VALVE TOP FOR SANITARY FITTINGS
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE502023000934
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-22
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-03-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing valve tops for sanitary fittings are limited to either press activities or rotary activities, requiring multiple valves for tasks that need both functionalities, such as controlling water output and adjusting flow volume.
A valve top design that allows both press activities and rotary use, featuring a handle that can be moved axially and rotated relative to the headpiece, with a locking device and torque transmission mechanism to enable secure and adjustable operation.
Enables seamless transition between press and rotary activities, providing reliable control over fluid flow with a single valve top, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the need for multiple valves.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a valve head for sanitary fittings according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
[0002] Valve bonnets are used to control the outlet of media from fittings. For this purpose, the valve bonnet is screwed into the fitting body by means of its head piece. Valve bonnets of the aforementioned type are known in a wide variety of designs. For example, EP 3 062 002 A1 discloses a valve bonnet which has a head piece through which a spindle passes. The spindle is positively connected in the head piece to a control disc which rests against a stationary inlet disc. The water flow is controlled by rotating the control disc relative to the inlet disc. To operate the spindle, the end face protruding from the head piece is designed as an external polygon and is provided with a threaded blind hole on the inside for the positive attachment of a rotary handle.
[0003] EP 2 522 887 A1 also discloses a valve upper part in which a valve body is provided to control the flow of a fluid. The valve body is linearly movable within the headpiece via a spindle. A spindle is rotatably mounted in a headpiece and connected via a thread to a valve body axially guided within the headpiece in a rotationally secure manner. Rotation of the spindle thus causes an axial movement of the valve body within the headpiece.
[0004] In valve design, there is an increasing desire for the valve head to be operated via a push-button or switch. Electromagnetically operated valves are often used for this purpose. However, the disadvantage of these valve heads is that the electromagnetic contacts can be damaged when the valve head is screwed or glued, thereby impairing reliability. Furthermore, such valves require an additional power source. Furthermore, these valves generally do not allow for flow control.
[0005] To overcome these disadvantages, EP 3 366 959 A1 proposes a valve upper part in which the handle has a control cap, with which it can be displaced along the head piece and via which a control piston can be actuated. A cam track with two locking positions is incorporated into the outer surface of the head piece, into which a guide pin arranged on the control cap engages. By pressing the handle with the control cap, a guided axial movement of the control piston is achieved, which can be locked in at least two positions, for example, the "valve open" and "valve closed" positions.
[0006] The above valve head, also known as a "push valve," has proven itself in practice. However, this valve is limited to push-to-press operation. For tasks that require push-to-press operation, such as switching the water outlet (shower / shower head) or retracting the valve handle when not in use, and rotary operation, such as adjusting the water flow rate, the use of several such "push valves" is necessary. A generic valve head is described in US 2019 / 0178398 A1.
[0007] This is where the present invention comes in. The invention is based on the object of providing a valve head that allows both push-to-press and turn-to-turn actuation. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a valve head having the features of patent claim 1.
[0008] The invention provides a valve upper part that allows both push-to-operate and rotary actuation. Because the handle is movable relative to the head piece coaxially with the control spindle and is also rotatable relative to the head piece and is connected to the control spindle in a rotationally fixed manner at least in one axial position, this allows not only push-to-operate operation but also, if necessary, the transmission of torque to the control spindle.
[0009] In a further development of the invention, the handle has an adjusting sleeve provided with internal teeth that engages with external teeth of a driver connected to the control spindle, whereby the handle is guided axially displaceably along the driver. This enables the transmission of torque from the handle to the control spindle in different axial positions of the handle.
[0010] The handle can be secured in at least two axial positions via a locking device. The locking device comprises a control piston (5) guided in a control cylinder (3) and having a control slot (52) into which an engagement part arranged on the control cylinder (3) engages. This results in a compact locking device integrated into the operating unit.
[0011] The engagement part is formed by at least one ball, which is guided radially and circumferentially in the control cylinder. This prevents rotation of the handle during actuation, which is induced by the at least one ball. Balls also have the advantage over the guide pins known in the prior art that they prevent occasional malfunctions caused by guide pins or their guides becoming deformed due to excessive load.
[0012] The adjusting sleeve preferably surrounds the control piston at least in part. This guides the handle along the control piston, with the locking device acting between the control piston and the control cylinder arranged in the adjusting sleeve. The control piston preferably has a driver, with the external teeth of which the internal teeth of the adjusting sleeve engage.
[0013] For the radially movable arrangement of the at least one ball, which engages the control link of the control piston, it can be arranged in a cage arranged on the control cylinder. Preferably, the control piston has a non-circular outer cross-section, and the control cylinder has an inner cross-section corresponding to this outer cross-section, whereby the control piston is guided in the control cylinder in a rotationally fixed but displaceable manner.
[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, a spring is arranged between the control cylinder and the control piston, which is preloaded against the control cylinder. This causes the control cylinder, connected to the handle, to automatically return along the control piston after an actuating force is applied.
[0015] In a further development of the invention, the operating device has a receptacle for a rotationally fixed connection to a connecting section of the control spindle, which is arranged on the control piston. This enables a transmission of torque from the handle to the control piston and the control spindle connected to it. By pressing on the handle, the piston can be moved out of a recessed position via the locking device, after which the control spindle can be rotated by turning the handle. This also enables simple installation of the operating device on the control spindle. In the case of a detachable connection, a simple replacement of a defective operating device or simple retrofitting of an already installed valve upper section is also possible.
[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the control cylinder has an external thread onto which an adapter piece is screwed with its internal thread, wherein the adapter piece is held in the adjusting sleeve of the handle in a rotationally fixed and longitudinally displaceable manner. This enables fine adjustment of the axial position of the handle on the spindle of a valve bonnet installed in a wall. By longitudinally displacing the handle into a position in which the adjusting sleeve does not engage with the external toothing of the control piston, rotating the handle causes the adapter piece to be adjusted longitudinally along the external thread of the control piston. Inaccuracies during the installation of a valve bonnet and the required cutting of the control spindle, which is usually carried out in this process, can thus be compensated for by adjusting the adapter piece.
[0017] In a further embodiment, the adapter piece has locking lugs, with at least one locking groove arranged inside the adjusting sleeve, with which the locking lugs can be locked in a defined position of the adapter piece. This enables a defined axial positioning of the adapter piece in the adjusting sleeve, in which its internal toothing does not engage the external toothing of the control piston (adjustment position).
[0018] Preferably, at least two locking grooves are arranged axially spaced from one another, preferably radially circumferentially, inside the adjusting sleeve. This enables a first axial positioning of the adapter piece for adjustment and a second defined positioning of the adapter piece in the operating position with engagement of its internal toothing with the external toothing of the control piston. Alternatively, with a corresponding design of the valve upper part, the two axial positions can also define two switching positions, which can be controlled by different axial positions of the control spindle. This would require the spindle to be connected to the control cylinder.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, an installation sleeve is provided whose inner diameter essentially corresponds to the outer diameter of the handle, whereby the position of the handle can be adjusted within a defined distance from the installation sleeve. Preferably, the installation sleeve has a circumferential collar which, when the handle is positioned in a defined position in the installation sleeve, forms a common plane with the surface of the handle. This enables a visually appealing integration of the handle into a surrounding plane. The collar can be either annular or in the form of a plate of any geometric shape.
[0020] The present invention further relates to a sanitary fitting with a valve upper part according to patent claim 11.
[0021] In this case, the adjustment position refers to the position of the handle in which the locking lugs of the adapter engage with the second, lower locking groove of the adjusting sleeve. In this position, adjustment is possible via the threaded engagement between the external thread of the control cylinder and the internal thread of the adapter. The internal toothing of the adjusting sleeve is disengaged from the external toothing of the control piston.
[0022] In this case, the operating position refers to the position of the handle in which the locking lugs of the adapter engage the first, upper locking groove of the adjusting sleeve. In this position, the internal teeth of the adjusting sleeve engage with the external teeth of the control piston. Adjustment via the thread engagement between the external thread of the control cylinder and the internal thread of the adapter is not possible.
[0023] In this case, the operating position refers to the position of the handle in which the balls rest in the upper position of the control gate. The handle is thus "extended" for easy operation.
[0024] In this case, the retracted position refers to the position of the handle in which the balls rest in the holding area of the control link. Here, the handle is locked in a retracted position in which, for example, the handle is flush with the surrounding area.
[0025] Further developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below. They show: Figure 1: the schematic representation of a valve upper part with an operating device after a rough assembly with handle in operating position; Figure 2: the schematic representation of the valve upper part with operating device after Figure 1 with handle in adjustment position (before adjustment); Figure 3: the schematic representation of the valve upper part with operating device according to Figure 2 after adjustment of the handle; Figure 4: the schematic representation of the valve upper part with operating device after Figure 3 with handle in operating position; Figure 5: the representation of the valve upper part with operating device from Figure 4 with handle in retracted position; Figure 6: the schematic representation of the adjusting sleeve of the handle of the operating device from Figure 1 a) in partial section, b) in plan view; Figure 7: the schematic representation of the adapter piece of the operating device from Figure 1a) in partial section, b) in plan view; Figure 8: the schematic representation of the control cylinder of the operating device from Figure 1 a) in partial section, b) in plan view; Figure 9: the schematic representation of the limiting sleeve of the control cylinder of the operating device from Figure 1 a) in partial section, b) in plan view; Figure 10: the schematic representation of the control piston of the operating device from Figure 1 a) in side view; b) in longitudinal section; c) in plan view; Figure 11: the schematic representation of the driver piece of the control piston of the operating device from Figure 1 a) in partial section, b) in plan view; Figure 12: the schematic representation of the operating device (without handle) from Figure 3 in operating position Figure 13: the detailed view of the ball cage of the operating device from Figure 12 ; Figure 14: the representation of the operating device from Figure 12with increased tensile load on the control cylinder; Figure 15: the detailed view of the ball cage of the operating device from Figure 14 ; Figure 16: the schematic representation of a valve upper part in a further embodiment with operating device in adjustment position and Figure 17: the schematic representation of the valve upper part with operating device according to Figure 16 after adjusting the handle in the operating position.
[0026] The example shown in accordance with Figure 1The selected valve upper part 8 is designed according to EP 1 696 162 A1 and has a head piece 83 through which a control spindle 81 passes axially, by means of which a valve body (not shown) can be actuated. An operating device is arranged on the end of the control spindle 81, comprising a handle 1 in which an adapter piece 2 is arranged to be axially displaceable, which receives a control cylinder 3 with which it is in threaded engagement, which is provided at the end with a limiting sleeve 4, and in which a control piston 5 is arranged to be axially displaceable, which is provided at the end with a driver piece 6 and which has a receptacle for a positive connection to the non-circular connecting section 82 of the control spindle 81 of a valve upper part 8. Alternatively, the connecting section of the control spindle 81 can also be cylindrical. In this case, a rotationally fixed connection, for example by means of gluing, is required.
[0027] The handle 1 is formed from a hollow cylindrical, pot-shaped grip 11, which has a central threaded bore 12 inside, into which an adjusting sleeve 14 is screwed and glued coaxially to the cylindrical side wall of the grip 11. Alternatively, the handle 1 can also be constructed in one piece. On the outside, the grip 11 is provided with a sealing groove 13 that accommodates an O-ring 131. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip 11 and adjusting sleeve 12 are manufactured as turned brass parts.
[0028] The adjusting sleeve 14 is essentially hollow-cylindrical and has a first section 141, which is followed by a second, larger-diameter section 143. The first section 141 is provided on the outside with an external thread 15, with which the adjusting sleeve 14 is screwed and glued into the threaded bore 12 of the handle 11. In its inner surface, which has a largely dodecagonal cross-section, a first, upper locking groove 16 and, spaced apart from this, a second, lower locking groove 17 are arranged in the first section 141. The largely dodecagonal cross-sectional contour of the inner surface of the first section 141 serves to non-rotatably receive the adapter piece 2, the outer surface of which has a corresponding dodecagonal cross-sectional contour.The largely dodecagonal cross-sectional contour of the inner circumferential surface of the first section 141 and the outer circumferential surface of the adapter piece 2 is achieved by six rectangular flattenings 142, 21 introduced into the cylinder surface at regular intervals.
[0029] Alternatively, any other non-circular, preferably polygonal, contour can be used instead of the dodecagonal cross-sectional contour. The second section 143 is provided with an internal toothing 18 that extends largely over the entire inner surface of the second section 143. The inner surface of the second section 143 has a largely octagonal cross-sectional contour, which is achieved by four rectangular flattened portions 144 spaced at regular intervals in the cylinder inner surface provided with the internal toothing 18.
[0030] The adapter piece 2 is essentially hollow-cylindrical and, as already explained, has an outer surface corresponding to the inner surface of the adjusting sleeve 14 and having a nearly dodecagonal cross-section. In the area of each flattened portion 21, a rectangular recess is formed in the adapter piece 2 on its side facing the threaded bore 12 of the handle 11, defining six circumferentially spaced locking tongues 22 which have radially extending, outwardly projecting locking lugs 23 for engaging the locking grooves 16, 17 of the adjusting sleeve 14. On its inner surface, the adapter piece 2 is provided with an internal thread 24. In the exemplary embodiment, the adapter piece 2 is made of plastic.
[0031] The control cylinder 3 is designed as an essentially hollow cylindrical turned brass part. On its end facing the adapter piece 2, the control cylinder 3 has a shoulder 31 with an inner diameter tapering into which a step 32 is introduced on the inside. On the outside, the control cylinder 3 has an external thread 33 that extends approximately over half its length. A groove 34 for receiving an O-ring 341 is arranged at a distance from the external thread 33. Adjacent to the groove 34 are two diametrically opposed, radially extending elongated holes 35, which are enclosed by two axially spaced, circumferential webs 36. Between the elongated holes 35 and the external thread 33, the control cylinder 3 has an inner diameter-tapering shoulder 37, into which four guide notches 371 are arranged at radially spaced intervals. The guide notches 371 serve to non-rotatably guide the control piston 4.
[0032] A ball 38 is inserted into each of the two elongated holes 35, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the width of the elongated hole 35, so that the ball projects partially through the respective elongated hole 35 and is guided radially and circumferentially between the webs 36. At the end section of the control cylinder 3 having the elongated holes 35, there is a limiting sleeve 4 in which an annular spring 9 is arranged. The limiting sleeve 4 engages around the webs 36 and is held in place by an O-ring 341. The limiting sleeve 4, together with the webs 36, the annular spring 9 and the elongated holes 35, forms a ball cage for the two balls 38, by which their movement in the radial direction is limited.
[0033] The control piston 5 is designed as a substantially cylindrical turned brass part. Four flattened portions 51 are radially spaced from one another in its cylindrical outer surface, forming a substantially octagonal cross-section. The control piston 5 is guided in the guide notches 371 of the control cylinder 3 via the corners thus formed. Furthermore, two control guides 52 are diametrically opposed to each other in the outer surface between each flattened portion 51. At its end facing away from the control cylinder 3, a reduced-diameter shoulder 53 is arranged, which has an external thread 531. Extending through the shoulder 53 is a receptacle 54, shaped like an internal polygon, for the control spindle 81, which has an external polygon, of a valve upper part 8.Adjacent to the receptacle 54 is a section 55 with a tapered inner diameter, into which a conical bore 56 is centrally formed for receiving the head of a countersunk head screw 82. Adjacent to the section 55 with a tapered inner diameter is a section 58 with an enlarged inner diameter, through which a shoulder 57 is formed, which serves as a spring seat for a compression spring 59.
[0034] The driver piece 6 is designed as a substantially hollow-cylindrical brass turned part and has, at its end opposite the control cylinder 3, a section 61 with a tapered inner diameter, which is provided with an internal thread 62. The outer surface of the driver piece 6 is provided with an external toothing 63 for engagement with the internal toothing 18 of the adjusting sleeve 14.
[0035] The adapter piece 2 is screwed with its internal thread 24 onto the external thread 33 of the control cylinder 3. The control piston 5 is inserted into the control cylinder 3 and is guided in the control cylinder 3 in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner by its non-circular outer surface, which corresponds to the inner surface of the control cylinder 3. The balls 38, which partially pass through the elongated holes 35 of the control cylinder 3, each engage in a control guide 52 of the control piston 5. The compression spring 59 rests against the shoulder 57 of the control piston 5 and is preloaded on its opposite side against the adjusting sleeve.
[0036] In the operating position of the handle 1 with its adjusting sleeve 14, in which the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 of the adapter piece 2 screwed onto it engage in the upper, first locking groove 16 of the adjusting sleeve 14, the internal toothing of the adjusting sleeve 14 engages with the external toothing 63 of the driver piece 6. In this operating position, a transmission of torque from the handle 1 to the driver piece 6 connected to the control spindle 81 of the valve upper part 8 is possible. The valve upper part 8 is designed in the exemplary embodiment according to EP 1 696 162 A1. It has a head piece 83 through which the control spindle 81 passes axially.
[0037] When installing a sanitary fitting, such as a shower fitting, on the wall, the plumber connects the water pipes to a valve head 8 of the fitting. The valve head 8 typically has a long control spindle 81, which is cut to the desired length after completion of the wall-mounted work, including any tiling. The wall opening is provided with an installation sleeve 7 framing the control spindle 81. The control spindle 81 is inserted with its external toothing into the internally toothed receptacle 54 of the control piston 5 and secured with a countersunk screw 82. Such an installation situation is Figure 1shown schematically. Due to inaccuracies during installation of the valve upper part 8 and the cutting of the control spindle 81, the handle 11 of the handle 1 protrudes significantly beyond the collar 71 of the installation sleeve 7, which in this embodiment has an external thread 72 that is screwed with a lock nut 73.
[0038] The handle 1, with its adjusting sleeve 14 connected longitudinally to the adapter piece 2, can now be moved by pulling on the handle 11 on the adapter piece 2 until the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 engage in the second, lower locking groove 17 of the adjusting sleeve 14. In this position, the internal toothing 18 of the adjusting sleeve 14 is disengaged from the external toothing 63 of the driver piece 6 (cf. Figure 2). By turning the handle 11, the adapter piece 2, which is connected to the adjusting sleeve 14 in a rotationally fixed manner, can now be adjusted axially relative to the control cylinder 3 via the threaded engagement with the external thread 33 of the control cylinder 3 (cf. Figure 3 ).
[0039] When moving the handle 1 with its adjusting sleeve 14 from the operating position to the adjustment position, a tensile force is required to move the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 out of the first, upper locking groove 16 in order to move the locking lugs 23 into the second, lower locking groove 17. This tensile force simultaneously generates a tensile force between the control cylinder 3 and the control piston, whereby the balls 38 guided in the control link 52 of the control piston 5 are pressed radially outwards against the annular spring 9. The limiting sleeve 4 prevents the balls 38 from escaping from the control link 52 (cf. Figures 13 and 15 ).
[0040] Subsequently, the adjusting sleeve 14 can be moved again along the adapter piece 2 by pressing on the handle 11 until the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 engage in the first, upper locking groove 16 of the adjusting sleeve 14. The control unit is now adjusted relative to the installation sleeve 7. It is in the operating position (see Figure 4 ).
[0041] By pressing the handle 1, the control cylinder 3 is moved via the adjusting sleeve 14 along the control piston 5, with the balls 38 running in the control link 52. The balls 38 can move radially in the elongated holes 35. At the stop of the control piston 5 in the control cylinder 3, the balls 38 reach the switching section 521 of the respective control cam 52. After the handle 1 is released, the control cylinder 3 is moved back by the restoring force of the compression spring 59, whereby the balls 38 are moved into the holding area 522 of the control link 52. In this position, the handle 1 is held by the balls 38. In this position, the handle 1 is completely sunk into the installation sleeve 7 in the retracted position, with the surfaces of the handle 1 and the collar 71 of the installation sleeve 7 lying on the same level.
[0042] When handle 1 is pressed again, balls 38 are moved out of the holding area 522 of control gate 52. After handle 1 is released, control cylinder 3 is now moved completely back by the restoring force of compression spring 59. In this operating position, the handle protrudes far out of installation sleeve 7. Due to the engagement of the internal toothing 18 of adjusting sleeve 14 with the external toothing 63 of driver piece 6, which is connected to control spindle 81 of valve upper section 8 via control piston 5, valve upper section 8 can now be actuated by rotating control spindle 81 via handle 1. After valve upper section 8 has been actuated, it can be sunk back into installation sleeve 7 by pressing handle 1 again.
[0043] In Figure 16A valve upper part is shown in a further embodiment in which no locking device is present. An operating device is arranged at the end of the control spindle 81, which in turn comprises a handle 1 having a grip piece 11 and an adjusting sleeve 14 connected to it, and in which an adapter piece 2 is arranged so as to be axially displaceable in the manner described above. However, the adapter piece here accommodates a coupling cylinder 41, with the adapter piece 2 being screwed with its internal thread 24 onto the external thread 42 of the coupling cylinder 41.
[0044] The coupling cylinder 41 has a receptacle 43 for positive connection with the non-circular connecting section 82 of the control spindle 81 of the valve upper part 8. At its end facing the valve upper part 8, the coupling cylinder 41 has a driver shoulder 44 of enlarged diameter, which is provided on the outside circumferentially - corresponding to the external toothing 63 of the driver piece 6 of the previously described embodiment - with an external toothing 45 for engagement with the internal toothing 18 of the adjusting sleeve 14 of the handle 1.
[0045] The handle 1 can now be moved according to the first embodiment by pulling on the handle 11 on the adapter piece 2 until the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 engage in the second, lower locking groove 17 of the adjusting sleeve 14. In this position, the internal toothing 18 of the adjusting sleeve 14 is disengaged from the external toothing 45 of the driver shoulder 44 (see Figure 16). By turning the handle 11, the adapter piece 2, which is connected to the adjusting sleeve 14 in a rotationally fixed manner, can now be adjusted axially relative to the coupling cylinder 1 via the threaded engagement with the external thread 42 of the latter.
[0046] Subsequently, the adjusting sleeve 14 can be moved again along the adapter piece 2 by pressing on the handle 11 until the locking lugs 23 of the locking tongues 22 engage in the first, upper locking groove 16 of the adjusting sleeve 14. The operating unit is now adjusted relative to the installation sleeve 7. The external toothing 45 of the driver shoulder 44 is now again in engagement with the internal toothing 18 of the adjusting sleeve 14, and the threaded engagement between the adapter piece 2 and the adjusting sleeve 14 is blocked. A torque can be transmitted to the control spindle 81 via the handle 1. The operating device is in the operating position (see Figure 17 ).
[0047] Of course, the threaded engagement between the adapter piece 2 and the adjusting sleeve 14 can also be blocked via locking means arranged in the handle, for example, via an axial displacement of the adjusting sleeve, whereby the threads of the adapter piece and the adjusting sleeve can be disengaged. For this purpose, the adapter piece is preferably made of plastic, which allows axial overrun of the thread of the adjusting sleeve. Alternatively, the provision of a locking pin that can be pressed in from the outside and engages a thread is also conceivable.
Claims
1. Valve upper part for sanitary fittings, with a head piece, which is axially penetrated by a control spindle, via which a valve body arranged in the head piece can be actuated, and which is connected to an operating device comprising a handle (1), wherein the handle (1) is displaceable relative to the head piece (83) coaxially to the control spindle (81), wherein the handle (1) is rotatable relative to the head piece (83) and is connected to the control spindle in a rotationally fixed manner at least in one axial position, wherein the handle (1) can be fixed in at least two axial positions via an arranged locking device and wherein the locking device comprises a control piston (5), which is guided in a control cylinder (3) and which has a control link (52), in which an engagement part arranged on the control cylinder (3) engages, characterised in that the engagement part is formed by a ball (38), which is guided in the control cylinder (3) so as to be radially movable.
2. Valve upper part according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle (1) has an adjusting sleeve (14), which is provided with an internal toothing (18) and which engages in an external toothing (61) of a driver (6) connected to the control spindle (81), whereby the handle (1) is guided axially displaceably along the driver (6).
3. Valve upper part according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the adjusting sleeve (14) surrounds the control piston (5) at least in some areas.
4. Valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a spring (59) is arranged between the control cylinder (3) and the control piston (5), which is pretensioned against the control cylinder (3).
5. Valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control piston (5) has the driver (6), in the external toothing (63) of which the internal toothing (18) of the adjusting sleeve (14) engages.
6. Valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operating device has a receptacle for rotationally fixed connection to a connecting section of the control spindle (81), which is arranged on the control piston (5).
7. Valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control cylinder (3) has an external thread (33), onto which an adapter piece (2) is screwed with its internal thread (24), wherein the adapter piece (2) is held in the adjusting sleeve (14) of the handle (1) in a rotationally fixed as well as longitudinally displaceable manner.
8. Valve upper part according to claim 7, characterised in that the adapter piece (2) has latching lugs (23), wherein at least one latching groove (16, 17) is arranged on the inside of the adjusting sleeve (14), with which the latching lugs (23) can be latched in a defined position of the adapter piece (2) in the adjusting sleeve (14).
9. Valve upper part according to claim 8, characterised in that two latching grooves (16, 17) are arranged on the inside of the adjusting sleeve (14), preferably radially circumferentially and axially spaced apart from one another.
10. Valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an installation sleeve (7) is arranged, the inner diameter of which substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the handle (1) and which has a circumferential collar (71), which forms a common plane with the surface of the handle (1) when the handle (1) is positioned in a defined position in the installation sleeve (7).
11. Sanitary fitting, characterised in that it has a valve upper part according to one of the preceding claims.