DE202019001612U1 - Water distribution device with embedded in a rigid foam water pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

Water distribution device (1) comprising a water pipe (2), at least one water inlet (3) ready for connection and at least two water outlets (3) ready for connection, the water inlet (s) (3) and water outlets (3) into the water pipe open, characterized in that the water pipe 2 is at least partially embedded in a hard foam (4).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a water distribution device comprising a water pipe, at least one water inlet ready for connection and at least two water outlets ready for connection. The invention also relates to a use of the water distribution device.

Background of the invention

Water distributors are known from the prior art which have a water inlet and a plurality of water outlets. These can be installed loosely, for example under a sink, or fixed with suitable fasteners. Such water distributors are suitable, for example, for distributing filter water.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to provide an improved water distribution device. In particular, the installation of the water distribution device should be facilitated

Inventive solution

The reference numbers in all claims have no limiting effect, but are only intended to improve their readability.

The solution of the problem is achieved by a water distribution device (hereinafter also referred to as "WVV") with the features of claim 1. The WVV invention comprises a water pipe, at least one ready for connection water inlet and at least two ready for connection water outlets, the or the water inlets / outlets and the water outlets into the water pipe open. The water pipe is at least partially embedded in a hard foam.

The invention is preferably suitable for distributing drinking water, in particular for distributing filtered drinking water. The invention is particularly suitable for drinking water installations, in particular in the house, especially in the vicinity of a sink. The plurality of water outlets advantageously allows the connection of many devices without the use of tees, which make the drinking water installation otherwise confusing, aesthetically unsatisfactory and susceptible to damage.

For the purposes of the invention, water of the WVV can flow through a water inlet and drain from it via a water outlet. For the purposes of the invention, water can flow from a water inlet via the water line to the water outlet. The prepared for connection water inlets and outlets can be designed substantially identical to each other, that is, they are structurally suitable both as a water inlet and as a water outlet.

For the purposes of the invention, a water pipe is a rigid or flexible element that can carry water. A water pipe is for example a pipe or pipe piece or a hose or a combination of pipes and hoses. The water pipe can contain branches. Branches are realized, for example, by tees to which pipes or hoses are connected.

For the purposes of the invention, "ready for connection" means that the relevant water inlet or water outlet is not yet connected to a water pipe or a device, eg. B. a water-conducting household appliance is connected. In this case, "ready for connection" does not exclude that preparations must still be made at the respective water inlet or water outlet. Thus, it may be necessary, for example, first to remove a cap or attach an adapter piece or to make another preparation to connect a designated water pipe or a device. Preferably water connections or water outlets of the WVV that are ready for connection are still accessible even when the WVV is installed.

Under water household appliances are understood devices that have at least one water connection. Such devices are available for private or professional use. Water-bearing domestic appliances are used, for example, for drinking water treatment and in this case have a drinking water inlet and a drinking water outlet. These include, for example, water filters, water softeners, carbonators and water coolers and hot water boiler. Appliances that consume drinking water have a drinking water inlet and usually also a used water outlet. These include, for example, dishwashers and washing machines as well as sinks with faucet and drain. Appliances that usually have no water outlet in the sense of a utility water drain are, for example, coffee machines, water dispensers, steam cleaners, garden hoses or lawn sprinklers.

The task is also solved by using the WW to connect a water filter to the water inlet or one of the water inlets of the WVV to provide filter water at the water outlets of the WVV.

A water filter is a device for changing the water quality by at least partially removing components of the water from the water. In most cases, particles contained in the water, such as suspended solids or microorganisms or substances dissolved in the water, are removed or their concentration lowered. For example, water filters serve to improve the smell and taste of the water and / or to reduce the degree of hardness of the water. The function of the water filter may for example be based on mechanical, physicochemical or biological effects or on a combination of several of the aforementioned effects. Filtered water is preferred because it has improved taste and avoids calcification of the attached equipment.

With the invention, time and cost savings are realizable. It is an achievable advantage of the invention that the number of individual components to be installed on site can be reduced. With the invention can be achieved that tests such. B. pressure tests can be carried out at least partially before installation on site. Achievable advantages of the invention may also consist in improved thermal insulation, improved protection against scalding and improved condensation protection. It is achievable that leakage water in the connection area of the WVV is led to the outside, whereby advantageously a moisture entry into the building in which the WVV is installed can be avoided.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims and the description below.

Preferably, the water pipe is substantially completely embedded in the hard foam. It is an achievable advantage of this embodiment of the invention that the water pipe can be effectively sound and heat insulated and / or protected against condensation. Preferably, the water inlet and water outlets protrude to the surface of the foam or beyond to be connected. Alternatively, the water inlets and outlets are fully embedded in rigid foam, with the exception of one opening, which makes the water inlet and water outlets accessible from outside the rigid foam.

The preferred rigid foam is a polymer foam, preferably it is polyurethane-containing or consists of polyurethane. Hereinafter, a polyurethane-containing or polyurethane-containing foam will be referred to as a PU foam. This embodiment of the invention can take advantage of the favorable acoustic and thermal insulation properties of PU foam, its ease of manufacture, and its durability. The PU foam according to the invention can be formed, for example, as a one-component PU foam or a two-component PU foam or a combination thereof. A preferred alternative to PU foam is a concrete or a concrete mix. Concrete and concrete mixtures are also subsumed in the context of the present invention under the generic term rigid foam, even if this may not correspond to general usage. This embodiment of the invention exploits the favorable sound and heat insulation properties of concrete and concrete mixtures, their ease of manufacture and their durability. The preferred concrete mixture is a lightweight concrete. A lightweight concrete is a concrete mix containing cavities forming lightweight aggregates. Suitable lightweight aggregates are, for example, pumice, expanded clay or expanded glass.

The preferred rigid foam is designed as a rigid foam block or rigid foam plate. The preferred hard foam block is cuboid, but may for example also be trapezoidal.

The dimensions of the hard foam are referred to below in descending order of the amounts of the dimensions as length, width and thickness. The preferred thickness is 100 mm (millimeters) or less, more preferably 80 mm or less, particularly preferably 75 mm or less, particularly preferably 70 mm or less, particularly preferably 60 mm or less, particularly preferably 50 mm or less. It is an achievable advantage of this design that it is particularly well suited for use with drywall wall systems that have a wall thickness, a profile thickness (the profile thickness is the wall thickness without planking), or a profile thickness plus thickness of the planking on a side of about 50 mm , 60 mm, 70 mm, 75 mm, 80 mm or 100 mm. In particular, a WVV with the preferred dimensions can be installed particularly well in a drywall stall wall.

Preferably, the width or the height of the rigid foam, particularly preferably both the width and the height, is 625 mm or less, more preferably 600 mm or less, particularly preferably 580 mm or less, particularly preferably 560 mm or less. An achievable advantage of this design is that it is particularly well suited for use with drywall wall systems that have a stand spacing of about 625 mm. In particular, a WW with the preferred dimensions can be particularly well installed in a drywall wall. More preferably, the width or the height of the rigid foam, particularly preferably both the width and the height, are each 313 mm or less, more preferably 290 mm or less, particularly preferably 270 mm or less, particularly preferably 250 mm or less. It is an achievable advantage of this design that it is particularly well suited for the installation of two WVV side by side in a drywall wall system, which have a stand distance of about 625 mm.

In a preferred WVV, the water inlet or water outlets are accessible from one end face or the end faces of the rigid foam block or hard foam board. Preferably, the water inlet and water outlets protrude to the surface of an end face or the end faces of the rigid foam block or the rigid foam plate or beyond. The end faces are the two side surfaces of the hard foam block or foam board with the largest surface area. The four other side surfaces of the block or plate will be referred to as edge sides in the following.

A WVV according to the invention may have in addition to the water inlet and outlet water according to the invention still further water inlet and outlet. However, particularly preferably, the WVV has no water inlet or water outlets (thus also including these other water inlets and exits), which are not accessible from an end face of the rigid foam block or the foam board or to the surface of a front side of the foam block or the foam board protrude or beyond. In another embodiment of the invention, the WW has one or more of the water inlets and outlets and / or one or more other water inlets or outlets accessible from one edge side of the foam block or rigid foam panel or to the surface of one edge side of the WVV or beyond.

Particularly preferably, the water inlet and water outlets are accessible from the same end face of the rigid foam block or rigid foam panel or project the water inlet and outlet to the same end face of the rigid foam block or rigid foam panel or beyond. Particularly preferably, the WVV has no (ie neither an inventive nor another) water inlet or outlet, which are accessible from another end face of the rigid foam block or rigid foam plate or up to the surface of another end face or beyond than any other (ie according to the invention or further) water inlet or outlet of WW.

For a preferred WVV, the sum of the number of water inlets and outlets is at least four. For example, the number of water inlets and outlets is exactly four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten. Most preferably, of these water inlet and outlet, only one is a water inlet and the other water outlets.

Preferably, one or more preferably, all of the water inlet and outlet water ports are or include ready-to-fit pipe fittings. Preferably, a piece of pipe, particularly preferably all pipe pieces are equipped with a ready for connection pipe thread. The pipe thread is preferably an internal thread, alternatively or additionally, an external thread may be provided. The nominal diameter of the preferred thread is 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the water inlet or outlet points, more preferably all of the water inlet and outlet ports have a connector ready for connection. A connector (also referred to as a "plug-in fitting") is a connection means for tool-free connection of a pipe or a hose, wherein the connection comprises a plug-in operation. Examples of suitable connectors are: "Speedfit" by John Guest, "3-fit-Push" by Sanha, "PushFit" by Gerberit, "Smartfix" by Wavin, "Multitubo" by DW Verbundrohr, "Alpex plus" by Frankische Rohrwerke, Uponor's "RTM fitting", "B Push" by IBP-Conex | Bänninger, "VSH Tectite" by Seppelfricke Armaturen and "Tecelogo" by Tece.

The invention also includes embodiments in which a valve is arranged between the water pipe and one or more of the water inlet and water outlets, for example a check valve, a throttle valve, a delay valve, a check valve or a pressure valve. Alternatively, the WVV according to the invention has no valve.

The preferred water pipe has at least one pipe or hose section with an inner diameter of 10 mm or more, more preferably 12 mm or more, particularly preferably 14 mm or more. The preferred inner diameter is 20 mm or less, more preferably 18 mm or less, particularly preferably 16 mm or less, for example, about 15 mm. Particularly preferably, the aforementioned dimensions apply to all pipe or hose section of the water pipe.

The preferred water conduit has at least one tube or tube section having an outer diameter of 11 mm or more, more preferably 13 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more. The preferred outer diameter is 21 mm or less, more preferably 19 mm or less, particularly preferably 17 mm or less, for example, about 16 mm. Particularly preferably, the aforementioned dimensions apply to all pipe or hose section of the water pipe.

In the preferred water pipe comprises on the one hand pipe or hose sections and on the other hand connecting members connected to the pipe or hose sections z. B. are connected by press fittings. One, several or all links may each include one or more water inlet and outlet, e.g. B. when the connecting member is formed as a tee or Eckabzweigung. Pipe sections are preferably multilayer composite pipes.

The preferred water pipe is a circular water pipe. For the purposes of the present invention, a circular water pipe is a self-contained water pipe, also referred to as a water pipe loop. The circular water pipe may be, for example, annular. The water pipe can also be non-circular, for example U-shaped. The preferred WVV has exactly one water pipe.

In addition to the water inlet and water outlets, the water pipe and the (optional, see above) valves, the WVV preferably has no further water-conducting components.

A preferred WVV has at least one, preferably two attachment plate (s) protruding from the rigid foam. The preferred mounting plate protrudes at least 10 mm, more preferably at least 20 mm, more preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 40 mm, z. B. 46 mm out of the hard foam out. Preferably, the mounting plate has at least one, more preferably several, for example, two, three or four through holes. In embodiments with two attachment plates, these are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the hard foam. In the case of a rigid foam block or rigid foam plate, they preferably protrude out of the edge sides of the block or plate.

The preferred mounting plate (s) extends parallel to an end face, more preferably parallel to both end faces of the rigid foam block. The preferred WVV includes an anchor fixedly secured to the mounting plate and enclosed in the hard foam. Particularly preferably, the anchor is made in one piece with the mounting plate. In the case of a plurality of fastening plates, each fastening plate preferably has an anchor. The preferred anchor extends in the rigid foam at an angle with respect to the plane of one, preferably both end faces of the rigid foam.

Preferably, the mounting plate (s) extends or extend in a plane with an end face of the rigid foam block, preferably with the front side facing away from the water inlet and water outlets.

Preferably, the width or the height of the WVV (ie including mounting plates), particularly preferably both the width and height of the WVV, each 625 mm or less, more preferably 600 mm or less, more preferably 580 mm or less, particularly preferably 560 mm or less. An achievable advantage of this design is that it is particularly well suited for use with drywall wall systems that have a stand spacing of about 625 mm. In particular, a WVV with the preferred dimensions can be installed particularly well in a drywall stall wall. More preferably, the width or the height of the rigid foam, particularly preferably both the width and the height, are each 313 mm or less, more preferably 290 mm or less, particularly preferably 270 mm or less, particularly preferably 250 mm or less. It is an achievable advantage of this design that it is particularly well suited for the installation of two WVV side by side in a drywall wall system, which have a stand distance of about 625 mm.

The WVV according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in the house. The preferred WVV has no pressure reducers. Preferably, the water to be distributed at a pressure of less than 8 bar, more preferably less than 5 bar at the one or more water inputs. The preferred WVV therefore designed so that water can be distributed at a pressure of less than 8 bar, more preferably less than 5 bar without damaging the WVV. A preferred WVV therefore does not include a pressure reducer. Particularly preferably, the WVV does not include safety valves. As a result, the advantage can be achieved that the WVV is cheaper. However, this does not exclude that a building-side water installation includes pressure reducers and / or safety valves.

In a preferred use of a WVV, the water to be distributed has a temperature of less than 20 degrees Celsius. Connected household appliances such as a water filter, a drinking water cooler, a carbonator or a coffee machine usually need to be charged with cold water. An achievable advantage is that the components of the WVV are conserved when used with cold water and therefore less susceptible to damage.

list of figures

Further advantageous embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to several embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which the invention is not limited.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung der WVV von oben;
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht der WVV;
• 3 die 1 mit perspektivischer Darstellung der Wasserein- und Wasserausgänge;
• 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht der WVV von hinten; und
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht der WVV von vorne

It shows schematically:

• 1 a schematic representation of the WVV from above;
• 2 a schematic side view of the WVV;
• 3 the 1 with perspective representation of the water inlet and outlet water;
• 4 a perspective view of the WVV from behind; and
• 5 a perspective view of the WVV from the front

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

The WVV shown in the figures 1 includes a circular closed circular water pipe 2 into the six identical water inlets and outlets ready for connection 3 thus, any of them may be considered to be water entrances according to the invention and any other than water exits. The water pipe 2 is completely in a block-shaped rigid foam block 4 embedded. The water pipe 2 runs essentially parallel to the planes of the end faces 5 and 6 the WVV.

The water inlet and outlet 3 stand out as in 2 at position 7 represented, about 2 mm above the surface of a front side 6 of the hard foam block 4 out. How best in 3 As can be seen, every water inlet and outlet is water 3 is equipped with a 3/8-inch internal thread. The representations of the water inlet and outlet 3 in 3 are shown exaggerated perspective for better clarity, in fact they project at right angles to the front sides 5 . 6 the hard foam block 4 to its surface and the already mentioned 2 mm beyond.

Like also in 3 To recognize, the water pipe sits down 2 from tees 8th and corner branches 9 together, through pipe sections 10 connected to each other. The tees 8th are equipped with press connection (double) and internal thread with the dimension ½ "The corner branches 9 are designed as an angle and also equipped with press connection (double) and internal thread with the dimension ½ " 10 are Mehrschickverbundrohre and have an inner diameter of about 15 mm and an outer diameter of about 16 mm. They are with the tees 8th and corner branches 9 by means of pressfittings of the measure 16 x ½ "connected.

The foam block 4 consists of PU foam. He is about 270 mm long, 200 mm wide (at 11 ) and 60 mm thick (at 12 ). The longitudinal edges of the water inlet and outlet side face 6 have a chamfer, so this face 6 only about 190 mm wide (at 13 ). The water inlet and outlet 3 are about 90 mm from their nearest neighbor spaced (at 14 ) and 45 mm from the edge (at 15 ). At the long edge sides 16 are mounting plates 17 arranged about 205 mm long (at 18 ) and 46 mm wide (at 19 ) are provided and each with four through holes, in particular for mounting in a drywall wall system. The mounting plates run in a plane with the rear, so facing away from the water inlet and water outlets, the WVV. Not shown, integral with the mounting plates anchor anchor at an angle of approximately 30 degrees into the foam block.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims (13)

Water distribution device (1) comprising a water pipe (2), at least one water inlet (3) ready for connection and at least two water outlets (3) ready for connection, the water inlet (s) (3) and water outlets (3) into the water pipe open, characterized in that the water pipe 2 is at least partially embedded in a hard foam (4). Water pipe device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the water pipe (2) is substantially completely embedded in the hard foam (4). Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hard foam (4) is polyurethane-containing or consists of polyurethane. Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid foam (4) is designed as a rigid foam block or rigid foam plate. Water distribution device (1) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the water inlet or water outlets (3) from an end face (6) of the rigid foam block (4) are accessible. Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water distribution device at least four water inlet and water outlets (3), which open into the water line (2) has. Water distribution device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water inlet and outlet (3) each have a ready for connection pipe thread. Water distribution device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that at least one of the water inlet and outlet (3) have ready for connection connector. Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pipe or hose sections of the water pipe (2) has an inner diameter of 10 millimeters or more. Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pipe or hose sections of the water pipe (2) has an outer diameter of 20 millimeters or less. Water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one of the hard foam (4) protruding mounting plate (17). Water distribution device (1) after Claim 11 , characterized in that the fastening plate (17) extends parallel to an end face (6) of the rigid foam block. Use of the water distribution device (1) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting a water filter to the water inlet (3) or one of the water inlets (3) to provide filter water at the water outlets (3).

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