GB2240161A

GB2240161A - Water dispensing fitting for water heaters

Info

Publication number: GB2240161A
Application number: GB9101033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Kurz; Reinhold Elflein
Original assignee: Forbach GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Forbach GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1990-01-17
Filing date: 1991-01-17
Publication date: 1991-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-17
Also published as: GB2240161B; GB9101033D0; DE9000442U1; CA2034253A1; JPH05195564A

Abstract

A water dispensing fitting (1) for water heaters, particular for water heaters (2) designed for installation underneath a table surface or water heaters with a heated water tank and with a fresh-water feed pipe (13) connected to the latter, consists of a body (3) with a water outlet pipe (4) and with a feed tube (5) connected to the water heater, as well as a press button (6, 6') serving to initiate and terminate a tapping operation. The press button (6) is provided with a compressed-air pipe (8) which is connected to a pneumatically actuatable electric switch (11) by which, when the press button (6) is operated, a solenoid valve (12) controlling the fresh-water feed pipe (13) can be switched into the open position or into the closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

WATER DISPENSING FITTING FOR WATER HEATERS This invention relates to a water dispensing fitting for water heaters, particularly for water heaters designed for installation underneath a table surface or water heaters with a heated water tank and with a fresh-water feed pipe connected to the latter, consisting of a body with a water outlet pipe and with a conduit connected to the water heater, as well as a press button serving to initiate and terminate a tapping operation.

Water dispensing fittings with one or with two press buttons for actuating valve spindles are already known (DE-AS 21 05 118 and DE-PS 20 63 973). In these water dispensing fittings the valve spindle or valve spindles are accommodated in the body of the fitting. The press button is mounted on the valve spindle. The valve in question is opened by depressing the button in opposition to the force of a spring. It latches into the position required to hold the valve open. When the press button is pressed a second time the valve spindle is released so that it can return to the closed position. With fittings of this type the valve parts in the piping circuit are continuously subjected to the water present in it and flowing through it. The correct operation of the valve part is consequently impeded by the adhesion of substances present in the water.

Neither is it by any means rare for those parts of the fitting which are exposed to the action of the water to show signs of corrosion after even a comparatively short period of operation.

The object of the invention is to simplify still further the construction of a water dispensing fitting of the type concerned, i.e. to avoid the presence, in the piping circuit or in the water flow path, of any moving parts directly subjected to the action of the water.

In accordance with the invention this object is achieved in an arrangement as set out above wherein the press button is coupled to a compressed-air pipe which is connected to a pneumatically actuatable electric switch in such a manner that when the press button is operated, a solenoid valve controlling the supply of water from a fresh-water feed pipe can be switched into the open position.

Advantageous preferred features of the invention are indicated in the subsidiary claims.

As the feed pipe by which the fitting is connected to the tapping point does not itself contain any valve, the drawbacks described above do not in this case arise, so that no periodical maintenance operations are required.

This proposed fitting is therefore characterised by freedom from faults and by a long service life.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water dispensing fitting in conjunction with a water heater taking the form of a hot water storage unit designed for installation underneath a table surface.

Figure 2 is a side view of the water dispensing fitting of Fig. 1 shown partly in section, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the water dispensing fitting of Fig. 1.

The water dispensing fitting I shown in the drawing and designed for use with a hot water storage unit 2 for installation underneath a table surface consists of a fitting unit 3 with a water outlet pipe 4, a feed tube 5 connectable to the hot water storage unit 2 and also press buttons 6 and 6' respectively for initiating and terminating tapping operations. The press buttons 6 and 6', which in the example illustrated, are situated on the front of the water outlet pipe 4 and on top of the body 3 of the fitting respectively, could equally well be mounted on other easily accessible parts of the water dispensing fitting 1. To prevent accidental extraction of hot water and the consequent danger of scalding, press buttons 6 and 6' can be so constructed that they cannot be operated until the water outlet pipe 4 assumes a certain particular water dispensing position.As a further development of the invention the press buttons 6 and 6' can also be equipped with a locking device to prevent them from being used accidentally (e.g. by children). The water outlet pipe 4 is preferably pivotable. The feed tube 5 connected up to the water heater 2 takes the form of a hose. The press button 6' is provided with an actuating device 7 for a compressed-air pipe 8 mounted on a connecting socket 10 provided on the housing 9 of the water heater. The housing 9 of the water heater 2 contains pneumatically actuatable switch 11 corresponding to the connecting socket 10 for the compressed-air pipe 8. The electric switch 11 is electrically in series with the circuit of a solenoid valve 12 which controls a fresh-water feed pipe 13 to the water heater 2.

The method of operation of the water dispensing fitting described is such that by depressing the button 6' and via the actuating device 7 interacting therewith the air present in the compressed-air pipe 8 is compressed, thus operating the switch 11. As a result, the solenoid valve 12 which closes the fresh-water feed pipe 13 leading to the water heater 2 is moved into the open position. The fresh water now flowing in causes hot water to be displaced from the water heater via the feed tube 5 leading to the water outlet pipe 4 of the fitting. When the press button 6' is released, the solenoid valve 12 is therefore moved from its open position into its closed position. The fresh-water pipe 13 is thereby re-closed and the tapping process terminated. It will be appreciated that the press buttons 6' and 6 may be linked in a known manner not shown in such a way that the button 6' becomes latched in a downward position when pressed and may then be released by pressing the button 6. Alternatively the button 6' could be released by pressing it a second time.

Claims

1. A water dispensing fitting for water heaters, particularly for water heaters designed for installation underneath a table surface or water heaters with a heated water tank and with a fresh-water feed pipe connected to the latter, consisting of a body with a water outlet pipe and with a conduit connected to the water heater, as well as a press button serving to initiate and terminate a tapping operation, wherein the press button is coupled to a compressed-air pipe which is connected to a pneumatically actuatable electric switch in such a manner that when the press button is operated, a solenoid valve controlling the supply of water from a fresh-water feed pipe can be switched into the open position.

2. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the compressed-air pipe, consists of a hose forming an integral part of the fitting body.

3. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1, or 2, wherein the compressed-air feed pipe is mounted on a connecting socket provided on the housing of a water heater and the said electric switch is designed to correspond to the said connecting socket.

4. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the said electric switch and the solenoid valve are accommodated in the housing of the water heater or are positioned on the cold-water feed pipe.

5. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1, wherein a feed tube leading from a water heater to the body of the fitting is in the form of a hose.

6. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the press button is positioned on the front of the water outlet pipe or on the top of the body of the water outlet pipe or on the top of the body of the water dispensing fitting or on some other part of the atter.

7. A water dispensing fitting in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 6, wherein the press button is provided with a safety lock.

8. A water dispensing fitting, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.