Sanitary faucet with off-axial thermostatic mixer and method for installing the sanitary faucet

Abstract

A sanitary faucet (1) comprising at least: a faucet casing (2); a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water; and a thermostatic mixer (4) for mixing cold water and hot water to form hot water, the thermostatic mixer (4) having an expansion material member (5) and a slider (6) operable by the expansion material member (5) for adjusting the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water. According to the present invention, the expansion material member (5) and the slider (6) are arranged non-coaxially with respect to each other, the slider (6) can be operated by the expansion material member (5) via a connecting member (9), the connecting member (9) can be fitted onto the slider (6) or the expansion material member (5) and then rotated to a closed position (10), and in the closed position (10), the slider (6) and the expansion material member (5) are connected to each other via the connecting member (9). Furthermore, a method for installing such a sanitary faucet (1) is proposed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sanitary tap capable of mixing cold water and hot water to form mixed water having a desired mixed water temperature, as well as to a method for installing the sanitary tap, via which the mixed water can be supplied in particular to a washbasin, a sink, a shower and / or a bathtub.

[0002] The sanitary tap may be formed, for example, in the form of a single-lever mixer and has a (single) operating lever for adjusting the mixed water temperature and the amount of mixed water supplied. The temperature of the hot water supplied to the single-lever mixer is often not constant and may fluctuate, for example, over the course of a day. This causes the mixed water temperature of the mixed water formed via the mixing valve of the single-lever mixer to fluctuate, even at the same position of the operating lever. The user of the sanitary tap cannot therefore rely on a specific position of the operating lever resulting in mixed water with the desired mixed water temperature, but must periodically readjust the mixed water temperature via the operating lever. A further disadvantage is that a scalding risk occurs when hot water with a particularly high hot water temperature is supplied to a single-lever mixer. Even hot water that is properly regulated at the temperature can already lead to scalding. Furthermore, pressure fluctuations in the cold water or a lack of cold water supplied can also lead to a hazard.

[0003] It is therefore already known that a thermostatic mixer can be arranged upstream of the hot water inlet of a mixing valve of a sanitary tap, via which hot water with a predefined hot water temperature can be supplied to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve. For this purpose, the thermostatic mixer premixes hot water with cold water, thereby maintaining a constant hot water temperature. The hot water premixed in this way is then supplied to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve. The disadvantage is that such a thermostatic mixer requires a large construction space, which is often not provided in the tap casing of the sanitary tap or which requires an enlargement of the tap casing of the sanitary tap.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems mentioned in relation to the prior art and in particular to provide a sanitary tap in which the thermostatic mixer requires less construction space.Furthermore, it is also desired to provide a method by which a thermostatic mixer for a sanitary tap requiring less construction space can be manufactured.

[0005] These problems are solved by a sanitary tap and a method for installing a sanitary tap according to the characterizing parts of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous configurations of the invention are described in the dependent patent claims. It should be pointed out that the individual features described in the dependent patent claims may be combined with one another in any technically significant manner, defining further configurations of the invention. Furthermore, the features described in the patent claims are explained in more detail in the specification and show further preferred configurations of the invention.

[0006] A contributing sanitary tap for this purpose must have at least the following components, namely: - a faucet casing; a mixing valve for mixing cold water and hot water to form a mixed water; A thermostatic mixer for mixing cold water and hot water to form hot water, the thermostatic mixer having an expansion material member and a slider operable by the expansion material member for adjusting the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water, the expansion material member and the slider being arranged non-coaxially with each other, the slider being operable by the expansion material member via a connecting member, the connecting member being able to be fitted over the slider or the expansion material member and then rotated to a closed position, in which the slider and the expansion material member are connected to each other via the connecting member. It has.

[0007] The sanitary tap may in particular be designed in the form of a single-lever mixer and / or be used in particular for supplying mixed water to a washbasin, a sink, a shower and / or a bathtub. The sanitary tap furthermore has a tap casing. The tap casing may consist at least in part of plastic and / or of metal, for example brass or a zinc alloy. Furthermore, the tap casing can in particular be attached to a support, for example a (cooking) worktop.

[0008] The sanitary tap further comprises a mixing valve for mixing cold water and hot water to form a mixed water. The mixing valve may, for example, be designed in the form of a single-lever mixing cartridge and / or may be arranged at least partially in a tap casing of the sanitary tap. The mixing valve may in particular have a mixing casing which is at least partially made of plastic and / or is at least partially designed cylindrically. An adjusting lever which is used for operating the mixing valve is movably mounted at least partially in the mixing casing. For this purpose, the adjusting lever is in particular connected to the operating lever of the sanitary tap, for example via a screw fastening or a plug-in connection. The adjusting lever may be rotatable about a predefined pivot axis, in particular for adjusting the mixed water temperature, and / or may be swivellable about a predefined pivot axis (in particular running perpendicular to the pivot axis), in particular for adjusting the amount of mixed water dispensed. The mixing valve may further comprise a fixed control disk and a movable control disk. The fixed control disk and the movable control disk may each in particular be designed flat or disk-shaped. Furthermore, the fixed control disk and the movable control disk may at least partly consist of ceramic, the fixed control disk being arranged in the housing in particular stationary, i.e. immovable or imrotatable in particular relative to the housing, whereas the movable control disk is movable (in particular rotatable in relation to the housing) in relation to the fixed control disk in particular via an adjusting lever.

[0009] The sanitary tap further comprises a thermostatic mixer for mixing cold water and hot water to form hot water. Cold water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixer, for example from a public water supply network, in particular via a cold water conduit, and / or hot water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixer, for example from a public water supply network and / or a water heater, in particular via a hot water conduit. The cold water conduit and / or the hot water conduit can be, for example, a conduit or a flexible hose. The cold water has a cold water temperature, in particular up to 25°C (Celsius), preferably between 1°C and 25°C, particularly preferably between 5°C and 20°C, and / or the hot water has a hot water temperature, in particular up to 100°C, preferably between 25°C and 100°C, particularly preferably between 55°C and 65°C. The cold water and the hot water can be mixed, in particular in a hot water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer, to form hot water. The thermostatic mixer further comprises an expansion material member and a slider which can be operated by the expansion material member. The expansion material member extends in particular along a first longitudinal axis and / or is formed at least partially rotationally symmetrical about at least one first longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the expansion material member can at least partially consist of wax and / or can expand in particular parallel to the first longitudinal axis, in particular depending on the mixed water temperature of the mixed water. The slider can at least partially consist of metal or plastic. Furthermore, the slider can in particular be formed at least partially cylindrical or tubular. Furthermore, the slider can extend along a second longitudinal axis. The slider is connected to the expansion material member, so that a change in the length of the expansion material member results in an operation or movement of the slider, in particular in the direction of the second longitudinal axis of the slider. By operating or moving the slider, the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water can be changed, and thus the hot water temperature of the hot water mixed by the thermostatic mixer can be influenced. For this purpose, the slider can in particular vary the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap and / or the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap of the thermostatic mixer, with cold water being able to be fed in particular via the cold water adjustment gap to the hot water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer and / or hot water being able to be fed in particular via the hot water adjustment gap to the hot water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer.The cold water adjustment gap and / or the hot water adjustment gap are formed, in particular, between the slider and the casing of the thermostatic mixer or the cartridge adapter of the mixing valve. The operation of the slider results in a simultaneous change in the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap and the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap. In this case, an increase in the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap leads in particular to a decrease in the hot water adjustment gap. Correspondingly, a decrease in the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap leads in particular to an increase in the hot water adjustment gap. Furthermore, an expansion or elongation of the expansion material element leads in particular to an increase in the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap and a decrease in the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap. Correspondingly, a contraction or shortening of the expansion material element leads in particular to a decrease in the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap and an increase in the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap. Thus, an increase in the mixed water temperature of the mixed water may lead to a decrease in the hot water temperature of the hot water. Thus, a decrease in the mixed water temperature of the mixed water may lead in particular to an increase in the hot water temperature of the hot water. If the mixed water temperature of the mixed water rises, for example, above a limit value, the slider can in particular completely close the hot water adjustment gap. In this case, the hot water temperature of the hot water corresponds to the cold water temperature of the cold water. In other words, in this case, the hot water consists exclusively of cold water. The hot water temperature of the hot water can be, for example, between 1°C and 60°C. The hot water mixed by the thermostatic mixer can then be fed to a mixing valve, which can mix the hot water with (another) cold water to form the mixed water. The expansion material member and the slider are arranged non-coaxially with respect to one another. This can in particular mean that the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material member and the second longitudinal axis of the slider do not coincide with one another. Furthermore, this can mean that the expansion material member and the slider are not arranged axially or consecutively in the direction of their longitudinal axes. This results in a smaller required construction space of the thermostatic mixer. Thereby, the thermostatic mixer can be arranged in the tap casing, for example in a cylindrical cavity and / or below the mixing valve.

[0010] The slider can be actuated by the expansive material member via the connecting element. The connecting element may at least partially consist of metal or plastic. In particular, the connecting element may consist of sheet metal and / or be formed in the form of a (flat) sheet metal component. Furthermore, the connecting element may be formed flat and / or in the form of a disk. Furthermore, the connecting element may be formed at least partially S-shaped. The slider can in particular be connected to the expansive material member by the connecting element, so that a change in length of the expansive material member leads to an actuation or displacement of the slider.

[0011] The connecting element can be slipped onto the slider or onto the expansion material element. For this purpose, the connecting element can have an opening for the slider and / or the expansion material element, respectively. Furthermore, the connecting element can be slipped onto or inserted, in particular into the first groove of the expansion material element or into the second groove of the slider, so that the connecting element is positively connected, in particular to the expansion material element or to the slider. The first groove of the expansion material element extends, in particular around the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material element and / or the second groove of the slider extends, in particular around the second longitudinal axis of the slider. In the first groove of the expansion material element, the connecting element can be arranged (substantially) without play, in particular in the direction of the first longitudinal axis. In the second groove of the expansion material element, the connecting element can be arranged (substantially) without play, in particular in the direction of the second longitudinal axis. After the connecting element has been slipped onto the slider or onto the expansion material element, the connecting element is in an open position. The connecting member can then be pivoted, in particular about the first longitudinal axis of the inflatable material member or the second longitudinal axis of the slider, into a closed position, in which the connecting member connects or connects the slider and the inflatable material member, such that the slider can be manipulated by the inflatable material member.

[0012] The coupling member may be S-shaped.

[0013] The coupling member may be pivotable between an open position and a closed position.

[0014] The slider and the expansion material member may be arranged in a casing of the thermostatic mixer, the casing having an attachment opening for the coupling member. The casing may in particular be (substantially) cylindrical. Furthermore, the casing may at least partially consist of metal and / or plastic. In particular, the casing may be a plastic injection-molded part. The attachment opening is in particular an opening in the casing, through which the coupling member can be slipped onto the expansion material member or the slider, if the expansion material member and the slider are arranged in the casing.

[0015] The mounting openings can be formed in the circumferential surface of the casing, which does not in particular mean the end surface of the casing.

[0016] The casing may be arranged in the tap casing in such a way that the coupling member is fixed in position so that it cannot be removed from the closed position. For this purpose, the casing of the thermostatic mixer may, for example, be arranged in a (tubular) casing insert of the tap casing. When the casing is located in the tap casing, the tap casing, the casing insert and / or further components of the sanitary tap can at least partially cover and / or at least partially close, in particular, the mounting opening of the casing of the thermostatic mixer. This makes it possible to prevent the coupling member from being rotated from the closed position to the open position.

[0017] The connecting member may have a thickness of 1 mm (millimeter) to 10 mm. Preferably, the connecting member may have a thickness of 3 mm to 6 mm.

[0018] The first longitudinal axis of the inflatable material member and the second longitudinal axis of the slider may run parallel to one another, which may in particular mean that a predefined distance is formed between the first longitudinal axis of the inflatable material member and the second longitudinal axis of the slider, which distance is in particular set perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes, so that the inflatable material member and the slider are in particular arranged side by side.

[0019] The connecting element can be displaceable via the expansion material element against a spring, which can be configured, for example, in the form of a coil spring, and which can generate a reaction force, in particular when the expansion material element contracts, which can return the connecting element and thus the slider attached to the connecting element.

[0020] The spring and the slider may in particular be arranged non-coaxially with respect to one another, in particular the spring may have a third longitudinal axis extending parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the expansion material member and / or the second longitudinal axis of the slider.

[0021] The expansion material member may be disposed in a first hollow chamber of the casing of the thermostatic mixer, and the slider may be disposed in a second hollow chamber of the casing of the thermostatic mixer, in other words, the expansion material member and the slider may be disposed spatially separated within the casing of the thermostatic mixer.

[0022] The slide can have a hot water passage for hot water, and for this purpose, the slide can in particular be at least partially tubular, so that hot water can be fed via the slide and the hot water adjustment gap into the hot water mixing chamber of the thermostatic mixer.

[0023] The expansion material member may be at least partially capable of allowing the mixed water to flow around it, and for this purpose the expansion material member may at least partially define a mixed water passage, and the mixed water mixed by the mixing valve can be fed via the mixed water passage to the outlet opening of the outlet.

[0024] According to one alternative embodiment, there is provided a method for installing a sanitary tap, comprising at least the following steps: a) disposing a slider and an inflatable material member within a casing; b) fitting the coupling member over the slider or the expansive material member; c) rotating the coupling member to a closed position in which the slider and the inflatable material member are coupled to one another by the coupling member; It has.

[0025] The coupling member may be pivotable between an open position and a closed position.

[0026] In step d), the cartridge adapter may be placed within the faucet casing, whereby the coupling member is fixed in position against removal from the closed position.

[0027] For further details of the method, please refer to the complete sanitary tap description.

[0028] Furthermore, the present specification also proposes the use of a coupling member (as proposed herein) to form a coupling means capable of pivotally engaging and / or disengaging a slider and an expansion material member arranged next to each other within a sanitary faucet.

[0029] In the following, the invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings, which show one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, without the invention being limited thereto, and in which the same components are provided with the same reference numerals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a sanitary faucet. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a sanitary faucet. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a thermostatic mixer of a sanitary faucet before installation, together with a coupling member. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary thermostatic mixer of a sanitary faucet with a coupling member in an open position. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a thermostatic mixer before installation in a faucet casing of a sanitary faucet. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a sanitary faucet.

[0031] In Fig. 1, a first embodiment of a sanitary tap 1 is shown in a side view. The sanitary tap 1 has a tap housing 2 with an outlet 16 and an outlet opening 17. Furthermore, the sanitary tap 1 has an operating lever 18 which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis to control the amount of mixed water dispensed and which can be rotated about a vertical axis to adjust the mixed water temperature. For this purpose, the operating lever 18 is connected to an adjusting lever 19 of a mixing valve 3 shown in Fig. 2, which here is formed in the form of a single-lever mixing cartridge.

[0032] In FIG. 2, the sanitary tap 1 is shown in a cross-section along the section line II-II shown in FIG. 1. In the tap casing 2 of the sanitary tap 1, a thermostatic mixer 4 is arranged, which mixes cold water with hot water to form hot water. The thermostatic mixer 4 has an expansion material member 5, which is connected to the slider 6 via a connecting member 9. For this purpose, the connecting member 9 engages in a first groove 22 of the expansion material member 5 and in a second groove 23 of the slider 6. Thus, in FIG. 2, the connecting member 9 is in the closed position 10. The expansion material member 5 and the slider 6 are not arranged coaxially with each other, but the first longitudinal axis 7 of the expansion material member 5 and the second longitudinal axis 8 of the slider 6 run parallel to each other at a certain distance 24. Furthermore, the first longitudinal axis 7 and the second longitudinal axis 8 run parallel to a casing longitudinal axis 25 of the casing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4 or of the tap casing 2 of the sanitary tap 1. The expansion mass element 5 is arranged in a first hollow space 26 of the casing 12, and the slider 6 is arranged in a second hollow space 27 of the casing 12. A hot water conduit 20 opens into the casing 12, via which hot water can be supplied to the thermostatic mixer 4. A hot water passage 28 runs through the slider 6, so that the slider 6 is tubular in shape. Hot water can be introduced into the hot water mixing chamber 30 of the thermostatic mixer 4 via the hot water passage 28 and the hot water adjustment gap 29. The hot water adjustment gap 29 is formed between the inner surface 31 of the slider 6 and a pin 32 of a cartridge adapter 33 of the mixing valve 3. Furthermore, the cold water conduit 21 shown in FIG. 1 opens into the casing 12. Via a cold water conduit (not visible in FIG. 2) in the casing 12, cold water can be supplied to the mixing valve 3 and to an annular gap 34 extending around the slider 6. Cold water can be supplied to the hot water mixing chamber 30 via a cold water regulating gap 35. The cold water regulating gap 35 is formed between the outer surface 36 of the slider 6 and the casing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4.

[0033] The expansion material member 5 defines a mixed water passage 37 through which the mixed water mixed by the mixing valve 3 can be supplied to the outlet opening 17 (shown in FIG. 1). Thus, during operation of the sanitary faucet 1, the expansion material member 5 expands in response to the mixed water temperature of the mixed water, and displaces the slider 6 via the coupling member 9 in a direction parallel to the second longitudinal axis 8 of the slider 6, thereby changing the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap 29 and the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap 35. When the mixed water temperature of the mixed water increases, the expansion material member 5 displaces the slider 6, thereby reducing the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap 29 and increasing the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap 35. When the mixed water temperature of the mixed water decreases, the expansion material member 5 displaces the slider 6, thereby increasing the gap width of the hot water adjustment gap 29 and decreasing the gap width of the cold water adjustment gap 35. For this purpose, the expansion material element 5 is preloaded by a spring 38, here formed in the form of a coil spring, which is arranged in the mixed water passage 37. The hot water mixed in the hot water mixing chamber 30 by the thermostatic mixer 4 can be fed via a hot water passage 39 (only partially visible here) to the mixing valve 3 and mixed with the cold water to form mixed water.

[0034] In Fig. 3, the thermostatic mixer 4 of the sanitary tap 1 shown in Fig. 2 is shown together with the connecting member 9 before installation. The casing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4 is substantially cylindrical and extends along the casing longitudinal axis 25. The connecting member 9 is S-shaped and has a first opening 40 and a second opening 41. Furthermore, the connecting member 9 has a predetermined thickness 15. To connect the expansion material member 5 to the slider 6, the connecting member 9 can be fitted with its first opening 40 into the second groove 23 of the slider 6 through the mounting opening 13 formed in the peripheral surface 14 of the casing 12 of the thermostatic mixer 4.

[0035] In Fig. 4, the thermostatic mixer 4 with the coupling member 9 is shown after the coupling member 9 has been inserted into the second groove 23 of the slider 6 with the first opening 40 shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4, the coupling member 9 is in the open position 11. In the open position 11, the coupling member 9 is pivotable about the second longitudinal axis 8 of the slider 6 shown in Fig. 2 until the coupling member 9 engages with the first groove 22 of the expansion material member 5 with its second opening 41.

[0036] 5 shows the thermostatic mixer 4 before it is mounted in the tap casing 2 of the sanitary tap 1. In FIG.

[0037] In Fig. 6, the sanitary tap 1 is shown in a cross-sectional view along the section line VI-VI shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 6, the thermostatic mixer 4 with the casing 12 is arranged in the tap casing 2, whereby the mounting opening 13 is covered by a tubular casing insert 42. This fixes the position of the coupling member 9 so that it cannot be removed from the closed position 10.

[0038] The invention makes it possible to create a thermostatic mixer for a sanitary tap, in particular one which requires a small construction space. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Sanitary faucet 2 Faucet casing 3 Mixing valve 4 Thermostatic Mixer 5 Expansion material components 6 Slider 7 First Longitudinal Axis 8 Second Longitudinal Axis 9 Connecting members 10 closed position 11 Open position 12 Casing 13 Mounting opening 14 Peripheral surface 15 Thickness 16 Outflow section 17 Outlet opening 18 Operating lever 19 Adjustment lever 20 Hot water pipe 21 Cold water conduit 22 First Groove 23 The Second Groove 24 intervals 25 Casing Longitudinal Axis 26 First Cavity 27 Second Cavity 28 Hot Water Passage 29 Hot water adjustment gap 30 Hot water mixing chamber 31 Inside 32-pin 33 Cartridge adapter 34 Annular Gap 35 Cold water adjustment gap 36 Exterior 37 Mixed water passage 38 Spring 39 Hot water passage 40 First opening 41 Second Opening 42 Casing insertion part

Claims

1. A sanitary tap (1) comprising at least - a tap casing (2), a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and hot water to form a mixed water; A thermostatic mixer (4) for mixing cold water and hot water to form hot water, the thermostatic mixer (4) having an expansion material member (5) and a slider (6) operable by the expansion material member (5) for adjusting the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water, the expansion material member (5) and the slider (6) being arranged non-coaxially with each other, the slider (6) being operable by the expansion material member (5) via a connecting member (9), the connecting member (9) being fitted onto the slider (6) or the expansion material member (5) and then being pivoted to a closed position (10), in which the slider (6) and the expansion material member (5) are connected to each other via the connecting member (9). A sanitary faucet (1) having the same structure.

2. The sanitary tap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member (9) is formed in an S-shape.

3. The sanitary tap (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling member (9) is rotatable between an open position (11) and the closed position (10).

4. The sanitary faucet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slider (6) and the expansion material member (5) are arranged in a casing (12) of the thermostatic mixer (4), the casing (12) having an installation opening (13) for the connecting member (9).

5. The sanitary tap (1) according to claim 4, wherein the mounting opening (13) is formed in a peripheral surface (14) of the casing (12).

6. The sanitary faucet (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the casing (12) is arranged in the faucet casing (2) so that the connecting member (9) is fixed in position so as not to move out of the closed position (10).

7. The sanitary tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member (9) has a thickness (15) of between 1 mm and 10 mm.

8. A method for installing a sanitary tap (1) comprising at least the following steps: a) placing the slider (6) and the inflatable material member (5) in a casing (12); b) fitting a coupling member (9) onto said slider (6) or said expansible material member (5); c) pivoting said coupling member (9) to a closed position (10) in which said slider (6) and said inflatable material member (5) are coupled to each other by said coupling member (9); The method comprises:

9. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the coupling member (9) is pivotable between an open position (11) and the closed position (10).

10. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in step d) the casing (12) is placed in the tap casing (2), thereby fixing the coupling member (9) in position so that it cannot move out of the closed position (10).

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