Sanitary Fitting Mobile Control for Hygiene Flushing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary fittings for building drinking water networks face challenges in optimizing flexibility during hygienic flushing with complex control technology, requiring a solution that simplifies control technology while maintaining effectiveness in germ removal.

Innovation Solution

The sanitary fitting is designed to be mobile radio-capable, allowing independent mobile phone connections for each fitting, enabling communication with a cloud server system for flexible control and bidirectional data transmission, which simplifies the control structure and enhances hygienic flushing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If existing sanitary fittings are connected via a data bus system to a control unit with intermediate controllers, then flushing control can be implemented, but the control system design becomes complex and control engineering effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic flushing controlVSAvoidcontrol system design
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control system into independent segments where each sanitary fitting has its own integrated control unit and mobile communication module. This eliminates the need for complex centralized control with intermediate controllers, as each fitting autonomously receives and executes flushing instructions via mobile network, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mobile communication network as an intermediary between the cloud server system and the sanitary fittings. This mobile network mediator replaces the complex data bus system with intermediate controllers, enabling simple direct communication between the cloud server and each fitting's integrated control unit, thus simplifying the control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If building drinking water network is extended, then coverage is improved, but control technology challenges increase with existing fittings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidcontrol technology
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes each sanitary fitting universally compatible with mobile communication networks through integrated control units with mobile communication modules. This universal interface allows new fittings to be easily added to extended networks without requiring specialized control infrastructure, enabling straightforward network expansion while maintaining consistent control functionality across all locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cloud server system is used for centralized control, then flushing optimization is improved, but network dependency and control complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflushing strategy flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service control where each sanitary fitting's integrated control unit autonomously receives flushing instructions, interprets them, and executes the appropriate valve control actions. This decentralized self-service approach eliminates the need for complex local control infrastructure while maintaining the flexibility benefits of cloud-based flushing strategies, as each fitting independently manages its own control operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3708719B1Sanitary fitting for a building drinking water network
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 SCHELL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3708719B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3708719B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting for a building drinking water network (6, 7) with a fitting housing (1a-5a), with an electrically controllable water outlet valve (1b-5b) and with a mobile radio-enabled fitting control (1c-5c), wherein the fitting control (1c-5c) is configured to receive communication objects in the form of hygiene flushing instructions via a mobile communication connection (1d-5d) and to implement them by controlling the water outlet valve (1b-5b).