Line pressure-driven, tankless, siphonic toilet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12139899-B2
Application number	US-202017127489-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2020
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A tankless toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a jet. The bowl includes a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl. The trapway extends from the sump to a drain. The jet includes a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a supply conduit, and a plurality of distribution channels configured to introduce water received from the main channel to at least one of the sump and the trapway. The jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet comprising:
a bowl including a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl;
a trapway extending from the sump to a drain; and
a sump jet coupled to the sump and configured to rotate relative to the sump, the sump jet including a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a supply conduit and a spiral feature configured to entrain the supply of water in a spiral to induce a siphon in the toilet.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the spiral feature includes a spiral rib, a spiral protrusion, a spiral channel, a helical rib, or a helical channel.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the spiral feature includes a plurality of ribs or a plurality of channels.

4. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the spiral feature extends through the main channel.

5. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the sump jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway.

6. The toilet of claim 5 , wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.

7. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rim jet fluidly coupled to the supply conduit and configured to introduce water at the rim of the bowl.

8. The toilet of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first valve fluidly coupled to the rim jet and a second valve fluidly coupled to the sump jet, wherein the first and second valves selectively provide water from the supply conduit to the rim jet and the sump jet to provide a multi-stage flush cycle.

9. A method for flushing a toilet, the method comprising:
providing a first water flow from a supply conduit to a rim jet of a bowl for a first time interval; and
providing a second water flow from the supply conduit to at least one of a sump and a trapway of the toilet via a sump jet for a second time interval to prime a siphon within the trapway;
wherein the sump jet is coupled to the sump and configured to rotate relative to the sump, wherein the sump jet includes a main channel configured to receive water from the supply conduit, and a spiral feature configured to entrain the water in a spiral to induce a siphon in the toilet.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing a third water flow from the supply conduit to the rim jet for a third time interval.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spiral feature includes a spiral rib, a spiral protrusion, a spiral channel, a helical rib, or a helical channel.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the spiral feature extends through the main channel.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sump jet is configured to receive the water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime the siphon within the trapway.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
a rim jet fluidly coupled to the supply conduit and configured to introduce water at the rim of the bowl.

16. A plumbing fixture, comprising:
a bowl including a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl;
a trapway extending from the sump to a drain; and
a sump jet coupled to the sump and configured to rotate relative to the sump, the sump jet including a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a residential supply conduit at a household supply line pressure and a spiral rib, a spiral protrusion, a spiral channel, a helical rib, or a helical channel configured to entrain the water in a spiral to induce a siphon in the plumbing fixture.

17. The plumbing fixture of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the spiral rib, the spiral protrusion, the spiral channel, the helical rib, or the helical channel extends through the main channel.

18. The plumbing fixture of claim 16 , wherein the sump jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Mukerji Sudip
• Luettgen Michael J
• Kalk William
• Mesun Randy
• Laundre Jeff
• Rauwerdink Jeremy
• Esche John
• Muellenbach Keith
• Garrels Clayton

Classifications

• E03D2201/30

  Water injection in siphon for enhancing flushing · CPC title

• E03D3/00 Primary

  Flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system {flushing valves not connected to the water-supply main, also if air is blown in the water seal for a quick flushing} · CPC title

• E03D5/10

  operated electrically (E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence), {e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl} · CPC title

• E03D11/18 Primary

  Siphons (for pipes in general F16L43/00, F16L45/00 {; if as part of the bowl E03D11/02; connecting the siphon to the bowl}) · CPC title