Operating handle device and wall-mounted mounting device for thermostatic valve

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating handle device for a thermostatic valve, said operating handle device having a base body and a handle unit which is held on the base body and which can be moved axially relative to the base body between a rest position and a first operating position and can be rotated in the first operating position. The invention further relates to a sanitary wall-mounted installation device with the operating handle device. The operating handle device according to the invention has: a second operating position into which the handle unit can be moved axially from the first operating position and in which the handle unit can be rotated; and a movement guide that releases the axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position into the second operating position only when the handle unit is located in a predetermined release rotational position, and that guides the axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position into the second operating position only when the handle unit is located between the first operating position and the second operating position in the axial direction. The movement guide locks the handle unit against torsion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating handle arrangement for a thermostatic valve, wherein the operating handle arrangement comprises a base body and a handle unit, the handle unit being held on the base body and being axially displaceable relative to the base body between a rest position and a first operating position and being rotationally movable in the first operating position. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sanitary wall-mounting device having a wall-mountable accommodating housing in which the operating handle arrangement is arranged. Background Art

[0002] Operating handle arrangements for thermostatic valves are known in various embodiments and serve to enable a user to operate the thermostatic valve by manipulating a handle unit accessible to the user for this purpose in order to set one or more variable valve parameters of the thermostatic valve, such as, in particular, the temperature of the fluid output by the thermostatic valve or the mixing ratio of colder and hotter fluids, which are supplied separately to the thermostatic valve and mixed by the thermostatic valve. In sanitary applications, thermostatic valves are often used to provide mixed water of a desired temperature, consisting of separately supplied cold water and hot water.

[0003] In the operating handle device of the type currently under consideration and mentioned at the outset, the handle unit is arranged axially movably on a base body between a rest position and an operating position, wherein the user can operate the thermostatic valve in the operating position via the rotational mobility of the handle unit, i.e. can set one or more relevant valve parameters.

[0004] The rest position of the handle unit can in particular be an initial position of an operating handle device for actuating the thermostatic valve, preferably a position in which the handle unit is inaccessible to a user for operating purposes, for example by being recessed into an operating surface, and / or in which, even if the handle unit were accessible, it would not be able to perform any functionally effective rotational movement, i.e., no rotational movement that would affect the valve state of the thermostatic valve. In particular, the handle unit can be flush with the exterior of the corresponding operating surface in the rest position and thus be arranged in such a way that it is not accessible to a user for performing a rotational movement.

[0005] Such operating handle arrangements (in which, as mentioned above, the handle unit, in the rest position, is preferably flush with the exterior of the corresponding operating surface and is not accessible to the user for rotational movement, but is arranged recessed in the operating surface) are common, for example, in cooking appliances such as ovens, see publications EP 2 835 711 A1, EP 364 746 2 A1, and EP 2 410 547 A1. Furthermore, such operating handle arrangements are also used in sanitary applications for user operation of thermostatic valves, see utility model DE 20 2023 101 160 U1 and publication WO 2010 / 038033 A2. In these operating handle devices, the handle unit can usually be brought by the user from a rest position to a position that is slightly further moved axially by axial pressing, and then after the handle unit is released by the user, the handle unit is automatically moved axially out of this position to an operating position by spring preload, wherein the handle unit extends from the operating surface in the operating position for the user to apply an operating rotational movement.

[0006] In another operating handle device of the type mentioned at the outset, the axial mobility of the handle unit between the rest position and the operating position is not merely used to shift the handle unit between the inactive state in the rest position and the active operating state in the operating position, but is also used to simultaneously perform an associated valve control function, such as an on / off function for a thermostatic valve. For example, an operating device of this type is disclosed in EP 3 499 103 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide an operating handle device of the type mentioned at the outset, which offers extensive advantages compared to the aforementioned prior art, in particular with regard to functionality, design aspects and / or production costs, and to provide a hygienic wall-mounted device having such an operating handle device.

[0008] The present invention solves this problem by providing an operating handle device having the features of claim 1 and a sanitary wall-mounted device having the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this description. In particular, this also includes all embodiments of the invention resulting from the feature combinations defined by reference in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the present invention, the operating handle device has: a second operating position, the handle unit can be moved axially from the first operating position to the second operating position, and the handle unit can be rotated in the second operating position; and a movement guide part, which releases the axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position to the second operating position only when the handle unit is in a preset release rotation position, and when the handle unit is axially between the first operating position and the second operating position, the movement guide part locks the handle unit to prevent twisting.

[0010] Thus, according to the invention, in addition to the first operating plane provided by the first operating position, a second operating plane is formed for the handle unit by the second operating position, in which the handle unit can be rotated and can therefore be used for corresponding adjustment of the thermostatic valve. This allows the functionality of the operating handle arrangement to be expanded as required.

[0011] Particularly advantageously, due to this characteristic, the operating handle device according to the present invention can be used to provide a known scald protection function for thermostatic valves with relatively little manufacturing effort and / or in a design-friendly manner. In conventional thermostatic valves, this scald protection function is typically achieved by providing an end stop for the rotational movement of a correspondingly configured handle unit. This end stop corresponds to a predetermined maximum temperature for scald protection and can be overcome by pressing an unlocking button disposed on the handle unit. However, this requires the additional provision of such an unlocking mechanism, and the unlocking button, which must be accessible to the user and is typically located on the outer circumference of a sleeve-shaped operating handle component, limits the design flexibility for the handle unit. In contrast, in the operating handle device according to the present invention, this scald protection and its overcoming can be advantageously achieved by providing one of two operating positions, for example, the first operating position, for valve setting within a temperature range below the predetermined maximum temperature for scald protection, while the other operating position, for example, the second operating position, for valve setting within a temperature range above this maximum temperature.

[0012] Since the motion guide only releases the axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position to the second operating position when the handle unit is in a predetermined release rotational position, it prevents the handle unit from accidentally moving into the second operating position when it is operated, i.e., twisted, in the first operating position. Similarly, by locking the handle unit against twisting when the motion guide is axially between the first and second operating positions, the motion guide prevents the handle unit from being twisted unintentionally and thus causing undesirable valve functions when the handle unit moves from the first operating position to the second operating position, or vice versa. The motion guide thus reliably separates the axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position to the second operating position and from the second operating position to the first operating position from the corresponding rotational movement of the handle unit in the first or second operating position. The motion guide is relatively easy to implement and can be provided, in particular, without a conventional, design-restrictive unlocking button.

[0013] In order to couple a thermostatic valve to be operated or controlled by a user with the aid of the operating handle device according to the present invention, a connecting link or coupling link of the thermostatic valve is coupled to the handle unit in a conventional manner so as to be rotationally fixed and axially movable. The user can then implement the valve setting function in question by rotating the handle unit in the first or second operating position. For example, the connecting link or coupling link can be the connecting end (Anschlusssstummel) of the control shaft of the thermostatic valve, which extends from the valve cartridge serving as the valve housing. For example, the base body of the operating handle device can be connected to or fixed to the valve cartridge or another fixed component of the thermostatic valve. Alternatively, the base body of the operating handle device can be mounted on another component that is itself connected to a fixed component of the thermostatic valve, such as its valve cartridge.

[0014] The corresponding rotational mobility of the handle unit in the first and second operating positions (as given in the operating handle device according to the invention) can also be used to set different valve parameters of the thermostatic valve when necessary, for example for the on / off function on the one hand and for the fluid mixing function or the fluid temperature setting function on the other hand.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, the handle unit in the first operating position is capable of limited rotational movement between a first and a second rotational end position, wherein the second rotational end position is a released rotational position. In this embodiment, the operating handle device can thus achieve a two-sided limited setting of the associated valve parameter with the handle unit in the first operating position, and can be axially displaced into the second operating position when the handle unit is in the rotational end position associated with the first operating position.

[0016] This embodiment is therefore particularly advantageously suitable for providing the aforementioned scald protection function. With the handle unit in the first operating position, normal temperature adjustment up to the maximum temperature for the scald protection can be performed, wherein the maximum temperature is defined by the second rotational end position, and the scald protection can be easily overcome by axially displacing the handle unit into the second operating position. Thereafter, by twisting the handle unit in the second operating position, the temperature setting for the correspondingly increased temperature range can be effected.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the handle device can be freely rotated in the first operating position without rotation angle restriction. In this case, any predefined rotational position of the handle unit in the first operating position can serve as a release rotational position for axial movement of the handle unit from the first operating position to the second operating position.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle unit can be further rotated in the second operating position from the release rotational position in the direction of rotation from the first rotational end position to the second rotational end position of the first operating position. This measure facilitates intuitive operation of the handle unit, as the handle unit, after being rotated in the first operating position to the second rotational end position and thus to the release rotational position, can be further rotated in the second operating position in the same rotational direction after being axially brought into the second operating position. In this respect, this corresponds to the further rotation of the handle unit in the aforementioned conventional thermostatic valve with scald protection after actuating the unlocking button. In an alternative embodiment, the handle unit or the movement guide is configured such that, in the second operating position, the handle unit can be twisted in the opposite rotational direction from the release rotational position, i.e., counter to the rotational direction from the first rotational end position to the second rotational end position, if this proves suitable for the respective application.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the first operating position is axially located between the rest position and the second operating position. This is the optimal sequence of the three different axial positions of the handle unit for many applications. In this case, the axial displacement of the handle unit from the first operating position to the second operating position takes place in the same axial forward or backward direction as the axial displacement from the rest position to the first operating position. In an alternative embodiment, the rest position is axially located between the first operating position and the second operating position, or the second operating position is axially located between the rest position and the first operating position, if this is appropriate for the respective application.

[0020] In a refinement of the present invention, the handle unit comprises a handle body and an intermediate body. The handle body is rotationally coupled to the intermediate body and is guided axially between a handle rest position corresponding to the rest position of the handle unit and a handle operating position corresponding to the first and second operating positions of the handle unit by a first guide rail on the intermediate body. The intermediate body is rotationally guided between the first and second operating positions by a second guide rail on the base body and is axially guided between the first and second operating positions in the released rotational position.

[0021] This is a structurally and functionally advantageous multi-part embodiment of the handle unit, wherein this configuration optimally satisfies the kinematics of the handle unit, taking into account its rotational mobility in the first and second operating positions and its axial mobility between the rest position and the first and second operating positions. The first slide guide allows the handle body, and therefore the handle unit, to be displaced axially relative to the central body between the rest position, on the one hand, and the first and second operating positions, on the other hand. When the handle unit is in the released rotational position, the central body, and therefore the handle unit, can be displaced axially relative to the base body between the first and second operating positions via the second slide guide. Furthermore, when the handle body is rotated by the user to implement the rotational movement of the handle unit, the first slide guide ensures that the central body rotates together with the handle body via the rotational coupling. At the same time, the second slide guide enables the rotational mobility of the central body relative to the base body. The first and second slide guides are therefore advantageous features of the motion guides of the operating handle device.

[0022] In this case, the aforementioned coupling element or coupling member of the thermostatic valve is coupled to the intermediate body, for example, in a rotationally fixed and axially movable manner, after which the user can perform the valve setting function in question by rotating the handle body in the first or second operating position of the handle unit. The rotation of the handle body is thereby transmitted to a corresponding rotation of the rotationally fixed intermediate body and, therefore, of the coupling element or coupling member of the thermostatic valve, which is coupled to it in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the handle unit can be designed as a single piece and can be arranged or held in a suitable manner on the base body of the operating handle device in an axially and rotationally movable manner as required by one or more guide rails or by movement guides.

[0024] In one design of the present invention, the handle body and the intermediate body have a sleeve part that can be telescopically engaged with each other. The first slide rail guide comprises a slide rail groove at the sleeve part of the intermediate body and a slide rail projection guided in the slide rail groove at the sleeve part of the handle body. This is an advantageously simple implementation scheme for the handle body, the intermediate body and the first slide rail guide to meet the functions required by them. For example, the slide rail groove of the first slide rail guide can form a curved track with a heart-shaped curve. Obviously, the first slide rail guide can have one or more additional slide rail grooves and related slide rail projections when necessary, preferably distributed at the sleeve circumference of the relevant sleeve part, which can improve the stability of the movement of the handle body guided thereby relative to the intermediate body. Alternatively, the handle body and the intermediate body can also be implemented with another configuration, and the other configuration is suitable for meeting the required functionality, as understood by those skilled in the art.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base body has a sleeve section surrounding the intermediate body, and the second slide rail guide comprises a slide rail groove in the sleeve section of the base body and a slide rail projection guided in the slide rail groove and projecting radially from the intermediate body. This embodiment also offers structural advantages and allows the desired movement process of the intermediate body and the functionally reliable fulfillment of the guiding function of the second slide rail guide. It is also obvious that the second slide rail guide can, if necessary, have one or more additional slide rail grooves and associated slide rail projections to improve the stability of the movement guided thereby, preferably in an arrangement distributed in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, another configuration for the base body and the intermediate body can be used that meets the required functions, such as a configuration in which the intermediate body has a sleeve section surrounding the base body and the second slide rail guide is implemented in a manner similar to that described above in a manner matching the sleeve section.

[0026] In one refinement of the present invention, the handle body is preloaded axially relative to the intermediate body from its resting position toward its operating position by a handle body preload spring. This allows the handle body to automatically move axially into its operating position after being moved from its resting position by the user. In an alternative embodiment, this preload spring is absent or replaced by an opposing preload spring. In this case, the user actively moves the handle body, i.e., axially into the operating position by exerting force.

[0027] In one refinement of the present invention, the intermediate body is axially preloaded relative to the base body from the second operating position in the direction of the first operating position by an intermediate body preload spring. When this movement is released, by the handle unit being in the released rotational position, this measure enables the intermediate body to automatically move axially from the second operating position to the first operating position. In this case, the axial movement of the intermediate body from the first operating position to the second operating position of the handle unit is actively performed by the user, i.e., by exerting force, while overcoming the preload force of the intermediate body preload spring. In an alternative embodiment, the intermediate body preload spring is absent or replaced by a preload spring with an opposing preload action, wherein the handle body is then actively moved axially from the second operating position to the first operating position by the user via the handle unit, by exerting force.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the intermediate body preload spring is supported on the intermediate body via a sliding surface. This allows the intermediate body to not transmit significant rotational forces to the preload spring at its support point on the intermediate body during the operating rotational movement of the handle unit into the first or second operating position. This prevents undesirable torsional loading of the intermediate body preload spring. For example, the sliding surface can be provided by a disk-shaped sliding element, via which the intermediate body preload spring is supported against the intermediate body and which is preferably held rotationally fixed but axially movable on the base body. For this purpose, the sliding element can be guided, for example, via an associated rail guide having one or more rail projections on the sliding element and one or more corresponding rail grooves on the base body.

[0029] The sanitary wall-mounted mounting device according to the present invention comprises: a wall-mountable housing with a housing cover on the front side; and an operating handle device according to the present invention, which is arranged in the housing and is used to operate the setting unit of the thermostatic valve. The handle unit extends through the opening of the housing cover. The axial movement direction of the handle unit extends perpendicular to the plane of the housing cover. In this case, the housing does not necessarily have to be completely closed or sealed on the back side and on the front side. In this way, the housing can be, for example, a frame-shaped wall-mounted assembly bracket with an at least partially open back side. In a corresponding embodiment, the housing cover only covers a part of the front side of the housing where the handle unit is located.

[0030] This is a functionally and design-advantageous use of the operating handle device according to the present invention as a component of a sanitary wall-mounted device. A user can operate the handle unit of the operating handle device through an opening in the housing cover of the wall-mounted receiving housing of the wall-mounted device. Because the axial movement direction of the handle unit runs perpendicular to the plane of the housing cover, the handle unit assumes different axial positions relative to the housing cover in the rest position and in the first and second operating positions.

[0031] In a further development of the invention, the handle unit is arranged in the rest position substantially aligned with the housing cover, that is, the end face of the handle unit is aligned with the surrounding surface of the housing cover. When the handle unit is in its first operating position or its second operating position, the handle unit protrudes from the housing cover. This is an advantageous implementation of the relative axial position of the handle unit with respect to the housing cover. In the rest position, the handle unit is aligned with the housing cover on the outside, which can be desirable under design conditions. In both operating positions, the handle unit protrudes axially relative to the housing cover and can thus be gripped and rotated by the user in an operationally safe manner to cause a corresponding rotational movement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. These and other embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below. Herein:

[0033] Figure 1 A perspective view of an operating handle arrangement for a thermostatic valve with a base body and a handle unit in a rest position is shown.

[0034] Figure 2 A side view showing the operating handle arrangement,

[0035] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A side view of the handle unit in a first operating position,

[0036] Figure 4 Show Figure 2 A side view of the handle unit in the second operating position,

[0037] Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of the operating handle device in a first longitudinal plane, wherein the handle device is in a rest position,

[0038] Figure 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the operating handle device in a second longitudinal plane perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane,

[0039] Figure 7 Show Figure 5A side view of the handle unit in a first operating position,

[0040] Figure 8 Show Figure 5 A side view of the handle unit in the second operating position,

[0041] Figure 9 shows a view from the inside of a half shell of a two-shell embodiment of the basic body,

[0042] Figure 10 A side view showing the middle body of the handle unit, and

[0043] Figure 11 Shown with basis Figures 1 to 10 A perspective view of a sanitary wall mounting arrangement of an operating handle assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] As shown in the figure according to an exemplary embodiment, the operating handle device according to the present invention comprises a base body 1 and a handle unit 2, which is held at the base body 1 and can be moved relative to the base body in a rest position RS (see Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 ) and the first operating position B1 (see Figure 3 and Figure 7 ) and can rotate in the first operating position B1. Starting from the first operating position B1, the handle unit 2 can be axially moved to the second operating position B2 (see Figure 4 and Figure 8 ), wherein the handle unit 2 can also rotate in the second operating position B2. Only when the handle unit 2 is in the preset release rotation position DF does the movement guide 3 release the axial movement of the handle unit 2 from the first operating position B1 to the second operating position B2. When the handle unit 2 is axially located between the first operating position B1 and the second operating position B2, the movement guide 3 locks the handle unit 2 to prevent twisting.

[0045] As a result, the handle unit 2 can be axially displaced between two operating positions B1, B2 without inadvertent twisting and thus causing unintended valve adjustment. Furthermore, the handle unit 2 can be rotated in each of the two operating positions B1, B2, which can be used for the corresponding valve operating or valve adjustment functions of the thermostatic valve to be coupled to the operating handle arrangement. The handle unit 2 can be brought from its rest position RS to its first operating position B1 by axial displacement. For example, the rest position RS can be a pure storage position, in which the handle unit 2 cannot perform any rotational movement that affects the valve. Depending on requirements and application, the axial movement of the handle unit 2 from the rest position RS to the first operating position B1, or vice versa, can also be configured to fulfill the associated valve setting function.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle unit 2 is in the first operating position B1 between the first rotational end position D1 and the second rotational end position D2 (between the first and second rotational end positions D1 and D2). Figure 9 In the second rotational end position D2, the handle unit 2 can be rotated in a limited manner (indicated by the corresponding end region or end stop of the movement guide 3), with the second rotational end position D2 being the released rotational position DF. In other words, in this case, the handle unit 2 can be rotated away over a limited rotational angle range. In the case of a thermostatic valve with scald protection, this can be used, for example, to set the temperature of the thermostatic valve between a minimum temperature (typically the temperature of the supplied cold fluid) and a scald protection maximum temperature (which is lower than the maximum possible temperature), the latter typically being determined by the temperature of the supplied hot fluid. In the second rotational end position D2, the handle unit 2 can be axially displaced from its first operating position B1 to its second operating position B2, if desired. The user can then twist the handle unit 2 within a second operating plane defined by the second operating position B2, which is axially spaced apart from the first operating plane represented by the first operating position B1. In the case of a thermostatic valve with scald protection, the rotatable mobility of the handle unit 2 in the second operating position B2 can be used to set the temperature of the fluid output by the thermostatic valve to a desired value between the scald protection maximum temperature and the possible maximum temperature given by the hot fluid.

[0047] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle unit 2 can be further rotated in the second operating position B2 from the release rotational position DF in the direction of rotation from the first rotational end position D1 of the first operating position B1 to the second rotational end position D2. The direction of action of the rotational movement of the handle unit 2 in the second operating position B2 on the valve parameter affected thereby can correspond to the direction of action of the rotational movement of the handle unit 2 in the first operating position B1 on the setting of the valve parameter associated with the rotational movement, wherein the valve parameter affected by the rotational movement of the handle unit 2 in the first operating position B1 can be the same or different valve parameter set by the rotational movement of the handle unit 2 in the second operating position B2. In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the handle unit 2 can be rotated in the second operating position B2 from the release rotational position DF in the direction of rotation opposite to the first operating position B1, to a certain extent as a backward rotation of the forward rotation in the direction of the second rotational end position D2 in the first operating position B1.

[0048] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the first operating position B1 is located axially between the rest position RS and the second operating position B2. In particular, as in the example shown, the rest position RS can be the position of the handle unit 2 that is axially moved in or pressed in the direction of the base body 1, and the second operating position B2 can be the position of the handle unit that is moved out or extended the furthest relative to the base body 1. This indicates that Figures 2 to 4 comparative observation.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle unit 2 comprises a handle body 4 and an intermediate body 5. The handle body 4 is rotationally coupled to the intermediate body 5, i.e. the intermediate body 5 rotates together with the handle body 4 when the handle body 4 is twisted. In addition, the handle body 4 is guided by a first guide rail 6 on the intermediate body 5 (see in particular Figure 5 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 8 and Figure 10 ) in the handle rest position GR (see Figure 5 and Figure 6 ) and the handle operating position GB corresponding to the first and second operating positions B1, B2 of the handle unit 2 (see Figure 7 and Figure 8 ) can be guided axially between.

[0050] The intermediate body 5 is rotationally guided by a second rail guide 7 on the base body 1 in the first and second actuating positions B1 , B2 and axially guided in the release rotation position DF between the first actuating position B1 and the second actuating position B2 .

[0051] For this configuration of the handle unit 2 with the handle body 4 and the intermediate body 5 , the first and second slide rail guides 6 , 7 therefore form components of the movement guide 3 in order to fulfill the guiding function required by the movement guide 3 for the handle unit 2 .

[0052] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle body 4 and the intermediate body 5 have sleeve parts 4a, 5a which engage telescopically in one another, see in particular Figures 5 to 8 and Figure 10 The first rail guide 6 includes a rail groove 6a on the sleeve portion 5a of the intermediate body 5 and a rail projection 6b on the sleeve portion 4a of the handle body 4, which is guided in the rail groove 6a. Multiple rail grooves 6a and rail projections 6b can be provided for the first rail guide 6 as needed. In the illustrated example, the first rail guide 6 includes two rail grooves 6a and associated rail projections 6b that are offset 180° from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0053] In the example shown, Figure 10 As can be seen in the figure, the rail groove 6a includes two spaced-apart rail sections 6a1 and 6a2 that extend parallel to each other and obliquely in the axial and circumferential directions. These rail sections 6a1 and 6a2 lead into and out of the retaining section 6a3 in an axially inward direction. The retaining section 6a3 defines a stable rail point for the rail cam 6b that engages in the rail groove 6a. When the rail cam 6b is located in the retaining section 6a3, this is the rest position RS of the handle unit 2. By slightly pressing the handle body 4 axially relative to the center body 5, the rail cam 6b can be guided out of the retaining section 6a3 and into the rail section 6a2. This allows the handle body 4 to be moved axially relative to the center body 5 to bring the handle unit 2 from the rest position RS to the first actuated position B1. To this end, the handle body 4 is axially displaced on the center body 5 from its rest position GR (defined by the positioning of the rail cam 6b on the retaining section 6a3) to its actuated position GB.

[0054] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the base body 1 has a sleeve section 1a surrounding the intermediate body 5. The second rail guide 7 comprises a rail groove 7a at the sleeve section 1a of the base body 1 and a rail projection 7b guided in the rail groove and projecting radially from the intermediate body 5, see in particular Figures 5 to 9 Obviously, the second rail guide 7 can have one or more additional rail grooves 7a and one or more associated additional rail projections 7b as required. In the example shown, the base body 1 is formed as a whole in a sleeve-like manner by two sleeve half shells, wherein: Figure 9 A plan view towards the inside of one of the two half-shells is shown.

[0055] As especially in Figure 9 As can be seen in the figure, the corresponding guideway groove 7a comprises two groove sections 7a1, 7a2, which are formed on the inner side of the sleeve section 1a of the base body 1 and extend in the circumferential direction, are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, and each extend over a circumferential angle of slightly less than 360°. In the circumferential angle range in which the release rotational position DF is located, the guideway groove 7a additionally has an axial groove section 7a3, which connects the two groove sections 7a1, 7a2, which extend in the circumferential direction and are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction. Thus, the slide rail groove 7a provides a slide rail track for the slide rail protrusion 7b, which includes: a groove section 7a1, which is used in the circumferential direction for the rotation of the intermediate body 5 and therefore the handle unit 2 relative to the base body 1 in the first operating position B1; a groove section 7a2 axially offset relative to the groove section 7a1, which is also used in the circumferential direction for the rotation of the intermediate body 5 and therefore the handle unit 2 in the second operating position B1 relative to the base body 1; and an axial groove section 7a3 located between the two groove sections 7a1, 7a2 in the axial direction, which is used for the axial displacement of the intermediate body 5 and therefore the handle unit 2 relative to the base body 1 between the first operating position B1 and the second operating position B2, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 This is symbolically indicated by the associated double arrow DP, which symbolically indicates the movement path of the guide rail cam 7b.

[0056] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the corresponding rail projection 6b of the first rail guide 6 is formed by a radially inwardly bent end region of the wire clamp 13, which is fixedly held with its other end region at the end face of the pot-shaped handle body 4 and extends axially along the inner side of the handle body 4 with a central region, as shown from Figure 5 It can be seen in.

[0057] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle body 4 is prestressed relative to the intermediate body 5 by means of a handle body prestressing spring 11 in the axial direction from its handle rest position GR in the direction of its handle operating position GB, e.g. Figures 5 to 8 In the example shown, the preload spring 11 is accommodated in a recess on the end face of the central body 5 and is configured as a helical compression spring which is supported on the one hand on the central body 5 and on the other hand on the end face of the pot-shaped handle body 4 .

[0058] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the intermediate body 5 is prestressed relative to the basic body 1 by an intermediate body prestressing spring 12 in the axial direction from the second operating position B2 in the direction of the first operating position B1 . Figures 5 to 7 The preload spring 12 is shown in its relaxed state, Figure 8The preload spring 12 is shown in its tensioned state when a user moves the middle body 5 from the first operating position B1 into the second operating position B2 against the force of the preload spring 12. In the example shown, the middle body preload spring 12 is formed by a helical compression spring which is supported on the one hand on the middle body 5 and on the other hand on the base body 1.

[0059] In an advantageous embodiment, the intermediate body preload spring 12 is supported on the intermediate body 5 via a sliding surface 14, which is provided by a disk-shaped sliding element 15, see Figures 5 to 8 The support of the preload spring 12 against the additional body 5 via the sliding surface 14 ensures that the intermediate body 5 can rotate without transmitting excessive rotational or torsional loads to the preload spring 12. This is because the intermediate body 5 can slide along the sliding surface 14 of the sliding element 15, while the sliding element 15 and the end of the preload spring 12 in contact with the sliding element are held fixed against rotation on the base body 1. To this end, the sliding element 15 is held fixed against rotation but also axially movable on the base body 1 or guided, for example, as shown, by radial guide projections 15a formed on the sliding element 15, which engage in associated axial grooves 16 on the base body 1. In this way, the sliding element 15 remains fixed against rotation on the base body 1 even when the intermediate body 5 rotates and thereby slides along the sliding surface 14 of the sliding element 15. This therefore avoids undesirable torsional loading of the intermediate body preload spring 12 when the handle unit 2 performs a rotational movement in the first or second operating position B1, B2, in which the intermediate body 5 rotates accordingly. On the other hand, the sliding element 15 can follow the axial movement of the intermediate body 5 when the intermediate body is axially displaced between the first and second operating positions B1, B2.

[0060] In a corresponding embodiment, the intermediate body 5 (as in the embodiment shown, see Figures 5 to 8 ) contains a polygonal receptacle 17, for example, a hexagonal receptacle, within its hollow interior, in which a coupling element or a coupling element having a polygonal cross-section corresponding to the thermostatic valve to be operated via the operating handle device can be accommodated. For example, the coupling element can be a corresponding coupling end of a control shaft of the thermostatic valve, wherein the control shaft and the coupling end together protrude from a valve cartridge forming the housing for the thermostatic valve. Such thermostatic valves are known per se to those skilled in the art and therefore require no further explanation here.

[0061] Accordingly, the present invention also includes a thermostatic valve assembly comprising: a thermostatic valve with a valve component for regulating the temperature of a fluid flow to be controlled by the thermostatic valve; and an operating handle device according to the present invention for operating the valve component.

[0062] Figure 11 An advantageous embodiment of the sanitary wall-mounted device according to the invention is described, showing only its components of current interest. As can be seen, the wall-mounted device comprises a wall-mountable housing 8 with a front housing cover 9 and an operating handle arrangement according to the invention, arranged in the housing 8, for operating a conventional thermostatic valve (which is therefore not shown in detail here). The handle unit 2 of the operating handle arrangement extends through an opening 10 in the housing cover 9, with the axial movement direction of the handle unit 2 being perpendicular to the plane of the housing cover 9.

[0063] In the example shown, the housing cover 9 comprises a plurality of openings 10, of which two openings are each occupied by an operating handle arrangement according to the invention. Figure 11 The lower middle operating handle device according to the present invention is shown with the handle unit 2 in its first operating position B1. In this first operating position, the handle unit 2 extends axially forward beyond the housing cover 9 so that the handle unit can be comfortably grasped by the user to perform a rotational movement of the control valve. The second operating handle device according to the present invention located above it is shown with the handle unit 2 in its rest position RS, that is, the handle body 4 is in its handle rest position GR. In a corresponding embodiment, another valve operating device can be provided instead of one of the two operating handle devices according to the present invention, such as a conventional operating handle device or operating button device for a shut-off valve or a flow control valve. In addition, in the example shown, three conventional operating button devices 18 are accommodated in relevant openings 10 in the accommodating housing 8 that are flush with the outside of the housing cover 9.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the example shown, the handle unit 2 is arranged substantially aligned with the housing cover 9 in the rest position RS, while in its first and second operating positions B1, B2 the handle unit protrudes axially from the housing cover 9. Thus, in the rest position RS, the handle unit 2 is recessed in the housing cover 9 and is inaccessible to the user for performing a rotational movement. In contrast, in the first and second operating positions B1, B2, the user can easily grasp and rotate the handle unit 2, for which purpose the handle unit 2 protrudes sufficiently far forward beyond the housing cover 9 in these operating positions B1, B2.

[0065] In order to bring the handle unit 2 from the rest position RS to the first operating position B1, the user presses on the handle unit 2 in the manner of pressing a button, more precisely, presses on the end face of the pot-shaped handle body 4, and slightly shifts the handle unit axially into the shell cover 9, so that the corresponding slide rail protrusion 6b extends from the retaining section 6a3 of the relevant slide rail groove 6a, after which the handle unit 2 automatically moves axially out to the first operating position B1 under the action of the handle body preload spring 11.

[0066] If the user wishes to bring the handle unit 2 to the second operating position B2, the user pulls the handle unit 2 further axially forward, out of the housing cover 9, against the intermediate body preload spring 12. To this end, as explained, the handle unit 2 must have previously been rotated into the release rotational position DF. The user can then rotate the handle unit 2 into the second operating position B2, wherein rebounding into the first operating position B1 is prevented as long as the rotational position of the handle unit 2 does not correspond to the release rotational position DF.

[0067] Only when the handle unit 2 in the second operating position B2 is rotated to the release rotation position DF again, the handle unit 2 can automatically move axially back to the first operating position B1 under the action of the intermediate body preload spring 12 .

[0068] When the user wants to bring the handle unit 2 from the first operating position B1 to the rest position RS, the user presses axially onto the handle unit 2 or the handle body 4 against the preload force of the handle body preload spring 11 until the handle unit 2 reaches the rest position RS as described above and is held there by the corresponding construction of the first slide rail guide 6 in that the corresponding slide rail cam 6b reaches the associated retaining section 6a3.

[0069] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the receiving housing 8 has a niche 19, which is left empty by the housing cover 9 and can be used, for example, to place items. As shown, the niche 19 can be closed on the back side, or alternatively can be completely or partially open on the back side.

[0070] In a corresponding embodiment, as in the example shown, the sanitary wall-mounted device comprises a hand shower with a hand shower body 20, which is removably accommodated in an associated further opening 10 of the housing cover 9 in the accommodation housing 8, wherein the hand shower body 20 in the illustrated resting or storage position ends flush with the outside of the adjacent surface of the housing cover 9. The hand shower body 20, the corresponding operating handle device 2 according to the invention, and the optional conventional operating device 18 are therefore accommodated in the accommodation housing 8 in such a way that they end flush, i.e., aligned, with the surrounding area of ​​the housing cover 9, which in this case serves as a kind of cover rosette.

[0071] As the further embodiments shown and explained above make clear, the present invention advantageously provides an operating handle arrangement for a thermostatic valve that offers advantages, particularly with regard to functionality and design, as well as low manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a sanitary wall-mounted device equipped with one or more operating handle arrangements according to the present invention. Although the present invention has been primarily explained in relation to sanitary thermostatic valves, it is clear that the operating handle arrangement according to the present invention can also be used in the same manner for thermostatic valves in non-sanitary applications.

Claims

1. An operating handle device for a thermostatic valve, having -Matrix (1), and a handle unit (2) which is held on the base body (1) and is axially movable relative to the base body between a rest position (RS) and a first operating position (B1) and is rotationally movable in the first operating position (B1), It is characterized by: a second operating position (B2), into which the handle unit (2) can be moved axially from the first operating position (B1) and into which the handle unit (2) can be moved rotationally, and - a motion guide portion (3), which releases the axial movement of the handle unit (2) from the first operating position (B1) to the second operating position (B2) only when the handle unit (2) is located in a preset release rotation position (DF), and when the handle unit is axially located between the first operating position (B1) and the second operating position (B2), the motion guide portion locks the handle unit (2) to prevent twisting.

2. The operating handle device according to claim 1, further characterized in that: The handle unit (2) is capable of limited rotational movement between a first rotational end position (D1) and a second rotational end position (D2) in the first operating position (B1), and the second rotational end position (D2) is the release rotational position (DF).

3. The operating handle device according to claim 2, further characterized in that: The handle unit (2) can be further rotated from the release rotation position (DF) in the second operating position (B2) in the direction of rotation from the first rotation end position (D1) of the first operating position (B1) to the second rotation end position (D2).

4. The operating handle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that: The first operating position (B1) is located axially between the rest position (RS) and the second operating position (B2).

5. The operating handle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that: The handle unit (2) has a handle body (4) and an intermediate body (5), wherein the handle body (4) is rotationally coupled to the intermediate body (5) and is guided axially between a handle rest position (GR) corresponding to a rest position (RS) of the handle unit (2) and a handle operating position (GB) corresponding to a first operating position (B1) and a second operating position (B2) of the handle unit (2) by a first slide rail guide (6) on the intermediate body (5), and wherein the intermediate body (5) is guided rotationally in the first operating position (B1) and the second operating position (B2) by a second slide rail guide (7) on the base (1) and is guided axially between the first operating position (B1) and the second operating position (B2) in the release rotation position (DF).

6. The operating handle device according to claim 5, further characterized in that: The handle body (4) and the intermediate body (5) have sleeve parts (4a, 5a) that are telescopically engaged with each other, and the first slide rail guide (6) includes a slide rail groove (6a) at the sleeve part (5a) of the intermediate body (5) and a slide rail protrusion (6b) at the sleeve part (4a) of the handle body (4) that is guided in the slide rail groove (6a).

7. The operating handle device according to claim 5 or 6, further characterized in that: The base body (1) has a sleeve section (1a) surrounding the middle body (5), and the second slide rail guide (7) includes a slide rail groove (7a) at the sleeve section (1a) of the base body (1) and a slide rail protrusion (7b) guided in the slide rail groove and protruding radially from the middle body (5).

8. The operating handle device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that: The handle body (4) is preloaded relative to the intermediate body (5) in the axial direction from its handle rest position (GR) to its handle operating position (GB) by a handle body preload spring (11), and / or the intermediate body (5) is preloaded relative to the base body (1) in the axial direction from the second operating position (B2) to the first operating position (B1) by an intermediate body preload spring (12).

9. A sanitary wall-mounted installation device with - a wall-mountable accommodating housing (8) with a front housing cover (9), and - an operating handle device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, arranged in the accommodation housing (8), for actuating a setting unit of a thermostatic valve, -in, The handle unit (2) extends through the opening (10) of the housing cover (9), and the axial movement direction of the handle unit (2) is perpendicular to the plane of the housing cover (9).

10. The sanitary wall mounting device according to claim 10, wherein: The handle unit (2) is arranged substantially aligned with the housing cover (9) in the rest position (RS) and projects from the housing cover (9) in its first operating position (B1) and second operating position (B2).

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