Patent Grant
7107631
The present invention relates to a washing and/or drying device according to the preamble of Claim 1.
In the framework of the present description, a washing and/or drying device is to be understood as a device like a washstand or sink unit, a bidet, toilet, urinal, a bathtub, a shower stall and/or a drying device for contactless hand drying. Washstands and sink units and drying devices of this type are used in plumbing units of all types, for body care in bathrooms, for example, for washing purposes in kitchens, for cleaning purposes in semi-public and public sanitary facilities such as toilets and shower rooms, as well as in laboratories, the food industry, homes for the elderly and convalescent, and hospitals. Depending on the use, porcelain, stoneware, stone, particularly natural stone such as marble, plastic, enameled sheet metal and chromed sheet steel are typical as materials for basins for installing or mounting washing devices of this type; modern basins are occasionally made of opaque plastics such as Corian and of transparent or translucent materials such as acrylic, glass, or Quaryl. Metals, such as lacquered and/or enameled sheet metal or even bare chromed sheet steel, are known above all as materials for housings of drying devices of the type cited.
It is to be noted here that the concept of fresh water in the framework of the present description is to be understood as cold and/or hot water flowing into the basin and the concept of dirty water is to be understood as water flowing out of the basin, including the additives contained therein.
The washing devices typically comprise a basin and a supply armature and typically also have a drain armature. The basin is delimited by a basin wall and is attachable to a structure or a building wall. The supply armature, which is generally referred to as a faucet, has a connecting piece, via which the fresh water reaches the basin. The connecting piece is connected to a building supply line for the fresh water; the fresh water is supplied to the basin from a tank or a network. Furthermore, the supply armature contains a shut-off member, which is movable and/or rotatable or displaceable between a closed setting and at least one open setting using an actuating element such as a control knob or lever. In the closed setting, the supply of fresh water to the basin is suppressed, in the open setting(s), the fresh water may reach the basin through the connecting piece at a greater or lesser flow rate. The supply armature is preferably attached in a first opening of the basin wall. The dirty water is preferably drained via a second opening, in which at least one drain armature is mounted, into a drain line. The drain armature typically includes a stench trap, which is usually referred to as a siphon.
The typical washing devices described above are subject to numerous disadvantages, which are more or less significant depending on their intended purpose. In particular, it is disadvantageous for various reasons, such as the danger of damage due to vandalism, and the comfort of use and cleaning, that the armatures, which are mounted on the edge region of the cavity of the basin, project into the inside of the basin.
Practical vandal-safe washing devices are known, which are used above all in washrooms of industrial operations. They have round basins, accessible from all sides, made of chromed sheet steel, which contain a column in their center, clad with chromed sheet steel and projecting well over the edge of the basin, in which the supply line of the fresh water is positioned. The column has openings in its upper region through which the fresh water flows out. However, this washing device is only suitable for cases in which a certain number of persons always use it simultaneously, since individual control of the water supply is not provided.
A practical vandal-safe drinking water dispenser, actually a fountain, in which a connecting piece for supplying the drinking water is integrated into the lowest point of the basin wall, is also known. Drinking water flows through the connecting piece in small quantities, i.e., upward in a thin stream, in such a way that the stream extends somewhat above the upper edge of the basin. The actual basin, which is concave upward, is largely covered by a hood outside the stream region, in order to prevent improper usage of the drinking water dispenser. The drinking water is supplied continuously, neither the quantity of drinking water over time nor its temperature may be controlled by the user of the drinking fountain.
A washing device according to the species, which functions automatically without the user having to touch any part of the device, is known from WO 93/10311. In this case, two sensors determine the presence of the hands to be washed and initiate a cleaning process controlled via a time relay. However, the user may not change the time sequence of the admission of wetting water, cleaner, and washing water, nor is he able to adjust the water requirements to his needs.
Therefore, it has been determined that no washing devices, particularly in the form of washstands and sink units, are known which ensure both sufficient security from vandalism and which also are optimally designed in regard to production, cleaning possibilities, and economic water consumption, but particularly also in regard to hygiene and comfort in use. A corresponding determination may also be made in regard to drying devices.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a washing and/or drying device of the type initially cited which avoids the disadvantages of the related art.
This object is achieved—according to a first aspect—by the features of Claim 1, in that a device for controlling and/or regulating a supply of a medium through a supply unit for an impingement device is suggested. In this case, the supply unit includes at least one shut-off member and each shut-off member may be brought into a closed position and/or at least one open position using an actuating element. In addition, the device includes a sensor device for contactless determination of the presence of material to be impinged by this medium. The device according to the present invention is distinguished in that this sensor device is additionally implemented for contactless determination of the relative position of this material in relation to the impingement device and for outputting signals which act on the actuating elements in such a way that these elements bring the shut-off members into a setting corresponding to the presence and the position of the material to be impinged using this medium. Refinements of the device for control and/or regulation according to the present invention result from the dependent claims.
The object is achieved according to a second aspect through the suggestion of a washing device and/or drying device, which are distinguished in that they include such a device for controlling the supply of water and/or hot air, for hand washing and/or hand drying. Preferred additional features and/or refinements of the washing and/or drying device according to the present invention result from the dependent claims.
This object is achieved according to a third aspect through the suggestion of a method for contactless control and/or regulation of a supply of a medium through a supply unit for an impingement device. In this case, the supply unit includes at least one shut-off member and each shut-off member may be brought into a closed position and/or at least one position using an actuating element. In addition, the device includes a sensor for contactless determination of the presences of material to be impinged using this medium, using which at least one (high-energy) field is generated. The method according to the present invention is distinguished in that the contactless detection of this at least one field using the sensor device registers the relative position of this material in relation to the impingement device and outputs signals which act on the actuating elements in such a way that these elements bring the shut-off members into a setting corresponding to the presence and the position of the material to be impinged using this medium. Refinements of the method according to the present invention result from the dependent claims.
A washing and/or drying device according to the present invention therefore differs from typical devices in that it has a supply device whose actuation may be remote-controlled as a function of the presence and position of the body parts (e.g., hands) to be washed and/or dried.
Advantages in relation to the related art result, for example, in that the washing devices suggested:
The connecting piece of the supply device may be formed by the material of the basin wall, the delimitation of the opening simultaneously forming the wall of the connecting piece. For basins having basin walls of lesser wall thicknesses made of sheet metal, a deep-drawn connecting piece may be shaped on, preferably onto the outside of the basin. The connecting piece may also be formed by a pipe-like inserted part received in the opening and/or breakout. It may be attached there through suitable means; screws, press fitting, gluing, or possibly soldering may be considered for this purpose. The outlet region of the connecting piece is preferably implemented so that a bubbling fresh water stream which is mixed with air is generated, since in this way less water spray arises during use of the washing device.
For uses in regions which are especially subject to vandals, it is advisable to implement the washing device suggested in such a way that the outlet cross-section of the connecting piece is practically not visible and is not accessible for a user of the washing device. For this purpose, the connecting piece of the supply device is preferably integrated into the basin wall in such a way that its outlet cross-section lies essentially flush with the adjoining inner surface of the basin wall. In this case, the connecting piece is mounted fixed in a first opening. Such a washing device is vandal-safe, since there are no armature parts of the supply device to which the user has access. In this way, significant savings for repairs which arise with typical washing devices may be achieved. Coverage is possible through a rosette, as for a cylinder of a lock. Even if an outlet end of the connecting piece, which is provided with a fixed spray nozzle, projects slightly into the basin, vandalism may be avoided if a rosette similar to a truncated cone, which encloses the outlet end, is mounted, similar to the way in which they are frequently used for protecting cylinders of locks.
However, the washing device suggested is also suitable for regions in which no vandalism is to be feared. In such regions, it is not imperative for the supporting piece to be integrated into the basin wall and mounted fixed therein in such a way that its outlet cross-section is positioned practically flush with the inner surface of the basin wall. It may even be desirable for the connecting piece to have a connecting piece extension, protecting slightly into the inside of the basin, which runs at least approximately in the direction of the opening. The connecting piece extension is dimensioned in this case in such a way that the outlet cross-section of the connecting piece is near the basin wall, so that the access to the basin is kept free. This implementation of the connecting piece would also allow operating units to be attached to the connecting piece extension, with which, for example, the quantity of fresh water flowing in over time, the mixing ratio of hot to cold fresh water, and/or the temperature of the fresh water and the stream configuration may be influenced. In addition, the connecting piece extension may be used as a decorative element.
The connecting piece may also be placed on the wash basin. The connecting piece may also be implemented as flexible or in multiple parts, in such a way that the connecting piece extension which projects into the basin is pivotable around one or two axes or around a point. Furthermore, there is the possibility of designing the connecting piece in such a way that the position of the connecting piece extension is determined by the quantity and/or pressure of the fresh water flowing in.
In certain cases, particularly for washing purposes in kitchens or laboratories or even for washing hair in bathrooms or hair salons, it is desirable to connect the connecting piece to the fresh water supply via a flexible line. The connecting piece and hose may then be pulled from a rest position, in which the connecting piece does not project into the basin or only the connecting piece extension projects, into an active position, in which the connecting piece is manually guided.
In order to increase the operating comfort, the washing device suggested may also be implemented so that not only fresh water, but also additives, generally in liquid form, such as detergent and/or soap solutions and/or a disinfectant used after washing and possibly hot air for drying the object or body part washed, may be supplied through the connecting piece already cited or possibly through one or more additional connecting pieces.
The supply of the fresh water is not controlled directly through manual actuation of an actuating element such as a lever or a control knob, but is remote-controlled with the aid of a sensor device, which is connected to the shut-off member via a pneumatic or electrical line arrangement. In this case, however, the quantity of water supplied over time, the mixing ratio of hot to cold fresh water, and the stream configuration may be influenced by the user, if a suitable sensor device is positioned. Typical washing devices having typical armature parts like faucets, particularly in public areas, are already often currently equipped with sensors which react to pressure and/or contact, which may be actuated by hand or foot pressure. Sensors which are actuated through foot pressure are preferable for hygienic reasons, since renewed contamination of the just washed hands by touching the supply device is dispensed with. Furthermore, there are currently systems which operate using infrared and/or radar. However, these systems only allow the supply to be switched on and off.
Not only for hygienic reasons, but also for ecological reasons, i.e., for reduction of the fresh water consumed and the energy consumed, it is especially advantageous to control the supply of the fresh water, and preferably its quantity and temperature, remotely with the aid of sensors acting without contact, which only bring the shut-off member into an open setting when an object or body part to be cleaned is located in the basin. Such sensors largely prevent improper use by a user and allow thrifty fresh water consumption.
As an example of this remote control, a sequence of hand washing and drying in a combined washing/drying basin, selected for exemplary purposes, is described:
For the safety of the user, the maximum temperatures for water and air are preferably permanently set at a safe value of 55° C. and may not be exceeded in any case.
Among other things, the following embodiments or combinations of the sensors, which are well-known to all those skilled in the art, are especially suitable for controlling and/or regulating, i.e., for triggering and influencing, the supply of the fresh water and possibly the quantity and temperature of the fresh water with the aid of remote-controlled contactless sensors:
The sensors of the sensor device may be positioned in and/or on the basin or in the surroundings of the washing device, for example, on or in the structure which supports the basin, on or in a building wall, a floor, or a room ceiling; if the washing device is endangered by vandals, it is suggested that the sensors be positioned so that the user has no access thereto. In addition, the sensors may be positioned in a connecting piece positioned on the basin, which also provides the supply of the medium. In connection with the present invention, the concept of “medium” includes all fluid media which may be used for cleaning and/or drying material, such as detergent, cold water, hot water, mixed water, disinfectant, gases such as nitrogen gas, or heated air. The concept of “material” includes all body parts or objects which may be impinged using the media for washing and/or drying.
As described above, the washing device suggested may be implemented in such a way that the supply of fresh water, i.e., its quantity flowing in over time and its temperature and/or the mixing ratio of hot water to cold water, may be influenced by the user. The quantity and/or temperature of the fresh water and/or of the medium may also be determined in other ways, for example, as follows:
The quantity of fresh water flowing in may be fixed or set by influencing suitable parameters; for example, the quantity may be regulated as a function of the pressure in the supply line. The temperature of the fresh water flowing in may be regulated or controlled and/or set and stored at a fixed value.
The influencing of the temperature may be performed as follows:
Up to this point, only the supply of the medium to the basin and the supply device used for this purpose has been described in more detail. As was already briefly mentioned above, typical washing devices also have a drain armature, via which the dirty water may flow into the building sewer line and then into the sewer system.
It is mentioned here only for the sake of completeness that the drain armature may either allow continuous drainage of the dirty water or may have a typical device, using which the water may be prevented from flowing out of the basin, the arrangement of a non-closable overflow opening being necessary or at least extremely recommended in the latter case.
The drain armature is typically provided with a stench trap device, which is referred to as a siphon, having multiple angles. This stench trap device is implemented in such a way that the line between the basin and the sewer system is always completely filled with water in at least one cross-section, but in practice in a certain region. Through this water, a type of stopper is formed, which prevents the smells of the sewer system from flowing into the basin and thus into the room. If a basin is not used for a certain period of time, a part of the water which forms the stopper will evaporate, as a function of the ambient temperature and the ambient pressure, so that the stench trap is not maintained. In order to prevent this, the washing device suggested—as well as any other washing and/or drying device provided with an automatic supply for fresh water—may be provided with a protective device for maintaining the stench trap. This protective device has a sensor positioned in the region of the siphon, which reacts to a change of a state variable in a siphon, the water level or stench, for example, and causes a small quantity of fresh water to flow into the basin in the event of inadequacy of the stench trap, in order to produce the stench trap again. To maintain and/or reproduce the stench trap, supplying a small quantity of fresh water after a specific time interval or after a specific time interval from the last use of the washing device may also be provided.
In the following, further details and advantages of the present invention are described in greater detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments and partially with reference to the drawing. All figures are schematic and not to scale, and corresponding constructive elements are provided with identical reference numbers in the different figures, even if they are designed differently in detail.
The washstand 10 illustrated in
Up to this point, only the arrangement and use of the washing device 10 for washing and/or cleaning an object using fresh water has been described in detail, the duration of the flow, the quantity, and/or the temperature of the fresh water flowing in able to be influenced. However, the washing device may also be implemented so that it allows the execution of additional functions. In particular, additives 102, i.e., generally further fluids, may be added in this way, for example, cleaning products such as soap, disinfectant, or hot air. The addition of additives may be initiated automatically or remote-controlled manually. In this case it is possible to supply the additives 102 through the same connecting piece 20 or at least through the same opening of the basin or even through one or more further openings of the basin. It is especially advantageous if the basin may also be supplied with hot air for drying the objects cleaned or the washing device 10 itself.
The supply of the various fluids may, for example, be performed in the following sequence:
Such arrangements are particularly suitable for laboratories and hospitals.
A connecting piece 20, which contains a spray nozzle 27 in the region of its outlet cross-section 21, is illustrated in
Alternatively to what is shown in
A variant for the additive supply is illustrated in
In the following, the arrangement and mode of operation of the sensor device 50 are described, using which the inflow and/or the temperature of the fresh water and possibly of the additive(s) to the basin may be controlled.
It is to be noted here that the sensor devices described in the following may also be used in typical washing devices having connecting pieces which are not integrated into the basin wall, in which the fresh water is supplied in a typical way via a connecting piece to a faucet, this faucet not having an actuating element for displacing the shut-off member, i.e., no control knob or lever, however, since this member may be actuated by remote control with the aid of the sensor device. However, the combination of the connecting piece integrated into the basin wall with the remote-controlled actuation of the shut-off member is especially advantageous, as described above.
A further and—in relation to the modes of operation already described—very simple variant of the design and operation of the basin is as follows: an object to be cleaned, which may even be a body part, is held in a basin. A sensor device of any type senses the presence of this object and/or body part and acts on a shut-off member in such a way that it is moved from its closed position into an open position, so that fresh water flows into the inside of the basin through a connecting piece integrated into the basin.
The supply of fresh water may be interrupted in various ways, for example:
In the variant illustrated in
The number of cells used is not restricted, in principle, one to n cells and/or one to n sensors may be provided. The cells react as barrier cells and as reflection cells. A barrier reaction generally occurs if an object reaches the inside of basin 12. A reflection reaction occurs if an object reaches a very specific region of the basin 12, for example, if a washcloth is hung over the edge of the basin 12.
Various sequences may be executed using this arrangement:
In the variant illustrated in
Each of the sensor devices S3, S4 monitors its environment in a region A3 or A4, respectively, of a teardrop-shaped cloud. These regions A3, A4 form an overlap region A5 in the middle of the basin 12.
Using this arrangement, the following possibilities are obtained:
In a further variant (not shown), the supply of water is initiated by touching a cell and/or a marked point. There are preferably two cells and/or marked points, e.g., red and blue. By pressing the red and/or blue cell for a longer time, the temperature of the fresh water flowing in is caused to rise and/or fall. By actuating both cells and/or marked points for a longer time, the quantity of fresh water flowing in is influenced. The supply of fresh water is interrupted by briefly actuating one cell.
The variant illustrated in
Two sensor units are used for a further variant shown in
The washing device 10 illustrated in
Another variant, which may be combined with the variants above, provides using a large quantity of fresh water, preferably hot and having a cleaner or disinfectant, at specific time intervals and/or after a specific number of uses of the washing device, in order to clean the basin.
As shown in
The connecting piece 20 or the sensor device 50 may be positioned in an overflow opening 17 of the basin wall. An especially advantageous arrangement is shown in
As shown in
The various modes of operation which are possible using the washing and/or drying device suggested may also be visualized.
The following possibilities are cited as examples for visualization:
As mentioned above, the basins 12 not only have supply devices, but also drain armatures 19, which are mounted in a second opening 18 of the basin wall 14. Basins which are not used simply as flow-through basins, but in which a certain quantity of fresh water—possibly having an additive—is to be accumulated, have drain armatures 19 having a closing member. The closing member may be actuated manually or, preferably, via remote control in this case, in an analogous way to the shut-off member; basins 12 having closing members typically have an overflow opening 17 in the upper basin region, in order to avoid overflow of the basin. Such an overflow opening may possibly be dispensed with, if there is a sensor system which brings the closing member into its open position and/or interrupts the water supply as soon as the water level in the basin has reached a specific level.
Accordingly, the washstand of the present invention controls or regulates the supply of medium, e.g. a cleaning agent, cold water, hot water, a disinfectant, a gas, and/or heated air, through a supply unit for the medium. The supply unit includes the at least one shut-off member and each shut-off member is able to be brought into a closed position and/or at least one open position using an actuating element. The washstand includes the sensor device 50 for contact-less determination of the presence of parts of the body to be impinged by the medium, and for contact-less determination of the relative position of the parts of the body in relation to a basin of the washstand for outputting signals which act on the actuating element in such away that they bring the shut-off member into a setting corresponding to the presence and the position of the parts of the body. The sensor device includes the at least two sensors, e.g. E10, R10 and E11, R11, positioned to the left and right of the fresh water outlet 21, preferably symmetrically in relation to this fresh water outlet 21. The basin 12 has a basin wall 14 and the device for controlling the supply of medium can be positioned in the basin wall 14. The controlling device may alternatively be in a module 60 that is separated from the basin wall. The connecting piece 20 and the sensor device 50 may be positioned in an overflow opening 17 of the basin wall 14. The basin may have a drain armature 19 at a drain opening 18 of the basin, with a closing member connected to a sensor, which may be actuated by remote control via the sensor. The drain armature 19 includes a siphon for creating a stench or odor trap that is downstream from the basin 10, attached in the drain opening 18, a sensor being positioned in the region of the siphon which reacts to a falling away of the stench trap. This sensor is connected to the shut-off member to temporarily bring it out of its closed position and into an open position in the event the stench trap falls away, to supply a quantity of fresh water which recreates the stench trap.
A corresponding overflow protection may also be implemented if distance sensors (e.g., optical, acoustic, radar, capacitive, etc.) are positioned on an arbitrary point, preferably on the armature, on the basin, or on a wall 1 which supports the basin. Corresponding reflection or pass-through barriers may also be attached in the basin 12. A further embodiment variation for an overflow protection comprises a vessel (not shown), communicating with the basin 12, which is positioned behind the washing device 10, for example, and to which a level sensor is connected. All of these embodiments of an overflow protection share the feature that upon reaching a predetermined water level in the wash basin, the fresh water supply is automatically interrupted. In addition, the supply of all other media may also be interrupted.
The drain armature includes a siphon, which forms a stench trap device between the basin and the sewer system, in that at least one cross-section of the siphon always contains water, through which a type of water stopper is formed. If a washing device is not used for a long period of time, a part of the water in the siphon may evaporate, so that the stench trap is no longer present. In order to prevent this, a siphon sensor may be positioned in the region of the siphon, which is coupled to the shut-off member, and briefly brings the shut-off member into its open setting if the stench trap falls away due to a water level in the siphon which is too low, so that a small quantity of fresh water flows in, which is sufficient to ensure the stench trap again. Alternatively, a small quantity of fresh water may be added to maintain and/or reproduce the stench trap using a time-delay element, as described above.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the stench trap is implemented by a time-controlled (for example, using a periodic interval) controller.
Finally, it is also to be noted that the energy for the washing device suggested may be supplied from the mains, using mains voltage or low voltage, or from a battery or an alternative source. The electronics may be implemented so they are capable of bus or building system control, in particular for the parameterization of washing and cleaning programs and for statistical analyses.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940/00 | Oct 2000 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CH01/00571 | 9/20/2001 | WO | 00 | 9/22/2003 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO02/29168 | 4/11/2002 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3505692 | Forbes | Apr 1970 | A |
| 5170944 | Shirai | Dec 1992 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040025248 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |
