ES2606785T3 - Water discharge drive device - Google Patents

Abstract

Water discharge actuation mechanism comprising a housing (1), a plate (20) that can swing between a rest position and at least one actuation position, the plate comprising a central bearing (21), a first side bearing (22a) and a second lateral bearing (22b), the central bearing (21) and the first and second lateral bearings (22a, 22b) are adapted to always be in displacement with respect to the housing (1) during the movement of the plate (20) between the rest position and the at least one driving position characterized in that the central bearing (21) can be laterally deflected during the movement of the plate between the resting position and the at least one driving position , the plate being in the resting position mounted on the housing in a substantially horizontal position, in which one (22a, 22b) of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, is adapted to follow a movement of tr substantially rectilinear isolation, and the other (22b, 22a) of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, is adapted to follow a substantially horizontal rectilinear translation movement and a substantially vertical translation movement, following the first bearing and the second bearing a simultaneous translation movement during the movement of the plate (20) between the rest position and the at least one actuation position.

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

DESCRIPTION

Water discharge drive device

The present invention relates to a sanitary drive device and, more particularly, to a water discharge drive device. More precisely, the present invention relates to a device with double scales for water discharge.

In order to reduce water consumption, sanitary actuation devices have been developed in order to allow the adjustment of the volume of water consumed for the discharge of water, for example emptying the tank in its entirety and thus activating a large water discharge, or to empty the tank in part and thus trigger a small water discharge. US 2009/089922 discloses a water discharge drive mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1.

An objective of the invention is to propose a drive device for sanitary, which is simple to assemble. Another objective of the invention is to propose a double-scale button-type drive device, with limited vertical displacement of the unsolicited end.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 1. The water discharge drive mechanism comprises a box, a plate that can swing between a rest position and at least one position of actuation, the plate comprising a central bearing, a first lateral bearing and a second lateral bearing, the central bearing and the first lateral bearing and the second lateral bearing being always in displacement with respect to the case during the movement of the plate between the position at rest and the at least one drive position, the central bearing being able to deviate laterally during the movement of the plate between the rest position and the at least one drive position.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the central bearing can be offset laterally during the movement of the plate between the rest position and the at least one driving position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the central bearing and the first lateral bearing and the second lateral bearing follow at least one translational movement during the movement of the plate between the resting position and the at least one driving position.

One of the two side bearings, the first or the second, can follow a translation movement

substantially rectilinear, and the other of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, can follow a substantially horizontal rectilinear translation movement and a substantially vertical translation movement.

One of the two side bearings, the first or the second, can follow a translation movement

substantially rectilinear, and the other of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, can follow a substantially horizontal rectilinear translation movement and a substantially vertical translation movement.

In one embodiment, the box comprises means for guiding the plate between the rest position and the

At least one drive position. The guiding means may comprise at least one prepared hole.

in at least one side wall, inserting at least a part of one of the two side bearings, first and second, into said at least one hole.

Advantageously, said at least one hole comprises a lateral guide section and a guide section towards the bottom.

According to one aspect of the invention, the lateral guide section is substantially horizontal and the bottom guided section is oriented towards the bottom of the box, substantially vertical. According to another aspect of the invention, the lateral guide section is substantially horizontal and the bottom-guided section is oriented towards the bottom of the box, substantially inclined with respect to the vertical.

According to one aspect of the invention, the plate can swing between a rest position and a first drive position and a second drive position, the box comprising a first section and a second lateral guidance section and a first section and a second section of guidance to the bottom.

Advantageously, the first section and the second section leading to the bottom have different lengths.

According to another aspect of the invention, locking means are provided to stop the plate in the first position and in the second actuation position.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

According to one aspect of the invention, the box comprises two opposite side walls. The guiding means can be advantageously provided on two opposite side walls of the box.

According to another aspect of the invention, the box forms a closed-wall parallelepiped, which allows a good rigidity to be obtained.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly shown by reading the description of several currently preferred embodiments, given by way of example only, and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1A represents an overall view of a sanitary system with a drive device according to an aspect of the present invention;

- Figure 1B represents a top view of a plate 20 usable with the drive device of Figure 1A;

- Figures 2A to 2C represent a side view of the drive device of Figure 1, at different stages of the drive, according to an aspect of the present invention;

- Figure 3 illustrates a side view of another drive device according to an aspect of the present invention;

- Figure 4 also illustrates another side view of another drive device according to another aspect of the invention;

- Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a drive device according to another aspect of the invention.

In the figures, the identical elements are identified with the same reference numbers.

Figure 1A illustrates a sanitary system with a drive device according to a first aspect of the present invention:

The system comprises a support box 1 and a drive device, fixed, movably, on the support box 1.

The support box 1 comprises a bottom wall 11 and four side walls 12, which extend substantially to the right of the bottom wall 11.

The actuating device comprises a plate 20 mounted mobile on the support box 1, substantially facing the bottom wall 11. The plate 20 is mounted mobile on a central button 30, and the plate 20 is adapted to allow the user to operate one or the other between a large water discharge or a small water discharge of a discharge mechanism.

The plate 20 is provided to move or toggle between a rest position, in which the plate 20 is substantially in the lid position of the support box 1, and a first drive position or a second drive position, which it activates one or the other of the water discharges, large or small. For this, the user can press, on the plate 20, on either side of the central button 30.

At least one spring 5 is provided, to request the plate 20 towards its resting position. The spring 5 can be integrated in the central button 30, as illustrated in Figure 1. In another case, two or more springs can be provided to cooperate on both sides of the middle section, such as with the ends of the plate 20 and bring the plate 20 to the rest position.

The central button 30 is substantially in the central position of the support box 1. The central button 30 extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the support box 1, and along the entire height of the side walls 12.

The central button 30 and the bottom wall 11 form a reference system, which has a first axis X1, longitudinal, corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the central button, a second axis X2, transverse, located in the plane of the wall of bottom 11 and passing through the central button 20, substantially orthogonal to the first axis X1, and a third axis X3, located in the plane of the bottom wall 11 and passing through the central button 30, substantially orthogonal to the first axis X1 and to the second axis X2. In the figures, the first longitudinal axis X1 is substantially vertical, the second transverse axis X2 is substantially oriented from left to right, the third axis X3 is substantially oriented from front to back. Of course, these orientations are given by way of example only and can be modified according to the position of the box.

As illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B, the plate 20 comprises a plate body 20a with a central bearing 21 and at least one first bearing and a second bearing 22a, 22b opposite. More precisely, the central bearing 21 has a bearing surface 210 in contact with the central button 30. The first bearing 22a and the second bearing 22b extend away at two opposite ends of the plate body 20a, and have orientations

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

substantially parallel.

For example, in the figures, the first opposite bearing and the second bearing 22a, 22b, are left and right bearings, respectively, which extend respectively at the left end and at the right end of the plate 20. Of course, this Orientation is given for illustrative purposes only, and the bearings may also be a front bearing and a rear bearing, for example, or have any other respective orientation.

A first hole (left) and a second (right) guide hole 32a, 32b are provided in at least one of the side walls 12, front and / or rear in the figures, to cooperate with the bearings 22a, 22b. The first hole and the second guide hole 32a, 32b are provided to receive and guide respectively at least one of the ends 23a, 23b, front and / or rear in the figures, the first bearing 22a (left) and the second bearing 22b (straight).

The first (left) hole and the second (right) guide hole 32a, 32b each comprise a lateral or offset guide section 33a, 33b, and a guide section towards the bottom of the box 34a, 34b, in the prolongation of the run-off sections 33a, 33b. The bottom guide sections 34a, 34b are respectively located at the outer ends of at least one of the side walls 12a, front and rear.

As shown in the figures and in the operating position of the drive device, the guide sections towards the bottom of the box 34a, 34b are downward guide sections.

The lateral guide section 33a, 33b is formed at the height of the upper part of the side, front and / or rear wall. The lateral guide section 33a, 33b, is substantially horizontal, in the operating position of the drive device. The bottom guide section 34a, 34b is formed at the outer ends of the at least one side wall 12, front and / or rear.

In Figure 1A, the bottom guide section 34a, 34b is substantially vertical. However, other configurations are possible, such as those seen in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 illustrates another drive device according to an aspect of the present invention, and Figure 4 also illustrates another drive device according to with another aspect of the invention.

The drive devices of Figures 3 and 4 differ essentially from the drive device as illustrated in Figures 1A and 2A at 2C by the configuration of the guide holes.

More precisely, the drive device illustrated in Figure 3 comprises a first (left) hole and a second (right) guide hole 332a, 332b, in at least one of the side walls 12, front and / or rear, to cooperate with bearings 22a, 22b. The first (left) hole and the second (right) guide hole 332a, 332b each comprise a side or offset guide section 333a, 333b, and a bottom guide section 334a, 334b, in the extension of the run-off sections 333a, 333b. In Figure 3, the bottom guide section 334a, 334b is substantially inclined towards the center of the side wall 12.

Similarly, the drive device illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a first (left) hole and a second (right) guide hole 432a, 432b, in at least one of the side walls 12, front and / or rear, for Cooperate with bearings 22a, 22b. The first (left) hole and the second (right) guide hole 432a, 432b each comprise a side or offset run section 433a, 433b, and a bottom guide section 434a, 434b, in the extension of the run-off sections 433a, 433b. In Figure 4, the guide section towards the bottom 434a, 434b is inclined towards the center of the side wall 12.

The operation of the drive device is explained in reference to Figures 2A to 2C.

When the plate 20 is in the rest position, as illustrated in Figure 2A, the central bearing 21 of the plate 20 is substantially in the central position on the central push button 30, substantially aligned on the first axis X1.

When a user wishes to use the water discharge, the user can press on the plate 20, on one side or the other of the central button 30, according to the water discharge mechanism that the user wishes to operate. Marks on the plate 20 may allow indicating which is the small or large, activated water discharge mechanism associated with each side of the plate 20.

When the user presses on the plate, substantially to one side or the other of the central push-button 30, the bearings 22a, 22b slide into the guide holes 32a, 32b. As illustrated in Figures 2B and 2C, the user presses to the right to move the plate 20 to the drive position.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

More precisely, in a first movement of the plate 20, the first bearing 22a (left) and the second bearing 22b (right), slide into the respective lateral guide sections of the guide holes, moving from the side in the pressure is made, for example to the right as illustrated in Figure 2B. In this first movement, the central bearing 21 also deviates to the right, on the central button 30. Thus, the central bearing is no longer aligned on the first longitudinal axis X1.

At the end of this first movement, the second bearing 22b (right) abuts against the outer lateral end of the lateral guide section 33b in which the end 23b of the second bearing 22b (right) is inserted.

In a second movement of the plate 20, the second bearing 22b (right) swings in the guide section towards the bottom 34b. The first bearing 22a (left) continues to slide, to the right, in the substantially horizontal lateral guide section 33a of the lateral guide hole 32a with which it cooperates. The first bearing 22a (left) also rotates on itself, in order to allow the second bearing 22b (right) to move towards the bottom of the case.

At the end of this second movement, the second bearing 22b (right) abuts against the lower end of the guide section towards the bottom 34b in which the end 23b of the second bearing 22b (right) is inserted.

Thus, during a pressure on the right of the push button and the inclination of the plate 20 from the rest position, the second bearing 22b (right) follows a first substantially horizontal translation movement, substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2, to the right, followed by a second movement towards the bottom, substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis X1. The translation towards the bottom is substantially vertical in the configuration of the guide holes of Figure 2 and in the operating position of the drive device. The first bearing 22a (left) essentially follows a substantially horizontal translation movement, to the right, that is to say substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2, and can also rotate on itself to allow the bearing towards the bottom of the second bearing housing 22b (left).

The central bearing 21 follows a movement of translation to the right, that is to say that the central bearing 21 is offset laterally with respect to the first longitudinal axis X1, thereby losing alignment with the first longitudinal axis X1 as it deviates laterally with respect to this , followed by a translation movement towards the bottom of the case, associated with the second substantially vertical translation movement of the second bearing 22 b.

Similarly, when the user presses on the push button on the left side, the first bearing 22a (left) experiences a first substantially horizontal, to the left, translation movement substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2, followed by a second movement of substantially vertical translation, towards the bottom of the box. The second bearing 22b (right) essentially undergoes a substantially horizontal, to the left, translation movement substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2. The central bearing 21 follows a translational movement to the left, that is substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2, that is to say that the central bearing 21 is laterally offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis X1, followed by a translational movement towards the bottom of the housing, associated with the second substantially vertical translation movement of the first bearing 22a.

The operation of the plate is described in reference to the figures, that is to say with the first and second bearing opposite 22a, 22b, which are left and right bearings, respectively, which extend respectively at the left end and the right end. of the plate 20. The movement of translation of the plate to the left or to the right in this orientation is a movement with a component along the second transverse axis X2. Of course, this orientation is given by way of illustration only, and the bearings can also be front and rear bearings, for example, the first movement of the plate being therefore a movement with a component along the third axis X3 , or any other respective orientation. Similarly, horizontal and vertical orientations are given for illustrative purposes only, in reference to the illustrated figures. The respective orientations may vary with the positioning of the box.

In this way, the person skilled in the art understands that the plate scale is in fact secured by translational movements, the bearings forming a cam. The person skilled in the art will understand that the first bearing and the second bearing follow a simultaneous movement of movement when the plate is tilted, substantially parallel to the second transverse axis X2. In addition, the plate body 20a, including the central bearing and the first lateral bearing and the second lateral bearing, is always in displacement with respect to the case 1 while the plate is tilted between the rest position and the at least one position of drive

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the translational movements of the first bearing 22a and the second bearing 22b are substantially horizontal and vertical translational movements. However, some movements of translation towards the bottom may not be substantially vertical but inclined with respect to the vertical, as in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4 in which the holes for guiding towards the bottom are inclined with respect to the vertical

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

In addition, other configurations are possible, with the plate body 20a, including the central bearing and the first lateral bearing and the second lateral bearing, always in displacement with respect to the box 1 while the plate is tilted between the rest position and the At least one drive position. For example, the guide holes may be inclined with respect to the horizontal and the vertical, forming substantially an inverted V, which thus leads to rectilinear, upward and downward translational movements.

Finally, if the user presses in the center of the plate 20, at the height of the central button 30, the plate 20 experiences a general movement towards the bottom only, without center bearing offset 1. The movement of the bearings 22a, 22b it is locked, butting the respective ends 23a, 23b against the walls of the lateral guide sections 33a, 33b in which the ends 23a, 23b are inserted. Therefore, the movement of the plate 20 is blocked.

Figure 5 illustrates another drive device according to another aspect of the present invention. The drive device of Figure 5 differs essentially from the drive devices illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 by the configuration of the guide holes.

More precisely, the drive device illustrated in Figure 5 comprises a first (left) hole and a second (right) guide hole 532a, 532b, in at least one of the side walls 12, front and / or rear, to cooperate with bearings 22a, 22b. The first (left) hole and the second (right) guide hole 532a, 532b each comprise a side or offset guide section 533a, 533b, and a bottom guide section 534a, 534b, in the extension of the run-off sections 533a, 533b. In Figure 5, the guide sections towards the bottom 534a, 534b have different lengths.

The person skilled in the art will understand that the length of the guide section towards the bottom makes it possible to adjust the travel of the plate 20. By providing different lengths of holes on both sides of the plate 20, it is possible to provide advantageously the operation of a volume of water more or less important for the discharge of water. In other words, locking means can be provided to stop the movement of the plate 20.

The illustrated box comprises four side walls. However, other configurations are possible, for example a box comprising two side walls provided with guide holes, for guiding the plate, and one or two open sides can also be considered.

Advantageously, the drive device allows one side of the plate to be requested, with a limited vertical displacement of the unsolicited end.

Claims (12)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 1. Water discharge drive mechanism comprising a box (1), a plate (20) that can swing between a resting position and at least one driving position, the plate comprising a central bearing (21), a first lateral bearing (22a) and a second lateral bearing (22b), the central bearing (21) and the first and second side bearings (22a, 22b) are adapted to always be in displacement with respect to the housing (1) during the movement of the plate (20) between the rest position and the at least one drive position characterized in that the central bearing (21) can be laterally deflected during the movement of the plate between the rest position and the at least one driving position, the plate being in the rest position mounted on the box in a substantially horizontal position , in which one (22a, 22b) of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, is adapted to follow a substantially rectilinear translation movement, and the other (22b, 22a) of the two lateral bearings, the first or the second, is adapted to follow a substantially horizontal rectilinear translation movement and a substantially vertical translation movement, the first bearing and the second bearing following a simultaneous translation movement during the movement of the plate (20) between the resting position and the at least one drive position. 2. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 1, the central bearing (21) and the first and second lateral bearings (22a, 22b) are adapted to follow at least one translation movement during the movement of the plate between the rest position and the at least one drive position. 3. Water discharge drive mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, the box comprising guiding means (32a, 32b) of the plate between the rest position and the at least one drive position. 4. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 3, the guiding means comprising at least one hole (32a, 32b) prepared in at least one side wall, inserting at least a part of one of the two side bearings , the first or the second, within said at least one hole (32a, 32b). 5. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 4, said at least one orifice (32a, 32b) comprising a lateral guide section (33a, 33b) and a bottom guide section (34a, 34b) the box having a bottom wall and the guide section towards the bottom being adapted to guide the bearing end inserted into said at least one hole towards the bottom wall of the box. 6. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 5, the plate being in the rest position in a substantially horizontal position, the lateral guide section (33a, 33b) being substantially horizontal and the guide section being towards the bottom (34a, 34b), oriented towards the bottom of the box, substantially vertical. 7. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 6, the plate being in the rest position in a substantially horizontal position, the lateral guide section (33a, 33b) being substantially horizontal and the guide section being towards the bottom (34a, 34b), oriented towards the bottom of the box, substantially inclined with respect to the vertical. 8. Water discharge drive mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 7, the plate (20) being able to swing between a rest position and a first drive position and a second drive position, the box comprising a first section and a second section of lateral guidance (33a, 33b) and a first section and a second section of guidance towards the bottom (34a, 34b) adapted for guiding towards the bottom wall of the box. 9. Water discharge drive mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the first section and the second section leading to the bottom (534a, 534b) are of different lengths and / or in which locking means They are intended to stop the plate in the first position and in the second drive position. 10. Water discharge drive mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, the box comprising two opposite side walls. 11. Water discharge drive mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, the case forming a closed-wall parallelepiped. 12. Tank comprising a drive mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 11.