EP0733749B1 - Actuating device for an outlet of a cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises an operating key (21,22) in a housing. The cistern cover (2) has a holder element (4), which projects partially into the cover interior (11). The housing is formed as a plug (6), and this is directly connected to the holder element. The holder element has a shoulder (5), which is at least partially ring-shaped, and projects into the cover interior. Holder element and plug have corresponding surfaces (10,12), which engage with press fit closure. The plug locks automatically in the holder after insertion.

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for a drain fitting a cistern according to the specified in the preamble of claim 1 Characteristics. Such an actuator is known from EP-A-528 740.

One is from the German utility model according to DE 93 16 824 U1 Actuating device with a housing and a movably arranged therein Known button for actuating a drain fitting of the cistern. The Housing is formed in two parts and contains an outer housing part with a flange or frame resting on the top of the cistern cover. The upper housing part also has a substantially cylindrical body, which through a hole in the cistern cover in the interior of the cistern protrudes and has an external thread. Inside the cistern there is also a lower part with a cup-shaped body, the internal thread screwed onto the external thread of the cylindrical extension of the upper part is. The lower part of the button or handle housing has storage and Fasteners of an operating lever and also has connecting elements for an adjusting sleeve in which an adjusting rod can be moved is stored. The manufacture and assembly of such a device requires a considerable effort, especially since the adjustment sleeve with the lower part to be connected and an operating rod must be attached. Be service or Repair measures are required, so the decoupling is not easy possible and when lifting the cistern cover there is a risk of damage the actuator and / or the entire drain fitting to exclude.

Furthermore, from the German utility model according to DE 91 10 092 U1 for the Drain valve of a cistern an actuator known also has a two-part button housing. That essentially arranged on the top of the cistern cover has a Guide sleeve, which through an opening of the cistern cover in the interior of the cistern protrudes and has an external thread. From the inside a threaded nut is screwed onto the external thread of the guide sleeve, whereby the upper part is fixed to the cistern lid. With the release button or the actuation button is a substantially cylindrical rod connected, which is passed through the said threaded sleeve. The The upper part of the button housing protrudes at a comparatively large distance the outer surface of the cistern lid and is at risk of damage exposed. In the cistern lid for the threaded sleeve of the button housing The proposed opening has a comparatively small diameter on and an enlargement of the inwardly projecting housing part or the guide sleeve is not easily possible with regard to the threaded connection.

Finally, one is from the German utility model according to DE 92 10 440 U1 Actuator known, the actuation button within the cistern is connected with levers, which with a valve body of the drain fitting are coupled. There is a positive connection during assembly between the actuation button and the lever of the drain fitting and for performing service or repair work is this connection between the actuation button and the levers. The cistern lid is placed on top of the cistern body, which in a known manner with water is fillable. The cistern is designed for surface mounting and the The cover with the actuation button is freely accessible from above. The actuator cannot easily be used in cisterns, which are designed for flush mounting. For flush mounting a modified, adapted design of the actuating device is required, which means a corresponding effort for production and warehousing is conditional.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is the actuating device to further develop that with a simple construction easy assembly or disassembly can be carried out. The actuator should be easy for both surface and concealed cisterns can be used. Furthermore, complex connection means between the actuation button and the drain fitting.

This problem is solved according to the characterizing features of Claim 1.

The proposed actuator is characterized by a reliable function Construction and enables universal use both at Cisterns for surface and flush mounting. The actuation button, preferably the two actuation buttons are in the form of an insert body Housing stored and form with it a prefabricated assembly. Of the Insert body with the at least one actuation button is in a receiving element of the lid and extends into the interior of the cistern or of the lid. The receiving element expediently contains an after inside directed towards said interior, which at least partially is annular. The approach mentioned has a depth which is greater than the wall thickness of the cover by a predetermined factor Area of its opening. The receiving element and / or the extension extend from the inner surface of the lid at the specified depth in the Covered interior. The size of the inner surface of the receiving element can therefore be specified according to the requirements in such a way that the insert body with its outer surface on the inner surface and / or is essentially free of play. The connection between the insert body and the cistern cover, in particular its receiving element, is preferably designed to be non-positive. Furthermore, the insert body preferably in the manner of a press fit in the receiving element of the Cistern lid used, with adjacent surfaces of the insert body and the receiving element with coordinated oversize are trained. The insert body and / or the receiving element exist Appropriately made of plastic and taking into account the elasticity of this The press fit is easily specified for plastics.

The insert body preferably contains a stop, in particular in the form of a flange located in the area of the outer surface of the cover, in order to a defined orientation of the insert body after insertion into the To ensure the lid. The externally visible surface of the insert body is also substantially flush with the outer surface of the lid arranged. This applies equally to the surface of the at least one Button. The insert body with the at least one actuation button must be as easily exchangeable module simply pressed into the receiving element and if necessary, it can be carried out in the opposite direction removed from maintenance measures or the like without further notice will. Although a non-positive connection of the insert body with the receiving element and / or the cistern cover itself as special Has proven to be useful, are also within the scope of this invention Connections, for example with clip and / or locking elements.

The at least one actuation button is expedient in the insert body linearly movable and the insert body contains guide means for linear Guide the actuation button and / or one connected to the actuation button Release element. The trigger element, which preferably as a Bolt is formed, is in particular non-positively with a coupling part in connection, this coupling part arranged in the cistern itself and is stored. When the actuation button is actuated, the release element acts only by frictional engagement on the coupling part through which the valve the drain valve has to be opened or closed. The coupling part can, for example than one in the cistern on a bridge, bracket or the like be pivotally mounted lever, on which in particular the free End of the trigger element or bolt comes to rest and which at Press the operation button in the required manner to open or Closing the valve of the drain fitting is pivoted. When assembling only the cistern lid is placed on the cistern or in another Way connected with this, automatically connecting the at least one actuation button is made with the coupling part. A Hooking in or establishing another positive connection of the Operating buttons with assigned elements of the cistern are not required. The actuating device designed as a separate module can be designed according to the invention be provided for cisterns of different designs, especially on exposed cisterns and concealed cisterns on the other hand.

Further developments and special refinements of the invention are in the Subclaims are specified and are described in the following description Embodiment explained further.

Fig. 1

im Schnitt eine explosionsartige Darstellung der Betätigungseinrichtung mit einem Spülkastendeckel,

Fig. 2

die Betätigungseinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 im zusammengebauten Zustand,

Fig. 3

eine explosionsartige Darstellung des Spülkastendeckels für vertikale Anordnung zusammen mit einem Unterputz-Spülkasten,

Fig. 4

eine explosionsartige Darstellung eines horizontal angeordneten Spülkastendeckels eines Unterputz-Spülkastens.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

on average an exploded view of the actuating device with a cistern cover,

Fig. 2

1 in the assembled state,

Fig. 3

an exploded view of the cistern lid for vertical arrangement together with a concealed cistern,

Fig. 4

an exploded view of a horizontally arranged cistern lid of a concealed cistern.

1 shows a section of a cistern cover 2 with a wall thickness 3 and with a receiving element 4, which as a in the interior of the Cover 2 directed, preferably annular projection 5 is formed. Of the Approach 5 does not have to be completely ring-shaped over the scope in the context of the invention run, but may contain slots and / or partially interrupted be. The receiving element 4 serves to receive an insert body 6 in the Opening 7 of the cistern cover 2, this opening 7 from the receiving element 4 is laterally closed or limited. As below is to explain, the cistern cover 2 including insert body 6 accordingly Fig. 1 arranged vertically or in a horizontal position, ie rotated by 90 ° will. The receiving element 4 has an inner surface 8 and protrudes in one Depth 9 over the inner surface 10 of the lid 2 into the interior 11. On the Inner surface 8 of the receiving element 4 is an outer surface 12 of the insert body 6 matched such that the insert body with a press fit into the receiving element 4 can be inserted and held. The receiving element 4 is arranged at the edge 13 of the lid opening 7 and protrudes from the edge 13 out into the interior 11. The cistern cover 2 and / or the insert body 6 suitably consist of plastic which due to its spring elasticity the non-positive and positive insertion and insertion of the insert body 6 guaranteed. Are for example the named surfaces 8 and 12 cylindrical, so the inner diameter of the inner surface 8 by one predetermined amount smaller than the outer diameter of the outer surface 12 of the Insert body 6.

To assemble the insert body 6 in the direction of arrow 14 under one sufficient pressure in the receiving element 4 and thus the interior 11 inserted without additional fastening measures, such as screwing from the inside, are required. Removing the insert body 6 takes place against the direction of arrow 14, only one corresponding Power must be applied and special tools just as little are required such as loosening additional screws, connecting means or similar. For a defined positioning of the insert body To ensure 12 in the cistern cover 2, the insert body 12 has one Stop 15, which is preferably designed as a small annular flange is. The stop or flange 15 engages in a preferably annular one Recess 16 of the cistern lid 2. The stop 15 and the associated one Recess 16 are preferably formed and arranged such that the Outer surface 17 of the insert body 6 is substantially flush with the outer Surface 18 of the cistern lid 2. For the correct positioning of the Insert body 6 contains a small nose 19, which in a corresponding Groove 20 of the receiving element 4 or the cistern cover 2 engages. As can be seen, the depth of the recess 16 is matched to the flange 15. Regardless of the specific training, the receiving element 4 and / or the cistern cover 2 a stop surface for exact positioning of the Insert body 6, wherein according to FIG. 1, this stop surface preferably as the Recess 16 is formed for the associated flange 15.

In the insert body 6 there are two actuation buttons 21, 22 for triggering a rinsing process or intended to interrupt such. The two operating buttons 21, 22 are in the insert body 6 in the direction of arrow 14 manual actuation can be moved linearly if necessary. The keys 21, 22 are each, preferably in one piece, connected to a trigger element 24, 26, which are expediently designed as bolts and below be designated as such. The insert body 6 contains for the bolts 24, 26 axial guide means 28, 30 in a base 32. The bolts 24, 26 point Expediently not a cylindrical cross section, but a polygon cross section on and correspondingly, the inner surfaces of the guide means 28, 30 are formed. As a result, rotation of the bolts 24, 26 and ultimately the Operation buttons, 21, 22 guaranteed. The trigger elements or bolts 24, 26 project with their free ends beyond the floor 32 into the intermediate space 11. The free ends of the bolts 24, 26 are designed as locking elements 34, 36 such that the keys 21, 22 with the associated bolts 24, 26 in the insert body 6 can be used, the locking means 34, 36 by the guide means 28, 30 are pushed through. The free ends of the bolts 24, 26 have at least one slot at least in the area of the latching means 34, 36 38, 40, which can be seen a pushing together of the locking means 34, 36 when Pushing through the axial guide means 28, 30 allows. Are the Bolt 24, 26 pushed completely in the manner shown, so take the sufficiently elastic locking means 34, 36 their position shown again and allow due to their enlarged diameter or a locking of the actuation buttons on the rear surface 21, 22 in the insert body 6.

Fig. 2 shows the actuator in the assembled state, according to which the insert body 6 designed as a module in the receiving element 4 of the Cistern cover 2 is anchored. The outwardly visible outer surface 17 of the Insert body 6 is substantially flush with the outer surface 18 of the Cistern cover 2. As long as the actuation buttons 21, 22 are in the zero position 1 are also their outward-facing surfaces 41, 42 substantially flush with the outer surface 18 of the cistern lid 2. To trigger a rinsing process, for example Operating button 21 pressed into the position shown, being inside of the cistern operating parts not shown here actuated will. A coupling part 43 in the form of a Lever indicated, which in the cistern by an orthogonal to the plane of the drawing Axis 44 is pivotally mounted. The bolts 24, 26 are with the coupling part or lever 42 not positively connected, but the bolts 24, 26th are only with their free ends to rest on the two-armed lever 43rd brought. One actuation button 21 is shown in the pressed position, in which the flushing process is triggered. Here is the other Actuation button 22, which is also referred to as a stop button, in the opposite Direction moved out of the cistern cover 2. The rinsing process can by pressing the actuation or stop button 22 in the direction of the arrow 14 may be interrupted if necessary.

The keys 21, 22 have side surfaces 45, 46 which are on an inside Guide surface 47 of insert body 6 rest with sufficient play. Obviously the side surfaces 45, 46 have a considerable size and likewise also the guide surface 47, whereby smooth operation with little Material expenditure is reached. Even when pressing or pressing the Keys 21, 22 are thus damage to the bolts or release elements explained above as well as their associated axial guide means not to be feared. The insert body 6 and the axially movable keys 21, 22 can easily formed over a large area and / or according to requirements without any restrictions regarding the dimensioning or shape must be observed.

Fig. 3 shows the exploded and perspective view Cistern cover 2 with vertical alignment in front of a cistern 48. Es is a concealed cistern 48 on the front a cladding and / or tiles arranged in a known manner with an inspection opening remaining free, corresponding to an opening 49 at the upper end of the cistern 48. The opening 49 is by means of the cistern lid 2 lockable, which can be removed if necessary to the to achieve components arranged inside the cistern 48, in particular the drain fitting with the valve and an inlet valve. In the area the coupling part is not shown here in the opening 49. On the front of the cistern cover 2 are the two operating buttons 21, 22 to recognize the insert body 6. The outer contour of the insert body 6 is at this embodiment oval, but can be within the scope of this invention the insert body 6 as well as the actuation buttons 21, 22 also others Have shapes or sizes.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in which the cistern lid 2 is arranged horizontally above the cistern 48. Between the cistern lid 2 and the top 50 of the cistern 48 can in a known manner a horizontal plate or shelf, which is suitably tiled, arranged be. The opening 49 of the cistern 48 is located horizontally arranged top 50 of the cistern 48 and after removing the Cistern cover 2, the interior of the cistern 48 is freely accessible.

Reference numerals

2nd

Cistern lid

3rd

Wall thickness of 2

4th

Receiving element

5

circular approach

6

Insert body

7

Opening in 2nd

8th

Inner surface of 4

9

Depth of 5

10th

Inner surface of the lid

11

Interior of 2

12th

Outside area of 6

13

Edge of 7

14

arrow

15

Stop / flange

16

Recess of 2

17th

Outside area of 6

18th

outer surface of 2

19th

Nose at 6

20th

Groove in 4

21, 22

Button

24, 26

Release element / bolt

28, 30

axial guide means

32

Floor of 6

34, 36

Locking means

38, 40

slot

41, 42

Surface of 21, 22

43

Coupling part / lever

44

Axis of 43

45, 46

Side surface of 21, 22

47

Guide surface in 6

48

cistern

49

Opening in 48

50

Top of 48

Claims (9)

1. Actuating device for an outlet fitting arranged in the interior of a cistern, provided in an opening (7) in a cistern lid (2) with an insert (6) in which at least one actuating button (21, 22) with a release element (24, 26) is movably arranged, further provided in the bottom (32) of the insert (6) with axial guide means (28, 30) for the actuating button (21, 22) through which the release element (24, 25) extends, the insert (6) being directly connected to a receiving element (4) on the cistern lid (2), characterised in that the receiving element (4) projects partially into the interior (11) of the cistern lid (2), that the insert (6) has a guide surface (47) for the actuating button (21, 22) with which a side surface (45, 46) of the actuating button (21, 22) is associated, and that the release element (24, 26) has locking means (34, 36) which can slide through the guide means (28, 30) and which prevent the actuating button (21, 22) from coming out of the insert (6).
2. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving element (4) has a shouider (5) which is at least partially annular and projects into the interior (11) of the cistern lid (2).
3. Actuating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the receiving element (4) and the insert (6) have corresponding surfaces (10, 12) bearing frictionally against one another with a press fit.
4. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, once the insert (6) is inserted into the receiving element (4), it is locked automatically therein.
5. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the inner surface (8) of the receiving element (4) is adapted to the outer surface (12) of the insert (6) in such a manner that the insert (6) is locked in the receiving element (4) substantially without play and/or frictionally.
6. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the receiving element (4) projects into the interior (11) via the inner surface (10) of the cistern lid (2) to a depth (9) greater by a predetermined factor than the wall thickness (3) of the cistern lid (2).
7. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the receiving element (4) and the insert (6) have corresponding bearing means in the form of a recess (16) and an associated flange (15) and/or that the outer surface (17) of the insert (6) is arranged substantially flush with the outer surface (18) of the cistern lid (2).
8. Actuating device according to claim 7, characterised in that the release element (24, 26), preferably in the form of a bolt, is made in one piece with the actuating button (20, 22).
9. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the locking means (34, 36) are arranged in the region of the free end of the release element (24, 26).

Images