Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
  • E03D5/00—Special constructions of flushing devices, e.g. closed flushing system
  • E03D5/10—Special constructions of flushing devices, e.g. closed flushing system operated electrically, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl

Definitions

• the invention describes a method for the non-contact triggering of a flush in urinal systems with electrically controllable water valve, using a attached to the catch basin or the drainage pipe of the urinal capacitive sensor, which is connected to an electronic central control and evaluation (microcontroller), which opens the valve and then initiates flushing, if the sensor determines the intended use of the urinal due to the changing capacitance of the sensor upon introduction of a fluid under the influence of the changed dielectric influences of the fluid, and thereby the sensor sends a trigger pulse to the control unit. and evaluating unit, according to the preamble of claim 1, and a device according to the preamble of claim 10.
• Infrared reflection infrared pulses are emitted. If a user steps in front of the urinal, the IR pulses are reflected and detected by an IR receiver. It will trigger a flush.
• a photocell must be passed by a user who initiates a rinse.
• the odor trap also called a siphon, contains a temperature sensor. When used as intended, the water in the siphon undergoes an increase in temperature, which causes a time-lapse purging.
• - Ph value sensor in the siphon Urine changes the pH value of the water in the siphon, which is detected by a pH sensor and triggers a rinse.
• a device for actuating the flushing of a toilet installation has become known, with which a variable capacity is evaluated by the variable degree of contamination of the water in the siphon.
• the capacitance change is detected by non-water contact electrodes mounted in the area of the siphon.
• two electrodes are arranged on the siphon of the toilet system, which are connected to the control unit, which actuates a solenoid valve for triggering respectively terminating the flushing process.
• the electrodes form a variable capacitance of a resonant circuit in the control unit. If the water in the siphon becomes contaminated, the dielectric of the capacitor changes, which results in a shift in the frequency of the square-wave generator in the control unit.
• the flushing process is triggered and terminated after a likewise preselectable delay time again.
• This system is based on the measurement of absolute values of the resulting capacitances, which is ultimately associated with considerable inaccuracy. This is because the tolerances of the wall thickness or a more or less thin film of water on the surface of the basin greatly affect the capacity.
• a purge device for urinals in which an electronic control device is provided with a capacitive probe for controlling an electro-magnetic valve for the flushing, the flushing in response to the use of urinals according to a predetermined program triggers.
• the capacitive probe which consists of a self-adhesive metal foil or of a conductive color, attached to the back of the urinal basin.
• the control unit itself may be arranged in the urinal basin or in a separate, splash-proof wall installation box. Also this system is based on the measurement of absolute values and is therefore too inaccurate.
• EP 0675236A1 a method for automatically triggering a flushing process for urinals with an electrically actuated shut-off valve in the water inlet and a temperature sensor arranged in the odor trap has become known, the signals of which are evaluated by an electronic control and evaluation unit for controlling the shut-off valve.
• the temperature gradient is determined on the basis of the values supplied by the temperature sensor, and a flushing process is triggered when a predeterminable minimum value for the temperature gradient is exceeded. The triggering of the flushing process is delayed in time.
• WO 0250498A1 discloses a method for measuring the level of a filling material in a container by means of a capacitive sensor circuit, in which a sensor is connected via an electrical line to an AC voltage source of known frequency and the current flowing in the line to a measuring device measured and / or displayed, the measured current is directly proportional to the level of the filling material.
• the AC voltage is applied to the contents or is generated in this, wherein the capacitance of the consisting of the single, passive-acting sensor and the filling material capacitor is measured and displayed as water level.
• the sensor is mounted on the wall of the container so that it extends over the height of all to be expected in the tank levels. Also, the sensor may be attached to the outside of the wall of electrically non-conductive material. On or in the container, a plurality of sensors are mounted at different locations, wherein an average value is formed and displayed from the capacitance values of all sensors.
• the electrical value of the capacitor is fed to an evaluation, which forms a mean value of a plurality of past measured values and the respective current value is compared with this average, wherein when a deviation exceeding an arbitrary size deviation is detected, a purge order a time interval that can be freely selected is triggered with a time delay.
• the oldest measured value drops away and is replaced by a new measured value, whereby the mean value is formed from the remaining values. This can be done analogically or digitally arithmetically.
• the current measured value of the capacitance is compared with the mean value thus formed. If the current measured value differs from the mean value by a freely selectable amount, for example by introducing urine into the tank, the evaluation circuit emits a signal.
• the invention is based on the object, on the one hand to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages and on the other hand to provide a method and a device, which as well as which ensure a safe function of the flushing process of a urinal and to be cost-effective. - -
• the solution of the problem consists in a method of the type mentioned is that after each flushing of the urinary either the sensor value of the trigger pulse or the switching threshold recalibrated after a selectable time and thus adapted to the ruling after the rinsing changed conditions of the urinary.
• the invention makes use of the known knowledge that the capacitance (in picofarads pF) of an electrical capacitor is determined by the area of the capacitor, the distances of the surfaces from one another and the quality of the dielectric insulating the surfaces from one another.
• the invention has the advantage that both rapid changes in the capacitance of the sensor and slow changes, such as contamination by e.g. Urine stone, to be compensated according to this method.
• the gain thereof within the control and evaluation unit is adapted for recalibration of this sensor value of the triggering pulse.
• the valve is locked in a permanent sensor signal to prevent overflow of the urinary.
• the triggering pulse of the sensor must be present for a selectable period of time before the triggering pulse is forwarded to the control and evaluation unit.
• rinsing of the urinais is triggered by a time interval that is freely selectable, when the use of the urinalis is detected.
• the main rinse, a short second rinse, final rinse after a short, selectable time after a first rinse, the main rinse, a short second rinse, final rinse, triggered with the purpose of ensuring the filling of the siphon.
• the capacitive sensor is arranged on the outlet of the odor trap (siphon) on the outside of the outlet of the urinal.
• the functional groups unfolded capacitor, sensor electronics, microcontroller as a control and evaluation unit and switching bridge form a coherent functional unit.
• a mounting barrier is arranged on a peelable metal foil on the inside of the pelvis, which prevents a change in capacity and thus triggering the assembly time of the urinary.
• a sensor capacitor Cs is connected to a capacitance / voltage converter, which feeds its output signal to a variable amplifier, which in turn its output signal of a parallel circuit of an RC element, formed of a resistor and a capacitor, and a voltage output, formed of two resistors, feeds, with a uniform output signal this is applied via the RC element as a threshold to the '+' input of an operational amplifier and at the same time in reduced form via the voltage divider as to be evaluated sensor signal to the ' -'Input of the operational amplifier is placed.
• a sensor capacitor Cs is connected to a capacitance / voltage converter, which has its output signal of a parallel circuit of an RC element, formed of a resistor and a capacitor, and a voltage divider formed of two resistors, supplies, wherein over the resistance of the RC element, a switch is placed, which short-circuits the resistance of the RC element in one position, and at a uniform output of the Capacitance / voltage converter this output signal (12 1 ) is applied to the RC element and is applied as a threshold to the '+' input of an operational amplifier, this output signal of the capacitance / voltage converter equally abandoned in a reduced form the voltage divider as to be evaluated sensor signal and is applied to the '-' input of the operational amplifier, so that at a uniform output of the capacitance / voltage converter no switching signal is generated at the output of the operational amplifier.
• Figure 1 shows an electrical capacitor as a sensor in which the surfaces of the capacitor are not facing each other, but are arranged side by side, which is why the field lines run in space; _ _
• FIG. 2 shows a variant of a capacitor whose surfaces are arranged in the form of two trapezoidal metal adhesive films, the electrical connections leading to a control and evaluation unit in which the electrical capacitance of the capacitor is evaluated and the sensor signal is signal-processed;
• FIG. 3 shows the function of the recalibration according to the invention of the value of the sensor on the time axis after a rinsing process
• FIG. 4 shows the function of the recalibration according to the invention of the threshold value on the time axis after a flushing process
• Figure 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of a control and evaluation unit for carrying out the method according to the invention
• FIG. 6 shows a further circuit diagram of a control and evaluation unit for carrying out the method according to the invention in the recalibration of the sensor value (FIG. 3), with a time control and a holding element for a variable amplifier, and
• FIG. 7 shows a further circuit diagram of a control and evaluation unit for carrying out the method according to the invention when recalibrating the switching threshold (FIG. 4), with a time control and a holding element for a variable amplifier.
• FIG. 1 shows a known, technical embodiment for this purpose in which the capacitor surfaces 30 are arranged in the form of two adjacent trapezoidal metal adhesive films.
• the electrical connections lead to a control and evaluation unit 32 in which the electrical capacitance of the capacitor is evaluated and supplied to signal processing.
• the shape of the surfaces of the capacitor is in principle freely selectable.
• the urinal hanging from the wall has an internal basin for the collection of the introduced liquids, which have an outlet with an odor closure, siphon, is derived.
• the basin carries on its rear outside a capacity-forming structure, as described above, with the control and evaluation unit.
• the structure of the capacitance-forming structure from DE 10261283A1 is known.
• a double-sided self-adhesive film is glued to the outside of the basin and carries the conductive structure as well as the transmitter.
• the arrangement is covered by a further foil, which consists of a thin insulating layer to prevent condensation of the surface of the conductive foil, when the surface of the basin is cooled during the flushing in the tank by running cold water.
• the detected signal of the sensor is recalibrated within a freely selectable period of time after each flushing process.
• This can be done by either recalibrating either the sensor value of the trigger pulse or the switching threshold after a selectable time after each rinsing process of the urinary, and thus adapted to the changed conditions of the urinary system after the rinsing process. It thus finds a sliding, d.i. a constant recalibration takes place after each flushing process. This means that after each flushing operation, an automatic adjustment of the sensor value or, optionally, the switching threshold to the new basic capacitance of the capacitor that occurs after the flushing takes place.
• FIG. 3 explains the function of the recalibration according to the invention of the sensor value on the time axis after flushing operations.
• the course of the sensor signal 1 is shown, which corresponds to the capacitance of the electrical capacitor Cs, sensor.
• the dashed threshold 2 determines the switching threshold of the system, in which a triggering of the flushing process - -
• the sensor signal 1 changes abruptly; it intersects the straight line of the threshold value 2 running parallel to the t-axis, as a result of which a switching pulse 4 is triggered.
• the sensor signal 1 Due to the recalibration of the sensor signal in point 5, the sensor signal 1 is automatically reset to the initial value, here the intersection with the C (pF) axis in FIG. 3, so that in turn the sensor signal 1 intersects the straight line of the threshold value 2 and below the threshold value runs. In the subsequent introduction of water or urine at time 6, it comes to a renewed exceeding of the threshold value 2 and thus to a safe triggering of a next switching pulse at time 7. This process is repeated after each rinse.
• the recalibration is carried out in such a way that the sensor signal delivered by the sensor immediately after flushing - which has indeed changed in accordance with the changed capacity - is trimmed to a previously determined initial value.
• the sensor signal is either amplified or weakened accordingly or also divided by suitable voltage divider or potentiometer circuits accordingly.
• Reference numeral 8 in FIG. 3 identifies the amplification factor of the sensor signal that changes over time, with a decrease in the amplification factor of the sensor signal taking place in the example shown on the basis of (assumed) increasing capacitance of the sensor.
• the sensor signal 1 due to the wetted surfaces in the pelvis of the urinary would only very slowly approach the predetermined starting or initial value again, whereby the system would not immediately be operational again.
• the maximum signal swing is always available after the recalibration, so that in this way the signal-to-noise ratio is increased.
• FIG. 4 explains the function of the recalibration according to the invention of the threshold values on the time axis, that is to say when the threshold value is tracked in accordance with the changing capacitance of the sensor.
• the course of the sensor signal 1 is shown, which corresponds to the changing capacitance of the capacitor.
• the threshold value 2 composed of several straight lines parallel to the t-axis determines the different switching thresholds of the system at which a triggering of the flushing process is to take place.
• the sensor signal 1 changes abruptly. Due to this introduction of water or urine at time 3, the modified sensor signal 1 cuts the threshold value 2 and a switching pulse 4 is triggered.
• the threshold value 2 is automatically raised to a value which is above the instantaneous value of the sensor signal 1. In a subsequent introduction of water or urine at time 6, therefore, it comes to a renewed exceeding of the changed threshold 2 by the sensor signal 1 and thus to a safe triggering of the switching pulse 7.
• the reference numeral 8 in turn, over time virtually constant gain factor the sensor signal marked.
• the sensor signal 1 due to the wetted surfaces of the pelvis of the urinary would only very slowly lower to a value which is below the threshold value, whereby the system would not immediately be operational again after use of the urinal.
• the structure forming the condenser is arranged at the outlet of the odor trap (siphon) on the outside of the drainpipe. If water runs out of the odor trap by introducing urine, this changes the electrical capacity of the structure, which is evaluated and results in a flush.
• the microprocessor required for the control of the evaluation of the capacitive sensor is used according to the invention for controlling the recalibration of the sensor signal or the threshold value as well as for the control of the time sequence of the subsequent flushing operation.
• the waiting time is calculated so that a flushing is triggered in a reasonable time after the start of use.
• the waiting time can be set and is in practice between 15-25 seconds.
• the microprocessor starts a second waiting time in which water flows through the open valve. This time will be between 2-10 seconds, and can be adjusted to the needs, because the time is decisive for the amount of flushing water.
• the valve is closed.
• Another waiting time of about 1-5 seconds is then started to wait for the drainage of the rinse water, because sometimes sucked by the suction of the running water, the siphon and this then no longer fulfills its function as an odor threshold.
• the microprocessor is opened by another impulse, the valve to be closed again after about 1-2 seconds. The time of opening the valve is such that the siphon is reliably filled up.
• the microprocessor causes a compulsory flushing according to the procedure described above at regular intervals after a regular flushing.
• the time span can be several days and is in principle selectable.
• FIG. 5 An electrical circuit diagram of an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5.
• the reference numeral 30 again indicates the two unfolded capacitor surfaces of the sensor.
• a transducer 20 is used to determine the capacity of the unfolded capacitor.
• Main memory and integrated program memory serves to execute the stored control program.
• the output signal of the microprocessor 21 is fed to a switching bridge 10, which in the bridge arms in bridge circuit four switching transistors 22, 22 ', 22 ", 22'" and thus the switching transistors are electrically connected to the microcontroller.
• a bistable water valve 11 In the evaluation branch of the bridge is a bistable water valve 11.
• the capacity of the battery is sized, for example 7.500mA / h, to ensure a reasonable service life.
• Batteries are known which, with an average power consumption of the evaluation and control unit 32 of 50 .mu.A ensure a lifetime of about 10 years.
• the sensor for detecting the use of urinais is a folded-up electrical capacitor and consists of thin metal foils which are attached at a suitable location on the outside of the urinal basin.
• the metal foils are self-adhesive and can be easily mounted.
• the electronics for measuring the capacitance of the unfolded capacitor may be directly connected to a microcontroller which processes the signals from the transmitter and initiates purging as the capacitance changes due to the introduction of liquid and which controls the recalibration. Immediately an electrical switching bridge is controlled by the microcontroller, which switches an electric water valve.
• the electrical functional groups namely the sensor evaluation electronics downstream of the sensor, a microcontroller for controlling all processes, a switching bridge, are incorporated in the control and evaluation unit 32, which is preferably arranged on a single electrical circuit board.
• FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a control and evaluation unit for carrying out the method according to the invention of the variant of the recalibration of the sensor value (FIG. 3).
• a sensor capacitor Cs is connected to a Capacitance / voltage converter 12 is connected, which supplies its output signal 12 'to a variable amplifier 13.
• the gain of the output signal 13 ' is reduced via the variable amplifier 13 so that the signal level at the operational amplifier 17 produces no more output signal.
• the sensor signal is recalibrated and a renewed signal rise leads directly to a renewed signaling.
• FIG. 7 shows a modification of FIG. 6, namely, when the switching threshold is recalibrated and tracked according to the method according to the invention. Identical parts are provided with identical reference numerals for this reason.
• a switch 19 is placed over the resistor 15, which in one position, the resistor 15 short-circuit is capable.
• a sensor capacitor Cs is in turn connected to a capacitance / voltage converter 12. - -
• the resistor 15 is bridged by a switch 19, so that the voltage value of the capacitor 16 adjusts itself directly to the signal 12 '.
• the switching threshold is recalibrated and a renewed signal rise leads directly to a renewed signaling.
• the invention can be used commercially, in particular for the control of urinals.
• the particular usefulness of the invention is that after the recalibration always the maximum signal available, so that in this way the signal-to-noise ratio is increased.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-08-07 DE DE502006005815T patent/DE502006005815D1/de active Active
  • 2006-08-07 WO PCT/EP2006/007809 patent/WO2008017314A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-08-07 EP EP06776657A patent/EP2076635B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-08-07 AT AT06776657T patent/ATE453765T1/de active

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