Toilet bowl flushing device

• US 4,570,272 A
• Filed: 07/31/1984
• Issued: 02/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Odaka, Kuniyuki, Kawaguchi, Shojiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/636,406
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 4/304, 4/305, 4/300, 4/DIG. 3, 4/406, 4/302, 4/303
• US Class Current: 4/302
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/03 Electric flushing

Abstract

A toilet bowl flushing device capable of discharging automatically a large amount of flushing water to the bowl immediately after termination of use of the bowl and a small amount of water continuously from the beginning of the use until a predetermined time has elapsed after the large amount discharge. Valve means for controlling the amount of water provided to the bowl includes a small-amount water discharging means and a large-amount water discharging means, and is coupled to a control means including a timer means suitably energizing the small-amount and large-amount water discharging means so that an auxiliary bowl flushing is performed with a small amount of flushing water to prevent sticking of filth to the bowl during the use, a main bowl flushing is realized with a large amount of flushing water immediately after the use, and a small amount of flushing water is kept discharged still after the main flushing to avoid any generation of water hammering phenomenon.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl flushing system, comprising:

(a) an electromagnetic valve means including means for discharging a low flow-rate of flushing water to said bowl and means for discharging a high flow-rate of flushing water to the bowl;

(b) means for detecting approach and departure of users of said bowl, said detecting means generating an ON signal indicative of said approach and initiation of use of said bowl by a first user, a first OFF signal indicative of said departure and termination of use of said bowl by said first user, a second OFF signal indicative of approach of a second user immediately after departure of said first user, and a third OFF signal indicative of departure of said second user; and

(c) means for controlling operation of said valve means, including

(1) first means responsive to said ON signal from said detecting means for energizing said high flow-rate water discharging means for a relatively short first period of time upon said initiation of use by said first user;

(2) second means for energizing said low flow-rate discharging means in response to said ON signal and said high flow-rate water discharging means in response to said first OFF signal, said high flow-rate discharging means being energized for a second period of time longer than said first period of time, and said low flow-rate discharging means being deenergized a predetermined period after deenergization of said high flow-rate discharging means;

(3) third means responsive to said second OFF signal occurring during said second period of time for deenergizing said high flow-rate discharging means, thereby to interrupt the high flow in said bowl during use by said second user; and

(4) fourth means responsive to said third OFF signal for reenergizing said high flow-rate water discharging means for said second period of time following departure of said second user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including accumulator means for accumulating the total period of time that said high flow-rate discharging means is interrupted, said accumulator means causing said high flow-rate to be energized when said accumulated period of time exceeds a threshold level.

3. A toilet bowl flushing system, comprising:

(a) an electromagnetic valve means including means for discharging a low flow-rate of flushing water to said bowl and means for discharging a high flow-rate of flushing water to the bowl;

(b) means for detecting approach and departure of users of said bowl, said detecting means generating an ON signal indicative of said approach and initiation of use of said bowl by a first user, a first OFF signal indicative of said departure and termination of use of said bowl by said first user, a second OFF signal indicative of approach of a second user immediately after departure of said first user, and a third OFF signal indicative of departure of said second user; and

(c) means for controlling operation of said valve means, including

(1) first means responsive to said ON signal from said detecting means for energizing said high flow-rate water discharging means for a relatively short first period of time upon said initiation of use by said first user; and

(2) second means for energizing said low flow-rate discharging means in response to said ON signal and said high flow-rate water discharging means in response to said first OFF signal, said high flow-rate discharging means being energized for a second period of time longer than said first period of time, and said low flow-rate discharging means being deenergized a predetermined period after deenergization of said high flow-rate discharging means.