Toilet Flushing System using Wastewater

Abstract

A Toilet Flushing System using Wastewater ( 10 ) includes a mounting bracket assembly ( 24 ) for mounting within the tank ( 12 ) of a conventional water closet. The assembly ( 24 ) uses a release float ( 28 ) to rise with tank water level and eventually release a main float ( 26 ) when the tank water level reaches float release level. The main float ( 26 ), when released will cause a shutoff plunger ( 50 ) to engage a valve retaining arm ( 51 ) to release the valve release arm ( 56 ) and thereby shut off fresh water flow into the tank ( 12 ), and also activate flapper valve ( 34 ) to release flushing water into the toilet. Water is introduced into the tank ( 12 ) either via the fill valve ( 60 ) or via a drain pipe ( 10 ) interconnecting a gray water supply from the drain ( 16 ) of an adjacent sink basin ( 16 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toilet flushing system comprising:
 a release float element located within a toilet tank and configured to rise upwardly due to buoyant forces until it actuates a release mechanism;   a main float element located within said toilet tank and configured to rise upwardly due to buoyant forces when said release mechanism is actuated; and   a flapper valve actuatable by said upward rising of said main float element to open and drain fluid out from said toilet tank.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said release float and said main float each comprise at least one bore formed therethrough, and said system further comprising at least one elongate float guide engaging said bores to direct the buoyant-force-directed travel therealong. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said release float disengages a retaining finger from said main float when said release float rises responsive to the liquid level in the toilet tank reaching a release level. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said main float is tethered to said flapper valve, whereby when said main float rises responsive to said release mechanism actuation and the liquid level in the toilet tank, said main float pulls on said tether sufficiently to open said flapper valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sink basin fluidly interconnected to the toilet tank by a drain pipe, whereby fluid exiting a drain in said sink basin will enter the chamber formed within the toilet tank. 
     
     
         6 . A toilet flushing method, comprising the steps of
 filling a toilet tank with fluid until it reaches a release level;   releasing a main float element when said fluid reaches said release level, such that said main float is buoyantly forced upwardly by said fluid until a flapper valve is caused to open by said upward movement of said main float element; and   whereby opening said flapper valve causes said toilet tank to drain into its associated toilet and thereby flushes the toilet with said fluid previously in said tank.   
     
     
         7 . A lavatory, comprising:
 a toilet; and   a toilet tank, said toilet tank including a system for flushing said toilet with fluid, comprising:
 a release float element located within said toilet tank and configured to rise upwardly due to buoyant forces until it actuates a release mechanism; 
 a main float element located within said toilet tank and configured to rise upwardly due to buoyant forces when said release mechanism is actuated; and 
 a flapper valve actuatable by said upward rising of said main float element to open and drain fluid out from said toilet tank. 
   
     
     
         8 . The lavatory of  claim 7 , wherein said release float and said main float each comprise at least one bore formed therethrough, and said system further comprising at least one elongate float guide engaging said bores to direct the buoyant-force-directed travel therealong. 
     
     
         9 . The lavatory of  claim 8 , wherein said release float disengages a retaining finger from said main float when said release float rises responsive to the liquid level in the toilet tank reaching a release level. 
     
     
         10 . The lavatory of  claim 9 , wherein said main float is tethered to said flapper valve, whereby when said main float rises responsive to said release mechanism actuation and the liquid level in the toilet tank, said main float pulls on said tether sufficiently to open said flapper valve. 
     
     
         11 . The lavatory of  claim 10 , further comprising a sink basin fluidly interconnected to the toilet tank by a drain pipe, whereby fluid exiting a drain in said sink basin will enter the chamber formed within the toilet tank. 
     
     
         12 . The lavatory of  claim 11 , wherein said release float is juxtaposed vertically above said main float and said release float and said main float slidingly engage said one or more float guides with each said bore formed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The lavatory of  claim 12 , wherein said release float engages a release plunger when it rises to a release level of fluid in said tank, said release plunger configured to actuate the disengagement of a retaining finger from said main float. 
     
     
         14 . The lavatory of  claim 14 , further comprising a shutoff plunger extending upwardly from said main float, said shutoff plunger cooperatively located relative to said release mechanism to release said mechanism when said main float rises upwardly due to buoyant forces created by liquid in said tank after disengagement of said retaining finger. 
     
     
         15 . The lavatory of  claim 10 , wherein said flapper valve controls water flow between said tank and said toilet. 
     
     
         16 . The lavatory of  claim 14 , wherein said system comprises a pair of said float guides in spaced, parallel relation.