Patent Publication Number: US-2002000246-A1

Title: Suction-type siphon for a flushing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001] This application claims priority to Swiss Application No. 1298/00 filed Jun. 30, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The invention relates to a suction-type siphon for a flushing device, in particular a urinal, having an inlet opening which receives the flushing water, having an outlet opening which is to be connected to a waste-disposal conduit and through which the flushing water exits, and having a channel which runs from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and has a bend for receiving sealing water.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0005] Suction-type siphons of the type mentioned are used in particular for urinals. With these siphons, the siphon effect has long been used to empty them. The filling of the siphon is achieved by a constriction of the cross section of the stench trap at the outlet. Once filled, the siphon effect is initiated. The suction is interrupted by the entry of air into the channel of the siphon. Refilling takes place, for example, by means of a cistern or a flushing valve.  
       [0006] In a suction-type siphon for urinals, the channel has a comparatively small cross section. A constriction at the outlet would substantially increase the risk here of blockage, since, as it is known, numerous solid objects, for example cigarette stubs, are also thrown into urinal bowls. Up to now, urinals have therefore required comparatively high amounts of flushing water in the region of approximately two to three liters.  
       [0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a suction-type siphon of the type mentioned which requires substantially less flushing water without increasing the risk of blockage.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] In the case of a suction-type siphon according to the invention, the object is achieved in that downstream, or after the said bend as seen in the direction of flow, the channel has a depression causing the formation of a sump which constricts the channel for the passage of air. With the suction-type siphon according to the invention, the sump is therefore used only for constricting the passage for air. This constriction makes filling possible more rapidly and therefore with less flushing water. However, the passage cross section for solid objects, for example cigarette stubs, is not constricted by the sump. The constriction caused by the sump is therefore effective only for the passage of the air. Tests have shown that, using the suction-type siphon according to the invention, a urinal can be flushed clean with substantially less water. Flushing clean is possible, in particular, with a liter of water or even less. The suction-type siphon according to the invention is provided, in particular, for a urinal, but applications in other flushing devices and, in particular, in a water closet, are also conceivable.  
       [0009] According to a development of the invention, the depression for the sump is particularly advantageously formed by a deflecting bow between one limb and the outlet end. This deflecting bow is preferably a lower deflecting bow with the outlet opening forming the overflow edge which determines the level of the sump. This deflecting bow can be produced as a separate shaped piece and can be connected to the remaining body of the suction-type siphon by means of a plug-in connection.  
       [0010] Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent patent claims, the following description and the drawing. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0011] The single FIGURE shows a section through a suction-type siphon according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0012] The suction-type siphon  1  shown in the FIGURE comprises two blow-molded parts  8  and  16  which are connected to each other by a plug-in connection  13 . An inlet opening  4 , which is directed vertically upwards, is connected to a discharge connection piece  2   a  of a sanitary article, in particular of a urinal bowl  2 . The flushing water leaves the sanitary article  2  in the direction of the arrow  17  and passes into a channel  14  leading into a waste-disposal conduit  3  at an outlet opening  11 . The flushing water leaves the outlet opening  11  in the direction of the arrow  18 .  
     [0013] Arranged after the inlet opening  4  is a deflecting bend or bow  19  which receives sealing water  5  and forms a stench trap. The level of the sealing water  5  is determined by an overflow edge  6  of a further bend  23 . After the edge  6 , a limb  7  leads downwards to a further deflecting bend or bow  8   a . This deflecting bow  8   a  forms a depression  9  in which flushing water causes the formation of a sump  10 . The level of the sump  10  is determined by a lower surface  15  of an outlet connection piece  12  within the water-disposal conduit  3 . The level  20  of the sump  10  is situated below a wall  24  of the deflecting bow  8   a  in such a manner that a passage opening  21  for air is formed between the level  20  and the wall  24 . The height H of the passage  21  is substantially smaller than the height S of the sump  10 . The cross section for the passage of air is therefore substantially reduced by the sump  10 .  
     [0014] The constriction of the cross section in the region of the deflecting bow  8   a  therefore concerns only the passage of air. In contrast, the channel  14  is not constricted in the region of the deflecting bow  8   a  for solid objects  22 . The comparatively large object  22  which is indicated can therefore be readily flushed out.  
     [0015] During flushing, filling takes place comparatively rapidly, since the sump  10  impedes the passage of air in the region of the deflecting bow  8   a . After filling, emptying takes place in a conventional manner by the siphon effect, in which case the water of the sump  10 , together with any objects  22 , is also flushed out here. When the siphon is refilled, for example via a cistern (not shown), the sump  10  is formed again and the sealing water  5  resupplied.  
     [0016] Having described a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.