EP0904469B1 - Sanitary fitting in the form of a single-lever mixer tap - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE97/01164 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 9, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 9, 1998 PCT Filed Jun. 9, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/47828 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 18, 1997A sanitary fitting is provided having a housing part (5) and an exit part (6) containing the exit channel (7), wherein in the housing part (5) a mixer tap (11) for mixing cold and warm fluid and for controlling the flow rate is positioned and is actuatable between a closed final position and an opened final position by a control rod (10) connected to an actuating lever (8), wherein an electrically controllable valve (14) is fitted downstream of the mixer tap (11) by the means of which a fluid emanating from the mixer tap (11) before entering into the exit channel is guided, wherein the electrically control valve (14) by the means of a control electronic circuit (39) is connected to a proximity sensor (37) and, wherein the electrically controllable valve (14) additionally can be controlled mechanically by means of the actuating lever (8) via the control rod (10), wherein a lever arrangement (12) is provided between the control rod (10) and the electrically controllable valve (14) which mechanically is adjusting the electrically controllable valve (14).

Description

The invention relates to a single-lever mixer Sanitary fitting according to the features of the preamble of the claim 1.

Sanitary fittings designed as single-lever mixers are known. They have the mixer taps that used to be common with two manually adjustable valves for cold and warm water largely replaced and usually consist of one Mixer tap with only one operating lever, which has a Control rod a control piston arranged in the mixer tap operated. The operating lever is on both sides can also be swiveled vertically. While through the side Swiveling the mixture of cold and warm water is carried out by the vertical pivoting movement regulating the amount of water.

In the known single lever mixers, both the and switching off the valve as well as the temperature selection and Quantity regulation of the water manually. This has proven to be proven disadvantageous because a once set optimal Water temperature or a once set as optimal Volume flow every time the valve is closed laboriously readjusted. For such settings a significant amount of unused water is required.

Especially for hygienic reasons (heavily soiled Hands, risk of transmission of pathogens in public Toilets, etc.) it is also desirable that Single-lever mixer can also be operated without contact.

A sanitary fitting designed as a single lever mixer after The preamble of claim 1 is known from US-A-5,358,213. In this known single lever mixer, however, one automatic operation to open the valve only in the closed End position of the operating lever possible because in all other manually set positions electrical opening allowing play between the actuators is canceled.

From DE 25 33 527 A1 a sanitary fitting with two is manual adjustable valves for cold and warm water known with a solenoid valve turned on in the outlet channel is. This is done using a proximity switch a control electronics operated as soon as an object enters the monitoring area of the proximity switch. Apart from the not very attractive structure of such a non-contact controlled sanitary fitting at the Parts of the solenoid valve and electrical lines are good are mounted on the spout, this valve has the disadvantage that manual switching on and off, as with conventional manually operated fittings, is no longer possible. So the power supply drops of the solenoid valve for any reason, the armature no more water can be removed.

Starting from a single lever mixer according to the generic term of Claim 1 is the object of the invention, this to further develop that about the pivoting of the operating lever in the vertical direction the electronic Control can be switched off.

This object is achieved by the features of characterizing part of claim 1 solved. More, especially disclose advantageous embodiments of the invention the subclaims.

The invention is essentially based on the idea that Single-lever mixer tap an electrically controllable Downstream valve, its function not only by the Switching signals of the control electronics depends, but also on the position of the operating lever of the valve. For this are preferably the control rod connected to the actuating lever and the electrically controllable valve mechanically coupled that the valve on the one hand despite the corresponding opening signals generated by the proximity sensor etc. remains closed, provided that the mixer tap is closed (the operating lever of the valve is located usually in its lower position). On the other hand the electrically controllable valve remains without a corresponding one Opening signals from the proximity sensor opened, if the mixer tap by operating the control rod is fully open (the valve lever is located usually in its upper position).

In a predeterminable range between the closed and the mixer tap is fully open opening and closing of the electrically controllable valve solely by those generated by the proximity sensor and by the control electronics prepared control signals.

Therefore falls in the single-lever mixer according to the invention Power supply to the control electronics can be done with the valve water can still be tapped by pulling the lever from the closed position of the mixer tap in the fully open position is pivoted. So in this position the water did not suddenly enter the corresponding pool injected, it has proven advantageous to the control piston and the cartridge sleeve surrounding the control piston Mixer tap in such a way that the complete open position of the mixer tap a reduction in Liquid flow takes place.

In a particularly simple and advantageous manner, the mechanical control of the valve depending on the Reach the position of the control rod if it is electrically controllable valve around a known solenoid valve acts. Such solenoid valves consist of a magnetic switching part and a mechanical valve part. The magnetic switching part has one for opening and existing control pin to close the valve on by an electromagnet against the pressure of a spring is axially displaceable. Also a permanent magnet provided the control pin after switching off of the electromagnet in its shifted against the pressure of the spring Holds position.

To achieve that the solenoid valve in the closed Position of the mixer tap despite energizing the corresponding one Magnetic coils closed or without energizing the corresponding Solenoid coil remains open provided the mixer tap is fully open, is the invention Control rod with the permanent magnet of the magnetic switching part mechanically connected via at least one lever. Becomes the axial position of the control rod changed, so it shifts the permanent magnet also changes and changes its distance with respect to the control pin of the switching part, namely such that in the closed position of the mixer tap the permanent magnet no longer has a functionally relevant effect exerts the control pin and in the fully open Position of the control rod of the permanent magnet the control pin constantly attracts.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the lever is designed as a lever, so that pulling the Control rod movement of the permanent magnet to the control pin towards, the mutual movement of Control rod and permanent magnet through one on the control rod arranged backdrop is set on which the sliding along one end of the bellcrank.

So the solenoid valve only when controlling the flow a small force, it has proven to be advantageous proven to have a pilot operated (pilot operated) valve use a membrane or piston is which is under the effect of the two sides Water pressures moved relative to the valve seat and a pilot opening having. To control the valve, the Pilot opening through the electromagnet of the switching part actuatable control pin opened or closed.

A major advantage of the single lever mixer according to the invention is that regardless of whether the fitting is operated without contact or in the event of a power failure is operated manually, the mixing function of the valve is not is affected.

Another major advantage is that the required with conventional single lever mixers Sealing by means of relatively expensive ceramic sealing washers is not necessary can. Because of the sealing function of the mixer tap in its closed position can be low requirements be put because of a perfect seal the downstream solenoid valve is responsible.

It has also proven to be particularly advantageous that a not familiar with the single-lever mixer according to the invention Person can tap water even if they are in the case of contactless operation of the valve the electrically controllable Valve not activated using the proximity sensor. Because such a person becomes the single-lever mixer in conventional Way by pivoting the operating lever operate and also receives in the end position of the lever Water because the valve by the mechanical adjustment of the Permanent magnet is opened.

For aesthetic reasons, but also for security reasons it has also proven to be advantageous if this is electrical controllable valve including electrical Control lines inside the housing of the single lever mixer are arranged. These parts are therefore not from the outside visible.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Einhebelmischer mit schematisch angedeuteter Mischbatterie und einem Magnetventil, welche beide durch die gleiche Steuerstange betätigbar sind;

Fig. 2

einen Teilschnitt durch ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Magnetventiles mit verschwenkbarem Permanentmagnet, welcher über einen Umlenkhebel mit der Steuerstange verbunden ist;

Fig. 3

ein Diagramm, welches die Lage des Permanentmagneten des Magnetventiles in Abhängigkeit von der Stellung der Steuerstange wiedergibt und

Fig. 4-6

schematisch die den einzelnen in Fig. 3 mit I-III bezeichneten Bereichen entsprechenden Stellungen des Permanentmagneten in bezug auf den Steuerstift des Magnetventiles.

Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following exemplary embodiments explained with reference to figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through a single-lever mixer according to the invention with a schematically indicated mixer tap and a solenoid valve, both of which can be actuated by the same control rod;

Fig. 2

a partial section through a first embodiment of a solenoid valve with pivotable permanent magnet, which is connected to the control rod via a bell crank;

Fig. 3

a diagram showing the position of the permanent magnet of the solenoid valve as a function of the position of the control rod and

Fig. 4-6

schematically the positions of the permanent magnet corresponding to the individual areas designated by I-III in FIG. 3 with respect to the control pin of the solenoid valve.

In Fig. 1, 1 denotes a single lever mixer, for example is attached to a sink 2. The single lever mixer 1 is both with a cold water pipe 3 as also connected to a hot water pipe 4.

The single-lever mixer consists of a housing part 5 with a rigid Outlet 6 with outlet channel 7 and a head piece Operating lever 8. The operating lever 8 is via an intermediate piece 9 and a control rod 10 with a Mixer tap 11 connected. In addition, the control rod is 10 via a lever arrangement 12 with the permanent magnet 13 Solenoid valves 14 mechanically connected.

The water reaches the cold and hot water pipes 3, 4 via corresponding inlets into the mixer tap 11 there according to the position of one with the control rod 10 connected control piston (not shown) mixed and then passes from the outlet 15 of the mixer tap 11 via the Solenoid valve 14 to the outlet channel 7.

The solenoid valve 14 (see FIG. 2) is a known pilot valve, which acts as a switching valve is used. It consists of a magnetic switching part 16 and a mechanical valve part 17.

The switching part 16 contains a control pin 18, the lower one End extends into the valve part 17 and there one Pilot opening 19 of a piston 20 closes. The upper The area of the control pin 18 is made from a sleeve 21 surrounded by non-magnetic material, which in turn is within the solenoid 22 of an electromagnet 23 is arranged. The upper end face 24 of the control pin 18 is supported by means of a compression spring 25 on the sleeve 21.

The permanent magnet 13, which according to the invention on the bell crank 12 is attached, is pivotable about an axis 26 on a Boom 27 of the solenoid valve 14 arranged. On his, The side facing away from the permanent magnet 13 is the lever arrangement 12 provided with a roller 29 on one the control rod 10 attached rotationally symmetrical backdrop 30 is present. The backdrop essentially has three different ones Areas 31-33.

If the control rod 10 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 34, so the position of the lever assembly 12 and changes so that the permanent magnet 13 does not last as long as supports the roller 29 in the area 31 of the backdrop 30. In regions 32 and 33, on the other hand, become permanent magnet 13 in the direction of the control pin 18 towards or from the control pin 18 pivoted away. As below using FIGS. 3-6 will be explained later, the solenoid valve 14 loses in its bistable behavior at these positions.

The liquid inlets and outlets of the solenoid valve 14 are designated by the reference numerals 35 and 36.

On the underside of the outlet 6 of the single-lever mixer 1 a proximity sensor 37 is provided (FIG. 1), which has a electrical line 38 connected to control electronics 39 is. The control electronics 39 is in turn over others electrical lines 40 with both a power source 41, which is accommodated in the form of a battery in the head piece 8 is also connected to the solenoid valve 14.

In the following, the mode of action is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 of the single-lever mixer 1 according to the invention explained in more detail. Here was for simplicity in Figs. 4-6 Pivotal movement of the permanent magnet 13 by displacement of the magnet in the vertical direction.

First, the single-lever mixer 1 may be in its closed position Position. This means that the operating lever 8 (Fig. 1) pressed down and the mixer tap 11 is also closed.

In addition, the distance 42 of the permanent magnet is in this position 13 from the end face 24 of the control pin 18 of the Solenoid valves 14 (Fig. 4) chosen so large that the control pin 18 after switching off the electromagnet 23 not from the permanent magnet 13 can be held and by the spring 25 is pushed into its lower switch position. The solenoid valve therefore only has a stable one in this case Position in which the control pin, the pilot opening 19 of the Piston 20 closes. An electrical opening of the solenoid valve 14, for example due to disturbance variables (e.g. while on vacation), can not.

When the operating lever 8 swings up gradually the solenoid valve 14 also remains within the I in FIG. 3 designated pivoting range, that designated in Fig. 2 with 33 Backstage area corresponds, still closed.

The distance 42 between the permanent magnet 13 decreases and control pin 18 by pulling the operating lever 8 further, so becomes the swivel range designated II in FIG. 3 of the actuating lever which reaches the link area 31 corresponds. Within this area is the control pen 18 after switching off the electromagnet 23 solely by the Magnetic force of the permanent magnet 13 against the restoring force held by the pen. The control pin 18 is in his upper switch position and the valve is open.

Controlling the control pin 18 back into its lower one Switch position takes place by reactivating the electromagnet 23, the permanent magnet after switching the current direction 13 counteracts. The closed one thereby achieved Position of the solenoid valve 14 is also stable because the force of the spring 25 is designed to be greater than that Distance remaining attraction of the permanent magnet 13. The solenoid valve 14 operates in the swivel range II therefore bistable.

In the swivel range designated by III in FIG 2 corresponds to the backdrop area 32, the distance 42 of the permanent magnet 13 so small that the control pin 18th constantly by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 13 against the force of the spring 25 remains in this position. An electric one It is not possible to close the solenoid valve. The The valve is only in a stable position.

The invention is of course not based on the above described embodiment limited. So, depending on Attachment of the operating lever to the control rod Execution of corresponding functions a reversal of the direction of movement the control rod, so that for actuation of the electrically controlled valve 14 the connecting lever 12 be adapted accordingly to this sequence of movements got to.

It also needs power for the valve, the proximity sensor and electronics not necessarily are a battery arranged in the head piece 8. Rather, a power supply can also be used, which for example, is integrated in the control electronics.

It has also proven to be particularly advantageous if the mixer tap 11 and the electrically controllable valve 14 are arranged in an exchangeable cartridge. Thereby is a simple and cost-saving assembly on the one hand the valve possible. On the other hand, the tap can be used Malfunctions in the mixer tap or the valve due to replacement repair the cartridge quickly. A corresponding schematic shown cartridge is in Fig. 1 with the reference numeral 43 provided.

Finally need the housing part with mixer tap and Valve and the outlet of the sanitary fitting are not mandatory be combined in one unit. Especially with bathtub fittings it has proven to be advantageous to both fittings separately on the corresponding one adjacent to the tub Arrange room wall.

Reference list

1

Single lever mixer

2nd

sink

3rd

Cold water pipe

4th

Hot water pipe

5

Housing part

6

Spout

7

Outlet channel

8th

Actuation lever, head piece

9

Spacer

10th

Control rod

11

Mixer tap

12th

Bell crank, lever

13

Permanent magnet

14

Solenoid valve, electrically controllable Valve

15

Spout (mixer tap)

16

magnetic switching part

17th

mechanical valve part

18th

Control pin

19th

Pilot opening

20th

piston

21

Sleeve

22

Solenoid

23

Electromagnet

24th

Face

25th

Spring, compression spring

26

axis

27

boom

28

page

29

role

30th

Backdrop

31-33

Backdrop areas

34

arrow

35

Fluid intake

36

Liquid outlet

37

Proximity sensor

38

electrical line

39

Control electronics

40

electrical line

41

Power source

42

distance

43

exchangeable cartridge

Claims (9)

1. Sanitary fitting performed as a single-lever mixer having a housing part (5) and an exit part (6) containing the exit channel (7), wherein in the housing part (5) a mixer tap (11) for mixing cold and warm fluid and for controlling the flow rate is positioned and is actuable between a closed final position and an opened final position by the means of a control rod (10) being connected to an actuating lever (8), wherein an electrically controllable valve (14) is fitted downstream of the mixer tap (11) by the means of which the fluid emanating from the mixer tap (11) before entering into the exit channel is guided, wherein the electrically control valve (14) by the means of a control electronic circuit (39) is connected to a proximity sensor (37) and, wherein the electrically controllable valve (14) additionally can be controlled mechanically by means of the actuating lever (8) via the control rod (10), characterized in that a lever arrangement (12) is provided between the control rod (10) and the electrically controllable valve (14) which mechanically is adjusting the electrically controllable valve (14) in such a way

   a) that in the closed end position of the mixer tap (11) or within a first pivot range (I) of the actuating lever (8) following said end position respectively, in spite of electric control signals applied to the electrically controllable valve (14) the valve (14) is remaining closed,

   b) that in the completely opened final position of the mixer tap (11) or within a third pivot range (III) preceding said end position the valve (14) is remaining opened, too, in spite of electric control signals applied to the valve (14) and,

   c) that within a second pivot range (II) of the actuating lever (8) being positioned between the first and the third range the electrically controllable valve (14) is remaining closed and is opened only by the means of activation by the proximity sensor (37).
2. Single-lever mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically controllable valve (14) is a solenoid valve having a magnetic switch member (16) and a mechanic valve member (17),

   that the magnetic switch member (16) is having a control pin (18) acting on the valve member (17), said control pin (18) being axially displaceable by an electromagnet (23) against the pressure of a spring (25),

   that above the side of the control pin (18) being distant from the valve member (17) a permanent magnet (13) is provided which by means of the lever arrangement (12) is connected to the control rod (10) in such a way that the distance (42) of the permanent magnet (13) with respect to the control pin (18) can be changed corresponding to the axial position of the control rod (10) in such a way that in the closed position of the mixer tap (11) or in the first pivot range (1) of the actuating lever (8) respectively, the permanent magnet (13) has no more any effect on the control pin (18) being relevant to function,

   that in the completely opened position of the mixer tap (11) or in the third pivot range (III) of the actuating lever (8), respectively, the permanent magnet (13) continuously is attracting the control pin (18) and,

   in that the solenoid valve (14) in the second pivot range (II) of the actuating lever is working in a bistable manner and the control pin (18) after switching of the electromagnet (23), in dependence from the previous direction of the current in the electromagnet (23) either is maintained in the closed position of the valve by the force of the spring (25) or is maintained in the opened valve position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet (13).
3. Single-lever mixer according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever arrangement (12) is performed as a reversing lever the side (28) of which being distant from the permanent magnet (13) being guided by a gate (30) pivotably connected to the control rod (10) in such a way that the electromagnet (23) in the individual pivot ranges (I - III) is adopting the necessary positions for the corresponding functions of the solenoid valve (14).
4. Single-lever mixer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the solenoid valve (14) is performed as a pilot valve, the pilot opening (19) of which can be closed by the control pin (18).
5. Single-lever mixer according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control piston and the shell enclosing the control piston of the mixer tap (11) are performed such that in the completely opened position of the mixer tap (11) a reducing of the fluid flow is occurring.
6. Single-lever mixer according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrically controllable valve (14) is completely positioned within the housing part (5) of the single-lever mixer (1).
7. Single-lever mixer according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mixer tap (11) and the electrically controllable valve (14) are positioned within a replaceable shell (43).
8. Single-lever mixer according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the proximity sensor (37) being positioned on the bottom side of the exit part (7) by the means of a electric line extending within the housing part (5) is connected to the control circuit (39).
9. Single-lever mixer according to claim 8, characterized in that for the current supply of the proximity sensor (37), the control circuit (39) and the electrically controllable valve (14) there is provided a storage battery (41) and, in that the storage battery replaceably is positioned in the head piece (18) of the single-lever mixer (1).

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