Abstract: An apparatus for washing hands may have a chamber having a water outlet and a vessel at least partly in the chamber. An axle extending into the chamber is configured to attach to the vessel such that the vessel rotates relative to the axle to pour water out of the vessel and into the chamber. The vessel has a valve mechanism configured to close a valve and thereby block further entry of water into the vessel when a water level in the vessel reaches a certain level, for example when it exerts an upward force on a float. A water inlet delivers water to or into the vessel through a vessel wall to the valve and is configured to allow a constant flow of water into the vessel until the water inlet is closed by the valve mechanism. In some embodiments without a chamber, water drains external to the apparatus.

Abstract: It is provided a plant infiltration device for infiltrating plants with an inoculum and method of using same, the device comprising a frame having one or more tray racks adapted for receiving at least one tray of plants to be infiltrated; an automated manipulation mechanism mounted to the frame and operable to displace the plant trays within the device; a plurality of inoculum reservoirs mounted to the frame and containing one or more inoculum fluids; an infiltration tank mounted to the frame and within which the plant trays are received when disposed in the infiltration position; and a vacuum generating device in communication with the infiltration tank to apply a negative pressure within the infiltration tank, thereby opening pores of the plant leaves immersed in the inoculum within the infiltration tank and causing the inoculum fluid to infiltrate into the plant leaves.

Abstract: A tank insert for converting a conventional flush toilet into a flapperless, dump bucket-style toilet. The tank insert is sized and shaped to be snugly received within a water tank of the toilet, and includes a water reservoir pivotably received within a catch basin. The water reservoir is filled by the toilets water valve and the toilet's handle actuates the water reservoir to flush the toilet. Upon actuation, water within the water reservoir is discharged into the catch basin, and from there into the toilet bowl, which is effectively cleared.

Abstract: A cistern assembly for a flush toilet includes a cistern housing including a cistern lid and a cistern base, a cistern member pivotally attached within the cistern housing, and an actuator to pivot the cistern member relative to the cistern housing to discharge the stored water. The cistern member has a base wall that forms a chamber to store the water and a passageway to discharge the water from the chamber, the passageway has an internal inlet and a cistern outlet and is shaped to siphon water through the passageway. The actuator tilts the cistern member to actuate discharge of water through the passageway so that when the cistern member is pivoted and the passageway is moved below the water level of the stored water of the chamber, water is drawn through the passageway to the cistern outlet until air within the chamber enters the passageway preventing further water from being drawn into the passageway.

Abstract: A flush mechanism for use in a urinal. The flush mechanism includes a flush reservoir pivotally mounted within a flush frame. The flush mechanism receives water from an inlet above the flush reservoir. The flush reservoir is pivotable from a fill position to a flush position whereby the water is dispensed to a manifold within the urinal for flushing of the urinal. The flow of water into the flush reservoir and the actuation of the flush reservoir may be directed by a controller.

Abstract: A dump bucket toilet that enables the construction of a toilet that has a low profile and that avoids splashing of water. A barrier (90) lies over much of the first side portion of the bucket to prevent the very rapid discharge of water from the bucket into the surrounding tank when the bucket is tipped, but to instead allow water to be discharged through an opening (92) of moderate size. This avoids splashing and keeps the bucket in it dump position for a few seconds to avoid the bucket scooping up water at the bottom of the tank. A return wall (120) at the bottom of the middle of the tank retains water at a second side portion of the tipped bucket to urge the bucket to tilt back to the filled position.

Abstract: A dual flush water conservation toilet includes separate fill tanks in a toilet tank which pivot to deposit water into a plenum chamber in the toilet tank. The fill tanks are selectively pivoted to deposit different quantities of water for flushing.

Abstract: A dump bucket apparatus is described for use in a toilet of conventional shape and appearance, which is of simple construction and operation. The apparatus includes a bucket (50) that lies in a conventional tank (44) of long lateral (L) length and short front-to-rear depth, wherein the tank lies on the rear portion (40) of a toilet bowl part (20). Each end of the tank has a hole (122), and a bearing (124) extends through the hole and is fixed thereat to the tank. At least one end of the bucket is fixed to a trunnion (122) that extends through the bearing and that is fixed to a lever (64) lying immediately outside a tank end wall (100), with pivoting of the lever resulting in pivoting of the bucket. A deflector (82) lies at the bottom of the tank to one side of the water exit hole to minimize splashing and to concentrate water at the exit hole. At least one end (94) of the bucket is rounded into about a half circle as seen in a plan view, to provide room for a water inlet pipe (54).

Abstract: A dump bucket toilet is described, with an improved support for the bucket, a manual control that can save water, and an outlet region which efficiently directs dumped water into the toilet bowl. A support (60, FIG. 1) for the bucket has a mount portion (62) mounted on an upper portion of the toilet tank and has a largely downwardly extending support portion (100), the support portion pivotally supporting the middle of a rod (104) that extends between the opposite sides of the bucket. A manually operable control (152, FIG. 5) is operable in a full-flush mode to pivot the bucket by a first angle to a full release position to release almost all bucket water, the control being operable in a second partial-flush mode to pivot the bucket by a smaller second angle to release about half of the bucket water. A funnel (24, FIG. 1) extends at least four inches above the bottom of the container, with the funnel walls forming an included angle of about 14.degree. to efficiently direct the dumped water.

Abstract: A rotary siphon flushing device for use inside a water storage tank of a conventional commode or toilet. A siphon exhaust member is secured to the drainage port of the water storage tank. A rotary arm is axially attached to the siphon exhaust member. The rotary arm fills with water as the tank water level rises. A conventional pull chain lever rotates the rotary arm into the siphon exhaust member thereby inducing a siphon flushing action. The rotary arm rotates back to a filling position after the discharge.

Abstract: A toilet flushing apparatus characterized by an inherently leakproof syphon, primer and flush tube aligned with a flush pipe into the toilet, with a jet opening from the discharge of the syphon to initiate flushing when a charge of water is manually dumped from a bucket and through the flush tube.

Abstract: A flush tank, having a vertically extending wall positioned between the two vertical side walls to provide a first chamber which is filled with flush water and a second chamber which houses a removable washing means, is disclosed. The washing means is operatively coupled to water supply for the toilet and includes manually operated valve means to regulate the flow of wash water to cleanse the toilet bowl as needed.

Abstract: A flushing cistern to produce an energetic flush with a reduce volume of water, some 5 or 6 liters for low-level use. The cistern has a housing supporting a rotatable water holder having a large flow aperture in a curved surface and otherwise closely conforming to the inside of the housing. The flush outlet is a large tapering outlet of hydraulically-efficient form to which the aperture matches when the holder is rotated to produce a flush. The filling of the water holder can be arranged to occur only when the holder is in the correct position. Fault conditions are indicated by a warning flow of water from an overflow or elsewhere.

Abstract: A water saver for the water closet of a flush toilet, which allows the operator to vary the amount of water being used according to the requirements of the situation. A lever on the exterior of the water closet controls the egress of water from a separate secondary reservoir contained within the water closet. Varying the position of the lever varies the amount of water which escapes from a trap door on the secondary reservoir attached to the lever. When very little water is required for the flushing process the secondary reservoir remains undisturbed. However, if the entire amount of water contained within the water closet is required then the secondary reservoir will empty completely because of the position of the control lever. The amount of water that escapes from the secondary reservoir, which varies from all to none, is determined by the position of the trap door in relation to the walls of the reservoir, which varies the effective volume of the reservoir.

Abstract: A flush control mechanism for a toilet tank includes a pivotable control element which is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis in the tank, a trip lever mechanism, a fill water valve element which is connected to both the pivotable control element and the main water supply pipe which extends into the toilet tank, and an adjustable valve element. The pivotable control element includes a weightbox which is divided by a baffle into a water inlet chamber and a water outlet chamber, the floor of the weightbox including a drain hole which communicates with the water outlet chamber. The fill water valve element includes a primary nozzle for discharging fresh water directly into the toilet tank and a secondary nozzle for discharging fresh water into the water inlet chamber of the pivotable control valve element, as well as a control arm which is connected to the end of the pivotable control valve element.

Abstract: A flush tank system includes an elongated tank supported at the opposite ends thereof by a pair of arcuate-shaped rockers which rest on the upper surfaces of a pair of support frames. The tank normally assumes an upright position with one of a pair of relatively slightly curved portions of each rocker resting on top of the support frames when the tank is empty and when the tank is being filled with a fluid such as water through an opening in the top thereof. The non-uniform cross-section of the tank causes the center of gravity of the water to shift laterally to a point at which the opposite rockers roll from the relatively slightly curved portion on which they are resting over a relatively greatly curved portion thereof to the other relatively slightly curved portion, thereby rapidly rotating the tank into a tipped position and pouring the water out of the tank opening.