Mounting Device for a Fitting Panel

Abstract

A mounting device for a fitting panel has a base element (20) and at least one fluid connection element (50). The base element includes, at a front side, a device (21, 22) for fastening a fitting panel and, at a rear side, an at least substantially planar bearing surface, at least one through-opening (23) for a fastening device being arranged in the base element and extending from the rear side of the base element to the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fastening device may be passed through the base element at the at least one through-opening. The fluid connection element includes a throughflow channel (51) and a pressing surface (53), wherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least its maximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least one cross-sectional extension of the through-opening, and wherein the at least one through-opening is provided and configured such that a stub (52) of the fluid connection element may be passed, as a fastening device, through the base element at at least two different positions on the base element.

Description

[0001]This application is a Continuation of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, International Application No. PCT / EP2016 / 063222, filed 9 Jun. 2016, and claims priority therethrough under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 365 to European App. Nos. 15171958.0, filed 12 Jun. 2015, and 15181531.3, filed 19 Aug. 2015, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUNDField of Endeavor[0002]The present disclosure relates to a mounting device for a fitting panel. It also relates to a fitting unit having a mounting device of the stated kind, a base element for a mounting device, a fluid connection element, and a method for mounting a fitting unit.Brief Description of the Related Art[0003]Permanently installed fitting units for the connection of fluids such as gases or liquids offer the advantage of high robustness. It is in industrial or public and semi-public areas that these advantages make themselves felt. Thus, fittings, for example in sanitary facilities, may be provide...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A mounting device for a fitting panel is described here, which offers advantages in this regard. The mounting device is designed in such a way that, on the one hand, it may be fastened to the wall with no additional drilling, i.e., using existing pipe connectors as fastening points, while, on the other, the desired flexibility with regard to the arrangement of the fittings is ensured. According to a further aspect, a fitting panel or a fitting unit may be mounted particularly easily and quickly, and thus cost-effectively, by the mounting device described. A fluid connection element is also described, which at the same time serves to fasten the mounting device to the wall or another surface, such that the fastening may take place directly to an existing pipe connector in the wall. The fluid connection element described is particularly easy to handle. It also has the advantage of flexibly positioning the connector for the fittings as required.

[0018]The initial situation in which the present object is used is, in particular, as follows: A fitting panel is intended to be fastened to a surface, for example to a wall, in such a way that a fitting of the fitting panel comes to rest at a defined position. Here, a fastening point is predetermined on the surface on which mounting is to take place. The surface may, for example, be a surface of an upright wall and the fastening point may be a pipe connector in the wall. The disclosed mounting device now allows the fastening position of the base element of the mounting device to be flexibly selected in such a way that, when the fitting panel is connected to the mounting device by means of corresponding fastening devices on the fitting panel and on the base element, the fitting comes to rest at the desired intended position. This has the advantage that existing fastening points on the surface may be used without having to provide new fastening points. In particular, a screw joint with the fastening point of the surface is provided at the desired fastening position, in such a way that, when the screw joint is tightened, the base element is pressed against the surface and may be connected with the latter through friction.

[0020]The device described and the method described below therefore allow, by way of example, a fitting provided on a fitting panel to be arranged on a wall at a desired height corresponding to a predetermined position of a water connector, without having to provide new fastening points in the wall. Another example enables connection points for gases accessible to a user to be arranged at easily accessible points in the case of predetermined wall connectors. This can be advantageous, for example in industrial applications, but, for another instance, also in hospitals.

[0032]Here, the distances at which the fastening position may be selected, are, inter alia, determined by the abovementioned distances of the through-openings. It may therefore be advantageous to select these distances to be as small as possible, to allow for greater flexibility in the arrangement of the base element. On the other hand, the provision of individual pass-through openings offers an advantage when mounting the base element, in particular on an upright surface. In this case, the fastening position has already been secured when the stub is passed through the pass-through opening and anchored to the surface, without a connection through friction between the base element and the upright surface having to be provided first. A fitter may therefore initially suspend the base element in the corresponding fastening position on the upright surface in the abovementioned manner, and then has both hands free in order to, by way of example, pick up a tool with which he, by way of example, can tighten a screw joint. In this regard, it may be convenient if the through-openings are at least approximately circular openings accommodating the stub with little play. Thus, for example, individual openings with a diameter in the range of 23 to 25 millimeters may be provided. Other diameters are, of course, similarly possible in the context of the present disclosure. These may be conveniently selected in such a way that the stub of the fluid connection element, which has a certain external diameter, may be passed through smoothly, but with only little play.

[0035]In further embodiments, at least two parallel rows of openings are provided. Here, in particular, the mutual spacings of the openings in both rows are identical. This allows the mounting device to also be flexibly used where more than two pipe connectors are present and intended to be used. Here, it may be convenient if the through-openings in one of these rows are dimensioned such that a fastening element is accommodated in each direction with only little play, as explained above, while the through-openings in the other row or rows are designed in such a way that generally greater play possible. In this way, tolerances in the mutual arrangement of the pipe connectors may be compensated for.

[0042]It may also be provided that the fluid connection element comprises an annular element, provided surrounding the cylindrical rims, and which, on its outer surface, has a connector opening between a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface of the annular element. A fluid-tight arrangement between the cylindrical rims and the annular element is provided, in such a way that the flute of the fluid connection element provides for fluid communication between the throughflow channel of the fluid connection element and the connector opening of the annular element. This allows for fluid communication between the first end face and the connector opening of the annular element. If the fluid connection element is now connected to a pipe connector, then likewise a connection between the pipe connector and the connector opening of the annular element is provided. At the connector opening of the annular element, in particular, means are provided which allow for the connection of further pipes. Thus, by way of example, an internal thread may be provided, to which a pipe may be directly connected or into which a connection element, for example a grommet or a quick-action coupling, may be screwed. It may also, in particular, be provided that the annular element is provided on the rims in such a way that it is rotatable in its circumferential direction. Thus, the circumferential position of the connector provided on the annular element may be varied. In a further embodiment, the annular element is provided with a further threaded bore, through which a screw or threaded rod may be screwed, axially securing the annular element within the flute and possibly also fixing it in the circumferential direction.

Problems solved by technology

By way of example, when dowel holes are drilled a lot of dirt arises, care and accuracy are required, and existing structures such as tiles are irreversibly damaged.

A disadvantage, however, is seen in the fact that, when the fitting units are, for example, connected to pre-existing pipe connectors in a wall, the height of a fitting is predetermined.

This is associated with reduced convenience and efficiency.

The fitting units known from the state of the art, which are fastened to a wall using the existing pipe connectors, thus have the disadvantage of low flexibility as regards the arrangement of the fittings if the pipe connectors in the wall are at a predetermined position.

The provision of individual pass-through openings, on the one hand, has the disadvantage that the selection of the fastening position cannot take place steplessly or completely steplessly.

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