EP2775045B1 - Sanitary fittings comprising an external energy generating system. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting with a housing having at least a first inlet for cold water and a second inlet for hot water and a mixing device for selectively mixing hot and cold water.
The mixing device is connected at an input side by first and second conduit means with a first and second inlet and at an outlet side by a third conduit means for mixed water with an intermediate outlet. Such sanitary fittings are used for example on washbasins or in kitchens. Particularly well-known embodiments form the so-called single lever mixer.
In such sanitary fittings are increasingly used in embodiments that include electrical consumers. Here, it is important to ensure the power supply of the electrical consumers as long as possible.
Sanitary fittings are already known, which have generators or energy storage for generating electrical energy. For example, such a sanitary fitting from the DE 41 24 154 A1 known. In the sanitary fitting described therein, water is passed from a cold water and a hot water line through a mixer to which a turbine is then provided. The turbine generates electrical energy when it flows through water via a connected generator. The generator in turn is connected to an energy storage for temporary storage of the generated electrical energy. Another sanitary fitting with built-in power generating device is from the document DE9290093U1 known. A disadvantage of the known solutions is the fact that provide the required space for generator, turbine and energy storage in the sanitary fitting is. This is accompanied at the same time with considerable restrictions with regard to the design options of the design of the sanitary fitting.

The object of the invention is therefore to solve the problems resulting from the prior art at least partially and in particular to provide a sanitary fitting that has no or only very limited restrictions on the design freedom with simultaneous generation of electrical energy.

These objects are achieved with a sanitary fitting according to the feature of patent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent formulated claims. It should be noted that the features set out individually in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in any technologically meaningful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

By the arrangement of the third conduit means between the mixing device and the mixed water outlet and the use of the intermediate outlet and intermediate inlet, it is possible to arrange the power generating device outside the housing of the sanitary fitting. According to the invention, the cold water and the hot water are first combined in the mixing device in order to achieve the highest possible volume flow. Then, the generated mixed water stream at the intermediate outlet is led out of the housing of the sanitary fitting in order to flow through the energy generating device and thereby generate energy in the form of electrical energy. After flowing through the power generating device, the mixed water stream is passed back to the intermediate inlet and can continue to flow from there in the direction of the mixed water outlet. By the invention, it is no longer necessary to provide the space for the power generating device within the housing. It can Thus, in particular very slim and filigree housing forms can be realized without having to take into account the space required for the power generating device consideration.

Preferably, it is provided according to the invention that the power generating device is a turbine with a connected generator for generating an electric current. Such generators are already available and can generate sufficient electrical energy during the operating phase of the sanitary fitting in order to supply the electrical consumers with electrical energy over days and weeks.

In particular, it is advantageous in connection with the present invention if the intermediate outlet and the intermediate inlet are arranged on a housing outside of the sanitary fitting. This makes it particularly easy to connect the third conduit means with the sanitary fitting, which is a significant relief, especially during assembly.

It is also advantageous if at least the intermediate outlet or the intermediate inlet is preferably arranged on an underside of the sanitary fitting. In such an embodiment, it is possible to guide the third conduit means completely below a washstand or sink, so that they do not extend in the field of vision.

Furthermore, it is useful in certain applications to use as a power generating device, a rotary drive for the generator. For this purpose, for example, a reverse-acting piston pump can be used. With the aid of piston-driven generators, for example, very high driving forces can be realized with simultaneously relatively low volume flows.

For buffering the generated electrical energy, it is furthermore particularly advantageous if the energy generating device with a memory connected to electrical energy. Such a memory may for example be a capacitor or a known accumulator.

According to the present invention, at least the turbine can be arranged outside the housing as needed. This means that at least the space for the turbines no longer needs to be kept within the housing.

In other preferred embodiments, in addition, at least the energy storage, the generator or control electronics can be arranged outside of the housing. As a result, depending on requirements, the power generating device can be arranged wholly or partly outside or inside the housing.

Finally, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the intermediate outlet or the intermediate inlet performs a bypass function and thereby directs the mixed water directly from the outlet of the mixing device to the mixed water outlet at not connected third line means. The valve can be operated in this case with and without power generating device. As long as no power generating device is connected to the sanitary fitting, the bypass function acts and directs the mixed water directly from the mixing device to the mixed water outlet. This corresponds to the function of a known mixing valve. If, however, third conduit means are connected at the intermediate outlet and intermediate inlet, and a power generation device is arranged in a series connection with these, the mixed water is passed through this conduit path and the direct bypass path between mixing device and mixed water outlet is interrupted. If you also see the intermediate entry and intermediate outlet quick-release devices or quick couplings, or other suitable coupling systems for pressurized water, the so-designed sanitary fitting can be operated either with and without power generation device. In addition, in this design, a subsequent retrofitting of the power generating device can be done easily.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Sanitärarmatur; und

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Sanitärarmatur mit externer Energieerzeugungsvorrichtung.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show, but are not limited to, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawing shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a sanitary fitting according to the invention; and

FIG. 2

a front view of a sanitary fitting according to the invention with external power generation device.

In FIG. 1 a sanitary fitting 1 according to the invention is shown in a schematic representation. The sanitary fitting consists of a housing 2 and an external power generating device 3. In the housing 2 of the sanitary fitting 1 is a mixing device 4, which is connected via a first conduit means 5 with a cold water connection 6 and via a second conduit means 7 with a hot water connection 8. The first conduit means 5 enters the housing 2 at a first inlet 24 and the second conduit means 7 at a second inlet 25. In the present case, the conduit means which direct the flow of water through the power generating device 3 are shown with a broken dashed line. The mixing device 4 has an input side 9 and an output side 10. From the exit side 10 of the mixing device 4, a third conduit 11 leads to the power generation device 3, which lies outside the housing 2. At an intermediate outlet 12, the third conduit means is led out of the housing 2. Accordingly, there is at another point of the housing 2 an intermediate inlet 13, at which the third conduit means 11 is guided back into the housing 2 and then on to a mixed water outlet 14. After the volume flows of cold water introduced via the first conduit means 5 and the second conduit means 7 into the housing 2 and hot water have been brought together in the mixer, the combined and thus maximized in volume mixed water flow flows to a turbine 15, which is coupled to a generator. After exiting the turbine, the mixed water stream continues to flow through a solenoid valve 16 and then leaves the power generating device 3 and the housing body 17, to be then returned to the housing 2 via the intermediate inlet 13 again. The solenoid valve 16 may be arranged either before or behind the power generating device 3. Both within the housing 2 and within the power generating device 3 are still electronic components such as an infrared sensor 18, the solenoid valve 16, a memory electronics 19 and a battery 20 are provided. The electrical connections are shown schematically by the solid lines. If an object enters the detection range of the infrared sensor 18, this causes the passage of the mixed water flow through the solenoid valve 16 by this is opened. Instead of the described infrared sensor 18 but also any other suitable type of sensors can be used. The necessary control electronics and provision of the required energy via the storage electronics 19, which is connected as an energy store to the battery 20. In the particularly preferred embodiment according to this figure, a bypass line 21 is provided, which is indicated in the present case by a dot-dash line. This bypass line 21 leads directly from the intermediate outlet 12 to the mixed water outlet 14. The intermediate outlet 12 is provided with a switching function, which provides a passage of the mixed water flow from the mixer 4 to the turbine 15, if at the intermediate outlet 12, a third conduit 11 is connected. If this connection does not exist, the mixed water stream is passed directly to the mixed water outlet 14 via the bypass line. Such a Umstellfunktion can be realized for example by appropriate coupling plug. In this case, the entire power generation device 3 can optionally be disconnected or disconnected via the intermediate port 12 formed as an interface and the intermediate port 13. The sanitary fitting 1 according to the invention is thus either in conventional manual mixing operation without energy generation or to operate with coupled energy generating device with power generation.

In FIG. 2 another concrete embodiment of a sanitary fitting 1 according to the invention is shown in a front view. The housing 2 is mounted with a bottom 23 on a plane 22 and has a mixed water outlet 14, emerges at the mixed water. For detecting a switching operation, an infrared sensor 18 is provided on the housing 2. On the underside of the housing there are an intermediate outlet 12 and an intermediate inlet 13, which are connected by third conduit means 11 in series connection of the power generating device 3 with the housing body 17. Furthermore, the first and second inlets 24, 25 of the first and second conduit means 5, 7 in the housing 2 are shown clearly visible in the image plane in front of the image plane. The mixed water intermittently exits from the housing 2 via the intermediate outlet 12, flows through the third conduit means 11 downwards and, after flowing through and driving the turbine 15 in the energy generating device 3, is returned again to the intermediate inlet 13, from there to the mixed water outlet 14 to flow.

Based on FIG. 2 It is particularly clear that the inventive arrangement of the component energy generating device outside the housing 2 brings considerable space advantages for the housing 2 with it.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. In the context of the claims, numerous modifications of the invention are possible rather. For example, depending on the application, different drive types can be selected to convert the flow energy of the mixed water flow. In addition, depending on the space requirement of the housing 2 parts of the power generating device can be arranged as required either within the housing body 17 or the housing body 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

plumbing fixture

2

casing

3

Power generation device

4

mixing device

5

first conduit means

6

Cold water supply

7

second conduit means

8th

Hot water connection

9

input side

10

output side

11

third conduit

12

between the exit

13

between the inlet

14

Mixed water outlet

15

Turbine with generator

16

magnetic valve

17

housing body

18

infrared sensor

19

memory electronics

20

battery

21

bypass line

22

level

Claims (9)

1. Sanitary fitting (1) having a housing which has at least a first inlet for cold water and a second inlet for hot water as well as a mixing device (4) for selective mixing of hot and cold water, which mixing device is, on an entry side (9), connected by first and second conduit means (5, 7) to the first and second inlets (24, 25) and, on an exit side (10), connected by a third conduit means (11) for mixed water to a mixed water outlet (14) for mixed water, characterised in that the third conduit means (11) arranged between the mixing device (4) and the mixed water outlet (14) is provided with at least one intermediate outlet (12) and one intermediate inlet (13) on the housing (2) of the sanitary fitting (1), the mixed water being conducted between the intermediate outlet (12) and the intermediate inlet (13) for the purpose of generating energy by means of an energy generation device (3).
2. Sanitary fitting (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the energy generation device (3) is a turbine (15a) having an associated generator (15b) for generation of an electric current.
3. Sanitary fitting (1) according to either one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the intermediate outlet (12) and the intermediate inlet (13) are arranged on a housing outer side of the housing (2) of the sanitary fitting (1).
4. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the intermediate outlet (12) and the intermediate inlet (13) are arranged preferably on an underside (23) of the housing (2) of the sanitary fitting (1).
5. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the energy generation device (3) comprises a rotary drive (15a) for the generator (15b).
6. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the energy generation device (3) is connected to an electrical energy storage means (20) for storing the energy generated.
7. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that at least the turbine (15a) is arranged outside the housing (2).
8. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that additionally at least the energy storage means (20), the generator (15b) or an electrical control means (19) is arranged outside the housing (2).
9. Sanitary fitting (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least the intermediate outlet (12) or the intermediate inlet (13) perform a bypass function and, in the event of third conduit means (11) not being connected, conducts the mixed water directly to the mixed water outlet (14) via a bypass line (21).

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