Abstract:
A toilet venting apparatus includes an upper insert mountable between a toilet tank and a toilet bowl, and a lower insert mountable between the bowl and a floor sewer pipe. The upper insert has a first aperture therethrough cooperating between a flush valve aperture in a lower wall of the tank and a water-entry aperture in an upper surface of the bowl. The water-entry aperture cooperates, via a manifold in the bowl, in fluid communication with water dispensing apertures around an upper rim of the bowl.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/083,690 filed Apr. 30, 1998 titled Odour Venting For Toilets. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a selectively operable hydraulically actuated venting apparatus for flush toilets which removes air from the bowl of the toilet through the flush passages located around the upper interior perimeter of the toilet bowl. In particular, manual activation of the venting cycle precedes the flushing cycle of the toilet and actuation of the toilet flush lever cancels the venting cycle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A basic North American toilet consists of two major components, a tank and a bowl. The rectangular tank has an approximate capacity of two gallons of water. Connected to the tank is a water line which provides a pressurized source of clean water to the tank. The water stored in the tank empties into the bowl through an aperture controlled by a tank or ball valve. A chain is attached at one end of the chain to a flush handle on the outside of the tank. The other end of the chain is attached to the tank valve. Actuating, the flush handle pulls the chain and lifts the tank valve to allow water from the tank through the aperture and into the bowl. A float is also attached to the flushing system in the tank, which gauges when sufficient water has refilled the tank and allows the tank valve to close over the aperture into the bowl. 
     The bowl is located below the tank. The bowl may approximate a hemispherical shape. A seat is fitted to the upper edge defined by the planer circumference of the hemisphere. The bottom of the bowl has an aperture which cooperates with a pipe, the pipe forms an upside-down U-shape located directly behind the bowl. The top or apex of the inverted &#34;U&#34; is higher than the bottom of the bowl. The pipe continues down to an exit aperture connected to the sewer pipe opening in the floor. The toilet bowl is mounted over the sewer pipe opening. Water in the bowl and in the pipe will be at the same level, leaving an air pocket in the top of the inverted &#34;U&#34;. The air pocket allows for a siphoning action required for flushing. 
     Water flowing from the tank down into the bowl causes a surge in the bowl. The surge causes water to push into the pipe, upwards around the apex of the &#34;U&#34; in the pipe, pushing the air pocket down into the sewer. This creates a siphon which draws a continuous flow of water from the tank into the bowl and through the pipe. When the tank empties so that there is no more water in the bowl, air fills the &#34;U&#34; in the pipe, stopping the siphon. Once the siphon is interrupted, water fills the tank and re-fills the bowl. The water stops flowing into the bowl when the float in the tank rises with the water level in the tank to a high enough level which allows the tank valve to close. The water level will find itself between the bottom of the bowl and a horizontally equal level in the lower leg of the pipe. 
     In the prior art, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,421 which issued Nov. 2, 1993 to Rose et al for an Air Fresh Toilet. Rose et al disclose the use of a toilet bowl having an auxiliary passageway built-in to the rear of the bowl and housing a water driven ventilation fan thereon. Wate valves are coupled to use of the toilet seat so that weight placed on the seat initiates the fan turbine which runs the fan until the weight is removed from the seat. The disclosed design of the bowl requires that a conventional toilet bowl has to be entirely replaced, rather than providing for retrofit to conventional toilets as in the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In summary, the toilet venting apparatus of the present invention includes an upper insert mountable between a toilet tank and a toilet bowl, and a lower insert mountable between the bowl and a floor sewer pipe. The upper insert has a first aperture therethrough cooperating between a flush valve aperture in a lower wall of the tank and a water-entry aperture in an upper surface of the bowl. The water-entry aperture cooperates, via a manifold in the bowl, in fluid communication with water dispensing apertures around an upper rim of the bowl. 
     A flush valve in the tank is actuable so as to release flush water held in the tank through the flush valve aperture, the first aperture, the water-entry aperture, the manifold and the water dispensing apertures to thereby flush the toilet. The upper insert has a first conduit in fluid communication with the first aperture. The first conduit extends from the first aperture to a first outlet. The first outlet opens externally from the upper insert. The lower insert has a second aperture therethrough cooperating between a down-leg discharge aperture of the bowl and an inlet aperture of the floor sewer pipe. The lower insert has a second conduit in fluid communication with the second aperture. The second conduit extends from the second aperture to a second outlet. The second outlet opens externally from the lower insert. 
     A third conduit is mountable in fluid communication between the first and second outlets. A water driven turbine is mounted to the third conduit. A water supply is mounted to an impeller side of the turbine. An actuator, for biasing to an open position a water supply valve is mounted on the water supply. The water supply water is fed under pressure to the impeller side of the turbine. Water flows through a nozzle to thereby turn an impeller of the turbine. The impeller is co-axially mounted to a fan of the turbine. The fan is in fluid communication with the third conduit. 
     Thus, when the first insert is mounted between the tank and the bowl, and when the second insert is mounted between the bowl and the floor sewer pipe, and when the third conduit is mounted to the first and second outlets, turning of the impeller turns the fan so as to draw air into the third conduit from the bowl. Air is drawn fro the bowl via the water dispensing apertures, the manifold and the first conduit. The fan urges the air down the third conduit, so as to pass through the second conduit and into the floor sewer pipe. 
     In one aspect of the present invention the actuator is a manual water supply valve actuator manually operable between first and second water supply valve biasing positions. In the first water supply valve biasing position the water supply valve is biased into the open position. Operation of a flush valve linkage for actuating the flush valve biases, by a return actuator cooperating with the flush valve linkage, the manual water supply valve actuator from the first water supply valve biasing position to the second water supply valve biasing position. In the second water supply valve biasing position the water supply valve is biased into a closed position. 
     In a further aspect, the manual water supply valve actuator is a plunger. The plunger is mounted to a first end of a mechanical water supply valve linkage. An opposite second end of the water supply valve linkage is mounted to the water supply valve in cooperation therewith for opening and closing the water supply valve upon corresponding translation of the plunger. The plunger is cooperatively mounted to a flush valve linkage actuator. When the plunger is in the first water supply valve biasing position, the flush valve is closed and the flush valve linkage is in a non-actuating state. Actuation of the flush valve linkage by the flush valve linkage actuator, so as to open the flush valve, actuates the return actuator so as to bias the plunger into the second water supply valve biasing position. 
     In yet a further aspect, the manual water supply valve actuator includes a mechanical water supply valve linkage wherein a first portion of the linkage is contained within the tank, a second portion of the linkage, contiguous to the first portion, passes through a sealed first aperture in the tank, and a third portion of the linkage, contiguous to the second portion, extends from the sealed aperture to the water supply valve. The manual water supply valve actuator also includes a water supply valve linkage actuator cooperatively mounted to an end of the first portion of the linkage, opposite the second portion. The water supply valve linkage actuator is mounted through a second aperture in the tank. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention the mechanical water supply valve linkage is a flexible cable slidably mounted in a flexible cable cover. The cable cover is mounted at a first end to the second, or an upper, aperture in the tank. The plunger is journalled in the upper aperture and mounted at an inner end thereof to a corresponding first end of the flexible cable. The cable cover passes through the first, or a sealed lower, aperture in the tank. It extends to, and is mounted at, the water supply valve at a second end of the cable cover opposite the first end of the cable cover. A corresponding second end of the flexible cable cooperates with the water supply valve for opening and closing thereof. 
     Advantageouosly, the first or sealed lower aperture is formed in a tank mounting bolt, and the second or upper aperture is formed in the flush valve linkage actuator. Further, the flush valve linkage actuator is a lever and the water supply valve linkage actuator is a plunger having a push button at an outer end thereof, opposite the inner end. The push button has an edge thereof overlapping a portion of the lever. The return actuator is a wedge mounted between the portion of the lever and the edge of the push button. Rotation of the lever so as to actuate the flush valve linkage drives the wedge under the edge of the push button urging the push button outwardly of the lever thereby actuating the plunger into the first water supply valve biasing position. 
     In yet a further aspect of the present invention the upper and lower inserts are generally planar rigid members having secondary apertures for accepting mounting bolts therethrough. In particular, in one embodiment the upper and lower inserts are pedestals sized to generally correspond, respectively, to the size of the bases of the tank and bowl. 
     Further advantageously, the first and second conduits each have cavity portions extending as cavities through the corresponding generally planar rigid members. Rigid tube portions, contiguous to the corresponding cavity portions, extend from the cavity portions to the corresponding first and second outlets. The third conduit is a rigid tube, and the water turbine is mounted in a rigid housing at an upper end thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C depict, in cut-away side elevation view, the operation of a conventional prior art toilet. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view illustrating the components of the venting apparatus in relation to a standard flush toilet. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially cut-away, of a standard flush toilet with the venting apparatus in place. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partially cut-away, of a standard flush toilet with the venting apparatus in place. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the upper insert portion of the venting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lower insert portion of the venting apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8--8 of FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view, partially cut-away of the impeller and fan housing. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view at the upper end of the vent pipe. 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the control valve of the present invention illustrating the valve in the open position. 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the control valve illustrating the valve in the closed position. 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the flush handle of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 14a is an enlarged sectional view of the flush handle and integral valve operating button, with the button in the valve open position. 
     FIG. 14b is a sectional view of the flush handle illustrating the button in the valve closed position. 
     FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the stationary portion of the flush handle illustrating the button retraction mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, prior art toilet 10&#39; has a tank 12&#39; and a bowl 14&#39;. Water 16&#39; in tank 12&#39; flows into bowl 14&#39; in direction A&#39; when tank valve 18&#39; is opened. Water is directed around the rim 20&#39; of bowl 14&#39; and flows into the bowl via a spaced-apart array of apertures under the rim. Water is also directed so as to flow upwardly in direction B&#39; along up-leg 22&#39; of pipe 24&#39;. This floods pipe 24&#39; so as to force the air pocket around apex 26&#39; in pipe 24&#39;, down the down-leg 28&#39; of pipe 24&#39; and into sewer pipe 30&#39;, and causes a siphon effect which draws water continuously along pipe 24&#39; into sewer pipe 30&#39; until water is drained from bowl 14&#39; and tank 12&#39;. 
     As may be seen from the accompanying drawings the hydraulically actuated venting device 10, of the present invention, is connected to the water supply line 12 for the flush toilet through an auxiliary tee 14. A control valve 16, which is operated by rotation of a flush handle 18 mounted to the toilet tank 8, allows selective operation of the venting device 10 by the user. Control valve 16 is rigidly mounted relative to the toilet by being threaded onto the outwardly projecting end of a hollow tank hold down bolt 20. A flexible tube 21 extends between the inner end of hold down bolt 20 and flush handle 18. This arrangement permits a valve operating push rod 22, slidably joumalled in tube 21, to pass through the toilet tank from flush handle 18 to control valve 16. 
     An upper insert 24 is fitted to the rear portion of the toilet bowl 6 and supports the toilet tank 8. A compartmentalised housing 26 contains a water driven impeller 28 and fan 29 (both shown in dotted outline in FIG. 9) mounted on a single axle for co-operative rotation. Housing 26 is mounted underneath and to the rear of upper insert 24. A lower insert 30 is positioned below the toilet bowl, between the toilet and the floor, and is connected to the impeller and fan housing 26 by a connecting vent pipe 32. The use of upper insert 24 and lower insert 30 allow venting device of the present invention to be retrofitted to conventional toilets. 
     Upper insert 24 has a through-aperture 34 which is conically shaped on its internal upper surface so as to cooperate with flush valve assembly 25. A conical gasket 25a forms a seal between the walls of aperture 34 and the discharge tube 25b. A lock washer threads onto the lower end of the discharge tube which projects downwardly from the bottom of tank 8. The underside of upper insert 24 has a projecting cylindrical lip 36 which has an annular recess 38 near the open end. This annular recess retains a lower gasket 40. Projecting lip 36 and gasket 40 mate with and seal the water entry aperture 6a located at the rear of the toilet bowl 6. Upper insert 24 has an internal passage 42 (shown in dotted outline in FIG. 5) which connects aperture 34 in fluid communication with a vent opening 44 located on the underside of upper insert 24. Inlet 26a of housing 26 mates into vent opening 44. 
     Lower insert 30 has a projecting lower lip 54. Through-aperture 50 extends through lower base 30 and lower lip 54. Lower lip 54 mates with floor waste pipe 48. An upper surface of aperture 50 mates with the toilet discharge aperture 52 which protrudes below toilet bowl 6. An annular recess 56 seen in FIG. 8 retains a compressible gasket 58. Lip 54 and gasket 58 provide a seal with floor waste pipe 48 when mated therein. Lower insert 30 has an internal passage 60 (seen in dotted outline in FIGS. 7 and 8) which connects aperture 50 in fluid communication with vent opening 62 located at the distal end of conduit 61 on lower insert 30. The lowermost end of pipe 32 mates onto vent opening 62. 
     The control valve 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a through-passage 70. Water from the water supply line 12 flows, via tee 14 and water take-off line 15, in direction A through control valve 16. Valve 16 is actuated by movement of pushrod 22 which may be a covered, flexible cable and which extends from valve 16 to flush handle 18. The end 72 of push rod 22 is slidably fitted within valve 16 at right angles to passage 70. End 72 has aperture 74 formed therethrough in alignment with through-passage 70. End 72 of pushrod 22 has seals 76 positioned on either side of aperture 74. These seals prohibit water from flowing from passage 70 through hollow bolt 20 into the tank of the toilet. Alignment of aperture 74 in the end 72 of push rod 22 with through passage 70 in the control valve 16 permits water to flow to, so as to spray onto, impeller 28 in housing 26. As may be seen in FIG. 12, as pushrod 72 is drawn in direction B toward flush handle 18 during the rotation of flush handle 18, through passage 70 is sealed off stopping water flow through valve 16. 
     When the control valve 16 is in the open position, water passes via hose 17 from valve 16 to a nozzle 80 secured within the fan and impeller housing 26. Impeller 28 is rotated by water pressure from a spray of water from nozzle 80. Water is directed from impeller 28 downwardly through vent pipe 32. Flap valve 82 (shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1) is rotatably mounted near the upper end of the vent pipe 32. Water exiting housing 26 causes flap valve 82 to open. 
     As noted above, fan 29 and impeller 28 are mounted on a common shaft 84. Thus they co-operatively rotate, meaning that as impeller 28 rotates so too does fan 29. As impeller 28 is driven by water pressure from nozzle 80, fan 29 is rotated to draw air in direction D through the bowl chamber or manifold (hereinafter collectively manifold 6b) from the flush water discharge apertures 85 at the upper rim of the toilet bowl 6, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is understood that, although only two such apertures are illustrated, there are a plurality of them in radially spaced array around the rim of the bowl. Air, which is intended to be odorous air from inside bowl 6, is drawn through firstly, apertures 85, then through internal passage 42 within upper insert 24 (seen in FIG. 6), so as to exit through aperture 44 into inlet 26a of housing 26. The air is forced downwardly by fan 29, through vent pipe 32, to exit, co-mingled with the water dropping from impeller 28, into sewer waste pipe 48 through lower insert 30. 
     Air is prevented from being drawn through overflow pipe 86 (seen in dotted outline in FIGS. 2 and 3) in the toilet tank 8 by a water trap 88. Flap valve 82 advantageously forms a tight seal within vent pipe 32 when the venting device is not in use to inhibit backflow of sewer gases. The flap valve may b of a design known in the art. Alternatively to accomplish the tight seal, as seen in FIG. 10, a depression 83 is formed in the upper surface of flap valve 82. Depression 83 retains small amount of water and thus urges, by its weight, the flap valve downwardly in direction E about its pivots 82a to firmly seat the valve against the inner walls of vent pipe 32. Other actuating arrangements may be employed as would be known to one skilled in the art. For example, a mechanically actuated grate valve or shutter valve may be employed along the lines taught in the United States patent to Rose et al discussed above. A mechanical linkage may be taken off, for example, push rod 22. 
     As seen in FIGS. 13-15, flush handle 18 includes a mounting sleeve 90, which is non-rotatably secured to toilet tank 8 for example b means of a nut 91 threaded onto the inner end of the sleeve. An operating lever 92, has an elongate hollow shaft 94 inserted through the mounting sleeve and rotatably secured therein by a clip 96 or the like. Clip 96 is fitted over the inner end of hollow shaft 94. Push button 8 is slidably secured within the operating lever for rotation therewith as the lever is rotated to operate the flushing mechanism. Push button 98 is mounted on operating lever 92, for cooperative rotation therewith, within a mating annular collar 93. A lock pin 100 projects from operating lever 92 into a corresponding recess within push button 98. Button 98 is se,red within annular collar 93 by a retaining ring 102. Button 98 has secured to its inner en valve operating rod 22 which passes through flexible tube 21 and hollow tank hold down bolt 20 into operating valve 16. 
     Mounting sleeve 90 has at its outer end a plate 95 which is drawn against tank 8 by the action of tightening nut 91 onto the inner end of the sleeve. An arcuately shaped push button reset wedge 104 is formed on plate 95. Reset wedge 104 slidably engages reset arm 25 106 on button 98. When button 98 is pushed inwards in direction F, valve operating rod 22 is advanced to open valve 16. When button 98 is in the reset position as shown in FIG. 14b valve 16 is in the closed position of FIG. 12 and handle 20 may be operated to flush the toilet without opening the valve 16 or operating the fan. Only when the button is depressed by the user will operating rod 22 be advanced to open the valve and permit water to flow to drive impeller 28 to thereby activate the venting operation. When the button 98 is in its depressed position the rotation of the lever 92 in a normal manner, when flushing the toilet for example, will reset the button and close valve 16 thereby terminating the venting operation. 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.