Control valve with membrane valve and multi-way valve for at least one sanitary equipment fitting

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control valve (1) for at least one sanitary equipment accessory, comprising at least: a housing (2) having at least one inlet (3) for fluid; a diaphragm valve (4) for opening and closing a flow passage (5) of the control valve (1), the diaphragm valve (4) having a diaphragm (6) and a back pressure chamber (7) connected to at least one inlet (3), a pilot opening (8) configured in the diaphragm (6) connecting the back pressure chamber (7) to the flow passage (5); a multi-way valve (9) arranged downstream of the diaphragm valve (4) and having a plurality of outlets (10, 11) for fluid; and a controller (12) for controlling the diaphragm valve (4) and the multi-way valve (9), the controller (12) having a control lever (13) extending through the pilot opening (8) of the diaphragm (6), the control lever (13) being adjustable in a longitudinal direction (14) for controlling the diaphragm valve (4) and being rotatable for controlling the multi-way valve (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control valve for a sanitary appliance accessory. This sanitary appliance accessory is used to provide fluid as needed, for example, at a shower, bathtub, bidet, or washbasin. Background Technology

[0002] Control valves, for example, can be used to deliver fluid to various jet formers in sanitary fixtures, such as shower heads. With the aid of these jet formers, fluid can be discharged through the sanitary fixtures in different jet types, such as full jets, rain jets, and massage jets. Furthermore, fluid can also be delivered to various fluid outlets of the sanitary fixtures via control valves. For example, fluid can be specifically delivered to bathtub outlets and / or handheld shower heads via control valves. Some disadvantages of known control valves are their high structural space requirements and the fact that they are not simple and intuitive to operate. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art, and in particular to provide a control valve for sanitary equipment fittings that is particularly compact and easy to operate.

[0004] The objective is achieved using the control valve described in accordance with the features of the independent claim. Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features individually listed in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in any technically reasonable manner and define other embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the detailed description and explanation of the features given in the claims constitute other preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] Therefore, a control valve for sanitary equipment accessories is proposed, which has at least the following components:

[0006] - A housing having at least one inlet for fluid;

[0007] - A diaphragm valve for opening and closing the flow passage of the control valve, wherein the diaphragm valve has a diaphragm and a back pressure chamber in communication with the at least one inlet, wherein a pilot opening is formed in the diaphragm that communicates the back pressure chamber with the flow passage;

[0008] - A multi-way valve, positioned downstream of the diaphragm valve and having multiple outlets for fluid; and

[0009] - A controller for controlling diaphragm valves and multi-way valves, wherein the controller has a control lever that extends through a pilot opening in the diaphragm, wherein the control lever is for controlling the longitudinal displacement of the diaphragm valve and for controlling the rotation of the multi-way valve.

[0010] Control valves may be disposed, for example, within sanitary fixture fittings or connected to sanitary fixture fittings via hoses and / or pipes. Sanitary fixture fittings are used to provide fluid, particularly water, as needed, for example, in shower units, bathtubs, washbasins, or sinks. Control valves may be disposed, at least partially beneath fixtures or at least partially within walls or support structures.

[0011] The control valve includes a housing having at least one inlet, through which it can be connected to a fluid source, such as a public fluid supply network. Upstream of the at least one inlet, a mixing valve or mixing cylinder can be connected, by means of which cold water at a cold water temperature and hot water at a hot water temperature can be mixed to form a mixed water with a desired mixed temperature. The cold water temperature is particularly maximum of 25°C, preferably from 1°C to 25°C, particularly preferably from 5°C to 20°C, and / or the hot water temperature is particularly maximum of 90°C, preferably from 25°C to 90°C, particularly preferably from 55°C to 65°C. The housing can be constructed in multiple parts. Furthermore, the housing can be at least partially made of plastic and / or metal, such as brass.

[0012] Fluid flowing in through at least one inlet can be conveyed through the housing to the diaphragm valve. For this purpose, at least one inlet channel and / or at least one inlet chamber can be formed in the housing. The diaphragm valve is used to open and close a flow passage of the control valve, through which fluid can be conveyed to a multi-way valve of the control valve. The multi-way valve is arranged downstream of the diaphragm valve and has multiple outlets for fluid. For example, the multi-way valve can have 2 to 10, preferably 2 to 5, or particularly preferably 2 or 3 outlets. Each of these outlets can, for example, be connected to a separate jet generator of a sanitary appliance fitting. The diaphragm valve includes a diaphragm and a back pressure chamber connected to at least one inlet. Fluid can flow from the inlet channel and / or inlet chamber of the housing into the back pressure chamber of the diaphragm valve via a balancing orifice in the diaphragm of the diaphragm valve and / or a balancing orifice in other parts of the control valve, such as the housing, so that the fluid has the same fluid pressure on both sides of the diaphragm. Because the diaphragm defines the back pressure chamber with an area larger than at least one inlet channel and / or at least one inlet cavity, the force on the diaphragm caused by the fluid pressure of the fluid in the back pressure chamber is greater than the force caused by the fluid pressure of the fluid in at least one inlet channel and / or at least one inlet cavity. Therefore, the diaphragm is pressed against the valve seat, causing the diaphragm valve to close. A pilot opening is constructed in the diaphragm that communicates the back pressure chamber with the flow channel. The pilot opening can be, for example, constructed as an orifice in the diaphragm.

[0013] Diaphragm valves and multi-way valves can be controlled by a (common and / or unique) controller. The controller includes at least one control lever extending through a pilot opening in the diaphragm. The control lever is specifically constructed to be rod-shaped, pin-shaped, and / or (substantially) straight. Furthermore, the control lever can be configured, for example, as a lead screw. Additionally, the control lever can be moved longitudinally by the user of the valve to control the diaphragm valve, and rotatable to control the multi-way valve. For this purpose, the control lever can extend from the housing at least one end on each of its two longitudinal sides. The diaphragm valve can be opened or closed, for example, by pressure manipulation of the control lever by the user. For this purpose, the control lever can be moved longitudinally by the user, for example, between a closed position and an open position, in which the diaphragm valve is closed and in the open position is open. In the closed position, the control lever can be moved further into the housing than in the open position. The control lever can be adjusted and / or (similar to a ballpoint pen refill) locked in the closed and / or open positions. The longitudinal direction of the control lever extends specifically parallel to its longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the control lever is specifically rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Therefore, the longitudinal axis can be aligned with the control lever's axis of rotation. The control lever is connected (directly or indirectly) to the multi-way valve in such a way that the multi-way valve can be actuated or controlled by the rotation of the control lever about its axis of rotation. Thus, by rotating the control lever, the user can adjust which outlet(s) of the multi-way valve the fluid exits through. Furthermore, the rotation of the control lever can control the volumetric flow rate of the fluid discharged through which outlet of the multi-way valve. Therefore, the control lever enables the integration of the functions of a pressure valve and a so-called intelligent flow regulator into a single (unique) control valve in a space-saving manner. Moreover, the control valve is particularly easy to operate by pressing and rotating the control lever.

[0014] A diaphragm valve can be arranged at the end of a first longitudinal side of the flow passage. Thus, the flow passage can be opened or closed by the diaphragm valve at its end on the first longitudinal side. The end of the first longitudinal side of the flow passage is particularly the end of the upstream longitudinal side of the flow passage. The end of the first longitudinal side of the flow passage can thus form a valve seat for the diaphragm valve. The flow passage can be at least partially tubular in construction.

[0015] The flow passage connects the diaphragm valve to the multi-way valve. This specifically means that fluid can flow through the flow passage to the multi-way valve when the diaphragm valve is open. Furthermore, a control lever can extend from the diaphragm through the flow passage toward the multi-way valve.

[0016] A sealing element can be arranged on the circumferential surface of the control rod, which closes the pilot opening of the diaphragm through the control rod. The sealing element extends 360° around the control rod on the circumferential surface. For this purpose, the sealing element can be specifically constructed as an annular shape. For example, the sealing element can be constructed as a surrounding flange or an O-ring. Furthermore, the sealing element can be at least partially made of plastic or rubber. Additionally, the sealing element can be fixedly connected to the control rod. Thus, the sealing element can be displaced, specifically in the longitudinal direction, by means of the control rod. The pilot opening is specifically constructed as an annular gap between the control rod and the diaphragm. If the control rod is in the closed position, the sealing element abuts against the pilot opening of the diaphragm, causing the diaphragm to close. Therefore, no fluid can flow from the back pressure chamber into the control channel. If the control rod is in the open position, however, the sealing element is lifted from the pilot opening, allowing fluid to flow from the back pressure chamber into the flow channel through the pilot opening.

[0017] A multi-way valve may have a static disc and a dynamic disc arranged movably on the static disc. The static disc and / or dynamic disc may, in particular, be at least partially made of plastic or ceramic. Furthermore, the static disc and / or dynamic disc are particularly flat and / or (substantially) circular in shape. Additionally, the static disc and / or dynamic disc may be housed within a housing. The static disc is particularly immovable relative to the control valve and / or housing. When the dynamic disc moves, it slides, in particular, on or over the surface of the static disc.

[0018] The dynamic disc can be rotated via a control lever. For this purpose, the dynamic disc is specifically (directly or indirectly) connected to the control lever. The axis of rotation of the dynamic disc is specifically parallel to or extends coaxially with the axis of rotation of the control lever.

[0019] The dynamic disk may have at least one control opening. The control opening is specifically constructed in the dynamic disk according to the type of orifice. The control opening is specifically not concentric with the axis of rotation of the dynamic disk, so that it can move to different areas of the static disk as the dynamic disk rotates. Furthermore, the control opening specifically extends completely through the dynamic disk in the longitudinal direction of the control lever. Fluid can be specifically delivered to the control opening of the dynamic disk via a flow channel. Through the movement of the dynamic disk, the fluid can be selectively delivered to different areas of the static disk.

[0020] The control opening connects the flow passage to at least one of the outlets according to the position of the dynamic disc. The outlets of the diaphragm valve are constructed in particular according to the type of opening in the static disc. The connection between the flow passage and at least one of the outlets is established particularly when the control opening of the dynamic disc is at least partially aligned with or covers at least one of the outlets, especially in the longitudinal direction of the control lever or parallel to the axis of rotation of the dynamic disc.

[0021] The control lever can be connected to a button. The button is specifically located on the outside of the housing and / or can be operated by the user of the control valve.

[0022] The control lever can be moved longitudinally by a button and can rotate about a rotation axis. Specifically, by pressing the button, the control lever can be moved longitudinally to control a diaphragm valve. By turning the button, and in particular, by rotating the control lever, a multi-way valve can be controlled. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The invention and its technical scope are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings illustrate particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. Here, the same components are given the same reference numerals in the drawings. The drawings exemplarily and schematically illustrate:

[0024] Figure 1 : Cross-sectional view of the control valve;

[0025] Figure 2 : The static panel of the control valve; and

[0026] Figure 3 : Dynamic disc of control valve. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 The control valve 1 is shown in cross-section. The control valve 1 is arranged in a carrier 26 and has a housing 2 with an inlet 3 through which fluid can be delivered to the control valve 1. A diaphragm valve 4 with a diaphragm 6 is arranged in the housing 2. Fluid flows from the inlet 3 into an annular inlet chamber 27 and from there into the diaphragm valve 4. There, the fluid flows into a back pressure chamber 7 via a balancing orifice 24 of the diaphragm 6. The back pressure chamber 7 is located on the side of the diaphragm 6 opposite to the inlet chamber 27. In the closed state of the diaphragm valve 4, the same fluid pressure exists in both the inlet chamber 27 and the back pressure chamber 7. Because the diaphragm 6 defines the back pressure chamber 7 with a larger area than the inlet chamber 27, the force on the diaphragm 6 caused by the fluid pressure in the back pressure chamber 7 is greater in the closed state of the diaphragm valve 4 than the force caused by the fluid pressure in the inlet chamber 27. Thus, the diaphragm 6 is pressed against an annular valve seat 23, which is constructed on the end 15 of the first longitudinal side of the flow passage 5. When the diaphragm valve 4 is closed, no fluid can flow into the flow channel 5.

[0028] However, in Figure 1The diagram shows a diaphragm valve 4 in the open position, in which the diaphragm 6 is lifted from the annular valve seat 23 (here, vertically upward), thus opening the flow passage 5 of the control valve 1. For this purpose, the diaphragm 6 is movably arranged in the housing 2. In the open state of either the diaphragm valve 4 or the diaphragm 6, fluid can flow from the inlet chamber 27 through the valve seat 23 into the flow passage 5. To open and close the diaphragm valve 4, the control valve 1 has a controller 12. The controller 12 includes a control lever 13 extending through a pilot opening 8 of the diaphragm 6. The control lever 13 is connected to a button 21, which allows the user of the control valve 1 to adjust the control lever 13 in a longitudinal direction 14 between a closed position and an open position 25 (shown here) to control the diaphragm valve 4. The longitudinal direction 14 extends parallel to the axis of rotation 22 of the control lever 13. The control lever 13 is adjustable, for example, lockable, particularly in the closed or open position 25, via the button 21. Therefore, button 21 is elastically supported in the embodiment shown here. An annular sealing element 17 is arranged on the circumferential surface 16 of control lever 13. In the closed position, this sealing element abuts against the pilot opening 8 and seals the annular gap 28 between control lever 13 and diaphragm 6, preventing fluid from flowing from back pressure chamber 7 into flow channel 5 via pilot opening 8 or annular gap 28. However, in the open position 25 shown here, the sealing element 17 is lifted (vertically upward) from the pilot opening 8 of diaphragm 6, allowing fluid to flow from back pressure chamber 7 into flow channel 5 via the annular pilot opening 8 of diaphragm 6 or via annular gap 28. This causes a pressure drop in the fluid in back pressure chamber 7, lifting diaphragm 6 from valve seat 23.

[0029] With diaphragm valve 4 in the open state, fluid flows through flow channel 5 to multi-way valve 9. Multi-way valve 9 is also arranged inside housing 2 and includes a static disk 18 fixed relative to housing 2 and a dynamic disk 19 arranged on the static disk 18. Dynamic disk 19 is connected to control lever 13 via drive 29, allowing the user to rotate dynamic disk 19 on static disk 18 using button 21 and control lever 13. Fluid first flows through flow channel 5 to control opening 20 of dynamic disk 19. Control opening 20 extends completely through dynamic disk 19 in the longitudinal direction 14. Depending on the rotation position of dynamic disk 19, control opening 20 at least partially contacts the static disk 18. Figure 2The first outlet 10 and / or the second outlet 11 shown are aligned. Outlets 10 and 11 also extend completely through the static disk 18 in the longitudinal direction 14. If the control opening 20 of the dynamic disk 19 is at least partially aligned with the first outlet 10 of the static disk 18, then fluid can flow out at least partially through the first outlet 10. If the control opening 20 of the dynamic disk 19 is at least partially aligned with the second outlet 11 of the static disk 18, then fluid can flow out at least partially through the second outlet 11. The more the control opening 20 of the dynamic disk 19 intersects or aligns with one of the two outlets 10 and 11, the greater the fluid volumetric flow rate flowing out through the corresponding outlet 10 or 11. The dynamic disk 19 can, for example, rotate 150° on the static disk 18. The static disk 18 and the dynamic disk 19 can be configured such that, with a rotation angle of 0° to 120° of the dynamic disk 19, a fluid volumetric flow rate of 3 L / min to 9 L / min (liters per minute) is delivered to the first outlet 10. Furthermore, the static disk 18 and the dynamic disk 19 can be configured such that, with a rotation angle of 120° to 150° on the dynamic disk 19, the fluid is switched to the second outlet 11, so that fluid is delivered only to the second outlet 11. Fluid can be delivered from the first outlet 10 and the second outlet 11, for example, to various jet formers of sanitary equipment accessories.

[0030] Figure 2 A static disk 18 with a first outlet 10 and a second outlet 11 is shown in top view. Furthermore, Figure 3 A top view shows a dynamic disk 19 with a control opening 20. The dynamic disk 19 has a notch 30. Figure 1 The drive member 29 shown engages into the notch, so that the drive member 29 is form-locked to the dynamic disk 19.

[0031] The present invention enables control valves for sanitary equipment accessories to be constructed in a particularly compact manner and to be easy to operate.

[0032] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0033] 1. Control valve

[0034] 2. Shell

[0035] 3 entrances

[0036] 4. Diaphragm valve

[0037] 5. Flow channels

[0038] 6. Membrane

[0039] 7 Back pressure chamber

[0040] 8. Pilot opening

[0041] 9. Multi-way valve

[0042] 10 First Exit

[0043] 11 Second Exit

[0044] 12 controllers

[0045] 13 Control levers

[0046] 14. Vertical direction

[0047] 15. End of the first longitudinal side

[0048] 16 weeks

[0049] 17 Sealing elements

[0050] 18 Static disks

[0051] 19 Dynamic disks

[0052] 20 Control opening

[0053] 21 buttons

[0054] 22 Rotation axis

[0055] 23 Valve seat

[0056] 24 Balance holes

[0057] 25 Open Location

[0058] 26. Bearing components

[0059] 27. Entering the cavity

[0060] 28. Annular gap

[0061] 29. Drive components

[0062] 30 gap

Claims

1. A control valve (1) for at least one sanitary equipment accessory, said control valve comprising at least: - A housing (2) having at least one inlet (3) for fluid; - A diaphragm valve (4) for opening and closing the flow passage (5) of the control valve (1), wherein the diaphragm valve (4) has a diaphragm (6) and a back pressure chamber (7) connected to the at least one inlet (3), wherein a pilot opening (8) is constructed in the diaphragm (6) to connect the back pressure chamber (7) to the flow passage (5); - A multi-way valve (9) arranged downstream of the diaphragm valve (4) and having multiple outlets (10, 11) for fluid, wherein each of the outlets (10, 11) can be connected to a separate jet former of a sanitary appliance fitting; and - A controller (12) for controlling a diaphragm valve (4) and a multi-way valve (9), characterized in that the controller (12) has a control lever (13) extending through a pilot opening (8) of the diaphragm (6), wherein the control lever (13) is movable in the longitudinal direction (14) for controlling the diaphragm valve (4) and rotatable for controlling the multi-way valve (9), wherein the control lever (13) is connected to a button (21), and the control lever (13) is movable in the longitudinal direction (14) by means of the button (21) to... And can be rotated around the rotation axis (22) by a button, wherein the multi-way valve (9) has a static disk (18) and a dynamic disk (19) arranged movably on the static disk (18), the dynamic disk (19) has a notch (30), the drive member (29) engages into the notch, such that the drive member (29) is form-locked to the dynamic disk (19), the dynamic disk (19) is connected to the control lever (13) through the drive member (29), wherein the dynamic disk (19) can be rotated by the control lever (13).

2. The control valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein, A diaphragm valve (4) is arranged at the end (15) of the first longitudinal side of the flow channel (5).

3. The control valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The flow channel (5) connects the diaphragm valve (4) to the multi-way valve (9).

4. The control valve (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, A sealing element (17) is arranged on the circumferential surface (16) of the control rod (13), which can be used to close the pilot opening (8) of the diaphragm (6) through the control rod (13).

5. The control valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The dynamic disk (19) has at least one control opening (20).

6. The control valve (1) according to claim 5, wherein, The control opening (20) connects the flow channel (5) to at least one of the outlets (10, 11) according to the position of the dynamic disk (19).

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