The start of mastery of %LINK1% is to learn the names of the various %LINK2%. Some of the parts are known by more than one name, and learning the various slang terms helps to explain their purpose. One way to organize the names of the toilet parts is to follow the path water takes as it travels through the toilet.
Three parts of the toilet are made of china. These three parts are the toilet tank or cistern, the lid of the toilet tank and the bowl of the toilet. Now having got that out of the way, we can follow the path of water through the toilet, and learn the names of the %LINK3%.
Water comes in through the "water line." The flow of water is controlled by the water "shut off valve." The path the water takes to flow into the toilet is called the "supply line," or "fill tube." The supply line leads to a valve called alternatively the "fill valve," the "refill valve," "filler valve," "float operated valve" the float valve," and the "ballcock valve." The term float valve is the most generic term and refers across many applications to a valve which is shut off when the water flowing through the valve reaches a certain level. The term ballcock is the most descriptive of the terms and explains how the valve works. The valve consists of a ball and a cock. The ball end of the valve floats on water in the float valve chamber. In this case, the float valve chamber is the cistern of the toilet, where water is stored. As the water, in the float valve chamber rises, the ball rises. The ball is connected by an arm to the valve. When the ball rises sufficiently, it changes the angle of the connecting arm and cock part of the valve so that the valve works to shut off water flow. The word cock refers to the part of the valve in the end of the supply line which changes position as the ball rises, until it stops off the water flow. The word cock, comes from the the position a rooster makes when it crows, as it tilts its head back slightly in a readying position.
A cock can refer to readying a gun to shoot, or readying a valve. The floating ball is variously referred to as a "float ball," or a "filler float,"
During filling, the water level in the cistern rises until an inch or two below the top of the "overflow tube." It is prevented from flowing into the toilet bowl by the "flush valve." The flush valve consists of a "flapper," or "flapper ball,"or " ball valve" or "tapered float ball," or "flapper stopper" or "tankball," which sits in the flush seat, and prevents water from flowing into the toilet bowl. The flapper piece is connected to a chain which is connected to the flush handle by a chain. When the toilet handle is pulled, the chain lifts up and the flapper lifts up and water flows into the bowl.
Newer dual flush toilets, power flush pressure flush and ultra high efficiency flush toilets use additional parts, however the basic fill valve and flush valve mode remains in use.