EP4257762A1 - Sanitary installation with rinsing function - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary system (1) with a flushing function, comprising a flushing system (2) with a cistern (3) for storing flushing water, a water supply line (4) for supplying water to the cistern (3) and a drain valve (5). If necessary, dispensing flushing water from the cistern (3), characterized in that the flushing system (2) has at least one floating body (6), which is set up and arranged in the cistern (3) in such a way that the floating body (6) floats up. the drain valve (5) can be opened.

Description

The invention relates to a sanitary system with a flushing function, whereby the sanitary system can be, for example, a toilet or a urinal. In addition, a flushing system for the sanitary system and a method for operating the sanitary system are specified.

Sanitary systems in which rinsing water is supplied to a sink are known in a wide variety of designs. As a rule, pneumatically operating actuation devices are used for these sanitary systems, which have a transmitter bellows that can be compressed using an actuation button, the gas volume displaced when the actuation button is pressed is fed to a slave bellows. The expansion of the receiver bellows opens a drain valve of a flushing water tank, which can be closed or closes again either as required or after the flushing water has drained away. Examples of such pneumatically operating actuation devices are in DE 298 20 855 U1 , DE 10 2008 027 255 A1 , DE 100 61 615 A1 , DE 37 29 569 A1 and EP 1 719 846 A2 described.

While many of the known actuating devices are generally used to trigger a movement of the valve body of a cistern drain valve from the valve seat and work pneumatically for this purpose, particularly in publicly accessible sanitary facilities, for example to increase hygiene and / or to minimize the effects of vandalism To maintain the water, electrical actuation devices, such as infrared sensors, are increasingly being used to trigger the flushing process. In this context, battery solutions are used to supply electrical energy, in particular in order to be able to retrofit the actuating devices into existing sanitary facilities that usually do not have a power connection. It was observed that the flushing mechanisms currently used to convert the electrical flushing signal into a lifting movement of the valve body from the valve seat, which usually have an electrically operated servo motor, require too much energy for the battery application to run the sanitary system for many years, especially more than being able to flush electrically for three or four years.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, the electrical energy requirement for flushing the sanitary system should be reduced. In addition, an advantageous contribution should be made to reducing the manufacturing costs and/or the operating costs of the sanitary system.

These tasks are solved with a sanitary system, a flushing system and a method according to the features of the respective independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically sensible manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the patent claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

A sanitary system with a flushing function contributes to this, having a flushing system with a cistern for storing flushing water, a water supply line for supplying water into the cistern and a drain valve for releasing flushing water from the cistern as needed, the flushing system having at least one floating body, which is so is set up and arranged in the cistern so that the drain valve can be opened by floating the floating body.

The solution described here can advantageously contribute to the fact that electrical energy no longer has to be used to overcome the lifting force. Rather, the floating of the floating body can be used here to lift out the drain valve. In other words, this can be described in particular in such a way that the floating body is set up and arranged in the cistern in such a way that it can cause the drain valve to open using Archimedes' principle.

The floating body can be formed, for example, in the form of a cushion and/or a plate. The floating body can be connected to the drain valve in such a way that it can take at least one valve body of the drain valve in a (substantially vertical) floating direction in order to lift it out of the drain valve seat. The floating body can be formed in the form of a buoyancy body. The floating body can form part of the drain valve or be connected to it, in particular mechanically and/or firmly connected.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the floating body in the cistern can be guided linearly along a floating direction. The floating body can have a cross-sectional shape in a plane orthogonal to the floating direction, which is adapted to a cross-sectional shape of the cistern in a plane parallel to this plane.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the flushing system has a linear guide in order to guide the floating body in the cistern. The linear guide can, for example, comprise at least one (essentially vertically oriented) rod. Alternatively or cumulatively, a cylinder of the flushing system can contribute to the linear guidance.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the flushing system has at least one restoring element in order to move the floating body along a restoring direction. For example, at least one restoring element or at least one of the restoring elements can have a cylinder that can be controlled, in particular printable, using water or air.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the floating body is formed with an air cushion. For example, the floating body can have a shell that is at least partially formed with plastic and is filled with air.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the flushing system has at least one electrically controllable valve, such as an electrically controllable solenoid valve, which is set up and arranged so that water can be made available via the water supply line in order to cause the floating body to float.

The electrically controllable (magnetic) valve can, for example, be set up in such a way that water can be made available via the water supply line or introduced into the cistern for one or more (pre-)definable opening times and/or with one or more (pre-)definable degrees of opening is. This can advantageously contribute to setting different flush quantities. The opening period and/or the degree of opening are defined in particular in such a way that they are sufficient for lifting a valve body out of a drain valve seat. “Lifting” here is understood to mean, in particular, lifting and/or distancing from one another, which is (just) sufficient to enable a flushing flow through the drain valve.

For example, the flushing system can have a filling valve that can be operated independently of the (solenoid) valve. The filling valve can be set up and arranged in such a way that the cistern can be automatically filled via the water supply line until a (pre-) definable flushing water supply quantity is reached. Alternatively or in addition to the filling valve, the (solenoid) valve could contribute to filling the cistern. In this case, the (magnetic) valve would preferably be provided and set up to carry out at least two different functionalities, namely the filling function and the drain valve opening function (in the foreground here).

According to a further aspect, a flushing system for a sanitary facility described here is specified, with a cistern for storing flushing water, a water supply line for supplying water into the cistern and a drain valve for releasing flushing water from the cistern as needed, and with at least one floating body is set up and arranged in the cistern in such a way that the drain valve can be opened by floating the floating body.

1. a) Füllen des Spülkastens bis zum Erreichen einer definierten Spülwasservorratsmenge,
2. b) Auslösen eines elektrischen Signals über eine Betätigungseinrichtung der Sanitäranlage,
3. c) Öffnen eines elektrisch steuerbaren (Magnet-)Ventils in Abhängigkeit des elektrischen Signals, um damit über die Wasserzuführleitung zu der Spülwasservorratsmenge zusätzliches Wasser in den Spülkasten einzubringen, welches genutzt wird, um ein Aufschwimmen des Schwimmkörpers zu bewirken und so das Ablaufventil zu öffnen.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating a sanitary facility described here is specified, comprising at least the following steps:

1. a) filling the cistern until a defined amount of flushing water is reached,
2. b) triggering an electrical signal via an actuating device of the sanitary system,
3. c) Opening an electrically controllable (solenoid) valve depending on the electrical signal in order to introduce additional water into the cistern via the water supply line to the flushing water supply, which is used to cause the floating body to float and thus open the drain valve.

The specified order of steps a), b) and c) is exemplary and can, for example, be carried out at least once in the specified order to carry out the method. Alternatively or cumulatively, steps a), b) and c) can be carried out at least partially in parallel or simultaneously.

The details, features and advantageous configurations discussed in connection with the sanitary system can also occur in the flushing system and/or the method and vice versa. In this respect, full reference is made to the statements there regarding the more detailed characterization of the features.

Fig. 1:

ein Beispiel für eine hier angegebene Sanitäranlage in geschnittener Seitenansicht und in geschnittener Frontansicht, und

Fig. 2:

ein weiteres Beispiel für eine hier angegebene Sanitäranlage in geschnittener Seitenansicht und in geschnittener Frontansicht.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below using the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiment variants of the invention, but this is not limited to this. The same components in the figures are given the same reference numbers. It shows schematically:

Fig. 1:

an example of a sanitary facility given here in a sectioned side view and in a sectioned front view, and

Fig. 2:

Another example of a sanitary facility given here in a sectioned side view and a sectioned front view.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic example of a sanitary system 1 with a flushing function, having a flushing system 2 with a cistern 3 for storing flushing water, a water supply line 4 for supplying water into the cistern 3 and a drain valve 5 for dispensing flushing water from the cistern 3 as needed, whereby the Flushing system 2 has at least one floating body 6, which is set up and arranged in the cistern 3 so that the drain valve 5 can be opened by floating the floating body 6.

The sanitary system 1 here has an actuating device 14 as an example. The actuation device 14 is used to manually actuate the flushing function by a user. The actuating device 14 can be, for example, a non-contact actuating device 14, which can include, for example, an infrared sensor and/or optical sensor. The actuating device 14 can output an electrical signal to control a (solenoid) valve 12 of the flushing system 2. The sanitary system 1 here also has, for example, a toilet bowl 15 into which the flushing water can be discharged from the drain valve 5.

In Fig. 1 It is also shown that the floating body 6 can be guided linearly in the cistern 3 along a floating direction 7. This can be done in the example Fig. 1 For example, a cylinder 11 of the flushing system 2 contributes.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 illustrated by way of example that the flushing system 2 can have at least one restoring element 9 in order to move the floating body 6 along a restoring direction 10. According to the example Fig. 1 For example, a restoring element 9 can be provided, which has a cylinder 11 that can be controlled or actuated by means of water from the water supply line 4. The cylinder 11 can here, for example, have a piston that can be pressed or disengaged by means of water pressure from the water supply line 4.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 exemplified that the floating body 6 can be formed with an air cushion. The air cushion can, for example, be essentially rectangular or round, in particular oval. The air cushion can have a plastic cover in which air is stored.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 exemplified that the flushing system 2 can have at least one electrically controllable valve 12. The valve 12 here is, for example, an electrically controllable solenoid valve 12. The solenoid valve 12 can be set up and arranged in such a way that water can be made available via the water supply line 4 in order to cause the floating body 6 to float. By way of example, the flushing system 2 can also have a filling valve 13 that can be operated independently of the solenoid valve 12. The filling valve 13 can be set up and arranged in such a way that the cistern 3 can be filled automatically via the water supply line 4 until a definable amount of flushing water is reached.

Fig. 2 shows schematically another example of a sanitary system 1 described here with a flushing function. The reference numbers are used consistently so that reference can be made to the previous explanations.

In Fig. 2 is shown by way of example that the flushing system 2 can have a linear guide 8 in order to guide the floating body 6 in the cistern 3. The linear guide 8 can be formed here, for example, in the form of a vertical rod.

Furthermore, in Fig. 2 illustrated by way of example that the flushing system 2 can also have several restoring elements 9 in order to move the floating body 6 along a restoring direction 10. According to the example Fig. 2 For example, two restoring elements 9 can be provided, each of which has a cylinder 11 that can be controlled or actuated by air. Here, for example, the cylinder 11 can have a piston that can be pressed or disengaged by means of air pressure from the water supply line 4. For this purpose, for example, at least one air valve 16 of the flushing system can be set up and arranged. Alternatively or cumulatively, the air valve 16 can be set up and arranged to effect ventilation and/or ventilation of a chamber of the at least one cylinder 11.

Furthermore, in Fig. 2 exemplified that the floating body 6 can be formed, for example, in the manner of a plate. The plate can, for example, be designed in such a way that it can act as a buoyancy body.

To operate the sanitary system 1 described, you can proceed as follows, for example. The cistern 3 can be filled until a defined amount of flushing water is reached. An electrical signal can be triggered via an actuating device 14 of the sanitary system 1. An electrically controllable solenoid valve 6 can be opened depending on the electrical signal in order to introduce additional water to the flushing water supply into the cistern 3 via the water supply line 4, which is used to cause the floating body 6 to float and thus the drain valve 5 to open.

A particular advantage, which is common to the possible solutions described here, can be seen in the fact that electrical energy no longer has to be used to overcome the lifting force.

A sanitary facility 1 is thus specified which can at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, the electrical energy requirement for flushing the sanitary system can be advantageously reduced. In addition, a contribution can advantageously be made to reducing the manufacturing costs and/or the operating costs of the sanitary system.

Reference symbol list

1

Sanitary facility

2

Flushing system

3

cistern

4

Water supply line

5

drain valve

6

Floating body

7

Swimming direction

8th

Linear guide

9

Restoring element

10

Return direction

11

cylinder

12

magnetic valve

13

Fill valve

14

Actuating device

15

toilet bowl

16

Air valve

Claims (10)

Sanitary system (1) with flushing function, comprising a flushing system (2) with a cistern (3) for storing flushing water, a water supply line (4) for supplying water into the cistern (3) and a drain valve (5) for dispensing flushing water as required from the cistern (3), characterized in that the flushing system (2) has at least one floating body (6), which is set up and arranged in the cistern (3) so that the drain valve opens by floating the floating body (6). (5) can be achieved. Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 1, wherein the floating body (6) can be guided linearly in the cistern (3) along a floating direction (7). Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flushing system (2) has a linear guide (8) to guide the floating body (6) in the cistern (3). Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flushing system (2) has at least one restoring element (9) in order to move the floating body (6) along a restoring direction (10). Sanitary system (1) according to claim 4, wherein at least one restoring element (9) has a cylinder (11) that can be controlled using water or air. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the floating body (6) is formed with an air cushion. Sanitary system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flushing system (2) has at least one electrically controllable valve (12), which is set up and arranged so that water can be made available via the water supply line (4) in order to prevent the floating body from floating (6) to effect. Sanitary system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the flushing system (2) has a filling valve (13) which can be operated independently of the valve (12), which is set up and arranged in such a way that the cistern (3) is automatically filled via the water supply line (4). can be filled until a definable amount of flushing water is reached. Flushing system (2) for a sanitary facility (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a cistern (3) for storing flushing water, a water supply line (4) for supplying water into the cistern (3) and a drain valve (5) for when required Dispensing flushing water from the cistern (3), characterized by at least one floating body (6), which is set up and arranged in the cistern (3) so that the drain valve (5) can be opened by floating the floating body (6). . Method for operating a sanitary facility (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising at least the following steps: a) filling the cistern (3) until a defined amount of flushing water is reached, b) triggering an electrical signal via an actuating device (14) of the sanitary system (1), c) Opening an electrically controllable valve (6) depending on the electrical signal in order to access the flushing water supply via the water supply line (4). to introduce additional water into the cistern (3), which is used to cause the floating body (6) to float and thus open the drain valve (5).

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