Sanitary equipment fitting with non-axial thermostatic mixer and installation method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting (1) comprising at least: a fitting housing (2); a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and warm water into mixed water; and a thermostatic mixer (4) for mixing cold water and hot water into warm water, the thermostatic mixer comprising an expansion material component (5) and a slide (6) that can be actuated by the expansion material component (5) to adjust the mixing ratio between cold water and hot water. According to the present invention, the expansion material component (5) and the slide (6) are arranged coaxially with respect to each other, wherein the slide (6) can be actuated by the expansion material component (5) via a connecting element (9), wherein the connecting element (9) can be inserted onto the slide (6) or the expansion material component (5) and then rotated into a closed position (10), in which the slide (6) and the expansion material component (5) are connected to each other via the connecting element (9). A method for assembling such a sanitary fitting (1) is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting and a method for installing the sanitary fitting, by means of which cold water and hot water can be mixed to form mixed water having a desired mixed water temperature. The sanitary fitting can be used to provide mixed water, in particular, at sinks, lavatories, showers and / or bathtubs. Background Art

[0002] For example, a sanitary fitting can be constructed in the manner of a single-lever mixer, which has a (single) operating handle for adjusting the mixed water temperature and the output volume. The temperature of the hot water supplied to a single-lever mixer is often not constant, but fluctuates, for example, daily. Consequently, even with the same operating handle position, the mixed water temperature of the mixed water produced by the mixing valve of the single-lever mixer can fluctuate. Consequently, the user of the sanitary fitting cannot be sure that the mixed water is drawn at the desired mixed water temperature at a specific position of the operating handle, but must regularly readjust the mixed water temperature using the operating handle. Furthermore, a disadvantage is that if hot water with a particularly high hot water temperature is supplied to the single-lever mixer, there is a risk of scalding. Normally temperature-controlled hot water can also cause scalding. Furthermore, fluctuations in the cold water pressure or the disappearance of supplied cold water can pose a risk.

[0003] Therefore, it is known to arrange a thermostatic mixer upstream of the warm water inlet of a mixing valve of a sanitary fitting. This thermostatic mixer delivers warm water of a predetermined temperature to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve. To achieve this, the thermostatic mixer premixes hot water with cold water to achieve a constant warm water temperature. This premixed warm water is then delivered to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve. However, this type of thermostatic mixer requires a large amount of space, which is often difficult to accommodate in the fitting housing of the sanitary fitting or requires the fitting housing to be enlarged. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide a sanitary fitting whose thermostatic mixer requires less installation space. Furthermore, a method is to be provided by which a thermostatic mixer for a sanitary fitting can be produced with less installation space.

[0005] This object is achieved with the sanitary fitting according to the invention and with the method for installing the sanitary fitting.

[0006] To this end, a sanitary fitting is proposed, which comprises at least the following components:

[0007] - Accessory housing;

[0008] - a mixing valve for mixing cold water and warm water into mixed water; and

[0009] - A thermostatic mixer for mixing cold water and hot water to form warm water, the thermostatic mixer comprising an expansion material component and a slide that can be operated by the expansion material component in order to adjust the mixing ratio between cold water and hot water, wherein the expansion material component and the slide are arranged coaxially with respect to each other, wherein the slide can be operated by the expansion material component via a connecting element, wherein the connecting element can be inserted onto the slide or the expansion material component and then rotated into a closed position, in which the slide and the expansion material component are connected to each other via the connecting element.

[0010] The sanitary fitting can be designed, in particular, in the manner of a single-lever mixer and / or be used, in particular, for providing mixed water at sinks, lavatories, showers, and / or bathtubs. Furthermore, the sanitary fitting has a fitting housing. The fitting housing can be made, at least partially, of plastic and / or metal, such as brass or a zinc alloy. Furthermore, the fitting housing can be fastened, in particular, to a support, such as a (kitchen) worktop.

[0011] The sanitary fitting also includes a mixing valve for mixing cold and warm water to form mixed water. The mixing valve can, for example, be constructed in the manner of a single-lever mixing cartridge and / or be at least partially disposed within the fitting housing of the sanitary fitting. The mixing valve can include a mixing housing, which can be at least partially made of plastic and / or at least partially cylindrical. An adjusting rod for operating the mixing valve is at least partially movably fixed within the mixing housing. To this end, the adjusting rod is connected to an operating handle of the sanitary fitting, for example, by means of a threaded or plug-in connection. The adjusting rod can be rotated about a rotation axis, in particular to adjust the mixed water temperature, and / or can be pivoted about a pivot axis (in particular, extending orthogonally to the rotation axis), in particular to adjust the amount of mixed water discharged. The mixing valve can also include a fixed control disk and a movable control disk. The fixed control disk and the movable control disk can each be, in particular, flat or disc-shaped. Furthermore, the fixed control disk and the movable control disk can be at least partially made of ceramic. The fixed control disk is arranged in particular fixedly, ie particularly immovably or non-rotatably relative to the housing, in the housing, while the movable control disk is movable on the fixed control disk (particularly rotatable relative to the housing), particularly via an adjusting lever.

[0012] Furthermore, the sanitary fitting may include a thermostatic mixer for mixing cold water and hot water to form warm water. Cold water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixer, for example, from a public water supply network, particularly via a cold water line, and / or hot water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixer, for example, from a public water supply network and / or a water heater, particularly via a hot water line. The cold water line and / or hot water line can be, for example, pipes or flexible hoses. The cold water temperature of the cold water is particularly a maximum of 25°C (degrees Celsius), preferably 1°C to 25°C, particularly preferably 5°C to 20°C, and / or the hot water temperature of the hot water is particularly a maximum of 100°C, preferably 25°C to 100°C, particularly preferably 55°C to 65°C. The cold water and hot water can be mixed to form warm water, particularly in a warm water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer. Furthermore, the thermostatic mixer includes an expansion material assembly and a slide that can be actuated by the expansion material assembly. The expansion material assembly particularly extends along a first longitudinal axis and / or is configured to be rotationally symmetrical about at least one first longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the expansion material assembly can be at least partially made of wax and / or expand, in particular, parallel to the first longitudinal axis, depending on the temperature of the mixed water. The slider can be at least partially made of metal or plastic. Furthermore, the slider can be at least partially cylindrical or tubular. Furthermore, the slider can extend along the second longitudinal axis. The slider is connected to the expansion material assembly such that changes in the length of the expansion material assembly result in actuation or movement of the slider, in particular, along its second longitudinal axis. Actuation or movement of the slider can change the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water, thereby influencing the temperature of the warm water being mixed by the thermostatic mixer. To this end, the slider can, in particular, change the gap width of the cold water control gap and / or the gap width of the hot water control gap of the thermostatic mixer. Cold water can, in particular, be supplied to the warm water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer via the cold water control gap, and / or hot water can, in particular, be supplied to the warm water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer via the hot water control gap. The cold water control gap and / or the hot water control gap are, in particular, located between the slider of the thermostatic mixer and the housing or cartridge adapter of the mixing valve. In particular, manipulation of the sliding member causes the gap widths of the cold water regulating gap and the hot water regulating gap to change simultaneously. In this case, an increase in the gap width of the cold water regulating gap particularly causes a decrease in the hot water regulating gap. Correspondingly, a decrease in the gap width of the cold water regulating gap particularly causes an increase in the hot water regulating gap. In addition, the expansion or extension of the expansion material component particularly causes an increase in the gap width of the cold water regulating gap and a decrease in the gap width of the hot water regulating gap. Correspondingly, the contraction or shortening of the expansion material component particularly causes a decrease in the gap width of the cold water regulating gap and an increase in the gap width of the hot water regulating gap. Therefore, an increase in the mixed water temperature of the mixed water may lead to a decrease in the warm water temperature of the warm water. In addition, a decrease in the mixed water temperature of the mixed water may therefore lead to an increase in the warm water temperature of the warm water. If the mixed water temperature of the mixed water, for example, exceeds a limit value, the sliding member can particularly completely close the hot water regulating gap.The warm water temperature of the warm water is then equivalent to the cold water temperature of the cold water. In other words, in this case, the warm water consists only of cold water. The warm water temperature of the warm water can be, for example, 1°C to 60°C. The warm water mixed by the thermostatic mixer can then be conveyed in particular to a mixing valve, through which the warm water can be mixed with (additional) cold water to form mixed water. The expansion material assembly and the sliding member are arranged coaxially with each other. This can particularly mean that the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material assembly and the second longitudinal axis of the sliding member are not aligned with each other. In addition, this can mean that the expansion material assembly and the sliding member are not arranged axially or are not arranged one after another in the direction of their longitudinal axes. This results in a smaller structural space requirement for the thermostatic mixer. As a result, the thermostatic mixer can be arranged in the accessory housing, for example, in a cylindrical free space and / or below the mixing valve.

[0013] The slide can be manipulated by the expansion material assembly via the connecting element. The connecting element can be made at least partially of metal or plastic. In particular, the connecting element can consist of sheet metal and / or can be constructed in the manner of a (flat) sheet metal component. Furthermore, the connecting element can be flat and / or constructed in the manner of a disk. Furthermore, the connecting element can be at least partially S-shaped. The slide can be connected to the expansion material assembly via the connecting element, in particular, in such a way that a change in the length of the expansion material assembly facilitates manipulation or adjustment of the slide.

[0014] The connecting element can be inserted into the slider or the expansion material assembly. To this end, the connecting element for the slider and / or the expansion material assembly can each have an opening. In addition, the connecting element can be inserted or plugged into the first groove of the expansion material assembly or the second groove of the slider, so that the connecting element is particularly connected to the expansion material assembly or the slider in a form-fitting manner. In particular, the first groove of the expansion material assembly extends around the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material assembly, and / or the second groove of the slider extends around the second longitudinal axis of the slider. The connecting element can be arranged in the first groove of the expansion material assembly (substantially) without gap, in particular in the direction of the first longitudinal axis. The connecting element can be arranged in the second groove of the expansion material assembly (substantially) without gap, in particular in the direction of the second longitudinal axis. After the connecting element is inserted into the slider or the expansion material assembly, the connecting element is in an open position. Subsequently, the connecting element - in particular, it can be rotated around the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material assembly or the second longitudinal axis of the slider - into a closed position. In the closed position, the connecting element connects or couples the slider and the expansion material assembly, so that the slider can be operated by the expansion material assembly.

[0015] The connecting element may be configured in an S-shape.

[0016] The connecting element is rotatable between an open position and a closed position.

[0017] The slider and the expansion material assembly can be arranged in a housing of the thermostatic mixer, which has a mounting opening for the connecting element. The housing can, in particular, be (substantially) cylindrical. Furthermore, the housing can be made at least partially of metal and / or plastic. In particular, the housing can be an injection-molded plastic part. The mounting opening is, in particular, an opening in the housing through which the connecting element can be inserted onto the expansion material assembly or the slider when the expansion material assembly and the slider are arranged in the housing.

[0018] The mounting opening can be formed in a circumferential surface of the housing. The circumferential surface is in particular not an end face of the housing.

[0019] The housing can be arranged in the accessory housing in such a way that the connecting element is locked against loosening from the closed position. To this end, the housing of the thermostatic mixer can be arranged, for example, in a (tubular) housing insert of the accessory housing. When the housing is located in the accessory housing, the accessory housing, the housing insert, and / or other components of the sanitary fitting can, in particular, at least partially cover and / or at least partially close the mounting opening of the thermostatic mixer housing. This prevents the connecting element from rotating from the closed position into the open position.

[0020] The connecting element may have a thickness of 1 mm (millimeters) to 10 mm. Preferably, the connecting element may have a thickness of 3 mm to 6 mm.

[0021] The first longitudinal axis of the expansion material assembly and the second longitudinal axis of the slider can extend parallel to each other. This can particularly mean that a distance is formed between the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material assembly and the second longitudinal axis of the slider, and this distance is particularly measured orthogonally to the first and second longitudinal axes. The expansion material assembly and the slider are thus particularly arranged side by side.

[0022] The connecting element can be adjusted against a spring by means of an expansion material assembly. The spring can be designed, for example, in the form of a coil spring. The spring can generate a reaction force, by which the connecting element and thus the sliding element attached to the connecting element are reset when the expansion material assembly contracts.

[0023] The spring and the slide can in particular be arranged non-coaxially with respect to one another. The spring can in particular have a third longitudinal axis which extends parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material component and / or the second longitudinal axis of the slide.

[0024] The expansion material assembly can be arranged in the first cavity of the housing of the thermostatic mixer, and the slide can be arranged in the second cavity of the housing of the thermostatic mixer. In other words, the expansion material assembly and the slide can be arranged spatially separately in the housing of the thermostatic mixer.

[0025] The slider can have a hot water channel for hot water. For this purpose, the slider can be at least partially tubular. Hot water can thus be conveyed through the slider and via the hot water regulating gap to the warm water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer.

[0026] The expansion material assembly can be at least partially circulated by the mixed water. To this end, the expansion material assembly can at least partially define a mixed water channel, through which the mixed water mixed by the mixing valve can be conveyed to the outflow opening of the outflow portion.

[0027] According to another aspect, there is also provided a method for installing a sanitary fixture fitting, the method comprising at least the following steps:

[0028] a) arranging the slider and the expansion material assembly in the housing;

[0029] b) inserting the connecting element onto the sliding member or the expansion material assembly;

[0030] c) Rotating the connecting element into a closed position, in which the slide and the expansion material assembly are connected to one another via the connecting element.

[0031] The connecting element is rotatable between an open position and a closed position.

[0032] In step d), the cartridge adapter may be arranged in the fitting housing such that the connecting element is locked against release from the closed position.

[0033] For further details on this method please refer to the description of the sanitary fittings.

[0034] Furthermore, it is also proposed to use a connecting element (proposed here) for producing a pivotably locked and / or releasable connection of adjacently arranged slides and expansion material components in a sanitary fitting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention and the technical field are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings show particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals in the drawings. The drawings show, by way of example and schematically:

[0036] Figure 1 : Shows sanitary equipment accessories;

[0037] Figure 2 : Showing sanitary fittings in longitudinal section;

[0038] Figure 3 : Shows a thermostatic mixer with connecting elements of a sanitary fitting before its installation;

[0039] Figure 4 : shows a thermostatic mixer of a sanitary fitting with a connecting element in an open position;

[0040] Figure 5 : shows the thermostatic mixer before installation in the fitting housing of a sanitary fitting;

[0041] Figure 6 : Shows sanitary fittings in cross-section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figure 1 A first embodiment variant of a sanitary fitting 1 is shown in a side view. The sanitary fitting 1 comprises a fitting housing 2 with an outflow portion 16 and an outflow opening 17. Furthermore, the sanitary fitting 1 comprises an operating handle 18 which can be swiveled about a horizontal axis to control the discharge amount of mixed water and can be rotated about a vertical axis to adjust the mixed water temperature. To this end, the operating handle 18 is connected to the mixing valve 3 at the Figure 2 The mixing valve is connected to the regulating rod 19 shown in FIG. 1 , which is designed in this case in the manner of a single-lever mixing cartridge.

[0043] Figure 2 Along the Figure 1 The longitudinal section along the section line II-II shown in FIG shows a sanitary fitting 1. A thermostatic mixer 4 for mixing cold water and hot water to form warm water is arranged in the fitting housing 2 of the sanitary fitting 1. The thermostatic mixer 4 comprises an expansion material component 5, which is connected to a slide 6 via a connecting element 9. For this purpose, the connecting element 9 engages in a first groove 22 of the expansion material component 5 and in a second groove 23 of the slide 6. Thus, the connecting element 9 is Figure 2 is located in the closed position 10. The expansion material component 5 and the slide 6 are not arranged coaxially with each other, but the first longitudinal axis 7 of the expansion material component 5 and the second longitudinal axis 8 of the slide 6 extend parallel to each other and at a distance 24. In addition, the first longitudinal axis 7 and the second longitudinal axis 8 extend parallel to the housing longitudinal axis 25 of the thermostatic mixer 4 or the housing 12 of the fitting housing 2 of the sanitary fitting 1. The expansion material component 5 is arranged in a first cavity 26 of the housing 12 and the slide 6 is arranged in a second cavity 27 of the housing. A hot water line 20 opens into the housing 12, through which hot water can be conveyed to the thermostatic mixer 4. A hot water channel 28 extends through the slide 6, so that the slide 6 is tubular in shape. Hot water can be conveyed through the hot water channel 28 and via the hot water regulating gap 29 to the warm water mixing chamber 30 of the thermostatic mixer 4. The hot water regulating gap 29 is constructed between the inner surface 31 of the slide 6 and the pin 32 of the cartridge adapter 33 of the mixing valve 3. In addition, in Figure 1 The cold water line 21 shown in FIG. 1 is led into the housing 12. Figure 2The cold water line, which is not visible in the figure, can deliver cold water to the mixing valve 3 and the annular gap 34 extending around the slider 6. The cold water can be delivered to the warm water mixing chamber 30 via the cold water adjustment gap 35. The cold water adjustment gap 35 is formed between the outer surface 36 of the slider 6 and the housing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4.

[0044] The expansion material assembly 5 defines a mixed water passage 37 through which the mixed water mixed by the mixing valve 3 can be delivered to the mixing valve 3. Figure 1 17 is shown in FIG. Therefore, during operation of the sanitary fitting 1, the expansion material assembly 5 expands according to the mixed water temperature of the mixed water and adjusts the slider 6 parallel to its second longitudinal axis 8 via the connecting element 9, thereby changing the gap widths of the hot water control gap 29 and the cold water control gap 35. If the mixed water temperature of the mixed water increases, the expansion material assembly 5 adjusts the slider 6 so that the gap width of the hot water control gap 29 decreases and the gap width of the cold water control gap 35 increases. If the mixed water temperature of the mixed water decreases, the expansion material assembly 5 adjusts the slider 6 so that the gap width of the hot water control gap 29 increases and the gap width of the cold water control gap 35 decreases. To this end, the expansion material assembly 5 is preloaded by a spring 38, which is designed in this case as a coil spring and is arranged in the mixed water channel 37. The warm water mixed in the warm water mixing chamber 30 by the thermostatic mixer 4 can be conveyed to the mixing valve 3 via the warm water channel 39, which is only partially visible here, and can be mixed with cold water to form mixed water.

[0045] Figure 3 Shown in Figure 2 1 shows a thermostatic mixer 4 with a connecting element 9 of a sanitary fitting 1 before installation. The housing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4 is essentially cylindrical and extends along the longitudinal axis 25 of the housing. The connecting element 9 is S-shaped and has a first opening 40 and a second opening 41. The connecting element 9 also has a thickness 15. In order to connect the expansion material assembly 5 to the slide 6, the connecting element 9 can be inserted through the installation opening 13 of the thermostatic mixer 4, which is formed in the circumferential surface 14 of the housing 12, into the second groove 23 of the slide 6 with its first opening 40.

[0046] Figure 4 The thermostatic mixer 4 is shown with a connecting element 9, at which the Figure 3 After the first opening 40 shown in FIG is inserted into the second groove 23 of the slide 6. The connecting element 9 is Figure 4 In the open position 11, the connecting element 9 can be positioned around the sliding member 6. Figure 2 8 until the connecting element 9 engages with its second opening 41 in the first groove 22 of the expansion material component 5 .

[0047] Figure 5 The thermostatic mixer 4 is shown before installation in the fitting housing 2 of the sanitary fitting 1. Figure 5 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the connecting element 9 is located in the closed position 10 .

[0048] Figure 6 Along the Figure 2 The sectional view along the section line VI-VI shown in FIG shows the sanitary fitting 1. Figure 6 In FIG. 4 , the thermostatic mixer 4 with the housing 12 is arranged in the fitting housing 2 such that the mounting opening 13 is covered by the tubular housing insert 42 . As a result, the connecting element 9 is locked against release from the closed position 10 .

[0049] The invention makes it possible in particular to design a thermostatic mixer for a sanitary fitting with a small installation space requirement.

[0050] List of reference numerals:

[0051] 1Sanitary equipment accessories

[0052] 2 Accessory housing

[0053] 3 Mixing valve

[0054] 4 Constant temperature mixer

[0055] 5Expansion material components

[0056] 6 Slides

[0057] 7First longitudinal axis

[0058] 8 Second longitudinal axis

[0059] 9 Connecting elements

[0060] 10 Closed position

[0061] 11 Open Position

[0062] 12 Housing

[0063] 13 Mounting opening

[0064] 14 weeks

[0065] 15 thickness

[0066] 16 Outflow part

[0067] 17 Outflow opening

[0068] 18 Operating handle

[0069] 19 Adjustment lever

[0070] 20 Hot water pipes

[0071] 21 Cold water pipeline

[0072] 22 First Slot

[0073] 23 Second slot

[0074] 24 Distance

[0075] 25 longitudinal axis of the shell

[0076] 26 First Cavity

[0077] 27 Second cavity

[0078] 28 Hot Water Channel

[0079] 29 Hot water adjustment gap

[0080] 30 Warm water mixing chamber

[0081] 31 inner surface

[0082] 32 bolt

[0083] 33-barrel adapter

[0084] 34 Annular gap

[0085] 35 Cold water adjustment clearance

[0086] 36 outer surface

[0087] 37 Mixed Water Channel

[0088] 38 Spring

[0089] 39 Warm Water Channel

[0090] 40 First Opening

[0091] 41 Second Opening

[0092] 42 Housing insert

Claims

1. A sanitary equipment accessory (1), the sanitary equipment accessory having at least: - accessory housing (2); - a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and warm water into mixed water; and - a thermostatic mixer (4) for mixing cold water and hot water into warm water, the thermostatic mixer comprising an expansion material component (5) and a slide (6) operable by the expansion material component (5) to adjust the mixing ratio between cold water and hot water, wherein: The expansion material component (5) and the slide (6) are arranged non-coaxially with respect to one another, wherein the slide (6) can be manipulated by the expansion material component (5) via a connecting element (9), wherein the connecting element (9) can be inserted onto the slide (6) or the expansion material component (5) and then rotated into a closed position (10), in which the slide (6) and the expansion material component (5) are connected to one another via the connecting element (9).

2. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1, wherein The connecting element (9) is configured in an S-shape.

3. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The connecting element (9) is rotatable between an open position (11) and a closed position (10).

4. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1, wherein The slide (6) and the expansion material assembly (5) are arranged in a housing (12) of the thermostatic mixer (4), which has a mounting opening (13) for the connecting element (9).

5. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 4, wherein The mounting opening (13) is formed in the circumferential surface (14) of the housing (12).

6. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein The housing (12) is arranged in the fitting housing (2) in such a way that the connecting element (9) is locked against release from the closed position (10).

7. The sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The connecting element (9) has a thickness (15) of 1 mm to 10 mm.

8. A method for installing a sanitary fitting (1), said method comprising at least the following steps: a) arranging the slider (6) and the expansion material assembly (5) in the housing (12); b) inserting the connecting element (9) onto the sliding member (6) or the expansion material assembly (5); c) The connecting element (9) is rotated into a closed position (10), in which the slide (6) and the expansion material assembly (5) are connected to one another via the connecting element (9).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The connecting element (9) is rotatable between an open position (11) and a closed position (10).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: In step d), the housing (12) is arranged in the fitting housing (2) such that the connecting element (9) is locked against release from the closed position (10).

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