Fluid distributor units for sanitary conversion fittings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a distributor unit for sanitary conversion fittings installed in a wall (5), comprising a distributor block (1) with an inlet channel (11) and at least two outlet channels (12), and a control block (2) with an inlet channel (21) and at least two valve seats (25) connected to the inlet channel (21) for correspondingly accommodating valve upper parts, wherein the inlet channel (11) of the distributor block (1) is connected to the inlet channel (21) of the control block (2), and the outlet channel (12) of the distributor block (1) is correspondingly connected to the valve seats (25) of the control block (2) via a pipe part (3), and wherein the control block (2) and the distributor block (1) are connected to each other movably via the pipe part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a distributor unit for a sanitary changeover fitting for installation in a wall. Background Art

[0002] Concealed sanitary faucets typically include a mixer, which can be used to adjust the desired water temperature either mechanically or thermostatically. In particular, in shower or bathtub fittings, this mixer is followed by a switch fitting, which allows the water flow to be adjusted to various outlet points, such as a bathtub outlet or shower inlet. Modern wellness showers can even have three or more water outlet points (e.g., overhead shower, hand shower, side shower), which can be controlled via such a switch fitting. The water flow is controlled via a corresponding number of shutoff valves, which are arranged in branches of the inlet line supplied by the mixer and can be operated via the switch fitting.

[0003] In practice, accurately laying pipe connections by plumbers with such conversion fittings has proven problematic, as the individual valves are installed flush with the wall surface and in the correct position. DE 7820423 U1 describes a concealed installation unit for a sanitary mixer tap with a conversion mechanism. This proposal involves inserting an assembly box with coupling elements for the hot and cold water supply pipes and the tap pipes, which are installed in the side walls. Within the assembly box, the coupling elements are screwed into a connection piece of the tap housing, which is fixed therein. This connection piece contains shutoff valves for the cold and hot water and has connection points for the mixing and conversion devices to be installed. The resulting assembly unit is then installed flush with the wall surface and in the correct position in the upper wall at the construction site, and serves as a guide for plumbers on how to connect pipes.

[0004] However, in practice, the problem of correct positional installation also exists in this previously known mounting device. If it turns out during the final assembly of the accessory that the concealed mounting unit is not positioned exactly correctly, corrections can generally only be made at great expense. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides a remedy here. The invention is based on the object of providing a distributor unit for sanitary conversion fittings for installation in a wall, in which readjustment of the wall-flush positioning of the arranged conversion fitting is easily possible. This object is achieved according to the invention by a distributor unit for sanitary conversion fittings for installation in a wall.

[0006] The present invention provides a distributor unit for wall-mounted sanitary switching fittings, in which the flush positioning of installed shutoff valves can be easily readjusted. The distributor unit is formed by a distributor block with an inlet channel and at least two outlet channels, and a control block with an inlet channel and at least two valve seats connected to the inlet channels for accommodating valve upper components. The inlet channel of the distributor block is connected to the inlet channel of the control block, and the outlet channel of the distributor block is connected to the valve seats of the control channels, respectively, via pipe components. The control block and valve block are movably connected relative to each other via the pipe components, allowing the position of the control block to be adjusted relative to the position of the distributor block. At the construction site, the distributor block can be installed in the rough wall, after which the pipe connections are made at the distributor block. Precise positioning of the control block can then be achieved during the assembly of the fitting. Positional deviations of the distributor block, which is firmly mounted in the wall, can thus be easily compensated for.

[0007] In a further development of the present invention, at least one conduit element is designed as a telescopic tube, comprising at least two tube pieces that are pushed together in a sealing manner. This allows for a stable connection between the distributor block and the control block while simultaneously adjusting the length of the conduit element. The conduit element designed as a telescopic tube, formed from rigid tube pieces that are pushed together, allows for a continuous adjustment of the distance between the distributor block and the control block. The distributor block and the control block are preferably connected exclusively via the conduit element.

[0008] Particularly preferably, all the pipe components are designed as telescopic pipes, as described above. Although it is also possible to design the individual pipe components as flexible hoses, this, however, compromises the stability of the connection between the distributor block and the control block, which in turn requires the arrangement of additional connecting elements designed so that the adjustability of the control block's position is not impaired.

[0009] In the embodiment of the present invention, the pipe element is designed at its ends in the shape of spherical sectors and is pivotably held with one end in a spherical bearing of the distributor pipe and the other end in a spherical bearing of the control block. The spherical bearing of the control block opens into the inlet channel or valve seat, while the spherical bearing of the distributor block opens into the inlet channel or outlet channel. This results in an articulated connection of the pipe element to the distributor block and the control block, allowing for easy positional adjustment of the control block relative to the distributor block. The pipe element is connected to the distributor block and the control block in the form of a ball joint, with the ends of the pipe element forming a universal joint head that is supported in the spherical bearing.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one spherical bearing is partially formed by a threaded ring that is screwed into the distributor block or control block and, via which the spherical sector-shaped end of the pipeline component is pivotably secured. This facilitates easy assembly of the pipeline component in the distributor block and control block. The threaded ring screwed into the distributor block or control block together with the threaded ring forms a spherical bearing for the spherical sector-shaped end of the pipeline component, which acts as a universal joint.

[0011] In a further development of the invention, at least one spherical seat has at least one sealing element for sealing against the spherical sector-shaped end of the pipe component received by the spherical seat. This prevents water from escaping at the pipe connection point. Preferably, the sealing element is formed by a sealing ring, in particular an O-ring. The sealing element can be arranged in the threaded ring and / or in the distributor block or control block.

[0012] In the design of the present invention, the valve seat has an internal thread for screwing the valve insert (or valve core, ie Ventileinsatz). This allows easy assembly of the valve insert, also for maintenance purposes.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the distributor block is of rectangular design, with at least one outlet channel being angularly configured and extending through two adjacent side faces of the distributor block. The outlet channels are preferably configured at a 90° angle. This results in an orthogonal orientation of the connection points of the pipe components relative to the connected pipes. The distributor block can of course also have other, preferably elongated, shapes, with the contact surface provided for installation in a wall opening preferably being flat.

[0014] In a further development of the present invention, the outlet channel of the distributor block has a thread for connecting the outlet pipe. This makes it easier to install the connecting pipe in the wall. Preferably, the thread is configured as an internal thread.

[0015] In a refinement of the present invention, the inlet channel of the distributor block is connected to at least one fluid source via a main valve. Here, the main valve is preferably a mixing valve, especially a thermostatic valve, which is connected to a hot water source and a cold water source in a known form and manner.

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the main valve is connected to an inlet channel via a pipe element. The inlet channel has a spherical sector-shaped end that is pivotably received by a spherical seat of the distributor block that opens into the inlet channel. This allows for positional adjustment between the distributor block and the main valve.

[0017] In a development of the invention, a shutoff valve insert is accordingly introduced into the valve seat of the control block, the shutoff valve insert having a lateral inlet which is connected to the inlet channel, wherein the outlet of the shutoff valve insert is connected sealingly to the associated line component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other improvements and designs of the present invention are described in the remaining dependent claims. An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and described in detail below.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic illustration of a distributor unit is shown in longitudinal section with the main valve shown;

[0020] Figure 2 Shown in section II-II Figure 1 A diagram of a distributor unit;

[0021] Figure 3 Shown in the crack in the wall Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a distributor unit;

[0022] Figure 4 Shown in section IV-IV Figure 3 Installation status. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The distributor unit selected as the exemplary embodiment essentially consists of a distributor block 1, which is connected to a control block 2 via a pipe section 3. The distributor block 1 is constructed as a square brass block and has an inlet channel 11 at its end 10, which opens at a 90° angle into the top surface 101 of the distributor block 1 facing the control block 2. At the end, the inlet channel 11 is provided with an internal thread 111 for connecting to the outlet pipe 43 of the thermostatic mixing valve 4. Adjacent to the inlet channel 11 are two outlet channels 12, arranged in a side surface 102 adjacent to the top surface 101, which opens at a 90° angle into the top surface 101 of the distributor block 1. Hollow cylindrical recesses 13 are introduced into the distributor block 1 concentrically around the inlet and outlet channels 11 and 12. These recesses are provided with internal threads 131, into which threaded rings 14 are screwed. The inner wall of the threaded ring 14 is designed to be curved inwards in the shape of a spherical sector. This bulge extends into the transition between the hollow-cylindrical recess 13 and the outlet channel 12 or the inlet channel 11, thereby forming a spherical bearing 15 in which the universal joint head 321 of the pipe element 3 is pivotably supported. Annular grooves are introduced into the middle of the transition between the inlet channel 11 and the outlet channel 12 and the corresponding hollow-cylindrical recess 13, into which O-rings 16 are inserted for sealing the pipe element 3 relative to the inlet channel 11 or the outlet channel 12. At its end facing the side surface 102, the outlet channel 12 is provided with an internal thread 121 for connecting to a mounting pipe.

[0024] In this embodiment, the control block 2 is constructed as a square brass block. A first blind hole 211 is introduced into its bottom side 20, which faces the distributor block 1. This first blind hole 211 opens into a second blind hole 212, which is introduced centrally into the end side 201 of the control block 2. The second blind hole 212 is provided with an internal thread 213 at the end, into which a locking screw 214 is screwed. The first blind hole 211 and the second blind hole 212 form the inlet channel 21.

[0025] Similar to the design of the top surface 101 of the distributor block 1, three spherical bearings 22 for accommodating the universal joint heads 311 of the pipe components 3 are arranged adjacent to each other in the bottom surface 20 of the control block 2. Here, the spherical bearings 22 open into the first blind hole 211 of the inlet channel 21. The other spherical bearings 22 each open into a hollow cylindrical valve seat 25 introduced into the top surface 202 of the control block 2. Around the spherical bearings 22, a hollow cylindrical recess 23 is also introduced into the control block 2, which is provided with an internal thread 231, into which a threaded ring 24 is screwed. Here, the inner contour of the threaded ring 24, together with the first blind hole 211 or the transition of the valve seat 25 to the hollow-cylindrical recess 23, forms the spherical sector-shaped contour of the ball seat 22, wherein an annular groove is again introduced in the transition, which in turn accommodates an O-ring 26 for sealing the control block 2 relative to the universal joint 311 respectively accommodated by the ball seat 22. The valve seat 25 is provided at its top end with an internal thread 251 for screwing in a shutoff valve insert (not shown).

[0026] In this embodiment, the pipe component 3 is formed from a first pipe piece 31 and a second pipe piece 32 pushed therein, wherein a universal joint 311 is integrally formed on the first pipe piece 31 at its end opposite the second pipe piece 32. A universal joint 321 is correspondingly integrally formed on the second pipe piece 32 at its end facing away from the first pipe piece 31. At its end facing the first pipe piece 31, two annular grooves arranged parallel to one another are introduced circumferentially into the outside of the second pipe piece 32, into which O-rings 33 for sealing against the first pipe piece 31 are positioned.

[0027] exist Figure 3 The installation of a distributor unit according to the invention is shown in FIG. Here, the distributor block 1 is fixed on a base 52 of a wall break 51 introduced into a wall 5. As in Figure 3 and 4 As shown in FIG, the base of the wall opening is uneven. The outlet pipe 43 of the thermostatic valve 4 is connected to the inlet channel 11 of the distributor block 1, and the thermostatic valve is also fixed to the base 52 of the wall opening 51. The thermostatic valve 4 is connected with its hot water inlet connection 41 to a hot water source (not shown) and with its cold water inlet connection 42 to a cold water source (not shown). Figure 3In the embodiment of FIG, the outlet pipe 43 of the thermostatic mixing valve 4 is provided with a universal joint 44 in the form of a spherical sector at its end. The inlet channel 11 of the distributor block 1 opens into a spherical bearing 15, similar to the previous embodiment, which accommodates the universal joint 44 of the outlet pipe 43 of the thermostatic valve 4. The spherical bearing 15 is in turn surrounded by a hollow-cylindrical groove 13, into which a threaded ring 14 is screwed. The inner contour of the threaded ring is a component of the spherical bearing 15, and via this threaded ring the universal joint 44 is pivotably held on the distributor block 1.

[0028] The control block 2 is connected via a pipe element 3 to the distributor block 1, which is fixed to the base 52 of the wall opening 51. The telescopic design of the pipe element 3 and its ball-and-socket-like connection to the distributor block 1 on the one hand and to the control block 2 on the other hand allow easy alignment of the control block 2 without requiring positional correction of the distributor block 1 fixed in the wall opening 51.

[0029] The shutoff valve insert is then correspondingly introduced into the valve seat 25 of the control block 2. The shutoff valve insert has a lateral inlet and a base-side outlet, which can be closed via a control disk and is in contact with a sealing ring. The shutoff valve insert—often also referred to as a valve cartridge or valve upper part—is secured in a known manner via an externally threaded coupling sleeve that is screwed into an internal thread 251 of the valve seat 25 and prestressed with the sealing ring at the outlet against the sealing seat 252 of the valve seat 25. A shutoff valve insert of this type is generally known and is described, for example, in EP 1 462 692 A1.

[0030] Depending on the valve position of the valve upper part mounted in the valve seat 25, access to the pipe part 3, which is received by the spherical seat 22 opening into the valve seat 25, is permitted or blocked. Regardless of the valve position, unimpeded flow through the inlet channel 21 of the control block 2 is ensured.

Claims

1. A distributor unit for sanitary switching fittings for installation in a wall (5), comprising a distributor block (1) with an inlet channel (11) and at least two outlet channels (12), and a control block (2) with an inlet channel (21) and at least two valve seats (25) connected to the inlet channel (21) for accommodating valve upper parts, wherein: The inlet channel (11) of the distributor block (1) and the inlet channel (21) of the control block (2), and the outlet channel (12) of the distributor block (1) and the valve seat (25) of the control block (2) are respectively connected via a pipe component (3), and the control block (2) and the distributor block (1) are connected to each other via the pipe component so as to be movable relative to each other.

2. The dispenser unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The control block (2) is connected to the distributor block only via the pipe part (3).

3. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that At least one pipeline component (3) is designed as a telescopic tube, which comprises at least two pipe pieces (31, 32) which are pushed into one another in a sealing manner.

4. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The pipe element (3) is designed in the form of a spherical sector at its ends and is pivotably held with one end in a spherical seat (15) of the distributor block (1) and with the other end in a spherical seat (22) of the control block (2), wherein the spherical seat (22) of the control block (2) opens into an inlet channel (21) or a valve seat (25) respectively, and the spherical seat (15) of the distributor block (1) opens into an inlet channel (11) or an outlet channel (12).

5. The dispenser unit according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one spherical bearing (15, 22) is partially formed by a threaded ring (14, 24) which is screwed into the distributor block (1) or the control block (2) and via which the spherical sector-shaped end of the pipeline element (3) is pivotably fixed.

6. The dispenser unit according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one spherical seat (15, 22) has at least one sealing element.

7. The dispenser unit according to claim 6, characterized in that The sealing element is a sealing ring for sealing relative to the end of the pipeline component (3) which is received by the spherical seat (15, 22) and is in the shape of a spherical sector.

8. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that At least one valve seat (25) has an internal thread for screwing in a valve insert.

9. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The distributor block (1) is of cuboid design, wherein at least one outlet channel (12) is of angular design and is guided through two adjacent side faces of the distributor block (1).

10. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The outlet channel (12) of the distributor block accordingly has threads for connecting the outlet pipe.

11. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The inlet channel (11) of the distributor block (1) is connected to at least one fluid source via a main valve.

12. The dispenser unit according to claim 11, characterized in that The main valve is a mixing valve, which is connected to a cold water source and a hot water source.

13. The dispenser unit according to claim 12, characterized in that The main valve is a thermostatic mixing valve (4).

14. The dispenser unit according to claim 11, characterized in that The main valve is connected to the inlet channel (11) via a line component (3), which has a spherical sector-shaped end which is pivotably received by a spherical seat (15) of the distributor block (1) that opens into the inlet channel (11).

15. The dispenser unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A shutoff valve insert is accordingly introduced into the valve seat (25) of the control block (2), the shutoff valve insert having a lateral inlet which is connected to the inlet channel, wherein the outlet of the shutoff valve insert is connected sealingly to the associated line component (3).

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