GB2245910A - Flushing and refilling arrangement for a W.C. cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

Flushing and refilling arrangement (1) for a WC cistern (2) with a cover (3), comprising a release mechanism (13), an overflow pipe (17), an inlet float arrangement (18) with refilling arrangement (19), a bottom valve (32, 35) and a discharge float arrangement (20) co-operating with the latter. All these parts are put together so as to form a unit suitable for semi- or wholly automatic assembly. In addition, they are provided with means (42, 186-189) for compensating varying mutual and external dimensions and angles. One of these means is a joint (42) about which overflow pipe (17) is secured, in radially movable manner, within an overflow branch (31) of a bottom part (12), the other branch (30) of which forms seat (32) of the bottom valve. Release mechanism (13) has a button (159) which can be changed over between a pressure and a lift mode, whereby the mechanism comprises means exerting a pulling action on the discharge float (113) irrespective of the button setting. Inlet float arrangement (18) provides in all cases the same refill volume, whereas the discharge float can, on a lift bar (112), be set at different levels of height resulting in different flush volumes. Overflow pipe (17) is designed in such a way as to narrow conically in the downward direction, and it supports both the inlet and the discharge float arrangement as well as the release mechanism, the upper part of the latter constituting an anchorage for the cistern cover. <IMAGE>

Description

FLUSHING AND REFILLING ARRANGEMENT OF A W.C. CISTERN.

The present invention relates to an arrangement of the type indicated in detail in the preamble of claim 1.

Previously known arrangements of this type operate in a manner satisfactory in several respects but are nevertheless subject to certain disadvantages, as a result of which today's high requirements, especially in the environmental sphere, are not satisfied to the greatest possible extent. It

may be mentioned, for instance, that so-called

flushing is certainly already a known concept but such flushing cannot be selected or adjusted in a sufficiently flexible manner and with sufficiently simple and cheap means so that it is not possible to achieve, in every individual case, optimal conditions. Other disadvantages are frequently due to complicated and costly mechanisms, which are expensive to manufacture and/or assemble and which, in addition, are subject to operational failures and have a limited life.Assembly in various special cisterns is often not possible owing to more or less extensive deviations from the standard, this being a problem which arises in connection with the very production of sanitary porcelain, where even within a production series major deviations may occur due to the material or process. Such deviations and faulty design and/or assembly of the mechanisms can result in leakage and other defects, which are as such known. A sensitive point is frequently more or less noisy flushing, which must be eliminated or reduced to an absolute minimum. Furthermore, the actuating part which can be operated by hand is in many cases not optimally and/or flexibly designed so that for instance handicapped persons have problems with releasing the mechanism.The previously known flushing mechanisms often make undue demands on the flush cistern's cover, the design of which can vary greatly and which may in some cases be very.light and in others relatively heavy. A light cover, for instance, may lack an adequate anchorage in the cistern so that the cover is affected in detrimental manner by the movements of the mechanism and vice versa, whereby the cover may, for instance owing to its unsatisfactory anchorage, dislodge the flushing mechanism from its position and jeopardise re1iblc- sealing at all seats. As a result of the trend towards ever smaller flush volumes, the mechanisms can frequently not be used with differently designed cisterns, and it has therefore been necessary to install different mechanisms, which is, of course, a great disadvantage.

Furthermore, certain flush cisterns and their mechanisms simply invite malicious dismantling or vandalisation, which must be prevented or at least made more difficult. The flush power and/or the reliability of flushing are aspects which in many cases are neglected. In addition, with previously known arrangements and mechanisms, hygiene within and outside the flush cistern cannot always be ensured in a sufficiently simple and efficient manner. The time required for the system to become ready for flushing, i.e.

the time it takes to refill the cistern, is often unsatisfactory. Lastly, the previously known arrangements are considered to require relatively considerable servicing, which can be difficult and costly to ensure or, if it is not ensured, may lead to leakages, deviations from the specified flush volume etc. and in extreme cases operational failure of the arrangements.

The object of the present invention consists in eliminating the above disadvantages or at least counteracting them to the greatest possible extent and in providing a new or improved arrangement for filling and discharging the flush cistern, whereby this arrangement constitutes in various respects a further development in this technical sphere.

According to the invention these objects are achieved by an arrangement of the type described in the introduction, said arrangement being in the main as stated in the characterising part of claim 1 and in some of the subsequent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate certain preferred but non-restrictive embodiments. In detail: Fig. 1 is an exploded sketch showing a toilet bowl, a flush cistern, an arrangement according to the invention and a water distributor together with certain details, Fig. 2 is an arrangement according to the invention installed in a flush cistern, in part-sectional side view and with the bottom valve closed, Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with the bottom valve open, Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged plan view of the arrangement according to Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 5 is a view from the left in Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an actuating button mechanism forming part of the arrangement according to Figs. 1 - 5, at rest and for use as a pull-out button, Fig. 7 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 6, where the button is at rest and intended for use as a pushbutton, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a filling hose together with the corresponding couplings.

1 in Fig. 1 designates an arrangement according to the invention in its totality, and 2 a flush cistern with a cover 3 encompassing the latter. The flush cistern may consist of any desired material, e.g. porcelain, plastic and/or metal, for instance enamelled or non-corrosive metal. According to a first characteristic of the invention, the cistern may be dimensioned for any required flushing volumes. Cisterns of relatively small volume must, however, have a certain height in order to enable a certain minimum head of water ensuring efficient flushing, which is indicated in Fig. 2, where the refill level is designated 4, a 3-litre flushing level 5, a 6-litre flushing level 6 and lastly an 8-litre flushing level 7, these flushing levels corresponding to the levels after flushing with the stated volumes of water.Due to the installation described and illustrated as well as a certain cistern height and other characteristics of the invention to be specified below, also the least or just the first flush volume, even if it is small, enables a maximum head of water to be achieved, thus ensuring an optimal flushing effect with powerful rinsing and transport action.

Bottom 8 of the cistern may be provided with an opening 9 for a pressurewater inlet 10. Furthermore, an appropriately central hole 11 for a bottom part 12 is provided in the bottom, said bottom part 12 constituting the lower end of arrangement 1, whereby said arrangement is secured in the cistern by means of this particular end. The other end of the arrangement is constituted by a release mechanism 13 which is inset in cover 3 and holds the latter in position by means of a cover nut 14, the peripheral flange 15 of which extends over a hole 16 in cover 3. Since bottom part 12 is firmly secured in bottom 8 and flange 15 presses the cover on to cistern 2, a stable assembly of arrangement 1, cistern 2 and cover 3 is achieved, whereby these parts ensure each other's position and cannot be dismantled or loosened inadvertently.This accordingly applies to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, whereas other conditions may apply to the embodiments described thereafter.

Arrangement 1 is preferably supplied and assembled as a unit, capable of being installed in a cistern already at the factory or mounted in an existing cistern, the flushing mechanism of which is to be replaced.

Apart from bottom part 12 and release mechanism 13, which have already been mentioned, said unit consists, roughly speaking, of an overflow pipe 17 connecting parts 12 and 13, an inlet float arrangement 18 with refill arrangement 19, a bottom valve 32, 35 and an outlet float arrangement 20.

Bottom part 12 comprises a discharge outlet 21 fitted within hole 11 and clamped to the cistern bottom by means of an upper peripheral shoulder or flange 22 within the cistern and a lower locknut 23 threaded on a discharge socket 29 projecting through the bottom of the cistern and provided with an external thread 24, whereby a seal 25 is appropriately arranged between bottom 8 and shoulder etc. 22. With a preferred embodiment, locknut 23 comprises axial guide ribs 26 distributed along the periphery, enabling simple and rapid guiding of connection end 28 to a water distributor 27 forming part of a toilet bowl 194 (Fig. 1) while at the same time securing said water distributor by means of inward projection 34.

Bottom part 12 divides within the cistern so ss to form bottom valve branch 30 comprising the larger part and overflow branch 31 comprising the smaller part. Both these branches are, to begin with, slightly deflected towards the side but then continue in preferably vertical manner upward leading to an open or blind end, whereby branch 30 forms as part of the bottom valve 32 a peripheral bead with preferably an outer seat 33 narrowing in the upward direction, it being possible for said seat to be designed as a cone or partial sphere.

A valve body 35 preferably designed as an upside down cup co-operates with bottom valve seat 33, whereby the free edge 36 of said valve body 35 supports a peripheral sealing ring 37 with an obliquely downward and outward projecting sealing lip 38, which in the sealing position encompasses surface 33 externally, as a result of which relia1e sealing and an increased contact path are achieved. This is due to the fact that the end of the lip impinges upon the seat even before the cup and the seal have assumed their end position. As a result, the taper or camber of the ring and the seat may be identical or different, whereby, especially in the latter case and owing to the rubber-elastic characteristics of the ring in conjunction with said design, a certain damping effect can be achieved in addition to good sealing.

In bottom valve branch 30 a guide structure 39 is appropriately arranged, said structure consisting of e.g. four axial ribs 40, the lower ends of which are secured in or made integral with branch 30, their upper ends being linked with one another in pairs by means of cross-bars 41. The outer edges of ribs 40 constitute a guiding means for said cup when the latter carries out axial movements and efficiently prevents the valve body from landing eccentrically on the seat, which would entail leakage and uneven wear. At I.he same time the structure contributes to simple and rapid assembly of the arrangement without any other guiding means for the valve body being required. Since the structure can be produceRintegral with the bottom part, the costs of such a guiding means are, quite apart from reduced tooling costs, also virtually negligible.However, structure 39 is so designed and dimensioned as to enable limited inclination of the cup due to unavoidable unevennesses on, for example, the sanitary porcelain.

Said inclination is due to the fact that bottom part 12 is firmly clamped in cistern 2, whereas hole 16 in cover 3 assumes, within certain limits, an eccentrically offset position in relation to the bottom part. These offsets are taken up by a joint 42 formed by the free end of branch 31 and the end of overflow pipe 17 secured within the latter. According to a preferred embodiment, said free branch end is provided with several axial slots 43 enabling the branch end to be somewhat elastically deformed so as to receive an enlarged part 44 on the inserted overflow pipe end while retaining this end, inasmuch as on the inside of the branch end there are in turn inward-facing beads 45 which hook behind said enlarged part when the latter has passed. The assembly thus brought about is secured by a locking ring 46 which is slipped on.Said enlarged part of the overflow pipe comprises, near the very end, also an O-ring 47 inserted within a peripheral groove 48, said O-ring sealing the entire assembly or joint from the inside of the cistern. Lastly, the overflow end has advantageously one or several projections 49 for insertion into said slots 43 or possibly certain selected slots, which may be somewhat wider so as to serve as unequivocal locating notches for either a certain torsional position of the overflow pipe in relation to the bottom part or one or several such alternative positions, so as to enable different combinations for optimal fitting of different cisterns. Said projections are, however, also intended as stopping means for limiting the insertion of the overflow pipe into the bottom part.The inside of the locking ring can advantageously exhibit a central peripheral groove 93 intended to receive a corresponding peripheral outer bead 50 at the end of branch 31 with a view to ensuring the blocking position of the ring, which can be easily overcome by application of a little additional force if it is required to dismantle the joint. Joint 42 acts ss a ball-and-socket joint, due to the inside of bead 45 and the outside of enlarged part 44 having a spherical shape while the centre plane of O-ring 47 is as close to the horizontal centre plane of the sphere as possible.

Overflow pipe 17 ends at a distance below cover 3 and is advantageously conically enlarged in the upward direction. Furthermore, the outer face of this pipe is, as can be seen in Fig. 5, provided with vertically extending ribs 51 and inclined ribs 52. The ribs are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the pipe, whereby the vertical ribs may be aligned whereas the inclined ribs appropriately are at such an angle in relation to the vertical that the water supplied along pipe 17 is caught in optimal manner and conducted sideways about the pipe in order to reduce noise.In this connection the conical design of the pipe described above constitutes an important combined characteristic according to the invention, inasmuch as the wide upper part permits the filling water to be introduced through a wide gap whereas, owing to this design, the lower end, the diameter of which is much reduced, can act more readily as the above ball-and-socket joint, which enables radial movement of the pipe in different directions.

The ribs, which can of course be designed and configured in any required way, advantageously serve also as spacers for a net-type distributor device 53, which forming a mantle is drawn over pipe 17. Thanks to its elasticity, this mantle encompasses the pipe tightly, in spite of the latter's conical shape. Such net mantles made of plastics are as such well known as packing devices. One of said vertical rib formations is advantageously situated centrally beneath a filler slot 54 at the top end of the for and both vertical rib formations are appropriately arranged at a distance of about 1 cm from the adjacent inclined ribs so as to permit a relatively unimpeded waterflow downward, whereby only the side flows are caught by the inclined ribs and conducted around the tube to its other side.In this connection said mantle of course acts as a distributing device with flow-maintaining effect so that splashing, and as a result noise are avoided to the greatest possible extent.

Slot 54 is constituted by, on one side, the uppermost part 55 of one half of pipe 17, appropriately somewhat less than a semi-circle, said half being limited in the peripheral direction by flanges 56, 57 appropriately projecting within the same mutual plane, with lower stop lugs 58 or 59, respectively, for limiting the distance to which a float vessel holder 60 can be slid on, said float vessel holder having a cup-shaped frame 61, the upper ends of which are provided with inward directed claws 62, 63, by means of which the holder is, from above, mounted on said flanges. The claws of the holder supporting side parts 64, 65 may be parallel to one another, whereas web part 66 connecting these sides with one another is eppropriately flat and somewhat narrower, with a view to reducing the amount of material.The sides and the web part form on the inside a cambered surface 67 which, at a distance, encompasses said upper part 55 of pipe 17 so as to form said slot 54. One or several of the uppermost vertical ribs can advantageously be arranged in slot 54 since they act as supports for holder 60.

On the other side of flanges 56, 57 relative to part 55 there are preferably nearly flat sections 68, 69, each with its fastening hole 70 or 71, respectively, these being oblong in the vertical direction. A fastening device 94 is arranged to be inserted in one of these holes, said fastening device being part of discharge float arrangement 20. The fastening device may be shaped as a hook open in the upward direction , said hook being inserted in its entirety into a selected hole and pressed upward so that the free hook arm end 72 with a safety projection 73 projecting inward in the horizontal direction finally extends over the free upper edge of pipe 17 and in this way retains said fasteniar device and the entire discharge float arrangement in position.Provision of two diametrically opposite fastening holes accordingly enables the discharge float arrangement to be secured in two different positions depending on the design of cistern 2. The other top half of pipe 17 comprises a relatively large overflow opening 74, the lower horizontal limiting edge of which is located on a level below the upper of the slot ends limited by holder 60 while its upper horizontal limiting edge is located on a higher level than said slot end.

The wall above opening 74 accommodates a recess 75 open in the upward direction with a view to creating a clearance for a filling line 76 which extends from inlet 10 to an inlet valve 77 arranged above pipe 17, said inlet valve as such being in the main of known design and comprising a substantially cylindrical housing 78 extending longitudinally in the horizontal direction, in which the adjoining end of the line is introduced together with a coupling unit 79 encompassing, locking and sealing the latter, whereby said coupling unit is also substantially cylindrical and has a centre bore 80 for introducing the line, which is sealed in relation to the bore by, on the one hand, the water pressure which somewhat expands the flexible plastic line and, on the other hand, not illustrated grooves or similar devices formed in the centre bore.A locking lug 81 projects radially from the coupling unit, said lug being intended for introduction into an axial slot 82 in one end of the housing, whereby said slot then passes ove into a peripheral locking slot 83, as a result of which a bayonet socket is formed. The blind part of the locking slot extends advantageously somewhat closer to the insertion end of the housing, so that the coupling unit must, in the course of its removal, be made to overcome some water pressure. In consequence, the water pressure prevents the coupling unit from ever being released inadvertently. The coupling unit is surrounded by an O-ring not illustrated, which acts as a seal between the coupling unit and the housing.Between the line opening out freely at the insertion end of the coupling unit and an intermediate wall 84 arranged within the housing a pressure chamber 85 is defined, the outlet of which consists in a bore 86 in the intermediate wall, whereby a plunger 87 normally sealing bore 86 is so arranged as to abut the side of the pressure chamber facing away from the coupling unit, said plunger being displaceably located in the other end of the housing and surrounded by an O-ring 89 arranged within a groove 88 and capable of being moved between said sealing position and a filling position releasing bore 86 by means of an eccentric 90 arranged on a spindle 91 located within the housing and capable of being rotated by means of a lever 92, in the other end of which is arranged said inlet float arrangement 18.

On the upper section of flanges 56, 57 projecting from pipe 17 is mounted a holder 197 which constitutes a continuation of housing 78. This holder is cup-shaped and surrounds pipe 17 above frame 61 at a distance so as to form an upper slot section 54. The holder ends situated in the peripheral direction are constituted by inward-facing claws 198, 199 for attachment at the top of said flanges, whereby their topmost extreme corners may be provided with a chamfer and/or a locking device 200 for the two mounted holders.

One end of lever 92 is firmly connected with spindle 91, which as such is known in various forms and the other end of which is in articulated manner connected with an arm 95 proJecting in substantially vertical direction upward from the closed top surface 96 of an inlet float 97, said inlet float being shaped as an upside down cup, whereby the free edge of the approximately vertical side wall 98 of that cup engages a lower peripheral groove 99 of a float vessel 100 shaped in the main as a cup open in the upward direction which is somewhat wider than float 97 and accommodates the latter subject to significant clearance, i. e. subject to a gap 101 of at least several millizetres between the outside of the side wall of float 97 and the inside of side wall 102 of vessel 100.When the free edge of the float rests on the bottom of groove 99, top surface 96 of the float is appropriately located on a somewhat higher level than the vessel's inward overflow edge 103. The flat arm 95 may be provided with vertical stay bars 104. The upper edge region of vessel 100 is, via a bridge 110, firmly connected with holder 60 and it may be made integral with the holder.

Bottom 105 of the vessel is drawn up to some extent, as a result of which said groove 99 is formed and it is possible to attain a minimum amount of flush volume as indicated by level line 5 in Fig. 2 which corresponds to a flush volume of e. g. 3 litres, whereas level line 6 drawn somewhat lower than the vessel corresponds to a flushing volume of e.g. 6 litres. This shows that the drawn-up bottom of the vessel is necessary in order to achieve efficient quick flushing. Bottom 105 contains a central hole 106 for a non-return valve 107 consisting of an upside down shallow cup or beaker, from the top surface 108 of which project arms 109 provided with lugs, whereby said arms can be pressed together to some extent so as to enable their introduction into hole 106, whereupon the arms are again straighte1led out and prevent by means of their lugs 110 arranged on the outside of the free ends inadvertent detachment of the non-return valve from vessel 97. In the position shown in the figures of the drawing, the non-return valve is freely suspended, as a result of which water which has entered vessel 100 above groove 99 can flow out through hole 106, which is the case with an operational position in which the water level in the cistern has dropped below the level of bottom 105. This occurs in the course of flushing.In other respects the water level in the cistern always corresponds to level 4 where the buoyancy of the hollow non-return valve retains it in the sealing position, which will be described in detail below.

It will be noted that drawing up bottom 105 from a more natural level in height corresponding to the lowest level of the vessel is due to the fact that non-return valve 107 must open before the water level in the cistern has, with the minimum flush volume, dropped to the desired level according to Fig. 2 as far as level 5. If at that level the no: return valve were still to be closed, fle L 97 would, after all, never drop and the cistern would not be refilled.

From top surface 111 of valve body 35 of bottom valve 32 a lift bar 112 rises centrally upward, said lift bar connecting the bottom valve with release mechanism 13 and supporting a discharge float 113 capable of displacement along the bar and of adjustment at various levels of height.

This float is appropriately produced from buoyant material, preferably cellular plastic, commercially available inter alia as Styropor and Frigolit. The lower half of the float is appropriately shaped as a cylinder whereas the upper half is shaped as a slightly truncated cone. On the inside the lower part is appropriately hollow, whereby cavity 114 is so designed as to enable the float to be passed with play over the entire bottom valve body 35 down to its for instance radially outward projecting free edge 36. In this manner it is possible to achieve in extreme cases relatively large flush volumes, e.g. a volume of 8 litres as indicated by line 7.

Since for example Styrolit is a relatively soft and easily deformable material, it is appropriate for the float to be arranged on a frame 115 of harder material such as PVC plastic. In the case shown in Fig. 2, the frame is an inner sleeve with a guide opening 116, the profile of which is designed in accordance with the profile of the lift bar, i.e. in such a way that the float can be moved along the bar without significant play. With this object, the lower end of the sleeve may be provided with a flare 117 in the upper part of a smaller upper cavity 118 axially adjoining cavity 114. The idea of said smaller cavity is to reduce the amount of material while at the same time increasing the volume of water to some extent and at retaining the outer dimensions. Another object is to facilitate displacement of the water when cavity 114 extends over valve body 35.So as to strengthen the link between the inner sleeve and the float body, the two ends of the sleeve are made to project outward at 119 and 120 whereby said outward projections coincide with the upper end face of the float or the inner end face of the smaller cavity.

With a view to blocking the discharge float at various levels of height, it is provided with a blocking device 121 which co-operates with blocking profile 122 of the lift bar. Device 121 and profile 122 may be of very varied design. According to Fig. 2 blocking device 121 is a lug projecting from the upper end of the sleeve obliquely upward and inward whereas profile 122 is a transverse serratio.l on one side of the lift bar. The lift bar is provided with a central longitudinal slot 123, which enables the two bar halves thus formed to be pressed together, in which case lug 121 is disengaged from a tooth gap and the float can be moved along the bar to the required level of height at which the bar is permitted to return to its normal position in which the lug engages a tooth gap and blocks the float.

It is of course possible to envisage a closed or rigid bar profile and an elastic blocking device. The bar can also be provided with an outer thread engaging a matching inner thread of the sleeve or cutting directly into the float material, which in such a case would most probably be readily deformable.

The upper end 124 of lift bar 112 is appropriately somewhat narrower within the plane shown in Fig. 2 and is very slightly angled in the direction of profile 122. The cross-section of the bar is preferably rectangular, the longer sides of the rectangle being parallel to said plane. Except for the upper end the bar has longitudinal flanges 125, 126, constituting the short sides of the profile, which is accordingly an I-profile. In the plane of upper end 124 there is an outward projecting driver lug 127 which is intended to rest on driver end 128 of a rocker arm 129 constituting the lowest part of the actual release mechanism 13.

Rocker arm 129 is preferably made substantially hollow whereby the cavity is continuous in the vertical direction. Hence the driver end is U-shaped and encompasses with its legs bar end 124 directly below driver lugs 127 which are fitted after coupling the lift bar with the rocker arm so as to achieve a connected unit. The middle part 130 of the rocker arm is appropriately one to three times as wide as end 128, the extent parallel to spindle 131 of the rocker arm, which extends through the lower region of the middle part somewhat further away from end 128. The other rocker arm end 132 has a beak-like shape and is formed via conical side walls 133 adjoining the middle part.Accordingly, end 132 extends mainly within a vertical plane but at its upper edge a transverse plate 134 may be moulded on for reliable operation by a pressure/lift device 135 extending through the rocker arm and up over the latter.

Press/lift device 135 is substantially flat end situated within the same plane as lift bar 112. Its edge 136 facing the lift bar extends obliquely downward and inward, approximately parallel to the nearest edge of end 124.

Above edge 136 there follows an obliquely upward and inward inclined edge 137, which in the upward direction passes into a vertical edge pertaining to a rectangular intermediate element 138 which on the other side adjoins roughly at the level of edge 137 a press arm 139 projecting somewhat obliquely downward and inward within the plane of the device, said press arm terminating in a downward press claw 140 for acting upon rocker arm end 132 or its plate 134, respectively. Below press arm 139 device 135 is preferably provided with a vertical edge 141. Device 135 is terminated at its foot by a transverse edge 142. Between the latter and at the level of the press arm, device 135 has a vertical longitudinal hole 143 extending right through the flat device so as to accommodate rocker arm spindle 131, which can be turned with play before it is also moved along the entire longitudinal hole or, more correctly, vice versa as regards thc +er since the spindle is stationary when the press/lift device is used as a press-down device and moved downward while spindle 131 is stationary.

In a direction radially away from overflow pipe 17, fastening device 94 forms adjacent to hook arm end 72 a bracket 144 situated at a level with said end face of the pipe. The bracket is oblong and may, directly adjoining the relatively narrow hook arm end, be virtually trapezoidally enlarged, whereupon it passes over into a substantially rectangular part, the free end of which forms a stop 145 for lift bar 112. Said trapezoidal enlargements 146, 147 may also extend vertically over the entire height of the hook ends. Between stop end 145 and enlargements 146, 147 also the sides of bracket 144 are extended downward but to an even further extent, whereby trapezoidal bearing pads 148, 149 are formed, appropriately with outer stay ribs 150 between which extends a vertical longitudinal hole 151.

The ends of spindle 131 are located within these longitudinal holes, preferably with considerable play. The upper ends of the longitudinal hole appropriately go up to a level somewhat above the lower limit of the hook arm ends.

A guiding and fastening sleeve 152 projects centrally upward from the top face of bracket 144, said sleeve being provided with an outer thread 153 on to which cover nut 14 is intended to be screwed with the aid of an inner thread 154. Intermediate element 138 is guided within sleeve 152, its upper part being to this end provided with a cross-shaped guiding device 155. The latter can be formed by the upper end of the intermediate element being enlarged, whereby these enlargements have both lower and in all probability upper chamfers which at a later stage facilitate reinsert ion into the sleeve, subsequent to press-down operation (see Fig. 3). The two other branches of the cross-shaped device form corresponding mouldings, the base of which may for reasons of strength extend somewhat further downward.

Adjoining cross-shaped device 155, device 135 constitutes one end in the threaded part 156 extending through cover nut 14, a press/lift button 159 with a corresponding inner thread 157 within a sleeve-shaped part 158 being screwed thereto.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention this press/lift button has a very special design. With this design the sleeve-shaped part is independent, whereby sleeve 158 is closed all around only in its lower part which is screwed to threaded part 156 of press/lift device 135. From at least the middle onward sleeve 158 is provided with two axial slots 160 opposite one another, which enable pressing together of the upper halves thus formed, which can subsequently expand again.The said upper halves are, adjoining the sleeve part, formed by, in the first place, web parts 161, 162 projecting from the sleeve part at right angles to the common plane of slots 160 and then continuing downward and parallel with the sleeve to the same level in height as the lower ends of the slots while forming guiding sections 163, 164, which at the bottom are joined with one another by a peripheral guide ring 165, said guide ring being capable of being provided with an inner chamfer 166. The guide ring can be somewhat thinner than sections 163, 164, it being possible for the insides of both sections to be situated along a common circle or cylinder.The bottom ends of sections 163, 164 may comprise a recess 167, 168, opening out in the downward direction for temporary co-operation with locking lugs 169, 170, which project upward from the inside of the cover nut directly above thread 154, where the cover nut expands conically upward so as to form a further cylindrical part. The object of said temporarily locking co-operation between parts 167, 170 is to enable simple and fast automatic assembly, whereby screwing together is to be possible by eliminating relative movements.

Web parts 161, 162 project slightly beyond the guiding section so as to form projections 171, 172, intended to engage a button part 173, which in principle is an upside down cup entering within the space between guiding sections 163, 164 and the cover nut, and which together with the sleeveshaped part 158 constitute press/lift button 159. Button part 173 has a top section 174 filling out the inside of the cover nut while forming a peripheral, flange-type extension 175, which in the operating position "lift" serves as a gripping device and otherwise as a guiding device.in the cover nut.Also a roughly corresponding peripheral bead 177 arranged at a distance from the top section on the outside of outer wall 176 acts in guiding manner, whereby said bead may constitute the upper termination of the free end section of the outer wall, narrowing conically on the outside towards the free end face. On the inside of this latter outer wail section, approximately in the middle of the same, there are two locking recesses 178, 179 diametrically opposite one another, which can if required extend right through the outer wall. Near top section 174 the outer wall forms on the inside an appropriately peripheral groove 180.On the inside of the outer wall a shallow guiding groove 195 corresponding to the width of recess 178, 179 may be provided, said groove connecting said recess with said groove 180, whereby the upper outside edges of projections 171, 172 are appropriately chamfered in order to facilitate displacement of sleeve part 158 from the position according to Fig. 6 to the position according to Fig. 7. These two positions represent the operational positions "lift" and "press", whereby in either case the sleeve parts assume the same position in relation to the cover nut and, accordingly, the other parts of the release mechanism.As a result, the same mechanism can in every way be used for the diametrically opposite functions "lift" and "press". If operation by lifting is required, one presses together the sleeve part's guiding sections 163, 164 so that the projections 171, 172 can snap into the locking recesses 178, 179, when it is possible to grip the button and use it as a lift button. In order to change this mode of operation to operation by pressing, one depresses the button, as a result of which the projections slide, with the aid of the upper chamfers, out of the recess and into groove 180, thus bringing about the position for operation by pressure according to Fig. 7, in which no parts project above the flat cover nut flange so that dismantling and, accordingly, e.g. causation of damage, is not readily possible.The fact that the diametrically opposite modes of operation by pressure and lifting act in the same way on the discharge float arrangement will be explained in detail below.

According to Fig. 2, the release mechanism is set to operation by pressure and button 159 is at rest, in which position its top section is on a level with the cover nut flange. In this case cistern 2 is filled with water up to level line 4 and bottom valve 32 is closed. Discharge float body 113 is, for instance, set to 6 litres flush volume c:orresponding to the position shown. Flushirly is now effected by depressing button 159, whereby device 135 is depressed and slides with its vertical longitudinal hole 143 over spindle 131, which is not affected by said longitudinal hole. On the other hand, spindle 131 rests within the bottom end of longitudinal hole 151 in bearing pads 148, 149 and is accordingly fixed as regards vertical displacement downward. In the position according to Fig. 2, the bottom valve is closed by the water pressure from the filled system, whereby driver 127 maintains rocker arm 129 in the position shown, in which press arm 139 and press claw 140 abut the end 132, 134 of the rocker arm.

If button 159 is now pressed down to the position shown in Fig. 3, end 132, 134 of the rocker arm is acted upon and the rocker arm swings about spindle 131, whereby the lift bar end together with it valve body 35 are lifted via driver 127. In the course of said button displacement, device 135 is together with longitudinal hole 143 pressed down past spindle 131 without affecting it in any way. The entire actuating force is accordingly due to the downward movement of the operating arm and the fact that spindle 131 is transversely stationary in the lower end of longitudinal hole 151.Once valve body 35 has been lifted away from seat 33, several lifting phenomena occur, i.e. the lift force exerted by body 113 itself and the influx of water below the latter and under body 35, as a result of which the lift force is incressed to such an extent as to bring about automatic lifting, so that lift bar 112 and the parts associated with it are raised until the bar impinges on stop 145, where the lift motion is stopped.Once the water has dropped to a certain level in relation to the set position of body 113, the lift force of the latter starts to diminish and its own total weight starts to act in closing manner on valve 35, whereby driver 127 finally presses down rocker arm end 128 and causes the opposite end 132, 134 to swing in clockwise direction until button 159 has again been lifted, with the aid of device 135, to the initial position shown in Fig. 2.

During the flushing phase, however, also a return movement of the inlet float commences. For as soon as the water level in the cistern has dropped below the level of the lower edge of non-return valve 107, its lift force or buoyancy and accordingly also its closing force ceases, as a result of which the valve opens as shown in the figures of the drawing and the entire water in vessel 100 above bottom 105 flows out through hole 106. Float 97, which previously has been maintained in the raised position by the water contained in the vessel outside said float, now descends into groove 99, as a result actuating, via arms 95 and 92, the refill arrangement, displacing plunger 87 to the right in figure 5 and thus freeing the water inlet in the right-hand section of valve housing 78 and, therefore, in the upper section of slot 54 formed by the valve housing.From here the water flows into the lower part of slot 54 formed by holder 60 and during this process passes a horizontal safety vent 181 arranged at a level in height corresponding to the middle of overflow pipe opening 74. The purpose of this safety vent is to prevent an undesirable suck-back function from occurring in slot 54 if instead of a positive pressure a negative pressure occurs in line 76.

During the filling process the water flows downward through the lower, cupshaped slot 54 and is distributed by, in the first place, the flat configuration of the slot and further by rib formations 51 and 52 and distributing device 53, which subsequently acts in affinitive manner, i.e.

causes the water to be retained, said water being distributed about the overflow pipe, as a result of which release of the water and, accordingly, swishing about and splashing are prevented. Altogether this results in a noise-reducing effect.

During filling and once the water level is at the level of non-return valve 107, the latter is closed through its own buoyancy/lift force, closing opening 106. The rising water eventually reaches the vessel's inward overflow edge 103 and flows into the gap between vessel wall 102 and wall 98 of the float which has descended to the bottom of groove 99. Since this gap 101 is very narrow and has accordingly a small total capacity, it is filled very quickly with water, as a result of which float 97 is raised very quickly to its upper initial position, in which plunger 87 of inlet valve 77 is kept closed by means of arms 95 and 92. This quick-closing action is desirable mainly with a view to reducing noise, but also in order to develop an effective closing force, which is the case if the water pressure is quickly overcome.Float 97 is now held in the raised closing position, until the water level in the cistern has, as a result of the next flushing operation, again dropped approximately below the level of the nonreturn valve and vessel 100 is again discharged.

With the release mechanism set to "operation by lifting" as shown in Fig.

6, one accordingly lifts button 159, which causes the device 135 to be lifted and to take along spindle 131 when the lower end of longitudinal hole 143 impinges upon the latter, shifting the spindle in the transverse direction along longitudinal hole 151, which goes higher. During this lifting movement of device 135, rocker arm end 132, 134 quite quickly comes to impinge upon the underside 182 of bracket 144 by which it is stopped, while, with the rocker arm in radial motion, the spindle continues to move upward in hole 151, end 128 of said rocker arm now lifting bar 112 via driver 127 in the same way as described above.The lifting movement applied to button 159 and, accordingly, also the radial movement of the rocker arm are eventually stopped by the upper surface of press arm 139 and surface 137, which is approximately mirror-symmetric in relation to the latter, both surfaces impinging upon the underside of bracket 144 when entering sleeve 152.

Cover nut 14 has preferably two diametrically arranged slots 183, the object of which is to serve as engagement means when inserting a tool into the cover nut in order to tighten or release the latter.

The lower end of press/lift device 135 may, with the preferred embodiment, be designed with a chisel-type edge 184, the horizontal extent of which roughly corresponds to the diameter of spindle 131, which in this case is made with a gap in the middle and integral with the rocker arm. The gap is so tight that it is necessary to press it through and past the opposite spindle journal ends, whereby the elasticity due to the hollow mirrorsymmetrical design of the rocker arm is made use of. Once edge 184 has been pressed through, said spindle journals automatically snap into groove 143 ensuring in this way a durable assembly of the parts in question, the elasticity of the

sides enabling elastic

apart, so that the outer spindle journal ends can be snapped into longitudinal hole 151 from inside.

Instead of a rotation-symmetrical shape, discharge float 113 can have the shape most clearly apparent in Fig. 4. Frame 115 can have an upper configuration as shown in Fig. 4, but instead of a sleeve-type inner section use can be made of arms such as shown in Fig. 2, with rounded insertion notches 185 at the bottom. These arms are pressed down into the continuous opening in the float body, whereby notches 185 press the ends of the arms against one another, which causes expansion to the position shown as soon as the projections 120 have reached cavity 118.

As can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, a horizontal cross-shaped positioning device 186 is moulded on to bottom part 12, said cross-shaped device consisting of crossed ribs emanating from the foot of branch 31, whereby said ribs are at an angle of 45 in respect of bottom 8. Cross-shaped device 186 is so arranged as to be, subject to an axial sliding or adjustment fit, gripped about in the longitudinal direction by a horizontal square holder tube 187, which constitutes the free end of an engagement device 188 for wholly or semi-automatic assembly of the arrangement according to the invention put together so as to form a unit. Engagement device 188 may, to this end, be of any required design, depending on the gripping and holding etc. devices such an assembly arrangement is equipped with.Furthermore, the engagement device is appropriately designed in such a way as to be integral with a base disc 189 for the pressure water inlet 10, which in turn is moulded on to a valve housing 190, substantially corresponding to the previously described valve housing 78, into which a coupling unit 191 can be introduced, which preferably corresponds to coupling unit 79 described above, so that a more detailed description of said coupling arrangement and the corresponding valve can be waived.

Between base disc 189 and the bottom of the cistern there is a packing 192, and a locknut 193 screwed on below the bottom of the cistern serves to lock the inlet valve.

Owing to the connection shown and described between the bottom part and pressure water inlet 10, a combination of several advantages is achieved.

On the one hand, parts 186, 187 readily compensate, since they can be adjusted in the horizontal direction, variations in centre distance between openings 9 and 11 in the bottom of the cistern, while, on the other hand, there are, in spite of said adjustability no loose parts, it being possible for the entire arrangement to be gripped at a single point and assembled as a unit, and again such a solution does not permit any relative turning of the bottom part and the pressure water inlet in respect of one another or in respect of the cistern, so that all parts always automatically assume the correct position and also locknuts 23 and 193 can be quickly and simply fitted without it being necessary to hold the bottom part or the pressure water inlet in the correct position while screwing on the nuts.

That the invention aims at a total solution and operability of the system as a whole is also apparent from the upper end of the arrangement, where, at the upper end of overflow pipe 17 secured in bottom part 12, release mechanism 13 is arranged with, in the first place, bracket 144 and its guiding and retaining sleeve 152, which constitute a fastening for cover nut 14 and hence for cover 3. Inasmuch as with sanitary porcelain more or less extensive deviations from the standard are unavoidable, this total solution covering all aspects from the bottom to the cover and integrating these parts is in practice enabled only thanks to the inventive idea of securing the overflow pipe in the bottom part, in the form of a member 42 permitting limited radial mobility but at the same time acting as a 'seal.

For the requirement of such radial mobility is due to the fact that the distance and angles between the bottom and the cover and in particular between openings 9, 11 and 16 may vary, in extreme cases by as much as several cm. The invention readily compensates also for such variations, without any play or rattle, which cannot have any harmful effect whatsoever on the intended operation. In this connection also the release mechanism readily compensates for considerable variations in distance between the bottom of the cistern and the cover, thanks to the fact that the variable attachment of cover nut 14 on guiding and retaining sleeve 152 is compensated by the sensitive manner in which the press/lift button can be attached to threaded section 156 of press/lift device 135. In spite of compensating movements the good sealing characteristics of all parts are retained.

Except for and in addition to all these advantages, one of the principal advantages of the invention consists in the possibility of flushing at different rates, from a maximum amount of water and continuously or reducing the latter in virtually stepless manner to an absolute minimum without any additional means being required for each setting, for since discharge float 113 is displaceably arranged on lift bar 112 and can be blocked at various levels of height, it is possible, owing to said adjustability, to select and set the required flush volume.If the float is set at its highest position on bar 112, for instance, a 3-litre flush is attained, whereas the lowest position on bar 112 corresponds to an 8-litre flush, it being possible to achieve any required intermediate variations by simple displacement along the bar, automatic blocking taking place, as described above, whenever the bar or float is released. Whereas a relatively large flush volume automatically entails a large flushing force, relatively small flush volumes have so far been subject to the disadvantage of low flushing force due to a correspondingly lower head of water.Owing to the invention, however, small amounts of water are also or precisely flushed thanks to the pressure exei-ted by ) maximum head of water, since the cistern is always filled to the same level 4 irrespective of the flush volume. Hence, with small volumes, the flushing force is as large as with the first part of large volumes so that such small volumes are imparted coejection characteristics owing to the fast delivery resulting from a large, in the main constant head of water. As a result, in particular small flush volumes may have a larger flushing force and effect than has been the case in the past.In view of the ever decreasing availability of water throughout the world, these advantages of the invention are particularly valuable since it is possible to achieve by and large the same flushing effect with small as with large volumes of water, and it is therefore possible for a reduction of the flush volume to be readily accepted and flushing twice avoided. A further advantageous aspect of this invention consists in the fact that it offers the possibility of providing older and, as is known, frequently very capacious cisterns with an arrangement according to the invention, whereby the same good characteristics can be achieved.Also the design of the valve body in the shape of a relatively light upside down cup, the cavity of which is surrounded, especially during the initial phase with water, also from below, so that a certain additional lifting action and, accordingly, an even faster opening movement is achieved, contributes to the flushing force, in particular during said initial phase of flushing and with small amounts of water. As the water column drops and the amount of water in the cistern declines, said lifting action gradually diminishes.

While Figs. 2 and 4 in every detail show the same outlet float arrangement 20, Figs. 3 and 5 show a different design of the discharge float 113, the frame 115 and the lift bar 112. In the latter case, the blocking device 121 is resilient due to the shape shown, while the lift bar shows a coheres' crcss-section and is thus not meant to be resilient as in the previous case. Furthermore, the profile 122 may in the latter case incorporate rectangular recesses/teeth extending at right angles in relation to the longitudinal axis of the lift bar. The free end of the blocking device shows a matching design. Also, the body of the discharge float may be shaped in a somewhat different way as apparent from Figs. 3 and 5. The main advantage of the latter embodiment is considered to be a safer position of the discharge float, which practically cannot be displaced by accident, while the previous embodiment lends itself to easy adjustment of the float body by simply pushing the body downwards, which could happen without intent.

Claims (49)

Claims

1. Flushing and refilling arrangement (1) of a WC cistern (2) with cover (3) comprising a release mechanism (13), an overflow pipe (17), an inlet float arrangement (18) with refilling arrangement (19), a bottom valve (32, 35) and a discharge float arrangement (20) co-operating with the latter, characterised in that said parts (13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 32, 35) are joined or capable of being Joined to an installable unit and in that they are equipped with means for adjustment to different mutual and external dimensions and angles as well as means for selecting the flush volume,

V

2.Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that float arrangement (20) comprises in as such known manner a float body (1 3) arranged on a lift bar (112) and in that said float body is arranged so as to be displaceable along and capable of being blocked at various levels of height on the lift bar in connection with and for the selection and setting of different flush volumes.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that discharge float arrangement (20) is arranged to co-operate with the bottom part (12) comprising an outlet (21) arranged to be fitted into and anchored in a hole (11) in bottom (8) of cistern (2), whereby the outlet preferably forms a discharge socket (29) in which connecting end (28) of a water distributor (27) arranged in a WC bowl (194) is intended to be inserted preferably with the aid of axial guide ribs (26) in an external locknut (23) for blocking bottom part (12).

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that bottom part (12) divides within cistern (2) into a bottom valve branch (30) and an overflow branch (31), both of said branches, to begin with, being preferably somewhat deflected in the sideways direction adjoining outlet (21) but then continuing in principally vertical manner upward so as to terminate freely, whereby bottom valve branch (30) forms as pert of bottom valve (32) a seat (33) with preferably an outer peripheral bead.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that a valve body (35) co-operates with bottom valve seat (33), said valve body being preferably designed as an upside down cup, the free edge (36) of which supports a peripheral sealing ring (37) with an obliquely downward and outward projecting sealing lip (38) so arranged as to encompass in the sealing position seat (33) on the outside and at the top.

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that in bottom valve branch (30) is arranged a guiding device, preferably in the shape of a structure (39) with axial ribs (40), the lower ends of which are fixed in or made integral with said branch, and the upper ends of which are joined with one another by cross-pieces (41), said guiding device (39) constituting a guiding means for valve body (35) and being preferably so designed that limited inclination of the valve body is permissible at least when the latter is guided towards or on the guiding device.

7. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that bottom valve branch (30) is joined, via overflow branch (31), a joint (42), overflow pipe (17) and release mechanism (13), with discharge float arrangement (20), whereby any inclination of the parts belonging to the arrangement is intended to be substantially taken up by said joint (42) between overflow branch (31) and overflow pipe (17) and to a certain lesser extent by the bottom valve.

8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that lift bar (112) connecting bottom valve (32, 35) with release mechanism (13) and provided with localising notches distributed along the length of the bar, preferably in the shape of a transverse serration (122) on one longitudinal side of the bar projects upward from valve body (35), said serration etc. being designed to constitute a blocking base for discharge float body (113) or a blocking device (121) arranged thereon.

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that float body (113) consists of buoyant material, in particular cellular plastic, in that it preferably narrows in the upward direction, and in that it is preferably made hollow in its lower part, whereby cavity (114) thus formed is so arranged as to be capable of being passed with play over bottom valve body (35), appropriately right down to its, for instance, radially projecting free edge (36).

10. Arrangement .according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that discharge float (113) is provided with a frame (115) of preferably harder material, in particular PVC plastic, said frame being appropriately designed as a guiding sleeve with a guide opening (116), the profile of which is adapted to the profile of lift bar (112), whereby the lower end of the sleeve is preferably provided with an enlargement (117), whereas the upper end of the sleeve is provided with said blocking device (121), which preferably has the shape of a lug proJecting inward in relation to the lift bar.

11. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that lift bar (112) is provided with a central longitudinal slot (123), which enables pressing together of the bar halves thus formed and release of blocking device (121) from the localising notches (122) in the process and for the purpose of displacing float (113) along the lift bar to another position in height, in which the bar halves are arranged to return automatically to a position locking blocking device (121), and/or in that also or only the blocking device possesses elastic locking and release characteristics, and/or in that the discharge float is screwably arranged on the lift bar, i.e. by it being provided at a later stage with an outer thread engaging a matching inner thread of the float or its frame or cutting into the float material.

12. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that discharge float (113) has a frame (115) with upper and/or lower projecting elements (119 and 120, respectively), for abutment against an outer or inner end face of the float, and/or in that the frame has centrally opposite side parts capable of being pressed together and intended to be inserted, in the compressed state, into float opening (116), whereby insertion notches (185) are arranged at the lower end of the frame.

13. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the upper end (124) of lift bar (112) is made narrower and/or slightly angled in the outward direction away from release mechanism (13), and/or in that the bar has a rectangular cross-section with the longer rectangular sides parallel relative to said direction or plane and with longitudinal flanges (125, 126) constituting the short sides of the bar profile, and/or in that the upper bar end (124) has at a right angle relative to said plane, outward-projecting driver lugs (127) intended to rest on a driver end (128) of a rocker arm (129) constituting the lower end of release mechanism (13).

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, characterised in that rocker arm (129) is made hollow, whereby the cavity is continuous in the vertical direction so as to form a U-shaped driver end (128) encompassing the upper lift bar end (124) below driver lugs (127), and in that middle part (130) of the rocker arm is preferably one to three times as wide as said driver end in the horizontal direction and accommodates a horizontal rocker arm spindle (131) preferably extending through the lower region of said middle part and somewhat further away from the driver end, and/or in that the other rocker arm end (132) is of beak-like shape and/or provided with a transverse plate (134), whereby said rocker arm end (132) is intended to be acted upon by a press and/or lift device (135) extending through the rocker arm in the vertical direction while encompassing rocker arm spindle (131) with a vertical longitudinal hole (143).

15. Arrangement according to claim 14, characterised in that press and/or lift device (135) is substantially flat and situated within the same plane as lift bar (112) and/or in that the lower end (142) of this device is provided with a chisel-type edge (184), the horizontal extent of which approximately corresponds to the diameter of rocker arm spindle (131), which in this case is made wit a gap in the middle and integral with the rocker arm, whereby said gap is so narrow that the edge must prize the opposite spindle journal edges apart while making use of the elasticity of the rocker arm, and in that the spindle journals are arranged to snap automatically into said vertical longitudinal hole (143) when this happens.

16. Arrangement according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that press and/or lift device (135) has on the side facing away from lift bar (112) a press arm (139) projecting in this direction obliquely outward and downward for acting on rocker arm end (132) within this region, and in that rocker arm spindle (131) is located in the vertical longitudinal hole (151) arranged in bearing pads (148, 149) projecting downward from a bracket (144), arranged to be attached, preferably in optional manner, on either of the two opposite sides of the upper end of overflow pipe (17) and supporting a guiding and fastening sleeve (152) for the upper part (156) of press and/or lift device (135) as well as means (159) for the release mechanism capable of being acted upon from outside, and in that the free end (145) of the bracket preferably constitutes a stop for lift bar (1-12).

17. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the water or refilling level (4) in cistern (2) is designed to remain constant irrespective of the setting position of discharge float (113), by means of inlet float arrangement (18) set in the horizontal direction and anchored close to release mechanism (13) to overflow pipe (17), preferably at a right angle in relation to said mechanism.

18. Arrangement according to claim 17, characterised in that closure of inlet float arrangement (18) is so arranged as to cause, with rising refill level, the water supply to be discontinued in as such known manner by means of an inlet float (97) shaped as an upside down cup and arranged in a float vessel (100) shaped as a somewhat larger cup open at the top, whereby bottom (105) thereof is provided with a non-return valve (107) capable of being closed by the rising water level, bottom (105) being situated at a higher level than the bottom of channel-like groove (99) encompassing the inside of the vessel, the inlet float being intended to enter said groove, during the flushing operation, with its lower edge.

19. Arrangement according to claim 18, characterised in that the nonreturn valve is arranged within the cavity formed by drawn-up float vessel bottom (105) and channel profile (99) encompassing said bottom in the process of and with a view to enabling faster valve movements within an air cushion enclosed by the cavity, and/or in that top face (96) of inlet float (97) is situated at a higher level than is the inward overflow edge of float vessel (100).

20. Arrangement according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterised in that from inlet float (97) projects an arm (95), the upper end of which is joined in articulated manner with one end of lever (92), the other end of which supports an eccentric (90) arranged on a spindle (91) located within an inlet valve housing (78) so as to act upon a plunger (87) for regulating the water influx and likewise located in axially displaceable manner within said housing.

21. Arrangement according to claim 20, characterised in that inlet valve housing (78) and such parts as co-operate with it belong to refilling arrangement (19) and is in the main cylindrical so as to accommodate within its end facing away from the lever a connection end for a filling line (76) as well as a coupling unit (79) encompassing, locking and sealing said line with a radially projecting locking lug (81) intended to be introduced into an axial slot in said end of valve housing (78), whereby said slot passes into a peripheral locking slot (83) so as to form a bayonet 'socket, whereby the locking slot preferably extends in its blind part somewhat nearer to the insertion end of the housing, in the process of and with a view to bringing about automatic blocking through the connected water pressure.

22. Arrangement according to claim 21, characterised in that coupling unit (79) is surrounded by an O-ring and in that between line (76) freely opening out at the insertion end of the coupling unit and an intermediate wall (84) arranged in housing (78) a pressure chamber (85) is formed, the outlet of which consists in a bore (86) in the intermediate wall, piston (87), which is displaceably located in the other end part of inlet valve housing (78) and encompassed by During (89) in groove (88), being arranged to abut the side of said bore facing away from the coupling unit, whereby said piston seals said bore except during the refilling phase.

23. Arrangement according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterised in that guiding and fastening sleeve (152) is provided with an outer thread (153) on to which is screwed cover nut (14), which is inserted in cistern cover (3) and blocks said cover as well as the upper parts of the arrangement, whereby a peripheral flange (15) of the cover nut extends over a hole (16) arranged in cistern cover (3).

24. Arrangement according to claim 23, characterised in that the upper part (156) of press and/or lift device (135) guided in guiding and fastening sleeve (152) adJoins in the downward direction a cross-shaped guiding device (155) capable of being inserted into said sleeve and in turn adjoining the intermediate piece (138) of said device1 and in that the cross-shaped guiding device is preferably provided with upper and lower chamfers for facilitating its introduction into the sleeve and enabling limited inclination.

25. Arrangement according to claim 24, characterised in that press and/or lift device (135) adjoining the cross-shaped guiding device (155) constitutes one end of a threaded part (156) extending into cover nut (14), on to which a press/lift button with a corresponding inner thread (157), preferably in a sleeve-type part (158) of a press/lift button (159), is screwed.

26. Arrangement according to claim 25, characterised in that sleeve-type part (158) constitutes a separate part on which an upper and outer button part (173) is located in axially displaceable manner relative to the sleeve-type part and arranged in blockable manner in an upper position corresponding to the lift mode and a lower position corresponding to the pressure mode.

27. Arrangement according to claim 25 or 26, characterised in that in at least its upper part sleeve (158) is provided with preferably two centrally opposite slots (160) enabling elastic compression and automatic expansion of upper halves thus formed, which, adjoining sleeve (158), pass into web parts (161, 162) projecting at right angles relative to the common plane of the slots, said web parts being appropriately somewhat narrower than the corresponding sleeve parts and passing in turn into downward guiding 'sections (163, 164) parallel with the sleeve parts, said guiding sections appropriately ending at approximately the level of the lower ends of slots (160) and at the foot appropriately connected with one another by a peripheral guide ring (165).

28. Arrangement according to claim 27, characterised in that guide ring, (165) is at its foot provided with an inner peripheral c:hamfer (166) and/or in that it is designed thinner in the radial direction than guiding section (163, 164), whereby the inside of its parts (163 - 165) is situated along a common circle or cylinder.

29. Arrangement according to claim 28, characterised in that in the lower ends of the guiding section (163, 164) is provided a recess (167 and 168, respectively), open in the downward direction for temporary co-operation with locking lugs (169, 170) projecting upward from the inside of cover nut (14) directly above its inner thread (154) by means of which it is screwed on to guiding and fastening sleeve (152), whereby the cover nut appropriately expands conically in an upper direction and then passes into a further cylindrical 'section.

30. Arrangement according to claim 27, characterised in that web parts (161, 162) project slightly beyond guiding section (163, 164) so as to form engagement lugs (171, 172) intended to engage said button part (173), which is designed as an upside down cup and enters into the gap between the guiding section and cover nut (14) and has a top section (174) filling out the inside of the cover nut, appropriately while forming a peripheral flange-type extension (175) which during lifting of the button part is intended to serve as a gripping device and otherwise as a guiding device within the cover nut.

31. Arrangement according to claim 30, characterised in that outer wall (176) of button part (173) is in the middle appropriately encompassed by an outer guiding bead (177) intended to be guided in all positions by the cylindrical inside of the cover nut and in that the diameter of the outer wall preferably narrows in the downward direction, both in its section above and in its section below the bead.

32. Arrangement according to claim 30 or 31 ,characterised in that on the inside of outer wall (176) of button part (173) are arranged, within the lower 'section, two centrally opposite locking recesses (178, 179), which may extend right through the outer wall and are intended to accommodate the engagement lugs (171, 172) when the button part is in its upper position, in which it can be lifted.

33. Arrangement according to claim 32, characterised in that guiding grooves (195) corresponding to the width or extent in the peripheral direction of locking recesses (178, 179) extend in shallow manner from the free end of outer wall (176) of button part (173) on their inside past said locking recesses and end in the region directly below top part (174), where the guiding grooves appropriately open out into a peripheral groove (180) intended to receive the flange-type extension (175) of the top part, for instance by snap action, when the button part is depressed to the pressure mode position.

34. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 33, characterised in that cover nut (14) has two diametrically arranged slots (183) intended to serve as engagement means for a tool for screwing fast or releasing the cover nut.

35. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that a horizontal cross-shaped positioning device (186) is moulded on at bottom part (12), said device consisting preferably of crossed ribs emanating from the base of overflow branch (31) and at an angle of about 45 with cistern bottom (8), said cross-shaped positioning device being arranged in such a way that, subject to an axial slide or adjustment fit, it is gripped about in the longitudinal direction by a horizontal, square holder tube (187) constituting the free end of an engagement device (188) for wholly or semiautomatic assembly of the arrangement put together so as to form a unit.

36. Arrangement according to claim 35, characterised in that engagement device (188) is made integral with a base disc (189) for a pressure water inlet (10), whereby said base disc can be arranged within cistern (2) and is in turn moulded on at a valve housing (190) into which a coupling unit (191) can be introduced, said coupling unit forming the start of pressure water line (76) which continues to the rill: crranget.

37. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that joint (42) formed by and between overflow branch (31) and the lower end of overflow pipe (17) joined thereto is formed by the free branch end being provided with a number of axial slots (43) which impart to the branch end elastic mobility in the radial direction, since the lower part of the overflow pipe inserted in the branch end is provided with a peripheral enlargement (44) intended to go past beads (45) on the inside of the branch end, and since a locking ring (46) is arranged so as to hold together externally joint (42) thus formed.

38. Arrangement according to claim 37, characterised in that said enlargement (44) comprises near the outer end an O-ring (47) located in peripheral groove (48), said O-ring acting as a seal towards the inside of the free overflow branch end, and/or in that the lower end of overflow pipe (17) has one or several radial outer projections (49) for inserting into slots etc. of said branch end (31), by way of localising notches and/or stopping means for limiting the insertion of the overflow pipe into said branch.

39. Arrangement according to claims 37 or 38, characterised in that the inside of locking ring (46) has a peripheral groove (93) for accommodating a corresponding peripheral outer bead (50) at the end of said branch (31), with a view to ensuring the blocking position of the ring.

40. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 39, characterised in that overflow pipe (17) ends at a distance below cistern cover (3) and is preferably conically enlarged in the upper direction and provided with an outer profile or similar feature (51, 52, 53 > .

41. Arrangement according to claim 40, characterised in that said profile consists at least in part of in the main vertically extending ribs (51), preferably in the form of two formations arranged on diametrically opposite sides of overflow pipe (17), and of inclined ribs (52) likewise arranged on diametrically opposite sides as well as in that the profile thus formed is preferably encompassed by a net-type distributing device (53).

42. Arrangement according to claim 40 or 41, characterised in that between one half of upper part (55) of overflow pipe (17) and a float vessel holder (60) with a cup-shaped frame (61) a filling slot (54) is formed for water supplied through inlet valve arrangement < 77), said slot encompassing a part of the periphery of overflow pipe (17) and preferably situated centrally above and/or outside profile (51, 52, 53) which has distributing characteristics.

43. Arrangement according to claim 42, characterised in that filling slot (54) is in the peripheral direction limited by flanges (56, 57) proJecting from overflow pipe (17) preferably within the same plane, with lower stop lugs (58 and 59 respectively), as slide-on stops for said float vessel holder (60), whereby the upper ends of frame (61) of said float vessel holder are provided with inward facing claws (62, 63), by means of which said holder is mounted from above on said flange's.

44. Arrangement according to claim 43, characterised in that on that side of overflow pipe flange's (56, 57) facing away from float vessel holder (60) adJoin immediately and in the peripheral direction preferably plane sections (68, 69), each of them with a fastening hole (70 and 71 respectively), which is preferably oblong in the vertical direction, and in that a fastening device (94) forming part of discharge float arrangement (20) is intended to be introduced into one of these hole's, said fastening device appropriately being shaped as a hook open in the upward direction and intended to be inserted in its entirety into the selected hole and pressed upward, whereby the free hook arm end (72) with a horizontally inward facing safety projection (73) is arranged to extend over the free upper edge of the overflow pipe and block the discharge float arrangement.

45. Arrangement according to one of claims 42 to 44, characterised in that the upper half of overflow pipe (17) facing away from inlet float arrangement (18) comprises a relatively large overflow opening (74), the lower horizontal limiting edge of which is situated on a level beneath the upper end of said slot (54).

46. Arrangement according to one of claims 43 to 45, characterised in that on the upper section of flange's (56, 57) projecting outward from overflow pipe (17) a holder (197) for inlet valve arrangement (77) is mounted, said holder being cup-shaped and encompassing the overflow pipe above holder (60, 61) for inlet float arrangement (18) at a distance in approximately corresponding manner as frame (61) of said holder so as to form an upper slot section (54), and in that holder (197) of inlet valve arrangement (77) has at its ends situated in the peripheral direction inward facing claws (198, 199) for fixing on top of said flanges (56, 57), and whereby between the 'section's of slot (54) thus formed a horizontal safety opening (181) is arranged, said opening being arranged on a level above the lower limiting edge of overflow pipe opening (74).

47. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the release mechanism (13) incorporates, as known per se, a button or the like (159), which is provided with means for shifting between press and lift function, the outlet float arrangement (20) being provided to be subjected to traction forces independently of the setting of the function of the button or the like.

48. Arrangements for flushing and refilling WC cisterns as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

49. Arrangements for flushing and refilling WC cisterns as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.