GB2368352A - Water storage apparatus for supplying water to a toilet pan - Google Patents

Abstract

A water storage apparatus comprising a tubular cistern (3), preferably a vertically arranged wide bore pipe, water inlet (5), a float valve (6) an overflow (7) and an outlet valve (2). Preferably the outlet valve is coupled to a toilet pan (1) and the cistern is located in a wall such that it is hidden from view. The cistern may be connected to two or more pans which may be located on different floors of a building.

Description

WATER STORAGE APPARATUS This invention relates to water storage apparatus, more particularly, but not

exclusively, a water storage cistern for supplying a WC pan.

A WC pan is normally supplied with water from a rectangular or more or less rectangular cistern which may be at a high level (especially an older cistern) or at a low level, just above the WC pan. Such cisterns may form a limit on the design of the area around the WC pan.

According to one aspect of he invention, there is provided water storage apparatus comprising an upright tubular member, water supplying means including a level sensing valve for supplying water into the tubular member, overflow means for ensuring that the tubular member does not become too full and outlet means connected to the tubular member and operable for supplying water from the storage means to a device for being fed with water.

The water storage means may be operable as a cistern for supplying a WC pan and may comprise a flushing valve for receiving water from the storage means and

supplying a predetermined amount of water to the WC pan.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a WC installation comprising a hollow wall, a WC pan adjacent or fixed to one side of the wall and water storage apparatus as described above with the tubular member located within the hollow wall and said outlet means coupled to the flushing water inlet at the WC pan.

The tubular member may be connected to two or more WC pans, for example, on different floors of a building.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of a first water storage apparatus for supplying a WC pan; Figure 2 is a diagram of a storage apparatus for supplying two or more WC pans on respective different floors of a building, and

Figures 3 and 4 are a plan view and a sectional side view of part of a WC installation.

In Figure 1, a WC pan I is coupled by thirty five or forty two millimetre diameter flush pipe 10 via a flushing control valve 2 to the lower end of a water storage apparatus in the form of an upright tubular member, i. e. a relatively wide bore pipe 3 of about ten centimetres diameter. The pipe 3 could be smaller or larger, in diameter than ten centimetres, for example, it could have a diameter of about fifteen centimetres. Ten centimetres is preferred however. This corresponds to a UK industry standard for plastic soil pipe replacing what used to be called (and still is sometimes) "4 inch"pipe.

The pipe 3 is say about three quarters of a meter in height but it could be longer than this, say one meter in height. The top of the pipe 3 has a lid 4 and a mains water supply pipe 5 is connected to the pipe 3 near the top thereof. Inside the pipe 3 the pipe 5 is connected an automatic water shut-off valve 6, for example, a float valve. Connected to the top of the pipe 3 there is also an overflow pipe 7.

This exits the pipe 3 just above the usual water level within the pipe 3 so as to prevent over filling of the pipe. The pipe 7 extends out to an outlet at a place where water flowing from it can be received without affecting the building but which is easily noticeable, e. g. it may extend to just outside an outside wall of the building.

The flushing control valve 2 operates in response to a flush control device (not shown) to permit the required amount of water, for example, five litres or so, to be admitted to the WC pan to give a flushing effect. Five litres is the amount specified in some water authority regulations. This could be changed if required, e. g. because of different regulations that may apply.

The pipe 3 and the WC pan 1 are separated by a partition wall 8. The valve 2 can be an electro-mechanical valve and the flush control device can then be a switch preferably a push-button switch..

Alternatively, valve 2 can be a purely mechanical valve and the flush control device can be a lever exposed at the pan 1 side of wall 8 and connected directly or via a linkage mechanism to the valve.

In Figure 2 there is a pipe 3 similar to the like item of Figure 1 but longer and extending through the space of more than one floor of a building. The top of the pipe is above the upper-most ceiling of the building and the mains water feed and overflow pipe are located in the loft space. The pipe 3 can comprise two or more lengths of pipe connected together as required by straight pipe coupling members such as connector 9. The pipe 3 extends down to further stories of the building. A WC pan 1 is connected to pipe 3 by way of a flush pipe and control valve 2 and 10.

In this case the flushing pipe enters the wide bore pipe 3 at the side as shown.

Further WC pans on the same floor but near the WC pan 1 and/or a WC pan or a set thereof located on a lower floor, may be connected to the same pipe 3. In each case an isolation valve 11, i. e. a back-flow preventing valve, is provided in the flushing pipe.

The water storage apparatus of Figure 2 could be constructed in the form of a series of pre-constructed units of appropriate length, each with a connector for receiving a flush pipe. The units can then be connected together to provide flushing to a number of WC pans from several floors of a building with a single fill point at the top of the building.

The pipe 3 could comprise plastics material pipe of the kind used for domestic soil pipes and, especially in the case of the Figure 2 embodiment, could be assembled from industry standard soil and waste pipe of plastics or other material.

Figures 3 and 4 show how a WC installation can be provided in a building (not shown) using a water storage apparatus similar to those described earlier. Parts of the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 which are the same or substantially the same as parts of Figure 1, have been given the same drawing reference numbers.

A space in the building is divided by a partition wall 30 to form, say, a corridor 31 and a bathroom or lavatory 32. The wall 30 is made up of spaced upright steel studs 33 with wall panels 34 of any appropriate material secured to both sides of the studs. A WC pan 1 is fixed to the lavatory side of wall 30 with nut and both fixings 35 extending through the appropriate panel 34. The panels 34 are likely to be of relatively weak material so a load carrying plate 36 can be provided at the inside surface of the panel. This load carrying plate 36 can be fixed (as shown in the drawing) to two adjacent studs 33. For example, the plate 36 can have side flanges 37 through which it is bolted to the respective studs 33. A water storage apparatus similar to that of Figure 1 is provided in the duct 38 in the wall 30 between the two studs 33. The main difference between the water storage apparatus of Figures 1 and the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4 is that, in the latter, the lower end of the pipe 3 has a conical section 39 forming a smoother transition from the diameter of pipe 3 to flush pipe 10. Also, the flush pipe 10 is more smoothly rounded from the valve 2 to the WC pan 1-to permit this, the pipe 3 is positioned near the inside surface of the panel 34 at the corridor side of the wall 30. Also, it could be positioned adjacent one of the two studs 33 between which it lies, again to give more room for a curved transition from valve 2 to pan 1, and/or to permit the pipe 3 to be fixed to and supported by the relevant stud. The soil pipe 40 for the WC pan 1 is also installed between the inner and outer panels 34 of wall 30. In this case, the pipe 40 is positioned in the duct 41 adjacent to the duct 38 which contains pipe 3 but the two pipes could be in the same duct if there is room. In the illustrated case, a lateral extension of soil pipe 40 needs to be provided to connect to pan 1.

The extension 42 passes through a hole (not shown) in the stud 33 between ducts 38 and 41. The soil pipe 40 may be connected to other WC installations e. g. in floors of the building above and/or below the installation shown.

In the present case, flushing valve 2 is an electro-mechanical valve controlled by a flush control switch 42 via cable 44 and mounted in the panel 34 just above WC pan 1. The combination of valve 2 and switch 43 is preferably such as to give a dual flush facility, i. e. to give amounts of flushing water selected at switch 43. The valve 2 could be such as to give this selectable amount of water or the switch 41 could be such as to control the valve 2 appropriately.

If required, e. g. if the duct 38 is in a location subject to occasional low temperature such as might occur if the wall 30 is or is near an outside wall, the pipe 3 could be thermally insulated, e. g. by an insulating jacket (not shown).

For maintenance, one or the other of the facing panels 34 near pipes 4 and 40 could be removable or an access door (not shown) could be provided.

As will be appreciated, a building with system-built internal partition walls (of which the wall shown in Figures 3 and 4 is an example) will often comprise upright support members (such as studs 33) with panels (such as 34). The support members or studs will usually need to be spaced at a distance less than the width of the usual design of WC cistern (not shown) so any such cistern either has to be mounted between the studs and one of the panels, so the wall has to be much thicker and the relevant panel cannot be fixed direct to the studs, or the cistern has to be mounted at the WC side of the wall. The latter may not be preferred, e. g. for reasons of appearance or the possibility of damage to the cistern.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. Water storage apparatus comprising a tubular member, water supplying means including a level sensing valve for supplying water into the tubular member, overflow means for ensuring that the tubular member does not become too full and outlet means connected to the tubular member and operable for supplying water from the storage means to a device for being fed with water.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the water storage means is operable as a cistern for supplying a WC pan and comprises a flushing valve for receiving water from the storage means and supplying a predetermined amount of water to the WC pan.
3. 3. A WC installation comprising a hollow wall, a WC pan adjacent or fixed to one side of the wall and water storage apparatus according to Claim 1, with the tubular member located within the hollow wall and with said outlet means coupled to the flushing water inlet at the WC pan.
4. 4. An installation according to Claim 3, wherein the tubular member is connected to two or more WC pans.
5. 5. An installation according to Claim 4, wherein said two or more WC pans are on different floors of a building.
6. 6. Apparatus or installation according to any preceding Claim, wherein the tubular member is vertical.