Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/10—Devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes, e.g. means for aerating self-closing flushing valves

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus and a group for mixing cold and hot water in a sanitary water plant and for carrying out a disinfecting operation on the plant.
• the present invention further relates to a method for mixing cold and hot water in a sanitary water plant and for anti-legionella disinfecting of the plant.
• the present invention is particularly applicable in the sector of water plants of a sanitary, civil and industrial type.
• apparatus and groups are used that can appropriately mix a flow of cold water and a flow of hot water with the aim of supplying in outlet a mixed flow of water, having a determined temperature, which can then be distributed to various users, such as wash-basin taps, kitchens, showers etc.
• These apparatus and mixer groups in general comprise valve elements, mixer valves (or thermostatic mixers), conduits and fittings that are variously combined and typically located in junction boxes, in which the hot and cold water supply conduits are introduced and from which one or more delivery conduits bearing the mixed water exit.
• sanitary water plants require periodical anti-legionella treatments, required by specific standards, i.e. disinfecting cycles for preventing proliferation of the legionella bacteria in the water plant, or for removing the bacteria should they be present in portions of the water plant.
• the legionella bacterium can be made inactive by subjecting it to high temperatures, typically above 60°C. Therefore, an anti-legionella disinfecting cycle typically consists in forced circulation, internally of the tubes and the components of the sanitary water plant, of high temperature water for a determined period of time (consider that the higher the temperature of the water, the shorter the time required for guaranteeing the deactivating of the bacterium internally of the plant).
• various types of mixer apparatus are known for water plants provided with appropriate means able to realise an anti-legionella treatment internally of the plant.
• these apparatus comprise a bypass conduit which branches from the hot water supply conduit and directly reaches (without passing through the thermostatic mixer) the delivery conduit of the mixed water so as to enable, when needed, a direct passage of hot water at high temperature (i.e. not mixed) towards the delivery conduit and from there into the whole water plant.
• the bypass channel is provided with a valve, normally closed, which is brought into an open position (by means of a manual actuator or electrically controlled by a control unit) when the anti-legionella disinfecting cycle is to be carried out.
• the bypass channel enables sending a flow of high-temperature hot water to the delivery channel without passing through the thermostatic mixer.
• the only way of sending a flow of only hot water at high temperature into the plant is to close the supply of cold water, directing only the supply of hot water to the thermostatic mixer.
• the thermostatic mixers are provided, in conformity with specific safety standards for users, with an "anti- scald" function, which automatically blocks dispensing of mixed water should the supply of cold water be interrupted; this leads to the necessity to use a bypass channel for setting delivery of only hot water and thus carrying out the disinfecting.
• Italian patent IT 1381966 describes a mixing system of hot and cold water with an anti-legionella disinfection function in which there are present, apart from the bypass channel with the relative valve as described above, an additional valve on the cold water supply conduit and control means connected both to the valve of the bypass and to the additional valve for contemporaneously commanding the opening of the bypass valve and the closing of the additional valve on the cold water conduit.
• the activating of the command means thus enables activating the bypass channel and at the same time blocking inflow of cold water: in this way it is possible to send only hot water to the delivery conduit, realizing an anti-legionella treatment for the water plant.
• the Applicant has found that the apparatus and the mixer groups of known type are not free of drawbacks and can be improved in various ways.
• the type of mixer groups with simple bypass and opening/closing valve exhibit, for example, the following drawback: on opening the bypass channel for carrying out an anti-legionella cycle, the hot water carried thereby is sent to the delivery conduit, in which however the mixed water coming from the mixer valve continues to flow, which mixed water is obtained by mixing of hot water with cold water, and therefore has a lower temperature than that of only the hot water. Therefore the delivery conduit, although the bypass channel is open, emits a flow of water having a lower temperature than that of the hot water supplied by only the supply conduit of hot water. This reduces the effectiveness of the disinfection, due to the reduction of temperature introduced by the continued presence of mixed water in delivery to the plant.
• a drawback of the mixer group described in IT 1381966 lies in its high structural complexity.
• this solution includes - when an anti-legionella disinfection is to be performed - simultaneous activation of two distinct valves, one on the bypass conduit (normally closed and to be opened to perform the disinfection) and one on the supply conduit of cold water (normally open, to be closed in order to perform the disinfection).
• the group requires command means for carrying out the simultaneous opening and closing of the two valves. These means consist of an actuator which commands a rod acting on both the obturator of the bypass channel valve and on the obturator of cold water channel valve, so that the activating of the actuators causes a translating motion of the rod determining the opening of the first valve and the closing of the second.
• this operating configuration makes the structure of the mixer group complex to realize, as it is necessary to include a hollow body internally integrating the supply conduits of the hot and cold water, the bypass conduit and the delivery conduit, to which are added the two valves for the disinfection cycle and an elaborate seating in which the rod of the command means runs; the seating requires mechanical machining of a very precise kind and appropriate seal gaskets, in order to prevent leakage of water from the various conduits. Further, the sliding seating of the rod, as well as the seatings of the obturators of the two valves, require a precise aligning with the aim of correctly operating the passage of the water during normal use of the mixer group and during the disinfecting cycles.
• the mixer group is structurally complex and therefore, also considering that the hollow body is realized in a single piece by moulding, difficult to realise and characterised by a high cost. Further, the assembly and maintenance operations are also complex, as well as the functioning of the group, which comprises command means articulated in movement.
• the mixer group of IT 1381966 includes, for performing the disinfection, and by simultaneous activation of the two distinct valves of the supply of cold water and the bypass, interruption of one of the supply lines of the thermostatic mixer and the consequent inhibition thereof (because of the anti-scald safety measures); however the temporary deactivation of the thermostatic mixer, during the disinfection function, and the following return to functioning can lead, over time, to wear on the internal components thereof or leakage or cavitation.
• the aim underpinning the present invention in the various aspects and/or embodiments thereof, is to provide an apparatus, a group and a method for mixing water for sanitary plants with an anti-legionella disinfection function which are able to obviate one or more of the cited drawbacks.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a group and a method for mixing water for sanitary plants with an anti-legionella disinfection function able to distribute mixed water at a determined temperature and - when required - carry out an effective treatment of anti-legionella disinfection, sending water at a high temperature from the delivery conduit towards the water plant.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a group for mixing water for sanitary plants with an anti-legionella disinfection function, which are simple and/or rapid and/or economical to realize and/or to mount and/or to maintain, in particular characterised by a rational and simplified structure with respect to the apparatus and the known groups.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a group for mixing water for sanitary plants, with a function of anti-legionella disinfection, characterised by a simple and/or reliable functioning, and/or characterised by a smaller predisposition to faults and/or malfunctioning.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a group for mixing water for sanitary plants able to maintain performance intact over time and/or functioning correctly for a high number of anti-legionella disinfecting cycles.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for mixing water for sanitary plants, with an anti-legionella disinfection function, realizable by means of assembly of a plurality of single distinct components, possibly of commercially-available types.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide a group for mixing water for sanitary plants which is compact and integrates both the mixing function of the water at a determined temperature and a function of anti-legionella disinfection of a plant connected downstream of the group.
• the invention relates to an apparatus for mixing hot water and cold water, such as to form a flow of mixed water for a sanitary water plant, and for carrying out an anti-legionella disinfection, the apparatus comprising:
• a mixing device provided with a first inlet hydraulically connectable to the inlet conduit of cold water, with a second inlet hydraulically connectable to the inlet conduit of hot water, and with an outlet of mixed water, the mixing device further comprising a mixing chamber into which the first and second inlets flow, carrying respectively a flow of cold water and a flow of hot water, and from which the outlet of mixed water exits, carrying a flow of mixed water, the mixing device being configured such as to supply from the outlet of mixed water a flow of mixed water having a determined delivery temperature that is intermediate between the temperature of the cold water and the temperature of the hot water.
• the apparatus comprises a valve device, provided with a third inlet hydraulically connectable to the outlet of mixed water, with a fourth inlet and with a delivery outlet, hydraulically connectable to, or coinciding with, the delivery conduit.
• the apparatus comprises a bypass conduit branching from the inlet conduit of hot water at a point upstream of the mixing device and hydraulically connecting the inlet conduit of hot water with the fourth inlet of the valve device.
• valve device is configured and predisposed to operate selectively at least between a first configuration, in which it hydraulically connects the third inlet to the delivery outlet such as to send mixed water coming from the mixer device to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of hot water to the fourth inlet, and a second configuration in which it hydraulically connects the fourth inlet to the delivery outlet such as to send hot water coming from the bypass conduit to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporarily closes the inflow of mixed water to the third inlet.
• the apparatus in the first configuration enables sending the mixed water to the delivery line of the water plant and in the second configuration it enables sending only hot water to the delivery line of the water plant such as to carry out an anti-legionella thermal disinfection treatment of the plant.
• the present invention relates to a mixing group of hot water and cold water for forming a flow of mixed water for a sanitary water plant, with an anti-legionella disinfection function, the group comprising a hollow body in which at least the following are defined:
• the group, or the body comprises a mixing portion housing a mixer device provided with a first inlet connected hydraulically to the inlet opening of cold water via the inlet path of cold water, with a second inlet connected hydraulically to the inlet opening of hot water by means of the inlet path of hot water, and with an outlet of mixed water, the mixer device further comprising a mixing chamber into which the first inlet and the second inlet flow, respectively carrying a flow of cold water and a flow of hot water, and from which exits the outflow of mixed water carrying a flow of mixed water, the mixer device being configured for supplying, from the outlet of mixed water, a flow of mixed water having a determined intermediate delivery temperature between the temperature of the cold water and the temperature of the hot water.
• the group, or the body comprises a valve portion housing a valve device, provided with a third inlet connected hydraulically to the outlet of mixed water, with a fourth inlet and with a delivery outlet, connected hydraulically to the delivery path of mixed water.
• the body comprises a bypass conduit branching from the inlet path of hot water in a point upstream of the mixing portion and hydraulically connecting the inlet path of hot water with the fourth inlet of the valve device.
• valve device is configured and predisposed such as to selectively operate at least between a first configuration, in which it hydraulically connects the third inlet to the delivery outlet to send mixed water coming from the mixer device to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of hot water to the fourth inlet, and a second configuration in which it hydraulically connects the fourth inlet to the delivery outlet to send hot water coming from the bypass path to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of mixed water to the third inlet.
• the group in the first configuration the group enables sending mixed water to the delivery line of the water plant and in the second configuration it enables sending only hot water to the delivery line of the water plant to carry out an anti-legionella thermal disinfection of the plant.
• the present invention relates to a method for mixing hot water and cold water, such as to form a flow of mixed water for a sanitary water plant, and for carrying out an anti-legionella disinfection, the method comprising steps of:
• the method comprises a step of operating the valve device of the apparatus or of the group selectively between the first configuration, in which the apparatus or the group sends a flow of mixed water to a determined delivery temperature, obtained by mixing the hot water and the cold water, to the delivery line of the water plant, and the second configuration, in which the apparatus or the group sends exclusively hot water to the delivery line of the water plant in order to carry out an anti- legionella thermal disinfection of the plant.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of an apparatus for mixing water according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the apparatus of figure 1 , where the valve device is in the first configuration
• - figure 3 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a water mixing group according to the present invention
• - figure 4 is a lateral view in longitudinal section of the group of figure 3, where the valve device is in the first configuration
• figure 5 is a plan view in transversal section of the group of figure 3.
• numbers 1 and 50 denote in their entirety an apparatus and a group for mixing water for sanitary water plants according to the present invention.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 are destined to be used with sanitary water plants, for example for civil or industrial use, for managing inflow of mixed water to the various plant users, and additionally to manage anti-legionella sanitary disinfection of the plant.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 are typically located in junction boxes or technical chambers into which are routed, and out of which branch, pipes and conduits of the water plant.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 once installed, constitute an element of the water plant which gives continuity to the water conduits of the plant and manages the flows of water circulating in the plant.
• the apparatus 1 comprises an inlet conduit of cold water 2, destined to be hydraulically connected to a source of cold water supply (not shown, for example a cold water line of the water supply), and an inlet conduit of hot water 3, destined to be hydraulically connected, to a supply source of hot water, typically a hot water line coming from a water-heater, a boiler or a tank of water at high temperature.
• a source of cold water supply not shown, for example a cold water line of the water supply
• hot water 3 destined to be hydraulically connected, to a supply source of hot water, typically a hot water line coming from a water-heater, a boiler or a tank of water at high temperature.
• the apparatus comprises a delivery conduit of mixed water destined to be hydraulically connected to a delivery line of mixed water, located downstream of the apparatus, of a sanitary water plant.
• the water plant, and the delivery line of the water which is part thereof, is not shown, as it can be any water plant, for example of known type, for civil, commercial or industrial use.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a mixing device 5 provided with a first inlet 6 hydraulically connected to the inlet conduit of cold water 2, with a second inlet 7 hydraulically connected to the inlet conduit of hot water 3, and with an outlet of mixed water 8.
• the mixing device 5 further comprises a mixing chamber 9 into which the first 6 and second 7 inlets flow, carrying respectively a flow of cold water and a flow of hot water, and from which the outlet of mixed water 8 exits.
• the mixing device is configured such as to supply from the outlet of mixed water a flow of mixed water having a determined delivery temperature that is intermediate between the temperature of the cold water and the temperature of the hot water which supply the apparatus.
• the apparatus 1 further comprises a valve device 10, provided with a third inlet 11 hydraulically connectable to the outlet of mixed water 8, with a fourth inlet 12 and with a delivery outlet 13, the delivery outlet 13 bring hydraulically connected to the delivery conduit.
• the delivery outlet can also coincide with the delivery conduit.
• the apparatus 1 further comprises a bypass conduit 20 branching from the inlet conduit of hot water 3 at a point 25 upstream of the mixing device 5 and hydraulically connecting the inlet conduit of hot water with the fourth inlet 12 of the valve device 10.
• the valve device is configured to operate selectively at least between a first configuration, in which it hydraulically connects the third inlet 11 to the delivery outlet 13 such as to send mixed water coming from the mixer device 5 to the delivery line of the sanitary 5 water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of hot water to the fourth inlet 12, and a second configuration in which it hydraulically connects the fourth inlet 12 to the delivery outlet 13 such as to send hot water coming from the bypass conduit to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporarily closes the inflow of mixed water to the third inlet 11.
• the valve device 10 preferably comprises a seating 14 and at least an obturator 15 movably housed in the seating.
• the seating 14 is provided with a first passage opening 16 connected to, or defining, the third inlet 11 , with a second passage opening 17 connected to, or defining, the fourth passage 12 and with a third passage opening 18 connected to, or defining, the delivery outlet 13.
• the seating 14 is preferably provided with three different openings, of which two inlet openings (first and second passage opening) and an outlet opening (third passage opening).
• the obturator 15 is mobile at least between a first position, in which it closes the second passage opening and sets in communication, via the seating, the first and the third passage opening (bringing the valve device into the first configuration), and a second position, in which the obturator 15 closes the first passage opening and sets in communication, via the seating, the second and the third passage opening (bringing the valve device into the second configuration).
• the third passage opening is preferably always open and is selectively placed in communication, via the obturator, with the first or the second passage opening.
• Figure 2 shows the valve device in the first configuration: it can be seen that the obturator intercepts the second passage opening 17 (blocking inflow of hot water from the bypass conduit) and opens the first passage opening, placing it in communication with the inside of the seating and, from there, with the third passage opening and - upstream thereof - with the delivery conduit.
• the seating 14 is preferably configured so as to be selectively crossed by a flow of water, respectively mixed or hot, both with the obturator 15 in the first position and with the obturator in the second position.
• the seating 14 When the obturator 15 is in the first position the seating 14 is preferably crossed exclusively by a flow of mixed water coming from the mixer device 5 and directed to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant, while when the obturator is in the second position the seating is crossed exclusively by a flow of hot water coming from the bypass conduit 20 and directed to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant.
• the valve device 10 preferably also realizes a portion of conduit hydraulically selectively connecting the outlet of mixed water 8 or the bypass conduit 20 to the delivery conduit 4.
• the valve device 10, or the seating 14 of the valve device itself preferably defines an initial portion of the delivery conduit 4 of mixed water.
• the bypass conduit 20 preferably does not exhibit any interruption between the two ends thereof.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a single valve device 10, which in turn comprises one and only one obturator 15 operatively active on the first passage opening 16 and on the second passage opening 17.
• the obturator is preferably mobile in the seating 14 in such a way that the passage from the first position to the second position determines a simultaneous closure of the first passage opening and the opening of the second passage opening, while the passage from the second position to the first position determines a simultaneous closure of the second passage opening and the opening of the first passage opening.
• the first passage opening 16 and the second passage opening 17 are preferably spaced from one another by a distance that is smaller than or equal to a volume of the obturator 15 (for example an axial or radial dimension) or to a travel of the obturator.
• the travel preferably corresponds to a distance travelled by the obturator in the passage between the first and the second position.
• the third inlet 11 and the fourth inlet 12 of the valve device are preferably adjacent and/or contiguous; in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 the third and the fourth inlet are arranged perpendicularly to one another and with the respective ends neared.
• the mixing device 5 preferably comprises (or corresponds with) a thermostatic mixer 5a, preferably a wax thermostatic mixer 5a or activated by an electric or electromagnetic actuator or by means of a manual actuator (for example the knob 5b, which enables, by a rotation, selecting the desired temperature for the mixed water); the thermostatic mixer being configured such as to select the determined delivery temperature of the mixed water.
• a thermostatic mixer 5a preferably a wax thermostatic mixer 5a or activated by an electric or electromagnetic actuator or by means of a manual actuator (for example the knob 5b, which enables, by a rotation, selecting the desired temperature for the mixed water); the thermostatic mixer being configured such as to select the determined delivery temperature of the mixed water.
• the valve device 10 preferably comprises (or coincides with) an at least three-way zone valve 10a, of which two inlet ways, corresponding to the third inlet and the fourth inlet, and an outlet way, corresponding to the outlet of the mixed water, and wherein the outlet way is selectively hydraulically connected to one only of the two inlet ways.
• valve device 10 preferably comprises a manual or electrical or electrothermal actuator 10a operating connected to the obturator 15 such as to command the passage thereof between the first and the second position.
• zone valve is intended to refer in general to a component, known in the technical sector of hydraulic plant, provided with an inlet and two outlets and configured so as to place in communication the inlet - selectively -with one only of the two outlets.
• Zone valves are typically used to manage the inflow of hot water into determined zones of a heating plant: the hot water is sent to the inlet of the zone valve, while the two outlets are respectively connected to the zone of the plant and the return circuit of the hot water.
• the zone valve enables supplying - via the first outlet - the zone of the plant when it is necessary (for example for heating environments corresponding to the zone or, on the contrary, interrupting the inflow of hot water to the zone, by selecting the second outlet, via which the water is directed to the return circuit.
• the zone valve is used in a "contrary" way, i.e. by supplying the two outlets (which become two inlets) with different flow of water and connecting the inlet (which becomes the only outlet) to the water delivery conduit.
• the activating of the zone valve enables connecting the outlet selectively to one alone - at a time - of the two water inlets.
• the zone valve in the present invention is mounted and configured so as to selectively realize a hydraulic connection, between the mixer device and the delivery conduit or between the bypass conduit and the delivery conduit.
• the two operative conditions are mutually exclusive and cannot occur contemporaneously.
• the apparatus 1 preferably comprises a branch conduit 25 of cold water branching from the inlet conduit of cold water 2, in a point upstream of the mixing device 5, and destined to be connected hydraulically to a delivery line of cold water of the sanitary water plant (not shown).
• the apparatus can advantageously be realized using commercially-available components, i.e. with an assembly of various conduits or taps, a thermostatic mixer and a zone valve appropriately mounted so as to form the hydraulic circuit described above.
• connections between the components can be of a standard type, i.e. known in the sector, for example threaded connections, lock-joints, snap-fit joints, etc.
• the group 50 for mixing the hot and cold water with an anti-legionella disinfecting function of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in figures 3, 4 and 5.
• the group 50 comprises a hollow body 51 in which at least the following are defined:
• the mixing portion 60 houses a mixer device 61 provided with a first inlet 62 connected hydraulically to the inlet opening of cold water 52a via the inlet path of cold water 52, a second inlet 63 connected hydraulically to the inlet opening of hot water 53a by means of the inlet path of hot water 53, and with an outlet of mixed water 64.
• the mixer device 61 further comprises a mixing chamber 65 into which the first inlet 62 and the second inlet 63 flow, respectively carrying a flow of cold water and a flow of hot water, and from which exits the outflow of mixed water carrying a flow of mixed water.
• the mixer device 61 is configured for supplying, from the outlet of mixed water 64, a flow of mixed water having a determined intermediate delivery temperature between the temperature of the cold water and the temperature of the hot water.
• the hot water inlet path preferably enters on a side of the mixer device (figure 4) where the second inlet 63 is present, while the cold water inlet path reaches the opposite side of the mixer device through an internal conduit in the body 51 which passes around the mixer device so as to reach the first inlet 62 (figure 5).
• the valve portion 70 houses a valve device 71 , provided with a third inlet 72 connected hydraulically to the outlet of mixed water 64, with a fourth inlet 73 and with a delivery outlet 74, connected hydraulically to the delivery path 54 of mixed water.
• the bypass conduit 90 branches from the inlet path of hot water 53 in a point upstream of the mixing portion 60 and hydraulically connecting the inlet path of hot water with the fourth inlet 73 of the valve device 71.
• the bypass conduit 90 is shown by way of example in the section of figures 4; the conduit branches from the hot water inlet path 53 and passes, internally of the body 51 , behind the cold water conduit so as to reach the valve portion.
• the valve device 71 is configured and predisposed such as to selectively operate at least between a first configuration, in which it hydraulically connects the third inlet 72 to the delivery outlet 74 to send mixed water coming from the mixer device 61 to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of hot water to the fourth inlet 73, and a second configuration in which it hydraulically connects the fourth inlet 73 to the delivery outlet 74 to send hot water coming from the bypass path 90 to the delivery line of the sanitary water plant and contemporaneously closes the inflow of mixed water to the third inlet 72.
• the group 50 enables sending mixed water to the delivery line of the water plant and in the second configuration it enables sending only hot water to the delivery line of the water plant to carry out an anti-legionella thermal disinfection of the plant.
• the valve device preferably comprises a seating 75 and at least an obturator 76 movably housed in the seating.
• the seating 75 is preferably provided with a first passage opening 77 connected to, or defining, the third inlet 72, with a second passage opening 78 connected to, or defining, the fourth inlet 73, and with a third passage opening 78 connected to (or defining) the delivery outlet 74.
• the obturator 76 is preferably mobile at least between a first position, in which it closes the second passage opening and via the seating sets the first and the third passage openings in communication, bringing the valve device into the first configuration, and a second position, in which the obturator closes the first passage opening and via the seating sets the second and third passage opening in communication, bringing the valve device into the second configuration.
• the seating 75 is preferably configured such as to be selectively crossed by a flow of water, respectively mixed or hot, both with the obturator 76 in the first position and the obturator in the second position.
• the seating 75 When the obturator 76 is in the first position the seating 75 it is preferably crossed only by a flow of mixed water coming from the mixer device 61 and directed to the delivery line and when the obturator is in the second position the seating is crossed exclusively by a flow of hot water coming from the bypass conduit 90 and directed to the delivery line.
• valve device 71 in particular the seating thereof, is configured such as itself to realize a portion of path selectively hydraulically connecting the outlet of mixed water 64 or the bypass path 90 to the delivery path 54.
• the group preferably comprises a single valve device 71 and the valve device comprises, in turn, one and one only obturator 76 operatively active on the first passage opening 77 and on the second passage opening 78.
• the obturator 76 is preferably mobile in the seating 75 in such a way that the passage from the first position to the second position determines a simultaneous closing of the first passage opening and the opening of the second passage opening, and the passage from the second position to the first position determines a simultaneous closing of the second passage opening and an opening of the first passage opening.
• the first passage opening 77 and the second passage opening 78 are preferably spaced from one another by a distance that is less than or equal to a volume of the obturator 76 (preferably an axial or radial dimension) or to a travel of the obturator.
• the travel preferably corresponds to a distance (or linear space) travelled by the obturator in the passage between the first and the second position.
• the third (72) and the fourth inlet (73) of the valve device are preferably adjacent and/or contiguous to one another.
• the mixer device 61 preferably comprises a thermostatic mixer 61 , preferably a wax thermostatic mixer 61a or activated by an electric or electromagnetic actuator or by means of a manual actuator (for example the knob 61 b, which enables, by a rotation, selecting the desired temperature for the mixed water); the thermostatic mixer being configured such as to select the determined delivery temperature of the mixed water.
• the valve device 71 preferably comprises (or coincides with) an at least three-way zone valve 71a, of which two inlet ways, corresponding to the third inlet and the fourth inlet, and an outlet way, corresponding to the outlet of the mixed water, and wherein the outlet way is selectively hydraulically connected to one only of the two inlet ways.
• the valve device 71 or the zone valve 71a, preferably comprises a manual or electrical or electrothermal actuator 71 operatively connected to the obturator such as to command the passage thereof between the first and the second position.
• the group 50 preferably comprises a branch conduit 95 of cold water branching from the inlet conduit of cold water 52, in a point upstream of the mixing portion 60, and destined to be hydraulically connected to a delivery line of cold water of the sanitary water plant.
• the branch conduit 95 preferably comprises a terminal 96 (for example a joint or connection).
• the branch conduit 95 preferably receives a flow of cold water via a passage 62b in the inlet path of the cold water 52 (see figure 5).
• the inlet openings of the cold water 52a and hot water 53a preferably comprise means for connecting to tubes or conduits of the plant; these means can be for example threaded terminals or snap-fit connections.
• the delivery path 54 preferably terminates with a respective terminal or connection 54a for hydraulic connecting-up to the delivery line of the water plant.
• the hollow body 51 is a single body, realized for example by moulding and/or mechanical machining.
• the hollow body is preferably made in a single piece.
• the hollow body is preferably made of brass or steel, for example stainless steel.
• the obturator of the valve device of the apparatus 1 or the group 50 is preferably entirely contained in or associated to the respective seating.
• the obturator is preferably entirely contained in the respective valve device.
• the obturator is preferably associated only to the respective seating and does not extend, or does not occupy, or does not cross, the conduits or pathways respectively of the apparatus or the group.
• the dimension of the obturator preferably involves only the respect seating and the space in proximity of the first and second passage opening, i.e. enough to determine the opening and closing of the openings.
• the first and/or the second passage opening preferably comprise a respective seal element configured so as to guarantee the water seal when the obturator is in a closed position of the passage opening.
• the seal element is preferably a gasket (for example rubber or plastic) or an O-ring.
• the mixer group 50 for hot and cold water integrates in a single hollow body, preferably a single block or a single piece, the technical characteristics and functionalities of the apparatus 1. According to applications, for example the type of water plant, it is possible to use an apparatus or group according to the present invention.
• the apparatus and/or the group can preferably comprise control means active on the respective valve device and/or on the respective mixer device so as to command the functioning thereof.
• the control means can for example regulate the temperature of the mixed water and the passage of the valve device between the first and the second configuration.
• the control means can comprise an electronic control unit, and/or a switch and/or a timer and/or a connection (cabled or wireless) to an external control unit of the water plant.
• the valve device 10 of the apparatus 1 or 71 of the group 50 is activated selectively between the first configuration, in which the apparatus or the group sends a flow of mixed water at a determined delivery temperature, obtained by mixing of hot water and cold water, to the delivery line of the water plant, and the second configuration, in which the apparatus or group sends exclusively hot water to the delivery line of the water plant so as to carry out a thermal anti-legionella disinfecting of the plant.
• the apparatus and the group are installed in the water plant in such a way as to be normally in the mixing configuration, i.e. with the valve device thereof in the first configuration: in this condition, downstream of the apparatus or the group the water plant is normally supplied with mixed water.
• the activation when required, for example at determined time intervals, of the apparatus or the group with the aim of carrying out an anti-legionella disinfection treatment, can consist in rotating a knob or, as in the embodiments shown in the figures, in activating an electro-thermal actuator, which activates the respective valve device, bringing it into the second configuration, so as to block the inflow of mixed water and activate the inflow of water at a high temperature from the bypass conduit or pathway.
• the Applicant considers that the combination of the above-mentioned technical characteristics at the base of the present invention enables obtaining numerous advantages. Primarily, the invention enables obviating one or more of the problems encountered in the prior art.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 further enable integrating both the distribution of mixed water to a water plant and the carrying-out of an anti-legionella disinfecting of the plant, efficiently, rationally and effectively.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 are further characterised by a simple, rapid and completely reversible functioning.
• the apparatus 1 and the group 50 are reliable, characterised by a lower predisposition to faults or malfunctions, and are able to maintain the performance intact over time, functioning correctly for a high number of cycles of anti-legionella disinfection.
• a further advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus 1 can be realised by assembly of a plurality of single and distinct components, possibly of known type and/or commercially available.
• An advantage of the group 50 of the present invention lies in the single-block structure thereof, which is compact, rational and easy and economical to manufacture.
• a further advantage of the present invention consists in the simplicity of the valve means (i.e. the valve device or zone valve) used for the functioning thereof.
• a further advantage of the present invention is the possibility of carrying out an anti-legionella disinfection on an apparatus and group for mixing water without intervening on the mixer device (in particular without interrupting operation thereof), while acting downstream thereof.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Multiple-Way Valves (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-03-08 IT IT000028A patent/ITBS20130028A1/it unknown
• 2014
  • 2014-02-11 EP EP14710981.3A patent/EP2964845B1/de active Active
  • 2014-02-11 WO PCT/IB2014/058914 patent/WO2014136001A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-02-11 RU RU2015140428A patent/RU2622332C2/ru active
  • 2014-02-11 CN CN201480013099.7A patent/CN105189877B/zh active Active

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