EP1728931A2

EP1728931A2 - Hydric group of the built-in type, in particular for the distribution of water to a plurality of users

Info

Publication number: EP1728931A2
Application number: EP06011059A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serafino Bossini
Original assignee: Rbm SpA
Current assignee: Rbm SpA
Priority date: 2005-05-30
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2006-12-06
Also published as: EP1728931A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an embedded water supply assembly, in particular for distributing water to a plurality of user terminals, comprising.
- a box-shaped housing (10) comprising a base (11) and a cover (15);
- a distribution element (30) comprising ducts (31a, 31b) provided with fittings (32a, 32b) adapted to be connected to water supply plumbing (50a, 50b), a plurality of branches (33a, 33b) adapted to connect a plurality of water distribution plumbing (51a, 51b) to the respective user terminals, and a pipe (38a, 38b) adapted to house a on-off valve (39a, 39b) for regulating the water flow within said ducts (31a, 31b), wherein said box-shaped housing (10) is adapted to contain said distribution element (20).

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an embedded water supply assembly, in particular for distributing water to a plurality of user terminals, according to the preamble of claim 1.
The invention can be very interesting in all those fields wherein versatility and convenience are required for disassembling, assembling and inspecting pipes and other items included in a water supply assembly.
According to the state of the art, water supply plumbing are generally embedded in the walls of the house.
In order to supply water to a plurality of user terminals or sanitaryware of various kinds, such as, for example, washbasins, baths, bidets, shower units, etc., said water supply plumbing are typically connected to distribution elements adapted to receive water from said water supply plumbing and to distribute it to one or more of said sanitaryware or user terminals.
The distribution elements comprise first fittings to be connected to the water supply plumbing, and second fittings to be connected to the respective user terminals; said distribution elements are also provided with on-off valves used for stopping and/or regulating the water flow from the main.
Generally, said distribution elements are also embedded in the walls of houses, so that only the devices for regulating the water flow delivered to the user terminals, e.g. the taps of the on-off valves, protrude from the wall. The user can thus operate said taps in order to open or close the on-off valves, thereby controlling the water supply for the user terminals.
The water supply assembly comprising the above-described water supply plumbing and distribution elements has many drawbacks due, in particular, to that fact that it is embedded in the walls of the house.
In fact, in the event that any components or even the complete assembly should be replaced, the water supply assemblies according to the state of the art would necessarily require parts of the wall to be broken, thus making it difficult to inspect the water supply assembly.
Moreover, said water supply assemblies are not generally of the universal type, i.e. they are not adapted to receive any type of plumbing desired by the user or required by the sanitaryware or user terminals currently available on the market.
An additional drawback of prior-art water supply assemblies lies in the fact that said water supply assemblies can hardly be used in different positions or connected to both horizontal and vertical plumbing without causing any installation problems.
It is also known that heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and their components, as well as drinking water and sanitaryware, can cause and extend diffusion of germs and bacteria capable of causing infections; among these, the Legionnaire's disease or legionellosis is known as being particularly dangerous.
A considerable number of legionellosis cases are caused by contamination of water distribution systems and sanitaryware. The moderate increase in the temperature of water in respect to its natural temperature represents one of the most important factors causing the growth of bacterium and pollution of the environment, since this bacterium is particularly capable of flourishing when the temperature of water is between 25 and 42 °C.
Consequently, an appropriate prevention against the expansion and diffusion of legionellosis must be carefully taken into consideration and applied during the planning stage, installation, operation and maintenance stages of water distribution systems, especially in household environments, so as to eliminate or at least reduce the risk of a serious bacterial contamination.
The increase in temperature of hot water is one of the methods currently used for controlling legionellosis in a water distribution system; actually, a temperature of hot water higher than 60°C inactivates legionellosis proportionally to the time of exposure of the bacterium to hot water.
The so-called "thermal shock" method is generally used for the known water supply assemblies, according to which the water temperature is increased to 70-80°C continuously for about three days and water is allowed to flow through the taps for about thirty minutes everyday.
A first drawback of the above known water supply assemblies lies in the fact that during this procedure it is absolutely necessary to verify that the water temperature in the distal locations reaches or exceeds 60°C; if such a temperature is not reached and maintained, the procedure will be unreliable.
Additional drawbacks lie in the fact that this procedure requires time and personnel, or the installation of remote probes to check the time of the water flowing and the temperature of the water in the distal locations and in the tanks. Furthermore, the above-described disinfection procedure is systemic but temporary, since the re-colonization of the water supply system by bacteria may take place within a period ranging from a few weeks to a few months after the thermal shock, if the temperature of the circulating water drops below 50°C.
According to another method for controlling legionellosis in a water distribution system, the water temperature is constantly kept between 55-60°C in the water system.
The above method, implemented with water supply assemblies known in the art, has the drawback of the water being distributed is too hot, resulting in inevitable safety problems for the users of the water system.
In this frame, the general object of the present invention is to provide an embedded water supply assembly which, besides being of the universal kind, i.e. adapted to receive any type of plumbing desired by the user or required by the user terminals currently available on the market, may also be easily and quickly inspectable for maintenance purposes and/or to replace any components or even the entire assembly, without requiring any work to the walls.
Another object of the invention is to provide a water supply assembly which can be embedded in a wall in different positions, without causing any problem to the system , and which can be connected to both horizontal and vertical plumbing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an embedded water supply assembly so designed as to be fit for counter the multiplication and diffusion of germs and bacteria capable of causing infections, in particular legionellosis, without causing any safety problems to the users of the water system and without requiring probes to be installed for checking the time and/or the temperature of the water flowing.
These and further objects, which will be explained in detail below, are achieved according to the present invention through an embedded water supply assembly, in particular for distributing water to a plurality of user terminals, having the features set out in the annexed claims, which form an integral part of the present description.
Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a box-shaped housing according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a protective cover for a box-shaped housing according to the invention;
Figs. 3A and 3B are a partially exploded perspective view and a top view of a distribution element according to the invention, respectively;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the water supply assembly according to the invention;
Figs. 5A and 5B are an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of a variant of the distribution element according to the invention, respectively.

The invention relates to an embedded water supply assembly comprising a box-shaped housing 10, shown in Fig. 1, which encloses a distribution element 30, 30', shown as an example of embodiment in Figs. 3A and 5A, for distributing water to a plurality of user terminals.
As to the description of the drawings, Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a box-shaped housing, indicated with reference number 10, according to the invention.
Said box-shaped housing 10 comprises a base 11 having a back wall 11F, side walls 11L, a first wall 11I and a second wall 11S.
Said base 11, in particular its back wall 11F, is fitted with securing means comprising a pin or support 12 having substantially a shape of a cut cone and having a female thread 12M in its central portion. The securing means of back wall 11F also comprise a pair of threaded holes 13 approximately located in the central portion of said back wall 11F.
Said female thread 12M is adapted to be coupled to a screw 14 in order to secure said base 11 to a cover 15; in fact, said cover 15 has a hole 16 through which the threaded portion of screw 14 can be inserted.
Cover 15 also has a pair of apertures 17 on opposite sides of said hole 16.
Fig. 1 clearly shows that first wall 11I of base 11 has a plurality of passages 18P; at least some of said plurality of passages 18P can be used for the water supply plumbing, indicated with reference numbers 50a and 50b in Fig. 4, in particular for cold water and hot water to go through, into the box-shaped housing 10.
Side walls 11L of base 11 also have a cut-out 18F each for housing a plurality of distribution plumbing 51a, 51b, adapted to distribute water from the distribution element 30, shown in Fig. 3A, to the respective user terminals.
Moreover, base 11 is fitted with undercuts 19 which allow base 11, and therefore the entire box-shaped housing 10, to be firmly embedded in a wall P, which is clearly visible in Fig. 4.
Fig. 2 shows a special protective cover 20 used to prevent base 11 from being damaged during the embedding operations; said protective cover 20 is provided with walls the shape of which is complementary to that of base 11.
In particular, said walls comprise side walls 21L, a back wall 21F, a bottom wall 21I and a top wall 21S, all of which are slightly smaller than the corresponding walls of base 11.
The central portion of back wall 21F has a structure 22 adapted to contain the pin or support 12 and threaded holes 13 of base 11.
The size and shape of walls 21L, 21F, 21I, 21S and of structure 22 allow said protective cover 20 to be inserted into base 11 when embedding said base 11 and to be removed when the embedding work is completed.
Figs. 3A and 3B are a partially exploded perspective view and a top view of a distribution element 30, respectively.
As previously stated, the water supply assembly according to the invention comprises said distribution element 30, which is adapted to be enclosed in the box-shaped housing 10.
Said distribution element 30 comprises ducts 31a, 31b, each being hollow and provided with a fitting 32a, 32b adapted to be connected to the water supply plumbing 50a, 50b.
As clearly shown in Fig. 3B, the ducts 31a, 31b are connected to each other by a plate 34 having holes 35.
Said pair of ducts 31a, 31b also comprises a plurality of branches 33a, 33b for connecting water distribution plumbing 51a, 51b for the various sanitaryware or user terminals.
Both fittings 32a, 32b and branches 33a, 33b have a normalized thread at the respective ends, which makes it easier to connect them to water supply plumbing 50a, 50b and to the distribution plumbing 51a, 51b, respectively.
The existence of said holes 35, 36 in plate 34 and of threaded holes 13 in box-shaped housing 10 makes it possible to secure distribution element 30 to base 11 simply by means of screws, indicated with reference number 37 in Fig. 4.
In particular, distribution element 30 is secured to said box-shaped housing 10 in such a way that fittings 32a, 32b turn out to be aligned with a pair of passages 18P, so that they can be connected to water supply plumbing 50a, 50b inside the box-shaped housing 10, whereas branches 33a, 33b are aligned with cut-outs 18F in order to be connected to the distribution plumbing 51a, 51b and to distribute water to the respective sanitaryware or user terminals.
Fig. 3A clearly shows that each of said ducts 31a, 31b is fitted with a pipe 38a, 38b adapted to house an on-off valve 39a, 39b for regulating, according to known techniques, the water flow within ducts 31a, 31b.
A pair of cylindrical elements 40a, 40b are screwed in pipes 38a, 38b so as to cover said on-off valves 39a, 39b and prevent them from being tampered with.
When cover 15 is secured to base 11 by means of screw 14, said pair of cylindrical elements 40a, 40b will protrude from apertures 17 of cover 15.
Two components 41a, 41b having the shape of a cut cone may be coupled to said cylindrical elements 40a, 40b, preferably through a pair of O-rings 42, in particular for the purpose of covering apertures 17 and the upper end of screw 14.
Fig. 4 clearly shows how distribution element 30 is assembled inside the box-shaped housing 10, in particular when the latter has been embedded in a wall P and cover 15 has already been removed.
In case of having to carry out inspection and/or maintenance work and/or to replace any components or even the complete water supply assembly, it will be sufficient to remove the cut cone-shaped elements 41a, 41b to gain access to screw 14 and remove cover 15 from base 14; by so doing, the plumber will have free access to distribution element 30 without having to break the wall.
In order to prevent any tampering, cover 15 can only be removed from base 11 by using a special tool of a type known in the art, which is not shown in the drawings for simplicity's sake.
Figs. 5A and 5B show a distribution element 30', which represents a variant of the distribution element according to the invention. In said Figs. 5A and 5B, the elements corresponding to those shown in Figs. 3A and 3B are designated with the same reference numbers, with the addition of an apostrophe ('); for example, distribution element 30 of Figs. 3A and 3B corresponds to distribution element 30' of Figs. 5A and 5B.
Said distribution element 30' comprises a regulator device, indicated as a whole with reference number 60 in Figs. 5A and 5B, for controlling and maintaining the temperature of the water flowing out of distribution element 30'.
Said regulator device 60 comprises a mixer element 61 adapted to be inserted into a mouthpiece 36' of distribution element 30'; in particular, for centring mixer element 61 in mouthpiece 36' by using a centring plate 62 and locked by using a locking ring nut 63.
As clearly shown in Fig. 5B, said mixer element 61 comprises:

at least one first aperture 64a which represents an inlet for a first water flow in said mixer element 61, in particular said first water flow comprising hot water coming from a fitting 32a';
at least one second aperture 64b which represents an inlet for a second water flow in said mixer element 61, in particular said second water flow comprising at least some of the cold water coming from a fitting 32b';
a third aperture 64c communicating with a duct 31a', which represents an outlet for a mixed water flow from said mixer element 51.

Consequently, said first hot water flow is mixed with said second cold water flow within mixer element 61; the mixed water flow is then distributed to the respective sanitaryware or user terminals through duct 31a', branches 33a' and the respective distribution plumbing.
Advantageously, said mixer element 61 comprises a thermostatic element (not shown in the drawings), being in particular of the synthetic-wax type, adapted to change its configuration so as to obstruct at least partially said first aperture 64a and/or said second aperture 64b and to balance any flow rate variations of the hot water and/or cold water flowing through the mixer element 61.
Preferably, said thermostatic element is of a type adapted to stop the flow of hot water should problems arise with supply of the cold water ; it is clear that this flow interruption takes place through variations in the configuration of the thermostatic element, until said first aperture 64a is fully closed.
This allows to provide an embedded water supply assembly being so designed as to be adapted to cunter the multiplication and diffusion of germs and bacteria capable of causing infections, in particular legionellosis. In fact, the embedded water supply assembly comprising mixer element 61 according to the present invention allows to keep the water temperature constantly between 55-60 °C in the water piping upstream of the embedded water supply assembly; moreover, it also prevents the users of the water system from incurring in any risks for their personal safety, since mixer element 61 is provided with means adapted to stop the flow of hot water.
Preferably, said third aperture 64c of mixer element 61 comprises an annular cage 65 adapted to create a turbulence in the mixed water flow before it reaches duct 31a', so as to improve the mixing of hot water with cold water.
Regulator device 60 also comprises adjustment means, in particular a knob 66, which allows to act on mixer element 61 in order to preset the temperature of the mixed water to a chosen value, said knob 66 being provided with a graduated scale indicating a range of mixed water temperatures between a minimum value and a maximum value.
It should be noted that at least one passage 18P of said plurality of passages 18P of base 11 may be used by the user to rotate said knob 66 in order to adjust the temperature of the mixed water.
The features of the present invention, as well as its advantages, are apparent from the above description.
Since distribution element 30, 30' is enclosed in box-shaped housing 10, it is possible to provide an embedded water supply assembly which, besides being of the universal type, i.e. adapted to receive any piping structure desired by the user or required by the user terminals or sanitaryware currently available on the market, can also be easily and quickly inspected.
Furthermore, by enclosing distribution element 30, 30', which is fitted with a plurality of branches 33a, 33b, 33a' 33b', in box-shaped housing 10, it is possible to obtain a water supply assembly which can be embedded in a wall in different positions and which can be connected to both horizontal and vertical plumbing without causing any problems of installation.
Another advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that by using protective cover 20 when embedding base 11 of box-shaped housing 10 in the wall it is possible to prevent base 11 of box-shaped housing 10 from being damaged.
By inserting distribution element 30, 30' in box-shaped housing 10 after having embedded the latter in wall P, it will be possible to carry out maintenance work and to shut off the water supply to distribution element 30, 30' until the user terminals have become actually and effectively operational.
Moreover, the fact that distribution element 30' comprises a regulator device 60 fitted with a mixer element 61 allows to provide an embedded water supply assembly which is adapted to counter the expansion and diffusion of germs and bacteria capable of causing infections, in particular legionellosis.
The above-described invention is susceptible of many changes and variations by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.
Also, all of the above-described details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements in compliance with the scope of the inventive concept.
In practice, materials and sizes may be chosen according to specific needs.

Claims

Embedded water supply assembly, in particular for distributing water to a plurality of user terminals, characterized by comprising:
- a box-shaped housing (10) comprising a base (11) and a cover (15);

- a distribution element (30, 30') comprising ducts (31a, 31b; 31a', 31b') provided with fittings (32a, 32b; 32a', 32b') adapted to be connected to water supply plumbing (50a, 50b), a plurality of branches (33a, 33b; 33a', 33b') adapted to connect a plurality of water distribution plumbing (51a, 51b) to the respective user terminals, and a pipe (38a, 38b; 38a', 38b') adapted to house an on-off valve (39a, 39b; 39a', 39b') for regulating the water flow within said ducts (31a, 31b; 31a', 31b');
said box-shaped housing (10) being adapted to contain said distribution element (30, 30').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (11) comprises securing means (12, 12M; 13) adapted to secure said base (11) to said cover (15) and to said distribution element (30, 30').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (11) comprises a plurality of passages (18P) used for passing said water supply plumbing (50a, 50b) through into said box-shaped housing (10).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (11) comprises cut-outs (18F) for inserting said plurality of distribution plumbing (51a, 51b).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that, when installed, said fittings (32a, 32b; 32a', 32b') are aligned with said pair of passages (18P) in order to be connected to the water supply plumbing (50a, 50b) inside the box-shaped housing (10), and the branches (33a, 33b; 33a, 33b) are aligned with said cut-outs (18F) in order to be connected to said distribution plumbing (51a, 51b).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (11) is fitted with undercuts (19) which allow the base (11) to be firmly embedded in a wall (P).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said ducts (31a, 31b; 31a', 31b') are connected to each other through a plate (34, 34').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claims 2 and 7, characterized in that said plate (34, 34') comprises holes (35, 35') which allow to secure the distribution element (30, 30') to said securing means (12, 12M; 13) of the box-shaped housing (10), in particular by means of screws (37).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized by comprising at least one cylindrical element (40a, 40b; 40a', 40b') which can be screwed inside the pipe (38a, 38b; 38a', 38b') so as to cover at least one of said on-off valves (39a, 39b; 39a', 39b') and prevent it from being tampered with.
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 9, characterized by comprising two components (41a, 41b; 41a', 41b') having the shape of a cut cone adapted to be coupled to said cylindrical elements (40a, 40b; 40a', 41b'), in particular through a pair of O-rings (42, 42').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a protective cover (20) for preventing the base (11) from being damaged during the embedding operations.
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that said protective cover (20) is provided with walls (21L, 21F, 21I, 21S) having a shape complementary to and being slightly smaller than the corresponding walls of said base (11).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claims 2 and 11, characterized in that said protective cover (20) has a structure (22) adapted to contain said securing means (12, 12M; 13).
Embedded water supply assembly according to one or more previous claims, characterized in that said distribution element (30') comprises a regulator device (60) for controlling and keeping substantially constant the temperature of the water flowing out of the distribution element (30').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that said regulator device (60) comprises a mixer element (61) adapted to be inserted into a mouthpiece (36') of the distribution element (30').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said mixer element (61) comprises:
- at least one first aperture (64a) which represents an inlet for a first water flow in said mixer element (61), in particular said first water flow comprising hot water coming from a first fitting (32a') of said fittings (32a', 32b');

- at least one second aperture (64b) which represents an inlet for a second water flow in said mixer element (61), in particular said second water flow comprising at least a portion of the cold water coming from a second fitting (32b') of said fittings (32a', 32b');

- a third aperture (64c) communicating with said first duct (31a'), which represents an outlet for a mixed water flow from said mixer element (61).
Embedded water supply assembly according to one or both of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that said mixer element (61) comprises a thermostatic element adapted to change its configuration so as to obstruct at least partially said first aperture (64a) and/or said second aperture (64b), thereby balancing any flow rate variations of the hot water and/or cold water flowing through the mixer element (61).
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that said thermostatic element is of a type adapted to stop the flow of hot water, should problems arise in the cold water supply, by changing its configuration until said first aperture (64a) is fully closed.
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said third aperture (64c) comprises a small annular cage (65) adapted to create a turbulence in the mixed water flow before it reaches the duct (31a').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said regulator device (60) comprises a centring plate (62) for centring the mixer element (61) in the mouthpiece (36').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said regulator device (60) comprises a locking ring nut (63) for locking the mixer element (61) in the mouthpiece (36').
Embedded water supply assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said regulator device (60) comprises adjustment means, in particular a knob (66) which allows to act on the mixer element (61) in order to set the temperature of the mixed water to a chosen value.
Embedded water supply assembly according to the previous claim, characterized in that said knob (66) has a graduated scale indicating a range of temperatures of the mixed water between a minimum value and a maximum value.