Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
  • E03C1/22—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks
  • E03C1/23—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks with mechanical closure mechanisms
  • E03C1/2304—Outlet devices mounted in basins, baths, or sinks with mechanical closure mechanisms the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via flexible elements, e.g. chain, Bowden cable
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
  • E03C1/24—Overflow devices for basins or baths
  • E03C1/242—Overflow devices for basins or baths automatically actuating supply or draining valves

Definitions

• Movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening
• the present invention relates to a movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening, in particular a drain opening of a sink or a washstand.
• a mechanical movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening of the sink which comprises a rotary actuation button provided on the top of the sink, which causes the closure element to move from an open position to a closed position or in the reverse direction when used by a user the sink is turned.
• the rotary movement of the rotary actuation button is converted into a linear movement of the closure element, for example by means of a cable connection.
• the present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a movement device for moving a closure element for closing a drain opening of a sink or a washbasin, which can be operated easily and reliably and has great flexibility in the design of the sink and the connections of the sink or Wash stands allowed.
• the movement device Since in the movement device according to the invention there is no longer any need for a mechanical drive train to be guided from a rotary actuation button to the closure element, the movement device is easier to assemble and can be designed more flexibly with regard to the arrangement, alignment and design of its components.
• the movement device can be switched off by means of a limit switch.
• the movement device comprises an electric motor.
• the movement device comprises an electrically operated servomotor.
• the electric motor can be provided with a reduction gear, in particular with a spur gear.
• the movement device comprises an electromagnet.
• the electromagnet comprises a movable element which can be moved from a first end position which is associated with the open position of the closure element to a second end position which is associated with the closed position of the closure element.
• the movement device comprises a coupling device, by means of which a linear movement of an element of the electromagnet can be converted into a rotary movement.
• such a coupling device comprises a Bowden cable.
• the movement device comprises a control device for controlling the drive element.
• control device comprises a programmable control device, in particular a microcontroller.
• the movement device comprises at least one actuating element for triggering movement of the closure element.
• Such an actuating element can comprise, for example, a switch, in particular a button.
• such an actuating element can comprise, for example, a capacitive sensor.
• the actuating element comprises a cover, preferably on the visible side, for the sensor.
• the cover is formed from a dielectric material.
• the actuating element comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor.
• the actuating element comprises a piezoelectric sensor.
• the actuating element comprises a cover that is movable relative to the sink or the washstand.
• the application of pressure to the cover then triggers a response of the pressure-sensitive sensor, while the cover which is movable relative to the sink or the wash basin is decoupled from the sink or the wash basin in such a way that a false triggering due to a pressure load on another part of the sink or the washstand is excluded.
• a preferred embodiment of the movement device provides that the actuating element has at least two sensors comprises detection areas which differ from one another, a movement of the closure element being triggered when one of the sensors responds and the other sensor does not respond.
• the actuating element comprises at least one sensor with adjustable sensitivity.
• the sensitivity can be set either on the sensor itself or by means of the control device of the movement device.
• the movement device comprises a sensor arranged in a housing.
• the actuating element is designed and arranged on the sink or the washstand in such a way that it does not protrude above the top of the area of the sink or washstand surrounding the actuation element. It is thus avoided that the actuating element forms an elevation on the sink or the washstand, which makes cleaning the surface of the sink or the washstand difficult and enables the accumulation of lime, dirt and / or bacteria.
• the actuating element is arranged on the underside of the sink or the washbasin, where it is particularly well protected against dirt and splash water.
• a marking for example a color marking, is preferably a local elevation on the sink or at the location of the top of the sink or washstand lying above the actuation element.
• the watch table or an embossing which indicates to the user the position of the actuating element.
• a drive train is provided for each closure element, the drive trains being selectively connectable to a drive motor via a coupling device.
• the movement device comprises a plurality of actuation elements, with each actuation element being able to trigger the movement of a closure element assigned to this actuation element.
• the movement device has at least one actuating element with which the movement can optionally be triggered by one of at least two closure elements. In this way, the number of actuating elements to be provided is reduced.
• the actuating element can be actuated in at least two mutually different types of actuation, each actuation type triggering a movement of a closure element assigned to the relevant actuation type.
• at least two of the actuation types of the actuation element differ with regard to the duration of a user's influence on the actuation element.
• one closure element is moved when the actuation element is operated for a long time and another closure element is moved when the actuation element is operated for a short time.
• At least two of the types of actuation differ from one another with regard to the number of actions of a user on the actuating element which follow one another within a predetermined time interval.
• a single action by a user triggers a movement of one locking element, while two successive actions by a user trigger the movement of another locking element within a predetermined time period.
• the movement device advantageously has an additional overflow protection function if the movement device comprises at least one sensor which, when a predetermined level is reached in a basin of the sink or the washbasin, triggers a movement of the closure element associated with the relevant basin into the open position.
• a capacitive sensor is preferably used as such an overflow sensor, which triggers an actuation signal due to the change in capacitance in the vicinity of the sensor due to the water rising in the detection area of the overflow protection sensor.
• the drive element is controlled so that it moves the closure element into an open position when the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and that the drive element moves the closure element into a closed position when the level in the basin unites falls below the second threshold, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold. Because the first and second threshold values are different from one another, a switching hysteresis is achieved which results in stable switching behavior of the control circuit comprising the overflow sensor, the drive element and a control device for the drive element.
• the overflow sensor generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level in the basin is above the first threshold value or below the second threshold value.
• At least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, a first overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is above the first threshold value, and a second overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is below the second threshold.
• the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into a first open position when the level in the basin exceeds a first threshold value, and that the drive element moves the closure element into a second open position when the level in the basin exceeds a second threshold value, the second threshold value being above the first threshold value and the drain opening being wider in the second open position than in the first open position.
• a drain opening is also to be regarded as “further open” if the size of the released drain opening does not change between the two open positions, but the closure element is further away from the drain opening in the second open position than in the first open position, so that access to the drain opening for the draining water is facilitated and the water can thus drain away more quickly.
• the level in the pool can be regulated particularly finely and the pool volume can be better utilized.
• the overflow sensor generates a signal from which it can be seen whether the level in the basin is above the first threshold value or above the second threshold value.
• At least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, a first overflow sensor generating a signal from which it can be seen whether the level is above the first threshold value and a second overflow sensor Signal generated from which it can be seen whether the level is above the second threshold.
• the drive element is controlled in such a way that it moves the closure element into an open position and leaves it in the open position for a predetermined minimum opening time when the level in the basin exceeds a threshold value.
• a stable switching behavior of the movement device can also be achieved if a digital overflow sensor is used which only indicates the presence of water in the detection area of the overflow sensor, without information about the level of the level being able to be derived from the sensor signal.
• the drive element is controlled such that it moves the closure element into a closed position after the minimum opening time has elapsed, if the level in the basin falls below the threshold value after the minimum opening time has elapsed.
• At least two overflow sensors are arranged on the basin, with a movement of the closure element is only triggered by the drive element when at least two of these overflow sensors indicate an elevated water level in the basin.
• the at least two overflow sensors are arranged on mutually different side walls of the basin.
• the movement device comprises a signal device with a signal generator which generates a signal which can be perceived by a user when the closure element is moved by means of the drive element.
• the signaling device generates a signal which can be perceived by a user when the closure element is moved as a result of a signal from an overflow sensor, that is to say without the user himself having caused the movement of the closure element by actuating an actuating device.
• Such a signal device can in particular comprise an optical signal transmitter.
• the signal device comprises an acoustic signal transmitter.
• the signal transmitter is arranged on the underside of a sink or a washstand.
• the signal transmitter In order to inform the user in as much detail as possible about the respective operating state of the movement device, it is advantageous if the signal transmitter generates at least two, preferably at least three, different signals which are assigned to different operating states of the movement device.
• the movement device comprises at least one actuating element for triggering a movement of the closure element and a control device connected to the actuating element, which can be switched into a “teach” mode, in which one of a user preferred type of actuation of the actuating element is adjustable.
• the control device When the “teach” mode is switched on, the user of the sink or the washstand can set his own way of actuating the actuating element, that is to say the control device “learns” in the “teach” mode whether the user is, for example, a short or a short long contact time with the actuating element is preferred in order to trigger actuation of the movement device.
• the user repeats his preferred type of actuation of the actuating element several times in succession when the "Teach" mode is switched on, the control device in each case registering the length of the actuation duration.
• the control device After switching from the "teach" mode to the normal working mode of the control device, the control device only reacts to an actuation of the actuation element if the actuation duration corresponds to the actuation durations "taught" during the "teach” mode.
• a preferred number of actuation pulses that follow one another in a predetermined time interval can also be “learned” by the control device in the “teach” mode.
• Claim 44 is directed to a sink or a washstand, which comprises the at least one drain opening and a closure element for closing the at least one drain opening and a movement device according to the invention for moving the closure element to close the drain opening.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a movement device for moving a closure element for closing the drain opening of a sink, which comprises a control device, an actuating device, a power supply and a drive device for the closure element.
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a sink with a movement device for moving the closure element for closing the drain opening
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view from below of the sink from FIG. 2;
• FIGS. 2 and 3 shows a schematic view from behind of the sink from FIGS. 2 and 3;
• FIGS. 2 to 4 shows a schematic side view from the left of the sink from FIGS. 2 to 4;
• FIGS. 2 to 5 shows a schematic side view from the right of the sink from FIGS. 2 to 5;
• FIGS. 2 to 6 shows a schematic section through the sink from FIGS. 2 to 6 in the region of an actuating device of the movement device of the sink;
• FIG. 8 shows an enlarged representation of area I from FIG. 7;
• FIG. 10 shows a schematic section through a pressure-sensitive actuating device
• FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a drain valve assembly including a drain port with a closure member and an actuator for moving the closure member with the closure member in a closed position; 12 shows a schematic section through the drain valve arrangement from FIG. 11, the closure element being in a closed position;
• FIG. 13 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 11, the closure element being in an open position
• FIG. 14 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 12, the closure element being in an open position
• FIG. 15 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a movement device for moving a closure element for closing the drain opening of a sink, the movement device comprising an electromagnet as the drive element;
• FIG. 16 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a sink with the second embodiment of a movement device
• FIG. 17 shows a further perspective illustration of a sink with the second embodiment of a movement device
• Figure 18 is a bottom plan view of the sink of Figures 16 and 17;
• FIGS. 16 to 18 shows a schematic view from behind of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 18;
• FIGS. 16 to 19 shows a schematic side view from the left of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 19;
• FIGS. 16 to 20 shows a schematic side view from the right of the sink from FIGS. 16 to 20;
• FIG. 22 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a third embodiment of a movement device with an overflow sensor
• FIG. 23 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a fourth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors arranged one above the other;
• FIG. 24 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a fifth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors arranged at the same height
• FIG. 25 shows a schematic section through a basin of a sink with a sixth embodiment of a movement device with two overflow sensors and a signal transmitter.
• 1 to 14 designated as a whole by 100, comprises a substantially horizontal sink surface 102, in which a main basin 104 and a smaller and less deep additional basin 106 are arranged and over which a battery bank arranged behind the additional basin 106 is located 107 rises.
• the additional basin 106 is provided at its bottom with a drain opening 108.
• the main pool 104 is provided with a drain opening 110 at its bottom.
• the drain opening 110 of the main basin 104 is arranged at the bottom 126 of a drain opening recess 112 which protrudes downward from the bottom 114 of a closure element receiving recess 116.
• the closure element receiving recess 116 in turn protrudes downward from the bottom 118 of the main basin 104.
• the drain opening 110 can be closed by means of a closure element 120, which is essentially rotationally symmetrical about a vertical closure element axis 122.
• the closure element 120 comprises a substantially cylindrical closure element base body 124 which passes through a central through hole in the bottom 126 of the drain opening recess 112.
• the central through hole at the bottom 126 of the drain opening recess 112 is surrounded by a plurality of further through holes 128, through which water can exit from the drain opening recess 112 downward into an angled drain pipe piece 130.
• the upper section of the closure element base body 124 is surrounded in a collar-like manner by a strainer basket element 132.
• the sieve basket element 132 is provided with sieve through openings 134 distributed equidistantly along its circumference.
• a sealing collar 136 Arranged below the strainer basket element 132 is a sealing collar 136 which likewise surrounds the closure element base body 124 and from whose outer edge projects an elastic sealing lip 138 which surrounds the sealing collar 136 in an annular manner.
• this sealing lip 138 bears against the inner edge of the bottom 114 of the closure element receiving recess 116 and thus prevents water from the closure element receiving recess 116 into the drain opening recess 112 in the closed position arrives.
• the closure element 120, the closure element receiving recess 116 and the drain opening recess 112 together form a drain valve arrangement 139.
• the closure element main body 124 is displaceably guided in a hollow cylindrical holding sleeve 140 along the closure element axis 122.
• a lever 144 engages, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotary shaft 148 which is rotatable about its axis of rotation 146.
• the rotary shaft 148 can be driven to rotate about the axis of rotation 146 by means of an electric servomotor 150 (see FIGS. 11 and 13).
• the electric servomotor 150 forms a drive unit 152 for the closure element 120, which is connected to a control device 158 (see FIG. 1) by means of power supply lines 154, 156.
• the control device 158 comprises a programmable microcontroller arranged in a housing 160.
• the control device 158 is connected via signal lines 162, 164 to an actuating device 165 which comprises an actuating element 166 which is arranged, for example, on the underside of the battery bank 107.
• the actuating element 166 comprises a sensor 168, which can be designed, for example, as a capacitive sensor 168a or as a piezoelectric sensor 168b.
• the actuating element 166 comprises a housing 170 in which the sensor 168 is arranged on a sensor board 169 and which is inserted into a suitable recess 172 on the underside of the sink 100.
• This recess 172 can in particular be an additional tap hole, which is usually present on the sink 100 anyway.
• the housing 170 can be designed, for example, as an essentially cylindrical plastic housing, which is fixed in the recess 172 by an interference fit.
• the housing 170 is glued to the underside of the sink 100.
• the housing 170 is fixed to the underside of the sink 100 by means of screws and / or rivets which engage in fastening holes provided on the underside of the sink 100.
• the sink 100 is a cast from a plastic material or a composite material, it can be provided that an additional retaining lug is cast onto the underside of the sink 100, on which the housing 170 by a suitable fastening means, for example a screw or a mounting pin.
• a capacitive sensor 168a is particularly suitable for use on a sink 100 made of a plastic material or a composite material. Such a capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance which arises in that a user of the sink 100 introduces a body part, for example a finger, into the detection area of the sensor 168.
• the capacitive sensor can detect the change in capacitance caused by the user's finger, it is necessary that between the Sensor 168a and the detection area is arranged a dielectric medium that is not electrically conductive.
• a plastic material or a composite material fulfills this requirement, so that the capacitive sensor 168a can easily be arranged on the underside of a sink 100 made of such a material without further precautions.
• the sink 100 In the case of a sink 100, which is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular of a chromium-nickel stainless steel, the sink 100 must be provided with a through opening into which a dielectric material, for example a pane made of a glass ceramic, is inserted, in order to protect the sensor 168a arranged under the dielectric material from environmental influences, in particular from splash water, and at the same time to enable the detection of a change in capacitance in the detection region 174 of the sensor.
• a dielectric material for example a pane made of a glass ceramic
• the senor 168 or a housing 170 in which the sensor 168 is arranged can be fixed to the pane made of the dielectric material, for example glued or screwed onto this pane.
• the sensitivity of the sensor 168 is set so that it only triggers an actuation signal that is transmitted to the control device 158 when it is over a change in capacitance in the detection area 174, which is generated when the top of the sink 100 is touched in the detection area 174 by a finger of a user.
• the capacitive sensor 168a can be designed as a two-zone sensor with an inner sensor, which detects a change in capacitance in a central, circular detection area 174a, and an outer sensor, which detects a change in capacitance in an outer detection area 174b surrounding the inner detection area 174a.
• both detection areas 174a and 174b are touched by a larger object or by water on the top of the sink, both the inner and the outer sensor each generate an actuation signal which is transmitted to the microcontroller. In this case, the microcontroller ignores the actuation signals since they cannot be attributed to the actuation element 166 being actuated properly.
• the microcontroller ignores any actuation signal that is only generated by the outer sensor due to touching the outer detection area 174b.
• the sink 100 is made of a metallic conductive material, for example of a chromium-nickel steel, then a piezo crystal sensor 168b is preferably used, which is arranged on the underside of the sink 100 and reacts to pressure caused by the (relatively thin) Material of the sink 100 is transferred.
• the shifting of lattice planes in the piezo crystal creates an electrical current which is transmitted as an electrical signal via the signal lines 162, 164 to the microcontroller of the control device 158.
• the actuating element 166 comprises a movable plate 176, for example made of metal, which is inserted into a correspondingly shaped cutout of the sink 100 and relative to the sink 100 (in is essentially perpendicular to the top of the sink), so that the plate 176 receives a compressive force illustrated by the double arrow 178, but does not transmit it to the sink 100.
• the piezo crystal sensor 168b Arranged on the underside of the plate 176 is the piezo crystal sensor 168b, which detects a pressure load on the plate 176. Since in this embodiment of the actuating element 166 the plate 176 is decoupled from the rest of the upper side of the sink 100 by the sensor 168b, a false triggering of the sensor 168 due to a pressure load on the sink 100 outside the plate 176 is excluded.
• the microcontroller of the control device 158 receives a signal via the signal lines 162, 164 when the sensor 168 responds, depending on which of the microcontrollers controls the servomotor 150.
• the response of the microcontroller to the signal coming from sensor 168 depends on the software installed in the microcontroller.
• the microcontroller can be set so that the sensitivity of the sensor 168 can be influenced.
• the microcontroller, the electric servomotor 150 and the actuating element 166 are supplied with the required electrical power by means of a power supply unit 180 which can be connected to the public power supply and which is connected to the control device 158 via a power cable 182.
• the drive unit 152, the control device 158, the actuating device 165 and the power pack 180 together form a movement device 183 for moving the closure element 120 of the drain valve arrangement 139.
• the movement device it can also be provided that the microcontroller and the sensor 168 are not housed in different housings, but in a common housing.
• the microcontroller of the control device 158 can have a so-called “teach” mode, which can be switched on and off by a switch arranged on the microcontroller, for example.
• the user of the sink 100 can set his own way of actuating the actuating element 166, that is to say the microcontroller “learns” in the “teach” mode whether the user has a short or a long contact time the sensor field preferred to trigger actuation of the movement device.
• the user repeats his preferred type of actuation of the actuating element 166 several times in succession when the “teach” mode is switched on, the microcontroller in each case registering the length of the actuation period.
• the microcontroller After switching off the "teach” mode, the microcontroller only reacts to actuation of the actuating element 166 if the actuation duration corresponds to the actuation durations "taught" during the "teach” mode.
• the microcontroller of the control device 158 receives an actuation signal from the actuating element 166, which is recognized as a regular actuation signal on the basis of the conditions defined in the control program of the microcontroller, the microcontroller controls on the basis of this Actuation signal a movement of the closure element 120 by means of the electric servomotor 150, in that the circuit containing the power supply lines 154, 156 of the servomotor 150 is closed.
• the polarity of the servomotor supply circuit is set by the microcontroller so that after the circuit is closed, the rotary shaft 148 rotates in the direction around the axis of rotation 146 which the closure element 120 has from its current position (for example that in FIGS. 11 and 12 shown closed position) in the other position (for example, the open position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) moved.
• the electric servomotor 150 is set in such a way that it rotates the rotary shaft 148 comparatively slowly, for example at a rotational speed of approximately 5 revolutions per minute.
• This slow rotation of the rotary shaft 148 is achieved in that a gear with a very low transmission ratio of, for example, 1000: 1 is connected between the servomotor 150 and the rotary shaft 148.
• the comparatively slow rotation and therefore slow movement of the closure element 120 is generally more pleasant for users of the sink 100 than a quick opening or closing.
• the angular distance between the positions of the rotary shaft 148 and the lever 144 in the closed position on the one hand and the open position on the other hand is approximately 40 °, for example.
• the lever 144 In the closed position and in the open position of the closure element 120, the lever 144 abuts a lower and upper stop, respectively.
• the electric servomotor 150 draws a higher current by blocking the rotary shaft 148. This increase in current is registered by the microcontroller of the control device 158, whereupon the microcontroller switches off the electric servomotor 150 by opening the supply circuit.
• the microcontroller's reaction to the current increase takes place within a very short time, for example within a few milliseconds, which ensures that the electric servomotor 150 is not unnecessarily loaded.
• the servomotor 150 is switched off by means of limit switches, in particular limit switches, which are actuated when the closed position or the open position is reached.
• the microcontroller of the control device 158 After opening the circuit, the microcontroller of the control device 158 reverses the polarity of the supply circuit of the servomotor 150, so that the servomotor 150 rotates in the other direction the next time the actuating element 166 is actuated (i.e. after the closing element 120 has been closed, back to the open position and after an opening process of the closure element 120 back to the closed position).
• a direct current small geared motor can be used as the electric servomotor, as it is sold under the name 1.61.065.428 by Buhler Motor GmbH in 90212 Nuremberg, Germany. This motor is equipped with a spur gear.
• a movement device for the closure element 120 of a sink 100 could it can also be provided that the drain opening 108 of the additional basin 106 of the sink 100 is also provided with a closure element which, by means of an additional drive unit, which is also controlled by the control device 158, moves from the closed position to the open position or from the open position to the closed position is movable.
• the actuation device 165 of the movement device 183 comprises two sensors 168, each of which is assigned to one of the closure elements 120 are such that the actuation of one sensor triggers a movement of the closure element 120 for the drain opening 110 of the main basin 104 and the actuation of the other sensor triggers a movement of the closure element for the drain opening 108 of the additional basin 106.
• the movement device 183 for the closure element (s) 120 of the sink 100 can be triggered in addition to actuation by means of the actuation element 166 by automatic actuation when a predetermined water level is reached in the respectively assigned basin 104 or 106 of the sink 100.
• an additional sensor (not shown) is mounted on the relevant pool 104 or 106 instead of the conventional overflow valve.
• This sensor is designed as a capacitive sensor and thus serves as a water detector which, when the capacitance changes due to the rise in the water level, produces an electrical signal which is forwarded to the microcontroller of the control device 158.
• the microcontroller of the control device 158 controls the electric servomotor 150 of the relevant drive unit 152 in such a way that that the respective closure element 120 is moved into the open position by rotating the rotary shaft 148. In this way, the drain opening of the relevant pool is released so that the water can drain from this pool and overflow of the water is prevented.
• a second embodiment of a movement device 183 for the sink 100 shown in FIGS. 15 to 21 differs from the first embodiment described above only in that the drive unit 152 for driving the movement of the closure element 120 comprises an electromagnet 184 instead of an electric servomotor 150 , which has a movable armature (not shown) which, when the electromagnet 184 is switched on, is moved into one of two end positions by means of the microcontroller of the control device 158, depending on the polarity of the supply circuit of the electromagnet 184 set by the microcontroller, a first of which the closed position of the closure element 120 and a second of the open position of the closure element 120 is assigned.
• the drive unit 152 for driving the movement of the closure element 120 comprises an electromagnet 184 instead of an electric servomotor 150 , which has a movable armature (not shown) which, when the electromagnet 184 is switched on, is moved into one of two end positions by means of the microcontroller of the control device 158, depending on the
• the movable armature of the electromagnet 184 is connected to the rotary shaft 148 by means of a Bowden cable 186, the rotary shaft end of the wire core of the Bowden cable 186 engaging in the circumferential direction on the circumference of the rotary shaft 148, so that a linear movement of the wire core of the Bowden cable 186 causes a rotation of the Rotary shaft 148 around the axis of rotation 146 results.
• the closure element 120 is also moved from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position back to the open position by means of the electromagnet 184 and the Bowden cable 186 in the second embodiment, if the actuating element 166 is more suitable Is actuated in a manner or when an overflow protection sensor arranged on one of the basins 104, 106 responds, as in the first embodiment by means of the servomotor 150.
• the polarity of the supply circuit of the electromagnet 184 is reversed by the microcontroller of the control device 158 in order to change the direction of movement of the closure element 120 for the next movement thereof.
• the second embodiment of a movement device 183 for the closure element 120 of the drain opening 110 of the sink 100 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment, to the above description of which reference is made in this regard.
• a third embodiment, shown in FIG. 22, of a movement device 183 for the closure element 120 of the drain opening 110 of the basin 104 of the sink 100 differs from the two embodiments described above in that the movement device 183 alternatively or in addition to one operated by a user of the sink Actuating element 166 comprises an overflow sensor 188 which is arranged in the upper region of a side wall 190 of the main basin 104 of the sink 100.
• the overflow sensor 188 is designed as a capacitive sensor, which is connected to the control device 158 of the movement device 182 via a signal line (not shown) and sends a sensor signal to the control device 158 when the water level 192 in the basin 104 reaches the detection range of the overflow sensor 188 rises.
• the overflow sensor 188 can also be designed as a resistance measuring sensor which comprises two electrodes which are inserted in a side wall or in two side walls of the basin at the desired height and which are connected to different electrical potentials, so that a current flows as soon as the water in the pool 104 has risen to the height at which the electrodes are arranged.
• the overflow sensor 188 can in particular be designed as an analog sensor, the sensor signal of which varies depending on the level 192 of the water in the basin 104, so that a certain level 192 can be assigned to the amount of the sensor signal.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 of the actuating device 165 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved from the closed position into an open position, in which water from the basin 104 can drain through the drain opening 110.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved back from the open position into the closed position, in which the closure element 120 closes the drain opening 110 so that no more water flows out of the basin 104.
• a switching hysteresis is generated by the provision of a dead time (by means of a dead time element in the evaluation circuit of the sensor or in the control device 158).
• the overflow sensor 188 is designed as a digital sensor which sends a constant-sized sensor signal to the control device 158 as long as the level 192 is in the detection range of the overflow sensor 188.
• the control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into the open position and during a minimum opening time remains in the open position. If the overflow sensor ⁇ still reports after the minimum opening time that there is water in its detection area, the closing element 120 remains in the open position for a further predetermined period of time, after the expiration of which the signal from the overflow sensor 188 is again queried.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 so that the closure element 120 is moved back into the closed position. A stable switching behavior of the movement device 183 is also achieved in this way.
• the control of the drive unit 152 by the control device 158 can take place in both cases, ie when using an analog or a digital overflow sensor 188, with or without a time delay.
• each of these basins can be provided with an overflow sensor 188 which, when a threshold value for the level 192 in the basin in question is exceeded, causes a movement of the closure element 120 of the relevant basin Beckens triggers in an open position.
• overflow sensor 188 With the help of the overflow sensor 188, overflow of the water from the basin of the sink 100, which is monitored with the aid of the relevant overflow sensor 188, is reliably prevented. In the basin monitored with the aid of an overflow sensor 188, the otherwise conventional overflow opening can therefore be omitted.
• a fourth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 23 differs from the third embodiment described above in that two overflow sensors 188 and 194 are arranged at different heights on one of the side walls 190 of the basin 104 on a monitored basin 104 of the sink 100.
• the two overflow sensors 188, 194 could also be arranged on different side walls of the basin 104.
• the two overflow sensors 188, 194 can each be an analog or a digital sensor.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into a first open position, in which the drain opening 110 is partially for the Outflow of water from the pool 104 is released.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved into a second open position, in which the Drain opening 110 is completely released for the drainage of water from the pool 104.
• control device 158 controls the drive unit 152 in such a way that the closure element 120 is moved back into the closed position.
• This embodiment offers the advantage that the level 192 in the basin 104 can be regulated more precisely and the basin volume can be better utilized.
• moving the closure element 120 into the first open position serves as a warning for the user of the sink, which alerts the user to the excessive rise in the water level 192.
• Such fine adjustment of the level 192 can also be realized with a single analog overflow sensor 188, if the control device 158, depending on the sensor signal, moves the closure element 120 into the first open position when a first threshold value is reached and when a second threshold value above the first threshold value is reached triggers a movement of the closure element 120 into the second open position.
• a fifth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 24 differs from the third embodiment shown in FIG. 22 in that, in addition to the first overflow sensor 188, a second overflow sensor 196 is provided on the monitored pool 104, which is at the same height as the first Overflow sensor 188 is arranged on a further side wall 198 of the basin 104 opposite the side wall 190.
• the closure element 120 is only moved into the open position when both the overflow sensor 188 and the overflow sensor 196 report the presence of water in their respective detection areas.
• the sensor signals of both overflow sensors 188, 196 are logically AND-linked by the control device 158.
• a single overflow sensor 188 or 196 causes an unnecessary opening of the drain opening 110 by a sensor signal which has been triggered by water splashes and / or briefly splashing up water.
• a further overflow sensor arranged at the same height on another side wall of the basin 104 could be provided, with the sensor signal of one of the overflow sensors 188 or 194 is only taken into account by the control device 158 if it is confirmed by the second sensor assigned to the respective overflow sensor 188 or 194.
• a sixth embodiment of the movement device 183 shown in FIG. 25 differs from the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the movement device 183 additionally comprises a signal transmitter 200 which informs a user of the sink by means of a signal which can be perceived by the same that this Closure element 120 is moved by means of the drive unit 152.
• the signal generator 200 can be an optical signal generator which (for example by means of an LED) generates a light signal.
• the signal transmitter 200 is arranged on the underside of the sink 100.
• the region of the sink 100 above the signal transmitter 200 is then preferably made with a sufficiently small material thickness to allow light from the signal transmitter 200 to pass through the sink 100.
• the signal generator 200 can also be designed as an acoustic signal generator.
• the signal generator 200 is preferably designed such that it can generate different signals depending on the respective operating state of the movement device 183.
• an acoustic signal generator 200 generates the following signals depending on the respective operating state of the movement device 183:
• an optical signal transmitter 200 it is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the actuating element 166 of the actuating device 165 on the sink 100, because this area of the sink requires special attention from the user.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Sink And Installation For Waste Water (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-07-24 DE DE10333658A patent/DE10333658A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2004
  • 2004-07-15 JP JP2006520740A patent/JP2006528738A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2004-07-15 CN CNB2004800210451A patent/CN100529282C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-07-15 EP EP04741025A patent/EP1649114A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-07-15 RU RU2006105477/03A patent/RU2370599C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-07-15 DE DE202004021417U patent/DE202004021417U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-15 CA CA2532843A patent/CA2532843C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-07-15 DE DE202004021416U patent/DE202004021416U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-15 WO PCT/EP2004/007830 patent/WO2005012657A1/de active Application Filing
• 2005
  • 2005-12-28 US US11/321,683 patent/US20060156460A1/en not_active Abandoned

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