CN111512000A

CN111512000A - Fitting for sanitary equipment

Info

Publication number: CN111512000A
Application number: CN201880082612.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·奥布瑞斯特; J·兰特
Original assignee: Oblamatik AG
Current assignee: Oblamatik AG
Priority date: 2017-12-20
Filing date: 2018-12-20
Publication date: 2020-08-07
Also published as: EP3692218A1; WO2019122066A1; US20200385967A1; CH714478A2

Abstract

An accessory for a sanitary installation, comprising a control unit (1) and at least one sanitary element (2) controlled by the control unit (1), wherein the accessory comprises at least one vibration detector (3) for detecting ambient vibrations (S), wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is connected with the control unit (1) via a data channel (4), wherein a setting of the at least one sanitary element (2) can be changed on the basis of the ambient vibrations (S).

Description

Fitting for sanitary equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to an accessory for a sanitary fitting, in particular for a sanitary fitting having an adjustable sanitary element.

Background

Fittings known from the prior art have infrared sensors, capacitive sensors or temperature sensors, wherein the sensor signals are used to control sanitary elements, such as taps or toilet flushing devices. Such sensors may be used only to a limited extent. For example, in the case of an infrared sensor, the light path between the light source and the infrared sensor must be blocked in order to be able to generate a corresponding signal, and therefore the sensor (for example in the case of a water tap) must be arranged directly at the water outlet. Capacitive sensors are sensitive to temperature and produce different signals at different temperatures under the same conditions. In essence, temperature sensors are sensitive to temperature. Furthermore, these sensors can only monitor a small range, i.e. can only be used in a very local range.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an accessory for a sanitary fixture which is insensitive to temperature and can be used to monitor a greater range.

This object is achieved by a fitting having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments of the fitting, the fitting arrangement and the method of changing the setting of the sanitary element in the fitting according to the invention are defined by the features of the further claims.

The fitting for a sanitary fitting according to the invention comprises a control unit and at least one sanitary element, which can be controlled by the control unit. The accessory comprises at least one vibration detector for detecting ambient vibrations, which at least one vibration detector is connected with the control unit via a data channel, the setting of the at least one sanitary element being changeable on the basis of the ambient vibrations. The vibration detector is a robust detector that operates reliably and is not susceptible to interference. Such detectors may detect sound and then convert the sound into an electrical signal. Structural sound or sound transmitted through the air can be detected.

In one embodiment, the at least one vibration detector is a piezoelectric detector or a strain gauge. These detectors are commercially available, readily available and inexpensive.

In one embodiment, the fitment includes two, three, or more sanitary elements. A plurality of different vibrations can be detected with one detector and those vibrations are evaluated with a control unit. This allows control of several sanitary elements. For example, the detector may detect that the user wants to change the setting of a certain sanitary element.

In one embodiment, at least one supply line is connected upstream of at least one sanitary element and at least one discharge line is connected downstream of at least one sanitary element. This allows a flexible combination of the line with the sanitary element. For example, several supply lines may each comprise a sanitary element, and each discharge line leads to a common discharge line. The sanitary elements can be controlled separately or simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the accessory includes two, three, or more vibration detectors. More complex vibrations can be recorded and evaluated using several detectors. This makes it possible to recognize that the user not only wants to simply open/close the sanitary element, but also wants to slightly or continuously change the setting of the sanitary element. Thus, the change of the sanitary element setting can be initiated by the control unit.

In one embodiment, the at least one vibration detector is arranged on the at least one supply line and/or on the at least one sanitary element, or the at least one vibration detector is arranged at a distance from the at least one line and/or the at least one sanitary element. Both arrangements have their advantages. If the vibration detector is arranged on the pipeline or on the sanitary element, the vibration detector may collect vibrations of the body transmitted via the pipeline or the sanitary element. The structure sound is only slightly attenuated during transmission. The extent of the line or sanitary element requires less space if the detector is arranged at a distance from the line and/or the sanitary element. This is advantageous in narrow spaces.

In one embodiment, the sanitary element may be selected from the group consisting of: valves, pumps and fans. The valve may be, for example, a valve for a liquid, such as water, disinfectant or soap, or may be a valve for a gas, such as air. Conduits for cold, hot, boiling, mineral or other beverages may be provided, each having a respective valve, each valve being openable or closable by the control unit. It is also possible to open or narrow the valve slightly more, which has already been slightly opened. It is also possible that the valve is caused to open by the user and that the control unit automatically closes the valve after a predetermined time. Different times for different media may be stored in the control unit. If the sanitary element is a pump, the liquid can be pumped out of the container automatically. These liquids may be, for example, beverages, disinfectants or soaps that have been filled into containers. The activation of the pump is initiated by the user. The stopping of the pump may also be specified by the user or performed by the control unit. The same applies if the sanitary element is a fan or ventilator. In addition to liquids, gases, such as air, may be pumped. It is also possible to activate the heating unit simultaneously with the fan, which means that hot air can be generated. Combinations of the above multiple elements or combinations of all of the elements are also possible.

In one embodiment, the control unit and the vibration detector are designed to detect whether a user is present in a predetermined area of the environment and thus to change the setting of a particular sanitary element. For example, when it is identified that the user is in the first zone, the setting of the first sanitary element is changed; and changing the setting of the second or third sanitary element when it is registered that the user is in the second or third zone.

The above-described embodiments of the fittings may be used in any combination as long as they do not interfere with each other.

The fitting arrangement according to the invention comprises a sanitary fitting and the aforementioned fitting, the vibration detector and the sanitary fitting being arranged at a distance from one another. Due to this design, the vibration detector is independent of the sanitary fixture, which allows different sanitary fixtures to use the accessory.

In one embodiment, the sanitary device may for example be selected from the group of: wash basins, shower stalls, bathtubs, soap dispensers, lotion dispensers, disinfectant dispensers, hand dryers, hair dryers, toilets, and urinals.

In one embodiment, the accessory device further comprises a sound generator arranged at a distance from the accessory. For example, the sound generator is a piece of soundchip or a device capable of emitting a predetermined characteristic sound signal. Two, three or more sound generators may also be provided, which sound generators may emit different sound signals.

According to the invention, a method of changing the setting of a sanitary element in the above-mentioned fitting comprises the following steps:

-detecting ambient vibrations using the at least one vibration detector;

-generating a vibration signal using the at least one vibration detector;

-transmitting the vibration signal to the control unit using the data channel; and

-changing the setting of the sanitary element based on the transmitted vibration signal using the control unit.

In one embodiment, changing the setting may be selected from the group consisting of: fully and partially opening or closing a valve, opening or closing a pump or a fan, and increasing or decreasing the volume flow of the medium delivered by the valve, pump or fan.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary side view of a fitting having a vibration detector spaced from a drain line in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary side view of the fitting of FIG. 1 with two controllable sanitary elements and a common discharge line;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary side view of the fitting of FIG. 2 with another controllable sanitary element and another discharge line, and a vibration detector arranged on the discharge line; and

fig. 4 shows an exemplary front view of another fitting with three discharge lines.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary side view of a fitting according to the invention with a vibration detector 3 separated from a discharge line 6. The fitting comprises a control unit 1, a controllable sanitary element 2, a vibration detector 3, a data channel 4, wherein the control unit 1 is electrically operable with the sanitary element 2 and the vibration detector 3, for example via the data channel 4, and electrical signals can be transmitted via the data channel 4. The data channel 4 can be implemented using a cable or wirelessly. The components of the accessory may be supplied with electrical power from a power source, which is not shown in the figures. For example by a power connection or a battery. The vibration detector 3 may detect the ambient vibrations 5, convert the ambient vibrations 5 into electrical signals and then transmit the electrical signals to the control unit 1 for evaluation. The setting of the sanitary element 2 can be changed on the basis of the evaluated signal. A fluid, such as for example a liquid or a gas, can be supplied to the sanitary element 2 via a supply line 5 and can be removed from the sanitary element 2 via a discharge line 6.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary side view of the fitting of fig. 1, in which there are two controllable sanitary elements 2 and a common discharge line 6. In each case one supply line 5 leads to one of the sanitary elements 2. For example, the two lines are a cold water line and a hot water line. The two lines connected to the discharge side of the sanitary element merge in a common discharge line 6. The mixing temperature and flow rate of the water in the drain line can be set by adjusting the two sanitary elements. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected to each of the two sanitary elements 2.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary side view of the fitting of fig. 2, in which there is a further controllable sanitary element 21 and a further discharge line 60, as well as a

vibration detector

3, 30 arranged on the discharge line. Unlike the fitting of fig. 2, the vibration detector 3 is arranged directly on the discharge line 6. Cold water and hot water may be supplied to the respective valves 20 via supply lines 5. The two lines extending from the two valves 20 merge to form the discharge line 6. For example, soap may be supplied to the pump 21 via another supply line 50 and discharged from the pump 21 to another discharge line 60. A further vibration detector 30 is arranged on the further discharge line 60. However, the further vibration detector 30 may also be arranged at a distance from the further discharge line 60. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected to all the sanitary elements, i.e. the two valves 20 and the pump 21. The

vibration detector

3, 30 is also electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 via a data channel 4, 40. If the result of the evaluation of the signal received by the control unit 1 shows that the user is in the region of the first discharge line, the control unit changes the setting of the valve accordingly. If the user is in the region of the second discharge line or other discharge lines, this can be judged by the control unit and the setting of the pump 21 can then be changed accordingly. For example, pumping of a predetermined amount of soap or sanitizer may be initiated.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary front view of another fitting with three

discharge lines

6, 60, 61. For example, the middle drain line 6 is a water spout, the left drain line 60 is a soap or sanitizer dispenser, and the right drain line 61 is a hand dryer. In the embodiment shown, a vibration detector 3 is provided which can detect which of the areas a, B, C in front of the accessory has the user or the user's hand. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors may be provided, which may detect in which region the user's hand is located separately or jointly. The detector or detectors 3 are also electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 by means of a data channel 4, the data channel 4 being electrically operatively connected to a corresponding sanitary element (not shown).

List of reference numerals

1 control unit 50 supply line

2 sanitary element 6 discharge line

20 valve 60 discharge line

21 pump 61 discharge line

22 blower 7 command element

3 vibration detector A area

30 vibration detector B area

4 data channel C region

40 data channel S vibration

5 supply line

Claims

1. An accessory for a sanitary installation, comprising a control unit (1) and at least one sanitary element (2) controlled by the control unit (1), characterized in that the accessory comprises at least one vibration detector (3) for detecting ambient vibrations (S), wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is connected with the control unit (1) via a data channel (4), wherein the setting of the at least one sanitary element (2) can be changed on the basis of the ambient vibrations (S).

2. An accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one vibration detector (3) is a piezoelectric detector or a strain gauge.

3. The fitting according to claim 1 or 2, comprising two, three or more sanitary elements (2).

4. Fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one supply line (5) is connected before the at least one sanitary element (2) and at least one discharge line (6) is connected after the at least one sanitary element (2).

5. An accessory according to any of the preceding claims, comprising two, three or more vibration detectors (3).

6. The fitting according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged on the at least one line (5, 6) and/or on the at least one sanitary element (2), or that the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged separately from the at least one line (5, 6) and/or the at least one sanitary element (2).

7. The fitting according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sanitary element (2) is selected from the group consisting of: a valve (20), a pump (21) and a fan (22).

8. The fitting according to claim 7, characterized in that the sanitary element (2) is designed for use with gas or liquid.

9. The fitting according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (1) and the vibration detector (3) are designed such that the control unit (1) and the vibration detector (3) detect whether a user is present in a predetermined area (a, B, C) in the environment and change the setting of a specific sanitary element (2) on the basis of the detection.

10. An accessory device comprising a sanitary fitting and an accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration detector (3) and the sanitary fitting are arranged at a distance from each other.

11. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the sanitary fixture is selected from the group consisting of: wash basins, shower stalls, bathtubs, soap dispensers, lotion dispensers, hand dryers, hair dryers, toilets and urinals.

12. The accessory device of claim 10 or 11, further comprising an acoustic generator disposed at a distance from the accessory.

13. A method of changing the setting of a sanitary element (2) in an accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising the steps of:

-detecting ambient vibrations (S) using the at least one vibration detector (3);

-generating a vibration signal using the at least one vibration detector (3);

-transmitting the vibration signal to the control unit (1) using the data channel (4); and

-changing the setting of the sanitary element (2) based on the transmitted vibration signal using the control unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the setting is selected from the group consisting of: fully and partially opening or closing a valve, opening or closing a pump or a fan, and increasing or decreasing the volume flow of a medium delivered by the pump or the fan.