Toilet flushing water controlling device

Abstract

A toilet flushing water controlling device is used in conjunction with a reservoir and comprises a funnel part, forming a lower part of the reservoir and having a lower end with an outlet, a sealing ball for closing the outlet, placed in the reservoir, and a flushing device for displacing the sealing ball from the outlet so as to release flushing water from the reservoir. Thereby developing of germs is prevented flushing water is saved.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet flushing water controlling device, particularly to a toilet flushing water controlling device having a funnel and a ball for preventing germs from developing and for saving water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flushing water toilets are an indispensable part of modern life. Previously stored water is released and flushes away waste. For automatic restoring of water and controlling of flushing, a water flushing toilet has a reservoir with a bottom and an outlet, a valve, a floating ball, a guiding tube and a driving device. However, the following shortcomings are encountered:

1. The outlet of water is placed higher than the bottom, so that after flushing water remains which is readily filled with germs and dirt. Cleaning thereof requires using aggressive chemical agents, resulting in adverse effects for the environment.

2. Upon flushing, the whole reservoir is emptied, even if only a small quantity of flushing water is required, leading to waste of water. On the other hand, two- or three-stage flushing devices are complicated and expensive.

3. Conventional two- or three-stage flushing devices require a relatively large volume, so that reservoirs with large cases are needed

4. Conventional two- or three-stage flushing devices are occasionally hard to install in reservoirs, hence require reservoirs of certain shapes, so that aesthetic qualities are compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet flushing water controlling device which prevents the occurrence of germs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet flushing water controlling device which allows to release water in a variable quantity, so as to save water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toilet flushing water controlling device which has a simple structure and requires no large volume.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toilet flushing water controlling device which is easy to install and allows for a variable design of a reservoir for increased aesthetic quality.

For achieving above objects, the present invention comprises a funnel part, forming a lower part of the reservoir and having a lower end with an outlet, a sealing ball for closing the outlet, placed in the reservoir, and a flushing device for displacing the sealing ball from the outlet, so as to release flushing water from the reservoir.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toilet flushing water controlling device.

FIG. 2a is a schematic illustration of the toilet flushing water controlling device of the present invention, with a small outflow of water.

FIG. 2b is a schematic illustration of the toilet flushing water controlling device of the present invention, with a medium outflow of water.

FIG. 2c is a schematic illustration of the toilet flushing water controlling device of the present invention, with a large outflow of water.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the toilet flushing water controlling device of the present invention, with the sealing ball returning to the normal state after full flushing.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toilet flushing water controlling device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the toilet flushing water controlling device of the present invention in the second embodiment, with an outflow of water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a toilet flushing water controlling device 1 which is connected to a flushing tube 12 and a supply pipe 14 and is used in conjunction with a reservoir 20. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the toilet flushing water controlling device 1 comprises: a funnel part 31, forming a lower part of the reservoir 20; an outlet 33 at a lower end of the funnel part 31; a sealing ball 32 for closing the outlet 33; and a flushing device 70, lifting the sealing ball 32 for flushing, so that water in the reservoir 20 is allowed to flow out through the outlet 33. Thereby, accumulating of germs is prevented, water is saved, installation is easy and no large volume is required. In the following, a detailed description is given.

The flushing tube 12 and the supply pipe 14 are known art and will not be further explained. The supply pipe 14 is connected with an inlet 13 of the reservoir 20, providing inflowing water 15.

The funnel part 31 forms a lower part of the reservoir 20 and is preferably integrated therewith. The outlet 33 is placed at the lower end of the funnel part 31. Upon flushing, water flows from the funnel part 31 through the outlet 33 and the flushing tube 12 into a toilet bowl (not shown). The sealing ball 32 is made of material with a density that is lower than the density of water. When submerged in water, the sealing ball 32 is hence pushed upward to separate from the outlet 33.

The outlet 33 is provided with a sealing ring 34 to ensure a tight connection with the sealing ball 32 when the latter stays close to the outlet 33.

Inflow of water through the supply pipe 14 is controlled by an inflow controlling device 50, which is conventional art and comprises: an inlet pipe 51, connecting the supply pipe 14 with the reservoir 20; a valve 52, mounted on a vertically oriented inner end of the inlet pipe 51; an inlet switch 53, controlling the valve 52; and a floating body 54, surrounding and being vertically movable against the inner end of the inlet pipe 51 within a range and driving the inlet switch 53. The floating body 54 floats within the range on water in the reservoir, vertically moving according to a level thereof. When water in the reservoir has reached a closing level, the floating body 54 is placed at a highest point 55, causing the inlet switch 53 to close the valve 52. On the other hand, when water in the reservoir falls below the closing level, the floating body 54 is moves to a position below the highest point 55, causing the inlet switch 53 to open the valve 52.

The reservoir 20, having only the sealing ball 32 as a structural element for controlling outflow, can be designed with a low volume and in variable shapes, enhancing aesthetic qualities.

As shown in FIG. 2a, the flushing device 70 controls a movement of the sealing ball 32. The flushing device 70 comprises: a T-tube 71, shaped like the letter T and having an upper tube segment 73 which is connected with the outlet 33, a lower tube segment 75 which is connected with the flushing tube 12 and a horizontal tube segment 77; a lever 72, having a lever ball 74 forming a middle section thereof, through which an axis of rotation of the lever 72 passes, an outer end 76 with a handle and an inner end 78, which is movable between positions close to the upper tube segment 73 and the lower tube segment 75; a cover 81, screwed on an outer end of the horizontal tube segment 77 and having a hole 83, through which the outer end 76 of the lever 72 passes; a sealing plate 82, sealing a gap between the lever ball 74 and the cover 81; a pushing rod 84, which is vertically oriented and placed inside the upper tube segment 73, having a lower end with a mounting hole 86, through which the inner end 78 of the lever 72 passes; at least three positioning plates 85, through which the pushing rod 84 passes and thereby is stably held, with water flowing between the positioning plates 85; and a helical spring 87, placed between the positioning plates 85 and the outlet 33 and pushing the lever 72 towards a normal position. In the normal position, the sealing ball 32 is held close to the outlet 33, the pushing rod 84 and the inner end 78 of the lever 72 are in a lowermost position, and the outer end 76 of the lever 72 is in a uppermost position. Upon manually pushing down the outer end 76 of the lever 72, the pushing rod 84 is driven upward, displacing the sealing ball from the outlet 33.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the reservoir 20 stores a certain quantity of water. Since water below the sealing ball 32 has a volume that is smaller than half of the volume thereof, buoyancy b1 of the sealing ball 32 is smaller than the weight w thereof, so that the sealing ball 32 will not rise to float on water.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a-2c, various forces determine whether the sealing ball 32 will rest on the outlet 33 or be displaced therefrom. Pushing down the outer end 76 will increase an upward force on the sealing ball 32. A resulting force determines how far the sealing ball 32 will be displaced from the outlet 33 and, accordingly, a flow rate of flushing water passing through the outlet 33. By controlling the resulting force, flow of flushing water is controlled, so that flushing water is used efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 2a, if a relatively small downward force p1 acts on the outer end 76, resulting in an upward force f1 on the sealing ball 32, so that buoyancy b2 of the sealing ball 32 is smaller than the sum of the weight w and force f1, that is, b2<w+f1, the sealing ball 32 will not float, and a small outflow of water through the outlet 33 results. If the force p1 is not applied anymore, the sealing ball 32 sits tightly on the outlet 33 and no water flows out.

As shown in FIG. 2b, if a larger downward force p2 acts on the outer end 76, resulting in an upward force f2 on the sealing ball 32, so that still buoyancy b3 of the sealing ball 32 is smaller than the sum of the weight w and force f2, that is, b3<w+t2, the sealing ball 32 will not float yet, and a medium outflow of water through the outlet 33 results. If the force p2 is not applied anymore, the sealing ball 32 sits tightly on the outlet 33 and no water flows out.

As shown in FIG. 2c, if a relatively large downward force p3 acts on the outer end 76, resulting in an upward force f3 on the sealing ball 32, so that now buoyancy b4 of the sealing ball 32 is larger than the sum of the weight w and force f3, that is, b4>w+f3, the sealing ball 32 will float, and a large outflow of water through the outlet 33 results. Again, if the force p3 is not applied anymore, the sealing ball 32 sits tightly on the outlet 33 and no water flows out.

Referring to FIG. 3, after flushing, the sealing ball 32 returns to the normal position on the outlet 33, guided by the shape of the funnel part 31, and is held thereon by an underpressure caused by outflow of water. Normally, water flows into the reservoir 20 through the supply pipe 14, replenishing the reservoir 20. If no water is supplied, the reservoir 20 stays empty of water, so no germs will develop at a bottom thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the present invention in a second embodiment has a flushing device 90, which is mounted on a top cover 22 of the reservoir 20. The flushing device 90 comprises: a case 91 of cylindrical shape, mounted on a lower side of the top cover 22 and having an upper end with an outer thread 92; a positioning plate 93 at a lower end of the outer thread 92; a lid 94 with a central hole 95, set on a top side of the case 91; a pulling rod 96 with a widened upper end, passing through the central hole 95; a helical spring 97, located inside the case 91 and surrounding the pulling rod 96; a lower plate 98, attached to a lower end of the pulling rod 96 and leaning against the helical spring 97 from below; and a cord 99, connecting the lower end of the pulling rod 96 and the sealing ball 32. As shown in FIG. 5, upon pulling up of the pulling rod 96, the sealing ball 32 is displaced from the outlet 33. As shown in FIG. 4, in a normal state, without any force acting on the pulling rod 96, the sealing ball 32 sits on the outlet 33.

By manual varying of a pulling force on the pulling rod 96, flow of water through the outlet 33 is controlled in the same way as by manual varying of a pushing force on the outer end 76 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A toilet flushing water controlling device, used in conjunction with a reservoir and comprising:

a funnel part, forming a lower part of the reservoir and having a lower end with an outlet;

a sealing ball for closing the outlet, placed in the reservoir and having a density; and

a flushing device for displacing said sealing ball from said outlet, so as to release flushing water from said reservoir.

2. The toilet flushing water controlling device of claim 1, wherein said density of said sealing ball is lower than density of water, so that said sealing ball, if completely submerged in water, will be displaced from said outlet.

3. The toilet flushing water controlling device of claim 1, wherein said sealing ball has a weight w and a volume, when half of said volume of said sealing ball emerges from water, is subject to a buoyancy b1 which is smaller than said weight w.

4. The toilet flushing water controlling device of claim 1, wherein said flushing device is mounted on a top cover of said reservoir and comprises: a case of cylindrical shape, mounted on a lower side of said top cover and having an upper end with an outer thread; a positioning plate at a lower end of said outer thread, a lid with a central hole, set on a top side of said case; a pulling rod with a widened upper end, passing through said central hole; a helical spring, located inside said case and surrounding said pulling rod; a lower plate, attached to a lower end of said pulling rod and leaning against said helical spring from below; and a cord, connecting said lower end of said pulling rod and said sealing ball.

5. The toilet flushing water controlling device of claim 1, wherein said flushing device comprises: a T-tube, shaped like said letter T and having an upper tube segment which is connected with said outlet, a lower tube segment which is connected with said flushing tube and a horizontal tube segment; a lever, having a lever ball forming a middle section thereof, through which an axis of rotation of said lever passes, an outer end with a handle and an inner end, which is movable between positions close to said upper tube segment and said lower tube segment; a cover, screwed on an outer end of said horizontal tube segment and having a hole, through which said outer end of said lever passes; a sealing plate, sealing a gap between said lever ball and said cover; a pushing rod, which is vertically oriented and placed inside said upper tube segment, having a lower end with a mounting hole, through which said inner end of said lever passes; at least three positioning plates, through which said pushing rod passes and thereby is stably held, with water flowing between said positioning plates; and a helical spring, placed between said positioning plates and said outlet and pushing said lever towards a normal position.