Sanitary device having a dispensing device for a liquid

Abstract

Sanitary device (1), at least comprising: a dispensing device (2) for a liquid; a basin (3) having an outflow (4) for the liquid; a thermostat (5) by means of which hot water (6) and cold water (7) can be mixed to give heated mixed water (8), wherein the mixed water (8) can be supplied to the dispensing device (2) via a first supply line (9); a circulating device (10) by means of which at least some of the liquid that has flowed off via the outflow (4) can be supplied as circulating liquid (11) to the dispensing device (2); wherein the circulating liquid (11) can be supplied to the dispensing device (2) via a second supply line (12) which is configured to be separate from the first supply line (9), wherein the circulating liquid (11) can be heated by a heating device (13).

Description

[0001] Sanitary facility with a dispensing device for a liquid

[0002] The present invention relates to a sanitary device which can be used in particular by persons in sanitary rooms, such as bathrooms, for showering, bathing and / or for personal hygiene.

[0003] The use of sanitary facilities such as showers or bathtubs can result in high water consumption. For this reason, sanitary facilities are known in which at least a portion of the used water can be recirculated to the sanitary facilities for reuse. A drop in the temperature of the reused water must be compensated by the supply of hot water.

[0004] However, this continuous addition of fresh water reduces the efficiency of such a sanitary facility by the amount of fresh water added. Additionally, safety components are required to prevent used water from being sucked back into the fresh water line.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide a sanitary device which can be operated with the highest possible efficiency with regard to saving fresh water.

[0006] These objects are achieved with a sanitary device according to the features of the independent patent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features listed in the patent claims are further specified and explained in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

[0007] A sanitary facility is proposed, at least comprising: at least one dispensing device for a liquid; a basin with an outlet for the liquid; a thermostat by means of which hot water and cold water can be mixed to form a tempered mixed water, wherein the mixed water can be supplied to the dispensing device via a first supply line; and a circulating device by means of which at least a portion of the liquid flowing out via the outlet or located in the basin can be supplied to the dispensing device as circulating liquid.

[0008] The circulating fluid is supplied to the dispensing device via a second supply line, separate from the first. The circulating fluid can be heated by a heating device.

[0009] The sanitary facility is, in particular, a facility for a person's personal hygiene. For this purpose, the sanitary facility can, for example, be designed like a shower or bathtub and / or arranged in a sanitary room, such as a bathroom. In addition, the sanitary facility can be used for therapeutic applications. The sanitary facility has at least one dispensing device for a liquid. The at least one dispensing device can, in particular, be a shower head, overhead shower, hand shower, nozzle and / or outlet opening. A liquid, in particular water, can be dispensed into (at least) one basin of the sanitary facility through at least one dispensing opening. The basin can, in particular, be designed like a shower tray or a bathtub. Furthermore, the basin can, in particular, be arranged or attached in a stationary manner, for example, to a building floor.The basin may, in particular, have (at least) one outlet for the liquid at the bottom. The liquid can be fed via the outlet, in particular, into a public sewer system. It is possible for a single basin or a single outlet to be assigned to multiple discharge devices, but this is not mandatory.

[0010] The sanitary facility further comprises a thermostat (in the simplest embodiment, a mixing device without its own temperature control), by means of which hot water and cold water can be mixed to form tempered mixed water. The hot water and cold water are each fresh water and can be mixed by the thermostat to form mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. A hot water temperature of the hot water can in particular be a maximum of 90 °C (degrees Celsius), preferably 25 °C to 90 °C, particularly preferably 55 °C to 65 °C, and / or a cold water temperature of the cold water can in particular be a maximum of 25 °C (degrees Celsius), preferably 1 °C to 25 °C, particularly preferably 5 °C to 20 °C. The desired temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device can be, for example, 30 °C to 50 °C, preferably 35 °C to 45 °C, particularly preferably 35 °C to 40 °C.

[0011] The hot water can be supplied to the thermostat, for example, from a hot water source, such as a boiler, a (private and / or local) solar thermal system, or a heat pump, via a hot water pipe, and / or the cold water from a cold water source, such as a building water connection, a public water supply network, or a (private / local) well, via a cold water pipe. The hot water pipe and / or cold water pipe can be designed at least partially in the manner of a pipeline. Furthermore, the hot water pipe and / or cold water pipe can run at least partially through a building wall and / or a building floor. The thermostat can have a hot water inlet for the hot water and / or a cold water inlet for the cold water. The hot water pipe can be connected to the hot water inlet and / or the cold water pipe can be connected to the cold water inlet.In addition, the thermostat can be located at least partially in the building wall or the building floor.

[0012] The combined water pipe may be designed at least partially in the form of a pipe and / or hose line.

[0013] In particular, the mixed water does not include any circulating fluid. Therefore, the thermostat only regulates the temperature of fresh water.

[0014] The sanitary facility further comprises a circulation system. The circulation system comprises at least one second supply line, which can be at least partially designed as a pipeline. Furthermore, the second supply line can extend at least partially through a building wall and / or a building floor. Liquid present in the basin or drained via the drain is returned to the discharge device as circulating liquid via the circulation system.

[0015] The temperature of the circulating fluid can fluctuate. The circulating fluid can be tempered by the heating device. In particular, the heating device is used exclusively to temper or heat the circulating fluid. In particular, the second supply line is exclusively flowed through by circulating fluid.

[0016] The sanitary facility can have an (electronic) control system that can adjust the mixing ratio between the circulating fluid and the mixed water (or the hot water and / or the cold water) so that the fluid dispensed via the dispensing device has a desired temperature. For this purpose, the temperature of the mixed water and the temperature of the circulating fluid can be controlled separately. Alternatively or additionally, this control can also be achieved by adjusting the volume flow rates of the mixed water and the circulating fluid.

[0017] The control system can, for example, comprise a microcontroller and / or be arranged in a fitting housing of a fitting of the sanitary facility.

[0018] The controller is particularly configured to adjust or regulate the volume flow (in liters per minute) and the temperature of the liquid to be dispensed depending on a user request. For this purpose, the controller can control at least one valve, e.g., a shut-off valve and / or a mixing valve, or the thermostat and / or the heating device, or a pump of the sanitary facility. The selection and / or control can include activating, deactivating, and / or changing the volume flow or changing the temperature of the mixed water and / or the circulating liquid.

[0019] The temperature of the mixed water can be increased by the thermostat by adding hot water and / or reduced by adding cold water. The hot water and / or cold water is, in particular, fresh water that has not yet been used by the sanitary facility or dispensed via at least one dispensing device.

[0020] The temperature of the circulating fluid can be regulated in particular by the heating device.

[0021] When controlling the temperature of the liquid delivered via the dispensing device, the temperatures and / or volume flows of the mixed water and the circulating liquid are taken into account.

[0022] The sanitary facility can in particular be operated in different operating modes. For example, only fresh water can be used, in which case the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device is then controlled in particular exclusively via the thermostat. Furthermore, only circulating liquid can be used, in which case the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device is then controlled in particular exclusively via the heating device. Furthermore, mixed operation can be provided in which fresh water and circulating liquid are used simultaneously, at least temporarily. In this case, the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device is then controlled in particular via the thermostat and / or the heating device, preferably by both jointly or by a higher-level control system that accesses the thermostat and the heating device.The desired temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device can be adjusted by a user of the sanitary facility, for example, via an actuating element of the sanitary facility and / or the thermostat. Furthermore, the dispensed quantity of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device can be adjusted by the user of the sanitary facility via the actuating element or another actuating element.

[0023] In particular, only the circulating fluid (which flows out via the drain or is in the basin) can be tempered by the heating device.

[0024] In particular, the circulating liquid and the mixed water can be mixed together upstream of the dispensing device, e.g. in a mixing container, from which the mixed liquid is then passed on to the dispensing device.

[0025] In particular, the circulating liquid and the mixed water can only be mixed together in the dispensing device.

[0026] In particular, the dispensing device has a first outlet area and a second outlet area, with the first supply line being fluidically connected exclusively to the first outlet area and the second supply line being fluidly connected exclusively to the second outlet area. In particular, both the mixed water and the circulating water can then be independently tempered to the desired temperature.

[0027] In particular, the entire circulating fluid flowing through the second supply line can be temperature-controlled by the heating device. In particular, the temperature of the circulating fluid is regulated at least (or exclusively) over the operating period of the heating device. The heating device can, for example, be operated with a constant heating output, with temperature control then taking place over the length of the intervals in which the heating device is switched on or off.

[0028] In particular, the temperature can be controlled at least (or exclusively) by controlling the heating output of the heating device.

[0029] In particular, the heating device is arranged in a bypass section of the second supply line, so that the temperature of the circulating liquid is controlled at least by controlling the volume flow flowing through the bypass section.

[0030] To regulate the volume flow, a valve can be arranged in the second supply line, e.g. in the bypass section or in the section of the second supply line bridged by the bypass section.

[0031] The circulating fluid can be pumped from the basin or downstream of the drain to the discharge device.

[0032] As a precaution, it should be noted that the numerals used here ("first", "second", ...) primarily serve (only) to distinguish between several similar objects, quantities, or processes, and therefore do not necessarily prescribe any interdependence and / or sequence of these objects, quantities, or processes. Should a dependence and / or sequence be necessary, this is explicitly stated here or will be obvious to the person skilled in the art upon studying the specifically described embodiment. To the extent that a component can occur multiple times ("at least one"), the description of one of these components can apply equally to all or part of the majority of these components, but this is not mandatory.

[0033] The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figure. It should be noted that the figure shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, but is not limited thereto.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows an example and schematically a sanitary facility 1.

[0035] Sanitary facility 1 is designed like a shower. The sanitary facility

[0036] I comprises a dispensing device 2 in the form of a shower, a basin 3 with an outlet 4 for the liquid, a thermostat 5, by means of which hot water 6 and cold water 7 can be mixed to form a tempered mixed water 8, wherein the mixed water 8 can be fed to the dispensing device 2 via a first supply line 9, and a circulation device 10. By means of the circulation device 10, at least a portion of the liquid located in the basin 3 or flowed out via the outlet 4 can be fed to the dispensing device 2 as circulating liquid 11.

[0037] The circulating liquid 11 can be fed to the dispensing device 2 via a second supply line 12 which is separate from the first supply line 9. The circulating liquid

[0038] II can be tempered by a heating device 13.

[0039] The temperature of the circulating fluid 11 can fluctuate. The circulating fluid 11 can be tempered by the heating device 13. The heating device 13 exclusively tempers or heats the circulating fluid 11. The second supply line 12 is exclusively flowed through by the circulating fluid 11. The sanitary facility 1 has an (electronic) control 24 with which a mixing ratio between the circulating fluid 11 and the mixed water 8 (or the hot water 6 and / or the cold water 7) can be controlled such that the fluid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 has a desired temperature. For this purpose, a temperature of the mixed water 8 and a temperature of the circulating fluid 11 can be regulated separately from one another. Alternatively or additionally, this control can also be achieved by adjusting the volume flows of the mixed water 8 and the circulating fluid 11.

[0040] The temperature of the mixed water 8 can be increased by the thermostat 5 by adding hot water 6 and / or reduced by adding cold water 7. The hot water 6 and / or cold water 7 is fresh water that has not yet been used by the sanitary facility 1 or has not yet been dispensed via the at least one dispensing device 2.

[0041] The temperature of the circulating fluid 11 can be regulated by the heating device 13.

[0042] When controlling the temperature of the liquid delivered via the delivery device 2, the temperatures and / or volume flows of mixed water 8 and circulating liquid 11 are taken into account.

[0043] The sanitary facility 1 can be operated in various operating modes. For example, only fresh water can be used, in which case the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 is then controlled exclusively by the thermostat 5. Furthermore, only circulating liquid 11 can be used, in which case the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 is then controlled exclusively by the heating device 13. Furthermore, mixed operation can be provided, in which fresh water and circulating liquid 11 are used simultaneously, at least temporarily. In this case, the temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 is then controlled via the thermostat 5 and / or the heating device 13, preferably by both together or by a higher-level control that accesses the thermostat 5 and the heating device 13.

[0044] The desired temperature of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 can be adjusted by a user of the sanitary facility 1, for example, via an actuating element of the sanitary facility 1 and / or the thermostat 5. Furthermore, the dispensed quantity of the liquid dispensed via the dispensing device 2 can be adjusted by the user of the sanitary facility 1 via the actuating element or another actuating element.

[0045] The circulating liquid 11 and the mixed water 8 are only mixed together in the dispensing device 2.

[0046] Here, it is indicated that the dispensing device 2 has a first outlet region 14 and a second outlet region 15, with the first supply line 9 being fluidically connected exclusively to the first outlet region 14 and the second supply line 12 being fluidly connected exclusively to the second outlet region 15. Both the mixed water 8 and the circulating liquid 11 are then to be tempered to the desired temperature independently of one another.

[0047] The entire circulating fluid 11 flowing through the second supply line 12 can be tempered or heated by the heating device 13. The temperature of the circulating fluid 11 can be controlled at least (or exclusively) over the operating period of the heating device 13. The heating device 13 can, for example, be operated with a constant heating output, with the temperature then being controlled over the length of the intervals in which the heating device 13 is switched on or off.

[0048] The temperature can be controlled at least (or exclusively) by controlling the heating power of the heating device 13.

[0049] The heating device 13 is arranged in a bypass section 16 of the second supply line 12, so that the temperature of the circulating liquid 11 is controlled at least by controlling the volume flow flowing through the bypass section 16.

[0050] To regulate the volume flow, a first valve 18 is arranged in the second supply line 12. The first valve 18 is arranged in the section of the second supply line 12 bridged by the bypass section 16.

[0051] The circulating liquid 11 is pumped from the basin 3 to the dispensing device 2 via a pump 17.

[0052] The volume flow of the mixed water 8 can be controlled via a second valve 19.

[0053] The sanitary facility 1 comprises a level sensor 20 in the basin 3, through which a

[0054] The withdrawal of the circulating fluid 11 from the basin 3 can be controlled. Furthermore, the sanitary facility 1 comprises temperature sensors 21 and volume flow sensors 22 for regulating the temperature of the fluid dispensed via the dispensing device 2. Furthermore, a cleaning device 23 for cleaning the circulating fluid 11 is provided in the second supply line 12, e.g., an irradiation unit that can kill bacteria or germs in the circulating fluid 11 using ultraviolet light.

[0055] List of reference symbols

[0056] 1 sanitary facility

[0057] 2 Dispensing facility

[0058] 3 pools

[0059] 4 Drain

[0060] 5 Thermostat

[0061] 6 Hot water

[0062] 7 Cold water

[0063] 8 Mixed water

[0064] 9 first supply line

[0065] 10 Circulation device

[0066] 11 Circulating fluid

[0067] 12 second supply line

[0068] 13 Heating device

[0069] 14 first outlet area

[0070] 15 second outlet area

[0071] 16 Bypass section

[0072] 17 Pump

[0073] 18 first valve

[0074] 19 second valve

[0075] 20 level sensor

[0076] 21 Temperature sensor

[0077] 22 Volume flow sensor

[0078] 23 Cleaning device

[0079] 24 Control

Claims

Patent claims 1. Sanitary facilities (1), at least comprising: - a dispensing device (2) for a liquid; - a basin (3) with a drain (4) for the liquid; - a thermostat (5) by which hot water (6) and cold water (7) can be mixed to form tempered mixed water (8), wherein the mixed water (8) can be supplied to the dispensing device (2) via a first supply line (9); - a circulation device (10) by which at least a part of the liquid that has flowed out via the drain (4) or is located in the basin (3) can be supplied as circulation liquid (11) to the dispensing device (2); wherein the circulation liquid (11) can be supplied to the dispensing device (2) via a second supply line (12) that is separate from the first supply line (9), wherein the circulation liquid (11) can be temperature-controlled by a heating device (13).

2. Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 1, wherein only the circulating fluid (11) that has flowed out via the drain (4) can be tempered via the heating device (13).

3. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulating fluid (11) and the mixed water (8) are mixable upstream of the dispensing device (2).

4. Sanitary installation (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the circulating fluid (11) and the mixed water (8) can only be mixed together in the dispensing device (2). Sanitary installation (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the dispensing device (2) has a first outlet area (14) and a second outlet area (15), wherein the first supply line (9) is fluidically connected exclusively to the first outlet area (14) and the second supply line (12) is fluidically connected exclusively to the second outlet area (15). Sanitary installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the entire circulating fluid (11) flowing through the second supply line (12) can be temperature-controlled by the heating device (13). Sanitary installation (1) according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the circulating fluid (11) is controlled for at least one operating period of the heating device (13).Sanitary installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heating device (13) is arranged in a bypass section (16) of the second supply line (12), so that the temperature of the circulating fluid (11) is controlled at least by controlling the volume flow through the bypass section (16).

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