EP1431466A2 - Compact assembly for fixtures and piping for water supply - Google Patents

Abstract

Device arrangement for an interior installation comprises installations for e.g. a cold water supply for the house and garden, and a heating and drinking water heater that require fittings and accessory equipment. The fittings and accessory equipment for several of the installations are combined to form an assembly for mounting as a set. Preferred Features: The fittings and accessory equipment are mounted in a frame structure (10) for attaching to a wall. The assembly is covered by a hood. The fittings and accessory equipment are controlled by a common electronic control unit (166).

Description

The invention relates to a device arrangement for a house installation with installations for several from the group of the following systems: cold water supply for home and Garden, heating and drinking water heater, for their operation fittings and Auxiliary devices are provided.

Home installations for cold water, hot water and heating require a variety of Fittings and devices.

For the cold or drinking water supply of a house is a pressure reducer required of the pressure in the pipe system of the house to an allowable value holds. In many cases, a filter is installed upstream of the pipe system. It is known to combine such a filter with a pressure reducer (EP 0 898 022 A2). The filter must be backwashable from time to time. The backwash water must be in one drain be dissipated. Furthermore, a shut-off valve is required, through which the Water supply to the pipe system can be shut off. Furthermore, devices for Water treatment or water softening provided.

A line leading into the garden must be isolated from the house supply and can be emptied for frost protection reasons.

With a DHW heater in a closed system there is a pressure relief valve and an expansion device is provided, which the thermal expansion of the Water. With each tap, hot water is drawn out and through flowing cold water replaced. This cold water is heated and expands and increases the pressure in the system. This would respond to the pressure relief valve and drain water regularly. To prevent this, the expansion device provided (e.g. DE 42 42 036 A1). Again, there is at least one shut-off valve for the Cold water supply required.

In a heating system, fittings for filling or refilling Heating water may be provided. It is important that no contaminated Heating water flows back from the heating system into the drinking water supply can. Therefore, the filling or refilling of the heating system is normally allowed only via a hose removed after the filling process has ended, so that during operation there is a physical separation of the drinking water supply and Heating system is given. This requires the installation of two shut-off valves. There are but also permanently installed automatic pipe cutters known. These are fittings with two series connected check valves between drinking water supply and Heating system. There is only one connecting chamber between the non-return valves closed when the pressure in the drinking water supply is significantly higher than the pressure in the heating system. If this is no longer the case, the Connection chamber automatically opened to a drain.

The various systems described are usually separated with appropriate fittings and devices installed. Such installations are complex. They require good specialist knowledge. The installation is usually done in the basement. Interventions in the installation, e.g. Shut off a valve and open a drain valve must be done manually. The structure is often confusing and requires a lot of space or wall surface.

The invention has for its object the structure, assembly and operation to simplify a device arrangement of the type mentioned.

The basic idea of the invention is that the fittings and Auxiliary equipment for several of the aforementioned installations as a whole mountable assembly are united.

So it will not be the cold water supply for the home and garden Water heating and heating with the necessary fittings and Devices installed individually. Rather, it is an assembly that can be assembled as a whole provided which these fittings and devices for all systems in the correct construction contains. This assembly can then e.g. to be attached to a wall. to Completion of the installation only requires the pipelines on this assembly to be connected. This is relatively easy work. Error during installation are practically impossible. The whole device arrangement is very clear.

Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig.1

ist eine Vorderansicht einer Baugruppe mit Armaturen und Geräten für die Kaltwasserversorgung von Haus- und Garten, die Trinkwassererwärmung und die Heizung.

Fig.2

zeigt die Baugruppe mit Haube im montierten Zustand.

Fig,3

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung eines durch einen Stellmotor verstellbaren Ventils, wie es in der Baugruppe von Fig.1 verwendet wird.

Fig.4

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Druckminderer-Filter-Kombination, wie sie in der Baugruppe von Fig.1 verwendet wird.

Fig.5

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung eines in die Baugruppe integrierten Gerätes zur Wasserbehandlung, das einer Verkalkung entgegenwirkt.

Fig.6

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Füllarmatur zum Füllen oder Nachfüllen des Heizungssystems mit einem Rohrtrenner.

Fig.7

zeigt einen Längsschnitt durch die Füllarmatur.

Fig.8

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Sicherheitsgruppe und einer Expansionsvorrichtung zum Aufnehmen von überschüssigem Volumen bei der Ausdehnung des erwärmten Trinkwassers.

Fig.9

zeigt einen Schnitt durch die Expansionsvorrichtung von Fig.7.

Fig.10

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Ablaufwanne in der Baugruppe von Fig.1.

Fig.11

ist eine perspektivische Darstellung der elektronischen Steuervorrichtung.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.1

is a front view of an assembly with fittings and devices for the cold water supply of the house and garden, DHW heating and heating.

Fig.2

shows the assembly with hood in the assembled state.

Fig, 3

is a perspective view of a valve adjustable by an actuator, as used in the assembly of Fig.1.

Figure 4

is a perspective view of a pressure reducer filter combination, as used in the assembly of Fig.1.

Figure 5

is a perspective view of an integrated in the assembly water treatment device that counteracts calcification.

Figure 6

is a perspective view of a filling fitting for filling or refilling the heating system with a pipe separator.

Figure 7

shows a longitudinal section through the filling valve.

Figure 8

is a perspective view of a security group and an expansion device for absorbing excess volume in the expansion of the heated drinking water.

Figure 9

shows a section through the expansion device of Figure 7.

Figure 10

is a perspective view of a drain pan in the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 11

is a perspective view of the electronic control device.

1 generally denotes a frame structure of a rectangular basic shape, on which the various fittings and devices of the assembly are mounted. The Frame structure 10 can be attached to a wall. The frame structure 10 contains on its upper edge a gauge 12. The gauge 12 positions four parallel, upward guided pipe connections 14, 16, 18 and 20. The pipe connection 14 is with a Garden line connectable. The pipe connection 16 is the drinking water connection for the House installation. The pipe connection 18 is a connection through which a heater for Filling or refilling is connectable to the drinking water supply. The pipe connection 20 establishes the connection to a drinking water heater. The assembly has one single, common drinking water connection 22 and a single, common Waste water connection 24.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the assembly is covered by a hood 26. In Fig. 2 28 is the DHW heater and 30 the heating. The Reference numeral 32 denotes the line for domestic installation; reference number 34 denotes the garden management; reference numeral 36 denotes the connecting line to the drinking water heater; reference numeral 38 denotes the hot water pipe and reference numeral 40 designates the filling line for heating.

In Fig.1 is in series with the drinking water connection 22, a motor-operated shut-off valve 42 arranged. Such a shut-off valve is shown in Fig. 3. The motorized Shut-off valve 42 has a ball valve 44 which is actuated by a servomotor 46 Gear 48 is adjustable.

In series with the shut-off valve 42 is a backwashable on the frame Pressure reducer and filter assembly 50 arranged. Such a pressure reducer and The filter assembly is shown in perspective in FIG. 4. The pressure reducer and Filter assembly is constructed in the manner of EP 0 401 633 A2 or US 5,057,215 A. Reference is made to the disclosure of these publications. The pressure reducer Filter assembly 50 has a connection flange 54 on a housing 52. The The connection flange has a central inlet which is connected to the drinking water connection 22 communicates, and a coaxially arranged outlet. Coaxial in the Housing sits a filter In the housing is still coaxial with the filter Pressure reducer arranged. The inflowing drinking water flows radially inwards the filter, through the pressure reducer and then to the outlet. By opening one Valve becomes a sealed annular space with a formed around the filter Drain connected. This will flow from the inside out through the filter generated and dirt deposited on the filter via a suction device, vacuumed the annulus and the drain. In the assembly of Fig.1 the valve formed by a ball valve 56 in a drain channel 58. The drain channel 58 is with the drain line 24 in connection. The ball valve 56 is in the manner of the valve 44 3 adjustable by a servomotor 60 via a gear 62.

The inflowing water flows after passing through the pressure reducer and Filter arrangement 50 by a water treatment device 64. The water treatment device 64 is shown in perspective in FIG. As can be seen from Fig. 5, this contains Water treatment device a housing 66 and a connecting flange 68 with each other coaxial connection channels. At the bottom of the case are electrical connections 70 provided. The water treatment device 64 is a device in which by a electrophysical treatment of drinking water using applied electric fields formation of crystal nuclei in drinking water is brought about. The as seed crystals designated crystal nuclei are carried in the drinking water. On these crystal nuclei minerals contained in drinking water are deposited. This prevents such minerals as scale e.g. deposited in pipes or on heating elements. However, the minerals are retained in the drinking water. The Water treatment device can be in the manner of DE 199 63 950 A1 or US 6,338,789 B1 be formed, to which reference is hereby made. With the one described there The device first processes the water in a treatment chamber between a cathode and an anode, the anode being a disc with a Having a plurality of parallel pins. Aftertreatment is done by electrical Fields between parallel bars in a jacket-like post-treatment chamber. In the water treatment device 64, the water flows out of the annular outlet of the Pressure reducer and filter assembly 50 into the inlet of the water treatment device 64, through the water treatment device 64 and through the outlet of the Water treatment device 64 in the drinking water line going up in Fig.1 72. The water treatment device 64 can of course also be constructed differently than in the DE 199 63 950 A1 and US 6,338,789 B1.

From the drinking water line 72, a distributor piece 74 goes off to the left in FIG. The Manifold has three elbows 75, 76 and 78, of which parallel upwards lead out led lines 80, 82 and 84. In the lines 80, 82 and 84 are electrically actuated valves 86, 88 and 90 are arranged. The valves 86, 88 and 90 are each with the type of valve shown in Figure 3 with actuators 92, 94 and 96 and Gear 98, 100 and 102 formed. The lines 80, and 82 end in the Pipe connections 14 and 16 for the garden line and the line for house installation. The valves 86, 88 and 90 each have an emptying position. In this position the drinking water supply is shut off via the valve and the space downstream of the valve 86, 88 or 90 via drain lines 87, 89 and 91 in a manner to be described a common process 24 connected.

The line 84 is S-shaped to the right and then bent upwards in FIG. 1. By doing horizontal part of the line 84 sits a filling fitting 104 with a pipe separator, the is hidden in Fig. 1 and is not visible. The filling fitting 104 is perspective in FIG. 6 and partially shown in section in FIG.

5 and 6, 106 denotes a pipe separator housing. The pipe separator housing 106 has an inlet connection 108 which is horizontal in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6 and 7. The inlet port 108 has an inlet duct 110 which is curved downward by 90 ° connected. The inlet channel 110 opens out at an angle into a pipe separator housing 106 bore 112 running at the top. The bore 112 goes into a hole at its upper end Exhaust channel 114, which is connected to an outlet port 116. inlet port 108 and outlet port 116 are arranged coaxially with each other and in the horizontal section of line 84 installed. In the middle area the Bore 112 to an annular space 118. One goes down from the annular space 118 protruding drain connector 120. A cartridge-like assembly sits in the bore two non-return valves 122 and 124, which during a filling process in the direction of Open inlet port 108 to outlet port 116. The assembly forms a Slide valve with a valve slide 126, which is loaded by a coil spring 128 is. The valve spool 126 is against the action of the inlet pressure Coil spring 128 pressed to the right and covers the annular space 118 and thus the Connection to the drain port 120. Then the spring-loaded open Backflow preventer 122 and 124. If the inlet pressure is below for some reason the outlet pressure drops, the valve spool 126 is in the open position shown pressed back. The space between the check valves with the Drain connection connected. Heating water flowing back cannot enter the Drinking water system arrive but flows through the drain port 120. The administration 84 leads to the pipe connection 18, which is connected to the heater 30. The Drain pipe 120 is connected via a drain line 121 in a manner to be described the common drain line 24 connected.

The drinking water line 72 is downstream of the distributor 74 to the right in FIG. 1 angled. An electrically operable is seated in a horizontal section 128 Shut-off valve 130. The shut-off valve 130 is in the manner of the shut-off valve from FIG a ball valve, a servomotor 132 and a gear 134. The Drinking water pipe is then deflected upwards by 90 ° and ends in the Pipe connection 20, which is connected to the line 36 for the drinking water heater 28.

In the vertical section of the drinking water line 72 is a connection fitting 136 arranged. The connection fitting 136 contains a straight through channel between aligned connections 138 and 140. On the through channel is a Safety valve 142 connected. That when the safety valve 142 responds Leaving drip water is to be described via a drip water line 143 Way connected to the common drain line 24. Continues from that Through channel a connecting piece, via which an expansion device 144th connected. A ball valve can be actuated via a rotary knob 146 which is the connection between the drinking water line 72 and the Expansion device 144 can be interrupted for testing purposes. On The screw-down valve can be actuated by an adjusting button 148. This allows the Through channel blocked and the downstream part of the through channel to Check a backflow preventer to be connected to the atmosphere. The Connection fitting is in principle in the manner of DE 197 42 047 A1 = EP 0 905 454 A3 or of US 5,960,818 A. Reference is made to the disclosure of these publications taken.

An expansion device is connected to the connection fitting, as shown in Fig. 9 is shown in section.

The expansion device of Figure 9 has only small dimensions, so that it differs from usual pressure expansion vessels conveniently in an assembly of the type here can be integrated.

For this purpose, the compensation chamber 150, which has excess water volume picks up with the hot water system of the drinking water heater 28 over a Overflow valve 152 connected. The overflow valve opens at one below the Blow-off pressure of the safety valve 142 lying overflow pressure. The Compensation chamber 150 is via an opening to the hot water system to which Overflow valve 152 check valve 154 connected in parallel with the Hot water system of the drinking water heater 28, that is connected to the line 128.

At first, the pressure rises up to the overflow pressure Volume change through the hot water system and the drinking water heater 28 self recorded. It has been shown that in many cases this is sufficient for the Overflow valve 150 does not open at all. When the spill valve 150 opens, then occurs the expansion device 144 in operation. The compensation chamber 152 of the Expansion device 144 increases, so that the further volume change is recorded. When hot water is drawn, the pressure in the Hot water system. The overflow valve 150 closes, but that of the Compensation chamber 152 received water volume can through the check valve 154 flow back.

With such a construction, the one acting on the movable wall needs Back pressure not the normal system pressure determined by a pressure reducer from e.g. 0.4 MPa to correspond but can be chosen lower. The Back pressure only needs to be chosen so large that the pressure in the Hot water system drops below this back pressure when dispensing hot water. This drop in pressure in the hot water system results from the Pressure drop at the upstream pressure reducer. Then the counter pressure is sufficient in order to draw hot water into the compensation chamber Water volume back into the hot water system via the check valve 154 to let it flow back.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the compensation chamber 150 is from a piston 156 limited. The piston 156 slides sealingly in a cylinder 158 and on one Guide rod 160. The cylinder 158 is closed by a cap Annulus 162 surrounded.

A flow meter 164 is connected downstream of the shut-off valve 42. This Flow meter delivers signals according to the whole of the assembly inflowing water flow. The flow meter can be of the type Flow meter 54 of DE 199 63 949 A1 can be constructed.

An electronic control is designated by 166. This electronic control 166 is on the frame structure 10 in Figure 1 above in the middle on a console in front of the Filling valve 104 installed. This electronic control receives signals from the Flow meter 164. There can also be additional flow meters in the Different line systems of the assembly can be arranged. The electronic Control detects unusual flow conditions, e.g. an unusually high Water flow that indicates a broken water pipe or possibly weak Currents that last for an unusually long period of time, which is a Leakage suggests. Thanks to the electronic control, the different Valves 42, 86, 88, 90 or 130 can be controlled. The controller 166 can Control commands received by direct input but also by remote transmission. Likewise, controller 166 may monitor the conditions of the plant, e.g. the switching states of the valves, transmitted remotely. For interventions in the system, e.g. locking and The user no longer needs to empty the garden pipe into the basement can go but this intervention by means of a control unit in the apartment make.

10 shows a collecting trough 168 in perspective. This drip pan 168 extends across the frame structure 10 at its lower end. In the Collecting pan 168 empties all drain lines 87, 89, 91 from valves 86, 88 and 90, the drip water line 143 from the pressure relief valve 142 and the drain channel 58 of the pressure reducer filter assembly 50. The drip pan is with the drain line 24 connected.

Claims (23)

Device arrangement for a house installation with installations for several from the group of the following systems: cold water supply for house and garden, heating and drinking water heater, for the operation of which fittings and auxiliary devices are provided, characterized in that the fittings and auxiliary devices for several of the aforementioned installations into one are assembled as a whole assembly. Device arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the fittings and auxiliary devices are mounted on a frame structure (10) which can be attached to a wall. Device arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the assembly is covered by a hood (26). Device arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that fittings and auxiliary devices can be controlled by a common electronic control (166). Device arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the assembly has electrically controllable shut-off valves (42; 56; 86,88,90; 130) in various installations which can be actuated by the electronic control (166). Device arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the shut-off valves are ball valves (42; 56; 86,88,90; 130) which can be adjusted by an electric servomotor (46, Fig.3). Device arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the assembly has a single drinking water connection (22) which is common to different installations. Device arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that a pressure reducer and filter assembly (50) is arranged in the assembly in series with the common drinking water connection (22). Device arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the pressure reducer and filter assembly (50) can be backwashed. Device arrangement according to claims 4 and 9, characterized in that the pressure reducer and filter assembly (50) can be switched over to backwashing by means of an electric servomotor (60) which can be controlled by the electronic control (166). Device arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that a water treatment device (64) is provided in the assembly in series with the common drinking water connection (22) to avoid limescale deposits. Device arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the water treatment device (64) is a device for electrophysical water treatment, by means of which an electrical field can be used to generate crystal nuclei, which promotes the crystal growth of minerals contained in the water in the flowing state and thus counteracts the deposition of such minerals. Device arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the assembly has a single drain connection (24) which is common to different installations. Device arrangement according to Claim 13, characterized in that the device assembly has a drain pan (168) connected to the drain connection (24), into which drain pipes (87, 89, 91; 121; 143) drain from various installations. Device arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the assembly has fixed connections (14, 16, 18, 20) for a garden line (32), the house installation (34), a drinking water heater (28) and a heater (30) and a single drinking water connection (22) common to the different installations and a single drain connection (24) common to the different installations. Device arrangement according to claims 5 and 15, characterized in that the connections for the house installation and the garden line are each preceded by an electrically controllable shut-off valve (86, 88), these shut-off valves (86, 88) being switchable to a switch position in which they interrupt the connection between the drinking water connection (22) and the connection (16 or 14) for the house installation or garden line and connect the connection (16, 14) for this purpose with a drain (89 or 87) which is connected to the drain connection ( 24) communicates. Device arrangement according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the assembly contains an expansion device (144) and a safety valve (142) for the drinking water heater (28), the expansion device (144) having a compensation chamber (36) delimited by a movable wall (156) 150) for taking up an excess volume of heated drinking water, which arises due to thermal expansion when heating up a drinking water heater (28) in a closed, pressure-resistant, with a safety valve (142) provided hot water system, the movable wall (156) under a water pressure counteracting counter pressure is present in the hot water system and the safety valve (152) opens at a blow-off pressure. Device arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that the compensation chamber (150) is connected to the hot water system via an overflow valve (152) which opens at an overflow pressure below the blow-off pressure and the compensation chamber (150) via an opening towards the hot water system, check valve (154) connected in parallel with the overflow valve is connected to the hot water system. Device arrangement according to claims 15, characterized in that the assembly contains a permanently installed pipe separator (104) with two non-return valves (122, 124) via which the heating connection (18) can be connected to the drinking water connection (22) and by the in the event that ' the pressure in a filling line (84) drops below the pressure in the connection (18) for the heater (30), the space between the non-return valves (122, 124) can be connected to an outlet (120), via which water into the outlet line (24) can drain off. Device arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the assembly has a flow sensor (164) and the electronic control (166) contains the signal of the flow sensor (164) and signals in accordance with the switching states of the various installations and for determining unusual states and triggering measures programmed to eliminate such unusual conditions. Device arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the assembly contains means for the remote transmission of data from the electronic control (166). Device arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the controller responds to remotely transmitted commands. Device arrangement according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the remote transmission takes place wirelessly.

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