Fluidics devices for plumbing fixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11987969-B2
Application number	US-202318198976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2023
Priority date	May 17, 2019
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A toilet comprising:
a toilet bowl;
a rim at an upper edge of the toilet bowl; and
a plurality of fluidic oscillators coupled to the toilet bowl in a rim area of the toilet bowl, the plurality of fluidic oscillators in parallel arrangement to sweep a fluid periodically and toward the toilet bowl between a first direction and a second direction.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluidic oscillators comprises at least one double fluidic oscillator.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluidic oscillators comprises a resonant chamber.

4. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein a switching frequency of at least one of the plurality of fluidic oscillators is determined by the resonant chamber.

5. The toilet of claim 4 , wherein the switching frequency is in a range from 0.5 Hz to 100 Hz.

6. The toilet of claim 4 , further comprising:
an actuator configured to vary a volume of the resonant chamber and corresponding switching frequency.

7. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluidic oscillators comprises an inlet channel and an outlet channel.

8. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the toilet is a line pressure toilet.

9. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the toilet is a gravity fed toilet.

10. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein a first fluidic oscillator of the plurality of fluidic oscillators is arranged in a series flow with a second fluidic oscillator of the plurality of fluidic oscillators.

11. A toilet comprising:
a toilet bowl;
a rim at an upper edge of the toilet bowl; and
a switching device including at least one fluidic oscillator coupled to the toilet bowl and sweep a fluid periodically and toward the toilet bowl between a first direction and a second direction.

12. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising:
an inlet valve of the switching device coupled to a fill valve.

13. The toilet of claim 12 , further comprising:
a toilet tank including the fill valve.

14. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising:
an outlet valve coupled to the switching device and a flush valve.

15. The toilet of claim 14 , further comprising:
a toilet tank including the flush valve.

16. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising:
a toilet tank including the switching device.

17. The toilet of claim 16 , wherein during a flushing event, the fluid is directed by the switching device from a fill valve and subsequently redirected to a flush valve to refill the toilet tank.

18. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the switching device comprises a resonant chamber.

19. The toilet of claim 18 , wherein a switching frequency of the switching device is determined by the resonant chamber.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of fluidic oscillators fluidly connected together,
wherein the plurality of fluidic oscillators are configured to be positioned within a rim area of a toilet bowl and configured to continuously redirect a flow of a fluid to different locations along an inner surface of the toilet bowl in a sweeping motion.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Garrels Clayton C
• Kuru William C
• Kalk William
• Graskamp Randal S

Classifications

• E03D11/08 Primary

  Bowls with means producing a flushing water swirl · CPC title

• E03D2201/40

  Devices for distribution of flush water inside the bowl · CPC title

• E03D11/06 Primary

  Bowls with downwardly-extending flanges {for the sake of flushing} · CPC title

• E03D11/02 Primary

  Water-closet bowls (auxiliary chambers with connections to flushing water for bowl-cleaning utensils E03D9/06; modified for using upwardly-directed sprays E03D9/08; seats or covers A47K13/00 ){; Bowls with a double odour seal optionally with provisions for a good siphonic action; siphons as part of the bowl (parts or details of bowls E03D11/13)} · CPC title

• E03D11/13

  Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls {, e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing} · CPC title