Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of sanitary ware, in particular to a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels.

A water tank body of a hidden water tank is usually mounted inside a wall, and the wall is mounted with a driving panel, which controls a drainage valve in the water tank to open and drain water through a driving device. The driving panel is provided with buttons for controlling the driving device.

<CIT> discloses a hidden water tank according to the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>. <CIT> discloses a cistern having a box body for accommodation of rinse water, and a frame arranged in a region of the box body. A cover plate is electrically or mechanically controlled, and a hinge is attachably covered, where the cover plate is fastened to an additional holding frame. The cover plate is pivotably attached to the frame of a maintenance opening by the holding frame. A key button or an actuating device is connected with a control element of a drain valve by a line such that operability of the drain valve is independent of a swiveling position of the cover plate.

Hidden water tanks are classified as: <NUM>. a mechanical driven hidden water tank equipped with a mechanical panel; <NUM>. an air pressure-driven hidden water tank equipped with a pneumatic panel; and <NUM>. an electric-driven hidden water tank equipped with an electronic induction panel. When one type of the water tanks is constructed in a bathroom, only a driving panel suitable for this water tank can be selected, but panels with other driving modes cannot be used. If a customer is not satisfied with this type of panel, or if the customer wants to upgrade a flush toilet, for example, from pneumatic driving to electric driving, the water tank can only be removed from a false wall and reconstruction is required, which results in a heavy workload and a high cost.

A technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is a problem that a hidden water tank cannot match different driving panels.

Aiming at the above technical problem, the present disclosure provides the following technical solutions.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels according to claim <NUM>. A second aspect of the present invention provides a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels according to claim <NUM>. Optional and/or preferable features are defined in the dependent claims.

In some embodiments of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the water inlet assembly comprises a water inlet joint and a water inlet valve located on a water inlet pipeline, and the water inlet joint is connected to a water supply pipeline; and the pneumatic drainage assembly comprises a pneumatic drainage valve and an inflation tube located on the pneumatic drainage valve, and the inflation tube is used for receiving a driving force on the driving panel.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention, the mechanical driving panel comprises a second panel body and a second flushing button mounted on the second panel body; the first driving conversion module comprises: a cylinder, wherein the cylinder is formed by a cylinder block and a cylinder head; and a piston, a pressurized seal element and a spring located in the cylinder, wherein a compressible sealing chamber is formed between the pneumatic rubber cup and the cylinder block; under the action of the spring, one end of the piston abuts against the cylinder head, and the other end of the piston acts on the pressurized seal element; and the piston is connected to the second flushing button through a connecting rod, and the inflation tube is connected to the compressible sealing chamber.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention, at least one inflation tube is arranged, and the quantity of the second flushing button(s) on the mechanical driving panel is the same as that of the inflation tube(s).

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention, the electric driving panel comprises a third panel body and a human body sensor mounted on the third panel body, the second driving conversion module comprises an inflator pump, and the inflation tube is connected to an output end of the inflator pump.

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention, the human body sensor comprises one of an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor and a remote control sensor.

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention, at least one inflation tube is arranged, and the quantity of the inflator pump(s) is the same as that of the inflation tube(s).

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention, the electric driving panel further comprises a prompt window, and the prompt window is used for prompting a user about a working state of the inflator pump.

Compared with the prior art, the technical solutions of the present disclosure have the following technical effects:
In the hidden water tank provided by the present disclosure, the water tank body is provided with the pneumatic drainage assembly, and the mechanical driving force is converted into the air pressure-driving force to match with the pneumatic drainage assembly by arranging the first driving conversion module in the mechanical driving panel; the electrical signal is converted into the air pressure-driving force by means of the second driving conversion module arranged in the electric driving panel. Thus, the water tank body can be adapted to the pneumatic driving panel, the mechanical driving panel and the electric driving panel. When upgrading the hidden water tank, a user does not need to replace the water tank body, but only needs to replace the driving panel, so that the upgrading requires less workload and the cost is low.

Examples and embodiments of the present disclosure, in as much as they fall within the scope of the claims, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which help the understanding of the objects and advantages of the present disclosure, wherein:.

The following disclosure aims to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those having ordinary skill in the art without any creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside" and the like are orientation or positional relationships based on the accompanying drawings. The terms are only for convenience and simplification of the description of the present disclosure and are not intended to indicate or imply that the indicated device or element must have a specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Thus, the terms cannot be understood as a limitation to the present disclosure. Moreover, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless expressly stipulated and defined otherwise, terms such as "installation", "connected" and "connection", etc., should be understood broadly. For example, the connection may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; the connection may be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal communication of two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood in a specific case by those having ordinary skill in the art.

In addition, the technical features involved in different embodiments of the present disclosure described below can be combined with each other as long as the resulting embodiment falls under the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> show the specific implementation of a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels (hereinafter referred to as the "hidden water tank") provided by the present disclosure. The hidden water tank comprises a water tank body <NUM> and a driving panel detachably connected to the water tank body <NUM>. The water tank body <NUM> comprises a water inlet assembly <NUM> and a pneumatic drainage assembly <NUM>. The driving panel comprises one of a mechanical driving panel <NUM>, or an electric driving panel <NUM>. The mechanical driving panel <NUM> and the pneumatic drainage assembly <NUM> are connected through a first driving conversion module <NUM>. The first driving conversion module <NUM> is configured to convert a mechanical driving force into an air pressure-driving force (e.g., a first air pressure-driving force). The electric driving panel <NUM> and the pneumatic drainage assembly <NUM> are connected through a second driving conversion module <NUM>. The second driving conversion module <NUM> is configured to convert an electrical signal into an air pressure-driving force (e.g., a second air pressure-driving force).

In the hidden water tank, by arranging the first driving conversion module <NUM> and the second driving conversion module <NUM>, the mechanical driving panel <NUM> and the electric driving panel <NUM> can be matched with the pneumatic drainage assembly <NUM>. Thus, the water tank body <NUM> can be adapted for each of the pneumatic driving panel <NUM>, the mechanical driving panel <NUM>, and the electric driving panel <NUM>. When upgrading the hidden water tank, a user does not need to replace the water tank body <NUM> but only needs to replace the driving panel. Thus, the upgrading requires less workload, and the cost is low.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a water tank body of a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels. As shown in <FIG>, the water inlet assembly <NUM> comprises a water inlet joint <NUM> located on a water inlet pipeline <NUM> and configured to be connected to a water supply pipeline and comprises a water inlet valve <NUM> located on the water inlet pipeline <NUM>. By controlling the water inlet valve <NUM>, the water supply pipeline can be fluidly connected to or disconnected from the water inlet pipeline <NUM>, so that the water tank can be filled with water. The pneumatic drainage assembly <NUM> comprises a pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> and an inflation tube <NUM> (e.g., an inflation pipe) located on the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>. The inflation tube <NUM> is configured to receive a driving force on the driving panel, convert the driving force into pressure change of or in the inflation tube <NUM>, and act on the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> to open or close the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>, so as to flush a flush toilet at a high pressure.

Composition structures and working processes of each of the three driving panels are described in detail below.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a hidden water tank comprising a pneumatic driving panel. As shown in <FIG>, the pneumatic driving panel <NUM> comprises a first panel body <NUM> and a first flushing button <NUM> mounted on the first panel body <NUM>. The inflation tube <NUM> is connected to an output end of the first flushing button <NUM>, and a piston or a gasbag (e.g., an airbag) is arranged in the first flushing button <NUM>.

At least one inflation tube <NUM> is arranged, and the quantity of the first flushing button(s) <NUM> on the pneumatic driving panel <NUM> is the same as the quantity of the inflation tube(s) <NUM>. In an embodiment, two inflation tubes <NUM> and two first flushing buttons <NUM> are provided on the pneumatic driving panel <NUM>. The two first flushing buttons <NUM> are respectively configured to flush the flush toilet with a high flushing water volume and a low flushing water volume. More particularly, the first flushing button <NUM> comprises a high-volume flushing button 42a and a low-volume flushing button 42b, and the inflation tube <NUM> correspondingly comprises a high-volume flushing tube 32a and a low-volume flushing tube 32b. An opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t1 after the high-volume flushing button 42a is triggered, and the opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t2 after the low-volume flushing button 42b is triggered, and t1 is greater than t2.

During working, when the high-volume flushing button 42a or the low-volume flushing button 42b of the pneumatic driving panel <NUM> is pressed or triggered, the piston or the gasbag in the corresponding button is compressed, and the generated air pressure is filled into the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> from a high-volume flushing air inlet joint <NUM> or a low-volume flushing air inlet joint <NUM> through the high-volume flushing tube 32a or the low-volume flushing tube 32b, so as to open the valve. A distance of the high-volume flushing button 42a acting on the high-volume flushing tube 32a is larger than a distance of the low-volume flushing button 42b acting on the low-volume flushing tube 32b. Thus, high-volume flushing or low-volume flushing may be realized, and a ceramic flush toilet can be cleaned by the water tank.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a hidden water tank comprising a mechanical driving panel according to an example of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a first driving conversion module according to an example of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the mechanical driving panel <NUM> comprises a second panel body <NUM> and a second flushing button <NUM> mounted on the second panel body <NUM>. The first driving conversion module <NUM> comprises a cylinder formed by a cylinder block <NUM> and a cylinder head <NUM>. The first driving conversion module <NUM> also comprises a piston <NUM>, a pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>, and a spring <NUM> located in the cylinder. The piston <NUM> is connected to the second flushing button <NUM> through a connecting rod <NUM>, and the inflation tube <NUM> is connected to a compressible sealing chamber formed between the cylinder block <NUM> and the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>. In an initial state, under the elastic force of the spring <NUM>, one end of the piston <NUM> abuts against the cylinder head <NUM>, and the other end of the piston <NUM> acts on the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>. When a user presses or triggers the second flushing button <NUM>, the piston <NUM> is pushed to move so as to deform the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>. The pneumatic rubber cup <NUM> compresses an air volume in the sealing chamber between the cylinder block <NUM> and the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>, so that a pressing force is converted into an air pressure, which acts on the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> through the inflation tube <NUM>. Thus, the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is opened to realize drainage of the water tank. In other embodiments, the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM> may also be a gasbag (e.g., an airbag) or other structural forms of pressurized seal elements.

At least one inflation tube <NUM> is arranged, and the quantity of the second flushing button(s) <NUM> on the mechanical driving panel <NUM> is the same as the quantity of the inflation tube(s) <NUM>. In an embodiment, two inflation tubes <NUM> and two second flushing buttons <NUM> are provided on the mechanical driving panel <NUM>. More particularly, the second flushing button <NUM> comprises a high-volume flushing button 52a and a low-volume flushing button 52b, and the inflation tube <NUM> correspondingly comprises a high-volume flushing tube 32a and a low-volume flushing tube 32b. An opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t1 after the high-volume flushing button 52a is triggered, and the opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t2 after the low-volume flushing button 52b is triggered, and t1 is greater than t2.

During working, when the high-volume flushing button 52a or the low-volume flushing button 52b of the mechanical driving panel <NUM> is pressed or triggered, the first driving conversion module <NUM> is driven to work, and the generated air pressure is filled into the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> through the high-volume flushing tube 32a or the low-volume flushing tube 32b. Thus, the valve for high-volume flushing or low-volume flushing may be opened, and a ceramic flush toilet can be cleaned by the water tank.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a hidden water tank comprising an electric driving panel according to an example of present the disclosure. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating the hidden water tank comprising the electric driving panel according to an example of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electric driving panel <NUM> comprises a third panel body <NUM> and a human body sensor <NUM> mounted on the third panel body <NUM>. The human body sensor <NUM> comprises one of an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a remote control sensor. When a human body is located at a set distance in front of the infrared sensor, the microwave sensor, the ultrasonic sensor, or the remote control sensor, the infrared sensor, the microwave sensor, the ultrasonic sensor, or the remote control sensor receives a detection signal and sends the detection signal to a control module (e.g., a controller <NUM> as shown in <FIG>). The second driving conversion module <NUM> comprises an inflator pump <NUM>. The control module controls the inflator pump <NUM> to work after receiving the detection signal from the human body sensor <NUM>. The inflation pump <NUM> starts to inflate and acts on the inflation tube <NUM> to open the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>. The controller <NUM> in the present disclosure can be implemented by any appliances or by any software or applications run by the appliances. The controller <NUM> may be connected to a workstation or another external device (e.g., control panel, remote) and/or a database for receiving user inputs, system characteristics, and any of the values described herein. The controller <NUM> may include a processor. Optionally, the controller <NUM> may include an input device and/or a sensing circuit in communication with any of the sensors. The sensing circuit receives sensor measurements from as described above. Optionally, the controller <NUM> may include a drive unit for receiving and reading non-transitory computer media having instructions. Additional, different, or fewer components may be included. The processor is configured to perform instructions stored in memory for executing the algorithms described herein.

The processor may be a general purpose or specific purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more programmable logic controllers (PLCs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processing components, or other suitable processing components. Processor is configured to execute computer code or instructions stored in memory or received from other computer readable media (e.g., embedded flash memory, local hard disk storage, local ROM, network storage, a remote server, etc.). The processor may be a single device or combinations of devices, such as associated with a network, distributed processing, or cloud computing.

In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may be communicably connected to a storage configured to store the data as described in the present disclosure. The storage may include one or more devices (e.g., memory units, memory devices, storage devices, etc.) for storing data and/or computer code for completing and/or facilitating the various processes described in the present disclosure. The storage may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard drive storage, temporary storage, non-volatile memory, flash memory, optical memory, or any other suitable memory for storing software objects and/or computer instructions. The storage may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present disclosure. The storage may be communicably connected to processor via a processing circuit and may include computer code for executing (e.g., by processor) one or more processes described herein. For example, the storage may include graphics, web pages, HTML files, XML files, script code, shower configuration files, or other resources for use in generating graphical user interfaces for display and/or for use in interpreting user interface inputs to make command, control, or communication decisions.

In order to realize drainage of the water tank with different volumes, at least one inflation tube <NUM> is provided, and the quantity of the inflator pump(s) <NUM> is the same as the quantity of the inflation tube(s) <NUM>. Inflation volumes of the inflator pumps <NUM> are different. More particularly, the inflator pump <NUM> comprises a first inflator pump 81a and a second inflator pump 81b. An exhaust volume output by the first inflator pump 81a in a preset time duration is larger than an exhaust volume output by the second inflator pump 81b. The inflation tube <NUM> correspondingly comprises a high-volume flushing tube 32a and a low-volume flushing tube 32b. An opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t1 when the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is triggered by the high-volume flushing tube 32a, and the opening time duration of the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is t2 when the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> is triggered by the low-volume flushing button 32b. Here, t1 is greater than t2.

The control module controls a first inflator pump 81a or a second inflator pump 81b to start according to a detection situation of the human body sensor <NUM>. Specifically, when the human body sensor <NUM> is an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or an ultrasound sensor, the first inflator pump 81a or the second inflator pump 81b is controlled to start by sensing time durations when infrared rays, microwaves, or ultrasonic waves emitted by the infrared sensor, the microwave sensor, or the ultrasonic sensor are blocked. For example, when the blocked time duration T is greater than the first preset time duration T1, the first inflator pump 81a is controlled to start. When the blocked time duration T is greater than the second preset time duration T2, but less than the first preset time duration T1, the second inflator pump 81b is controlled to start. Here, T1 is greater than T2. When the human body sensor <NUM> is a remote control sensor, the remote control sensor includes two capacitive sensors arranged on the third panel body <NUM> at intervals. When the user blocks the first capacitive sensor with hand, the first inflator pump 81a is controlled to start. When the user blocks the second capacitive sensor with hand, the second inflator pump 81b is controlled to start.

As shown in <FIG>, the electric driving panel <NUM> further comprises a prompt window, and the prompt window <NUM> is configured to notify a user about a working state of the inflator pump <NUM>. Specifically, the prompt window <NUM> notifies, by lighting or flashing, the user about whether the inflator pump <NUM> is working or which inflator pump <NUM> is working. In one embodiment, two prompt windows <NUM> are provided, including one prompt window <NUM> configured to display a working state of the first inflator pump 81a and the other prompt window <NUM> configure to display a working state of the second inflator pump 81b. In another embodiment, one prompt window <NUM> is provided and configured to display the working state of the first inflator pump 81a and the working state of the second inflator pump 81b by different changes of lights of the prompt widow <NUM>, such as different brightness or flashing frequency.

During working, when the human body sensor <NUM> on the third panel body <NUM> senses a human body, the control module controls the first inflator pump 81a or the second inflator pump 81b to start according to the detection situation of the human body sensor <NUM>. The generated air pressure is filled into the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> through the high-volume flushing tube 32a or the low-volume flushing tube 32b. Thus, the valve for high-volume flushing or low-volume flushing may be opened, and a ceramic flush toilet can be cleaned by the water tank.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure further provides a toilet including a base (e.g., a pedestal, bowl, etc.) and the hidden water tank as described above. The base is configured to be attached to another object such as a drainpipe, floor, or another suitable object. The base includes a bowl, a sump (e.g., a receptacle) disposed below the bowl, and a trapway fluidly connecting the bowl to a drainpipe or sewage line. The hidden water tank may be supported by the base, such as an upper surface of a rim. The hidden water tank may be integrally formed with the base as a single unitary body. In other embodiments, the hidden water tank may be formed separately from the base and coupled (e.g., attached, secured, fastened, connected, etc.) to the base. The toilet may further include a tank lid covering an opening and inner cavity in the hidden water tank. The toilet may include a seat assembly including a seat and a seat cover rotatably coupled to the base. The toilet may further include a hinge assembly.

In another embodiment, the toilet may be a tankless toilet. The toilet includes a base and a seat assembly coupled to the base. The base includes a bowl, a sump disposed below the bowl, and a trapway fluidly connecting the bowl to a drainpipe or sewage line. The toilet includes a waterline that supplies the toilet with water. The toilet may further include a seat assembly including a seat and a seat cover rotatably coupled to the base. The toilets described above are provided herein as non-limiting examples of toilets that may be configured to utilize aspects of the present disclosure.

In some examples, the bidet may be included in a seat or pedestal of a toilet. In other examples, the bidet may be manufactured separately from and attached or coupled to a seat or pedestal of a toilet. The bidet includes a housing. The housing is configured to receive a flow of water through a housing inlet and dispense the flow of water from a housing outlet. The housing inlet and housing outlet may be located on opposite ends of the housing from one another, such that water may flow through the housing from the housing inlet to the housing outlet. In some examples, the housing further includes a chamber. As the housing receives the flow of water, the chamber may fill with water and provide a flow of water between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. The chamber may be configured to contain the flow of water and direct the flow of water from the housing inlet to the housing outlet. After the chamber has filled with water, the flow of water may travel along a substantially linear path between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. In some examples, one or more walls within the housing may be included to help direct a flow of water between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. The bidet may further include a housing inlet conduit configured to direct a flow of water to the housing inlet. The housing inlet conduit may be coupled to a water supply such as tank or waterline. The housing may further include a gear assembly or a portion of the gear assembly.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method for controlling the hidden water tank to flush water. The hidden water tank controlled by the method may be the hidden water tank according to any of the foregoing embodiments and may be configured to perform an operation, function, or the like as described in the present disclosure.

At act S101, the driving panel of the hidden water tank may receive a driving force. As noted above, when the driving panel comprises the pneumatic driving panel <NUM>, a user may press the first flushing button <NUM> to generate the driving force. When the driving panel comprises the mechanical driving panel <NUM>, the user may press the second flushing button <NUM> to generate the driving force. When the driving panel comprises the electric driving panel <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may generate the driving force.

At act S102, the inflation tube <NUM> of the hidden water tank may convert the driving force into an air pressure change in the inflation tube <NUM>.

When the driving panel comprises the pneumatic driving panel <NUM>, the first flushing button <NUM> of the pneumatic driving panel <NUM> compresses the piston or the airbag of the pneumatic driving panel <NUM> to fill the air into the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> via the inflation tube <NUM> so as to open the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>.

When the driving panel comprises the mechanical driving panel <NUM>, the second flushing button <NUM> of the mechanical driving panel <NUM> may move the piston <NUM> to deform the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM>. The pneumatic rubber cup <NUM> may compress the air in the sealing chamber between the cylinder block <NUM> and the pneumatic rubber cup <NUM> to generate the air pressure acting on the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM> through the inflation tube <NUM> so as to open the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>.

When the driving panel comprises the electric driving panel <NUM>, in response to the detection of the human body within the preset distance, the controller <NUM> may control the inflator pump <NUM> to inflate and act on the inflation tube <NUM> so as to open the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>.

At act S103, the air pressure change in the inflation tube <NUM> may open or close the pneumatic drainage valve <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels, comprising: a water tank body (<NUM>), wherein the water tank body (<NUM>) comprises a water inlet assembly (<NUM>) and a pneumatic drainage assembly (<NUM>); and
a driving panel detachably connected to the water tank body, wherein the driving panel comprises a mechanical driving panel (<NUM>), characterized in that the mechanical driving panel (<NUM>) and the pneumatic drainage assembly (<NUM>) are connected through a first driving conversion module (<NUM>), and the first driving conversion module (<NUM>) is used for converting a mechanical driving force into an air pressure-driving force.