DK3141668T3

DK3141668T3 - Wash-WC with flow heater and hot water tank

Info

Publication number: DK3141668T3
Application number: DK15184518.7T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Simon Bachmann
Original assignee: Geberit Int Ag
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2015-09-09
Publication date: 2018-07-16
Also published as: EP3141668B1; TR201807085T4; PT3141668T; ES2674793T3; CN107034964A; EP3141668A1; CN107034964B; PL3141668T3

Description

This invention relates to a water closet having a shower function (shower WC).

Such apparatuses are known for several decades and are of a growing interest in Europe for several years now. Amongst many other aspects, the technical development relates to the warm water preparation. For this purpose, boilers, namely warm water storages having a heating, and flow heaters are known basically, each having specific advantages and disadvantages.

From the prior art EP 2 357 423 A1 a shower WC is known, having a boiler for storing energy in combination with a flow heater. Therein, those two are connected in series and serve for extending the shower time available at a certain temperature. For this purpose, the boiler can generate warm water prior to the shower event and can be refilled with water heated by the flow heater during the shower event so that the heat stored in the boiler lasts longer. Therein, for adjusting the desired temperature, comparably high temperatures at the outlet of boiler are mixed with cold water. This document corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and is considered as closest prior art.

The invention is to solve the problem to improve a shower WC, having in combination a boiler and a flow heater for heating shower water, regarding its flexibility in operation.

This problem is solved by a shower WC having a flow heater for heating shower water and a boiler for heating shower water as well as a nozzle for ejecting heated shower water, characterized by a further nozzle for ejecting the heated shower water, wherein one of the nozzles is assigned to the flow heater and the other one of the nozzles is assigned to the boiler and wherein the respective nozzles are respectively connected by a respective own nozzle line with the flow heater or the boiler, as well as by a corresponding method for operating this shower WC and the use of the shower WC in a corresponding manner.

Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims and are explained in further detail below along with the basic idea of the invention. Therein, no difference is made between the different claims categories, the features described are relevant for all claims categories.

The inventor assumed that combining a boiler and a flow heater can have significant advantages regarding the performance of the shower WC. However, providing no series connection of the flow heater in the boiler as in the cited prior art but a respective own nozzle instead, with a respective own nozzle at the end, opens up new possibilities not known so far. One has the possibility to operate the shower function by choice with both water heaters, nozzle lines and nozzles or only with a subset thereof instead, namely a shower branch (of the boiler or flow heater with the corresponding nozzle line and nozzle).

Various options result therefrom, which are explained in further detail below. Basically, good shower jet functions can be achieved in adaption in case of for instance a restriction of the electric power, namely for instance a limited availability of the flow heater and the boiler at the same time. When the boiler is in the heated state, both shower branches can be operated parallelly which results in a good high performance shower jet result, without the necessity of operating a common nozzle with a higher water pressure or water flow then optimal. But even when only one of the two shower branches is operated, the respective nozzle is supplied with an appropriate amount of water. This applies for instance in case of a boiler not heated yet, when the flow heater is used, or in case of a reheating of the boiler during the shower operation, when the flow heater is switched off, mainly in case of a reduced water temperature.

The possibilities described relate in particular (even though not necessarily but only exemplarily) to possible requirements of the shower function in a time period after the switch-on process, namely shortly after when the boiler has not reached the appropriate water temperature yet. The boiler requires basically more time until sufficiently heated water is available than the flow heater and occasionally, even though possibly only in exceptional cases, the time remaining between the switch-on and the actual shower process cannot be sufficient. Then, this invention allows at least a satisfying shower function with only one of the two nozzles.

In the prior art, various shower arms having two shower nozzles are known, wherein each shower nozzle has typically a specific anatomical function, namely serves for instance either for cleaning the anus or the genital area. Accordingly, these nozzles are typically provided displaced to each other along the shower arm and/or have a different jet angle; further, they are often designed accordingly, for instance for providing another water level (a bit more pressure) for cleaning the anus then for cleaning the intimate region. In the present case, the two nozzles mentioned are preferably provided adjacent, namely in a distance of not more than 1,5 cm, preferably not more than 1,2 cm or even 1,0 cm. Further, they preferably have basically the same jet angle of the water jet. Finally, they are preferably constructed identically, which relates to the nozzles themselves and not necessarily to the supply lines. Even though the supply lines preferably have the same cross-section (to assure basically the same jet level), they can have a different extension in terms of the geometrical construction inside the shower arm. In addition or alternatively, the two jet streams can be aligned by pump or valve adjustments.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a connection line is provided between the exit of the flow heater provided for the heated water and the corresponding exit of the boiler, namely including a switchable valve for opening and closing this line. This line increases the flexibility, and it is for instance possible to let water heated by the flow heater flush through the line actually assigned to the boiler and the respective nozzle, for instance for flushing it with heated water prior to an operation of the corresponding nozzle to replace the cold water contained therein. Such flushing processes are known insofar as cold water is replaced by warm water prior to the actual function of the nozzle to prevent a user of the shower from being hit by cold water. During the shower process, the corre sponding water can be used for instance for cleaning purposes in or at the shower arm or can be discarded without a further use.

It is preferred in particular that a control is provided for a corresponding operation that, after a switch-on process, first, the nozzle line supplied by the flow heater is flushed with heated water and thereafter the nozzle line supplied actually (in the future) by the boiler is flushed with heated water from the flow heater.

This sequence of the flushing processes is also preferred when there is no connection line provided or used in the manner described. Also in this case it is preferred that, first, the nozzle line between the flow heater and its nozzle and only thereafter the other nozzle line between the boiler and its nozzle are flushed, in this case with water from the boiler which is accordingly available in the heated state later.

Finally, in case of the connection line mentioned between the two exits of the flow heater and the boiler, the heated water from the boiler (which is available earlier) can be used for being guided into the boiler, in particular it can be branched off for a flushing process. Likewise, the water in the boiler can be heated more and/or it can be intermixed better during the heating by the boiler and/or a cold temperature region of this water can be heated in particular. Regarding the latter aspect, it has to be mentioned that the exit of the boiler drains necessarily water in the lower region of the boiler to make the whole content of the boiler available and that layers differing in temperature can form during the heating by the boiler.

When the flow heater shall comprise a water storage in its water supply line, this storage is preferably connected to the boiler by an overflow device. Likewise, this water storage and the flow heater of the boiler can be filled together, the filling water entering first the water storage via the water storage of the flow heater via the water supply line and then the boiler via the overflow device.

It was mentioned above that, when the heated shower water is required too early in terms of the boiler, only the shower branch of the flow heater is used. Then, when the boiler can supply heated water, both shower branches are preferably used to obtain a particularly intensive shower function. Therein, the flow heater is operated and the heat reservoir of the boiler is used. Naturally, this can be dependent from a corresponding operation of the user. An additional but also alternative advantage of the invention can be that only the shower branch of the flow heater is used after the warm water reservoir of the boiler is exploited (or the temperature therein dropped too far). This option can be applied independently of the mentioned processes in case of the shower function required early.

In general terms, the existence of separate nozzle lines and nozzles of the flow heater on the one hand and the boiler on the other hand enables different advantages, because these lines can be used simultaneously but also individually and separately from each other.

Below, the invention is explained by means of an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram for explaining the exemplary embodiment and Fig. 2 shows a distal end of a shower arm in a section, for explaining the exemplary embodiment.

In Fig. 1 on the upper left, a fresh water connection of the shower WC according to the exemplary embodiment is shown and referenced with 1 as a whole. From a freshwater supply line 2, the fresh water flows through a particle filter 3 and a control valve 4 as well as a switch valve 5 to a vertical separation path 6 required for hygienic reasons. From there, a line 7 leads to a water tank referenced with 8 as a whole. The latter is divided into two parts, namely a freshwater tank 9 on the left for a flow heater 10 and a boiler 11 on the right with an electric heating 12. The freshwater tank 9 and the boiler 11 are connected by an overflow device 13 with each other so that both can be filled commonly via the freshwater connection 1 and line 7. The boiler 11 comprises a heating 12 and a temperature sensor 19. A line 14 connects an exit of the freshwater tank 9 with the flow heater 10 via a pump not referenced further, the flow heater comprising the typical sensors for the water volume flow and the water temperature upstream and downstream of the flow heater. Downstream of the flow heater 10, a line 15 leads the water heated in operation through a particle filter 16 to a selector valve 17.

On the other hand, the boiler 11 comprises an exit arranged at the bottom, at which a T-piece is provided. To the right, a connection of the T-piece 18 leads via a pump to a shower not shown here, namely to its so called boost-nozzle 20. A connection of the valve 17 leads to the shower arm as well, namely to its anus nozzle 21 directly adjacent to the boost-nozzle 20. Finally, the valve 17 is connected with a further connection of the T-piece 18 via a connection line 22.

Fig. 2 shows a section through a distal end of the shower arm 25 in a bowl rim 23 of a shower WC according to the invention. This shower WC has a WC bowl as usually, wherein only the section of the bowl rim 23 is visible. In the bowl rim 23, a channel like opening visible in Fig. 2 is provided, wherein a shower device is mounted inside and behind this opening. The shower device comprises the shower arm 24 which extends from the upper left in Fig. 2 to the lower right and comprises the two nozzles 20 and 21 at its right and (distal end).

Even though the exact design of the nozzles is not particularly relevant for the invention, it is worth mentioning that in a center region of the shower arm section two spherical twisting chambers 25 are provided, wherein reference is made to the prior art EP 2 628 546 in this respect. At their upper ends in Fig. 2, they eject a twisted water jet which exits through the nozzle openings 20 and 21 having an enlarged diameter, therein receiving air from the region inside the shower arm. The two nozzles 20 and 21 are placed in a comparably small distance from each other, which is about twice the diameter of the nozzle openings (at the upper shower arm surface). The nozzle 20 is referred to as boost-nozzle and the nozzle 21 as anus nozzle; both are identical regarding their geometry and are supplied by lines hav ing the same cross-section. These lines are not shown here but are located in front of and behind the sectional plane.

Below the two twisting chambers 25 a movable nozzle arm 26 is visible which has nozzle openings not referenced here at its right (distal) end and can be moved out for providing a vaginal shower when required. For this purpose, water is supplied via a channel 27, which moves the arm 26 against the force of a coil spring not shown here. This part of the shower device is not essential for the invention.

Above the channel 27, a channel 28 is located, which is in communication with the nozzles 20 and 21 according to Fig. 2. This channel 28 can, when the shower arm 24 is pulled in completely (not shown), guide a washing water which exits through the nozzles 20 and 21.

Further in Fig. 2, a washing device 29 is visible which forms the distal end of the guidance of the shower arm 24 and is held in the bowl rim 23. This washing device can be supplied with washing water via a channel 30 and can be used for cleaning the outer surface of the shower arm 24 when the latter is moved out or pulled in. In this respect, reference is made to prior art EP 2 626 478.

From the two documents cited, also further details of the design of a typical shower WC can be derived.

In contrast to many shower devices from the prior art, presently, the two nozzles 20 and 21 arranged at the upper side of the shower arm do not serve different anatomic purposes but are used both for cleaning the anus (they have the same construction, jet angle and are placed directly adjacent). In the prior art, a second shower nozzle is typically provided for a vaginal cleaning which can be achieved by the nozzle arm 26 in the present case.

Instead, the two nozzles 20 and 21 are advantageous as they can be loaded at the same time by the warm water supply system of Fig. 1, namely the boost-nozzle 20 via the T-piece at the exit of the boiler 11 and the anus nozzle 21 via the valve 17 and the flow heater 10. However, they can be also operated individually without an impact on the individual jet properties.

In operation, a typical sequence is the following: the shower WC can detect a user, for instance by an infrared sensor, whereupon the control switches on the boiler 11, namely in particular its heating 12. This can happen already, when the user is only located nearby the shower WC. When the beginning of a WC use is detected then, for instance by a contact sensor, the control can switch on the flow heater 10 and the pump in the line 14 instead of the boiler 11 and the valve 17 can be adjusted such that the heated water of the nozzle line flushes up to the shower nozzle 21 and replaces the cold water. This can happen prior to moving out the shower arm 24 so that the water ejected from the nozzle 21 can have a certain cleaning function regarding the shower arm.

Then, for instance after triggering the shower function, the nozzle line between the boost-nozzle 20 and the boiler 11 can be flushed with warm water via the connection line 22 (in a corresponding actuation of the valve 17), namely by using the flow heater 10 again. At the same time, for instance one third of of the volume flow of the water can be led into the boiler 11 through the T-piece 18, for improving the intermixing there and heating up a cold region close to the exit.

Then, the shower arm can be cleaned during the moving out operation, which is known as such, for instance by water heated by the flow heater 10 and in an actuation of the valve 17 not explained further here, such that the water reaches into the washing device 29 via the connection 13. When the shower 24 in the moved out state, the two nozzles 20 and 21 can be used, wherein the valve 17 locks the connection line 22 such that each nozzle is supplied by its own nozzle line and by the boiler 11 or the flow heater 10 respectively.

In contrast, in case that the activation of the shower function occurs so early that the operation just described is not useful since the temperature of the water in the boiler 11 is not sufficient, only the anus nozzle 21 can be operated with heated water from the flow heater 10 as kind of an emergency program, wherein the boost-nozzle 20 is operated only after reaching a sufficient water temperature in the boiler 11.

Naturally, also other ways of operation are possible (also independently of this specific embodiment), for instance a normal shower function by using the boiler water and the boost-nozzle 20 only (as far as the boiler water is sufficiently warm), wherein the anus nozzle 21 is only switched on if required (which means that the flow heater 10 is switched on). In this case, the naming of the nozzles can also be interchanged, because the anus nozzle 21 serves as a boost-nozzle in a sense.

In sum, the exemplary embodiment shows that leading separate lines between the two nozzles and the assigned water heaters 10 or 11 can have various advantages which can be achieved flexibly. When the connection line 22 is present, this relates also to the described flushing process up to the boost-nozzle 20 wherein it is taken care of the energy contained in the boiler 11.

Claims

Washing WC with a flow heater (10) for heating washing water and a hot water tank (11) for heating washing water and a nozzle (20, 21) for ejecting heated washing water, characterized by an additional nozzle (21,20) for ejecting the heated wash water, where one of the nozzles (20, 21) is assigned to the flow heater (10) and the other of the nozzles (21, 20) is assigned to the hot water tank (11) and the nozzles (20, 21) each especially connected to the flow heater (10) or the hot water tank (11) via their own nozzle line.

The wash-WC according to claim 1, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are located at a distance of not more than 1.5 cm from each other.

Washing WC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are designed for the same radiating angle of the water jet.

Washing WC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are constructed the same.

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a connection line (15, 22) with a switchable valve (17) is provided between an outlet of the flow heater (10) and an outlet of the hot water tank (11).

Washing toilet according to one of the preceding claims with a water tank (9) in a water supply line (7, 14) of the flow heater (10), which water tank (9) in the water supply line (7, 14) of the flow heater (10) is connected to the hot water tank (11) via an overflow (13) so that both can be filled together via the water supply line (7, 14) upstream of the water tank (9).

Washing WC according to one of the preceding claims, with a control device arranged to first flush the nozzle line affected by the flow heater (10) and the nozzle (21) affected by the flow heater (10) with a connection process. heated water from the flow heater (10) and then flushing the nozzle line affected by the hot water tank (11) and the nozzle (20) affected by the hot water tank (11) with heated water.

Washing WC according to claims 5 and 7, wherein the control device is arranged to flush the nozzle line affected by the hot water tank (11) by means of a connection process with water heated by the flow heater (10) via the connection line (15, 22) between the flow heater (10). ) outlet and hot water tank (11) outlet.

Washing WC according to claim 8, wherein the control device is arranged for a portion of the water heated by the flow heater (10) to be branched from the connection line (15, 22) into the hot water tank (11).

The wash-WC according to claim 9, wherein the control device is designed, after a switch-on process and at such an early activation of the wash-WC washing function of a user that the water in the hot water tank (11) is not yet or not yet fully heated, that only the flow heater (10), the nozzle line affected by it and the nozzle (21) affected by it are used for the washing function, and the flow heater (10) and the hot water tank (11) and the relevant nozzle lines and nozzles (21,20), affected therewith, by a later activation of the wash function is used simultaneously for the wash function.

A method of operating a wash WC according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein only one of the two nozzle lines periodically and both nozzle lines periodically conduct wash water.

A method according to claim 11, wherein, after a switch-on process and at such an early activation of the washing function of the wash WC by a user that the water in the hot water tank (11) is not yet or not yet fully heated, only the flow heater (10), the nozzle line affected therefrom and the nozzle (21) affected therefrom is used for the wash function, and the flow heater (10) and the hot water tank (11) and the relevant nozzle lines and nozzles (21,20) affected thereon by a subsequent actuation of the wash function is used simultaneously for the wash function.

The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the nozzle conduit affected by the flow heater (10) and the nozzle (21) affected by the flow heater (10) are first flushed with heated water from the flow heater (10), and the nozzle line affected by the hot water tank and the nozzle (20) affected by the hot water tank (11) is then rinsed with heated water.

The method of claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the nozzle line affected by the hot water tank (11) is flushed by a water heated by the flow heater (10) via the connection line (15, 22) between the outlet of the flow heater (10) and the hot water tank (10). 11) outlet where a portion of the water heated by the flow heater (10) is branched from the connection line (15, 22) into the hot water tank (11).

Use of a wash WC according to one of claims 1 to 10 for a method according to one of claims 11 to 14.