EP3258018B1 - Fitting body for a sanitary fitting, comprising a cap with a cavity - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fitting body for a sanitary fitting which is used to provide water as required. Such sanitary fittings are regularly used in connection with wash basins, sinks, bathtubs and / or showers.

Sanitary fittings can in particular be thermostatic fittings, mixer fittings and / or thermostatic mixer fittings. Such sanitary fittings regularly have a hot water inlet for hot water and a cold water inlet for cold water. By means of the sanitary fitting, in particular the hot water and the cold water can be mixed to form a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. In order to mix the hot water and the cold water, the sanitary fittings can in particular have thermostatic valves and / or mixing valves. Furthermore, the sanitary fittings regularly have at least one outlet opening for the mixed water. In addition, the water flow or the amount of water can be adjusted by means of a volume regulating valve. The valves can be operated by means of separate actuators or by means of a common actuator of the sanitary fittings.

When using such sanitary fittings, annoying noises and pressure fluctuations in the waterways can occur. For this reason, sanitary fittings can be fitted with components for soundproofing and pressure equalization. A suitable damper works according to the reflection principle and comprises a sleeve-shaped rubber sleeve that can be pushed into the fitting connection, with an air-filled chamber remaining between the sleeve and the pipe. Since air and water have very different sound propagation conditions (the wave resistance in water is about 3500 times higher than in air), the water-borne sound hitting the damper becomes large Part reflected and returned to the plumbing fixture. The effect of such water silencers is frequency-dependent and increases with increasing frequency. In relation to the valve noise level (total level including all frequencies), a noise reduction of around 10 to 15 dB (A) can be achieved.

However, the space available for these components is very limited or not available, so that their accommodation is problematic. In the case of exposed fittings, the components for soundproofing can be accommodated in the S connections. In the case of concealed fittings, these are usually arranged in the waterways or, if there is not enough space, they are arranged across the waterways. The components for soundproofing described above could nevertheless be washed behind due to the design, which can lead to an almost complete loss of effectiveness. In any case, it should be possible to mount suitable components for sound absorption and pressure compensation in such a way that they have to be replaced or serviced, which is problematic with sanitary fittings, such as flush-mounted fittings or surface-mounted fittings in a chassis design, because the locations that are optimal for the mode of operation are not always subsequently are accessible.

From the EP1172599A2 a device is known with which the hammering of liquids can be prevented. This device has a housing which leads to a fluid channel via a passage hole, an elastic buffer which is integrated into the housing and a membrane which divides the interior of the housing into an area which leads to the fluid channel and a further area containing the elastic buffer. The membrane is arranged and fastened inside the housing.

Furthermore, from the DE3330963A1 a soundproofed water fitting known which has at least one water flow channel. In the housing of this fitting, at least one damping chamber communicating with the water flow channel is provided, with this damping chamber being assigned at least one membrane and one cap. The peculiarity the disclosed water fitting consists in that the damping chamber is arranged outside of the water flow channel. DE3330963A1 at least does not disclose that the membrane extends along the entire channel closed by the cap.

Furthermore, from the JPH08145271A a device for preventing hammer blows in water pipes is known. The device disclosed there has a housing which is in several parts and has a membrane which is fixed between the housing sections. On the side of the membrane facing away from the fluid, a damping element made of a synthetic foam is arranged, which serves to dampen the membrane movement that it can execute in the event of a hammer blow when this is transmitted via the fluid.

From the DE7610076U1 a water outlet fitting is known in which a noise-damping insert with a wall part that is elastically flexible with respect to an air cushion is provided in the inlet. The damping insert described therein is characterized in that it is formed from a plug which can be screwed into a wall opening of the fitting housing from the outside and which bears the elastically flexible wall part delimiting the air cushion.

Finally from the DE4127629A1 a silencer element known for installation in a sanitary fitting which contains an air cushion enclosed by a membrane. The membrane is designed in such a way that the restoring force exerted by the silencer element on the water is generated and determined essentially only by the air cushion, but not by the membrane.

The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to specify a fitting body for a sanitary fitting whose silencer or pressure damper can be installed in a space-saving manner and possibly even requires no maintenance.

This object is achieved with a fitting body according to the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous configurations of the fitting body are specified in the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the features listed individually in the dependently formulated patent claims can be combined with one another in any technically meaningful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, those specified in the claims Features in the description specified and explained in more detail, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

The fitting body for a sanitary fitting that contributes to this is defined by independent claim 1.

The fitting body is provided in particular for a sanitary fitting which is used to provide water as required, in particular at a wash basin, sink, shower and / or bathtub. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting can have a mixing valve, by means of which cold water with a cold water temperature and warm water with a warm water temperature can be mixed to form mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. The cold water temperature can be 1 ° C (Celsius) to 25 ° C and / or the hot water temperature 25 ° C to 99 ° C.

The fitting body has a base body with at least one (for example on the circumference, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the channel, along to the longitudinal direction of the channel, laterally and / or laterally) open channel. The base body is preferably designed as a cast component and preferably as a one-piece or one-piece cast component. For this purpose, the base body can be produced in a casting tool, in particular an injection molding tool and preferably in a plastic injection molding tool. The open channel is introduced into the base body in particular during the casting process or injection molding process by means of corresponding molding tools. Furthermore, the base body can have at least one receptacle for a cover of the open channel. The receptacle can be shaped in the manner of a recess or a recess and / or an elevation or a projection (formed at least partially circumferentially to the open channel). Here, the base body can essentially Be formed plate-shaped or disk-shaped, the at least one depression / recess or at least one elevation / projection extending from the base body inward / downward or outward / upward. The base body can be formed in one piece with the receptacle. Plate-shaped or disk-shaped here means in particular that an expansion of the base body in a horizontal direction or width is greater than an expansion of the base body in a vertical direction or height.

The open channel is provided in particular on a surface of the base body. Furthermore, the open channel is at least partially closed by a cover to form at least one waterway. The waterway is enclosed along one flow direction of the water (only) by means of the open channel and the cover. Usually, several (at least partially separate) waterways are provided which, for example, lead through the fitting body for cold water, hot water and / or mixed water. The waterway can be circular, oval or angular in cross section. A cross section of the waterway is understood here to be essentially perpendicular to a flow direction or conveying direction of the waterway.

The cover here is in particular not just a flat closure plate, but preferably has a curved, in particular curved or angular, internal shape. The cover can be designed in the manner of a (hollow) plug or a (hollow) screw, which are used to close the open channel. It is preferred that one (individual) receptacle and, accordingly, also one (individual) cover are provided for each waterway. The cover can in particular be designed in the form of a half-shell and / or extend at least partially in the direction of the open channel. The cover, together with the open channel in the fitting body, forms the at least one waterway through which water can be guided through the fitting body. For this purpose, the cover is arranged, in particular, in the at least one receptacle of the base body or is screwed, welded or clamped to the base body and / or glued. Furthermore, the cover, in particular in the receptacle of the base body, can be encapsulated with a molding compound such as plastic.

The cover can be arranged at least partially in the receptacle. The cover is preferably arranged completely in the receptacle. However, this is not absolutely necessary because at least a part of an outer side of the cover can also protrude or protrude outwards (longitudinally and / or laterally) beyond the receptacle or the projections. The arrangement of the cover in the receptacle has the advantage that the cover can be aligned very easily and precisely with the open channel.

The at least one cover can also be produced as a cast part. For this purpose, the cover can be produced in a casting tool, in particular an injection molding tool and preferably in a plastic injection molding tool. However, this is not mandatory because the cover can also be manufactured using other manufacturing processes. The cover is preferably formed with or from metal and / or plastic. If the cover is formed with metal, it can be produced, for example, by means of a deep drawing process, by means of drop forging or the like. The at least one cover separates the water path that will later lead to water from the area in which the molding compound can be arranged. Such an area can be, for example, a receptacle which is at least partially filled with the molding compound.

It is preferred that the cover is formed in one piece. It is possible that the open channel is closed to the outside by means of several covers. In particular, each waterway is thus limited or enclosed to the outside along the flow direction of the water by means of the open channel and by means of at least one cover. Furthermore, a cavity, which serves as a silencer, is formed in the cover at least partially, preferably completely, along the at least one waterway. This has the advantage that the noises are combated where they originate. Maintenance of the cavity is not required.

It is also provided that the cavity of the cover is delimited by a membrane along the waterway. This (separate) membrane also has a sound-absorbing effect and also minimizes an increase in pressure as a result of expansion of the water in the waterway. By minimizing the increase in pressure, the durability of the connection between the base body and the cover can also be increased. In particular in the case of fitting bodies in which the waterway or the waterways are closed lengthways by the cover, a particularly large effective area results.

It is also advantageous if the channel is at least partially open laterally. The open channel is thus at least one laterally open channel. Lateral (or longitudinally and / or laterally) open means here in particular that the at least one laterally open channel is designed to be open in a direction transverse to its direction of propagation within the base body. This serves to avoid undercuts of the at least one laterally open channel in a demolding direction of the base body. In other words, this also means that the at least one laterally open channel is laterally open in relation to a separating surface or separating plane of the base body and is not undercut in a viewing direction onto the separating plane of the base body. Thus, a maximum cross-sectional area of the at least one laterally open channel lies in particular in the parting plane of the base body. The at least one laterally open channel runs in particular parallel to this parting plane or parting surface and / or in particular along the parting surface.

According to the invention, the membrane delimits or even separates the cavity from the waterway. This means in particular that the membrane prevents the water from flowing into the cavity, that is to say that it is (only) filled with air during operation.

According to the invention, the membrane is arranged between the base body and the cover. The membrane is particularly preferably clamped or fixed between the base body and cover. The membrane can be clamped (watertight) all around between the base body and cover. The membrane is preferably positioned in a predominantly freely movable manner, in particular proceeding from a central area to an edge area fixed between the base body and the cover.

It is also advantageous if the membrane is at least partially elastic. For this purpose, the membrane can for example consist at least partially of rubber.

It is also advantageous if the membrane forms an air cushion with the cavity. This means in particular that the cavity is filled with air and the membrane is resiliently supported by the air in the cavity (at least in a central area).

It is also advantageous if the membrane can be at least partially deflected into the cavity by water flowing through the waterway. In this way, a pressure increase in the water can be minimized in a particularly simple manner.

According to the invention, the membrane extends along the entire open channel closed by the cover. The membrane can cover or close the entire open channel.

It is also advantageous if a volume of the waterway (in the fitting body) can be varied through the membrane. In particular, the volume of the waterway in the fitting body increases when the membrane is deflected into the cavity by the water flowing through the waterway.

In addition, it is advantageous if the cover at least partially has a C-shaped cross section. The cover can be designed in the manner of a cap.

Fig. 1:

einen Grundkörper in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 2:

einen Deckel in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 3:

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Armaturenkörper in einer ersten Betriebssituation; und

Fig. 4:

den Längsschnitt durch den Armaturenkörper in einer zweiten Betriebssituation.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be pointed out that the figures show a particularly preferred embodiment variant of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. The same components are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. It shows by way of example and schematically:

Fig. 1:

a base body in a perspective view;

Fig. 2:

a cover in a perspective view;

Fig. 3:

a longitudinal section through a fitting body in a first operating situation; and

Fig. 4:

the longitudinal section through the fitting body in a second operating situation.

the Fig. 1 shows a base body 2 in a perspective illustration. The base body 2 has two laterally open channels 3 which extend parallel to a surface 12 of the base body 2 and are each surrounded by a circumferential receptacle 11. The two laterally open channels 3 are each with one in the Fig. 2 Lid 5 shown closable.

the Fig. 3 shows a part of a fitting body 1 in the area of one of the laterally open channels 3 of the base body 2 in a sectional view after the two laterally open channels 3 (of those in FIG Fig. 3 only one is shown) has been locked. The cover 5 has a C-shaped cross section 9 and closes the laterally open channel 3 in such a way that a waterway 4 is formed. For this purpose, the cover 5 is arranged on a shoulder 13 of the receptacle 11 of the base body 2. A membrane 7 is inserted under the cover 5, so that a cavity 6 is formed in the cover 5. The membrane is elastic and the cavity 6 is filled with air, so that an air cushion 8 is formed by the membrane 7 and the cavity 6. The cover 5 is here further encased with a molding compound 10 so that the cover 5 is firmly connected to the base body 2.

the Fig. 4 shows the same sectional view of the fitting body 1 as that Fig. 3 , however, the fitting body 1 is in a second operating state. the Fig. 4 differs from that Fig. 3 only in that the membrane 7 is stretched into the cavity 6 of the cover 5 by a water located in the laterally open channel 3 or the waterway 4. Otherwise, refer to the description of the Fig. 3 referenced.

The proposed invention is characterized in particular by the low maintenance outlay for the silencer, good sound attenuation and a minimized increase in pressure in the waterways.

List of reference symbols

1. 1 faucet body
2. 2 base bodies
3. 3 channel
4. 4 waterway
5. 5 lids
6. 6 cavity
7. 7 membrane
8. 8 air cushions
9. 9 cross section
10. 10 molding compound
11. 11 recording
12. 12 surface
13. 13 paragraph

Claims (7)

1. A fitting body (1) for a sanitary fitting, comprising base body (2) having at least one open channel (3), wherein the open channel (3) is at least partially closed by a cap (5) in order to form a water passage (4), wherein a cavity (6) is formed in the cap (5) along the water passage (4), which cavity is bordered along the water passage (4) by a membrane (7), wherein the membrane (7) delimits the cavity (6) from the water passage (4), through which water can be conducted through the fitting body (1), and the membrane (7) is arranged between the base body (2) and the cap (5), wherein the water passage (4) is enclosed along a flow direction of the water by means of the open channel (3) and the cap (5), and wherein the membrane (7) extends along the entire channel (3) closed by the cap (5).
2. The fitting body (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the channel (3) is at least partially open laterally.
3. The fitting body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane (7) is at least partially elastic.
4. The fitting body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane (7) forms an air cushion (8) with the cavity (6).
5. The fitting body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane (7) can be at least partially deflected into the cavity (6) by the water flowing through the water passage (4).
6. The fitting body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a volume of the water passage (4) can be varied by the membrane (7).
7. The fitting body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (5) has, at least partially, a C-shaped cross section (9).

Images