DE102021207857A1 - Plumbing faucet for dispensing hot water and method for starting hot water dispensing from a plumbing faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

A sanitary fitting for dispensing hot water has an operating device (8) which is equipped with two electrical operating elements (10, 14). Both controls (10, 14) must be actuated to start dispensing hot water. The operating device (8) also has two separate control devices (12, 16), each of which is assigned one of the two operating elements (10, 14).

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of patent claim 11.

Such a sanitary fitting is from the publication DE 10 2015 15 042 A1 known. For a hot water issue of the sanitary fitting, the activation or release of a function key is first required. This is done by pressing an activation button in conjunction with exceeding a predetermined first minimum operating force and a first minimum operating time. The enabled function key must then be pressed for a second minimum operating time to start hot water dispensing with a predetermined, second minimum operating force.

The object of the invention is to improve the prior art mentioned.

This problem is solved by a sanitary fitting with the features of patent claim 1 . Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method which has the features of patent claim 11 . Advantageous configurations can be found in the dependent claims, either individually or in combination.

With the information “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction”, etc. are the when the sanitary fitting is used as intended and given positions and orientations given by an observer then standing in particular in front of the sanitary fitting and looking in the direction of the sanitary fitting.

The sanitary fitting can, for example, also be part of a household appliance or a beverage dispenser which is designed to dispense hot water to a user.

According to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, the operating device has two separate control devices, each of which is assigned to one of the two operating elements. Such a design requires increased safety with regard to the dispensing of hot water, which in particular has a temperature range of over 60°C. This safety aspect is also particularly advantageous when boiling water is dispensed, the temperature of which is in the range of approx. 100° C., depending on the presetting and/or altitude. An unintentional triggering of hot or boiling water, in which case there would be a great risk of burns or scalding for a user, is prevented by linking each of the two operating elements with a separate control device. In the event of a fault in one control device, no unintentional hot water dispensing can take place, since this also requires the release of the second control device. In addition, despite the high level of operational safety and system safety, this enables a simplified and thus user-friendly release procedure for the hot water dispensing compared to the prior art.

For hot water to be dispensed, each of the two controls must be actuated by the user. Incorrect operation by a user is also ruled out by the fact that the user has to operate both controls for hot water dispensing in a targeted manner and following a predetermined sequence. Even in the event of an electrical or electronic defect, it is impossible to start the hot water dispenser, e.g. if only one of the two control elements is operated, since each control element is assigned a separate control device. Accordingly, a control device alone cannot release any hot water output. If there are two control devices, each of the two control devices can check the signal of the respective other control device for plausibility and, if the signal is implausible, prevent hot water from being dispensed. In the event of an error, a visual or acoustic error message is preferably output to the user. A plausibility check can, for example, include continuous operation or ambiguous signal values of the own and/or the other control device. For example, a control element designed as a capacitive touch button can be continuously actuated if it is covered with splashing water.

There is preferably a further control device which monitors the two control devices assigned to the operating elements and, if necessary, outputs a corresponding triggering signal to an electric valve arrangement. The control devices can be housed individually in separate housings, but they can also be arranged within a common housing, but there as circuit boards or structural units that are separate from one another. The sanitary fitting is in particular a kitchen fitting which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of a sink. The two operating elements are designed separately and are arranged separately from one another. The two operating elements are operated in particular sequentially, that is to say one after the other. After successful operation of the two control elements, the hot water is switched off task by a corresponding control of the valve assembly, which has at least one electrically controllable valve.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the two control devices has a microprocessor. This enables the integration of other safety-relevant factors, such as the requirement for a minimum operating time or the sensory detection of other safety conditions. Such a further safety condition can be, for example, the detection of a body temperature (e.g. finger temperature). If a further control device is provided, which is designed to control a valve arrangement, then this can likewise have its own microprocessor. This then checks the signals of the two control devices assigned to the operating elements for their plausibility. Only when this is the case is a corresponding hot water output triggered by the activation of electrically controllable valves in the valve arrangement. In the event of a lack of plausibility, hot water dispensing is refused and a warning signal may be issued for the user. The warning signal can be issued, for example, via a touchscreen assigned to the sanitary fitting, by a backlit control element flashing, or by app-based user information in the form of a warning message.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that at least one of the operating elements, but in particular both operating elements, is/are arranged away from a fitting body of the sanitary fitting. This results in the advantage that the operating elements can be arranged in an area which enables a user to operate them comfortably and safely. The faucet body is provided for water supply by means of internal water channels or water lines and also has an outlet for dispensing water to the user. With regard to right-handers, for example, at least one of the operating elements can be arranged on the front right of the fitting body. The positioning can be, for example, to the right of a water basin, in particular a sink, arranged in front of or below the fitting body. In addition, there is the possibility of arranging the operating elements away from an area that is particularly at risk from splashing water and/or dirt.

It is preferred if the two operating elements are designed without moving components. For example, the operating elements do not require a lifting or traversing path for operation, they are rigid and immovable. This increases the wear resistance of the operating elements and thus ensures additional operational safety, which is also given after a long period of operation. The operating elements therefore have no moving parts and are designed, for example, as a touch screen or touch screen, or as a capacitive, inductive or optical touch button. Non-contact operating controls in the sense of a proximity sensor or a gesture detection unit can also be used. In this context, control elements that function on the basis of piezo or ultrasound are also regarded as control elements free of moving components, since the movement variables are so small that they hardly reduce the wear resistance and thus the operational reliability.

At least one of the operating elements is preferably designed to be virtual and, in particular, is part of a touchscreen. This increases the flexibility in the design of the control element and a safety-critical state of the control device can also be displayed. This can be done, for example, by a virtual, red flashing button that is displayed on the touchscreen. After eliminating the safety-critical state, this virtual button can be displayed in green and released for operation accordingly. Further virtual operating options can be a gesture sensor, a light barrier or an ultrasonic sensor.

In order to enable particularly safe and obvious operation, one of the operating elements is preferably designed as a separate, in particular backlit, touch button. This button works e.g. on a capacitive, optical or inductive basis and is arranged at a distance from the other control element. The distance between the two operating elements is preferably between 0.5 and 10 cm, in particular between 1 and 3 cm. In order to display the control element, in particular an active state of the control element, it has lighting or backlighting. A backlit mask, which has a corresponding symbol, can show a user that the control element is ready for operation. The symbol can, for example, be in the form of an arrow or "START" lettering. In an advantageous embodiment, this operating element is not visible or only barely visible to a user of the sanitary fitting when it is inactive or not activated, as a result of which the user immediately recognizes inactivity of the operating element.

A further control element arranged on a fitting body of the sanitary fitting is preferably provided, which is designed to immediately end a running hot water delivery upon actuation. This is an additional Security for the hot water operation of the sanitary fitting created by the user being able to terminate the hot water operation at any time directly on the fitting body and preferably near a water outlet. The control element is further preferably designed as a sensor control element in the form of a touch-sensitive control element, which works, for example, on an infrared, inductive, ultrasonic or capacitive basis. If no hot water is being dispensed, this operating element can preferably be used to start and stop a mixed water dispensing which includes warm, lukewarm or cold water. This additional control element is preferably the only control element attached to the body of the fitting. This operating element is connected to one of the two control devices, which are assigned to the two electrical operating elements, via an electrical control line. Alternatively, the control line is connected to a further control device which controls a valve arrangement.

In an advantageous embodiment, this further operating element is arranged in front of an outlet of the sanitary fitting. This is to be understood in relation to a vertical plane to a user standing in front of the sanitary fitting and looking at it. The additional control element is therefore closer to the user than the spout. By arranging the control element in front of the outlet of the sanitary fitting, the user has a very short way to end the hot water delivery, since his hands are most likely in the area of the outlet of the sanitary fitting anyway at the time of the hot water delivery. In addition, the dangerous situation is avoided in which the user, in order to deactivate the hot water output, has to grasp a hot water jet emerging from the spout to operate an operating element that may be arranged behind it, but possibly touches it inadvertently. The outlet is arranged in a front area of a fitting body of the sanitary fitting.

For the preferred safety aspect of a time-sequential operation, a time value for a minimum actuation time is stored in a memory of the control device, which forms a basis for the specified, time-sequential operation of the two operating elements. For the user, this means that, for the desired hot water output, e.g. the first operating element must be operated for a minimum operating time before the second operating element is enabled or displayed and offered for operation. The predetermined period of time for operating the first operating element is preferably between two and five seconds.

In order to give the user an understanding of the above-mentioned period of time in terms of its progression and a remaining period of time, the operating device advantageously has a progress display which shows the user that the minimum activation period has elapsed, in particular in the form of a progress bar. The progress bar can be shown in a display assigned to the operating device. This progress bar may be an empty, essentially rectangular, box that fills in proportionately as time elapses. The progress indicator can also be a ring-shaped symbol that is filling up. Alternatively, it can also be embodied as a symbol that dissolves or completes as time progresses, for example in the form of a lock. The progress display is preferably displayed on a touchscreen of the operating device, which at the same time provides one of the two operating elements virtually.

• -- Betätigen eines ersten, von einer ersten Steuereinrichtung überwachten, elektrischen Bedienelements;
• -- Betätigen eines zweiten, von einer zweiten Steuereinrichtung überwachten elektrischen Bedienelements;
• -- Starten einer Heißwasser-Ausgabe an der Sanitärarmatur.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for starting hot water dispensing on a sanitary fitting, comprising the following steps:

• -- Actuating a first, monitored by a first control device, electrical operating element;
• -- Actuating a second, monitored by a second control device electrical operating element;
• -- Start a hot water output at the sanitary fitting.

This method enables hot water to be dispensed from the sanitary fitting, in which it is ensured that a faulty control element or a faulty control device of the control element cannot lead to the unintentional triggering of hot water dispensing, since at least the other control element has to be actuated for this. In addition, the control device of one operating element can detect the faultiness of the other operating element or its assigned control device and thus block hot water dispensing. If an error is determined to be present, a corresponding message can be issued to the user. The latter can then, for example, inform customer service and initiate a corresponding repair. If necessary, a continuous operation is recognized as the cause of the error, and the user is only asked to remove splashing water from the control element concerned. In the case of capacitive operating controls in particular, wetting the operating element with spray water can lead to an error.

The dispensing of hot water is preferably started by a further control device which receives and checks the signals from the first and the second control device and forwards a corresponding control signal to a valve arrangement. The valve arrangement comprises at least one electrically controllable valve, which controls the hot water output at the sanitary fitting. However, the valve arrangement preferably comprises two electrically controllable valves which must be activated for hot water to be dispensed. To activate it, the further control device has two safety circuits that are separate from one another and are each controlled by signals from the first or second control device. The hot water dispensing itself can be time-limited and/or terminated immediately by briefly pressing one of the two control elements. Provision can also be made for a further operating element to be arranged on the body of the fitting, with which the hot water output can advantageously also be ended at any time.

For safe operation, it is preferred if the second control element is displayed visibly for a user and released for actuation only after a specified minimum actuation time of the first control element has been exceeded. This provides additional security and avoids unintentional hot water dispensing. Such an operating sequence can also be used as a child safety device.

The second operating element is preferably displayed for a limited period of time. It can only be operated by the user within this period of time. It can be actuated by touching the visible control element or, for example, without contact by approaching the visible control element. This period of visibility is preferably between 3 and 10, in particular 5 seconds.

In order to increase the ease of use, the second control element can be activated or remain activated for a certain period of time immediately after the end of the hot water delivery and the hot water delivery can thus be restarted within this period of time when it is actuated. During this period of time, the otherwise preferably unilluminated or largely invisible operating element is highlighted accordingly, e.g. by illumination using electroluminescence. This period of time is more preferably between three and ten, in particular 5 seconds. Provision can be made for the second control element to remain visible and enabled for the duration of the hot water dispensing and after it has ended.

Advantages and features that have been and will be described with regard to the sanitary fitting apply—insofar as applicable—correspondingly to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung der Sanitärarmatur;
• 2 eine Detaildarstellung eines Touchscreens in einer verriegelten Situation;
• 3 eine Detaildarstellung des Touchscreens in einer freigegebenen Situation und
• 4 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Freigabeprozesses für eine Heißwasser-Ausgabe.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of the sanitary fitting;
• 2 a detail view of a touchscreen in a locked situation;
• 3 a detailed representation of the touch screen in a released situation and
• 4 a flow chart of a release process for a hot water output.

Elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

1 shows a schematic representation of the sanitary fitting with a fitting body 2, an outlet 4 and a mounting base 6. The fitting body 2 is designed as a hollow body and consists of brass with an outer protective layer of chrome. Two water lines (not shown) and an electrical line 5 are arranged in the cavity. The two water pipes end in the outlet 4, which is designed essentially as an aerator or aerator. The electrical line 5 is connected to a sensor operating element 22 which is located on a front side of the fitting body 2 facing the user. The fitting body 2 is attached to a kitchen worktop or to a flange of a sink integrated into the kitchen worktop (neither shown) by means of the mounting foot 6 . The sensor operating element 22 is designed to be actuated by touching or approaching a finger 49 of an operator's hand 48 of a user standing in front of the fitting body 2 . The sensor control element 22 is part of a control device 8 which also includes a touchscreen 10 and a start button 14 . A control device 12 is assigned to the touch screen 10 or is electrically connected thereto. The start button 14 is correspondingly assigned a control device 16 and the two control devices 12 and 16 are electrically connected to a further control device 20 which is designed to control a valve arrangement 18 . The sensor control element 22 is included likewise connected to the control device 20 in terms of signaling via the electrical line 5 .

The valve arrangement 18 comprises a plurality of electrically controllable valves (not shown), which are assigned to a mixed water line 24 and a special water line 26 on the output side. The mixed water line 24 and the special water line 26 each lead from the valve assembly 18 to the fitting body 2 and then inside the fitting body 2 to the outlet 4. You can use the valve assembly 18 to supply different types of water, such as hot water, warm water, chilled water or filtered water be assigned to. A cold water supply line 28, like a hot water supply line 30, opens into the valve arrangement 18. The cold water supply line 28 and the hot water supply line 30 are fed by a domestic water network. The connection to the house water network can be made, for example, by means of flexible water pipes via corner valves located in the kitchen. The cold water supply line 28 has a branch, which in each case provides a water supply for a boiler 32 and a chiller 36 via a filter 40 .

A boiling water line 34 leads from the boiler 32 to the valve assembly 18. Correspondingly, a cooling water line 38 leads from the chiller 36 to the valve assembly 18 is still directly connected to the valve assembly 18. Within the valve arrangement 18, prompted by the control device 20 and by means of several electrically controllable valves, the special water line 26 is assigned either the water from the boiling water line 34, the water from the cooling water line 38, or the water from the filtered water line 42. The corresponding dispensing of water is initiated by the user by means of a corresponding entry on the touchscreen 10, with the actuation of the start button 14 also being required for dispensing boiling water or hot water. The corresponding water is then issued via the outlet 4 for use. Alternatively, the mixed water line 24 is fed with a corresponding mixed water from the cold water supply line 28 and the hot water supply line 30, which is mixed in the valve arrangement 18 and also output via the outlet 4 for use. The touch screen 10 is provided for the basic operation of the sanitary fitting. It is also, like the start button 14, in connection with the control devices 12 and 16, that part of the operating device 8 which must be operated to dispense hot water.

2 shows a simplified representation of the touchscreen 10 and the start button 14 arranged behind it and initially not visible to a user. The touchscreen 10 is rectangular and arranged in portrait format with respect to a user standing in front of it. The touch screen 10 has a lock icon 44 which is displayed as a padlock on the touch screen of the touch screen 10 . A progress display 46 is arranged below the lock symbol 44, which is designed as an elongated bar display and extends essentially transversely to the viewing direction of the user. The bar display is initially designed as an empty rectangle. If the user now touches the locking symbol 44 with a finger 49 of his operator hand 48, the progress indicator 46, and thus the empty rectangle, begins to fill up analogously to the duration of the touch. After a minimum touch time T1 stored in the control device 12 has elapsed, the bar of the progress display 46 is completely filled and the start button 14 becomes visible to a user and is therefore also enabled for operation.

3 now shows the portion of the operating device 8 with the touchscreen 10 and the start button 14 in a state in which the start button 14 is activated and enabled for operation. The lock symbol 44 is now shown as an open padlock and the progress indicator 46 shows the completely filled bar. The start button 14 arranged behind the touchscreen 10 is designed as a circular touch button, which is now visible to the user due to backlighting with an electroluminescent element. This backlighting takes place, for example, by means of a light-emitting diode (not shown). A corresponding foil (not shown) that is partially transparent with respect to the backlighting marks the circular boundary of the start button 14 and shows the user information 50 in the form of “START” lettering.

The start button 14 is designed as a capacitive button. If the user touches the enabled start button 14 with his finger 49, hot water dispensing is started immediately at the sanitary fitting. The control device 16 assigned to the start button 14 detects that the start button 14 has been touched and forwards this information to the control device 20 of the valve arrangement 18 . In addition, the control device 16 keeps the start button 14 in the active state for a limited period of time T2. Within this period of time T2, the user can activate the hot water delivery. If there is no corresponding activation by the user, the start button 14 is deactivated and accordingly made invisible for a user by ending the backlighting. If the user touches the start button 14 during the time period T2, hot water dispensing is started and the control device 16 waits for a signal from the control device 20 that the hot water output has ended. This can be done, for example, by touching the touchscreen 10 or by touching the sensor operating element 22 . When the hot water is dispensed, the control device 16 starts an after-run period T3, for which the start button 14 continues to be released for operation and is correspondingly illuminated. As a result, the user of the sanitary fitting has the option, after the end of dispensing hot water, to start it again immediately without a new release procedure. The time period T3 is preferably 5 seconds. If the start button 14 is not touched during this time, the start button 14 reverts to the locked state and the release sequence must be restarted.

4 shows, with steps 100-260, a corresponding sequence program for dispensing hot water at the sanitary fitting. Process step 100 is marked as start and describes the active system of the sanitary fitting. This state is given as soon as the sanitary fitting is connected to a power supply, which is the norm. Process step 110 is the query as to whether the lock symbol 44 on the touch screen 10 is touched. By means of a return loop, interrogation is carried out until contact is detected, for example by a finger 49 of the operator's hand 48 . When a touch is recognized, the minimum actuation time T1 is read out with sequence step 120 in the control device 12 of the touchscreen 10 and a corresponding countdown is started. Similar to the minimum actuation time that is running, this is displayed in the progress display 46, represented by the sequence step 130. In the sequence step 140, a check is always made as to whether the locking symbol 44 is still being touched. If this is not the case, the progress display 46 in the touchscreen 10 is reset to the initial state and the program is reset to the sequence step 110 . If, however, the locking symbol is still touched, a check is carried out in a sequence step 150 as to whether the time period T1 has expired or whether the corresponding countdown is at zero. If this is not the case, then the progress display 46 is updated via a return loop to process step 130 .

If the period of time T1 has expired, a release signal is transmitted to the control device 16 in step 160 by the control device 12 or the control device 20, as a result of which the start button 14 is visible to the user and activated accordingly. In step 170 the controller 16 starts a countdown with a limited time duration T2, which determines the release time and visibility of the start button 14. Sequence step 180 checks whether the limited period of time T2 has expired and if so, the operating device 8 of the sanitary fitting is reset by jumping back to sequence step 110 in the sequence program. If the period of time T2 has not expired, a check is made as to whether the start button 14 has been touched by the operator's hand 48 or his finger 49 . If this is not the case, the process jumps back to step 180. If contact has occurred, the hot water delivery is started in process step 200 in that the control device 16 forwards a corresponding signal to the control device 20, which controls the corresponding valves of the valve arrangement 18 for the hot water delivery.

Process step 210 checks an end of output, which can be done, for example, by a user input 220 on the touchscreen 10 or on the sensor control element 22. As an alternative or in addition, the end of output can be triggered by a time limit 230 that is stored in the control device 20 . After the hot water has been dispensed, a countdown with a run-on time T3 is started in a sequence step 240 in the control device 16, within which the start button 14 is correspondingly released and activated, or remains. Process step 250 checks whether the user is touching the start button 14 . If this is the case, the process jumps back to process step 200, which causes a new hot water output. If the user does not touch the start button 14, a check is carried out in step 260 to determine whether the run-on time T3 has expired. If no, a jump is made back to process step 250. If so, the program sequence is correspondingly reset to the start or sequence step 110 and the complete release procedure, which starts with sequence step 110, is now necessary again for a corresponding hot water output.

Reference List

2

faucet body

4

outlet

5

electrical line

6

mounting foot

8th

operating device

10

touch screen

12

control device touch screen; first controller

14

start button

16

control device start button; second controller

18

valve assembly

20

Control device valve assembly

22

additional control element; sensor control

24

mixed water pipe

26

special water pipe

28

Cold water inlet pipe

30

Hot water supply line

32

boiler

34

boiling water pipe

36

chillers

38

cooling water line

40

filter

42

filter water line

44

lock icon

46

progress indicator

48

operator hand

49

finger

50

Notice

100-260

process step

T1

minimum duration of operation

T2

limited period of time

T3

run-on duration

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 10201515042 A1 [0002]

Claims (14)

Sanitary fitting for dispensing hot water, with an operating device (8) which has two electrical operating elements (10, 14), both of which must be actuated to start dispensing hot water, characterized in that the operating device (8) has two separate control devices (12 , 16), each of which is assigned one of the two operating elements (10, 14). Sanitary fittings claim 1 , characterized in that each of the two control devices (12, 16) has a microprocessor. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the operating elements (10, 14), in particular both operating elements (10, 14) is/are arranged away from a fitting body (2). Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two operating elements (10, 14) are designed without moving components. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the operating elements (10, 14) is designed virtually and is in particular at least part of a touch screen (10). Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the operating elements (10, 14) is designed as a separate touch button (14), in particular one that can be backlit. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further operating element (22) is arranged on a fitting body (2) of the sanitary fitting, which, when actuated, immediately terminates ongoing hot water delivery. Sanitary fittings claim 7 , characterized in that the further operating element (22) is arranged in front of an outlet (4) of the sanitary fitting. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a time value for a minimum actuation time (T1) is stored in a memory of the control device (12, 16), which forms the basis for a predetermined, time-sequential operation of the two operating elements (10, 14). . Sanitary fittings claim 9 , characterized in that the operating device has a progress display (46) which shows the user that the minimum activation time T1 has elapsed, in particular in the form of a progress bar. Method for starting a hot water delivery at a sanitary fitting, comprising the following steps: -- actuating a first, monitored by a first control device (12), electrical operating element (10); -- Actuating a second, monitored by a second control device (16), electrical operating element (14); -- Start a hot water output at the sanitary fitting. procedure after claim 11 , characterized in that the second control element (14) is displayed visible to a user and released for actuation only after a specified minimum actuation time (T1) of the first control element (10) has been exceeded. procedure after claim 12 , characterized in that the second control element (14) for a limited period of time (T2) is displayed visible. Procedure according to one of Claims 11 - 13 , characterized in that immediately after the end of the hot water delivery, the second operating element (14) is activated or remains activated for a period of time (T3) and thus the hot water delivery within the period of time (T3) is activated immediately when it is actuated.

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