RE: Weird thought but hear me out...

["Ian Lowe" <ian@xxxxxxx>]

Phil,

How about this for a solution:

We have two usage methods for the loo, and generally, men use it either
standing, or sitting whilst women use it sitting, so if you used an IR
bounceback sensor, like the ones used in the automatic handwashers, fitted
on the cistern, so that if you sit down, your back completed the loop, you
can tell if it's being sat upon..

Then, you need to cover us guys in upright pose, and that could be done
with
a microswitch on the seat.
Because, of course, we *always* put the seat up when in use, and put it
down
again when we are done!

Seriously though, that combination of sensors, with some suitable smarts
should do the trick :D

Ian

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Harris [mailto:phillip.harris1@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 24 February 2002 12:00
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Weird thought but hear me out...



OK ... I was chatting with Brougham and Ken last night on IRC and had a
thought.

We have two loos here ... One downstairs and one upstairs. Neither Jo
nor I use the downstairs one but Edward does however he invariably
forgets to flush (or maybe the mechanism is too stiff for him or
something) so although Jo and I do make an effort to check each time we
pass there is often stuff left in there. (We have solved this by using
that loo as a storecupboard so he now can't use it.)

Anyway, what I was thinking was would it be possible to build a better
flush that could perhaps be automated at the same time? (For example
maybe automatically flush when the light is turned off?)

Now, joking about dump valves and strain guages aside I reckon this
should be possible. Using a small header tank up in the loft (you can
still get your measured flush that way) and with a goodly sized valve it
should be possible to get the flow that you need.

Laser.com have some 40mm valves that I'm informed are free flowing and
open rapidly (close speed isn't important) and a 40mm diameter pipe
should easily flow enough water to flush a loo. The only
"downside" is
that these valves are sourced in Canada so short of ordering pipework
and fittings from over there I'm not sure what is available over here
that is likely to be able to mate up.

Anyone got any ideas?

Phil


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