Sanitary fitting with cam-operated lever

Abstract

Sanitary fitting (1), at least comprising a housing body (2) with a housing axis (3) and an actuating lever (4) which is pivotably arranged on the housing body (2), wherein the actuating lever (4) is attached to a shaft (5) which has two pairs of cam blocks (6, 7) which are mounted in two pairs of cam guides (8, 9), wherein the cam guides (8, 9) are formed with a sleeve (10) arranged in the housing body (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting with an operating lever. The housings of sanitary fittings, particularly single-lever mixers, typically contain mixing valves – also called mixing cartridges – whose manually operated control lever allows the flow rate and temperature of the water through the fitting to be controlled. These mixing valves feature a stationary valve seat disc and a control disc, made of ceramic and movable by the control lever, which is connected to a plastic slide plate. Rotating the control lever regulates the mixing ratio, while sliding the slide plate regulates the flow rate of the mixed water. Such a mixing valve is described, for example, in DE 100 06 375 A1. From DE 10 2008 022 410 A1 a sanitary fitting is known with a housing, a mixing valve arranged in a valve housing and an actuating lever, wherein the actuating lever and thus the operating handle performs a defined movement in a vertical and / or horizontal direction relative to the mixing valve during the pivoting movement or in addition to the pivoting movement. Also known from DE 10 2004 050 250 A1 is a mixing valve for use in sanitary fittings, which has an actuating lever which is pivotably arranged on a pivot axis provided perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A single-lever mixer with a mixer lever movable independently of the cover plate is also known from the prior art, as described in DE 44 43 123 A1. A mixer lever and an adjusting lever in the cartridge are connected to each other via a cam, so that a uniform and precise movement of the adjusting lever for changing the water quantity is achieved. DE 26 58 022 A1 describes a mixing valve for the sanitary sector in which, for mixture regulation, a slide plate with a head part engages in a cam guide rotatable about a central axis with a sliding block offset from the central axis and can be pivoted about a pivot axis lying outside the cam guide perpendicular to the central axis. Finally, US patent 2011 / 0308652 A1 discloses a sanitary fitting in which a cam mechanism is used to change different adjustable cold and hot water mixing ratios. A handle is typically attached to the control lever for operation. For the operation of the sanitary fitting, it is essential that the control lever can move freely. Therefore, the geometry of the handle must be matched to the fitting's housing so that the control lever can move freely within the rotation and opening angle defined by the mixing valve. To achieve this, the handles are often designed with a hood-like shape, partially covering the fitting's housing. In particular, contact between the housing and the control lever should be avoided during operation to prevent (blocking) collisions and / or wear marks. At the same time, it is desirable to guide the two components as close as possible to each other during the swivel / rotation movement to ensure a seal.To implement a cover, especially against contamination, splashing water, cleaning agents or the like. The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a sanitary fitting with an operating lever is to be provided in which a smooth, collision-free movement of the operating lever relative to the housing is enabled. The movement mechanism is to be designed to be particularly smooth-running, robust, and space-saving. These problems are solved with a sanitary fitting according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful way and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description, particularly in conjunction with the figures, explains the invention and provides additional exemplary embodiments. The sanitary fitting comprises at least a housing body with a housing axis and an actuating lever that is pivotably mounted on the housing body. The actuating lever is attached to a shaft that has two pairs of cam blocks, which are mounted in two pairs of cam guides within a sleeve. The cam guides are formed with a sleeve located in the housing body. The sanitary fitting is preferably a so-called single-lever mixer. Such a sanitary fitting typically has a housing body that can, for example, be mounted on a table. Furthermore, at least parts of the water inlet and / or outlet are integrated into the housing body. The housing body also provides space for the integration of a mixing valve and / or a hose and / or a table bracket and / or a sprayer and / or sensors. The housing body often has a substantially round or rectangular cross-section and is column-shaped, and may include a side-exiting spout. In the upper area (the so-called housing cover), the housing body forms an opening that is typically at least partially covered by another component, in particular the operating lever. The operating lever essentially acts as a cap for the opening in the housing body. The actuating lever is pivotable relative to the housing body; in particular, it can be tilted (vertically) and rotated (horizontally), with corresponding tilt and rotation ranges defined, for example, by stops. The actuating lever and the housing body are connected via a shaft, in particular a shaft that interacts with the control disc / slide plate of the mixing valve. The shaft projects through the opening of the housing body and is, for example, attached to the actuating lever in an internal receptacle. This attachment is preferably designed such that no relative movement occurs between the shaft and the actuating lever at the actuating lever itself. In a section of the shaft spaced apart from this mounting point and the actuating lever, two pairs of cam blocks are provided, each formed on opposite sides of the shaft and directed radially outwards. It is also possible, in principle, for multiple (pairs) of cam blocks to be provided, for example, in axially adjacent sections of the shaft. Furthermore, a sleeve is arranged within the housing body. The sleeve extends, in particular, to near the opening of the housing body or is approximately flush with the opening. The sleeve is, in particular, a separate (one-piece) component that is mechanically anchored or clamped (removably) within the interior of the housing body. It is, in particular, rotatably connected to the housing body so that it can follow a (horizontal) rotational movement of the shaft. This sleeve is, in particular, positioned in an area between the mixing valve and the opening. The inner diameter of the sleeve is preferably selected such that the shaft can move within the sleeve without collision, according to the specified pivoting range. According to the invention, the sleeve now has two pairs of cam guides, wherein, in particular, a (separate) cam guide is provided for each cam block of the shaft. A cam guide is preferably designed in the form of a groove or slot in the sleeve, thus preferably representing a recess that is completely surrounded by the material of the sleeve. Here, too, it is preferred that pairs of cam guides are formed on diametrically opposed sections of the sleeve, into which the correspondingly designed pairs of cam blocks of the shaft fit. This cam follower arrangement is configured such that a cam follower (preferably all cam followers) is mounted in the corresponding cam follower (preferably all cam followers), meaning that the cam followers at least partially come into contact with the edge of the cam follower. When the actuating lever is moved, the cam followers are guided at least partially within the cam follower, meaning they slide and / or roll along the edge of the cam follower. This achieves, in particular, a positive control of the movement of the shaft relative to the sleeve and / or the mixing valve. According to the invention, the shaft has two (2) pairs of cam blocks that engage in two (2) pairs of cam guides in the sleeve. A first pair of cam blocks is located on opposite outer sides of the shaft. The second pair of cam blocks is axially spaced from the first pair (preferably on the same sides) on the shaft. Furthermore, a corresponding pair of cam guides is provided in the sleeve. This results in the shaft being supported, in particular, on two opposite sides. The first pair of cam blocks can form a pivot axis of the shaft, while the second pair of cam blocks controls a pivoting-lifting movement. Furthermore, it is considered advantageous that an arrangement consisting of at least one first cam block of the first and / or second pair of cam blocks and at least one first cam guide of the first and / or second pair of cam guides forms a pivot axis of the shaft that is displaceable relative to the housing axis. The housing axis is, in particular, vertically oriented so that this pairing of first cam blocks and first cam guides can form a vertically displaceable pivot axis, the pivot axis being displaced, in particular, when the actuating lever is pivoted (vertically). Furthermore, it is advantageous if an arrangement consisting of at least one second cam block of the first and / or second pair of cam blocks and at least one second cam guide of the first and / or second pair of cam guides causes a displacement of the shaft in the direction of the housing axis when the actuating lever is pivoted. A pairing of second cam blocks and second cam guides thus motivates the lifting movement of the shaft, in particular by moving the second cam blocks on the rim of the second cam guides with a directional component parallel to the direction of the housing axis (vertically). It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in connection with the scenery pieces and scenery guides serve only to distinguish them and do not imply any order. In particular, it is not necessary for first scenery pieces / guides to be present if second scenery pieces / guides are planned. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are not intended to necessarily dictate a position relative to one end of the shaft. Furthermore, it is considered advantageous that at least one cam guide is arc-shaped. The arc or curvature is formed in the (cylindrical) wall of the sleeve in the manner of a slot or groove, so that the cam guide does not extend purely in the circumferential direction of the sleeve, but also has a directional component in the axial direction. It is particularly preferred that the cam guide has two end regions in the circumferential direction, especially end regions in which the corresponding cam block rests in the extreme positions of the pivoting range of the shaft or the actuating lever. If the cam block moves within the cam guide, it performs not only a vertical movement in the circumferential direction of the sleeve during the pivoting movement, but also (at least in sections) an axial stroke.Preferably, the track is designed in the form of an arc with an extremum, the extremum preferably being located near a midpoint between the two end regions. It is particularly preferred that the arc has a continuous profile, thus avoiding steps or other sharp-edged transitions. Furthermore, it is considered advantageous that at least one cam block comprises a shaped block rotatably mounted on the shaft. For example, the cam block can be designed with a pin formed integrally with the shaft, on which a shaped block is rotatably mounted around the pin. To reduce sliding friction, it may be beneficial for the shaped block to be designed in the shape of a barrel or cylinder. However, it is also possible that a tighter or more comprehensive guide and / or a larger contact area between the cam block and the cam guide is desired, in which case the shaped block can have a more complex cross-section. This can, for example, have local thickenings, such as in the shape of a kidney. It is also possible to design it with a multitude of protrusions, teeth, or the like, which engage with or run within corresponding features of the cam guides. According to a further development, it is proposed that at least one cam track be designed such that at least one cam block performs a movement along a circular path segment over a pivoting range of the actuating lever. Particular attention is paid to the situation where a "pure" pivoting of the actuating lever (especially without simultaneous rotation) results in a continuous raising (and possibly also a continuous lowering) of the actuating lever during the opening process (or vice versa). This is a particularly smooth motion sequence. Furthermore, it is preferred that the actuating lever has a ring that covers the housing body. The ring can, for example, also be designed in the form of a collar, a hood, or a guide plate, and in particular be arranged (almost) completely in the vicinity of the housing body. This ring covers, in particular, the connection area of ​​the two components over the shaft. In particular, the ring also serves as a visual barrier, cover, and / or seal towards the opening of the housing body. As already described at the beginning, it is particularly preferred that the shaft is coupled to a mixing valve. For this purpose, the shaft can, for example, be fixed to the slide plate of the mixing valve in such a way that the pivoting-stroke movement of the shaft is converted into a (pure) rotary and lateral movement in one plane. For this purpose, the shaft can, for example, be connected to the slide plate via a further cam guide. The invention and the technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the embodiments shown in the figures are schematic and do not limit the subject matter of the invention. Identical components in the figures are designated with the same reference numerals. The figures schematically show: Fig. 1: an overview of a particularly preferred embodiment of a sanitary fitting in which the invention can be applied; Fig. 2: a detail of a first embodiment of the cam guide arrangement; Fig. 3: a second embodiment of a cam guide arrangement; Fig. 4: the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 in a starting position; Fig. 5: the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 in a central position; Fig. 6: the second embodiment from Fig. 3 in an end position; Fig. 7: a third embodiment of a cam guide arrangement.Fig. 8: the third embodiment according to Fig. 7 in a starting position, Fig. 9: the third embodiment according to Fig. 7 in a central position, Fig. 10: the third embodiment according to Fig. 7 in an end position, Fig. 11: a fourth embodiment of the cam guide arrangement, Fig. 12: the fourth embodiment according to Fig. 11 in a starting position, Fig. 13: the fourth embodiment according to Fig. 11 in a central position, and Fig. 14: the fourth embodiment according to Fig. 11 in an end position. The "starting position" refers specifically to the state of the operating lever where there is no water flow. The "end position" refers specifically to the state of the operating lever where the maximum adjustable water flow is present. The "middle position" refers specifically to a state of the operating lever that lies (approximately midway) between the starting position and the end position and therefore represents a reduced water flow. Fig. 1 shows an overview of a sanitary fitting 1, in particular a so-called single-lever mixer. The sanitary fitting 1 is mounted on a table 27, with the fitting 1 being mounted on the table 27 via the housing 2. Inside the housing 2 are the water inlet 24 and the water outlet 25. A mixing valve holder 26, which supports the mixing valve 16, is also arranged inside the housing 2. The housing 2 is essentially cylindrical, with a central axis 3. At the top, the housing 2 terminates in an opening 22 through which a stem 5 (of the mixing valve 16) extends. Outside the housing body 2, and in particular also covering the opening 22, the actuating lever 4 is provided, which forms a circumferential ring 15 that covers the upper edge of the housing body 2 or the opening 22. It can be seen that the ring 15 and the part of the housing body 2, which is designated here as the housing cover 20, are positioned close to each other, so that they form a kind of seal 21, in particular against contamination and / or splashing water. It can further be seen that, in its essentially horizontal orientation (as in the initial position shown here), the operating lever is connected to the shaft 5 in such a way that the shaft already forms an inclination 19 towards the central housing axis 3. If the operating lever 4 is now pivoted upwards and to the left (vertically), this is possible over a predetermined pivoting range 13. This pivoting movement is translated, in particular, into a displacement of a slide plate 17 of the mixing valve 16 in the transverse direction 18. This displacement in the transverse direction 18 usually activates or increases the water flow. An additional rotation of the operating lever 4 about the housing axis 3 regulates the mixing ratio of hot and cold water. The following detailed views primarily concern the area enclosed by a dashed box in Fig. 1. The cam track arrangement positioned there is explained in detail with the following figures. Fig. 2 shows the housing body 2 with the housing cover 20, through whose opening 22 the shaft 5 projects. Inside the housing body 2, a sleeve 10 is fixed in place (via a retaining frame 23) but rotatable about the housing axis 3, with the shaft 5 extending into the interior of the sleeve 10. Below the sleeve 10, or partially extending into the sleeve 10, the mixing valve 16 with the slide plate 17 is arranged. The shaft 5 has a first cam guide assembly located near the mixing valve 16 on the shaft 5. This assembly comprises a first cam block 6, which is positioned in a vertically oriented first cam guide 8. Further up on the sleeve 10, or closer to the actuating lever 4 (not shown) from the perspective of the shaft 5, a second cam guide assembly is provided.This includes a second cam block 7, which is positioned in a second cam guide 9 of the sleeve 10, which here has an arc shape. It is readily apparent that the first / second cam guide arrangement each comprises a pair of cam blocks or cam guides on opposite sides of the sleeve or shaft. When the shaft 5 is pivoted, the second cam block 7 is lifted as it moves along the arc-shaped second cam guide 9. This lifting movement is controlled by the vertical path of the first cam guide 8, which simultaneously creates a pivot axis 11 of the shaft 5 that is movable along the housing axis 3. This ensures, in particular, that the actuating lever is lifted away from the housing during movement over the pivoting range, thus reliably preventing a collision or contact with the housing body. A second embodiment, or rather the kinematics during the pivoting of the actuating lever, will now be explained jointly with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. In contrast to the first embodiment, the second cam guide arrangement with an arc-shaped cam guide 9 is now positioned closer to the mixing valve or closer to the slide plate 17. The first cam block 6 and the second cam block 7 are designed differently, particularly with regard to their radial extension outwards from the shaft 5. In the initial position (Figure 4), the second cam block 7 rests in an end region of the second cam guide 9 that is lowest, i.e., closest to the slide plate 17. The first cam block 6 also lies in an end region of the first cam guide 8 that is closest to the slide plate 17. During pivoting (see the neutral position in Figure 4), the second cam block 7 rests in an end region of the first cam guide 8 that is closest to the slide plate 17.5) The second cam block 7 runs in the second cam guide 9, which extends upwards, so that the shaft 5 is raised by a total stroke 28. This simultaneously moves the pivot axis 11 into the first cam block 6. Furthermore, it is possible that once a predetermined stroke 28 is reached, no further stroke is executed, so that the first cam block 6, or rather the pivot axis 11, remains in a relatively constant (vertical) position until the end position (see Fig. 6) is reached. It is evident that the movement reverses when the actuating lever is tilted forward again. Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 show a third embodiment, and here we will focus primarily on the differences compared to the other embodiments. For further details, please refer to the description of the components. It is particularly noteworthy that the second cam block 9 comprises a rotatable shaped element 12, here, for example, in the form of a kidney. During pivoting, the shaped element 12 is guided on several sides, or over a larger section of the circumferential surface, within the second cam guide 7. The sequence of movements illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 10 also shows that the first cam block 6, after reaching a central position (Figure 9), descends slightly towards the end position (Figure 10). Specifically, this movement is intended to occur along a circular path segment 14 (shown here in the area of ​​the second cam block 9). A fourth embodiment is shown accordingly in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14. Particular attention should be paid here to the sequence of movements during pivoting in the area of ​​the second cam guide assembly. The second cam block 7 is again designed with a rotatably shaped body 12, which forms a kind of punch and, opposite it, a kind of cylindrical section. During pivoting, the punch area rests in a kind of recess of the second cam guide 9, with the opposite cylindrical section sliding along the second cam guide 9. The invention illustrated here solves the aforementioned problems. In particular, a sanitary fitting with an operating lever is described, in which a smooth, collision-free movement of the operating lever relative to the housing is ensured. Furthermore, the movement mechanism is designed to be particularly smooth, robust, and space-saving. Reference symbol list 1 Sanitary fitting 2 Housing body 3 Housing axis 4 Actuating lever 5 Shaft 6 First cam block 7 Second cam block 8 First cam guide 9 Second cam guide 10 Sleeve 11 Swivel axis 12 Shape block 13 Swivel range 14 Circular track section 15 Ring 16 Mixing valve 17 Slide plate 18 Transverse direction 19 Inclination 20 Housing cover 21 Seal 22 Opening 23 Retaining frame 24 Water inlet 25 Water outlet 26 Mixing valve holder 27 Table 28 Stroke

Claims

Sanitary fitting (1), at least comprising a housing body (2) with a housing axis (3) and an actuating lever (4) which is pivotably arranged on the housing body (2), wherein the actuating lever (4) is attached to a shaft (5) which has two pairs of cam blocks (6, 7) which are mounted in two pairs of cam guides (8, 9), wherein the cam guides (8, 9) are formed with a sleeve (10) arranged in the housing body (2). Sanitary fitting (1) according to claim 1, in which an arrangement consisting of at least one first cam block (6) of the first and / or second pair of cam blocks and at least one first cam guide (8) of the first and / or second pair of cam guides forms a pivot axis (11) of the shaft (5) which is displaceable relative to the housing axis (3). Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which an arrangement of at least one second cam block (7) of the first and / or second pair of cam blocks and at least one second cam guide (9) of the first and / or second pair of cam guides causes a displacement of the shaft (5) in the direction of the housing axis (3) when the actuating lever (4) is pivoted. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one cam guide (9) is arc-shaped. Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cam block (7) comprises a shaped block (12) rotatably mounted on the shaft (5). Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one cam guide (9) is designed such that at least one cam block (7) performs a movement on a circular path section (14) via a pivoting area (13) of the actuating lever (4). Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating lever (4) has a rim (15) covering the housing body (2). Sanitary fitting (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (5) is coupled to a mixing valve (16).

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