Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIEID OF Tt IE IhlVEN~ON
Thi~ invention relat~ to odour remaval appi3ratus arld nlethocls. In parbcul~r, the
ir~ention relates to odo~r r~moval apparatLs and rne~o~s f~r rernavir~g gases whioh
5 include und~si~le odours fn~m the v~cinily o~ a loilet ~owl~ HoweYer, ~e invention is nat
lirni~ to this applio~d~n.
E~ACK~iROUr~ AF;:T
Most kno~lvn me~ods of odour removal for toilcts use ~ f~n o~ the bke whi~ is
mounted on an ext~rior wall of ~e room irl whioh ~e toilet is lo~tecl. ~iuch e~c~action fans
10 are often operated when a user enters the roorn in wh~h the toilet is 1~ ~nti tl~ms on a
l~ht for ex~mple. A d;s~ n~ of ~is known system is ~t adours must le~e 1t~e toilet
~owl and ent~r the room ~efore ~ey can ~e removed from the roorn. Thus the syst~m
really only prevents odours esc~ g Irorn the room in which U~e toilet is lo~d r~erthan
rernoving odours befor~ ~ey enter~e room.
Another dis~ranta~e wi~ these and ~imil~r sy~ems is ~t they use altemating
wrrent (AC~ rnotors to drive the fan impel~r The speed of A~ n~ot4r~ ~ oon51~,1itled by the
~quen~y of the m~in~ pC~ !~;upply. AC motn~ of ~ size sui~able for u5e in toilet pan
odour ~noval systems do not h~Ye ~deq~te pe,~l",ar~ i~ for effective
odaor remov~l in modwn tdlets.
~0 The fan ~onstructions used in the~e knowrl systems ~ Iso c~l"b~l~ol~le, rn~king
tnem ~ ncl expensive to ins~ll. FL~ UI~ ~ey d~ not have any control system
that allows ch~r~terishcs of the l~n to be alte~cl to imp~ ~iency, pe~orrnance or to
pro~ide a user with a greater ran~e of ap~l~"!a ~ondibiolns Fnr ~ir~, ~tr!~ the known
systems ~re pn~ne to ~e nalsy ~hich nan ~e bothersome to n~ny L~ and there is no~5 provision f~r alterin~ farl oper~bn~ p~rdmel~r~, slJch as spe0d, to reduoe the n~e Knouun
fans ~re often left r~nnin~ for long periods of hnle, whiCh is In~fr~rll and reclu~es ~e life oF
the fan.
BRIEF C~E~i~RlP~lON OF THE I~IVENTION
It is arl ~bject of ~e present in~renti~n tD proYid~ o~our removal cnpparatus and10r
me~otis which will at least ~o some way to Nard o~e, ~o" . ,g the fore~oln~ di5~d~rantages or
~her disad~ntases of known cons~u~tions, or whi~ ill at leas~ provide ~he p~blic u~h a
us I choioe
Ac~Drtiiny~y~ in one ~spect, ~e inventlion can~ in ot~o~r removal app~ratus for a
flush ~pe toilet ~Yin~ a ~isten~ int~n~al overflow ~:onduit, ~ app~r~tus
~ rnprising
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over~ow ~daptor means ad~pted for gaseoLls communication with a ga$es
extr~ction means for inducing a flow of gases,
~e ovelflow adaptor me~ns ~ein~ in use located a~out an entry to the in~ern~l
overflow oonduit where~y a sul.~L~nLially ~s tlght seal is made belhNeen th~
intema1 o~reRlow oon~uit and the aver~low adapt~r means when the cistem wate~
lev~l is ~t i~ non-nal f~JII le~el so ~at gases ~nd 0ntrained odolJrs may be
extr~cte~l tron~ the toilet p~n through the internal ouerllow ~onduit hy the ~ases
extr~ction mei~ns, and
~hen the ~istem level reaches the ent~y t~ the internal ov~rflow conduitl water
from tlle ci~tern is free to flow throu~h th~ intemal over~ow ~ondl~it to the pan.
In a f lrther aspe~t the invention ~onsi~ts in ~ flu~h type ~ilet comprising,
a cistem,
~n Intemal o~terflnw conduit within the asiem,
gases ext~bon means for inducing a flow of gases ~nd entrained o~ou~s,
overFlow ~d~ptor means in y~seous commLlnic~tion wrth a ~a~es extr~ction
means for induclng a flow o~ gases and the averflow ad~ptor ~neans ~eing
located about an enb~ to the intern~l ~verFlow ~oncluit,
whereby a substanbially g~s ti~3ht seal i5 made between the intemal ovelflow
~0 ~on~uit and the overflow ~daptor means ~luhen the cistern w~ter level is at its
nor~n~l full level ~o that gases and entr~ined odours may be e~ f~om ~e
toilet pan through the intem~l oYerflow ~nduit by the ~ases ex~ract~on me~ns,
~n~
when ~e cistem level reaches the entry to the intemal overflow ~on~uit, w~ter
from the o~stern is ~ree t~ flo~,u throl~gh ~e intem~l o~erflow con~lJ~t to th~ pan.
In a furU~I~t aspect ~e inventi4n ~nsi~t5 in toilet odour ren~oval appar~t ls
oomprising
a fan means oper~ble to induce a flo~ nf gases and entrained odours for
r~mo~al of the odours from the Yi~inity of a toilet
c~ntrol means for controllin~ ~e opera~on of the f~n
the contr~l me~ns including flow rate sele~tion me~ns ~n allow a u~er to ~a~y the
r~te ~f gases flow in~uce~ by the fan m~ns.
3~ In ~ hrther ~spe~ the irl~ention ~cnsist~ in a toile~ odour e~ ion fan ~mprisiny
a housing,
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a motor within ~he housin~,
an impeller proYided within tile housin~ and onllpled tn the motnr ~ ~at
nper~tinn ~f the m~or impar~; rot~tion~l energy to ~e impeller,
~n inlet pro~ided in the hoLIslng ~n~pted ~or ~LL~ch",~nt to a ~as inlet cDnduit,
an outlet provided in the housing adapted for ~ cllr"~. ,I to a gas outlet conduit,
~nd
the wi~th of the housing ~ein~ not substantially ~reat~3rtharl the width of the
inlet or width of the outlet
In a f~her aspe~ the invention c~nsists in a toilet odour extr~ction fan çomprising
a housing,
~ dlrect ~un ent motor w~thin ffl~ housin~,
an impeller provided w'rthin the hc)~sing ~nd cn~pled t~ the motor so that
oper~tion o~ the m~tor imparts rotation31 energy to the impe[ler,
I j an inlet prov~ded in the housing adapted for attachment to ~ ~as inlet conduit,
an~
an outlet provided in the housrn~ a~apted for atta¢hment to ~ g~ outlet conduit
In a further aspe~t the inuention consists in rnethods disclose~ herein.
~0
To those skilled in the art to whir;h ~le inverltion relates, mar~ r;h~nges in
consbl~tion an~ widely ~ifferin~ embodiments ~r~ 2ppli~;3tions of the inrvenbon will su.~gest
themseh~es withollt d~ frorrl ~e scope of ttle in~n~on as define~ in the appended
daims. The disclos~ s and the desr~riptions herein are pu~ly illu~tive ~nd are not
irrt~ndecl to l~e in any sens~ lin~ibn9.
rne rnYentiOn consists in ~e foregoing and also er,J~ages constru~tions of which~7e foilowin~ ~ives examples.
BF;~ ESC~I PTlOhl t}F THE ~RAWINGS
One preferre~ form ~f ~e invention 3nd mod~- ~ n~s thereof will n~w be ~es~ihed
~,~ w~ ,efere~nae ~ln the ac~i"p2il~jnQ d~awings in which
fi~ure I i~ ~ ~li~r~ln)~lie s~e elev~on in part;a[ cross se~i~n of a toilet system
mounted in a buil~ing and indudin~ ~clnur remoual apparatus in ac~or~ance with ~e
present inYenbon;
fiigure 2 i~ a plan ViWI/ oF the toilet pan ~f fi~ure 1 wi~ Ule se~t rernoved;
,5 fi~re 3 is a front eleYatian in C~55 section throu~h a part of a toil~t pan;
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h~ure 4 is a ~lid~ ,atic side ele~atinn in partial cross se~ion of a toilet system
mourlted in a ~uilding and incllldin~ odo~r rçmoval ç~ ratus in ~or~an~e with the
present inYen60n;
figure 5 i~ a c~ dl~ln~t;c frorrl eleYa~ion of the ~ile~ sys~rn of fi~u~ 4, show~n~~ some alternatiYe ~ y~l.~"~ e odoL~r remnYal apparatus,
figure ~; is a fLIrther ciia~ra~,nç~lic front e,ev~ of the toilet system of figure 4
showing a further ~ 113~'Ç 3rr~n~ernent of ~e 0~4ur removal ~ppar~sl
hgures 7 and ~ are ~;dylc~ ldliC si~e elevations af the tul~et sys~ern of F~ure 4 w~th
furUlçr ~H~m~bve ~rlcll ,y~ll ,er,;J of the o~our remoY~I apparabus
ligures ~ ~nd 10 are dia r~nd~lL front elevations of fi~Lnes 7 ~nd ~ respectively;
h~r~res 11 and 1~ ~r~ di~ r"rl,dtil side ele~abons of a fur~er tc~ilet syst~m h~ve
odour remo~l ~pparatu~ in ac~ nce ~h ~e present invention:
f~ure 13 is ~ ~iagl~t~,naLi~; side elevation in partial ~o~ ser~t~on o~ a toilei cistem
rno~nted ag~inst ~ wall, sho~ng odour remov~l ~p~ar~s in accorrianoe ~ ~e pre$~nt
l~ invention;
h~ i5 a dic~ bc elev~tion in p~rti~l uoss se~ion uf an al~ern~tive
em': - '~ tlent o~ odour rem~v~l ~pparahls
fi~ur~ 15 is a didg~n",~h~, side elevahnn of a toilet systern in~lu~ing odou~ r~moval
apparatu~ in accor~anoe witl~ resent inverrti~n;
figure 1~ is a d;dgnam, nalic fr~nt elev~bon of ~e app~r~tu~ of fi~u~e 14,
fi~ure 1~ is a di~gr~mrnahc ~ide eleuation of 3 toilet 5ystem indu~ing ~ seal for
odour ~n~oval in ~ , ~ with the present inver~inn;
figure 1~ is ~ ,r"~tic plan view of the seal of l~g~re 16;
figure 1~ is a fn~nt elev~tion of a f~e plate for ~ol appa~atus ~n accor~Jance w~th
the presen~ invention,
figure 20 is ~ front ele~nn o~ ~ mounting plate in acco~lance w~th th~ present
inver~ion;
fi~ur~ 21 is ~ side ele~tion in cros~ section of the faoe plate of fi~ure 1~ themounbn~ plate of f~ure 20 and a back plate.
3 0 fi~u~ 21 ~3 is a plan vi~w in cross section oF ~e ~ of fi~ 21;
figur~ ~ is a rear ele~on ~f the ~pp~tu~ of fi~l~re 21 Wi~Ollt ~e ha~k plate;
ffg~re Z3 is a side eieY~tion of ~e ~pparahs of fi~ure ~1;
FigulE 24 is a r~ar ele~on of ~e ~pparatus of figure 21;
Figure 25 is a pl~n view of the ~pp~ratus of figure ~1;
3~ figure ~B is ~ s~hen~i~ di~ram uF contr~l ~pparah~s in dUCUll~ldl lOe with the presen~
invenUon,
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fi9ure ~7 is ~ fror~ e~vabon of a f~n assembly in acc~,d~,l~ with thY pres~nt
ention; and
hgure 2~ is ~ cross secti~n in ~ront elev3tion oF ~e aF~}arab~s of F~ure
i:lETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREI:~ EMBODIMENTS
ReferTir~ to figure 1, a tnjlet is shown generally ,~r~ d 1 bein~ rhounlt3~ upon a
flaor 2 adja~ent ~o a ~113 ~elou~ iling 4 ahove whkh a roof 5 is provided.
The toilet 1 c~mpnses ~ toilet bO~I or pan ~, a se~t ~ and ~ ciste~n 8. The
converltional flushing pip~ which would norrnally be present ~e2ueen the cist~n flushiny
outlet 9 an~ the flushing horn 10 of the p~n h~$ been removed ~nd replaced ~y a ~r j~int
1() 1~ The cv~"l~iiun point 13 ~f the 'T' joint opposrte U~at ~onne~3~ to the flushi~y hom 10
is conne~l~d to a ~s e~dclion conduit 14 whid~ in tum is co,me~d to a gas exlra~ion
means ~r"~n~,g a f~n for example~ su~h as axial fan 15 whi~ h~s an ou~let 1~ fordelivery of ~cted gases to a l~cation rem~te ~rnm the room in whi~h the toilet i~ loeated.
~t will ~e seen th~t the gas e~:L~ r~uit is pr~vide~ in ~e wall 3. ~his is primarily
for co~r"~L~ purposes The oonduit 14 could be provided ;nsicle ~e room~ or p~ss dire~tly
outside, A nurnber of desired arran~emcnts may be used as long as the res~
~nsferr~ng the L~clLd ~ases to a remote loc~tion is e,fFeçted. It will als~ be seen that ~e
~an 15, ~mprising ~ m~tor and fan impeller is prwided wi~hin the wall 3, This is achie~e~
by desi~nin~ the f~n cornponents in~udin~ ~he h~ing in su~h ~ way that the h~using 15
~0 not substanti~lly lar~er than the air inlet arld oudet 4f thç ho~sing
In respect of flushing, the toil~t sy~t~m op~ in tne known way; w~tr~ in ~e
qs~em is flLlshed thrnL~h the IT' jnint ~nd intn ~e pan via flushing hom 10 so ~s to flush the
toilet pan. The portion of the 'T joint ~etween c~nnech'on pdnt 1~ and outlet ~ slopes
downw;~rdly from point 13 to ~e flushing horn 10, that is tn say the lowest point ~f the
~onner~ion p~int 13 is higher than the Inwest poln~ ~f ~e flushing hnm 10 ~is ensures
th~t flu~hin~ w~er dnes n~ rr~n~in in the ~ joint where noise may ~e generated due to
water mwement as ~ir i~ ~r~l past ~ w~ter by ff~e fan.
In use ~e fan 15 is in operation, ~t least ~hen ~ persrm is usin~ ff~e toilet. A number
of ~iifferent devices may be used to acnYate ~e ~n, ~s dis~ssed below. The fan h~s ~e
efFect nf cr~atin~ a ne~tiYe air pressure ~relative ~ no~phe~ pressure) in conduit 14
which creates a ne~a~e air pressure wi~in the t~ilet pan ~ ~hil~ removes or ex~cts
~ases fr~m the p~n. The ~as passage is inc~lca~d ~y a row 17 The ~led gases and
entrained odours are expelle~ f~rn the rwm in which tne toilet is located to a loc;~tion
remote f~m the roorn. Thus the system has ~e effect of ue~ting ~ negative pressure in the
toilet pan or bo~l to rerno~ ses indudin~ odours in the pan ~rc~h one or mor~ flushing
~perh~res ~f the p~n, so ~t Uie n~oLns ~re effeob~ely removed before ~ey erTter the rnorn.
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The creation of a neg~tNe ~ir pressu~ in the pan i~seH rel~tive to atrnospheric pressure
ensu~s ~emoY3l of o~our~. A rel~bYe pre~sure that is n4t neg~bve h~s been fo~ o he
insufficient &:1 allow effec~ive opera~ion of the invent~on.
Thus in use ~e f~n 1~ is prefer~bly élctiv~ted ~efor~ ancl while i3 user is using the
toilet so th~t g~ses ~at include u"de~ odolJrs ar~ ~:FF~ Iy ~m~vea ~rom ~e tnilet
h~wl hefore ~hey erlter the rwm, ~nd U ~ ru, ~ ~efore ~hey are detected by Ule u~er. Gas~
~r~ not ~ while the toilet is beir~g flushed, but this makes Ye~ Irttle difference to the
operation of Ule in~ention as odaurs ~re remoYed by U~e appar~ efore ~ushing, and ~h,e
sour~ of odours is ~mo~d by flushir~.
Referring to fi~ure 2 the toilet pan ~ is shw~n in pl~n vie~v with the seat remoYecl.
There are three flushing holes 2n 77 tl~ gh u hich water may tr~vel when entering the pan
from the cistern. rhe c~r~l hole 21 dire~ts w~r to the ~entre of ~e pan while ~e holes
20 ~nd 2~ direc~ water around the rims 2~ at ei~e~ side o~ the bowl. It :an be seen that by
~nne4t'.1~ the ~ oncluit 14 to th~ flushing horn the holes 2~2 ~re being used to
15 e~ct ~e yases li~rn ~e p~n, and ~e desiyn of the holes nlakes the ~ ~ l of gqses
and e, ~ led od~ur~ from the entire pan ve~ eff~;tiYe~
Fi~ure$ 3a ~nd 3h show a p~rt of ~ç p~n in ~rns~ sectinn so ~at ~e diflerent forrns
of rim 23 ~n ~e seen more cle~rly. Figure 3~ illust~ates a stAnd~rd 'lopen~ rirn. F~ur~ 3h
illus~tes ~ Ubcoc'' rim which is SU~ Y endosed haYing a number of i~ p~pl-ldt~
~0 flushing apertures lo~te~ ~round the rlrn in the base c~ the 1~ seetion
Tuminy to fiyure 4, ~n ~matiYe ernbodiment nf ~e invert~on is shown on a toilet in
uvhich ~he ustem i5 il l l~ di~hl~ ~djacent to the p~n Sl~ch a toile~ i~ usually referred t4 as ~
~CI~e Coupled~ toilet The fan 15 in this ~dngel"er~ is pr~vided in the ceiting7 but as
mentioned ~ba~e, ~e present inven~irN~ allaw~ the fan to ~e located in ~ n~ er of other
?5 l0~3ns, such as ~e wall cavity as il~ by lere~ence ~a which shou~ the ~an in
broken outline in the wall ~vity as an ~Iternahve loca~ion. Th~ location of the fan 15 in ~uch
v~ried lo~tions i~ a¢hievable by vi~e of the design of the f~n ~F the present irr~entiun
whjch i~ pro~id~d in an enclosed housing of suffiaent dimensinn tn be provided in lo: ~t - ns
5u~ as ~ wall ~vity of a ~omestic dwelling
~0 Still referrin~ to figl~re 4, ne3~y all do~e coupled tnilets h~ve an intemal o-~elflow
oonduit ~5 whioh has the effeet ~f allo~4ing e~ess wat~r in ~e ustem to drain into an en~y
to t~e ~on~luit 25 which ~elivers it to the pan ~ia ~e flushing aperh~res In ~e pan. Recau~e
~e overRow conduit ~5 is oonne~ed to ~e pan flushin~ ape~res, it can ~e used to exb~ct
~ases from ffle pan to provide ~e deslred result refer~ to in ~e des~ an of ~e 1~ilet
3~ odour ~b~l ~; rl system of figure ~.
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Fig~re 4 ill~ates one altema~e for use of the overflow cond~lit 25 to extract yases
achie~ed ~y hansferriny the ex~3cted ga~es through ~e air space ~ in the cistem
ab~ve the w~ter level 77. Thus ~e ~aclion ~ndu~t 14 ente~ ~e cis~em ~n~ i~ open to
ffle air sp~ce 26 within the astem. llle çistçrn is sç~led in a sllbstantially y~s ffg~t manner
s~ ~hat the ne~ive ~it pres~ure g~ d by ~e fan is pr~sen~ in the pan. This ~an he
~dlieved ~y sealing ff~e c~tern wi~ a sili~on ~ompo~md or ~e like or bqf using a rubber o~
plasbcs y~ r1l~l abo~ the area of entry of the ~ n c~nd~it and ~e dstern lid
Figure 5 shnu~ two oth~r ahange~en~ ~y wh-~h the cnr~uit 14 rnay enter ~e
dstem ~ effe~ the me~o~ of o~our ~no~ escri~ec with reference to fi~-Jre 4
Ano~er a"d"g~,llent ~s shown in fig~re ~ in which the fan 15 i5 pr~vided on an
external wall of ~he ~uilding. Slmiia~y, hgures 7 ~nd Y show sj~e ele~ations of further
~rr~ngemer~s for ext~mal luGffion of th~ ~an, and fi~aures 8 and 10 show the ~pe~ive front
elevabons of ~ese ~"an~er~,ent~.
Flg~re 11 shows ~not~ler forrn o~ ~ilet syste~n in which the pan is dependant fi~ ~
1~ wall and the cistern is prcvided wi~ir~ the wall SlJoh systems are co"l",orlly referr~d t~ as
II Mounted~. A~ain the ~Ud~ n cond~it is shown in the usbern ~ir sp~oe so ~h;3t the
~ir space is used for ~e e~ c~al af gases as des~ibed above w~ ref~renoe to hgures 4
tn 10. Wall mo~nte~ toilets rn~y alsu have automatic flushing sys~ems. These sys~rer~s ar~
~su~lly ~otiYa~ n ir~Fr3r~ or offler form o~ p~ximi~ sensor. The ~ ,~ic flushing
~0 mechanisrn is usually connec~l to the p~n flushin~ hom by ~ flushin~ pipe in th~ ~nn of an
elbovv. This ~llnus the c~nduft 1~ to ~ conrle~te~ ~ the flushing pipe i",..,~ bov~
the el~ow nr i,nn~ t~y prior to the entry to the p~n ~s sho~n in fig~e 1.
In flyure 12 tne wall moun~ed sy~em is sh~wn u~ th~ ~as ~t,d~1ion conduit 14
c~nnec~ed ~o ~ç ~ush pipe 30 b~en ~e usterr~ and the pan. This afran~ement is simil~r
to ~at desnri~ed with ,~f~r~nce to figure 1. A fu~r additinn i5 the pr~vision of ~ we~the~
pf OO~ hat 31 to the f~n outlet.
A pr~fo"~d ~mfbo~iment of tne ~esent in~entlo~l in~ludes a ~ases exlra~bon p~
~at uses ~e cistem int~m~l overf ow pipe without fequirin~ the cistem ~ be air~ight and
does not require a direct connec~ion to ~e oYerflow p~ipe so that the o~/erflow pipe i5 not
JCI preventt3d frorn al~o providin~ an overRow path. Figure 13 illustrates use of a g~s e~b4~;ol1
conbuit ~3t h~s an end 35 which is adapte~ to fit over the er~y to ffle intem~l ove~llow
condl~ The adaptar 3h is provided sufficien~y far over ~e over~ nndu~ 7~ so as ~ he
pro~rided below the no Tnal cis~em w~ter leYel 27 when the ~tem is in ~s norm~ ll state.
There is a ~ap 2~ p~vicled ~ een ttle wdlls ~f the adaptor 3~ ~nd the w~lls o~ the
3~ ouerRow pipe ~5. When the dstern water level i~ ~ ~e norrnal full le~el as shown in figure
1 S, the water pr~sent in the gap ~ sul~la, ILii311y airtjght se~l so ~t a~r p~esent in
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
the cistern is not remo~ed by the acbon of the fan 15. Instead, ~ases an~ en~ained odour~
are ~moved frorn the p~n through by n~e~ns of ~he over~w con~llit which is in o~seou~
connecti~n ~uith the pan flushing ~per~ures. When the toil~ has re~ een flushe~, so
th~t t~e ~stem w~er le~J~ ~s betow the nomlal ~ull ieYel 27, w~r ~l r~o~ be prese~ in gap
5 Z~, so no seal ~Mill exis~ Therefore, in tnis situa~on, ~e n~ of gase~ from ~e pan uili not
oe ~ery ~ nless U~e ~istern is su~s~nn~lly ~ hn tlowe~er it will h~ seen ~at ~e
ci~tem doe~ not need to be se~led ber~ e affer- flushin~a use ~ the toilet h~s ceased so
~ere ar~ no udours t~ remoYe When the cistem fllls again u~ water for ~ next flush, the
se~l will he t~e~t~blished ready for odours ~o be e~cted when the toiiet is nex~ used. If,
10 for some reason~ ~e ~r leYel regulation system in the cistern fails and the dstem wat~r
le~el rises un~ ly, the water YYill bf~gin to flow d~wn the overflPYu oond~it 25 ~hen it
~e~ches ~e enL-ance of ~e o~erflcw because ~ has ac~;ess to the overflow enb~nce~rwyh gap ~
Refeming ~ figur~ 14, ~n embDdiment of a st~n~ alone ~daptor member 35 is
15 sho~n in ioc~bion wer an inlet tc ~e ir temal overfl~ condui~ 25. The adaptor ~~ is~:,
an ir~egr~l par~ ~f the ~s ~ , Li~r~ condurt 14. However, it may be prwided as a sep~rate
component for clihch~l~ent to the conduil 14 or for attach~nent di~c~y to ~e fan, ar it could
be provided as an integral part of the ~an housin~. The adaptor has a shrol~J or mantle
portion 3B whi~h in fi~re 14 is ex~anded to ensure that a suKicient gap 28 i~ proYi~ed for
overflow to o~ur. An ou~et portion 42 is provided for ~tl~d-r"ent to Mle ~as E~A~J~I;O
~n~uit 14 or for dir~c~ ~r ll l- rl tn the f~n inle~
The ~ g~rl~ esc~ed in h~ures 1~ and 14 whi~h u~e ~Item~ve a~aptor
me1hod~ pr~vi~e the :,lyl .ifi~"L c~dVc~l IL~e ~at the cistem does not ne~d to ~e ~ir tiyht, as
the water pr~,rides a seal behl~een the two ~n~uits. It ~l al50 be seen that this
~5 eint,ng~l"ent still ~nOws the overRow ~;onduit to function should the ustem waber level ~et
too high.
Refe~ing to the embodirnent illustr~ed in f~ures 15 and 16, the ~l~ seat 7 is
provided uith appropriat~ ~ir ~LI, L~ I aper~ures ~not sh~ uhich ~re in dir~t gasr~ous
~nne~ion wth the condu~ 14. Extracting g~ses throu~h the aperbure~ in the toilet se~t
30 provides a similar effect ~n remoY~I throu~h the flu~hln~ apef~res in the em~odimen~
refe~ed to ~boY~.
Referr~ng to figures 17 ~n~ n em~odlment i~ sha~n in whkh the s~l 40
beh~3en ~e cistem ~nd the pan ~f ~ ~ose :ou~ed tolet is p~vide~ with an ~perture 32
which is open tn the gases CAI~ conduit 14. The se~l including conduit 14 is shov~ tn
more ~et~il in fi~ur~ 19. The ~or~uit 14 is in~ined rel~ive to h~ri~un~l so th~t ~ere i~ a
sli~ a.~ d slope to~3rd ~e se~l ~0 In this way any w~ter th~t e~e~ the con~uit 14
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
will ~r~in into ~e pan. This pre~lents noise prohlems in use as mentioned in reL~tion t~ e
bou~ lof fi~ure 1 ab~ve
A5 can ~e seen from ~e pr~oe~ fi~ur~?s, d~penderll on the set up required, the
,on ~onduit 14 ~n enter ~le cistem from ~ny n4rnber of convenjent k.~;JI~s, for
ex~rnpb frorn ~he ci5te~ sel ~ck or si~e5. The ~isteln m~y ~e pr~vided ~ith the
appropri~te knockouts or holes to effect these eonstm~on5
Ano~er forrn ~f toibt system u hich is not illustrated ~s that which is usu,~ily refçrred
to as U~ One Pieoe" toilet in which the pan an~ the cis~em are integr~lly moulded together
as a ~ingle uni~ry item~ It will be seen that as long as this fo~n of toilet sysberrll or any other
10 toilet system, has a ~IJshing aperb~re or ~verRow pipe wni~h ~n ~e flr~cserl ~o e~ct
gases ~e~Lth~uugh, then ~e p~sentinYention is appli~ble.
~ he fan 1~ is ~ [~hly activ~ s~l~ç~ o th~t nper~inn i5 effiaient Thus,
although th~ hn may be oper~ted in respon~e to ~t;tivabion of a light ~Mit~ a5 with other
liull syst~ms, ~is method is nnt pl~ned as the fan rnay be left on for unnecessarily
l~ long perio~s af ~m~. A ~ren~ m~od of ~-e,~Li~l i~ to have a proXim~ sen~or whidl
sense~ close prox~mrty to, or use of, the toilet and a~v~tes ~e fan. Sudl a sensor may
w, l ~ an in~a-red sensor for ex~mple ~s r~ I fu ther helow, or a rnotion serls~r, or
a pressure t ans~u~er loc~ ~n ~e toilet. It w~ll ~e $een th~t many o~er forms of s~nsor
may al~o ~e ~
~0 Referrirlg t~ ~i~re 1g a face pl~tf~ ~û for ~ de~e~Dr such as a passive inf~recl (PIR)
detector is shown . The face plate ~overs a nlountin~ plate ~3 ~refer ~gure~ ~0~ h
control appara~s wmprisinE3 e~ectric an~i electronic circuitry 4~ ~reier h~ure~ 21 and ~) is
mounted for operation of ~e ~n in~lJding the po~,uer ~upp~ for ~e fan motor. Thewnsbu~lion p~ides ~onsider~ble advantages for e~e ~nd ll,ellgf~,~ reduction in cost~ o~
~5 i.,~i ~ " ' 1. The u~it op~ rl is desuibed fur~er below.
The mounting plate ~3 ~refer figure ~1~ ha~ a de~haL,le l~ns ~ rer ~4 hehind which
the PIF~ sensor 52 is l~d. The appar~tus is sho~n in side elevatiorl in figu~es 21 and
21a in which it can also be seerl that a sensor lens 57 is pro~ided, being lo~ated in lhe lens
~~ver ~4. The lens eover 54 is cleta~hal~le ~o ~llouu ~ light bulh 5~ which is used as a nig~t
30 li~ht to be easi~ inst~ nd r~pl~ he ~pp~r~lus ~n be moL~r~ted on a wall within the
vicinity of ~e toilet SO as to detect the prtse"ce of persuns in ~e gener~l vicinity of th~
toilet In figure ~1 ~e rnounting pbt~ 53 can be seen as can ~e ba~k pl~te SS \Ivhl~h cou~s
the elec~ic and ~le~u~, ~ component!; at the re~r of ~e mounting plate. I he ba~lc pl~le 55
ensures th~t the di~ut ~oar~ 49 on which the ele~-~ nd el~l,~ni~ uit u~r",uonents
3j ~re mour~d is ~deqll:-tely sewred and pr~ledl:d a~ainst a~r moven~ent, d~n ~ge and
~i4, ~ I ,L temperah re chan~es ~at unll aFFecl: the PIR sensor.
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
The ~pp~rab~s is sl~4n in re~r elev~bon and in plan vi~w ~rom be~ow in fi~ures ~4
and 25. Mounting holes 56 that c~mply wi~ intem~tional st~ndards are ptovided in ~e
mounting plate ~ for mounting the apparatus on a ~Ivall. Re~ening ta Fi~ 24, ~penings
~8t and ~ allov~ connec~ian of ~e fan motor power supp~y lines ~ a DC power supply
provided on U~e cir~uit hoar~ mounted on ~e rnoLmting plate 53. Openin~s 60 and ~1 allow
o~nn~ction ~ a rn~ins p~er supp~y. In f~ure 2~ fur~r ~";, ~ shown in ha~lc plate ~5
for screw t~m~"~'~ ~B~, ~ and ~ and ~1 are pro~ide~ for ~ccessing the sorews ~f the
tem~înals f~rwirin~ instal~a~ion p~
Referring to fi~ure ~ ~ schematic qr~ di~r~m is shclwn. The mains ~upply is
pr~vi~ t te"-,;n~ and 61. Seie~i~n apparat~s is provi~ed at block 70 for selecting
~e voltage levei of ~e m3ins altema~ng current input volt~e, ~or exarnple ~240 volts or
11~11~ Yo~ts AC. The l}C pou~r supply may be derived in a number of different ways, anc
p~ ly comprises an nff line switch mode power 5Upply 74 The 5l~pply may haue a
numberof DC~ outpLn volt~e levels for motor speed conbl~l. A~rnatively, ~ncl plLrel-d~ly, a
1~ f~n speed c~ntrolier switch 47 is provided whieh uses Pul~ Wid~ hlodu]~tion (PWI~A~ to
~nn~ e spe~ of ~e fan in in~rement~l ~ges, ~or example ten in~remer~l stages. The
sele~t~hle C~C output levels ~llow a selec~on of nC ~0~3ges mnging fr3m 6 to 17 volts in ten
i,~,~r"~n~al sta~es to ~e supplied to ~e f~n motor, depending on ~e required fanpe~rv~ d~lw A run timer4~ is prwided, ha~nng ~n a~justable run time period, for ~x~rn,~L,
~0 1 minute to 16 rrlinutes in t~ i' 1~ rl lenldl stages, ~a~ ~n be selected by a manu~l seleotor
as i lus~ated l~y seleotor ~B in hgure 20.
The power su~ply 74 al~o provides ~ ~C supply tl~ ~e PIR dete~or ~ (whiK~h i5
pr~nided behirKi lens 57 in hgure 1~ vation of the PIR dete~or ~ ~vates timer 4~whl~h activates Yne mot~r sw~h gO ~nd the ni~ht li~ht ~or~oller 9~ ch in tum ~ctivates
'~ ni~ht light ~g ~nd begins timing the selected time peri~d. The night light 5~ is ~tiv~t~d t~
pr~vide ligh~ for a user of the toi~et A dayllght detector 93 ~refer fi~ure 20) dete~:ts the level
of am~ient light in the vidrui~f of b' e toile~ to ensure th~t the ni~ht liyht does n~t function
when there is suffident light, ~r exarnple dunng daylight psriods, which also reduces
electrici~ consllmp~on dunn~ d~y time use. The light 59 is plt r~ ly a dirnma~ light
~0 Ac~v~tinn of the rnotor switch ~0 sunplies the power ~upply to ~e D~ mo-t~
ct)nr~ecbon tenninals ~ so that the motor g~ receives ~e ~C~ sL~pply at the volta~e
level selected or spec~ed PWM sele~ted by ~ele~r 47 and jB OPeI':3LO~1aI SO Ulat the
impeller i5 r~tated. Once ~e brner 4~ ~imes ot~t, the ni~ht li~h~ ~g is de~cbh~ted ~nd t~e
motor su~tch 90 i5 der~ te~, ~rnin~ ~e motor off
The L~se of a ~C rnotor provides ~)~ ~dLl~ ~d~nt~ges Frstly, ~e speer~ of
operal~n ~f ~e m~ur rnay be mudl higher than ~at of the AC motors used in p1ior i3rt fan~,
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
the spe~ of which is ~ons~r~ine~ ~y ~ m~ins supp~ l~uen :3r. l~e speed of operat~on
of the Dire~ Cllrrent motor of th~ present irn~ntion allows the in~rention to tle usecl
effectively on rnodem toilet ~pp~ra~s.
The u~e ~f ~ UC mot~ Ilow59re;ltetspeecl ~nd t~r4ue to ~e ~hie~ed for .~ n
S mot~r 5L2~! th~n pnor art e~ .udi,.~r~ls. The~fore, ff~e present invenbon ~llaJvs a gre~ter
v~cuum to be aohiev~d ~n ~e prior a~t ern~odiments and thuS a much hi~her ~s flow
rate or g~s movement capacity than the fans of ~e pnor art systen s A hi~h flow rate i5
neoes~a~y for effectiv~ gas e~l,a~iL, and thus eff~tive od~Jr rem~val on moclern toilet
Tile use of a C)C supply also ~ I,ises the risk of electri~ sho~ to 3 L~ser and
E~the ni* ~F fite ~huuld ~e motor develnp a ~L~K. Th~ ~bili~r to se~ e ~l~nal
speed ~f the CX: moto~ (an~ thus the flow r~te nf U~e fzn~ allow~ some fne tunin~ of the
~p~, ~ IS durin~ or aflYr ,., ' " ~i n. F~r example, ~ the appar~S is not very ~ffective at
removing odours at ~n initial Ydt~ge level orf~n rotational speed sudl as that corresponding
1~ to B Yolt~ (pO~Sibly due to pipe si~e r~ Lr n-~ for e~cample), the leYel can ~e adjustecl to a
higher leuel ~p tn th~t ~rr~s~onding to 12 vnlts ~or gre~ter if re~uired) in ten in~m~ntal
stages to in~reas~ fan speed untll efFectNe oper~on is ~hleved. Sirnilarly, ~ the apparatu~
is r~perating ~t a level ~re g~s removal is very effe~ive, but too much n~e is bein~
generated, the vol~age level may be decreased The 3djustable r~nge of f~n ~rnpell~r
speed~ is pr~F~r~l: ly ~etween ~pr~xil "..t~y 4000 revolutinns per minute~ lrpm) i~
appr~"l~t~ly 17nOO ~m An ~Iternative to controllin~ ~e voHa~e level is to provide current
limfflng t~ con~rol the motor sp.~edftor~ue ~ ,c, ~L~Iisbes
T~e pr~visior, of ~e power supply, ~olt~ge adjustme rt, ~imer, timer ~djustn~er~,
acbvation detec~torl ni~ht light and o'~yli~ht det~tor ~11 as one u nit provides si~nificart
.~ a.~vantages for ease of instal~tion and ~erefare r~d~cti~n in installation and ",~;.,' nc~
co~. R~.ther tharl h~ve the con ~ nt comp~nents indiuidu~lly wired into the system
durng inst~llabon, there is ~ single un~ whieh only nee~ e conne.~ted to the mains
supph" ~nd t~ the nl~r ~ahle.
R~r~ri"~ to fi~ures 27 and 28 lhe f2n ~ss~r"~ly, generally ~ferenced 1~ ~s showrt
~0 ~t~ , ''y and in cross se~on, ~e~pecbvely. The fan ~s~e~bly 15 ~ pri$e~ ~ fan housing
1~0 Ihat is preferably proYided in separate parts 10~, 1n~ and 1 OR for ease ~f rnanufa~ure
~nd ~sselllLly. ~he hn~sing p~s a~e prere~d~ly moulded fr~m a plas~ PolY~in~1nhlnri~Q
(PVC) matenal ~n~ 2.re glue~ toye~erto wl ~ Lh: ass0mbly l~ousin~ part 1U2 ~4n~pns~s
~e oenb~l part of ~e housing arxi inclLI~es mot~r n~oun~ng hracket 110 th~t is preferab~
3 5 In~ y n~ ed with p~rt 1~ An ~pe~re 1 12 is p~o~ided f~r ently of a cahle 1 14 for the
motor power 5Upply ni~e~t Current Motor 92 is mounted onto br~cket 110 by ~rew~ 116
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
fo~ example whioh engage ~vith the enti of the motor ad~acenl to the outp~t shai~ o hoid
the motor rel~bve f3~ ~e hoLl~ing. The fan impeller 120 i$ ~a~he~ to ~e output shaft 11
~y ghlinç3 For e~3mple, or by a fniction~l en~ag~ent or a sptin~ loade~ circ~ip for example.
Parts 10~ and 108 of Ihe housing aJ~ Jrise tl~ h~L~sing çn~l ~ps whioh ~re
en~a~ed with oentral part 10~. End ~p 10~ h~s an inlet 1~1 and end ~;ap 108 h~s an outlet
1~2. The inle~ 3nd o~t~ ~ce~ve ~ases ~on~uit 14.
2d g~es ~re in use draunl into th~ f~n housihg ~tough inlet 1~1, so Ule
dire~i:ion of ~ses fhw is as ill~s~ated ~ anow 124 ~h~ure 27~, they pass throu~h the
bl~es 12~ of ~e mt~3ting irnpeller ~3nd U~ drL~ through ~aps pron~ided in the rnour~tir-~
lO br~dcet 11~ which indudes mdial webs 111 ~at a~ ~55tator vanes to linearise the gas flaw
and to provide minimal imped~n~e ~o the gas flow. The gases e~dt the ~se,"bl~ through
outlet 1Z.
It will be seen ~t~t the f~n ~ssem~y design prcvides ~ numb~r ~f adv~ntages. Thefirst is the v~idth fi.e. ~e ~iamet~r) of the ho~sing i~ in the r~nge of ~nly c~ ly 6~n~m
1~ ~o 80 mm, and is pr~ '~r~Lly 7~mm whkh i~ no~ s~h~tan~lly grP~er than ~t of the fann inlet
121 ~r au~et 12~ whi~h ~orrespnnd t~ the width ~f condt~t 14 which is pr~rer~ly
d~pru,ci~,a~ly 40mrn to 60mm. This all~w~ the a~seml~ly to be lo~ted in w~ll ~ities of
residenbal ch~vellings so that the appar~us ~an be ins~lle~ easilyuvhich reduces cost. Al5o,
the resultar~ inst~llation i5 easily hidden, whe~er i~ is mounte~ inside a wall ~Yi~y or on an
~0 e~temal ~ur~ace of a yuall nue to the size ~n~ design of ~e fan 1~, the installation is
aes~etically pleasing. The ~4nstn~ion is ~Iso ~ rly ~O~L~$~ ~he f3n is ~ self cont3ined
unit whi~h c~n be pl~ t a numt~er oF points in ~e syS~n~ Row palh.
In installabons in wt~ he e~bdc~d gas~s ~3re remo~ed via the intemal nverflow
~on~uit, ~e f~n 1~ shDuld ~e provi~ed at a level which is abav~ the overRow lev~l oF the
25 aistem so as to ~ lise the risk nf ~e fan burnin~ out in Ule event of ~ flood. ~he low
vol~age DC power supply lirnits ~e nsk of f~e or ele~ut~n.
Fur~errnore, it will t)e seen that the f~n 1~ may be proYided at a num~e~ of ~fher
luc~ s in ~ system ~lependent on the ~c~ ~ or ~nce..'~"~nt re-lu Hl~llL~ of a
user. For ex~rnple~ ffle fan co~d ~e prwid~d in or ~boYe the ci~tern, or in Hle w~
30 imrnediately bel~ ~e cistem, or ~bave the raof 5 if required. Also, ~ single tan. or source
of negative~ air pressure can he used ~ e~r~ gases frr rn a plurality of toilet sy~tems. For
example, ~ ven~ila~ion sh~ft 00nl~nsl,lg p~rt ~ ~ air ~ndii~rq~", ,g system of a ~uil~mg may
be ~sed in place of the f~n 15 for providin~ ~e source of ne~aat~ve ~ pressllre req~ d to
extract ~e ~ases
3~ The preserrt invention provi~es si5~,~ir,~"l advar~e~ over pnor art systerns as it
:an he easily installe~ in ~arious types nf tolet, in parli~ular ~lose Coupled ~rpe~. The
CA 02209726 1997-07-07
sy~tem ~n be e~sily inst~lled usin~ plasties PV~ :;orlduits, for exam~e ~onstruGted from
PVG which c~n ~e ~lue~ for e~se of ~rlr ~ nd se~ling. Without the use of a DC fan
motor, which enables s~mUent v~cuum ~nd flow r~tes to be achie~Jed for the size of motor.
the syst~m cloes n~t work s~ rily in modem toilet in ' " ': ls ~nfen their restrictive
S piping configuratior~s This is espe~i~lly ~ fi~, .l ~eoause modem toilets ~re mos~y of ~e
~lo~e ~upled ~pe and are often lo~ted m roorns in the middle of houses ~i.e. rooms th~t
are not imi"e~ ly aq~oent to an extemal wall) so th~t hidden installation of an effectiYe
system providing s~ff~ient v~um and llow rates c~nnot he a~hieved without ~e p~esent
invention.
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