AU2021316612A1 - Sanitary fitting with a mutli-function option and hybrid operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting (1) that is comfortable to use for outputting mains water and prepared water of at least one preparation type, in particular filtered and/or boiling and/or chilled and/or carbonated water, wherein at least one control unit (11, 13, 21) is provided for controlling the respective water flow of the mains water and/or the prepared water, and an operating unit (10) is provided for contactlessly influencing at least one of the water flows, in particular both water flows, and for generating and forwarding control signals to at least one of the control units (11, 13, 21).

Description

IN THE MATTER OF an Australian Application corresponding to PCT Application PCT/EP2021/071315

RWS Group Ltd, of Europa House, Chiltern Park, Chiltern Hill, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, hereby solemnly and sincerely declares that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the following document, prepared by one of its translators competent in the art and conversant with the English and German languages, is a true and correct translation of the PCT Application filed under No. PCT/EP2021/071315.

Date: 2 November 2022

N. T. SIMPKIN Managing Director - UK Translation Division For and on behalf of RWS Group Ltd

Sanitary fitting with a multi-function option and hybrid operation

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing tap water and treated water.

The prior art discloses what are known as multi-function fittings which can dispense not only plain tap water but additionally, for example, also treated water, such as chilled or carbonated water (sparkling water).

The object of the invention is to be able to provide a sanitary fitting which allows more convenient operation.

Proceeding from a sanitary fitting of the kind mentioned at the outset, the object is achieved by the features of Claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible owing to the measures cited in the dependent claims.

The sanitary fitting according to the invention initially constitutes such a multi-function fitting which allows tap water and treated water, which is of at least one treatment type, to be dispensed.

The treatment type may include, for example, the following treatments for water: the water may have been treated, for example, by filtering. Furthermore, the multi-function fitting can optionally also provide boiling water in order to prepare tea or other hot beverages or in order to provide boiling water for cooking processes and preparing food. One typical application in which relatively small quantities of hot water are also specifically required is, for example, pouring said hot water over tomatoes in order to remove the skin from them. The multi-function fitting may optionally also provide chilled and/or carbonated water.

In the case of sparkling water, it may be advantageous

to serve it chilled, and therefore the multi-function

fitting can couple, for example, a carbonator to a

chilling device, and the carbonator and chilling device

may also be integrated as one structural unit. The water

is then, for example, chilled and if required

subsequently carbonated. In addition, a treatment type

in which the taste of the water is changed by way of, for

example, flavorings being added can also be taken into

consideration. However, in principle, further treatment

types are also feasible and not restricted to the above.

A sanitary fitting according to the invention can provide

at least one or else also a selection of different

treatment types.

Depending on the exemplary embodiment, the following

treatment devices, amongst others, can also be taken into

consideration:

- a boiler for producing hot, in particular boiling,

water and/or

- a chilling device for producing chilled water

and/or

- a carbonator for producing carbonated water or

sparkling water, wherein in particular a carbonator can be connected downstream of a chilling device because sparkling water is preferably generally served cold and/or

- a filter device for producing filtered water; whereas for washing processes (washing hands, washing fruit or vegetables) the precise degree of hardness of the water generally does not play a role, this is essential for other intended uses, for example preparing tea, because, for example, soft water is used for this purpose in particular so that the tea can develop the desired aroma, and/or

- a device for adding substances, in particular flavorings.

The sanitary fitting according to the invention additionally has a control unit for controlling the respective water flow, both of the tap water and the treated water. Control for the purposes of the invention means open-loop control and/or closed-loop control. Closed-loop control is performed, for example, by detection using sensors for checking the physical parameters such as temperature, with a control signal or no control signal being fed back to the structural unit to be controlled when a parameter does not lie in a predetermined value range, in order to once again change the properties of the water to be dispensed. For example, a mechanical actuating unit can be actuated, so that the hot water line is opened to a greater extent when the temperature is too low, whereas as the temperature rises and the specified parameter is exceeded, said hot water line is once again increasingly closed.

Instead of a single control unit, a plurality of control

units, respectively for hot and/or cold and/or mixed tap

water and for the treated water, can also be provided.

Furthermore, in principle, the control unit can also be

designed as an overall control unit for tap water or for

treated water. The control unit can be subdivided into

partial control units.

Furthermore, an operating unit is provided for

contactlessly influencing one of the water flows or both

water flows and for generating and forwarding control

signals to the control unit. Therefore, the sanitary

fitting according to the invention is distinguished, in

particular, in that it can be operated in a simple and

convenient manner even though it is designed as a multi

function fitting and provides a large number of output

options which go well beyond setting the quantity of

water. Contactless operation has the advantage, in

particular, that it can satisfy extremely high

requirements in respect of hygiene because the fitting

does not have to be touched. Specifically when preparing

food, the operator/cook's hands have traces of foodstuffs

and these traces of foodstuffs are accordingly wiped on

and adhere to the fittings when said fittings are

touched. Conventional fittings which have been

contaminated in this way have to be cleaned, sometimes

at great expense. Furthermore, the operator may have to

use both hands, for example to carry a pot, and therefore

may not be able to operate an operating unit, that can

be operated via contact and has to be operated manually,

or do so only with difficulty.

A control signal is understood to mean, in principle, an

item of information which the operating unit forwards to

the control unit. This control signal may be a purely

mechanical signal, for example rotation about a specific

angle, a translational movement, a helical movement or

the like. However, furthermore, the control signal may

also be an electrical signal (digital or analog), an

optical signal (for example an infrared signal) or some

other electromagnetic signal, a change in magnetic field

or a combination of any signals. The information content

is also freely selectable in principle and may, for

example, include: a quantity of water per unit time,

temperature, type of treatment, mixing ratio etc. The

operating logic which can be carried out using the

control signal is generally also freely definable, is

optionally also reprogrammable and can be matched to the

water inflow conditions.

Both water flows, specifically the water flow for plain

tap water and the water flow for treated water, can

particularly advantageously be subjected to open-loop

control or closed-loop control via the operating unit

which forwards control signals to the control unit. The

water flow of the treated water can, in turn, also be

subdivided into a plurality of water flows or a plurality

of water flows (connected in parallel) when the fitting

allows water to be dispensed by several treatment types.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is also

conceivable for a water flow which is also operated only

purely mechanically, for example the tap water actuating

member for mixing hot and cold water, to be branched off.

The contactless operating unit can work in different ways

depending on the exemplary embodiment. In principle, it

comprises a sensor which allows processes in which the

fitting is not handled and which can then be interpreted

as commands and can be forwarded on to the control unit

as control signals to be recognized. For example, an

infrared sensor can be used for this purpose. On account

of the thermal radiation which originates from the

operator, the sensor reacts in a corresponding manner

when the operator is at a certain distance from, or closer

than this distance to, the sensor.

In principle, (other) motion detectors can be used in

addition or as an alternative to this. In addition to

optical sensors, acoustic sensors, in particular voice

recognition units, can also be used, these reacting to

noises (for example clapping noises, whistles or the

like) or comprising a voice recognition unit which

understands and implements specific voice commands.

Voice recognition generally provides the advantage that

the commands can be recognized and implemented very

precisely. Furthermore, there is generally no confusion

because the commands are not encoded or are encoded only

to a limited extent: the operator can directly vocalize

which command he wants to make and does not have to

remember any codes, for example "clap once" for turning

on the water flow, "clap twice" for turning off the water

flow. Therefore, in the case of voice control, it is, in

principle, also easier to be able to implement a

fundamentally unlimited number of multi-function

options.

Furthermore, numerous optical sensors can advantageously

also be used, for example distance sensors such as time

of-flight sensors (TOF sensors). These sensors can

determine the distance between the operator and the

sensor, and therefore this function can also be used for

operating purposes. Therefore, it is also possible to

distinguish between whether a person is only coincidently

in the vicinity of the fitting or actually wants to

operate said fitting. Furthermore, for example, inductive

or capacitive sensors with which the presence of an

operator can likewise be detected can also be used.

At least two sensors can also be used in principle, so

that, in particular, a combination or a sequence of

operating signals can lead to corresponding open-loop

control or closed-loop control of the sanitary fitting.

In this way, operation can be performed not only in a

particularly convenient manner but it can also be

expediently matched to specific situations.

Furthermore, it should be taken into consideration that

fundamental risks may also be associated with different

treatment variants. If the sanitary fitting comprises,

for example, the option of outputting boiling water, it

is advantageous to implement a safety function, so that

boiling water is not accidentally dispensed and the

operator is not injured. Above all, the safety function

can be designed such that it is also suitable as a child

protection means. For this purpose, a command signal or

a combination of command signals is used in order to

convey boiling water, which command signal or combination

of command signals can be replicated by children only

with difficulty and above all is generated by coincidence only with difficulty. All of these options can be assisted by using the abovementioned sensors.

Nevertheless, the situation that the sanitary fitting

furthermore also comprises an operating unit, that can

be operated via contact, for manual operation with which

control signals can be generated and forwarded to the

control unit is not precluded. Such an operating unit may

be, for example, a rotary knob or a one-hand-operation

lever or some other mechanical operating device which

converts a mechanical gesture into a mechanical actuating

process. It is also conceivable for a mechanical process

to be triggered by contact and, in turn, to be detected

by an electronic sensor which forwards the operating

signal. The operating unit is then a mechatronic

operating unit and not a purely mechanically working

operating unit. Such an additional operating unit that

can be operated via contact can provide several

advantages:

- Firstly, the operating unit that can be operated

via contact can optionally be used in order to be

able to still operate the fitting even when

operation via the contactless operating unit is

currently not possible. This does not necessarily

have to be a technical defect. It is conceivable,

for example, for an optical sensor to be blocked

because it is possible when preparing food for

said optical sensor to be covered, for example,

with residues of sauce and for its sensory

function to be adversely affected as a result. If

the operator has overlooked this circumstance or

does not have the option of effectively cleaning the sensor, it is still possible to perform manual operation.

- Furthermore, it may also be expedient for third

parties, for example people not in a household, to

nevertheless be able to operate the sanitary

fitting even if they are unfamiliar with

contactless operation, particularly with non

intuitively understandable commands for conveying

specially treated water.

- Furthermore, it is possible to provide operation

via a combination of mechanical and contactless

signals. This may be expedient, for example, if it

is intended to be made difficult for a dispensing

function to be triggered, such as that for boiling

water for example.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the

control unit can comprise a hydraulic unit for

influencing one or both water flows, which hydraulic unit

is arranged within the fitting body, in particular above

a water collection basin. In this way, an extremely

compact sanitary fitting which requires little

installation space is formed. A sanitary fitting of this

kind is generally arranged above a wash basin, sink or

some other water collection device.

In one variant embodiment of the invention, a mixing

cartridge, in particular a cartridge with an open output,

or another actuating member can further be provided in

order to premix one or both water flows to a predefined

temperature. In principle, a mixing cartridge of this kind can also be arranged above or level with or possibly even below the water collection basin. The cartridge may be, for example, a cartridge with an open output, that is to say the cartridge is not separately shut off in the direction of the conveying capacity by means of a dedicated valve. Moreover, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sanitary fitting can initially have a common conveying line for tap water and treated water.

The conveying line leads directly to the output of the

sanitary fitting. Depending on the selection made by the

operator, tap water or else one of the treated waters is

conducted by said conveying line. This measure

substantially simplifies the design of the fitting and,

in particular, increases the compactness because parallel

lines do not have to be provided over the entire length

of the fitting.

As already described, in one development of the

invention, the operating unit that can be operated via

contact or the contactless operating unit can be designed

for exerting a further control function, preferably

canceling or establishing a safety lock, specifically in

the case of boiling water. In a development of this kind,

for example, at least one sensor can be used to generate

control signals for different uses and functions by

combining the control signals or by combining the

sensors. In order to form a safety lock, provision can

be made, for example, for a specific code to be forwarded

to the sensor. In the case of an operating unit which can

be operated purely via contact, this can be achieved, for

example, by way of the operating unit being pushed and

simultaneously rotated, this making, in particular,

operation by children difficult. It is also conceivable for, for example, contactlessly working sensors to be combined with one another in this way by way of a proximity sensor (IR sensor, a TOF sensor, a photoelectric barrier or the like) being addressed/triggered, but at the same time an acoustic command being required in parallel in order to be able to convey boiling water, for example.

It is also conceivable in principle for acoustic signals

to be encoded. A command can involve, for example,

repeated or rhythmic tapping or clapping being carried

out. Furthermore, an operating unit that can be operated

via contact and a contactless operating unit can be

combined for forming a safety lock: for example, for the

purpose of triggering the function, a mechanical lever

has to be operated and at the same time a contactlessly

working sensor has to be addressed (acoustically, by

proximity of the hand to the sensor etc.).

Exemplary embodiments

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated

in the drawings and will be explained in more detail

below indicating further details and advantages.

Specifically:

Fig. 1: shows a schematic section through a sanitary

fitting according to the invention, and

Fig. 2: shows a schematic illustration of a further

sanitary fitting according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic section through a sanitary

fitting 1 according to the invention having a fitting

body 2 (water tap) to which a water outlet 3 is attached.

A conveying capacity 4 leads to this water outlet 3, said

conveying capacity being able to be fed from two water

flows, specifically the line 5 for plain tap water (water

without further treatment, filtered or prefiltered) and

the line 6 for treated water. For this purpose, the line

6 for treated water is schematically connected to a water

treatment device 7, not specified in any detail

The water treatment device may be, for example, a boiler

with which water up to boiling water can be produced.

However, it may also be a carbonator which is coupled to

a chilling device and with which sparkling water is

produced. It is also conceivable for a plurality of

treatment devices for several treatment types to be

connected in parallel and provide a large number of

treatment functions.

The treatment device 7 is fed by a water supply line 8

which can coincide, for example, with the line 5.

The fitting 1 initially comprises an operating unit 9

which can be operated purely via contact and which

comprises a one-hand-operation lever 9.1 and a rotary

knob 9.2. The one-hand-operation lever 9.1 can be used

to control the conveyed quantity of water or the

volumetric flow rate, and the rotary knob 9.2 can be used

to control the water temperature.

Furthermore, further sensors 10.1 and 10.2 are also

provided, which together form the contactless operating unit 10. The sensor 10.1 is integrated directly in the sanitary fitting 1. The sensor 10.1 may be, for example, an infrared sensor or a TOF sensor which recognizes when a person is in the immediate vicinity of the sanitary fitting, in particular the hands are moving in the direction of the fitting 1. The sensor 10.2 is a voice recognition box which can be placed at a central point in the area.

The operating unit 9 that can be operated via contact can

forward control signals in principle also in the form of

mechanical control signals by way of, for example, valves

being directly actuated. According to the present

exemplary embodiment from Figure 1, an electronics signal

is forwarded to a control unit 11 via the lines 11.1 and

11.2 by the mechanical operation, and the control unit

can, in turn, conduct control signals to a mixing unit

12 or to the treatment device 7 via the lines 11.3, 11.4.

Analogously to this, the sensors 10.1 and 10.2 pass on

signals to the control unit 13 via corresponding lines

13.1, 13.2. The line 13.2 may be, in particular, a

wireless connection, such as a BluetoothTM connection for

example. The control unit 13 generates control signals

which are forwarded to the mixing unit 12 and,

respectively, to the treatment unit 7 via the lines 13.3

and, respectively, 13.4.

In the present exemplary embodiment according to Figure

1, the interconnection of the control units 11, 13 is

provided such that, in particular, the signals can also

be coupled to one another since the control units 11, 13

are linked to one another or interconnected via the line

14. This allows control signals from the operating unit

9 that can be operated via contact and from the

contactlessly working operating unit 10 to be combined

and therefore for the command spectrum for different

functions to be able to be extended.

One of the sensors may trigger, for example in the case

of a brief (< 1 second) recognition signal of an object,

such as the hand for example, the flow of plain tap water.

In the case of a renewed recognition signal, the flow of

plain tap water is stopped, this corresponding to an

ON/OFF function. At the same time, a hybrid function of

the fitting 1 is therefore identified. If the sensor is

activated for longer than 1 second for example, that is

to say is exposed to a recognition signal which lasts for

longer than 1 second, the hot water function of the multi

function fitting is enabled (for example also possible

by a specific rotation/push combination of a rotary/push

knob). As long as the recognition signal is present, a

hot water function can be operated. Safety functions such

as child protection against boiling water, for example,

can be implemented using this or a similar combination.

The control units 11, 13 can be combined, for example,

by a logic circuit by way of the different signals from

the sensors being linked via logic links and therefore

the corresponding control signals being produced.

The water outlet 3 is located directly above a water

collection basin 15 which is situated beneath the level

of the mixing cartridge 12.

Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a further

sanitary fitting according to the invention. The entire

fitting 1 is fed by a cold water line 8.1 and a hot water

line 8.2. The cold water line 8.1 branches:

- either in order to be treated by means of the

water treatment device 7 (be it by a carbonator or

a chilling device or a filter or else by a boiler)

- or in order to be conducted through without

treatment or to be mixed with hot water 8.2.

The branch which is not provided with the treatment

device 7 branches for a second time here, specifically:

- in one case the cold water from the supply line

8.1 is conducted directly to an actuating member

20 for tap water, which actuating member is

regulated or controlled via a control unit 21 for

tap water. The control unit 21 is operated via a

contactless operating unit which, as already shown

in Fig. 1, as a sensor, parallel I/O, as a voice

control means, as is available under the trade

name "Alexa" for example.

- The other branch leads to an actuating member 18

for tap water, which actuating member causes hot

water from the supply line 8.2 to be admixed in

order to obtain a desired water temperature. The

actuating member 18 is integrated into a

mechanical overall operating unit 23 here, with

the actuating member 18 being directly controlled

via a control unit 11 which, in turn, can be operated by the user by way of an operating unit that can be operated via contact.

The branch which is provided with the treatment device 7

can likewise be operated contactlessly via the operating

unit 10. The water treatment device 7 is controlled via

an actuating member 19 which, for its part, is controlled

by the control unit 13. The control unit 13 is operated

either contactlessly, as already explained, via the

operating unit 10, but may also be operated mechanically

via the operating unit 22. Prioritization of mechanical

as opposed to contactless operation may be provided in

the control unit 13, or a decision is made on the basis

of the chronological order of the signals.

All the exemplary embodiments and developments of the

invention share the common feature that a sanitary

fitting in the form of a multi-function fitting can be

combined with a contactless operating unit and therefore

can also be extended, in particular, to the hybrid

fitting, primarily for tap water.

In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the

flow of tap water (that is to say the cold water and/or

hot water from the regular water line without treatment)

can be influenced by means of operating units which are

combined with one another for contactless influencing

and/or for influencing with contact. Therefore,

specifically for the water flow which is to be used

fundamentally most frequently, a broad operating spectrum

is available which can be conveniently adapted in an

optimal manner to the given situations, for example in

the case of the operator having sticky hands requiring cleaning when cooking/baking, or in the case of a change in operator in the event of which operation should proceed in as self-explanatory a manner as possible. In the case of parallel operation of the operating unit working contactlessly or the operating unit working with contact, prioritization can be predetermined via the control units, so that one overrides the other, with it advantageously being possible for the operating unit which works with contact to be granted preference in order to avoid incorrect operation.

Reference signs:

1 Sanitary fitting

2 Fitting body/water tap

3 Water outlet

4 Conveying line

5 Line for plain tap water

6 Line for treated water

7 Water treatment device

8 Water supply line

8.1 Supply line for cold water

8.2 Supply line for hot water

9 Operating unit that can be operated via contact

9.1 One-hand-operation lever

9.2 Rotary knob

10 Contactless operating unit

10.1 Contactless sensor

10.2 Contactless sensor (voice control means)

11 Control unit

11.1 Signal line

11.2 Signal line

11.3 Line for control signal

11.4 Line for control signal

12 Mixing unit

13 Control unit

13.1 Signal line

13.2 Signal line

13.3 Line for control signal

13.4 Line for control signal

14 Line for linking the control units

15 Water collection basin

18 Actuating member for tap water

19 Actuating member for treated water

20 Actuating member for tap water

21 Control unit for tap water

22 Operating unit for treated water

23 Mechanical overall operating unit

Claims (12)

Claims:

1.Sanitary fitting (1) for dispensing tap water and

treated water of at least one treatment type, in

particular in the form of filtered and/or boiling

and/or chilled and/or carbonated water and/or

water provided with additives and/or flavorings,

wherein:

• at least one control unit (11, 13, 21) is

provided for controlling the respective flow

of the tap water and/or of the treated water

and

• one operating unit (10) is provided for

contactlessly influencing at least one of the

water flows, in particular both water flows,

and for generating and passing on control

signals to at least one of the control units

(11, 13, 21).

2. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the

operating unit (10) is designed for contactlessly

influencing both water flows and is connected to

one of the control units (21) for controlling the

flow of the tap water and to a control unit (13)

for controlling the flow of the treated water in

order to forward control signals to the respective

control unit (13, 21).

3.Sanitary fitting (1) according to either of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the

contactless operating unit (10) has at least one sensor (10.1, 10.2), in particular an optical sensor (10.1), preferably an infrared sensor and/or a TOF sensor, and/or a motion detector and/or and/or an inductive sensor and/or capacitive sensor and/or a voice control means

(10.2).

4. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that, in

addition to the operating unit (10) for

contactless control, an operating unit (9, 22)

that can be operated via contact, in particular a

single lever mixer (9.1), is provided for

operating at least one of the water flows and for

generating control signals, wherein at least one

of the control units (11, 13) is designed to carry

out the control on the basis of the control

signals from the operating unit (9, 22) that can

be operated via contact, wherein, in particular,

the operating unit that can be operated via

contact has a further sensor.

5.Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that:

• both the operating unit and/or one of the

operating units (10) for contactless

influencing

• and the operating unit that can be operated

via contact and/or one of the operating units

that can be operated via contact

are provided for influencing the flow of the tap

water, in particular of cold water and/or hot water.

6. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that, when

control signals from operating units for

contactless influencing and operating units that

can be operated via contact are present at the

same time, at least one of the control units (11,

13, 21) is designed to prioritize one of the

operating units, in particular the operating unit

that can be operated via contact, and to control

the water flow on the basis of the control signals

from said operating unit that can be operated via

contact.

7. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that at least

one of the control units (11, 13, 21) is designed

to carry out the control by combining commands

from the contactless operating unit (10) and the

operating unit (9) that can be operated via

contact, in particular to execute a further

control function, preferably canceling or

establishing a safety lock, particularly

preferably when dispensing boiling water.

8. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that at least

one of the control units (11, 13) a hydraulic unit

for influencing one of the water flows or both

water flows is arranged within the fitting body

(2), in particular above a water collection basin

(15).

9.Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that a mixing

cartridge (12), in particular a cartridge with an

open output, and/or an actuating member (18)

are/is provided in order to premix the water to a

predefined temperature.

10. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the

operating unit that can be operated via contact

and/or the contactless operating unit (9, 10, 22)

are/is also designed for exerting a further

control function, preferably canceling or

establishing a safety lock, particularly

preferably when dispensing boiling water.

11. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that the at

least one sensor (9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 10.2) is

designed to that various functions of the

operating logic of the fitting are actuated by

combining the control signals and/or different use

of the sensor, in particular by signals tripped

for different lengths of time.

12. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the

preceding claims, characterized in that at least

one of the following treatment devices (7) is

provided in order to establish one of the

treatment types:

• a boiler for producing hot, in particular

boiling, water and/or

• a chilling device for producing chilled water

and/or

• a carbonator for producing carbonated water,

wherein in particular the carbonator is

connected downstream of the chilling device

and/or

• a filter device for filtering water and/or

• a device for adding substances, in particular

flavorings.