DK3122951T3

DK3122951T3 - Pneumatic control valve for a sanitary device.

Info

Publication number: DK3122951T3
Application number: DK15714447.8T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Peter Oremek; Matthias Autzen
Original assignee: Evac Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2015-03-27
Publication date: 2018-09-03
Also published as: DE202014002712U1; EA032376B1; CN106460377A; EP3122951B1; EA201691937A1; EP3122951A1; AP2016009535A0; CN106460377B; WO2015144904A1; PL3122951T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a control valve device (1) for controlling a sanitary device, comprising a valve housing (10), which comprises a vacuum chamber (11) with a first vacuum line connection (12), an intermediate chamber (14) with a second vacuum line connection (15), and an ambient pressure chamber (16) with a ventilation opening, and comprising a manually movable valve lifter (20) which seals the vacuum chamber (11) from the intermediate chamber (14) and releases a connection between the intermediate chamber (14) and the ambient pressure chamber (16) in a first position and releases a connection between the vacuum chamber (11) and the intermediate chamber (14) and seals the intermediate chamber from the ambient pressure chamber (17) in a second position. According to the invention, a compressed air valve unit which is coupled to the valve lifter (20) is provided with a valve body which blocks a compressed air inlet (60) from a compressed air outlet (84) in the first position of the valve lifter (20) and which releases a connection between the compressed air inlet (83) and the compressed air outlet (84) in the second position of the valve lifter (20).

Description

Pneumatic control valve for a sanitary device

The invention relates to a control valve means for controlling a sanitary device, comprising a valve housing having a vacuum chamber connected to a first vacuum port for connecting a vacuum line, an intermediate chamber connected to a second vacuum port for connecting a second vacuum line, and an ambient pressure chamber connected to the surroundings by means of a ventilation opening, a valve plunger which is movable relative to the housing and which has a manually operable actuator element at a first end, a first seal cooperating with the housing and the valve plunger, which seals the vacuum chamber against the intermediate chamber in a first position of the valve plunger relative to the housing and releases a connection between the vacuum chamber and the intermediate chamber in a second position of the valve plunger relative to the housing, a second seal cooperating with the housing and the valve plunger, which releases a connection between the vacuum chamber and the ambient pressure chamber in a first position of the valve plunger relative to the housing, and seals the intermediate chamber against the ambient pressure chamber in a second position of the valve plunger relative to the housing. A pneumatic control for a vacuum toilet is known from DE 20 2013 004 015 U. With this pneumatic control, a vacuum is conducted to a time-delay unit by means of an actuator button and, with a time delay, a flushing operation by means of compressed air is triggered by means of the vacuum, in which a membrane-actuated valve unit opens a compressed air supply. DE 20 2013 004 015 U was published in the period between the priority date validly claimed (28-03-2014) and the filing date (27-03-2015) (date of entry in the Register of utility models: 01-08-2014) and is therefore not a state of the art under Art. 54 EPC.

Valve control means of this type are used to control sanitary devices which require vacuum-operated conveying of fresh water, flush water or wastewater. With such sanitary devices, water is often conveyed out of a tank by means of compressed air or is drawn into a tank by means of a vacuum. In the case of certain applications, for example a vacuum toilet, a time-controlled combination is performed in which first an amount of flush water is conveyed out of a flush water tank by means of compressed air, then an amount of wastewater, which can contain this amount of flush water, is conveyed by means of a vacuum into a wastewater tank or into an upstream intermediate tank, wherein in the case of an upstream intermediate tank, the wastewater is often subsequently conveyed out of the intermediate tank into the wastewater tank, which in turn can be effected for example by means of compressed air.

In other applications, fresh water must be conveyed out of a fresh water tank by means of compressed air, for example to supply a hand-washing basin with water and to remove the wastewater from the hand-washing basin again by means of a vacuum.

Such control sequences can generally be controlled by providing a vacuum source and a compressed air source, and by supplying the compressed air and the vacuum from said vacuum source and said compressed air source to reservoirs, intermediate tanks or wastewater tanks, by actuating electrically operated valve units with an appropriate electronic control unit at certain time intervals, such that the fresh water, the flush water or the wastewater are conveyed in the desired manner. However, the disadvantage of such solutions is that compressed air and a vacuum as well as electrical energy must be available in order to operate such a controller. This makes connecting such a sanitary device a complicated affair, which is disadvantageous whenever the sanitary device is to be installed on board on vehicles such as rail vehicles. A vacuum valve controller for a vacuum suction system is known from EP 0826838 A2. With this system, wastewater is extracted from a wastewater basin through a suction pipe and this suction pipe is optionally closed or opened by a vacuum valve. The vacuum valve is normally spring-loaded in the closed position. A negative pressure is applied to the vacuum valve to open it. This negative pressure is controlled by a control unit depending on the pressure conditions in the intake pipe and the liquid level in the wastewater basin.

This document EP0826838 is considered to be the closest prior art to the subject-matter of claim 1. It discloses (the references in brackets refer to this document): a control valve device (Fig.1, reference sign 11="vacuum valve controller") for a control of a sanitary device (Fig. 1, reference sign 4="vacuum valve", reference sign 3="suction pipe", reference sign 1="soil water basin"), comprising - a valve housing (Fig.1. reference sign 12="casing") with a negative pressure chamber (Fig.1, reference sign 21 - 'fourth chamber"), which is connected with a first vacuum line connection for connecting a vacuum line (Fig.1, Reference sign 31="pipe", reference sign 3="suction pipe", reference sign 5="line forming a part of a vacuum system"; column 3, lines 16-24), an intermediate chamber (Fig.1, reference sign 24="sixth chamber"), which is connected to a second vacuum line connection for connecting a second vacuum line (Fig.1, reference sign 35="pipe", reference sign 5="line forming a part of a vacuum system", column 2, lines 51-53), and an ambient pressure chamber (Fig.1, reference sign 25="sixth chamber"; reference sign 18="second chamber") which is connected to the environment via an ventilation opening (Fig.1, reference sign 30="hole"; column 2, lines 22-24; reference sign 34="hole"; column 2, lines 34-36) - a valve tappet (Fig.1, reference sign 14="shaft") movable relative to the housing, which has an actuable actuating element at a first end (Fig.1, reference sign 13="valve body"), - a first seal (Fig.1, reference sign 16="first diaphragm") interacting with the housing and the valve tappet, - a second seal (Fig.1, reference sign 19="second diaphragm") interacting with the housing and the valve tappet, wherein the control valve device comprising a valve unit (Fig.1, reference sign 4="vacuum valve") with a valve body (Fig.1, reference sign 6="valve body") which - in a first position of the valve tappet (Fig.1; reference sign 14="shaft", reference sign 13="valve body") to the housing (Fig.1, reference sign 30="hole") blocks an air inlet from a compressed air outlet (Fig.1, reference sign 6="valve body"), and - in a second position of the valve tappet (Fig.1; reference sign 14="shaft", reference sign 13="valve body") to the housing (Fig.1, reference sign 30="hole") releases a connection between the compressed air inlet and the compressed air outlet (Fig.2, reference sign 6="valve body"). A control for a negative pressure operated suction valve and/or water valve is known from DE 19633178. With this control, a valve is operated via a control button, which valve has a valve plunger which is adjustable by means of a diaphragm arranged in a housing in which the control button is slideable arranged, which separates a first from a second chamber. The first chamber is connected to a negative pressure source and a spring element acts on the diaphragm in the direction of the second chamber. A vacuum valve with a housing and a valve element arranged therein is known from EP 0602604 A1. A first plunger is coupled to this valve element and is pressed by a spring element into a closed position of the valve. The first plunger is subjected to a pressure generated by an increase in a liquid level within a liquid reservoir and forced into a second, open position by this pressure.

There is a basic need for sanitary devices, and for controllers for such sanitary devices, which control the operation reliably and which can be installed and operated in a simple manner with minimal infrastructural requirements with regard to the energy to be provided. The object of the invention is to provide such a control unit with which not only the installation but also the operation of such a sanitary device can be simplified.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a valve controller of the kind initially described, in which a pneumatic valve unit coupled to the valve plunger is provided with a valve member which blocks a compressed air inlet against a compressed air outlet in the first position of the valve plunger relative to the housing, and releases a connection between the compressed air inlet and the compressed air outlet in the second position of the valve plunger relative to the housing.

With the control valve means according to the invention, a controller is provided which can be installed more simply and which can control the operation of a sanitary device. At the same time, a robust controller is provided in the form of the valve control means according to the invention. The control valve means according to the invention is an improvement on prior art controller, particularly in respect of its connection interface, and it is adapted to control the conveying of fresh water, flush water and/or wastewater in a sanitary device. The fresh water, flush water or wastewater can be conveyed inside the sanitary device not only by compressed air, but also by a vacuum. According to the invention, only one compressed air source is needed for this control by means of the control valve means.

The control valve means according to the invention can therefore do without an external source of vacuum and compressed air for controlling operation, and also without electrical energy or electronic controllers. Instead, whenever a vacuum is needed for the operation processes, the control valve means according to the invention controls, on the basis of a compressed air course, a vacuum device which is driven by compressed air, and completely controls the operation of the sanitary device controller according to the compressed air which is provided and according to the vacuum that is generated with it.

To that end, the control valve means has a valve housing that is basically subdivided into three chambers. These chamber are separated from each other by a first and a second seal, said first and second seals being opened and closed in a specific manner by the movement of a valve plunger relative to the housing. The valve plunger is also adapted to actuate a pneumatic valve unit such that the pneumatic valve unit is closed when the valve plunger is in its first position and is open when the valve plunger is in its second position. The valve plunger may be operated manually by a user of the control valve means, for example by exerting a force directly on an actuation surface on the valve plunger, for example on an actuation surface embodied as a push-button, or indirectly using actuating mechanisms or actuators.

By moving the valve plunger in this manner from the first to the second position, the pneumatic valve unit is opened directly, thus allowing compressed air to be supplied from the compressed air source. This supply of compressed air can be used directly to convey fresh water, flush water or wastewater. The compressed air can also be applied to an ejector means and to generate a vacuum therein, for example by utilising the Venturi effect. A vacuum which is generated directly or indirectly as a result of applying compressed air can then be applied to the control valve means according to the invention and fed via the first vacuum port into the vacuum chamber, from whence it also acts directly on the intermediate chamber when the valve plunger is in its second position. Due to the seal provided between the intermediate chamber and the ambient pressure chamber by the second seal in the second position, a force acting on the valve plunger is produced by the pressure difference between the intermediate chamber and the ambient pressure chamber, said difference being all the greater the stronger the vacuum in the intermediate chamber is. As a result of this build-up of force, the valve plunger is returned from the second position to the first position when a predetermined vacuum is exceeded, thus causing the supply of compressed air to be interrupted again by the pneumatic valve unit.

The control valve means according to the invention also allows the vacuum fed to the pressure chamber in the first position to be passed through to the second vacuum port in the intermediate chamber and thus to control a timing device, for example. In the first position, when the vacuum chamber is sealed against the intermediate chamber by the first seal, this vacuum path is interrupted, with the result that ventilating the vacuum chamber or intermediate chamber side does not reduce the vacuum on the other side.

The first and second seals provided in the control valve means according to the invention may be embodied in such a way that a surface pressure is exerted directly on the seal by a pressure difference acting across the seal, and said surface pressure is transferred from the seal to the valve plunger in order to cause the valve plunger to move. The first or the second seal may also be embodied in such a way that they merely produce a sealing effect between the valve plunger and the housing, and such that a corresponding surface on the valve plunger is formed, on which the pressure difference acts when a seal exists between the valve plunger and the housing, because either the vacuum or the ambient pressure is applied to that surface, and a force acts one-sidedly on the valve plunger.

The forces acts on the valve plunger due to the vacuum and the ambient pressure, and which affects its position in relation to the housing, can basically be influenced by other forces, and some advantageous configurations in this regard will be explained in the embodiments described below. Such additional forces can be generated by biasing devices, which may generally contain elastic spring elements in the form of coil springs, other shapes of spring, rubbery elastic elements or the like, and may take the form of magnetic forces exerted by permanent magnets, or electromagnetic effects, or also as forces generated by gravity and acting on the valve plunger or on mass elements coupled thereto. Due to such additional forces acting on the valve plunger, it is basically possible for the release force, the restoring force and the timing of release and retraction, as well as renewed release after retraction, to be influenced and adjusted.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the valve plunger extends from the first to a second end and is coupled at the second end to the pneumatic valve unit. Due to the valve plunger being coupled to the pneumatic valve unit at the second end of the valve plunger, it is possible for the pneumatic valve unit to be actuated directly via the actuator element arranged at the first end and for the actuating force to be transferred robustly. The pneumatic valve unit can be coupled to the valve plunger by means of a direct mechanical connection, such as forming the valve member of the pneumatic valve unit integrally on the valve plunger, by linking the valve member mechanically via the second end of the valve plunger, or as an indirect coupling using force transmission effects such as friction, pneumatic transmission, magnetic force transmission or the like.

According to another preferred embodiment, the control valve means can be developed by providing a magnet and by the valve member being operated by means of the magnetic effect of said magnet. According to this embodiment, a magnet forms part of the control valve means and is used to actuate the valve member, that is, to switch the pneumatic valve unit back and forth between the open and the closed position. The magnet may be supported by other force-exerting elements, such as spring elements or elements which act restoratively in some other manner, or a counterforce may be applied to it. The magnet can basically be arranged on the valve plunger or on the valve member and cooperate with a corresponding magnetic element on the valve member or the valve plunger, respectively, wherein said magnetic element may be ferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic. In a similar way, the force of a magnet can be applied indirectly via a coupling with the valve plunger or the valve member, in order to convert the magnetic force into movement of the valve member, based on movement of the valve plunger.

The magnet is preferably a permanent magnet. In other configurations, it is also possible for an electromagnet to be used in the control valve means according to the invention.

More particularly, the valve member of the pneumatic valve unit may die opened by the magnetic effect or may be closed by the magnetic effect. It should be understood, as far as these two variants are concerned, that the magnetic effect is influenced by additional force-exerting elements that may affect the movement of the valve member in such a manner, as described in the foregoing, that a restorative effect counter to the magnetic force is produced, or that the magnetic force is supported thereby.

In the variant of the control valve means with a magnet for actuating the valve member, it is also preferable if the valve member is moved into the open position by the force of a magnet when the valve plunger is in its second position, or is moved into the closed position by the force of a magnet when the valve plunger is in its first position. In this embodiment, the pneumatic valve unit is either opened when the valve plunger is in its second position or is closed when the valve plunger is in its first position. This actuation of the valve member may be supported by providing further means, such as elastic elements, that act on the valve member, such that the valve member is pushed into the closed position by these additional means when the valve plunger is in the first position, or is moved into the open position by the additional means when the valve plunger is in the second position.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention includes a first biasing means which exerts a biasing force on the valve member, said biasing force acting counter to the magnetic effect. Such a biasing means may be embodied, for example, by a spring element in the form of a helical spring or some other kind of spring, or in the form of a rubbery elastic element. Due to this biasing means counteracting the magnetic effect, it is possible to preset the actuating force of the pneumatic valve unit and the moment at which it is triggered. It is also possible for the biasing means to preset the restoring force that is necessary in order to return the pneumatic valve unit from the open position to the closed position.

It is still further preferred in this regard that the magnetic effect acts between the magnet and a magnetic element, one of which is arranged on the valve plunger and the other on the valve member, and that the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic element is so large in the first position of the valve plunger that the magnetic force is less than the biasing force, and the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic element is so small in the second position of the valve plunger that the magnetic force is greater than the biasing force. With this variant, the magnetic force is increased due to the magnet being brought closer to a magnetic element as a result of the valve plunger moving from the first to the second position, thus producing a magnetic force which is increased to such an extent in the second position compared to the first position that it now exceeds a biasing force exerted by the biasing means that it previously did not exceed. In the first position, therefore, the biasing means keeps the valve member closed, whereas in the second position of the valve plunger it is overcome by the magnetic force and the valve member is moved into the open position as a result. The magnet can basically be arranged the valve plunger and the magnetic element on the valve member, or vice versa. It should also be understood that, due to processes that occur as a result of supplying compressed air, it is possible to build up an overpressure or an underpressure which can then exert an additional force on the valve plunger, for example by applying a vacuum to the first vacuum port, thus causing a force to be exerted on the valve plunger, which returns the valve plunger from the second position to the first position.

It is particularly preferred in this regard to develop the control valve means according to the invention by providing a bidirectionally acting detent member which produces a latching force between the valve plunger and the valve housing in the first and the second position, the detent member preferably being adapted to hold the valve plunger in the first position with a predetermined first retaining force, allow movement of the valve plunger from the first to the second position when a predetermined actuating force on the actuator element is exceeded, hold the valve plunger in the second position with a predetermined second retaining force and allow movement of the valve plunger from the second to the first position when a predetermined vacuum in the intermediate chamber is exceeded. With this development of the invention, a predetermined actuating force is defined which must be applied in order for the flushing operation to be triggered by means of the control valve means. A predetermined vacuum is also defined that firstly has to be built up in order to stop the flushing operation. The valve plunger is held accordingly in the first and in the second position with a respective first and second retaining force, which may differ from or be equal to each other. The detent member may be formed, for example, by a spring-actuated element or by a spring element which is fixed to the valve housing, and which acts upon a recess or elevated portion on the valve plunger, which is provided on both sides with ramps or conical surfaces or the like. It may equally well be formed by a spring-actuated element which cooperates with two recesses or elevated portions which are spaced apart on the valve plunger. It is also possible for two spring element to cooperate with a single elevated portion or recess on the valve plunger. The spring-actuated element may, for example, be a spring-loaded ball, a spring-loaded slide shoe, a spring clip that cooperates with one or two conical surfaces, or the like.

Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred in the case of a control valve means equipped with a magnet that the valve plunger be held in the second position by the magnetic force and that a vacuum generated in the intermediate chamber in said second position, in combination with an ambient pressure in the ambient pressure chamber exerts a restoring force on the valve plunger against said magnetic force, said restoring force moving the valve plunger against the magnetic force from the second position to the first position when a predetermined vacuum is reached in the intermediate chamber. In this embodiment, the valve plunger is held in the second position by the magnetic force, and a vacuum which is generated is introduced into the vacuum chamber and consequently into the intermediate chamber which is connected to the vacuum chamber in this first position, where due to the pressure difference relative to the ambient pressure it exerts a force on the valve plunger that returns the latter from its second position to its first position.

It is also preferred that the control valve means according to the invention be developed by providing a second biasing means which biases the valve plunger from the second to the first position. By providing such a second biasing device, which may be embodied as a spring element, a rubbery elastic element or the like, a restoring force is exerted on the valve plunger, and it possible to apply a setting that influences not only the release force with which the valve plunger must be moved from the first to the second position, but also the necessary restoring force that acts on the valve plunger as a result of the pressure difference between the intermediate chamber and the ambient pressure chamber.

According to the invention, it is also preferred that the valve member be movable relative to the valve plunger and the housing. In this embodiment, there is no direct connection between the valve plunger and the valve member and housing. Instead, these three components are each movable relative to each other. On the one hand, this allows production to be done at low cost, in that it obviates the need for fits and tolerances that would otherwise have to be chosen in order to prevent any canting or jamming in the case of a direct coupling. Instead, the respective components, like the valve plunger and the valve member, can be tolerated within their own respective guides, and can be made to move independently of each other by respective forces acting on them, for example by the magnetic coupling described in the foregoing.

According to another preferred embodiment, the magnet is fixed to the second end of the valve plunger and cooperates with a magnetic element which is coupled to the valve member or integrally formed with the valve member, or the magnet is fixed to the valve member and cooperates with a magnetic element which is coupled to the second end of the valve plunger or integrally formed with the second end of the valve plunger. In this embodiment, either the magnet is fixed to the valve plunger and cooperates with a magnetic element arranged on the valve member. In that case, both the magnet and the magnetic element can be formed integrally with the valve plunger and valve member, respectively, or connected, coupled or fixed in some other way to the latter.

Alternatively, a inverse configuration may be provided in which the magnet is arranged on the valve member and the magnetic element is arranged accordingly at the second end of the valve plunger.

The control valve means according to the invention may also be developed either by the first seal being fixed to the valve plunger and providing a seal against a conical first sealing face on the housing, said sealing face widening in the direction of movement from the first to the second position, and by the second seal being fixed to the housing and providing a seal against a conical second sealing face on the valve plunger, said sealing face widening from the second to the first end of the valve plunger, or by the first seal being fixed to the housing and providing a seal against a conical second sealing face on the valve plunger, said sealing face widening from the first to the second end of the valve plunger, and the second seal being fixed to the valve plunger and providing a seal against a conical first sealing face on the housing, said sealing face widening in the direction of movement from the second to the first position.

With these two variants of an embodiment, a preferred configuration of the first and second seal and their respective seal counterfaces is defined. The tapering of the sealing faces at the housing and at the valve plunger produces an advantageous, gradual reduction in the seal gap when the valve plunger is moved relative to the housing, thus making it possible to prevent any abrupt changes in the forces acting on valve plunger and to provide a reliable seal between the valve plunger and the housing by means of the respective seal as the valve plunger moves progressively forwards.

Finally, the control valve means according to the invention may be developed further by providing an ejector means having a compressed air port and an ejector vacuum port which is adapted to generate a vacuum at the ejector vacuum port whenever compressed air is applied to the compressed air port of the ejector means, the compressed air port of the ejector means being in fluidic communication with the compressed air outlet, and ejector vacuum port being in fluidic communication with the first vacuum port for the vacuum line. Alternatively or additionally, the control valve means according to the invention may also be developed by providing a time-delay unit having an air connection which is in fluidic communication with the second vacuum port for the vacuum line.

With this development of the invention, an ejector means is defined which is supplied with compressed air from the pneumatic valve unit and which uses that compressed air to generate a vacuum that is then fed to the first vacuum port of the housing and consequently to the vacuum chamber. This interaction produces an advantageous controlling effect between the pneumatic valve unit, the ejector means to which compressed air is applied, the vacuum which is generated therein, and the valve plunger in the housing, with the vacuum acting on the vacuum chamber and the intermediate chamber, respectively. Use is also made of the advantageous opportunity to control a time-delay unit, via the second vacuum port, from the intermediate chamber, which in the first position is sealed against the vacuum chamber and in the second position is connected to the vacuum chamber. For more details about the manner of operation and the interaction of such an ejector means and such a time-delay unit, and their interaction with the control valve means according to the invention, reference is made to the pneumatic controller arrangement for a vacuum toilet described in German utility model DE 20 2013 004 015 U, which has an actuator coupling unit 150 as such a time-delay unit.

The inventive control valve means may preferably be operated according to a method for controlling a sanitary device, said method comprising the steps of: - manually moving a valve plunger which is arranged movably relative to a valve housing from a first position to a second position by operating an actuator element, - opening a pneumatic valve unit coupled to the valve plunger in the second position, - supplying compressed air to an ejector means when the pneumatic valve unit is open, and generating a vacuum at a vacuum port of the ejector means, - applying the vacuum from the vacuum port of the ejector means to an intermediate chamber arranged in the valve housing, said intermediate chamber being sealed against an ambient pressure chamber when the valve plunger is in the second position, - retraction of the valve plunger from the second to the first position when a predetermined vacuum is reached in the intermediate chamber, by the ambient pressure in the ambient pressure chamber acting on a surface on the valve plunger.

It is particularly preferred that the pneumatic valve unit be actuated by means of a magnet and that the magnetic force holds the valve plunger in the second position.

With regard to these methods and their separate steps, the functions which are performed in the process, and preferred variants, reference is made to the description of the control valve means provided in the foregoing, and to the manner in which it operates. A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the Figures.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of control valve means according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic arrangement of a pneumatic controller for a vacuum toilet and equipped with a timing control.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a control valve means 1 according to the invention has a valve housing 10 in which a valve plunger 20 is movably guided in an actuating direction.

At its top end 20a, valve plunger 20 projects from valve housing 10 and supports an actuator button 21 at its top end 20a. An its bottom end 20b, valve plunger 20 likewise projects from valve housing 10 and is provided at said bottom end with an axial longitudinal bore 22. Axial longitudinal bore 22 is surrounded at the bottom end 20b of the valve plunger by an annular magnet 30.

Valve housing 10 encloses an inner space which is subdivided by a first seal 41 and a second seal 42 into a total of three chambers. Proceeding from the top end 20a of the valve plunger, a vacuum chamber 11 is defined by the housing and the first seal 41 which is fixed to the valve plunger. This vacuum chamber 11 is connected to a vacuum line 12a by a first vacuum port 12.

The first seal 41 fixed to the valve plunger provides a seal against a conical housing portion 13 which tapers towards top end 20a. When the valve plunger is pushed down using actuator button 21, an increasingly large cross-section between vacuum chamber 11 and an intermediate chamber 14 is released as the actuation path increases.

Intermediate chamber 14 is defined by first seal 41, second seal 42 and housing 10 and has a second vacuum port 15. The second seal 42 is fixed stationarily to housing 10 and has an inner hole 42a. Inner hole 42a acts against a sealing cone 23 formed on the valve plunger. Sealing cone 23 widens its cross-sectional diameter from second end 20b to first end 20a. When valve plunger 20 is in its In the upper, unactuated position, there is therefore fluidic communication between intermediate chamber 14 and an ambient pressure chamber 16. When valve plunger 20 is pushed down, the flow cross-section through opening 42a in seal 42 is increasingly reduced and is completely closed when the valve plunger has travelled a specific actuation path. Adjoining conical sealing face 23 in the direction of top end 20a, there is a cylindrical sealing face on the outer perimeter, such that the sealing effect in relation to second seal 42 is maintained even when valve plunger 20 is further actuated.

Ambient pressure chamber 16 is connected to the ambient pressure via the bottom opening in the housing. Inside ambient pressure chamber 16, valve plunger 20 has a conical bulge 24 on either side, which cooperates with a spring detent member 50 which is fixed to the valve housing. When the valve plunger is pushed down, conical surface 24a facing downward engages with spring detent member 50 and deflects it elastically radially outwards until the spring detent member jumps over the thickest part of bulge 24 when a predetermined compressive force is exerted on actuator button 21, and allows the valve plunger to move to the second position. The valve plunger is held in that position by spring detent member 50, which has now been elastically restored radially inwardly to its original shape, resting against the upper conical surface 24b of bulge 24. When a vacuum is produced in intermediate chamber 14, spring detent member 50 is again deflected elastically and radially outwards by conical surface 24b being pulled upwards, until spring detent member 50 jumps over the thickest part of bulge 24 in the opposite direction when a predetermined vacuum is reached, thus allowing the valve plunger to return to its first position. A ferromagnetic valve member 61 is arranged in the extension of bore 22 in the valve plunger. Ferromagnetic valve member 61 is movably arranged in a guide 62 and can move inside said guide 62 in the same direction as valve plunger 20. At the upper end of guide 62, a second helical spring 63 is arranged which presses ferromagnetic valve member 61 into a lower, closed position.

In that lower, closed position, valve member 61 closes a compressed air line 60.

If the valve plunger is pressed downwards from the first, upper position into the second, lower position, using actuator element 21, this causes magnet 30 to move closer to ferromagnetic valve member 61, thus increasing the magnetic force of the magnet on ferromagnetic valve member 61. This increase causes valve member 61 to be lifted against the spring force of second helical spring 63 from the closed position shown in Figure 1 to a raised, open position. In this raised, open position, flow is released through compressed air line 60 from a compressed air inlet 83 to a compressed air outlet 84.

At the same time, the sealing effect of first seal 41 against the housing is cancelled by valve plunger being lowered from the first, upper position into the second, lower position, and the sealing effect of second seal 42 against the valve plunger is en- gendered. Vacuum chamber 11 and intermediate chamber 15 are therefore in fluidic communication, whereas intermediate chamber 15 is sealed against ambient pressure chamber 17.

Compressed air line 60 applies compressed air via compressed air outlet 84 to an ejector means 100, which then generates a vacuum by utilising the Venturi principle. This vacuum is then fed to vacuum chamber 11 via vacuum line 12a. As a result of the vacuum created in vacuum chamber 11 and intermediate chamber 14, the ambient pressure therefore acts on conical sealing face 23 of the valve plunger due to the pressure difference created between intermediate chamber 14 and ambient pressure chamber 16. This causes a restoring force to act on valve plunger 20 and return the valve plunger from the lower, second position to the upper, first position. This restoring force is supported by first helical spring 51 and a third helical spring 53.

Due to this return movement to the first, upper position of the valve plunger, the distance between the magnet and ferromagnetic valve member 61 is increased, and the magnetic force that is exerted by magnet 30 on ferromagnetic valve member 61 is reduced as a result. This magnetic force is then less than the restoring force of helical spring 52, so valve member 61 is returned to the lowered, closing position and stops the supply of compressed air to ejector means 100.

Figure 2 shows control valve means 1 according to the invention when installed to control a vacuum toilet. In addition to control valve means 1 and ejector means 100 according to the invention, the controller as a whole also includes a actuation coupling unit 150 which acts as a time-delay unit, a distributor valve unit 130, a flush water valve unit 170 and a flush water unit 190. Flush water valve unit 170 is supplied with compressed air via a compressed air inlet 183. The vacuum generated in the ejector means is fed via vacuum line 12a to distributor valve unit 130 and from there, depending on the timing control by actuator coupling unit 150, is applied via vacuum line 12b to the first vacuum port 12 of control valve means 1. This vacuum is applied via the second vacuum port 15 to actuator coupling unit 150.

The vacuum generated in ejector means 100 is applied to a wastewater tank 200 via a vacuum line 12 c which is branched off from vacuum line 12a. The vacuum generated in ejector means 100 is also fed via distributor valve unit 130 to a port 135 and from there via a vacuum line 171 to flush water valve unit 170.

With regard to the manner in which actuator coupling unit 150, distributor valve unit 130, flush water valve unit 170 flush water unit 190 operate, reference is made to the description of the embodiment in DE 20 2013 004 015 U. The interrelationships and control engineering processes described therein apply in the same way, with regard to the aforementioned components, to the configuration shown in Figure 2 with the control valve means according to the invention.

Claims

A control valve device for controlling a sanitary device comprising - a valve housing (10) with o a vacuum chamber (11) connected to a first vacuum line connection for connecting a vacuum line, o an intermediate chamber (14) connected to a second a vacuum conduit connection to connect a second vacuum conduit, and o an ambient pressure chamber (16) connected to the surroundings by means of a ventilation opening - a valve lifter (20) movable relative to the housing, which at a first end comprises a manually actuable actuating element (21), - a first seal which cooperates with the housing and the valve lifter, and which o seals the vacuum chamber relative to the intermediate chamber in a first position of the valve lifter in relation to the housing and o releases a connection between the vacuum chamber and the intermediate chamber in a second position of the valve lifter in relation to the housing, - another seal (42) which cooperates with the housing and the valve lifter, and which o releases a connection between the intermediate chamber and the ambient pressure chamber in a first position of the valve lifter in relation to the housing and o seals the intermediate chamber relative to the ambient pressure chamber in the second position of the valve lifter in relation to the housing, the control valve device further comprising a compressed air valve unit coupled to the valve. (20), with a valve body (61) which - blocks a compressed air inlet (83) relative to a compressed air outlet (84) in the first position of the valve in relation to the housing and release a connection between the compressed air inlet (83) to the compressed air outlet (84) in the second position of the vent in the lift relative to the housing.

Control valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve I lifter (20) extends from the first to a second end and is coupled to the compressed air valve unit at the second end.

Control valve assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a magnet (30) and in that the valve body (61) is actuated by magnetic action of the magnet.

Control valve assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the valve body (61) of the compressed air valve unit is opened via the magnetic action or that the valve body of the compressed air valve unit is closed via the magnetic action.

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a two-way locking element (50) which produces a paling force between the valve I (20) and the valve housing (10) in the first and second positions, wherein the pawl element is preferably formed with to - hold the valve lifter with a predetermined first holding force in the first position - allow the movement of the valve lifter from the first into the second position by exceeding a predetermined actuation force on the actuating element, - hold the valve lifter with a predetermined second holding force in the second position, -to allow the movement of the valve lifter from the second into the first position by exceeding a predetermined negative pressure in the intermediate chamber.

Control valve assembly according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized by a first biasing device (63) which exerts a biasing force which counteracts the magnetic effect on the valve body.

Control valve assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the magnetic action acts between the magnets (30) and a magnetic element (61), one of which is arranged at the valve lifter and the other at the valve body, and that - the distance between magnet and magnetic element is so great. the first position of the valve lifter that the magnetic force is less than the biasing force, and the distance between magnet and magnetic element is so small in the second position of the valve lifter that the magnetic force is greater than the biasing force.

Control valve assembly according to one of claims 3-7, characterized in that the valve lifter is held in the second position via the magnetic force and that a negative pressure built up in the second position in the intermediate chamber in connection with an ambient pressure in the ambient pressure chamber exerts a reset force on the valve lifter which resets force against this magnetic force and moves the valve lifter towards the magnetic force from the second position into the first position by obtaining a predetermined negative pressure in the intermediate chamber.

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a second biasing device which biases the valve in the lift from the second into the first position.

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve body is movable relative to the valve in the lift and to the housing.

Control valve assembly according to one of claims 3-10, characterized in that the magnet is fixed at the other end of the valve lifter and cooperates with a magnetic element coupled to the valve body or formed coherently by the valve body or the magnet is fixed to the valve body. and cooperating with a magnetic element coupled to the other end of the valve in the lifter or formed integrally at the other end of the valve lifter.

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the first seal (41) is fixed by the valve I lifter (20) and seals against a tapered first sealing surface which extends in the direction of movement from the first into the second position, at the housing (10), and the second seal (42) is secured to the housing (10) and seals against a tapered second sealing surface extending from the second to the first end of the valve lifter (20).

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims 1-11, characterized in that - the first seal (41) is secured to the housing and seals against a tapered second sealing surface which extends from the first towards the second end of the valve lifter, at the valve lifter, and - the second seal (42) is secured by the valve I lifter and seals against a tapered first sealing surface which extends in the direction of movement from the second into the first position, at the housing.

Control valve assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by - an ejector device (100) having an ejector compressed air connection and an ejector vacuum connection which is designed to create a vacuum at the ejector vacuum connection when the ejector compressed air connection is applied to compressed air air. is in fluid communication with the compressed air outlet, and the ejector vacuum connection is in fluid communication with the first vacuum conduit connection, and / or - a time delay unit with an air connection which is in fluid communication with the second vacuum conduit connection.

A method of controlling a sanitary device with the steps - manually moving a valve lifter (20) arranged movable relative to a valve body (10) from a first position into a second position via actuation of an actuator, - to open a compressed air valve unit coupled to the valve lifter in the second position, - supplying compressed air to an ejector device (100) where the compressed air valve unit is open, and to build a vacuum at a vacuum connection of the ejector device, - to press an intermediate chamber (14), arranged in the valve housing (10) and sealed in the second position of the valve lifter to an ambient pressure chamber (16), the vacuum from the vacuum connection of the ejector device, - to move the valve in the lifter (20) from the second into the first position by obtaining a predetermined negative pressure in the intermediate chamber (14) via the influence of the ambient pressure in the ambient pressure chamber on a surface of the vent lift.

Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the compressed air valve unit is actuated by means of a magnet (30) and the magnetic force holds the valve in the lifter in the second position.