EP0815375A1

EP0815375A1 - Mixer valve for plumbing applications

Info

Publication number: EP0815375A1
Application number: EP96903871A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans Ulrich Spring; Marc Maurer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-10
Filing date: 1996-03-07
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Also published as: WO1996028678A1; CH689734A5

Abstract

The mixer valve described includes a housing (2) with a cold-water inlet, a hot-water inlet and a mixed-water outlet. It also has a handle for opening and closing the outlet and for mixing the cold water with the hot water. The handle, which is mounted on an actuator rod (39), can be tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis (17) of the valve to adjust the water flow rate. Turning the handle about the longitudinal axis of the valve adjusts the mixing ratio. When the handle is turned, a lug (38) is rotated with it relative to the obturator element (14). This rotational movement tensions a restoring spring (35). This ensures that, when the handle is released or when it reaches the closed position, the valve is brought back into the cold-water position. In the latter case, the tilting movement of the actuator rod when the valve opens causes means (36) for cancelling the restoring action of the spring (35) to remain active until the actuator rod is again in the tilted position, which corresponds to the valve closed position. An adapter disc (15) is located between the floor (19) of valve housing and the obturator element (14), enabling the rotational angle of the obturator element (14) inside the valve housing (2) to be varied such that, in the cold-water position, the handle aligned with an axis of symmetry of the valve, for instance. These two features both contribute to ensuring that, above all when water is used only for a short time, no hot water is used. This gives not insignificant energy savings.

Description

Sanitary handle

The present invention relates to a sanitary mixing valve with the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 13.

Mixing valves of this type are known on the market as so-called single-lever mixing valves, in which the mixing ratio of hot and cold water can be adjusted by means of an adjusting lever by pivoting about a valve longitudinal axis and the water flow rate can be adjusted by tipping the lever up or down. These mixing valves are installed in kitchens, for example, in connection with bathtubs, showers, washbasins or sinks.

Essentially two embodiments are known. In one embodiment, which is used in particular in bathtubs and showers, the valve housing of the mixing valve has two arms extending laterally and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the valve, one for the hot water inlet and one for the cold water inlet. Both arms are angled at the end facing away from the valve housing and have connection devices, usually threads, for connecting to corresponding water pipes. A valve body is arranged in the valve housing, which projects out of the valve housing on one side and has an operating plunger for connection to the adjusting lever. This connection point and the end of the valve body protruding from the valve housing are covered with a valve head housing which can be connected to the valve housing. A mixed water outlet is also attached to the valve housing. arranges, which in many cases is directed away from the valve housing in the form of a beak or is connected to a shower hose in particular in the case of showers. The adjusting lever can be tipped up or down with respect to the longitudinal axis of the valve, the mixed water outlet opening being tipped open, being essentially proportional to the tipping movement and being closed again when tipping over. The adjusting lever can also be pivoted about the longitudinal valve axis, whereby the mixing ratio of the water flowing out of the mixed water can be changed from a cold position to a warm position.

Another embodiment of the known single-lever mixer valves has designed the valve housing in such a way that the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet are led into the valve housing at the end remote from the adjusting lever in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the valve. Such designs of the single-lever mixer valves are usually installed in kitchens together with washbasins or sinks.

Experience with the use of these known mixing valves has shown that for a first group of users with closed valves, the setting lever is preferably left in the hot water position or in a mixed position, but rarely in the cold position.

In another group of users, it can be observed that the pivoting position of the adjusting lever with the valve closed is brought into a central position in the embodiment with the two laterally projecting water inlet arms, so that the lever lies on an axis of symmetry of the mixing valve. With the second mentioned embodiment, the same group of users aligns the setting lever with a closed mixing valve on a dominant axis of the environment. This can be, for example, an axis of symmetry of a lavabo or a sink, can be a vertical position in showers aligned parallel to a shower wall or can be a direction in bath tubs that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tub. This group of applications mentioned perceives asymmetrical positions of the setting lever as unattractive.

If one considers that, in particular in the case of wash basins or sink basins in kitchens, it is generally short-lived to draw water, it is in most cases the case that no matter where the adjusting lever is at the moment, during the short reference period mentioned the water cooled in the warm water line flows out of the mixed water outlet. The recipient of the water does not use hot water in these cases. The hot water tank fills the hot water pipe with warm water and is itself filled with cold water. The result is a drop in temperature in the hot water tank. If the mixing valve is only opened briefly after each long interruption and the setting lever is not in the cold water position, there is a loss of hot water and thus unnecessary energy consumption.

DE 34 44 123 discloses a lever head for a sanitary single-lever mixer valve according to the type described in the introduction, which is designed in such a way that the adjusting lever automatically moves into a medium position after a movement to set a specific mixing ratio of hot water and cold water neutral swivel posi- tion is returned. This is for the group of people who find the asymmetrical position of the adjustment lever unattractive. In the cited document, the mixing valve is designed in such a way that the neutral pivoting position of the adjusting lever is always taken up again as soon as the lever is released. It does not matter whether the mixing valve is open or closed. With this mixing valve, too, the aforementioned hot water losses occur when water is drawn only briefly.

It is the object of the present invention to create a sanitary mixing valve in which no hot water losses occur when the valve is opened only for a short time.

This object is achieved with a sanitary mixing valve which has the features listed in patent claim 1 or in patent claim 13.

The embodiment variant according to claim 1 is directed to the aforementioned first user group.

These users leave the swivel position for setting the mixing ratio hot water to cold water when the valve is closed in the most common cases in the last position. In very few cases, this position corresponds to the cold water position. With the valve of this embodiment according to the invention, it is now achieved that the desired mixing position must be deliberately maintained in order to draw hot water. When the setting lever is released, it is automatically returned to the cold water position. When the mixing valve is opened, the setting lever is thereby always in the cold water position. With only a short-term water supply in most cases it is left there and therefore no hot water is drawn. There is no hot water loss.

A preferred embodiment provides that the resetting means are only effective when the mixed water outlet is closed. This ensures that when the valve is open, a mixing position that has been set deliberately is maintained as long as the valve is open. This brings significant advantages, for example when showering or washing hands, because it is no longer necessary to hold the adjusting lever in the mixing position.

The setting lever is preferably returned to the cold water position by means of a spring, in particular a tension spring or a spring loaded with torsion, in such a way that it is pretensioned when the setting lever is pivoted out of the cold water position and the setting lever is released after releasing or closing the Mixing valve returns to the cold water position. Instead of springs, motor-driven or pressure-controlled devices would also be conceivable as a resetting means.

With the means for canceling the effect of the reset means, for example, the reset means are ineffective when the valve is open. In this case, the means for canceling the action of the return means are controlled by tipping the setting lever up or down. However, it would also be conceivable for the lifting means to be accessible and operable from the outside of the housing in order to generally cancel the effect of the restoring means. The deceleration or braking means are in particular provided so that after the setting lever is released or after the mixing valve is closed, the setting lever is not returned suddenly, but slowly to the cold water position. It would also be conceivable that the reset only begins after a certain time after the setting lever has been released or after the mixing valve has been closed. In the latter case, it would be achieved that after the setting lever was released, it would not be immediately reset in one valve variant and, for example, sufficient time would remain to wash the hands or that the setting lever after closing the mixing valve according to the other variant is not immediately reset, so that a mixing ratio that has been set is retained in the event of short-term water supply sequences. This can be solved with a timer, for example with a clockwork, which is pulled out of the cold water position when the setting lever is pivoted. The means for canceling the effect of the restoring means remain active until the movement expires. In one case, the movement of the clockwork begins when the setting lever is in the desired mixing position. In the other case mentioned, only when the mixing valve is closed.

The embodiment of the sanitary mixing valve with the features of claim 13 is aimed at the aforementioned second group of users. By orienting the control element or the setting lever of the mixing valve in the cold water position such that it lies either parallel to an axis of symmetry of the mixing valve or to a dominating axis of the environment, persons who have an asymmetrical position of the lever as unattractive feel, swing it back into the cold water position after use. If the water is only drawn for a short time, the lever remains in this position and there is no hot water loss because the hot water tank remains unused.

It is expedient and advantageous if the operating element or the adjusting lever is adjustably mounted on the valve housing for alignment on one of the axes mentioned. It is thereby achieved that a position of the adjusting lever preferred for the first group of users mentioned can be set and adapted to a given sanitary installation. Alignment of the operating element can be easily achieved with an adapter plate that can be inserted in the valve housing.

It is provided that the sanitary mixing valve according to the invention can be manufactured with a retrofittable set of components from a mixing valve belonging to the prior art. Of course, it is also possible and sensible to build mixing valves in the future, especially when they are manufactured according to the present invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the sanitary mixing valve according to the invention;

2 is a plan view of the mixing valve according to FIG.

1; 3 shows a top view of a mixing valve according to the invention, in which the cold water position of the adjusting lever lies on an axis of symmetry of the mixing valve;

Fig. 4 shows an inventive mixing valve, in which the

The cold water position of the setting lever is aligned with a dominant axis of the surroundings, in this case with an axis of symmetry of a sink

5 shows a section through part of the valve housing of the mixing valve according to FIGS. 1 to 3;

6 is a partial view of the empty valve housing;

7 shows a section through an adapter plate for insertion into the empty valve housing, with which the position of the adjusting lever for the cold water position can be adjusted;

8 is a plan view of the adapter plate according to FIG. 7;

9 shows a side view of the upper end of the valve body, the adjusting lever being tilted and the mixing valve in the closed state;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the valve body according to FIG. 9, the setting lever being omitted for the sake of clarity; 11 shows the side view according to FIG. 9, but in the open state of the valve body;

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the valve body according to FIG. 11, the setting lever being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 13 schematically shows a device for automatically resetting the mixing valve into the cold water position;

14 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the upper end of the valve body;

15 shows a plan view of the upper end of the valve body according to FIG. 14;

16 shows a section along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

17 shows a third embodiment of the upper valve body end in section;

18 shows part of the valve body according to FIG. 17 on an enlarged scale in a position corresponding to the closed mixing valve;

19 shows the part of the valve body according to FIG. 18 in a position corresponding to the open mixing valve;

20 shows a part of a device for canceling an automatic reset of the mixing valve in the cold position for the valve embodiment according to FIG. 17;

Fig. 21 in supervision another part of the device for canceling an automatic reset of the

Mixing valve in the cold position for the valve version according to FIG. 17;

22a shows a schematic representation of the interaction of the parts according to FIGS. 20 and 21 during the adjustment of the mixing valve into a mixing or hot water position;

22b is a schematic representation of the interaction of the parts according to FIGS. 20 and 21 in a selected one

Mixed or hot water position;

23 schematically shows a relative position of the parts according to FIGS. 20 and 21 and an operating approach in a position corresponding to the closed mixing valve (cold water position), *

Fig. 24 schematically shows a relative position of the parts

20 and 21 and the operating approach in a corresponding to the open mixing valve

Mixed water position;

25 schematically shows a relative position of the parts

Hot water position; 26 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of a device for canceling an automatic return of the mixing valve to the cold position;

27 shows a section along line XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 26.

1, 2 and 3 each show 1 a sanitary mixing valve according to the invention. The reference symbol 2 denotes a valve housing, 3 a cold water inlet, 4 a hot water inlet and 5 a mixed water outlet. The cold water supply and the hot water supply take place via two arms extending away from the valve housing 2 at right angles to a longitudinal valve axis 17, the ends of which are bent away from the valve housing 2 and unspecified devices for connecting to a corresponding cold water and hot water unit, not shown have water pipe. An operating element, in this case an adjusting lever 6, protrudes from a valve head housing, designated 18, which can be plugged onto the valve housing 2. The setting lever 6 can be tilted up or down relative to the longitudinal axis 17 of the valve for opening and closing the mixed water outlet. These tilting movements are indicated by the arrows marked with the reference number 29. The reference numeral 7 denotes the open position of the adjusting lever and the reference numeral 8 the closed position.

To adjust the mixing ratio of the hot water and cold water, the adjusting lever can be pivoted about the valve longitudinal axis 17. This from a cold water position designated 9 to a hot water position designated 10 water position. The pivoting movement is indicated by the arrows, which are provided with the reference symbol 30.

While in FIGS. 1 and 2 the setting lever in the cold water position 9 is pivoted to the right with respect to an axis of symmetry 11 of the mixing valve, in FIG. 3 the cold water position 9 of the setting lever lies on the axis of symmetry 11. The hot water position 10 is of course opposite that Execution in Fig. 2 also changed, since the pivot angle has remained the same.

4 shows a mixing valve 1 which is mounted on a washbasin or sink 13. Both the cold water and the hot water supply take place on the side of the valve body 2 facing away from the adjusting lever 6, directly from below. Lateral arms which serve to supply water, as in FIGS. 1 to 3, are not present here. The mixed water outlet 5 is beak-shaped and in most cases can be pivoted about the valve longitudinal axis. The cold water position 9 of the setting lever is here aligned on an axis of symmetry 12 of the sink, which represents a dominant axis of the entire arrangement.

According to the invention it is now provided in one embodiment that a reset means, which is described further below, is installed in the valve housing, which automatically returns the adjusting lever 6 to the cold water position 9 after each water supply. In another embodiment, however, it can also be provided that the cold water position 9 of the setting lever 6 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 extends to the axis of symmetry of the mixing valve 11 or to a dominant axis 12 of the environment. is aimed. A solution variant of how the swivel position of the cold water position of the adjusting lever can be set or adapted is described further below.

Of course, embodiments of mixing valves are also possible in which the cold water position of the adjusting lever is aligned with a preferred axis and which additionally have return means.

5 shows a part of the valve housing 2 in a sectional view. The valve housing has a hollow cylindrical cavity which is open on one side and the bottom of which is closed off by a valve housing base 19. A cylindrical valve body 14 is inserted into the cavity. On its end face facing the valve housing bottom 19, the valve body 14 has water inlet and outlet openings which correspond to further water inlet and outlet openings which are arranged in the valve housing bottom. The openings are not visible in this figure.

On the side facing away from the valve housing base 19, a sleeve-shaped operating projection 38, which is rotatably arranged in the valve body 14, projects out of the latter. An operating plunger 39 projects through the operating approach and can be tilted with respect to the longitudinal valve axis 17 within the opening of the operating set. The operating lever (not shown in FIG. 5) is placed on top of the operating plunger 39. The valve body 14 is held in the cavity of the valve housing 2 with an adjusting ring 16. This has a thread on its outer surface, which threads into an internal thread at the upper end of the inner surface, which delimits the cavity mentioned. intervenes. The adjusting ring 16 lies with an immediate shoulder directed towards the center on the upper end face edge of the valve body 14 and holds it in place.

The valve body 14 is secured against rotation by positioning cams which engage in positioning bores 20 in the housing base 19.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the housing base 19 with the valve body 14 removed. The above-mentioned positioning bores 20, a hot water inlet opening 21, a cold water inlet opening 22 and a mixed water outlet opening 23 are visible in the housing base. If the valve body is inserted into the cavity of the valve housing 2 in such a way that its positioning cams engage in the positioning bores 20, the operating lever is oriented as shown in FIG. 2. The cold water position 9 forms an angle with the axis of symmetry 11.

It can now be provided, in particular in the production of new mixing valves, that there are further positioning bores 20 'at an angle to the positioning bores 20 and that the hot and cold water inlet openings 21, 22 are in the form of slot-shaped openings 21', 22 ' and the mixed water outlet openings 23 are also designed as slot-shaped openings 23 '. It is thereby achieved that the valve body can also be used at an angle to the aforementioned position, so that its positioning cams come to rest in the positioning bores 20 '. In this case, the cold water position of the operating lever 6 is aligned with the axis of symmetry 11, as shown in FIG. 3. Although the bores and openings in the valve housing base 19 labeled 20 ', 21 *, 22' and 23 'could be reworked to convert existing valves, it is suggested that an adapter plate 15 be placed on the valve housing base 19 instead of the reworking. This adapter plate 15 is only shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 and indicates an embodiment variant.

The adapter plate 15 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has on one end face two positioning cams 24 which are intended for insertion into the positioning bores 20. Two peripheral incisions 28, which are angularly offset from the positioning cams 24, are provided for receiving the positioning cams of the valve body 14. Three adapter openings 25, 26 and 27 are provided in the adapter plate 15 to adapt the hot water inlet opening 21, the cold water inlet opening 22 and the mixed water outlet opening 23 to the angularly offset arrangement of the corresponding openings in the valve body. An adapter plate with a thickness of only 3 to 4 mm can easily be placed on the valve housing base 19. The resulting increase in the valve body does not interfere, since it can still be held sufficiently with the adjusting ring 16 (FIG. 5). For the sake of clarity, no sealing means are drawn in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 between the valve housing base 19, the adapter plate 15 and / or the valve body 14.

What has been described so far only serves to align the cold water position of the setting lever 6 of the mixing valve on its axis of symmetry or on a dominant axis of the environment. A corresponding choice of the design of the adapter plate would easily make it possible borrowed more angles. It could even be conceivable to manufacture the adapter plate 15 from an elastic material, to design the adapter openings 25, 26, 27 as slots and to provide several positioning incisions offset to the positioning cams 24. In this way, the valve body could be inserted into the valve housing 2 in various angular positions, following the grid of the positioning incisions 28. Sealing means could be omitted because of the elasticity of the adapter plate.

Returning to FIG. 5, the means for automatically resetting the mixing valve to the cold water position will now be described. For this purpose, a return spring 35 is provided, one end of which is fastened to the valve body 14 with a fastening screw 40 and the other end of which, comprising the operating attachment 38 by approximately 270 °, is fastened to the latter with a further fastening screw 41. Instead of fastening screws, any other suitable type of fastening for the spring ends can also be provided. The further fastening screw 41 projects through a limiting cutout 42 in a shoulder 51 of the valve body 14 into the operating approach 38. The pivoting movement of the operating attachment 38 relative to the valve body 14 about the valve longitudinal axis 17 is limited by the delimiting cutout. The further fastening screw 41 of the return spring is in the cold water position on the side shown in FIG. 5 at the limiting cutout 42. When the operating lever is pivoted into the hot water position, the further fastening screw 41 comes to rest on the limiting cutout 42 on the other side and thus stops the pivoting movement. The return spring 35 is tensioned by the pivoting. When the control lever is released, the rear setting spring for the fact that the operating approach 38 is in turn returned to the cold water position shown in FIG. 5.

13 shows a top view of the valve body 14, on which the arrangement of the return spring 35 is very clearly visible.

Instead of a tension spring, a torsion spring could of course also be used. This would then be led around the operating approach 38 with several turns. The two ends of the torsion spring would also be fastened with the two fastening screws 40, 41, as described.

9, 10, 11 and 12 show, for example, how it can be achieved that the restoring effect of the spring 35 only acts when the mixing valve is closed. 9 and 10 show the closed mixing valve and FIGS. 11 and 12 the opened mixing valve. FIGS. 9 to 12 show in particular the functioning of the means 36 (FIG. 5) for canceling the restoring effect and the deceleration or braking means 37 for delaying the restoring effect. The lifting means 36 comprise a support ring 43 which is pushed over the operating attachment 38 and rests on the shoulder 51 of the valve body 14. A tilting segment 44 is fastened to the support ring 43. This can be tilted relative to the support ring 43 about the fastening screw 45, which forms a tilt axis. The tilt segment 44 forms a two-armed lever. One end of the lever has a bent-over retaining tab 50 with a threaded hole, in which an adjusting screw 46 is arranged. A pin firmly inserted into the retaining tab could, for example Replace set screw and threaded hole. This protrudes through a bore through the wall of the sleeve-shaped operating attachment 38 into its interior.

At the other end of the two-armed lever, two tabs are also arranged. A support bracket 48, which is bent up and angled, carries a compression spring 49 which is effective between the outer lateral surface of the operating attachment 38 and the tilting segment 44. At the same end of the lever there is a brake or locking tab 47 bent towards the adjusting ring 16, which protrudes into the adjusting ring 16 and can rest against an inner lateral surface of the adjusting ring. The compression spring 49 has the task of bringing the brake or locking tab 47 into contact with the adjusting ring. The spring action of the compression spring 49 is so great that the friction between the adjusting ring and the brake or locking tab is greater than the restoring force of the return spring 35. The mixing valve consequently remains in the set mixing position (FIG. 11 , 12).

When the mixing valve is closed by tilting the operating lever 6, the operating plunger 39 which is tiltably arranged within the operating extension 38 comes to rest with the end of the adjusting screw 46 protruding into the operating extension and presses the adjusting screw outwards. As a result, the tilting segment 43 is pivoted about the tilting axis 45 and the brake or locking tab 47 is removed from contact with the inner collar surface. The friction between the brake or locking tab 47 and the outer surface of the adjusting ring is thereby eliminated and the return spring can now return this to the cold water position when the mixing valve is closed. So that this does not happen suddenly, a to insert deceleration or braking means, for example in the form of an elastic brake lining, between the mutually facing surfaces of the brake or locking plate 47 and the inner circumferential surface 16 of the adjusting ring. The outer surface of the collar can be smooth, grayed, corrugated, etc. In this way, the friction between the surfaces mentioned when the mixing valve is open is not entirely eliminated in the closed state of the mixing valve, but is only reduced. The residual friction ensures a delayed slow or slowed return of the mixing valve through the return spring 35 to the cold water position.

14, 15 and 16 show a further embodiment of the upper part of a mixing valve with a different variant of the device for automatically returning the mixing valve to the cold water position. The same or functionally identical parts are still designated by the same reference numerals.

The sleeve-shaped operating attachment 38 is in turn rotatably arranged in the valve body 14 and provided with the tiltable operating plunger 39, on which the operating lever (not shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16) is attached. The tilt range or the tilt angle of the operating plunger 39 can be limited by means of an adjusting screw 53 (FIGS. 15 and 16), as a result of which the maximum water flow rate can also be limited. With a fully screwed-in adjusting screw 53, the maximum tilt angle and the maximum water flow rate are reached.

The return spring 35 which is fastened on the one hand to the valve body 14 and on the other hand to the rotatable operating attachment 38 in this variant, it is designed as a torsion spring surrounding the operating attachment 38 (FIG. 16). The restoring effect of the spring 35 is in turn only effective when the mixing valve is closed or when the mixed water outlet is closed. The operating attachment 38 is here also provided with a support ring 43, on which the tilting segment 44 is arranged such that it can be tilted about the fastening screw 45 and forms a two-armed lever. While one end of the lever cooperates with a pin 46 '(FIGS. 14 and 16) inserted in the operating plunger 39, the other end of the lever is provided with a latch 55 (FIGS. 14 and 15), which is intended to have one on the inner wall of the valve body 14 integrally formed locking ring 56 cooperate. Between the outer lateral surface of the operating attachment 38 and the end of the tilting segment provided with the latching pawl 55, a spiral spring 49 'is effective, which tends to bring the latching pawl 55 into engagement with the latching ring 56.

When the mixing valve closes, the tilting segment 44 is pivoted via the pin 46 'against the force of the compression spring 49' in a manner similar to the first variant - by tilting the operating lever 6 and the operating plunger 39 in such a way that the catch 55 is disengaged the locking ring 56 is brought. In this position shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, the mixing valve is automatically returned to the cold water position, brought about by the return spring 35.

If, on the other hand, the mixing valve is opened via the operating lever 6, the end of the tilting segment 44 which interacts with the pin 46 'is relieved and the latching pawl 55 is pressed into the latching ring 56 by the spiral spring 49'. When adjusting the mixing valve in the desired mixing or Hot water position jumps the pawl 55 over the individual locking steps or teeth, however, an automatic reset by the return spring 35 is not possible. The mixing valve remains in the set position until the water flow is interrupted by tilting the operating lever 6.

A third embodiment of the upper part of a mixing valve with a third variant of the device for automatically resetting the mixing valve to the cold water position is described below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 25. The parts that remain the same or have the same function are again identified by the same reference numbers.

17 in turn shows the cylindrical valve body 14 used in the valve housing 2, which is covered by the valve head housing 18 shown in dash-dotted lines. The operating lever 6, also shown in broken lines, is placed on the operating plunger 39 protruding from the valve head housing 18.

The upper valve body end region can be seen particularly well from FIGS. 18 and 19. The operating plunger 39 is in turn arranged tiltably in the sleeve-shaped operating attachment 38, which is rotatably arranged in the valve body 14. To limit the tilt angle and thus also the water flow rate, the adjusting screw 53 is also present here.

Two ring-like disks 58, 59 are arranged coaxially to the operating attachment 38. The upper disk 58 is fixedly connected to the valve body 14. The lower disk 59 is assigned to the rotatable operating attachment 38. The top disc 58 has, according to FIG. 20, on the inner circumference a segment-shaped delimitation cutout 60 which extends approximately over half of the same, the delimitation surfaces of which are designated 61, 62.

The lower disk 59 is also provided with such a cutout 63, as shown in FIG. 21. The boundary surfaces of the cutout 63 are designated 64.65.

The upper disk 58 has on its lower side in the area opposite the limiting cutout 60 a groove 68 which extends in the circumferential direction and extends approximately over a third of the disk circumference (120 °), as in FIG. 20 and in FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 is shown in dashed lines. 22a and b, the groove 68 has a constant depth over its entire length. The base area of the groove 68 is designated 67.

The lower disk 59 is provided on its upper side with a groove 69 which, however, is considerably shorter in the circumferential direction than the groove 68 and has a bottom 70 which is bevelled in this direction, as shown in FIGS. Arranged between the two disks 58, 59 is a ball 71 projecting into the grooves 68, 69, which together with the two disks 58, 59 forms a freewheel 72, which here represents the means 36 for canceling the restoring action of the restoring spring 35, as described further below.

The operating projection 38 projects with a driving lug 73 into the cutouts 60, 63 of the two disks 58, 59. The return spring 35 designed as a torsion spring is at of this embodiment on the one hand on the valve body 14 and on the other hand on the lower disk 59. The return spring 35 tends to move the lower disk 59 and, via this, also the operating attachment 38 into the cold water position. The lower disc 59 can be easily tilted onto the operating attachment 38 (for this purpose there is a bevelled inner disc surface 74, see FIGS. 18 and 19). The lower disk 59 is pressed upwards by the axial force of the return spring 35 in such a way that the ball 71 bears against the base surface 67 of the groove 68 (FIG. 19) and the freewheel 72 is effective. A pin 46 'is inserted in the operating plunger 39 - in the same way as in the second embodiment. Using this pin 46 ', the lower disk 59 can be tilted slightly downward against the force of the return spring 35, so that the ball 71 moves away from the base 67 of the groove 68; The freewheel 72 is thereby ineffective. This position shown in FIG. 18 corresponds to the closed mixing valve or the cold water position, which is also shown in FIG. 23. In the cold water position, the driving nose 73 rests with its shoulder 76 on the boundary surface 62 of the upper disk 58. The lower disk 59 is pressed by the return spring 35 in the direction of arrow R (FIG. 23), so that the boundary surface 64 bears against the other shoulder 75 of the driving lug 73.

As soon as the mixing valve is opened, the tilting effect exerted by the pin 46 'on the lower disk 59 is also canceled and the freewheel 72 becomes effective. The operating set 38 can now be rotated in the freewheeling direction designated by F in FIGS. 22a to 25 into any mixed water position or the maximum hot water position, with its driving nose 73 with the shoulder 75 lower disk 59 rotates, since the ball 71 is in the position shown in Fig. 22a and allows this rotation. However, the freewheel 72 ensures that the return spring 35 when the mixed water valve is open cannot automatically turn the lower disk 59 and, via this, the operating attachment 38 back into the cold water position in the direction of the arrow R, since the ball 71 is jammed between the base surface 67 and the beveled one Bottom 70 prevents the disk 59 from turning back (cf. FIG. 22b). While the lower disc 59 remains standing, the operating attachment 38 can, if necessary, be rotated back into the cold water position by hand in the direction of rotation R by moving its shoulder 75 away from the boundary surface 64. Only when the mixing valve is closed is the freewheel 72 deactivated and the automatic reset of the disk 59 effected, taking the operating set 38 with it.

25 shows the maximum hot water position at which the shoulder 75 of the driving lug 73 bears against the boundary surface 61 of the upper disk 58.

26 and 27 show a further variant of means 36 for canceling the restoring effect of the restoring spring 35.

A support ring 80, which is provided with an attachment 81, is arranged on the operating attachment 38, which can be rotated in the valve body 14 (not shown in FIG. 27). An actuation ring 83 is placed on the extension 81 in a freely rotatable manner. The carrier ring 80 is provided with a longitudinal slot 82 running in the circumferential direction, through which the return spring 35 attached to the actuating ring 83 passes. protrudes. With its other end, the return spring 35 is in turn attached to the valve body 14 in a manner not shown.

An end 86 of a radially acting brake spring 85 is fastened to the carrier ring 80 by means of a fastening bolt 84, the outer surface 87 of which is intended to interact with a cylindrical inner surface 79 of the stationary valve body 14. The other end 88 of the brake spring 85 is connected via a driving lug 89 to a driving lug 90 of the actuating ring 83.

A longitudinal slot 91 of the actuating ring 83 and a longitudinal slot 92 of the carrier ring 80 overlap one another in the circumferential direction. In the overlap area according to FIG. 27, an axially adjustable actuating element 93 projects into the two longitudinal slots 91, 92 and is assigned to the rotatable operating attachment 38 and the tiltable operating plunger or the operating lever of the mixing valve in a manner not shown. The actuating element 93 has a driving surface 94 and a wedge flank 95 on the side interacting with the actuating ring 83.

The return spring 35 attached to the actuating ring 83 tends to rotate it in the direction of rotation R (FIG. 26), as a result of which the brake spring 85 is pressed radially outward into contact with the inner surface 79 of the valve body 14 via the driving lug 89.

If, when the mixing valve is open, the operating attachment 38 is rotated into the mixed water or hot water position counter to the force of the return spring 35 (clockwise according to FIG. 26), the actuating element 93 takes along its driving surface 94 first the actuating ring 83 and then also the carrier ring 80. As a result of the actuation ring 83 being carried along first, the brake spring end 88 is carried along via the drive tab 89 and the braking action of the brake spring 85 is canceled. If you let go of the operating lever in the desired rotational position of the rotatable operating extension 38, the actuating ring 83 is turned back by the return spring 35 relative to the carrier ring 80 in the region of the longitudinal slot 91 (counterclockwise according to FIG. 26) and the brake spring 85 is pressed into the active position via the driving tab 89. The operating approach 38 remains in the desired mixed water or hot water position.

When the mixing valve is closed, the actuating element 93 is pressed down. The actuating ring 83 is adjusted clockwise according to FIG. 26 via the wedge flank 95 relative to the carrier ring 80. The active position of the brake spring 85 is thereby canceled and the return spring 35 automatically returns the operating attachment 38 to the cold water position.

Claims

claims

1. Sanitary mixing valve with a valve housing (2) with a cold water inlet (3), a hot water inlet (4) and a mixed water outlet (5), with an operating element (6) for opening (7) and closing (8) the mixing valve water outlet or for adjusting the amount of water flowing out through it in the open state, and for mixing the cold water with the hot water or for adjusting the mixing ratio of the outflowing water from a cold water position (9) to a hot water position (10), whereby the two settings can be made by differently directed pivoting movements (29, 30) of the operating element, characterized in that means (35) are provided for automatically resetting the operating element (6) to the cold water position (9).

2. Mixing valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the resetting means (35) are only effective when the mixed water outlet (5) is closed.

3. Mixing valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the restoring means comprise a spring (35), preferably a tension spring or a torsion spring.

4. Mixing valve according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that means (36) for canceling the effect of the reset means (35) are present.

5. Mixing valve according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that means (37) for delaying or braking the action of the resetting means (35) are present.

6. Mixing valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the operating member is a lever (6) for a single lever mixing valve, with the lever

(6) the mixing ratio of hot and cold water can be adjusted by a swiveling movement (30) around a valve longitudinal axis (17) and the water flow rate can be adjusted by a tilting or tipping movement (29).

7. Mixing valve according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the resetting means (35) on the one hand with the valve housing (2) and on the other hand with a rotatably mounted in the valve housing (2), the swiveling control member (6) receiving Bedie¬ approach (38) are connected.

Mixing valve according to claim 4 and claim 7, characterized ge indicates that the operating approach (38) can be blocked by the means (36) for canceling the restoring effect in a desired rotational position.

9. Mixing valve according to claim 8, characterized in that the blocking when the mixing water outlet (5) is closed by an actuating element (46, 6 ', 93) assigned to the pivotable operating member (6) is lifted.

10. Mixing valve according to claim 8 and claim 9, characterized ge indicates that the means (36) for canceling the Resetting effect comprise a braking or locking part (47, 55) of a tilting segment (44) arranged on the operating attachment (38) and adjustable by the actuating element (46, 46 ').

11. Mixing valve according to claim 8 and claim 9, characterized ge indicates that the means (36) for canceling the restoring effect one between the operating approach

(38) and the valve housing (2) acting freewheel (72), which can be switched off by the actuating element (46 ').

12. Mixing valve according to claim 8 and claim 9, characterized ge indicates that the means (36) for canceling the restoring effect comprise a brake spring (85) which can be pressed radially against an inner surface (79) of the valve housing (2), the radial one Expansion and thus the effectiveness of the brake spring (85) can be adjusted via an actuating ring (83) which can be adjusted by the actuating element (93).

13. Sanitary mixing valve with a valve housing (2) with a cold water inlet (3), a hot water inlet (4) and a mixed water outlet (5), with an operating element (6) for opening (7) and closing (8) the mixing valve water outlet or to adjust the amount of water flowing through it in the open state, as well as to mix the cold water with the hot water or to adjust the mixing ratio of the outflowing water from a cold water position (9) to a warm water position (10), whereby the two settings can be made by means of differently directed swiveling movements (29, 30) of the operating element, characterized in that the operating member (6) is arranged on the valve housing (2) in such a way that in the cold water position (9) to an axis of symmetry (11) of the mixing valve (1) or to a dominant axis (12) of the immediate surroundings (13 ) is aligned.

14. Mixing valve according to claim 13, characterized in that the operating member on the valve housing (2) for aligning on one of said axes (11, 12) is adjustably mounted.

15. Mixing valve according to claim 14, characterized in that an adjusting means (15) can be inserted into the valve housing (2) for aligning the operating member (6).