Patent Abstract:
A venting toilet having a conventional ceramic bowl and flushing tank arrangement includes a water powered odor exhaust system which withdraws gases from the toilet bowl. A suction blower powered by a water motor through which the refill water to the toilet tank flows following flushing is arranged to draw odorous gases from the toilet bowl through a pair of intake manifolds built into the top of the bowl below the seat. The odorous gasses are delivered to the sewer system downstream of the water trap. An energy storage device containing a clock spring wound by the water motor, and a gear box are connected between the water motor and the suction blower, allow operating of the suction blower to draw odors from the toilet bowl even when the toilet has finished refilling.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to flush toilets which include a device for controlling odor, and more particularly to those flush toilets having an exhaust fan or blower as the odor control device, which blower removes odorous gases from within the toilet bowl. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A variety of devices have been devised over the years for removing odorous air or gases from toilets, and from the space surrounding the toilet referred to as a water closet. 
     Deodorants 
     One approach to solving the odor removal problem around toilets, particularly in public or business establishments, is to place solid bars of deodorant within or adjacent the toilet. Alternatively, various misting devices have been developed which are mounted on the wall adjacent the toilet to periodically spray a mist of a deodorizing liquid into the air. While both the solid and the liquid deodorizers do help mask the undesirable odor, the odor is typically still detectable in the air even with strongly scented deodorants, and thus this approach is only marginally effective. 
     Ceiling Exhaust Fans 
     Another approach to solving the odor removal problem around toilets is to mount a suction blower in the ceiling of the room containing the toilet such as a bathroom. A wall mounted switch controls the suction blower to exhaust odorous gases present in the bathroom to the exterior of the building. This approach works to a degree, but has some serious shortcomings. For example, the odorous gases are allowed to circulate. throughout the air in the bathroom prior to being removed and exhausted. Therefore, the person using the toilet must smell the odorous gases in the air which can be quite unpleasant. Secondly, this approach necessitates removing most or all of the air from the bathroom to remove the odorous gases, which is a quantity of air at least equal to that contained in the bathroom, typically two to three times as much. The air contained in the bathroom is typically heated air in the winter, which must be replaced with more heated air causing an increase in the heating and/or electric bill. In the summer, this air might be cooled air such as in an air conditioned building, which air must be replaced with more cooled air causing an increase in the electric bill for air conditioning. 
     Toilets With Built-in Air Flow Devices 
     Electrically Powered Blowers: The more effective odor control systems remove odorous gases directly from the toilet bowl, which gases are exhausted to the sewer system down-stream of the water trap and siphon seal in the toilet bowl. One approach is to provide an electrically powered suction blower within the structure of the toilet. The odorous gases are withdrawn from the bowl by the suction blower through an intake port or manifold and suitable exhaust conduit. A one-way valve is typically positioned in the exhaust conduit to prevent the backflow of sewer gases into the toilet. The electric suction blower necessitates the availability of an electrical wall socket or another source of electricity. Examples of such toilets with built-in suction blowers which deposit the odorous gases into:the sewer pipe include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,073,275 issued to Klopocinski, and 4,103,370 issued to Arnold. In some odor control systems, the odorous gases are withdrawn from the toilet bowl, passed through a charcoal filter, and returned to the room with or without additional deodorizing. Such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,826 issued to Maurer. 
     Other Air Flow Devices: Toilets with built-in air flow devices other than electrically powered suction blowers have been designed. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,309,925 issued to Schotthoefer is disclosed a toilet having an air flow device which uses falling drops of water to produce a downdraft of air which draw away odorous gases from within the toilet bowl. 
     Toilets With Separate External Blower Systems 
     An alternative to having an electrically powered suction blower built into the structure of the toilet is to provide a separate external blower system. The odorous gases are withdrawn from the toilet bowl by the external suction blower through an intake port or manifold and suitable exhaust conduit. The odorous gases are typically exhausted back into the bathroom after an attempted deodorizing, or into a separate exhaust conduit leading outside the building. Examples of external blower systems for toilets include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,052,837 issued to Norton et al., and 5,875,497 issued to Lovejoy. Both of these patented devices use a special seat which includes an intake manifold for withdrawing the odorous gases from within the toilet. A problem with such external suction blower systems is that they exhaust the supposedly deodorized gases back into the bathroom. Such requires periodic replacement of deodorizer blocks or liquid deodorizer and is only marginally effective in deodorizing the odorous gases. If the odorous gases are to be exhausted to the exterior of the building, a separate exhaust duct must be constructed into the building, since such external suction blower systems are typically not connectable directly to the sewer pipe without major modifications to the toilet. 
     There is a need for an odorless toilet which does not require electricity to operate, and for a ventilation system to retrofit existing toilet designs and installed toilets for odor removal which requires no electricity to operate. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     1. Advantages of the Invention 
     One of the advantages of the present invention is that it utilizes the same water source necessary to operate the toilet, capturing water flow energy which is normally wasted to eliminate odorous gases from the toilet. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that no external or internal source of electricity is required, such as a wall socket or batteries, thus presenting no electrical shock hazard and not requiring periodic replacement of batteries. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is its adaptability to most standard toilet designs, being manufactured as an integral part of the toilet, or as a retrofit or add-on such as in the form of a kit for preexisting toilet designs and for toilets already installed. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is its ability to extract and store energy from the flow of water during flushing and refilling of the flush water tank, the energy being available for later use when the water flow has stopped after the tank has refilled. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is its ability to capture odorous gases before they exit the toilet to disperse into the air in the bathroom. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is the elimination of exhausting a large volume of heated or air conditioned air from the bathroom during use. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the elimination of the need to cut holes in walls and ceiling for installing an exhaust fan, wall switches, and the associated electrical wiring. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract. 
     2. Brief Description of the Invention 
     The present invention comprises a ventilation system for removing odors from a water closet or toilet, and a self-contained venting toilet which incorporates the ventilation system. The toilet is of the type having a water supply tank, and a bowl with a hollow flush ring manifold adjacent the top of the bowl. The flush ring manifold includes an inlet opening and a plurality of flushing water discharge openings facing inwardly into the bowl. A flushing conduit connects the bowl to the tank. A discharge conduit connects the bowl with a siphon outlet which connects to a sewage waste drain. The discharge conduit includes an odor trap to prevent odors from passing from the sewage waste drain back to the bowl. A water control mechanism controls the supply of water under pressure from an external water supply pipe and the level of flushing water within the tank. A flushing mechanism includes a valve controlled outlet to the flushing conduit and the flushing ring manifold, adapted to discharge the water contained in the tank into the bowl. A seat pivotally is mounted on the bowl for movement between a horizontal position over the bowl and an elevated substantially vertical position at the rear of said bowl and adjacent the tank. 
     The ventilation system is adapted to exhaust gases and odors from within the bowl to the siphon outlet and into the sewage waste drain. The ventilation system includes an exhaust conduit communicating between the bowl and the siphon outlet. A blower assembly is operatively connected to and powered by the supply of water from the external water supply pipe when the water control mechanism is allowing the flow of water under pressure from the external water supply pipe to refill the level of flushing water within the tank. The. blower assembly is interposed along the exhaust conduit to induce a flow of air within the exhaust conduit toward the siphon outlet and into the sewage waste drain. 
     A preferred version of the ventilation system includes a fluid motor which is connected to the water supply pipe to extract kinetic energy taken from the flushing water flowing through the water supply pipe when the water control mechanism is allowing the flow of water under pressure from the external water supply pipe to refill the level of flushing water within the tank. The fluid motor is operatively connected to an energy storage device to supply kinetic energy to the energy storage device while tank of the toilet is being refilled following flushing. The kinetic energy is stored as potential energy by one or more spiral clock springs in the energy storage device, which is operatively connected to power the fan of the blower assembly through a gear box. The energy storage device includes a release mechanism which locks the releasing of the stored potential energy until release thereof is desired. The release mechanism can be operatively connected to the flushing mechanism for actuation when the flushing mechanism is actuated, or the release mechanism can be actuated by a lever accessible externally of the toilet, but separately from the flushing mechanism. This allows operation of the ventilation system even when flushing water is not flowing through the water supply pipe following flushing of the toilet by utilizing the stored potential energy within the energy storage device. A one-way valve is interposed along the exhaust conduit to prevent the flow of air within said exhaust conduit away from the siphon outlet and back into the bowl. 
     The preferred version of the ventilation system is incorporated into a preferred version of the self contained venting toilet, the toilet having a pair of elongate intake manifolds integral with and adjacent the top of the bowl. The intake manifolds extend at opposite sides of the bowl around at least a portion of the periphery of the bowl, the intake manifolds each having a plurality of intake holes along the length thereof. The exhaust conduit communicates with the bowl through the intake manifolds. 
     The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is substantially a perspective front quarter view of a self contained venting toilet incorporating the ventilation system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is substantially a perspective front quarter view of the toilet corresponding to FIG. 1, but with the seat cover and the toilet seat elevated to a vertical position showing the intake manifolds of the ventilation system at the top periphery of the bowl; 
     FIG. 3 is substantially a perspective view of the toilet approaching side elevation; 
     FIG. 4 is substantially a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line  4 — 4  if FIG. 3 showing the, relationship of the intake manifolds to the bowl, the seat, and the seat cover; 
     FIG. 5 is substantially a partial longitudinal sectional view of the toilet showing the configuration of the ventilation system in the toilet; 
     FIG. 6 is substantially atop plan view of the toilet with the seat cover elevated to the vertical position and the seat down partially covering the intake manifolds and the top periphery of the bowl; 
     FIG. 7 is substantially a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6 showing the mating of the outer periphery of the seat to the manifold; 
     FIG. 8 is substantially a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line  8 — 8  of FIG. 3 showing the ventilation system, and the connection to the siphoned discharge passage; 
     FIG. 9 is substantially a rear perspective view of the odorless toilet with the cover removed from the tank to show the conventional flushing components and the ventilation fan assembly; 
     FIG. 10 is substantially a side perspective view corresponding to FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is substantially a side perspective view of the ventilation fan assembly; and 
     FIG. 12 is substantially a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line  12 — 12  of FIG. 11 showing the details of the water motor, the clock spring motor assembly, the gear box, and the suction blower. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a self-contained venting toilet wherein odors are removed by an integral ventilation system which needs no electricity to operate. An intake manifold is provided around the periphery of the bowl, together with an exhaust conduit communicating between this manifold and a suction blower installed in the tank portion of the toilet powered by a spring motor which is rewound each time the toilet is flushed. The exhaust conduit leads to the sewer system or to an exhaust duct leading outside of the buildings. 
     Standard Toilet Components 
     Basic Toilet: Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the self-contained venting toilet  20  of the present invention includes an integral porcelain or ceramic member  23  having a base  26 , a central hollow pedestal section  29  forming a downward extension of the bowl section  32 , and a water tank section  35 . Bowl section  32  includes a hollow flush ring  38  having an inlet opening  41  and a plurality of flushing water discharge openings  44  facing inwardly into bowl section  32 . A water trap  47  formed in bowl section  32  and base  26  extends to a siphoned discharge passage  50  and a toilet discharge outlet  53  to a sewer waste drain  56 . A removable tank cover  59  of porcelain or ceramic material is disposed on top of tank section  35 . A seat  62  and a seat cover  65  are pivotally mounted to the bowl section  32  with a pivotable flush control lever  68  which extends forwardly from the tank section  35 . The base  26  is secured to the floor  71  by a plurality of bolts  74  which can be covered by a base cover (not shown) such as made of plastic. 
     Flushing Components: The flushing components and mechanisms of the toilet are basically standard as shown best in FIGS. 5,  8 ,  9 , and  10 . They include a flush arm  80  connected to the flush control lever  68  for movement therewith. A flapper valve  83  is pivotally connected to and covers a flush water outlet  86  within water tank section  35 . A chain  89  connects the flapper valve  83  to the flush arm  80  to allow uncovering of the flush water outlet  86  to selectively release flushing water  92  from the tank section  35 . A hose  95  is connected to water tank section  35  and to flush ring  38  at inlet opening  41  to route the flushing water  92  from water tank section  35  into flush ring  38  and out through flushing water outlet openings  44  into bowl section  32 , water trap  47 , siphoned discharge passage  50 , toilet discharge outlet  53 , and into sewer waste drain  56  of the sewer system (not shown). Flushing water  92  is replenished in tank section  35  from a water supply pipe  98  having a valve  99  interposed there along which connects from a source of pressurized water to a float controlled water flow control valve  101  having a float  102  to control the water level within tank section  35 . 
     Flushing Operation 
     Toilet  20  is flushed by pressing the flush control lever  68  which pivots the flush arm  80  to lift and open the flapper valve  83  by means of chain  89 . This releases flushing water  92  from the tank section  35  through hose  95  into flush ring  38  for delivery through flushing water discharge openings  44  and then through the bowl section  35  and water trap  47  to siphoned discharge passage  50  and toilet discharge outlet  53  into sewer waste drain  56 . The flapper valve  83  closes when most of the flushing water  92  has drained from tank section  35 , and the water is replenished from the water supply pipe  98  through the water flow control valve  101  until float  102  rises to the desired level. 
     Modifications for the Vented Toilet 
     The self-contained venting toilet  20  includes modifications from that of a standard toilet which permit ventilation of the bowl section  35 . 
     Manifolds and Riser Tube: A first modification to the self-contained venting toilet  20  from a standard toilet is the addition of a pair of arcuate intake manifolds  104  and  107  which are mounted opposite one another on flush ring  38  of the bowl section  32 . A plurality of intake ports  110  and  113  are arranged around the intake manifolds  104  and  107  adjacent an outer edge  116  of seat  62 . The seat  62  may be arranged to bear directly on the intake manifolds  104  and  107 , or may be positioned in the usual manner on a plurality of somewhat compressible pads  119  affixed to seat  62 . Respective rear portions  122  and  125  of intake manifolds  104  and  107  terminate in downwardly extending conduits  128  and  131  and a riser tube  134 . 
     Ventilation Fan Assembly: Another modification to the self-contained venting toilet  20  from a standard toilet is the addition of a ventilation fan assembly  135  disposed within water tank section  35 . 
     Fluid Motor: Ventilation fan assembly  135  includes a standard fluid motor  136  having a housing  137 . Fluid motor  136  is connected to a pipe  138  which connects water flow control valve  101  thereto to receive flushing water  92  from water supply pipe  98 . A power output shaft  139  of a vaned disk  140  of fluid motor  136  extends therefrom such that when flushing water  92  flows through fluid motor.  136 , vaned disk  140  through power output shaft  139  supplies power for ventilation fan assembly  135  when flushing water  92  is flowing therethrough for discharge through pipe  138  into water, tank section  35 . Valve  99  can be used to control the amount and pressure of flushing water  92  to fluid motor  136  to control the rotational speed thereof. An overpressure valve  141  includes a housing  142  which threadably connects to fluid motor  136 , and which communicates with the flushing water  92  which flows therethrough. When the pressure builds to a predetermined level, a spring-loaded check member  144  opens to allow the flushing water  92  to exit fluid motor  140  through an overpressure pipe  145 . 
     Clock Spring Motor Assembly: Ventilation fan assembly  135  further includes an energy storage device in the form of a clock spring motor assembly  146 , which includes a housing  149  which is bolted to fluid motor  136 . Disposed within housing  149  is at least one spiral clock spring  152  which has an outer end  155  affixed to a tubular spring housing  158  rotationally disposed within housing  149  on an output shaft  161  supported by a pair of bushings  164  connected to housing  149 . Clock spring  152  further includes an inner end  167  having a socket  168  which is affixed to a stub shaft  170  connected to the output shaft  143  of fluid motor  136  by a key  171  for rotation therewith. A lock pawl  173  having a bent engaging end (not shown) and an elongate lever end  174  is pivotally mounted to housing  149 , being spring-loaded by means of a torsion spring  176  to extend through a hole  179  through housing  149  to individually engage a plurality of peripheral holes  182  through tubular spring housing  158  to restrain rotation thereof during winding of clock spring  152 . Lock pawl  173  is configured such that the engaging end disengages from spring housing  158  when lever end  174  is raised and to reengage when lowered. 
     Gear Box: Ventilation fan assembly  135  further includes a planetary gear box  185  having a housing  186  which is bolted to housing  149 . Gear box  185  includes a large outer gear  188  having an input socket  189  to which output shaft  161  is connected using a key  171 . A plurality of planet gears  191  interconnect outer gear  188  and a sun gear  192  having an output shaft  193  within gear box  185 , output shaft  193  which extends from housing  186 . Planet gears  191  rotationally interconnect outer gear  188  to sun gear  192  with output shaft  161  to produce an increase in revolutions between the input socket  189  and output shaft  161  of between about one to two and one to fifty. 
     Suction Blower: Ventilation fan assembly  135  further includes a squirrel cage or centrifugal suction blower  194  having a housing  197  which is bolted to gear box  185 . Housing  197  includes an intake  200  connected to riser tube  134  and an exhaust  203  connected to an outlet conduit  204 , with a central rotor chamber  206 . A vaned rotor  209  is rotationally disposed within rotor chamber  206  by means of a shaft  212  of vaned rotor  209  which is supported on a pair of bushings  215  connected to housing  197 . Shaft  212  is connected to output shaft  161  of gear box  185  so as to be powered thereby. The use of the gear box  185  allows vaned rotor  205  to spin at a higher speed than without which provides added air drag to extend the amount of time and odorous gases moved before clock spring  152  unwinds. 
     Toilet Seat: Another modification to the self-contained venting toilet from a standard toilet is the addition of a rearwardly extending lever arm  216  to seat  62 , which extends through a hole (not shown) through ceramic member  23  below water tank section  35 , with a resilient grommet  217  disposed in the hole around arm  216 . Lever arm  216  is pivotally connected to seat  62  through a limited range of included angles of between about zero degrees and one-hundred-eighty-degrees. This allows lever arm  216  to remain in a generally horizontal position as seat  62  is raised to a vertical position and lowered to a horizontal position, but tilts lever arm  216  upwardly when weight is applied to the horizontal seat  216  and compresses pads  119  such as when a person sits thereon. 
     Mounting and Connection of the Ventilation Fan Assembly 
     Ventilation fan assembly  135  is mounted within tank section  35  of ceramic member  23  using a mounting bracket  218 . Lock pawl  173  extends through a resilient grommet  219  disposed in a rectangular hole  220  through water tank section  35 . Lever arm  216  of seat  62  is connected to lever end  174  of lock pawl  173  by a rod  221  secured to lever arm  216  which extends through a seal (not shown) into water tank section  35  for vertical movement therewith such as by nuts (not shown) threaded thereon, and to lever end  174  lock pawl  173  but only to move upwardly, such as by a washer (not shown) secured therebelow. Therefore, when lever arm  216  rises in response to a person sitting on seat  62 , lever end  174  of lock pawl  173  is also raised. However, when lever arm  216  is not raised, lever end  174  can still be raised without also raising lever arm  216 . This permits actuation of ventilation assembly  137  even when a person is not sitting on seat  62 . Riser tube  134  extends from outside of tank section  35  through a seal  222 , to prevent leakage of flushing water  92 , and communicates with intake  200  of centrifugal fan assembly  194 . The output of the fan assembly  135  is delivered from output  203  through conduit  204  into air inlet  227  of base  26  which communicates with siphoned discharge passage  50  past water trap  47  leading to toilet discharge outlet  53  and sewer waste drain  56 . The outlet conduit  204  is provided with a one-way or check valve  230  providing for one-way passage of exhausted gases away from the bowel section  32  in a direction toward the toilet discharge outlet  53  and sewer waste drain  56 . Check valve  230  can be of any of a variety of suitable designs, the design shown being a ball type check valve having a cylindrical housing  233  with an inlet  236 , and an outlet  239 . A lightweight ball  242  is disposed within an inner chamber  245  of check valve  230 , inlet  236  having a seat  248  of matching radius to ball  242 . A compression spring  243  retains ball  242  against seat  248  while fan assembly  135  is stopped. Ball  242  lowers against spring  243  under the air pressure generated by the fan assembly  135  such that gases are free to move past ball  242 . Loss of fan pressure allows spring  243  to reseat ball  242  which results in closure of the valve  230 , which prevents any passage of gases from the sewer waste drain  56  back through the fan assembly  135  and the riser tube  143  where they can emerge into the room via the intake manifolds  104  and  107  under the seat  62 . 
     Operation of the Vented Toilet 
     Initial Winding of Clock Spring Motor: Vented toilet  20  is initially operated to store energy in clock spring motor assembly  146  by actuating flush control lever  68 , which pivots the flush arm  80  to lift and open the flapper valve  83  to drain the flushing water  92  from water tank section  35 . This causes float  102  to drop, signaling water flow control valve  101  to open, starting the flow of flushing water  92  through water supply pipe  98 . The flushing water  92  flowing through water supply pipe  98  powers fluid motor  136  rotates the vaned disk  140  and the power output shaft  143 , which winds spiral clock spring  152  of the clock spring motor assembly  146 . Lock pawl  173  is engaged with tubular spring housing  158  to prevent clock spring  152  from unwinding. When clock spring  152  is completely wound, a process which takes less time than the time to refill water tank section  35 , the rotor of fluid motor  136  cannot rotate further and the water pressure builds within fluid motor  136  until pressure relief valve  141  opens to allow the remaining flushing water to bypass fluid motor  136  and flow directly into water tank section  35 . This winding process occurs during every flushing of toilet  20  to keep clock spring  152  wound for subsequent ventilation cycles. 
     Using the Ventilation System: Ventilation fan assembly  135  can be actuated either by a person sitting on seat  62 , or by actuating lock pawl  173 . When a person sits on seat  62 , this causes pads  119  to compress under the weight of the person applied to seat  62 , which causes seat  62  to tilt forwardly a slight amount which tilt is transmitted and amplified by the length of lever arm  216  into an upward movement which actuates pawl  173  through rod  221 . In either case, actuation of lock pawl against the bias of torsion spring  176  releases tubular spring housing  158  to rotate on output shaft  161  thereof to drive sun gear  188  of gear box  185 . The outer gear  192 , planetary gears  191 , and sun gear  193  produce an increased rotational speed at output shaft  193  which is connected to vaned rotor  209  of blower  194 . Odorous gases are drawn from bowl section  32  through intake ports  110  and  113  of the respective intake manifolds  104  and  107 , through the respective conduits  128  and  131 , riser tube  134 , and into blower  194 . The odorous gases are expelled by blower  194  through exhaust  203  through conduit  204  and check valve  230 , air inlet  227  of base  26 , siphoned discharge passage  50 , toilet discharge outlet  53 , and out through sewer waste drain  56 . Check valve  230  prevents exhausted odorous gases and other sewer gases from moving backwardly from sewer waste drain  56  toward bowel section  32 . Blower  194  of ventilation fan assembly  135  stops running either when clock spring  152  is unwound, or when the person rises from seat  32 , which allows pawl  173  to be biased by torsion spring  176  against tubular spring housing  158 . 
     CONCLUSION 
     It can now be seen that the present invention solves many of the problems associated with the prior art. The present invention utilizes the existing source of water necessary to operate a toilet to eliminate odorous gases from toilets, capturing water flow energy which is normally wasted. The present invention requires no external or internal source of electricity such as a wall socket or batteries needing periodic replacement are required, and presenting no electrical shock hazard. The present invention is adaptable to most standard toilet designs, either manufactured as an integral part of the toilet, or as an add-on or kit for preexisting toilet design and toilets already installed. The present invention has the ability to extract and store energy from the flow of water during flushing and subsequent refilling of the flush water tank for later use when there is no water flow. The present invention has the ability to capture odorous gases before having a chance to enter the bathroom or other room wherein the toilet is located. The present invention eliminates the exhausting a large volume of heater or air conditioned air during use. The present invention eliminates the need to cut holes in walls and in the ceiling for an exhaust fan, wall switches, and the associated electrical wiring. 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of presently preferred embodiments of this invention. The specification, for instance, makes reference to toilets. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to toilets. Rather it is intended that the present invention can be used with urinals and other such devices which use water and which contain odorous gases. While the ventilation fan assembly is shown as being actuatable by both the sitting of a person on the toilet, and independently by moving the end of the pawl which extends through the tank other ways of actuating can be used. For example, the pawl can be connected to the flush control lever by the appropriate mechanism for actuation when a person flushes the toilet. Likewise, while a centrifugal suction blower is preferred due to the efficiency and compactness thereof, the present invention can be used such as with axial suction blowers, and other types of blowers. Also, while a ball type one-way valve is shown other such one-way valves can be used such as those using a resilient flap which covers an air flow hole. Finally, while the odorous gases are shown to be exhausted to the sewer system, such gases could be exhausted to a conduit leading to the outside of the building, particularly where the ventilation system is an add-on to an existing installed toilet. The energy storage device can be other than of the clock spring motor type shown. For example, potential energy can be stored such as in rubber bands, other types of springs, and even as water in a separate tank which is filled during refilling of the flushing tank, such separate tank which feeds a water motor or turbine by opening a valve therebetween to power the blower. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5