EP1674624A2 - Flushing system for the automatic flushing of urinals and similar sanitary appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic urinal rinsing system has a water supply and a pump delivering a water jet from a reservoir together with a cleansing agent e.g. air or ozone. The ozone is generated by an electrical discharge system.

Description

The invention relates to a flushing system for the purpose of automatic flushing of urinals and similar sanitary equipment consisting of a central electrical control device, an electrically operated water valve, a turbine mounted in the water flow with a mechanically connected electrical generator, located in the electrical control electrical energy storage for Recording the electrical energy generated by the generator as well as from a sensor for determining the use of the sanitary device, according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are automatic flushing systems for urinals are known in which the intended use is detected by suitable sensors and if necessary by a suitable electronic control switching pulses are given to an electric valve, which releases the water flow for a certain time. It is required that for a flushing in each case a quantity of water of 1 to 2 liters is triggered.

• Infrarot-Lichtschranken
• Infrarot-Reflex-Sensoren
• Radarsensoren
• Trittmatten / Bodenkontakte
• Thermische Sensoren, welche im Siphon des Urinals den bei der Einleitung von (warmem) Urin resultierenden Temperaturanstieg detektieren
• Feldsensoren, bei denen auf der Rückseite des keramischen Urinalbeckens eine Elektrodenstruktur aufgebracht ist, welche durch geeignete elektronische Ansteuerung ein elektrisches Feld im Raum ausbildet, welches durch bei Benutzung des auf der Oberfläche der dem Nutzer zugewandten Seite und die dabei mit Flüssigkeit (Urin ist mehrheitlich Wasser) benetzte Oberfläche eine Veränderung erfährt, welche zur Gewinnung eines Schaltimpulses in geeigneter Weise ausgenutzt wird.

Sensor systems are known in various technologies, for example in:

• Infrared light barriers
• Infrared-reflective sensors
• radar sensors
• Floor mats / floor contacts
• Thermal sensors which detect in the siphon of the urinal the temperature rise resulting from the introduction of (warm) urine
• Field sensors, in which on the back of the ceramic Urinalbeckens an electrode structure is applied, which forms an electric field in the room by suitable electronic control, which by using the on the surface of the user-facing side and the case with liquid (urine is mostly water ) wetted surface experiences a change, which is exploited to obtain a switching pulse in a suitable manner.

The supply of electrical energy market known systems is either either by batteries, which are to be replaced after exhaustion or from the mains or by means of a turbine driven therefrom electric generator, which is driven by the water flowing out at flushing, wherein the electrical energy in a suitable manner is stored. Electronically, a forced charging of the energy storage is then initiated when the charging voltage falls below a predetermined value.

DE 44 10 993 describes a system which detects the use of the urinal by a thermal sensor in the siphon and which has a turbine / generator located in the outflow of water. The device can be operated without batteries and without connection to the mains and is thus low in service. The electrical energy generated by the generator is stored in electrical capacitors of sufficient capacity according to the teachings of this invention. Charging is forced by a forced flush is triggered when falling below a minimum charge with the aim of replenishing the stored amount of energy. Alternatively, it is described that a forced flushing effected for the purpose of energy production takes place at fixed time intervals.

A disadvantage of this system is that a relatively complicated commissioning procedure must be followed, which is known only to trained personnel. The procedure ensures the initial charge of the energy store. Failure to comply with the procedure will prevent the system from working. For this purpose, the system is always delivered with the valve open, with the valve usually being a bistable, pulse-switched valve. After installation and after opening the water shut-off, water flows through the open valve, which drives the turbine / generator and generates electrical energy. The electronic control activates and the power storage units are charged. This process step takes a few minutes. Cases have been observed where the valve has been inadvertently dropped, which makes the above-described start-up impossible.

Another disadvantage is that the thermal sensor in the siphon is exposed to the medium located there and that dirt or calcifications encase the thermal sensor and thus thermally isolate, which impairs its function or even repeals. A further disadvantage is that the measurement of the temperature activated at very short intervals requires a certain amount of electrical energy. The amount of energy held by the internal power storage is limited, which limits the operating time. Therefore, this system must trigger a flushing pulse from time to time to not only flush the siphon, but also to recover and store electrical energy.

By EP 0433 631 A1 also a turbine with a generator has become known, wherein the generated electrical energy is stored in an accumulator. Also, this invention proposes a forced charging when the charging voltage of the accumulator falls below a predetermined value. The disadvantage is that accumulators are in principle less suitable for the task, because the typically very short flushing and thus loading times of a few seconds ensure sufficient for the charge ion transport.

DE 100 49 680 further discloses a urinal flushing system in which the electrical valve is preceded by an assembly which contains a pressure reducer. Advantageously, the water pressure offered to the valve is limited to an adjustable value, which is always constant and is 2-4 bar. This protects the valve from excessive water pressure and the amount of water delivered is a strict function of time at constant pressure. Therefore, the amount of water does not have to be adapted to the locally prevailing water pressure. The disadvantage is that the technical complexity is relatively large and that short, steep pressure pulses, such as those that occur in pipeline networks, are not absorbed by the pressure reducer for reasons of reaction inertia.

In order to ensure the safety of the flushing system from destruction of the same, is sought in the systems described above, all technical Installing components of the electronic flushing system behind the mostly ceramic urinals.

Technical problem to be solved:

If the system is supplied from the power grid, a complex supply line and electrical protection is necessary. If, on the other hand, the system is powered by electric batteries, the urinal must be removed from the wall in the event of a battery change, which entails considerable expense and high costs. If the system is further supplied by a combination of the components "turbine-generator energy storage", a complicated and fault-prone commissioning procedure is necessary and falls below a minimum water pressure instabilities occur, which can lead to disturbances.

Technical task:

The invention has for its object to solve the above technical problem, a flushing system of the type mentioned in such a way to further develop that the same neither expensive leads needed, but is self-sufficient to work and no costly change of electric batteries needed, but practical for years is able to work maintenance-free.

Technical solution of the invention and its advantages:

The solution of the problem is in a flushing system of the type mentioned is that a located in the central electrical control electronic comparator monitors the state of charge of the electrical energy storage and falls below a specified minimum charge of the electrical energy storage, the power automatically to an additional existing electric battery or a Battery switches.

The basic idea of the invention is thus that in normal operation, the control of the sanitary device is operated by energy, which by the combination of turbine, electric generator, Energy storage - wherein preferably an electrical capacitor of sufficient capacity is used - is obtained or stored. In addition, the controller includes an electric battery or an accumulator which is only switched on when the charge of the energy store is insufficient. The accumulator can be constantly charged, for example, via a photovoltaic element.

• Im Falle der ersten Inbetriebnahme erfolgt diese mit Energie aus der Batterie oder dem Akkumulator, weil der interne Energiespeicher noch ungeladen ist.
• Im Falle normaler Nutzung lädt sich der interne Energiespeicher auf. Der Betrieb des Spülsystems der sanitärtechnischen Einrichtung wird von Batteriebetrieb auf Energiespeicher-Betrieb umgeschaltet. Die Batterie wird in Folge nicht mehr entladen. Die Lebensdauer der Batterie wird nur noch durch die Selbstentladung bzw. Lagerdauer begrenzt. Bei modernen Batterien oder auch Akkumulatoren kann deren Lebens- und Funktionsdauer auf eine Größenordnung von mehr als 10 Jahren verlängert werden. In dieser Zeit braucht kein Service zum Zwecke eines Batterie- oder Akkumulatorwechsels durchgeführt werden.
• Im Falle unzureichender Wasserdrücke oder abgestellter Wasserversorgung oder bei längerer Nichtnutzung des Systems schaltet sich das System nach Erschöpfung des internen Energiespeichers automatisch auf Batterie- bzw. Akkumulatorbetrieb um. Das System bleibt im Batterie- bzw. Akkumulatorbetrieb im sicheren "stand by", kommt also niemals in indifferente Betriebszustände. Die Energieaufnahme ist in diesem Zustand sehr gering, weil prinzipiell die Schaltimpulse zum Öffnen/ Schließen des Ventils die größten Energieverbraucher sind, welche im "stand-by-Modus" allerdings nicht stattfinden.

An electronic circuit thus automatically switches the power supply according to the currently existing operating state, so that the following operating states can be distinguished:

• In the case of the first commissioning, this is done with energy from the battery or the accumulator, because the internal energy storage is still uncharged.
• In the case of normal use, the internal energy storage system charges up. The operation of the flushing system of the sanitary device is switched from battery operation to energy storage operation. The battery will not be discharged in a row. The life of the battery is limited only by the self-discharge or storage time. In modern batteries or accumulators their life and function can be extended to an order of more than 10 years. In this time no service for the purpose of a battery or Akkumulatorwechsels must be performed.
• In case of insufficient water pressure or disconnected water supply or if the system is not used for a long time, the system automatically switches to battery or accumulator operation after the internal energy storage has been exhausted. The system remains in the battery or accumulator mode in the safe "stand by", so never comes in indifferent operating conditions. The energy consumption is very low in this state, because in principle the switching pulses for opening / closing the valve are the largest energy consumers, which, however, do not take place in "stand-by mode".

The decisive advantage of the invention is therefore that the flushing system has a redundant power supply, which makes the flushing system for a number of years, even many years, independent and self-sufficient and thus maintenance-free and inexpensive.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the rinsing time or the amount of water per rinse is longer with low use of the urinal than with frequent use, the rinsing times being automatic as a function of the frequency of use, which can be stored, for example, as use / h or use / day for further processing be changed within specified limits.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, a second rinsing with a reduced amount of water is automatically triggered in a fixed, short time after rinsing, for example after 5 to 30 seconds or even longer. When not using the sanitary device after a specified time, for example, after half a day, a day or more days, a flush can be triggered.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, when the sanitary appliance is not in use, the valve is repeatedly switched ON / OFF in a short sequence in order to fully maintain the valve's ability to function against soiling or caking and to ensure the mechanical mobility of the valve components. The intervals can also be, for example, one day or several days or even weeks.

In a further embodiment of the flushing system according to the invention, a volume flow constant is installed in the water flow.

In a further embodiment of the flushing system according to the invention, a water-jet pump with intake manifold is arranged in the water outlet. In this case, a cleaning liquid can be sucked through the intake or pump nozzle from a reservoir, which admixed the rinse water becomes. Likewise, air can be sucked through the intake manifold and bubbled with the outflowing water and mixed with the rinse water.

In a further embodiment of the flushing system according to the invention, the air to be bubbled through the intake manifold is mixed with ozone, which is located in a reservoir through which the intake air flows due to electrical discharge processes.

Figur

1ein Blockschaltbild sämtlicher Aggregate des Spülsystems im Zusammenwirken derselben und

Figur 2

den zeitlichen Ablauf der Steuerung des Spülsystems.

Course description of the drawing in which show.

figure

1 is a block diagram of all the units of the flushing system in cooperation of the same and

FIG. 2

the timing of the control of the flushing system.

• Das erfindungsgemäße System besteht aus folgenden Hauptbaugruppen, welche in der Figur 1 dargestellt sind.

Technical exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept:

• The system according to the invention consists of the following main assemblies, which are shown in FIG.

A water inlet 1 opens into a filter 3 with a flow constant 2. Connected thereto via a water connector 5 is a servo valve 4, preferably an electric pulse-controlled bistable servo valve, hereinafter called valve 4, followed by a turbine 6, which in turn drives an electrical generator 7 , To the turbine 6 is followed by a water outlet 8 'with water jet pump 8 and intake 8 ", wherein in the intake 8" a backflow preventer 9 is arranged. The water jet pump 8 has a water outlet 10 for the outlet of the water, which has flowed through the turbine.

A central electrical control device 11 has at least one electrical charge store, for example a capacitor 11 '. An electrical connection 12 connects the controller 11 to the valve 4; a further electrical connection 13 connects the electrical control device 11 to the electric generator 7. A further electrical connection 14 connects the electrical control device 11 with a sensor system 15 or the electronics of the sensor 15. The numeral 16 is a battery as a buffer, backup battery, characterized, which is connected via an electrical connection 16 'to the electrical control device 11.

• Thermo-Sensor im Siphon
• pH-Sensor im Siphon
• Infrarot-Reflex-Sensor
• Radar-Sensor
• Feldsensor, auf der Rückseite des Urinalbeckens angebracht (nach DE10235937)
• Strömungssensor im Siphon

The sensor system 15 may be implemented in various technologies, such as:

• Thermo-sensor in the siphon
• pH sensor in the siphon
• Infrared-reflective sensor
• Radar Sensor
• Field sensor, mounted on the back of the urinal basin (according to DE10235937)
• Flow sensor in the siphon

Preferably, a mounted on the back of the ceramic sanitary facility or the Urinalbeckens field sensor in the sense of DE 102 61 238.8 is used because the reliability is not reached at the same time highest fault tolerance of other sensor systems. For the purposes of this invention, however, the choice of the sensor system is not critical.

After installation of the sanitary equipment or Urinalspülsystems - usually behind the Urinalkeramik - the system is initialized. This can be done by a switch or by plugging an incoming from the backup battery electrical line with a flanged connector or in a similarly appropriate manner.

After initialization of the electronic control this generates some switching pulses to ensure the mechanical mobility of the valve components and finally and forcibly moves the valve to the "CLOSED" position. The installer can now complete the installation of the Urinalkeramik and lift the shut-off of the water supply.

When using or operating the sensor, after a reasonable waiting time, a switching pulse is delivered to the electric water valve: "Valve OPEN".

The water flowing through drives the turbine 6 and thus the generator 7, which generates electrical energy and stores it in a capacitor 11 'of sufficient capacity. After the set flushing time, the valve 4 is moved to the "CLOSED" position with a switching pulse.

Figure 2 shows the timing, timing diagram, the controller. After an adjustable waiting time, z. B. of 2 seconds, the valve is opened by a further switching pulses for a short time and closed again. This ensures that a small amount of water of, for example, 200 ml fills the siphon even if it should have been emptied by a negative pressure in the water drain piping. In this case, the area 2.1 designates the actual rinsing time, which begins with an UP pulse and is terminated by an ZU pulse, which in turn are shown below the area 2.1 on a further time axis with mutually reverse direction and are designated by the reference numeral 2.4. After a break 2.2, following the flushing time 2.1. followed, a rinsing of the time length of the rinsing time 2.3 by on or to pulses, 2.4, triggered.

An electronic comparator 11 "within the controller 11 checks the state of charge of the electric storage capacitor 11 'charged via the generator 7. When the state of charge exceeds a predetermined value, the power supply from the battery 16 to the storage capacitor 11' is automatically switched by a suitable electronic switch This condition is reached when, as a result, the urinal has been used several times.

In normal operation, ie when the sanitary facility or the urinal is used about 1 to 3 times a day, the energy supplied by the generator is sufficient for safe operation via the storage capacitor 11 '. The Battery is therefore not used in normal operation, which has a significant lengthening on the life of the battery.

In the case of insufficient water pressure or in case of temporary shut-off of the water or in case of prolonged disuse of the urinal, the storage capacitor 11 'is not charged. In this case, the electronic switch automatically switches to battery or accumulator operation. This ensures that the urinal system remains functional in any case.

If the water is shut off for a prolonged period or if the urinal is not used for a long time, electric water valves could become trapped by limescale in the water or by other substances. This is inventively counteracted that when not in use of the urinal at appropriate intervals of z. B. at least one day to a week from the electrical control, the valve 4 is moved by triggering switching pulses at least once. This avoids "sticking" of the movable, mechanical components of the valve 4 and ensures the mechanical mobility of the valve components. As a positive side effect - if there is water pressure - the siphon is filled with water and drying out of the siphon thus avoided.

For reasons of economy, it makes sense to adjust the amount of water per rinse the frequency of use. If the urinal is used relatively seldom, a relatively long flush time with a relatively large amount of water is important in the interest of adequate flushing. If the urinal is used very frequently, the flushing time can be reduced to a time which ensures the safe renewal of the liquid in the siphon and a secure wetting of the surface of the urinal ceramic.

According to the urinal control therefore automatically changes the flushing time as a function of the frequency of use, the frequency of use within the Control device can be stored for further processing, use / h or use / day.

After initialization, a relatively long purge time is first triggered when used to flush the system safely for the first time. Following this, the minimum rinse time will automatically set.

The rinsing time is automatically extended if the urinal system is not used, as the rinsing time is automatically extended after periods of non-use, which can happen, for example, depending on usage / h or usage / day.

The longest flushing time can be limited by an internal setting to a freely definable value. The water consumption is thus more than halved in urinals often used without deposits that could form through urine stone damage the drainage system or without precarious conditions in terms of hygiene could occur. In rarely used urinals is achieved by this invention that by vigorous flushing of the urinal system, the risk of deposits is minimized.

In the outlet of the urinal flushing system, a water jet pump 8 is arranged according to the figure 1. In the case of through-flowing water, a negative pressure is created at an intake stub 8 ", and a reservoir 17 with a liquid can be connected to the intake stub 8, which is added to the rinsing water and which supports the cleaning of the urinal and / or has a disinfecting effect.

It is advantageous that the metered addition of this cleaning liquid into the rinse water without further installation or pumping mechanisms always takes place in the case of rinsing operations.

Alternatively, air can be sucked in and very finely beaded and mixed with the rinsing water, the turbine waste water. The air-enriched rinse water has a better wetting effect on the surfaces of the urinal ceramic and therefore allows relatively small amounts of water per flush, without this having a negative impact on urinal hygiene.

In addition, the air sucked in via the intake stub 8 "can be enriched with ozone .Ozone is generated by electric discharges in a discharge vessel, for example the reservoir 17, through which the intake air flows in. Ozone is water-soluble and extremely bactericidal and biocidal that any chemicals must be refilled, is achieved with this proposal according to the invention that the surfaces of the urinal and the siphon are always hygienic.

The known from DE 100449680 and mentioned assembly "pressure reducer" can be replaced by a volumetric flow controller, if the design of the water technical system follows the rules of DIN 1988 and pressures of an average of 6 bar are maintained. Freely available on the market, small flow regulators also regulate the flow of water, so that the same opening times of the valve result in the same amounts of water.

Industrial Applicability.
The invention is in particular for sanitary facilities, such as urinals, or other sanitary facilities, such as toilets, commercially applicable. It can be carried out in various variations, which have in common that the operating energy is generated both by batteries and from the located in an electrical energy storage and effluent from purging water from a turbine with a connected electric generator, with sufficient charge of the energy storage through an electrical circuit, the battery is switched off electrically and therefore in the case of sufficient charge of the energy storage no consumption of stored energy in the battery takes place.

1

Wasserzulauf

2

Durchflusskonstanter

3

Filter

4

elektrisches impulsgesteuertes bistabiles Servoventil

5

Wasserverbindungsstück

6

Turbine

7

Elektrischer Generator

8

Wasserstrahlpumpe

8'

Wasserauslauf

8"

Ansaugstutzen

9

Rückflussverhinderer

10

Wasserauslauf

11

Zentrale elektrische Steuereinrichtung mit

11'

elektrischer Ladungsspeicher wie Kondensator

11"

elektronischer Vergleicher

12

elektrische Verbindung zwischen Ventil und Steuereinrichtung

13

elektrische Verbindung zwischen Generator und Steuereinrichtung

14

elektrische Verbindung zwischen Steuereinrichtung und Sensorelektronik

15

Sensor-System bzw. Sensor mit Sensorelektronik

16

Pufferbatterie, mit elektrische Verbindung zur Steuereinrichtung

17

Reservoir für entweder eine Reinigungsflüssigkeit oder Ozon

List of reference numbers:

1

water supply

2

Flow Constant

3

filter

4

electric pulse-controlled bistable servo valve

5

Water Connector

6

turbine

7

Electric generator

8th

Water jet pump

8th'

water spout

8th"

intake

9

Backflow preventer

10

water spout

11

Central electrical control device with

11 '

electric charge storage such as capacitor

11 "

electronic comparator

12

electrical connection between valve and control device

13

electrical connection between generator and control device

14

electrical connection between control device and sensor electronics

15

Sensor system or sensor with sensor electronics

16

Backup battery, with electrical connection to the controller

17

Reservoir for either a cleaning fluid or ozone

Claims (10)

Flushing system for the purpose of automatically flushing urinals and similar sanitary installations, comprising a central electrical control device (11), an electrically operated water valve (4), a water-current turbine (6) with a mechanically connected electric generator (7) in the electrical control device (11) located electrical energy storage device (11 ') for receiving the electrical energy generated by the generator (7) and from a sensor system (15) for determining the use of the sanitary device,
characterized,
that in the central electrical control device (11) located electronic comparator (11 ") monitors the state of charge of the electrical energy storage (11 ') and falls below a specified minimum charge of the electrical energy store (11'), the power supply of the flushing automatically to an additional existing electrical Battery (16) or an accumulator switches. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized
that the rinsing time or the amount of water per rinse with longer use of the sanitary device is longer than with frequent use and that the rinsing times are automatically changed within a defined limit as a function of the frequency of use. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized
that in a specified, short time after rinsing, a second rinse is automatically triggered with a reduced amount of water. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized in that when not in use of the sanitary device after a specified time, a flushing is triggered. Flushing system according to claim 4, characterized in that
that when not in use of the sanitary device, the valve (4) is repeatedly switched in a short order OPEN / CLOSE. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized in that a volume flow constant is installed in the water flow. Flushing system according to claim 1, characterized
in that a water jet pump (8) with an intake pipe (8 ") is arranged in the water outlet (8 '). Flushing system according to claim 7, characterized in that by means of the water jet pump (8) through the suction nozzle (8 ") from a reservoir (17) sucked in a cleaning liquid and added to the rinse water. Flushing system according to claim 7, characterized in that by means of the water jet pump (8) sucked through the air intake (8 ") air and is bubbled with the effluent water. Flushing system according to claim 7, characterized
in that the air sucked in through the intake stub (8 ") is mixed with ozone, which ozone is located in a reservoir (17) through which the intake air flows by means of electric discharge processes.

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