U.S. patent application number 12/279940 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for toilet bowl flushing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to INAX Corporation. Invention is credited to Ken Hirabayashi, Kenichi Ito, Atsushi Itoh, Yasuhiro Kondo, Yasuhiro Shirai, Aki Shirako, Haruo Yamasaki.
Application Number | 20090151063 12/279940 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38437299 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090151063 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shirai; Yasuhiro ; et
al. |
June 18, 2009 |
TOILET BOWL FLUSHING APPARATUS
Abstract
A toilet flushing apparatus for firmly discharging a filth by a
small amount of flush water and by a short period of time and still
having a flush sound. The toilet flushing apparatus includes a
first water supply supplying flush water to a toilet bowl of a
toilet main body, a second water supply additionally supplying the
flush water, a drain flow path communicated with a downstream side
of a water seal portion of the toilet main body, an air sucking
mechanism sucking air from the drain flow path, and a control
apparatus controlling the first and second water supplies and the
air sucking mechanism. The control apparatus produces a siphon
operation by operating the air sucking mechanism continuous to
operate the first water supply and to open an opening/closing valve
through which flush water from the second water supply enters the
toilet bowl, after forming a swirl flow inside the toilet bowl and
before finishing the siphon operation.
Inventors: |
Shirai; Yasuhiro; (Aichi,
JP) ; Shirako; Aki; (Aichi, JP) ; Yamasaki;
Haruo; (Aichi, JP) ; Ito; Kenichi; (Aichi,
JP) ; Kondo; Yasuhiro; (Aichi, JP) ;
Hirabayashi; Ken; (Aichi, JP) ; Itoh; Atsushi;
(Aichi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
INAX Corporation
Aichi
JP
|
Family ID: |
38437299 |
Appl. No.: |
12/279940 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 16, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/052843 |
371 Date: |
December 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/415 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 2201/40 20130101;
E03D 3/10 20130101; E03D 5/10 20130101; E03D 11/08 20130101; E03D
11/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/415 |
International
Class: |
E03D 1/00 20060101
E03D001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 20, 2006 |
JP |
2006-042635 |
Feb 20, 2006 |
JP |
2006-042636 |
Claims
1. A toilet flushing apparatus comprising: first water supply means
for supplying flush water to a toilet bowl of a toilet main body;
second water supply means for additionally supplying flush water to
the toilet bowl in addition to the flush water supplied from the
first water supply means; a drain flow path continuous to a
downstream side of a water seal portion of the toilet main body;
air sucking means for sucking air from the drain flow path; and
control means for controlling the first water supply means, the
second water supply means and the air sucking means in flushing the
toilet main body; wherein the first water supply means is
constituted to be able to supply the flush water from a rear side
of the toilet bowl such that a swirl flow is formed at inside of
the toilet bowl; the second water supply means includes a water
tank for storing the flush water, and transporting means for
transporting the flush water at inside of the water tank to the
toilet bowl by opening an opening/closing valve; and wherein the
control means makes the air sucking means operate to produce a
siphon operation continuous to operating the first water supply
means and makes the opening/closing valve open after forming the
swirl flow and before finishing the siphon operation.
2. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
air sucking means includes a negative pressure generating
apparatus, and a sucking tank partitioned into a first chamber and
a second chamber by an extractable/retractable movable wall;
wherein the first chamber is communicated with the negative
pressure generating apparatus by a sucking pipe and communicated
with an atmosphere by way of an atmosphere open valve; wherein the
second chamber is communicated with the drain flow path by a
communicating path; and wherein the control apparatus controls the
negative pressure generating apparatus and the atmosphere open
valve.
3. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
negative pressure generating apparatus includes an ejector for
generating a negative pressure by passing the flush water, and a
negative pressure tank storing a negative pressure produced by
sucking air at inside thereof by the ejector and communicated with
the first chamber by the sucking pipe.
4. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
flush water delivered from the ejector is stored at the water
tank.
5. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
drain flow path includes a dwell portion dwelled with the flush
water and reducing or nullifying a communication area and the air
sucking means sucks air from between the water seal portion and the
dwell portion.
6. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
drain flow path includes a dwell portion dwelled with the flush
water and reducing or nullifying a communication area and the air
sucking means sucks air from between the water seal portion and the
dwell portion.
7. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
drain flow path includes a dwell portion dwelled with the flush
water and reducing or nullifying a communication area and the air
sucking means sucks air from between the water seal portion and the
dwell portion.
8. The toilet flushing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
drain flow path includes a dwell portion dwelled with the flush
water and reducing or nullifying a communication area and the air
sucking means sucks air from between the water seal portion and the
dwell portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet flushing
apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In a background art, there has been proposed a toilet
flushing apparatus including water supply means for supplying flush
water to a toilet bowl of a toilet main body, a drain flow path
communicated with a downstream side of a water seal portion of the
toilet main body, air sucking means for sucking air from the drain
flow path, and control means for controlling the water supply means
and the air sucking means in flushing of the toilet main body
(Patent References 1 and 2).
[0003] The toilet flushing apparatus described in Patent References
1 and 2 can bring the drain flow path into a full water state by
flush water at an early stage by sucking air of the drain flow
path, and therefore, siphon operation can be produced by a small
amount of flush water.
[0004] Further, in an example of the toilet flushing apparatus
described in Patent Reference 1, the water supply means includes a
water supply pipe for delivering flush water to a rim of the toilet
main body. Further, the air sucking means includes an ejector
(referred to as `aspirator` in Patent Reference 1) provided at a
middle of the water supply pipe. Air sucked from the drain flow
path by the ejector is discharged to the rim of the toilet main
body along with the flush water delivered from the ejector.
[0005] On the other hand, in other example of the toilet flushing
apparatus described in Patent Reference 2, the water supply means
includes a water supply pipe for delivering flush water to a rim of
the toilet main body. Further, the air sucking means includes a
branch pipe branched from the water supply pipe for delivering
flush water to a downward pipe path of the drain flow path and an
ejector provided at a middle of the branch pipe. Air sucked from
the drain flow path by the ejector is discharged to the downward
pipe path of the drain flow path along with flush water delivered
from the ejector.
[0006] Further, there has been proposed a toilet flushing apparatus
including first water supply means for supplying flush water to a
delivery port provided at a lower portion of a toilet bowl of a
toilet main body, and second water supply means provided with a
water tank contiguous to a water seal portion for delivering flush
water stored at inside of the water tank from the delivery port
before finishing siphon operation (Patent Reference 3).
[0007] The toilet flushing apparatus described in Patent Reference
3 can firmly discharge a filth because the filth (evacuation and/or
paper) remaining at inside of the toilet bowl is forced to a drain
flow path by water power of flush water delivered from the delivery
port by the second water supply means.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A-10-96255
Patent Reference 2: JP-A-2002-61262
Patent Reference 3: JP-A-11-264173
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
[0008] However, according to the toilet flushing apparatus
described in Patent References 1 and 2 mentioned above, an amount
of flush water supplied to the toilet bowl is small, and therefore,
the siphon operation is finished at the early stage and there is a
case in which the filth cannot completely be discharged.
Particularly, there is a case in which the filth floating at a
vicinity of a surface of the toilet bowl is stuck to the surface of
the toilet bowl to remain when flush water is discharged to the
drain flow path and flush water at inside of the toilet bowl is
reduced. Further, almost all of flush water at inside of the toilet
bowl is discharged to the drain flow path in one motion by the
strong siphon operation, and therefore, seal breaking sound
produced by making air flow from a side of the toilet bowl to the
drain flow path is large.
[0009] Further, according to the toilet flushing apparatus
described in Patent Reference 3 mentioned above, a large amount of
flush water needs to be supplied to the toilet bowl in order to
produce the siphon operation, and therefore, time is required until
producing the siphon operation.
[0010] The invention has been carried out in view of the actual
situation of the background art and it is a problem thereof to be
resolved to provide a toilet flushing apparatus discharging a filth
in a short period of time and firmly by a small amount of flush
water and having still flush sound.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0011] A toilet flushing apparatus of the invention is
characterized by a toilet flushing apparatus including first water
supply means for supplying flush water to a toilet bowl of a toilet
main body, second water supply means for additionally supplying
flush water to the toilet bowl in addition to the flush water
supplied from the first water supply means, a drain flow path
continuous to a downstream side of a water seal portion of the
toilet main body, air sucking means for sucking air from the drain
flow path, and control means for controlling the first water supply
means, the second water supply means and the air sucking means in
flushing the toilet main body;
[0012] wherein the first water supply means is constituted to be
able to supply the flush water from a rear side of the toilet bowl
such that a swirl flow is formed at inside of the toilet bowl;
[0013] the second water supply means includes a water tank for
storing the flush water, and transporting means for transporting
the flush water at inside of the water tank to the toilet bowl by
opening an opening/closing valve; and
[0014] wherein the control means makes the air sucking means
operate to produce a siphon operation continuous to operating the
first water supply means and makes the opening/closing valve open
after forming the swirl flow and before finishing the siphon
operation.
[0015] According to the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention
constituted in this way, air can be sucked from the drain flow path
by the air sucking means controlled by the control means by an
optimum timing. Further, by controlling to open and close the
opening/closing valve by the control means, the flush water stored
in the water tank can additionally be supplied to the toilet bowl
by an optimum timing. Therefore, the siphon operation can be formed
at an early stage and firmly.
[0016] By forming the swirl flow at inside of the toilet bowl, a
filth is collected to a center of the toilet bowl, and therefore,
the filth is also firmly discharged to the drain flow path along
with the flush water discharged to the drain flow path by the
siphon operation.
[0017] Further, the flush water stored at the water tank is
additionally supplied to the toilet bowl before finishing the
siphon operation, and therefore, a time period of continuing the
siphon operation is prolonged without breaking seal of the water
seal portion and a capability of discharging the filth is promoted.
Further, the filth remaining at inside of the toilet bowl is forced
to be discharged to the drain flow path by water power of the flush
water additionally supplied to the toilet bowl. Further, a time
period is required for discharging the flush water additionally
supplied to the toilet bowl to the drain flow path, and therefore,
the flush water at inside of the toilet bowl is not discharged to
the drain flow path in one motion and large seal breaking sound can
be prevented from being emitted.
[0018] Therefore, the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention
can discharge the filth by a short period of time and firmly by a
small amount of the flush water and make the flush sound still.
[0019] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, the flush
water may be taken out from a lower portion of the water tank to be
transported to the toilet bowl. In this case, bubbles mixed in the
flush water at inside of the water tank are separated and when the
flush water is additionally supplied to the toilet bowl, bubbles
are hardly contained in the flush water. Therefore, strange sound
such as breaking sound produced by breaking air bubbles in being
supplied to the toilet bowl can be prevented from being
emitted.
[0020] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, the
transporting means can be provided on a branch pipe branched from a
water supply pipe of the first water supply means and a jet pump
arranged at inside of the water tank can be adopted. The jet pump
is provided with a structure similar to that of an ejector for
sucking and transporting the flush water stored in the water tank
by a water flow of the flush water flowing at inside of the jet
pump. In this case, the flush water at inside of the water tank and
the flush water flowing at inside of the jet pump are altogether
supplied to the toilet bowl and therefore, an amount of supply
water per unit time is increased. Therefore, the swirl flow at
inside of the toilet bowl becomes strong, the siphon operation is
continued for a long period of time, and therefore, the filth can
further firmly be discharged.
[0021] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, it is
preferable that the air sucking means includes a negative pressure
generating apparatus, and a sucking tank partitioned into a first
chamber and a second chamber by an extractable/retractable movable
wall, the first chamber is communicated with the negative pressure
generating apparatus by a sucking pipe and communicated with an
atmosphere by way of an atmosphere open valve, the second chamber
is communicated with the drain flow path by a communicating path,
and the control apparatus controls the negative pressure generating
apparatus and the atmosphere open valve.
[0022] In this case, when inside of the first chamber is
constituted by a negative pressure by the negative pressure
generating apparatus, the movable wall is moved to a side of the
first chamber, and a volume of the second chamber is increased by a
constant amount. When an inner volume of the sucking tank is
pertinently selected, a constant amount of air is sucked from the
drain flow path, and therefore, the siphon operation can stably be
generated without sucking the flush water including the filth at
inside of the drain flow path to inside of the second chamber.
[0023] Further, the first chamber and the second chamber are
partitioned by the movable wall, only the second chamber is
communicated with the drain flow path, and therefore, the flush
water including the filth, air including an odor or the like of the
drain flow path can be prevented from entering a side of the
negative pressure generating apparatus.
[0024] Further, by recovering inside of the first chamber to an
atmospheric pressure by sucking air from the drain flow path to the
second chamber, thereafter, communicating the first chamber to an
atmosphere by opening the atmosphere open valve, the movable wall
is firmly recovered to an original position and flushing at a next
time can stably be carried out.
[0025] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, it is
preferable that the negative pressure generating apparatus includes
an ejector for generating a negative pressure by passing the flush
water, and a negative pressure tank storing a negative pressure
produced by sucking air at inside thereof by the ejector and
communicated with the first chamber by the sucking pipe.
[0026] In this case, the negative pressure stored at inside of the
negative pressure tank is used, and therefore, the movable wall can
be moved to the side of the first chamber by a short period of time
and air of the drain flow path can be sucked to the second chamber
by a short period of time. Therefore, the flush water flows
powerfully from the toilet bowl, inside of the drain flow path is
brought into a full state by the flush water at an early stage to
produce the siphon operation and a discharge flow is formed at an
early stage.
[0027] Further, by selecting an inner volume of the negative
pressure tank and a pipe diameter of the sucking pipe, a speed of
sucking air from the drain flow path to the second chamber can be
optimized. For example, when the inner volume of the negative
pressure tank is made to be small, the negative pressure at inside
of the negative pressure tank is rapidly weakened, and movement of
the movable wall to the side of the first chamber is retarded, and
therefore, the sucking speed becomes slow. On the other hand, when
the inner volume of the negative pressure tank is increased, the
negative pressure at inside of the negative pressure tank is not
weakened so much, the movement of the movable wall to the side of
the first chamber is accelerated, and therefore, the sucking speed
is accelerated.
[0028] Further, in the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention,
as the negative pressure generating apparatus, a pressure reducing
pump or the like driven by electricity or the like can also be
adopted. In this case, the movable wall can be moved to the side of
the first chamber by operating the pressure reducing pump or the
like. Therefore, when the pressure reducing pump is controlled to
drive, a speed of moving the movable wall can be adjusted and a
speed of sucking air from the drain flow path to the second chamber
can easily be adjusted.
[0029] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, it is
preferable that the flush water delivered from the ejector is
stored at the water tank.
[0030] In this case, the flush water supplied to the ejector is
utilized as additionally supplied flush water, and therefore, the
flush water is effectively utilized.
[0031] In the toilet flushing apparatus of the invention, it is
preferable that the drain flow path is provided with a dwell
portion dwelled with the flush water and reducing or nullifying a
communication area and the air sucking means sucks air from between
the water seal portion and the dwell portion.
[0032] In this case, the drain flow path is difficult to
communicate with the downstream side or blocked by the dwell
portion, and therefore, the air sucking means is difficult to suck
air downstream of the dwell portion and does not suck air of the
downstream side in the best case. In latter case, in other words,
the sucking means can further efficiently suck air from the drain
flow path made to constitute a closed space present between the
water seal portion and the dwell portion. Therefore, the siphon
operation can firmly be produced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
a western style toilet equipment including a toilet flushing
apparatus of an embodiment is brought into a nonflushing state.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
the western style toilet equipment of FIG. 1 is in a toilet bowl
flushing/negative pressure storing stroke.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
the western style toilet equipment of FIG. 1 is in an air sucking
stroke.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
the western style toilet equipment of FIG. 1 is at an initial stage
of a flush water adding stroke.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
the western style toilet equipment of FIG. 1 is at a final stage of
the flush water adding stroke.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an operational state when
the western style toilet equipment of FIG. 1 is in an atmosphere
opening/water covering stroke.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of the
western style toilet equipment including the toilet flushing
apparatus of FIG. 1 through FIG. 6.
[0040] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a control apparatus of
a toilet flushing apparatus of an embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a western style toilet
equipment including a toilet flushing apparatus of other
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS
[0042] 1 . . . toilet main body [0043] 2 . . . toilet bowl [0044] 3
. . . rim [0045] 4 . . . water seal portion [0046] 5 . . . drain
flow path [0047] 6 . . . dwell portion [0048] 7 . . . drain port
[0049] 10 . . . water supply pipe [0050] 20 . . . water tank [0051]
21 . . . ejector [0052] 24 . . . jet pump [0053] 30 . . . negative
pressure tank [0054] 40 . . . sucking tank [0055] 41 . . . first
chamber [0056] 42 . . . second chamber [0057] 43 . . . partitioning
film (movable wall) [0058] 44 . . . communicating path
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0059] An embodiment of the invention will be explained in details
in reference to the drawings as follows.
[0060] As shown by FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, a rim 3 is provided at an
inner periphery of an upper portion of a toilet bowl 2 of a toilet
main body 1 made of porcelain. The toilet bowl 2 is communicated
with a drain port 7 by way of a water seal portion 4, a drain flow
path 5 and a dwell portion 6. The drain flow path 5 goes downward
from a highest portion 4a of the water seal portion 4 to be
communicated with the dwell portion 6. The drain port 7 is
connected to a drain pipe.
[0061] The dwell portion 6 is constituted by a U-like flow path
going around a lower side of a lowest portion 6b of a lower portion
of a pipe wall of the drain flow path 5 to successively reach a
highest portion 6a for overflow. The highest portion 6a of the
dwell portion 6 is slightly higher than the lowest portion 6b.
[0062] A water supply pipe 10 constituting first water supply means
is connected to the rim 3. The water supply pipe 10 includes a main
valve V.sub.1. The toilet main body 1 is constituted by a one turn
water supply system of supplying flush water only to a right side
or a left side of the rim 3 from a rear side of the toilet bowl 2.
Therefore, when flush water is supplied from the water supply pipe
10 to the rim 3, a swirl flow of right turning or left turning is
formed at inside of the toilet bowl 2.
[0063] Pipes 11, 12, 13 are branched from the water supply pipe on
a downstream side of the main valve V.sub.1. A front end of the
pipe 11 is provided with a vacuum breaker 11a.
[0064] The pipe 12 is introduced into a water tank 20 and a front
end thereof is connected to a flow inlet of an ejector 21. A base
end of a pipe 23 is connected to a flow outlet of the ejector 21
and a front end of the pipe 23 is opened to inside of the water
tank 20. An air sucking port provided at a throat portion of the
ejector 21 is connected with a base end of an air sucking pipe 22
including a check valve V.sub.3. A front end of the pipe 22 is
drawn to an outer side of the water tank 20 and connected to a
negative pressure tank 30. An upper portion of the water tank 20 is
provided with a communicating pipe 26 for communicating inside of
the water tank 20 to the atmosphere.
[0065] The check valve V.sub.3 permits air to flow from the
negative pressure tank 30 to the ejector 21 and hampers air from
flowing in a direction opposed thereto. The check valve V.sub.3 is
provided at the outer side of the water tank 20.
[0066] A base end of a sucking pipe 31 including an operating valve
V.sub.4 is connected to the negative pressure tank 30, and a front
end of the sucking pipe 31 is connected to an upper portion of a
sucking tank 40. Inside of the sucking tank 40 is partitioned to a
first chamber 41 on an upper side and a second chamber 42 on a
lower side by a partitioning film 43 constituting a movable wall.
The sucking pipe 31 is connected to the first chamber 41. Further,
the first chamber 41 of the sucking tank 40 is connected with a
base end of an atmosphere open pipe 32 including an atmosphere open
valve V.sub.5, and a front end of the atmosphere open pipe 32 is
opened to the atmosphere. The second chamber 42 of the sucking tank
40 and an upper end portion of the drain flow path 5 are
communicated by way of a communicating path 44.
[0067] A negative pressure generating apparatus is constituted by
the pipe 12, the ejector 21, the air sucking pipe 22 including the
check valve V.sub.3, the negative pressure tank 30 and the sucking
pipe 31 including the operating valve V.sub.4. Further, sucking
means is constituted by the negative pressure generating apparatus,
the sucking tank 40, the atmosphere open pipe 32 including the
atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 and the communicating path 44.
[0068] The pipe 13 includes an opening/closing valve V.sub.2, a
front end of the pipe 13 is introduced to inside of the water tank
20 and is connected to a flow inlet on a lower end side of a jet
pump 24. The jet pump 24 is provided with a structure similar to
that of the ejector 21 for sucking and transporting flush water
stored at inside of the water tank 20 from a water sucking port 24a
provided at a throat portion by a water flow of flush water flowing
at inside of the jet pump 24. The water sucking port 24a is open
into the water tank 20 and located at a lower portion of the water
tank 20.
[0069] A flow outlet of the jet pump 24 is connected with a base
end of a pipe 25 for added flush water and a front end of the pipe
25 is drawn out from the water tank 20 to be connected to the rim
3.
[0070] The main valve V.sub.1, the opening/closing valve V.sub.2,
the operating valve V.sub.4 and the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5
are opening/closing valves and as shown by FIG. 8, the toilet
flushing apparatus is provided with a control apparatus 50 as
controlling means for controlling timings of opening and closing
the respective valves V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.4 and V.sub.5. The
control apparatus 50 opens and closes the respective valves by
electric signals.
[0071] Although not illustrated, the water tank 20, the negative
pressure tank 30, the sucking tank 40, the control apparatus and
the like are contained at inside of a unit case provided at a rear
portion of the toilet main body 1.
[0072] Next, operation of the toilet flushing apparatus will be
explained.
[Nonflushing Time (FIG. 1)]
[0073] In FIG. 7, at nonflush time before time point t.sub.1, the
main valve V.sub.1, the opening/closing valve V.sub.2, the
operating valve V.sub.4 and the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 are
closed. Under the state, the partitioning film 41 at inside of the
sucking tank 40 is brought into contact with a bottom face at
inside of the sucking tank 40 by the atmospheric pressure and a
self weight of the partitioning film 41.
[Toilet Bowl Cleaning/Negative Pressure Storing Stroke (FIG.
2)]
[0074] After evacuation, at time point t.sub.1, the control
apparatus 50 is operated by a user and the main valve V.sub.1 is
opened.
[0075] Then, flush water is supplied from the water supply pipe 10
to the rim 3 and flows down while being swirled along an inner face
of the toilet bowl 2 to form a swirl flow at inside of the toilet
bowl 2. The filth is collected to a center of the toilet bowl 2 by
the swirl flow and paper is disintegrated to be adapted to flush
water and is dispersed in flush water.
[0076] Further, a portion of flush water flowing at inside of the
water supply pipe 10 is stored at inside of the water tank 20 by
passing the pipe 12, the ejector 21 and the pipe 23. By making
flush water flow to inside of the ejector 21, the ejector 21 sucks
air at inside of the negative pressure tank 30 into the water tank
20 by way of the pipe 22 and the check valve V.sub.3. Thereby, a
negative pressure is gradually accumulated at inside of the
negative pressure tank 30.
[Sucking Stroke (FIG. 3)]
[0077] At time point t.sub.2 of FIG. 7, the operating valve V.sub.4
is opened by the control apparatus 50. Thereby, the negative
pressure at inside of the negative pressure tank 30 is transmitted
to the first chamber 41 of the sucking tank 40 by way of the
sucking pipe 31 and the operating valve V.sub.4 and inside of the
first chamber 41 is constituted by the negative pressure. Thereby,
as shown by FIG. 3, the partitioning film 43 at inside of the
sucking tank 40 is pulled up to be brought into contact with a
ceiling face of the sucking tank 40. The operating valve V.sub.4 is
controlled to open and close by the control apparatus 50, and
therefore, air can be sucked from the drain flow path 5 by an
optimum timing.
[0078] The negative pressure accumulated at inside of the negative
pressure tank 30 is used, and therefore, the partitioning film 43
is moved to a side of the first chamber 41 by a short period of
time, and air at inside of the drain flow path 5 can be sucked to
the second chamber 42 by a short period of time. At this occasion,
a water level of inside of the toilet bowl 2 becomes sufficiently
high by supplying water from the water supply pipe 10 and a water
head difference between the water level and the highest portion 4a
of the water seal portion 4 becomes sufficiently large. Therefore,
flush water at inside of the toilet bowl 2 is discharged to the
drain flow path 5 powerfully by an urge force superposed with the
water head difference and the negative pressure at inside of the
drain flow path 5, inside of the drain flow path 5 is brought into
a full water state by flush water at an early stage to produce the
strong siphon operation and a discharge flow is formed at an early
stage by a small amount of flush water.
[0079] The filth collected to the center of the toilet bowl 2 by
the swirl flow formed at inside of the toilet bowl 2 is firmly
discharged to the drain flow path 5 along with flush water
discharged to the drain flow path 5 by the siphon operation.
Further, the water level of flush water at inside of the toilet
bowl 2 is moved down while swirling flush water, the water level of
flush water at inside of the toilet bowl 2 becomes proximate to
height of the lowest portion 2a of the rear portion of the toilet
bowl 2, and therefore, even the heavy filth is firmly discharged
from the water seal portion 4 to the drain flow path along with
flush water.
[0080] The drain flow path 5 is blocked from the downstream side by
the dwell portion 6 and the drain flow path 5 is made to constitute
a closed space present between the water seal portion 4 and the
dwell portion 6. Further, by the sucking tank 40 an inner volume of
which is pertinently selected, a constant air amount is firmly
sucked from the drain flow path 5 made to constitute the closed
space, and therefore, the siphon operation can stably be produced
by a small amount of flush water. Further, flush water including
the filth at inside of the drain flow path 5 is not sucked to
inside of the second chamber 42.
[0081] Inside of the sucking tank 40 is partitioned to the first
chamber 41 and the second chamber 42 by the partitioning film 43,
only the second chamber 42 is communicated with the drain flow path
5, and therefore, flush water including the filth, air including
odor or the like of the drain flow path 5 are firmly prevented from
going to the side of the negative pressure tank 30 or the ejector
21.
[Initial Stage of Flush Water Adding Stroke (FIG. 4)]
[0082] At time point t.sub.3 of FIG. 7, the water level of the
toilet bowl 2 is moved down to a vicinity of the height of the
lowest portion 2a of the rear portion of the toilet bowl 2, and at
that moment, the opening/closing valve V.sub.2 is opened by the
control apparatus 50. Thereby, a portion of flush water at inside
of the water supply pipe 10 is shunted and supplied to the rim 3 by
way of the pipe 13, the jet pump 24 and the pipe 25. At this
occasion, by a water flow of flush water flowing at inside of the
jet pump 24, flush water stored at inside of the water tank 20 is
sucked from the water sucking port 24a of the jet pump 24 and is
supplied to the rim 3 by passing the pipe 25 along with flush water
from the pipe 13. Thereby, water level at inside of the water tank
20 is moved down.
[0083] In this way, before the water level of inside of the toilet
bowl 2 becomes lower than the lowest portion 2a of the rear portion
of the toilet bowl 2, and air flows from the toilet bowl 2 to the
drain flow path 5 to finish the siphon operation, in addition to
flush water supplied from the water supply pipe 10 to the rim 3,
flush water is additionally supplied to the toilet bowl 2 also from
the pipe 25. Therefore, the seal of the water seal portion 4 is not
broken, flush water at inside of the toilet bowl 2 continues
swirling, also the siphon operation is continued, and therefore,
the filth is further firmly discharged.
[0084] Flush water additionally supplied to the toilet bowl 2 is
combined with flush water at inside of the water tank 20 and flush
water flowing to inside of the jet pump 24 and an amount of supply
water per unit time to the toilet bowl 2 becomes large. Therefore,
the swirl flow at inside of the toilet bowl 2 becomes strong, the
siphon operation is continued for a long period of time, and
therefore, the filth can further firmly be discharged. Further, by
water power of flush water additionally supplied to the toilet bowl
2, the filth remaining at inside of the toilet bowl 2 is forced to
be discharged to the drain flow path 5. Further, flush water
additionally supplied to the toilet bowl 2, flush water supplied to
the ejector 21 in the toilet bowl cleaning/negative pressure
storing stroke and sucking stroke which is stored at inside of the
water tank 20 is used, and therefore, flush water is effectively
utilized.
[0085] The opening/closing valve V.sub.2 is controlled to open and
close by the control apparatus 50, and therefore, flush water
stored in the water tank 20 can additionally be supplied to the
toilet bowl 2 by an optimum timing. Therefore, the siphon operation
is firmly formed and the filth is firmly discharged.
[0086] A time period is acquired for discharging flush water
additionally supplied to the toilet bowl 2 to the drain flow path
5, and therefore, flush water at inside of the toilet bowl 2 is not
discharged to the drain flow path 5 in one motion and large seal
breaking sound can be prevented from being emitted.
[0087] Flush water is taken out from the lower portion of the water
tank 20 to be additionally supplied to the toilet bowl 2, and
therefore, bubbles are separated from flash water at inside of the
water tank 20, additionally supplied flush water does not totally
include or hardly includes bubbles. As a result thereof, when
additionally supplied flush water flows to the toilet bowl 2,
strange sound of break sound and the like produced by breaking
bubbles is not emitted.
[Final Stage of Flush Water Adding Stroke (FIG. 5)]
[0088] As shown by FIG. 5, at time point t.sub.4 elapsed from time
point t.sub.3 for some period of time of FIG. 7, the
opening/closing valve V.sub.2 is closed by the control apparatus
50. Thereby, there is not a supply of flush water from the pipe 25
to the rim 3, and air flows from the toilet bowl 2 to the drain
flow path 5 to thereby finish the siphon operation.
[0089] Time point t.sub.4 of FIG. 7 of closing the opening/closing
valve V.sub.2 is immediately before the water level at inside of
the water tank 20 becomes lower than the water sucking port 24a
provided at the throat portion of the jet pump 24. Therefore, air
at inside of the water tank 20 is prevented from being sucked from
the water sucking port 24a, air at inside of the water tank 20 is
prevented from being sucked by the jet pump 24 to emit strange
sound, and flush water entrapped with air is prevented from flowing
out from the rim 3 by passing the pipe 25 to emit strange
sound.
[Atmosphere Opening/Water Covering Stroke (FIG. 6)]
[0090] At time point t.sub.5 of FIG. 7, the operating valve V.sub.4
is closed and the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 is opened by the
control apparatus 50. Thereby, the first chamber 41 at inside of
the sucking tank 40 is recovered to the atmospheric pressure, the
partitioning film 43 is pushed down to the lower side to be brought
into contact with the bottom face at inside of the sucking tank 40
to be recovered to the state of FIG. 1. Thereafter, at time point
t.sub.6 of FIG. 7, the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 is closed by
the control apparatus 50.
[0091] After sucking air from the drain flow path 5 to the second
chamber 42, by recovering the first chamber 41 to the atmospheric
pressure by opening the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5, the
partitioning film 43 is firmly recovered to original position and
flushing at next time can stably be carried out.
[0092] When flush water is stored at inside of the toilet bowl 2
after an elapse of some period of time after finishing the siphon
operation, at time point t.sub.7 of FIG. 7, the main valve V.sub.1
is closed. Thereby, the state at nonflush time is recovered and the
flushing is finished.
[0093] Therefore, the toilet flushing apparatus of the embodiment
can discharge the filth by a short period of time and firmly by a
small amount of flush water and can make flush sound still.
[0094] The embodiment is an example of the invention and the
invention is not limited to the embodiment.
[0095] For example, the lowest portion 6b of the dwell portion 6
may be slightly higher than the highest portion 6a. In this case,
although the height of the water level becomes lower than the
lowest portion 6b even when flush water is stored at inside of the
dwell portion 6, when the negative pressure is applied to the drain
flow path 5 and a large amount of flush water flows to inside of
the dwell portion 6, the water level at inside of the dwell portion
6 is moved up more than the lowest portion 6b, inside of the drain
flow path 5 and the side of the drain port 7 are blocked, and
therefore, the drain flow path 5 between the water seal portion 4
and the dwell portion 6 constitutes a closed space and air can
efficiently be sucked.
[0096] Further, although according to the embodiment, the base end
of the pipe 32 including the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 is
connected to the upper portion of the sucking tank 40, the base end
of the pipe 32 including the atmosphere open valve V.sub.5 may be
connected at a portion of the sucking pipe 31 between the operating
valve V.sub.4 and the sucking tank 40.
[0097] Further, a valve may be provided on an upstream side of the
ejector 21 of the pipe 12, and the opening/closing valve V.sub.2
may be opened by closing the valve in the flush water adding
stroke. In this case, an amount of flush water flowing at inside of
the pipe 13 becomes large, and therefore, flush water at inside of
the water tank 20 is further strongly sucked to be discharged by
the jet pump 24 and water power of the flush water flowing in the
pipe 25 becomes strong.
[0098] Further, the control means may open and close the respective
valves V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.4 and V.sub.5 mechanically. In a
case of opening and closing respective valves mechanically, for
example, a hydraulic turbine may be provided at the water supply
pipe 10, rotation of the hydraulic turbine may be transmitted to a
shaft including a plurality of cams by way of a gear train and the
respective valves of cam drive type may be opened and closed by
rotation of the respective cams.
[0099] Further, as shown by FIG. 9, a pressure reducing pump of an
electrical drive type constituting a load generating apparatus may
be connected to the base end of the sucking pipe 31 and the front
end of the sucking pipe 31 may be connected to the upper portion of
the sucking tank 40. In this case, the partitioning film 43 of the
sucking tank 40 can be pulled up by operating the pressure reducing
pump 35 by controlling the pressure reducing pump 35 by the control
means. Therefore, a speed of pulling up the partitioning film 43
can arbitrarily be adjusted and a speed of sucking air from the
drain flow path 5 can easily be adjusted.
[0100] Further, time point t.sub.4 of FIG. 7 of closing the
opening/closing valve V.sub.2 may be after the water level at
inside of the water tank 20 becomes lower than that of the water
sucking port 24a of the jet pump 24. In this case, almost all of
flush water stored at inside of the water tank 20 can be utilized,
and therefore, the water tank 20 can be downsized.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0101] The invention can be utilized for a water flush type
toilet.
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