EP0574820B1 - Arrangement and method for mounting an electric instantaneous heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric instantaneous heater (1) has a box-shaped housing with a cold-water inlet (2), a control arrangement (3), a heating section (5) and a hot-water outlet (7). Cold-water inlet (2) and hot-water outlet (7) are connected movably to the heating section (5) via flexible, preferably electrically insulating lines (4, 6). In the case of a fixed position of the heating section, inlet and outlet can therefore be adapted positionally to a predetermined water-connection pattern, if appropriate even crossed over. The hood of the housing can therefore be arranged in any arrangement in relation to the hot-water tapping point in order to satisfy aesthetic and ergonomic requirements. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement and a Method of assembling an electric instantaneous water heater, which is a substantially box-shaped housing with at least a control button attached to the edge of a front panel and one with a cold water inlet and one Has hot water outlet connected heating section. Such a water heater is known from document DE-A-3 816 817.

Conventional instantaneous water heaters known from practice have either on the bottom or on the back fixed installed inlets and outlets. The installation pattern on the instantaneous water heater corresponds to the wall connection pattern the hot and cold water connections. Conventional the hot water connection is on the right and the cold water connection at a specified distance from the hot water connection Left. Instantaneous water heaters are usually as close as possible the associated tap (s) mounted on a wall. At The control button must be accessible to the user in the upper table Height. It is therefore regularly close to the lower one Housing edge arranged where it even for small stature People can be reached. From optical or aesthetic Under-desk mounting is becoming increasingly electrical Instantaneous water heater preferred. The connection pattern more conventional However, instantaneous water heaters are usually only permitted an "upright" positioning of the water heater, whereby the control button is at the bottom of the device. This has the disadvantage that the user when operating of the control button either bend deep under the sink or even kneel to reach the control button. Also Cross mounting is with conventional equipment and mounting arrangements at most with the interposition of adapters possible, which increase the construction volume.

The invention is therefore based on the task, the mounting options of the instantaneous water heater to expand equally optical, aesthetic and ergonomic Satisfy needs.

daß in den Wasserweg einerseits zwischen Kaltwasser-Einlauf und Heizstrecke und andererseits zwischen Heizstrecke und Warmwasser-Auslauf eine flexible Leitung eingebunden ist;

daß Kaltwasser-Einlauf und Warmwasser-Auslauf lageveränderlich an ein außen vorgegebenes Wasseranschlußmuster anschließbar sind, wobei das Bewegungsspiel zwischen der lagefesten Heizstrecke und Einlauf und Auslauf bei deren Verbindung mit dem Wasseranschlußmuster durch die flexiblen Leitungen zur Verfügung gestellt wird; und

daß Kaltwasser-Einlauf und Warmwasser-Auslauf so gelegt und mit den Kaltwasser- und Warmwasser-Anschlüssen des Wasseranschlußmusters verbunden sind, daß der Bedienknopf auf einem der Warmwasser-Zapfstelle möglichst angepaßten Niveau liegt und daher ergonomisch betätigbar ist.

In the arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction, this object is achieved according to the invention in that

that a flexible line is integrated into the water path on the one hand between the cold water inlet and the heating section and on the other hand between the heating section and the hot water outlet;

that cold water inlet and hot water outlet can be connected to an externally specified water connection pattern, the play of movement between the fixed heating section and inlet and outlet being provided by the flexible lines when they are connected to the water connection pattern; and

that cold water inlet and hot water outlet are placed and connected to the cold water and hot water connections of the water connection pattern that the control button is on a level adapted to the hot water tap and is therefore ergonomically operable.

In terms of method, this object is achieved according to the invention solved that a flexible pipe between the cold water inlet and heating section and between heating section and Hot water spout is integrated into the waterway that the housing of the instantaneous water heater then into a suitable one Position brought to the water connection pattern and hot water outlet and cold water inlet with the associated water water and cold water connections of the water connection pattern connected, if necessary, crossed, the movement play the flexible cables to compensate for differences in position is exploited. The use of plastic hoses following a heating section of a water heater is known from DE 36 09 213 A1. However, should the hoses only form water resistance channels. Any flexibility of the hoses is not addressed. Above all, there is no indication that with the help of the hoses the mounting options of the Extend water heater.

The latter, however, is achieved with the invention. Because of the flexibility of the cold water inlet and hot water outlet compared to the fixed heating section special mounting plates or adapters for crossing or There is no need to change the position of the pipe connections. The location of the Instantaneous water heater housing and thus the control button thereby independent of the given wall connection pattern. The electric instantaneous water heater can be used by the installer at that point and in that connection position be attached, which the customer from optical, aesthetic and / or ergonomic reasons.

The control button is as close as possible to the top table the lower edge (as with conventional heaters) and when mounted under the table near the top edge (contrary to conventional Assembly) arranged. With a frequently advantageous The embodiment is the control button near a corner a square front panel. This corner will then again for ergonomic reasons the hot water tap arranged adjacent.

Alternatively or in addition to that previously described The invention provides that the box-shaped solution to the problem Housing made of a lower part supporting the heating section and one carrying the control button and the front panel Hood exists, which with the lower part over two locally separated Connection devices positive and / or non-positive is connectable; that the lower part is fixed; and that the two connecting devices both on the hood, as well as arranged axially symmetrically on the lower part are that the hood is rotated in two by 180 ° around the axis Positions can be mounted on the lower part. With this alternative Possibility of pivoting the hood otherwise always the same arrangement of the lower part and the essential components of the electric instantaneous water heater can take advantage of the invention without essential Change in the design of the instantaneous water heater used will. All that is required is a suitable configuration and arrangement of the connecting elements which separate the two Connecting devices on the one hand on the lower part and on the other hand form on the hood. These must be trained in this way be that they mesh appropriately and their connection function regardless of the position of the Meet hood.

Using the features of claim 8 also the drip water protection, which was previously only guaranteed Instantaneous water heaters with a single predetermined relative position of hood and lower part was possible.

A spring-loaded check valve is preferably open the cold water side of the heating section arranged such that it prevents a backflow of water into the cold water connection. The spring load makes the check valve function regardless of the respective mounting position of the device. Weighted Check valves used in conventional electric heaters usually used are only in one The heater is in the "upright" position.

The universal installation option allows the electric heater a housing shape similar to common bathroom furniture elements to give and the device as a module in a system wall to integrate. For example, the heater can be used as Mirror element can be used if its front panel is mirrored is.

A particularly inexpensive, because flat construction embodiment arises when the electric instantaneous water heater turns off has tubular heating modules existing heating section. This execution is in the older patent application P 42 08 675.2 from March 18, 1992, the contents of which are described in the present description is included.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung der wesentlichen Funktionselemente eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines elektrischen Durchlauferhitzers, der mit beweglichen Ein- und Ausläufen als Voraussetzung für die variable Montage ausgestattet ist;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung einer ergonomischen Untertischmontage des Durchlauferhitzers;

Fig. 3

einen Durchlauferhitzer in Unterputzausführung mit verspiegelter Frontfläche;

Fig. 4

eine Montageausführung mit einem als Element eines Badezimmer-Möbelsystems ausgebildeten Durchlauferhitzers in Obertischmontage; und

Fig. 5A und B

Vertikalschnitte durch das aus einem festen Unterteil und einer passenden Haube bestehende Gehäuse eines Durchlauferhitzers in geöffentem und geschlossenem Zustand.

Further advantageous details of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

is a schematic representation of the essential functional elements of an embodiment of an electric instantaneous water heater, which is equipped with movable inlets and outlets as a prerequisite for variable assembly;

Fig. 2

an illustration of an ergonomic under-table installation of the instantaneous water heater;

Fig. 3

a instantaneous water heater with a mirrored front surface;

Fig. 4

an assembly version with a water heater designed as an element of a bathroom furniture system in upper table assembly; and

5A and B

Vertical sections through the housing of a continuous flow heater consisting of a fixed lower part and a suitable hood in the open and closed state.

The instantaneous water heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 has the following essential functional elements: Cold water inlet 2, a first flexible line 4, a connection block 2 ', a control device 3, in particular for controlling the Serves heating power, a first (flexible) insulation section 4 ', one of these downstream heating section 5 with first, second and third heating modules 5a, 5b and 5c, the same Have training, further downstream of the heating section second flexible line (second insulation section) 6 and one Hot water spout 7.

The connection block 2 'is designed as a metal block, in which a manually operated shut-off valve 11, a water filter 12 and a spring-operated check valve 13 are integrated. Downstream of the connection block 2 'are the control device 3 and Various measuring and control elements common to instantaneous water heaters arranged. In the control device 3 there are TRIACs 31 for separate control of the heating output of the individual heating modules 5a, 5b and 5c provided over the heating coil 50a, 50b and 50. The heating coil 50a-c consist of bare heating resistance wires, which an excellent heat transfer to the ensure heating fluid (water). Are prescribed certain insulation resistances between bare heating coils and the next metallic connection point in the flow path of the water. The fluid lines must be correspondingly long between the respective heating modules 5a and 5c and the connections be on the cold or hot water side. These fluid line paths are shown in the instantaneous water heater through flexible hoses 4 ', 6 made of electrically insulating material educated. On the one hand, these hoses are easy to use couple with appropriate connecting pieces and on the other hand easy and space-saving to lay. For example, you can in loops behind the heating section 5 in a lower part of the device be housed. The loop diameter gets big enough chosen so that the flow resistances are limited and thus the Pressure losses in the lines forming the insulation sections can be kept low.

The invention uses the flexible lines 4, 4 ' and 6 gained mobility but not only to save space Laying the insulation sections, but also for variation and adjustment of the connection positions of the inlets and outlets 2 and 7. The location of the connection elements must in any case with match that of the wall-side water connection pattern, in such a way that the cold water inlet 2 also with the Cold water connection and hot water outlet also with the Hot water connection is connected. The one shown in Figure 1 Relative position must therefore depend on the position of the electric instantaneous water heater changed and possibly even crossed. Therefor give the lines designed as flexible hoses 4 and 6 the necessary freedom of movement. It's easy to see that for the purposes of the invention, i.e. the compensation and the adjustment of the inlet and outlet connection patterns in In many cases it is sufficient if only one of the lines 4 and 6 is flexible. The other connection (2) can even be fixed to the device or only slightly changeable. The double agility through flexible designs of both lines 4 and 6 is preferred and increases the possible variations.

Figures 2 and 4 show some external configurations and mounting options, as offered by the invention will.

Figure 2 shows an example of an under-table installation of the Instantaneous water heater 1. The latter is mounted so that an operating button 10 at an attainable level, i.e. near the top of the device is arranged. (With conventional assembly the control button 10 at the lower end of the front panel 15.) The control button is in the upper right end of the front panel 15 arranged so that even when the arrangement of the Device and-the washstand 17-no hand or visual impairment is to be feared.

In the schematic embodiment shown in Figure 3 the instantaneous water heater la in top table assembly and Cross arrangement. The control button 10 is near the lower long side and therefore at an ergonomic handle height. The front panel 15a is mirrored. The instantaneous water heater shown in Figure 3 is installed in a completely new way in a wall recess 28 and via a mounting plate, not shown in the drawing attached. This new flush-mounted version of the instantaneous water heater la accommodates the fact that based on instantaneous heater described by Figure 1 with its functional elements through the three relatively thin, arranged in one plane Heating modules 5a-5c has an extremely small depth.

Figure 4 shows another variant of the training and assembly a water heater 1b. It is installed in the upper table a bathroom furniture module system designated as a whole by 8 integrated. With this furniture system, the sink 17 is included the hot water tap 18 rebuilt. The control button 10 is located during this upright assembly of the instantaneous water heater 1b in the corner of the tap 18 Front panel 15b. The latter has one adapted to the furniture system Surface structure.

5A and 5B show vertical sections through a two-part Housing 20, the additional mounting options of the visible Open the front part of the housing.

The housing 20 consists of a preferably wall-fixed Lower part 21 and an approximately box-shaped hood 22. The lower part has a crimped peripheral edge 23 on which the hood edge can be plugged on. In the cutting plane 5A and 5B corresponding central plane of the Hood 22 are incisions at diametrically opposite locations 24 trained. In the assembled state of the lower part 21 and hood 22 are the two axial incisions 24 with mutually aligned bores 25 in the rabbet-like edge 23 aligned. Assembled in that shown in Fig. 5B State are in the two aligned openings 24 and 25th (above and below) each screw 26 inserted into one internally threaded connector in the form of a Nut or a threaded ring 27 are screwed. The connecting element 27 is in the illustrated embodiment with the peripheral edge 23 of the lower part 21, for example connected by gluing or welding.

The control button is in the position shown in FIG. 5A 10 in the upper half of those trained on the hood 22 Front panel arranged. By rotating the hood 22 to one Axis of the control button 10 parallel and to the axis 28 of the two Connecting devices 26, 27 rectangular device axis can the control button 10 in the lower dash-dotted line Position can be pivoted. In the lower position of the control button 10, the device for over-the-counter mounting is special suitable.

In the case of the housing design described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B can the hood 22 with the control button 10 in the assembly-ready Position to be brought; the connecting devices 23 ... 27 on the bottom and top of the housing have paired training and symmetrical Arrangement. A drip protection for those inside the Housing 20 arranged electrical components can be reach the critical junctions, for example, that the screw 26 on the top of the housing with a Plastic or rubber hood is covered.

Instead of the connection devices shown in FIGS. 5A, B numerous alternatives are possible. So it can Lower part 21 with a non-positive clamping device similar to the screw-nut combination 26, 27 on the underside be provided while between the cranked edge 23 and the edge of the hood 22 in the area of the upper connection point a locking device is effective. It is only essential that the Interchangeable top and bottom connectors are, so that the hood 22 for producing the desired mounting position can be rotated by 180 °.

The instantaneous water heater can be upright, transverse, reversed and even attached diagonally to the mounting wall will. Distances and relative positions between the inlets and outlets 2 and 7 of the instantaneous water heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 arbitrarily variable, by using the large movement game the flexible lines 4 and 6. The actuators can therefore by appropriate position correction or targeted Arrangement on the front panel or on another side of the device be provided so that they are comfortable for the user attainable and on the other hand harmonious in the overall look are inserted. Several control elements can also be provided to increase user comfort. Essential is that basically the same housing shapes for the different Mounting arrangements and surface designs provided can be the basic structure for all variations maintain and minimize manufacturing costs.

Claims (11)

1. Arrangement for installing an electrical continuous flow heater which has a substantially box-shaped housing (20) with at least one operating knob (10), which is mounted on a front plate (15) close to the edge thereof, and a heating path (5), which is connected to a cold water inlet (2) and a warm water outlet (7), characterised in that a flexible conduit (4, 6) is connected into the water path between the cold water inlet (2) and heating path (5) on the one hand and between the heating path (5) and warm water outlet (7) on the other hand; that the cold water inlet (2) and warm water outlet (7) are connectable to an externally predetermined water connection pattern in variable positions, the freedom of movement between the positionally fixed heating path (5) and the inlet (2) and outlet (3) at their connection with the water connection pattern being provided by the flexible conduits (4, 6); and that the cold water inlet (2) and warm water outlet (7) are so positioned and connected to the cold water and warm water connections of the water connection pattern that the operating knob (10) is situated at a level which is matched to the greatest extent possible to the warm water tap (18) and is thus ergonomically operable.
2. Arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the at least one operating knob (10) is arranged close to a corner of a rectangular front plate (15).
3. Arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a spring-loaded non-return valve (13) is so arranged on the cold water side of the heating path (5) that it prevents backflow of water into the cold water connection.
4. Arrangement as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the front plate (15a) is provided with a mirror.
5. Arrangement as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the box-shaped housing is matched to one or more elements of a bathroom furniture system as regards shape and external design and is integrated into the furniture system close to a warm water tap (18).
6. Arrangement as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a mounting plate is arranged on the side of the continuous heater remote from the front plate (15) and that the continuous heater is installed in a recess (28) in a wall as a concealed device (1a) and is mounted and connected by means of the mounting plate.
7. Arrangement for installing an electrical continuous heater which has a substantially box-shaped housing with at least one operating knob (10) attached to a front plate close to its edge and a heating path (5), which is connected to a cold water inlet (2) and a warm water outlet (7), particularly as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the box-shaped housing (20) comprises a lower portion (21) carrying the heating path (5) and a hood (22), which carries the operating knob (10) and the front plate and which is connectable in a shape- and/or force-locking manner to the lower portion (21) by means of two positionally separate connecting devices (23 ... 27); that the lower portion (21) is stationarily mounted; and that the two connecting devices (23 ... 27) are so arranged axially symmetrically both on the hood and also on the lower portion that the hood (22) may be mounted on the lower portion (21) in two positions rotated through 180° about the axis.
8. Arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the two connecting devices (23 ... 27) are arranged on two diametrically opposing sides, both on the hood and also the lower portion, and are so constructed that a dripping water protector is formed for the electrical components of the continuous heater (1) in each of the two connection positions of the hood (22) rotated through 180°.
9. Method of installing an electrical continuous heater, which has a substantially box-shaped housing (20) with at least one operating knob (10), which is attached to a front plate (15) close to its edge, a heating path (5), a cold water inlet (2) and a warm water outlet (7), the cold water inlet (2) and warm water outlet (7) being connected to a water connection pattern fixed to the wall, characterised in that a respective flexible conduit (4, 6) is connected into the water path between the cold water inlet (2) and the heating path (5) and between the heating path (5) and the warm water outlet (7), that the housing (20) of the continuous heater is then moved into a suitable position with respect to the water connection pattern and the warm water outlet (7) and the cold water inlet (2) are connected to the associated warm water and cold water connections of the water connection pattern and, if necessary, crossed over one another, the freedom of movement of the flexible conduits (4, 6) being made use of to compensate for positional differences.
10. Method as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that, when installed below a table, the housing is so fastened to the associated installation wall that a housing edge close to the operating knob (10) constitutes an upper housing boundary.
11. Method as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the housing (20) is matched to the shape of a bathroom modular furniture system, is integrated in other modules of this system and is fastened to an installation wall.

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