Combined flushing and filling unit and method for the operation thereof

Abstract

A combined flushing and filling unit comprising a flush valve and a filling valve, which are situated in an inlet chamber to which line pressure is to be applied, and, between the inlet chamber and a particular outlet line, form a compensation chamber, each of which is closed with the aid of a servo-diaphragm, wherein the inlet chamber communicates with the compensation chambers via a connection opening, in each case, in the servo-diaphragm, and the compensation chambers each have a control opening for generating a pressure decrease, which releases the particular outlet line, in the relevant compensation chamber. Furthermore, a method for the operation of a combined flushing and filling unit comprising a flush valve for triggering an emptying process of a cistern is disclosed.

Claims

1. A combined flushing and filling unit comprising: a flush valve and a filling valve, which are situated in an inlet chamber to which line pressure is to be applied; and a compensation chamber between the inlet chamber and a first outlet line and a second outlet line, the compensation chamber being closed with the aid of a servo-diaphragm, wherein the inlet chamber communicates with the compensation chamber via a connection opening in each case, in the servo-diaphragm, and the compensation chamber has a control opening for generating a pressure decrease, which releases the first outlet line or the second outlet line in the compensation chamber.

2. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 1, wherein the second outlet line opens into a filling line of a cistern and the first outlet line leads into an inlet line for triggering a flushing process.

3. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 2, wherein the inlet line is an inlet line of a cylinder-piston unit.

4. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 1, wherein the control opening is closable with the aid of a plunger which is actuatable via a rotatably mounted camshaft.

5. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 4, wherein the plunger is resiliently mounted and, due to its resilience, returns to a closed position.

6. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 4, wherein a light wheel is assigned to the camshaft, and a position detection of the light wheel is implemented with the aid of a lamp and a photoreceptor.

7. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 4, wherein the camshaft is driven via an electric motor which is controlled by a control unit.

8. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 7, wherein the control unit is connected in a data-sharing manner to a timer of a microprocessor or to a quartz.

9. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 8, wherein the timer of the microprocessor is electrically connected to a potentiometer for adjusting a setpoint flushing quantity defined via a time period.

10. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 7, wherein the control unit is connected in a data-sharing manner to a fill-level detection device.

11. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 10, wherein the fill-level detection device comprises a pair of electrodes comprising a conductively doped silicone thread.

12. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 7, wherein the control unit is connected in a data-sharing manner to a volumetric flow rate detection device.

13. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 12, wherein the volumetric flow rate detection device comprises a flowmeter which is formed by an impeller situated in a line flow of a supply line, which influences a reed contact stationarily situated in a region of the impeller with the aid of a permanent magnet mounted on the impeller.

14. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 1, wherein the compensation chamber is a plurality of compensation chambers between the inlet chamber and the first and second outlet lines, each of the compensation chambers being closed with the aid of each of a plurality of servo-diaphragms, and the inlet chamber communicates with the compensation chambers via the connection opening in the servo-diaphragm.

15. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 14, wherein the second outlet line opens into a filling line of a cistern and the first outlet line leads into an inlet line for triggering a flushing process.

16. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 15, wherein the inlet line is an inlet line of a cylinder-piston unit.

17. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 14, wherein the flush valve and filling valve are situated adjacent to each other.

18. The combined flushing and filling unit of claim 1, wherein the flush valve and filling valve are situated adjacent to each other.

19. A method for the operation of a combined flushing and filling unit comprising a flush valve for triggering an emptying process of a cistern, and a filling valve for triggering a filling process, wherein the flush valve and the filling valve are situated adjacent to each other and the actuation of said valves take place via a control unit by way of an electric motor-controlled camshaft, the method comprising: rotating the camshaft out of a start position into a first adjustment position, in which only the flush valve is actuated; after a flushing time specified by a microprocessor, rotating the camshaft further into a second adjustment position, in which only the filling valve is actuated; holding the camshaft in position until a fill-level detection device signals a complete filling of the cistern back to the control unit; and rotating the camshaft back into the start position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, between the first adjustment position and the second adjustment position, an intermediate position is approached, in which the flush valve and the filling valve are closed and remain there for a closing duration of the flush valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The above-described disclosure is described in greater detail in the following with reference to some embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation, obliquely from the front, of a combined flushing and filling unit as a total system, according to some embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view from above of a schematic representation of the flush and filling valves in a start position, according to some embodiments.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view from above of the flush and filling valves according to FIG. 2 in a first adjustment position, according to some embodiments.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view from above of the flush and filling valves according to FIG. 2 in an intermediate position, according to some embodiments.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a top view from above of the flush and filling valves according to FIG. 2 in a second adjustment position, according to some embodiments.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view from the side of coupling including a filter insert, according to some embodiments.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional top view of the coupling according to FIG. 6, according to some embodiments.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view from the side of a flowmeter, according to some embodiments.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective representation obliquely from the front of a detail of the cage including two doped silicone electrodes for fill-level measurement, according to some embodiments.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a further detail of the flushing and filling unit, according to some embodiments.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a flushing and filling unit installed in a cistern of a toilet, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(13) FIG. 1 shows a compact combined flushing and filling unit 40 which can be installed, in entirety, in a cistern of a toilet. In this case, the unit is completely adaptable to the size of the cistern and can be adjusted to the desired quantity of flushing water using only a few manipulations. With the aid of an electrical triggering mechanism 1, a flushing process is started, in which an upright tube 2 is lifted, thereby opening up space for the outflow of the water contained in the cistern, via a basin connector 4. The upright tube is guided in a cage 3 which is height-adjustable and, therefore, adaptable to the height of the cistern. In the subsequent flushing process, water is conveyed out of the supply line, via an inlet tube 6, into the cistern, the introduced volume is detected with the aid of a flowmeter 7 and, once the desired fill level has been reached, the further inflow is shut off. This is controlled in a service unit 5, in which the control applications run. A substantial portion of these control applications of the service unit 5 are represented in the following, in FIGS. 2 to 5.

(14) FIG. 2 shows the flush valve 8 and the adjacent filling valve 9, which are actuated by way of the service unit 5 with the aid of a camshaft 25. The flush valve 8 and the filling valve 9 have substantially the same design; they merely bring about different effects. The flush valve 8 separates an inlet chamber 10 from a first outlet line 11 which opens into a cylinder which is flooded with water in order to trigger the flushing process. The filling valve 9, however, separates the same inlet chamber 10 from a second outlet line 12 which opens into a filling line which empties into the cistern.

(15) FIG. 2 shows the start position, in which the flush valve 8 and the filling valve 9 are closed. This is ensured by means of two plungers (first plunger 19 and second plunger 20) and the rubber seals situated on the ends thereof, which close the control openings (first control opening 17 and second control opening 18). The control openings 17 and 18 belong to the compensation chambers (first compensation chamber 13 and second compensation chamber 14) which are each assigned to one of the valves.

(16) If a flushing process is now demanded by virtue of a pressure on the triggering mechanism 1, a control unit will rotate the camshaft 25 until the cams thereof have removed the first plunger 19 from the first control opening 17, as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the pressure in the first compensation chamber 13 can decrease and become lower than in the inlet chamber 10. As a result, a first servo-diaphragm 21 is pressed away from the edge of the first outlet line 11 by means of the water pressure and the water can flow into this first outlet line 11. Nothing about the filling valve 9 changes in the meantime. This first adjustment position is retained for a flushing time specified by a microprocessor.

(17) By way of a further rotation of the camshaft 25 into an intermediate position, the initial position is reached again (shown in FIG. 4), in which both plungers 19 and 20 close both control openings 17 and 18 again. Since a pressure can now be built up in the first compensation chamber 13 again, the pressure there increases via a first connection opening 43 in the first servo-diaphragm 21 until the pressure corresponds to the pressure in the inlet chamber 10 again. Due to the same pressure in the inlet chamber 10 and the first compensation chamber 13, the first servo-diaphragm 21 lies in front of the opening of the first outlet line 11 again and closes it. This effect results by way of the fact that the same pressure prevails in the two adjacent chambers 10 and 13, due to the connection opening 43, but the inner side of the first servo-diaphragm 21 offers a larger surface area exposed to the pressure than the surface area exposed to the pressure of the inlet chamber 10. Since this surface area is smaller, because it does not include the cross-sectional area of the outlet line, a greater pressure from within the first compensation chamber 13 acts on the first servo-diaphragm 21, and therefore the servo-diaphragm deflects in the direction of the first outlet line 11.

(18) The arrangement remains in this position for approximately one second until the first servo-diaphragm 21 rests securely on the first outlet line 11 again. The camshaft 25 then rotates further and lifts the second plunger 20 off of the second control opening 18, as shown in FIG. 5. In this case as well, the pressure in the second compensation chamber 14 now decreases and the servo-diaphragm 22 is pushed aside, and therefore the water can enter the second outlet line 12 and, from there, can enter a filling line. As soon as the fill level has reached the maximum value again, the means for fill-level measurement transmits yet another signal to the control unit and the camshaft 25 is moved back into the start position. Since a pressure can now be built up in the second compensation chamber 14 again, the pressure there increases via a second connection opening 44 in the second servo-diaphragm 22 until the pressure corresponds to the pressure in the inlet chamber 10 again. Due to the same pressure in the inlet chamber 10 and the second compensation chamber 14, the second servo-diaphragm 22 lies in front of the opening of the second outlet line 12 again and closes it.

(19) FIG. 6 shows yet another aspect of the disclosure. In order to avoid damage to the structure and to keep pollution loads out of the cistern, a coupling 26, into which a filter insert 32 has been inserted, is situated at the end of the inlet tube 6 connected to the supply line 57. Due to this position, this filter insert 32 can be very easily accessed and cleaned. By removing a yoke 28 from the coupling 26, the connection to an inlet line 27, which is held merely by means of a force fit, can be opened. Since the supply line 57 is generally under line pressure, however, the water line must, in some embodiments, be initially turned off, so that the yoke 28 can be removed and the line can be disconnected. FIG. 7 shows a top view of the yoke 28. If the yoke 28 is removed upward in the image, the coupling 26 releases the filter insert 32 which can therefore be removed and cleaned. The inlet tube 6 is connected to the inlet line 27 via a clamp connection 58.

(20) FIG. 8 also shows a volumetric flow rate detection device 56 comprising a flowmeter 7 which substantially consists of an impeller 29 which has been inserted into the inlet line or inlet tube 6. The impeller 29 comprises, on one blade thereof, a permanent magnet 30 which passes over a reed contact 31. Each passage over the reed contact is assumed to be one revolution of the impeller 29. During production, it is established which quantity of water corresponds to one revolution-. In the example, approximately 10 ml were measured per revolution.

(21) FIG. 9 shows a combined flushing and filling unit with a fill-level detection device 55, wherein on the outer wall of the cage 3 two silicone electrodes 15 and 16 are situated. These are electrically connected to the control unit. If the water level in the cistern rises during the filling process, water will be present around the two silicone electrodes 15 and 16 at some point. Even though the silicone electrodes 15 and 16 are made of silicone and, therefore, are water-resistant, they are wholly conductive, due to their conductive, metal doping, and therefore an infinite resistance is initially measured in the case of a resistance measurement of the interspaced silicone electrodes 15, 16. If water is now present around the two silicone electrodes 15, 16, the resistance between the two decreases, and this can be detected with the aid of the control unit. The signal produced in this case indicates a complete filling of the cistern and brings about the conclusion of the filling process.

(22) Described above, therefore, is a combined flushing and filling unit for use in a cistern, in which the filling valve and the flush valve are combined in one component and are situated in a shared inlet chamber. Each of the valves can be actuated by way of an induced pressure decrease in a compensation chamber using a very small amount of mechanical outlay, while the line pressure is responsible for the substantial portion of the actuation.

(23) FIG. 10 shows that the second outlet line 12 of the filling valve 9 opens into a filling line 46 of the cistern and the first outlet line 11 of the flush valve 8 leads into an inlet line of a cylinder of a cylinder-piston unit 45 for triggering the flushing process. The filling line 46 is a vertical downpipe which comprises an air tube 47, which is open at one end, above an opening into the filling line 46.

(24) It is further shown that the camshaft 25 is driven by an electric motor 51. The electric motor 51 is controlled by a control unit 52 which receives input signals from various signal transmitters and sensors, evaluates the input signals, and then outputs adjustment signals to the electric motor 51, in order to move the electric motor 51 and, therewith, the camshaft 25.

(25) The control unit 52 is connected in a data-sharing manner to a timer of a microprocessor 53, which is electrically connected to a potentiometer 54 for adjusting a setpoint flushing quantity defined via a time period. The control unit 52 is connected in a data-sharing manner to a fill-level detection device 55.

(26) The camshaft 25 comprises a light wheel 48 consisting of a wheel which is connected to the camshaft and includes inscribed recesses or passages. By means of a lamp 49 and a photoreceptor 50 oriented toward the lamp 49, including the light wheel 48 situated therebetween, the present rotational position of the light wheel 48 can be deduced on the basis of gap widths and resultant light intensities. The control unit 52 receives sensor signals from the aforementioned photoceptor 50 regarding the position of the camshaft 25.

(27) FIG. 11 shows a compact combined flushing and filling unit 40 installed, in entirety, in a cistern 41 of a toilet 42.

(28) The present disclosure relates to a combined flushing and filling unit for use in a cistern. Many solutions in this regard are known in the prior art, which comprise a filling valve and a separate flush valve and decouple these two processes. Multiple structural units are often also utilized for this purpose, wherein each structural unit is utilized for one of the two functions. The problem addressed by the present disclosure is that of providing an efficient, cost-effectively manufacturable and economical, as well as efficiently functioning solution which is de-signed as one piece and is universally usable. This problem is solved in that the filling valve and the flush valve are combined in one component and are situated in a shared inlet chamber. Each of the valves can be actuated by way of an induced pressure decrease in a compensation chamber using a very small amount of mechanical outlay, while the line pressure is responsible for the substantial portion of the actuation.