GB2321654A

GB2321654A - Toilet bowl ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2321654A
Application number: GB9702220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mike Robert Harding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-04
Filing date: 1997-02-04
Publication date: 1998-08-05
Also published as: GB9702220D0

Abstract

Apparatus for removing bad air from a lavatory bowl, comprises a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a cistern for supplying water to the toilet bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; an oveflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an extractor means (4) for removing bad air from the toilet bowl; in which an air extractor pipe (1) from the discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) to the overflow pipe (7), the extractor means (4) being arranged to extract bad air from the toilet bowl through the air extractor pipe (1) and expel the bad air through the overflow pipe (7), the overflow pipe (7) having restriction means to restrict air being drawn into the overflow pipe (7) from the cistern under the action of the extractor means (4).

Description

TOILET BOWL VENThATOT Technical Field: This invention relates to a Toilet Bowl Ventilator.

Backgmnd: Toilet ventilation is a serious matter that affects us all but rarely gets paid serious attention. Fumes emitted from the toilet imminently used are a nuisance and more so for those whose lavatories are in poorly situated areas and for those in close and multiple living spaces, be it domestic or in a public/commercial environment.

Cubical ventilation is rare and relatively expensive and involves often some not inconsiderable structural alterations and beyond most people's scope. If and when the effort is made to fit a cubical extraction unit, the effects are limited and that rests mainly upon the principal that a toilet cubical is a high volume space to purge of fumes and an equally high output from the ventilator fan is demanded. But however high performing this ventilation is, the unit can only ever reduce the offensive air within the cubical and then only by an ever decreasing percentage.

Technically the likelihood of total purging the toilet area is low over short time durations using conventional extraction methods.

Detection of offensive fumes is all too easy even in the mildest of diluted forms. This has the effect of inconveniencing would-be following users of the toilet and those in surrounding cloak/washing facilities and in the near vicinity, not to mention the embarrassment the effects can sometimes cause.

High power extractors have the disadvantage in having a real effect on the heating waste of the living space and the consequential discomfort of a cold toilet in the winter time. Equally in air conditioned buildings, the needless discarding of conditioned air, hot or cooled, is similarly wasteful and expensive.

This toilet bowl ventilation system removes the bad air from the bowl direct. The effect is that this very much reduced volume of contaminated air (estimated at 0.01 cubic meters) is very rapidly refreshed with incoming fresh air from outside the toilet bowl.

Volumes of toilet cubical vary a great deal. For a toilet cubical of minimal proportions (say 1.2 meters by 2.2 meters by 1.3 meters) this would equate to approximately 2.8 cubic meters.

Therefore to purge the toilet bowl requires in the region of 1/280th (0.3%) of even the smallest cubical volume and is far more likely to be effective because the extraction takes place directly at the point of contamination within a contained enclosure under negative atmospheric pressure and therefore preventing bad air from within the toilet bowl from mixing with the immediate outside "living space" environment.

To install a toilet bowl ventilation system, use can be made ofthe existing plumbing of a normal flush-down toilet in its various presentations. lllClose Coupled and 121 Standard wall mounted cistern type orl31 High level cistern type. All are represented by way of example in the Figures 1 and 2 that follow.

With the exception ofthe High Level cistern type [3], very little alterations are required to the building structure and no visual change to the toilet layout will be noticed by the user.

Use is made for these first two methods of ventilation [1 and 2] using the overflow pipe from the cistern that would then normally lead to the "outside environment." This may be a connection to the normal building air extraction system, or to an individual extraction means as described by way of example in Figures 1 and 2 and detailed in Figure 3.

The final optional method of extracting bad air from the toilet bowl in the case of the High Level cistern type of flush-down toilet, as depicted in Figure 3, is to intercept the flushing tube at a convenient point and route this conduit, the air extractorpipe (1) to the extraction means (4).

As a final point of consideration there has been some theory expressed in recent times that contaminated foul air within toilet facility washing zones has the effect of introducing bacterial growth and in particular, in the provision of hand drying facility and in particular the warm air units, they are suspected to collect airborne debris and bacteria and thereby creating an environment to transmit the bacteria to all users of the facility.

To practically eliminate this nuisance may be another step in fighting the growing problems of 'building sickness' transmissions, quite apart from making our everyday living space a more pleasant place to be.

Essential Technical Features: According to the invention there is provided a flime extract apparatus for removing bad air from a lavatory bowl, comprising: a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistem to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; an overflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an air extractor (4) for removing bad air from the toilet bowl; in which an air extract pipe (1) leads from the discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) to the overflow pipe (7), the air extractor being arranged to extract bad air from the toilet bowl through the air extract pipe and expel the bad air through the overflow pipe (7), from the cistern under the action of the air extractor means.

The restriction means may be any means which restricts air flow from the cistern into the air extract pipe (1) under the action of the air extractor, but which allows water to drain from the cistern in the event that the cistern is over-filled. In one embodiment, the air extract pipe (1) extends above the level of the water, in the cistern and the restriction means is a pipe leading from a portion of the air extract pipe (1) leading from a portion of the air extract pipe (1) above the cistern water down into the water. For the purposes ofthis description this item may be referred to as the Dip Pipe (9). Alternatively, the restriction means may be a Water Permeable Plug (2) which present resistance to the flow of air through the plug but through which water may drain from the cistern during overflow.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a depiction of how the full extraction system may be installed into a standard Low Level Close Coupled Lavatory and shows the lavatory (by way of example a Low Level Close Coupled type). The flushing tube (8) connecting the cistern water supply to the lavatory bowl - the new plumbing within the cistern that forms this invention is in heavy outline.

The insert to Figure 1 is a depiction of the air extraction pipe (1) joining the overflow pipe (7) via the alternative means of restriction of air flowing through the overflow pipe (7), using a water permeable plug (2).

Figure 1 is the preferable conversion for a Siphoned Cistern depicting the air extractor pipe (1) that connects the flushing tube (8) to the air extractor (4) and showing a means (a Dip Pipe (9)) to prevent air from being drawn from the cistern into the extractor, but allowing the overflow of a surcharged cistern to continue to take place.

and Figure 2 is an alternative conversion to the toilet depicting the embodiment of the invention for extracting fumes from the toilet bowl via the flushing tube (8) and through the air extraction pipe (1) outside the cistern. This conversion may be most effectively carried out upon flushdown toilets with accessible flushing tubes, as in the case of High Level [3] flush-down toilets.

Figure 3 is by way of example, the extraction unit. This extraction unit (4) is intended to locate at a point along the discharge end ofthe original overflow pipe (7). Or maybe similarly attached to the air extraction pipe (1) as for the case in Figure 2.

With the exception of the example in Figure 2 it may now be regarded that both the extractor pipe (1) and the overflow pipe (7) are one conduit that run from the flushing tube (8),via the Dip Pipe (9) or Water Permeable Plug (2) and out to the discharge end of the overflowpipe (7).

At a suitable point along the oveflowpipe (7) the air extraction means (4) maybe connected.

By way of example, the air extraction unit (4) is show at the discharge end of the overflow pipe (7).

Figure 3 is by way of example, the air extraction unit (4) and any extraction unit is designed to locate at a suitable point along the discharge end of the air extractor pipe (1). This may be within the toilet facility or outside the building altogether. The essential features ofthis air extraction unit (4) will need to suit the location.

With the exception of the High Level flushdown toilet [3] depicted in figure 2 it may now be regarded that both the air extractor pipe (1) and the overflow pipe (7) are one conduit that run from the flushing tube (8) and out to the discharge end of the overflow pipe (7). At a point along the discharge end of the overflow pipe (7) the air extraction unit (4) may be connected.

The air extraction unit (4) has means to separate any overflow water from the cistern from the extracted air that has been removed from the toilet bowl and keep this water from damaging the components ofthe extractor.

The air extraction unit (4) has means to allow this overflow water to drain off but for the substantial use of the extractor the drain outpoint (5) must preferably restrict air from entering the extractor. By way of example a non return valve (6) has been adopted at the outlet end of the overflow water drain off (5). Figure 3.

By way of example for the extractor unit as depicted in Figure 3, the location of air extraction within the air extraction unit (4) is preferably located above the point of the drain off (5).

This reduces the likelihood of overflow water from the cistern from entering and damaging the components of air extraction means.

By way of example the air extraction means is sufficiently represented by a 40 Watt extractor fan and from a 12 volt dc supply. The bad air from the lavatory bowl is discharged at the outward air duct of the air extractor (4).

In the case for Figure 1, fresh air is drawn into the lavatory bowl between the seat and the periphery of the lavatory bowl throughout the duration of the air extraction, which needs only to be that time the toilet is in use. The bad air is then extracted through the water outlet hole/s within the lavatory bowl, up the flushing tube and out through the junction pipe (3) that joins the flushing pipe to the air extractor pipe (1) . The flow of contaminated air then continues from the air extractor pipe (1) and onward through the overflow pipe (7). At a suitable point along this pipe the contaminated air is withdrawn by the air extraction means and the contaminated air is discharged outside the location.

Throughout the duration of flushing the lavatory, the flushing tube, being temporarily filled with water from the cistern to the lavatory bowl, cannot pass extract air though the extractor pipe (1).

The extraction of air is regarded as requiring low power such that the reduction of atmospheric pressure within the air extractor pipe (1) that gives rise to the drop in atmospheric pressure within the toilet bowl, cannot allow the water passing down the flushing tube (8) during flushing, from the cistern to the lavatory bowl, to be drawn in and high enough up the air extractor pipe (1) to cause the flushing water to enter into the extractor means. (4).

~Similarly the extraction of air is regarded as requiring low power such that the reduction of atmospheric pressure within the air extractor pipe (1) cannot allow the water from a flill cistern to be drawn up the dip pipe (9) and enter into the air extractor pipe (1) and then into the extractor means (4). Refer to Figure 1.

Similarly the extraction of air is regarded as requiring low power such that the reduction of atmospheric pressure within the air extractor pipe (1) cannot allow the water from the flill flushing pipe during flushing, to enter the air extraction means (4) in the case depicted in Figure 2.

Claims

1. As a fume extract apparatus for removing bad air from a lavatory bowl, comprising: a flush-down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; a cistern for supplying water to the toilet bowl; a flushing pipe (8) leading from the cistern to the toilet bowl and through which water is directed to the water outlet aperture when the toilet is flushed, a discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing of the toilet; an overflow pipe (7) leading from the cistern and through which water may drain from the cistern when the cistern is over-filled with water; and an extractor means (4) for removing bad air from the toilet bowl; in which an air extractor pipe (1) from the discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) to the overflow pipe (7), the extractor means (4) being arranged to extract bad air from the toilet bowl through the air extractor pipe (1) and expel the bad air through the overflow pipe (7), the ovejlowpipe (7) having restriction means to restrict air being drawn into the oveflowpipe (7) from the cistern under the action of the extractor means (4).

2. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the air extractor pipe (1) extends above the level of the water in the cistern and the restriction means is a pipe leading from a portion of the air extractor pipe (1) above the cistern water down into the water. This may be referred to as the Dip Pipe (9).

3. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the restriction means is a water permeable plug (5) which present resistance to the flow of air through the plug but through which water may drain from the cistern.

4. A fUme extract apparatus for removing bad air from the lavatory bowl comprising of a flush down toilet bowl having at least one water outlet aperture at the periphery thereof; an accessibleflushingpipe (8) outside the cistern and between the cistern and the toilet bowl and through which water is directed when the toilet is flushed. The discharge end of the flushing pipe (8) being substantially empty of water after flushing ofthe cistern and an air extractor pipe (1) for the removal of bad air from the toilet bowl; in which an air extract pipe (1) having means to prevent flushing water from being drawn into the air extraction means that Claims (cont).

maybe suitably achieved by way of example by ensuring a vertical rise within the air extractor pipe (1) such as to enforce an unobtainable hydraulic lift requirement upon the water in excess of the hydraulic lift created by the air extractor means (4).

5. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Figure 1.

including junction pipe (3) adjoining the flushing pipe (8) to the air extraction pipe (1) and with its air extraction opening at the level to that of the water level in the cistern when in a drained state.

6. A flime extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as depicted in Figures 1 and 2.

The air extractor means (4) may be positioned at a convenient point along the overflow pipe (7) for Figure 1. (In ghost outline) and along the air extractor pipe (1) for Figure 2. (In ghost outline).

7. A fume extract apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and as described herein with reference to Figures 1; 2. 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.