Sanitary flushing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary flushing device with a cistern that can be filled with flushing fluid up to a maximum fill level, a flushing outlet in a lower area of ​​the cistern, a flushing valve with a valve rod body that moves up and down in the cistern for opening and closing the flushing outlet, a servomotor arranged in the cistern above the maximum fill level, which is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body for motorized movement of the valve rod body, a fill level sensor for detecting a fill level of the flushing fluid in the cistern and an operating device for user-activated activation of the servomotor. According to the invention, the level sensor is configured to continuously detect the flushing fluid level between a minimum and maximum level, or at one or more intermediate levels. The servomotor is configured to open the flushing valve with a variable opening speed for the valve stem body, depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor, and / or with a variable opening duration for the flushing valve, also depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the operating device and the servomotor are configured to keep the flushing outlet closed by the servomotor while the operating device is in a non-actuated state, and to keep the flushing outlet open by the servomotor while the operating device is in an actuated state. Uses include, for example, toilet flushing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sanitary flushing device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such generic sanitary flushing devices comprise a cistern that can be filled with flushing fluid up to a maximum fill level, a flushing outlet in a lower area of ​​the cistern, a flushing valve with a valve rod body that moves up and down in the cistern to open and close the flushing outlet, a servo motor located in the cistern above the maximum fill level, which is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body for motorized movement of the valve rod body, a fill level sensor for detecting the fill level of the flushing fluid in the cistern, and an operating device for user-activated activation of the servo motor.

[0003] Such a generic sanitary flushing device is disclosed in European patent application EP 1 493 873 A2. In the device described therein, a rotary movement of the servo motor is transmitted via a lever arm into a linear movement of a locking rod, which is coupled to the upper end of an overflow pipe that is part of a drain valve. The servo motor is connected to a program controller that allows the opening and closing, as well as the position of the drain valve and the duration it remains in that position, to be controlled.

[0004] The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a sanitary flushing device of the type mentioned at the outset, which offers further advantages over the prior art mentioned above, in particular with regard to low manufacturing costs, low maintenance costs and / or improved functionality.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by providing a sanitary flushing device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the wording of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the description. This includes, in particular, all embodiments of the invention resulting from the combinations of features defined by the cross-references in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, in the sanitary flushing device according to the invention, the level sensor is configured to continuously detect the flushing fluid level between a minimum and a maximum level, or at one or more intermediate levels. Furthermore, the servomotor is configured to open the flushing valve with a variable opening speed for the valve stem body, depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor, and / or to open the flushing valve with a variable opening duration, depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor, or to hold the valve stem body in the open position with a variable opening time or a variable dwell time. For example, it can be provided that the servomotor opens the flushing valve or the valve stem body faster the less flushing fluid is in the cistern.Additionally or alternatively, the servomotor can be configured to open the flush valve or valve stem for a shorter duration as the fill level in the cistern increases. This ensures consistent flushing performance across the entire fill level range, despite varying amounts of flush fluid in the cistern. The cistern can be divided into several fill level zones, each with its own corresponding opening speed and / or duration for the flush valve. Furthermore, the servomotor can be configured to open the flush valve or valve stem to a variable height between the closed and open positions, thus opening the flush outlet to different degrees. These adjustments can also be made based on the flush fluid level detected by the level sensor.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, which can be implemented additionally or alternatively to the first aspect in corresponding embodiments of the invention, the operating device and the servomotor of the sanitary flushing device according to the invention are configured to keep the flushing outlet closed by the servomotor as long as the operating device is in a non-actuated state, and to keep the flushing outlet open by the servomotor as long as the operating device is in an actuated state. The servomotor can thus be controlled very precisely at any time and enables both the active opening and active closing of the flushing valve to occur precisely at the moment the user acts on the operating device. This allows the user to control the flush volume of the sanitary flushing device on demand. The servomotor can be connected to a programmable and memory-capable control unit.The program control can include several programs that differ, for example, in the opening speed for the valve stem body, in the opening height of the valve stem body between the closed position and the open position of the flushing valve, and / or in the dwell time of the valve stem body in the open position.

[0008] In a further development of the invention, the servomotor is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body by means of a crank element. The servomotor is configured to move the valve rod body translationally up and down along its longitudinal axis by means of a pivoting movement of the crank element. This represents a structurally and functionally advantageous implementation of the sanitary flushing device, as this mechanical coupling of the servomotor to the crank element enables stepless adjustment of intermediate positions between the closed position and a maximum open position of the flushing valve.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the crank element is rotatably mounted at its free end on a coupling link. The coupling link is attached to an upper end of the valve rod body. Both the rotatable mounting of the coupling link on the crank element and the attachment of the coupling link to the valve rod body are detachable. This allows for the replacement of individual components of the sanitary flushing device.

[0010] In a further development of the invention, the operating device for user-activated activation of the servo motor is electrically and / or electronically connected to the servo motor. In an advantageous embodiment, a control and / or regulation unit is interposed between the operating device and the servo motor. The control and / or regulation unit is configured to receive and process fill level data from the fill level sensor. Furthermore, the control and / or regulation unit is configured to control and / or regulate the servo motor. The control and / or regulation unit is also configured to register user activation of the operating device and, depending on the user activation, to issue a control and / or regulation command to the servo motor.

[0011] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings. This and further embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective side view of a sanitary flushing device according to the invention with a cistern, Fig. 2 a side view of the sanitary flushing device of Fig. 1, where one front wall of the cistern is hidden, Fig. 3 a perspective side view of a flushing valve of the sanitary flushing device according to the invention with a valve rod body and a servomotor mechanically coupled thereto and Fig. 4 an enlarged section of the Fig. 4 on a mechanical coupling between the valve stem body and the servo motor.

[0012] As illustrated in the figures using an exemplary embodiment, the sanitary flushing device according to the invention comprises a cistern 1 which can be filled with a flushing fluid S, usually water, up to a maximum fill level F. A flushing outlet 2 is provided in the lower area of ​​the cistern 1, which is fluid-connected, for example, to an inlet of a toilet ceramic.

[0013] The sanitary flushing device further comprises a flushing valve 3 with a valve rod body 4 that moves up and down in the cistern 1 for opening and closing the flushing outlet 2. In the example shown, the valve rod body 4 has a valve closing element 13 at its lower end face, which, in a closed position of the flushing valve 3, seals the flushing outlet 2 and thus the cistern 1 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0014] Furthermore, a servomotor 5 is arranged in the cistern 1 above the maximum fill level F. The servomotor 5 is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body 4 for the motorized movement of the valve rod body 4.

[0015] The sanitary flushing device further comprises a level sensor 6 for detecting the level of the flushing fluid S in the cistern 1 and an operating device 21 for user-activated activation of the servomotor 5. In the example shown, the operating device 21 is an actuating plate, as in Fig. Figure 1 is shown. Preferably, the sanitary flushing device further includes a control and / or regulating unit 7.

[0016] The level sensor 6, in the example shown an electronic sensor unit, is designed to continuously detect the flushing fluid level between a minimum level and the maximum level F, or at one or more intermediate levels. In the case shown, the electronic sensor unit is designed as a radar sensor unit with a radar sensor (not shown in detail). The radar sensor is located above the maximum level F.

[0017] In corresponding embodiments, the servomotor 5 is configured, as in the example shown, to open the flushing valve 3 with a variable opening speed for the valve stem body 4, depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor 6, and / or to open the flushing valve 3 with a variable opening duration, depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor 6, or to hold the valve stem body 4 in the open position with a variable opening time or a variable dwell time. In an advantageous embodiment, the cistern 1 is divided into several fill level zones, to which corresponding opening speeds and / or durations of the flushing valve 3 are assigned. In addition to a variable opening speed and a variable opening duration for the valve stem body 4, an opening height between the closed position and an open position of the flushing valve 3 is also available.The position of the valve rod body 4 can be variably adjusted by means of the servomotor 5. In this way, a very sensitive adjustment of the flushing fluid flow S discharged via the flushing outlet 2 can be achieved, optimally adapted to the conditions and the user's requirements.

[0018] The control and / or regulation unit 7 can be configured to receive and process fill level data from the fill level sensor 6. The control and / or regulation unit 7 can be configured to control and / or regulate the servo motor 5. The control and / or regulation unit 7 can be configured to register user operation of the operating device 21 and, depending on the user operation, issue a control and / or regulation command to the servo motor 5. The control and / or regulation unit 7 can be configured to keep the flush volume released by the flush valve 3 essentially constant during each flushing cycle, if desired, particularly taking into account the currently determined flush fluid level in the cistern 1. For example, a longer opening time and / or a greater opening position of the flush valve 3 can be selected at a lower fill level than at a higher fill level.

[0019] In corresponding embodiments, the operating device 21 and the servomotor 5 are configured to keep the flushing outlet 3 closed by the servomotor 5 as long as the operating device 21 is in a non-operated state, and to keep the flushing outlet 3 open by the servomotor 5 as long as the operating device 21 is in an operated state. Flushing thus only occurs as long as the user holds the operating device 21. As soon as the user releases the operating device 21, the servomotor 5 closes the flushing outlet 3.

[0020] In advantageous embodiments, the servomotor 5 is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body 4 by means of a crank element 8, as is particularly evident in Fig. 4 is shown. In addition, the servomotor 5 is designed to move the valve rod body 4 translationally up and down along its longitudinal axis LA by means of a pivoting movement of the crank element 8.

[0021] In corresponding implementations, the crank element 8 with its free end 9 is rotatably mounted on a coupling member 10, as in Fig. 4. The coupling element 10 has an elongated hole 19 in its upper region, in which the free end 9 of the crank element 8, which moves along a circular path when the servomotor 5 is activated, is guided for rotational and translational movement. The coupling element 10 is arranged at an upper end 4A of the valve rod body 4. For this purpose, the coupling element 10 has two mounting arms 20, which are attached to opposite sides of an outer circumference of the valve rod body 4.

[0022] In advantageous embodiments, the cistern 1 has a maintenance opening 11, as shown in Fig. Figure 1 shows the maintenance opening 11, which is located in an upper area of ​​the cistern 1 and allows access to the upper area of ​​the sanitary flushing device, in particular to the servomotor 5 and the mechanical components.

[0023] The servomotor 5 and the crank element 8 are arranged, at least substantially, in a projection of the maintenance opening 11, viewed in a horizontal direction. This makes the servomotor 5 and the crank element 8 advantageously easily accessible for maintenance and / or replacement.

[0024] In the present case, the maintenance opening 11 is closed by the operating device 21, as shown in the Fig. Figure 1 shows the operating device 21. It can be configured as a push-button unit with at least one electronic switching element or as a control panel with touch-sensitive or gesture-controlled operating sensors. The operating device 21 is removable from the maintenance opening 11. The operating device 21 is connected to the control unit 7 for signal transmission via an electrical and / or electronic cable or wirelessly.

[0025] In corresponding implementations, the valve rod body 4 is designed as an overflow pipe and has an overflow opening 12 at its upper end face, through which flushing fluid S can drain via the flushing outlet 2 when the maximum fill level F is exceeded.

[0026] In advantageous embodiments, the sanitary flushing device comprises a fixed guide rail 14 attached to the cistern 1, on which the valve rod body 4 is guided, in particular translationally, as in particular in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0027] In corresponding implementations, the sanitary flushing device has a support element 15 which is arranged in an upper area of ​​the cistern 1, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows that the support element 15 is attached to a rear wall 16 of the cistern 1 and extends towards a front wall 17 of the cistern 1. In the embodiment shown, the support element 15 rests against the maintenance opening 11.

[0028] The servomotor 5 is detachably attached to the support element 15, as shown in particular in Fig.Figure 3 shows that the support element 15 also has a through-opening 18 in the illustrated embodiment, through which the coupling element 10 can be passed or can be passed during operation of the sanitary flushing device.

[0029] The sanitary flushing device has a flushing water supply line 22. In this case, the flushing water supply line is designed as a greywater supply line, which is intended to introduce greywater into the cistern 1. For example, the greywater can be taken from a drain of a sanitary shower fixture and supplied for further use by means of the sanitary flushing device. Thus, the sanitary flushing device according to the invention advantageously contributes to water conservation in a building. The flushing water supply line 22 has a free outlet 23, which is arranged inside the cistern 1 and above the maximum fill level F. An inlet pipe 24 of the sanitary flushing device is arranged below the outlet 23. The inlet pipe 24 has an inlet funnel 25, which is designed to introduce the flushing fluid S exiting the outlet 23 into the inlet pipe 24.The inlet pipe 24 extends into a lower area of ​​the cistern 1. This further development of the invention advantageously reduces the inlet noise of the flush water supply line 22, advantageously enables to a certain extent a circulation of the flushing fluid S in the cistern 1 and advantageously contributes to a reduced sediment formation in the cistern 1.

[0030] In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), the sanitary flushing device can have an additional flushing water supply line, which can in particular function as a fresh water supply line designed to introduce fresh water into the cistern 1. The introduction of fresh water is only provided when a critical flushing fluid level in the cistern 1 has been reached, in order to ensure the operational capability of the sanitary flushing device in the event of a lack of grey water supply.

[0031] Furthermore, in a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), the sanitary flushing device can include a filter and / or disinfection unit designed to filter and / or disinfect the flushing fluid S contained in the cistern 1 and / or the greywater to be fed into the cistern. The filter and / or disinfection unit can include a UV-C irradiation unit arranged within the cistern 1, designed to prevent biological contamination of the flushing fluid contained in the cistern 1.

[0032] Furthermore, in a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), the sanitary flushing device can include a flushing fluid circulation unit arranged within the cistern 1 and designed to circulate the flushing fluid contained in the cistern 1, particularly on a regular basis. Preferably, the filter and / or disinfection unit is functionally coupled with the circulation unit.

[0033] The sanitary flushing device, in particular the cistern 1, is designed to be installed in a wall, especially a stud wall, of a building. However, it is also possible, in principle, for the sanitary flushing device, in particular the cistern 1, to be installed freestanding or in front of a wall.

[0034] As the illustrated embodiment and the further embodiments described above clearly demonstrate, the invention provides a sanitary flushing device that can be manufactured and maintained with comparatively little effort and exhibits improved functionality. Furthermore, the sanitary flushing device according to the invention enables consistent flushing performance across the entire fill level range, even with varying or fluctuating fill levels of the flushing fluid in the cistern. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 493 873 A2

[0003]

Claims

[1] Sanitary flushing device with - a cistern (1) that can be filled with a flushing fluid (S) up to a maximum fill level (F), - a flush outlet (2) in a lower area of ​​the cistern (1), - a flush valve (3) with a valve rod body (4) that moves up and down in the cistern (1) for opening and closing the flush outlet (2), - a servomotor (5) arranged in the cistern (1) above the maximum fill level (F), which is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body (4) for the motor movement of the valve rod body (4), - a level sensor (6) for detecting the level of the flushing fluid (S) in the cistern (1) and - an operating device (21) for user-activated activation of the servo motor (5), characterized by , that - the level sensor (6) is configured to continuously detect the level of the flushing fluid (S) between a minimum level and the maximum level (F) or at one or more intermediate level heights, and the servomotor (5) is configured to open the flushing valve (3) with a variable opening speed for the valve stem body (4) depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor (6) and / or with a variable opening duration for the flushing valve (3) depending on the flushing fluid level detected by the level sensor (6), and / or - the operating device (21) and the servomotor (5) are configured to keep the flushing outlet (2) closed by the servomotor (5) as long as the operating device (21) is in a non-operating state, and to keep the flushing outlet (2) open by the servomotor (5) as long as the operating device (21) is in an operating state. [2] Sanitary flushing device according to claim 1, further characterized by , that the servomotor (5) is mechanically coupled to the valve rod body (4) by means of a crank element (8) and is designed to move the valve rod body (4) translationally along its longitudinal axis (LA) by means of a pivoting movement of the crank element (8). [3] Sanitary flushing device according to claim 2, further characterized by, that the crank element (8) is rotatably mounted with a free end (9) on a coupling member (10), wherein the coupling member (10) is attached to an upper end (4A) of the valve rod body (4). [4] Sanitary flushing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized by , that the operating device (21) for user-activated activation of the servomotor (5) is electrically and / or electronically connected to the servomotor (5), preferably with a control and / or regulation unit (7) being interposed.

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