WO2016034279A1

WO2016034279A1 - Water preparation device for a dental treatment unit

Info

Publication number: WO2016034279A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/001760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas HÄGELE
Original assignee: DüRR DENTAL AG
Priority date: 2014-09-01
Filing date: 2015-08-31
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Also published as: DE102014012690A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a water preparation device (20) for a dental treatment unit (10), comprising a clean water outlet (100). The aim of the invention is to allow a sufficient decontamination of the water substantially without the use of chemicals. This is achieved in that the water preparation device (10) comprises a free precipitation section (50) for the water over a water supply (49), said precipitation section preventing a recontamination in an upstream supply system. The water preparation device (10) further comprises at least one pressure pump (64) which is connected to the water supply (49) and which supplies the water out of the water supply (49) under pressure to an ultra filtration filter (94) arranged downstream of the pressure pump (64) and upstream of the clean water outlet (100).

Description

Water treatment device

for a dental treatment unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates to a water treatment device for a dental treatment unit with a pure water outlet.

The invention further relates to a dental treatment unit with such a water treatment device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Known dental treatment units provide water for a variety of purposes. For example, the dental treatment unit supplies a vial or various dentist's hand instruments, such as a vial. the air-water syringe or water-powered drills, with water. Due to necessary hygiene standards, this water, which is used at the treatment unit, must be sterilized. This has hitherto been done by introducing chemicals such as e.g. H 2 O 2, chlorine or the like, or by ozonization or microfiltration.

A disadvantage of the previously used water treatment devices is that the introduction of chemicals pollutes the human organism. Furthermore, the added chemicals attack materials and surfaces of the sensitive dental instruments. Therefore, limit values are specified with regard to the dosage, which limit the effectiveness of the sterilization. In addition, solves the sole The introduction of chemicals does not present the problem that the biomass of already dead germs remains in the pure water and serves there as food for other bacteria. For this reason, microfiltration filters with a pore size of about 200 μm are additionally used, which are intended to retain bacteria such as Legionella. For viruses, however, these microfiltration filters are not a barrier.

Other known water treatment devices, for example, as known from the standard EN 1717 a free

Using a fall line to prevent reoccurrence is usually relatively large and must therefore be located in separate rooms of a dental office.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved water treatment device. In particular, should

Water treatment device substantially without the use of chemicals allow adequate sterilization of the water.

According to the invention, the abovementioned object is achieved with a water treatment device of the type mentioned above, in which a) the water treatment device comprises a free fall section for the water over a water supply, which prevents recontamination into an upstream supply system, and b) the water treatment device at least one

Pressure pump, in particular a operated with compressed air piston pressure pump, comprises, whose inlet is connected to the water supply and whose outlet with a flow connected to the pure water outlet ultrafiltration filter is connected to supply the water from the water supply under pressure to the ultrafiltration filter and subsequently the pure water outlet.

The inventor has recognized that a water treatment device operating basically without chemicals and yet sufficiently compact can be achieved by combining a free fall section with an ultrafiltration filter and a pressure pump, in particular a piston pressure pump operated with compressed air.

The actual cleaning process of the water takes place in such a water treatment device by ultrafiltration of the water to an ultrafiltration filter. Such an ultrafiltration filter preferably has a pore size between about 5 nm to 50 nm, in particular between about 15 nm to 25 nm, and ensures sufficient sterilization of the water.

The free fall distance provided according to the invention prevents germs retained in the retentate of the ultrafiltration filter, for example, from reaching the upstream areas of a delivery system. However, since after a free fall the water in the water supply is present only at ambient pressure, this water can no longer pass through the pores of the ultrafiltration filter for lack of pressure to then supply the different units of the dental treatment unit with the necessary water pressure.

By contrast, with the pressure pump provided according to the invention, in particular the piston pressure pump operated with compressed air, the pressure is generated _. on the _. Water supply is increased again so high that the water with sufficient pressure at the Ultra- filtration filter is available to produce despite the small pore size of the ultrafiltration filter at the end of a pressure corresponding to the usual water pressure at the treatment unit. Although various types of pumps, such as a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump, are conceivable as a pressure pump, the use of a piston-operated piston operated compressed air pump is particularly advantageous since compressed air must be present at the treatment unit, for example, for blowing out the teeth. In addition, a compressed air operated piston pressure pump can be made more compact compared to other pumps with a similar outlet pressure, whereby the total space requirement of the water treatment device is so low that it can be integrated into the dental treatment unit.

The ultrafiltration filter can be arranged in a removable filter cartridge whose inlet connection via a

Quick connection system, such as a bayonet lock, connected to the outlet of the pressure pump. In this case, the quick-connect system may advantageously comprise a mechanism with which a, on the outlet of the pressure pump arranged, unlockable check valve is unlocked when the filter cartridge is connected. This measure allows a simple change of the ultrafiltration filter, wherein the check valve prevents water from leaking from the upstream line sections. Preferably, the quick connect system also includes other ports of the filter cartridge, such as a retentate port and / or a filtrate port. Further, downstream of the pressure pump and upstream of the pure water outlet, an activated carbon filter can be disposed: Ln, which the last remaining germs from the water filters and is preferably located downstream of the ültrafiltrationsfilters.

Preferably, such an activated carbon filter is arranged together with the Oltrafiltrationsfilter in the filter cartridge. Alternatively, it can also be arranged in a separate removable filter cartridge. In particular, if a purge of the ultrafiltration filter is thought about a retentate, only the activated carbon filter can be arranged in a filter cartridge. With regard to the design of the pressure pump as a piston pressure pump, it is advantageous if two operated in push-pull piston pressure pumps are provided. With the aid of corresponding air-side and water-side valve arrangements, the piston pressure pumps operated in push-pull form a continuous outlet pressure. Alternatively, a double-acting piston pressure pump could be used instead of the two single-acting piston pressure pump, which would also produce a reasonably continuous pressure curve of the output water. Advantageously, the free fall distance over the water supply is realized in that a reservoir for the water supply is provided, which comprises a maximum level device, in particular an overflow, which specifies a maximum level for the water supply. One . Feed into the Vörratsbehälter can then be arranged at least about 20 mm above the maximum level to specify a free fall distance with sufficient height.

In particular, the inlet can be designed as a tube projecting freely into the storage container, if appropriate with an outlet nozzle, which at no point is covered with de Inside of the walls or the ceiling of the reservoir in contact.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a dental treatment unit with such a water treatment device.

The dental treatment unit can comprise a treatment column in which the water treatment device is completely accommodated. Due to the smaller size of the water treatment device, it is no longer necessary to provide them in a separate room, but the water treatment device can be integrated directly into the treatment column of the dental treatment unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained with reference to an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dental treatment unit with a water treatment device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the water treatment device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE

Figure 1 shows a dental treatment unit 10 with a dental chair 12 and a treatment column 14 on which a cuspidor 16 and a dental instrument 18 is arranged ^¬, which must be supplied with clean water. For this purpose, a water treatment device 20 is arranged in the interior of the treatment column 14, with which the water coming from a conventional water supply installation of the dental practice is treated, ie essentially sterilized, is. The dental treatment unit is connected via a water supply line 22, a sewer line 24 and a compressed air line 26 to the supply installations of the dental practice.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal structure of the water treatment device 20.

Coming from the water supply line 22, a pressure reducer 28 with a pressure indicator 30 and an upstream prefilter 32 is initially provided. Downstream of this pressure reducer 28, a solenoid valve 34 is arranged with an upstream fine filter 36. From the outlet of the solenoid valve 34, a conduit 38 leads into a reservoir 40. The conduit 38 projects through an opening 42 in the ceiling of the reservoir 40 into this, without touching the edge of the opening 42, and has at its end a nozzle 44th on.

The storage container 40 itself is designed such that a first free overflow 46 is arranged in a side wall about 20 mm below the nozzle 44. In this way, a maximum level 48 for a water supply 49 in the storage container 40 is predetermined, so that there is always a free fall distance 50 of more than approximately 20 mm between the discharge opening of the nozzle 44 and the water surface in the storage container 40 ,

In addition, a float 52 is arranged in the reservoir 40, which is equipped with a sensor, here a Hall sensor 54, cooperates. The Hall sensor 54 activates via an electronic control unit and control lines, not shown, the solenoid valve 34 to hold in the reservoir 40, a predetermined water level just below the overflow 46. For safety purposes, a second free overflow 56 is also arranged in the reservoir 40 above the first free overflow 46, over which dammed up in an emergency water can flow.

At the lowest point of the reservoir, an opening 58 is provided, from which suction lines 60 and 62 lead to two identically designed single-acting piston pressure pumps 64.

Each piston pressure pump 64 has a cylinder 66 in which a piston 68 runs, the cylinder 66 in a water-side pressure chamber 70 and a compressed air side

Pressure chamber 72 divided.

The water-side pressure chamber 70 has an inlet 74 with an upstream non-return valve 76 and an outlet 78 with a downstream non-return valve 80. The piston 68 is further acted upon via a plunger 82 with a spring 84, which biases the piston 68 in the direction of the compressed air side pressure chamber 72nd

The compressed-air side pressure chambers 72 of the piston pressure pumps 64 are provided via two 2/3-way solenoid valves _. 86 alternately.mi.t compressed air from the compressed air supply line 26 is applied to the piston 68 in the direction of the water-side pressure chamber 70 to. move, or connected to a venting muffler 88, whereby the piston 6.8 due to the spring force of the spring 84 in the direction of the compressed air side Pressure chamber 72 moves. To control the 2/3-way solenoid valves 86 end position sensors, not shown here may be provided.

The water-side outlets 78 of the piston pressure pumps 64 are connected to a common line, which leads to a further check valve 90 which is mechanically unlockable. Downstream of this check valve 90, and thus downstream of the piston pressure pumps 64, there is provided a tool-less replaceable filter cartridge 92 which is fastened by a quick connection system (eg a bayonet connection) which is not shown here in detail and which comprises a mechanism 93 which is connected to the filter cartridge 92 the check valve 90 unlocked.

In this case, the quick-connect system, the connections for water (inlet connection), pure water (filtrate connection) and waste water (retentate connection) shown separately in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity, are preferably combined on one connection side of the filter cartridge 92.

The filter cartridge 92 comprises a candle-shaped ultrafiltration filter 94, whose interior communicates with the inlet connection on one side and with the retentate connection of the filter cartridge 92 on the other side. The space between the ultrafiltration filter 94 and the housing wall of the filter cartridge 92 is connected to the filtrate port of the filter cartridge 92 via an activated carbon filter 96 likewise arranged in the filter cartridge 92. From there . A clean water line 98 leads to a pure water outlet 100 as an external connection of the water treatment device 20.

The retentate port, which communicates with the interior of the ultrafiltration filter 94, leads downstream to one Solenoid valve 102 which is closed during normal operation of the water treatment device 20. By opening the solenoid valve 102, the ultrafiltration filter 94 can then be flushed on the side of the reaction. Finally, the water treatment device 20 comprises a chemical supply line 104 for the optional introduction of chemicals, such as H 2 O 2, which flows into the clean water line 98 leading to the pure water outlet 100 downstream of the water. Filter cartridge 92 opens. In this case, a normally closed magnetic valve 106 is provided in the course of the chemical supply line 104, with which the chemical can be metered. The dosage can be done via a pulse length modulation or with the help of a proportional valve.

The optional introduction of chemicals can be used, for example, to the subsequent dental treatment unit 10 from time to time _. redevelop.

Overall, the water treatment device 20 is so compact that it can be completely integrated into the treatment column 14 of the dental treatment unit 10. Nevertheless, in normal operation, a volume flow of 0.5 liters of pure water per minute at a pressure of about 3-6 bar can be provided at the pure water outlet 100, since the piston pressure pumps 64 generate sufficient pressure to pass the water through the ultrafiltration filter 9 for treatment to press.

Claims

claims

Water treatment device (20) for a dental treatment unit (10) with a pure water outlet (100), characterized in that a) the water treatment device (10) a

free fall line (50) for the water over a water supply (49), which prevents recirculation into an upstream supply system, and b) the water treatment device (10) at least one pressure pump (64), in particular a compressed air operated piston pressure pump, the inlet of which is connected to the water supply (49) and whose outlet is connected to an ultrafiltration filter (94) arranged upstream of the clean water outlet (100) to deliver the water from the water supply (49) under pressure to the ultrafiltration filter (94) and subsequently the pure water outlet (100) supply.

Water treatment device (20) according to claim 1 ,. characterized in that the ultrafiltration filter

(94) is arranged in a removable filter cartridge (92) whose inlet port is connected via a quick connection system (93) to the outlet of the pressure pump (64), wherein the Schnellanschlüsssystem (93) comprises a mechanism with which at the outlet of the Pressure pump (64) arranged, unlockable check valve

(90), the filter pass tones (92) are activated. is closing.

Water treatment device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that downstream of the pressure pump (64) and upstream of the pure water outlet (100) an activated carbon filter (96) is arranged.

Water treatment device (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the activated carbon filter (96) is arranged downstream of the ultrafiltration filter (94).

Water treatment device (20) according to claim 3 or 4 in combination, with claim 2, characterized in that the activated carbon filter (96) is arranged together with the ültrafiltrationsfilter (94) in the filter cartridge (92).

Water treatment device (20) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the Aktivkohlefil ter (96) is arranged in a separate removable filter cartridge to.

Water treatment device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that. two push-pull operated piston pressure pumps (64) are provided.

Water treatment device (20) according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the free Fällstrecke (50) above the water supply (49) is realized in that a reservoir (40) for the water supply (49) is provided, which means a maximum level (46; 52, 54), in particular an over Running (46), which defines a maximum level (48) for the water supply (49), and that an inlet (38, 44) in the reservoir (40) at least about 20 mm above the maximum level (48) is arranged ,

Dental treatment unit (10) with a water treatment device (20) according to one of the preceding claims.

Dental treatment unit (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a treatment column (14) in which the water treatment device (20) is completely received.