EP3561186B1 - Water fitting for hygienic flushing - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a water fitting for carrying out a hygienic flush in a water installation with a water supply according to the preamble of claim 1.

A water installation is, for example, a drinking water supply in a building. If no water is tapped for a long period of time, the water will stagnate. Germs can form under these conditions. This is an undesirable flow condition. It is therefore known to provide a connection provided with a barrier to a drain in the water installation. This barrier is opened regularly within a specified period of time, about a week. A quantity of water is then fed into the drain that is sufficient to completely flush the water installation.

In known arrangements, hygienic flushing is carried out in any case, regardless of whether water has been drawn off or not. So water is consumed even when there is no stagnation at all.

State of the art

WO 2014 / 040823A1 discloses a water fitting for carrying out a hygienic flush in a water installation. Water from the water installation can be drained off via a drain arrangement, so that stagnation in the water installation is avoided. The water fitting has a connection for connecting the water fitting to a fresh water supply and a shut-off for interrupting the fresh water supply from the fresh water supply. One of the arrangements is installed behind the last tap of a line in front of a sewage connection to the sewage pipe. This arrangement does not have its own turbine and requires an additional valve with a turbine and a complex control unit. Other arrangements have an integrated turbine. These are before the last tap arranged so that the turbine can detect the flow. The last tap will then no longer be rinsed. The embodiments disclosed in the publication are bulky, have a high flow resistance and are expensive.

EP 2 500 475 A2 discloses a method and apparatus for automatically flushing lines. The device is provided with a connector which is designed as a Y-shaped double connector. Water flows from an inlet to an outlet through a curved part. In between there is a further outlet through which rinsing water can be discharged. The connector is part of a voluminous, electrically wired arrangement with a large number of components, which is complex to install.

US 6,761,184 B1 discloses a flush unit for shower valves. The unit is not fixed, but only installed temporarily. The arrangement is voluminous and complex to assemble.

US 7,063,098 B2 discloses a flushing cartridge for removing deposits from a water installation.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the invention is to create an improved water fitting for performing a hygienic flush. According to the invention, the object is achieved in a water fitting of the type mentioned with the characterizing features of claim 1.

The present invention provides a fitting housing with an inlet connection for connecting the water fitting to a water supply. The inlet connection is connected to the rest of the water installation. Fittings and pipelines that are between the water supply of the water installation and the presently claimed water fitting can then be flushed with water from the water supply using the water fitting. It is therefore preferably provided that the water fitting is installed upstream of the last tap or upstream of the last water consumer in a line.

The invention also provides a barrier. The shut-off can be used to shut off a drain through which water can be drained from the water installation. The barrier can be of different types. It can also be operated in different ways - manually or automatically. When the shut-off is opened, water flows from the water supply through the upstream part of the water installation at the inlet connection into the water fitting and from there through the water fitting to the drain. The drain can have its own drain funnel and its own odor trap. This makes the arrangement bulky and expensive.

It is therefore preferably provided that the fitting does not have its own drainage funnel and its own odor trap. The drain can be connected directly to the corner valve under a wash basin or to a toilet flush, for example. Then the odor trap or siphon of the washbasin or toilet flush is also used. It goes without saying that the drain can also be connected to other draw-off points or water consumers with an odor trap, such as the sewer pipes of machines, showers, bathtubs, bidet and the like.

The arrangement according to the invention provides an outlet connection on the fitting housing in addition to the drain. The outlet connection is used to connect to a water consumer, a tap or another water installation. In other words: all the water from the water consumer or the tap flows from the inlet connection through the water fitting to the outlet connection. In this way, the water fitting can be installed in particular in the supply line to a tap. A particularly preferred variant provides that the water fitting is installed below a wash basin in the fresh water line. The waste water pipe of the wash basin or other tap or water consumer is usually easily accessible there. However, it is also possible to install the water fitting according to the invention at another point in a water pipe and to connect the drain to the waste water via funnels, hoses, pipes or the like.

The invention also provides that the shut-off is arranged outside the flow path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection upstream of the outlet, so that Water can flow from the inlet port to the outlet port regardless of the state of the shut-off. In combination with the outlet connection, this enables installation in a fresh water supply line. The water fitting according to the invention has a very low flow resistance, can be designed with small dimensions and requires little material. Unlike the known arrangements, for example WO 2014 / 040823A1 , only the rinsing water flows through the shut-off, but not water that is tapped or otherwise consumed. Water that is made available at the downstream tap or at the downstream water consumer does not have to flow through the shut-off. This means that the barrier can be made smaller.

It is preferably provided that at least one sensor is arranged in the flow path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection, which sensor detects the water pressure, the water temperature, the volume flow or another property of the water.

Such a sensor is in particular a turbine, an impeller or some other flow-measuring device. Such a flow measuring means records the flow through the water fitting. If no flow is detected over a longer period of time, this can be displayed and / or a signal can be generated. Then the barrier is opened and the water installation is flushed. The risk of stagnant water with germ formation is avoided.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that a turbine is provided with a magnet and a reed contact detects the rotation of the turbine with the magnet. But it is also possible to use other flow measuring means.

A pressure sensor records the pressure at the end of the water installation in front of the tap or the water consumer. The pressure sensor is not absolutely necessary to carry out the hygiene flush or to detect atypical and / or undesired flow conditions. The detection of the pressure in the arrangement in front of the last tap makes it possible to check the set pressure on a pressure reducer in the house entrance area in front of the water supply. The additional Installation of a separate pressure reducer and the associated effort are then not required.

A temperature sensor enables a temperature limit to be monitored. Around a lower temperature limit of, for example, 50 degrees Celsius for hot water and an upper temperature limit of, for example, 25 degrees Celsius for cold water to prevent the formation of legionella or similar germs and microorganisms. However, there may also be other reasons for the temperature measurement, for example to check heat losses or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a signal processing device acted upon by signals from the at least one sensor is provided for determining the conditions in the water installation. The conditions can be the flow conditions, the pressure conditions, the temperature conditions or other conditions which can be detected with a sensor and which reflect the properties and history of the water at the location of the sensor. The signals from the sensors can be evaluated, stored and forwarded in the signal processing device. In particular, the signals can be used to control the barrier.

In particular, a sensor can be formed by a turbine or some other flow-measuring means, and a control device can be provided for controlling the shut-off in accordance with the flow conditions in the water installation detected by the flow-measuring means. If the turbine does not detect a flow for a longer period of time and does not rotate or only rotates very little, a control command is generated with which the shut-off is opened for a limited period of time. The hygienic flush then takes place completely automatically. Water is still available at the outlet connection during the hygiene flush. You can still draw water.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a sensor is formed by a pressure sensor, and a control device is provided for controlling a pressure reducer that regulates the pressure in the water installation in accordance with the pressure in the water installation detected by the pressure sensor. The water fitting is arranged in a downstream area of the water installation. This can happen to a multi-storey buildings, for example, can be very high up. There the water pressure drops. The pressure sensor can be used to check whether there is sufficient pressure at the measuring point in the water installation. The pressure can be regulated very quickly. For example, a pressure drop when a lot of water is withdrawn from a tap can be compensated for by further opening the pressure reducer for a limited period of water withdrawal. The usual pressure is then still available to other consumers. When the dispensing is finished and the pressure rises again, the pressure reducer can be set to its original setting.

The signal processing device preferably has a communication device for communication with further signal processing devices in the water installation or a server. The communication device can interact with a communication system for leakage protection, which is for example in the WO 2014/029699 A1 is described in detail, is sold by the applicant under the trade name "SYR Connect" and therefore does not need to be described again here.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the shut-off is formed by a controllable solenoid valve. Of course, the invention can also be implemented with other types of valves, such as a ball valve or the like. However, a solenoid valve is particularly suitable for the present invention because it allows small dimensions and is easily controllable electrically.

The invention is implemented in a particularly advantageous manner when an elongated housing bore with a flow-measuring means is provided in the fitting housing between the coaxial inlet connection and the outlet connection. It is true that low flow resistance can also be achieved with a curved housing bore. However, the arrangement is particularly compact if the inlet connection and outlet connection are arranged coaxially and the elongated housing bore is essentially straight. A turbine or some other flow measuring means can be provided in the housing bore.

The arrangement is particularly compact if lateral accesses for one or more additional sensors are provided in the axial direction along the housing bore. The sensors can be arranged one above the other or next to one another along the housing bore to save space. The associated accesses can be designed as radial bores in the fitting housing. Depending on the application, one or more sensors can be used.

A particularly easy-to-install arrangement results from an outer housing in which the fitting housing of the water fitting, the signal processing device and a control device for controlling the shut-off are integrated on a circuit board, so that a jointly installable assembly is formed. The housing can be made very small, for example a cube with an edge length of 6 to 8 cm or other shapes of comparable volume. This improves the application possibilities.

An energy supply for energy consumers can be provided in the water fitting in the form of batteries or accumulators and the shut-off can be electrically operated and closed without current. For example, a solenoid valve can serve as a shut-off that is closed when no current is flowing. The control and the signal processing device can also be designed in such a way that no or only very little electrical energy is required if it is not measured, stored, evaluated or controlled. As a result, the energy consumption of the arrangement is kept at a very low value. Apart from batteries or rechargeable accumulators, no additional power supply is required. This simplifies installation and enables installation even in locations where there is no socket or other electrical power supply.

The manufacturing and material costs, as well as the weight of the water fitting, are advantageously low if the fitting housing is at least partially made of plastic. It goes without saying, however, that any other material, in particular cast iron or brass, can also be suitable for a water fitting according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a connection adapter can be provided which can be rotatably connected to one of the inlet connections that are firmly integrated into the fitting housing. During installation, only the connection adapter is then initially screwed into an already existing thread of the water connection. Then the fitting housing is plugged in with the inlet connection. The fitting housing can be fixed to the connection adapter in the axial direction with a clamp. With this configuration, the fitting does not have to be rotated when the screw connection is made.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is achieved when a ball valve or some other auxiliary shut-off is provided downstream of the inlet connections. Then the angle valve or another auxiliary shut-off at the installation site can be dispensed with. Installation is made easier and the fitting requires less space.

According to the invention, a particularly flexible water fitting is created in which, in addition to the first inlet connection, a second inlet connection is provided on the fitting housing, the orientation of which deviates from the orientation of the first inlet connection and one of the two inlet connections is releasably closed with a plug. Equipping the water fitting with two inlet connections of different orientations allows different installation orientations and use with different uses, such as cisterns, wash basins, etc. It is preferably provided that one inlet connection is arranged coaxially to the fitting housing and the other inlet connection, for example, perpendicular to it. It is also possible to provide additional inlet connections.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the auxiliary shut-off has a first switching state in which both inlet connections are blocked, a second switching state in which the first inlet connection is open and the second inlet connection is blocked and a third switching state in which the the first inlet port is shut off and the second inlet port is open. This can be achieved, for example, with a ball valve that has a Has through hole and a lateral hole which extends to the through hole. If the ball is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the through hole, all three states can be realized.

Refinements of the invention are the subject of the subclaims. An exemplary embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Definitions

In this description and in the appended claims, all terms have a meaning familiar to a person skilled in the art, which can be found in the specialist literature, standards in particular DIN EN 806-1 and DIN EN 1717 and the relevant websites and publications, in particular of a lexical nature, for example www.Wikipedia.de, www.wissen.de or www.techniklexikon.net, which is presented to competitors, research institutes, universities and associations, for example the German Association of Gas and Water Subjects eV or the Association of German Engineers. In particular, the terms used do not have the opposite meaning of what the person skilled in the art inferred from the above publications.

The following meanings are also used here for the terms used: Barrier: is any type of device that blocks a fluid flow in whole or in part. Typical shut-offs are solenoid valves, ball valves or valves. Fitting: is a component for installation in or on a pipeline or other fluid installation for shutting off, regulating or influencing material flows. A fitting can be designed in one piece or in several parts and is installed at one point in or on the pipeline. Fittings are for example and not exclusive: connection devices, connection fittings, main shut-off fittings, maintenance fittings, throttle fittings, Extraction points, extraction fittings, drainage fittings, safety fittings, safety fittings and control fittings. Outlet is an outlet-side opening in a housing, from which a material flow can flow out. The opening can in particular be connected to a pipeline or another fitting or open freely to the atmosphere. Outlet connection Outlet that allows the connection of lines, hoses, pipes or other fittings. axial is the direction of the axis of rotation of completely or partially rotationally symmetrical components, such as pipes or elongated housings. For components without rotational symmetry, it is the main flow direction in a component section. drilling is any kind of connection between two cavities and blind holes. print Force per unit area Pressure reducer is a fitting for setting a selected pressure on the underlying components. inlet is an inlet-side opening in a housing into which a material flow can flow. The opening can in particular be connected to a pipeline or another fitting or open freely to the atmosphere. Inlet connection Inlet that allows the connection of lines, hoses, pipes or other fittings. casing Limitation for substances, components, instruments and measuring devices to the outside. A housing can be designed in one piece or from several connected housing parts and consist of one or more materials. mother Machine element for making detachable connections. The nut is a hollow body with an internal thread. radial perpendicular to an axial direction. pipe Hollow body made of cylindrical sections. Usually used as a pipe. shoulder Transition of sections of different diameters or thicknesses. sensor Technical component that can qualitatively and / or quantitatively record physical or chemical properties and / or the material properties of its environment. Examples are flow meters, temperature sensors and pressure sensors, but also conductivity sensors and pH meters. Support Edge or transition piece at an opening. turbine Rotating turbomachine, for example an impeller, which converts the drop in internal energy of a flowing fluid into mechanical power, which it emits via its shaft. Valve Component for shutting off or regulating the flow of fluids. tap take water from an installation, for example from a tap or by means of an apparatus. Tap Arrangement for the pin. Examples are wash basins, sinks, showers, bathtubs, bidets, toilets with the associated taps or tap fittings. Water installation water-bearing or water-containing installations. They can contain pipes, hoses, containers, fittings, machines, and the like. Examples are the water supply in buildings, swimming pools, saunas, aquariums, artificial ponds, irrigation systems and fountains or industrial applications. The water installation can be divided into several strands. Water consumers Tap to which an apparatus or machine is connected. Examples are washing machines or dishwashers.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of a water fitting with a housing for performing a hygiene flush in a water installation.

Fig. 2

shows a water fitting without a housing, which facilitates the understanding of the invention and is not covered by the claims.

Fig. 3

Illustrates how a water tap that is not covered by the claims is installed on the sewer pipe of a wash basin.

Fig. 4

is an exploded view of a water fitting that is not covered by the claims.

Fig. 5

is a vertical section through the water fitting Figure 1 in one plane through two of the connections.

Fig. 6

is a vertical section through the water fitting Figure 1 in a plane perpendicular to the plane in Figure 5 .

Fig. 7

is a perspective view of a water fitting with a housing for performing a hygiene flush in a water installation with an integrated angle valve according to an embodiment.

Fig. 8

is an exploded view of the valve Figure 7 .

Fig. 9

is a vertical section of the valve Figure 7 .

Fig. 10

illustrates a typical fitting situation Figure 7 .

Description of the embodiment

Figure 1 shows a water fitting, generally designated 10, for performing a hygienic flush in a water installation. The water installation in the present example is a building with pipes, various fittings, and several draw-off points and water consumers, such as sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, bidets, washing machines and / or dishwashers. However, other water installations are also conceivable, for example for swimming pools, saunas, aquariums, artificial ponds, irrigation systems and fountains or industrial applications with the risk of stagnation and the need to avoid them. The water installation can be divided into several lines.

The water fitting 10 is preferably installed at the last downstream point of the water installation or of a strand of the water installation. It is also possible to install only one or several water fittings 10 in one line. The water fitting 10 has a housing made up of three housing parts 12, 14 and 16. The housing parts 12 and 14 form a first chamber. This is in the exploded view in Figure 4 can be seen, this exploded view facilitating the understanding of the invention and is not covered by the claims. The first chamber encloses a fitting housing made of plastic, which is designated by 18. It goes without saying that any other suitable material, for example cast or brass or another alloy, can also be used instead of plastic. A fitting housing 18, which is usually a housing for a water flow in a fitting, is to be distinguished from a housing which corresponds to the housing made up of parts 12, 14 and 16, which is arranged around a fitting. The housing from parts 12, 14 and 16 does not have to be waterproof, nor does it have to withstand greater pressures. In addition to aesthetic aspects, it is used in particular to protect other components outside the valve housing from dust, undesired manipulation and environmental influences. It is not absolutely necessary for the actual function of the water fitting.

The housing parts 14 and 16 form a second chamber which is separate from the first chamber. A circuit board is housed in this chamber. A signal processing device, a controller and optionally a communication device are provided on the board. A wireless or wired connection to a network is established via the communication device, via which further devices can be controlled. Such a network can connect leakage protection devices, pressure reducers, water treatment devices and other fittings with communication and control devices and / or a server.

In an alternative example, no communication device is provided. This self-sufficient solution is intended in particular for smaller water installations where no other facilities are provided.

Three connections are provided on the fitting housing 18 of the water fitting 10 - this example is not part of the invention and is not covered by the claims.

An inlet connection 20 is used for connection to a fresh water line of the water installation. The water installation is usually connected to a water supply, for example at the building entrance to a waterworks. A downstream tap or a water consumer can be connected to an outlet connection 22. A drain connection 24 leads to a sewer pipe.

Figure 3 illustrates how the water fitting 10 can be installed in a fresh water line 26 or 28, for example. Water flows through the water line 26 at the inlet connection 20 into the fitting housing 18. At the outlet connection 22, the water flows from the fitting housing 18 back out into the water line 28. The water line 28 can lead to a wash basin, for example as a hot or cold water line. Then the water fitting 10 is installed below the wash basin (not shown). This is easily possible because the housing 12, 14, 16 forms a cube with an edge length of only approx. 7 cm.

The drain connection 24 opens into a hose or line 30. This is in FIG Figure 3 clearly visible. The line leads via a funnel 32 and a branch 34 into the waste water pipe 36 of the wash basin, which is typically equipped with a siphon (not shown) is provided as an odor trap. In this example, no additional odor trap is therefore required for the water fitting 10.

In the present example, which is not part of the invention, the water fitting 10 is connected to lines 26, 28 and 30 by means of threaded nuts 38 and sealing rings 40. It goes without saying that other types of connections, screw, clamp or plug connections, with or without nozzles, which are usually used in the installation of water-bearing components.

The fitting housing 18 comprises, as in FIG Figure 5 and 6th clearly visible, an elongated, tubular housing part 44 with a through hole 42. In the illustrations, the through hole 42 runs linearly and vertically. It goes without saying that a different orientation is also possible. The linear course has the advantage of low flow resistance. A channel 46 is branched off from the through hole 42. The channel 46 is connected via a solenoid valve 48 to a side channel 50 which opens into the outlet connection 24. The side channel 50 runs in the radial direction in a connecting piece 52 molded onto the tubular housing part 44. It goes without saying that the connecting piece 52 and the side channel 50 can also assume a different geometry.

The solenoid valve 48 is a commercially available solenoid valve and therefore does not need to be explained in more detail. With the solenoid valve 48, the flow from the channel 46 to the side channel 50 can be let through or interrupted. The solenoid valve 48 is controlled electrically. When no current is flowing, the solenoid valve 48 is closed. That is the operating position. When current is passed through the solenoid valve 48, the solenoid valve 48 is open. This is the flush position. Instead of a solenoid valve, any other type of shut-off can be used. A solenoid valve has the advantage that it can be made small and can be controlled electrically.

In the flushing position, water flows from the through-hole 42 through the channel 46 and the side channel 50 to the drain connection 24. In this case, water flows through the upstream water installation and is flushed. Stagnation is avoided or eliminated.

The solenoid valve 48 can be opened after a certain time, for example 24, 48 or 72 hours. Then the valve also opens when water has flowed through the water installation and no flushing is actually required. It is therefore provided in the present example that a turbine 54 is arranged in the through hole 42. The turbine 54 can be used to detect whether and which water flow is flowing through the through-bore 42. For this purpose, a reed contact 56 is provided in the present example, which detects the rotation of the turbine. Flow measuring means with turbine and reed contact are generally known and therefore do not need to be described further here. It goes without saying that other flow measuring means can also be used.

The signals from the reed contact are transmitted to the signal evaluation unit. There it is determined when and how much water has flowed through the through hole 42. If no or only too little flow has flowed in a selected period of time, a control signal that opens the solenoid valve 48 is generated with the aid of a controller which is also provided. Water then flows through the entire upstream part of the water installation into the through-hole 42 and from there via the channel 46 and the side channel 50 to the drain connection 24. This automatically ensures that flushing is only carried out when there is actually a risk of stagnation.

The flow measuring means in connection with the signal evaluation can also be used for other purposes. In particular, the water consumption at the tapping point can also be determined or leakage detected. In this case, further displays and / or communication means, such as a transmitter or an Internet connection, can be provided on the board.

In addition to the flow sensor in the form of a turbine with reed contact, a temperature sensor 58 and a pressure sensor 60 are also provided in the present example. The water temperature can be determined with the temperature sensor 58. The signal is transmitted to the signal evaluation unit. There it is determined whether the temperature corresponds to a setpoint. In particular, it is determined whether the temperature is in a range in which there is a risk of legionella or similar germs consists. The signal evaluation unit with the control can then trigger appropriate measures, for example more rinsing processes or a temperature change in the water due to heating / cooling.

The pressure sensor 60 determines the water pressure downstream behind the turbine. The pressure sensor can be used to detect whether a desired pressure is present. For example, if a lot of water is withdrawn, as is the case when filling a bathtub, the water pressure drops in other places as well. Conversely, a higher pressure may be desirable for this short period of time. With the help of the pressure sensor, a control signal can then be generated via the control, which is transmitted to a pressure reducer on the house entrance side. The valve used in the pressure reducer can then be opened further so that the water pressure in the water installation is increased for the limited period of time. If the pressure at the pressure sensor increases again after the water has been withdrawn, the valve in the pressure reducer is regulated back again.

The linear course of the through-channel 42 results in a low flow resistance. All the water flows through the turbine and the through-channel 42. However, the water does not pass the shut-off in the operating state. The shut-off is only passed during the flushing process. The arrangement uses existing structures, in particular the feed line to a tap or a water consumer and the associated sewer line. As a result, the arrangement can be made compact, can be manufactured inexpensively and is easy to install. Since the water fitting 10 enables particularly small dimensions, it can also be used without effort in places that are not accessible with known arrangements, for example below a wash basin. In particular, the water fitting is suitable for both concealed and plastered use.

Figures 7 to 9 show a water fitting, generally designated 110, for performing a hygiene flush in a water installation according to an exemplary embodiment. For the sake of clarity, there was no case shown. The use and the place of installation of the water tap 110 is the same as the use of the water tap 10 of the first example.

The water fitting 110 has a substantially elongated fitting housing 118 as a housing for a water flow. Three connections are provided on the fitting housing 118 of the water fitting 110. An inlet connection 120 is used for connection to a fresh water line of the water installation. In contrast to the first example, the inlet connection 120 forms an angle with the remaining part of the elongated fitting housing 118. The inlet connection 120 is supported by a connecting piece 121 which is formed laterally onto the tubular fitting housing 118. A shut-off 123 is arranged in the flow path downstream of the inlet connection 120. In the present exemplary embodiment, the shut-off 123 is formed by a ball valve. The ball 125 of the ball valve 123 is rotatable about a horizontal axis. This is in Figure 9 recognizable.

The inlet connection 120, together with the shut-off 123, forms an integrated angle valve. Accordingly, there is no need for an additional angle valve, for example below a wash basin, to shut off the water supply. To facilitate installation, a connection adapter 127 with seals 129 is inserted into the nozzle 121 forming the inlet connection 120. The connection adapter 127 is secured with a clamp 131. The connection adapter 127 is thus rotatably attached, but immovable in the axial direction.

For installation, the connection adapter 127 is screwed into the water connection of the water installation with a thread 133. The water fitting 110 is then plugged in and secured with the clip 131. In this way, the water fitting 110 does not have to be turned in order to screw it in. The connection adapter 127 enables the fitting 110 to be installed in any position. The water installation is usually connected to a water supply, for example to a waterworks at the building entrance.

There are uses of the water fitting in which no kinked flow course with angled connections, but a linear flow course with coaxial connections is required. One such use is, for example, use on a cistern of a toilet flush. In this case, another inlet connection is provided, which is inserted into the Figures 7 to 9 is designated 135.

The further inlet connection 135 is formed by a pipe section 141 and is screwed coaxially into the tubular housing 118. The further inlet connection 135 is closed with a plug 137 in the illustrations in which the angled flow is required. For use with coaxial connections, the plug 137 is removed and the connection adapter 127 is inserted into the further inlet connection 135 and fixed. The plug 137 then serves to close the side connection 120.

It goes without saying that the dimensions of the pipe section 141, the plug 137, the connection adapter 127 and the connecting piece 121 are selected such that the plug 137 and the connection adapter 127 can be exchanged.

As in the first example, a downstream tapping point or a water consumer can be connected to an outlet connection 122. A drain connection 124 leads to a sewer pipe.

Figure 10 illustrates how the water fitting 110 can be installed directly and without an angle valve in a fresh water line 126 or 128. Water flows through the water line 126 at the inlet connection 120 into the fitting housing 118. At the outlet connection 122, the water flows out of the fitting housing 18 again into the water line 128. The water line 128 can lead to a wash basin, for example as a hot or cold water line. Then the water faucet 110 is installed below the wash basin (not shown).

The drain connection 124 is connected like the drain connection 24 of the first example. The structure and function of the water fitting 110 is otherwise unchanged compared to the first example.

It goes without saying that other types of connections, screw, clamp or plug connections, with or without nozzle, which are usually used in the installation of water-carrying components, are also suitable for all connections.

The embodiments explained above, which are shown in the Figures 1 and 5 to 10 are shown serve to illustrate the invention as claimed in the claims. Dimensions and sizes are only given as examples. A person skilled in the art will find suitable areas from his specialist knowledge and therefore need not be explained in more detail here. The disclosure of a specific embodiment of a feature does not mean that the invention is to be restricted to this specific embodiment. Rather, such a feature can be implemented by a large number of other configurations familiar to the person skilled in the art. The invention can therefore not only be implemented in the form of the configurations explained, but rather by all configurations which are covered by the scope of protection of the appended claims. In particular, more or fewer sensors can also be provided. Nozzles, pipes, lines and hoses can be designed in one piece or in several parts and have, for example, nozzle extensions. Instead of coaxial arrangements for connecting pieces, other arrangements can also be implemented.

The terms "top", "bottom", "right" and "left" refer exclusively to the accompanying drawings. It goes without saying that the devices claimed can also assume a different orientation. The term “containing” and the term “comprising” mean that further components not mentioned can be provided. The terms "essentially", "predominantly" and "predominantly" include all features that have a majority of a property or content, i.e. more than all the other components or properties of the feature mentioned, i.e. more than 50% for two components, for example.

Claims (14)

1. Water fitting (10; 110) for carrying out a hygiene flushing in a water installation with a water supply, comprising

   (a) a fitting housing (18; 118) with an inlet connection (20; 120, 135) for connecting the water fitting (10; 110) to the water installation and an outlet connection (22; 122) for connecting to a water consumer, a tap or a further water installation at the fitting housing (18; 118);

   (b) a shut-off valve (48) and a drain outlet (24; 124) which is adapted to be shut off with the shut-off valve (48) for draining water from the water installation; wherein

   (c) the shut-off valve (48) is provided outside the flow path between the inlet connection (20; 120, 135) and the outlet connection (22; 122) upstream of the drain outlet (24; 124), whereby water can flow from the inlet connection (20; 120, 135) to the outlet connection (22; 122) regardless of the state of the shut-off valve (48),
   characterized in that

   (d) a second inlet connection (135) is provided at the fitting housing (118) in addition to the first inlet connection (120), the second inlet connection having a different orientation than the orientation of the first inlet connection (120) and one of the two inlet connections (120, 135) is releasably closed with a plug (137).
2. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor (54, 56, 58, 60) is provided in the flow path between inlet connection (20; 120, 135) and outlet connection (22; 122) detecting water pressure, water temperature, flow volume and/or another property of the water.
3. Water fitting (10; 110) according to claim 2, characterized in that a signal processing unit for determining the state of the water installation is provided which is adapted to receive the signals of at least one sensor (54, 56, 58, 60).
4. Water fitting (10; 110) according to claim 3, characterized in that one sensor is a turbine (54) or another flow measuring means and a control device for controlling the shut-off valve (48) according to the flow conditions in the water installation detected by the flow measuring means (54) is provided.
5. Water fitting (10; 110) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that one sensor is a pressure sensor (60) and a control device is provided for controlling a pressure reducer controlling the pressure in the water installation according to the pressure in the water installation detected by the pressure sensor (60).
6. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the signal processing device is provided with a communication device for communicating with further signal processing devices in the water installation or a server.
7. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shut-off valve (48) is formed by a controllable magnet valve.
8. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterized in that an elongated bore hole in the housing is provided in the fitting housing (18; 118) between a coaxial inlet connection (20; 120, 135) and the outlet connection (22; 122) the bore hole accomodating flow measuring means (54, 56).
9. Water fitting (10; 110) according to claim 8, characterized in that lateral accesses for one or more further sensors (54, 56, 58, 60) are provided in an axial direction along the housing bore hole.
10. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims 3 to 9, characterized by an outer housing (16) accommodating the fitting housing (18; 118) of the water fitting (10; 110), the signal processing device and a control device for controlling the shut-off valve (48) on a printed circuit board whereby a module is formed which can be installed in one piece.
11. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an energy supply for energy consumers in the water fitting (10; 110) in the form of batteries or accumulators is provided and the shut-off valve (48) can be electrically operated and is closed without electrical current.
12. Water fitting (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connection adapter (127) is provided which can be rotatably connected to one of the inlet connections (120, 135) which are fixedly integrated in the fitting housing (118, 121).
13. Water fitting (110) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ball valve (123) or another auxiliary shut-off valve is provided downstream to the inlet connections (120, 135).
14. Water fitting (110) according to claim 13, characterized in that the auxiliary shut-off valve has a first switching state where both inlet connections are closed and a second switching state where the first inlet connection (120) is open and the second inlet connection (135) is closed and a third switching state, where the first inlet connection (120) is closed and the second inlet connection (135) is open.

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