Sanitary fitting for a building water supply system

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting for a building water supply system (2) with a sensor (4), in particular a ToF sensor, for detecting the environment of the sanitary fitting (1), with an electrically controllable water outlet valve (5) for releasing water through a water outlet opening (6) from the sanitary fitting (1) and with a fitting control (7) for opening and / or closing the water outlet valve (5), wherein the fitting control (7) is configured to detect an actual change in water outlet (8) from the water outlet opening (6) outside the sanitary fitting (1) after the water outlet valve (5) has been controlled, in particular due to a hygiene flushing instruction, using the sensor (4) and to validate a successful control of the water outlet valve (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting for a building water supply system according to claim 1.

[0002] Hygiene requirements for the drinking water supply in buildings have increased significantly in recent years. A relevant aspect here is the fact that water standing in the water supply network for extended periods, also known as stagnant water, can lead to the undesirable growth of germs. In this context, Legionella or similar germs pose a health risk. For this reason, it has become standard practice to monitor water flow in the water supply network and / or to actively flush the relevant water supply network regularly.

[0003] Various sanitary fittings are known from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2017 105 449 A1 describes a method for operating a building water supply system with sanitary fittings. Each sanitary fitting can have a sensor for user-controlled actuation. Furthermore, the described sanitary fittings can be controlled by a central control unit according to a global flushing strategy. These control actions of the sanitary fittings by the central control unit are usually logged in the same system.

[0004] However, it has been shown that situations can arise in which the central control system does activate the sanitary fittings to perform flushing and also logs this, but the flushing does not actually take place.

[0005] The challenge lies in improving upon the known state of the art.

[0006] The invention is based on the problem of designing and further developing the known sanitary fitting in such a way as to increase safety in a building water supply system.

[0007] The above problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0008] The essential consideration is the fundamental idea of ​​verifying the success of controlling a water outlet valve outside the water supply system by using a sensor to detect a change in the water outlet outside the respective sanitary fitting.

[0009] Specifically, a sanitary fitting for a building water supply system is proposed, equipped with a sensor, in particular a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, for sensing the area surrounding the fitting. The fitting features an electrically controlled water outlet valve for releasing water through an outlet opening and a control unit for opening and / or closing the valve. According to the proposal, the control unit is configured to detect an actual change in water flow from the outlet opening outside the fitting after the sensor has activated the valve, and to validate successful activation of the valve.

[0010] This allows for increased safety, particularly hygiene, in building water supply systems, as the actual change in water flow from the sanitary fitting is detected outside of the fitting itself. This enables the detection of valve activations that do not result in the desired change in water flow. For example, previously, if the valve was defective or the supply line to the fitting was closed, the fitting control unit could execute a hygiene flush command and activate the valve accordingly, even though a hygiene flush would not actually occur. In a state-of-the-art building water supply system, the central control unit would then incorrectly assume a successful hygiene flush.Additionally or alternatively, the proposed procedure can, for example, verify that the water outlet valve is actually closing and prevent uncontrolled water flow due to a valve that is activated to close but is defective and not closing. These situations can now be identified as incorrect activations using the proposed procedure, and appropriate measures can be taken immediately, thereby increasing the safety of the sanitary fitting's operation and ultimately making it particularly easy and cost-effective to operate.

[0011] The further development of the sanitary fitting according to claim 2 with regard to the opening or closing control enables a particularly simple and safe operation in each case.

[0012] Claim 3 describes a preferred and simple design of the sanitary fitting which enables a particularly simple, safe and / or cost-effective operation of the sanitary fitting as well as of a building water supply system with such sanitary fittings.

[0013] According to the further development according to claim 4, the water outlet valve can be controlled by a user action and / or to perform a hygiene flush. Furthermore, the sensor can be used for two purposes: firstly, to detect user activity, and secondly, to detect changes in the water outlet outside the respective sanitary fitting, in particular in response to the activation of the water outlet valve.

[0014] The preferred embodiment according to claim 5 facilitates the creation of protocols.

[0015] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that merely illustrates exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a proposed sanitary fitting.

[0016] In the Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a proposed sanitary fitting 1 for a building water supply system 2. Such a building water supply system 2 preferably has several sanitary fittings 1. The building water supply system 2 is connected to the water supply network 3 in its installed state.

[0017] The proposed sanitary fitting 1 comprises a sensor 4 for detecting the surroundings of the sanitary fitting 1 and an electrically controlled water outlet valve 5 for releasing water through a water outlet opening 6 from the sanitary fitting 1. The sensor 4 is preferably a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, particularly one based on infrared. This enables distance measurement using a time-of-flight method. For this purpose, it preferably incorporates a PMD chip. Furthermore, the sanitary fitting 1 comprises a valve control 7 for opening and / or closing the water outlet valve 5.

[0018] The valve control unit 7 can implement a hygiene flushing instruction by controlling the water outlet valve 5. Hygiene flushing instructions enable hygiene flushes to be performed according to a flushing strategy. As described below, these can be hygiene flushing instructions based on a local and / or a global flushing strategy.

[0019] As proposed, the valve control 7 is configured to detect, using sensor 4, an actual change in the water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 outside the sanitary fitting 1 after the water outlet valve 5 has been activated, particularly due to a hygiene flushing instruction, and to validate successful activation of the water outlet valve 5. In this way, successful activation of the water outlet valve 5 can be validated in a validation routine 9.

[0020] This makes it possible to increase safety, especially hygiene, in the building water supply system 2, since by recording the actual change of the water outlet 8 from the sanitary fitting 1 outside the sanitary fitting 1 such controls of the water outlet valve 5 can be detected which do not lead to a desired change of the water outlet 8.

[0021] For example, previously, if the water outlet valve 5 was defective or the supply line to the sanitary fitting 1 was closed, the fitting control 7 could implement a hygiene flush instruction and actuate the water outlet valve 5 accordingly, without an actual hygiene flush taking place. In a building water supply system 2, the central control 10 would then incorrectly assume a successful hygiene flush according to the state of the art. Additionally or alternatively, the proposed sanitary fitting 1 can, for example, verify that the water outlet valve 5 is actually closing, thus preventing uncontrolled water discharge 8 due to a water outlet valve 5 that is actuated to close but is defective and not closing.These situations can be detected by the proposed sanitary fitting 1 as incorrectly executed controls and appropriate measures can be taken immediately, thereby increasing the safety in the operation of the building water supply system 2 and making the building water supply system 2 particularly easy and cost-effective to operate.

[0022] In the validation routine 9, the sensor signal 11 of sensor 4 is preferably monitored for a sensor signal 11 characteristic of the actual change in the water outlet 8 and / or a characteristic sensor signal change 12. This can be, for example, a sensor signal 11 characteristic of the reflection from the water outlet 8, i.e., for example, a water jet, and / or a characteristic sensor signal change 12. Additionally or alternatively, this can be distance information determined from the sensor signal 11, in particular from the ToF sensor. Additionally or alternatively, this can also be the absence of a sensor signal 11 characteristic of the reflection from the water outlet 8 and / or a characteristic sensor signal change 12.Preferably, different characteristic sensor signals 11 20 and / or characteristic sensor signal changes 12 are stored in the valve control 7 for different spray patterns of water outlets 8. Preferably, the characteristic sensor signals 11 and / or characteristic sensor signal changes 12 assigned to the respective spray pattern are then used in the validation routine 9 16 to validate the change of the water outlet 8 of the respective sanitary fitting 1 4.

[0023] By detecting the desired actual change in water flow using sensor 4 outside the sanitary fitting 1, this change is directly recorded and its occurrence validated. No indirect conclusion is drawn about this change, for example, by sending a switching command to the water outlet valve 5.

[0024] It should be noted that in the exemplary embodiment, water outlet 8 from the sanitary fitting 1 refers to a water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 of the sanitary fitting 1.

[0025] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the valve control 7 is configured to detect an actual water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 outside the sanitary fitting 1 with the sensor 4 after the water outlet valve 5 has been opened, in particular due to a hygiene flushing instruction, and to validate a successful opening of the water outlet valve 5, and / or that the valve control 7 is configured to detect an actual stop of the water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 outside the sanitary fitting 1 with the sensor 4 after the water outlet valve 5 has been closed, in particular due to a hygiene flushing instruction, and to validate a successful closing of the water outlet valve 5.

[0026] By checking the opening action and the actual water outlet 8, it can be ensured, for example, that opening, particularly during a hygiene flush, actually occurs and that water is released 8. A false assumption of water release 8, which does not actually occur, can be avoided. In previous systems, where only the water outlet valve 5 was actuated but the actual water outlet 8 was not validated, water release 8 was assumed, for example, even when an angle valve 13 to the sanitary fitting 1 was closed.

[0027] Checking the closing action and actual stop of the water outlet 8 has the advantage that an unsuccessful closing can be detected directly and further measures can be taken promptly to avoid or limit damage resulting from such a malfunction.

[0028] A hygienic flush according to a flushing strategy can, in particular, be a stagnation flush and / or a thermal disinfection flush. In a stagnation flush, the temperature of the water used for flushing is generally below 65°C, while in a thermal disinfection flush, the temperature of the water used for flushing is at least 65°C, preferably at least 68°C, more preferably at least 70°C, and particularly at least 72°C.

[0029] It should be noted that hygiene flushes can be performed here, preferably as stagnation flushes, as well as additional hygiene flushes as thermal disinfection flushes. Therefore, a first hygiene flush instruction can be for performing a stagnation flush, and a second hygiene flush instruction can be for performing thermal disinfection. Both types of hygiene flushes or hygiene flush instructions can be part of a flushing strategy, in particular a central flushing strategy and / or a local flushing strategy.

[0030] Furthermore, and preferably, it is provided here that the sanitary fitting 1 has a fitting housing 14 and that the sensor 4 and / or the water outlet valve 5 and / or the fitting control 7 and / or the water outlet opening 6 are accommodated in the fitting housing 14. Particularly preferably, the sensor 4 and / or the water outlet valve 5 and / or the fitting control 7 and / or the water outlet opening 6 are accommodated in a single piece of the fitting housing 15, as shown in the Fig. 1 The one-piece part of the valve housing 15 is preferably formed by a cast body 16.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, an electrically controlled second water outlet valve 17 for releasing water from the water outlet opening 6 can be arranged in the valve housing 14.

[0032] Then the valve control 7 is preferably configured to detect an actual change in water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 outside the sanitary fitting 1 with the sensor 4 after the second water outlet valve 17 has been actuated, in particular due to a hygiene flushing instruction for carrying out thermal disinfection, and to validate a successful actuation of the second water outlet valve 17.

[0033] The second water outlet valve 17 is incorporated here, and preferably also in the one-piece part of the valve housing 15. This results in a particularly compact and easy-to-install valve housing 14.

[0034] In the exemplary embodiment, and preferably, the second water outlet valve 17 is arranged here and preferably in a bypass line 18 to the water outlet valve 5. Preferably, the bypass line 18 leads past the water outlet valve 5 and a mixing valve for mixing cold and hot water of the respective sanitary fitting 1, as is the case in the Fig. 1 shown below.

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that before closing the water outlet valve 5, in particular due to a hygiene flushing instruction, an actual water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 is checked, and / or that during a hygiene flush, in particular during an opening of the water outlet valve 5 due to a hygiene flushing instruction, an actual water outlet 8 from the water outlet opening 6 is checked continuously or repeatedly, in particular cyclically.

[0036] In this way, the actual duration of the water outlet 8 can be determined particularly easily. In particular, the duration of a hygiene flush can also be recorded very easily and reliably in this way. Recording the actual water outlet 8 has the advantage that, for example for documentation purposes, the actual execution is not in doubt.

[0037] Furthermore, and preferably, it is provided that the water outlet valve 5 can be actuated by a user action 19, in particular that the user action 19 is detected by the sensor 4 and the valve control 7, upon detection of the user action 19, actuates the water outlet valve 5 to open it. This allows the sensor 4 to be used for two purposes: firstly, to detect a user action 19, and secondly, to validate the actuation of the water outlet valve 5.

[0038] Preferably, in addition to validating the successful control of the water outlet valve 5, the sensor 4 can be operated in an operating mode and is configured to detect the presence of a person 20 in a detection area assigned to the operating mode in this operating mode and that, depending on the sensor signal 11, the water outlet valve 5 is controlled to open in this operating mode and / or is controlled to open after the successful execution of a test routine.

[0039] Preferably, it is provided that, after the water outlet valve 5 is opened, the presence of a person 20 is detected by sensor 4 and the actual water outlet 8 from the sanitary fitting 1 is checked in a validation routine 9, and / or, after the water outlet valve 5 is closed, the water outlet valve 5 is subsequently opened, and the presence of a person 20 is detected, and the actual cessation of the water outlet 8 from the sanitary fitting 1 is checked in a validation routine 9. In this way, a user action 19 can be detected particularly easily and reliably.

[0040] Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment provides that the sensor 4 has different modes, in particular that the sensor 4 can be operated in a presence mode and is configured to detect the presence of a person 20 in a detection area assigned to the presence mode and to switch to the operating mode depending on the sensor signal 11 in this presence mode. In this operating mode, the detection area is preferably smaller than in the presence mode and / or the polling frequency for the presence of a person 20 is higher than in the presence mode. By means of this two-stage check, the sensor 4 can be operated in a particularly energy-efficient manner. This enables particularly energy-efficient operation of the sanitary fitting 1.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment, the water outlet valve 5 can be controlled to perform a hygiene flush. The valve control 7 can itself generate the command to perform the hygiene flush, in particular a hygiene flush instruction, and / or receive it from an external control 21, preferably a central control 10.

[0042] The hygiene flushing instruction for performing a hygiene flush can therefore originate from the respective valve control 7 based on a local flushing strategy. A local flushing strategy has the advantage that it can be carried out independently of a central control 10.

[0043] Additionally or alternatively, the hygiene flushing instruction for carrying out a hygiene flush can originate from the central control unit 10 based on a global flushing strategy. This enables central and, if necessary, cyclical optimization of the hygiene flushes in the water supply network 3. A particularly high degree of hygiene can be ensured by the fact that, in normal operation, the valve controls 7 and thus the water outlet valves 5 are controlled by the central control unit 10 according to the global flushing strategy, and that, in fault operation, if the central control unit 10 fails at least partially, at least some of the water outlet valves 5 are controlled according to a local flushing strategy.

[0044] Hygiene flushing instructions according to the global flushing strategy originate from the central control unit 10, while hygiene flushing instructions according to the local flushing strategy originate from the respective valve control unit 7. They may, for example, be stored in a memory of the valve control unit 7.

[0045] A data network is established between the valve control 7 and a central control 10 via a data connection, in particular a bidirectional one. The data network can also include further valve control 7 of additional, in particular further, sanitary fittings 1 as proposed. The sanitary fittings 1 are, and preferably are, part of a building water supply system 2. In their installed state, they are connected to a water supply network 3 of a building 22.

[0046] The central control unit 10 can be part of the building water supply system 2 and be located in or outside of building 22. Additionally or alternatively, a central control unit 10, in particular the central control unit 10, can also be provided separately from the building water supply system 2 and then, if necessary, also form a central control unit 10 for further building water supply systems 2, which are provided in separate buildings 22. In particular, this central control unit 10, then as the central control unit 10 and / or a further central control unit 10, can be provided by a cloud service 23.

[0047] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the valve control 7 logs the validation of the control and / or the hygienic flushing and / or sends it to an external control 21, in particular an external central control 10 for several sanitary valves 1, preferably that the logging includes a quantity of water released from the water outlet 8 with the hygienic flushing.

[0048] In particular, it can be provided that during a hygiene flush, the start and / or the stop of the water flow from the sanitary fitting 1 and / or the duration of the water flow from the sanitary fitting 1 are detected, especially by sensor 4, and logged by the fitting control 7 and / or the central control 10. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the volume of water outlet 8 from the sanitary fitting 1(s) 1 is determined by means of the respective sensor 4 and the fitting control 7 and logged by the fitting control 7 and / or the central control 10.

[0049] In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the valve control 7 sends the start of the water flow from the sanitary fitting 1 and / or the stop of the water flow from the sanitary fitting 1 and / or the duration of the water flow from the sanitary fitting 1, in particular as an event, to the central control 10 for logging and / or stores it in the valve control 7.

[0050] Based on such a recording of the actual water outlet 8, the hygiene flushes and / or the flushing strategy, in particular central and / or local, can then be optimized.

[0051] In the validation routine 9, if no actual water outlet 8 is detected from the sanitary fitting 1 following an opening action, particularly due to a hygiene flushing instruction, an error message can be generated and / or logged, especially by the fitting control 7 and / or the central control 10. Preferably, the fitting control 7 generates the error message and sends it to the central control 10.

[0052] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a mobile device is notified of the error message upon its generation and / or logging. This is preferably done by the central control unit 10. The mobile device could, for example, be a smartphone. This enables a person responsible for operational safety 20 to intervene quickly.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the respective sensor 4 can also be used for additional functions. For example, the respective sensor 4 or the respective valve control 7 can be configured to detect the particularly close proximity of an object and / or an operator. This close proximity is preferably less than or equal to 5 cm, preferably less than or equal to 3 cm, and in the exemplary embodiment less than or equal to 2 cm in front of the sensor 4. Depending on the duration of the presence in the close proximity, the respective sanitary fitting 1 is preferably configured to perform various additional functions.

[0054] One function could be, for example, a cleaning mode. In this case, it could be provided that if a presence is detected in the immediate vicinity for a predetermined time, such as one second, a water outlet 8 is shut off, here for a predetermined time of, for example, one minute. This facilitates the cleaning of the sanitary fitting 1.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, a function can be the manual triggering of a hygienic flush for thermal disinfection. This is not a hygienic flush for thermal disinfection based on a previously described flushing strategy, but rather a single, user-controlled manual hygienic flush for thermal disinfection. For example, it can be configured that if presence is detected in the immediate vicinity for a predetermined time, such as two seconds, a user-controlled manual hygienic flush for thermal disinfection is triggered.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, a function can be a water outlet time adjustment. For example, it can be provided that if presence is detected in the immediate vicinity for a predetermined time, such as three seconds, a configuration mode is called up which makes it possible to set the water outlet time 8 in response to a user action 19.

[0057] As a result, the operational reliability in a building water supply system 2 is increased by the features described above. Reference symbol list

[0058] 1 Sanitary fitting 2 Building water supply system 3 Water pipe network 4 Sensor 5 Water outlet valve 6 Water outlet opening 7 Fitting control 8 Water outlet 9 Validation routine 10 Central control 11 Sensor signal 12 Sensor signal change 13 Angle valve 14 Fitting body 15 Part of the fitting body 16 Cast body 17 Second water outlet valve 18 Bypass line 19 User action 20 Person 21 External control 22 Building 23 Cloud service

Claims

1. Sanitary fitting for a building water supply system (2) with a sensor (4), in particular a ToF sensor, for detecting an environment of the sanitary fitting (1), with an electrically controllable water outlet valve (5) for discharging water through a water outlet opening (6) from the sanitary fitting (1) and with a fitting control (7) for opening and / or closing the water outlet valve (5), wherein the fitting control (7) is configured, after the water outlet valve (5) has been controlled, in particular based on a hygienic flushing instruction, to use the sensor (4) to detect an actual change in the water outlet (8) from the water outlet opening (6) outside the sanitary fitting (1) and to validate successful control of the water outlet valve (5).

2. Sanitary fitting according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe fitting control (7) is configured to detect an actual water outlet (8) from the water outlet opening (6) outside the sanitary fitting (1) after the water outlet valve (5) has been opened and activated by the sensor (4) and to validate a successful opening activation of the water outlet valve (5), and / or that the fitting control (7) is configured to detect an actual stop of the water outlet (8) from the water outlet opening (6) outside the sanitary fitting (1) after the water outlet valve (5) has been closed and to validate a successful closing activation of the water outlet valve (5).

3. Sanitary fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe sanitary fitting (1) has a fitting housing (14) and the sensor (4) and / or the water outlet valve (5) and / or the fitting control (7) and / or the water outlet opening (6) are accommodated in the fitting housing (14), preferably that an electrically controllable second water outlet valve (17) for discharging water from the water outlet opening (6) is arranged in the fitting housing (14), further preferably that the fitting control (7) is designed, after the second water outlet valve (17) has been controlled, in particular due to a hygienic flushing instruction for thermal disinfection, to use the sensor (4) to detect an actual change in the water outlet (8) from the water outlet opening (6) outside the sanitary fitting (1) and to validate successful control of the second water outlet valve (17).

4. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe water outlet valve (5) can be actuated by a user action (19), in particular that the user action (19) is detected by means of the sensor (4) and the fitting control (7) controls the water outlet valve (5) to open upon detection of the user action (19), and / or that the water outlet valve (5) can be controlled to carry out a hygiene flush, in particular that the fitting control (7) generates the command to carry out the hygiene flush, in particular a hygiene flush instruction, itself and / or receives it from an external control (21), preferably a central control (10).

5. Sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe fitting control (7) logs the validation of the control and / or the hygiene flush and / or sends it to an external control (21), in particular an external central control (10) for a plurality of sanitary fittings (1), for logging, preferably in that the logging comprises a quantity of water discharged from the water outlet (8) with the hygiene flush.

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