AU2021260022A1 - Device for preparing water with a collection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present document proposes a device for preparing water, comprising a water heating device with a supply pipe and, connected thereto, a first feed pipe for conveying hot and/or boiling-hot water and a second feed pipe for conveying cold and/or carbonated water, wherein the first and second feed pipes discharge, via a connection point, into a common delivery pipe which ends in a water outlet, this device, after delivery of hot water, preventing drips and additionally providing protection from scalding in the event of subsequent delivery of cold water. In addition, in the event of a rapid change from hot water delivery to cold water delivery, a user will demand that cold water be delivered immediately, without the need to discard any hot water remaining in the pipe. According to the invention, this is achieved by providing, in the first feed pipe or in the supply pipe, a collection device for draining the delivery pipe when the flow of water in the first feed pipe is stopped, and the collection device can be filled with the water from the delivery pipe.

Description

"Device for preparing water with a collection device"

The invention relates to a device for preparing water as

claimed in the preamble of claim 1.

Prior art:

The requirements for fixtures and fittings in housings

or apartments are becoming increasingly high, and

multifunctionality is increasingly prioritized. This

trend does not stop with kitchens and the built-in

modules thereof. Water systems which are able to deliver

prepared water of very different types are installed in

many modern kitchens: from filtered, extra-chilled water

up to and including boiling water. Occasionally,

carbonation systems are also installed so that carbonated

water may be drawn off directly from the faucet. The

faucets used in this case often have only a single water

outlet with a common pipe for the water which has been

prepared in different ways. Normal mains water which has

not been filtered or prepared is generally conducted to

the outlet through a separate pipe.

Previous systems with a common pipe for chilled and hot

or boiling water have an increased risk of scalding since

hot water remains in the common delivery pipe after a

delivery of hot water, which on the one hand may lead to

drips and on the other hand the hot water is delivered

first out of the pipe with a subsequent delivery of cold

water.

Additionally, in the event of a rapid change from a hot

water delivery to a cold water delivery, the user will

demand that cold water be delivered immediately and not

the hot or virtually boiling water standing in the pipe

which, on the one hand, as mentioned above may result in

scalding and, on the other hand, has to be discarded,

whereby unnecessary water wastage is generated.

Object and advantages of the invention:

The object of the invention is accordingly to propose a

device for preparing water which, on the one hand, after

a delivery of hot water prevents drips and provides an

additional protection from scalding in the event of a

subsequent delivery of cold water.

Proceeding from a device for preparing water of the type

mentioned in the introduction, this object is achieved

by the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and developments of the

invention are made possible by means of the measures

mentioned in the subclaims.

Accordingly, a device for preparing water according to

the invention is characterized in that a collection

device is provided in the first feed pipe or in the supply

pipe for draining the delivery pipe when a flow of water

in the first feed pipe is stopped, and the collection

device can be filled with the water from the delivery pipe and optionally also with water which is still standing in the first feed pipe.

After a stoppage in the delivery and a stoppage in the

water flow associated therewith, the water generally

remaining in the delivery pipe may be at least partially

removed from the delivery pipe by means of such a

collection device, such that dripping is prevented, since

the water column is spatially removed from the outlet

opening.

According to the invention, a risk of scalding may be

lowered by reducing the remaining water quantity in the

delivery pipe, up to and including the complete emptying

of the delivery pipe. The less water remaining in the

delivery pipe, the lower the risk of scalding after a

delivery of hot water since the water cools more rapidly

over time.

In principle, a differentiation is made between so-called

closed systems or boiler systems when a valve for

shutting off the pipe is placed in the first feed pipe

in the direction of the water outlet. In the case of open

systems, the valve has to be in the supply pipe and not

in the first feed pipe in the direction of the faucet,

i.e. with an open system generally steam or hot water

droplets may escape. The device according to the

invention, however, is characterized in that in principle

it is applicable to open and closed systems.

In particular in an open system, two variants of the

invention are conceivable, namely a variant with a collection device in the first feed pipe, as in the closed system, or with a collection device in the supply pipe which leads to the water heating device. In the last mentioned case, the water flowing back may also be collected from the delivery pipe via the water heating device, wherein the water flowing back may flow initially into the water heating device before it passes into the collection device.

The delivery of chilled water and/or carbonated water is

also possible via a second feed pipe. Moreover, according

to the invention a collection device may be arranged in

the second feed pipe. After a supply of cold water, cold

water is removed from the delivery pipe, whereby with a

subsequent hot water delivery, less water has to be

discarded before water is able to be taken at the desired

high temperature, whereby the water consumption is

reduced and as a result resources, costs and the

environment are conserved. After the process of drawing

off carbonated water, in principle the pipe may be

flushed briefly with cold water so that no more

carbonated water remains in the delivery pipe. This means

that only cold water passes into the collection device.

It is particularly advantageous if the collection device

is configured such that at least the water volume of the

delivery pipe may be collected therein. As a result, all

of the water may be taken from the delivery pipe, whereby

the discarding of water is reduced to a minimum before

the water is delivered at the desired temperature.

Resources, costs and the environment may thus be

efficiently conserved.

According to the invention, the collection device has a

return device by which the water is able to be returned

into the pipe system, in particular the supply pipe, the

first or the second feed pipe, i.e. not permanently

stored or even discarded. Water which has been previously

taken from the delivery pipe is thus actively used and

does not necessarily have to be discarded unused.

According to the invention this return device comprises

a Venturi nozzle. If water is conveyed via the supply

pipe or the first feed pipe or second feed pipe through

the Venturi nozzle, a vacuum is generated in a reservoir

which is connected to the pipe, the water stored in the

reservoir being suctioned out by said vacuum and being

supplied to the water flow in the first feed pipe or

second feed pipe or the supply pipe. Such a return device

acts positively on the consumption, and the saving of

resources and costs and the environmental friendliness

of the system. Moreover, a passive emptying from the

diaphragm expansion tank may be facilitated so that no

active mechanism has to be supplied with energy.

In a particularly preferred development of the invention,

the collection device comprises a diaphragm expansion

tank which in combination with the Venturi nozzle

represents the corresponding reservoir from which the

temporarily stored water may be returned. Such a

diaphragm expansion tank is a component which is

structurally compact and which is relatively advantageous

in comparison with other solutions by which the invention

may be implemented. The collection volume in a diaphragm

expansion tank is at least partially defined by a diaphragm. Water remaining in the delivery pipe as far as the first feed pipe forms, in particular, a water column, the pressure thereof acting on the diaphragm and the volume in the diaphragm expansion tank increasing so that the remaining water may be at least partially collected therein. Generally the water in the pipe presses against the diaphragm, wherein only the ambient air pressure prevails on the other side of the diaphragm.

Advantageously, the volume which is provided in the

diaphragm expansion tank for collection is additionally

adapted to the water quantity remaining in the delivery

pipe or first feed pipe. The more water remaining in the

delivery pipe or first feed pipe, the higher the pressure

and the more volume provided by the expansion of the

diaphragm.

It is also advantageous if the collection device is

coupled to the pipe in which the collected water is to

be returned via a return device, which is configured as

a Venturi nozzle and which is arranged in the first feed

pipe or even the supply pipe, or which is connected to

the first feed pipe or supply pipe. In principle, an

arrangement of the Venturi nozzle in the second feed pipe

is also correspondingly possible, provided the collection

device is to be connected thereto. If water flows in such

an arrangement through a Venturi nozzle, a vacuum is

produced so that the water is conveyed out of the

collection device into the pipe in which the Venturi

nozzle is arranged, and is carried with the water flowing

therein to the water outlet via the delivery pipe. A

return of the collected water may thus take place immediately with the next conveyance of water through the first feed pipe or supply pipe.

The collection device is thus emptied and prepared for

refilling after the water flow is stopped. Such an

embodiment reduces the water consumption and conserves

resources, costs and the environment since, for example,

a pump which requires a separate power supply may also

be dispensed with. The return device may additionally be

operated practically without any maintenance.

In an advantageous embodiment, the collection device is

arranged in the vertical direction below or in the same

plane as the connection point, wherein the delivery pipe

and the water outlet are located in the vertical

direction above the connection point, so that a return

flow of the water from the delivery pipe may be created

by the force of gravity. In this case, the higher the

water outlet is located relative to the collection

device, the more powerfully the force of gravity causes

a return flow of the water. A passive emptying from the

diaphragm expansion tank may be facilitated by such an

arrangement, so that no active mechanism has to be

supplied with energy.

Preferably, the second feed pipe is arranged on a water

cooling system in order to convey chilled water via the

feed pipe and the delivery pipe.

Advantageously, the supply pipe or the first feed pipe

or the second feed pipe has a valve, in particular a

solenoid valve, so that the flow of hot water and cold water may be controlled; the system is closed or otherwise open depending on whether the first feed pipe may be closed with a valve, so that the delivery pipe may be disconnected from the water heating device. Relative to the water heating device which, depending on the embodiment, may also deliver hot water up to 1000C

(namely for preparing tea and other hot beverages), this

shut-off option in a closed system ensures that boiling

water, steam or the like accidentally passes into the

delivery pipe. Preferably, a carbonator for supplying

carbonated water is provided on the second feed pipe with

a valve, in particular a solenoid valve, in order to be

able to improve the multifunctionality of the device

further.

An arrangement in which the valve, in particular a

solenoid valve, is arranged upstream of the collection

device in the direction of flow is advantageous, since

in this sequence it may be ensured that the water may be

collected by the collection device from the delivery pipe

or first feed pipe after the water flow is stopped by

closing the valve.

The water heating device, as already set forth above, may

be configured as an open or closed system. In principle,

the water heating device may be fed via a supply pipe. A

corresponding pipe may also be used in order to connect

a pressure relief valve so that in the event of

overpressure prevailing in the water heating device this

overpressure may be reduced, by steam being able to be

discharged to the environment or into a dedicated tank

or a dedicated pipe. However, closed systems which provide a corresponding expansion volume may also be used.

Exemplary embodiments:

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the

drawings and are described hereinafter in more detail

with reference to the figures.

In detail:

figure 1 shows a schematic construction of a water

preparation device in the form of a closed

system in which a collection device and a

valve are arranged on the first feed pipe,

figure 2 shows a schematic construction of a water

preparation device in the form of an open

system in which a collection device is

arranged on the first feed pipe and a valve

is arranged on the supply pipe and

figure 3 shows a further schematic construction of a

water preparation device in the form of an

open system in which a collection device and

a valve are arranged on the supply pipe.

In figure 1 a water preparation device 1 is shown in the

form of a closed system in which a first feed pipe 2 for

conveying hot water and a second feed pipe 3 for conveying

cold and/or carbonated water discharge, via a

connection point 4, into a common delivery pipe 5 which ends in a water outlet 6. In this case, the connection point 4 and the water outlet 6 are oriented toward one another with a vertical height difference 7. A water heating device 8 is also arranged on the first feed pipe 2, said water heating device being fed via a supply pipe 9 arranged thereon. A water cooling system 10 is arranged on the second feed pipe 3. A delivery of cold water may be controlled via a valve 11, in particular a solenoid valve, which is arranged in the second feed pipe 3. It is also conceivable to supply carbonated water by means of a carbonator 12 on the second feed pipe 3 which is controlled via a valve 13. The modules for supplying carbonated water are shown here in dashed lines.

Different options are conceivable: for example only cold

or only carbonated water may be supplied via the second

feed pipe 3. However, both options may be installed

together as alternative conveying options for the user.

In the first feed pipe 2 the water heating device 8 may

be disconnected from the delivery pipe 5 via a valve 14

in the first feed pipe 2 (closed system). Via a return

device 15 in the form of a Venturi nozzle, a collection

device 16 in the form of a diaphragm expansion tank is

connected to the first feed pipe 2, said collection

device being configured such that it is able to collect

at least partially the water volume of the delivery pipe

5, preferably the entire water volume of the delivery

pipe 5, preferably more than the water volume of the

delivery pipe 5 (in particular in terms of volume,

additionally the volume from the first feed pipe).

An embodiment in which a return device is additionally

arranged with a diaphragm expansion tank in the second

feed pipe 3 for the cold and/or the carbonated water is

not shown. A diaphragm expansion tank may also be

provided for the carbonated water, and the water

temporarily stored therein is subsequently flushed into

the pipe, since generally after the process of drawing

off carbonated water the pipe is in any case briefly

flushed with cold water such that no more carbonated

water stands in the delivery pipe. This means that only

cold water passes into the collection device.

If, with a delivery of hot water from the water outlet

6, the water flow is stopped by closing the valve 14, in

the first moment hot water initially remains in the

delivery pipe 5. By the pressure which the water column

exerts in the delivery pipe 5 onto the diaphragm of the

diaphragm expansion tank, this diaphragm is expanded such

that water is collected in the diaphragm expansion tank

and the diaphragm is expanded. This diaphragm expansion

tank is configured such that it is able to collect the

entire water volume of the delivery pipe 5 therein, such

that subsequently no more water stands in the delivery

pipe 5 above the connection point 4. As a result, with a

subsequent delivery of cold water there is no risk that

hot water comes out of the water outlet 6 as the first

quantity of delivered water. With the next delivery of

hot water, a vacuum is generated via the Venturi nozzle

serving as the return device 15, the water inside the

diaphragm expansion tank being suctioned by said vacuum

back into the first feed pipe 2 and carried together with

the water from the hot water tank to the water outlet.

The diaphragm skin is generally very elastic and has little inherent tension for forcing water out of the

volume. This takes place substantially via the Venturi

effect.

Since the valve 14 and the collection device 16 are

located in the first feed pipe 2 between the water heating

device 8 and the water outlet, in this case the faucet,

when the water is stopped after a delivery of hot water,

the water from the delivery pipe is only partially drawn

back into the first feed pipe 2 and into the collection

device 16.

A water preparation device 1, which is constructed in the

manner of the water preparation device 1 of figure 1, is

shown as an open system in figure 2, wherein

correspondingly a valve 14 is not arranged in the first

feed pipe 2. A delivery of hot water from the water outlet

6 is controlled via a valve 14a which is arranged in the

supply pipe 9. As in the water preparation device 1 of

figure 1, if the water is stopped by closing the valve

14a after a delivery of hot water, the water from the

delivery pipe is only partially collected in the first

feed pipe 2 and in the collection device 16.

A water preparation device 1, which is constructed in the

manner of the water preparation device 1 of figure 2, is

also shown as an open system in figure 3, wherein instead

of being arranged in the first feed pipe 2 the collection

device 16a and the return device 15a are arranged in the

supply pipe 9, as is the valve 14a. Here the water volume

of the delivery pipe 5 is collected in the collection device 16a via the first feed pipe 2 and the water heating device 8.

In all of the figures 1 - 3, a safety valve is arranged

on the water preparation device 1, if an overpressure

which is too great prevails in the tank when the water

is heated. Generally in most embodiments, in the high

pressure tank of a closed system there is generally a

pressure safety device in the form of a pressure relief

valve which is coupled directly to the drain. In the open

system this is not necessary since it is indeed open, but

in principle systems are also known in which a pressure

relief valve is installed on the water heating device in

the event that the outlet is closed (clogged or otherwise

blocked).

List of reference numerals:

1 Water preparation device

2 First feed pipe

3 Second feed pipe

4 Connection point

5 Delivery pipe

6 Water outlet

7 Vertical height difference

8 Water heating device

9 Supply pipe

10 Water cooling system

11 Valve

12 Carbonator

13 Valve

14 Valve

14a Valve

15 Return device

15a Return device

16 Collection device

16a Collection device

17 Pressure relief valve

Claims (11)

Claims:

1. A device (1) for preparing water, comprising a water

heating device (8) with a supply pipe (9) for supplying

the water heating device (8) with water and a first feed

pipe (2) connected to the water heating device (8) for

conveying hot water and a second feed pipe (3) for

conveying cold and/or carbonated water, wherein the first

and the second feed pipes (2, 3) discharge, via a

connection point (4), into a common delivery pipe (5)

which ends in a water outlet (6), wherein a collection

device (16, 16a) is provided in the first feed pipe (2)

or in the supply pipe (9) for draining the delivery pipe

(5) when a flow of water in the first feed pipe (2) is

stopped, and the collection device (16, 16a) can be

filled with the water from the delivery pipe (5),

characterized in that the collection device (16, 16a) has

a return device (15, 15a) by which the water is able to

be returned into the pipe system, in particular into the

supply pipe (9) and/or into the first feed pipe (2) and/or

the second feed pipe (3).

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized

in that a further collection device (16) is arranged in

the second feed pipe (3).

3. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the collection device (16,

16a) is configured such that at least the water volume

of the delivery pipe (5) may be collected therein.

4. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the collection device (16,

16a) comprises a diaphragm expansion tank which comprises

a diaphragm which may be expanded as a result of the

pressure in the pipe system in order to increase the

collection volume.

5. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the collection device (16,

16a) and/or the return device (15, 15a) has a Venturi

nozzle,

e which is arranged in the first feed pipe (2) and/or is

connected to the first feed pipe (2) and/or

• which is arranged in the second feed pipe (3) and/or

is connected to the second feed pipe (3) and/or

• which is arranged in the supply pipe (9) and/or is

connected to the supply pipe (9).

6. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the collection device (16,

16a) is arranged in the vertical direction, in particular

in the direction of the force of gravity, below or in the

same plane as the connection point (4), wherein the

delivery pipe (5) and the water outlet (6) are located

in the vertical direction, in particular in the direction

of the force of gravity, above the connection point (4)

and a vertical height difference (7) is formed between

the water outlet (6) and the connection point (4) so that a return flow of the water from the delivery pipe (5) may be formed by the force of gravity.

7. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the second feed pipe (3)

is connected to a water cooling system (10) and/or a

carbonator for supplying carbonated water.

8. The device as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the supply pipe and/or the

first feed pipe and/or the second feed pipe has a valve,

in particular a solenoid valve.

9. The device as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that:

• the valve (14, 14a) is arranged so as to be connected

upstream of the collection device (16, 16a) and/or the

return device (15, 15a) in the direction of flow and/or

• the valve (14) is connected between the water heating

device (8), on the one hand, and the collection device

(16) and/or the return device (15), on the other hand,

wherein in particular the valve (14) and the collection

device (16) and/or the return device (15) are connected

to the first feed pipe (2), and/or

• the valve (14a), on the one hand, and the collection

device (16) and/or the return device (15), on the other

hand, are respectively connected in different pipes, in

particular the valve (14a) is connected in the supply

pipe (9), on the one hand, and the collection device (16) and/or the return device (15) is connected in the first feed pipe (2), on the other hand, and/or

• the collection device (16a) and/or the return device

(15a) is connected between the valve (14a) and the water

heating device (8), wherein in particular the valve (14a)

and the collection device (16a) and/or the return device

(15a) are connected to the supply pipe (9).

10. The device as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the device (1) is

configured for preparing water and/or the water heating

device is configured as an open or closed system.

11. The device as claimed in one of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the connection point is

configured as a T-piece (4).