EP2149644B1 - Drain valve for a cistern - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve (1) has a housing (3) provided with a valve seat (5) that defines a discharge opening (4). An overflow tube (6) comprises of upper parts and lower parts (6b) and is movably supported along a longitudinal axis (X) in the housing. The tube is provided with a seal (7) i.e seal disk, that co-acts with the valve seat at a lower end. The housing has an upper housing part (3a) and a lower housing part (3b), which are connected together in a swivelable manner via one of joint connections (8, 10). The valve seat is swivelable relative to the upper housing part and/or the overflow tube. An independent claim is also included for a cistern comprising an inspection opening.

Description

The invention relates to a drain valve for a cistern, with a housing which is provided with a valve seat defining an outlet opening, and with an overflow tube which is movably mounted along its longitudinal axis in the housing and provided at its lower end with a cooperating with the valve seat seal is, wherein the housing has two housing parts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cistern for a toilet or urinal with such a drain valve. Such a drain valve and a corresponding cistern are known for example from the FR 2 819 835 A1 , This document corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, and is considered to be the closest prior art.

In southern Europe, for example in Italy, flush-mounted cisterns are traditionally squeezed and walled into walls of a thickness of 8 cm. The flush-mounted cisterns are then described both in connection with floor-standing WCs and wall-hung WCs.

Due to the relatively low wall thicknesses, it is necessary against this background that concealed cisterns for these markets have the smallest possible depth, maximum 8 cm, including condensation protection, etc., so that they can be embedded in said walls.

The small depth of the cisterns and the desire of the user, with respect to the surface smallest possible actuating plates, which serve to trigger a flush in the Inserting bath poses special challenges to the construction of Spülkasteninnenlebens, especially the drain valve, since the components located inside the cistern on the Betätigungsplatteöffnung, which serves as a revision opening, must be maintained. This complicated maintenance due to the limited construction depth also ensures that flushing cisterns of this type are generally hardly used in the other European markets, since wall structures are significantly stronger and the type of construction is also not statically desired.

Similar drain valves as the aforementioned are also from the DE 20 2006 018 159 U1 and the BE 898 158 A known. These drain valves do not solve the problem described above.

Based on the above-described prior art, it is therefore the object of the present invention to develop a drain valve of the type mentioned in such a way that at the lowest possible depth and smallest possible actuator plate or inspection opening a simple maintenance is guaranteed.

The previously derived and indicated object is achieved according to a first teaching of the present invention in a drain valve of the type mentioned above in that the two housing parts of the housing consist of an upper housing part and a lower housing part, wherein the hinge joint the upper and the lower Housing part pivotally interconnects.

By the housing has an upper and a lower housing part, it is at least made in two parts, and the two housing parts are hinged together, is allows a drain valve much easier through the inspection opening and the Betätigungsplattenöffnung can be performed. For this purpose, only the upper housing part and the lower housing part must be pivoted against each other, that is to be pivoted from the position that occupy the two components in the intended installed state relative to each other. The hinge connection also has the advantage that the upper and the lower housing part always remain connected to each other when passing the drain valve through the inspection opening. Thus, if the upper housing part is gripped and moved by a fitter when removing the drain valve, so the lower housing part is inevitably moved and does not remain in the lower part of the cistern.

According to one embodiment of the drainage valve according to the invention, the first articulated connection to a hinge axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the overflow pipe. In this way, the drain valve, which is usually guided along the longitudinal axis through the inspection opening due to its elongated configuration, in the pivoted state of the housing parts particularly easy to insert into the cistern or remove from the cistern.

In this case, the valve seat is preferably formed in the lower housing part and pivotable relative to the upper housing part and / or relative to the overflow pipe. When inserting the drain valve in the inspection opening so the lower housing part is first performed together with the valve seat and an optionally molded nozzle through the inspection opening, while the upper housing part in the bent, that is pivoted state, still from the inspection opening protrudes. The farther the drain valve is passed through the inspection opening, the lower is the Verschwenkungswinkel until finally, when both lower and upper housing part are completely guided through the opening, the Verschwenkungswinkel 0 °, that is upper and lower housing part coaxially aligned with each other are arranged.

According to a further embodiment of the drain valve according to the invention, a holding-down device is provided, which is connected via a second articulated connection pivotally connected to the housing, in particular the upper housing part. The hold-down is used in the intended installed state of the drain valve for supporting the housing on the upper frame of the cistern and thereby prevents the built-drain valve does not move unintentionally in the cistern up by example, it floats. The hold-down is thus a backup that holds the valve seat and the nozzle formed thereon firmly in the drain pipe of the cistern.

By the hold-down is also pivotally mounted on the housing, the drain valve is less bulky for assembly and disassembly, when the hold-down is folded. The total length of the drain valve can thereby be temporarily reduced. In this case, the hold-down in the folded state is preferably parallel to the upper housing part, which also does not appreciably increase the overall width of the drain valve during assembly or disassembly. In particular, the hold-down in the folded state on the housing, in particular on the upper housing part, can be locked and thus blocked. To that Folding and latching to accomplish the simplest possible way, the second hinge connection preferably has a hinge axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the overflow pipe.

It is advantageous if the articulation axis of the second articulated connection runs perpendicular to the articulation axis of the first articulated connection. This avoids that the relative to the upper housing part pivotable components, namely the lower housing part and the hold-down, touching each other in the pivoted state and thereby catching or damage each other.

According to a further embodiment of the drain valve according to the invention, the second hinge connection is arranged at the top of the upper housing part and / or the first hinge connection at the bottom on the upper housing part. In this way, the articulated joints are as far away from each other, whereby also a mutual contact of the pivoted relative to the upper housing part components is avoided. Preferably, the second hinge connection is arranged on a removable housing cover of the upper housing part. For maintenance purposes, it is possible to remove the housing cover and downholder from the remaining drain valve.

According to yet another embodiment of the drain valve according to the invention, the overflow pipe is designed in several parts and in particular has an upper part and a releasably connected lower part. The multi-part facilitates the passage of the drain valve whose overall length is largely determined by the length of the overflow pipe. So it is conceivable that the upper and / or lower part of the Overflow pipe, after the two parts have been released from each other, is removed from the housing and is connected again after passing the drain valve through the inspection opening with the other part.

In particular, while the upper part and / or lower part of the overflow pipe is flexible, so it is preferably flexible. It is advantageous if this part of the overflow pipe consists of a rubber-like material, ie a material which is stretchable, sealing and / or slip-resistant. Examples are elastomers and rubber-containing materials.

In this case, the respective other part of the overflow pipe can be firmly formed. By solid is meant that the material has a higher rigidity and / or a higher hardness than the flexible, in particular rubber-like material of the pipe part to be fastened thereto. In particular, a thermoplastic, in particular polypropylene (PP), can be used as the material for the fixed part of the overflow pipe.

In order to further simplify the passage of the drain valve through a small access opening, it is again provided according to another embodiment that the lower housing part is U-shaped in a section perpendicular to the hinge axis of the first hinge connection and in particular has two U-shaped arms. Between the two U-shaped arms runs then in the intended installed state, the overflow pipe. Preferably, the two U-shaped arms are each arranged so that the upper part of one of the two legs of the U-shaped arm with the first joint connection is connected or is connected via the first hinge connection with the upper housing part. The opposite leg of the U-shaped arms, which forms the lower end of the lower housing part, serves as a holder for the valve seat and the optionally formed neck.

The object is further achieved according to a second teaching of the present invention by a cistern (see claim 14), in particular concealed cistern, for a toilet or urinal with a drain valve as described above. Such a cistern may be equipped due to the advantages of the drain valve described above with a particularly small inspection opening or Betätigungsplattenöffnung, whereby the actuating plate is optimized in terms of area. In addition, the depth of the cistern can be reduced to a minimum. At the same time the cistern is easy to maintain.

According to one embodiment of the cistern according to the invention, the cross-sectional area of the inspection opening, which optionally still has a superior inspection shaft, only so large that the drain valve in a state in which the upper housing part is pivoted relative to the lower housing part and / or the hold-down relative to the housing That is, that is, pivoted relative to the position, which occupy the components in the intended installed state relative to each other, is completely feasible through the inspection opening.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ablaufventils mit ausgeklapptem Niederhalter,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ablaufventils mit eingeklapptem Niederhalter,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ablaufventils mit eingeklapptem Niederhalter und aufgesetztem oberen Teil des Überlaufrohrs,

Fig. 4a) und b)

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Gehäusedeckels mit herunter geklapptem Niederhalter bzw. mit nach oben ausgeklapptem Niederhalter,

Fig. 5a) und b)

Schnittansichten eines Spülkastens gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung während des Einsetzens des Ablaufventils in einer ersten Schwenkstellung,

Fig. 6a) und b)

Schnittansichten eines Spülkastens beim Einsetzen des Ablaufventils in derselben Schwenkstellung wie Fig. 5 mit einem vorgesetzten Revisionsschacht,

Fig. 7a) und b)

Schnittansichten eines Spülkastens beim Einsetzen des Ablaufventils in einer weiteren Schwenkstellung,

Fig. 8a) und b)

Schnittansichten eines Spülkastens beim Einsetzen des Ablaufventils in noch einer weiteren Schwenkstellung,

Fig. 9

einen vertikalen Schnitt des Spülkastens nach dem Einsetzen des Ablaufventils, und

Fig. 10

einen gegenüber Fig. 9 um 90° versetzten vertikalen Schnitt des Spülkastens nach dem Einsetzen des Ablaufventils.

There are now a variety of ways, the drain valve according to the invention and the invention Cistern design and further education. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims for protection subordinate to protection claim 1, and, on the other hand, to the description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a drain valve with unfolded downholder,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the drain valve with folded-down,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the drain valve with folded hold-down and attached upper part of the overflow pipe,

Fig. 4a) and b)

a perspective view of a housing cover with folded down hold-down or with folded down hold-down,

Fig. 5a) and b)

Sectional views of a cistern according to the present invention during insertion of the drain valve in a first pivot position,

Fig. 6a) and b)

Section views of a cistern when inserting the drain valve in the same pivot position as Fig. 5 with a superior inspection shaft,

Fig. 7a) and b)

Sectional views of a cistern when inserting the drain valve in a further pivot position,

Fig. 8a) and b)

Sectional views of a cistern when inserting the drain valve in yet another pivotal position,

Fig. 9

a vertical section of the cistern after inserting the drain valve, and

Fig. 10

one opposite Fig. 9 90 ° offset vertical section of the cistern after inserting the drain valve.

Fig. 1 shows a drain valve 1 with a housing 3, which is provided with a discharge opening 4 defining a valve seat 5 in the lower part and inside an overflow pipe 6 which is movably mounted along its longitudinal axis X in the housing 3 and at its lower end with a with the valve seat 5 cooperating seal 7, which here has the shape of a sealing washer is provided.

The housing 3 of the drain valve 1 according to the invention has an upper housing part 3a and a lower housing part 3b, which are pivotally connected to one another via a first articulated connection 8. The first articulated connection 8 has a joint axis Y which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the overflow pipe 6.

The valve seat 5 is on the lower housing part 3b together with a nozzle 14, mounted on the two sealing rings 15 are, formed and is pivotable relative to the upper housing part 3a and relative to the overflow pipe 6.

Further, a hold-down device 9 is provided, which in the in Fig. 1 shown state is folded upwards, that is pivoted upwards relative to the upper housing part 3a. In this position, the hold-down 9 is in the intended installed state, to prevent the drain valve 1 is in the cistern 2, which will be described below, moves upwards.

The hold-down device 9 is connected via a second articulated connection 10 pivotally connected to the upper housing part 3a. The second articulated connection 10 has an articulation axis 12 which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the overflow tube 6 and perpendicular to the articulation axis Y of the first articulated connection 8.

As in the Figures 2 and 3 can be seen, the hold-down device 9 extends in the folded state parallel to the upper housing part 3a, wherein this is latched to the housing 3 behind a latching cam 16. The hold-down 9 is blocked in this state and can not swing out unintentionally.

The second articulated connection 10 is arranged at the top on the upper housing part 3a and the first articulated connection 8 at the bottom on the upper housing part 3a. In particular, the second articulated connection 10 is arranged on a removable housing cover 11. This housing cover, for example, show the FIGS. 4a ) and b), where in Fig. 4a ) the hold-down 9 is arranged for mounting on the cover 11 in a far over-pivoted position, whereas in Fig. 4b ) of the hold-down 9 folded upwards, as it is in the intended installed state of the drain valve 1 of the case.

Fig. 3 shows that the overflow pipe 6 is formed in two parts in the present embodiment and has an upper part 6a and a releasably connected lower part 6b. The upper part 6a is flexible and flexible and consists of a rubber-like material which is stretchable, sealing and non-slip. The lower part 6b of the overflow pipe 6 is fixed, so has no significant flexibility, but a higher rigidity and hardness than the upper part 6a. The lower part 6b consists in the present case of polypropylene.

The upper part 6a of the overflow pipe 6 is removable, whereby the installation of the drain valve is facilitated in a cistern 2, as later with reference to Fig. 7 will be explained.

In the FIGS. 1 to 3 can be seen further that the lower housing part 3b is U-shaped in a section perpendicular to the hinge axis Y of the first hinge connection 8 and has two U-shaped arms 12, between which the overflow pipe 6 is arranged. The upper leg 12 a of the U-shaped arms 12 is at its upper end, ie in the FIGS. 1 and 2 to the left-facing end, pivotally connected via the first hinge connection 8 with the upper housing part 3a. The opposite leg 12b of the arms 12 is formed as a support of the valve seat 5 and nozzle 14.

The FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate the installation of the drain valve 1 in a cistern 2 with a relatively small inspection opening 13th

In particular, it is clear that the cross-sectional area of the inspection opening 13 is just so large that the drain valve 1 in a state in which the upper housing part 3a is pivoted relative to the lower housing part 3b and the hold-9 abuts the upper housing part in the folded state, completely the inspection opening 13 is feasible (see. Fig. 5 ). The passage of the drain valve 1 through the inspection opening 13 is even possible even if a revision shaft 13 a is attached in front of the inspection opening 13.

As compared to the FIGS. 5a and 9 becomes clear, the drain valve 1 is first introduced in a horizontal orientation through the inspection opening 13 in the cistern 2 and only then vertically aligned ( Fig. 9 ), and connected via the nozzle 14 with the outlet 2a of the cistern.

The FIGS. 5a ) and b) show each on average, namely once in a vertical section ( Fig. 5a )) and once in a horizontal section ( Fig. 5b )), the first stage of an installation process. In this case, the lower housing part 3b, here arranged on the left, already introduced through the inspection opening 13 in the cistern 2 and is relative to the upper housing part 3a, which still protrudes together with the overflow pipe 6 from the inspection opening 13, in a first pivot position with a relatively large pivoting angle. Fig. 6 shows the same pivot position in a set before the inspection opening 13 inspection shaft 13a.

In the FIGS. 7a ) and b) the drain valve 1 is almost completely guided through the inspection opening 13 in the cistern 2, wherein here also the largest part of the upper housing part 3 a is already in the cistern 2. Only a part of the overflow pipe 6 still projects out of the inspection opening 13. In Fig. 7b ) it is particularly clear that it is advantageous if the upper part 6a, the in Fig. 7 is not shown, can be removed from the lower part 6b of the overflow pipe 6, since in this way the overflow pipe 6 fits better through the inspection opening 13. In the in the FIGS. 7a ) and b) shown pivot position is the pivot angle relative to the pivot position in the FIGS. 5a ) and b) or 6a) and b) already significantly reduced.

In the FIGS. 8a ) and b) the drain valve 1 is completely inserted into the cistern 2, wherein in this pivot position of the pivot angle is 0 °, so the two housing parts 3a and 3b are aligned with each other. The drain valve 1 is located in Fig. 8 but still in a horizontal orientation.

The Figures 9 and 10 finally show the drain valve 1 in the cistern 2 as intended installed state, the drain valve 1 is now aligned vertically. In this orientation, then the upper part 6a of the overflow pipe 6 is again placed on the lower part 6b.

For the final operational readiness, finally, only the hold-down 9 has to be compared with in the Figures 9 and 10 shown position are folded upwards and the actuating mechanism with actuator plate and control buttons are mounted.

Claims (15)

1. A drain valve (1) for a cistern (2),

   - comprising a housing (3) provided with a valve seat (5) which defines an outlet opening (4), and

   - comprising an overflow pipe (6) which is mounted so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis (X) thereof in the housing (3) and the lower end of which is provided with a seal (7) which cooperates with the valve seat (5),

   the housing (3) comprising two housing parts (3a, 3b) which are pivotably interconnected via a first hinge joint (8), characterised in that the two housing parts (3a, 3b) of the housing (3) consist of an upper housing part (3a) and of a lower housing part (3b), the hinge joint (8) pivotably interconnecting the upper and lower housing parts.
2. The drain valve (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first hinge joint (8) comprises a hinge axis (Y) which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the overflow pipe (6).
3. The drain valve (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the valve seat (5) is formed on the lower housing part (3b) and is pivotable relative to the upper housing part (3a) and/or relative to the overflow pipe (6).
4. The drain valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a hold-down means (9) is provided which is pivotably connected to the housing (3), in particular the upper housing part (3a), via a second hinge joint (10).
5. The drain valve (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that, when folded in, the hold-down means (9) extends parallel to the upper housing part (3a) and in particular can be locked thereto.
6. The drain valve (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the second hinge joint (10) comprises a hinge axis (Z) which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the overflow pipe (6).
7. The drain valve (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the hinge axis (Z) of the second hinge joint (10) extends perpendicular to the hinge axis (Y) of the first hinge joint (8).
8. The drain valve (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the second hinge joint (10) is arranged on top of the upper housing (3a), in particular on a removable housing cover (11), and/or the first hinge joint (8) is arranged on the bottom of the lower housing part (3a).
9. The drain valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the overflow pipe (6) is formed in a plurality of parts, and in particular comprises an upper part (6a) and a lower part (6b) which is detachably connected thereto.
10. The drain valve (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the upper part (6a) and/or the lower part (6b) of the overflow pipe (6) is constructed flexibly, and in particular consists of a rubber-like material.
11. The drain valve (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the respective other part (6b; 6a) of the overflow pipe (16) is constructed rigidly and in particular consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular polypropylene.
12. The drain valve (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the upper part (6a) and/or the lower part (6b) of the overflow pipe (6) can be removed from the drain valve (1) or from the housing (3).
13. The drain valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower housing part (3b) is U-shaped, and in particular comprises two U-shaped arms (12), in a section perpendicular to the hinge axis (Y) of the first hinge joint (8).
14. A cistern (2) for a lavatory or urinal, comprising a drain valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
15. The cistern (2) according to claim 14, characterised in that an inspection opening (13) is provided having a cross-sectional area of such a size that the drain valve (1) can only pass through the inspection opening (13) completely when the upper housing part (3a) is pivoted relative to the lower housing part (3b) and/or the hold-down means (9) is pivoted relative to the housing (3).

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