Stagnation flush valve device

Abstract

Valve device for use in a fitting (10) with a valve inlet (3) through which flow can be exerted in an inflow direction (E), a valve outlet (4) through which flow can be exerted in an outflow direction (A) for withdrawing process water and a withdrawal valve (5) arranged in the flow path between the valve inlet (3) and the valve outlet (4) which can be actuated by its own medium to release the flow path, a flushing outlet (6) through which flow can be exerted in a flushing direction (S), wherein a flushing valve (7) for releasing the flow path is arranged in the flow path between the valve inlet (3) and the flushing outlet (6), characterized in that the withdrawal valve (5) has a diaphragm (5.2) which is movable relative to a valve seat (5.1) and a pressure chamber (5.3) arranged on the side of the diaphragm (5.2) opposite the valve seat (5.1), so that the diaphragm (5.2) is pressed onto the valve seat (5.1) by the pressure in the pressure chamber (5.3).1), wherein a main valve axis (HV) arranged parallel to the inflow direction (E) and / or the outflow direction (A) is provided, wherein the extraction valve (5) and the flushing valve (7) are opposite one another with respect to the main valve axis (HV).

Description

The invention relates to a valve device for use in a fitting according to the preamble of claim 1.Valve devices of this type are frequently used for controlling fluid flows in the field of sanitary fittings, for example for removing used water on wash tables, as is known from commercially available faucets. The valve devices are usually arranged inside the fitting, so that they cannot be easily recognized from the outside.Corresponding valve devices generally have a removal valve which is arranged in the flow path between the valve inlet and the valve outlet. When the extraction valve is closed, the water cannot pass through it and consequently no water can then be extracted from the fitting. For the extraction of water, the corresponding extraction valve must first be opened, as a result of which the flow path between the valve inlet and the valve outlet is then cleared. The water flows from the line in an inflow direction into the valve, passes through the opened extraction valve, flows through the valve outlet in an outflow direction and is then conducted to the fitting outlet.In order to keep the forces required for actuating, i.e. for opening and closing, the removal valve as low as possible, it is also known to configure the removal valve as a self-medium-actuatable valve. In such a sampling valve, the water pressure applied to the valve inlet primarily ensures that the valve is held in the closed position and that the valve can be opened very easily. The more precise functioning of a self-medium-actuatable valve is also described, for example, in DE 10 2015 104 258 A1.When the extraction valve is in the closed state, the used water is essentially still in motion in the valve inlet and in the line upstream of the valve. Although this does not pose a problem with regular removal of water, it may occur that, for example, the removal valve is not opened for a longer time. These could form germs and deposits in the water. For this reason, especially in the area of hospital and hotels, the personnel are often instructed to perform a stagnation flush in the individual rooms at regular intervals. In this case, the water is then unused for a certain time, for example, allowed to run into a wash basin, into a bathtub or into a shower tray, in order to counteract the formation of germs and deposits on account of a longer service life. Fittings which automatically carry out such stagnation flushing at regular intervals are also known.Although the formation of germs and deposits can be prevented by this procedure, the washbasin, for example, is wetted on the new one each time during the stagnation flushing and therefore has to be cleaned or dried accordingly subsequently. This purification makes the stagnation flushing overall complicated and time-consuming.EP 2 196 711 A1 discloses a structural unit of a fluid device apparatus in which a plurality of fluid devices connected via flow paths are integrated on a base member to form a single unit, wherein a main fluid flow path and a return flow path formed in the base member are provided with a first valve and a second valve for switching the flow path, respectively, the position at which the return flow path branches off from the main fluid flow path is close to the upstream side of the first valve.DE 202 19 358 U1 discloses a self-medium-actuated servo solenoid valve for liquids, in particular for sanitary fittings, having a valve housing which has a valve inlet and a valve outlet, which are separated from one another in a sealed manner in the valve closing position by a valve disk seated on a valve seat.The invention has for its object to provide a valve device which permits an improved stagnation flushing.This object is achieved in a valve device of the type mentioned at the beginning by the characterizing features of claim 1.The water present in the line upstream of the valve can be discharged through the flushing outlet and for this purpose does not have to flow through the valve outlet and then into the washbasin, the bathtub, the shower cup or the like. During a stagnation flushing, the flow path from the valve inlet to the flushing outlet can be released via the flushing valve, so that the water, which is sometimes contaminated with germs or deposits, cannot flow off through the valve outlet, but through the flushing outlet. Due to the flushing outflow, the valve therefore has, in addition to the normal valve outflow, a second additional outflow which is used only for a stagnation flushing. In normal operation, i.e. when withdrawing used water via the valve outlet, the flushing outlet is not required and the stagnation valve can be closed accordingly. Additional cleaning, for example of washbasin or bathtub, after the stagnation rinsing is therefore not necessary and the stagnation rinsing overall is improved.In a further development of the valve device, it has proven to be advantageous if the valve device comprises a valve housing and the valve housing has the valve inlet and the valve outlet. The valve device can thus be easily handled and also easily positioned and assembled via the valve housing. The valve housing is thus advantageously configured in one piece. Due to the one-piece configuration, the valve housing can be a prefabricated component configured in the manner of a base element, which has been produced in a preceding working step. The valve housing can thus be configured as a module assembly and the remaining components can be arranged on the valve housing during the assembly of the valve device. The valve inlet and the valve outlet can be connected to one another in a fixed and one-piece manner.To this end, in a further development of the invention, it has also proven to be advantageous if the valve housing likewise has the flushing outlet. The flushing outlet can also be connected in a fixed and one-piece manner to the valve inlet and the valve outlet via the valve housing, which accordingly simplifies the handling of the valve even more.With regard to the extraction valve and the flushing valve, it has proven to be advantageous if the valve housing has a first valve seat for the extraction valve and a second valve seat for the flushing valve. Due to the arrangement of the valve seats on the valve housing, the valves themselves do not have to have corresponding valve seats. This not only leads to the valves being able to be designed to be very flat, but also leads overall to a small overall size of the valve device. The valve seats can be configured in a circular manner, which ensures that a large water flow can pass through the corresponding valve in the open state, but at the same time a reliable seal can also be achieved by the circular configuration when the valves are closed. With regard to the arrangement of the two valve seats, it has proven advantageous if these are arranged concentrically with respect to one another. The valve seats can thus both be configured in a circular manner and the corresponding circles can lie on a common axis. It is advantageous if the flushing valve connects the valve inlet to the flushing outlet and the extraction valve connects the valve inlet to the valve outlet.According to an advantageous embodiment, the valve outlet can have a jet regulator. A jet regulator is understood to mean a nozzle which uniformizes, decelerates and / or broadens a water jet and, for this purpose, generally adds air to the water jet. Corresponding jet regulators are also referred to as air sprinklers in this respect. In this embodiment, the valve outlet can have a deflection, in particular a 90° deflection, and the jet regulator can be arranged at an angle to the valve outlet in this respect. The used water can flow into the valve in the inflow direction, through the removal valve in the outflow direction into the valve outlet and then through the deflection into the jet regulator and from there flow, for example, into a wash basin.With regard to the configuration of the valve inlet, valve outlet and flushing outlet, it has proven advantageous if these are each tubular. A corresponding tubular configuration enables a uniform flow and additionally also has advantages with regard to production.It is furthermore proposed that the valve inlet and / or the valve outlet and / or the flushing outlet have a line connection for connection to a fluid line. Via corresponding line connections, the respective inlets and outlets can be connected very easily to corresponding lines. The connection can be releasable, so that the corresponding lines can be inserted into the corresponding line connections. This is advantageous in particular during the assembly of the valve device. The line connections can be screwed into the respective inlets and / or outlets or can also be connected integrally thereto. When the pipe connections are screwed in, a seal can be provided which prevents the unintentional escape of water.In a development of the flushing valve, it has proven to be advantageous if this is designed as a valve that can be actuated by its own medium. As a result of this configuration, the force required for actuating the flushing valve can be kept comparatively low, and the flushing valve can be both opened and closed with little force exertion.In an alternative embodiment, however, the flushing valve can also be designed not as a self-medium-actuatable valve, but rather, for example, as a lever or ball valve. Corresponding valves usually have a smaller installation space and are of significantly simpler design than valves which can be operated separately by medium. Furthermore, the amount of water to be discharged during a stagnation flushing is generally comparatively small anyway and the flushing valve is also actuated significantly less frequently in practice in contrast to the removal valve.With regard to assembly, it has proven to be advantageous if the extraction valve and the flushing valve are detachably connected to the valve housing. During the assembly of the valve device, for example, the extraction valve and the flushing valve can be connected to the valve housing in a very simple manner via a plug connection or via a screw connection. The valve housing can thus form the main body of the valve device, and the flushing valve and the extraction valve can then be connected to the valve housing. The valve housing can have a plug-in contour, onto which the valves can advantageously be plugged in only one orientation. This simplifies the positioning and connection of the valves to the valve housing.It has furthermore proved to be advantageous if the extraction valve and the flushing valve can be actuated independently of one another. This enables variable control of the valve device or flow paths. In practice, however, it has proven advantageous if the valve device can only assume three different switching states or positions, namely, on the one hand, a closed position in which the valve device does not allow water to pass, as well as a stagnation position for a stagnation flushing and a removal position for removing useful water. For the extraction of used water, the extraction valve can be opened and the flushing valve can be closed. For stagnation flushing, the extraction valve may be closed and the flushing valve opened. In this respect, it can be provided, for example, that the extraction valve cannot be opened when the flushing valve is opened, so that the stagnation flushing must first be ended before the extraction of used water and the flushing valve must be closed accordingly until the extraction valve can then be opened. In order to completely shut off the water, both the extraction valve and the flushing valve can be closed.The extraction valve and the flushing valve can be actively controllable and thus selectively open the respective flow paths. Thus, both valves are not self-opening valves which are used, for example, for pressure relief.For the actuation of the valves, it has proven to be advantageous if the extraction valve and / or the flushing valve can be actuated by a magnetic actuation. This not only offers advantages with regard to precise actuation, but also simplifies the seal, since the valves can be moved in a contactless manner via a magnetic actuation. The magnetic actuation can be an electromagnetic actuation, in particular a coil actuation.For the actuation or activation of the extraction valve and / or the flushing valve, it has proven advantageous if the valves have a control unit. The respective valves can be reliably switched back and forth between the closed position and the open position via the control unit. The control unit can be embodied to be bistable or monostable. A monostable control unit is suitable, for example, in particular for the flushing valve, since a flushing process generally takes only a few seconds. Furthermore, it is not readily recognizable from the outside whether a stagnation flushing is being carried out, since during this flushing the water only flows within the closed line system. Thus, there may be a case where a stagnation purge is started but not ended and water is then inadvertently wasted so far. This could be prevented with a monostable flushing valve, since a corresponding valve enables the flow path only for the duration of an actuation and then automatically changes over again into the closed position. It is advantageous in this respect if the flushing valve is prestressed into the closed position.The control unit can be operated purely manually by hand, for example via a button, a switch, a lever, a wheel or the like. However, it is also possible to actuate the control unit or the control units electrically via a radio or via a cable connection and thus open or close the valves. Contactless actuation is also possible. Furthermore, it can also be provided that the flushing valve is opened regularly at predetermined time intervals in order to carry out a stagnation flushing regularly. A programmable arithmetic logic unit can be provided for the corresponding control.With regard to the control units, it has furthermore proven to be advantageous if they each have a control coil. The pilot valve closing elements can be moved very precisely via a control coil and no direct contact is required, since the coils can magnetically move the closing elements.With regard to the design of the flushing valve, it has proven to be advantageous if this is designed as a diaphragm valve. The removal valve is designed as a diaphragm valve. The removal valve has a diaphragm which can be moved relative to the valve seat and a pressure chamber which is arranged behind the diaphragm in the direction of flow. The flushing valve can be designed accordingly. The pressure present at the valve inlet can be present in the pressure chamber, which can be greater than the pressure in the valve outlet or in the flushing outlet. This pressure or the pressure difference can thus press the diaphragm onto the valve seat, since the pressure chamber is arranged on the side of the diaphragm opposite the valve seat. In order that the water can flow from the valve inlet into the respective pressure chambers, the membranes have corresponding connecting channels which are arranged in particular in the lateral region of the membranes. In the respective closed position of the valves, the membrane can rest on the respective valve seat and thus reliably seal the valve inlet with respect to the valve outlet or with respect to the flushing outlet.For fastening the diaphragm, it has proven to be advantageous if the valve housing has a groove-shaped diaphragm receptacle for each diaphragm, in which receptacle the respective diaphragm can be received. The diaphragm can thus be fixed via this diaphragm receptacle, which allows reliable opening and closing of the respective valve.Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the extraction valve and / or the flushing valve have a valve cover and the respective diaphragm is clamped between the valve cover and the valve housing. This ensures reliable support of the membrane. Furthermore, the membrane can also be easily replaced or repaired. This is because, when a valve cover is detached from the valve housing, the corresponding membrane can be directly accessible. The valve covers can have connection points for connection to the valve housing, for example in the form of bores which are suitable for a screw connection. For fastening the diaphragm to the valve cover, the latter can also have a groove, in particular a groove running circumferentially in a circular manner. The diaphragm can thus be mounted or clamped in the edge region both in the groove of the valve cover and in the groove or the diaphragm receptacle of the valve housing. Due to the circular configuration of the grooves, the diaphragm can be clamped on the circumferential side, which ensures reliable closing of the respective valve seat. The clamped diaphragm can therefore only move perpendicularly to the valve seat because of its flexibility and, for example, cannot slip laterally with respect to the latter.Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the edge region of the membrane is designed as a sealing region. Because the edge region is designed as a sealing region and can extend into recesses in the valve housing and the valve or the valve cover, it is possible to prevent liquid from penetrating to the outside between the valve cover and the valve housing. It is thus advantageous if the edge region of the diaphragm is larger than the two recesses, so that the edge region of the diaphragm is at least slightly deformed when the valves are connected to the valve housing. This results in a good sealing effect. The sealing region of the membrane can extend perpendicularly, in particular upwards and downwards, with respect to the closing region of the membrane, in relation to a central region of the membrane. The sealing region can be designed as a sealing lip. The valve cover and the valve housing can engage around the edge region of the diaphragm in a positive-locking manner. The edge region of the diaphragm can seal in the radial direction both with respect to the valve housing and with respect to the valve cover. By means of such a radial seal, the valve covers need to be pressed onto the valve housings only with a slight force in the axial direction, so that a mechanical component relief results.With regard to the positioning of the pressure chamber, it has proven advantageous if the pressure chamber is arranged between the diaphragm and the valve cover. The valve cover can be designed to be pot-shaped at least in regions and the diaphragm can span this pot-shaped region. The pressure chamber can then be bounded on one side by the diaphragm and on the other sides by the valve cover. When the respective valve is opened, the diaphragm can move into the pressure chamber. This movement can be limited by the size of the pressure chamber or by the design of the valve cover. Furthermore, the valve enables a firmly defined water path guidance. The pressure chamber can be designed in such a way that no dead zones or only small dead zones form and the valves are also flushed through when flowing through. No water can collect and build up in the valve, which results in hygiene advantages.Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the pressure chamber of the extraction valve is connected via a pilot channel to the valve outlet and the pressure chamber of the flushing valve is connected via a pilot channel to the flushing outlet. The water located in the pressure chamber can flow via the respective pilot control channels into the respective outlet, as a result of which the pressure in the pressure chamber falls and the diaphragm then automatically lifts from the respective valve seat. The pilot control channels can be arranged in the valve housing and designed in the manner of bores. The pilot control channels can extend perpendicular to the valve outlet or to the flushing outlet and in this respect parallel to the direction of movement of the membranes.Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the extraction valve and the flushing valve each have a pilot valve for selectively opening the respective pilot control channel. When the pilot control channel is closed, the water cannot flow out of the pressure chamber, but rather the latter then presses the respective diaphragm onto the valve seat. When the pilot valve is opened, the respective pilot channel can be released, so that the water can flow out of the pressure chamber through the pilot channel into the respective outlet. The pressure in the pressure chamber decreases in this case, so that the diaphragm is lifted from the valve seat and the respective valve can thus be opened accordingly via the pilot valve. The pilot valves serve as pilot valves and require significantly lower actuating forces for actuation, in that this would be the case with a direct actuation of the extraction valve or of the flushing valve. In this respect, it is sufficient if the pilot valves can be controlled via the respective control units. The actuation and actuation generally described above with regard to the valves thus also applies accordingly to the pilot valves of the respective valves.Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the inflow direction and the flushing direction are arranged opposite to one another. The water is thus deflected in the valve during the stagnation flushing and then flows out of the valve again counter to the inflow direction in the flushing direction. The valve inlet may be connected to a water line of a water supply system and the flushing outlet may be connected to a line of a waste water system. Since corresponding systems are often guided as far as possible in parallel, the water can thus be deflected from the supply system into the waste water system by the deflection in the valve during a stagnation flushing.With regard to the inflow direction and the outflow direction, it has proven advantageous if these are arranged parallel to one another. When the extraction valve is thus open, the water can flow in in the inflow direction and then flow out of the valve again through the extraction valve in the outflow direction. The inflow direction and the outflow direction thus define the main flow direction of the water. It is advantageous if the water flows through the valve device substantially in the axial direction. With regard to the different flow directions, it has furthermore proven to be advantageous if the flushing direction and the outflow direction are arranged opposite to one another.Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the valve inlet and the valve outlet are arranged on opposite sides. This embodiment makes it possible in this respect that the water flows into the valve device on one side and then flows out of the valve device again on the other side and is used there as useful water. The flushing outlet can be arranged on the same side as the valve inlet, so that the water flows out of the valve again on the same side accordingly during a stagnation flushing.According to the invention, a main valve axis arranged parallel to the inflow direction and / or to the outflow direction is provided, wherein the extraction valve and the flushing valve are opposite each other with respect to the main valve axis. Because the flushing valve and the extraction valve are situated opposite one another, the valve device can be designed to be very compact and can have a small structural volume. Furthermore, this configuration also makes it possible to achieve a uniform weight distribution.With regard to the two valves, i.e. the extraction valve and the flushing valve, it has proven advantageous if they are configured at least substantially identically. This allows the complexity of the valve device to be reduced. The purge valve and the extraction valve can thus be valves of the same assembly. Whether the corresponding valve functions as a removal valve or as a flushing valve in this respect does not depend on the design of the valve per se, but rather on the point at which it is connected to the valve housing. When the valve connects the valve inlet and the valve outlet to each other, it is a sampling valve, and when the valve connects the valve inlet and the purge outlet to each other, it is a purge valve. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous with regard to the compactness of the valve device if the control devices extend parallel to the main valve axis. The control devices can thus be brought very close to the valve housing and be arranged, for example, on opposite sides of the main valve axis or of the valve outlet. It is advantageous if the control devices are designed to operate,

Claims

Valve device for use in a fitting (10) having a valve inlet (3) through which a flow can take place in an inflow direction (E), a valve outlet (4) through which a flow can take place in an outflow direction (A) for the removal of useful water, and a self-medium-actuatable removal valve (5) arranged in the flow path between the valve inlet (3) and the valve outlet (4) for the release of the flow path, a flushing outlet (6) through which a flow can take place in a flushing direction (S), wherein a flushing valve (7) for the release of the flow path is arranged in the flow path between the valve inlet (3) and the flushing outlet (6), characterized in that, the extraction valve (5) having a diaphragm (5.2) movable relative to a valve seat (5.1) and a pressure chamber (5.3) arranged on the side of the diaphragm (5.2) opposite the valve seat (5.1), so that the diaphragm (5.2) can be pressed onto the valve seat (5.1) by the pressure in the pressure chamber (5.3), wherein a main valve axis (HV) arranged parallel to the inflow direction (E) and / or the outflow direction (A) is provided, wherein the extraction valve (5) and the flushing valve (7) are opposite each other relative to the main valve axis (HV).Valve device according to Claim 1, characterized bya valve housing (2) which has the valve inlet (3), the valve outlet (4) and the flushing outlet (6).Valve device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the valve housing (2) has the first valve seat (5.1) for the extraction valve (5) and a second valve seat (7.1) for the flushing valve (7).Valve device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flushing valve (7) is designed as a self-medium-actuatable valve.Valve device according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the extraction valve (5) and the flushing valve (7) are detachably connected to the valve housing (2).Valve device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the flushing valve (7) has a diaphragm (7.2), wherein the valve housing (2) has, for each diaphragm (5.2, 7.2), a groove-shaped diaphragm receptacle (2.3, 2.4), in which the respective diaphragm (5.2, 7.2) can be received.Valve device according to claim 6, characterised in that the removal valve (5) and / or the flushing valve (7) have a valve cover (5.7, 7.7) and a respective membrane (5.2, 7.2) is clamped between the valve cover (5.7, 7.7) and the valve housing (2).Valve device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inflow direction (E) and the flushing direction (S) are arranged opposite one another.Valve device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve inlet (3) and the valve outlet (4) are arranged on opposite sides.Valve device according to one of Claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the membranes (5.2, 7.2) of the extraction valve (5) and / or of the flushing valve (7) move perpendicularly to the main valve axis (HV) during opening and closing.Fitting, in particular a wash-table fitting, having a valve device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.Fitting according to claim 11, characterised bya fitting arm (10.2) having a fitting outlet (10.21), wherein the valve device (1) is arranged in the fitting arm (10.2).Fitting according to either of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the valve outlet (4) is connected to a fitting outlet (10.21), and the flushing outlet (6) is connected to a return line (20) for connection to a siphon (30).

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