Abstract:
A rotary siphon flushing device for use inside a water storage tank of a conventional commode or toilet. A siphon exhaust member is secured to the drainage port of the water storage tank. A rotary arm is axially attached to the siphon exhaust member. The rotary arm fills with water as the tank water level rises. A conventional pull chain lever rotates the rotary arm into the siphon exhaust member thereby inducing a siphon flushing action. The rotary arm rotates back to a filling position after the discharge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a flushing device of a standard commode and, more particularly, to a rotary flushing device for use inside the water storage tank of a standard commode. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     There are numerous known design problems associated with the standard rubber stopper flap used to discharge water from the water storage tank into the bowl of a commode. After a period of time, the rubber stopper begins to decay or deform and fail to properly seal the discharge port of the water storage tank. Many gallons of water are often wasted through the failure of the rubber stopper, not to mention the labor and expense required to replace it. In addition to these basic design flaws, the rubber stopper does not provide an effective means of controlling the quantity of water that is flushed through the commode system. As water conservation efforts have increased in importance, many alternative devices to the rubber stopper have been devised. Among the most popular alternatives are siphon flushing devices that use the principles of suction and hydraulic head to induce a siphoning flushing effect. 
     The existing prior art relating to siphon flushing devices includes a tank check valve siphon flushing device described by Osmond, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,375. The Osmond device uses a inverted U-shaped siphoning tube as the means for discharging water from the storage tank to the bowl. The inverted U-shaped tube is charged by an overhead water bridge with a check valve that controls water discharge into the siphon tubing. 
     Frank, U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,855 describes a complicated siphon flushing mechanism consisting of two inverted U-shaped traps that induce a siphoning effect and discharge the storage tank water. An internal flexible connector tube activates the siphoning effect through a lifting action causing communication between the two inverted U-shaped trap units. 
     Other siphon flushing devices exist in the prior art that incorporate the conventional inverted U-shape configuration in the device. The majority of these devices, however, contain numerous valves and seals necessary to control the siphon flushing action. Such inventions include U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,712 by Kwod Wang-on, U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,892 by McDonough, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,953 by Dudley. 
     In each of the prior art references provided and those reviewed, none of the siphon flushing devices incorporate a rotary action for activating the siphon flushing effect. One of the many advantages of the rotary siphon flusher, as described herein, is that the rotation action of the rotary pipe member can be activated by the conventional chain pull mechanism common in most commodes. Additionally, there is no need for ancillary valves or seals. The device can be easily installed in the water storage tank of most conventional commodes or toilets. The quantity and force of water discharged by the present invention can be determined by the configuration or the rotary pipe member of the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a durable and reliable flushing mechanism for the water storage tank of a conventional commode or toilet. 
     It is further an objective of this invention to provide a flushing mechanism that uses a unique rotary siphoning action to activate the discharge of water through a conventional commode or toilet. 
     It is still further an objective of this invention to control the rate and quantity of water that is discharged through a conventional commode or toilet. 
     It is yet further an objective of this invention to provide a siphon flushing device with a minimum number of valves and seals that may fail with time. 
     These as well as other objectives are accomplished with a siphon exhaust pipe member with a threaded end that inserts into the discharge port of a conventional toilet water storage tank. The threaded end of the siphon exhaust pipe member is secured to the water storage tank with a lock nut and rubber washer. A semi-circular tube or rotary pipe is pivotally attached to the siphon exhaust member. When the tank is full of water, the rotary pipe also fills with water. A siphoning effect is achieved through the rotation of the rotary pipe member into the siphon exhaust member. This rotation is initiated by the pull chain mechanism common to most conventional toilets and commodes. Once the siphoning action is complete and tank water contents discharged, the rotary pipe member returns to its original filling position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a side view of the rotary siphon flusher installed in the water storage tank of a conventional commode. 
     FIG. 1a of the drawings shows a top view of the rotary siphon flusher installed in the water storage tank of a conventional commode. 
     FIG. 2a of the drawings shows a side view of the device in a filled position prepared to initiate the siphon action. 
     FIG, 2b of the drawings shows a side view of the device just after the chain pulling mechanism has engaged the rotary insertion member. 
     FIG. 2c of the drawings shows a side view of the device just as the siphon action begins. 
     FIG. 2d of the drawings shows a side view of the device showing the siphon action in full operation 
     FIG. 2e of the drawings shows the device nearing the completion of the siphoning phase and the release of air from the rotary air tube into the rotary pipe. 
     FIG. 2f of the drawings shows the ballast member filled with liquid and causing the rotary pipe to rotate back to its original position. 
     FIG. 2g of the drawings shows the device in the original fill position preparing for another flush cycle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIG. 1 a water storage tank (10) of a standard bathroom commode. Inside the tank (10) is the rotary siphon flusher (20), a toilet tank valve (40) and flushing handle (45). The rotary siphon flusher (20) is secured into the drainage port (12) of a storage tank (10) by means of a nut (19) and flexible washer (17) screwed onto the threaded foot (26) of the rotary siphon flusher (20). The rotary siphon flusher (20) comprises a siphon exhaust pipe member (22) which is fixed and stationary and the rotary pipe (30), the majority of which is designed to rotate and insert inside the siphon exhaust pipe member (22). The rotary pipe (30) has a tube insert member (37) and a tube ballast member (39). As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 1a, the toilet tank valve (40) comprises a tank fill pipe (42), a bowl fill pipe (44) and an elongated float (46). The flushing handle (45) is connected to the chain lever (47) and in turn connected to the pull chain (49). 
     Referring to FIGS. 2a-2g, a step-by-step depiction of the operation of the rotary siphon flusher (20) is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2a, the storage tank (10) is filled with water by means of the tank fill pipe (42). The bowl portion of the commode is filled by the bowl fill pipe (44) which discharges directly into the bowl through exhaust flue (24) which connects to the exhaust pipe member (22). 
     The liquid level in the tank shown in FIG. 2a is at least the same height as the discharge flap (38) of the rotary pipe (30). The fill flap (32) rests in an open position, allowing the tank water to fill the rotary pipe (30). The siphon exhaust pipe member (22) sits slightly higher than the rotary pipe (30) and therefore remains open to the free air space above the water line (14). The water level equilibrium is achieved by means of an elongated float (46) as depicted in FIG. 1a. 
     With the liquid level equilibrium achieved as shown in FIG. 2a, the flushing action is initiated in FIG. 2b. By activating the flushing handle (45), the rotary pipe (30) is put into motion by means of the rotary lever (34) connected to the pull chain (49). The design of the rotary siphon flusher (20) is such that the rotary pipe (30) is of a certain shape and size sufficient to rotate and insert into the interior tubing of the siphon exhaust member (22). The entire inner tubing of the rotary pipe (30) remains full of liquid during the initial rotation action. The discharge flap (38) remains closed until the gravitational force upon the liquid overcomes the relevant rotational forces that keep the discharge flap (38) closed. The fill flap (32) is also in a closed position during the initial rotation of the rotary pipe (30) as the centrifugal force of the liquid inside maintains the fill flap (32) in the closed position. 
     Referring to FIG. 2c, the rotary flushing motion of the rotary pipe (30) is almost complete. The siphoning effect begins as liquid discharging out of the discharge end (35) of the rotary pipe (30) and this suction effect begins to draw water in from the bottom of the storage tank (10) through the fill end (33) of the rotary pipe (30). 
     Referring to FIG. 2d, the rotary pipe (30) is shown in its full, inverted siphoning position. Both the discharge flap (38) and the fill flap (32) are in full open positions. The siphoning action continues until such time that air enters the rotary pipe (30). 
     Referring to FIG. 2e, the water siphoning effect is broken by the rotary air tube (36). This is accomplished when the water level (14) falls below the air intake orifice (21) of the rotary air tube (36). As air is drawn through the rotary air tube (36) and discharged into the tube insert member (37) from the air discharge orifice (23) of the rotary air tube (36) the siphoning water seal is broken. With the siphoning effect broken, the water flow in the tube ballast member (39) reverses causing the fill flap (32) to close. The closure of the fill flap (32) is aided by the ballast baffle (31) that directs a portion of the backflow behind the fill flap (32) causing it to close rapidly. 
     Referring to FIG. 2f, the tube insert member (37) of the rotary pipe (30) is vacated of liquid while the tube ballast member (39) section remains filled with liquid causing the entire rotary pipe (30) to rotate back into the original resting position as shown in FIG. 2g. The tank (10) is then re-filled in preparation for additional flushing action. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein. It is to be understood, of course, that changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.