 and a drainage mechanism for
discharging excrement in the bowl 620 toward the drain conduit
P.
[0445] The supply mechanism is discussed first. A cleansing water
supply aperture 640, which is a hole connecting with a water supply
pipe SL of a water tank WT, is provided behind the toilet 610. A
cleansing water supply conduit 641, which defines a flow path of
cleansing water led from the water tank WT, is disposed inside the
toilet 610 along a passage from the cleansing water supply aperture
640 towards the bowl 620. The cleansing water supply conduit 641
divisionally forms a retention space 641a as a space interposed
between the jet supply conduit 646 for ejecting a jet of cleansing
water towards the bowl 620 and a lower end of the water supply pipe
of the water tank WT. In response to each flushing action,
cleansing water fed from the water supply pipe SL is flown into the
retention space 641a and is flown out to rim supply conduits 643
via the jet supply conduit 646 and a branch hole 642 discussed
later.
[0446] Water (cleansing water) kept in the tank is pressed by free
fall and is fed at once to the cleansing water supply conduit 641.
The retention space 641a, the lower oblique division of the
cleansing water supply conduit 641, is filled with water after
start of each flushing action. Part of the cleansing water is
supplied from the branch hole 642 to the rim supply conduits 643.
The flow of cleansing water supplied to the rim supply conduits 643
is ejected from water outlets 644 (see FIG. 74) formed in a rear
face of a rim member 621.
[0447] As shown in FIG. 74, there are five different types of water
outlets 644 having various shapes, that is, a large aperture 644a
of 7 mm in diameter, medium apertures 644b of 4 mm in diameter,
small apertures 644c of 3 mm in diameter, and quasi rectangular
slots 644d and 644e, provided on the rear face of the rim member
621. The water outlets 644 are typically formed in the course of
production of the rim member 621. A distributor with water outlets
may otherwise be attached to the rear face of the rim member
621.
[0448] The cleansing water pressed forward in the toilet 610 is led
into the left and right rim supply conduits 643, is distributed
according to the opening diameters of the water outlets 644 and the
pressing force of cleansing water, and is ejected out of the
respective water outlets 644a through 644e. The cleansing water of
the large pressing force is ejected from the slot 644d, which is
formed on the right back side close to the branch hole 642 in the
rear face of the rim member 21, toward the exposed surface 624 on
the slightly left side in the front portion of the toilet. A large
quantity of the clockwise flow of cleansing water through the rim
supply conduits 643 is ejected from the slot 644e, which is formed
on the slightly right side position in the front portion of the
toilet 610, toward the exposed surface 624 in the rear left portion
of the toilet 610. The cleansing water ejected from the slots 644d
and 644e makes a main stream and gives the clockwise swirling force
to the cleansing water ejected out of the water outlets 644. The
swirling force is transmitted to reserved water RW in the bowl 620.
This makes a clockwise swirl flow of water in the bowl 620.
[0449] The cleansing water reaching the retention space 641a goes
into the jet supply nozzle 645, which is formed in the side wall of
the retention space 641a. This leads to supply of cleansing water
into the jet supply conduit 646. The cleansing water supplied to
the jet supply conduit 646 is jetted out of the jet nozzle 622.
When the retention space 641a is filled with the new supply of
cleansing water, the cleansing water is led to the rim supply
conduits 643 via the branch hole 642 and is ejected out of the
water outlets 644 of the rim.
[0450] The drainage mechanism has the construction discussed below.
As shown in FIG. 73, a drain conduit 630 is formed integrally with
the toilet body 611 to work as a flow path of water and excrement
and is disposed after the drainage port 625, which is formed behind
the recess 626 working as the excrement reservoir. The drain
conduit 630 has a connection pathway 631 that is curved in an
oblique upward direction from the drainage port 625, an ascending
pathway 632 that is extended in the curved direction of the
connection pathway 631 and is then curved in a lateral direction,
and a descending pathway 633 that is curved in the lateral
direction and subsequently in a downward direction. The end of the
descending pathway 633 is connected to the drain conduit P, which
rises upward from the floor surface FL of the lavatory at the
installation place of the toilet, via the resin drain socket
670.
[0451] FIG. 75 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
vicinity of the drain socket 670 of FIG. 73. The drain socket 670
shown in FIG. 75 includes a toilet joint member 671, a connection
conduit 673, a drain conduit joint member 674, and a socket
fixation member 678, which are integrally made of a resin.
[0452] The toilet joint member 671 receives the lower end of the
descending pathway 633 of the drain conduit 630 fitted therein and
is thereby linked with the drain conduit 630. The connection
conduit 673 is extended below the toilet joint member 671, and
receives the drain conduit P fitted therein, so as to be positioned
relative to the drain conduit P. The drain conduit joint member 674
is formed downstream the toilet joint member 671 and inside the
circumference of the connection conduit 673. The drain conduit
joint member 674 is arranged to be concentric with the connection
conduit 673 and functions as an outflow cylindrical member 675 with
a flow outlet 675a on the lower end thereof. The outflow
cylindrical member 675 is inserted in the drain conduit P leading
to sewer and thereby prevents leakage of cleansing water. The
socket fixation member 678 is formed integrally on the outer
circumference of the drain socket 670. The socket fixation member
678 functions to fix the drain socket 670 to the floor surface FL
and has a base extended in the horizontal direction from the lower
end of the outer circumference of the drain socket 670. The drain
socket 670 is fixed to the floor surface FL by screwing the socket
fixation member 678 to the floor surface FL with non-illustrated
bolts.
[0453] The drain socket 670 also has a cleansing water retention
module 680 for inducing the siphon action and a delay module 690
for delaying the flow-out of cleansing water. FIG. 76 is a
perspective view illustrating the partly broken drain socket 670 to
show the details of the vicinity of the cleansing water retention
module 680. Referring to FIG. 76, the cleansing water retention
module 680 has a ring-shaped convex 681 (separation convex)
radially protruded from the inner wall towards the center. The
ring-shaped convex 681 defines a restricted flow path 682 on the
center thereof and forms a slope 683 of an obtuse angle on the
upper face thereof. The ring-shaped convex 681 has a horizontal
length L1 from the inner wall surface. The restricted flow path 682
is narrower than the upstream flow path, while the slope 683
changes the flow direction of cleansing water to form a water film.
The cleansing water retention module 680 thereby ensures instant
induction of the siphon action.
[0454] The delay module 690 is disposed below the ring-shaped
convex 681. The delay module 690 has a guide projection 690 (delay
convex). The guide projection 691 is protruded in a continuous
spiral form, and has a guide groove 692 and a flow path 693 defined
on the center thereof. The guide projection 691 has a horizontal
length L2 from the inner wall surface, and the length L2 is less
than the length L1 of the ring-shaped convex 681. The ring-shaped
convex 681 accordingly hangs over the guide projection 691. Namely,
the ring-shaped convex 681 functions as a cover of the guide
projection 691. The delay module 690 leads the flow of cleansing
water to the flow path 693 when the flow of cleansing water does
not reach the guide projection 691. When the flow of cleansing
water reaches the guide projection 691, on the other hand, the
delay module 690 leads part of cleansing water to the guide groove
692 and makes the part of cleansing water flow down in a spiral
form.
[0455] In the toilet 610 having the construction discussed above,
discharge of sewage and excrement follows a cleansing process
discussed below. Prior to start of a current cleansing action, the
reserved water RW supplied by a previous cleansing action is in the
bowl 620. The reserved water RW includes water kept in the bowl 620
before the drainage port 625 (hereinafter this water is referred to
as the sealing water), water kept in the connection pathway 631 and
the ascending pathway 632 after the drainage port 625 (hereinafter
this water is referred to as the flow path storage water), and
water kept in the lower portion of the retention space 641a and the
jet supply conduit 646 of the toilet 610 (hereinafter this water is
referred to as the jet storage water). The water level WL generally
depends upon the height of a weir 634, which is the highest
position of the lower inner wall of the ascending pathway 632. The
lower portion of the retention space 641a, the jet supply nozzle
645, and the jet supply conduit 646 are located below the weir 634
in the toilet 610 and are filled with cleansing water prior to
start of the cleansing action.
[0456] Under such conditions, a supply of cleansing water from the
water tank WT is first flown into the retention space 641a and
causes the jet storage water in the jet supply conduit 646 to be
ejected via the jet nozzle 622 into the drain conduit 630. The
supply of cleansing water that is fed to the retention space 641a
and reaches its upper position is flown through the branch hole 642
and is jetted out of the water outlets 644.
[0457] The cleansing water jetted into the bowl 620 raises the
water level in the ascending pathway 632 and makes the curved
portion from the ascending pathway 632 to the descending pathway
633 filled with water. The cleansing water then passes through the
descending pathway 633 and is temporarily retained by the cleansing
water retention module 680. There is a pressure difference between
the temporarily retained cleansing water and the reserved water in
the bowl 620. This pressure difference generates a downward pulling
force, which causes the excrement together with the cleansing water
(sanitary sewage) in the ascending pathway 632 and the connection
pathway 631 and the cleansing water (sanitary sewage) in the bowl
620 to be vigorously led into the drain conduit P. This process
induces the siphon action and causes the cleansing water (sanitary
sewage) and excrement in the bowl 620 to be instantly discharged
outside through the drain conduit.
[0458] The flow of cleansing water through the cleansing water
retention module 680 goes to the delay module 690. The functions of
the delay module 690 are discussed below. FIG. 77 shows a
time-based variation in flow rate of cleansing water flown out of
the drainage port in the cleansing process. FIG. 78 shows initial
and middle stages in the cleansing process. FIG. 79 shows a
terminal stage in the cleansing process. In this embodiment, the
behavior of cleansing water by the delay module 690 in the initial
or middle stage of the cleansing process is different from the
behavior in the terminal stage.
[0459] The flow of cleansing water through the cleansing water
retention module 680 in the initial stage (a time interval of t1 to
t2) or the middle stage (a time interval of t2 to t3) of the
cleansing process goes to the delay module 690. At this moment, the
cleansing water in the bowl 620 has a high water level and a large
water head, the flow of cleansing water is restricted by the
cleansing water retention module 680 and goes to the delay module
690 at a high flow velocity. As shown in FIG. 78, the restricted
flow path 682 of the cleansing water retention module 680 is
narrower than the flow path 693 of the delay module 690. The
ring-shaped convex 681 accordingly hangs over the guide projection
691 and prevents the flow of cleansing water from reaching the
guide projection 691 of the delay module 690. In the initial and
middle stages of the cleansing process, the flow of cleansing water
has a high velocity, so that the delay module 690 allows the direct
flow of cleansing water and does not interfere with smooth
drainage.
[0460] In the terminal stage (a time interval of t3 to t4) of the
cleansing process when the flow rate of cleansing water is
decreasing from its peak value, the water head is abruptly reduced
with the decrease in flow rate and thereby lowers the velocity of
the downward flow. As shown in FIG. 79, the circumferential force
of cleansing water becomes relatively greater than the downward
force. The flow of cleansing water accordingly goes to the inner
wall and is flown down in the spiral form by means of the guide
projection 691 of the delay module 690. The cleansing water flows
in the spiral guide groove 692. The spiral flow takes a longer time
than the straight downward flow. In the terminal stage of the
cleansing water, the increased fluidity resistance of the delay
module 690 extends the discharge time of cleansing water. This
arrangement shifts the conventional variation in flow rate shown by
the two-dot chain line to the variation in flow rate shown by the
solid line in the graph of FIG. 77. The discharge time of cleansing
water is accordingly extended from the time point t4 to a time
point t5 in the terminal stage of the cleansing process.
[0461] The flow of cleansing water through the drain conduit 630
quickly discharges excrement in the initial or middle stage of the
cleansing process having the large flow velocity, while being
delayed in the terminal stage of the cleansing process having the
small flow velocity. This arrangement enables even floating
excrement in the bowl 620, which requires a relatively long time
for discharge, to be discharged from the bowl 620 without
failure.
[0462] The same flow rate of cleansing water as the conventional
level slightly lowers the peak but still ensures the sufficient
force required for discharging excrement.
[0463] The cleansing water retention module 680 and the delay
module 690 are provided in the drain socket 670 and are formed
separately from the toilet body 611. Even the cleansing water
retention module 680 and the delay module 690 having complicated
shapes can thus be manufactured readily.
[0464] The fifteenth embodiment discussed above may be modified as
follows:
[0465] (1) The cleansing water retention module 680 and the delay
module 690 may be formed integrally with the toilet made of pottery
by utilizing a plaster or resin mold.
[0466] (2) In the above embodiment, the delay module is the
continuous guide projection in the spiral form. The delay module
is, however, not restricted to this shape, but may be a spiral form
with one or multiple notches or include multiple steps protruded in
the horizontal direction.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0467] The technique of the present invention that efficiently
induces the siphon action for smooth discharge of excrement from a
bowl is favorably applied to a toilet, a drainage device for the
toilet, and the lavatory with such a toilet.
* * * * *