Patent Application
20250089971
The present disclosure relates to a waste water valve for connection to an outlet of a waste water tank of a floor cleaning machine, and to a floor cleaning machine.
Floor cleaning machines are known from the prior art, and the floor cleaning machines known from the prior art usually have a chassis with at least one wheel, which is possibly driven by a drive unit, a cleaning device, for example in the form of a brush arrangement, a wiping device and/or a suction device, a fresh water tank for holding fresh water, a waste water tank for holding waste water and a coupling arrangement for coupling the floor cleaning machine to a supply device. Generally speaking, known supply devices that can be coupled to the floor cleaning machine also have a coupling arrangement for coupling the supply device to the floor cleaning machine with a power supply, a fresh water supply and a waste water intake.
The coupling arrangements of the floor cleaning machine and the supply device have, among other things, an interface for conveying the waste water from the waste water tank to the waste water intake of the supply device. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine can have a waste water outlet that can be coupled to the waste water intake. In order to convey the waste water, the interface for conveying the waste water can be coupled to a suction device that can apply negative pressure to a waste water line so that the waste water is drawn out of the waste water tank.
Furthermore, floor cleaning machines are known that have a removable waste water tank that can be removed from the floor cleaning machine and emptied in a known manner.
With such floor cleaning machines, it has proven to be problematic that a suction device is necessary to convey the waste water out of the waste water tank, which is particularly disadvantageous when the floor cleaning machine is operated manually or when the waste water has to be drained manually from the floor cleaning machine. On the one hand, the suction devices can be prone to faults, meaning that if the suction device fails, waste water can no longer be conveyed out of the waste water tank and, on the other hand, the use of a suction device increases the complexity of the supply device. Furthermore, a power supply is required to drain the waste water and to use the suction device. Therefore, the waste water can only be drained if the floor cleaning machine is supplied with electrical energy or is connected to a supply device.
With floor cleaning machines that have a removable waste water tank, it can be considered as problematic that a user has to remove the entire waste water tank in order to empty it. On the one hand, when completely full, the waste water tank can be quite heavy, and, on the other hand, this procedure does not allow for the waste water to be drained in a controlled manner.
A further problem is the coarse dirt contained in the waste water, which can get caught in the region of the waste water valve and prevent the valve from closing again.
A waste water outlet and a floor cleaning machine having such a waste water outlet, with which the waste water can be conveyed away from the waste water tank in a particularly simple manner, without the waste water outlet being blocked from closing by coarse dirt.
According to a first aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a waste water valve having the features of claim 1. The waste water valve is used to connect to the outlet of a waste water tank of a floor cleaning machine and has a pipe socket which has an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is designed to be connected to the outlet of the waste water tank and wherein the outlet end has a circumferential edge. Furthermore, the waste water valve has a closure body which is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be displaceable between a closed position and an open position. The closure body is arranged in the closed position so that it closes the outlet end and is arranged in the open position at such a distance from the outlet end that a distance is provided between the closure body and the outlet end over the entire circumferential edge. The waste water valve has an actuating element which is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be adjustable between a closed position and an open position, which actuating element is rigidly coupled to the closure body in such a way that the closure body moves from the closed position to the open position when the actuating element moves from the closed position to the open position and that the closure body moves from the open position to the closed position when the actuating element moves from the open position to the closed position. Furthermore, a biasing element is provided that biases the closure body towards the closed position.
The waste water valve is used to connect to the outlet of a waste water tank of the floor cleaning machine and has a pipe socket which has the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein the inlet end is designed to be connected to the outlet of the waste water tank and wherein the outlet end has a circumferential edge. The waste water valve can be coupled to a waste water collecting basin of a supply device, wherein the term “coupling” is understood to mean that the waste water valve is arranged above or in the waste water collecting basin of the supply device in such a way that waste water drained from the waste water valve can be received completely by the waste water collecting basin. Alternatively, the waste water valve can be coupled with a drain so that waste water drained from the waste water valve can be directed to the drain.
The inlet end is connected to the outlet of the waste water tank so that waste water can reach the inlet end of the waste water valve from the waste water tank and be drained via the outlet end. The floor cleaning machine can have a pump which conveys the waste water out of the waste water tank. The pump can also be arranged in a supply device to which the floor cleaning machine is coupled in order to convey the waste water. This has the advantage that the waste water can be conveyed out of the waste water tank particularly quickly and effectively. Alternatively, the outlet of the waste water tank can be arranged in a lower region of the waste water tank so that the waste water is conveyed out by the hydrostatic pressure of the waste water itself. This is always the case when the minimum level of the waste water tank is higher than the outlet of the waste water tank, as this allows waste water to be conveyed out of the waste water tank by gravity. This has the advantage that no pump is needed, which contributes to a simpler design.
Furthermore, the waste water valve has the closure body which is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be displaceable between the closed position and the open position, wherein the closure body is arranged in the closed position so that it closes the outlet end and is arranged in the open position at such a distance from the outlet end that a distance is provided between the closure body and the outlet end over the entire circumferential edge. The closure body can be used to open and close the waste water valve. This ensures that the waste water can only be drained when the waste water valve is in the open position. This, in turn, ensures that the waste water is drained in a controlled manner, in particular when the waste water valve is coupled to a waste water collecting basin or a drain. In the closed position, the closure body closes the outlet end of the pipe socket and in the open position, the closure body is at a distance from the outlet end. This can be achieved, for example, by the closure body being arranged on the pipe socket so as to be displaceable in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the pipe socket. Due to the, possibly axial, displaceability of the closure body, positions are also conceivable in which the closure body does not completely close the outlet end or only partially opens it. In this case, the closure body is in an intermediate position in which it is closer to the outlet end than in the open position. This has the advantage that the closure body can move the waste water valve to a position in which the waste water valve is not fully open. This has the advantage that the closure body can adjust the flow rate at the waste water valve via the intermediate positions by moving the closure body to an intermediate position in which the waste water valve is not fully open.
The fact that the closure body is arranged in the open position at such a distance from the outlet end that a distance between the closure body and the outlet end is provided over the entire circumferential edge, achieves that when draining the waste water, coarse dirt in the waste water cannot get caught in the region of the closure body, which could lead to the valve not being able to be closed again.
The waste water valve has an actuating element which is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be adjustable between a closed position and an open position, which actuating element is rigidly coupled to the closure body in such a way that the closure body moves from the closed position to the open position when the actuating element moves from the closed position to the open position and that the closure body moves from the open position to the closed position when the actuating element moves from the open position to the closed position. The waste water valve has a closed position or closure position and an open position or opening position and can be transferred from the closed position to the open position by actuating the actuating element. In the closed position, the waste water is prevented from flowing out of the waste water tank. When the waste water valve is in the open position, waste water can be conveyed out of the waste water tank via the waste water valve. This ensures that the waste water can be drained in a controlled manner by moving the waste water valve from the closed to the open position using the actuating element.
In addition, it is achieved by means of the actuating element that not the closure body itself has to be actuated, but rather the actuating element, which is connected to the closure body via the pipe socket. This has the advantage that the user does not have to engage directly with the closure body, thus preventing additional stresses on the closure body and avoiding additional wear on the closure body.
The actuating element is connected to the closure body, but can, however, be attached at a location remote from the closure body. This has the advantage that the actuating element can be provided in a location where it is, on the one hand, particularly easy to reach and where, on the other hand, no waste water is conveyed to. This makes the waste water valve particularly easy to handle.
The actuating element can engage with an actuator and thus be moved from the closed to the open position. The actuator can be, for example, a user or a part of a supply device. This ensures that the waste water valve can be used in a manual floor cleaning machine in which a user actuates the actuating element in order to open the waste water valve and drain the waste water.
In particular, when the waste water valve is used in an autonomous floor cleaning machine, the actuating element can engage with an actuator of a supply device, for example a lifting cylinder. For this purpose, the lifting cylinder can assume a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lifting cylinder is retracted so that the waste water valve remains in the closed position. In the second position, the lifting cylinder presses against the actuating element of the waste water valve so that the waste water valve can be moved from the closed to the open position when the waste water valve is coupled to a waste water collecting basin of the supply device. This ensures that the waste water can be drained in a controlled and autonomous manner by moving the lifting cylinder from the first to the second position. It is also conceivable that the actuator can assume further positions in addition to the first and second positions. For example, the actuator can also assume one or more intermediate positions. This has the advantage that the actuator can move the waste water valve to a position in which the waste water valve is not fully open. This has the advantage that the actuator can adjust the flow rate at the waste water valve by moving the waste water valve to an intermediate position in which the waste water valve is not fully open.
The use of the waste water valve according to the disclosure is, however, not limited to autonomous floor cleaning machines. It can also be used in hand-operated floor cleaning machines and ride-on machines.
Furthermore, a biasing element is provided that biases the closure body towards the closed position. The biasing element is possibly a spring element that exerts a spring force on the closure body. The closure body is held in the closed position by the biasing element, which exerts a force on the closure body in the closed position. This has the advantage that the waste water valve does not have to be moved separately from the open position to the closed position, as this is done automatically by the biasing element, which makes the waste water valve easy to use.
The biasing of the closure body also ensures that the closure body closes the outlet end in a sealing manner even if the outlet end or the closure body exhibits a reduced sealing effect due to wear. This has the advantage that the waste water valve requires less maintenance.
In one embodiment, the closure body has a closure section which is shaped akin to a part of a spherical shell or a conical shell or a truncated conical shell, wherein the outlet end has a circular cross-section and wherein, in the closed position, the closure section closes the outlet end. In general, the closure body and the closure section can be of any shape that has a circular cross-section, so that the outlet end can be closed in a sealing manner. A circular cross-section of the outlet end and the closure body has proven to be advantageous, as this results in a uniform flow of waste water from the waste water valve. This prevents dirt from collecting in the outlet end when draining the waste water, thus avoiding clogging of the waste water valve.
A spherical shell, a conical shell or a truncated conical shell is particularly suitable for closing the outlet end, which has a circular cross-section, in a sealing manner. The spherical shell, conical shell or truncated conical shell can be selected, for example, to have a cross-section larger than the circular cross-section of the outlet end. In this case, the spherical shell, conical shell or truncated conical shell is only partially received in the outlet end in order to close it. This has the advantage that the spherical shell or the conical shell or the truncated conical shell with a larger cross-section can also close the outlet end if the outlet end is subject to expansion, for example due to wear or heat. This ensures that the waste water valve is closed particularly securely.
In one embodiment, the pipe socket has a rubber sleeve on which the outlet end is formed. The rubber sleeve is possibly arranged coaxially on the pipe socket, with the rubber sleeve placed over the pipe socket. This has the advantage that the rubber sleeve seals the pipe socket between the rubber sleeve and the pipe socket. Furthermore, the rubber sleeve can be used to achieve a particularly reliable and tight connection between the closure body and the outlet end, which remains tight even when subjected to the vibrations and shocks that can occur during operation of a floor cleaning machine.
In one embodiment, the pipe socket has a straight section extending from the outlet end to the inlet end, and a sleeve is provided that surrounds the straight section and is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be displaceable along it, wherein the closure body is fastened to the sleeve. The sleeve and the pipe socket can be arranged coaxially with one another and one inside the other so that the sleeve is arranged so as to be displaceable on the pipe socket. The straight section ensures that the sleeve can be guided evenly relative to the pipe socket. This results in a particularly simple and robust guidance of the sleeve and the closure body.
In one embodiment, the sleeve extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal end points towards the inlet end of the pipe socket, wherein the distal end extends beyond the outlet end, and wherein the closure body is at least partially arranged within the interior of the sleeve. The fact that the distal end of the sleeve extends beyond the outlet end ensures that the closure body can be arranged within the sleeve and does not protrude out of the waste water valve or sleeve. This better protects the closure body and the outlet end from external influences, such as dust and contamination. In this regard, the closure body is possibly arranged coaxially in the sleeve. This ensures that the waste water flows in a uniform manner around the closure body and can be discharged in a controlled manner.
In one embodiment, a sealing ring is arranged at the distal end. The waste water valve can be coupled to a waste water collecting basin, and the sealing ring is used, in this regard, to couple the waste water valve to the waste water collecting basin in a sealing manner. For this purpose, the waste water valve is guided into an opening in the waste water collecting basin, wherein the sealing ring rests against an inward-facing surface of the opening. This ensures that no waste water can escape from the waste water collecting basin.
In one embodiment, a washing liquid outlet is provided on the sleeve adjacent to the closure body, which is designed such that washing liquid can be sprayed onto the closure body through it. The washing liquid can be fresh water, for example, wherein the washing liquid outlet is connected to a fresh water inlet for this purpose. The washing liquid can be used to clean the waste water valve, in particular the closure body. This helps to prevent unpleasant odors caused by the waste water at the waste water valve. This also ensures that the waste water valve can be flushed with washing liquid, for example fresh water, in order to prevent dirt deposits from remaining on the valve, which could affect the tightness of the waste water valve.
In one embodiment, the washing liquid outlet is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve so as to be positioned between the outlet end and the closure body in the axial direction of the sleeve when the closure body is in the open position. This ensures that the closure body and the outlet end can be flushed at the sealing surfaces, thus preventing dirt deposits from remaining on the sealing surfaces that could impair the tightness of the waste water valve.
In one embodiment, the actuating element is designed as an actuating lever, having an actuating section and a coupling section, wherein the actuating lever is mounted on the pipe socket so as to be pivotable between the actuating section and the coupling section about a pivot axis extending transversely to the straight section, wherein the actuating lever can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position, wherein the coupling section is connected to the sleeve such that the sleeve moves with the closure body from the closed position to the open position when the actuating lever pivots from the closed position to the open position, and such that the sleeve moves with the closure body from the open position to the closed position when the actuating lever pivots from the open position to the closed position. The pivotable actuating element allows the actuating element to be designed as a button that moves the waste water valve to the open position as long as the button is pressed. This allows the actuating element to be actuated in a particularly simple way.
In one embodiment, a washing liquid outlet is provided on the pipe socket, which is designed such that washing liquid can be introduced into the pipe socket through it. This embodiment ensures that the pipe socket and the closure body can be flushed when the closure body is in the open position. This has the advantage that any contamination in the pipe socket and on the closure body can be removed that could affect the tightness of the waste water valve.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a floor cleaning machine having the features of claim 11. The floor cleaning machine has a waste water tank that has an outlet, wherein the outlet is connected to the waste water valve according to the disclosure.
In one embodiment, the floor cleaning machine has a housing, wherein the actuating element is arranged behind an opening in the housing in such a way that it can be moved from the closed position to the open position by inserting an actuator. This ensures that the actuating element of the waste water valve is not accidentally actuated, for example when the floor cleaning machine approaches an object that presses against the actuating element.
The present disclosure is explained below with reference to a drawing, which shows only preferred exemplary embodiments, in which
b show schematic views of a second exemplary embodiment of a waste water valve according to the disclosure.
As can be seen from
Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a cleaning device 9, a fresh water tank and a waste water tank. In the present exemplary embodiment, the cleaning device 9 has a brush arrangement, a device for dispensing fresh water, optionally mixed with cleaning agents, and a suction pad 10, with which waste water can be absorbed from the floor surface. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning device can have a wiping device. The brush arrangement is driven and engages with the floor surface in such a way that it loosens and/or removes dirt from the floor surface. The suction pad 10 is used to suck up dirt together with previously dispensed fresh water and guide it into the waste water tank. This makes it possible to clean floor surfaces with particularly heavy contamination in a very simple way.
The floor cleaning machine 1 has a coupling arrangement 11, which in turn has a socket 13 and a waste water valve 15, which will be described in detail below. The waste water valve 15 is connected to the waste water tank. The socket 13 has an interface for supplying fresh water to the fresh water tank, an interface for supplying fresh water to a flushing line for flushing the waste water valve 15 and an interface for supplying electrical energy that can be used to charge a battery of the floor cleaning machine 1. It is generally conceivable that the coupling arrangement 11 also has an interface for supplying further liquids, for example a cleaning solution, which can be conveyed into a tank for holding the cleaning solution in the floor cleaning machine 1. Furthermore, the socket 13 of the coupling arrangement 11 has an interface for sending and receiving data, which is connected to a control unit of the floor cleaning machine 1 via a data bus. This enables the floor cleaning machine 1 to exchange data with a supply device or an external control unit.
Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has an actuating element 17 that is connected to the waste water valve 15. The waste water valve 15 has a closed position and an open position and can be transferred from the closed position to the open position by actuating the actuating element 17. In the closed position, the waste water is prevented from flowing out of the waste water tank. When the waste water valve 15 is in the open position, waste water can be conveyed out of the waste water tank via the waste water valve 15. This ensures that the waste water can be drained in a controlled manner by moving the waste water valve 15 from the closed to the open position using the actuating element 17.
The actuating element 17 is arranged behind an opening in the housing 3 in such a way that it can be moved from the closed position to the open position by inserting an actuator. This ensures that the actuating element 17 of the waste water valve 15 is not accidentally actuated, for example when the floor cleaning machine 1 approaches an object that presses against the actuating element 17.
In the present first exemplary embodiment, the waste water valve 15 can be coupled to a waste water collecting basin 19 of a supply device, as shown in
The waste water valve 15 has a pipe socket 21 which has an inlet end 23 and an outlet end 25, wherein the inlet end 23 is connected to the outlet of the waste water tank via an outlet pipe 27. The inlet end 23 is connected to the outlet of the waste water tank via the outlet pipe 27 in such a way that waste water can reach the inlet end 23 of the waste water valve 15 from the waste water tank and be drained via the outlet end 25. The floor cleaning machine 1 can have a pump which conveys the waste water out of the waste water tank. The pump can also be arranged in a supply device to which the floor cleaning machine 1 is coupled in order to convey the waste water. This has the advantage that the waste water can be conveyed out of the waste water tank particularly quickly and effectively. Alternatively, the outlet of the waste water tank can be arranged in a lower region of the waste water tank so that the waste water is conveyed out by the hydrostatic pressure of the waste water itself. This is always the case when the minimum level of the waste water tank is higher than the outlet of the waste water tank, as this allows waste water to be conveyed out of the waste water tank by gravity. This has the advantage that no pump is needed, which contributes to a simpler design.
Furthermore, the waste water valve 15 has a fastening section 29 with which the waste water valve 15 can be fastened to a frame or the housing 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1. The fastening section 29 is connected to the pipe socket 21 in the region of the inlet end 23. In an alternative embodiment, the fastening section 29 can be arranged at a different location depending on how the waste water valve 15 is to be fastened to the floor cleaning machine 1.
The pipe socket 21 has a straight section extending from the outlet end 25 to the inlet end 23, and a sleeve 31 is provided that surrounds the straight section and is mounted on the pipe socket 21 so as to be displaceable along it. The sleeve 31 and the pipe socket 21 are arranged coaxially to one another, so that the sleeve 31 is arranged so as to be displaceable on the pipe socket 21. The straight section ensures that the sleeve 31 can be guided evenly relative to the pipe socket 21. This results in a particularly simple and robust guidance of the sleeve 31.
A sealing ring 33 is arranged on the sleeve 31. When the waste water valve 15 is arranged in the waste water collecting basin 19, the sealing ring 33 is used, in this regard, to couple the waste water valve 15 to the waste water collecting basin 19 in a sealing manner. For this purpose, the waste water valve 15 is guided into an opening 35 in the waste water collecting basin 19, wherein the sealing ring 33 can rest against an inward-facing surface of the opening. This ensures that no waste water can escape from the waste water collecting basin 19.
In the present embodiment, the actuating element 17 is designed as an actuating lever 35, having an actuating section 37 and a coupling section 39, wherein the actuating lever 35 is mounted on the pipe socket 21 so as to be pivotable between the actuating section 37 and the coupling section 39 about a pivot axis 41 extending transversely to the straight section, wherein the actuating lever 35 can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position. First, the function of the actuating element 17 is explained in more detail, wherein reference is made to
The coupling section 39 is connected to the sleeve 31 via a coupling arm 43 in such a way that the sleeve 31 moves from the closed position to the open position when the actuating lever 35 pivots from the closed position to the open position, and that the sleeve 31 moves from the open position to the closed position when the actuating lever 35 pivots from the open position to the closed position. The pivotable actuating element 17 allows the actuating element 17 to be designed as a button that moves the waste water valve 15 to the open position as long as the button is pressed. This allows the actuating element 17 to be actuated in a particularly simple way.
The actuating element 17 can engage with an actuator and thus be moved from the closed to the open position. The actuator can be, for example, a user or a part of a supply device. This ensures that the waste water valve 15 can be used in a manual floor cleaning machine 1 in which a user actuates the actuating element 17 in order to open the waste water valve 15 and drain the waste water.
In particular, when the waste water valve 15 is used in an autonomous floor cleaning machine 1, the actuating element 17 can engage with an actuator of the supply device, for example a lifting cylinder. For this purpose, the lifting cylinder can assume a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lifting cylinder is retracted so that the waste water valve 15 remains in the closed position. In the second position, the lifting cylinder presses against the actuating element 17 of the waste water valve 15 so that the waste water valve 15 can be moved from the closed to the open position when the waste water is coupled to the waste water collecting basin 19 of the supply device. This ensures that the waste water can be drained in a controlled and autonomous manner by moving the lifting cylinder from the first to the second position. It is also conceivable that the actuator can assume further positions in addition to the first and second positions. For example, the actuator can also assume one or more intermediate positions. This has the advantage that the actuator can move the waste water valve 15 to a position in which the waste water valve 15 is not fully open. This has the advantage that the actuator can adjust the flow rate at the waste water valve 15 by moving the waste water valve 15 to an intermediate position in which the waste water valve 15 is not fully open.
Furthermore, two biasing elements 45 are provided that bias the sleeve 31 towards the closed position. The biasing elements 45 are preferably spring elements that exert a spring force on the sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 is held in the closed position by the biasing elements 45 that exert a force on the sleeve 31 in the closed position. This has the advantage that the waste water valve 15 does not have to be moved separately from the open position to the closed position, as this is done automatically by the biasing elements 45, which makes the waste water valve 15 easy to use.
As can be seen from
The waste water valve 15 has a closure body 47 which is connected to the sleeve 31 via a fastening arm 49 and, due to the displaceability of the sleeve 31, is also mounted on the pipe socket 21 so as to be displaceable between the closed position and the open position, wherein the closure body 47 is arranged in the closed position so that it closes the outlet end 25 and is arranged in the open position at such a distance from the outlet end 25, which has a circumferential edge, that a distance is provided between the closure body 47 and the outlet end 25 over the entire circumferential edge.
The pipe socket 21 has a rubber sleeve 51 on which the outlet end 25 is formed. The rubber sleeve 51 is possibly arranged coaxially on the pipe socket 21, with the rubber sleeve 51 placed over the pipe socket 21. This has the advantage that the rubber sleeve 51 seals the pipe socket 21 between the rubber sleeve 51 and the pipe socket 21. Furthermore, the rubber sleeve 51 can be used to achieve a particularly reliable and tight connection between the closure body 47 and the outlet end 25, which remains tight even when subjected to the vibrations and shocks that can occur during operation of a floor cleaning machine 1.
The closure body 47 can be used to open and close the waste water valve 15. This ensures that the waste water can only be drained when the waste water valve 15 is in the open position. This, in turn, ensures that the waste water is drained in a controlled manner, in particular when the waste water valve 15 is coupled to the waste water collecting basin 19 or a drain. In the closed position, the closure body 47 closes the outlet end 25 of the pipe socket 21 and in the open position, the closure body 47 is at a distance from the outlet end 25. This can be achieved, for example, by the closure body 47 being arranged on the pipe socket so as to be displaceable in a direction along a longitudinal axis 53 of the pipe socket 21. Due to the, possibly axial, displaceability of the closure body 47, positions are also conceivable in which the closure body 47 does not completely close the outlet end 25 or only partially opens it. In this case, the closure body 47 is in an intermediate position in which it is closer to the outlet end 25 than in the open position. This has the advantage that the closure body 47 can move the waste water valve 15 to a position in which the waste water valve 15 is not fully open. This has the advantage that the closure body 47 can adjust the flow rate at the waste water valve 15 via the intermediate positions by moving the closure body 47 to an intermediate position in which the waste water valve 15 is not fully open.
The fact that the closure body 47 is arranged in the open position at such a distance from the outlet end 25 that a distance between the closure body 47 and the outlet end 25 is provided over the entire circumferential edge, achieves that when draining the waste water, coarse dirt in the waste water cannot get caught in the region of the closure body 47, which could lead to the waste water valve 15 not being able to be closed again.
The actuating element 17, which is connected to the closure body 47 via the sleeve 31, is attached at a location remote from the closure body 47. This has the advantage that the actuating element 17 can be provided in a location where it is, on the one hand, particularly easy to reach and where, on the other hand, no waste water is conveyed to. This makes the waste water valve 15 particularly easy to handle.
It is also achieved by means of the actuating element 17 that not the closure body 47 itself has to be actuated, but rather the actuating element 17, which is connected to the closure body 47 via the pipe socket 21. This has the advantage that the user does not have to engage directly with the closure body 47, thus preventing additional stresses on the closure body 47 and avoiding additional wear on the closure body 47.
As a result of the closure body 47 being connected to the sleeve 31, the biasing elements 45 bias the sleeve 31 and the closure body 47 towards the closed position. The biasing elements 45, which exert a force on the sleeve 31 and the closure body 47 in the closed position, hold the sleeve 31 with the closure body 47 in the closed position. This has the advantage that the waste water valve 15 does not have to be moved separately from the open position to the closed position, as this is done automatically by the biasing elements 45, which makes the waste water valve 15 easy to use.
The biasing of the closure body 47 also ensures that the closure body 47 closes the outlet end 25 in a sealing manner even if the outlet end 25 or the closure body 47 exhibits a reduced sealing effect due to wear. This has the advantage that the waste water valve 15 requires less maintenance.
The closure body 47 has a closure section 55 which is shaped akin to a part of a spherical shell, wherein the outlet end 25 has a circular cross-section and wherein, in the closed position, the closure section 55 closes the outlet end 25. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the closure section 55 has the shape of a conical shell or truncated conical shell. A conical shell or truncated conical shell also has a circular cross-section and is suitable for closing the outlet end 25 in a sealing manner. In general, further exemplary embodiments are also conceivable in which the closure body 47 has a closure section 55 with a circular cross-section. A circular cross-section of the outlet end 25 and the closure body 47 has proven to be advantageous, as this results in a uniform flow of waste water from of the waste water valve 15. This prevents dirt from collecting in the outlet end 25 when draining the waste water, thus avoiding clogging of the waste water valve 15.
A spherical shell, a conical shell or a truncated conical shell is particularly suitable for closing the outlet end 25, which has a circular cross-section, in a sealing manner. The spherical shell, conical shell or truncated conical shell can be selected, for example, to have a cross-section larger than the circular cross-section of the outlet end 25. In this case, the spherical shell, conical shell or truncated conical shell is only partially received in the outlet end 25 in order to close it. This has the advantage that the spherical shell or the conical shell or the truncated conical shell with a larger cross-section can also close the outlet end 25 if the outlet end 25 is subject to expansion, for example due to wear or heat. This ensures that the waste water valve 15 is closed particularly securely.
The sleeve 31 extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal end points towards the inlet end 23 of the pipe socket and wherein the distal end extends beyond the outlet end 25 and wherein the closure body 47 is at least partially arranged within the interior of the sleeve 31. The fact that the distal end of the sleeve 31 extends beyond the outlet end 25 ensures that the closure body 47 can be arranged within the sleeve 31 and does not protrude out of the waste water valve 15 or the sleeve 31. This better protects the closure body 47 and the outlet end 25 from external influences, such as dust and contamination. In this regard, the closure body 47 is possibly arranged coaxially in the sleeve 31. This ensures that the waste water flows in a uniform manner around the closure body 47 and can be discharged in a controlled manner.
The waste water valve 15 of the first exemplary embodiment has a washing liquid outlet 57. In the present first exemplary embodiment, the washing liquid outlet 57 is attached to the pipe socket 21. This allows washing liquid to be introduced into the pipe socket 21. In this exemplary embodiment, it is achieved that the pipe socket 21 and the closure body 47 can be flushed when the closure body 47 is in the open position. This has the advantage that any contamination in the pipe socket 21 and on the closure body 47 can be removed that could affect the tightness of the waste water valve 15.
b show schematic views of a second exemplary embodiment of a waste water valve 15 according to the disclosure, wherein
In the present second exemplary embodiment, the washing liquid outlet 57 is provided on the sleeve 31 adjacent to the closure body 47. The washing liquid outlet 57 is designed such that washing liquid can be sprayed onto the closure body 47 through it. The washing liquid can be fresh water, for example, wherein the washing liquid outlet 57 is connected to a fresh water inlet for this purpose. The washing liquid can be used to clean the waste water valve 15, in particular the closure body 47. This helps to prevent unpleasant odors caused by the waste water at the waste water valve 15. This also ensures that the waste water valve 15 can be flushed with fresh water in order to prevent dirt deposits from remaining on the valve, which could affect the tightness of the waste water valve 15.
The washing liquid outlet 57 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 31 so as to be positioned between the outlet end 25 and the closure body 47 in the axial direction of the sleeve 31 when the closure body 47 is in the open position. This ensures that the closure body and the outlet end can be flushed at the sealing surfaces, thus preventing dirt deposits from remaining on the sealing surfaces that could impair the tightness of the waste water valve.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102023125324.7 | Sep 2023 | DE | national |
