JP6478542B2 - Mixed water cartridge that reports adjustment position by signal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water.

  Furthermore, the invention relates to a sanitary faucet.

  The cartridge is particularly suitable for sanitary faucets used in showers, tubs, sinks or washbasins.

  In accordance with the known prior art, sanitary faucets are known, in particular in the form of mixed faucets. Such a sanitary faucet has the role of mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water having a desired temperature, and providing the mixed water in a desired amount. For this purpose, the sanitary faucet basically has a cartridge with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a mixed water outlet. In order to mix hot and cold water and to control the volume of the mixed water, such a cartridge in principle has two flat ceramic disks. Both ceramic disks are slidable and / or pivotable relative to one another. The sliding and pivoting of the ceramic disc is performed via the adjusting lever. The adjusting lever is attachable to a user-operable grip of the sanitary faucet. The temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting lever about its longitudinal axis, and the discharge amount of the mixed water can be adjusted by pivoting or tilting the adjusting lever back and forth about the pivot axis It becomes.

  Furthermore, in accordance with the known prior art, cartridges are known in which the adjusting distance of the adjusting lever has a overcomeable resistance when adjusting the temperature of the mixed water or when adjusting the discharge of the mixed water. Such overcomeable resistance makes it possible to prevent excessive pivoting of the adjusting lever, so that excessive water consumption and / or energy consumption can be avoided. Such cartridges have the disadvantage in particular that they have a complex structure with a large number of components. These components result in high manufacturing costs.

  The object of the present invention therefore at least partially solves the problems described in connection with the prior art known, in particular by improving the cartridge for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water, a control lever Over rotation can be prevented, as well as the time and cost of production can be reduced. Furthermore, the present invention also aims to improve the sanitary faucet equipped with the cartridge so that the cartridge can prevent the excessive pivoting of the adjusting lever so that the time and cost for production can be reduced. There is. Another object of the present invention is to achieve a signaling that is clearly recognizable to the user of the adjustment position of the adjustment lever.

  In order to solve this problem, in the cartridge according to the invention, the cartridge comprises at least: a housing, in which the adjusting lever is at least partially arranged, the adjusting lever being a pivot It is pivotable about a dynamic axis and pivotable about a pivot axis; having a locking ring, said locking ring being at least partially arranged on the outer surface of the housing and being adjustable The lever is pivotable relative to the housing by a lever and the locking ring further comprises at least one first locking portion on the inner surface, the first locking portion locking Resiliently displaceable on pivoting of the ring and lockable in at least one first locking element provided on the outer surface of the housing; having at least one second locking element Yes, The second locking element is pivotable with the adjusting lever about the pivot axis; having at least one second locking portion, the second locking portion being the adjusting lever Positioned on the element, which can be locked in the at least one second locking element when the adjusting lever pivots about the pivot axis; the element being provided with a press, by means of the press The locking ring is adapted to be held on the outer surface of the housing.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, at least one of the at least one first locking portion is locked in the at least one first locking element or at least one in the at least one second locking element. An acoustic signal can be sensed upon locking of the two second locks.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, at least one second locking element is at least partially arranged between the adjusting lever and the housing.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, the at least one second locking element is spring-elastically supported and at least one second locking part when pivoting the adjusting lever about the pivot axis. Are displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, the hold-down cooperates with the convex area of the locking ring.

  In a preferred embodiment of the cartridge according to the invention, the hold-down is arranged on the first side of the adjusting lever and at least one second stop is arranged on the second side of the adjusting lever.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the problems described above, in the sanitary faucet according to the present invention, the sanitary faucet comprises a faucet housing and an operating element, and the invention at least partially within the faucet housing. The cartridge according to is arranged.

  It is to be noted that, as suggested here, the features individually listed in the claims may be combined with one another in any scientifically advantageous manner and define another aspect of the invention. Furthermore, the features recited in the claims are set forth with more particularity in the specification. In this case, another preferred configuration of the present invention is shown.

  The cartridge serves to mix cold water and hot water to form mixed water and has a housing. An adjustment lever is at least partially arranged in the housing. The adjusting lever is pivotable about the pivot axis to regulate the temperature of the mixed water, and pivotable about the pivot axis to regulate the amount of the mixed water.

  At least one locking ring is provided. The locking ring is at least partially disposed on the outer surface of the housing. The locking ring is pivotable relative to the housing by means of the adjusting lever. Furthermore, the locking ring has at least one first locking on its inner surface. The first locking portion is elastically displaceable on pivoting of the locking ring and is lockable in at least one first locking element provided on the outer surface of the housing.

  In addition, the cartridge has a second locking element. This second locking element is pivotable with the adjusting lever about the pivot axis.

  At least one second stop is provided. The second locking portion is provided on an element disposed on the adjusting lever. The at least one second locking part is lockable in the at least one second locking element when pivoting the adjustment lever about the pivot axis.

  Furthermore, it has also been proposed that a hold down be arranged on the element by means of which the locking ring is held on the outer surface of the housing.

  The cartridge according to the present invention works to mix cold water and hot water to form mixed water. For this purpose, the cartridge has a hot water inlet for hot water and a cold water inlet for cold water. The cold water preferably has a cold water temperature of 6 ° C. to 25 ° C., and the hot water preferably has a hot water temperature of 50 ° C. to 80 ° C. The cartridge is preferably used for a sanitary faucet. This sanitary faucet, like the single lever faucet, has only one operating element for adjusting the temperature of the mixed water and for adjusting the discharge of the mixed water. The cartridge has a housing. An adjusting lever is at least or only partially disposed in the housing. The housing is preferably at least partially made of plastic and / or metal, for example brass. Furthermore, the housing is at least partially formed tubular and has a predetermined length along the longitudinal axis of the housing and has a predetermined outer diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing doing. The length is preferably 2 cm (centimeter) to 10 cm, quite particularly preferably 3 cm to 5 cm. The outer diameter is preferably 1 cm to 10 cm, quite particularly preferably 2 cm to 5 cm. The adjustment lever is pivotable about the pivot axis to regulate the temperature of the mixed water and pivotable about the pivot axis to regulate the amount of the mixed water. The pivot axis preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and / or the pivot axis preferably extends orthogonal to the pivot axis. Furthermore, the adjusting lever preferably has a circular, square or square cross section.

  In addition, the cartridge has a locking ring. The locking ring is at least partially disposed on the outer surface of the housing. Furthermore, the locking ring is preferably arranged at the end of one end face of the housing. Furthermore, the locking ring is in particular formed like a (round) cover or (round) cap, in particular with one (central) opening, and is in particular inserted into the tubular section of the housing There is. The locking ring is likewise preferably at least partially made of plastic and / or metal and preferably has a tubular section. The tubular section at least partially surrounds the outer surface of the housing or the circumferential surface of the housing. Furthermore, the locking ring is pivotable relative to the housing by means of the adjusting lever when the adjusting lever is pivoted about the pivot axis for adjusting the temperature of the mixed water.

  The locking ring has at least one first locking on the inner surface of its tubular section. The at least one first stop may, for example, be a protrusion, a nose, a hook, a snap protrusion or the like. The at least one first stop is resiliently displaceable, in particular radially outward, when the locking ring pivots about the pivot axis. During pivoting of the adjustment lever about the pivot axis, at least one first stop is provided on the outer surface of the housing and / or in the outer surface of the housing. It can be locked in the stop element. For this purpose, the inner diameter of the tubular section of the locking ring approximately corresponds to the outer diameter of the housing.

  The at least one first locking element may, for example, be at least one groove provided on the outer surface of the housing. The at least one first locking part and the at least one first locking element are formed on the outside of the housing. The locking of the at least one first locking part in the at least one first locking element preferably generates an acoustic signal (e.g. a (mechanical) "click"). This acoustic signal can be sensed by the user so that the reaching of the possibly undesired overturning range of the adjustment lever can be signaled to the user. Besides the acoustic signal, the locking action of the at least one first locking part may result in a overcomeable resistance. This resistance can be overcome by the user with the increased operating force of the adjusting lever. However, it is preferred that the at least one first locking part and the at least one first locking element mainly do not require an increased operating force.

  Further, the cartridge has at least one second locking portion. The at least one second stop may likewise preferably be a projection, a nose, a hook, a snap projection or the like. The at least one second stop is preferably oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. Furthermore, the at least one second stop is formed on an element arranged on the adjusting lever or on an element arranged on the adjusting lever. This element is preferably formed like a sleeve and is mounted on and attached to the adjusting lever. Furthermore, the cartridge comprises at least one second locking element. The at least one second locking element is pivotable with the adjusting lever about a pivot axis.

  The at least one second locking element preferably has at least one groove and is preferably resiliently supported parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. When pivoting the adjusting lever about the pivot axis, the at least one second locking element is tightened, ie pressed, by the at least one second locking portion, and then the adjusting lever pivots about the pivot axis As the at least one locking part locks into the at least one second locking element when pivoting, the locking causes the reaching of the over-pivoting position, in particular by means of an acoustic signal in the form of a click. It is possible to notify the user. Furthermore, the locking action of the at least one second locking part in the at least one second locking element can also be signaled that the user is informed of the arrival of the overturning area. You may be making resistance. This overcomeable resistance can be overcome by the user's increased operating power. However, it is preferred if the locking of the at least one second locking part in the at least one second locking element eliminates the need for an increased operating force.

  Further, the element is provided with a presser. By means of this hold-down, the locking ring is held on the outer surface of the housing, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. It will be clear that the locking ring is not held in the housing parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, preferably by other means. Thus, the locking ring can be formed relatively easily. The reason is that no separate holding elements, such as threads and / or holding noses, need to be formed on the locking ring. Thus, the element fulfills multiple functions. In one, at least one second stop is formed or held in the element, and in the other, the element acts as a hold-down for the locking ring. This configuration can reduce the number of components of the cartridge and thus the production cost.

  Preferably, at least one second locking part at the time of locking of the at least one first locking part in the at least one first locking element or in the at least one second locking element At the time of locking, an acoustic signal can be sensed. The acoustic signal is a (mechanical) click of the at least one first lock and / or at least one second lock when locking into the at least one first locking element. It is a (mechanical) click of at least one second stop upon locking into the element.

  It is likewise advantageous if the at least one second locking element is at least partially arranged between the adjusting lever and the housing.

  Furthermore, the at least one second locking element is resiliently supported, and relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing by means of the at least one second locking part when pivoting the adjusting lever about the pivot axis. It is advantageous to be displaceable in parallel.

  Furthermore, it is advantageous if the hold-down cooperates with the convex area of the locking ring. The convex area of the locking ring is preferably formed in such a way that the hold-down slides on the convex area of the locking ring when the adjusting lever is pivoted. The center of the convex area or arc is located at the center of the pivot axis of the adjusting lever. It is thus ensured that the distance between the presser and the locking ring is kept constant even when the adjusting lever is pivoted.

  Furthermore, it is advantageous if the hold-down is arranged on the first side of the adjusting lever and at least one second stop is arranged on the second side of the adjusting lever. The first side and the second side are preferably located on opposite sides of the adjusting lever or offset by 180 ° about the longitudinal axis of the adjusting lever.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a sanitary faucet comprising a faucet housing and an operating element is also proposed. Within the faucet housing, the cartridge according to the invention is at least partially arranged.

  The faucet housing is preferably made of plastic or metal and is preferably attachable to a shower, tub, sink or basin. The operating element is coupled to the adjustment lever of the cartridge, which allows the user to adjust the temperature of the mixed water and the discharge rate of the mixed water via the operating element of the sanitary faucet. The other points are described in the description of the cartridge according to the present invention.

  The invention and the technical surroundings are explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings. It is to be noted that although a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings as suggested here, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

It is a figure which shows a sanitary faucet. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to the present invention. It is a top view of a cartridge provided with the control lever in the 1st rotation position. It is a top view of a cartridge provided with the control lever in the 2nd rotation position. It is a top view of the cartridge provided with the adjustment lever in the 3rd rotation position. FIG. 7 is a partial view of the cartridge with the adjustment lever in a first pivot position; FIG. 10 is a partial view of the cartridge with the adjustment lever in a second pivot position. FIG. 18 is a partial view of the cartridge with the adjustment lever in a third pivoted position; FIG. 7 is another partial view of the cartridge.

  The mode for carrying out the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

  The sanitary faucet 18 is shown in a perspective view in FIG. The sanitary faucet 18 has a faucet housing 19. In the faucet housing 19, a cartridge 1 for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water is disposed. For this purpose, hot water is supplied to the cartridge 1 through the hot water inlet 21 and cold water is supplied to the cartridge 1 through the cold water inlet 22 and mixed in the cartridge 1 to form mixed water. For this purpose, the cartridge 1 has an adjusting lever 3. The adjustment lever 3 is pivotable about the pivot axis 4 in order to regulate the temperature of the hot water, and is pivotable about the pivot axis 5 in order to regulate the amount of mixed water. The pivot axis 4 coincides with the longitudinal axis 20 of the housing 2 of the cartridge 1 in this embodiment. The adjusting lever 3 is attached to an operating element 27 in the form of a grip. The temperature of the mixed water and / or the discharge rate of the mixed water can be adjusted by the user via the operating element 27. The mixed water flows out through the outlet 24 through the mixed water outlet 23 following the cartridge 1.

  In FIG. 2, the cartridge 1 is shown in a perspective view. At the end of one end face side of the housing 2 of the cartridge 1, a locking ring 6 is inserted on the outer surface 7 of the housing 2. The locking ring 6 is pivotable relative to the housing 2 by means of the adjusting lever 3 together with the pivoting sleeve 29. The locking ring 6 has on the inner surface 8 two first locking portions 9 situated opposite one another. However, in FIG. 2, only one of the first locking portions 9 can be recognized. In the present embodiment, the first locking portion 9 is formed as a snap projection. In the pivoted position of the adjusting lever 3 shown in FIG. 2, the first locking portion 9 engages in each one first locking element 10 formed on the outer surface 7 of the housing 2. This first locking element 10 is formed as a groove in this embodiment. The first locking element 10 is formed in the area of the tubular section 25 of the housing 2. Furthermore, the cartridge 1 has an element 12 attached to the adjusting lever 3. This element 12 has on the first side 16 of the adjustment lever 3 a second catch 11 which is hidden in FIG. 2 and on the second side 17 of the adjustment lever 3 has a hold 14. doing. By means of this hold-down 14, the locking ring 6 is held on the outer surface 7 of the housing 2 parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the housing 2.

  A plan view of the cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the locking ring 6 is located at the first rotational position relative to the housing 2. In this first pivot position of the locking ring 6, the first locking portion 9 formed on the inner surface 8 of the locking ring 6 is provided on the outer surface 7 of the housing 2. It is locked inside. The locking ring 6 is pivotable by means of the adjusting lever 3 about a pivot axis 4 which extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane.

  4 is a plan view of the cartridge 1 after the locking ring 6 has been rotated relative to the housing 2 by about 10 ° in the clockwise direction about the rotation axis 4 by the adjustment lever 3. It is shown. As the first locking portion 9 is elastically displaced radially outward by the housing 2 by the rotation of the locking ring 6, the first locking portion 9 is no longer the first locking element 10 not engaged.

  In FIG. 5, the cartridge 1 is shown in plan view after the locking ring 6 has been further pivoted relative to the housing 2 in a clockwise direction about the pivot axis 4 by the adjusting lever 3. . In this third position, the first lock 9 is snapped into another first locking element 10 provided on the outer surface 7 of the housing 2. The locking of the first locking part 9 into this first locking element 10 generates an audible acoustic signal.

  A partial view of the cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. In this partial view, the first side 16 of the adjustment lever 3 can be seen. Here, the second locking element 13 can be recognized. The second locking element 13 is arranged between the adjusting lever 3 and the housing 2 and projects beyond this housing 2. The second locking element 13 is displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 of the housing 2 and is biased towards the second locking portion 11 of the element 12 by a spring 28. The adjusting lever 3 is pivotable here about a pivot axis 5, which extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane, in order to adjust the amount of mixed water. The adjustment lever 3 is shown in FIG. 6 in a first pivot position.

  A partial view of the cartridge 1 is likewise shown in FIG. In this partial view, the adjusting lever 3 is positioned in the second pivoting position after being adjusted clockwise around the pivot axis 5. By means of this pivoting, the second locking element 13 is further biased parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 against the spring force of the spring 28.

  FIG. 8 shows a partial view of the cartridge 1 after the adjusting lever 3 has also been pivoted clockwise around the pivot axis 5. In this third position of the adjusting lever 3, the second locking portion 11 reaches the groove 26. As a result, the second locking element 13 biased by the spring 28 is in contact with the second locking portion 11 with the groove 26.

  Another partial view of the cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. The second side 17 of the adjusting lever 3 is shown in FIG. Here, in particular the press 14 of the element 12 can be recognized. This hold-down 14 cooperates with, ie interacts with, the convex area 15 of the locking ring 6, whereby the lock ring 6 is held on the housing 2 by the hold-down 14.

  Furthermore, it is suggested that the illustrated combination of technical features is not always general, just to make sure. Thus, the technical features of one drawing may be combined with other technical features of the other drawing and / or other technical features of the overall specification. Something else applies only if a combination of features is explicitly indicated in the present application and / or if the person skilled in the art recognizes that otherwise the basic functions of the device can no longer be fulfilled Be done.

  The present invention makes it possible to avoid over control of the cartridge. At the same time the cartridge is advantageously superior in terms of reduced manufacturing costs.

Reference Signs List 1 cartridge 2 housing 3 adjustment lever 4 rotation axis 5 rotation axis 6 locking ring 7 outer surface 8 inner surface 9 first locking portion 10 first locking element 11 second locking portion 12 element 13 second engagement Stop element 14 Presser 15 Convex area 16 First side 17 Second side 18 Sanitary faucet 19 Water faucet housing 20 Longitudinal axis 21 Hot water inflow path 22 Cold water inflow path 23 Mixed water outflow path 24 Outflow port 25 Tubular section 26 groove 27 operating element 28 spring 29 pivoting sleeve

Claims (7)

In a cartridge (1) for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water, the cartridge (1) comprises at least:
It has a housing (2) in which an adjusting lever (3) is arranged at least partially in the housing (2), said adjusting lever (3) being pivoted about a pivot axis (4) Movable and pivotable about pivot axis (5);
It has a locking ring (6), which is at least partly arranged on the outer surface (7) of the housing (2) and by means of the adjusting lever (3) the housing (2) And the locking ring (6) further comprises at least one first locking portion (9) on the inner surface (8), said first engagement The stop (9) is elastically displaceable on pivoting of the locking ring (6) and at least one first locking element (10) provided on the outer surface (7) of the housing (2) Lockable inside;
It has at least one second locking element (13), which is pivotable with the adjusting lever (3) about the pivot axis (4) ;
It has at least one second stop (11), which is provided on an element (12) arranged on the adjusting lever (3), which pivots Lockable within the at least one second locking element (13) upon pivoting of the adjustment lever (3) about the axis (5);
A presser (14) is arranged on the element (12), by means of which the locking ring (6) is to be held on the outer surface (7) of the housing (2). A cartridge for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water, which is characterized.   At least one at the time of locking of the at least one first locking part (9) in the at least one first locking element (10) or at least one in the at least one second locking element (13) The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal is detectable when the second locking portion (11) is locked.   A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one second locking element (13) is at least partially arranged between the adjusting lever (3) and the housing (2).   At least one second locking element (13) is resiliently supported and at least one second locking portion (S) when pivoting the adjusting lever (3) about the pivot axis (5) A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, which is displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (2) by 11).   5. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hold-down (14) cooperates with the convex area (15) of the locking ring (6).   A hold-down (14) is arranged on the first side (16) of the adjustment lever (3) and at least one second stop (11) is on the second side of the adjustment lever (3) A cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, which is arranged in 17).   In a sanitary faucet (18), the sanitary faucet (18) comprises a faucet housing (19) and an operating element (27), the claim being at least partially within the faucet housing (19) 1. A sanitary faucet, characterized in that the cartridge (1) according to any one of 1 to 6 is arranged.