DE8620719U1 - Thermostatic control device for heaters or heating units - Google Patents

Description

I)The invention relates to a thermal control device for heaters or heating units, with a temperature sensor, which has at least one dimension that can be changed depending on the temperature sensed and is held between a base housing fixed to the device and a rotating bin plate, with at least one electrical control heating element attached to the rotating bin plate for heating the temperature sensor above its ambient temperature, and with a power connection for the control heating element that leads to the adjuster via the rotating connection.

A fine thermostatic control device of this type is known from German patent application 34 41 605. One or more control or heating elements are used to reduce the temperature to be regulated as required or to completely stop the regulation by keeping the switch that controls the regulation or influences the temperature through its thermal expansion at a touch temperature that is above the room temperature. The heating elements required for this are so weak that their power consumption can be neglected even over the course of a year. The control can be made dependent on any process, in particular by adjusting an opening closure such as a window or a door, which triggers the switching on of the heating element or elements directly via a push button or via separate switching elements.

< > It is

(III t &igr; f

j I i Î · 4 I < i

If Il ti» »&Igr; ■

lli> 11II

till. Il Il

- ¹ S

However, since most control devices attached to a radiator valve or similar have a temperature control valve that controls the valve, it is necessary to also attach the heating elements to the radiator valve and to bridge the rotary connection with a suitable power supply.

According to the previous publication, this purpose is served by an “electrical tension cable” which is led from a supply unit through a “non-rotatable base housing” with loosely laid spiral fora via the” rotary connection to the rotary heating element mounted on the instellar B or to a heating unit made up of several heating elements.

Although the current path connections can in principle be set up permanently or formed by soldering, the loose spiral cable easily rubs against the edges of the non-rotatable device part during the usual setting processes for the desired room temperature, which easily leads to short circuits and can also result in the connections being torn off.

The invention is based on the control device defined at the beginning and pursues the task of improving the operational safety of such control devices by eliminating the sources of danger for short circuits and disconnections of couplings in the area of the rotary joint.

To solve this problem, according to the invention, a slip ring arrangement with at least two electrically separated slip ring surfaces fixed to the base housing and a rotatable single plate are provided, which are connected to the slip ring surfaces in a flexible manner.

Sliding contacts are provided.

In this way, flexible current-carrying cables are in principle only required on the fixture housing, so they are not exposed to the risk of damage from grinding processes, and a reliable connection of the sliding contacts for the heating element(s) can easily be ensured on the rotating part. The cable in the housing can be

, ■ . Ii i I Il Il

ItII I I I I ill

il I I 111 1111«

I I I Il 11 111 11 ·

1 · I ItIl lilt

1 1 111 t · *.<>g&mdash; * · · ·

The screwed-on adjuster can be removed as required using the sliding contacts, without having to manipulate anything&igr; The socket housing can be a fitting housing that is permanently attached to the heating valve, but also a support part that is arranged somewhere in the room, from which a number of heating systems in possibly all rooms in a house or even a house complex can be controlled or influenced.

The slip ring arrangement can have a ring disk made of insulating plastic attached to the housing, which has two voltage-carrying ring or segment surfaces made of electrically conductive, wear- and corrosion-resistant material on the contact side. These slip ring contact surfaces can basically be exposed in the axial direction, but can be conveniently shielded in the radial direction. They can be almost as thin as desired and can be formed on the carrier disk by spraying, vaporizing or similar a contact material.

The preferred design of the sliding contacts is currently as resilient telescopic rods, between which one or more control heating elements are optionally directly connected. Such telescopic rods can be formed by two electrically conductive tubes, which are suitably closed or at least narrowed at their outer ends and which enclose a helical compression spring acting between their two outer ends. One of the two tubes is then used to hold the rotating adjuster and the other is pressed against the sliding ring track by the enclosed helical compression spring. In this way, the increased spring travel can be achieved even when using a particularly coarse thread between the base housing and the adjuster. Since large guide lengths remain, the contact between the two tubes is always ensured and the mechanical stress is reduced.

The contact surfaces of both telescope parts are suitably coated with a layer of electrically conductive and corrosion-resistant material. The use of different precious metals, especially gold and silver, is recommended for the coating materials. Given the small surfaces involved and the thin coating,

layers, the specific costs of these materials are not particularly important. However, it is guaranteed that the functional reliability is maintained at the prevailing low voltages = 6 V even under adverse environmental influences.

Further features and advantages of the invention are set out in the subclaims and emerge from the following explanation of the invention with reference to the drawing. They show

Fig. 1 shows a spatially exploded view of a sail device designed for direct connection to a radiator valve,

Fig. 2 a partial section through this control device in the circumferential direction seen along the line H-II in Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3 is a view of the rotary adjuster after removing a cap in the direction of arrow III in Fig. 1.

The control device shown in the drawing is intended for direct attachment to a radiator valve and is divided into a base housing (1) with a rotary adjuster (2) that can be screwed into it and a cap (3) covering the adjuster, a control heating device (4) with a rotary adjuster plate (2) and a slip ring arrangement (5) between the parts (1) and (2).

The socket housing (1) can be clamped onto the valve housing of a radiator valve using a ring nut (11) that is rotatably mounted on the valve. On one of the upper flanges it has a coarse nut thread (12) with a pitch of approx. 4 μm, into which a threaded socket (13) provided at the bottom on the plate (2) and usually formed by several segments engages. This threaded socket encloses an approximately cylindrical transmission body (not shown) provided with a compression spring, which establishes the connection of the radiator valve, which is closed by axial pressure, to the temperature button (14) that is only shown schematically in Fig. 1. This thermostat is also essentially designed as a cylindrical? Body formed whose volume increases at higher temperatures And decreases when the temperature drops &igr; To control the radiator**

ii llii ii

[I If ti

■ ( ■ ■

It C « I I ■

ice &kgr; Ji e«

valve, only the axial length of the temperature sensor is used. If the sensed temperature increases, the valve is throttled more and more and finally closed. If the sensed temperature drops, the valve is opened again.

In order to be able to set a reference temperature, the distance between the temperature buttons (14) supported in the axial direction in the rotary adjuster (2) and the base housing (1) is changed by screwing the adjuster further or closer into the nut thread (12). The corresponding temperature levels are indicated in the sail on the cap (3). However, their position can be changed by moving this cap onto the toothing (16 > on the lower flange (17) of the rotary adjuster (2).

In order to be able to change the temperature of the heated room without changing the position of the rotary adjuster (2), three roughly cylindrical resistance heating elements (16) are clamped so tightly to the peripheral surface of the rotary adjuster (2) by a ring belt (19) that the heat generated by these heating elements is transferred directly to the temperature button (14). This button can therefore be heated quickly to a temperature of around 40 degrees with a low power of the order of less than 5 watts and then closes the connected radiator valve completely. However, it can also be heated only slightly by a lower voltage, so that only the control temperature is raised by a few degrees compared to the border temperature. This can be useful if you want to reduce the temperature to a low level or provide frost protection. A power source such as a battery on the temperature sensor itself is of little use because it would require manual adjustment in the area of this temperature sensor and a battery would hardly provide the necessary voltage consistency. However, in order to be able to remotely control the heating device (4), low voltage must be supplied from outside and for this purpose a cable (20) is inserted through a recess (21) in the base housing and led to the slip ring arrangement (5).

This slip ring arrangement has, as can best be seen in Fig. 2, a ring-shaped plastic ring attached to the upper part of the inner part (23).

11*4 I

4 I · I ·

echeibe (24) which have two concentric sliding contact tracks (25, 26) and, at the bottom, opposite connection tracks (27, 28) of comparable size. The ends of the electrical conductors (29, 30) of the cable (20) are soldered to the latter.

In the outer area of the connecting track (27), an angled groove (37) is formed in the plastic disc (24), with which this disc is glued to the upper end of the inner wall (38) of the base housing (1), without thereby hindering the screwing process of the threaded connector (13) into the female thread (39) formed on the inner wall (38).

The sliding contact tracks (25, 26) on the top, as well as the connecting tracks (27, 28) on the bottom, are formed by insulating layers that are sprayed or vapor-deposited. The inner ring layers, as well as the outer insulating layers, are conductively connected by means of wires (31, 32) that pass through the plastic disk (24).

In addition, the inner soldering layers (25, 27) each have a radial projection (33) which protrudes laterally in an interruption (34) of the outer soldering layers (26, 28). In this way, the contact connection for the inner soldering layers can be placed on the outside to facilitate the soldering connection. However, insulating plastic layers (35, 36) are expediently applied to the peripheral surface and possibly also to the inner surface of the plastic disk (24) in order to prevent the voltage from being accidentally discharged to the outside.

Current collectors formed as telescopic rods (41, 42) with an outer tube (43), an inner tube (44) and a helical compression spring (45) enclosed by both tubes are located on the slip ring surfaces formed by the ring layers (25) and (26). The outer tubes (43) are firmly seated in holes (46) in the flange (17) so that the rounded end (47) of the respective inner tube (44) forms the actual sliding contact. The contact surfaces, practically all surface parts of the outer tubes (43) are coated with a thin layer of gold, that of the inner tubes (44 ) with a thin layer of silver.

I Il M Il it ti i The

I I I I · I« I I

III* III t · · I

«ti I · I · < ti I

&igr;&Iacgr;&igr; tu» «t · n > n

J I IJj 1} »

> I 1 , &ldquor;> 1 11 I

In addition, the outer telescopic rod (42) is assigned to the inner projection (33) in such a way that it is still somewhat spaced from this projection in its end position, as shown in Fig. 1. The entire swivel angle of an adjustment range is selected to be so much smaller than 360 degrees that the inner projection (33) is not reached at the other end of the adjustment path either.

The upper ends of the outer tubes (43) are narrowed so that the helical compression spring (45) can be supported there. One of the two ends (51, 52) of a ring line (50) is connected under each of these ends, into which all three heating elements (18) are soldered one after the other.

This means that all heating elements (1Θ) forming a control heating device (4) are switched on simultaneously as soon as a voltage is applied to the cable (20), which can be done by a door switch, window switch, timer or the like. The flow of current is ensured with great reliability, especially since the risk of corrosion is largely eliminated, as is the risk of contamination and short circuits due to damage to the cable sheath.

Deviating from the embodiment shown, it may be advisable to equip the control heating device (4) with a band or belt-shaped heating element, which can also be provided with a heat-insulating layer on its exposed outside, possibly in conjunction with a heat-reflective layer. In this way, the low electrical power required is reduced even further.

Il Il Ii If III· · Il

III I I I I » I« · I

lllll Il I ,i ·■ &igr;

I I I I lilt J III

'&iacgr;( ' 'I I ' I 1 I I 'I·' 4 <*< ti'

Claims (10)

7 T 2928 29.7.1986/n VIS.: 100 986 Karl Thiel Steinenbergerstr. Ib D-7967 Bad Valdsee Thermostatic sail device for heating systems or heating units Claims 1. Thernoetatic cone device for heaters or heating units, with a temperature switch (14). which has at least one variable measurement depending on the sensed temperature and is held between a device-fixed bag housing (1) and a rotatable adjuster plate (2), with at least one electrical control heating element (18) attached to rotatable adjusters for heating the temperature sensor (14) above its ambient temperature and with a power connection for the control heating element (18) leading beyond the rotary connection to the adjuster plate (2), characterized in that a slip ring arrangement (5) with at least two electrically separated slip ring surfaces (25, 26) fixed to the device housing and sliding contacts (41, 42) resiliently resting on the slip ring surfaces (25, 26) on the rotatable adjuster (2) is provided centrally to the rotary connection. 2. Sail device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slip ring arrangement (5) has a carrier disk (24) made of insulating plastic which is attached to the receiving housing and which has two voltage-carrying ring or segment flats (25, 26) made of electrically highly conductive, wear- and corrosion-resistant material on the touch side. 3. Control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slip ring surfaces (25, 26) are formed on layers of contact material applied to the carrier disk (24) by spraying, vapor deposition or the like. &bull; < ( . t .1IiI lli 4 4 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 4 > 4 4 > 444 «14*4« 4 4 A 4 « « « 14 4 444 44 II 11
II 1 > I 11 111 i) ill Ii Ii &eegr; 31 4. Sail device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that on a connection side opposite the touch side, connection-single-layer bodies (27, 28) made of electrical connection material are arranged and optionally formed so as to be coextensive with the slip ring surfaces (25, 26). and each with the associated slip ring surface body (25, 26) are electrically connected. 5. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer Singing layer body (26, 2β) by means of a through the carrier disc guided rivet-like connection (31, 32) electrically together', 'closed a. 6. Sail device according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner ring layer bodies (25, 27) have identical radial projections (33) which protrude in an interruption (34) of the outer ring layer bodies (26, 28) to the outer edge of the carrier disk (24) and are connected there. 7. Sailing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the Binetell angle of rotation of the rotatable adjuster (2) is smaller than the Segnent angle of the Segnent-shaped slip ring track (26). fc. Sailing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sliding contacts are formed by resilient telescopic rods (41, 42), between which one or more control heating elements (18) are connected. 9. Sailing device according to claim 8, characterized by the design of the telescopic rods (41, 42) as two electrically conductive and expediently «is tubes (43, 44) which are closed or at least offset at their outer ends and which enclose a helical compression spring (45) acting between their two outer ends. 10. Control device according to claim 6 or 9, characterized in that the contact-making surfaces of both telescopic parts (43, 44) are coated with a layer of electrically conductive and corrosion-resistant material. M Ii ft (III (rc I IM iti III III I<< ti t ( " ■ ti Jig _ &igr;' 11· Control device according to claim 10, characterized _in that the coating materials on both mutually adjustable telescopic parts (43, 44) are formed by different precious metals, in particular gold and silver.