TOILET FLUSHING ASSEMBLY AND SEQUENCE

• US 20140041109A1
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Stauber, Joseph, Denzin, Peter W., Marotz, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/325
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/10 Bowls with closure elements provided between bottom or outlet and the outlet pipe; Bowls with pivotally supported inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/12 Flushing devices discharging variable quantities of water flushing cisterns discharging variable quantities of water E03D1/14
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/00 Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30

Abstract

A toilet has an electronic flush assembly operable in either a short or long flush sequence selectable by a user. The long flush sequence includes a pre-rinse cycle and a rinse cycle in which the a supply valve and a flush valve are both opened and closed twice, once each first during the pre-rinse cycle and again during a subsequent rinse cycle. The rim supply valve and the flush valve are opened during the pre-rinse and rinse cycles but are closed at the start and end of each cycle. An electronic control controls operation of the valves as well as water supply control components. Level sensors can also be included to provide feedback to the controller, for example, to prevent overflow conditions.

Claims

1. A toilet comprising:

a bowl;

a flush valve configured to control flow from the bowl; and

a supply valve configured to control flow to the bowl;

wherein the flush valve and the supply valve are configured such that during a flush sequence the supply valve and the flush valve are both opened and closed twice, first during a pre-rinse cycle and subsequently during a rinse cycle, the supply valve and the flush valve being closed at a start and end of the cycles and open between the start and end of the cycles.

2. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:

an eductor coupled to the supply valve;

wherein the supply valve is configured to direct water from the eductor to the bowl.

3. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the bowl comprises a rim;

and

wherein the supply valve is a rim supply valve configured to direct water to the bowl via the rim.

4. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control operation of the supply valve and the flush valve based on a selection of a flush sequence received from a user.

5. The toilet of claim 4, further comprising:

a water supply reservoir having a filler;

wherein the electronic controller is configured to control operation of the filler.

6. The toilet of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the filler based at least in part on input signals received from a water level sensor.

7. The toilet of claim 4, further comprising:

a bowl water level sensor configured to sense a water level within the bowl;

wherein the electronic controller is configured to control operation of the flush valve based on inputs received from the bowl water lever sensor.

12. The toilet of claim 7, further comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control operation of the supply valve and the flush valve.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein performing the second flush sequence comprises opening and closing the supply valve a first time prior to opening and closing the flush valve a first time.

8. A toilet, comprising:

a bowl having an outlet;

a flush valve configured to control flow through the bowl outlet; and

a supply valve configured to control flow into the bowl;

wherein the toilet is selectively operable in first and second flush sequences, wherein in the first flush sequence the flush valve opens and closes once, and in the second flush sequence, the flush valve opens and closes twice.

9. The toilet of claim 8, wherein in the first flush sequence the supply valve opens and closes once, and in the second flush sequence the supply valve opens and closes twice.

10. The toilet of claim 9, wherein the supply valve is a rim supply valve configured to control the flow of fluid to a rim of the bowl.

11. The toilet of claim 10, further comprising:

an eductor;

wherein the rim supply valve is configured to receive fluid from the eductor.

13. The toilet of claim 9, wherein the flush valve and the supply valve are configured such that the second flush sequence, the supply valve opens and closes a first time prior to the flush valve opening and closing a first time.

14. The toilet of claim 10, further comprising:

a water level sensor mounted in the bowl and coupled to the electronic controller for sending bowl level input signals to the electronic controller.

15. The toilet of claim 11, further comprising:

a supply water sensor mounted at a water supply reservoir and coupled to the electronic controller for sending reservoir level input signals to the electronic controller.

16. A method of operating a toilet, the toilet comprising a supply valve and a flush valve both fluidly coupled to a bowl, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of one of a first flush sequence and a second flush sequence from a user;

based on the selection, performing one of the first flush sequence and the second flush sequence;

wherein performing the first flush sequence comprises opening and closing the supply valve once; and

wherein performing the second flush sequence comprises opening and closing the supply valve twice.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein performing the first flush sequence further comprises opening and closing the flush valve once;

and

wherein performing the second flush sequence further comprises opening and closing the flush valve twice.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring a water level within the bowl of the toilet, and opening the flush valve based on the water level.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising supplying water to the supply valve via an eductor.