DE29624445U1 - Household sub-wall surface plumbing fittings has range of cartridge inserts - with different fittings, inserted by choice within standard housing, minimising cost - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of household inner wall sub-plaster water-mixing fittings (8) make use of identical housings (2) holding a variety of cartridge-like inserts and adapters (4). The universal housings have cold and hot water inlets (10, 12) from the household supply, and an outlet (14) for the resultant mix of hot and cold water for subsequent discharge to e.g. a bath or shower. The cartridge adapter is inserted in a recess (28) in the universal housing. The housing water inlets and outlet are linked to the respective inlets and outlets in the cartridge adapter insert. These inlets and outlets are linked as required by ring chambers (38,40) to the cartridge adapter openings. The respective cartridge (6) is inserted in a cartridge recess (48) in the respective adapter.

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS

DR. ULRICH OSTERTAG DR. REINHARD OSTERTAG

EIBENWEG 10 0-70597 STUTTGART TEL.+49-711-766845 FAX +49-711-7655701

Majority of sanitary mixer taps

ii

Applicant: Hansa Metallwerke AG

Sigmaringer Strasse 107

70567 Stuttgart

Attorney file: 8833.5

4857.7

• » -et * · · t

28.05.1996

Majority of sanitary mixer taps

The invention relates to a plurality of sanitary mixer fittings, in particular concealed mixer fittings, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of well-known sanitary mixer fittings of the type mentioned above, the appropriate connection housing is manufactured for each fitting or cartridge type, which is inserted into a recess in a wall in the case of flush-mounted installation. Intermediate adapters are also known, which make it possible to compensate for the mix-up in the case of so-called chaotic installation of the house pipes, i.e. when the cold and hot water house pipes are swapped.

For example, EP 0 309 397 Bl discloses a water connection arrangement for a sanitary mixer tap with a connection housing which has connections for the cold and hot water pipes and branch pipes. The latter are connected to the tap housing via nipples directly or via an adapter. The tap housing has a recess into which an adapter for a cartridge of a conventional lever mixer can be inserted.

EP 0 309 397 Bl explicitly mentions that any known single or multi-lever mixer can be used. However, this does not mean that the implementation of the technical teaching given here requires a number of fittings to be offered simultaneously by one manufacturer. The development of a higher-level design principle for a whole set of

TK.01-070

4857.7

♦···♦ ft* ·

28.05.1996

This publication does not provide any information on fittings.

In this known arrangement, the flow from the cartridge to the valve housing is basically carried out via openings which are arranged in a flat surface in the valve housing or in the distributor corresponding to the respective valve housing.

It is not possible to use or even retrofit different cartridges with randomly arranged water connection openings. This is particularly disadvantageous because the arrangement of the water connection openings on cartridges, as well as the shape of the cartridges themselves, is not standardized and therefore there are a large number of completely different cartridges which, for example, cannot be used and/or retrofitted in any way with the arrangement mentioned above.

20' Furthermore, EP 0 576 391 Bl discloses a connection device for a sanitary mixing fitting, which comprises a connection housing with connections for cold and hot water and optionally for the mixed water outlet, to which a fitting housing can be attached.

The flow paths between the connection housing and the fitting housing are connected by a disc-shaped adapter, the connecting surfaces of which are flat to the fitting housing on the one hand and to the connection housing on the other. The purpose of this adapter is to compensate for a swapping of the hot and cold water connections to the connection housing by turning it by 180°.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the water connection openings on the fitting housing are point-symmetrical

« •■ · ·· · · t .05 ·· ·· 28 .1996

4857.7 - 3 -

must be arranged and thus this arrangement is also limited to the use of fittings with a specific arrangement of the water connection openings. In addition, the connection between the individual components is made exclusively via flat surfaces. A direct adaptation for cartridges is not planned.

The invention therefore has the object of creating a plurality of sanitary mixing fittings of the type mentioned at the beginning, which are suitable for accommodating any and completely different types of mixer cartridges with different water connection openings and which thereby significantly reduces the manufacturing costs.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a plurality of sanitary mixing fittings having the features given in claim 1.

The plurality of sanitary mixing valves according to the invention

20' is designed as a set of mixer taps, which includes a universal connection housing, different cartridges with corresponding operating elements and different adapters. The connection housing is designed as a universal housing with connections for cold, warm and mixed water and with a receiving hole for the respective adapter. The adapters are arranged as cartridge adapters directly between the universal housing and the respective cartridges and connect the water connection openings of the cartridges by means of channels to the water connection openings in the receiving hole of the universal housing. On their surfaces facing the universal housing, the cartridge adapters are designed in a standardized manner, and on their surfaces facing the respective cartridges they are designed specifically for each cartridge type.

On the other hand, the universal housing is designed

4857.7 - 4 - 28.05.1996

that the flow paths for cold water, hot water and mixed water from the connections for the house pipes also open into the receiving bore for the cartridge adapters in a standardized manner corresponding to the cartridge adapters.

This creates a set of sanitary mixer taps that always have the same, universal connection housing, but which can accommodate differently shaped cartridges with water connection openings arranged in any way. The set of sanitary mixer taps according to the invention can therefore include all types of mixer taps, such as single-lever or multi-lever mixers, thermostatic mixers, etc.

In particular, the small number of components and the possibility of producing the universal housing in large quantities significantly reduces the manufacturing costs. Conversions from one type of fitting to another can also be carried out subsequently without any problems and in a very short time. The low installation height enables use even in confined spaces.

Advantageous developments of the invention are set out in subclaims.

The development according to claim 2 comprises a plurality of sanitary mixing fittings which form a set, whereby in each fitting of the set at least one of the flow connections between the universal housing and the respective cartridge adapter takes place via an annular space which is formed between the peripheral surface of the receiving bore of the universal housing and the peripheral surface of the cartridge adapter. This ensures a radially problem-

• · · « f «ft C

4857.7 - 5 - 28.05.1996

This allows for seamless installation of the cartridge adapter relative to the universal housing without the need to align the corresponding openings.

The development of the invention according to claim 3 has an opening at the bottom of the respective cartridge adapter for each mixer fitting in the set, via which the mixed water-carrying channel of the respective cartridge adapter is connected to the mixed water outlet of the universal housing, which also opens into an opening and/or into an annular space at the bottom of the receiving bore. This minimizes pressure losses in the flow path of the mixed water.

The development of the invention according to claim 4 has a cartridge adapter in at least one mixing arrangement of the set, which is designed in such a way that the flow connection between the cartridge adapter and the cartridge is made via openings in a flat surface of the cartridge.

20' ink adapter or cartridge. This design enables the use of cartridges from single-lever and multi-lever mixers, as they are currently in widespread use.

The development of the invention according to claim 5 has a cartridge adapter in at least one mixer fitting of the set, which is designed in such a way that the flow connection between the cartridge adapter and the cartridge takes place via annular spaces which are formed in the cartridge receiving bore 0 between the cartridge adapter and the cartridge. This embodiment enables in particular the use of cartridges for thermostatic mixers or other cartridges which have axially offset water inlet and outlet levels in which the water flow takes place radially.

4857.7 - 6 - 28.05.1996

The development of the invention according to claim 6 comprises at least two cartridge adapters per cartridge type. The second cartridge adapter differs from the first in that the flow of the hot water and the cold water is reversed within the cartridge adapter. This makes it possible to compensate for a swapping of the connection of the hot water and the cold water house pipes on the universal housing, as can occur when laying the house pipes, by using either one or the other cartridge adapter.

The development of the invention according to claim 7 comprises radial seals which are introduced into annular grooves in the peripheral surfaces of the cartridge adapter. This ensures a secure sealing of the flow paths and enables simple assembly, particularly when the flow connection between the universal housing and the respective cartridge adapter is designed using annular spaces.

The development of the invention according to claim 8 comprises bores which are introduced into the universal housing of at least one set of mixing fittings in the flow paths between the hot water and cold water inlets and the respective cartridge adapters. Maintenance units such as sieve devices, silencers, pre-shut-off valves and other usual additional devices can be introduced into these bores.

The development of the invention according to claim 9 comprises a particularly preferred embodiment of a cartridge adapter in which the cartridge receiving bore is introduced centrally into the cartridge adapter, so that a rotation of the cartridge adapter, e.g. for subsequent

4857.7 - 7 - 28.05.1996

achievable alignment of the sanitary mixer tap without the respective cartridge, and thus also the sanitary mixer tap, shifting sideways.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1: a plan view of a first member of a set of sanitary mixing valves, in which

the water flows into and out of the cartridge in an axial direction, whereby only the connection unit is shown;

Figure 2: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 1 along the line A-A, which shows in particular the flow guidance in the cartridge adapter;

20' Figure 3: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 1 along the line D-D, which shows in particular the flow of the cold water;

Figure 4: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 1 along the line C-C, which shows in particular the flow of the hot water;

Figure 5: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 1 (with single-lever cartridge and operating handle) along the line B-B, which shows in particular the flow of the mixed water;

4857.7 - 8 - 28.05.1996

Figure 6: a top view of a second member

of the set of sanitary mixer taps, in which the water flows into and out of the cartridge in a radial direction, whereby only the connection unit is shown

is presented;

Figure 7: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 6 along the line A-A, which shows in particular the flow guidance in the

Adapter shows;

Figure 8: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 6 along the line D-D, which shows in particular the flow guidance of the

cold water shows;

Figure 9: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 6 along the line C-C,

20' which in particular the flow guidance of the

hot water;

Figure 10: a vertical section through the connection unit of Figure 6 (with thermostat cartridge and operating handle) along the line B-B, which

in particular the flow of the mixed water.

The connection unit shown in Figures 1 to 5 serves to connect the house pipes laid in the wall of a building and a cartridge 6, which is also part of this sanitary single-lever concealed mixer tap and has its water connection openings on its front surface. The connection unit is provided with the reference number 1 and comprises a universal

·

· Q

4857.7 - 9 - 28.05.1996

housing 2 and a cartridge adapter 4.

On the right in Figure 1 you can see the hot water inlet 10 from a house line to the universal housing 2, from which a first hot water branch line 16 leads to a stepped bore 20 for a hot water maintenance unit (not shown). Similarly, on the left side of Figure 1 you can see a cold water inlet 12 from the house line to the universal housing 2, from which a first cold water branch line 18 leads to a stepped bore 22 for a cold water maintenance unit (not shown). The cold water and hot water maintenance units can contain pre-shut-off valves and/or cleaning sieves and/or... silencers etc. and are known as such.

Furthermore, in Figure 1 one can see a mixed water drain 14 at the top and bottom, which can be connected, for example, to a bathtub inlet or a shower and is arranged on both sides of the universal housing 2 (an unused mixed water drain 14 can be closed off by a plug).

In the universal housing 2, a receiving bore 28 (not visible in Figure 1) for the cartridge adapter 4 is formed, into which the cartridge adapter 4 is inserted. The cartridge adapter 4 in turn has a stepped cartridge receiving bore 48 and three inner water connection openings, namely an inner hot water opening 50, an inner cold water opening 52 and an inner mixed water opening 54, all of which open into the bottom of the cartridge receiving bore 48. The cartridge adapter 4 is held in the adapter receiving bore 28 of the universal housing 2 by a press ring 90, which is fastened to the universal housing 2 with screws 88.

- ¹ · ^&ugr;

4857.7 - 10 - 28.05.1996

The cold water flow is now explained using Figures 2 and 3:

A second cold water branch line 26 leads from the stepped bore 22 in the universal housing 2 (see Figure 3) for the cold water maintenance unit (not shown) to a cold water annular groove 32 which is made in the peripheral surface of the adapter receiving bore 28 in the universal housing 2. Opposite the cold water annular groove 32 of the universal housing 2, a cold water annular groove 36 is made in the cartridge adapter 4 so that a cold water annular space 40 is formed. A cold water adapter channel 44 (see Figure 2) extends from this and opens into the bottom of the cartridge receiving bore 48 with the inner cold water opening 52. The cartridge adapter 4 is sealed against the universal housing 2 by means of radial seals 56.

The hot water supply is now explained using Figures 2 and 4:

A second hot water branch line 24 leads from the stepped bore 20 in the universal housing 2 (see Figure 4) for the hot water maintenance unit to a hot water annular groove 30 which is formed on the peripheral surface of the adapter receiving bore 28, axially offset from the cold water annular groove 32. Opposite the hot water annular groove 30 of the universal housing 2, a hot water annular groove 34 is introduced on the peripheral surface of the cartridge adapter 4, from which a hot water adapter channel 42 (see Figure 2) leads to an inner hot water opening 50 at the bottom of the cartridge receiving bore 48.

The routing of the mixed water can be seen in Figure 5, where the complete fitting 8 is shown:

- 11 -

4857.7 - 11 - 28.05.1996

The fitting 8 comprises the connection unit 1, consisting of universal housing 2 and cartridge adapter 4, as well as the cartridge 6, an operating handle 86 and a cover 84.

The cartridge 6 is inserted into the cartridge receiving bore 48 of the cartridge adapter 4. The mixed water is guided from the inner mixed water opening 54 at the bottom of the cartridge receiving bore 48 of the cartridge adapter 4 via the mixed water adapter channel 46 into the mixed water drain 14 of the universal housing 2. The opening 15 to the mixed water drain 14 at the bottom of the adapter receiving bore 28 of the universal housing 2 can be arranged in an annular groove (not shown) which is coaxial to the adapter receiving bore 28 at the bottom thereof and thereby forms an annular space between the cartridge adapter 4 and the universal housing 2.

20' The fitting 8 is inserted with the connection unit 1 into a recess in a wall 98 and is covered by a cover rosette 96 fastened to the universal housing 2 by means of screws 92. The cover rosette 96 is sealed against the wall 98 with an insulation 94.

It can be seen that the member of the set of sanitary mixing fittings shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a cartridge adapter 4 which is designed such that it has a flat contact surface towards the cartridge 6 and that the flow connection between the cartridge adapter 4 and the cartridge 6 takes place via the water connection openings 50, 52, 54 arranged in one plane.

Figures 6 to 10 show a second member of the set of sanitary mixing valves, which

4857.7 - 12 - 28.05.1996

a connection unit 101 for a cartridge 106, which differs from the cartridge 6 of the first member described in Figures 1 to 5 in that the water connection openings of the cartridge 106 are flowed radially.

Corresponding parts in Figures 6 to 10 are provided with the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 5 plus 100.

The connection unit 101 comprises a universal housing 102 and a cartridge adapter 104. Since the design of the universal housing 102 is identical to that of the universal housing 2 in Figures 1 to 5, the universal housing 102 will not be described again here.

The cartridge adapter 104 used here is different:

Opposite the cold water annular groove 132 of the universal housing 102 20', an outer cold water annular groove 136 is provided in the circumference of the cartridge adapter 104. This outer cold water annular groove 136 is in flow connection with an inner cold water annular groove 160 which is provided in the inner circumferential surface of the cartridge receiving bore 148 of the cartridge adapter 104 (Figures 7 and 8). The annular grooves 132 and 136 form an outer cold water annular space 140.

Opposite the hot water ring groove 130 of the universal housing 102 0, an outer hot water ring groove 134 is provided in the circumference of the cartridge adapter 104, axially offset from the outer cold water ring groove 136. This outer hot water ring groove 134 is in flow connection with an inner hot water ring groove 158, which is provided in the inner circumferential surface of the cartridge receiving bore 148

1-1

—&khgr;3—

4857.7 - 13 - 28.05.1996

of the cartridge adapter 104 is axially offset from the inner cold water annular groove 160 (Figures 8 and 9). The annular grooves 130 and 134 form an outer cold water annular space 138.

In Figure 10, the cartridge 106 of a thermostatic mixer tap 108 is inserted into the cartridge receiving bore 148 of the cartridge adapter 104. The water supply and drainage in this cartridge 106 takes place radially via axially offset planes. This means that the cold water is supplied to the cold water connection opening 164 of the cartridge 106 via an inner cold water annular space 172 which is formed _between the inner cold water annular groove 160 of the cartridge adapter 104 and the cartridge 106. The hot water is supplied to a hot water connection opening 166 of the cartridge 106 via an inner hot water annular space 170 which is formed between the inner hot water annular groove 158 of the cartridge adapter 104 and the cartridge 106.

20' The discharge of combined sewage from a combined sewer system.

The connection opening 168 of the cartridge 106 is finally made via an inner mixed water annular space 174, which is formed between the inner mixed water annular groove 162 of the cartridge adapter 104 and the cartridge 106.

The inner mixed water annular space 174 between the cartridge adapter 104 and the cartridge 106 is connected to the mixed water drain 114 of the universal housing 102 via a mixed water adapter channel 146.

The following describes the installation of the concealed mixer taps 8; 108, which include the connection units 1; 101 and the cartridges 6; 106.

The universal housing 2; 102 is inserted into a recess in the wall 98; 198. The hot water inlet 10;

4857.7 - 14 - 28.05.1996

110 is connected to the hot water house line (not shown). The same applies to the cold water inlet 12; 112 and the mixed water outlets 14; 114. Connections that are not required can be closed with plugs (not shown).

The cartridge adapters 4; 104 matching the respective cartridges 6; 106 are, after they have been provided with the radial seals 56; 156, inserted into the adapter receiving bore 28; 128 of the universal housing 2; 102 and pressed into the adapter receiving bore 28; 128 by the press ring 90; 190, which is fastened to the universal housing 2; 102 with the screws 88; 188.

Either corresponding units (not shown) can be inserted into the stepped bores 20; 120 and 22; 122 for the hot and cold water maintenance units or these stepped bores can be closed with corresponding plugs (not shown).

Then the corresponding cartridges 6; 106 are inserted into the cartridge receiving bore 48; 148, the corresponding operating handles 86; 186 are attached and the corresponding cover elements and rosettes 84,96; 196 are mounted.

In summary, it should be emphasized again:

The mixer fittings shown in Figures 1 to 5 on the one hand and Figures 6 to 10 on the other hand do not represent different embodiments of an inventive idea which would be fully embodied in each of the two embodiments. Rather, the present invention requires a plurality of mixer fittings which are arranged as a set according to a higher-level

·

4857.7 - 15 - 28.05.1996

construction principle. In order to demonstrate this construction principle, it is necessary to explain at least two members of the sentence, as was done above.

Claims (9)

1. A plurality of sanitary mixer fittings, in particular concealed mixer fittings, each comprising a connection housing and a cartridge containing the water-controlling elements, an adapter being provided in the water path from the connection housing to the cartridge, characterized in that a) the sanitary mixing fittings ( 8 ; 108 ) are designed as a set of mixing fittings; b) the connection housings of all mixing valves belonging to the set are identically designed as universal housings ( 2 ; 102 ) with identical water connection openings; c) the cartridges ( 6 ; 106 ) of all the mixing valves belonging to the set differ from one another, in particular with regard to their water connection openings; d) the adapters ( 4 ; 104 ) of all mixing fittings ( 8 ; 108 ) belonging to the set are arranged as cartridge adapters directly between the universal housing ( 2 ; 102 ) and cartridges ( 6 ; 106 ). e) the adapters ( 4 ; 104 ) of all the mixing fittings ( 8 ; 108 ) belonging to the set differ from one another, in particular in that they have different internal water inlets and outlets matching the water connection openings of the cartridges in the set, but identical external water inlets and outlets matching the adapter-side water connection openings of the universal housing; 2. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to claim 1, characterized in that in each mixing fitting of the set at least one of the flow connections between the universal housing ( 2 ; 102 ) and the respective cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ) takes place via an annular space ( 38 , 40 ; 138 , 140 ) which is formed between the peripheral surface of the receiving bore ( 28 ; 128 ) of the universal housing ( 2 ; 102 ) and the peripheral surface of the respective cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ). 3. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each mixing fitting of the set the mixed water-carrying channel ( 46 ; 146 ) in the respective cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ) is connected to the mixed water outlet ( 14 ; 114 ) of the universal housing ( 2 ; 102 ) via an opening at the bottom of the cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ). 4. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in at least one mixing fitting of the set the flow connection between the cartridge adapter ( 4 ) and the cartridge ( 6 ) is made via openings ( 50 , 52 , 54 ) in a flat surface of the cartridge adapter ( 4 ). 5. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in at least one mixing fitting of the set the flow connection between the cartridge adapter ( 104 ) and the cartridge ( 106 ) takes place via annular spaces ( 170 , 172 , 174 ) which are formed in the cartridge receiving bore ( 148 ) of the cartridge adapter ( 104 ) between the cartridge adapter ( 104 ) and the cartridge ( 106 ). 6. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two cartridge adapters ( 4 ; 104 ) are available for each cartridge type ( 6 ; 106 ), which are designed such that the flow of the hot water and the cold water is swapped depending on the cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ), so that swapping of the hot water and the cold water house pipes can be compensated. 7. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing of the flow connections between the universal housing ( 2 ; 102 ) and the cartridge adapters ( 4 ; 104 ) is carried out by radial seals ( 56 ; 156 ). 8. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the universal housings ( 2 ; 102 ) of all mixing fittings belonging to the set have stepped bores ( 20 , 22 ; 120 , 122 ) for receiving maintenance units which contain sieve devices and/or silencers and/or shut-off valves, which are arranged in the flow path between the hot water and cold water inlets ( 10 , 12 ; 110 , 112 ) and the respective cartridge adapters ( 4 ; 104 ). 9. A plurality of sanitary mixing fittings according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in at least one mixing fitting of the set the cartridge receiving bore ( 48 ; 148 ) is introduced centrally into the cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ), so that a rotation of the cartridge adapter ( 4 ; 104 ) for subsequent alignment of the sanitary mixing fitting ( 8 ; 108 ) is possible without lateral offset of the same.