FLUSHING STATION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flushing station with a connection piece for a hot water pipe, a connection piece for a cold water pipe, a receiving container with a siphon for draining the water, lines on the connection pieces which guide the water from the connection pieces into the receiving container, at least one sensor, a control unit connected to the sensor, and a valve which can be actuated in the lines, wherein the control unit is coupled to the actuable valve and the actuable valve can be opened by the control unit for flushing the hot or cold water pipe.

[0002] Flushing stations are necessary to prevent the formation of Legionella bacteria or germs in long-standing water. Legionella is a serious health risk, especially for older or immunocompromised people. All operators or landlords of commercial buildings are obligated to ensure hygienically clean water. Therefore, flushing stations are generally installed in new commercial buildings. The disadvantage of existing flushing stations is the relatively high noise level during the flushing process.

[0003] DE 20 2014 007233 U1 discloses a control device which is connected for control purposes to control valves which are assigned to flushing sections of a drinking and / or domestic water system, wherein the control device is prepared in such a way that it determines a total volume flow of all flushing sections and compares it with a maximum volume flow stored in the control device and, if the stored maximum volume flow is exceeded, controls the control valves in such a way that the total volume flow is below the stored maximum volume flow.

[0004] EP 2 500 475 A2 relates to a method for automatically flushing liquid lines, in particular drinking water lines, and to a device for automatically flushing liquid lines, in particular drinking water lines.

[0005] DE 20 2016 100 853 U1 relates to a flushing station for a ring or series pipeline system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a series pipeline system and a ring pipeline system each with such a flushing station. The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a solution that reduces noise emissions.

[0006] According to the invention, the object is achieved in that a flow limiter and a flow straightener are integrated in each of the lines.

[0007] The flow restrictor limits the amount of water and the flow straightener creates a laminar flow.

[0008] This ensures that noise emissions are reduced to such an extent that the limit values ​​of DIN 4109 and VDI 4100 are met.

[0009] The flow restrictor limits the flow rate to 16 liters per minute and the flow straightener to 15 liters per minute and also ensures laminar flow in the pipe.

[0010] The advantage here is that the flow restrictor is arranged upstream of the flow straightener in the flow direction, so that the water to be flushed is fed into the receiving tank with a laminar flow.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the valve is designed as a ball valve. Ball valves are not prone to "water hammer," i.e., pressure surge or water hammer effects, which would lead to vibration and high noise emissions.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment, the rinsing station has a housing made of expanded polypropylene, from which only the connecting pieces are routed. Completely encapsulating the rinsing station further reduces noise.

[0013] Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the subclaims and in the following description of the figures.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown in the figures.

[0015] The figures show: Figure 1 an oblique view of an opened rinsing station according to the invention, Figure 2 Parts of the rinsing station, Figure 3 a mud flap in an oblique view, Figure 4 a sectional view of the parts according to Figure 2 the rinsing station, Figure 5 a pipe for connection to the hot or cold water connection of the flushing station, Figure 6a section through the line according to Figure 5 , Figure 7A to 7C a flow limiter, Figure 8A and 8B a flow straightener, Figure 9 a test setup for measuring the noise emission of the rinsing station, Figure 10A to 10C the measured noise emissions of the rinsing station, Figure 11 an oblique view of the opened flushing station for wall mounting and Figure 12 a front view of the rinsing station mounted in a mounting frame.

[0016] In the following figures, elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numerals and are not explained separately.

[0017] Figure 1shows an oblique view of an open flushing station SS, which has a connection piece AS1 for a hot water line and another connection piece AS2 for a cold water line. The connection pieces are located on lines L1 and L2 within the flushing station, respectively, which direct the water downwards into a collecting tank AB.

[0018] The connection pieces AS1 and AS2 are purely functionally designated as the connections to the hot and cold water pipes, respectively. In the illustrated example, the connection pieces are implemented using a union nut and an adapter. Any other implementation, such as an internal thread or a quick-connect system, would also be possible.

[0019] From the collecting tank AB, the water is drained downwards from the rinsing station into a drain pipe via a siphon SP.

[0020] The lines L1 and L2 also have connection pieces AS3 and AS4 for connecting the hot water connection and cold water connection of a washbasin.

[0021] Furthermore, the flushing station SS is equipped with a wastewater pipe (AWR) with a connection piece (AS5), to which the drain of a sink can be connected. This wastewater pipe also flows into the collection tank (AB).

[0022] The flushing station SS also has a control unit ST, which can open the lines L1 and L2 via electronically operated valves V to flush the hot and cold water pipes, respectively.

[0023] Sensors S are attached to lines L1 and L2. These sensors are connected to the control unit ST and can measure whether or not water is flowing in lines L1 or L2. After a preset period of time, during which the sensors S detect that no water is flowing, the control unit ST, which in turn is connected to the electronically actuated valves V, opens the valves V, causing lines L1 and L2, and thus the connected hot and cold water pipes, to be flushed.

[0024] The rinsing station SS has a housing G, which is made of expanded polypropylene. Of the housing G, only the rear part is Figure 1 shown.

[0025] Figure 2Shows the isolated collection tank AB of the flushing station SS and the siphon SB, which is formed integrally with the collection tank AB. Also shown is the wastewater pipe AWR with a connection piece AS5, into which a dirt trap SF is integrated.

[0026] The SF strainer is in Figure 3Shown in an oblique view. The SF strainer has a RAS pipe section and a GS grid structure, allowing it to be easily inserted into the AS5 connection piece of the AWR wastewater pipe. The strainer is manufactured using 3D printing. The strainer ensures that heavy contaminants do not enter the SS flushing station or the collecting tank AB of the SS flushing station, where they could potentially clog the SP siphon. By cleaning the SF strainer, either with chemicals or by disassembly and cleaning, the blockage can be easily removed, eliminating the risk of the SP siphon becoming clogged and water leaking from the AB siphon.

[0027] Figure 4 shows a section through the parts according to Figure 2of the flushing station SS. The collecting tank AB is funnel-shaped towards the drain. Inside the collecting tank AB there is a splash guard SSZ, which is also funnel-shaped towards the bottom and is mounted at a distance from the collecting tank AB. The drain pipe AWR opens into the splash guard SSZ at a distance from the splash guard SSZ, as do the lines L1 and L2 for the hot and cold water flushing, which, however, are Figure 4 are not shown.

[0028] An overflow sensor UES is located in the collection tank AB, which can detect water accumulating in the collection tank AB. The overflow sensor UES is coupled to the control unit ST, which, when the overflow sensor UES is triggered, closes the electronically actuated valves V and also prevents further flushing via the sensors S until the cause of the water backing up in the collection tank AB has been remedied and the control unit ST has been reset accordingly.

[0029] Furthermore, the collecting tank is closed by a lid D through which the waste water pipe AWR as well as the lines L1 and L2 flow.

[0030] Figure 5shows the line L1 with the connection piece AS1 for connecting to a hot water pipe and the connection piece AS3 for connecting the hot water supply of a washbasin. Furthermore, the electronically operated valve V is integrated into the line L1, with which the line L1 can be opened and closed for flushing. The line L1 for the flushing station SS is L-shaped with a horizontal and a vertical section, whereby both the horizontal and the vertical sections can be rotated around their longitudinal axes, so that the identical component as in Figure 5 can be used as shown.

[0031] Figure 6 shows a section through the line L1 according to Figure 5The electronically operated valve V is not shown. A flow restrictor DB and a flow straightener SG are integrated in the line L1 in the flow direction from the connection piece AS1 towards the collecting tank AB.

[0032] The Figure 7A shows the flow restrictor in an oblique view, the Figure 7B in the view from above and the Figure 7C the in Figure 7B drawn section.

[0033] The flow limiter reduces the flow to 16 liters per minute. The flow limiter DB is a standard component available from Neoperl. The flow limiter DB is installed upstream of valve V when installing line L1.

[0034] The Figure 8A shows the flow straightener SG in an oblique view and in Figure 8B a sectional view through the lower section of the line L1 into which the flow straightener SG is inserted.

[0035] The flow straightener is also a Neoperl component and can be screwed into the outlet of line L1 from below using a mounting wrench, using a corresponding internal thread. The flow straightener allows a flow rate of 15 liters per minute and creates a laminar flow.

[0036] By integrating the flow limiter DB and flow straightener SG into line L1, the flow rate is reduced, allowing the water to flow laminarly into the splash guard SSZ and then into the collection tank AB. This prevents significant noise emissions during the flushing process, creating a flushing station with very low noise emissions.

[0037] The Figure 9shows a test setup for the SS flushing station according to the invention, used to measure noise emissions in adjacent rooms as well as rooms located below or diagonally below it. The measurements were conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute in accordance with DIN standard 4109.

[0038] The Figure 10A shows the noise emission during the rinsing process in the UG room at the front. Figure 10B shows the noise emission in the room UG rear and Figure 10C The noise emission in the rear ground floor room is approximately 20 decibels. In the front and rear basement rooms, the noise emission is approximately 15 decibels, respectively, and in the rear ground floor room, i.e., adjacent to the room with the SS flushing station, the noise emission is approximately 20 decibels, respectively, just over 20 decibels. Thus, the requirements of DIN 4109-5, which requires a noise emission of less than 25 decibels, and VDE 4100 SSt III, which requires an emission of less than 22 decibels, are met.

[0039] Figure 11shows the SS rinsing station wall mounted using two screws S1 and S2.

[0040] Figure 12 shows a mounting frame MR, in which the rinsing station can also be mounted. In Figure 12 It is also clearly visible that the flushing station is completely enclosed by housing G, which also contributes to a certain degree of noise reduction. Only the connection pieces AS3 and AS4 for the cold and hot water connection of the washbasin and AS5 for the waste water connection of the washbasin protrude from the housing. The connection pieces AS1 and AS2 (in Figure 12 not visible) for the hot and cold water pipes.

[0041] Both installation variants allow for a very space-saving installation of the SS flushing station, as the designated connection space for a washbasin is used.

[0042] By using the flow restrictor DB and the flow straightener SG from Neoperl in the L1 and L2 lines of the SS flushing station, the extremely important noise reduction of the SS flushing station is achieved. This allows flushing processes to take place in hotels, for example, without disturbing guests who are sleeping at this time of day. List of reference symbols

[0043] SS Flushing station AS1 to AS5 Connection piece AB Collection container SP Siphon L1, L2 Lines S Sensor ST Control V Valve SG Flow straightener DB Flow limiter G Housing SSZ Splash guard AB Collection container UES Overflow sensor AWR Wastewater pipe SF Dirt trap D Cover S1, S2 Screws MR Mounting frame

Claims

1. Flushing station (SS) with - a connecting piece (AS1) for a hot water pipe, - a connecting piece (AS2) for a cold water pipe, - a receptacle (AB) with a syphon (SP) for draining off the water, - pipes (L1, L2) on the connecting pieces (AS1, AS2), which conduct the water from the connecting pieces (AS1, AS2) into the receptacle (AB), - at least one sensor (S) per pipe (L1, L2), - a control unit (ST) connected to the sensor (S), - an actuatable valve (V) in each of the pipes (L1 and L2) - wherein the control unit (ST) is coupled to the actuatable valves, and the actuatable valves (V) can be opened by the control unit to flush the hot or cold water pipe, wherein a flow limiter (DB) is integrated in each of the pipes (L1 and L2), characterized in that a flow straightener (SG) is additionally integrated in each of the pipes (L1 and L2), wherein the flow limiter (DB) is designed for a water flow rate of 16 litres per minute and the flow straightener (SG) for a water flow rate of 15 litres per minute.

2. Flushing station (SS) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the flow direction of the water through the pipes (L1 and L2), the flow limiter (DB) is arranged upstream of the flow straightener (SG).

3. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (V) is formed as a ball valve.

4. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a housing (G) made of expanded polypropylene and only the connecting pieces are guided through the housing (G).

5. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a splash guard (SSZ) is arranged in the collecting container (AB), into which splash guard (SSZ) the pipes (L1 and L2) open out.

6. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting container (AB) is funnel-shaped towards the syphon (SP) and the splash guard (SSZ) is also funnel-shaped and is mounted in the funnel-shaped area at a distance from the collecting container (AB).

7. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an overflow sensor (UES) is arranged in the collecting container (AB), which, when triggered, causes the valves (V) to close and blocks further flushing in the control unit (ST).

8. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting pieces (AS1 and AS2) are formed laterally opposite each other on the flushing station (SS).

9. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipes (L1 and L2) are formed to be L-shaped with two legs and both legs are formed to be rotatable, so that the identically formed pipe with connected valve (V) can be used for both connecting pieces (AS1 and AS2).

10. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two pipes (L1, L2) for the hot water and cold water inlets each have further connections (AS3, AS4) for connecting the hot water and cold water inlets of a washbasin.

11. Flushing station (SS) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wastewater pipe (WAR) is provided, wherein a fifth connecting piece (AS5) is formed on the wastewater pipe (AWR), which also opens out into the collecting container (AB) and into the splash guard (SSZ).

12. Flushing station (SS) according to Claim 11, characterized in that a dirt trap (SF) is provided in the wastewater pipe (AWR).