WO2006034757A1

WO2006034757A1 - Sanitary fitting comprising a spray generator

Info

Publication number: WO2006034757A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/009087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Horst Kunkel
Original assignee: Hansa Metallwerke Ag
Priority date: 2004-09-28
Filing date: 2005-08-23
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Also published as: DE102004046943A1; EP1797249A1; DE102004046943B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting (1) comprising an especially electronic actuating device (28) for a control unit (22) for controlling the water temperature and/or the water flow rate in a water outlet (10). The inventive sanitary fitting also comprises a controllable spray generator (3) provided with at least one spray outlet channel (12) that leads to the outside atmosphere.

Description

SANITARY ARM WITH FOGGERS

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting with a particular electronic Betä¬ tigungsvorrichtung for a control unit for controlling the water temperature and / or the water flow rate in a water outlet,

The demands on the comfort of sanitary fittings, especially in bathrooms are constantly growing. Also on sanitary fittings, which are used in particular in bathing and Well¬ nesszentren, ever greater demands, especially in the field of aesthetics and hygiene, made. Therefore, the manufacturers are constantly looking for further developments.

Object of the present invention is to design a sanitary fitting of the input genann¬ th type so that in addition to the output of water insbesonde¬ also visual effects are possible. In addition, the sanitary fitting should be easy to use.

This object is achieved in that the sanitary fitting has a controllable mist generator with at least one mist outlet channel, which leads to the outside atmosphere.

According to the invention, both the water dispenser and the fog dispenser are possible with the sanitary fitting. The control can be done here with the already existing control unit after appropriate reprogramming, there are only additional actuators required.

It is advantageous if the mist outlet channel opens into an area of the water outlet, so that the water outlet is covered with fog,

An advantageous embodiment provides that the mist generator comprises an ultrasonic nebulizer for water. With the ultrasonic mist can be generated technically simple and efficient from water fog. In addition, an ultrasonic nebler with low energy consumption is operable. It is particularly expedient that the Wasserausiauf is connected to a water tank of the mist generator. In this way, it is possible to dispense with a separate water supply for the mist generator.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a mist outlet channel of the mist generator opens into the water outlet, so that the mist emerges at the same point as the water, and the impression arises that the mist originates from the exiting water.

It is particularly expedient for the mist generator to have a metering device for at least one replenisher with which the replenisher can be fed to the mist generator or the mist in a predeterminable amount.

Preferably, the supplement is a fragrance or a water and / or a room air treatment agent, in particular a disinfectant, so that already in a region of the water outlet a pleasant fragrance is spread, or possible pathogens are killed.

In order to significantly enhance the visual effect, the sanitary fitting may have at least one light source for illuminating the exiting water and / or the exiting mist.

A further advantageous embodiment has at least one UV light source with which disinfection can be carried out in an area which is at risk for the occurrence of microorganisms, in particular Legionella.

It is preferred that the actuation device has separate actuation means for the water supply and the mist supply, so that the water supply and the mist supply can be switched on and off separately from one another, in particular,

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing; show it

FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial side section through a first embodiment of a sanitary fitting with an ultrasonic mist maker; FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the sanitary fitting shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically shows the front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a sanitary appliance whose actuation elements are provided with motifs.

In the figures 1 and 2, a sanitary fitting 1 with a water unit 2 and a fog unit 3 2ur mist generation is shown, which are arranged in a housing 5.

The housing 5 has the rough shape of a triangle in the side view. A right in Figure 1 front wall 6 of the housing 5 and a bottom 7 are perpendicular to each other. A left in Figure 1 rear wall 8 of the housing 5 has a convex surface viewed from the outside.

Through the front wall 6, a water and mist outlet 10 is approximately centered; About two thirds of the length of the water and mist outlet 10 lie within the housing 5.

The water and mist outlet 10 has the shape of a hollow cuboid, which is open aa of his right in Figure 1 end face. In addition, the right third of the upper wall 9 of the cuboid is cut off. Its side walls each have a recess 40, which essentially has the shape of a circular section with the central angle 90 °. The water and mist outlet 10 thus forms, with its lower wall and its side walls, a guide for the outflowing water. The recesses 40 in the side walls and the open area of the upper wall 9 can later leak out.

In the water and mist outlet 10 opens in a region within the housing 5 in its lower wall, a water supply line 11, which leads to a Miachventil, not shown, the water supply line 11 runs parallel to the lower part of the front wall 6 of the housing. 5 In the upper wall 9 of the water and mist outlet 10 opens a mist channel 12, which comes from the fog unit 3.

The fog unit 3 comprises a water tank 13, which is arranged on the bottom 7 of the housing 5. In the water tank 13 is an ultrasonic mist 14, with the water from the water mist can be generated. About the ultrasonic mist 14 a mist channel funnel 15 is arranged, the wide opening of the ultrasonic nebulizer 14 completely surmounted. The mist channel funnel 15 narrows upward in FIG. 1 and merges into the mist channel 12,

The mist channel 12 extends upwards. It is bent in its upper part slightly above the water and mist outlet 10 by 180 ° to the right, so that its end from above into the upper wall 9 of the water and Nebelauslaufs 10 tastes.

In the wall of the mist channel funnel 15, a plurality of continuous supply air openings 16 are arranged, through which supply air from the housing 5 can flow into the interior of the mist channel funnel 15.

Furthermore, in the water tank 13, a water level sensor 17 is mounted at the level of the lower edge of the mist duct funnel 15. In addition, the water tank 13 in its right-hand wall at the level of the water level sensor 17 has an opening for a water water passage 18 in FIG Figure 1 down leads in a spout, not shown.

In order to be able to attack the water tank 13, a water filling channel 19 is provided which leads from the left-hand area of the lower wall of the water and mist outlet 10 to the water tank 13. In the water filling channel 19 is a water filling valve 20, with which the water supply to the water tank 13 can be controlled.

Above the mist channel funnel 15, a fan 21 is arranged in a continuous opening in the rear wall 8 of the housing 5, with which air can be blown from a region outside the housing 5 into its interior. The fan 21, the water filling valve 20, the ultrasonic nebulizer 14 and the water level sensor 17 are connected via signal lines, not shown, to a control unit 22 located below the water and mist outlet 10 in front of the lower area of the front wall 6 of the housing 5 to the right of the water supply line 11 is arranged.

In the housing 5, a dispensing device 23 for fragrances is furthermore arranged, which essentially comprises a fragrance container 24 and a dosing unit 25 for the fragrance.

The perfume container 24 is located in the upper region of the housing 5. It has in its upper wall a closed with a lid filling opening 26 for liquid fragrances.

The perfume container 24 is connected to the interior of the mist channel funnel 15 via a metering line 27. In the dosing 27, the dosing unit 25 is arranged. The dosing unit 25 is likewise connected to the control unit 22 by means of a signal line, not shown, and can be controlled with it.

On the outside of the front wall 6 of the housing 5, an actuating device 28 for the sanitary fitting 1 is disposed above the water outlet 10. The actuating device 28 is connected to the control unit 22 via signal lines (not shown).

The actuating device 28 has twelve sensor elements 30, which are arranged in a matrix consisting of four columns, each with three rows 31, 32, 33 (FIG. 2).

The sensor elements 30 of the upper row 31 are used in Figure 2 from left to right to turn on and off the flow of water, switch on and off the fog generation and the fragrance addition on and off. With the sensor elements 30 of the middle row 32, the water volume flow, the water temperature, the amount of mist and the amount of perfume can be increased from left to right in FIG. 2.

With the sensor elements 30 of the lower row 33, the water volume flow, the water temperature, the amount of mist and amount of fragrance can be reduced in FIG. 2 from left to right.

The front wall 6 of the housing 5 is covered with a flat, in plan view quadrati¬ rule laminated glass 34 which has a rectangular opening in the region of the water and Nebelaus¬ 10 whose shape is similar to the shape of the water and Nebelauslaufs 10, but is substantially larger, so that a gap 35 between the water and mist outlet 10 and the laminated glass 34 remains (Figure 2).

In the intermediate space 35, a plurality of light-emitting diodes 36 are circumferentially arranged such that they shine away from the water and fog outlet 10, parallel to the front wall 6 of the housing 5, into the laminated glass pane 34, so that it is illuminated internally.

The sensor elements 30 are formed as a metallic coating of the laminated glass pane 34.

Below the lower wall of the water and Nebelauslaufs 10 a plurality of light-emitting diodes 37 is also arranged along a row. The light-emitting diodes 37 are inclined by about 45 ° relative to the lower wall of the water and mist outlet 10, so that they radiate into a region 38 in FIG. 1 obliquely right below the water and mist outlet 10 in order to illuminate escaping water. For protection against moisture and dirt located in front of the LEDs 37, a light-permeable cover 39, which has the shape of a jacket portion of a circular hollow cylinder with a central angle of 90 °.

In order to start and adjust the water flow, the user must actuate the corresponding sensor elements 30 of the two left-hand columns. It will not illustrated mixer valve controlled by the control unit 22 in order to provide the set water volume flow with the desired water temperature at Was¬ ser- and mist outlet 10.

If the user actuates the sensor element 30 to switch on the fog unit 3 in the left-hand column, lower row 33, the water-filling valve 20 is opened, if necessary, so that water from the water and mist suction 10 passes through the water-filling channel 19 can flow to the water tank 13. As soon as the water level has reached the level of the water level sensor 17, a sensor signal is transmitted by the latter to the control unit 22 in order to close the water filling valve 20.

The water level now extends just beyond the edge of the Nebelkanaltrichters 15 addition. In the event that the water filling valve 20 is not closed in time or not at all because of a malfunction, excess water drains out of the water tank 13 via the water overflow 18.

Thereafter, the ultrasonic mist 14 is started to generate water mist. Die¬ ser collects in the area above the ultrasonic nebulizer 14 in. Interior of the mist channel funnel 15. At the same time the fan 21 is started, is blown with the air in the housing 5, Since no other openings in the housing 5 are present, the air flows through the air inlet openings 16 in the wall of the Nebelkanaltrich- ters 15 into its interior , Here it mixes with the mist and is blown up as a mist-air mixture through the mist channel 12 and escapes into the water and mist outlet 10. In the water and mist outlet 10, the mist then emerges from the open area of the upper wall. 9 and the recesses 40 in the Seiten¬ winds.

In order to increase or decrease the amount of mist, the respective sensor element 30 of the right-hand of the two middle columns in FIG. 2 is actuated in the middle or lower row 32, 33 of the actuating device 28. Then the power of the fan 21 and the ultrasonic nebulizer 14 is enlarged or reduced accordingly. In order to additionally add odor to the mist, the sensor element 30 of the upper row 31 in FIG. 2 is actuated in the right-hand column. Then, with the control unit 22, the dosing unit 25 is activated, so that perfume is supplied from the dosing container 24 through the dosing line 27 to the interior of the mist channel 15, where it is mixed with the supply air and the mist, the amount of added fragrance is set via the sensor elements 30 of the right-hand column in the middle and lower rows 32, 33 in FIG

FIG. 3 shows the front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a sanitary fitting 201. The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the sensor elements 230 increase or decrease the water volume flow, the water temperature, the amount of mist and the Duftstoffinenge in the middle and lower row 232, 233 are each deposited with a preferably colored motif, which indicates the respective function.

The sensor element 230 for increasing the water volume flow in the left column of the middle row 232 has a representation of a multiplicity of stylized water drops, the sensor element 230 for reducing the water flow in the lower row 233 shows a representation with a few water drops,

The sensor element 230 for increasing the water temperature in the left of the middle columns of the middle row 232 is dark in Figure 3, in reality preferably red, which is bright to reduce the water temperature in the lower row 233 in Figure 3, in reality preferably blue deposited.

The sensor element 230 for increasing the amount of mist in the right of the middle columns of the middle row 232 has a shade of many dots, that for reducing the amount of mist in the lower row 233 has shading of a few dots.

On the sensor elements 230 for increasing the amount of fragrance in the right-hand column of the middle row 232 are large cloudy clouds on which to refine the scent amount in the lower row 233 small clouds of smoke are stylized. Instead of or in addition to the fragrance, it is also possible to supply a disinfectant, for example for controlling legionella, to the mist channel funnel 15 or to the water tank 13.

The mist can also escape at another location, for example below the water and mist outlet 10 or completely separate from it.

Instead of the sensor elements 30; 230 can also be other actuators, beispiels¬ be provided with or without touch operable button.

The mist can also be generated in a different way than with the ultrasonic mistletoe 14.

It may be provided as light emitting diodes 36, 37, other bulbs, these may also radiate in different colors.

In the water and mist outlet 10 itself can also be arranged bulbs, with which this is illuminated from the inside,

In addition or instead of the LEDs 30; 230 below the water and Nebelaus- lauis 10 can also light emitting diodes above the water and fog outlet 10 vor¬ be seen, which have the advantage that their light is not obscured by the water and mist outlet 10, and thus the emerging mist more effectively can be illuminated.

In addition, one or more UV light sources may be provided, which in particular provide disinfection in an area in which it is preferable to accumulate microorganisms, in particular legionella. It is often sufficient here to turn them on, in particular to kill legionella.

The fog unit 3 can also be arranged on one side of a 3-hole valve, on the other side then the actuator 28 and the Steuerein¬ unit 22 can be arranged. It is also possible, the fog unit 3 outside the sanitary fitting 1; 201, for example, below a washstand to arrange. In the second exemplary embodiment, other motifs or colors can serve to visualize the function of the sensor elements 230.

Claims

claims

1. Sanitary fitting with a particular electronic actuating device for a control unit for controlling the water temperature and / or the Wasserdυrch- flow amount in a water outlet,

characterized in that

it has a controllable mist generator (3) with at least one mist outlet channel (12) leading to the outside atmosphere.

2. Sanitary fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the Nebelaustritts¬ channel (12) opens into an area of the water outlet (10).

3. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mist generator comprises an ultrasonic mist (3) for water

4. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water outlet (10) with a water tank (13) of the mist generator (3) is connected.

5. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mist outlet channel (12) of the mist generator (3) in the water outlet (10) opens

6. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mist generator (3) has a metering device (23) for at least one supplementary substance.

7. Sanitary fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that the supplementary substance is a fragrance or a water and / or room air freshener, in particular a desmfektionsmittel

8. Sanitäraπnatur according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one lighting means (35, 37) for illuminating the exiting water and / or the exiting mist.

9. Sanitäraπnatur according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one UV light source.

10. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (28; 228) has separate actuating means (30; 230) for the supply of water and the mist supply.