Hydraulic Actuator Device for Raising and Lowering a Seat and Lid

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to means and devices used in toilets or lavatories; particularly relates to means used for automatically raise and lower the toilet covering lids and more specifically relates to a hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the covering lid and seat of the toilet hole; characterized in that comprises a housing that comprises two adjoining hollow chambers, one left and one right, the chambers housing a left rotating shaft and a right rotating shaft, respectively; both shafts comprise a fixed counterweight that can rotate along with the shaft inside the chambers; each chamber also houses a left elastic diaphragm and a right one, adjoined and interacting with the counterweights; said diaphragms comprising at least one connecting pivot wherein a inlet and/or outlet working fluid duct is connected so as to drive-push the counterweights when are inflated with working fluid supplied by an automatic system or by a contact driving elements system, and causing the swinging of said shafts connected to a toilet lid and seat, respectively, and which comprise in the back part a left connection flange and a right one with orifice, through which a left fixing bolt is inserted and a right one, fixed to the ends of the rotating shafts with the corresponding counterweights.

1 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat, comprising: a housing comprising two adjoining hollow chambers, one left and one right, the chambers house a left rotating shaft and a right rotating shaft, respectively; both shafts comprise a fixed counterweight that can be rotated along with the shaft inside the chambers; each chamber also houses a left elastic diaphragm and a right one, adjoining and interacting with the counterweights, said diaphragms comprise at least one connection pivot where a supply duct and/or working fluid outlet is connected to drive-push the counterweights which when are inflated with working fluid supplied by an automatic system or a system of contact driving elements, cause the rotation of said shafts connected to a toilet lid and seat, respectively, and which consist in the back part of a left connection flange and a right one with orifice, through which is inserted a left fixing bolt and a right one, which are fixed at the ends of the rotating shafts with the corresponding counterweights. 
     
     
         2 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said left bolt fixes and anchors the lid to the left shaft with its left connection flange, passing without fixing the left connection flange of the seat; while the right bolt fixes and anchors the seat to the right shaft through the right connection flange, passing without fixing through the right connection flange of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing of the device consists of two modules, a left module and a right module, both modules are adapted to engage each other. 
     
     
         4 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat, according to  claim 3 , wherein said housing comprises on its underside a pair of exterior thread hollow fixing tubes, spaced, inferiorly projected and coincident with the orifices in the toilet bowl by means of which is fixed with nuts to said bowl. 
     
     
         5 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 4 , wherein said working fluid supply ducts pass through said hollow tubes to said diaphragms. 
     
     
         6 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat, according to  claim 4 , wherein the chambers of said housing are preferably semicircular and the counterweights attached to the rotating shafts are substantially of triangular prism shape with curved bases, which are smaller than said chambers so as to move rotationally inside the same and press the diaphragms. 
     
     
         7 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the automatic working fluid supply system to the diaphragms consists of two left and right supply ducts, connected to a duct bypass of the main supply source that supplies water to the toilet water tank and the corresponding left and right three-way solenoid valves arranged on the sides of the back part of the bowl; in the second way of the solenoid valves, the left and right supply ducts are connected which are connected to the pivot of the left and right diaphragms, and in the third way of the solenoids are connected the left and right water discharge ducts of the diaphragms, connected from the corresponding solenoid valves to a main discharge duct that drains into the toilet water tank; two left and right motion sensors and a central presence sensor in communication with a circuit board that processes signals from the sensors to actuate said solenoid valves. 
     
     
         8 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 7 , wherein said left and right motion sensors, the central presence sensor and the circuit board, are housed within the housing of the actuating device, the sensors being exposed at the front upper part of the device housing; said circuit board is connected to the solenoid valves to activate them depending on the need of the hydraulic system. 
     
     
         9 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid supply system to the diaphragms with contact elements consists of a distribution element provided in the back part of the bowl, connected directly the main water supply duct to the toilet tank; a first left supply duct and a right one connected to said distribution and to a left foot or hand-operated valve and a right one respectively, disposed on the floor next to the toilet; a second left distribution duct and a right one, connected from the corresponding left and right foot-operated actuating valves to the distribution element, in communication with a third left supply duct and with a right one, which leave from said distribution element and are connected to a first upper pivot of the corresponding left and right diaphragm; a fourth left and right discharge ducts connected to a second pivot of the corresponding left and right diaphragms, and to the distribution element and discharging water from said diaphragms, and a main discharge duct connected from the distribution element into the toilet water tank, which comprises at its end a valve with pressure device that opens when the tank is discharged due to the pressure differential, allowing the water discharge from the system. 
     
     
         10 . A hydraulic drive device for raising and lowering the toilet covering lid and seat, of  claim 1 , wherein the lid and back are lifted to an angle of about 85° which allows have some slope, favoring the gradual descent, helped by the counterweights. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device for lifting the lid of the toilet bowl to use it, when the lid and seat are folded down, according to the device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: passing the hand or foot by the left motion sensor to generate a signal traveling to the circuit board, which in turn sends a signal to the left solenoid valve which allows the water flow through the left supply duct into the left diaphragm; using water pressure said left diaphragm inflates pushing the left counterweight fixed to the left rotating shaft to move into the left chamber and rotating-lifting the lid connected by means of a bolt to said left rotating shaft to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device for lifting the lid and seat of the toilet bowl at the same time, to be used when the lid and seat are folded down, according to the device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: passing the hand or foot by the right motion sensor to generate a signal traveling to the circuit board, which in turn sends a signal to the left and right solenoid valves, these ones are actuated and allow water flow through the left and right ducts to the two diaphragms; using water pressure said diaphragms are inflated forcing each diaphragm to press the corresponding counterweights, to move it into the chambers of the device and rotating-lifting the lid and the seat simultaneously, to the open position. 
     
     
         13 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device to keep lifted the lid or keep lifted the lid and the seat of a toilet while in use of  claim 11 , wherein the central presence sensor detects the presence of a user and sends a signal to the circuit board to keep open the left solenoid valve or to keep open both solenoid valves, forcing the lid or the lid and seat to remain in the open position while the toilet is in use. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device for lowering the lid and the seat of a toilet once it has been used of  claim 11 , wherein the central presence sensor detects the absence of a user after some time and sends a signal to the electronic board so as to this in turn send the signal to both solenoid valves, closing the water supply and opening the way where the water discharge ducts are connected to the drain into the toilet tank or into the toilet itself by means of the main discharge duct, releasing the diaphragm pressure and by gravity the lid and seat are lowered. 
     
     
         15 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device for lowering a toilet seat for use when they are lifted both the lid and the seat that have been lifted previously of  claim 11  further comprising passing the hand or foot by the left sensor to generate a signal that is sent to the circuit board which in turn activates left the solenoid valve so as to release the pressure of the left diaphragm and release the water in the toilet tank or into the toilet itself so that the seat is lowered by gravity without the need to lower the lid. 
     
     
         16 . An automatic actuating method of a hydraulic device for lifting a toilet seat when the lid is lifted previously of  claim 11  further comprising: passing the hand or foot by the right motion sensor, triggering said sensor the signal, travels to the circuit board and this in turn sends a signal to the right solenoid valve, it is activated and allows water flow through the right duct into the right diaphragm, whereby using water pressure said diaphragm is inflated forcing to right counterweight to move inside the right chamber of the device and rotating-lifting the seat to the open position. 
     
     
         17 . An actuating method with contact elements of a hydraulic device for lifting the lid of the toilet bowl to use it, when the lid and seat are folded down of  claim 11 , further comprising: pressing by foot or hand the left foot-operated button or valve to generate a water flow from the main supply duct through the first left supply duct and continuing along the seconds left distribution duct to the distribution element, to pass through the third left supply duct to the left diaphragm; the water pressure inflates said left diaphragm, pressing the left counterweight moving it into the left chamber of the device and rotating-lifting the lid to the open position. 
     
     
         18 . An actuating method with contact elements of a hydraulic device for lifting the lid and seat of the toilet bowl at the same time, to be used when the lid and seat are folded down of  claim 11 , further comprising: pressing by means of the foot, the right actuating button or valve, allowing the water flow from the main supply duct through the first right supply duct and continuing by the second right distribution duct to the distribution element, to pass through the third left duct and also by the third right supply duct to the left and right diaphragms to press the counterweights and rotating the left and right shafts to lift the lid and seat to the open position. 
     
     
         19 . An actuating method with contact elements of a hydraulic device for closing the lid and the seat of the toilet bowl at the same time, after use, when the lid and seat are lifted of  claim 11 , further comprising discharging water from the toilet tank, and when the water level is down, the water pressure sensitive valve placed at the end of the main discharge duct is open, allowing left and right diaphragms, discharge water inside the toilet tank allowing by gravity and the weights of the counterweights, the lid and seat lower to the closed position.