Efficient water closet

Description

CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Utility patent application claims priority to Mexico patent application number GT/a/2003/000012 by Benjamin Arellano Zajur

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally the mechanic engineering field. More particularly, the invention relates to hydraulic engineering by being a device that allows saving the water consumption in a toilet, which is a system for eliminating organic residues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional toilet has long been in use, largely unchanged. More than 4000 years ago the Cretens had already made some sort of toilet in the government palace in Cnossos. It was made with a cistern bowl and a drain duct. In other civilizations, like China and India, there were also similar systems but it was not until the XVII century that a cloacae system served private housing.

The first toilet which can be considered as one was invented by the English John Harrington, who in 1597 developed a “water closet” valve, which was installed in the government palace of Isabel I in Richmond.

In 1775 John Cummings patented a cistern system, having it perfected in 1778 by Samuel Prosse, with its spherical valve. Seventy years latter, and by the British Public Health Department, it was mandatory to install a toilet service in every house that was built. By around 1890, it was already used in all Europe.

Conventional toilet systems work with a siphon that maintains the water level, and seals the system against bad odors by keeping water at the entrance of the siphon at all times, thereby acting as a seal. When the system allows water to fill its water storage tank, the level of the bowl's mirror increases, thereby raising the water pressure, which forces solids contained in the bowl to exit through the siphon into a channel that dumps into sewers. The sucking effect of the siphon helps this process along by forcing out the solids in the toilet bowl until the level of the mirror reaches its minimum level between the siphon and the toilet.

Older systems used an elevated 1.5 meter tank to increase the water pressure and effect a more powerful clearance of the solids in the toilet bowl. Through improved design of the system ring and siphon, it was possible to configure the tanks to toilet level, which is more comfortable for the user to use. Since the invention by John Harrington there have been several modifications, mainly in the esthetic design, but maintaining the same basic principles of operation.

In recent years, however, due to a persistent concern for the conservation of water, there has been a need for methods that reduce the consumption of water. Some known approaches we will be described.

One conventional approach unloads toilets by pressure. These toilets work though a system of unloading that increases the pressure in the tank through an electric compressor, this method has managed to reduce the water consumption to 4 litters or less, but it has the inconvenience of using an electric source of energy, and that it is rather complicated to maintain its electric and mechanic mechanisms, which also increases its cost of ownership.

A second conventional approach is to recycle dirty water. There have been several systems that allow the recycling of sink water as well as the water of the shower to be used in the toilet. Such systems have achieved a certain degree of water saving, even without optimizing the toilet system itself. However, this approach has the inconvenience that the guiding of water though pipes is significantly more complex, thereby resulting in substantially more cost.

A third conventional approach relates to mechanic methods that eliminate the use of the siphon. Such systems make changes in the traditional system by way of valves that avoid using the siphon. These systems enable toilet bowl content to empty directly into the sewer network, thereby saving water. However, the eliminating of the siphon and the use of other mechanisms have not been generally successful in sealing and eliminating bad odors. For at least this reason, these direct emptying systems are not suitable for use in the home or office environments.

A forth conventional approach relates to a differential in the unloading of the toilet bowl. These methods design the unloading to selectively eliminate solids or only liquids. This is accomplished through mechanisms that pour different amounts of water. However, this way of managing different amounts of water does not optimize the hydraulic system.

Typically, exclusively mechanic toilet systems consume at least six litters of water per flush. Currently Mexico, United States, and Canada officially require a “capacity of unload test” before a toilet is allowed in the marketplace. This test comprises of placing 100 marbles of material of a specific size in a test toilet and making the system work. Normally, it is required that a minimum of 75 marbles be unloaded from the toilet. Most current systems barely pass the test.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques of water conservation in the flushing of toilets. It would be desirable if such systems fulfill the requirements previously described with at most 5.6 liters of water by way of improving the toilet's hydraulic system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the principal elements of a toilet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the water tank portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the water tank of FIG. 2a; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention having an exemplary single feeding channel/duct configuration.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, a variety of water conservation techniques for toilets are described.

In particular, a water conserving toilet system is provided that increases water pressure applied to evacuating solids in the toilet bowl by a multiplicity of means including an embodiment having an optimally shaped and located water storage tank means, an embodiment optionally also having an optimally shaped water feeding channel means. In an aspect of the present invention the water pressure is increased by storing the water in the internal tank which is located at the top of the external tank. Moreover, means are provided, such as an external tank, to be assembled to the toilet base with fastening means that do not touch the water, thereby making installation easier and reducing the risk of leaks.

Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.

The present invention is directed to a water closet, or tank, that is a single piece object, with embodiments including one or two tanks.

An optimized water tank for the conservation of water is presented. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the principal elements of a toilet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which will functionally described in more detail as follows. An interior tank 1 located at the superior part of tank 10 permits the increasing of the water height contained therein

The present embodiment of interior tank 1 has a generally conic form, which makes the water flow more easily to achieve an optimum potential energy required for the proper functioning of the system. This greater height and a better conduction of the water, builds the pressure according to the relation P=V*H, or pressure (P) is equal to the volume (V) multiplied by the height of the water (H). In one aspect of interior tank 1 as embodied, its conic shape tends to substantially reduce, if not eliminate, the accumulation, on its inner surface, of water born solid residues and bacteria at least because its generally conic shape evacuates the stored water with sufficiently high pressure and speed.

A conventional water evacuation system, or valve 2 is constructed using conventional elements (not shown) and permits the water in interior tank 1 to descend through a feeding channel 3, where it falls to a duct 4 which is configured to form a curve to help eliminate turbulence and assist the laminate flow, thereby decreasing frictional losses in energy, where water flow is directed towards a toilet bowl ring 5 with a multiplicity of emptying holes, and depending on the flushing system, an optional hydraulic pushing jet 6.

The water that flows out of the emptying holes of toilet bowl ring 5 enables the water to wash a toilet bowl 7 and simultaneously increases the pressure at the bottom of toilet bowl 7 to help the exit of the solids contained therein through a siphon 8, thereby assisting the exit of the solids.

Hydraulic pushing jet 6 strengthens the exiting force placed upon the solids by way of the pushing force that the water jet exerts thereon. It is at this point where an aspect of the present invention provides a more effective approach to evacuating the solids from toilet bowl 7. As will be described in some detail below, the present embodiment exerts a greater hydraulic pushing jet pressure than that of conventional systems by increasing the potential energy of the water in interior tank 1 by way of the greater height of the water contained therein. Similarly, the pressure of the water exiting through the holes in toilet bowl ring 5 is likewise greater than that of conventional systems.

FIG. 2a illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the water tank portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2b illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the water tank of FIG. 2a. The Figures are more clearly illustrative of a “superimposed tanks” aspect of the present invention. The superimposed tanks system is constructed in a single piece, although for functional purposes are the formed by two pieces, a smaller interior tank 1 contained (inside?) in a bigger exterior tank 10 which supports interior tank 1 and is joined to the toilet by fastening system 9 to a toilet mount 11. Bowl mount 11 is located at the top rear location where the water tank sits on top of the toilet bowl portion of the toilet. In this construction, fastening system 9 is never in contact with the water. In one aspect of the present invention, water leaks are avoided by significantly increasing the longevity and robustness of fastening system 9 by way of its having no contact water, thereby avoiding oxidation, corrosion, and damage thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the configuration and location of fastening system 9 in the present embodiment helps to make assembly easier at least because it provides ease of access and no obstructions. Moreover, the present embodiment allows a conventional nut 12 and bolt 13, by way of example and not limitation, to be out of sight.

The fabrication process of the present superimposed tanks embodiment is made relatively more simple than that for conventional approaches at least because the present embodiment of exterior tank 10 does not have a bottom. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that because the exterior tank is largely an esthetic and/or protective member, it contains no water in the present embodiment, and if it were to fracture there is no alteration in the normal functioning of the present toilet system; and, moreover, there will not be any sort of water leak as the water is contained in interior tank 1.

In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the protective exterior tank may not be included, thereby possibly risking damage to the superior tank. In yet other alternative embodiments of the present invention, the superior tank may be formed into other shapes besides a generally conic one, thereby possibly not being availed of the full benefits thereof, yet still taking advantage of the foregoing higher water position aspect. Moreover, in some application, only one of toilet bowl ring 5 or hydraulic pushing jet 6 may be required and implemented. Similarly, depending on the needs of the particular application, the optimal designed described above for feeding channel 3 may not be required possibly because the other advantageous aspects of the present invention are adequate, whereby a conventional design for the feeding channel may be instead used. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention having an exemplary single feeding channel/duct configuration. Some embodiments of the present invention may replace the two-piece construction of the feeding channel 3 and duct 4 of FIG. 1 with a single angled duct 14 that is properly shaped and angled, whereby the connection between water tank 1 to the toilet bowl ring 5 and hydraulic pushing jet 6 is directly by way angled duct 14. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is a one piece toilet configuration, which tends to have a shorter water closet and is attached to the bowl, not by bolts, but by bonding them from factory with ceramic, or other known techniques.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of water conservation in the flushing of toilets according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the final design may be modified for esthetic and/or application dependent reasons (by way of example, and not limitation, not including the protective exterior tank, or changing the superior tank's shape) and is still contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.