ES2911551T3 - Electrically operable sanitary fittings - Google Patents

Abstract

Sanitary fittings, comprising - a fitting body (1), - a hot water connection (2), - a cold water connection (3), - at least one mixed water outlet (4, 4a, 4b), - at least one temperature detector (5, 5.1, 5.2), - at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in the fittings body (1), - a mixed water pipe (9, 9a, 9b) subordinate to at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c), which leads to the mixed water outlet (4, 4a, 4b), characterized in that the sanitary hardware also comprises at least one flow determination device ( 6, 6.1, 6.2) and at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c) for each valve (7a, 7b, 7c), with which the corresponding valve can be actuated, where through the opening position of the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) both the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted and the flow of hot water can also be completely prevented in a closed position of the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) hot and/or mixed water to the cold water connection (3) and cold water and/or mixed water to the hot water connection (2), so that upstream of the at least one valve (7a, 7b , 7c) no check valve is provided, and where a drive shaft (10) of the at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c) is coupled to the respective valve (7a, 7b, 7c) without inserting a gear.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Electrically operable sanitary fittings

The present invention relates to an electrically operable sanitary fittings, comprising a fittings body, a hot water connection, a cold water connection, at least one mixed water outlet, at least one temperature detector, at least one device of flow determination, at least one valve arranged in the valve body, at least one electric motor for each valve, with which the corresponding valve can be actuated and a mixed water pipe subordinate to the at least one valve, which leads to the mixed water outlet, wherein with the at least one valve the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted. The sanitary hardware also comprises in particular a control unit, which is connected to the at least one temperature detector, the at least one flow determination device and the at least one electric motor. With the control unit it is possible to electronically set (control or regulate) a temperature of the mixed water predetermined by a user, the signals from the temperature sensor and/or the flow determination device being used to correspondingly set the at least one valve which predetermines the mixed water ratio of hot water and cold water.

Document WO 98/41787 A1 discloses an electrically operable fitting with the characteristics mentioned above, in which a shut-off valve actuable by means of a first motor and upstream of the shut-off valve a thermostatically actuated mixing valve are provided. by means of a second motor. With the stop valve, the flow of mixed water to the mixed water outlet can thus be prevented. Since the thermostatic mixing valve comprises a temperature-sensitive thermostat element and is connected to both the cold water line and the hot water line, it cannot be guaranteed even with the shut-off valve closed that the water cold water reaches the hot water connection or hot water reaches the cold water connection. It has therefore been specified for many application cases to provide a non-return valve in the hot water pipe and in the cold water pipe upstream of the thermostatic mixing valve. Such non-return valves mean, on the one hand, a higher device complexity and, on the other hand, such non-return valves are undesirable in some applications because of their components that come into contact with water and are made of plastic.

A sanitary hardware with the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 is known from document DE 10 2015000015 A1.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned in relation to the state of the art and in particular to indicate a sanitary hardware of the type mentioned above, which can also be used in highly regulated fields of application.

The objective is achieved by means of a sanitary fittings with the characteristics of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments of the sanitary fittings are indicated in the dependent claims and in the description, in which the individual features of the advantageous further developments can be combined with one another as desired in a technically practical manner.

In particular, the objective is achieved by a sanitary fittings with the characteristics mentioned at the beginning, in which in a closed position of the at least one valve the flow of hot water and mixed water to the cold water connection can be completely prevented and of cold water and mixed water to the hot water connection, so that no non-return valve is provided upstream of the at least one valve.

Therefore, the invention provides in its fundamental ideas that the at least one valve provided for the adjustment of the mixed water temperature is also configured in such a way that in its closed position not only the flow connection of the respective one of the corresponding hot or cold water connection to the mixed water line, but also a flow of water from the hot water connection to the cold water connection or vice versa is prevented. In this way, a check valve arranged upstream of the at least one valve can be dispensed with.

The invention relates in particular to a so-called built-in fittings, in which the fittings body, the sensors, the valves and the electric motors as well as their control unit are arranged in a housing, which is arranged in the built-in state, for example example, on a wall behind a tiled bathroom surface. The hot water connection and the cold water connection as well as at least one mixed water outlet are instead arranged outside the housing or on the wall of a housing for easy installation. The hot water connection and the cold water connection as well as at least one mixed water outlet are in this case preferably configured from exactly one fitting body. For the user then only, for example, an outlet, hand shower, shower head, bathtub outlet or the like connected to the mixed water outlet, also designated as the mixed water extraction outlet, is visible. The activation of the sanitary hardware is carried out in particular through a control unit connected wirelessly or through cables with the control unit arranged in the casing.

The flow determination device can be designed in particular for direct determination of the flow of water as a flow detector. However, it is also possible for the flow determination device to be configured as a detector for the determination of another variable, so that the flow can be determined indirectly. The flow determination device can be, for example, a sensor for pressure measurement, where the flow can be concluded from the measured pressure.

For a compact structure, it is provided according to the invention that a drive shaft of the at least one electric motor is coupled to the respective valve without inserting a gear. Thus, the at least one valve has for its actuation a drive shaft, in particular, which can be driven exclusively in a rotary manner, which is thus coupled, for example, by means of a coupling with the drive shaft of the electric motor, so that the angle of rotation traveled by the drive shaft of the electric motor during a rotation corresponds to the angle of rotation of the drive shaft of the corresponding valve. Therefore, no transmission of the rotational movement of the drive shaft of the electric motor via a gear to the drive shaft of the corresponding valve is necessary. Consequently, the electric motor can be arranged on one side spatially very close to the valve, where in particular it can be provided that the drive shaft of the electric motor and the drive shaft of the valve are arranged parallel and aligned with one another. respect to the other. In particular, the drive shaft of the electric motor and the drive shaft of the valve could also be designed in one piece. The electric motor is in particular a stepper motor, in which the drive shaft connected to the rotor of the stepper motor can be driven to rotate around a relatively small angle (step) or a multiple of this angle. An exact adjustment of the respective valve is therefore possible.

In one embodiment, provision can be made for exactly one mixing valve to be provided for adjusting the mixed water temperature and to prevent backflow or cross-flow, through which both hot and cold water can be fed. to the mixed water pipe, where with exactly one sequential mixing valve the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted and in the closed position with exactly one sequential mixing valve the flow of both hot and cold water can be prevented. the mixed water line as well as from the cold water connection to the hot water connection. Such a sequential mixing valve therefore does not have a temperature-sensitive thermostat element, which would automatically readjust the temperature of the mixed water in the event of a change in the temperature of the hot or cold water. Rather, in the case of the sequential mixing valve, the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water depends only on the rotational position of the drive shaft of the sequential mixing valve. Thus, the sequential mixing valve is in a stop position of the drive shaft in its closed position, where by turning the drive shaft, for example, the cold water supply is released first, while by turning back of the drive shaft the hot water flow is raised and the cold water flow is reduced. With such sequential mixing valves, no independent change in the mixed water flow is generally possible. When using such a sequential mixing valve, a temperature sensor for determining the mixed water temperature should be subordinated to the sequential mixing valve, so that a closed feedback loop is set.

the mixed water temperature predetermined by the user at any time by regulation.

As an alternative, a detector could be provided in each case for determining the cold water temperature and the hot water temperature, the water temperature being set using a characteristic diagram stored in the controller with an open feedback loop. mixed default by the user by means of the control. Additionally, at least one flow determination device could be provided, with which the flow of hot water or cold water can be determined directly or indirectly.

In an alternative embodiment, provision can be made for a hot water valve to be assigned to the hot water connection, with which the flow of hot water in the mixed water line can be blocked in its closed position and with which the hot water flow can be adjusted, and where the cold water connection is assigned a cold water valve, with which the cold water flow in the mixed water line can be blocked in its closed position and with which it can be adjust the flow of cold water. In the closed position of the hot water valve or the cold water valve, a backflow into the hot water connection or the cold water connection is thus prevented. For an open feedback loop (control) or a closed feedback loop (regulation) it should be provided in the hot water pipe that it can be blocked by the hot water valve and in the cold water pipe that it can be blocked by the cooling valve. cold water in each case a flow determination device and a temperature detector. As an alternative, exactly one flow detection device and one temperature sensor could be provided for the mixed water line to form a closed feedback loop.

In a simple embodiment, provision can be made for the mixed water line to be module-free, so that the mixed water flows out of the mixed water line via the water outlet in the closed position of the at least one valve. mixed water, for which a certain inclination of the mixed water line is provided if necessary. In this way, the formation of stagnant water in the mixed water line can be prevented.

The formation of a washing device is preferably provided, with which at least a large part of the mixed water line can be washed by means of hot water, without the user coming into contact with the (hot) water used for washing. . For this, the sanitary fittings have a reversing valve arranged in particular in the fittings body, where the reversing valve is subordinate to the at least one valve for adjusting the temperature of the mixed water and can also be operated by means of an electric motor. The reversing valve is preferably arranged at or near the end of the mixed water line shortly before the mixed water withdrawal outlet.

The reversing valve, depending on the switching position of the reversing valve, can divert the water flowing in the mixed water pipe to either a mixed water withdrawal pipe or a mixed water discharge pipe. The mixed water extraction pipe and the mixed water evacuation pipe are configured in particular by means of the fitting body. The mixed water withdrawal pipe leads to a mixed water withdrawal outlet, to which is connected, for example, an outlet, a shower head, a bathtub outlet or the like. The mixed water extraction pipe must be configured as short as possible and in particular has a length of less than 5 cm or even less than 3 cm.

The mixed water discharge line leads to a discharge device, which has a mixed water discharge outlet configured in particular in the mixed water discharge line and a discharge water receptacle, which can be connected to a discharge line provided on the side of the building, arranged with a low distance of, for example, less than 10 cm, preferably less than 5 cm or even less than 2 cm below the mixed water evacuation outlet. The water coming out of the mixed water drainage outlet therefore reaches the drainage water housing in the free case, which is connected to the drainage pipe of the building. The evacuation device is arranged in particular inside the casing of the built-in fittings, so that a user cannot come into contact with the water coming out of the mixed water evacuation outlet.

With the washing device it can be ensured that water flows through the sanitary fittings to avoid stagnant water at regular intervals, predeterminable by means of the control unit. To do this, the reversal valve is connected so that the mixed water is directed to the evacuation device. Accordingly, however, regular thermal disinfection of the traversed pipes and the elements connecting the traversed pipes can also take place, exclusively hot water being used during the washing process.

Provision is preferably made for the cold water connection, the hot water connection and the drive shaft of the at least one electric motor for driving the at least one valve for adjusting the mixed water temperature to be arranged in one plane. In particular, the corresponding valves are also arranged in the same plane.

In particular it can be provided that the cold water connection and the hot water connection are formed from the fitting body and the at least one valve for adjusting the mixed water temperature and possibly also the reversing valve is provided. in the fittings body, wherein at least the at least one electric motor for the at least one valve for adjusting the mixed water temperature and optionally also the electric motor for the reversing valve is attached to the fittings body .

By arranging the valves in the plane of the connections, the valves can be placed from the opposite side to the connections in a corresponding housing of the fittings body, where the electric motor(s) can be placed or installed from the same side as the valves. at least partially in the body of fittings. The mixed water outlet can here be oriented perpendicular to the fixed plane.

The fitting body is preferably H-shaped in cross section, where the cold water connection and the hot water connection are arranged at the upper ends of the perpendicular sides, while the corresponding valves can be placed from the side. bottom on the corresponding perpendicular sides in the fittings body. The mixed water pipe is formed by a channel in the horizontal section of the H-shaped fitting body.

In this regard, provision can be made in particular for the cold water connection and the hot water connection to be arranged above the mixed water outlet in the assembled state, so that at least the section of the water is emptied by itself. mixed water piping downstream of the valves for adjustment of the mixed water temperature in the closed position of the valve.

In particular, the housing of the sanitary fittings has three reciprocally sealed zones, where the evacuation device is arranged in a first zone, in a second zone the fittings body with the at least one valve and the at least one electric motor and in a third zone the control unit. The sealing prevents moisture from reaching the other, so that the control unit to be protected in particular against humidity can be arranged separately from the other elements.

The invention as well as the technical background are explained by way of example below by means of the figures. show schematically

figure 1: a schematic diagram of a sanitary hardware in front view,

figure 2: a schematic diagram of a sanitary fittings in side view,

Figure 3: an electrical diagram of a first embodiment of a sanitary fittings,

figure 4: an electrical diagram of a second embodiment of a sanitary fittings,

Figure 5: a sectional view through a sanitary fittings and

Figure 6: a partial section view of the sanitary fittings of Figure 5.

The sanitary fittings shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprise a casing 14 with a first casing area 14.1, a second casing area 14.2 and a third casing area 14.3, where the sanitary fittings are arranged as a module embedded in a wall 15 of a building. In the second casing area 14.2, a fitting body 1 is arranged, whose hot water connection 2 and cold water connection 3 are accessible from outside the casing 14. As described in relation to the other figures, they are arranged in the body of fittings 1 other constructive parts of the sanitary fittings. The mixed water generated in the fitting body 1 is led either to a mixed water extraction outlet 4a with an outlet port 16 connected thereto or to a mixed water evacuation outlet 4b. Below the mixed water drainage outlet 4b arranged in the first housing area 14.1, a funnel-shaped drainage water receptacle 12 is formed, which can be connected to a drainage pipe on the building side.

In the third housing area 14.3, a control unit 13 is arranged, which is connected to electric motors for actuating the valves in the fitting body.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 3, the sanitary fittings comprise a sequential mixing valve 7a, which is connected through corresponding pipes with the hot water connection 2 and the cold water connection 3. The mixing valve 7a sequential can be driven by means of an electric motor 8a. A first temperature sensor 5.1 is assigned to the cold water line for measuring the cold water temperature, and a second temperature sensor 5.2 is assigned to the hot water line for measuring the hot water temperature.

A mixed water line 9 is connected to the sequential mixing valve 7a, to which a third temperature detector 5.3 and a flow meter 6 are assigned. A reversing valve 11 is arranged in the mixed water line 9, which it can be driven by means of an electric motor 8d. By means of the reversing valve 11, the mixed water can be fed either to a mixed water withdrawal pipe 9a or to a mixed water discharge pipe 9b. The mixed water withdrawal pipe 9a has a mixed water withdrawal outlet 4a, to which an outlet 16 is connected. The mixed water discharge pipe 9b, on the other hand, leads to a mixed water discharge outlet 4b. , from which the mixed water can flow in the free case into a funnel-shaped discharge water receptacle 12 . The detectors 5, 6 and the motors 8 are connected to a control unit 13, not shown, for the control or regulation of the sanitary fittings.

The sequential mixing valve 7a does not have a thermostat element and therefore prevents in its closed position both a backflow of mixed water to the hot water connection 2 or to the cold water connection 3 as well as a flow from the cold water connection. hot water 2 to cold water connection 3 or vice versa. Therefore, it is not necessary that a check valve be provided in the hot water pipe or cold water pipe upstream of the sequential mixing valve 7a.

The mixing ratio of cold water and hot water depends on the position of the sequential mixing valve 7a, where the control unit controls or regulates, due to the measurement signals of the temperature sensors 5, the temperature of the mixed water to a default value. In normal operation, the reversing valve 11 is set so that the mixed water reaches the outlet port 16.

However, provision is also made for the sanitary hardware to be washed regularly to avoid stagnant water, for which the reversing valve 11 leads the mixed water to the drain water housing 12. In this sense, provision may be made in particular for disinfection thermal wash is carried out exclusively with hot water.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that a hot water valve 7b is arranged in the hot water line and a valve 7b in the cold water line. cold water valve 7c, each of which can be actuated via a motor 8b or 8c. Furthermore, a first flow detector 6.1 is assigned to both the hot water line and a second flow detector 6.2 to the cold water line. The temperature of the mixed water is therefore adjusted by the ratio of the opening degrees of the hot water valve 8b and the cold water valve 8c. With this structure it is also possible to adjust different flows of the mixed water.

Figures 5 and 6 show an H-shaped fitting body 1 in cross section, which has a hot water connection 2 and a cold water connection 3 at the upper ends of the vertical sides. hot water 2 is assigned a first flow detector 6.1 and a first temperature detector 5.1, with which the flow and the temperature of the hot water can be determined. A second flow detector 6.2 and a second temperature detector 5.2 are assigned to the cold water connection 3, with which the flow and temperature of the cold water can be determined.

From the opposite side to the hot water connection 2, a hot water valve 7b is placed in the fitting body 1, which can be driven by means of an electric motor 8b.

A cold water valve 7c is assigned to the cold water connection, which is attached from the opposite side to the cold water connection 3 on the fitting body 1. The cold water valve 7c is coupled with an electric motor 8c .

The drive shafts 10 of the electric motors 8b, 8c are in each case coupled via a coupling element 17 to the drive shaft 18 of the valves 7b and 7c without inserting a gear, so that via the drive shaft drive 10, the position of the drive shaft 18 is specified directly.

The hot water valve 7b and the cold water valve 7c are configured in such a way that in their closed position the supply and thus also the backflow of hot water or cold water into a mixed water line 9 is prevented. A non-return valve does not need to be arranged in the pipe leading to hot water connection 2 or cold water connection 3.

The mixed water pipe 9 configured in the horizontal section of the fitting body 1 leads to a mixed water outlet 4, which is connected with an outlet port 16.

reference list

1 Fittings body

2 Hot water connection

3 Cold water connection

4 Mixed water outlet

4a Mixed water extraction outlet

4b Mixed water evacuation outlet

5, 5.1, 5.1, 5.3 Temperature detector

6, 6.1, 6.2 Flow detector

Sequential mixing valve

hot water valve

cold water valve

Electric motor

mixed water pipe

Mixed water extraction pipe

Mixed water evacuation pipe

drive shaft

reversing valve

Evacuation water housing

Unidad de control

Control unit

Case

14.1, 14.2, 14.2 Shell area

15 wall

16 outlet hole

17 Coupling element

18 Drive Shaft

Claims (14)

1. Sanitary fittings, which includes - a body of fittings (1), - a hot water connection (2), - a cold water connection (3), - at least one mixed water outlet (4, 4a, 4b), - at least one temperature detector (5, 5.1, 5.2), - at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in the valve body (1), - a mixed water pipe (9, 9a, 9b) subordinated to the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c), leading to the mixed water outlet (4, 4a, 4b), characterized by that the sanitary hardware also comprises at least one flow determination device (6, 6.1, 6.2) and at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c) for each valve (7a, 7b, 7c), with which it can be actuated the corresponding valve, wherein through the opening position of the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) both the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted and it can also be completely prevented in a closing position of the at least one valve (7a, 7b , 7c) the flow of hot water and/or mixed water towards the cold water connection (3) and of cold water and/or mixed water towards the hot water connection (2), so that upstream of the al least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) no check valve is provided, and where a drive shaft (10) of the at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c) is coupled to the respective valve (7a, 7b, 7c) without inserting a gear. 2. Sanitary fittings according to claim 1, wherein precisely one sequential mixing valve (7a) is provided, via which both hot and cold water can be fed into the mixed water line (9, 9a, 9b). , where with exactly one sequential mixing valve (7a) the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted and in the closed position with exactly one sequential mixing valve (7a) the flow of both hot and cold water can be prevented. the mixed water pipe (9, 9a, 9b) as well as from the cold water connection (3) to the hot water connection (2). Sanitary fittings according to claim 1, wherein the hot water connection (2) is assigned a hot water valve (7b), with which the flow of hot water in the mixed water line (9, 9a, 9b) in their closed position and with which the hot water flow can be adjusted, and where the cold water connection (3) is assigned a cold water valve (7c), with which the hot water can be blocked. cold water flow in the mixed water pipe (9, 9a, 9b) in its closed position and with which the cold water flow can be adjusted. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c) is connected to a reversing valve (11), which can be actuated by means of an electric motor (8d). 5. Sanitary fittings according to claim 4, wherein a mixed water extraction pipe (9a) subordinated to the inversion valve (11) leads to a mixed water extraction outlet (4a) and a mixed water evacuation pipe (9b) subordinate to the reversal valve (11) leads to an evacuation device. Sanitary fittings according to claim 5, wherein the evacuation device comprises a mixed water evacuation outlet (4b) and an evacuation water housing (12) arranged with a small distance below the water evacuation outlet mixed (4b) and which can be connected to an evacuation pipe provided on the side of the building, in particular in the form of a funnel. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cold water connection (3), the hot water connection (2) and the drive shaft (10) of the at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c ) are arranged in a plane. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the installed state the cold water connection (3) and the hot water connection (2) are arranged above the mixed water outlet (4, 4a, 4b ). Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, in which either exactly one temperature detector (5) is assigned to the mixed water line (9, 9a, 9b) or to the hot water connection (2) and to the connection of cold water (3) a temperature detector (5.1, 5.2) is assigned to each of them. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, in which either exactly one flow determination device (6) is assigned to the mixed water line (9) or to the hot water connection (2) and to the hot water connection cold (3) a flow determination device (6.1, 6.2) is assigned to each of them. 11. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is a stepper motor. Sanitary fittings according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (13), where the control unit (13) is connected to at least one temperature detector (5, 5.1, 5.2), at least at least one flow determination device (6, 6.1, 6.2) and at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d). 13. Sanitary fittings according to claims 5 and 12, in which a casing (14) with at least three zones (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) reciprocally sealed, where in a first zone (14.1) the evacuation device is arranged, in a second zone (14.2) the fittings body (1) with the at least one valve (7a, 7b, 7c, 11) and the at least one electric motor (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and in a third zone (14.3) the control unit (13).