This cut-away view shows relationship of tank to bowl and how the toilet's base forms a trap to block sewer gasses. The flush handle raises trip lever, raising the flush valve or seat ball from the flush valve seat, letting water rush into the bowl.
Stop valve at the wall delivers water through a supply tube to the ballcock. When the float ball drops, the ballcock opens, filling the tank until the ball floats back to its upper position. Overflow tube sends excess tank water to bowl. Refill tube replenishes water in tank through the overflow tube.
A pressurized cylinder inside the toilet tank cuts water usage by putting a small amount of flush water under pressure-either from compressed air or from the house supply line's water pressure.
The conventional float-ball, lift wire and tank ball mechanism has been the standard flushing device for many years.
--Don Vandervort
