Fitting outlet and fitting

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fitting outlet with a flow regulator (04) that influences fluid flow and a valve (05) associated with the flow regulator, as well as a fitting with a corresponding fitting outlet (01). The valve (05) is actuated by means of a sensor and actuator. The fitting outlet can include a flow meter and be used for thermal disinfection, whereby temperatures, flow rates, and times can be electronically recorded.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fitting according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such valves are used in many areas of technology, for example in sanitary facilities or similar devices for controlling fluid flows and in particular water flows.

[0003] Typically, a faucet outlet is equipped with an aerator to influence the fluid flow through the faucet outlet. The aerator, also called an aerator or mixing nozzle, is responsible for the perceptible characteristics of the water jet emerging from the faucet. Such aerators are sold, for example, by Neoperl under the brand name Perlator®.

[0004] To control the fluid flow, these fittings feature a valve or valve unit. The valve controls the fluid flow or the volume of fluid exiting the fitting, and thus the volume of fluid exiting the fitting outlet through the aerator.

[0005] In such fittings, the valve or valve unit is located near a fluid inlet. After passing through the valve, the fluid flow is directed or guided within the fitting toward the outlet, where it exits through the aerator.

[0006] An alternative valve arrangement is known from US 2014 / 0312253 A1. Here, the valve is mounted as a separate component at the outlet of the fitting.

[0007] Although the valve design described above has proven to be functionally effective, the arrangement of the components also has disadvantages. For example, the valve arrangement described above requires a relatively large amount of installation space, resulting in relatively large overall dimensions of the known valves.

[0008] Based on this, the Task The aim of the present invention is to provide a fitting of the type mentioned at the outset which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular enabling the construction of compact fittings.

[0009] This object is achieved by a fitting according to claim 1 solved .

[0010] The basic idea of ​​the invention provides for arranging the valve for controlling the fluid flow in the fitting outlet and there in particular associated with the jet regulator in order to save installation space in the remaining parts of the fitting.

[0011] The aerator and valve form a single structural unit. This allows for effective use of the entire available installation space in the fitting outlet. At the same time, the number of parts is reduced, as combining the aerator and valve into a single structural unit eliminates the need for pipes for guiding the fluid flow between the valve and the aerator. According to the invention, the structural unit is easily installed as an assembly unit in the fitting.

[0012] The aerator and valve are arranged in or on a common housing. This allows, for example, the pre-assembly of a structural unit consisting of at least the aerator and valve before the structural unit is placed in the fitting outlet. Furthermore, arranging the aerator and valve in or on a common housing can achieve a particularly good fit to the shape of the fitting outlet. Furthermore, a common housing can also serve to reduce the number of components in a fitting.

[0013] According to the invention, the common housing has an inlet opening for connection to a fluid supply, a jet regulator opening for at least partially receiving the jet regulator, and a valve seat for at least partially receiving the valve. This makes it possible to arrange the jet regulator and the valve as simply as possible on or in the housing. Furthermore, a particularly simple connection to the remaining components of a corresponding fitting is enabled. This applies in particular if the valve seat itself is part of the housing. In this case, the valve is only partially received, since certain parts of the valve, such as its valve seat and valve outlet, are arranged directly on the housing. The valve seat can, for example, be formed integrally on the housing. The valve seat can interact with a closing element of the valve, which is part of a valve assembly connected to the housing.

[0014] According to the invention, the common housing has a fluid guide that directs the fluid flow from the inlet opening via the valve seat to a jet regulator opening. This ensures that the housing performs a dual function. The first function consists in combining the jet regulator and the valve, in particular into a single structural unit. The second function consists in the fluid guide itself. This means that, in addition to the housing, no further components or objects need to be provided to guide the fluid or the fluid flow from the inlet opening of the housing to the jet regulator of the valve outlet.

[0015] Another design of the valve provides that the valve outlet has a flow sensor that measures the volume of fluid flow through the valve. For example, the flow sensor can be designed as part of the structural unit. A corresponding flow sensor can be particularly advantageously provided if the volume of fluid flow is to be documented for the purposes of thermal disinfection of the valve or the valve outlet.

[0016] The faucet outlet features a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the fluid flow through the valve and / or the aerator. The temperature sensor can also be used to verify or document thermal disinfection of the faucet outlet or the entire faucet. Such a temperature sensor can also be part of a scalding protection system.

[0017] According to the invention, the temperature sensor is arranged in or on the common housing. Preferably, the flow sensor can also be arranged in or on the common housing. This also enables a particularly space- and / or installation-space-saving implementation of the fitting outlet.

[0018] Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that the temperature sensor and / or the flow sensor can be connected to a documentation medium. The connection to a documentation medium can be either wired or wireless. Electrical control and / or storage devices, for example, can be considered as documentation media. The temperature sensor and / or the flow sensor can have corresponding interfaces for establishing the connection to the documentation medium.

[0019] The fitting has an outlet housing with an outlet opening, wherein the outlet opening is provided for at least partially accommodating the jet regulator. The outlet housing can serve both for the visual and / or aesthetic design of the fitting outlet. Furthermore, the outlet housing can also be provided for the mechanical stabilization of the fitting outlet and for protecting the components of the fitting outlet from environmental influences. According to the invention, the structural unit comprising at least the jet regulator and the valve, in particular together with the common housing, is arranged inside the outlet housing.

[0020] A valve actuator is arranged in the outlet housing. The valve actuator can, for example, be an electrical or electromagnetic signal transmitter which, in response to activation, causes an actuating movement of the valve, in particular an opening or closing of the valve, by generating corresponding control signals. The arrangement of the valve actuator in the outlet housing of the valve outlet has the advantage of achieving spatial proximity to the valve to be controlled, which means that the control signals only need to be transmitted over a short distance. In addition, this ensures that another part of the valve is integrated into the valve outlet, thus requiring or causing even less installation space and thus even smaller overall dimensions.

[0021] Furthermore, in a further embodiment of the fitting, a valve sensor system for controlling the valve or at least the valve actuator can be arranged in the outlet housing. The valve sensor system can, for example, comprise an infrared sensor that is configured to detect movements in the area of ​​the fitting outlet and thus enables contactless control of the valve or the valve actuator. The arrangement of the valve sensor system in the outlet housing of the fitting outlet leads, on the one hand, to particularly hygienic and simple operation of the fitting. Furthermore, the arrangement of the valve sensor system in the outlet housing of the fitting outlet also enables a particularly space-saving design of the fitting.

[0022] Alternatively or in addition to a valve sensor system, a further embodiment can be provided that relates to the control of the valve or at least the valve actuator. This embodiment provides that an operating element for controlling the valve or at least the valve actuator is arranged on the outlet housing. A corresponding operating element can be designed as a pushbutton, switch, button, or the like. Particularly preferably, the operating element can be arranged on an end face of the outlet housing of the fitting outlet.

[0023] Because the valve associated with the jet regulator for controlling the fluid flow is also arranged in the fitting outlet in addition to the jet regulator, the fitting as a whole can be designed to be significantly more space-saving or to require significantly less installation space.

[0024] This results in completely new designs for familiar fittings, both in technical and optical and aesthetic terms.

[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the fitting, it is provided that it has a mixing unit for mixing at least two inlet-side fluid streams. This ensures, for example, that the fitting is used as a mixing fitting for mixing different fluid streams, for example, for mixing cold and hot water.

[0026] Further advantages and details of the valve according to the invention will be explained below with the aid of the attached drawing, which illustrates a schematic embodiment. In the drawing: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a fitting outlet of a fitting according to the invention according to a first embodiment.

[0027] Fig. 1shows a fitting outlet 01 with an outlet housing 02 with an outlet opening 03. A jet regulator 04 is inserted into the outlet opening 03 of the outlet housing 02, whereby the jet regulator 04 influences a fluid flow of the fitting outlet 01. As part of the fitting outlet 01, a valve 05 is assigned to the jet regulator 04, which serves to control the fluid flow.

[0028] In the example of Fig. 1 The jet regulator 04 and the valve 05 are combined to form a structural unit 06. The structural unit 06 comprises not only the jet regulator 04 and the valve 05 but also a common housing 07. The housing 07 in turn has an inlet opening 08 for connection to a Fig. 1not shown fluid supply. Furthermore, the common housing 07 has a jet regulator opening 09, with which the jet regulator 04 is at least partially enclosed by the housing 07. Furthermore, the common housing 07 has a valve seat 10, wherein the valve 05 is placed in sections on the valve seat 10 of the common housing 07.

[0029] In the outlet housing 02 of the fitting outlet 01, a valve actuator 11 is also arranged, which serves to activate, in particular to open and close, the valve 05. The valve actuator 11 can, for example, transfer the valve 05 from an open position to a closed position or vice versa via electromagnetic signals. To control the valve actuator 11, the exemplary representation of the fitting outlet 01 of the Fig. 1 further a sensor interface 12 for connection to a Fig. 1Valve sensors (not shown). The sensor interface 12 is connected to the valve actuator 11 via cable connections 13. The valve sensors can include an infrared sensor, so that when an operator or user approaches the valve outlet, the valve sensors cause the valve actuator 11 to open the valve 05.

[0030] Alternatively or in addition to the valve sensor, which can be connected to the sensor interface 12, the valve outlet 01, in particular the outlet housing 02, can be a Fig. 1 not shown operating element for controlling the valve 05 or at least the valve actuator 11. Such an operating element can particularly preferably be arranged in or on the front side 14 of the outlet housing 02 of the fitting outlet 01. The common housing 07 also has a Fig. 1A temperature sensor (not shown) is arranged in or on the common housing 07. It can also have a flow sensor. The flow sensor is preferably also arranged on or in the common housing 07.

[0031] The fitting outlet 01 according to the invention and the fitting provided with it are characterized by a simple and, in particular, compact design.

[0032] Like the drawing in Fig. 1As can be seen, the jet regulator 04 and the valve or valve assembly 05 are connected to one another via a common housing 07 to form a structural unit. This assignment of both elements to one structural unit results in a compact design. In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 07 is not only designed as a water-conducting element, but also serves on the outlet side to accommodate the jet regulator 04 and the valve 05. In the exemplary embodiment, a particularly compact design is achieved because the valve seat 10 is formed directly on the housing 07. The valve or valve assembly 05 is placed onto the housing 07 from above, with a closing element of the valve 05 moving into a corresponding position relative to the valve seat 10 formed on the housing 07 in order to be able to open and close it.

[0033] However, this not only results in a compact construction, but also in an advantageous design of the fitting outlet 01 with regard to the water route.

[0034] This is because the water first enters the common housing 07 via the inlet opening 08. The fluid then flows axially towards the valve seat 10 provided on the housing 07. In the area of ​​the valve seat 10, the fluid flow is deflected by approximately 90° and the fluid then leaves the outlet housing 02 via the jet regulator 04. Compared to known solutions in which the jet regulator 04 is arranged at the outlet of the outlet housing 02 and the valve 05 is arranged as a separate assembly in the inlet area of ​​the outlet housing 02, the fluid is guided in a manner that requires fewer deflections. This is because with a separate valve 05, more deflections are usually required within the valve itself than is the case with the joint assembly consisting of valve 05 and jet regulator 04. Reference symbol:

[0035] 01 Fitting outlet 02 Outlet housing 03 Outlet opening 04 Aerator 05 Valve 06 Structural unit 07 Common housing 08 Inlet opening 09 Aerator opening 10 Valve seat 11 Valve actuator 12 Sensor interface 13 Cable connection 14 Front end

Claims

1. A fitting for controlling a fluid flow, comprising a fitting outlet (01), which fitting outlet (01) comprises: - a jet regulator (04) influencing the fluid flow, - an outlet housing (02) with an outlet opening (03) for receiving the jet regulator (04), - a valve (05) associated with the jet regulator (04) for controlling the fluid flow, which valve is arranged completely in the outlet housing (02) and - a valve actuator (11), which is arranged completely in the outlet housing (02) and serves to activate the valve (05), wherein the jet regulator (04) and the valve (05) are arranged in or on a common housing (07) and form a structural unit (06), wherein the housing (07) has an inlet opening (08) for connection to a fluid supply, a jet regulator opening (09) and a valve (10), and wherein the housing (07) has a fluid guide which guides the fluid flow from the inlet opening (08) via the valve seat (10) to the jet regulator opening (09), the structural unit (06) being mounted as an assembly in the fitting, characterized in that the fitting outlet (01) has a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the fluid flow through the valve (05) and / or through the jet regulator (04) and is arranged in or on the common housing (07).

2. Fitting according to claim 1, characterized by a flow sensor that measures the volume of the fluid flow through the valve (05) and / or through the jet regulator (04).

3. Fitting according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow sensor is arranged in or on the common housing (07).

4. Fitting according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the flow sensor can be connected to a documentation medium.

5. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the temperature sensor can be connected to a documentation medium.

6. Fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that a valve sensor system for controlling the valve (09) or at least the valve actuator (11) is arranged in the outlet housing (02).

7. A fitting according to one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that an operating element for controlling the valve (05) or at least the valve actuator (11) is arranged on or in the outlet housing (02).

8. A fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a mixing unit for mixing at least two inlet-side fluid flows.

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