Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~
. 1
WATER CLOSE~ FLUSHING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water closet
flushing apparatus and more particularly to a water
closet flushing apparatus capable of efficiently
supplying flushing water to a bowl of a water closet and
also to a trap discharge passage which is disposed
adjacent to the bottom of the water closet bowl and which
can produce a siphon action.
A water closet comprises a bowl which receives human
excreta and a trap discharge passage substantially in the
form of an inverted U-shaped and communicated with the
bottom of the water closet bowl.
In order that the amount of flushing water supplied
to the water closet bowl can be decreased and in order
for there to be the definite generation in the trap
discharge passage of the siphon action necessary for the
flushing operation, there has recently been proposed a
method in which flushin~ water is fed through independent
flushing water lines to the water closet bowl and the
trap discharge passage.
For example, in the case of the water closet
flushing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent
Publication No. 30092/1980, a flushing water pipe and an
independent flushing water pipe are respectively
communicated with a water closet bowl and a trap
discharge passage so that they are both independently
charged with flushing water. In a water closet flushing
apparatus of the type described above, the flushing wa~er
that is supplied to the water closet bowl is supplied
from a plural number of supply holes piercing the rim
portion of the water closet bowl. In addition, the
; flushing water that is supplied to the trap discharge
passage is supplied via a flushing water supply system
separate from the water closet bowl flushing water supply
system, and which supplies the flushing water to an
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opening provided in the portion of the trap discharge
passage that communicates with the bottom of the water
closet bowl. In addition, in a water closet flushing
apparatus of the type described above, solenoid
controlled valves are inserted into the two flushing
water pipes and a timer is used to send signals to open
and close the solenoid valves.
In the water closet flushing apparatus o~ the type
described above, the solenoid controlled valves are
controlled so that flushing water is first supplied to
the trap discharge passage to produce the siphon action
whereby the excreta and the flushing water are
discharged. After this, flushinq water is supplied to
the water closet bowl to clean the bowl. Therefore, when
compared with conventional water closet flushing
apparatus of the type in which flushing water is supplied
to only the water closet bowl, there is the effect of
causing the trap discharge passage to function as a
siphon and consequently of requiring less flushing water.
However, in the case of conventional flushing
apparatus of the type described above, the solenoid
controlled valves are controlled to open or close in
response to a time interval set by the timer so that
there is the problem that when there are variations in
the pressure of the flushing water in the flushing water
supply line, there is also a variation in the flow rate
so that an optimum flushing effect cannot be obtained.
In particular, there is the problem that excreta remains
in the water closet bowl when the pressure of the
flushiny water drops.
Moreover, the flushing water supply holes in the
trap discharge passage are provided in the vicinity of
the entrance to the trap dischar~e passage, and the
flushing water has to be made to flow up from the lower
end of the trap discharge passage to spill over the bend
at the upper end of the trap discharge passage. Because
of this, the trap ~ischarge passage has to be filled with
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water from the bend at the upper end of the trap
discharge passage to the lower end of the trap discharge
passage and so the amount of water that is required to
create a definite siphon effect in the entire trap
discharge passage is much larger than would be otherwise
expected.
In addition, there is an additional problem in that
the cleaning of the bowl is performed after the excreta
has been flushed out of the trap di~charge passage and so
excreta that has not been completely flushed out of the
trap discharge passage by the siphon action falls back to
remain in the bowl.
SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a
water closet flushing apparatus that is capable of
effectively cleaning the water closet bowl using only a
: small amount of flushing water.
The water closet flushing apparatus of the present
invention is provided with a bowl portion and a trap
discharge passage in the shape of an inverted letter "U"
and formed in the vicinity of the bowl portion and having
a top bend along its length, a water supply source for
the supply of the flushing water, a first supply means
communicating the water supply source and the water
closet bowl and for the supply of flushing water to the
water closet bowl, a flushing water spray provided at the
top portion of the trap discharge passage to spray
flushing water from the top bend portion o the trap
discharge passage and in the direction of the trap
discharge passage on the downstream side, a second supply
means to supply water to the shower, a first opening and
closing means provided for the bowl water supply passage,
: a second opening and closing means provided for the trap
discharge passage flushing water supply passage, and a
control means to send command signals for the opening
and/or closing action of the first opening and closing
means and the second opening and closing means.
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2(~ 322
According to the present invention, the flushing
water is supplied to the water closet bowl portion and
the trap discharge passage in the following procedure.
a. A predetermined quantity of flushing water is
supplied to the bowl portion, thereby cleaning it.
b. Water is sprayed into the discharge passage of
the trap discharge passage to create a siphon action in
the trap discharge passage and thereby discharge the
water in the bowl portion.
lQc. The flushing water is supplied at a predetermined
flow rate to the bowl portion, thereby providing a water
seal for the bowl portion.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional view indicating a
first preferred embodiment of a water closet flushing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram indicating the
configuration of a control apparatus for the water closet
flushing apparatus indicating in FIG. l.
20FIG. 3 is a flow chart indicating the flushing
process for the water closet flushing apparatus in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a time chart of one example of the
operation of the water closet flushing apparatus in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 through FIG. 7 are time charts of o~her
i examples of the operation of the water closet flushing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
FIG~ 8 is a longitudinal sectional view indicating a
second preferred embodiment of a water closet flushing
apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along
section line IX-IX of the water closet ~lushing apparatus
in FIG. 8.
35DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 indicate a first embodiment of the
water closet flushing apparatus according to the present
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invention. A flushing bowl 10 is provided with a bowl
portion 11 in which the excreta is collected, this bowl
portion 11 being divided into two portions by a partition
wall lla, a trap discharge passage 12 communicating the
two portions at the bottom portion of the bowl portion 11
and in the shape of an inverted letter "U", and a rim 13
formed in a substantially cylindrical shape around an
upper edge of the bowl portion 11. The rim 13 is hollow
and forms a flow path 13a for the flushing water. One
portion of the flow path 13a is enlarged to form a water
supply chamber 13d and a water supply inlet 13b opens
into this water supply chamber 13d. Moreover, the rim 13
has a plural number of substantially circular-shaped
flushing water supply holes 13c opened in it and
communicating with the flow path 13a. These flushing
water supply holes 13c are opened at an angle in the
inner wall of the bowl portion 11. For example, the
flushing water supply holes 13c are opened at an angle so
that the direction of the water supplied through them is
approximately 45 to the horizontal and in the downwards
direction. By this, the flushing water discharged into
the bowl creates a vortex in the bowl portion 11.
The trap discharge passage 12 has a flow inlet 12a
formed between the bottom end llb of the partition wall
lla and the bottom portion of the bowl portion 11. In
addition, the trap discharge passage 12 with its
substantially inverted letter "U" shape is provided with
a top bend portion 12b and the flushing water W is
discharqed so as to flow over this top bend portion 12b.
A discharge passage 12c downstream from the trap
discharge passage 12 is formed as a straight pipe which
is substantially vertical, and a discharge outlet 12d i5
provided at its lower end.
The top portion of the trap discharge passage 12 is
formed so as to be flat, and is provided with a plural
number of spray holes 14 that are opened through it and
directly above the discharge passage 12c. These spray
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holes 14 are opened so as to have a slight inclination so
that they spray water onto the walls of the discharge
passage 12c of the trap discharge passage 12. In
addition, the spray holes 14 are opened radially at
S substantially equal gaps so that the water is dispersed
as it is sprayed. To the top portion of the spray holes
14 is mounted a cover 15 that covers all o~ the spray
holes 14.
To the upper side of a water supply chamber 13d of
the flushing bowl 10 is provided a cover 17 comprising an
equipment housing chamber 16 that houses the flushing
water supply control apparatus. To the equipment housing
chamber 16 is inserted a flushing water supply pipe 19
that pierces the cover 17 and which is connected to a
flushing wate~ supply source 18.. This flushing water
supply pipe 19 branches into two midway along its length,
with the branches being connected to a bowl water supply
pipe 22 and a trap discharge passage ~ater supply pipe
23. The bowl water supply pipe 22 is connected to a
water supply inlet 13b that opens into the water supply
chamber 13d, and along its length are provided in order,
a solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
portion, a vacuum braker 24 which is open to the
atmosphere and a flow sensor 25. In addition, the trap
discharge passage water supply pipe 23 is communicated
with the space inside the cover 15 of the spray holes 14
via a rubber hose, along the length of which are provided
in order, a solenoid opening and closing valve ~water
spray valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portionr a
vacuum braker 27 which is open to the atmosphere, and a
flow sensor 28. A rubber hose 26 is provided in
substantially the shape of a letter "U" and the bend
portion 26a is disposed so that it is at a position lower
than the position of the top bend portion 12b of the trap
discharge passage 12.
A control apparatus 30 is provided inside the
equipment housing chamber 16 and this control apparatus
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~0 is connected by signal lines to the solenoid opening
and closing valve 20 for the bowl portion, the solenoid
opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the
trap discharge passage portion, the flow sensor 25 and
the flow sensor 28. In addition, the control apparatus
30 is connected to a start input portion 29 provided with
various types of switches for the operation of the
flushing water supply apparatus or sensors for generating
operation start signals, and this start input portion 29
is also provided inside the equipment housing chamber 16.
~ s indicated in FIG. 2, the control apparatus 30 is
provided with a microprocessor ~MPU) 31, a memory 32, an
input interface circuit 33 and an output interface
circuit 34. The microprocessor 31 is provided with a
15 water amount comparison means 31b that compares the total
flushing water amount on the basis of calculations by a
flushing water amount calculation means 31a and flushing
water amount calculation means 31a on the basis of flow
signals from the flow sensor 25 and flow sensor 28
respectively, with the set value for a predetermined
flushing water amount. The set value for a predetermined
flushing water amount is stored beforehand in the memory
32. In addition, the memory 32 also stores the command
process for the signals that command the opening and
closing operation of ~he solenoid opening and closing
valve 20 for the bowl portion. In the microprocessor 31
is set a timer 31c for timing control of the opening and
closin~ operation command signals for the solenoid
opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl portion and the
solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21
for the trap ~ischarge passage portion.
Signal line 23a and signal line 2Ba connect the
input interface circuit 33 of the control apparatus 30 to
the flow sensor 2S provided for the bowl water supply
pipe 22 and the flow sensor 28 provided for the trap
discharge passage water supply pipe 23, respectively. In
addition, signal line 20a and signal line 21a connect the
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output interface circuit 34 of the control apparatus 30
to the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
portion and the solenoid opening and closing valve (water
spray valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portion,
respectively, so that opening and closing operation
command signals are sent to the solenoid opening and
closing valve 20 for the bowl portion and the solenoid
opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the
trap discharge passage portion.
lQ The following is a description of the procedure forthe operation of the water closet flushing apparatus
according to the present invention, and with respect to
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
A manual switch, a switch activated by getting off
the toilet seat after use of the water closet, a
photosensor or the like is used to switch on a start
switch 29b and start the operation of the water closet
flushing apparatus. A start signal from the start input
portion 29 is sent to the control apparatus 30 and then
the microprocessor 31 sends an open bowl command signal
to the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
portion. By the opening of the solenoid opening and
closing valve 20 for the bowl portion, flushing water
from the flushing water supply source 18 is supplied to
the water supply inlet 13b via a bowl water supply pipe
22. The flushing water that flows from the water supply
inlet 13b and into the flow path 13a of the rim 13 is
sprayed out from flushing water supply holes 13c and
flows down into the bowl portion 11 while forming a
3~ vortex. This action cleans the inside of the bowl
portion 11 (Step S1).
The amount of flushing water that Elows to the bowl
portion 11 is detected by the flow sensor 25 and the flow
signal for that amount is sent to the flushing water
amount calculation means 31a of the control apparatus 30
and the amount of water is calculated (Step S2). The
water amount comparison means 31b compares the calculated
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amount of water with the predetermined value (Step S3).
When the amount of water that has flowed into the bowl
portion 11 reaches a predetermined value, a close valve
command signal is sent to the solenoid opening and
closing valve 20 for the bowl portion and the solenoid
opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl portion is
closed (Step S4). This completes the flushing action for
the inside of the bowl portion 11.
The start signal from the start input portion 29 is
also sent to the timer 31c of the control apparatus 30
and starts the timer countdown by the timer 31c (Step
S5). When the count time has exceeded a predetermined
value, a valve release command signal is sent from the
control apparatus 30 to the solenoid opening and closing
15 valve (water spray valve) 21 provided on the trap
discharge passage water supply pipe 23 (Step S6). The
solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21
then opens and water from the f~ushing water supply
source 18 is supplied to the rubber hose 26 via the trap
discharge passage water supply pipe 23 and flows into the
cover lS. The water that has flown into thè cover 15 is
radially sprayed from the spray holes 14 in the direction
of the inner wall of the discharge passage 12c of the
trap discharge passage 12 and is supplied to the inside
of the discharge passage 12c of the trap discharge
passage 12. By this, the inside of the discharge passage
12c of the trap discharge passa~e 12 is filled with
flushing water and the air which is mixed with it and
flows from the discharge outlet 12d. The flowiny action
of this air and water mix creates a negative pressure
inside the discharge passage 12c and this creates a
siphon action in the trap discharge passage 12 so that
the flushing water and the excreta that has collected in
the bowl portion 11 rises over the top bend portion 12b
and is flushed along the discharge passage 12c of the
trap discharge passage 12. The amount of flushing water
necessary to create the siphon action is determined by
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the optimum value according to the shape of the trap
discharge passage 12 and other factors, and the control
of this amount of flushing water is performed using the
flow sensor 28. This is to say that as in the same way
for the control of the flow amount to the bowl portion
ll, the flow amount is detected by the flow sensor 28 and
is calculated by the flushing water amount calculation
means 31a and this value is compared by the water amount
comparison means 31b with a predetermined value (Steps
S7, S8). When a predetermined amount of fIushing water
has been sprayed from the spray holes 14, the solenoid
opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the
trap discharge passage portion is closed (Step S9).
The timing for the opening of the solenoid opening
15 and closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the trap
discharge passage portion is as shown in FIG. 4, can be
made for when the solenoid opening and closing valve 20
for the bowl portion is open. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 4, the time Tl is when flushing water is supplied to
both the bowl portion ll and the rubber hose 26. By
this, the air inside the rubber hose 26 can be discharged
beforehand from the spray holes 14 so that it is possible
to effectively perform the flushing water spray action to
then create the siphon action.
When the spraying of the amount of flushing water
necessary to create the siphon action has been completed,
the solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray
valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portion is
closed and the siphon action causes the excreta and the
contaminated water in the bowl portion 11 to be flushed
away but the time that this flushing action continues is
controlled by the timer 31c. This is to say that the
time count by the timer 31c begins when the solenoid
opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl portion closes
tstep lO). After a predetermined time T2 has elapsed
(Refer to FIG. 4), the open command signal is sent to the
solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
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portion and the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for
the bowl portion opens once again. By this, flushing
water is supplied to inside the bowl portion 11 but the
supply amount is detected using the flow sensor 25 in the
same manner as has been previously described and is
calculated by the microprocessor 31 (Step S12) The
water amount comparison means 31b compares whether or not
a predetermined flow amount has been reached (Step S13)
and the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the
bowl portion closes when a predetermined amount has been
reached (Step S14). By this, the bowl is water sealed
(i.e. the water level rises) for up to a predetermined
level inside the bowl portion 11. Then, the closing of
the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
15 portion completes the series of processes for the water
closet flushing apparatus.
In this manner, the flushing water sprayed from the
spray holes 14 provided at the top of the trap discharge
passage 12 to the inside of the discharge passage 12c of
the trap discharge passage 12 allows the discharge
passage 12c to be easily filled with flushing water so
that a siphon action is efficiently created using only a
small amount of flushing water. In addition, the amount
of flushing water sprayed to the trap discharge passage
12 is detected and controlled by the flow sensor 28 so
that the optimum control can be performed for the amount
of water necessary for the siphon action. Moreover, the
closing command signals for the solenoid opening and
closing valve 20 for the bowl portion and the solenoid
opening and closing valve lwater spray valve) 21 for the
trap discharge passage portion are controlled on the
basi~ of the results of calculation of the supply amounts
detected by the flow sensor 25 and the flow sensor 28 and
so even if a pressure fluctuation is created in the
flushing water supply source 18 or the flushing water
supply pipe 19, it is always possible for a predetermined
amount of flushing water to be supplied so that no
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12
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problems are caused due to there being insufficient
water. In addition, when the flushing of the bowl
portion 11 has been completed, the use of a flushing
process to discharge excreta from the trap discharge
passage 12 mean~ that a favorable flushing effect can
always be obtained even when there is a large amount of
excreta in the bowl portion 11.
In addition, the bend portion 26a of the rubber hose
26 for supplying flushing water to the spray holes 14 is
provided so that there is always flushing water inside
the rubber hose 26. This means that odors inside the
trap discharye passage 12 do not pass through the rubber
hose 26 and the trap discharge passage water supply pipe
23 to leak into the room.
In the above described embodiment of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 4, the solenoid opening and
closing valve 20 for the bowl portion opens and then the
solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21
for the trap discharge passage portion opens so that the
flushing of the bowl portion 11 and the spraying of
flushing water to the trap discharge passage 12 are
performed simultaneously.
~ owever, as is shown in FIG. 5, the opening action
of the solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray
valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portion can be
performed after the solenoid opening and closing valve
(water spray valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage
portion has opened. In this case, the opening operation
command signal for the solenoid opening and closing valve
20 for the bowl portion need not use the timer 31c of the
control apparatus 30 and only the closing signal for the
solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
portion need be used. Such water supply operation can be
performed using a two-way automatic switching value
instead of the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for
the bowl portion and the solenoid opening and closing
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2(~)292%
valve (water spray valve) 21 for the trap discharge
passage portion.
In addition, as is indicated in the flow chart of
FIG. 6, it is also possible for the solenoid opening and
5 closing valve 20 for the bowl portion to open while the
solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21
for the trap discharge passage portion is open, and for
the creation of the water seal to commence. If this is
done, then the flushing water sprayed from the spray
10 holes 14 creates a siphon and then water is discharged to
the bowl portion 11 while the water inside the bowl
portion 11 is being flushed. Accordingly, the bowl
portion 11 becomes empty due to the siphon action and the
absence of any water connecting the bowl portion 11 and
the trap discharge passage 12 is prevented. By this, the
entry of odors from the trap discharge passage 12 to the
bowl portion 11 is prevented and noise from the flushing
water spray at the spray holes 14 can also be shut out.
In addition, as is shown in the time chart in FIG~
7, it is possible to continually perform the spraying of
flushing water to the trap discharge passage 12 at a
predetermined time gap. This is to say that when the
initial flushing water supply action to the trap
discharge passage 12 has been completed, the timer 31c
25 counts the time and after a predetermined time T3 has
elapsed, the solenoid opening and closing valve (water
spray valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portion
opens and flushing water is again supplied from the spray
holes 14 to the trap discharge passage 12. By this,
siphon action inside the trap discharge passage 12 can be
made to continue for a long time and the performance in
flushing away any floating excreta in the bowl portion 11
can be increased.
Furthermore, instead of the flow sensor 25 and the
35 flow sensor 28, it is possible to use a vaned wheel that
rotates in proportion to the flow and which outputs
electrical signals in accordance with that rotation. In
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addition, a pressure gauge can be provided along the
supply pipes as another type of flow control means so
that the operating time of the timer is controlled on the
basis of the detected value for the pressure, and ~hereby
5 control the opening operation time of the solenoid
opening and closing valves.
FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the water
closet flushing apparatus according to the present
invention.
In this embodiment, a water seal generation
mechanism is communicated with the lower end of the trap
discharge p~ssage 12 and a supply source of the flushing
water sprayed to the trap discharge passage 12 is
different from the supply source for the flushing water
15 supplied to the bowl portion 11. The other portions of
this embodiment are the same as those described for the
first embodiment, are indicated in the figure with the
same numbers and the corresponding explanation for them
is omitted.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the
downstream side of the discharge passage 12c of the trap
discharge passage 12 is formed in approximately straight
from the top bend portion 12b. This lower end of the
discharge passage 12c has a cylindrically shaped water
25 seal mechanism 40 fixed and so as to communicate with it.
The water seal mechanism 40 is cylindrical in shape and
is made of synthetic resin, has an enlarged diameter
portion 41 where the diameter enlarges from the middle
portion to the bottom portion, and an excreta guide
30 cylinder 42 disposed so as to be housed inside this
enlarged diameter portion 41. The lower end of the
enlarged diameter portion 41 is formed with a flange
portion 41a facing towards the inside, and a flow outlet
43 is provided with a reduced diameter portion. To the
35 top of the enlarged diameter portion 41 is provided a
communicated cylindrical portion 41b which engages with
the downstream end of the discharge passage 12c using
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adhesive or the like so that a leakproof state is
maintained.
The enlarged diameter portion 41 and the excreta
guide cylinder 42 are communicated by a communicating
5 portion 44 as shown in FIG. 9. Between the inner
circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter portion
41 and the outer circumferential surface of the excreta
guide cylinder 42, and between the lower end of the
excreta guide cylinder 42 and the upper surface of the
flange portion 41a are respectively provided gaps 45 and
46 as respectively shown in FIG. R and FIG. 9. In
addition, between the inner wall of the enlarged diameter
portion 41 and the upper end of the excreta guide
cylinder 42 is provided a gap 47.
Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present
- invention, water that has already been processed and
stored in the processed water tank 50 is used as the
flushing water that is sprayed to ~he discharge passage
12c of the trap discharge passage 12. The flushing water
that includes excreta and which has been discharged along
the trap discharge passage 12 is sent via a discharge
pipe (not indicated in the figure) to the processed water
tank 50 where it undergoes processing such as
sedimentation separation and chemical treatment.
The processed water tank 50 and the spray holes 14
to the trap discharge passage 12 are connected by a trap
discharge passage supply pipe 51 and a rubber hose 26.
The trap discharge passage supply pipe 51 which passes
through the cover 17 and which is connected to the
30 processed water tank 50 is provided along its length
with, in order from the upstream side, a water supply
pump 52, a flow sensor 28 and a solenoid opening and
closing valve ~water spray valve) 21 for the trap
discharge passage portion. In addition, the water supply
35 pump 52, the flow sensor 28 and the solenoid opening and
closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the trap
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discharge passage portion are each connected to a control
apparatus 30 by respective signal lines.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the
flushing water supply pipe 19 connected to a flushing
5 water supply source 18 such as a waterworks differs from
that of the first embodiment in that it is connected to
the bowl water supply pipe 22 without branching into two
along its length.
In addition, in this embodiment of the present
invention, the spray holes 14 for spraying flushing water
to the trap discharge passage 12 are different from those
of the first embodiment in that they are positioned
slightly downstream from the top of the trap discharge
passage 12. Accordingly, the water sprayed from the
spray holes 14 is sprayed as shown in FIG. 8, at a slight
angle with respect to the inner wall of the discharge
passage 12c of the trap discharge passage 12.
The process of the flushing operation of a water
closet flushing apparatus having such a configuration is
basically the same as that of the first ~mbodiment and
will be omitted here, and only the particular features of
this embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment of the present invention, after
the solenoid opening and closing valve 20 for the bowl
portion opens and the bowl portion 11 is supplied with
flushing water, flushing water is supplied to create a
siphon action in the trap discharge passage 12 but this
is performed in the following manner. This is to say
that the flushing water command signal output from the
control apparatus 30 to spray the trap discharge passage
12 with water is sent to the water supply pump 52 and to
the solenoid opening and closing valve (water spray
valve) 21 for the trap discharge passage portion so that
the water supply pump 52 operates and the solenoid
opening and closing valve (water spray valve) 21 for the
trap discharge passage portion opens. The water supply
pump 52 sends treated water that has been stored in the
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processed water tank 50, to the spray holes 14 via the
trap discharge passage supply pipe 51 and the rubber hose
2~, and water is sprayed from the spray holes 14 to the
inner wall of the discharge passage 12c. By this, a
siphon action is created in the trap discharge passage 12
in the same manner as has already been described.
In addition, in this embodiment of the present
invention, a water seal mechanism 40 is provided at the
lower end of the trap discharge passage 12. This is to
say that the one portion of the flushing water that flows
through the downstream side discharge passage ]2c of the
trap discharge passage 12 flows through the gaps 45, 46
and 47 between the enlarged diameter portion 41 and the
excreta guide cylinder 42 and is discharged from the flow
15 outlet 43. In this case, the flange portion 41a forms a
restricted diameter portion and so the flushing water
that passes the gap 46 between the lower end of the
excreta guide cylinder 42 and the upper surface of the
flange portion 41a and flows radially inwards creates a
20 water seal for the 43. This water seal blocks off the
inside of the trap discharge passage 12 from the
atmosphere and the flushing water is discharged
definitely and promptly from the flow outlet 43 when
flushing water is filled on the side upstream from the
25 water seal. By this, the generation of a complete siphon
inside the trap discharge passage 12 is facilitated.
In this manner as has been described above for the
second embodiment, treated water that has been stored in
the processed water tank 50 is used as the flushing water
that is supplied to the trap discharge passage 12 and so
the effective utilization of the flushing water is
promoted. In addition, the treated water that flows
inside the trap discharge passage 12 is not seen by the
user of the water closet and so there is no discomfort to
the user even if this water is discolored, for example.
Furthermore, by having a water seal mechanism 40
provided, the generation of the siphon action is
,. : ..
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18
20~92:~
facilitated and it becomes possible to reduce the amount
of flushing water used.
As has been described above, according to the
present invention, it is possible to perform efficient
flushing using relatively little flushing water.
Reducing the amount of water used for flushing means a
reduction in the amount of noise generated by flushing
and also that the various pipes and equipment and the
treated water tank itself can be made more compact.
While the presently preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been shown and described, it will
be understood that the disclosure is for the purposes of
illustration and that various changes and modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit or the
15 essential character of the invention. For example, it is
possible to apply the water seal mechanism to the first
embodiment. In addition, in the embodiments, the control
method for the flow used a calculation means for the
measurement and calculation of the flow but it is also
20 possible to perform control of the flow by using an
instantaneous flow measurement means and a timer. In
addition, one portion of the trap discharge passage water
supply passage to the trap discharge passage used a
rubber hose but a hose of various other types of material
25 may be used instead of a rubber hose.
,
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