EP3779074B1 - Hydraulic connection module intended to be used in the field of construction - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hydraulic connection module intended to be used in the field of building construction and more particularly in the field of sanitary and heating.

In the field of the construction of a building equipped with a boiler room supplying several apartments with domestic hot water and hot water for central heating, columns are installed in said building on which, for each of said apartments, tappings in order to create individualized circuits, which requires the installation of isolation valves and volumetric and energy meters, as well as carrying out hydraulic balancing.

For the purpose of seeking optimization, and above all of increasing the living space, this equipment is brought together in a preferably reduced space, which generates numerous disadvantages. Indeed, during the connection and equipment operations, the installer must move in this reduced space, so that, in addition to the difficulties of implementation, this presents risks of bad connections and therefore of generating leaks.

We know from the document WO 2019/048798 , a prefabricated hydraulic module, intended to split the water distribution from a riser. This module thus comprises a main pipe on which secondary pipes are tapped. Such a module is more particularly intended for the distribution of a floor comprising several apartments. Moreover, as described, the main pipe constitutes a part of the riser. Thus, apart from the fact that the module of this document is not intended for the same use, it does not solve the problem of size which the present invention seeks to remedy.

The same is true of the document WO 2011/029971 which also relates to a prefabricated hydraulic module intended for distribution to several dwellings, from a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a heating circuit.

By document CH 640290 , there is also known a prefabricated hydraulic kit comprising several tappings in a box, intended solely for the supply of sanitary cold water in a dwelling, but which does not give any solution to solve the problem of space, if it were also to be a question hot water and heating.

These documents all describe hydraulic modules intended to equip buildings, with a view to distributing water on a floor by floor to each of the apartments on this floor. They are therefore not intended for the same use, and therefore do not provide a solution to the problem of bulk.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic connection module not only making it possible to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, but also to achieve a much greater optimization of space than what is currently obtained.

The hydraulic connection module according to the invention is intended to be used in the field of building construction equipped with a boiler room supplying several apartments with water, domestic hot water and/or hot water for central heating is characterized in that that it consists of a single piece, which comprises a plate to which is secured a multiplicity of tubes, each intended to constitute an interface between an individualized circuit and a water column, each of the said tubes comprising on the one hand a mouth of inlet intended to be assembled with a water column and an outlet mouth intended to be connected to an individualized circuit, and on the other hand an isolation valve for the individualized circuit, as well as, depending on the nature of the circuit, a volumetric and/or energy metering means; and in that the tubes are bent into a U, the U's are arranged side by side according to parallel or non-parallel planes, their parallel branches passing perpendicularly through a plate of the plate by two holes, so that the inlet and outlet open on the other side of said plate.

According to an additional characteristic of the connection module according to the invention, each tube comprises a valve at each of its ends.

Such a module is intended to take place inside the apartment or in the hallway in front of the apartment in a cupboard or a technical shaft, it makes it possible to bring together in a small space all the equipment, the only operations carried out are the connections to the columns and to the individual circuits, it is not necessary to equip the circuits with valves and other meters on site.

The U-shaped loops make it possible to reduce the overall dimensions by at least 50% compared to a conventional assembly, and with a substantial saving in assembly time, in particular because all the components and accessories, valves and meters in particular, are assembled in the factory. , precisely and tightly.

The module according to the invention can be installed on a wall with the hydraulic connections oriented downwards, to the right or to the left.

The only links between the hydraulic module and the apartment to be connected are only pipes without adding any components or accessories.

According to another additional characteristic of the connection module according to the invention, one of the holes through which the branches of one of the U-folded tubes pass is oblong in shape and in an arc of a circle with a center corresponding to the axis from the other hole.

According to another additional characteristic of the connection module according to the invention, the holes, intended to accommodate a U-shaped tube, are offset relative to each other, and/or relative to the holes of an adjacent tube.

According to another additional characteristic of the connection module according to the invention, the plate has in its middle region, at least one slot.

The advantages and characteristics of the hydraulic connection module according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which relates to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique de perspective d'un module de raccordement hydraulique selon l'invention.
• les figures 2a, 2b et 2c représentent de vues schématiques en plan de divers modes de réalisation d'une partie du module selon l'invention.
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique partielle en perspective d'une variante du module selon l'invention.
• la figure 4 est une représentation schématique du module de raccordement hydraulique de la figure 1.

In the attached drawing:

• the figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a hydraulic connection module according to the invention.
• the figures 2a, 2b and 2c represent schematic plan views of various embodiments of part of the module according to the invention.
• the picture 3 represents a partial schematic perspective view of a variant of the module according to the invention.
• the figure 4 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic connection module of the figure 1 .

With reference to the figure 1 , it can be seen that a hydraulic connection module according to the invention is in the form of a part comprising on the one hand a plate 1 comprising, in this non-limiting embodiment, two walls, a horizontal lower wall 10 and a vertical rear wall 11 joined at right angles to the wall 10, perforated at several points to be able to fix the hydraulic assembly to a wall or a fixed support; and on the other hand a multiplicity 2 of tubes 20 fixed to the plate 1 through suitable means, known per se, not shown.

The tubes 20, which can be made of all the materials usually used in the field, both metal and synthetic, and of diameters adapted to the desired and necessary flow rates, are bent in an inverted U to each form a loop, and are arranged one next to the others, the parallel branches 21 and 22 of the U's, crossing the horizontal lower wall 10 of the plate 1 via holes 12 and 13 respectively, so that their end parts, intended for the connections, open out on the other side of this wall 10.

It will be noted that in the middle region of the plate 10 is pierced a slot 14, intended to facilitate viewing from above, of the zone located under the plate 10 and behind, plumb with the wall 11.

All the tubes 20 are equipped with two valves V, one at each of an end part, positioned in this case above the lower wall 10, these valves V can be ball or plug, manually operated or motorized.

The tubes 20 include equipment such as in particular flow meters C, flow rate settings R.

The hydraulic connection module according to the invention allows significant space saving. By way of non-limiting example, that represented on the figure 1 has the following dimensions: height 328mm, width 400mm and depth 166mm, which translates into a space reduced by at least 50% compared to a traditional assembly.

Referring now to figures 2a, 2b and 2c , one can see variant embodiments of the plate 10.

On the figure 2a , the plate 10 conforms to that of the figure 1 , the front 12 and rear 13 holes are round and arranged equidistant two-by-two.

On the figure 2b , according to a variant, the holes 13 are each oblong in shape and in an arc of a circle with a center corresponding to the axis of the hole 12 with which it shares the same U 20, not shown, so as to allow a pivoting of the U around a branch, and thus facilitate the connection as well as the access to the valves V arranged at the rear.

It will be noted that it is perfectly possible that it is the holes 12 which are oblong in shape, and also that only some are, and even that this concerns front holes 12 and rear holes 13.

On the figure 2c , we can see that the holes 12 and 13 are round, but that unlike those of the figure 2a , they are not evenly distributed, and in particular the rear holes 13. Thus, the holes 12 and 13, intended to accommodate a U-shaped tube, are not necessarily aligned parallel with the two holes 12 and 13 of an adjacent tube.

Alternatively, they can also be aligned in parallel but offset in staggered rows, so as to obtain an offset favorable to access to the valves V of the tubes 20 arranged at the rear.

Of course, the variant embodiments represented on the figures 2a, 2b and 2c , are not limiting, and other combinations are possible.

It will be noted that it is possible, in order to optimize the costs, for the tubes 20 to comprise only a single valve V on one or the other of its ends. It is also possible that one or more pipes does not include any valve, if the local equipment already includes one.

Referring now to the picture 3 , it can be seen that the hydraulic module according to the invention can be an integral part of a casing 15. Thus the rear wall 11 constitutes the rear of this casing 15, and the plate 10 is disposed inside above a bottom 16, pierced with a large opening 17.

• une entrée d'eau froide 3, comprenant deux vannes V et un compteur d'eau C,
• une sortie eau chaude sanitaire 4, comprenant deux vannes V et un compteur d'eau C, et associée à un bouclage d'eau chaude sanitaire 40 équipé d'une vanne V et d'un réglage de débit R,
• un départ chauffage 5, équipé de deux vannes V et d'un réglage de débit R, d'une prise de mesure de température D avec ou sans doigt de gant pour la sonde du compteur de calories,
• un retour chauffage 6 équipé de deux vannes V, d'un compteur C de calories et d'une vanne deux voies W avec moteur thermique pouvant être relié électriquement à un thermostat dans le logement (gestion du débit en fonction d'une consigne de température ambiante ou dispositif de présence).

Furthermore, the box 15 is closable with a door 18. The figure 4 represents a diagram corresponding to the non-limiting embodiment represented in the figure 1 , and we can see:

• a cold water inlet 3, comprising two valves V and a water meter C,
• a domestic hot water outlet 4, comprising two valves V and a water meter C, and associated with a domestic hot water loop 40 equipped with a valve V and a flow rate adjustment R,
• a heating outlet 5, fitted with two valves V and a flow rate adjustment R, a temperature measurement socket D with or without a thermowell for the calorie counter probe,
• a heating return 6 equipped with two valves V, a calorie counter C and a two-way valve W with heat engine that can be electrically connected to a thermostat in the housing (flow management according to a temperature setpoint room or presence device).

The two-way valve W can also be fitted with an adjustable thermostatic head with capillary and copper bulb, copper bulb to be affixed to the pipe (applied to a tube or in a glove finger) for heating flow or heating return ( flow management according to a desired flow or return water temperature set point).

It should be noted that the heating flow or return pipe can optionally be equipped with a circulator instead of the two-way valve, to overcome excessive pressure drops on the circuit of the room to be heated if necessary.

It is also possible, as an option, to provide a second heating circuit, identical to the first, with a motorized two-way valve or with a circulator instead of the two-way valve.

In these two options, this is achieved with or without a three-way or four-way motorized or thermostatic valve connected hydraulically, for temperature management of the heating circuit called discharge or mixed.

In the heating and domestic hot water loop section, the flow rate is adjusted with a flow meter with a transparent window, with spring and ball positioned on the desired flow rate scale. The adjustment is simply made with a screw that is part of this flow meter, thus requiring no digital measuring device.

The hydraulic connection module in the configuration shown can be 400mm wide, 420mm high and 170mm thick.

The hydraulic connection module not only saves space, but also saves time during installation.

In addition, all tightness tests on valves and meters will have been carried out in the factory.

Besides the fact that the embodiment shown is not limiting, it should be noted that the hydraulic module according to the invention can be installed in different positions both vertically and horizontally, thus it can be oriented so that the valves V are positioned above or below, or laterally to the right or to the left, in front or behind.

Furthermore, the hydraulic connection module according to the invention may include equipment other than that shown. Thus, for example, the heating flow 5 and heating return 6 circuit can be equipped with a drain valve or an automatic drain.

Claims (6)

1. Hydraulic connection module which is intended for use in the field of constructing buildings that are fitted with a boiler room that supplies multiple apartments with water, hot water for sanitary purposes and/or hot water for central heating, the module consisting of a single part which comprises a board (1) to which is secured a multiplicity (2) of tubes (20), each intended to constitute an interface between a customized circuit and a water column, each of said tubes (20) comprising, on the one hand, an inlet opening which is intended to be joined to a water column and an outlet opening which is intended to be connected to a customized circuit, and, on the other hand, a valve (V) for isolating the customized circuit, as well as, depending on the nature of the circuit, a volumetric and/or energy metering means;
   the hydraulic connection module being characterized in that the tubes (20) are bent into a U shape, the U-shaped tubes are arranged side by side in parallel or non-parallel planes, the parallel arms (21, 22) thereof passing perpendicularly through a plate (10) of the board (1) through two holes (12, 13), such that the inlet and outlet openings emerge on the other side of said plate (10).
2. Hydraulic connection module according to claim 1, characterized in that each tube (20) comprises a valve (V) at each of the ends thereof.
3. Hydraulic connection module according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that one of the holes (12, 13) through which the arms (21, 22) of one of the tubes (20) bent into a U-shape pass is oblong and semi-circular with a center which corresponds to the axis of the other hole.
4. Hydraulic connection module according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holes (12, 13), which are intended to receive a U-shaped tube (20), are offset with respect to one another and/or with respect to the holes (12, 13) of an adjacent tube (20).
5. Hydraulic connection module according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plate (10) has at least one port (14) in the middle region thereof.
6. Hydraulic connection module according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it forms an integral part of a box (15) which comprises a door (18).

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