Mixing fitting

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing valve with electronic control (20) and sensors for user detection, with connections for cold and hot water and an electrically operated solenoid valve (23), as well as a manually adjustable mixing device as a mixing valve (3) with a mixing shaft (49) or as a thermostat. An actuator (25) is provided which is connected to an adjusting device (7) which is connected to the mixing valve (3) or the thermostat. The invention also relates to a method for flushing the hot and / or cold water line using a mixing valve.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mixing valve with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is well known that harmful bacteria can accumulate in sanitary installations and fittings, especially if no water is drawn from the pipe system for an extended period, resulting in so-called stagnant water. Besides the possibility of combating bacterial contamination using chemical or thermal methods, it is also possible to prevent contamination by regularly flushing the pipe system.

[0003] Electronic faucets can be automatically flushed by activating the valves integrated into the faucets. It is crucial that both the cold and hot water lines are flushed during this process.

[0004] From DE 35 18 644 C2 and DE 37 18 039 C2, fittings are known in which a motor-driven shut-off valve is provided in both the cold and hot water inlets. The desired mixed water temperature is achieved by electronic control through the partial opening of the two valves. With these electronic fittings, automated flushing can be performed by separately opening the cold and hot water valves. A disadvantage of these fittings is that the arrangement of the motor-driven valves is not possible within the standard size of a washbasin faucet.

[0005] From DE 2 821 692 A1 and DE 10 2011 008 804 B4, fittings are known in which a manually operated thermostatic valve is provided in the cold and hot water supply lines. Downstream of the thermostatic valve, an electrically operated shut-off valve, e.g., a solenoid valve, is arranged. In the fitting known from DE 101 48 675 C1, in which a manual mixing device, e.g., a mixing shaft, is provided in the cold and hot water supply lines, an electrically operated shut-off valve, e.g., a solenoid valve, is arranged downstream of the mixing device. With the aforementioned electronic fittings, reliable and, in particular, sufficient automatic flushing of the cold and hot water lines cannot be ensured due to the random positioning of the mixing device.

[0006] From DE 10 2014 104 393 A1, a sanitary fitting is known in which the adjustment of the hot and cold water mixing ratio, as well as the flow rate, is electrically controlled. The solution used in the described sanitary fitting cannot be used in fittings with a manual mixing device.

[0007] Against this background, the invention aims to create a mixing valve with electronic control and a manual mixing device that ensures reliable flushing of the cold and hot water lines and whose components can also be arranged in a standard-sized electronic washbasin faucet. According to the invention, this objective is achieved with the features of claim 1.

[0008] The invention provides a mixing valve with electronic control and a manual mixing device that ensures reliable flushing of the cold and hot water lines, and whose components can be arranged in a standard-sized electronic washbasin faucet. This is achieved by the actuator, which transmits movement to the mixing valve or thermostat via the adjustment device. This allows, in the case of a hygienic flush, the mixing valve or thermostat to be moved from a random position selected by the last user to a pre-programmed position, thus ensuring reliable flushing of the cold and hot water lines.

[0009] The actuator's movement is free when de-energized. This design ensures that the mixing unit of the mixing valve can be manually operated without restriction by the user during normal operation. Only during a hygiene flush is the mixing unit subject to forced movement under the influence of the actuator and the adjustment mechanism.

[0010] Other embodiments and configurations of the invention are specified in the remaining dependent claims. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail below. The drawings show: Figure 1: the side view of a mixing valve; Figure 2: the longitudinal section through the Figure 1 The illustrated mixing valve; Figure 3 the section through a mixing device; Figure 4 the view of an adjusting device; Figure 5 the top view of the in Figure 4The adjustment device shown; Figure 6, the section through the mixing device without the mixer shaft and mixing shaft lever; Figure 7, the top view of the in Figure 6 The mixing device shown; Figure 8, the longitudinal section through a mixer shaft; Figure 9, the top view of the in Figure 8 illustrated mixer shaft; Figure 10 the section through the mixer shaft lever; Figure 11 the view of the in Figure 10 Figure 12 the view of a drive shaft lever; Figure 13 the section through the in Figure 12 The illustrated drive shaft lever; Figure 14 shows a view of a bracket.

[0011] The mixing valve 1 selected as an exemplary embodiment has a mixing device in the form of a mixing valve 3, which is adjustable via an adjusting device 7. It is equipped with a control unit 20 and a solenoid valve 23.

[0012] In the exemplary embodiment, the mixing valve 1 is arranged on a washbasin 9. For this purpose, the valve 1 has a threaded stud 16 that protrudes through a tap hole 90 in the washbasin 9. On the side of the washbasin 9 facing away from the mixing valve 1, a clamping washer 91 is positioned, which is penetrated by the threaded stud 16 and is tightened to the washbasin 9 with a nut 92. A seal 93 is provided between the mixing valve 1 and the washbasin 9. The valve 1 is connected to a cold water supply pipe 17 and a hot water supply pipe 18, through which the mixing valve 1 is connected to the piping system of the respective building.

[0013] The mixing valve 1 consists of a valve housing 10, in which an interior 11 is formed. The mixing valve 3, the adjusting device 7, the control unit 20, and the solenoid valve 23 are arranged in the interior 11. On the side facing away from the washbasin 9, a connection bore 12 is formed in the mixing valve 1, which is connected to a drain channel 13 that terminates in the spout of the mixing valve 1, which is equipped with an aerator 14. At the end facing the washbasin 9, a base 15 is installed in the valve housing 10, via which the mixing valve 1 makes contact with the washbasin 9. On the side toward which the spout extends, an infrared window 19 is arranged in the valve housing 10, behind which the control unit 20 is positioned.

[0014] The solenoid valve 23 is connected to a valve coil 24, which serves to actuate the solenoid valve 23. Furthermore, an actuator 25 is provided in the housing 10 for actuating the mixing valve 3. The actuator 25 is preferably a motor, which can be a servo motor or a stepper motor. In the de-energized state, i.e., the rest state, the actuating movement of the actuator 25 is freely movable.

[0015] All components provided in the housing 10 are attached to a holder 26. Spacers 27 are also provided for mounting the mixing valve 3, which correspond to screws 28. The cold water supply pipe 17 and the hot water supply pipe 18 are connected to the connection bore 12 via a connecting pipe 21, which is sealed against the connection bore 12 by a gasket 22 and includes the mixing device. The mixing valve 1 is manually adjusted via a handle 29 located on the outside of the valve housing 10.

[0016] The mixing device in the form of the mixing valve 3 is formed by a housing, as exemplified in Figure 6The housing is shown in the figure. A mixing shaft 49 is inserted into the housing in its assembled state. The housing of the mixing valve 3 has an inlet port 30, which is provided with a connection bore 31 for cold water and a connection bore 33 for hot water. The connection bore 31 opens into an inlet 32; the connection bore 33 opens into an inlet 34. The inlets 32 and 34 connect the connection bores 31 and 33 to a receiving bore 40 for the mixing shaft 49.

[0017] On the side of the mixing valve housing 3 opposite the inlet nozzle 30, an outlet nozzle 35 is formed, which is provided with a connection bore 36 for the outgoing mixed water. The bottom of the connection bore 36 is formed by a through channel 37, which opens into an outlet 38 for the mixed water, which in turn is connected to the receiving bore 40 for the mixer shaft 49. The outlet nozzle 35 is also provided with bores 39 for locking pins (not shown).

[0018] The receiving bore 40 for the mixer shaft 49 is provided at one end with an inlet bore 41 for the mixer shaft 49, which has bores 42 for locking pins 48. Radially to the receiving bore 40, a threaded bore 43 for receiving a stop screw 62 is provided in the wall of the inlet bore 41. The threaded bore 43 is surrounded on the outside by a shoulder 44. In the exemplary embodiment, three mounting tabs 45 are formed on the circumference of the housing of the mixing valve 3, each provided with a bore 46, by means of which the mixing valve 3 can be fastened in the valve housing 10.

[0019] The mixer shaft 49 has a base 50 at one end, in which a groove 56 is formed for receiving the mixer shaft lever 70. A threaded bore 57 is provided in the bottom of the groove 56. A groove 58 is formed on the outside of the base 50, extending partially around its circumference and serving as a stop for the mixer shaft 49. Adjacent to the groove 58, an annular groove 59 is located in the mixer shaft 49, providing axial retention for the mixer shaft. Adjacent to this annular groove 59 is another annular groove 60, which serves to receive a seal 47. In the exemplary embodiment, two further annular grooves 60 are also provided for receiving seals 47, with which the mixer shaft 49 is sealed against the receiving bore 40 of the mixing valve 3.

[0020] The mixer shaft 49 is provided with a mixing chamber 54, which is equipped around its circumference with an inlet bore 51 for cold water, an inlet bore 52 for hot water, and a mixed water outlet channel 53, offset from each other. The mixing chamber 54 terminates in a blind bore 55.

[0021] The adjusting device 7 essentially consists of the mixer shaft lever 70 and a drive shaft lever 77, which are connected to each other via a bracket 82. The mixer shaft lever 70 includes a base 71, which has a connecting bore 74 that transitions into a through bore 75 of smaller diameter. On its side facing the mixer shaft 49 when mounted, the mixer shaft lever 70 is provided with a shoulder 72 that corresponds to the groove 56 of the mixer shaft 49. For this purpose, the shoulder 72 is provided with a flattened section 73. A screw 61, which can be screwed into the threaded bore 57 of the mixer shaft 49, serves to mount the mixer shaft lever 70 to the mixer shaft 49. At its end facing away from the base 71, the mixer shaft lever 70 is provided with a bore 76 for attaching the bracket 82.

[0022] The drive shaft lever 77 has a base 78 through which a through-hole 79 passes. A threaded bore 80, which serves to receive a locking screw, projects radially into the through-hole 79. At the end opposite the base 78, a bore 81 for fastening the bracket 82 is provided in the drive shaft lever 77.

[0023] The bracket 82 has a U-shaped design. This creates two parallel pins 83, each provided with an annular groove 84. In the assembled state, the annular grooves 84 accommodate locking washers 85 for the reliable fastening of the bracket 82.

[0024] In contrast to prior art mixing valves with manual temperature adjustment, the mixing valve according to the invention offers the possibility of performing an automatic hygienic flush. This is ensured by the fact that, when the solenoid valve 23 opens, the mixing valve 3 can be moved by the actuator 25 into an open position that may differ from the random temperature setting of the last user. This is achieved by the actuator 25 being connected to the adjustment device 7, which moves the mixing shaft into the predetermined position for a hygienic flush. Depending on the programming, this can be a mixed position of cold and hot water, ensuring that both the cold and hot water lines are flushed with a single flush.Alternatively, it can be provided that a cold water setting is selected first and, after a sufficient time, the hot water setting is selected, or vice versa. It is important, as is known, that both circuits are flushed. To carry out the flushing, the solenoid valve 23 is opened to allow water to enter the mixing valve according to the invention. After the preset flushing time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 23 is closed. It can be provided that the mixing valve moves to a pre-programmed position after the specified flushing time. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the mixing valve remains in the last flushing position. Naturally, it is possible to specify different flushing times depending on the respective opening positions during programming.

[0025] In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, the adjusting device 7 can also be implemented using spur or bevel gears instead of a bracket. The use of a belt drive is also fundamentally possible. Instead of the mixing valve 3 with a mixing shaft 49 selected in the exemplary embodiment, a thermostat can also be used.

[0026] The invention opens up the possibility of providing an automatic hygienic flush even on faucets equipped with a manual mixing device. At the same time, the mixing faucet according to the invention allows the components to be arranged in a standard-sized electronic washbasin faucet. Consequently, the mixing faucet according to the invention can be combined with conventional assemblies known from the sanitary sector without requiring any modifications to other assemblies.

[0027] To prevent bacterial growth in the water present in the cold and hot water pipes, the mixing valve according to the invention is capable of automatically performing so-called hygiene flushes. For this purpose, the control unit 20 has a timer in which a time interval can be set after which a forced flush of the mixing valve according to the invention is to take place. If the mixing valve is not used within the preset period, an automated hygiene flush occurs. This is triggered by a signal sent by the control unit 20 to the actuator 25. The actuator 25 is activated by this signal, which leads to a movement of the drive shaft lever 77, which in turn, via the lever 82, causes a movement of the mixer shaft lever 70.The actuator 25 operates until the mixing shaft 49 reaches an open position in which water enters the mixing valve 1 from both the hot water inlet pipe 18 and the cold water inlet pipe 17. Preferably, this is the intermediate position, i.e., the position in which equal quantities of cold and hot water flow through the valve. Alternatively, the open position can be configured to first allow a cold water flush followed by a hot water flush, or vice versa. This moves the mixing shaft 49 into a mixed water position. The solenoid valve 23 is then activated, opening the inlet to the mixing valve 1 so that water can enter the valve.

[0028] In any case, the design according to the invention flushes both the cold water line and the hot water line, thus preventing bacterial growth in the water present in the pipes. After a flushing time pre-programmed in the controller 20, during which the water flows through the mixing valve, the controller 20 sends another signal that causes the solenoid valve 23 to close. No more water then enters or exits the valve. The programming of the controller 20 can provide that, after the solenoid valve 23 closes, the mixing valve 3 or the thermostat is moved by the actuator 25 to a predetermined opening position of the cold and / or hot water inlet.Regardless, the next flushing process will occur either when a user activates the mixing valve or when the preset period of non-use is exceeded again, thus triggering another forced hygiene flush as described above.

[0029] The invention provides a mixing valve that enables forced flushing of the valve to prevent stagnant water despite manual temperature adjustment, and achieves this in a housing with the dimensions of conventional mixing valves. Such a solution is not known in the prior art.

Claims

1. Mixing fitting for a reliable and automatic hygiene flush of cold and hot water pipes with a fitting housing (10) as well as with electronic control (20) and sensors for user recognition, with connections for cold and hot water and an electrically operated solenoid valve (23) as well as a manually adjustable mixing device as a mixing valve (3) with a mixer shaft (49) or as a thermostat, wherein a drive (25) is provided, which is electrically operated and which is connected to an adjusting device (7), which is connected to the mixing valve (3) or the thermostat, wherein the control (20), the sensors for user recognition, the solenoid valve (23), the mixing valve (3), the drive (25) and the adjusting device (7) are arranged in the fitting housing (10), characterised in that the adjusting movement of the drive (25) and thus the mixing device connected thereto is freely movable in the de-energised state in such a manner that the mixing device of the mixing fitting can be manually operated without restriction by the respective user during normal operation, wherein at the beginning of an automatic hygiene flush when the solenoid valve (23) is opened, the mixing valve (3) can be moved into an opening position by means of the drive (25) in that the drive (25) is connected to the adjusting device (7), which adjusts the mixer shaft (49) or the thermostat into the predetermined position for a hygiene flush.

2. Mixing fitting according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive (25) is a motor.

3. Mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the drive (25) is a servomotor.

4. Mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the drive (25) is a stepper motor.

5. Mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the drive (25) and the mixing valve (3) or the thermostat are connected to one another via a bracket (82).

6. Mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the drive (25) and the mixing valve (3) or the thermostat are connected to one another by means of spur or bevel gears.

7. Mixing fitting according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the drive (25) and the mixing valve (3) or the thermostat are connected to one another by means of a belt drive.

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