HYDRAULIC DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY EQUIPPED WITH THE DEVICE

Abstract

A hydraulic device, in whose casing there is a mixing assembly, a motor for actuating the mixing valve, a hot water inlet, a dispensing assembly equipped with a solenoid valve, a water inlet and at least one water outlet for dispensing water to a user. The water inlet is connected to the water outlet of the mixing assembly, a controller and a bypass assembly of a connection segment equipped with a solenoid valve in which there is a temperature sensor. The hydraulic device is also related to an assembly equipped with the device and a preinstallation box.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic device intended to be embedded in a wall or located in a port adjacent to a domestic hot water consumption point and equipped with an interface within the reach of a user and intended primarily for managing said water consumption point, for preventing the wastage of water that is otherwise wasted while the user waits for hot water to come, for saving energy for heating water, for increasing user comfort so that water at the desired temperature is available to the user at all times and from the start of the water supply.

BACKGROUND

In domestic hot water installations it is inevitable that the heater (electric or fuel-fired) is located at a certain distance, which can be a long distance, from the consumption point.

To that end, when a user wants to use hot water, it will be inevitable that once the hot water tap is opened, the volume of water in the hot water pipe segment from the heater to the consumption point will come out cold.

This means a waste of water and discomfort for the user.

Moreover, both the consumption points and the heater are connected to the mains water supply, so the cold water inlet of a heater and the cold water inlet to any consumption point are hydraulically connected.

This circumstance has been utilized for temperature control in water pipelines. In particular, documents ES 1 136 008 U or ES 1 136 010 U describes systems that allow the recirculation of the water coming from hot water pipes through the cold water pipelines, for the purpose of moving hot water to a certain consumption point in order to prevent the proliferation of bacteria.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

To solve the aforementioned problems of water wastage and discomfort, the present disclosure proposes a hydraulic device, comprising a casing and, housed in the casing:

• • a mixing assembly for mixing hot and cold water equipped with a mixing valve, a motor for actuating the mixing valve, a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a water outlet;
  • a dispensing assembly equipped with a solenoid valve, a water inlet and at least one water outlet for dispensing water to a user, the water inlet being connected to the water outlet of the mixing assembly;
  • a controller;
  • the mixing assembly and the dispensing assembly being connected to the controller, and comprising a bypass assembly equipped with:
  • an external hot water inlet and an external cold water inlet;
  • a hot water outlet connected to the hot water inlet of the mixing assembly and a cold water outlet connected to the cold water inlet of the mixing assembly;
  • a first connection segment between the external hot water inlet and the hot water outlet, a second connection segment between the external cold water inlet and the cold water outlet and a third connection segment between the first connection segment and the second connection segment, the third connection segment being equipped with a solenoid valve;
  • a temperature sensor arranged in the hydraulic segment joining the external hot water inlet and the external cold water inlet passing through the third connection segment.

This allows, in an advantageous and known manner, using the cold water pipeline as a path for the recirculation of water that comes from the hot water pipe and does not yet arrive at the consumption point hot.

Furthermore, the internal structure of the device by means of the four main units consisting of the mixing assembly, the dispensing assembly, the bypass assembly and the controller, all these elements being commercially available, allow the device according to the disclosure to be manufactured with competitive costs.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface may consist of a touch screen or the simpler version thereof, a push-button panel.

In some embodiments, the controller comprises means for generating a control signal for turning a circulator module ON and OFF, the means being wired or wireless, preferably by WiFi.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to work with a heating mode in which it can open or close the solenoid valve of the bypass assembly based on a signal provided by the temperature sensor of the bypass assembly.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to open or close the solenoid valve of the dispensing assembly based on a signal provided by the temperature sensor of the bypass assembly.

In some embodiments, the solenoid valve of the dispensing assembly is an all-or-nothing solenoid valve or a proportional solenoid valve.

In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly comprises a plurality of water outlets for dispensing water to a user.

In some embodiments, the controller can activate the heating mode when a user requests water with a specific temperature.

In some embodiments, the controller can activate the heating mode when a predetermined minimum time has elapsed since the last use.

The disclosure also relates to an assembly comprising a device according to any of the preceding inventive variants and a preinstallation box, the device being housed in the preinstallation box.

In some embodiments the assembly comprises a circulator module intended to be arranged in series in a circuit formed by a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe and a heater.

Modular embodiments of the disclosure are described below.

In these modular embodiments, the mixing assembly and the dispensing assembly are grouped in a module, whose inlets are the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet and comprising the water outlet.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a plurality of modules, the bypass assembly being equipped with a hot water outlet and a cold water outlet for each module.

Preferably, in the case where there is a plurality of modules, each of them is equipped with a controller.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a positioning and fixing element arranged between each pair of modules. Preferably, fixing and closing end plates, preferably equipped with through holes for tightening by means of a stud, can also be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the disclosure more readily understandable, in accordance with practical exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, said description is accompanied by a set of figures which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the different components of the device of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows the context of the installation of the device according to the disclosure.

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate the operation of the device according to the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the device delivering hot water in the consumption point once hot water has arrived.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the two parts of a flow chart which constitute an embodiment of the operating algorithm of the device according to the disclosure, with the algorithm constituting an disclosure by itself.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show embodiments of the system according to the disclosure in which the interface is arranged within the reach of the user, whereas the other components of the device are arranged in another place, such as a false ceiling, for example.

FIG. 12 shows a diagram of a modular embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows a dispensing module for a consumption point, in the modular embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a bypass assembly for a modular embodiment comprising a single module.

FIG. 15 shows the components of FIGS. 13 and 14, assembled.

FIG. 16 shows a bypass assembly for a modular embodiment comprising two dispensing modules.

FIG. 17 shows the components of FIGS. 13 and 16, assembled.

FIG. 18 shows a bypass assembly intended for a modular embodiment comprising three dispensing modules.

FIG. 19 shows a bypass assembly for a device equipped with four modules, and the four modules, assembled and equipped with positioning and fixing elements between each pair of modules.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are two perspective views of an embodiment of the positioning and fixing element which, in this case, comprises holes for the passage of tightening studs.

FIG. 22 shows two modules and a positioning and fixing element between them, assembled.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are two perspective views of a fixing and closing end plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the description of the possible preferred embodiments of the disclosure, numerous details must be provided to better understand the disclosure. Even so, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the disclosure can be implemented without these specific details. On the other hand, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

In the present description when a valve is said to be open, it means that said valve allows the passage of water, and when a valve is said to be closed, it means that said valve does not allow the passage of water, i.e., the terms open and closed are not used in the sense that corresponds to electrical circuits.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disclosure relates to a hydraulic device D, comprising a casing C.

The casing C houses the following components:

• • A mixing assembly 1 for mixing hot and cold water. This assembly 1, which may consist of a commercially available progressive ceramic cartridge, comprises a mixing valve, a motor for actuating the valve, a hot water inlet 11, a cold water inlet 12 and a generally mixed water outlet 13;
  • A dispensing assembly 2 which is equipped with a solenoid valve 21, a water inlet 22 and at least one water outlet 01 for dispensing water to a user, the water inlet 22 being connected to the mixed water outlet 13 of the mixing assembly 1;
  • a controller μ.

The mixing assembly 1 and the dispensing assembly 2 are connected to the controller μ.

Wiring has not been depicted in FIG. 1.

The device D also comprises a bypass assembly 3 equipped with:

• • an external hot water inlet IC and an external cold water inlet IF;
  • a hot water outlet 31 connected to the hot water inlet 11 of the mixing assembly 1 and a cold water outlet 32 connected to the cold water inlet 12 of the mixing assembly 1;
  • a first connection segment C1 between the external hot water inlet IC and the hot water outlet 31, a second connection segment C2 between the external cold water inlet IF and the cold water outlet 32 and a third connection segment C3 between the first connection segment C1 and the second connection segment C2, the third connection segment C3 being equipped with a solenoid valve V3;
  • a temperature sensor S3 arranged in the partial hydraulic segment C3 comprised between the solenoid valve V3 and the connection segment C1.

In this embodiment, the temperature sensor S3 is arranged specifically in the partial hydraulic segment C3 comprised between the solenoid valve V3 and the connection segment C1, i.e., to the left of valve V3 in the figure. This arrangement is preferred because temperature detection will be independent of the good operation of the valve.

Therefore, the device comprises the elements required to act as a bypass for the water that arrives through the hot water pipe TAC and so that this water is recirculated to the heater by the cold water pipe TAF, as shown in the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6. The presence of a check valve, which is arranged at the inlet point of the mains water supply in accordance with regulations and which ensures correct system operation and safety, is highlighted in FIG. 2.

First, the user enters in the user interface H/M an order to supply water at a specific temperature. At that moment, with the bypass valve being open and the dispensing valve for dispensing to the user being closed, the circulator module is activated.

In this configuration, the user remains waiting, since the device still does not have hot water. The hot water advances gradually through the hot water pipe, which has been depicted in the figures by means of thick lines. The advancement of the hot water causes the displacement of the cold water in the cold water pipe, but towards the heater. In this way, while waiting for hot water to come, the cold water is not lost but recirculated.

Once the hot water reaches the device, the bypass valve V3 closes and the circulator module MC is deactivated as a result of the signal provided by the temperature sensor S3 of the bypass assembly 3, and the hot water now enters the mixing assembly 1. At that moment, the dispensing valve 21 already opens, and mixed water is supplied to the user at the preestablished setpoint temperature.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the device D of the illustrated embodiments is arranged in the same location as the user interface H/M, this being the access point thereto. However, another installation arrangement for the device D separated from the user interface H/M at any other point registrable and accessible for maintenance and repair close to the water supply point, be it a false ceiling, below the sink, below the bathtub, etc., is envisaged.

This second arrangement allows a modular installation system for device D, allowing the assembly of several devices D with their respective user interfaces H/M to service multiple water outlets simultaneously and independently, as illustrated in FIG. 11, even if they are different service points, i.e., different showers, sinks, etc. Furthermore, this arrangement greatly simplifies the device D, eliminating the assembly 2 since, as shown in detail at this point, each device D independently manages each water outlet, both the opening and closing, by means of the progressive ceramic cartridge of the mixing assembly 1, and temperature regulation by means of the same progressive ceramic cartridge of the mixing assembly 1. Additionally, in the water inlet 22, there is envisaged the possibility of assembling a flow rate regulator module for regulating the flow rate at the service point since both the controller μ and the user interface H/M are provided for connection and interaction with this element.

The solenoid valve 21 of the dispensing assembly 2 is an all-or-nothing solenoid valve or a proportional solenoid valve.

The dispensing assembly comprises a plurality of water outlets O1, O2, O3 for dispensing water to a user.

It is also envisaged that the controller μ can deactivate the heating mode when a predetermined minimum time has elapsed since the last use.

The disclosure also relates to an assembly of device D according to any of the variants set forth above and a preinstallation box H, the device D being housed in the preinstallation box H. The assembly preferably comprises a circulator module intended to be arranged in series in a circuit formed by a hot water pipe TAC, a cold water pipe TAF and a heater Q.

An embodiment of the device based on the arrangement of the elements in a preinstallation box has been described up until now.

Another modular embodiment variant of the disclosure that may dispense with a preinstallation box, since the modular components themselves are provided with their own casings CM12, CM3, will be described below.

FIG. 13 shows a module M12 grouping the mixing assembly 1 and the dispensing assembly 2. As can be seen, this module has externally the hot water inlet 11 and the cold water inlet 12 and also the water outlet O1. As its name indicates, this module allows both mixing and dispensing water at the temperature indicated by the user. Each of these modules is conceived to service a consumption point, so each one is equipped with a controller μ.

This module can be combined with a bypass assembly 3 such as the one of FIG. 14 intended for receiving a single mixing and dispensing module, as shown in FIG. 15.

The modular concept applied to the disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 19, where devices made up of a plurality of modules M12, preferably all identical, are shown. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16 or 18, the bypass assembly 3 is equipped with a hot water outlet 31 and a cold water outlet 32 for each module M12. Obviously, although it services several modules M12, the bypass module 3 has a single bypass valve.

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, the modular embodiment is completed with positioning and fixing elements S12 arranged between each pair of modules M12 and, where necessary, fixing and closing end plates TE, preferably equipped with through holes for tightening by means of a stud.

A possible mode of operation of the device will be described in detail below with the help of the flow charts of FIGS. 8 and 9. Note that together they constitute a closed, i.e., complete, control algorithm.

First, the device is in the deep-standby (sleep) state by default.

Upon detecting presence and/or movement, the device transitions to an active standby state optionally displaying a welcome message through the interface.

When the touch interface detects contact at any point of its surface, the device is activated.

The user by means of contact with the interface selects a setpoint temperature and selects the water outlet through which he/she wishes to start the process of using the service point, this situation will only take place in those cases in which the service point has more than one type of water outlet such as, for example, showers or bathtubs.

If the setpoint temperature is equal to or below 20° C., the service point is directly activated in a standard mode without first activating the warm-up system. Obviously another threshold temperature may be selected.

If the setpoint temperature is above 20° C., the system automatically checks the time that has elapsed since the last use of the service point, as well as the water supply temperature.

• • if it is more than 15′, the warm-up system is directly activated, since this can mean that the water from the connection pipe to the heater has cooled down;
  • if it is less than 15′ but more than 5′, the system checks the signal of the temperature probe (S3); i.e., it is an intermediate zone in which decision on whether or not to activate the warm-up mechanism could be made.
  • if the temperature reading of S3 is 4° or more below the setpoint temperature, (this being at least>20°), the warm-up system is activated.
  • if the temperature reading of S3 is not at least 3.9° below the setpoint temperature, (this being at least>20°), the service point is directly activated in a standard mode without first activating the warm-up system.
  • if it is less than 5′ and the temperature of the last use was >20°, the service point is directly activated in a standard mode without first activating the warm-up system.

When the warm-up system is activated, the controller (μ) generates a signal for the activation of the circulator module (MC) or recirculation pump and the signal of the temperature probe (S3) is automatically checked.

When the temperature reading of the probe (S3) reaches or exceeds the setpoint temperature within a time period of not more than 5′, the warm-up process ends and a signal for deactivating the (MC) is emitted automatically through the controller and the water supply of the service point is simultaneously activated, with the water being delivered accordingly at the previously selected setpoint temperature.

If the reading of the temperature probe (S3) did not reach the setpoint temperature or higher upon activating the warm-up system (heating system) and once 5′ and 1″ have elapsed, the warm-up system will turn OFF, returning the device to the standby mode and displaying an ERROR message on the interface.

To end the use of the service point, the user deactivates the device, returning it to the standby mode, by means of contacting the interface.

After 5 minutes have elapsed without detection of presence and/or movement, the device enters the deep-standby mode.

When the service point (equivalent to a tap, any type of tap) is activated in the standard mode, it behaves, as its name indicates, like conventional electronic bathroom taps, with all the functionalities thereof operating by means of direct interaction through the interface thereof, said functionalities are: opening and closing water flow, selecting temperature and flow rate, pausing and selecting the different water outlet options.

In summary, the modes of operation are as follows:

• • 1) Warm-up system or mode: An automatic process which allows the device managing a water service point to supply water at the desired water temperature, be it hot or warm, from the first moment in which water starts to flow out through the water outlet thereof.
  • 2) Standard Mode: A conventional mode of operation of electronic bathroom taps that does not include the functionality of the warm-up system.
  • 3) In all cases, once the warm-up process has ended, the device transitions to the standard mode.
  • 4) All the temperature and time values reflected in this document and in the flow chart above are susceptible of variation based on needs, i.e., the specific values have been provide by way of realistic example.

LEGENDS OF FIGS. 8 AND 9

8.1 Standby

8.2 Turning on (ON) and starting the use of the service point

8.3 The user selects the desired setpoint temperature

8.4 Setpoint temperature above 20°

8.5 Verifying the time elapsed since the last use

8.6 Condition of time more than 15 seconds

8.7 Time less than 15 seconds and more than 5 seconds

8.8 Time less than 5 seconds

8.9 Verifying temperature sensor S3

8.10 Starting the standard operation without warm-up (the system works like a conventional tap)

8.11 The reading of the temperature sensor (S3) is 4° or more below the setpoint temperature

9.1 Starting the warm-up system

9.2 Verifying temperature sensor S3

9.3 The temperature sensor S3 detects that the water temperature has reached the setpoint temperature within a time of less than 5 seconds

9.4 Stopping the warm-up process and opening water supply. The water temperature corresponds to the selected setpoint temperature

9.5 Turning off and ending the use of the service point

9.6 Locking the system, triggering the alarm: “Lack of hot water”

9.7 Reset

In view of this description and figures, the person skilled in the art may understand that the disclosure has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but that multiple variations may be introduced in said preferred embodiments, without leaving the object of the disclosure as claimed.

In this text, the term “comprise(s)” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense. That is to say, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include more elements, stages, etc.

Claims

1. A hydraulic device, comprising a casing and, housed in the casing: a mixing assembly for mixing hot and cold water equipped with a mixing valve, a motor for actuating the mixing valve, a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet and a water outlet;a dispensing assembly equipped with a solenoid valve, a water inlet and at least one water outlet for dispensing water to a user, the water inlet being connected to the water outlet of the mixing assembly;at least one controller;the mixing assembly and the dispensing assembly being connected to the controller, wherein the device it comprises a bypass assembly equipped with:an external hot water inlet and an external cold water inlet;a hot water outlet connected to the hot water inlet of the mixing assembly and a cold water outlet connected to the cold water inlet of the mixing assembly;a first connection segment between the external hot water inlet and the hot water outlet, a second connection segment between the external cold water inlet and the cold water outlet and a third connection segment between the first connection segment and the second connection segment, the third connection segment being equipped with a solenoid valve; anda temperature sensor arranged in the hydraulic segment joining the external hot water inlet and the external cold water inlet passing through the third connection segment.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve of the dispensing assembly is an all-or-nothing solenoid valve or a proportional solenoid valve.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly comprises a plurality of water outlets for dispensing water to a user.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mixing assembly and the dispensing assembly are grouped in a module, having inlets that are the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet and comprising the water outlet.

5. The device according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of modules, the bypass assembly being equipped with a hot water outlet and a cold water outlet for each module.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein each module is equipped with a controller.

7. The device according to claim 5, comprising a positioning and fixing element arranged between each pair of modules.

8. The device according to claim 4, comprising fixing and closing end plates, and equipped with through holes for tightening with a stud.

9. The device according to claim 1, comprising a user interface connected to the controller.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises generating means configured to generate a control signal for turning a circulator module ON and OFF, the generating means being wired or wireless.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to work with a heating mode in the controller is configured to open or close the solenoid valve of the bypass assembly based on a signal provided by the temperature sensor of the bypass assembly.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open or close the solenoid valve of the dispensing assembly based on a signal provided by the temperature sensor of the bypass assembly.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the heating mode when a user requests water with a specific temperature.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the heating mode when a predetermined minimum time has elapsed since the last use.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged in the partial hydraulic segment comprised between the solenoid valve and the connection segment.

16. An assembly of the device according to claim 1 and a preinstallation box, the device being housed in the preinstallation box.

17. The assembly according to claim 1, comprising a circulator module or recirculation pump intended to be arranged in series in a circuit formed by a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe and a heater.