Hydraulic system for a sanitary facility

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydraulic device for a sanitary installation, which is particularly suitable for personal hygiene and / or therapeutic applications.

[0002] Hydraulic systems can be designed, for example, as concealed fittings that can be installed in a building wall. Furthermore, hydraulic systems can include a mixing valve for blending cold and hot water to create a mixture with a desired temperature. This mixture can then be supplied to multiple outlets in the sanitary fixture via several hydraulic system outlets. The hydraulic system outlets can be connected to the outlets via pipes or hoses. The flow of the mixture is controlled by valves in the hydraulic system, each assigned to a specific outlet. The outlets can be designed as shower heads, nozzles, jets, openings, and / or basin spouts.Such hydraulic devices are known, for example, from US 9,085,880 B2 and US 9,632,514 B2. Depending on the number of fluid outlets in the sanitary fixture, a hydraulic device with a corresponding number of fluid drains is required. This leads to a high degree of variation in hydraulic devices and thus to high costs.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a hydraulic device that is adaptable to the number of liquid outlets of a sanitary installation.

[0004] This problem is solved by a hydraulic device according to the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent claims can be combined with one another as defined in the claims and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] This includes a hydraulic system for a sanitary facility, which has at least the following features: at least one liquid inlet; at least one liquid outlet; a carrier with at least one receptacle for a valve; and at least one sensor for detecting the valve.

[0006] Sanitary facilities can include, for example, a shower or bathtub, which are used primarily for personal hygiene and / or therapeutic applications. These facilities may be located in a bathroom. Furthermore, sanitary facilities can also be used in bathing facilities such as saunas, whirlpools, swimming pools, etc. Sanitary facilities can have at least one liquid outlet, such as a shower head, overhead shower, hand shower, side shower, nozzle, spray pattern, aerator, and / or bathtub spout. In particular, sanitary facilities can have multiple liquid outlets, for example, at least three.

[0007] The hydraulic device can be designed, for example, like a sanitary fitting. In particular, the hydraulic device can be designed like a concealed fitting, which can be installed in a building wall or an opening in the building wall. For this purpose, the hydraulic device can, for example, have a housing that can be made at least partially of plastic and / or metal. The hydraulic device has at least one fluid inlet. In particular, the hydraulic device can have a first fluid inlet for cold water and a second fluid inlet for hot water. The hydraulic device can be connected via the at least one fluid inlet to a fluid source, for example, a public water supply network and / or a boiler.For this purpose, a supply line, for example in the form of a pipe or hose, can be connected to the at least one fluid inlet. Furthermore, the hydraulic device can have at least one fluid outlet. Preferably, the hydraulic device has a plurality of fluid outlets, for example at least three. The at least one fluid outlet can be connected to the at least one fluid outlet of the sanitary fixture. For this purpose, a fluid line, for example in the form of a pipe or hose, can be connected to the at least one fluid outlet. In particular, each fluid outlet of the hydraulic device can be connected to one or more fluid outlets of the sanitary fixture. The at least one fluid outlet can be connected to the at least one fluid inlet via at least one fluid channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the hydraulic device has a support with at least one receptacle for a valve. The support serves, in particular, to accommodate functional components of the hydraulic device. The support can also be made, at least partially, of plastic or metal, such as brass. The support can also be designed as a base body. The at least one fluid inlet and / or the at least one fluid outlet can be designed as an opening in the support. Furthermore, the at least one fluid channel in the support can be designed, for example, as a bore. The at least one fluid channel can also extend through the at least one receptacle for the valve. The at least one receptacle can be designed as an opening in the support. The hydraulic device can, in particular, have one receptacle for each fluid outlet. This allows each fluid outlet to have, in particular, one receptacle or...A valve must be assigned to the hydraulic system. The valve allows, in particular, the control of fluid discharge via the at least one fluid outlet. Specifically, the fluid discharge via each fluid outlet can be controlled by a separate valve. The valve can be arranged in the at least one receptacle, in particular such that no fluid, especially water, can escape from the receptacle into the surrounding area of ​​the hydraulic system. For this purpose, the at least one receptacle and / or the valve can have at least one seal. The at least one valve is, in particular, electrically actuated. This can, in particular, mean that the valve can be electrically opened and closed. Specifically, the valve can be designed as an electromechanical valve. In a basic embodiment of the hydraulic system, for example, not every receptacle of the hydraulic system can have a valve. In this case, only the fluid outlet or...Only those fluid drains of the hydraulic system are usable if a valve is assigned to them or if a valve is located in their fluid channel. For example, in the basic design of the hydraulic system, only one receptacle may have a valve, while the other receptacles do not. Thus, only a single fluid drain of the hydraulic system is usable. The receptacles without a valve can be closed, preventing fluid from flowing through their respective drains. For this purpose, at least one receptacle can be designed to be self-closing. Depending on the number of fluid drains required, the hydraulic system can be retrofitted or equipped with valves, or a corresponding number of valves, via the receptacles.

[0009] Furthermore, the hydraulic system has at least one sensor for detecting the valve. In particular, the hydraulic system can have one sensor per inlet.

[0010] According to the invention, the sensor can detect whether a valve is present in a receptacle of the hydraulic device, or in which receptacle of the hydraulic device a valve is located. The at least one sensor allows the electronics of the hydraulic device to recognize, in particular, which fluid flow is usable and which is not. According to the invention, the sensor for detecting the valve can determine the presence of a valve in the hydraulic device and, in particular, the following: the position of a valve in the hydraulic device, the setting or orientation of a valve in the hydraulic device, and / or the functionality of a valve in the hydraulic device.

[0011] The hydraulic device can include a mixing valve. The mixing valve allows, in particular, cold water at a certain temperature and hot water at a certain temperature to be mixed to produce water at a desired temperature. The mixing valve is, in particular, electrically actuated. For this purpose, the mixing valve can, for example, be designed as an electromechanical mixing valve or an electromechanical mixing unit. The cold water temperature is, in particular, a maximum of 25 °C (Celsius), preferably 1 °C to 25 °C, and more preferably 5 °C to 20 °C, and / or the hot water temperature is, in particular, a maximum of 90 °C, preferably 25 °C to 90 °C, and more preferably 55 °C to 65 °C. The valve can be inserted or screwed into the at least one receptacle. For this purpose, the valve and / or the at least one receptacle can have a thread. Furthermore, the valve can be secured in the at least one receptacle, for example, by a snap-fit ​​connection.This allows valves to be retrofitted with minimal effort.

[0012] A closing element can be arranged in at least one of the openings. In particular, a closing element can be arranged in those openings in which no valve is arranged. Furthermore, a closing element can be arranged in those openings that are associated with an unused liquid drain. The closing element can, for example, be designed in the form of a plug or blanking plug. The closing element allows the at least one opening to be closed, in particular, such that the liquid channel extending through the respective opening is closed. Thus, the liquid drain associated with the opening can be permanently closed or taken out of service.

[0013] The electrical resistance of the valve can be measured by at least one sensor. For this purpose, the sensor can be designed as a resistance sensor.

[0014] The at least one sensor can be connected to a controller. In particular, the at least one sensor can be connected to the controller via a data transmission link. The controller can be designed as a microcontroller. Furthermore, the controller can be designed and / or configured to use the at least one sensor to detect which valve receptacle contains a valve and which does not. This can be achieved, in particular, by measuring resistance. Additionally, the controller can be used to control the mixing valve, the valve, and / or the valves.

[0015] The hydraulic system may include an operating device. This device allows the user to operate, for example, the valve(s), specifically opening and / or closing them. It may also allow the user to operate the mixing valve. This could mean, in particular, that the temperature of the mixed water can be adjusted via the operating device. The operating device may be connected to the control unit via a data transmission system, such as radio or cable. Furthermore, the operating device may be located on a building wall and / or in a shower room of the sanitary facility.

[0016] The operating device may include a display. The display may show, in particular, the operating status of the hydraulic system, the valve, and / or valves. It may also be possible to display the mixed water temperature.

[0017] The display can be a touchscreen with at least one control area for the valve, activated by at least one sensor that detects the valve in the at least one receptacle. The user of the hydraulic device can then close and / or open the valve(s) via this control area.

[0018] The control surface cannot be configured if the sensor in the unit does not detect a valve. In other words, the display can only show control surfaces for those valves that are actually located in the respective units. Thus, the control device, particularly automatically, can be adapted to the actual valve configuration in the units. Furthermore, it can be provided that each valve, or each fluid outlet to which a valve is assigned, can be assigned a function on the control device, for example, fluid outlet 1: overhead shower, fluid outlet 2: hand shower, and / or fluid outlet 3: side shower.

[0019] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, but that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Identical components in the figures are designated with the same reference numerals. The figures show, by way of example and schematically: Fig. 1: a hydraulic device in a front view; Fig. 2: a sanitary installation with the hydraulic device in a side view; and Fig. 3: an operating device of the sanitary installation in a front view.

[0020] The Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a hydraulic device 1 in a front view. The hydraulic device 1 comprises a support 23 with a first liquid inlet 3 for cold water and a second liquid inlet 4 for hot water. A mixing valve 16 is arranged on the support 23, to which the cold water can be supplied via a cold water line 24 and the hot water via a hot water line 25. The cold water and hot water can be mixed by the mixing valve 16 to form mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. The mixing valve 16 is connected via a first mixing water channel 26 to a first liquid outlet 5, via a second mixing water channel 27 to a second liquid outlet 6, and via a third mixing water channel 28 to a third liquid outlet 7. A first receptacle 8 is formed in the first mixing water channel 26, a second receptacle 9 in the second mixing water channel 27, and a third receptacle 10 in the third mixing water channel 28.In the first receptacle 8, a first valve 11 is arranged for closing or opening the first mixed water channel 26, and in the second receptacle 9, a second valve 12 is arranged for closing or opening the second mixed water channel 27. The mixed water can therefore be discharged via the first liquid outlet 5 and / or the second liquid outlet 6. In the third receptacle 10, a closing element 17 is arranged, which (permanently) closes the third mixed water channel 28. Thus, the mixed water cannot be discharged via the third liquid outlet 7. Depending on requirements, either a valve 11, 12, or a closing element 17 can be arranged in the receptacles 8, 9, and 10. The hydraulic unit 1 has a first sensor 13 at the first receptacle 8, a second sensor 14 at the second receptacle 9, and a third sensor 15 at the third receptacle 10, which are (conducting data) connected to a control unit 18 of the hydraulic unit 1.The sensors 13, 14, 15 can detect in which recording 8, 9, 10 a valve 11, 12 is located.

[0021] The Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a sanitary facility 2 in a side view, designed here in the manner of a shower. The sanitary facility 2 comprises a shower room 29, which is partially enclosed by a building wall 30. The Fig. 1The hydraulic device 1 shown is arranged in the building wall 30. The first fluid inlet 3 of the hydraulic device 1 is connected to a cold water supply line 31, and the second fluid inlet 4 of the hydraulic device 1 is connected to a hot water supply line 32. Furthermore, the first fluid outlet 5 of the hydraulic device 1 is connected via a first fluid line 33 to a first fluid outlet 34, which here is designed in the manner of a shower head, and the second fluid outlet 6 of the hydraulic device 1 is connected via a second fluid line 35 to a second fluid outlet 36, which here is designed in the manner of a side shower head. An operating device 19 is arranged on the building wall 30, via which the hydraulic device 1 is controlled. Fig. 1The first valve 11 and the second valve 12 of the hydraulic unit 1 shown can be controlled by a user of the sanitary unit 2. The dispensing of the liquid or the mixed water can thus be selectively carried out via the first liquid outlet 34 and / or the second liquid outlet 36.

[0022] The Fig. 3 Figure 19 shows a front view of the operating device 19. The operating device 19 includes a display 20, which is designed like a touchscreen. Since the display in the Fig. 1 The control unit 18, as shown, detects via sensors 13, 14 that a valve 11, 12 is located in the recordings 8, 9. The control unit 18 then displays a first operating area 21 on the display 20 for actuating the valve in the Fig. 1 shown first valve 11 and a second operating surface 22 for actuating the valve in the Fig. 1The second valve 12 shown. The valves 11, 12 can be opened and closed by the user of the sanitary facility 2 via the operating surfaces 21, 22.

[0023] The present invention makes it possible to flexibly adapt a hydraulic device to the number of fluid outlets of a sanitary installation. Reference symbol list

[0024] 1 Hydraulic system 2 Sanitary system 3 First liquid inlet 4 Second liquid inlet 5 First liquid outlet 6 Second liquid outlet 7 Third liquid outlet 8 First inlet 9 Second inlet 10 Third inlet 11 First valve 12 Second valve 13 First sensor 14 Second sensor 15 Third sensor 16 Mixing valve 17 Closing element 18 Control unit 19 Operating device 20 Display 21 First operating surface 22 Second operating surface 23 Support 24 Cold water line 25 Hot water line 26 First mixed water channel 27 Second mixed water channel 28 Third mixed water channel 29 Shower room 30 Building wall 31 Cold water supply line 32 Hot water supply line 33 First liquid line 34 First liquid outlet 35 Second liquid line 36 Second Liquid outlet

Claims

1. A hydraulic device (1) for a sanitary device (2), comprising at least: - at least one liquid inlet (3, 4); - at least one liquid outlet (5, 6, 7); - a support (23) having at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10) for a valve (11, 12); and - at least one sensor (13, 14, 15) for detecting the valve (11, 12), characterized in that an electrical resistance of the valve (11, 12) can be measured by the at least one sensor (13, 14, 15).

2. The hydraulic device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a mixing valve (16).

3. The hydraulic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve (11, 12) is inserted or screwed into the at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10).

4. The hydraulic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a closing element (17), which is designed in the manner of a plug, is arranged in the at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10).

5. The hydraulic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor (13, 14, 15) is connected to a controller (18).

6. The hydraulic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an operating device (19).

7. The hydraulic device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the operating device (19) comprises a display (20).

8. The hydraulic device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the display (20) is designed as a touch screen on which at least one operating surface (21, 22) for the valve (11, 12) is formed if the valve (11, 12) in the at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10) is detected by the at least one sensor (13, 14, 15).

9. The hydraulic device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one operating surface (21, 22) is not formed if no valve (11, 12) is detected by the at least one sensor (13, 14, 15) in the at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10).