EP3141668B1 - Shower wc with continuous flow heater and boiler - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a water closet with shower function (shower toilet).

Such devices have been known for several decades and have received increasing attention in Europe in recent years. The technical development concerns the hot water preparation under many other aspects. For this purpose, basically boilers, ie hot water tank with heating, and water heater are known, each having specific advantages and disadvantages.

From the state of the art EP 2 357 423 A1 In addition, a shower toilet is known in which a boiler is combined as energy storage with a water heater. Both are connected in series and serve to extend the shower time available at a given temperature. For this purpose, the boiler can produce hot water before the shower process and be refilled during the showering process with water heated by the water heater, so that the heat content of the boiler less quickly exhausted. In this case, relatively high temperatures at the outlet of the boiler are mixed with cold water to set the desired temperature. This document corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and is considered to be the closest prior art. The invention has for its object to develop a shower toilet with a combination of boiler and water heater for showering water heating in terms of flexibility in use.

This object is achieved by a shower toilet with a water heater for heating shower water and a boiler for heating shower water and a nozzle for ejecting heated shower water, characterized by another nozzle for ejecting the heated shower water, wherein one of the nozzles to the water heater and the other of the nozzles is associated with the boiler and the respective nozzles are connected via a respective own nozzle line with the water heater or the boiler,
and by a corresponding method for operating this shower toilet and the use of the shower toilet in a similar manner.

Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and are explained in detail below in addition to the basic idea of the invention. In this case, no distinction is made between the different categories of claims, but rather the features presented should be relevant to all categories of claims.

The inventor has assumed that the combination of a boiler and a water heater offers significant advantages in terms of the performance of the shower toilet. However, hitherto unknown possibilities open up by not deviating from the cited prior art, no series connection of water heater and boiler is selected, but instead each act on their own separate nozzle lines, at the end of each separate nozzles are provided. This gives the possibility to operate the shower function either with two water heaters, nozzle lines and nozzles or only with a set thereof, so to speak only with a "shower load" (from boiler or water heater with associated nozzle line and nozzle).

This results in various options, which are explained in more detail below. In principle, z. B. with limited electrical power, ie z. B. with simultaneous availability of only the water heater or the boiler, yet variable shower good results can be achieved. Because in a situation with warmed boiler then both "shower branches" can be operated in parallel and achieve a particularly good and powerful shower jet result, without a common nozzle therefore must be applied with a higher water pressure or stronger water flow than optimal. But even when operating only one of the two "shower branches" the respective nozzle is then supplied with a suitable amount of water. This applies, for example, when the boiler has not yet warmed up and the instantaneous water heater is used or the boiler is reheated in shower mode and thereby switched off water heater, so reduced water temperature.

The described possibilities therefore relate in particular (but not necessarily but only by way of example) to possible requirements of the shower function in such a short time interval after a switch-on process that the boiler has not yet arrived at the correct water temperature. In principle, the boiler requires more time for the availability of sufficiently heated water than the instantaneous water heater and, although perhaps only in exceptional cases, the time remaining between switching on and the shower water requirement may not be sufficient. Then with the invention, after all, a satisfactory shower operation with only one of the two nozzles possible.

In the prior art are often Duscharme with two nozzles encountered, with usually each nozzle has a specific anatomical function, ie z. B. either the anal cleansing or intimate cleaning serves. Accordingly, the nozzles are regularly offset along the shower arm in position and / or different in terms of the angle of radiation; they are also regularly set up specifically for such. B. for the anal cleaning another water jet quality (such as with more pressure) to provide than for the intimate cleaning. In the present case, however, the two mentioned nozzles are preferably arranged adjacent, at a distance of at most 1.5 cm, preferably at most 1.2 cm or even 1.0 cm. Furthermore, they preferably have largely the same emission angle of the water jet. Finally, they are preferably largely identical, which of course essentially affects the nozzles themselves and not necessarily the supply lines. Although the supply lines preferably also have the same cross-section (to ensure substantially the same beam quality), but may be different in terms of construction geometry within the shower arm. Additionally or alternatively, the two jets can be adjusted via pump or control valve settings.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a connecting line is connected between the intended for the heated water outlet of the shower water heater and the corresponding output of the boiler, with a switchable valve therein, with which the line can be opened and closed. This line increases flexibility and creates z. B. the ability to flow in the water heater heated water through the actually connecting the boiler with its associated nozzle line, about to flush this before operation of the corresponding nozzle with heated water and to displace the cold water contained therein. Such flushing operations are known per se, as the mentioned cold water is displaced by heated before the actual function of the nozzle in order to avoid that the user is first hit by the cold water during showering. During the rinsing process, the corresponding water z. B. are used for cleaning purposes in or on the shower arm or discarded unused.

In particular, it is preferred that a controller is provided with such a design that, after a switch-on operation, the nozzle line acted upon by the instantaneous water heater and then the nozzle line (which in the future is to be acted upon by the boiler) are flushed with water heated in the water heater.

By the way, this sequence of purging operations is also preferred if the mentioned connection line does not exist or is not used in the manner described. It is then still preferable to first rinse the nozzle line between the water heater and its nozzle and only then the other nozzle line between the boiler and its nozzle, in the case considered here then with water from the boiler, which accordingly heated later available stands.

Finally, in the case of the aforementioned connecting pipe between the two outputs of the water heater and the boiler (at an early stage) heated water from the water heater can be used to be passed into the boiler, in particular in the context of the purge process described to be diverted to it. In this way, the water in the boiler can then be heated more intensively and / or mixed better during the heating by the boiler and / or a low-lying cold area of this water can be particularly heated. As regards the latter aspect, it should be noted that the outlet of the boiler necessarily carries off water in the lower part of the boiler in order to be able to use the entire boiler contents, and in the case of boilers there is a general tendency for temperature stratification to form on heating.

If the water heater is to have a water reservoir in its water supply, this is preferably connected via an overflow to the boiler. Thus, this water tank of the water heater and the boiler can be filled together, namely by running on the water supply line filling water first in the water tank of the water heater and the overflow into the boiler.

It has already been mentioned at the beginning that when the boiler requires too much warm water for showering, only the shower element of the instantaneous water heater is used. Preferably, when the boiler can provide heated water, both shower branches are used to provide a particularly intensive showering function. Here, the water heater is operated and used the heat storage in the boiler. Of course, this can be made dependent on a corresponding operation of the user. As an additional or as an alternative advantage of the invention comes into consideration, after exhaustion of the hot water supply in the boiler (or at least too far sunken temperature therein) to use only the shower load of the water heater. Of course, this possibility is also independent of the described processes in the early requirement of the shower function into consideration.

Generally speaking, therefore, it can be said that the existence of separate nozzle lines and nozzles of the water heater on the one hand and the boiler on the other allows various advantages, because in general these lines can be used simultaneously, but also individually and separately from each other.

Figur 1

zeigt ein Blockschaltdiagramm zur Erläuterung des Ausführungsbeispiels und

Figur 2

zeigt im Schnitt ein distales Ende eines Duscharms zur Erläuterung des Ausführungsbeispiels.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment.

FIG. 1

shows a block diagram for explaining the embodiment and

FIG. 2

shows in section a distal end of a shower arm to explain the embodiment.

In FIG. 1 left top is a summarily denoted by 1 fresh water connection of the shower toilet according to the embodiment shown. From a fresh water supply line 2 from the fresh water flows through a particulate filter 3 and a control valve 4 and a switching valve 5 to a prescribed hygiene reasons vertical separation path 6. From this leads a line 7 to a total of 8 designated water tank. This is divided into two parts, namely left a fresh water tank 9 for a water heater 10 and right a boiler 11 with an electric heater 12. The fresh water tank 9 and the boiler 11 are connected by an overflow 13, so that both together via the fresh water connection. 1 and the conduit 7 can be filled. The boiler 11 has a heater 12 and a temperature sensor 19.

A line 14 connects via an unnumbered pump an outlet of the fresh water tank 9 with the water heater 10, which has in the usual way sensors for the water volume flow and the water temperature upstream and downstream of the water heater. Downstream of the instantaneous water heater 10, a conduit 15 continues to supply the heated water during operation through a particulate filter 16 to a multi-way valve 17.

On the other hand, the boiler 11 has a bottom outlet, on which a tee is provided. To the right leads a connection of the tee 18 via a pump for not shown here shower arm, namely to its so-called boost nozzle 20th

A connection of the valve 17 also leads to the shower arm, namely to its directly adjacent to the boost nozzle 20 arranged anal nozzle 21. Finally, the valve 17 is connected via a connecting line 22 to a further terminal of the tee 18.

FIG. 2 shows a section through a distal end of a shower arm 24 in a bowl edge 23 of a shower toilet according to the invention. This shower toilet has in the usual way a toilet bowl, of which only the cutout of the bowl rim 23 can be seen. In the bowl edge 23 there is an in FIG. 2 recognizable channel-like opening, in and behind which a shower device is mounted. This includes the shower arm 24, which is in FIG. 2 from top left to bottom right and at its right end (distal end) the already mentioned two nozzles 20 and 21 has.

Although the exact structure of the nozzles for the invention is not very essential, it should be noted that in the central region of the shower arm cut two spherical Verwirbelungskammern 25 are provided, to which reference may be made to the prior art EP 2 628 546 , These meet their in FIG. 2 upper ends of a swirled water jet, which passes through the enlarged diameter nozzle openings 20 and 21 and thereby receives from the environment within the shower arm air. The two nozzles 20 and 21 are relatively close together and spaced approximately twice the diameter of the nozzle openings (on the upper shower arm surface). The nozzle 20 is referred to as a boost nozzle and the nozzle 21 as an anal nozzle; both are identical with regard to their geometry and are supplied via lines of the same cross-section. These lines are not shown here but are located in front of and behind the cutting plane.

Under the two swirling chambers 25, a movable nozzle arm 26 can be seen, which carries not quantified nozzle openings at its right (distal) end and can be extended on request to the vaginal douche. For this purpose, water is supplied via a channel 27, which extends and acts on the arm 26 against the force of a not shown coil spring. This part of the shower device is not essential to the invention.

Above the channel 27 is a channel 28, according to FIG. 2 with the ventilation of the nozzles 20 and 21 communicates. Incidentally, this channel 28 can guide washing water, which exits via the nozzles 20 and 21, when the shower arm 24 (not shown) is completely retracted.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 a washing device 29 can be seen, which forms the distal end of the guide of the shower arm 24 and is held in the bowl rim 23. This washing device can be supplied with wash water via a channel 30 and serve during the extension and retraction of the shower arm 24 for cleaning its outer surface. Reference is made to the prior art EP 2 626 478 ,

Incidentally, the two cited documents give further details on the structure of a typical shower toilet.

In contrast to many prior art shower facilities, the two nozzles 20 and 21 located at the top of the shower arm do not serve different anatomical purposes, but both (with the same construction, the same emission direction and in the immediate vicinity) of the anal cleansing. In the prior art, a second nozzle opening is usually provided for vaginal cleaning, which can be made by the nozzle arm 26 in the present case.

Instead, the two nozzles 20 and 21 have the advantage of having the hot water supply system FIG. 1 be able to be acted upon at the same time namely the boost nozzle 20 via the T-piece at the outlet of the boiler 11 and the nozzle 21 via the valve 17 and the flow heater 10. However, they can also be operated individually, without their individual beam characteristics therefore changes.

A typical operation in operation is as follows: The shower toilet can recognize, for example by an infrared sensor, a user, which causes the controller to turn on the boiler 11, so in particular its heater 12. This can already happen if the user is only near the shower toilet. Then, when the start of a WC use is detected, such as by a touch sensor, the controller may turn on the water heater 10 and the pump in the line 14 instead of the boiler 11 and adjust the valve 17 so that the heated water reaches the nozzle line up to the Shower nozzle 21 rinses and expels the cold water. This can be done before the extension of the shower arm 24, so that the leaked water from the nozzle 21 fulfills a certain cleaning function with respect to the shower arm.

Then, for example, after the triggering of the shower function, via the connecting line 22 (in the corresponding position of the valve 17), the nozzle line between the boost nozzle 20 and the boiler 11 are flushed with hot water and again taking advantage of the water heater 10. At the same time the tee 18 z. B. one third of the volume flow of water are fed into the boiler 11 to provide there for improved mixing and in particular warming of the cold zone in the vicinity of the outlet.

Then the shower arm can be cleaned in the manner known per se during extension, for example, again with water heated by the water heater 10 and not explained here in detail position of the valve 17, as a result of which the water passes through the port 30 into the washing device 29. If the shower arm 24 is extended, both nozzles 20 and 21 can be used, the valve 17 blocking the connection line 22 and each nozzle via its own nozzle line is supplied by the boiler 11 and by the water heater 10th

If, however, the request of the shower function takes place so early, the latter operation is inadequate for lack of sufficient temperature of the water in the boiler 11, so to speak, as an emergency program only the anal nozzle 21 are operated by the water heater 10 heated water and the boost nozzle 20th only after availability of a sufficient water temperature in the boiler 11.

Of course, other procedures are possible (regardless of this specific embodiment), z. B. a Normalalduschfunktion only using boiler water and boost nozzle 20 (if the boiler water is sufficiently warm) and an addition of the Analdüse 21 only on request (which then means an addition of the water heater 10). In this case, the names of the nozzles could also be reversed, because now the Analdüse 21 works as a kind of boost nozzle.

Overall, the embodiment shows that the separate routing between the two nozzles and the associated water heaters 10 and 11 allows various advantages that can be utilized in a flexible manner. If the connecting line 22 is present, this also relates to the described flushing operation to the boost nozzle 20 while conserving the energy content in the boiler 11.

Claims (15)

1. A shower WC having a flow heater (10) for heating shower water and a boiler (11) for heating shower water and a nozzle (20, 21) for ejecting heated shower water, characterized by a further nozzle, (21, 20) for ejecting the heated shower water, wherein one of said nozzles (20, 21) is assigned to said flow heater (10) and the other one of said nozzles (21, 20) is assigned to said boiler (11), the respective nozzles (20, 21) being connected via a respective own nozzle line with said flow heater (10) or said boiler (11) respectively.
2. The shower WC according to claim 1, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are arranged in a distance of 1,5 cm at maximum from each other.
3. The shower WC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are adapted for a same angle of emission of the water jet.
4. The shower WC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two nozzles (20, 21) are of identical construction.
5. The shower WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a connecting line (15, 22) with a switchable valve (17) therein is provided between an exit of said flow heater (10) and an exit of said boiler (11).
6. The shower WC according to one of the preceding claims, having a water reservoir (9) in a water supply line (7, 14) of said flow heater (10), said water reservoir (9) being connected in said water supply line (7, 14) of said flow heater (10) with said boiler 11 via an overflow device (13) so that both can be filled together via said water supply line (7, 14) upstream of said water reservoir (9).
7. The shower WC according to one of the preceding claims, having a control which is adapted for, in a switch-on process, flushing first said nozzle line supplied by said flow heater (10) and said nozzle (21) supplied by said flow heater (10) with heated water from said flow heater (10) and for flushing time-wise thereafter said nozzle line supplied by said boiler (11) and said nozzle (20) supplied by said boiler (11) with heated water.
8. The shower WC according to claims 5 and 7, wherein said control is adapted for, in said switch-on process, flushing said nozzle line supplied by said boiler (11) via said connecting line (15, 22) between said exit of said flow heater (10) and said exit of said boiler (11) with water heated by said flow heater (10).
9. The shower WC according to claim 8, wherein said control is adapted for branching off therein a part of said water heated by said flow heater (10) from said connecting line (15, 22) into said boiler (11).
10. The shower WC according to claim 9, wherein said control is adapted for, after a switch-on process and in case that the shower function of said shower WC is activated by a user so early that said water in said boiler 11 has not heated yet or not yet completely, using for said shower function only said flow heater (10), said nozzle line supplied by said flow heater and said nozzle (21) supplied by said flow heater, and, in case of a later activation of said shower function, for using for said shower function at the same time said flow heater (10) and said boiler (11) and said nozzle lines and said nozzles (21, 22) supplied respectively thereby.
11. A method for operating a shower WC according to one of the preceding claims, wherein temporarily only one of the two nozzle lines carries shower water and temporarily both nozzle lines carry shower water.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, after a switch-on process and in case that the shower function of said shower WC is activated by a user so early that said water in said boiler (11) has not heated yet or not yet completely, only said flow heater (10), said nozzle line supplied by said flow heater and said nozzle (21) supplied by said flow heater are used for said shower function and, in case of a later activation of said shower function, said flow heater (10) and said boiler (11) and said nozzle lines and said nozzles (21, 22) supplied respectively thereby are used at the same time for said shower function.
13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, in a switch-on process, first said nozzle line supplied by said flow heater (10) and said nozzle (21) supplied by said flow heater (10) are flushed with heated water from said flow heater (10) and, time-wise thereafter, said nozzle line supplied by said boiler (11) and said nozzle (20) supplied by said boiler (11) are flushed with heated water.
14. The method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein, in said switch-on process, said nozzle line supplied by said boiler (11) is flushed with water heated by said flow heater (10) via said connecting line (15, 22) between said exit of said flow heater (10) and said exit of said boiler (11), wherein a part of said water heated by said flow heater (10) is branched off from said connecting line (15, 22) into said boiler (11).
15. A use of a shower WC according to one of claims 1 to 10 for a method according to one of claims 11 to 14.

Images