Flush tank service liquid dispenser device

Abstract

 A dispenser device (1) for dispensing service liquid into the flush water of a flush tank (2) has a feed tank (20) having an inner chamber (27) containing, in use, a measure of service liquid; and a siphon system (40) connecting the chamber (27) to a branch opening (38) communicating with a drain hole (11) of the flush tank (2); the siphon system (40) is defined by a channel (28) and a delivery pipe (21); the channel (28) has an inlet (31) located at a bottom end (23) of the feed tank (20) and communicating with the chamber (27), and an outlet (32) which is located at a top end (24) of the feed tank (20), is positioned higher than the inlet (31), and is connected to the delivery pipe (21); and the delivery pipe (21) connects the outlet (32) to the branch opening (38), which is located lower than both the inlet (31) and the outlet (32).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser device for dispensing service liquid, such as a liquid cleanser, into the flush water of a sanitary fixture flush tank.

[0002] Sanitary fixture flush tanks (for WCs, urinals, etc.) normally comprise a drain valve, which is activated to drain the water from the tank into the bowl of the sanitary fixture to flush it; and a feed mechanism, which fills the tank back up to a predetermined level each time the drain valve is operated.

[0003] Some flush tanks are equipped with cleaning systems for adding liquid detergent/cleanser to the water drained from the tank into the bowl..

[0004] Known cleaning systems leave room for improvement, especially in terms of efficiency, reliability, and easy manufacture and use.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly straightforward, effective, reliable dispenser device for dispensing service liquid, such as a liquid cleanser, into the flush water of a sanitary fixture flush tank.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a dispenser device for dispensing service liquid, in particular a liquid cleanser, into the flush water of a sanitary fixture flush tank, substantially as defined in the accompanying Claim 1.

[0007] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising the dispenser device and a flush tank drain valve, and as defined in the accompanying Claim 5; and to a flush tank comprising the dispenser device, and as defined in Claim 7.

[0008] The dispenser device according to the invention provides for easily, effectively and reliably dispensing service liquid (e.g. liquid detergent/cleanser) into the flush water of a flush tank. More specifically, the dispenser device according to the invention is extremely straightforward and reliable by having no moving parts or complicated mechanisms.

[0009] A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a schematic, partial longitudinal section of a sanitary fixture flush tank comprising a dispenser device, in accordance with the invention, for dispensing service liquid, in particular a liquid cleanser, into the flush water of the flush tank;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view in perspective of a detail of the Figure 1 dispenser device;

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the Figure 2 detail.

[0010] Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a dispenser device for dispensing service liquid, such as (but not necessarily) liquid detergent and/or cleanser or any other type of water processing liquid, into the flush water of a sanitary fixture flush tank 2.

[0011] More specifically, dispenser device 1 is associated with a drain valve 3 of tank 2 to dispense the service liquid into the flush water drained from tank 2 by drain valve 3.

[0012] Drain valve 3 is a known type and only shown schematically in Figure 1. Roughly speaking, drain valve 3 comprises a supporting structure 5; a slide 6 fitted to structure 5 and which slides vertically along an axis X; and an actuating mechanism 7, which acts on slide 6.

[0013] Structure 5 is connectable to a bottom wall 8 of tank 2, e.g. by means of a substantially tubular drain sleeve 9, which is inserted inside an opening 10 in bottom wall 8, and defines a drain hole 11 of tank 2; sleeve 9 is bounded by a lateral.wall 12, and has a top annular edge 13 defining a sealing seat 14; and sleeve 9 defines a first portion of a drain pipe 15 (the rest not shown) connecting tank 2 to the sanitary fixture.

[0014] Slide 6 extends along axis X, and slides inside a guide 16 formed on structure 5. In the example shown, slide 6 comprises an open tubular body 17, which also acts as an overflow pipe of tank 2.

[0015] At the bottom, slide 6 has a shutter 18 which cooperates' with sealing seat 14 to close drain hole 11. Slide 6 is raised by mechanism 7, which is substantially known and not shown in detail for the sake of simplicity.

[0016] With reference also to Figures 2 and 3, dispenser device 1 comprises a feed tank 20 containing a measure of service liquid; a delivery pipe 21 connecting feed tank 20 to drain hole 11; and an inlet pipe 22, which connects feed tank 20 to a service liquid reservoir (not shown), and feeds service liquid to feed tank 20.

[0017] Feed tank 20 extends parallel to axis X, between two opposite longitudinal ends 23 and 24. For example, feed tank 20 is bounded by a lateral wall 25 and a bottom wall 26, and is open at the top end 24.

[0018] Feed tank 20 is housed, for example; inside flush tank 2, and is so positioned as to prevent the water in flush tank 2 from entering feed tank 20 through open top end 24. The top end 24 of feed tank 20 is therefore located above a level L1 constituting the maximum fill level of flush tank 2. Feed tank 20 is also located higher than sleeve 9 and at least partly below level L1, i.e. is partly immersed in the water inside flush tank 2 in normal operating conditions (when the flush tank is full and ready for use).

[0019] Feed tank 20 has an inner chamber 27 containing the measure of service liquid to be dispensed into the flush water from flush tank 2; and a channel 28. connecting chamber 27 to delivery pipe 21. Channel 28 has an inlet 31 located at bottom end 23 of feed tank 20 and communicating with chamber 27; and an outlet 32 located at top end 24 of feed tank 20 and connected to delivery pipe 21. Outlet 32 is located higher than inlet 31.

[0020] More specifically, channel 28 comprises a bottom base portion 33 located inside feed tank 20 and having inlet 31 close to bottom wall 26 of feed tank 20; and a top fitting 34, e.g. an elbow fitting, having outlet 32. Fitting 34 has a connecting portion 35 that fits in fluidtight manner inside a top seat 36 of base portion 33; and a connecting portion 37 that is engaged by (fits inside) delivery pipe 21.

[0021] Delivery pipe 21, defined for example by a hose, connects outlet 32 to drain hole 11, and more specifically connects connecting portion 37 of fitting 34 to a lateral branch opening 38 formed in lateral wall 12 of sleeve 9 and bounded by a collar 39 onto which delivery pipe 21 fits.

[0022] Branch opening 38 is formed downstream from (i.e. is axially lower than) sealing seat 14 and shutter 18.

[0023] Channel 28 and delivery pipe 21 define a siphon system 40 connecting chamber 27 to drain hole 11.

[0024] Inlet pipe 22 communicates with chamber 27 through a hole 41 formed, for example, in lateral wall 25 of feed tank 20 and located at an intermediate height between inlet 31 and outlet 32.

[0025] In actual use, flush tank 2, when full and ready for use, contains water up to level L1; and feed tank 20 contains a measure of service liquid occupying chamber 27 and channel 28 up to a level L2, which may for example (though not necessarily) be substantially equal to level L1.

[0026] When the water is drained from flush tank 2 by activating drain valve 3 (by raising slide 6 and shutter 18 by means of mechanism 7 to open drain hole 11), the water flows out of flush tank 2 through drain hole 11.

[0027] On the basis of the principle that water finds its own level, the water flowing into sleeve 9 flows up along delivery pipe 21. More specifically, the water flows through branch opening 38 and up along delivery pipe 21 to a predetermined height, i.e. to substantially the same (falling) level as the water inside flush tank 2.

[0028] The water flowing into delivery pipe 21 pushes the air in delivery pipe 21 along channel 28 into chamber 27 and the service liquid.

[0029] The water does not reach outlet 32, however, and so does not flow into chamber 27 or feed tank 20.

[0030] As the water level in flush tank 2 falls, the water inside delivery pipe 21 starts to flow back out to drain hole 11.

[0031] At this point, the out-flowing water siphons the service liquid from chamber.27 through the siphon system 40 formed by channel 28 and delivery pipe 21.

[0032] The service liquid is fed into the flush water inside sleeve 9 (i.e. into drain pipe 15) through branch opening 38, i.e. downstream from drain valve 3.

[0033] Siphon system 40 therefore defines a hydraulic path for selectively:

• feeding water from branch opening 38 towards chamber 27, up to a predetermined level inside delivery pipe 21, thus forcing air into chamber 27; and
• feeding service liquid along pipe 21 from chamber 27 to branch opening 38.

[0034] Once the water is drained and drain valve 3 closes, chamber 27 is practically empty or only contains a residual amount of service liquid.

[0035] Another measure of service liquid is fed (in any known manner) along inlet pipe 22 into chamber 27 to prepare dispenser device 1 for further use:

[0036] Clearly, changes may be made to the dispenser device as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. A dispenser device (1) for dispensing service liquid into the flush water of a sanitary fixture flush tank (2), the dispenser device comprising a feed tank (20) having an inner, chamber (27) containing, in use, a measure of service liquid; and a siphon system (40) connecting the chamber (27) to a branch opening (38) formed in a drain sleeve (9) defining a drain hole (11) of the flush tank (2); the dispenser device (1) being characterized in that the siphon system (40) is defined by a channel (28) and a delivery pipe (21); the channel (28) having an inlet (31) located at a bottom end (23) of the feed tank (20) and communicating with the chamber (27), and an outlet (32) which is located at a top end (24) of the feed tank (20), is positioned higher than the inlet (31), and is connected to the delivery pipe (21); the delivery pipe (21) connecting the outlet (32) to the branch opening (38), which is located lower than both the inlet (31) and the outlet (32).

2. A dispenser device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the channel (28) comprises a bottom base portion (33) located inside the feed tank (20) and having the inlet (31) close to a bottom wall (26) of the feed tank (20); and a top fitting (34) having the outlet (32); and the fitting (34) has an insert portion (35) that fits in fluidtight manner into a top seat (36) of the base portion (33), and a connecting portion (37) that is engaged by the delivery pipe (21).

3. A dispenser device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, and comprising an inlet pipe (22), which connects the feed tank (20) to a service liquid reservoir' and feeds service liquid to the feed tank (20); the inlet pipe (22) communicating with the chamber (27) through a hole (41) located at an intermediate height between the inlet (31) and the outlet (32).

4. A dispenser device as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the siphon system (40) defines a hydraulic path which selectively feeds: water from the branch opening (38) towards the chamber (27), up to a predetermined level inside the delivery pipe (21), thus forcing air into the chamber (27); and service liquid along the delivery pipe (21) from the chamber (27) to the branch opening (38).

5. An assembly comprising a drain valve (3) of a flush tank (2) and a dispenser device (1) for dispensing service liquid, in particular a liquid cleanser, into the flush water discharged from the flush tank (2) by the drain valve (3); and wherein the dispenser device (1) is as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the branch opening (38) is formed downstream from a sealing seat: (14) of the drain valve (3).

7. A sanitary fixture flush tank (2) comprising a drain valve (3) and a dispenser device (1) associated with the drain valve to dispense service liquid, in particular a liquid cleanser, into the flush water discharged from the flush tank (2) by the drain valve (3); and wherein the dispenser device (1) is as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4.

Drawing