ES2566967T3 - Water discharge device that allows simultaneous regulation of a float and an overflow pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

Water discharge device (1) comprising an envelope (14), an overflow tube (2), an evacuation valve (26) adapted to close a water evacuation hole (7) in the closed position and to release said hole (7) in the opening position, a partial discharge float (9) whose position is adjustable with respect to said envelope (14), said partial discharge float (9) state intended to keep in its opening position a said evacuation valve (26) until a desired volume of water is evacuated, said overflow tube (2) comprising an upper part (3) and a lower part (4), the position of the upper part (3) being adjustable with respect to said lower part (4) by sliding the upper part with respect to the lower part, so that the length of the overflow tube (2) is regulated during the installation of said water discharge device (1) , and said overflow tube (2) comprising a surface ie stop that defines the regulation position of the partial discharge float (9) during the installation of said device so that the regulation of the length of the overflow tube (2) and the regulation of the position of the partial discharge float ( 9) are made simultaneously during this installation, characterized in that: the overflow tube (2) comprises a first flange (8a) disposed at its upper end; the overflow tube further comprising, at the level of said first flange, a ring (25) on which a second flange (25a) is arranged, said ring (25) being adapted to slide between two positions with respect to said first flange (8a), the first flange (8a) forming a first surface of said abutment surface of said overflow tube (2) and the second flange (25a) also forming a surface of said abutment surface of said overflow tube ( 2).

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

DESCRIPTION

Water discharge device that allows simultaneous regulation of a float and an overflow pipe

The present invention relates to a water discharge device with adjustable water reserve and, in particular, for a toilet.

The present invention also relates to a simplified regulation procedure of a water discharge device and this in order to precisely empty a part of the water present inside a cistern.

In order to conveniently wash a toilet or any other accessory that requires cleaning by discharging water, it is necessary to provide an adequate amount of water. This quantity is, for example, set by French and European standards between 3 and 4 liters of water for water discharge devices called partial discharge and between 6 and 7.5 liters for water discharge devices called discharge total.

There are download devices with which, in order to regulate the volume that will discharge the partial discharge, it is necessary for an installer to perform two stages manually. First, it must place the discharge overflow tube in order to adjust it according to the desired standard with respect to the level of water inside the tank. In a known way, the overflow tube is connected in its lower part to a water evacuation valve that allows the evacuation of the water present inside the tank. Then, the installer must regulate the partial discharge float, causing it to slide on a rod provided for it and regulating it, usually through a screw, and this in order to also place it with respect to the water level.

These two regulations: the partial discharge float and the overflow tube are therefore independent. However, if they are done poorly, there is a risk that the amount of water evacuated is greater or less than the appropriate amount.

Document DE 100 49 645 describes a toilet water discharge device comprising a valve body of a flow valve that can be lifted by means of a lower float or an upper float in a complete discharge or in a partial discharge respectively, the lower float being held in a fixed way by a magnetic retention force in the partial discharge. This device also comprises a device for holding the valve body, integral with it and arranged so that it rests or is above the upper float.

EP 0 723 050 describes a double discharge water discharge device comprising an overflow tube, a lower total discharge float and an upper partial discharge float, the upper float being able to stop against a crossbar.

Similarly, EP 1 674 623 describes a water discharge device with double discharge according to the preamble of the revindication 1, which comprises an overflow tube along which a lower total discharge float is arranged and an upper partial discharge float, the partial discharge float being regulated by means of grooves and guides that are also used to adjust the length of the overflow pipe (§0036).

The present invention aims to propose a new water discharge device that avoids all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

For this purpose, the invention has as its object a water discharge device according to the invention 1.

The discharge device according to the present invention has the advantage of facilitating the regulation of the overflow tube and the partial discharge float. In fact, the regulation of the overflow tube defines at the same time the regulation of the float.

Advantageously, the partial discharge float is located vertically and has at its upper end a stop adapted to cooperate with the stop surface of said overflow tube.

According to a feature of the invention, said envelope has support means for said overflow tube.

Preferably, said envelope has a rib adapted to cooperate with two legs arranged on said float, so that said float slides with respect to the envelope.

The upper end of the upper part of the overflow tube comprises the flanges and the lower end of the lower part is attached to the evacuation valve.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

Preferably, the lower part of the overflow tube is guided within the envelope.

The present invention also aims at a method of regulating a water discharge device according to the invention by installing said water discharge device inside a water tank of a sanitary according to claim 7.

Advantageously, the length of the overflow tube is adjusted by screwing the upper part into the lower part of said overflow tube.

The invention will be better understood, and other objectives, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will be more clearly shown in the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given only by way of illustration and not limitation, in reference to the attached drawings .

In these drawings:

- Figures 1 to 6 represent a perspective and sectional view of the water discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention in the different stages of regulation and operation;

- figure 7 represents a perspective and sectional view of the upper part of the device of figure 1 in a first position called long;

- Figure 8 represents a perspective and sectional view of the upper part of the device of Figure 1 in a second position called cut.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a water discharge device 1 is shown intended to be inserted into a tank or a sanitary water tank (not shown), such as a toilet. In a known way, the bottom of the tank or the tank is crossed, in its center, by a sudden evacuation hole 7 of water.

As can be seen in these figures, a raised bushing 20, above the evacuation hole 7, an envelope 14, within which, among other elements, there is an overflow tube 2 which allows the excess water present inside the tank to be evacuated, a total discharge float 24 and a partial discharge float 9. This partial discharge float 9 allows a small part of water to be evacuated for partial discharges, while the action of the total discharge float 24 allows a large part of water to be emptied to Total downloads. These floats 24 and 9 evacuate a certain amount of water by means of, in particular, their buoyancy and their location inside said water discharge device 1. A third external float, called a float valve, (not shown) it allows in a known way to refill the water tank after the use of a partial discharge or a total discharge.

The envelope 14 of the water discharge device 1 has a substantially square cylindrical shape. The upper end 15 of the envelope 14 is open so that the overflow tube 2 can protrude with respect thereto, while its lower end 16 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 18 which thus has an internal cavity.

This first sleeve 18 is arranged vertically. The height of the sleeve 18 is of sufficient length so that an evacuation valve 26 formed mainly by a joint 6, as will be seen later, can be hidden during emptying in order to be protected from the water flow .

Between the seal 6 and the upper end of the sleeve 18 is a shock absorber 5. This has a substantially cylindrical shape and also has an internal cavity. In addition, it is adapted to fit inside the inner cavity of the sleeve 18. It has in particular the function of creating a laminar flow of water during a discharge.

A part of the upper end of the sleeve 18 is attached to a partition 17 in the form of a half cylinder (not visible in the figures). This wall 17 serves to limit with the diametrically opposite wall of the envelope 14, the chamber of the total discharge float 24. A radial wall 19 joins the sleeve 18 and the partition 17 and serves as a "cover" for the sleeve 18. This cover , just like the shock absorber 5 and the seal 6 have a hole in its center, so that it receives the lower end of the overflow tube 2. On the other hand, it is this lower end of the overflow tube 2 that forms with the seal 6, the evacuation valve 26.

The envelope 14 is also located vertically inside the water tank so that it is located in front of the drain hole 7. For this purpose, the envelope 14 is provided with the sleeve 20.

The bushing 20 has a first part 20a which is fixed, for example by means of snap fastening, on the sleeve 18. From this first part 20a, the bushing 20 has a second vertical part 20b that joins the first with a third part 20c . The second part 20b, in the form of three distributed feet, raises the envelope 14 and allows a reception space to be formed between the lower part thereof and the evacuation hole 7, in order to receive inside, during a discharge or not, the lower part of sleeve 18, shock absorber 5 and seal 6. The third

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

part 20c rests on the bottom of the tank and has a shape so that it crosses and embraces the contour of the evacuation hole 7, and this in order for the envelope 14 to be attached to the water tank. This part 20c has a seat 20d at the height of the drain hole 7 to receive the gasket 6 of the drain valve 26, thereby fitting the gasket 6 perfectly with the contours of the seat 20d.

The envelope 14 also has along its wall a vertical rib 13 adapted to cooperate with the partial discharge float 9, so that it is also free in translation with respect to the envelope 14.

The water discharge device 1 also comprises the overflow tube 2 as mentioned above.

The overflow tube 2 comprises two parts: a lower part 4 and a movable upper part 3 with respect to the lower part 4. The upper part 3 is in fact adapted to slide or to be screwed, as shown in the figures, in the lower part 4, so that the overflow tube 2 has an adjustable length. On the other hand, the overflow tube 2 is held in place by means of the radial wall 19, the shock absorber 5 and the seal 6.

The lower end of the lower part 4 carries the gasket 6, so that it forms the evacuation valve 26, while the upper end of the upper part 3, that is to say the one not connected to the lower part 4, comprises an enlarged portion 8 .

This widened portion 8 defines a first flange 8a that can form a first abutment surface of the overflow tube 2.

According to Figures 7 and 8, the enlarged portion 8 is surrounded by a ring 25. This ring 25 also comprises, arranged at its lower end, a flange, called second flange 25a, so that it also forms a stop surface of the overflow tube 2. This ring 25 is also adapted to extend along the widened portion 8 of the overflow tube 2 in order to be placed in the so-called short position, in which the flange 8a and the flange 25a are adjacent to so that they both form the abutment surface of the overflow tube 2 (figure 8). The ring 25 can, in a position called long, extend from the lower end of the enlarged portion 8, that is from the first flange 8a (Figure 7). This position can be obtained by making the ring 25 slide down and being guided by one or more rib / groove systems 27 (Figures 7 and 8). In this way, only the flange 25a serves as a stop surface for the overflow tube 2 in this long position. Indeed, in this position, flange 25a is lower than flange 8a.

As indicated below, the location of the overflow surface of the overflow tube 2 serves as a means of regulating both the overflow tube 2 and the partial discharge float 9. In particular its regulation allows the

evacuation of more or less water during partial discharge.

The upward translation of the overflow tube 2 causes the opening of the evacuation valve 26 and its translation downwards causes the closure of the valve 26, the gasket 6 is inserted again on its seat 20d to close the hole 7.

The evacuation valve 26 is said to be closed when the gasket 6 closes the hole 7 and is said to be open

when the hole 7 is released by lifting the overflow pipe that it carries with it on its way to the joint 6. To do this, the

Board 6 is flexible and removable. In addition, the gasket 6 is also perforated in its center, so that it allows the overflow tube 2 and, in particular, the lower end of the lower part 4, to protrude slightly with respect to the gasket 6. As already mentioned , this end of the overflow tube 2 forms with the seal 6, the drain valve 26.

The opening or closing of said valve 26 is linked among other elements to a two-volume system, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, either under the action of a partial discharge float 9 located inside the enclosure 14 , well under the action of a total discharge float 24, for example balancing. The operation of the two systems is well known to the person skilled in the art and will not be explained in detail in the present description.

Here, the partial discharge float 9 has an elongated shape and is located vertically inside the envelope 14, between one of the walls of the overflow tube 2, the inner wall of the envelope 14, and the flange 8, so guide said partial discharge float 9.

This is arranged free in flotation between these different walls. This partial discharge float 9 further comprises two legs 10 that form an internal groove adapted to skirt the rib 13 of the envelope 14. Thus, the partial discharge float 9 is guided and can slide along the rib 13. In addition, the partial discharge float 9 has at its upper end a stop 11. This stop 11 is adapted to abut the flanges 8a or 25a, so that the partial discharge float 9 cooperating with the overflow tube 2 is adapted to keep the drain valve 26 temporarily open and to consequently release the drain hole 7. For this, the partial discharge float 9 has a buoyancy that depends on the part of the water that the user wants to evacuate in Each partial discharge. For example, it can be

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

dimensioned so that it releases 3 l of water. This partial discharge float 9 is in fact adapted to exert a force of Archimedes on the flanges 8a or 25a of the enlarged portion 8 or of the ring 25. This allows to prevent for a short period of time, ie the time to evacuate 3 l of water from the tank, the closing of the evacuation valve 26.

Next, the installation and regulation procedure of the water discharge device 1 inside a tank tank will be described in reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Referring to Figure 1, the discharge device 1 is, first, installed inside a tank that does not contain water. As shown in this figure, the envelope 14 is arranged vertically, the partial discharge float 9, sized to evacuate 3 l of water, rests on the wall 19, the overflow tube 2, the length of which is not yet regulated, is inserted into the second sleeve 17 and the evacuation valve 26 is in the closed position.

In figure 2, the second stage of the installation consists in filling the water tank, up to the desired height. To do this, indexation marks have been previously registered on the internal wall of the tank, so that they can more easily guide the installer of the water discharge device 1. The installer fills the tank, so that it contains between 6 and 7.5 l of water corresponding to the amount of water needed for a total discharge. Through this action, the partial discharge float 9 is carried by the water and rises until it comes into contact with the flange 8a of the widened part 8 of the overflow tube 2 or the flange 25a of the ring 25 according to whether it is arranged in the position Short or in the long position.

The next step (figure 3) consists in regulating the length of the overflow tube 2. For this, it is made to slide and then the upper part 3 of the overflow tube 2 is fixed in its lower part 4, of so that the flanges 8a, 25a are in contact with the surface of the water present inside the reservoir. At the same time as this maneuver, the partial discharge float 9, pushed by the overflow tube 2, is positioned so that a partial discharge volume can be evacuated. If the regulation corresponds to a short position of the ring 25, the partial discharge float 9 is regulated to then evacuate approximately 3 l of water. If the regulation corresponds to a long position of the ring 25, the partial discharge float 9 is regulated to then evacuate a greater amount of water, approximately between 3.25 and 4 l. This is explained by the fact that the partial discharge float 9 is arranged lower when the ring 25 is in the long position than when the ring 25 is in the short position, because the flange 25a is located lower than 8a flange In this position, the float that always has a buoyancy so that it evacuates approximately 3 l of water, will necessarily remain more active time since it exerts a greater force than before.

In Figure 4, when the installer or a user then activates the partial discharge, the valve 26 is to be lifted thereby releasing a part of the water present inside the reservoir. During this maneuver, the valve 26 will be lifted, through a mechanism known to the person skilled in the art, and kept in the open position by means of the action of the partial discharge float 9 on the flange 8a and / or 25a of the overflow tube 2. The partial discharge float 9 will in effect exert an Archimedes force on the overflow tube 2 so that the evacuation valve 26 is kept open so as to release the desired amount of partial discharge water . Then, when this amount is evacuated, the force or thrust of the partial discharge float 9 will be insufficient and will no longer oppose that of the overflow tube 2 and the water, so that the overflow tube 2 will drag down to the partial discharge float 9 and to the evacuation valve 26, causing it to close over the evacuation orifice 7 (figure 5).

Finally, in a known way, the float valve will fill the tank, so that it has enough water again for a partial discharge or a total discharge (Figure 6).

The present device has the advantage of facilitating the regulation of the overflow tube 2 and the partial discharge float 9 as this is represented in the embodiment as described. The regulation of these two elements is now done simultaneously and precisely.

Although the invention has been described in relation to a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not in any way limited and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the described means as well as their combinations if they fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

Claims (8)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 1. Water discharge device (1) comprising an envelope (14), an overflow tube (2), an evacuation valve (26) adapted to close a water evacuation hole (7) in the closed position and to release said hole (7) in the opening position, a partial discharge float (9) whose position is adjustable with respect to said envelope (14), said partial discharge float (9) state intended to keep in its position of opening said evacuation valve (26) until a desired volume of water is evacuated, said overflow tube (2) comprising an upper part (3) and a lower part (4), the position of the upper part being adjustable ( 3) with respect to said lower part (4) by sliding the upper part with respect to the lower part, so that the length of the overflow tube (2) is regulated during the installation of said water discharge device ( 1), and said overflow tube (2) comprising a top surface e defining the position of regulation of the partial discharge float (9) during the installation of said device so that the regulation of the length of the overflow tube (2) and the regulation of the position of the partial discharge float (9) They are done simultaneously during this installation, characterized in that: the overflow tube (2) comprises a first flange (8a) disposed at its upper end; the overflow tube further comprising, at the level of said first flange, a ring (25) on which a second flange (25a) is arranged, said ring (25) being adapted to slide between two positions with respect to said first flange (8a), the first flange (8a) forming a first surface of said abutment surface of said overflow tube (2) and the second flange (25a) also forming a surface of said abutment surface of said overflow tube ( 2). 2. Water discharge device according to the preceding claim, wherein the partial discharge float (9) is located vertically and has at its upper end a stop (11) adapted to cooperate with the stop surface of the overflow (2). 3. Water discharge device according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein said envelope (14) has support means (5, 6, 18, 19) of said overflow tube (2). 4. Water discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said envelope (14) has a rib (13) adapted to cooperate with two legs (10) arranged on said partial discharge float (9) with so that said float (9) slides with respect to the envelope (14). 5. Water discharge device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper end of the upper part (3) of the overflow pipe (2) comprises the flange (8a) and the lower end of the lower part (4) is attached to the evacuation valve (26). 6. Water discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower part (4) of the overflow tube (2) is guided by the envelope (14). 7. Procedure for regulating a water discharge device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 during the installation of said water discharge device (1) inside a water tank of a sanitary, characterized by which includes the stages that consist of: - placing the ring (25) in one of the two positions with respect to the first flange (8a), in order to define the position of the stop surface of the overflow pipe (2), - fill the water tank to a desired height, so that the float (9) rises below the top surface of the overflow pipe (2); - causing the upper part (3) of the overflow tube (2) to slide to the lower part (4) to adjust the length of said overflow tube (2), so that its stop surface is in contact with the water surface present inside the tank. 8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the length of the overflow tube (2) is adjusted by screwing the upper part (3) into the lower part (4) of said overflow tube (2).