ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM AND INSTALLATION WITH SUCH ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy transmission system for a water pipe of a sanitary installation. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Energy generation systems for drinking water networks are known from the prior art. These systems, for example, can generate electrical energy from flowing water using a turbine. This energy can then be made available to devices that require electricity for their operation. Accordingly, these devices do not require a power grid connection and therefore no cabling. However, such systems have the disadvantage that energy can only be generated from flowing water. Furthermore, no electricity is generated if the flow velocity is too low. Furthermore, electricity is always generated when water is flowing, regardless of whether it is actually needed or not. An energy transmission system for a fluid line is disclosed in document US 2012 / 032560 A1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide an energy transmission system for a water pipe of a sanitary installation, which can supply electrical energy to a consumer independently of the consumption of water.

[0004] This object is achieved by an energy transmission system having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments of the energy transmission system, as well as an installation with such an energy transmission system, are defined by the features of further claims.

[0005] The energy transmission system according to the invention for a water pipe of a sanitary installation comprises a generator unit with a power supply, which can be arranged at a first point in the water pipe, and at least one consumer unit with at least one consumer, which can be arranged at a second point in the water pipe spaced from the first point. The generator unit comprises a pressure surge generator connected to the power supply, with which pressure surges can be generated, which can be introduced into the water in the water pipe. The consumer unit comprises a pressure surge converter connected to the at least one consumer, with which the pressure surges introduced into the water can be converted into electrical energy, which can be supplied to the at least one consumer.This has the advantage that the at least one consumer does not require a wired power supply and receives power even when there is no water flowing in the pipe. A consumer is defined as a unit that consumes electrical power during operation.

[0006] In one embodiment, the at least one consumer comprises at least one sensor. Alternatively or additionally, it can comprise at least one actuator. For example, a sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, a position sensor, for example, a valve position sensor, or a proximity sensor.

[0007] For example, the actuator comprises a valve. A consumer can also comprise multiple valves, such as in a mixing unit, which includes a hot water and a cold water valve. A mixing unit can additionally comprise temperature sensors with which the mixing temperature, the cold water temperature, and the hot water temperature can be measured.

[0008] Other examples of consumers include acoustic signaling devices such as a loudspeaker or a beeper, optical indicators such as lights or displays, lighting elements, control elements such as input units, other sensors such as humidity sensors and wireless range extenders.

[0009] According to the invention, the consumer unit comprises a storage device with which the electrical energy provided by the pressure surge converter can be stored. Such a storage device is, for example, a battery or a capacitor.

[0010] In one embodiment, the generator unit comprises a first transmission unit connected to the power supply, and the consumer unit comprises a second transmission unit connected to the pressure surge converter. The first transmission unit and the second transmission unit, or multiple second transmission units, can wirelessly exchange information with each other. For example, information can be forwarded from one second transmission unit to the next until it reaches the first transmission unit. This allows for lower transmission power of the individual transmission units. Well-known examples of such transmission systems in the radio frequency range are Bluetooth, WLAN, ZigBee, NFC, Wibree, or WiMAX. Alternatively, higher-frequency pressure surges can be used to transmit information.In this case, the pressure surge transducer of the consumer unit is designed so that it can also be used as a pressure surge generator. Accordingly, the generator unit and each consumer unit include pressure sensors with which these higher-frequency pressure surges can be detected.

[0011] In one embodiment, the generator unit includes a storage unit that can store the electrical energy provided by the power supply. This allows the system to continue functioning properly for a certain period of time even in the event of a power outage.

[0012] In one embodiment, the pressure pulse generator comprises, for example, a loudspeaker or a piezoelectric element or a motorized piston, with which pressure pulses can be generated from electrical energy. The pressure pulse transducer comprises, for example, a microphone or a piezoelectric element. Loudspeakers and microphones are characterized by the fact that they comprise a membrane, a coil, and a magnet. Either the magnet or the coil is connected to the membrane, and a relative movement between the magnet and the coil inductively generates an electric current. A changing current in the coil generates a changing magnetic field, which causes the magnet to move. The membrane can be made of plastic or metal.

[0013] Alternatively, a sandwich of metal and polymer layers can be used, which generates electrical energy when bent.

[0014] In one embodiment, the pressure pulse generator comprises a compressed air connection and at least one valve with which pressure pulses can be generated from compressed air. The compressed air connection can be connected to a pressure tank, which is connected to a compressed air pump, or it can be connected directly to a compressed air pump.

[0015] In one embodiment, the pressure surge generator is configured to generate pressure surges with amplitudes in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 bar and frequencies in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 Hertz. The pressure prevailing in the line can be increased or decreased. The pressure change can be linear or sinusoidal. The pressure surge converter is configured to convert these pressure surges into electrical energy. This results in the

[0016] The pressure prevailing in the water pipe, usually 3 to 4 bar, is increased or decreased by 0.1 to 1.0 bar for a period of 0.1 to 1.0 seconds.

[0017] In one embodiment, the consumer unit comprises a controller that can transmit corresponding information with the second transmission unit when the electrical energy stored in the storage falls below a predetermined value. The generator unit comprises a controller that can activate the pressure surge generator based on information received from the first transmission unit.

[0018] The mentioned embodiments of the energy transmission system can be used in any combination, provided they do not contradict each other.

[0019] A sanitary installation according to the invention comprises at least one water pipe and an energy transmission system according to one of the preceding embodiments.

[0020] In one embodiment, the generator unit is designed and arranged on the water line such that the pressure surge generator can transmit pressure surges directly to the water line. Alternatively, the pressure surges can be transmitted directly to the water in the water line. Alternatively, the pressure surges can be transmitted to a further fluid located between the pressure surge generator and the water. For example, the further fluid is gas or air. Between the water and the further

[0021] Fluid can be provided with a movable wall or a membrane.

[0022] In one embodiment, the consumer unit is designed and arranged on the water line such that the pressure surge converter can convert pressure surges directly from the water line. Alternatively, the pressure surges can be converted directly from the water in the water line (3). Alternatively, the pressure surges can be converted from the additional fluid or gas located between the pressure surge generator and the water. A movable wall or membrane can be provided between the water and the additional fluid.

[0023] Both the generator unit and the consumer unit can comprise a chamber connected to the interior of the pipe. The chamber can be filled with the water in the water pipe and / or with another fluid.

[0024] The above-mentioned designs of sanitary installation can be used in any combination, provided they do not contradict each other. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted in a restrictive manner. Fig. 1 a perspective view of a sanitary installation with an energy transmission system according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the energy transmission system according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the energy transmission system according to the invention; and Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the energy transmission system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The Figure 1shows a perspective view of a sanitary installation with an energy transmission system according to the invention with a generator unit 1 and several consumer units 2, which are arranged distributed in the building on one of the water pipes 3 connected to the generator unit 1.

[0027] The Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the inventive

[0028] Energy transmission system with a generator unit 1 and a first and a second consumer unit 2, which are arranged at a distance from one another and at a distance from the generator unit 1 on a common water line 3. The generator unit 1 comprises a power supply unit 10, a controller 11, a pressure surge generator 12, a storage unit 13 and a first transmission unit 14, which are functionally connected to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure surge generator 12 can transmit pressure surges directly to the outside of the water line 3. The consumer units 2 comprise a controller 21, a pressure surge converter 22, a storage unit 23 and a second transmission unit 24. The

[0029] The upper consumer unit 2 shown in the figure additionally comprises a sensor 20 and the lower consumer unit 2 an actuator 200. The pressure surge transducers 22 shown can receive pressure surges directly from the outside of the water pipe 3 and convert them into electrical energy.

[0030] The Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the energy transmission system according to the invention. The generator unit 1 and the consumer units 2 essentially correspond to those of Figure 2 The generator unit 1 differs in that the pressure surge generator 12 is in direct contact with the water in the water line 3. A corresponding recess is provided in the water line 3 for this purpose.

[0031] The consumer unit 2 differs in that the pressure surge converter 22 is in direct contact with the water in the water line 3. A corresponding recess is also provided in the water line 3 for this purpose. The pressure surge generator, as well as the pressure surge converter, can comprise a movable diaphragm or a movable piston head, which is in direct contact with the water. Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the energy transmission system according to the invention. In this embodiment, a chamber containing another fluid (gas / air) 120 is provided between the pressure pulse generator 12 and the water, and the pressure pulses can be transmitted from the pressure pulse generator 12 directly to the gas 120, which then transmits them to the water.

[0032] A chamber containing a gas 220 is provided between the pressure surge transducer 22 and the water, and the pressure surges can be transferred from the water to the gas 220 and from there directly to the pressure surge transducer 22. The pressure surge generator, as well as the pressure surge transducer, can comprise a movable diaphragm or a movable wall, such as a movable piston crown, which is in direct contact with the gas. A movable diaphragm or a movable chamber wall can be provided between the gas and the water. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 generator unit 200 Actuator 10 power supply 21 steering 11 steering 22 Pressure surge transducer 12 Pressure surge generator 220 gas 120 gas 23 memory 13 memory 24 second transmission unit 14 first transmission unit 3 water pipe 2 consumer unit 20 sensor

Claims

1. Energy transmission system for a water pipe (3) of a sanitary installation, comprising a generator unit (1) with a power supply unit (10), which generator unit can be arranged at a first location of the water pipe (3), and at least one consumer unit (2) with at least one consumer (20; 200), which consumer unit can be arranged at a second location of the water pipe (3) spaced apart from the first location, wherein the generator unit (1) comprises a pressure surge generator (12) connected to the power supply unit (10), with which pressure surge generator pressure surges can be generated which pressure surges can be introduced into the water present in the water pipe (3), and wherein the consumer unit (2) comprises a pressure surge converter (22) connected to the at least one consumer (20; 200), by means of which pressure surge converter the pressure surges introduced into the water can be converted into electrical energy which can be supplied to the at least one consumer (20; 200), and wherein the consumer unit (2) comprises a storage (23) with which the electrical energy provided by the pressure surge converter (22) can be stored.

2. Energy transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one consumer comprises at least one sensor (20) and / or at least one actuator (200).

3. Energy transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the generator unit (1) comprises a first transmission unit (14) which is connected to the power supply unit (10), and wherein the consumer unit (2) comprises a second transmission unit (24) which is connected to the pressure surge converter (22), wherein the first transmission unit (14) and the second transmission unit (24) or several second transmission units (24) can exchange information with each other wirelessly.

4. Energy transmission system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the generator unit (1) comprises a storage (13) with which the electrical energy provided by the power supply unit (10) can be stored.

5. Energy transmission system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure surge generator (12) comprises a loudspeaker or a piezoelectric element or a motorised piston, with which pressure surges can be generated from electrical energy, and wherein the pressure surge converter (22) comprises a microphone or a piezoelectric element or a sandwich of metal and polymer layers.

6. Energy transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressure surge generator (12) comprises a compressed air connection and at least one valve, with which pressure surges can be generated from compressed air.

7. Energy transfer system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure surge generator (12) and the pressure surge converter (22) can generate or convert pressure surges with amplitudes in the range from 0.1 to 1.0 bar and frequencies in the range from 0.5 to 5.0 Hertz.

8. Energy transmission system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the consumer unit (2) comprises a controller (21) which can send corresponding information with the second transmission unit (24) when the electrical energy stored in the storage (23) falls below a predetermined value, and wherein the generator unit (1) comprises a controller (11) which can cause activation of the pressure surge generator (12) on the basis of information received from the first transmission unit (14).

9. Installation comprising at least one water pipe (3) and an energy transmission system according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the generator unit (1) is configured and arranged on the water pipe (3) in such a way that the pressure surge generator (12) can transmit pressure surges directly to the water pipe (3) or can transmit them directly to the water located in the water pipe (3) or can transmit them to a further fluid (120; 220) located between the pressure surge generator (12) and the water.

11. Installation according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the consumer unit (2) is configured and arranged on the water pipe (3) in such a way that the pressure surge converter (22) can convert pressure surges directly from the water pipe (3) or can convert them directly from the water in the water pipe (3) or can convert them from the further fluid (120; 220) located between the pressure surge generator (12) and the water.