Patent Application
20240117892
The invention relates to a sanitary valve comprising a main valve, which has a movable diaphragm, and comprising a pilot valve, by means of which the main valve can be actuated between an open position and a closing position, wherein the position of the diaphragm can be specified by the position of a valve tappet that is connected to a push-push mechanism, by means of which the valve tappet can be switched between a switching position corresponding to the open position and a switching position corresponding to the closing position.
A sanitary valve of the type mentioned at the outset is already known from DE 10 2017 105 200.3 and can be interposed in the water path of a water supply line for switching in or out. For this purpose, the previously known sanitary valve has a main valve, the valve inlet of which is connected to an inflow-side line portion and the valve outlet of which is connected to an outflow-side portion of the water path. The main valve has a movable diaphragm which, in the closing position of the main valve, rests tightly against a valve seat, and which, in an open position, clears the valve seat. The aforementioned sanitary valve also has a pilot valve, by means of which the main valve can be actuated between an open position and a closing position. In this case, the position of the diaphragm can be specified by the position of a valve tappet, which is in control connection with a push-push mechanism, by means of which the valve tappet can be switched between a switching position corresponding to the open position and a switching position corresponding to the closing position. Between the open position and the closing position, the push-push mechanism can also specify, in stages, intermediate positions, in which the diaphragm is held at different distances from the valve seat and thus releases a reduced flow cross-section compared with the open position. Continuous volume regulation of the water volume flowing through the main valve, however, is not possible with the previously known sanitary valve.
A sanitary valve is already known from EP 3 561 351 A1, which can be integrated as a mixing and shut-off device in a sanitary outlet fitting.
The sanitary valve already known from EP 3 561 351 A1 has a valve housing, a valve unit with shut-off control for controlling a fluid flow volume and mixing control for controlling a fluid mixing ratio, a shut-off control device, a mixing control device which can be rotated about a mixing rotational axis between a first mixing end position and a second mixing end position, a self-resetting device which provides a resetting force for automatic resetting of the mixing control device to the first mixing end position, and a latching device which couples the mixing control device to the valve housing body latchingly, wherein a latching force is greater than the resetting force in the open position of the shut-off control device and less than the resetting force in the shut-off position. A cartridge unit is provided in the valve housing of the sanitary valve already known from EP 3 561 351 A1, which has a control disc and a distributor disc cooperating therewith, which are made of ceramic. By actuating a push button, the valve unit can be moved between an open position and a closing position. To activate the mixing control of the valve unit used in the known sanitary valve, the mixing control device can be rotated between the first mixing end position and the second mixing end position of the valve unit. As the mixing control device is rotated from the first mixing end position toward the second mixing end position, a helical spring element of the self-restoring device acting as a tension spring is progressively pulled in length, causing the helical element to exert a corresponding elastic restoring force on the mixing control device toward the first mixing end position. The first mixing end position can correspond, for example, to a cold water position and the second mixing end position to a warm or hot water position, in which only cold water or, respectively, only warm/hot water then exits from the water outlet of the known sanitary valve. In the intermediate positions, mixed water consisting of cold water and warm/hot water is provided at the water outlet.
Due to the multi-part design of the sanitary valve known from EP 3 561 351 A1 and the cartridge unit having a pair of ceramic discs, the production of the known sanitary valve is associated with a not inconsiderable effort.
A sanitary valve is already known from DE 10 2016 115 793 A1, which is installed in a main faucet body of a sanitary outlet fitting. The sanitary valve known from DE 10 2016 115 793 A1 has a water inlet part, a mixing chamber and a water outlet part, wherein cold water and hot water flow into the water inlet part and are mixed in the mixing chamber in a specified ratio to form mixed water, and wherein the mixed water exits via the water outlet part. A water saving valve is fixed between the mixing chamber and the water outlet part of the known sanitary valve, wherein a valve stem is arranged on the water saving valve. By touching and moving the valve stem, the water saving valve is opened to allow the mixed water to flow out of the mixing chamber of the water saving valve and to flow further to the water outlet. The valve stem of the water-saving valve is connected to a touch element that is at least partially exposed outside the main body of the faucet, so that the user can operate the touch element to touch and move the valve stem of the water saving valve. Here, the touch element also has an actuating part that is inserted into the water outlet part of the aforementioned sanitary valve. When the touch element is pressed, it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the water outlet part so that the actuating part contacts the valve stem of the water-saving valve, thereby displacing it. The touch-operable sanitary valve further comprises a resetting device by which the touch member then automatically resets when the pressure applied to the touch member is released.
A device for regulating the water in a shower, a bathroom or a sink is known from EP 2 865 929 A1. The device comprises a shutter with at least one metal part that is slidable inside a cylindrical chamber with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shutter, a magnet connected to the metal part of the shutter, and a push button that can be actuated to move the magnet and the shutter along an axis of the cylindrical chamber to two different positions corresponding to an opening of the water flow or a closing of the water flow. The push button is also rotatable about the axis to vary the open position of the closure along the axis and a corresponding flow rate. The device also has an axis rotatable knob to change a temperature of the water.
Also known from DE 20 2017 106212 U1 is a valve, in particular a temperature-controllable press-type valve.
The object is to create a compact sanitary valve of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be produced with little effort, which can be opened and closed by a simple pressure or tactile movement, and which allows a gradual volume regulation of the fluid flowing through or a continuous mixing of the fluids flowing in from different fluid inlets.
This object is achieved according to the invention in the case of the sanitary valve of the type mentioned at the outset in particular in that the main valve and the pilot valve are provided in the interior of an inner housing, which inner housing is rotatably mounted in an outer housing about a rotational axis, and in that the outer housing and the inner housing have paired valve openings, of which a first pair of valve openings arranged coaxially to the rotational axis is designed as a valve outlet and at least one second pair of valve openings lying outwardly relative to the rotational axis is provided as at least one valve inlet, which at least one second pair of valve openings is capable of being brought into congruence according to the rotational position between the outer and inner housings such that the clear opening cross-section, kept free, of the at least one valve inlet produced by the congruence of said at least one second pair of valve openings can be modified.
The sanitary valve according to the invention has a main valve, which has a movable diaphragm as a valve body. The sanitary valve according to the invention also has a pilot valve, by means of which the main valve can be controlled between an open position and a closing position. In this case, the position of the diaphragm can be predetermined by the position of a valve tappet, which is connected to a push-push mechanism. Such push-push mechanisms are already known as rotary/latching or ballpoint-pen mechanisms and allow the valve tappet to be adjusted between the open position and the closing position of the main valve, in each case by a simple manual pressure or tactile movement. With the aid of this push-push mechanism, which is known per se, the valve tappet can be switched between a switching position corresponding to the open position and a switching position corresponding to the closing position. In order to be able to vary the fluid volume flowing through the main valve in the open position as required or to be able to mix the fluids flowing into the main valve from different fluid inlets, for example hot and cold water, continuously with one another there, the main valve and the pilot valve are provided in the interior of an inner housing, which inner housing is rotatably mounted in an outer housing about a rotational axis. Here, the outer housing and the inner housing have paired valve openings, of which a first pair of valve openings arranged coaxially to the rotational axis is designed as a valve outlet and at least one second pair of valve openings lying outwardly relative to the rotational axis is provided as a valve inlet. In this case, the valve openings of the at least one pair of valve openings provided as a valve inlet, which are assigned to one another and are provided on the one hand in the inner housing and on the other hand in the outer housing, can be brought into congruence in accordance with the rotational position between the outer housing and the inner housing in such a way that the clear opening cross-section, kept free, of the at least one valve inlet produced by the congruence of said at least one second pair of valve openings can be modified. Thus, the at least one valve opening provided in the inner housing on the one hand can be made congruent more or less continuously with the valve opening, associated with it and arranged in the outer housing, of the at least one second pair of valve openings forming at least one valve inlet on the other hand, in such a way that the free opening cross-section of these valve openings allows a larger or also a smaller fluid volume to pass to the main valve. Since the valve openings of the first pair of valve openings forming the valve outlet of the main valve are arranged coaxially to the rotational axis between the outer housing and the inner housing and thus in the rotational axis, the opening cross-section of the valve outlet kept free by these preferably circular valve openings can also remain unchanged. The sanitary valve according to the invention, which is designed as a closing and regulating or vario valve or as a closing and mixing valve, can be produced from a reduced number of simply designed components and is distinguished by a compact design.
The simple design and production of the sanitary fitting according to the invention is favored in that the outer housing according to the invention and the inner housing optionally have a pot-shaped housing lower part.
It is advantageous here if the housing lower part of the inner housing is rotatably mounted in the housing lower part of the outer housing.
According to the invention, it is provided that the valve openings of the outer housing are arranged on the pot bottom of the housing lower part. A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the valve openings of the inner housing are arranged on the pot bottom of the housing lower part. If the valve openings of the outer housing and/or of the inner housing are arranged on the pot bottom of the housing lower part, it is free to provide an actuating element in operative and/or control connection with the valve tappet at the end face region of the outer housing and/or of the inner housing facing away from the housing lower part(s).
In order to secure the sanitary valve according to the invention against leaks and leakage flows in the region of the valve openings forming the valve outlet, it is advantageous if at least one first ring seal is provided between the outer housing and the inner housing, which first ring seal is arranged in the ring zone between the first valve openings and the second valve openings. In this way, a tight separation between valve inlet and valve outlet is also achieved in the region of the outer and inner housings, respectively, which are rotatably adjacent to each other.
An effective sealing and separation of the valve outlet from the at least one valve inlet is further favored if the at least one first ring seal is designed as a sealing ring and in particular as an X-ring sealing ring. If the sealing ring is formed as an X-ring sealing ring, this sealing ring has a substantially X-shaped ring cross-section. Alternatively, the first ring seal can also be designed as a lip seal.
In order to seal the separation zone between the outer housing and its housing lower part on the one hand and the inner housing and its housing lower part on the other hand liquid-tightly towards the outside, it is advantageous if at least one second ring seal is provided between the outer housing and the inner housing, which is arranged in the ring and/or circumferential zone of the outer and inner housings lying outwardly relative to the valve openings.
A further embodiment according to the invention provides here that the first and/or the second ring seal have a circular outer contour, the center of which is arranged in the rotational axis. If the first ring seal and/or the second ring seal have a circular outer contour and the center of these ring seals is arranged in the rotational axis, undesirable shear forces on the ring seal, which could lead to leaks over time, are avoided during relative rotation of the outer housing and inner housing.
A preferred development according to the invention provides that the pot bottom of the housing lower part of the inner housing is connected on the inside, preferably in one piece, to a sleeve-shaped inlet connection, the free sleeve end region of which, which can be acted upon by the diaphragm in the closing position, forms the valve seat of the main valve.
To facilitate easy handling of the sanitary valve according to the invention, it is advantageous if the inner housing protrudes with a guide portion over the outer housing, in which guide portion of the inner housing a push button in control and/or operative connection with the valve tappet is displaceably guided.
The easy handling of the sanitary valve according to the invention is further facilitated if the guide portion of the inner housing is connected for conjoint rotation to its housing lower part and is designed as a rotatable actuating element for relative rotation of the outer and inner housings.
A preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that the valve seat of the main valve is arranged between the at least one valve inlet and the valve outlet and is closable with the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm closes off a pressure chamber which is finable from the at least one valve inlet, so that the diaphragm closes the valve seat in the closing position when the pressure chamber is filled and releases the valve seat in an open position when the pressure chamber is relieved.
In order for the position of the diaphragm to be predetermined by the position of the valve tappet and for the main valve to be actuatable between its open position and its closing position by means of the pilot valve, it is advantageous if the valve tappet can be used to close a relief opening on the diaphragm that opens out into the at least one valve outlet.
Since the sanitary valve according to the invention does not require a cartridge unit consisting of two ceramic discs resting against each other, a preferred embodiment according to the invention, which can be produced with little effort, provides that at least the housing lower part of the outer housing and/or inner housing is/are made of plastic.
Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the sanitary valve according to the invention provide that this sanitary valve is designed as a control and closing valve or as a mixing and closing valve.
If the sanitary valve according to the invention is designed as a mixing and closing valve, it can be advantageous if the sanitary valve has two valve inlets which can be varied by relative rotation of the outer and inner housings in such a way that the clear opening cross-section of the at least one second pair of valve openings forming the one valve inlet increases as a result of a relative rotation of the outer housing and inner housing, while that of the at least one other second pair of valve openings forming another valve inlet simultaneously decreases, and vice versa.
In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that a housing upper part, in particular the housing upper part already described, and a housing lower part, in particular the housing lower part already described, of the outer housing are latched together. Thus, a simple assembly without additional connecting elements is achievable.
In one embodiment of the invention, it may alternatively or additionally be provided that a housing upper part, in particular the housing upper part already described, and a housing lower part, in particular the housing lower part already described, of the outer housing are braced relative to each other by an elastic deformable element. Thus, manufacturing tolerances, in particular in relation to internal parts, can be compensated. A combination with a latching connection is particularly favorable, as the latching connection can then be tensioned after it has latched into place.
The deformable element can, for example, be formed here in one piece with the housing upper part and/or the housing lower part, in particular integrally molded thereon. This makes it possible to reduce the number of individual parts. Alternatively or additionally, the deformable element can also be formed separately from the housing parts. Thus, an optimum choice of material and/or interchangeability can be achieved.
Further embodiments according to the invention can be found in the following figure description in conjunction with the claims as well as the drawing. The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment.
In the figures:
In order to be able to vary the amount of fluid flowing through the main valve 2, 102 in the open position as required and to adjust it manually, or in order to be able to mix the liquids flowing in via two liquid inlets not shown here, for example hot and cold water, in the main valve 102 and to vary their proportions, the main valve 2, 102 and the pilot valve 4, 104 are provided in the housing interior of an inner housing 7, 107, which inner housing 7, 107 is mounted in an outer housing 8, 108 so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis L. The outer housing 8, 108 and the inner housing 7, 107 have valve openings 9, 10; 11, 12 and 109, 110; 111, 112 and 150, 151 which are assigned to each other in pairs, of which a first pair of valve openings 9, 10; 109, 110, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the rotational axis, is designed as a valve outlet 13, 113, and of which at least one second pair of valve openings 11, 12; 111, 112 and 150, 151, lying outwardly relative to the rotational axis L, is provided as at least one valve inlet 14; 114, 152. In this case, the second pair of valve openings 11, 12 or 111, 112 and 150, 151 can be brought into or out of congruence between the outer and inner housings 8, 7; 108, 107 in accordance with the rotational position in such a way that the clear opening cross-section of the valve inlet 14; 114, 152 which is kept free by the congruence of this second pair of valve openings 11, 12; 111, 112 and 150, 151 can be modified. Thus, the valve opening 11, 111, 150 provided in the inner housing 7, 107 can be made to coincide more or less continuously with the assigned valve opening 12, 112, 151, arranged in the outer housing 8, 108, of the at least one second pair of valve openings 11, 12; 111, 112, 150, 151 forming the valve inlet 14, 114 and 152, in such a way that the opening cross-section of these valve openings 11, 12; 111, 112 and 150, 151 that is kept free allows a larger or also a smaller volume of fluid to pass to the main valve 2, 102.
Since the valve openings 9, 10; 109, 110 forming the first pair, which pair serves as the valve outlet 13, 113 of the main valve 2, 102, are arranged coaxially to the rotational axis L between the outer housing 8, 108 and the inner housing 7, 107 and thus in the rotational axis L, the opening cross-section kept free by these, here, circular valve openings 9, 10; 109, 110 can also remain unchanged. The sanitary valves 1, 101 according to
As can be seen in particular from
The sanitary valve 1, 101 further comprises the push-push mechanism 6, 106. A push button 16, 116 is formed on the outside of this push-push mechanism 6, 106, by means of which the push-push mechanism 6, 106 can be switched between different switching positions, and in particular between the open position and the closing position of the main valve 2, 102, by repeated pressing. The push-push mechanism 6, 106 is in operative or control connection with the valve tappet 5, 105. The push-push mechanism 6, 106 has at least two switch states corresponding to the open position and the closing position, between which the valve tappet 5, 105 can be switched on the basis of the operative connection.
In
The pilot valve 4, 104 has a relief opening 17, 117 formed on the valve body 15, 115 and thus on the movable diaphragm 3, 103. If this relief opening 17, 117 is closed, a pressure builds up which presses the diaphragm 3, 103 with the valve body 15, 115 into a valve seat 18, 118 of the main valve 2, 102. The main valve 2, 102 is then in its closing position.
When the relief opening 17, 117 is opened, the aforementioned pressure is reduced so that the diaphragm 3, 103 with the valve body 15, 115 moves away from the valve seat 18, 118. The main valve 2, 102 is thus opened.
Accordingly,
While
The main valve 2, 102 has the valve seat 18, 118, which can be tightly closed with the valve body 15, 115 and the diaphragm 3, 103. The valve seat 18, 118 is arranged in the direction of flow between the valve inlet 14 or the valve inlets 114, 152 and the valve outlet 13, 113. The main valve 2, 102 therefore serves to separate the valve inlets 14; 114, 152 as well as the valve outlet 13, 113 of the main valve 2, 102 provided in the sanitary valves 1, 101.
The diaphragm 3, 103 closes off a pressure chamber 19, 119 which can be filled from the valve inlet 14 or the valve inlets 114, 152 via a filling opening in the diaphragm 3, 103 or its valve body 15, 115, which is not readily visible here. This filling opening is always open. This ensures that the diaphragm 3, 103 with the valve body 15, 115 arranged thereon closes the valve seat 18, 118 when the pressure chamber 19, 119 is filled in the closing position of the sanitary valves 1, 101 shown in
As already mentioned above, the relief opening 17, 117 can be closed and released by the valve tappet 5, 105. Since the relief opening 17, 117 opens out into the valve outlet 13, 113, opening the relief opening 17, 117 leads to the aforementioned pressure reduction in the pressure chamber 19, 119 and thus to opening of the main valve 2, 102 of the sanitary valves 1, 101. For this purpose, the relief opening 17, 117 is dimensioned larger than the filling opening mentioned above.
The valve tappet 5, 105 provided in the sanitary valves 1, 101 is coupled to the push-push mechanism 6, 106 via a control element 20, 120 to assume the switching positions already described. The control element 20, 120 is inserted tightly into the pressure chamber 19, 119 from the outside. Also formed in the operative connection between the pilot valve 4, 104 and the push-push mechanism 6, 106 is a compensating device that permits actuation of the push-push mechanism 6, 106 even when the pilot valve 4, 104 is closed and cannot be moved further against the valve seat 18, 118.
In the single-part illustrations according to
From a comparison of
In
In
From a comparison of
As can also be seen in
In the individual perspective views shown in
This pressure spring washer 33, 133 can accommodate manufacturing tolerances of the components and tension a detent connection 158 (cf.
Instead of the pressure spring washer 33, 133, another elastically deformable element 159 may be inserted, and/or elastically deformable elements may be formed in one piece on the housing lower part 24 and/or the upper housing part 30.
Below the pressure spring washer 33, 133, the push button 16, 116 can be seen, onto which, if necessary, a cap, not further shown here, can also be detachably latched or the like. A rotary cap 34, 134 of the push-push mechanism 6, 106 can be inserted into the sleeve-shaped push button 16, 116, into which rotary cap 34, 134 the control element 20, 120 of the valve tappet 5, 105 projects. A groove 35, 135 is provided on the circumference of the rod-shaped control element 20, 120, into which a clip 36, 136 can be inserted, which connects the valve tappet 5, 105 and its control element 20, 120 captively but displaceably to the rotary cap 34, 134. A resetting element 37, 137 designed as a compression spring acts on the rotary cap 34, 134 and a bushing 38, 138 inserted therein. The housing upper part of the inner housing 7, 107 is formed in two parts here and has an outer part 39, 139 carrying the guide portion 29, 129, into which an inner part 40, 140 is inserted. The control element 20, 120 of the valve tappet 5, 105 is guided in a central guide opening in the inner part 40, 140, wherein the control element 20, 120 is sealed in the guide opening by a sealing ring 41, 141. In the inner part 40, 140, the valve tappet 5, 105 is pressed in the direction of the diaphragm 3, 103 by means of a helical compression spring 42, 142. In order that the valve tappet 5, 105 can tightly close the relief opening 17, 117 in the diaphragm 3, 103, it has a sealing cap 43, 143 at its tappet end facing the diaphragm 3, 103. Inside the housing lower part 23, 123, the cleaning element 21, 121 formed as a compression spring is shown with its end 22, 122 projecting into the vent opening in the diaphragm 3, 103. The outer part 39, 139 of the inner housing 7, 107 has the guide portion 29, 129, which has a profiling formed by longitudinal grooves on its cylindrical outer circumference, onto which profiled guide portion 29, 129 a sleeve-shaped cap, not shown further here, can be fitted if required. Within the outer part 39, 139, the valve body 15, 115 can be seen, which is connected to the diaphragm 3, 103 in a latched manner or the like at a central fastening opening of the diaphragm.
As can be seen from
In further exemplary embodiments, the ring seal 25 and/or the ring seal 26 is/are designed as a lip seal.
In
From a comparison of
The sanitary valve 1 according to
By contrast, the sanitary valve 101 according to
In the exemplary embodiments shown, an open design is formed in each case, wherein the valve outlet 13, 113 is designed without a directly assigned seal in each case. Sealing to the outside is achieved by a sealing ring that is inserted into an external groove on the housing lower part 24, 124.
In further exemplary embodiments, a closed design is formed in which the valve outlet 13, 113 is provided with a sealing ring that passes between the valve outlet 13, 113 and the valve inlet 14. The seal on the outside of the housing lower part 24, 124 can then be omitted.
Since the sanitary valves 1, 101 shown here are distinguished by a very small tolerance chain of their dependent components and parts, the sanitary valves 1, 101 shown here have a high repeatability in volume or mixing variation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2021 100 839.3 | Feb 2021 | DE | national |
This application is a 371 National Phase of PCT/EP2022/054040, filed Feb. 18, 2022, which claims priority to German Patent Application 20 2021 100 839.3, filed Feb. 19, 2021, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/054040 | 2/18/2022 | WO |
