EP2672027A1

EP2672027A1 - Tap for drawing hot, cold and otherwise prepared water

Info

Publication number: EP2672027A1
Application number: EP13170162.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacob Tromp; Pieter Johannes Van Waarde
Original assignee: Daalderop BV
Current assignee: Daalderop BV
Priority date: 2012-06-04
Filing date: 2013-05-31
Publication date: 2013-12-11

Abstract

The invention relates to a tap (1) for drawing hot (11;12) water and cold (10) water as desired, with a tap housing (3), an outflow (4), a first operating element (6), a hot water connection (12) for connection to a device for preparing hot water, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a hot water valve (18) between the tap housing (3) and the device for preparing hot water (15), a cold water connection (10) connected to the tap housing (3) for connection to a supply channel (10) for cold water, wherein an operating element is configured to operate a cold water valve positioned between the tap housing and the supply channel for cold water, and a third connection (13) connected to the tap housing (3) for preparing water in other manner (16,17), wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a third valve (20,19) between the tap housing (3) and the device for preparing water in other manner (16,17).

Description

The present invention relates to a tap, particularly though not exclusively for use in kitchens. Taps for kitchens usually comprise a mixing valve with which both the flow rate and the temperature of the tap water can be regulated. Such taps are connected to a supply conduit for supplying cold water and to a device for preparing warm water such as a geyser or a boiler. 'Warm' water is understood here to mean water with a temperature below about 80°C.
Use has increasingly been made in recent years of appliances permanently fitted in the kitchen for the purpose of preparing hot water, for instance for making tea or providing boiling water for food. Such appliances are configured to provide water at a temperature above 80°C, this being referred to hereinbelow as 'hot water'. They are usually provided with a separate tap which is preferably provided with safety means to prevent undesired drawing of hot water.
Such appliances are further usually also configured to supply both warm water and hot water. Among other advantages, this provides a significant space-saving, It is of course possible to connect such a device to a normal tap for warm and cold water and to a tap for hot water. It is however also possible to make use of a single tap for drawing cold, warm and hot water. The Netherlands patent 2003205 provides for this purpose a tap for drawing at least hot water and cold water as desired.
A recent trend has emerged for supplying cooled water, filtered water or carbonated water via a tap, sometimes in combination. Use can be made for this purpose of a tap connected to a device for preparing thus treated water. Space is however not always available for placing an additional tap in existing kitchens and newly fitted kitchens, and a second opening is required in the countertop for the purpose of placing an additional tap. Drilling an opening in an already fitted countertop is usually difficult. This is because countertops are usually made from materials which can only be drilled using specialized tools, such as natural stone, plastic composites, wood fibre board covered with a layer of plastic, or wood laminated with stainless steel. Later placing of an additional tap thus entails difficulties.
EP-A-2 472 150 provides for this purpose a tap for drawing at least hot water and cold water as desired, comprising a tap housing, an outflow placed on the tap housing, at least a first operating element, a hot water connection connected to the tap housing and configured for connection to a device for preparing hot water, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a hot water valve positioned between the tap housing and the device for preparing hot water, a cold water connection connected to the tap housing and configured for connection to a supply channel for supplying cold water, wherein a second operating element is configured to operate a cold water valve positioned between the tap housing and the supply channel for cold water, a warm water connection placed in the tap housing and configured for connection to a supply of water with a temperature between that of cold water and that of hot water, wherein the second operating element is configured to operate a warm water valve connected to the warm water connection, and a fourth connection connected to the tap housing for connection to a device for preparing water in other manner, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a fourth valve placed between the tap housing and the device for preparing water in other manner.
In order to simplify operation, the invention provides a tap of the above stated type, wherein the first operating element comprises a rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure and is rotatable about a rotation axis, and a control member connected thereto, wherein the control member is configured to control the hot water valve and third valve placed outside the tap housing. A separation is thus also obtained between drawing of cold water, wherein operation takes place with the second operating element, and drawing of 'special water', such as hot water, cooled water, filtered water or carbonated water, operation of which takes place with the first operating element. The tap is otherwise also suitable for drawing warm water in the usual manner.
According to another preferred embodiment, the warm water valve is received in the tap housing and the second operating element is configured for direct operation of the warm water valve. The functionality of an ordinary kitchen tap is hereby obtained, since the cold water valve and the warm water valve can both be operated by the second operating element.
The second operating element is preferably in the form of a mixer tap in which the directly controllable cold water valve and warm water valve are combined. The configuration of a usual mixer tap is hereby obtained.
The hot water valve and the fourth valve for the water prepared in other manner are preferably received in the tap housing. This makes the conduits between the relevant valves as short as possible, which makes the time between opening and outflow of the water of the relevant type as short as possible when a valve is opened, and thereby limits the energy loss.
It is however also possible for the valves, such as the hot water valve, the cold water valve and the third valve for the water prepared in other manner, to be placed outside the tap housing and the first operating element to be configured to operate these valves placed outside the tap housing. This measure prevents lack of space in the tap housing, while it is possible to suffice with a tap of simple construction. The use of servomotors for the valves enables remote control of the valves, either via a wireless connection or via a wired connection. The first operating element can be received in the tap housing but can likewise form a separate component.
According to a preferred embodiment, the tap is provided with a fifth connection for connection to a device for preparing water in yet another manner. The first operating element is configured to operate an associated fifth valve placed between the tap housing and the device for preparing water in yet another manner. Such a fifth connection meets the possible need to combine a tap for drawing hot water, cold and warm water, cooled, filtered, carbonated or otherwise treated water and water prepared in yet another manner.
The control member is preferably configured to select a valve by means of turning the rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure and to open the selected valve upon subsequent pressing of the rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure. This prevents the relevant valve being opened immediately when the rotary handle is turned.
The control member preferably comprises a contactless selection member provided with at least a first light source, at least a first light sensor and a first screening element placed between the light source and the light sensor, provided with recesses and connected to the rotary handle. Electrical contacts, which are not always reliable in the moist surroundings of a tap, are hereby avoided.
An attractive embodiment results when the first screening element has a cylinder jacket-like structure, the axis of which coincides with the rotation axis of the rotary handle, the first screening element is provided with a series of recesses extending all around, and the first light sensor or the first light source are placed inside the first screening element and the first light source or the first light sensor are placed outside the first screening element. It can be attractive, in order to be able to determine the rotation direction of the screening element, and thereby that of the operating handle, to apply an auxiliary sensor which is displaced in tangential direction relative to the first sensor. Depending on the rotation direction of the screening element, the first sensor or the auxiliary sensor is first to detect the recess, whereby the control member can determine the rotation direction.
In order to simplify the selection process it is recommended that the operating element is configured to allow the rotary handle to take up a number of preferred positions and that the number of recesses is equal to once or a whole number of times the number of preferred positions.
In order to prevent undesired opening of the valve it is also recommended that the control member is configured to select a valve only when the rotary handle has been pressed prior to turning of the rotary handle that can be pressed.
The operating element is therefore preferably provided with a second light source, a second light sensor and a second screening element placeable between the second light source and the second light sensor subject to the axial position of the rotary handle.
Although other light sources are not precluded, it is recommended that the light source is a laser light source.
The use of a rotary handle makes a construction possible for continuous turning of the rotary handle without stops; the rotary handle can hereby be configured to select a valve by continuous turning of the rotary handle, wherein the selection for a valve changes at a fixed angular displacement. This angular displacement is a fixed angle perceived as convenient by the user. As elucidated above, it is also possible that the rotary handle can take up a limited number of positions. Each individual position of the rotary handle is therefore coupled to a specific valve.
The control member can also be configured to control the water flow rate of the tap, wherein the rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure is configured to select and open a valve and wherein the control member is further configured to adjust the water flow rate. The water flow rate can be adjusted here by pressing the rotary handle once again, after which the rotation position of the rotary handle determines the flow rate.
According to another preferred embodiment, the control member is configured to select a valve by means of pressing or, if desired, repeatedly pressing the rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure and opening the selected valve upon subsequent turning of the rotary handle. The control member is preferably configured such that the water flow rate can also be adjusted by means of turning the rotary handle.
According to a preferred embodiment, the first operating element is configured to give an indication of the selection of a valve. Such an indication is obtained in that the operating element is coupled to indicator means controlled by the control device for indicating the selected valve, such as a light source or a display suitable for displaying text. The indicator means are preferably provided with a light source having a colour changeable subject to the position of the rotary handle. Coloured LEDs are particularly suitable here as light source.
In order to prevent undesired drawing of hot water it is attractive for the control member to be configured to open the hot water valve only after an extra control operation has been performed. The rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure is for instance configured such that the hot water valve can only be selected when the rotary handle is pressed twice in rapid succession.
Another option for avoiding undesired drawing of hot water is to provide the rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure with a blocking element configured to block movement of the rotary handle in its rest position and to release the movement of the rotary handle in its position pressed counter to a spring pressure. Such a blocking element is particularly applicable in the use of a control member wherein the rotary handle can take up a limited number of positions and each individual valve has a fixed position within this limited number of available positions.
In order to prevent unintentional drawing of hot water shortly after the hot water valve has been closed and another valve is opened, the control member is preferably configured to block the opening of a valve for a period of time after closing of the hot water valve. This period of time is long enough to allow cooling of the water present in the tap. This period of time preferably has a duration of 10 minutes.
Another option for preventing unintentional drawing of hot water according to the present invention is to configure the control member to automatically close the hot water valve a period of time after opening of the hot water valve. This period of time preferably has a duration of 2 minutes.
The present invention further relates to a device for preparing and drawing water. This device comprises the tap according to the present invention as described above, a device for preparing hot water, a device for preparing water in other manner, a conduit for carrying hot water from the device for preparing hot water to the tap, a conduit for carrying water from the device for preparing water in other manner to the tap, wherein the device is further provided with a device for preparing filtered, sparkling, cooled or otherwise prepared water which is connected by means of a conduit to the tap.
The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tap according to the invention in combination with water preparation appliances;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the tap shown in figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective schematic exploded view of a selection member as part of an operating element.

The tap according to the invention, designated as a whole with 1, is particularly suitable for use as kitchen tap. Figure 1 therefore shows that the tap is mounted on a kitchen worktop 2. Tap 1 comprises a tap housing 3 mounted in the usual manner by means of a shoulder in an opening arranged in kitchen worktop 2 and fixed by means of a nut 5. Mounted on top of tap housing 3 is an outflow 4, and placed on the right-hand side of tap housing 3 is an operating handle 6 with a lever 7 configured to be rotated for the purpose of adjusting the temperature of the water flowing out of tap 1 and to be tilted for the purpose of adjusting the flow rate of the water flowing out of tap 1. Placed on the left-hand side of tap housing 3 is a second operating handle 8 for controlling the outflow of water which is not cold or warm water, such as hot water, cooled water, carbonated water or filtered water. Operating handle 8 is rotatable and can be pressed in axial direction. Located between handle 8 and tap housing 3 is a space which is necessary on the one hand to enable pressing of handle 8, but which is also provided with a light source 9 with controllable colour, for instance in that it is provided with LEDs.
The part of the tap housing located under the kitchen worktop is provided with a connection 10 for supply of cold water, a connection 11 for supply of warm water, a connection 12 for supply of hot water and a connection 13 for supply of otherwise prepared water. It is likewise possible to make use of a single hose for supply of both hot water and otherwise prepared water. Connection 10 for supply of cold water is connected to a supply conduit 14 for supply of cold water. This supply conduit 14 is also connected to a boiler 15, to a filter unit 16 and to a cooler 17. The boiler has a connection for delivering warm water which is connected to connection 11 for warm water of tap 1 and a connection for delivering hot water which is connected via a valve 18 to the connection 12 for hot water of tap 1. The delivery connection of filter unit 16 is connected via a valve 19 to connection 13 of tap 1 for otherwise prepared water, and the delivery connection of cooling unit 17 is connected via a valve 20 to connection 13 of tap 1 for otherwise prepared water.
It is noted that boiler 15, filter unit 16 and cooling unit 17 are accommodated in per se usual manner in the space under kitchen worktop 2. These appliances can be combined to form a single appliance, although it is also possible for each of the appliances 15, 16 and 17 to be placed separately in said space. Valves 18, 19 and 20 are formed by remotely controllable valves which can be remotely controlled by the second operating handle 8.
For the purpose of operating the remotely controllable valves 18, 19 and 20 the tap comprises a control circuit, not shown in the figures, accommodated in tap housing 1 and controllable by means of handle 8. The control circuit is connected by means of a wired connection or by means of a wireless connection to the drive of the remotely controllable valves 18, 19 and 20.
The control of the control circuit by handle 8 and the operation of the control circuit will now be elucidated. When the tap has not been used for some time the control circuit is in deactivated mode. In order to draw cooled, hot or filtered water, handle 8 initially has to be pressed in axial direction. The control circuit then goes to the neutral position. The desired type of water is then selected by turning the handle 8. The selected type of water is indicated here by the colour of light source 9, for instance red for hot water, light blue for filtered water and blue for cooled water. When the desired type of water is reached during turning, which can be verified by the colour of the light source, the handle can once again be pressed in axial direction, after which the control circuit opens the associated valve 18, 19 or 20 and the relevant type of water flows to tap 1 and then out of outflow 4.
When cooled water or filtered water is being used, draw-off continues until handle 8 is pressed again and draw-off is ended. The control circuit then returns to the neutral position. When on the other hand drawing of hot water is selected, hot water is drawn only while handle 8 is being pressed. This prevents hot water flowing undesirably out of the outflow, which could result in dangerous situations. It is however also possible to select a separate position for drawing a large quantity of hot water, for instance for the purpose of filling a teapot or a pan of water for boiling. There is of course the same danger here of hot water being drawn in undesirable manner. In order to reduce this danger, drawing of the hot water only begins when handle 8 is pressed twice within one second. Drawing of the hot water stops when handle 8 is pressed again.
The above exemplary embodiment relates to a tap for drawing hot water, cooled water and filtered water in addition to drawing cold and warm water in the usual manner. It is of course possible to couple the tap to a preparation device for preparing carbonated water, i.e. water to which carbon dioxide has been added. The tap must be provided for this purpose with a separate connection and the control device must be configured to control the controllable valve associated with such a preparation device. Light source 9 must also be configured to display a colour associated with this type of water, for instance green. Further rotation of handle 8 can be used for the purpose of operation.
It is possible in principle for each rotation position of handle 8 to correspond to a selection of a type of water or a specific draw-off method. Not precluded however is that the random position of the button upon activation is selected as neutral position. The positions corresponding to the selected type of water are reached by turning the handle. This method of operation also provides the option of configuring the control unit such that, when the handle is rotated briefly, the control circuit jumps one position further. The different positions can be reached by repeated brief rotations of the handle. This is of course possible in the two rotation directions. Such a method of control is likewise possible with other handle configurations, such as a plurality of push-buttons.
Figure 3 shows in more detail the construction of operating handle 8 and the associated selection member. A shaft 25 is mounted rotatably in tap housing 3. Operating handle 8 is connected to shaft 25, wherein a spring 26, which urges operating handle 8 to its extreme position, is placed between operating handle 8 and tap housing 3. A sleeve 27 manufactured from opaque material is arranged on the end of shaft 26 remote from operating handle 8. Arranged in sleeve 27 are a number of recesses 28, the number of which corresponds to the number of selection positions of operating handle 8. The recesses connect to the edge of sleeve 27 so that protrusions 29 remain between the recesses.
Also placed in tap housing 3 is a carrier 30 which extends transversely of shaft 25 and on which a first light source 31 and a first light sensor 32 are placed. In the assembled tap the recesses 28 or protrusions 29 extend between the first light source 31 and the first light sensor 32, depending on the rotation position of operating handle 8. Both the first light source 31, which is preferably formed by a semiconductor laser, and the first light sensor 32, which is likewise preferably formed by a semiconductor, are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively for power supply and for transmitting signals. It is possible with this structure to transmit the rotation position of operating handle 8 to the control circuit.
A second light source 33 and a second light sensor 34 are also placed on carrier 30. Shaft 25 is provided on its side remote from operating handle 8 with a concentric pin 35 which extends only in the pressed-in position of operating handle 8 to a position between the second light source and the second light sensor 34. The second light source 33, which is likewise preferably formed by a semiconductor laser, and the second light sensor 34, which is likewise preferably formed by a semiconductor, are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively for power supply and for transmitting signals. It is possible with this structure to transmit the axial position of operating handle 8 to the control circuit. It is possible with this structure to transmit both the rotation position and the axial position of operating handle 8 to the control circuit.
Sleeve 27 is provided with a part 36 with the cross-section of a regular polyhedron. The number of sides of the polyhedron, i.e. the number of tangential surfaces 37 of the relevant part 36 of sleeve 27, corresponds to the number of positions of the operating handle. Mounted on carrier 30 are two substantially U-shaped springs 38 which contact the surfaces 37, or the ribs between these surfaces. These springs 38 exert a force on the ribs between surfaces 37 which urges operating handle 8, and the parts connected for rotation thereto, to one of the preferred positions.
It will be apparent that numerous variations of the above elucidated embodiments are possible; it is thus possible to adapt the tap for drawing other types of water, such as water with a reduced carbon dioxide content, or for drawing water which has undergone different pretreatments, such as cooling and carbonation. It is also possible to adapt the control member such that the rotation position of the handle determines the flow rate of the water; in the above described embodiments the flow rate is after all assumed to be constant or deemed to be defined by the relevant preparation device.

Claims

Tap for drawing at least hot water and cold water as desired, comprising:
- a tap housing;

- an outflow placed on the tap housing;

- at least a first operating element;

- a hot water connection connected to the tap housing and configured for connection to a device for preparing hot water, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a hot water valve positioned between the tap housing and the device for preparing hot water;

- a cold water connection connected to the tap housing and configured for connection to a supply channel for supplying cold water, wherein a second operating element is configured to operate a cold water valve positioned between the tap housing and the supply channel for cold water;

- a warm water connection placed in the tap housing and configured for connection to a supply of water with a temperature between that of cold water and that of hot water, wherein the second operating element is configured to operate a warm water valve connected to the warm water connection; and

- a fourth connection connected to the tap housing for connection to a device for preparing water in other manner, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a fourth valve placed between the tap housing and the device for preparing water in other manner,
characterized in that the first operating element comprises a rotary handle that can be pressed counter to spring pressure and is rotatable about a rotation axis, and a control member connected thereto, wherein the control member is configured to control the hot water valve and third valve placed outside the tap housing.
Tap as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the warm water valve is received in the tap housing and that the second operating element is configured for direct operation of the warm water valve.
Tap as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the tap is provided with a fifth connection for connection to a device for preparing water in yet another manner, wherein the first operating element is configured to operate a fifth valve placed between the tap housing and the device for preparing water in yet another manner.
Tap as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the control member is configured to select a valve when the handle is turned and to open the selected valve upon subsequent pressing of the handle.
Tap as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the control member comprises a contactless selection member provided with at least a first light source, at least a first light sensor and a first screening element placed between the light source and the light sensor, provided with recesses and connected to the rotary handle.
Tap as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the first screening element has a cylinder jacket-like structure, the axis of which coincides with the rotation axis of the rotary handle, the first screening element is provided with a series of recesses extending all around, and that the first light sensor or the first light source are placed inside the first screening element and the first light source or the first light sensor are placed outside the first screening element.
Tap as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the operating element is configured to allow the rotary handle to take up a number of preferred positions and that the number of recesses is equal to once or a whole number of times the number of preferred positions.
Tap as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the control member is configured to select a valve only when the rotary handle has been pressed prior to turning of the rotary handle.
Tap as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the operating element is provided with a second light source, a second light sensor and a second screening element placeable between the second light source and the second light sensor subject to the axial position of the rotary handle.
Tap as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the operating element is coupled to indicator means controlled by the control device for indicating the selected valve.
Tap as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the indicator means are provided with a light source having a colour changeable subject to the position of the rotary handle.
Tap as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the control member is configured to open the hot water valve only after an extra control operation has been performed.
Tap as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the control member is configured to block the opening of a valve for a period of time after closing of the hot water valve, this period of time being long enough to allow cooling of the water present in the tap.
Tap as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the control member is configured to automatically close the hot water valve a period of time after opening of the hot water valve.
Device for preparing and drawing water, comprising:
- a tap as claimed in any of the claims 1-14;

- a device for preparing boiling water;

- a conduit for carrying boiling water from the device for preparing boiling water to the tap; and

- a connection for cold water,
characterized in that the device is further provided with a device for preparing water in other manner which is connected by means of a conduit to the tap.