Odour extraction system for a toilet, urinal, bidet, and the like

Abstract

The invention provides a toilet bowl odor extraction system 50 for extracting bad odor laden air from a toilet bowl 9. The odor extraction system 50 includes a conduit 1 connected to the toilet bowl 9 rim area 23 and an extraction fan 3 configured to direct the odor laden air along the odor extraction route 8 from out of the toilet bowl 9 along a substantially unimpeded flow path to a remote location 4 through at least a portion of a flush water supply pipe 15 from where it enters the toilet bowl 9 and supplies the toilet bowl with flush water.

1 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system for extracting bad odour laden air from a toilet bowl, said odour extraction system including a conduit and an extraction fan configured to direct the odour laden air from out of the toilet bowl along a substantially unimpeded flow path to a remote location through at least a portion of a flush water supply pipe from where it enters the toilet bowl and supplies the toilet bowl with flush water.  
     
     
         2 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the odour laden air passes from the toilet bowl along the flush water supply pipe to be extracted to the remote location before a flush water actuation valve so that the flush water does not push the odour laden air back into the toilet bowl.  
     
     
         3 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system includes an anti-siphon arrangement to prevent the flush water from flowing into and through an extraction portion of the extraction system.  
     
     
         4 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the anti-siphon arrangement is in the form of a conduit having an atmospheric opening at a height equivalent to a higher water pressure than the water pressure in the flush water supply of the toilet at the point where the flush water supply and the odour extraction system are open to each other.  
     
     
         5 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the conduit of the anti-siphon arrangement is a pipe extending from the flush water supply pipe, past a cistern flush valve seat and closure member assembly and into the cistern to be open to atmospheric pressure at a level above the cistern water level, the extraction fan being in air flow communication with the headroom above the water level in the cistern thereby to extract the odour laden air directed into the headroom by the conduit.  
     
     
         6 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the conduit passes out of the flush water supply pipe and bypasses the cistern for direct connection to the extraction fan.  
     
     
         7 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein where the toilet has no cistern, the anti-siphon arrangement may be the flush water supply pipe and an upwardly extending extension therefrom extending from out of the flush water supply pipe downstream of the flush valve seat and closure member assembly and into the inlet of the extraction fan.  
     
     
         8 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extraction fan is a radial extraction fan.  
     
     
         9 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein several toilet bowls are connected to a single extraction fan for the multiplexing of several toilet bowls to one or more extraction fans.  
     
     
         10 . A toilet bowl odour extraction system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a flush valve assembly by-pass system permits leakage of the flush valve assembly to be detected due to a gurgling noise being heard at the odour outlet.  
     
     
         11 . A urinal odour extraction system said odour extraction system, including a conduit and an extraction fan configured to direct the odour laden air from out of the urinal bowl along a substantially unimpeded flow path to a remote location through at least a portion of a flush water supply pipe from where it enters the urinal bowl and supplies the urinal bowl with flush water.