CITERNE DE PURGE A VOLUME VARIABLE

VARIABLE VOLUME FLUSHING CISTERN

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT
A variable volume flushing cistern comprising
a body with a division wall across it to form two
compartments, the first containing a float and water inlet
valve and communicating with a flushing valve on the
base of the cistern, a second communicating through a
movable flap with the flushing valve so that by closing
the valve water from the second compartment can be prevented
from discharging through the flushing valve when a smaller
flush is required.
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Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.
1. A variable volume flushing cistern comprising,
a body having a division wall across it to form
a first compartment and a second compartment,
a float located within said cistern a water inlet
within said cistern connected to be actuated by the said
float,
a flushing valve in the said first compartment
positioned to discharge water from the said first compart-
ment through a water outlet member,
a movable flap forming part of the said division
wall to allow the said second compartment to be isolated
from the said flushing valve in the said first compartment,
said division wall having a portion extending
over said outlet member and on one side extending upwardly
and on the other side being adapted to be engaged by said
flap, the said flap being hinged to a floor of said body
to define with the division wall the said first and the
said second compartments,
and means connected to the said flushing valve
and the said flap to actuate the said flushing valve only
or the said flushing valve and the said flap together,
whereby to initiate a large flush from both said compart-
ments or a smaller flush from said first compartment,
said flushing valve being actuated by a first
operating member and said flap being actuated by a second
operating member arranged to operate also the first opera-
ting member when the said second operating member is act-
uated,

said first and the said second operating members
being push buttons positioned adjacent to levers, fulcrums
supporting the said levers from the said body, the said
lever of the said first push button being connected to
the said flushing valve to operate it, the said lever of
the second push button being connected to the said flap
to operate it, but to also simultaneously operate the lever
of the said first push button.
2. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 1, wherein said outlet member is disposed in said
floor.
3. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 1 wherein the said connecting means between the said
first lever and the flushing valve consist of a hollow stem
extending from above the water level in the said cistern to
connect to the said flushing valve, said hollow stem open-
ing through the said flushing valve to serve as an overflow
during any malfunction of the said float controlled water
inlet valve.
4. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 3 wherein the said connecting means between the said
second lever and the said flap is a rod, said lever of the
second push button being adjacent to the lever of the first
push button whereby both levers are moved by the Raid
second push button.
5. A variable volume flushing cistern comprising,
a body to contain water, a water inlet valve in
said body near one end thereof, a float in the said body
near the other end thereof, an arm connecting the said
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float to the said water inlet valve whereby to maintain a
measured quantity of water in the said body between flushes,
a hollow outlet member in a floor of the said
body adapted to connect to a flush pipe, a flushing valve
adapted to close the said outlet member between flushes,
a wall extending across the said cistern body
above the said flushing valve and extending upwards in the
said body on one side of the said outlet member to define
a first and a second compartment, said first compartment
containing the said float, said second compartment contain-
ing the said water inlet valve,
a flap at the floor of the said body to engage
the said wall on the other side of the said outlet member,
said flap being normally open but movable to prevent flow
of water from the said second compartment to the said out-
let member,
means to move only the said flushing valve to
initiate a large flush simultaneously from the said first
compartment and the said second compartment, and means to
move both the said flushing valve and the said flap to
close the said flap to initiate a small flush from the
said first compartment only,
the said flushing valve and the said flap being
moved by connection to push button operated levers pivoted
to a support on the said cistern body, a first said push
button being connected to actuate the lever of the said
flushing valve only to initiate a large flush from the
said first and the said second compartments simultaneously,
a second push button being connected to actuate
both the lever of the flushing valve and the lever of the
flap simultaneously whereby to discharge water from the
17

said first compartment.
6. A variable volume flushing cistern comprising,
a body having a division wall across it to form
a first compartment and a second compartment, a float in
the said first compartment, a water inlet in the said
second compartment connected to be actuated by the said
float,
a flushing valve in the said first compartment
positioned to discharge water from the said first compart-
ment and movable by an operating stem passing through the
said division wall,
a movable flap forming part of the said division
wall to allow the said second compartment to be isolated
from the said flushing valve in the said first compartment,
and
means connected to the said flushing valve and
the said flap to actuate the said flushing valve only or the
said flushing valve and the said flap together, whereby
to initiate a large flush from both said compartments or a
smaller flush from said first compartment,
said division wall having a portion extending
over the flushing valve and on one side extending upwardly
and on the other side having a portion adapted to be engaged
by the said flap, the said flap being hinged to the floor
of the said body to define with the division wall the said
first and the said second compartments,
the said flushing valve being actuated by a first
operating member and the said flap being actuated by a
second operating member arranged to operate also the first
operating member when the said second operating member is
18

actuated.
7. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 6, wherein the said first and the said second opera-
ting members are push buttons positioned adjacent to levers,
said levers being carried by fulcrums supporting the said
levers from the said body, the said lever of the said first
push button being coupled to the said flushing valve by
connecting means to operate it, the said lever of the
second push button being coupled to the said flap by
connecting means to operate it and connected to also simul-
taneously operate the lever of the said first push button.
8. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 7, wherein the said connecting means between the said
second lever and the said flap is a rod, said lever of the
second push button being adjacent to the lever of the first
push button, each said push buttons having a stem, the stem
of the first said push button engaging the lever of the
first push button, the stem of the second said push button
engaging both said levers, whereby both levers are moved
by the said second push button.
9. A variable volume flushing cistern comprising,
a body having a division wall across the cistern
body to form a first and second compartment;
a float located within the cistern body;
a water inlet valve within the cistern body to
be actuated by the float,
a flushing valve in the said first compartment
positioned to discharge from the said first compartment and
movable by an operating stem passing through said division
19

wall;
a movable flap forming part of the said division
wall to allow the said second compartment to be isolated
from the said flushing valve in the said first compartment,
first operating means connected to the said opera-
ting stem to actuate the said flushing valve to initiate a
large flush from both said compartments; and
second operating means connected to said opera-
ting stem to actuate the flushing valve and said flap to
close the said flap to isolate the said second compartment
from the said flushing valve, thus initiating a smaller
flush from said first compartment, said division wall having
a portion extending over the flushing valve and on one side
extending upwardly and on the other side having a portion
adapted to be engaged by said flap, the said flap being
hinged to the floor of the said body to define with the
division wall the said first and the second compartments,
said first operating means comprising a first rotatable
member, said first member being operated by a button connec-
ted thereto, a second rotatable member positioned adjacent
to said first member, said second member being coupled to
the said operating stem by connecting means and said first
member being adapted to engage with said second member
whereby operation of the button causes the first member to
rotate and engage the second member causing the second
member to rotate to activate the operating stem to open the
said flushing valve, and said second operating means com-
prising a third rotatable member located adjacent the
second member and remote from said first member, said third
member being operated by a second button connected thereto
and having a member projecting therefrom and adapted to

engage a projection extending from said flap in the direc-
tion of said first compartment, said third member being
adapted to engage said second member whereby operation of
the said second button causes the third member to rotate
and engage the second member causing the second member to
rotate and activate the operating stem to operate said
flushing valve, while simultaneously the said member pro-
jecting from the third member bears on the flap projection
and closes said flap to isolate the said second compartment
from the flushing valve to initiate a smaller flush from
the said first compartment.
10. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claim 9, wherein said first, second and third rotatable
members are all carried by and rotatable about a single
shaft and said first rotatable member has a projection which
engages a projection on the second rotatable member to
rotate said second rotatable member when said first rotat-
able member is rotated and said third rotatable member has
a projection which engages another projection on the second
rotatable member to rotate said rotatable member when said
third rotatable member is rotated.
11. A variable volume flushing cistern according to
claims 9 and 10, wherein said operating stem is hollow and
extends above the water level in said cistern, said hollow
operating stem extending through said flushing valve to
serve as an overflow during any malfunction of the said
float actuated water inlet valve.
21

Description

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This invention relates to a variable volume flushing
cistern and in particular it relates to a cistern of the
type in which a selection can be made of the am~unt of
water discharged during a flush.
THE PRIOR ART
It is already known to provide cisterns in which either
a low volume or a high volume discharge is possible by
selection and these usually have been of the type in
which either part of the cistern or the whole of the
cistern can be discharged during a flush.
This has for instance been achieved by operating the
discharge valve to seal when a certain selected level of
water is reached, or it has been attained by use of
compartments which vary in volume. In other prior art,
such as U.S. Patent No. 4,143,430, a two compartment
cistern is used having a release flap which operates in
accordance with how far the operating lever is pulled down.
In apparatus of this type it is desirable to achieve
the variable flush in a simple manner and one which is
reliable in operation to ensure correct flushing of the
toilet pan.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
-
An object of the present invention is to provide a
simple and effective variable volume flushing cistern while
retaining the normal type of flushing apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object is achieved by having a first compartment
which includes the flushing valve, and a second compartment
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which is isolated from the flushing valve but is provided
with a flap whereby the second compartment can also be placed
into communication with the flushing valve.
The flap can be controlled by a simple volume control
member or there can be two push buttons one to release the
larger volume of water and the other the smaller volume.
The actual construction of the unit can be varied
within the spirit of the invention but according to a
convenient form the cistern and flushing valve are
constructed as heretofore but the first and second compart-
ments are formed by placing a division wall across the
cistern body with a float and water inlet activated by the
float located in the same or different compartments
preferably with the float ;n the first compartment and the
water inlet in the second compartment, the flushing valve
being disposed in the first compartment but isolated from
the second compartment by a flap which can move into a
position where it closes off the second compartment from
the first compartment and the flushing valve, but by
appropriately moving the flap flow can take place to the
flushing valve both from the second compartment and the
first compartment.
In another form the variable volume flushing cistern
comprises a cistern and flushing valve constructed as
heretofore but the first and second compartments are
formed by placing a division wall across the cistern body
to form a first and second compartment;
a float located within said cistern;

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a water inlet in said cistern to be actuated by the float;
a flushing valve in the said first compartment positioned to
discharge water from the said first compartment and movable
by an operating stem passing through said division wall;
a movable flap forming part of the said division wall to
allow the said second compartment to be isolated from the
said flushing valve in the said first compartment;
first operating means connected to the said operating stem
to actuate the said flushing valve to initiate a large
flush from both said compartments; and
second operating means connected to said operating stem to
actuate the flushing valve and engaging said flap to close
the said flap to isolate the said second compartment from
the said flushing ~alve, thus initiating a smaller flush
from said first compartment, said division wall having a
portion extending over the flushing valve and on one side
extending upwardly and on the other side having a portion
adapted to be engaged by said flap, the said flap being
hinged to the floor of the said body to define with the
diYision wall the said first and the second compartments,
said first operating means including a first rotatable member,
said first member belng operated by a button connected thereto,
a second rotatable member position adjacent to said first
member, said second member being coupled to the said
operating stem by connecting means and said first member
being adapted to engage with said second member whereby
operation of the button causes the first member to rotate and
engage the second member causing the second member to rotate

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to activate the operating stem to o~en the said
flushing valve, and said second operating means including
a third rotatable member located adjacent the second member
and remote from said first member, said third member being
operated by a second button connected thereto and having
a member projecting therefrom and adapted to engage a
projection, extending from said flap in the direction of
said first compartment, said third member being adapted to
engage said second member whereby operation of the said
second button causes the third member to rotate and
engage the second member causing the second member to
rotate and activate the operating stem to operate said
flushing valve, while simultaneously the said member
projecting from the third member bears on the flap projection
and closes said flap to isolate the said second compartment
from the flushing valve to initiate a smaller flush from the
sald first compartment.
BRIED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a transverse section of one embodiment of
the cistern showing the valve sectioned and showing its
relationship to the first and the second compartment, showing
the position of the valve and flap and associated subchamber
before a flush is initiated.
Figures 2 is a similar view of the embodiment of
Figure 1 after a smaller volume flush is completed,but showing
the flushing valve and flap in the position they occupy,
during the flush, and
Figure 3 is a similar view of the embodiment of Figure 1

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- after a full flush has terminated but before the flushing
valve and flap have returned.
Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment of the cistern
with part of the front wall removed showing the position
of the flushing valve and the flap and respective operating
means before a flush is initiated.
Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of the flushing
valve, flap and operating means during the small volume
flush of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing
the positton of the flushing valve, flap and operating means
during the large volume flush.
Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the operating
means of the cistern of the figures 4 to 6.
DESC _ TION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The cistern of the first embodiment as shown in
Figure 1 to 3 comprise a body 1, comprising sides and a
floor, of the cistern has within it a water inlet valve 2
which is operated through an arm 3 by a float 4 in any
usual or approved manner.
The body is closed by a lid S.
Through the base of the body 1 is positioned an outlet
member 6 which is adapted to engage a flush plpe, not shown,
and on this outlet member 6 is the flushing valve 7 which
again can take any usual approved form but according to the
form shown IS a flat disc fitted to a hollow operating stem
8 which forms the cistern overflow and which is engaged by
a lever 9 which forms a first flush initiating member,

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having its fulcrum 10 supported on a bracket 11 secured
to the body 1 itself, the lever 9 being operable by a
push button 12 which has a stem 13 projecting down into
contact with the lever 9 so that when the push button
12 is depressed, the lever 9 rocks about the fulcrum 10 to
lift the operating stem 8 and thus the valve 7 off its
seat on the tail 6. The stem 13 forms part of the push
button 12.
The flushing valve 7 is retractable into a recess 15
in a guide 16 which is supported from the outlet member 6
in usual manner and above this recess 15 is a division wall
17 which extends across the body 1 of the cistern and has
a portion extending o~er the outlet member and has an
upwardly disposed continuation 18 of the wall which again
extends from the front to the back of the body 1 to divide
the body into two compartments.
Also extending across the body 1 is a flap 19 which
is held by a fulcrum 20 to the tail 6 and is connected by a
rod 21 to a further lever 22, which forms a second flush
initiating member, which is also supported on a fulcrum 23
on the aforesaid bracket 11 and this lever is in the path
of a stem 24 which forms part of a second push button 25 so
that when this second push button 25 is depressed the lever
22 will move the rod 21 and this will move the flap 19
towards the end of the wall 17 to at least partially close
the aperture 27 between the flap 19 and the end 28 of the
wall 17~

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The stem 13 is of a width such that it engages only
the lever 9 when the button 12 is depressedl but the stem
24 is arranged to engage both the lever 9 and the lever 22
so that when the small button 25 is depressed the valve 7
is raised to effect a flush but the flap 19 is also
actuated to close the aperture 27, thereby preventing the
water from the second compartment from discharging.
From the foregoing it will be realised that the cistern
body 1 is filled with water to the level indicated by 30 and
lQ it will be noted that the extension 18 of the wall 17
terminates below the water level so that the water will
flow over the wall 18 to also fill the space between the
extension wall 18 and that side of the body 1 of the cistern,
the cistern body thus being divided into a first compartment
32 which is smaller and contains the float 4 and a second
compartment 33 which is larger and has the water inlet 2
positioned in it.
When it is desired to initaite a small flush, the
-
smaller push button 25 is depressed and through the stem
-24 it moves the lever 9 about the fulcrum 10 to lift the
operating stem 8 to move the flushing valve 7 into the
recess 15, but at the same time it also moves with it the
lever 22 about its fulcrum 23 and through the rod 21 at
least partially closes the flap 19 and immediately there is
a flow of water from the compartment 32 and the compartment
33, the flow from the compartment 33 closing the flap
because of its proximity to the end 28 of the wall 17 and
the flush then continues only from a compartment 32 until
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the flush ceases whereupon the valve 7 which was held up
into the recess 15 by the flow of water through the tail
6 drops back onto its seat and the flush terminates. The
flap remains closed by water pressure until the flow of
water ceases from the first compartment 32 and opens when
water flows into the first compartment to balance the
pressure on the two sides of the flap 19.
When however a larger flush is required, the larger
push button 12 is depressed and through the lever 13 it
operates only the lever 9 about the fulcrum 10 but
does not actuate the le~er 22 so that the aperture 27
remains fully open as shown particularly in Fi.g. 3 and
water then flows from both the first compartment 32 and the
second compartment 33 until the valve 7 again leaves the
recess 15 to seat on the outlet member 6.
The flap 19 during this time remains open as there
is a substantial flow of water through the aperture 27
and this ensures that the flap will remain open as in
contradistinction to what occurs when the flap has been
moved to almost close the aperture in which case of course
the pressure of the water flow then closes the aperture by
moving the flap 19 the remainder of the distance.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the
division wall 17 and its extension 18, acting in conjunction
with the flap 1~, serves to divide the cistern body into the
two compartments, the first being the smaller compartment 32
and the second the larger compartment 33 which can then be
caused to empty together, or only the smaller compartment

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32 can empty, the w~ter level in the second compartment
33 of course dropping to the height of the top edge of the
extension wall 18 when the first compartment 32 is emptied
to thereby use the water out of the first compartment 32
as well as the water above the extension wall 18 when
a small flush is required.
As stated the actual mechanism for operating the
flap can be varied and can be in the nature of a setable
arrangement where a preselection is made of the flush
capacity independently of the action of starting a flush
but it can be associated with the actual member which is
used to lift the valve to start a flush so that by
appropriate operation of the button which starts the flush
the flap is either opened or is left in its closed position
or as said two different buttons can be used either of
which will commence a flush but one of which will leave
the flap in position whereas the other will lift the flap
to cause the maximum flush to take place.
In the foregoing description the flap 19 has been
described as normally open so that for a large flush it is
not moved, but the flap could be normally closed so that to
initiate a small volume flush only the flushing valve is
actuated but if a large volume flush is required both the
flushing valve and the flap are moved to their open
positions.
The other embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 7
comprises a body 1, comprising sides and a floor, of the
cistern has within it a water inlet valve 2 which is
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operated through an arm 3 by a float 4 in any suitable
manner.
A lid 5 closes the cistern.
The base of the body 1 has an outlet member 6 with
a flushing valve 7 resting thereon in the closed position.
The flushing valve can be of any suitable construction,
however it is shown as a flat disc fitted to a hollow
operating stem 8 which forms the cistern overflow.
The flushing valve 7 in operation is retractable into
a recess 15 in a gutde 16. The recess 15 and the guide 16
are supported from the division wall 17 which extends across
the body of the cistern and has an upwardly extending
continuation 18 of the wall which again extends across
the body of the cistern from front to back to divide the
body into two compartments. Also extending across the body
is a flap 19 which is hingedly attached to the base of the
cistern, and which when closed against the wall 11 completes
the partitioning of the two compartments.
From the foregoing it will be realised that as the
cistern body 1 is filled with water to the level 30 which
level is above the extension 18 of the wall 17, such water
will flow over the extension 18 upon flushing of the
smaller comaprtment 32. Therefore the inlet valve 2 can be
located in either the smaller compartment 32 (as shown in
Fig. 4) or the larger compartment 33, as when one or both of
the compartments are flushed the level of the water in the
compartment containing the float decreases lowering float 4
thus activating the inlet valve 2 upon cessation of the flush.
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Turning now to the operation mechanism for flushing
of the both compartments, as shown in Figure 6 and as shown
in detail in Figure 7 there are two projections 31
extending from the hollow operating stem 8. A button 34,
extending through the lid 5 operates the flushing valve 7.
The button 34 when depressed, depresses the member 35
which has two extensions 36 hingedly attached to two arms
37 of a first rotatable member 38. The member 35 thereby
causes the first rotatable member 38 to rotate. A projection
39 of the first member 38 abuts against a projection 40
on a second rotatable member 41 causing the second member
41 to rotate. The member 41 has two arms 42 extending
therefrom which having pivotably connected thereto a
connecting member 43 which has two slots located remote
from the arms 42 into which the two projections 31 engage.
Therefore upon rotation of member 41 the connecting
member 43 raises the operating stem 8 and opens the flushing
valve 7. The flap 12 remains in its open position and the
water from both compartments flows through the outlet 6.
As there is a substantial flow of water through the passage
27 the flap remains in its open position. When pressure
on the button 34 is released the rotatable member 38 and the
button are returned to their original positions by action
of a spring member 45, while the valve 7 is held in the
recess 15 by the flow of water through the outlet 6.
This spring member 45 can be of any suitable material or
construction. Upon cessation of the flow of water the valve
7 which was held in the recess 15 by the flow of water through
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the outlet 6 falls from its position 7a to 7b closing the
outlet 6.
To flush only the smaller compartment 32 the button
46 is depressed, as shown in Figure 5. On being depressed
the button 46 depresses member 47 which has two arms
48 extending therefrom. The arms 48 being pivotally
connected to arms 49 of a third rotatable member 50
such that when the rotatable member 50 rotates its
projection 57 abuts against a projection 52 on the
rotatable member 41 thereby rotating the rotatable member
41 and raising the flushing valve 7.
Also pivotably attached to one of the arms 49 is an
elongated member 53, which bears against a projection 54
forcing the flap 19 to abut against the wall 17 to isolate
the flushing valve 7 from the larger chamber 33 as shown in
Figure 5. Therefore there is a simultaneous closing of
the flap 19 and opening of the flushing valve 7 such that
only the volume of water from the smaller compartment 32
and the water above the top edge of the continuation 18 in
the compartment 33 flows through the outlet 6. The pressure
of water in compartment 33 maintains the flap 19 in its
closed position until the smaller compartment 32 refills
with water to equalise the pressure across the flap such
that the weight of the projection 55 returns the flap 19
to its fully open position. A spring member 56 against one
of the arms 49 biases the rotatable member 50 and
consequently the button 46 to their original positions.
:
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As can be seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6 operation
of either button does not move the other button. When
the rotatable member 41 is rotated its projections 40 and
52 do not engage the respective projection of the first or
third rotatable member which ever is not being rotated.
Although the invention and many of its advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description of
several forms of the invention, it will be apparent that
Yarious changes may be made in the form, construction and
arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as described and claimed.