Rod-actuated fluid control valve, in particular sanitary single-rod valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a lever-actuated fluid control valve, comprising a valve base body and an actuating lever which is movably held on the valve base body by means of a bearing. The valve base body has a valve housing, a valve body movably arranged in the valve housing, and a bearing pin receiving structure. The support portion has a bearing pin structure received in the bearing pin receiving structure, the bearing pin structure having one bearing pin projecting laterally from the lever or two bearing pins projecting from the lever on opposite sides. According to the invention, a bearing pin receptacle for a corresponding bearing pin has a pin receptacle opening, which is open on the circumferential side and surrounds the bearing pin over more than half of the circumference of the bearing pin, and a pin insertion groove, the pin introduction groove is open towards the outer side of the valve base body and radially opens into the pin receiving opening in the introduction direction while forming a snap-in connection. The invention also relates to the use as a single-rod mixing valve in sanitary fittings, for example.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a lever-operated fluid control valve according to the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND

[0002] Accordingly, the fluid control valve generically comprises a valve base body and a lever which is held in a movable manner at the valve base body by a lever bearing portion. The valve base body has a valve housing, a valve body which is arranged in a movable manner in the valve housing, and a bearing pin receiving structure. The lever bearing portion has a bearing pin structure which is received in the bearing pin receiving structure, the bearing pin structure having one bearing pin which projects laterally from the lever or two bearing pins which project from the lever on opposite sides.

[0003] Fluid control valves of this and similar kind are known in different embodiments and enable a user to set one and preferably multiple assigned valve functions or to switch between these valve functions by means of the lever operating the movable valve body. In the field of sanitary technology, these fluid control valves are used, for example, in sanitary fittings, as shut-off valves to optionally release or block the output of a fluid, typically water, as quantity regulating valves to variably, for example steplessly, regulate the quantity of the output fluid, as mixing valves to variably, for example steplessly, regulate the mixing ratio of two supply fluids, such as cooler and warmer water, and / or as switching valves to optionally output the fluid at a first or second outlet. Preferably, the lever serves as the only operating element with which a user can control multiple valve functions, for example the mixing ratio of two supply fluids and the quantity of the output mixed fluid, by moving the lever in different movement directions, so that this fluid control valve is also referred to simply as a single lever valve or, in a more specific embodiment, as a single lever mixing valve. Such fluid control valves are widely used, for example, in wash stations and wash basins in sanitary spaces and kitchens, at bath tubs and in sanitary outlet fittings in shower rooms.

[0004] The publication WO 2020 / 055736 A1 discloses a generic fluid control valve in which the bearing pin structure comprises two bearing pins which protrude radially from the lever on opposite sides of a section of the lever which is thickened in a ball shape in order to form a ball joint. Here, the respective bearing pin forms a pivot axis end for pivoting the lever about the longitudinal axis of the bearing pin. The associated bearing pin receiving structure comprises two axial grooves which are constructed on the inside at the bearing sleeve, which close in the direction of the outside of the valve base body constructed as a barrel there and open out towards the inside of the valve base body. For assembly, it is therefore necessary to first insert the lever with its bearing pins into the axial grooves of the bearing sleeve, to then bring together this preassembled structure unit with the remaining inner barrel assembly, and then to place the valve housing thereon. The disassembly of the lever cannot be achieved without previously removing the valve housing and the bearing sleeve.

[0005] As an additional solution, a valve variant solution is also disclosed in WO 2020 / 055736 A1 which is not generic, in which the lever is provided with a bore through which a shaft pin is guided which engages on both sides of the lever into openings of the bearing sleeve, wherein the shaft pin can in particular be a bolt with which a frictional resistance can be variably set for the pivoting manipulation of the lever. The bolt is obscured by the valve housing, so that it has to be assembled before the valve housing is placed onto the remaining barrel. A similar fluid control valve is disclosed in the patent document EP 2 302 272 B1 which has a shaft pin which is guided through a bore of the lever.

[0006] Ball joint bearings are known in various contexts in lever-operated fluid control valves which are not generic, for example from the publication DE 10 2013 209 627 A1 and the patent documents EP 2 245 346 B1, EP 2 245 347 B1 and EP 3 149 368 B1. SUMMARY

[0007] The technical problem on which the invention is based is to provide a lever-operated fluid control valve of the type mentioned at the outset which offers wide advantages, in particular in terms of easy lever assembly and / or low manufacturing outlay, compared to the prior art mentioned at the outset.

[0008] The invention solves this problem by providing a lever-operated fluid control valve having the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated into the description by way of reference. This includes in particular all embodiments of the invention resulting from the combination of features defined by the interrelationships of the dependent claims.

[0009] In the lever-operated fluid control valve according to the invention, the bearing pin receptacle for the respective bearing pin has a pin receptacle opening open on the peripheral side, which encloses the bearing pin over more than half a circumference, and a pin introduction slot, which opens toward the outside of the valve base body and leads into the pin receptacle opening in the introduction direction in the manner of a snap connection. By this feature, a significant advantage for the fluid control valve according to the invention arises, especially in terms of easy assembly of the operating lever at the valve base body and relatively little manufacturing outlay.

[0010] The operating lever can then be introduced into the assigned pin introduction slot in the introduction direction from the outside of the valve base body with one or more bearing pins of the operating lever and inserted into the pin receptacle opening in the radial direction by means of the snap connection. Here, the valve base body can already be preassembled, especially without the need to assemble the operating lever before the valve housing is mounted at the remaining valve base body. Nor is there a need to assemble the operating lever or the component comprising the bearing pin structure from the rear at the valve base body, wherein the following side of the valve base body is referred to as the front side from which the assembled operating lever protrudes, and the opposite side is referred to as the back side or rear side of the valve base body accordingly.

[0011] In the same way, an easy disassembly option for the operating lever is obtained for the fluid control valve according to the invention. The operating lever does not need to be disassembled through the back side of the valve base body or valve housing, but can be removed from the outside, that is to say from the front side, from the valve base body, if the snap connection is designed as a detachable connection accordingly. For this, there is no need to disassemble the valve housing beforehand.

[0012] As a further advantage, the respective bearing pin is snapped into the assigned pin receptacle opening in the radial direction with the snap connection, by means of which the bearing pin does not need to be configured as a screw, or the bearing pin does not need to be configured with a tight tolerance with respect to the pin receptacle opening in order to provide a precise fit or a press fit.

[0013] Since the bearing pin receptacle structure encloses the respective bearing pin over more than half a circumference, it protects the bearing pin against movement out of the pin receptacle opening in the radial direction against the introduction direction.

[0014] In an improvement of the application, the lever bearing forms a pivot bearing for the lever, wherein the respective bearing pin forms a pivot axis end of the pivot bearing. The lever bearing, that is to say the bearing of the lever with its respective bearing pin at the bearing pin receiving structure of the valve base body, can thus serve to enable pivoting of the lever about the respective bearing pin as a pivot axis or rotation axis. It is alternatively also possible for the lever to be pivoted about another axis, for example about a pivot axis which is offset in parallel to the bearing pin longitudinal axis, wherein the bearing pin can in this case for example act as a runner pin which is guided in an arcuate runner track of the bearing pin receiving structure.

[0015] In an improvement of the application, the respective bearing pin is configured in one piece with the lever. This measure contributes to low manufacturing outlay in that the bearing pin or the bearing pins can be manufactured at the same time and together with the lever, for example in the manner of a one-piece injection-moulded component or by means of 3D printing. In an alternative embodiment, the lever is provided with a through-going bore into which a bearing bolt is inserted, which projects on one side or on both sides relative to the lever and thereby provides one or two bearing pins. As a further alternative, the lever can be provided on opposite sides with one or two blind bores into which respective bearing bolts are inserted to provide the associated bearing pins.

[0016] In an improvement of the application, the respective pin introduction slot is defined by two slot clip arms which can be elastically expanded. This is a functionally advantageous implementation of the pin introduction slot. On introduction of the associated bearing pin of the lever, the slot clip arms can be elastically expanded and, once the bearing pin has entered the associated pin receiving opening, the elastically expanded slot clip arms can snap back into their initial position. In an alternative embodiment, the respective pin introduction slot is implemented in another way, for example with only a single elastically yielding catch / snap element which can elastically yield to the introduction movement of the bearing pin and, once the bearing pin has reached the pin receiving opening, elastically snap back into its initial position.

[0017] In an embodiment of the application, the respective pin introduction slot tapers conically in the introduction direction. This measure can further facilitate assembly of the lever. The pin introduction slot can then have in its entry region a width which is at least as great as or slightly greater than the diameter of the bearing pin and can then narrow towards the pin reception opening to a comparatively smaller width. The bearing pin can thereby be introduced into the pin introduction slot without having to previously expand the pin introduction slot and can automatically expand the pin introduction slot by its introduction movement to cause a snap connection without the user having to otherwise facilitate this. In alternative embodiments, the pin introduction slot can be differently shaped, for example configured as a slot with a constant width along the introduction direction, if this is sufficient or advantageous for the respective application.

[0018] In an embodiment of the application, the respective pin introduction slot narrows in the introduction direction from an outer width, which is at least as great as the diameter of the associated bearing pin, to an inner width in the range of approximately 50% to approximately 90%, in particular in the range of approximately 60% and 80%, of the bearing pin diameter. This design of the pin introduction slot proves to be advantageous in terms of automatic expansion of the pin introduction slot by the bearing pin and in terms of reliable functioning of the snap connection and reliable retention of the bearing pin in the pin reception opening. In alternative embodiments, the pin introduction slot can be designed differently, for example with an inner width in the range of 90% and 100% of the bearing pin diameter.

[0019] In an embodiment of the application, the respective pin reception opening opens in the range of a circumferential angle of approximately 50° and approximately 90°. This design of the pin reception opening, which opens on the circumference, proves to be advantageous in terms of reliable functioning of the snap connection and reliable retention of the bearing pin in the pin reception opening. With a larger open circumferential angle of the pin reception opening, the force required for snapping the bearing pin into the pin reception opening can be kept small, with a smaller circumferential angle increasing the encircling of the snapped bearing pin by the bearing pin reception structure, which prevents a radial escape. In alternative embodiments, the open circumferential angle of the pin reception opening can also be selected to be slightly less than 50° or slightly greater than 90°, if this is sufficient or advantageous for the respective application.

[0020] In an embodiment of the application, the bearing pin reception structure is configured at a bearing sleeve of the valve base body, which is arranged in the valve housing. In this case, the bearing pin reception structure is a component part of the bearing sleeve, which forms an assembly of the valve base body different from the valve housing and arranged in the valve housing. This can enable a respective design freedom of the valve housing independently of the bearing pin reception structure. In alternative embodiments, the bearing pin reception structure can be configured directly at the valve housing or at a component of the valve base body fixedly connected to the valve housing.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing sleeve is manufactured as a separate component and inserted into the valve housing, reliably held in its mounting position to prevent movement out of the valve housing. This provides advantages in both assembly technique and function. Manufacturing the bearing sleeve as a separate component, i.e., as a component provided separately from the rest of the valve base, allows for, for example, the pre-assembly of the operating lever at the bearing sleeve before inserting this pre-assembled structural unit into the valve housing. It is also feasible to first assemble the bearing sleeve in the valve housing and then assemble the operating lever at the bearing sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, the bearing pin receiving structure or the bearing sleeve can be an integral component of the other components of the valve base.

[0022] In other embodiments of the invention, the bearing sleeve is received in the valve housing in a manner that allows for rotation, particularly restricted rotation, about a rotational axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve body and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding bearing pin. This embodiment provides the fluid control valve with additional pivoting or rotational freedom for the pivoting or torsion of the bearing sleeve and thus the operating lever held therein. A first valve parameter can then be controlled by pivoting the operating lever about a pivotal axis parallel to the bearing pin, and a second valve parameter can be controlled by pivoting the operating lever together with the bearing sleeve about a rotational axis perpendicular to this axis. This can be used, for example, to control the mixing ratio and the amount of output fluid when the fluid control valve is implemented as a corresponding mixing valve. In an alternative embodiment, the bearing sleeve can be received in the valve housing in a stationary manner.

[0023] In another embodiment of the invention, the corresponding pin introduction groove and the associated pin receiving opening are constructed on the outer end side of the bearing sleeve. This is advantageous both functionally and in terms of reduced manufacturing costs. The pin introduction groove and the pin receiving opening can be constructed relatively easily on the end side of the bearing sleeve, and their position on the outer end side of the bearing sleeve allows for easy insertion of the bearing pin of the operating lever from that end side or the outer side of the bearing sleeve into the pin receiving opening. Here, the outer end side refers to the end side of the bearing sleeve that points outward toward the valve base when the bearing sleeve is assembled in the valve housing. Furthermore, the outer end side position of the pin introduction groove and the pin receiving opening allows for easy insertion of the bearing pin of the operating lever from the outer side of the valve base into the bearing pin receiving structure. In an alternative embodiment, the pin introduction groove, together with the pin receiving opening, can be constructed at other locations on the bearing sleeve, for example, on the circumferential side.

[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, the bearing sleeve is reliably held in its mounting position by a retaining ring mounted on the valve housing to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing. This allows the bearing sleeve to be reliably held in the valve housing in an easy manner. Furthermore, the bearing sleeve can be easily removed from the rest of the valve base. For this purpose, only the retaining ring, which is preferably detachably mounted on the valve housing, needs to be removed beforehand. In an alternative embodiment, the bearing sleeve is reliably held in other ways to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing, for example, by locking it to or with other components of the valve base.

[0025] In an extended design of the invention, a retaining ring protects the slotted arm from expansion. Thus, the retaining ring advantageously fulfills the additional function of securing the bearing sleeve within the valve housing, thereby preventing accidental disengagement of the operating lever from the bearing sleeve. In an alternative embodiment, the retaining ring is not designed for this additional function and secures the slotted arm in other ways to prevent expansion, or remains unsecured in this respect if it is sufficient for the relevant application, for example, since no correspondingly large expansion force is expected during valve use.

[0026] In one improved embodiment of the invention, the valve base is constructed as a valve cylinder. This is a known embodiment that is advantageous for the valve base and is suitable for a wide range of applications in which such a valve is fitted or mounted in the form of a valve cylinder at a predetermined point of use. In alternative embodiments, the valve base is implemented in other conventional ways. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These and other embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below. Herein:

[0028] Figure 1 A perspective side view of a lever-operated fluid control valve with a cylindrical structure is shown.

[0029] Figure 2 An end-side view facing the upper side of the fluid control valve is shown.

[0030] Figure 3 It shows along Figure 2 Sectional view of line III-III in the middle.

[0031] Figure 4 It shows along Figure 2 Sectional view of line IV-IV in the middle.

[0032] Figure 5 A perspective view of the fluid control valve's lever and bearing sleeve is shown before the lever is inserted into the bearing sleeve.

[0033] Figure 6 The image shows a side view of the joystick and bearing sleeve before the joystick is inserted into the bearing sleeve.

[0034] Figure 7 This shows what happens after the control lever is inserted into the bearing sleeve. Figure 5 A stereoscopic view, and

[0035] Figure 8 This shows what happens after the control lever is inserted into the bearing sleeve. Figure 6 Side view. Detailed Implementation

[0036] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings according to an exemplary embodiment, the lever-operated fluid control valve according to the invention includes a valve base 1 and an operating lever 5, which is movably held in the valve base 1 by a lever support. The valve base 1 includes a valve housing 2, a valve body 3 movably arranged within the valve housing, and a bearing pin receiving structure 4. In the illustrated example, the valve base 1 is implemented as a cylindrical body with a columnar shape of the valve housing 2. The operating lever 5 is movably coupled to the valve body 3. For this purpose, the operating lever 5 is provided with a coupling pin 12 at its end in a manner known per se, through which the operating lever can be coupled to the movable valve body 3.

[0037] Therefore, the user can control the valve by moving the valve body 3 using the lever 5. For this purpose, a handle operating element can be installed at the free outer end region 5a of the lever 5 as the user's operating interface for the valve in a manner known per se and therefore not shown here, for example, by installing an operating handle rod that protrudes radially, i.e. laterally, from the lever 5.

[0038] In the example shown, the valve body 3 is a valve disc, which is placed in a way that allows relative movement relative to the valve disc 13, which is stationary in the valve housing 2, with the valve disc in a transverse direction, that is, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis VL of the valve base 1 and the valve discs 3 and 13. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen from the image. The two valve discs 3 and 13 are provided with channel opening structures in a manner known per se and therefore not shown here. Depending on the position of the movable valve disc, i.e., the valve body 3, the channel opening structure has an overlapping portion that allows fluid transmission or is blocked by the adjacent area of ​​another valve disc, so that the valve performs the corresponding preset valve function.

[0039] The lever 5 at the valve body 1 includes a bearing pin structure received in a bearing pin receiving structure 4. This bearing pin structure has one bearing pin projecting laterally from the lever 5 or two bearing pins projecting on the opposite side of the lever 5. In the illustrated example, two bearing pins 61 and 62 are provided; in alternative embodiments, only one bearing pin, such as bearing pin 61 or bearing pin 62, is provided.

[0040] The bearing pin receiving structure 4 includes, for the respective bearing pins 61, 62, pin receiving openings 71, 72 that are open on their circumferential sides, and pin introduction grooves 81, 82, which surround the bearing pin on more than half of its circumference. The respective pin introduction grooves 81, 82 open outwards toward the valve base 1, and in the example shown, toward... Figure 3 and Figure 4 The upper part of the valve base 1 (currently also referred to as the front or upper side of the valve base 1) is open. The corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82, in the case of a snap-fit ​​connection, radially extend into the corresponding pin receiving openings 71, 72 along the guide direction ER. Here, the guide direction ER defines the direction in which the operating lever 5, during its assembly, can be introduced into the corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82 with one or both bearing pins 61, 62 of the operating lever until the corresponding bearing pins 61, 62 snap into the corresponding pin receiving openings 71, 72 of the operating lever. Therefore, the corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82 communicate transversely to the longitudinal direction of the corresponding pin receiving openings 71, 72.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in the example, the lever support is constructed as a pivot support for the control lever 5. Here, corresponding bearing pins 61, 62 form the pivot shaft ends of this pivot support. In this case, the control lever 5 can pivot about the longitudinal axis LZ of the corresponding bearing pins 61, 62, which serves as the pivot axis.

[0042] In an advantageous implementation, as shown in the example, the corresponding bearing pins 61, 62 are constructed as a single piece with the lever 5. Therefore, it is not necessary to pre-manufacture one or more bearing pins 61, 62 as separate components, but rather they can be manufactured together with the lever 5 as a single piece, for example, as a component manufactured using injection molding or 3D printing technology.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in the example illustrated, the corresponding pin guide slots 81, 82 are defined by two resiliently expandable slot clamping arms 91, 92. Thus, the two slot clamping arms 91, 92 define the associated pin guide slots 81, 82 between them.

[0044] In the corresponding implementation, the corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82 taper tapering along the introduction direction ER, as in the example shown. More specifically, in the corresponding implementation, the corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82 gradually decrease in width along the introduction direction ER from an outer width Wa, that is, the width Wa at the entrance into the pin guide grooves 81, 82, to an inner width Wi, that is, the width Wi at the transition towards the pin receiving openings 71, 72, wherein the outer width Wa is at least as large as the diameter DZ of the corresponding bearing pins 61, 62, and the inner width Wi is in the range of about 50% to about 90% of the bearing pin diameter DZ. Preferably, as in the example shown, the inner width Wi is between about 60% and 80% of the bearing pin diameter DZ. By appropriately selecting the inner width Wi of the corresponding pin guide grooves 81, 82, optimal function of the snap-fit ​​connection can be ensured on the one hand, and reliable retention of the corresponding bearing pins 61, 62 in the corresponding pin receiving openings 71, 72 can be ensured on the other hand.

[0045] In the corresponding implementation, the respective pin receiving openings 71, 72 are open within a circumferential angle α ranging from approximately 50° to approximately 90°. In the example shown, the circumferential angle α of the openings of the respective pin receiving openings 71, 72 is approximately 65° to 70°.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in the example, the bearing pin receiving structure 4 is constructed at the bearing sleeve 10 of the valve base 1, which is arranged in the valve housing 2.

[0047] In a corresponding implementation, as shown in the example, the bearing sleeve 10 is manufactured as a separate component and inserted into the valve housing 2, wherein the bearing sleeve is reliably held in its installed position to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing 2. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The shape of the bearing sleeve 10 used in the example shown can be seen.

[0048] In a corresponding implementation, as shown in the example, the bearing sleeve 10 is received in the valve housing 2 in a manner that allows it to rotate, particularly in a restricted manner, about a rotation axis DL that is parallel to the longitudinal axis VL of the valve base 1 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LZ of the respective bearing pins 61, 62. In the example shown, this rotation axis DL coincides with the longitudinal axis VL of the valve base 1, wherein the longitudinal axis VL is represented as the longitudinal central axis of the valve base 1.

[0049] In the corresponding implementation, as shown in the example, the corresponding pin inlet grooves 81, 82 and the associated pin receiving openings 71, 72 are constructed on the outer end side of the bearing sleeve 10, that is, on the following end side of the bearing sleeve 10, which points towards the outer, front or upper side of the valve base 1 when the bearing sleeve 10 is assembled in the valve housing 2.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment, the bearing sleeve 10 is reliably held in its mounting position by a retaining ring 11, preferably detachably mounted on the valve housing 2, to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing 2. For this purpose, in the illustrated example, the retaining ring 11 axially abuts against the corresponding annular flange 10b of the bearing sleeve 10 via an annular flange section 11c. In the illustrated example, the retaining ring 11 is preferably detachably held on the valve housing 2 by a locking connection 14. For this purpose, when the retaining ring 11 is pushed into the valve housing 2 from the front or upper side of the valve base 1 via a sleeve-shaped retaining section 11a (where a locking protrusion 14a is present), one or more locking protrusions 14a protruding radially from the retaining ring 11 snap or lock into the corresponding locking opening 14b of the valve housing 2.

[0051] In an advantageous implementation, as shown in the example, the retaining ring 11 protects the slotted arms 91, 92 of the bearing pin receiving structure 4 from expansion. For this purpose, the retaining ring 11 has a retaining sleeve section 11b that prevents the slotted arms 91, 92, constructed at the bearing sleeve 10 in this example, from moving radially outward. To this end, the section 10a of the bearing sleeve 10 containing the slotted arms 91, 92 abuts radially outward against the inner side of the retaining sleeve section 11b of the retaining ring 11, as shown in the example. Figure 3 As can be seen from it.

[0052] In a corresponding implementation, as mentioned, the bearing sleeve 10 is received within the valve housing 2 in a restricted manner during its rotation. In the illustrated example, this restriction is provided by a limiting ring 15, which is held at the fixed ring 11, and the bearing sleeve can abut against this limiting ring in a rotationally restricted manner with its section 10a having grooved clamping arms 91, 92. Preferably, the limiting ring 15 can be positioned on the fixed ring 11 in several different rotational positions in a manner known per se, thereby restricting the rotation of the bearing sleeve 10 and the accompanying operating lever 5 about the rotation axis DL to correspondingly different ranges of rotational angles. This can be used, for example, for mixing cold and hot fluids in the case where the valve is implemented as a mixing valve, for temperature limiting.

[0053] As demonstrated in the foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments and other feasible implementations, the present invention provides a lever-operated fluid control valve that offers advantages over conventional valves of this type, particularly in terms of the assembly and manufacturing costs of the lever 5. In the valve according to the invention, the lever 5 can be readily assembled into the bearing pin receiving structure 4 of the valve body 1 by means of one bearing pin 61 or 62, or both bearing pins 61, 62, of the lever via a snap-fit ​​mechanism. The bearing pin receiving structure 4 can be provided, for example, by means of a bearing sleeve 10, which itself can be easily assembled into the valve housing 2, wherein the lever 5 can be pivotally fixed to the bearing sleeve 10 before or after the bearing sleeve 10 is assembled into the valve housing 2. Figure 5 and Figure 6 This indicates the relationship between the control lever 5 and the bearing sleeve 10 before the control lever 5 is inserted into or snapped into the bearing sleeve 10. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The two valve assemblies are shown after the lever 5 is assembled into the bearing sleeve 10. The pre-assembled structural unit can then be placed onto the remaining valve body structure in the valve housing 2 from above or from the front and held in place by the retaining ring 11. The lever 5, together with one or more bearing pins 61, 62, can be manufactured as a one-piece component, for example, as an injection-molded or 3D-printed part.

[0054] The fluid control valve according to the invention is particularly suitable as a sanitary single-stem valve for all known applications in this regard, such as a pure mixing valve, a pure shut-off valve, a pure switching valve, or a valve in which multiple valve functions are combined. Specifically, the fluid control valve according to the invention can be used in sanitary water outlet fittings in bathroom sinks, other washing basins (such as kitchen sinks), shower rooms, and bathtubs. Of course, the fluid control valve according to the invention can also be used for non-sanitary applications wherever user-operated control of fluid output via a valve is required.

Claims

1. A lever-operated fluid control valve, particularly a sanitary single-lever valve, wherein the lever-operated fluid control valve has: - Valve base (1), the valve base having a valve housing (2), a valve body (3) movably arranged in the valve housing, and a bearing pin receiving structure (4); and - A control lever (5), which is movably held at the valve base (1) via a lever support and is kinetically coupled to the valve body (3). -in, The rod support includes a bearing pin structure received in the bearing pin receiving structure (4), which has one bearing pin (61) protruding laterally from the operating lever (5) or two bearing pins (61, 62) protruding from the operating lever (5) on opposite sides. Its features are, - The bearing pin receiving structure (4) for the corresponding bearing pins (61, 62) has a pin receiving opening (71, 72) and a pin introduction groove (81, 82) that are open on the circumferential side. The pin receiving opening surrounds the bearing pin on more than half of its circumference. The pin introduction groove is open toward the outside of the valve body (1) and radially enters the pin receiving opening (71, 72) in the introduction direction (ER) in the case of forming a snap-fit ​​connection.

2. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 1, further characterized in that, The rod support portion forms a pivot support portion for the control lever (5), wherein the corresponding bearing pins (61, 62) form the pivot shaft end of the pivot support portion.

3. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that, The corresponding bearing pins (61, 62) are constructed as a single piece with the control lever (5).

4. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The corresponding pin inlet slots (81, 82) are defined by two slotted arms (91, 92) that can expand elastically.

5. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The corresponding pin guide grooves (81, 82) taper tapered along the guide direction (ER).

6. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 5, further characterized in that, The corresponding pin guide grooves (81, 82) gradually narrow from an outer width (Wa) to an inner width (Wi) along the guide direction (ER), the outer width being at least as large as the diameter (DZ) of the mating bearing pin (61, 62), and the inner width being in the range of about 50% to about 90% of the bearing pin diameter (DZ), particularly in the range of about 60% to 80%.

7. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The corresponding pin receiving openings (71, 72) are open within a circumferential angle (α) between approximately 50° and approximately 90°.

8. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The bearing pin receiving structure (4) is constructed at the bearing sleeve (10) of the valve base (1), which is arranged in the valve housing (2).

9. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 8, further characterized in that, The bearing sleeve (10) is manufactured as a separate component and is engaged into the valve housing (2) and reliably held in the mounting position of the bearing sleeve to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing (2).

10. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 8 or 9, further characterized in that, The bearing sleeve (10) is received in the valve housing (2) in a manner that allows it to rotate, particularly in a restricted manner, about a rotation axis (DL) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (VL) of the valve base (1) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (LZ) of the corresponding bearing pins (61, 62).

11. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The corresponding pin inlet grooves (81, 82) and the associated pin receiving openings (71, 72) are constructed on the outer end side of the bearing sleeve (10).

12. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, The bearing sleeve (10) is reliably held in its mounting position by a retaining ring (11) installed on the valve housing (2) to prevent it from moving out of the valve housing (2).

13. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to claim 12, further characterized in that, The retaining ring (11) protects the slotted clamp arms (91, 92) to prevent expansion.

14. The lever-operated fluid control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The valve base (1) is constructed as a valve cylinder.

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