Toilet and method for manufacture of the same

Abstract

To enable a low profile for a toilet, and provide more universal toilet installation. A first principal flow S 1 is formed by convergence of flush water discharged from a first basal nozzle basal first nozzle hole 41 and a basal second nozzle hole 42. By means of this convergence the first principal flow S 1 is generated with correct directionality and strong force, and converges with the bowl water RS diagonally rightward and forward from the left rear end of the toilet, as seen in the plan view. Flush water discharged from a left central nozzle hole 43 circles around the upper peripheral wall of the toilet bowl at the bottom edge of the rim, but during this time the discharge course thereof is corrected by means of converging flows of flush water discharged from the rim, to produce a second principal flow S 2 generated by means of this convergence with correct directionality and strong force. The second principal flow S 2 converges with the bowl water RS diagonally leftward and rearward from the right front of the toilet. This first principal flow S 1 and second principal flow S 2 converge substantially parallel to either long side of the bowl water RS, as viewed in the horizontal plane, and in the same circling direction. In this way circular flow is reliably produced in the bowl water RS and circulation thereof is accelerated.

1 . A toilet for discharging the supplied flush water from the top of the toilet bowl to create circular flow in the bowl water held in the toilet bowl to effect flushing of the toilet, comprising: 
 a perforate passage for guiding the flush water the top of the toilet bowl,    a discharger disposed in the perforate passage and for creating confluence of the flush water with the bowl water in a flow arrangement composed of two principal flows, and    the discharger discharging the flush water in a bowl water confluence arrangement wherein the two principal flush water flows are converged with the bowl water as streams substantially parallel to either side of the bowl water, as viewed in the horizontal plane of the toilet, and are converged with the bowl water in such a way as to create circular flow in the bowl water in the same circling direction.    
     
     
         2 . The toilet according to  claim 1  wherein the perforate passage discharger comprises: 
 a first discharger for directing flush water in the perforate passage towards the toilet front end on the diagonal with respect to the bowl water to create a first principal flush water flow which is the first of the two principal flush water flows;  
 a second discharger for discharging flush water in the perforate passage from the same side as the first discharger with respect to a center axis dividing the toilet into left and right halves, to create on the toilet bowl surface above the surface of the bowl water a flow of flush water circling along the surface of the bowl; and  
 a third discharger converging with the flow of flush water from the second discharger so as to correct the flow of flush water from the second discharger, the corrected second discharger flush water flow constituting a second principal flush water flow which is the second of the two principal flush water flows.  
 
     
     
         3 . The toilet according to  claim 2  wherein the first discharger discharges flush water in the perforate passage from a plurality of nozzle holes formed in the perforate passage, the flush water streams from each nozzle hole converging to create the first principal flush water flow.  
     
     
         4 . The toilet according to  claim 2  or  3  wherein the third discharger comprises: 
 a fourth discharger for discharging flush water in the perforate passage towards the bowl water at the front end of the toilet bowl so as to converge with the flow of flush water from the second discharger and correct the direction of flow of flush water from the second discharger towards the surface of the bowl water; and  
 a fifth discharger for discharging flush water in the perforate passage from the side opposite to the first discharger with respect to a center axis dividing the toilet into left and right halves so as to converge with the flush water flow from the second discharger corrected by flush water from the fourth discharger, to further correct the flow direction thereof at the the bowl water surface side, and for converging the corrected flow of flush water from the second discharger constituting the second principal flush water flow to bring about convergence thereof with the bowl water with the first principal flush water flow according to the bowl water confluence arrangement mentioned above.  
 
     
     
         5 . The toilet according to  claim 4  wherein the perforate passage further comprises an auxiliary discharger, separate from the first to fifth dischargers, for discharging along the surface of the toilet bowl flush water guided through the perforate passage, the flush water, including the flush water discharged from the auxiliary discharger, flowing over substantially the entire surface of the toilet bowl.  
     
     
         6 . The toilet according to one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the toilet bowl comprises: 
 a first bowl peripheral wall for receiving the first principal flush water flow and guiding the same into circular motion, and for regulating the circular flow of flush water after the first principal flush water flow has converged with the bowl water; and  
 a second bowl peripheral wall for receiving the second principal flush water flow and guiding the same into circular motion, and for regulating the circular flow of flush water after the second principal flush water flow has converged with the bowl water.  
 
     
     
         7 . The toilet according to  claim 6  wherein the first and second bowl peripheral walls create a differential in the condition of circular flow of flush water subsequent to convergence with the bowl water, with one of the bowl peripheral walls producing a large circular lead in the depthwise direction of the bowl water, and the other bowl peripheral wall producing a small circular lead in the depthwise direction of the bowl water.  
     
     
         8 . The toilet according to  claim 7  wherein the second bowl peripheral wall produces a large circular lead of the second principal flush water flow, and the first bowl peripheral wall produces a small circular lead of first principal flush water flow.  
     
     
         9 . The toilet according to  claim 8  wherein the first bowl peripheral wall comprises a guide shelf formed enclosing the bowl water on the side opposite the trap opening into the base of the toilet bowl, for receiving the first principal flush water flow, the guide shelf being situated at substantially equal height with the surface of the bowl water, and producing in the first principal flush water flow the small circular lead circular flow condition; and 
 the second bowl peripheral wall comprises a peripheral wall portion having a steeper slope than the guide shelf across the vertical direction of the bowl water, for receiving the second principal flush water flow and producing in the second principal flush water flow the large circular lead circular flow condition, at the location where the second principal flush water flow converges with the bowl water.  
 
     
     
         10 . The toilet according to  claim 9  wherein the peripheral wall portion of the second bowl peripheral wall is such that the percentage of expansion in area of the bowl water surface occurring with a rise in bowl water level due to inflow of flush water into the bowl water is within about 40% of the original area.  
     
     
         11 . A toilet for discharging a supplied flush water from the top of the toilet bowl to create circular flow in the bowl water held in the toilet bowl to effect flushing of the toilet, comprising: 
 a perforate passage for guiding the flush water around the top of the toilet bowl,    the perforate passage having two dischargers for discharging flush water from diametrically opposite locations about the center of the bowl water as viewed in the horizontal plane of the toilet, each the discharger directing the flush water into convergence with the bowl water so as to create circular flow in the same direction in the bowl water.    
     
     
         12 . A toilet for flowing the supplied flush water into bowl water held in a toilet bowl and draining it away together with the bowl water from a siphon trap, wherein 
 the siphon trap comprises: 
 an ascending conduit segment having a trap opening that opens into the underside wall of the toilet bowl, and defining a conduit that extends diagonally upward from the trap opening;  
 an apical conduit segment of elbow configuration connecting to the top end of the ascending conduit segment, having an apical dam for regulating the level of the bowl water; and  
 a descending conduit segment connecting to the apical conduit segment and descending therefrom, the descending conduit segment comprising a conduit shelf for receiving and deflecting flush water flowing into the ascending conduit segment, over the apical dam of the apical conduit segment, and down into the descending conduit segment due to inflow of the discharged flush water into the bowl water; a downstream conduit segment for guiding flush water deflected by the conduit shelf towards the downstream end; and a constrictor having a constricted conduit area situated at the terminus of the downstream conduit segment, for guiding flush water to a drain opening outside the toilet;  
 the descending conduit segment having a descending conduit configuration, as flush water conveyed from the ascending conduit segment drains to the drain opening, to reception by the conduit shelf of flush water flowing down over the apical dam, to diversion of the flow direction of the flush water downflow towards the constrictor, and to accumulation of the flush water downflow in the constrictor, whereby a seal is produced in the constrictor by means of flush water from the upstream conduit, and such that even with air trapped in the conduit segment extending from the apical conduit segment to the conduit shelf, flush water accumulating in the constrictor forms a water column extending up to the apical dam, and once the water column has formed, with the trapped air sealed in the apical conduit segment, siphoning action is generated to suck down the flush water in the toilet bowl and the siphoning action may be sustained.  
   
     
     
         13 . A toilet for flowing the supplied flush water into bowl water held in a toilet bowl and draining it away together with the bowl water from a siphon trap, wherein 
 the siphon trap comprises: 
 an ascending conduit segment having a trap opening that opens into the underside wall of the toilet bowl, and defining a conduit that extends diagonally upward from the trap opening;  
 an apical conduit segment of elbow configuration connecting to the top end of the ascending conduit segment, having an apical dam for regulating the level of the bowl water; and  
 a descending conduit segment connecting to the apical conduit segment and descending therefrom, the descending conduit segment comprising a conduit shelf for receiving and deflecting flush water flowing into the ascending conduit segment, over the apical dam of the apical conduit segment, and down into the descending conduit segment due to inflow of the discharged flush water into the bowl water; a downstream conduit segment for guiding flush water deflected by the conduit shelf towards the downstream end; and a constrictor having a constricted conduit area situated at the terminus of the downstream conduit segment, for guiding flush water to a drain opening outside the toilet;  
 the descending conduit segment having a descending conduit configuration, as flush water conveyed from the ascending conduit segment drains to the drain opening, to reception by the conduit shelf of flush water flowing down over the apical dam, to diversion of the flow direction of the downflowing flush water towards the constrictor, and to accumulation of the downflowing flush water in the constrictor, whereby a seal is produced in the constrictor by means of flush water from the upstream conduit, and such that when air present in the apical conduit segment is pushed by flush water rising up the ascending conduit segment and flows into the conduit downstream from the apical conduit segment, the inflowing air is trapped at a location downstream from the apical conduit segment and prevented thereby from returning to the apical conduit segment, whereby flush water accumulated in the constrictor forms a water column extending to the apical dam, so that siphoning action is generated to suck down the flush water in the toilet bowl and the siphoning action may be sustained.  
   
     
     
         14 . The toilet according to  claim 12  or  13  wherein the apical dam comprises a guide piece for guiding flush water such that flush water descends in toward the conduit shelf, the guide piece projecting out such that underside of the guide piece constitutes an air reservoir for air rising from the conduit segment below the conduit shelf.  
     
     
         15 . The toilet according to one of  claims 12  to  14  wherein the descending conduit segment has a descending conduit configuration whereby the siphoning action may be generated and sustained with inflow of the flush water supplied to the bowl water at a flow rate of about 50-100 liters/min.  
     
     
         16 . The toilet according to one of  claims 12  to  15  wherein the apical conduit segment has a conduit configuration such that the flow of flush water flowing over the apical dam and descending into the descending conduit segment partitions the part of the conduit segment connecting with the descending conduit segment as a residual air area.  
     
     
         17 . The toilet according to  claim 16  wherein the apical conduit segment connects the ascending conduit segment to the descending conduit segment by a sectional area larger than the conduit sectional area of the ascending conduit segment.  
     
     
         18 . The toilet according to  claim 17  wherein the descending conduit segment has a descending conduit configuration wherein the area of the conduit cross section gradually constricts going from the conduit shelf to the constrictor, until the area thereof is at least about equal to the conduit cross sectional area of the ascending conduit segment.  
     
     
         19 . The toilet according to  claim 18  wherein the conduit cross section of the descending conduit segment may have a cross sectional shape constricting towards the center axis of the conduit in the lateral direction of the toilet.  
     
     
         20 . The toilet according to  claim 19  wherein the descending conduit segment is arranged such that the descending conduit segment guides downflowing flush water flowing over the apical dam to be deflected towards the toilet bowl and into the constrictor, 
 the constrictor comprising a shelf portion for receiving the guided flush water on the toilet bowl side, and after the flush water is received by the shelf portion the flush water being guided into the drain opening.  
 
     
     
         21 . The toilet according to one of  claims 12  to  20  comprising the perforate passage according to one of  claims 1  to  5  for directing a flow of supplied flush water into the bowl water held in the toilet bowl; and 
 a toilet bowl having a peripheral wall shape in compliance with one of  claims 6  to  9  effective in inducing such circular flow.  
 
     
     
         22 . A toilet comprising: a toilet bowl for holding bowl water; a toilet stool for supporting the toilet bowl; and a siphon trap conduit for generating a siphoning action when flushing away waste, wherein the siphon trap conduit comprises an ascending conduit segment extends diagonally upward from a trap opening that opens into the underside wall of the base portion of the toilet bowl; an apical conduit segment forming an elbow conduit connecting to the top end of the ascending conduit segment and having an apical dam for regulating the level of the bowl water; and 
 a descending conduit segment connecting to the apical conduit segment and descending therefrom,    wherein a portion of the wall of the elbow conduit of the apical conduit segment, the wall portion constituting the conduit wall opposite the apical dam, and extending from the coupling portion with the ascending conduit segment to the coupling portion with the descending conduit segment, is composed of a discrete element in the casting stage prior to firing of the toilet, [the element] being separate from the toilet stool, the toilet bowl, and the remainder of the siphon trap conduit exclusive of the wall portion,    the wall portion casting being joined to the remainder of the siphon trap conduit to close off the siphon trap conduit, and fired.    
     
     
         23 . The toilet according to  claim 22  comprising a terminal conduit segment situated at the terminus of the siphon trap conduit and connecting with a drain opening outside the toilet, the descending conduit segment being to the drain opening via the terminal conduit segment, 
 the terminal conduit segment constituting, in the casting stage prior to firing of the toilet, a separate element from the siphon trap conduit, the toilet bowl and the toilet stool,  
 the terminal conduit segment casting being joined to the terminus of the siphon trap conduit in the casting stage, and fired.  
 
     
     
         24 . A toilet comprising a toilet bowl for holding bowl water; a toilet stool for supporting the toilet bowl; and a siphon trap conduit for generating a siphoning action when flushing away waste, the toilet further comprising: 
 a terminal conduit segment situated at the terminus of the siphon trap conduit and connecting with a drain opening outside the toilet, the terminal conduit segment connecting the descending conduit segment to the drain opening via the terminal conduit segment,    wherein the terminal conduit segment constitutes, in the casting stage prior to firing of the toilet, a separate element from the casing composed of the siphon trap conduit, the toilet bowl and the toilet stool,    the casting for the terminal conduit segment being joined to the terminus of the siphon trap conduit in the casting stage, and fired.    
     
     
         25 . The toilet according to  claim 23  or  24  wherein the terminal conduit segment is selected from a plurality of shapes thereof prepared with reference to difference distances between the drain opening and the toilet back, the joining location thereof in the casting stage being adjusted with reference to the distance.  
     
     
         26 . The toilet according to  claim 25  wherein the terminal conduit segment is arranged facing the drain opening and an annular sealing element is forced around the drain opening to effect sealing of the drain opening, for waste water to drain into the drain opening.  
     
     
         27 . The toilet according to  claim 25  wherein the terminal conduit segment is arranged facing the drain opening and connected to the drain opening via a drain connector situated between the drain opening and the terminal conduit segment, for waste water to drain into the drain opening.  
     
     
         28 . The toilet according to  claim 25  wherein the terminal conduit segment is inserted into the drain opening.  
     
     
         29 . A method for manufacturing a toilet comprising a toilet bowl for holding bowl water; a toilet stool for supporting the toilet bowl; and a siphon trap conduit for generating a siphoning action when flushing away waste, wherein the siphon trap conduit comprises an ascending conduit segment extending diagonally upward from a trap opening that opens into the underside wall of the base portion of the toilet bowl; an apical conduit segment forming an elbow conduit connecting to the top end of the ascending conduit segment and having an apical dam for regulating the level of the bowl water; and a descending conduit segment connecting to the apical conduit segment and descending therefrom, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 (1) molding a casting for a wall portion constituting the conduit wall opposite the apical dam, and extending from the coupling portion with the ascending conduit segment to the coupling portion with the descending conduit segment;  
 (2) molding a casting for a toilet integrally composed of the toilet stool, the toilet bowl and the siphon trap conduit apart from the wall portion; and  
 (3) joining the wall portion casting to the toilet casting to close off the siphon trap conduit, and with the ascending conduit segment, apical conduit segment and descending conduit segment connected to form the siphon trap conduit, subjecting the same to firing;  
   wherein the step (2) comprises the steps of: 
 preparing a bottom mold having a concave shape conforming to the bottom wall contours of the toilet bowl, the bottom wall contours of the toilet stool, and the exterior contours of the descending conduit segment of the siphon trap conduit, excepting the wall portion;  
 side molds having concave shape conforming to the side wall contours of the toilet stool;  
 a bowl insert mold having a convex shape conforming to the inside peripheral wall contours of the toilet bowl; and  
 a split mold having exterior contours conforming to the conduit inside wall contours of the ascending conduit segment of the siphon trap conduit and to the apical dam contours of the apical conduit portion, and capable of being assembled with the bowl insert mold, the split mold, when assembled with the bowl insert mold, joining therewith in portion conforming to the bottom inside wall of the toilet bowl of the convex shape of the bowl insert mold, the joining location serving as the opening location for the trap opening;  
 assembling the prepared molds to form, by means of the concave contours and convex contours of the molds, a cavity for molding the toilet casting, [the casting] integrally composed of the toilet stool, the toilet bowl and the siphon trap conduit apart from the wall portion; and  
 flowing slip into the cavity to deposit a slip layer on the molds, draining, drying, and parting the molds to produce the toilet casting.  
   
     
     
         30 . The method for manufacturing a toilet according to  claim 29  further comprising the steps of: 
 forming a casting for a terminal conduit segment, the terminal conduit segment being situated at the terminus of the siphon trap conduit and connecting with a drain opening outside the toilet with the terminal conduit segment connecting the descending conduit segment to the drain opening; and  
 prior to the step (3), attaching the terminal conduit segment casting to the terminus of the siphon trap conduit in the casting state.