EP2644790A1 - Shower device for a shower WC with a water heating unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a spray nozzle discharging shower water to a user. A shower water inlet supplies the water to a heater i.e. heating block (9), that heats the water before the water leaves the spray nozzle. A control device controls the heating block, and is designed to switch the thermal block on before the start of a shower process with water overflow from the nozzle to a preheating phase. The control device is arranged such that a preheating phase is triggered by an operation of shower function.

Description

The present invention relates to a shower device for a shower toilet or bidet with a water heater for heating water before the exit of the water from a shower nozzle.

Shower toilets and bidets have been known for quite some time and regularly have a shower nozzle for a shower water outlet. The leaked shower water is directed to the abdomen of a user, especially the anal or vaginal area, and provided for cleaning. For this purpose, the water is heated regularly, and approximately at body temperature.

Boilers are known for heating the shower water, that is to say water containers with a heating element provided therein, which heat a particular supply or keep it at a temperature. In addition, water heaters are known to bring the cold tap water during the passage to the desired temperature and are not bound to a certain volume of water in this respect.

The present invention has the technical object of improving a shower facility for a shower toilet or bidet with respect to the heating of the water.

This object is achieved by a shower device for a shower toilet or a bidet with a shower nozzle for a shower water outlet to a user, a shower water connection for supplying the shower device with water and a water heater for heating the water before exiting the shower nozzle, characterized that the instantaneous water heater is a thermoblock,
as well as an appropriately equipped shower toilet and the use of a thermoblock for the shower facility or the shower toilet.

The following description also relates to a method of operating a thermoblock, shower or shower toilet. The revelation is to be understood with regard to all these aspects, without explicitly distinguishing between the categories in detail.

The basic idea of the invention therefore consists in the use of a thermoblock as a water heater for a toilet or bidet shower facility. Under a thermoblock is generally understood here a cast metal water heater, in which the flowed through by the water to be heated housing entirely or substantially consists of a metal body. For example, a thermoblock differs from the ceramic instantaneous water heaters used in shower toilets. In particular, this is intended to die casting, preferably die-cast aluminum. A known per se and also in the present context favorable embodiment provides a water heater housing in the form of snails.

Thermoblocks have not been used for the heating of shower water in the shower toilet or bidet, probably because there are no special requirements placed on the pressure resistance of the water heater or relatively low temperatures are desired. In this field of application, the established ceramic instantaneous water heater also has the fundamental advantage of a relatively low thermal inertia and thus a fast response.

However, the inventor has recognized that in practice the inertia of thermoblocks is overcompensated in his view by a specific advantage. Furthermore, the invention also proposes measures to reduce or remedy this disadvantage.

The specific advantage is seen in the fact that thermal blocks in a shower device are much less prone to calcification than ceramic water heaters. Despite the relatively low temperature requirements, the calcification turns out to be a troublesome problem from the inventor's point of view also in the inventive shower facilities, especially because a water heater can be less easily decalcified or replaced in such a shower device. Although there are basically measures against the problems associated with calcification, especially in the form of limescale to prevent clogging the nozzle opening, the inventor nevertheless regards it as desirable to reduce the extent of the calcification even in the beginning.

In addition, tests have shown that thermoblocks due to the casting process provide a particularly effective and uniform heat transfer to the water in the water-bearing pipe or corresponding cavity in the thermosheet and thus counteract so-called hot spots, ie local thermal centers with increased calcification. Moreover, they offer good manufacturability, in particular with regard to the necessary radii, and form i. d. R. a comparatively small surface area and thus a moderate heat radiation and in particular no exposed and particularly strong radiating radiator. The metallic potting compound can be minimized and because of the closely spaced windings and the overall volume can be kept small. Finally, largely homogeneous flow conditions can be produced in thermoblocks by avoiding transitions between different bending radii and sharp-edged points.

The mentioned inertia of thermoblocks can be counteracted in different ways. For example, a power controller could initially operate the thermoblock with an oversized heat output (and the thermoblock could itself be over-dimensioned in this sense), then revert back to a power designed for proper continuous operation after a relatively short time.

Also, one could imagine to discard a first part of the pumped shower water until a suitable minimum temperature is reached. By "discarding" is meant merely that this water is not directed at the user. However, it may for example be used instead for cleaning parts of the shower device.

Preferably, however, it is provided that a control device of the thermoblock turns on this before the actual showering process and thus provides a preheating phase. By "shower process" is meant an operating state in which not only shower water is conveyed, but also exits from the shower nozzle and directed to the user. In many cases, this is synonymous with the beginning of the actual promotion of water, so for example with the opening of a valve or turning on a water pump or any other action that entails water transport. The pre-heating phase reduces the inertial problems of thermoblocks and ensures faster reaching of the desired temperature range. Preferably, the preheating phase comprises a period of, in this order, more preferably at least 0.5 s, 1 s, 1.5 s, 2 s.

In detail, there are various favorable possibilities. First, the control device may be designed so that the actuation of the shower function triggers the preheat phase. Thus, both the case is meant that the preheating phase starts at the same time as this actuation or just at a certain time interval thereafter, but causally as a result of this actuation. If the user presses the shower function towards the end of a toilet, for example by pressing a button, a pre-heating phase can be accommodated before the actual showering process. On the one hand, the showering process could be delayed accordingly, but on the other hand, because of the extension of a shower arm or other processes, which is in any case necessary in most cases anyway, a certain time window is available anyway. Reference is made to the first embodiment.

In this context, the preheating phase is preferably non-stop in the shower function, so closes the heating during the actual shower directly to the preheat phase. The pause freedom is control technology simple and also advantageous in terms of avoiding temperature jumps.

Another favorable possibility is to initiate the preheating phase earlier, namely by user recognition. Again, "triggering" does not necessarily mean simultaneity, see above. User recognition as such is known. For example, it can be done via a room sensor and already respond when a potential user enters the bathroom. In addition, for example, the detection of lifting a toilet lid or the weight load of a toilet seat or a proximity sensor come into consideration.

In this case, the preheating phase is preferably terminated automatically when a certain time has elapsed and / or a certain temperature threshold has been reached at a measuring point. This should not only avoid excessive energy consumption but also overheating of the water. Due to the thermoblock-typical inertia such overheating can occur more easily than, for example, ceramic continuous flow heaters. By triggering the preheat operation upon user detection, the preheat phase could otherwise continue for an undefined period of time. Although this is also possible in principle, especially in connection with a correspondingly reliable temperature control, but not preferred. However, if the shower function is actuated early enough, the preheat operation may extend beyond this actuation or even transition to heating during the shower function. In this connection, reference is made to the second to fifth embodiments.

In this embodiment, an additional second (and generally also third) preheating phase can also be provided if, after the end of the second preheating phase, a specific time threshold or temperature threshold value is exceeded or fallen short of. This can be a too great decrease in the already achieved by the preheating temperature of the thermoblock or the water can be avoided in it, on the other hand, such a second preheating also be kept significantly shorter than the first, because even a considerable residual heat is present. Reference is made to the third and fourth embodiments.

As a variant, instead of or in addition to a triggering of the second preheating phase by exceeding or falling below the threshold, a triggering of the second preheating by the operation of the shower function come into consideration, ie analogous to the first embodiment, but just as a second and not as first or only preheating phase, to which reference is made to the fifth embodiment.

Further, during part of a preheat phase or after a preheat phase, the water delivery can be started. Especially with a relatively low flow rate. This smoothes the transition to the shower operation because the Discontinuity at the beginning of the normal water delivery in the shower mode is smaller and thus there are fewer difficulties with a sufficiently constant temperature control. Additionally or alternatively, this reduced water delivery can also be used for cleaning purposes, such as to flush the shower nozzle or to clean a shower arm, either with the shower nozzle or with other water passages. In this embodiment, at least because of the previous preheating (namely, at least during a portion of the preheating phase) a certain amount of water heating is present, which benefits the cleaning. For the cleaning is not necessarily a reduction of the water supply provided; Rather, it may also be desirable to purify at the full flow rate.

Preferably, these embodiments are in particular in connection with an already initiated by the user recognition preheating, which thus usually has a certain time interval from the operation of the actual shower function. The fourth embodiment illustrates this. There then goes the second preheat with reduced water promotion non-stop in the normal heating during the shower function.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the construction of a temperature control device suitable for preheating. This is characterized by a temperature sensor which is not provided in or on the leading from the water heater to the shower nozzle water pipe but in or on the thermoblock itself. Thus, the temperature control device can already work in preheating, even if it is provided no water extraction. Preferred is an arrangement on the outside of the housing of the thermoblock, which ensures a sufficient reproduction of the temperature in the thermoblock especially because of the very good thermal conductivity of the metal casting material. The measured value of the temperature sensor can be used as the actual value of the control.

Finally, in addition to the invention, the problem of calcification can be further counteracted by rinsing the thermoblock with cold water after completion of the actual shower function. For example, so the water production run slightly longer than the heating mode. Thus, the temperature within the thermoblock drops faster than when Heizbetrieb- and water delivery end at the same time. Since the calcification is strongly temperature-dependent, the calcification contributions attributable to the residual heat phase after the shower operation are reduced.

Figur 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Dusch-WCs.

Figur 2

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines zu einer Duscheinrichtung des Dusch-WCs aus Figur 1 gehörende Thermoblocks.

Figur 3a bis c

zeigen eine Baugruppe mit zwei in Serie geschalteten Thermoblöcken, Steuerungselektronik und Sensorik.

Figuren 4 bis 8

zeigen jeweils ein Zeitverlaufsdiagramm für den Betrieb und insbesondere die Steuerung der Duscheinrichtung nach einem ersten bis fünften Ausführungsbeispiel.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to various embodiments, wherein the individual features may be essential to the invention in other combinations and refer to all mentioned categories of the invention.

FIG. 1

shows a perspective view of a shower toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 2

shows a perspective view of a shower to a device of the shower toilet FIG. 1 belonging thermoblocks.

Figure 3a to c

show an assembly with two series-connected thermoblocks, control electronics and sensors.

FIGS. 4 to 8

each show a timing diagram for the operation and in particular the control of the shower device according to a first to fifth embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a shower toilet 1 with a toilet body 2, which has a toilet seat ring 3 and a toilet lid, not shown here. In a rear area of the shower toilet 1, the toilet body is raised and thus forms a housing 4 for a shower device which projects with a small part into a toilet bowl, in particular with a hair dryer arm 5 and a shower arm 6, both can be moved out of the toilet bowl. In any case, a passage is provided in the toilet bowl and the shower unit is provided with the reference numeral 7 in this passage. The housing 4 has laterally operating devices 8 for the shower device 7. The functions of the shower device are initially completely conventional and need not be explained in detail here. An essential aspect of the shower device is in any case the provision of a suitable temperature heated shower water to exit from a shower nozzle of the shower arm. 6

FIG. 2 shows in perspective a thermoblock 9 with an aluminum die-cast housing 10. The thermoblock has a water supply line 11 and a water outlet line 12, ie corresponding pipe socket, and electrical connections 13 and 14 for the heating current. FIG. 2 illustrates that the incoming water is passed in a helical shape over several turns in the die-cast aluminum housing 10, said housing 10 is heated simultaneously by a heating current and the water is heated to a desired temperature before it flows out of the water outlet conduit 12.

Incidentally, shows FIG. 2 a temperature measuring point 15, which is in very good thermally conductive connection to the housing 10, in the present case is an integrally formed therewith housing housing. Here, a thermocouple can be attached to obtain an approximate value for the temperature of the water contained in the housing 10 measured value.

The FIGS. 3a to c show a complete assembly with two thermoblocks of the type FIG. 2 , in which FIG. 3a a section along an in FIG. 2 from left to right front right vertical plane shows FIG. 3b a perspective view In the perspective of FIG. 2 shows and Figure 3c a perspective view showing the in FIG. 3b pointing to the back right side shows.

In FIG. 3a The reference numerals 10 designate two aluminum die cast bodies 10 arranged above one another and mirror-symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane (ie "back to back") FIG. 2 ; a power connection 14 of the upper thermoblock to the right and a current connection 13 of the lower thermoblock above and below can be seen to the right. The two thermoblocks are enclosed in a housing 16, which has an upper housing part 16a and a lower housing part 16b, each similar to a round cake or Gugelhupfform and are mounted mirror-symmetrically to each other. Furthermore, the housing has a third housing part 16 c arranged to the right thereof, which ( FIG. 3a ) has a hollow mold pointing to the right and open to the right and defines a closed cavity to the left thereof together with the other two housing parts 16a and b. The two housing parts 16a and 16b are connected by an intermediate mounting member 17 and a screw 18, not shown and passing through the holes, and further connected to the right housing part 16c by screws 19 and 20th

The open to the right mold of the housing part 16c is used to hold a not shown control board with a microcontroller and other electronic components that can be cast in this mold. The closed room to the left (in FIG. 3a ) essentially serves the routing and for individual electronic components and is connected to the control board through line through holes.

FIG. 3b shows a water supply port 20 of the assembly, which is attached to a flow meter 21, on the other side to a temperature sensor 22 depends on the fresh water. From the flow meter 21, a line piece 23 leads down to a line connection 12 of the lower thermoblock, which serves here as a supply port. From there, the fresh water flows through this lower thermoblock and enters, as Figure 3c shows, through a line 24 from a in Figure 3c unrecognizable further connection 11 of the lower thermoblock, which thus serves as an outlet for the already heated water. The line 24 leads to the terminal 11 of the upper thermoblock, which serves here as a supply port and is also not designated. The heated in the upper thermoblock water then hits through its connection 12, which in Figure 3c sees. There, a temperature sensor 25 is connected for the fully heated shower water. The upwardly facing water outlet port is indicated at 26.

Overall, this module thus contains two series-connected thermoblocks 9 of the type FIG. 2 together with a housing 16, on which a control board can be cast, and various sensors. Not shown in the FIGS. 3a to c that at the measuring point 15 off FIG. 2 connected thermocouple. This is provided in the cavity of the housing 16 and connected to the aforementioned control board.

The serial connection of two thermoblocks allows a doubling of power when using existing components, thus corresponds to a modular design.

The FIGS. 4 to 8 illustrate different variants of how the realized by the mentioned control board control can run the operation of the shower device 7.

FIG. 4 shows as a first embodiment on the horizontal axis a time lapse of 0 seconds to 30 seconds and with respect to the vertical axis with the solid line 1, a temperature profile at the measuring point 15 from FIG. 2 with the double dotted dashed line 2, the electrical power consumption of the thermoblocks 9, with the single-dotted line 3 symbolically the extended position of the shower arm 6, with the simple dashed line 4 measured by the flow meter 21 volume flow of shower water when flowing through the thermoblocks 9 and finally with the short dashed, almost dotted line 5 the actual Tempäraturwert the emerging from the upper thermoblock 9 from the line 12 shower water. The latter temperature value is thus measured by the temperature sensor 25. Times t ₀ to t _{4 are} plotted on the time axis.

In this embodiment, there is no known per se in shower toilets user recognition but at the time t ₀ by the user sitting on the shower toilet 1 and this has already used as a toilet, via one of the controls 8 FIG. 1 the shower function is activated. At the same time or, as shown here, also somewhat delayed, the power supply of the thermoblock 9 starts at time t ₁ and this starts to heat up the shower water located in it, cf. Curve 2. Curve 4 shows that no water is being pumped, so the pump remains switched off. Accordingly, according to curve 1, the temperature reading gradually increases.

The corresponding temperature reading corresponds, as already mentioned, not the real temperature of the heated water In the thermoblocks 9 but the thermoblock temperature at the measuring point 15. However, this temperature value is in a meaningful relationship to the water temperature. When connecting two thermoblocks in series, one of the two or an average value of the two measuring points 15 can be used.

After some time, at time t _2, the shower arm 6 starts to extend to its in FIG. 1 to achieve shown position, which happens at time t ₃ . Depending on the necessary for this time (t ₃ -t ₂₎ of the predetermined target water temperature and the output temperature at the measuring point 15, ie from the position of the curve 1 before time t _1, t may be ₁ more or less significantly earlier are less than t ₂ to ensure sufficient preheating. Namely, at the time t ₃ , the water pump is turned on and, as the curve 4 shows, the water begins to flow through the thermoblocks 9 at the desired delivery rate. Accordingly, the curve 1 buckles slightly with the temperature reading because the replenished water slightly cools the thermoblocks 9. At the same time, a steep temperature rise can be measured downstream of the thermoblocks 9 as a result of the water transport, cf. Incidentally, the buckling of this curve 5 after the first maximum is a metrological artifact and will not be discussed further here.

Overall, it can be easily imagined on the basis of this first embodiment that the onset of preheating at time t ₁ instead of simultaneously with the switching of the water pump at time t ₃ for a much earlier achieves pleasant water temperatures, ie the curve 5 is faster a steady value approaches.

The electrical power during the preheating phase (ie from t ₁ to t ₃ ) is here identical to the electrical power thereafter, ie during the actual showering phase. Of course, these two electrical power values may differ. Further, the preheat phase could start sooner or later. In this embodiment, however, it is basically triggered by the operation of the shower function at time t ₀ and, in contrast, may be delayed by a fixed preset time or perhaps a time dependent on other variables.

The figure is also simplified insofar as the electrical power of the thermoblocks is controlled by the control device in the control board with respect to the course of the curve 1, so decides the deviation of the temperature reading of a predetermined setpoint on the power consumption. This is in the figure not shown. Such a regulation can also be active during the preheating phase and, in particular, prevent the temperature from overshooting when the preheating phase is started relatively early or the water is even warmer than usual, for example because of the use of the shower device 7 relatively recently ,

Finally, the preheat phase may also be terminated before the actual shower phase begins to prevent overshoot or because a preset time has elapsed.

For the following FIGS. 5 to 8 With regard to the 'axes and curves as well as cam numbers shown, the explanations on FIG. 4 ,

The second embodiment in FIG. 5 In contrast, shows a variant with user identification, namely at time t ₀ . Thereby, the reference power of the thermal units ₁ 9 is triggered at the time t, where here too the times t ₁ and t can coincide _0th The preheating phase ends in this second embodiment at the time t ₂ and the power reference between the times t ₁ and t ₂ may depend on various parameters, for example the desired water temperature, the water temperature originally present, etc.

Here begins the shower arm at time t ₃ extend, in particular as a result of not shown actuation of the actual shower function. At time t ₄ , it has reached its end position and then, or a little later at time t ₅ , starts the water delivery and, preferably simultaneously, the heating is turned on.

Important here is the triggering of the preheating phase by the user recognition and thus earlier than during the actual operation of the shower function.

Otherwise, the explanations on FIG. 4 analogous.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment, which corresponds to the second embodiment with respect to the preheating phase between the times t ₁ and t ₂ . However, there is a second preheating phase between the times t ₃ and t ₄ , and because the expiration of a certain maximum period of time (t ₃ -t ₂ ) or falling below a certain minimum temperature of the curve 1 is detected. The second preheat phase is shorter than the first in this example because it builds up to a higher previous temperature.

Otherwise, the comments on the previous second embodiment apply.

It would also be possible to start a preheat phase at reduced power at or after time t ₀ and to continue uninterrupted until the actual shower function. This is not indicated.

The next fourth embodiment in FIG. 7 corresponds to the second and third, as regards the preheat phase between t ₁ and t ₂ . Again, there is a second preheat phase from time t ₃ , but with somewhat reduced power. This second preheating phase is continued until the beginning of the actual shower function at time t ₃ , which may also be useful regardless of the following. Incidentally, between the times t ₃ and t ₆ , ie during the second preheating phase and until the actual showering phase, water is conveyed at a reduced rate. This can be achieved on the one hand, a better approximation to the desired water temperature. Instead or in addition, it can also be used to perform a cleaning or pre-rinsing process with warmed-up water. In particular, both advantages can be combined well, so that an improved cleaning of the shower arm 6 and the best possible approximation of the desired temperature after the time t _{6 are} combined.

Finally, the shows FIG. 8 a last and fifth embodiment. This corresponds in terms of preheating between t ₁ and t _{2 to} the previous embodiments and then inserts a second preheat phase, the preheating of the first embodiment of FIG. 4 corresponds and here (which is not mandatory) is continuously in the shower proper.

Claims (15)

Shower facility (7) for a shower toilet (1) or a bidet with
a shower nozzle for a shower water outlet to a user,
a shower water connection (20) for supplying the shower device (7) with water and
a water heater (9) for heating the water before exiting the shower nozzle,
characterized in that the water heater is a thermoblock (9). Shower device according to claim 1, comprising a control device for controlling the thermoblock (9), which is designed to switch on the thermoblock (9) to a preheating phase before the start of a showering operation with water outlet from the shower nozzle. Shower device according to claim 2, wherein the control device is designed so that the preheating phase is triggered by an actuation of a shower function. Shower device according to claim 3, wherein the control device is designed so that the preheat phase passes without interruption in a heating operation during the shower function. Shower device according to claim 2, wherein the control device is designed so that the preheating phase is triggered by a user recognition and can end time-dependent or temperature-dependent before an actuation of the shower function. Shower device according to claim 5, wherein the control device is designed so that after said preheat after exceeding or falling below a temperature or time threshold, a second preheat phase starts. Shower device according to claim 6, wherein the second preheating phase is triggered by the exceeding or falling below the threshold value. Shower device according to claim 6, wherein the control device is designed so that the second preheat phase is triggered by the operation of the shower function, when the threshold has then been exceeded. Shower device according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the control device also controls the water delivery and is designed so that after at least part of a preheating phase, a water delivery starts compared with the shower function reduced flow rate. Shower device according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the control means also controls the water delivery and is designed so that after at least a portion of a preheating a shower nozzle and / or Duscharmreinigung before the shower function to clean the user and heated by the preheating water starts. Shower device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the preheating phase is a preheating phase according to claim 5. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims with a temperature sensor (15) in or on the thermoblock (9) and outside a shower water line (26) between the thermoblock (9) and the shower nozzle and with a temperature control device which is adapted to a reading of the temperature sensor (15) to be used as the actual value. Shower device according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to rinse the thermoblock (9) after a shower function with cold water while it is already switched off. Shower toilet (1) with a shower device (7) according to one of the preceding claims. Use of a thermoblock (9) as a through-flow heater for a shower device (7) according to one of claims 1 to 13 or a shower toilet (1) according to claim 14.

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