WO2003044290A1

WO2003044290A1 - Electronic system for automatically filling and emptying cisterns

Info

Publication number: WO2003044290A1
Application number: PCT/ES2002/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Seoane Riobo; Jesús Seoane Riobo; Juan José Ferro Arca; Sergio Perez Fernandez
Original assignee: Alberto Seoane Riobo; Seoane Riobo Jesus; Ferro Arca Juan Jose; Sergio Perez Fernandez
Priority date: 2001-12-05
Filing date: 2002-01-03
Publication date: 2003-05-30
Also published as: ES2188422A1; ES2188422B1; AU2002225050A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic system for automatically filling and emptying cisterns. The inventive system, which is particularly suitable for toilet cisterns, comprises an electrovalve (6) which is intended to be inserted in the cistern water feed pipe and which can be activated by means of a control circuit (18) that receives information from a hydrometric sensor (7) which is disposed at a suitable level inside the cistern (1). In this way, whenever empty, the cistern (1) is automatically filled. Moreover, the cistern can be half emptied or fully emptied using the control unit (18), together with a pair of push-buttons (21 and 22), by controlling the electromagnetic coil of an automatic emptying device (8) which drives the sealing piston of said device. As a result, the aforementioned push-buttons (21 and 22), which are disposed in an easily-accessible control panel, allow the user to establish the cistern emptying level as desired in order to optimise water use. Another unit (19) is used to reset the system by means of a push-button (16) and a safety unit (20) deactivates the electrovalve (6) when said valve has been open for longer than a pre-established time, either owing to a fault in the mechanisms of automatic emptying device (8) or the absence of water in the supply system.

Description

STSTFMA T ΓTRONT O FOR FT, TJ FNAfíO Y

ΠFSCAKCA ATTTOMÁTTCA ΠF CTSTFPNAS

Π F S Γ R T P Γ Í Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic system that allows both the automatic filling of a tank and its subsequent unloading, also automatic.

The system is especially suitable for use in toilet tanks, but it is equally applicable to any other practical case where similar performance is required.

The system allows a controlled discharge of the tank, specifically two different possibilities, a complete discharge or a half discharge, both automatically, to adapt the water consumption to the specific requirements of each moment and, consequently, optimize said consumption .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred field of practical application of the invention, that of sanitary tanks, its filling control is carried out with the collaboration of a mechanical system, constituted by a buoy that, duly located inside the tank and linked to a swing arm, acts on the water inlet valve to the tank, once reached a predetermined level inside it.

This mechanical solution brings, in addition to a notable difficulty in regulating the maximum water inside the tank, operating problems that increase with the passage of time, since in many cases the buoy is progressively reduced its degree of buoyancy, due to the deposition of residues on it or for other causes, sometimes causing blockages of the same or of the arm that relates it to the valve, which cause a permanent overflow situation to be maintained, with the consequent waste of water as long as the problem is not remedied, either by replacing the buoy or the entire closing system, or by a repair manipulation by qualified operators.

An added problem is that conventional tanks have a certain water capacity, which is equivalent to a certain discharge, which is always invariable, so that said discharge of water, suitable in certain occasions, is excessive in others, with the consequent waste of water that implies.

Trying to avoid this problem are known tanks equipped with two compartments, with independent or combined drive mechanisms, which allow to control to a certain extent the flow of water in conditions of total or half discharge, but these solutions are structurally complex and consequently expensive , and keep all the problems reflected above, since its filling control system remains the same. DESCRD7TION OF THE INVENTION

The electronic system that the invention proposes solves in a fully satisfactory manner the above-mentioned problem, materializing in a device mostly foreign to the tank itself, which can be inserted in the conduction of the general water supply network, not using the tank itself more than for the implantation in its bosom of a hydrometric sensor, with which the maximum level of water inside this cistern is controlled.

More specifically, the system that is recommended is embodied in an electrovalve, assisted by an electronic circuit, inserted in the water supply line to the cistern, between it and the classic manual-operated stopcock, solenoid valve that, like said circuit is housed inside a container box, and collaborating with said circuit the said hydrometric sensor, established in the tank, at an appropriate level in height, and that sends the appropriate signals to the electronic circuit, so that it determines the opening of the solenoid valve when the water level in the tank drops and to cause it to close when the maximum preset level is reached.

According to another feature of the invention, it is provided that the classic tank unloader is replaced by an automatic unloader, preferably of an electromagnetic type, also controlled by the electronic circuit.

More specifically in the electronic circuit a power supply block is established that transforms the mains voltage into direct current at adequate voltages to power the electronic circuit, on the one hand, and to power the automatic unloader on the other, electronic circuit structured based on a loading and unloading block, an on / off and reset block and a safety block.

The control or loading and unloading block receives information from the hydrometric sensor, acting on the solenoid valve when the filling of the tank is necessary, and with the collaboration of a pair of push-buttons, full discharge and half-discharge, acts on the unloader automatic, so that one or another type of download occurs, depending on the user's criteria at any time.

The on / off and reset block, assisted in turn by the corresponding button, is intended to reset the system when necessary.

The safety block, in turn, has the purpose of establishing a timing for the control block, during the loading or filling of the tank, so that if a delay established for this purpose is exceeded, the solenoid valve will close even if it does not the hydrometric sensor has operated.

A series of signaling pilots indicate different situations and system activations.

A control panel groups the pushbuttons and the optical signaling devices, so that, conveniently located in the vicinity of the tank, it allows an optimal functional control of it.

DESCRD? TION OF THE DD3ÜJOS To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. For illustrative purposes and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows, according to a schematic representation, an example of a practical embodiment of the automatic tank filling and unloading system that constitutes the object of the present invention.

Figure 2.- Shows the block diagram corresponding to the system of the previous figure.

Figure 3.- Shows a side elevation view and section to a quarter of the automatic unloader intended to be part of the system of Figure 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The system that is recommended is designed to functionally control a cistern (1), duly connected to the general water supply network (2), through a stopcock (3), and physically materializes in a box (4 ) sandwiched between the inlet (2) and the tank (1) with the collaboration of an inlet fitting (5) and an outlet fitting (5 '), box containing an electrovalve (6) that controls the passage of water to the cistern (1) and a circuit that controls both said solenoid valve (6), at the expense of the signals received from a hydrometric sensor (7), and a automatic unloader (8), equipped with an electromagnetic coil acting on its sealing plunger (9), provided for this purpose with at least a part of a ferromagnetic nature, both the sensor (7) and the electromagnetic coil of the unloader (8) , related to the box (4) through a hose (10). From the box (4), another hose (11) emerges, terminated in a plug, for connection to the general power supply network, generally 220 volts in alternating current, as well as a third hose (12) that relates the circuit housed in the box (4) with a control panel (13) designed to be located in an area of easy accessibility, both visual and manual.

The hose (11) relates the general supply network with a power supply (14) provided with a double outlet (15), to power the electronic circuit to a certain voltage in direct current, and the electromagnetic coil of the automatic arrester (8) to the working tension required by it.

The power supply (14) is assisted by an on / off button (16) and by a signaling light (17), preferably materialized in a LED, conveniently located on the control board (13).

In the electronic circuit, in addition to the aforementioned power supply (14), a loading and unloading block (18), an on / off block (19) and a safety block (20), as shown in the Figure 2, so that the loading and unloading block (18) receives information from the sensor

(7) of maximum load and controls the automatic unloader (8), establishing the two types of download provided, through a push button (21) of complete discharge and a push button (22) of half discharge, assisted by respective signaling LEDs ( 23) and (24), which, like these pushbuttons, are also set on the control board (13), as well as a LED (25) that accompanies the previous ones on the control board (13), indicates the load situation, specifically when the control block (18) activates the load control circuit (26) which in turn acts on the solenoid valve (6).

A certain practical embodiment example for the automatic arrester (8), of the aforementioned electromagnetic type, is shown in Figure 3, in which the electromagnetic or solenoid coil is established as on the fixed body (8) of the arrester ( 27), intended to act on a tubular iron core (28) conveniently fixed to the mobile element of the arrester, that is to say the piston (9), coil that receives the power supply, at the time, through the hose (10) , as previously noted, so that in a rest situation for the arrester, that is to say in a deactivation situation for the coil (27), the piston (9) adopts a lower limit situation in which its closing membrane (29) rests on the corresponding fixed-body seat (8) of the arrester, in a closed situation, while when the coil is excited (27) it causes an axial and upward displacement of the elect core Romagnetic (28) that carries along the entire piston (9) separating the closure membrane (29) from its seat.

Since the half maneuver discharges the residual water that is maintained in the tank (1) can tend to prevent the closure of the piston (9), it is provided, preferably above the membrane (29), to establish a counterweight ( 30) which tends to favor and ensure the closing maneuver, quickly and efficiently, when the electromagnetic coil (27) releases the ferromagnetic core (28).

For the rest and as is conventional, the fixed body (8) of the automatic unloader inferiorly incorporates a threaded neck (31) for the fixing of the unloader, intended to be coupled to the exit hole of the tank (1) and to be fixed therein with the collaboration of a nut (32) and the interposition of a sealing gasket (33) and a washer (34) , said fixed body (8) being able to be fragmented into several portions, as perfectly observed in Figure 3, to facilitate both its manufacture and the assembly of the integral elements of the arrester.

According to the structuring described, the operation of the system is as follows:

The installation is carried out in accordance with figure 1 and the circuit of figure 2 participates in it, after the hydraulic and electrical connection of the same, the on / off button (16) is activated, turning on the indicator

(17) indicating that the equipment is in an operational situation, that is, in a "ready" situation.

The hydrometric sensor (7), preferably established on the upper end of the automatic unloader (8), will send to the control block (18) information regarding the fact that the tank (1) is empty, the signaling light (25) of loading situation and causing the block (18) to open the solenoid valve (6) with the consequent filling of the tank (1).

When the tank is full, the electronic sensor (7) detects this situation, sending information to the control block (18) so that the deactivation or closing of the solenoid valve (6) occurs, leaving the assembly in conditions of use.

From that moment on, acting on any one of the buttons (21) or (22), a control signal (18) is sent to the control block (18). complete or half-discharge discharge, whereby said control block (18) in turn sends the appropriate orders to the automatic unloader (8), the pilot or signaling device (23-24) of one or another maneuver being switched on in any case.

Once one or another type of discharge has been carried out, the tank filling cycle (1) is repeated automatically.

If for any reason the filling of the tank (1) does not occur within a time limit provided for that purpose, because the unloader (8) is disconnected, improperly installed, incorrectly located in the tank, etc., the safety block (20) automatically deactivates the filling solenoid valve (6) avoiding the overflow of water, indefinitely, through the hollow interior of the piston (9) of the automatic unloader.

When, for any reason and during the process of filling the tank (1), there is a lack of water, such as a cut in the supply network, the closing situation for the stopcock (3) or any other eventuality, the The safety block (6) itself, by means of the timing mentioned above, terminates the filling operation, even if the tank (1) is still kept empty or partially empty, deactivating the solenoid valve (6) to avoid a prolonged activation of the same and the corresponding energy consumption, being necessary subsequently to act on the on / off button (16) so that the corresponding block (19) rearms the system.

Claims

R F T V I N m C A C T O N E S

^I-.- Electronic system for filling and automatic unloading tanks, which being specially designed for toilet cisterns and having the purpose of the process of filling of the tank occurs automatically when it becomes empty, and that discharge can be carried out in two modes, complete discharge and half discharge, it is characterized in that it incorporates a circuit in which a power supply (14) collaborates, which converts the alternating current of the network into direct current at an appropriate voltage, a control block (18 ) that governs both the loading and unloading of the tank (1), an on / off block (19) for rearming the system and a safety block (20), the aforementioned control block (18) acting on a solenoid valve (6) for feeding the tank (1) and on an automatic unloader (8) of which said tank (1), preferably of an electromagnetic type, is provided for dragging the piston (9) shutter thereof.

2 .- Electronic system for filling and automatic unloading tanks, according to claim I ^to, wherein the power supply (14) incorporates a double outlet (15) with suitable voltage on one side to the different blocks of the electronic circuit and another with adequate voltage to the electromagnetic coil (27) of the automatic arrester (8) in case the working voltage of these elements is different.

3 .- Electronic system for automatically filling and unloading tanks, according to previous claims, characterized in that the control block (18), in its portion corresponding to the discharge is assisted by two pushbuttons (21) and (22), and by respective optical signaling devices (23) and (24), one for complete discharge and one for half discharge, while the load is automatically produced after emptying the tank (1), at the expense of the signal supplied by a hydrometric sensor (7) located inside the tank (1).

4 ^a. - Electronic system for automatic filling and unloading of tanks, according to previous claims, characterized in that the on / off block (19) for resetting the system, is assisted by an on / off button (16).

5 .- Electronic system for filling and automatic unloading tanks, according to previous claims, characterized in that the safety block (20) sets a timing for filling tank (1), so that if said filling does not occur, by any eventuality, within the time provided for this purpose, said safety block (20) generates a deactivation signal of the solenoid valve (6), after which it is necessary to act on the reset on / off block (19), through its button (16).

6 ^a. - Electronic system for automatic filling and unloading of tanks, according to previous claims, characterized in that an optical signaling device (25) participates in the activation situation of the solenoid valve (6) or, what is the same, of tank load (1).

7 ^a. - Electronic system for automatic filling and unloading of tanks, according to previous claims, characterized in that the different blocks of the electronic circuit, including the solenoid valve (6), are housed within a box (4), intended to be implanted in the water supply line of the cistern (1), between the latter and the classic stopcock (3), with the collaboration of respective inlet (5) and outlet (5 ') fittings, emerging from said box (4 ) the hose (11) for connection of the system to the general power supply network, a hose (10) that relates the circuit with the hydrometric sensor (7) and with the electromagnetic coil of the arrester (8), and another hose (12 ) that allows you to have anywhere Easy to access visual and manual a card holder plate (13), which groups all the push buttons and signaling lights.

8 .- Electronic system for filling and automatic unloading tanks, according to claim I ^to, wherein the automatic unloader (8) incorporates properly implanted from outside and fixed thereon the electromagnetic coil (27), while its piston (9) a tubular core (28) of electromagnetic nature is integral, adequately arranged so that when it is displaced axially and upwardly by the electromagnetic coil (27) the separation of its closing membrane (29) from the corresponding valve seat occurs , allowing the total or partial discharge of the tank.

9 .- Electronic system for filling and automatic unloading tanks, according to claim 8, wherein the piston (9) of the automatic unloader (8) incorporates a counterweight (30), preferably established and immediately above the closure membrane (29), which collaborates in the valve closure maneuver, when the electromagnetic coil (27) is deactivated, especially in the half-discharge maneuvers and against the tendency of the existing residual water in the tank to prevent the downward movement of the piston (9 ).