Patent Publication Number: US-4055864-A

Title: Automatic lid-lifting and flushing device for water closet

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to automatic lid-lifting and flushing device for a water closet and more particularly to such device adapted to be used in existing water closets and comprising a control circuit, through a motor, transmission gear and cam means, incorporated with a link and pull string, to open or close the lid and/or the seat ring of the water closet, and to flush the closet automatically after the lid being closed. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In using a conventional water closet, the user has to lift the lid and/or seat ring by hand and, after use, to return these parts to the closed condition by hand, then press the flush water handle. This is an unpleasant job which needs several steps of operation, and bending or bowing positions right have to be assumed. 
     In many situations, no urinal is provided so, man has to use the water closet for urinating. Many people neglect to have the seat ring lifted, so stains of urine, are left on the seat ring, which causes the later user to clean the seat ring before use. 
     The content of the water closet gives bad odor; after using the user has to close the lid by hand, then flush it. Sometimes due to the unpleasent feeling, the user would purposely neglect to close the lid. 
     To eliminate the hand operation, many devices, most of which being mechanically operated, have been disclosed. However, the inconvenience in operation, i.e. usually the lid lifting and closing operation are not incorporated with water flushing, makes the device impractical. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an electrically operated automatic lid-lifting and flushing device for a water closet. With only a press for a button, either with hand or foot, the selective operation of lifting or closing of the lid, with or without seat ring, would be completed, and after the lid being closed, the flush of water would automatically follow. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic lid-lifting and flushing device which can be adapted to be used in the existing water closet and sold as an individual commodity item. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electrically operated lid-lifting and flashing device, the functions of which are achieved simply by pressing a button. 
     Other objects and feature of the present invention will become clear by way of the following detailed description to be taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the lid-lifting and flushing device of the present invention in partial cut-away; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the same embodiment in partial cut-away; 
     FIG. 3 (A) and (B) are front and side views showing the assembly of cam sets and their relationship of engagement; 
     FIG. 4 (A), (B) and (C) are a front view and side views showing relationships of the drive-driven gear sets respectively for lid and seat ring operation. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the pulley assembly for flushing; 
     FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view showing the set-up of the present device; 
     FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show respectively the functions of the transmission means under different conditions, accompanied with corresponding circuit diagrams. 
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrically operated lidlifting and flushing device according to the present invention comprises, fixed on lower left side of a main plate 2, a motor 1 of reduced speed. Motor shaft 101 of the low speed motor is protruded at the right side of plate 2, with a driving gear 3 being mounted on the shaft. Above the shaft 101, also protruded at the right side of plate 2, is a shaft 4 which is rotatably mounted on the plate 2. Upon shaft 4, a main driving gear-cam set 5 is mounted. Gear portion 51 of the gear-cam set 5 is meshed with driving gear 3. On the upper portion of plate 2, a shaft 6 is rotatably mounted with its one end protruded at the right side of the plate 2 and its other end supported on an auxiliary plate 2a which is fixed by bolts 67a on the main plate 2. A big gear-cam or the driven gear-cam set 7 is mounted on the right end of the shaft 6. Gear portion 71 of the set 7 is in mesh with the gear portion 51 of the driving gear-cam set 5. In the meantime, cam portions of sets 5 and 7 have an associated relationship which shall be detailed later. 
     On the abovesaid shaft 6, at a position between plates 2 and 2a, are mounted, from right to left, a transmission gear set 8A, a metal wheel 10a and another transmission gear set 9A. Gear set 8A is the driving gear set for seat ring operation; gear set 9A is the driving gear set for lid operation; while the wheel 10a is a stablizer. Both gear sets 7A, 9A and the wheels 10a rotate with the shaft 6. A center shaft 11 in parallel with the shaft 6 is mounted with one end supported on plate 2 and the other end passing through plate 2a and extended toward the left. On the shaft 11 is mounted a driven gear set 8B which is meshed with the abovesaid driving gear set 8A. When gear set 8B is driven, the shaft 11 rotates in the meantime. On the left end of the hollow hub 84 of the gear set 8B, is rotatably mounted a driven gear set 9B which is meshed with the abovesaid driving gear set 9A. Gear set 9B further has a hollow hub 94 extended toward the left with shaft 11 and being rotatable thereon. When gear set 9A rotates, the said set 9B rotates on shaft 11 and around the hollow hub 84. At a position between gear sets 8B and 9B and on the hub 84, a plastic or rubber wheel 10b is loosely fitted thereon, which is to be engaged with the metal wheel 10a. The movement relationship between 8A, 8B and 9A, 9B shall be detailed later. 
     A string pulley retaining plate 2b is fixed with bolts 67b on the main plate 2 (FIG. 2). Slots 21--21 are provided both on the plate 2b and on the corresponding location on the plate 2 for resting of the two protruded shaft ends 121--121 of the pulley-cam assembly 12 for flushing. The gear portion 122 of the said assembly 12 is meshed with gear portion of the big gear-cam 7. One end of a pull string 13 is fixed on the pulley portion 123 of the pulley-cam assembly 12, while the other end of the string 13 is turned around a lower guide pulley 14a and an upper guide pulley 14b which are mounted on a plate 2c. Then the said other end of the string 13 is led through a sleeve 28 on plate 2c into a long tube 15 which is in parallel with the shaft 11. The said other end of string 13 is tied to an inner end of an actuating rod 16 which is inserted in the long tube 15 and slidable freely therein. Between sleeve 28 and the rod 16, a spring 17 is provided inside the tube 15 and surrounding the string 13. When pulley assembly 12 is driven by gear 7 and rotates counter-clockwisely, the string 13 is wound up against the spring 17 and pulling rod 16 is pulled into the tube 15, until the pulley assembly 12 unmeshes with gear 7, at which time the rod 16 would resume its original position under the force of spring 17. A knuckle joint 16a has one end pivoted to the outer end of rod 16 and the other end fixed to a link 18 which link is extended upwardly along the side of a water tank A with the upper end of the link connected to the flushing handle 19. 
     An anchoring plate 20 which is located under and parallel with the shaft 11, extends leftward from the plate 2a for fixing the whole device D to the water closet. Slots 201--201 are disposed on plate 20. Bolts 202--202, ordinarily provided to fix the seat ring and the lid of the water closet, can be utilized to pass through slots 201--201 for anchorings as referred also in FIG. 7. 
     Under the left lower side of the big gear-cam 7, on the plate 2, two micro-switches MS 1  and MS 2  are stacked up which are actuated by the cam portions 72a and 72b of the gear-cam 7 (FIG. 2). Another microswitch MS 3  is disposed at the lower right side of the gear-cam 7 which switch MS 3  is associated with the cam portion 72a. A condenser C is provided with a fixing strap at the lower left of the plate 2. In the figures, the casing of the device is denoted by 22; 23 being the electric wire leading to the power source; 24 the lid; 25 the seat ring; SW the operating switch, S 1  being the switch button for the lid and seat ring, S 2  for lid only; S 3  for seat ring only; P being a plug for power source (see: FIG. 7 also). 
     All the electric components including the motor 1, micro-switches MS 1 , MS 2 , MS 3 , operating switch S, and condenser C etc. shall be detailed in function later. 
     Furthermore, a pair of retaining arms 26 are provided on shaft 11 for supporting and operating the seat ring 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2). On hollow hub 94, one end of a bracket 27 is provided for supporting and operating the lid 24; another end of the bracket 27, is rotatably mounted on the left end of the shaft 11. 
     FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the big gear-cam set 7 and the small gear-cam set 5. The big gear-cam set 7 has discontinuous gear portion 71 which is meshed with continuous gear portion 51 of the small gear-cam set 5. Gear portion 71 is further separated into sections 71a and 71b. Between gear sections 71a and 71b and also at the end of the section 71b, are provided with a recesses 73a and 73b respectively. Beyond the beginning end of gear section 71a and the finishing end of the recess 73b are teeth 74a, 74b. Each tooth 74a, 74b, having higher addendum, is disposed respectively to serve as a stopper to limit the rotating angle of the gear-cam 7. Between stopper-teeth 74a and 74b are disposed two toothless sections 75a and 75b with another gear section 76 in-between them. The gear section 76, having a higher elevation relative to gear sections 71a and 71b, would mesh with the gear portion 122 of the pulley-cam assembly 12 when the gear-cam set 7 rotates. Between gear sections 71a and 71b, cam portions 72a and 72b are disposed at various sides of the set 7 to be engaged with micro-switches MS 1  and MS 2 . At positions corresponding to recesses 73a and 73b, on the various sides of the gear-cam 7, teeth 77a and 77b are disposed. At the same positions yet opposite to teeth 77a and 77b, arc plates 78a, 78b, disposed to limit the rotation angle of the big gear-cam set 7. 
     The small gear-cam set 5 has gear portion 51 to mesh with gear section 71 of gear-cam set 7 and the driving gear 3. At front and rear sides of the gear 51, cams 52a, 52b are so disposed as to engage with said teeth 77a and 77b respectively. A pair of guide wheels 53a and 53b are disposed to sandwich the cam 52a inbetween, with notches 54a and 54b provided thereon at the corresponding position of cam 52a and 52b to avoid conflicting with the respective arc positioning plate 78a, 78b. In the meantime, the groove 54 between guide wheels 53a and 53b provides a path way for tooth 77a when in idle rotating. 
     In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the flashing string pulley-cam assembly comprises a pulley portion 123 and a gear portion 122, being floatingly rested at the lower end of slot 21 on plate 2b (see. FIG. 2). The gear portion 122 has a toothless section 124 extended from the gear section, and two teeth 122a each with higher addendum, disposed at the beginning and finishing bowndaries of the toothless section. The pulley portion 123 has a groove 123&#39;, with one end of pull string 13 being anchored therein (see. FIG. 1). 
     FIG. 4 (A) thru (C) depict the relationship between drive-driven gear sets 8A and 8B for seat ring transmission and the relationship between drive-driven gear sets 9A and 9B for lid-lift transmission. Drive gear set 8A comprises a gear 81a, a single toothed gear 82a and a cam 83a having fan sector 831 and a depressed half circle 832. Driven gear 8B comprises a gear 81b having a concave arc 811 and two projections 812, a singled toothed gear 82b and a cam 83b having a concave arc 834 between two projections 833. The said gears 81a, 82a and cam 83a are associated respectively with gears 81b, 82b and cam 83b. 
     Drive gear set 9A, in a likewise manner as set 8A, comprises a gear 91a, a single toothed gear 92a and a cam 93a having fan sector 931 and a depresed half circle 932. Driven gear set 9B, like set 8B, comprises a gear 91b having a concave arc 911 and two projections 812, a single toothed gear 92b and a cam 93b having a concave arc 934 between projections 933. The abovesaid gears 91a, 92a and cam 93a are associated respectively with gears 91b, 92b and cam 93b. 
     FIG. 6 depicts the circuit diagram of the device of the present invention having motor 1, condenser C, micro-switches MS 1 , MS 2  and MS 3 , operating switch SW comprising three push buttons S 1 , S 2  and S 3 , and a plug P lead to the electric source. 
     Installation, function and the operation of the said device are detailed hereunder: FIG. 7 depicts the installation. The whole device D is fixed to the rear side of the water closet B by anchoring plate 20 with bolts 202--202 ordinary provided to fix the seat ring and the lid. Lid 24 and seat ring 25 are rotatably mounted on shaft 11, and supported by supporting brackets 27 and retaining arms 26. Operating switch SW can be provided on top of conduit 29 erected upward from the casing 22 of the device D or directly disposed on the wall. 
     When the device is in inactive condition, the lid 24 and seat ring are both closed. Refer to FIG. 8 (A) to see the relationship between the small gear 51 and the big gear 71. The small gear 51 is meshed with the beginning end of the big gear 71, while cams 72a and 72b engage respectively with micro-switch MS 1  and MS 2  which are both in closed condition. When button S 2  of SW is pressed, from FIG. 8 (D), it can be seen that a closed circuit is formed by source P, switch SW, micro-switch MS 1 , condenser C, and motor 1, whereby motor 1 drives gear 3 to cause the small gear-cam set 5 to rotate clockwise. Small gear 51 meshes with gear section 71a to drive the big gear-cam set 7 to rotate counter-clockwise. In the meantime, the drive gear set 8A and 9A which are mounted on the same shaft 6 rotate. Referring to FIG. 8 (B) and FIG. 8 (C), since the gear 81a of the drive gear set 8A is being faced with the concave arc 811 of gear 81b and not meshed up, and in the sametime gear 82a and gear 82b, cam 83a and cam 83b are also not meshed, therefore the gear set 8B would not rotate. Shaft 11 is static, and the seat ring 25 remains closed. Yet gear 91a of drive gear set 9A meshes with gear 91b of driven gear set 9B which would in turn be driven to rotate clockwise. Thus, lid 24 would be lifted through bracket 27 which is mounted on the hollow hub 94 of the driven gear set 9B. In the meantime, the concave arc 911 of gear 91b becomes faced with gear 91a, and single toothed gear 92b becomes engaged with single toothed gear 92a as shown in FIG. 9B. On the other hand, when gear 7 rotates gear portion 76 would get in touch with the toothless section 124 of gear portion 122 of pulley-cam assembly 12. Since the said assembly 12 rests in slot 21 and is capable of moving up-down along the slot 21 of plate 2b, gear 76 would not be hampered from passing through, but rubs along toothless section 124 and causes the upward movement of the assembly 12 which would not rotate. Gear-cam set 7 keeps on rotating. 
     When small gear-cam set 5 revolves to more than one turn and drives the big gear cam set 7 to revolve more than 90°, the lid 24 is fully opened. By then, the recess 73a is facing small gear 51. In the meantime, the tooth 77a with limiting plate 78A comes to the same position, and the micro-switches MS 1  and MS 2  disengaged from cams 72a and 72b, and micro-switch MS 3  engages with cam 72a (see FIG. 9A). With MS 1  is in &#34;off&#34; condition, motor 1 stops running because of breaking up of the circuit. In other words, after the lid 24 being lifted up, the transmission stops, and the seat ring 25 is ready to be sat on. 
     After use, the user stands up from seated position, presses button S 1  of SW, a reversing circuit is closed including source P, button S 1  of SW, micro-switch SW 2 , condenser C, and motor 1. (Re. FIG. 9 (D)) Motor 1 rotates in a reversed direction, then the small gear-cam set 5 rotates counter-clockwise through the transmission of gear 3. From FIG. 9 (A), it is shown that the tooth of cam 52a will become engaged with tooth 77a of the big gear-cam set 7 and forcing the latter to rotate clockwise. When the cam 52a pushes away tooth 77a, recess 73a leaves the facing position with small gear 51. In the meantime, gear section 71a again meshes with gear 51; gear-cam set 7 continues to rotate; and drive gear set 8A and 9A in turn rotate accordingly. Referring to FIG. 9B, singled toothed gear 92a drives singled toothed gear 92b and gears 91b, 93b formed therewith to rotate through an angle until they are unmeshed. Then the concave arc 911 of gear 91b would be forced to leave its position and cause the teeth of gear 91B to mesh with gear 91a which in turn drives gear 91b to rotate counter-clockwise with the hollow hub 94. The bracket 27 thereon would closed the lid accordingly. 
     When the small gear-cam set 5 rotates counter-clockwise to about one turn and drives the big gear-cam set 7 to about 90°, the lid 24 is fully closed. By then, micro-switch MS 2  is opened by cam 72b and thereby breaks the motor circuit. In the meantime, the stopper tooth 74a engages with the small gear 51 to prevent the big gear-cam set 7 from continuous rotating. The whole device comes to a standstill, and resumes its ordinary condition. During the rotating of gear-cam set 7, gear section 76 first touches the tooth 122a of gear portion 122 of the pulley-cam assembly 12 for flushing string and forces down the gear 122 into meshing engagement. The pulley 123 revolves conter-clockwise and winds up the string 13, causing the rod 16 to retract inside the tube 15 against the force of spring 17. Then the handle 19 of flash tank A is pulled down by rod 16 through knuckle joint 16a and link 18 to effect automatic flushing. When gear section 76 leaves gear 122, the handle 19 is restored to its original position by the force of spring 17. 
     The stablizing wheels 10a and 10b are in contact with each other and revolve under friction when the lid 24 is being opened or closed. The stablizers serve to prevent the lid from collision with the flush tank or the flush stand or bowl at the end of journey due to inertia or gravity. 
     If the water closet is desired to be used as man&#39;s urinal, then after pressing button S 2  press also the button S 3  of SW. In such a case, after changing the condition as shown in FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 9, wherein the lid is raised, as caused by depression of the button S 2 , as discussed earlier a circuit including source P, button S 3  of SW, micro-switch MS 3  , condenser C, motor 1 is still closed. Then the small gear-cam set 5 continues to rotate clockwise from the position of FIG. 9A. Cam 52a then gets into contact with tooth 77a and forces the big gear-cam set 7 to revolve through a small angle, letting recess 73a leave a position facing small gear 51. Gear section 71b meshes with small gear 51, so that gear-cam set 7 is driven by gear-cam set 5. Drive gear sets 8A and 9A rotate accordingly. Referring to FIG. 9, cam 72a leaves micro-switch MS 2 , yet presses micro-switch MS 3  until the small gear 51 revolves to more than one turn and drives big gear-cam set 7 to about 90°  MS 3  leaves cam 72a. In the meantime, stopper tooth 74b gets in touch with small gear 51, then the motor and whole device come to a standstill. 
     When the big gear-cam set rotates, the single toothed gear 82a drives the single toothed gear 82b and in turn causes the mesh up of gear 81b with gear 81a and turns the shaft 11. The seat ring supported on retaining arms 26 is thereby lifted up. As the gear 91a is not meshed with gear 92a by then, gear 92b is in a standstill, as is the hollow hub 94. The lid 24 would thus maintain its opened position. Only gear 91a revolves idly under the concave arc 921 of gear 92a, until the big gear-cam 7 stops revolving. Drive and driven gear sets 9A and 9B stop in the sametime. On the other hand, during revolving of big gear-cam set 7, the gear section 71a was not in mesh with gear 122 of pulley-cam assembly 12, so the assembly would not turn, hence the flushing mechanism would not operate. When gear-cam set 7 stops, cam 72a and 72b have disengaged from micro-switches MS 1 , MS 2  and MS 3 , and the circuit diagram becomes as shown in FIG. 10 (D). After the seat ring 25 is lifted up, the water closet is suitable for use as man&#39;s urinal with no fear of wetting of the seat ring 25. 
     After using, the user presses button S 1  of SW. A reversing circuit is closed including source P, -button S 1  of SW, micro-switch MS 2 , condenser C, and motor 1, causing the small gear-cam set 5 to rotate reversely through transmission of gear 3. Gear-cam set 7 would revolve through an angle clockwise through meshing of cam 52b and tooth 77b. After mesh-up of gear section 71b and small gear 51, big gear-cam 7 is driven by small gear 51 and continues to rotate, until gear-cam set 7 revolves about 90°. Concave arc 73a again comes to a position facing small gear 51. Gear-cam set 7 stops temporarily, yet the small gear-cam set 5 continues to rotate with motor 1. When the gear-cam set 7 changes from the condition shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 9, the drive gear set 8A, through meshing of gear 81a with gear 82a, drives the driven gear set 8B to rotate counter clockwise. The seat ring 25 closes with the turning of shaft 11, until the gear-cam set rotates another 90°  and stops temporarily; the seat ring 25 being fully closed. At this time, since the drive gear 91a of set 9A is not in mesh with gear 91b of gear set 9B, the lid 24 would stay unmoved. 
     But when the motor continues to drive the gear-cam set 5 until cam 52a meshed with tooth 77a once again, the concave arc 73a leaves the small gear-cam set 5 first, then gear section 71a comes to mesh with small gear 51. Big gear-cam set 7 begins to revolve again. When gear-cam set 7 revolves clockwise, gear section 76 meshes with gear 122 of the pulley-cam assembly 12. Pulley 123, in turn, winds up the string 13 to effect automatic flushing like aforementioned. The actions of drive gear sets 8A, 9A and the driven gear sets 8B, 9B are just the same as in the case of closing lid 24 and shall no more be detailed. When the gear-cam 7 continues to rotate another 90° to resume the position as shown in FIG. 8, as the micro-switch MS 2  is opened, motor 1 stops. The whole device comes to a standstill. 
     When the lid 24 and seat ring are being closed as aforesaid, guide wheels 53a and 53b attached to small gear-cam set 5, incorporated with limiting plates 78a and 78b, and cams 83a, 83b of gear sets 8A, 8B incorporated with gears 93a, 93b of gear sets 9A, 9B, assure a smooth operation by guiding a proper position of mesh-up between gears 77a, 77b with cams 52a, 52b, and gears 82a, 92a with gears 82b, 92b. 
     With the mechanism as abovesaid, the lifting and closing of lid and seat ring of a water closet and the automatic flushing after closing of lid can be easily achieved simply by a push of a button. It is so convenient and clean. Also, the said device can be adapted to any existing water closet and sold as an individual commodity item.