EP2224065B1 - Sanitary fitting with isolated discharge tube - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

A sanitary fitting of this kind is for example from the document WO 2004/051010 A known. This has an outflow tube, which is arranged on a base and projects with a discharge pipe section over the base. By means of the base, the sanitary fitting can be attached to a support. In the base or in the spout, a sensor, such as an infrared sensor, arranged to determine whether a person is in the sensor area or not. The sensor is connected to an electronic control which on the one hand controls a light source arranged on the outflow pipe and on the other hand a valve, which in turn releases or interrupts the water flow through the outflow pipe.

From the DE 10 2007 015 424 A1 Furthermore, a non-contact controllable basin fitting with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known, which has a base and an outlet. In addition, the basin mixer includes a controller, a power source, a solenoid valve and a capacitive sensor. In the basin mixer, the water-carrying components are formed from electrically non-conductive materials and / or insulated against the base or the outlet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a generic sanitary fitting, the spout is stably fixed to the base, but is still electrically isolated from him.

This object is achieved with a sanitary fitting, which has the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, at least the electrically conductive base pipe section of the outflow pipe, which runs through the base, is galvanically separated from the base of the sanitary fitting. This creates the possibility of the spout itself or its discharge pipe section, for example, as part of a electronic circuit, in particular a sensor to use.

In a preferred manner, the outflow pipe section, or the outflow pipe, is also galvanically separated from the water intended to flow through it. This allows the use of the inventive sanitary fitting in areas with less clean and thus less electrically insulating water than in areas with very clean water.

According to the invention, the outflow tube section itself forms an electrode of a sensor device. Preferably, the electronics of the sensor device is designed, as in the document WO 2004/013966 A is disclosed.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, a valve device for controlling the flow of water through the spout is controlled by an electronic control, which in turn is controlled by the sensor electronics. Preferably, the control of the water flow takes place according to the EP 1 601 841 A known methods.

The DE 10 2007 015 424 A1 discloses a non-contact controllable washbasin faucet having a valve body and a spout. It includes a controller, a power source, a solenoid valve and a capacitive sensor. In the basin mixer, the water-carrying components are formed from electrically non-conductive materials and / or isolated from the housing or the outlet.

The EP 1 739 241 A1 discloses a sanitary, in particular electronically operable, water outlet fitting with at least one outlet pipe having at least one water outlet opening and at least one actuator for changing the water temperature and / or the water volume flow and a method for operating such. The actuating device is arranged in the region of a free end of the outlet pipe.

Further preferred embodiments of the inventive sanitary fitting are specified in further dependent claims.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemässe Sanitärarmatur mit einem Ausflussrohr, welches mittels eines Sockels an einer Auflage befestigt ist, wobei das Ausflussrohr vom Sockel galvanisch getrennt ist;

Fig. 2

ebenfalls im Längsschnitt und bezüglich Fig. 1 vergrößert, einen Teil der Sanitärarmatur mit einer elektronischen Steuerung und einer Ventileinrichtung; und

Fig. 3

ebenfalls im Längsschnitt ein ausflussseitiger Endabschnitt des Ausflussrohrs mit einem lichtdurchlässigen Mündungselement das einen Schlauch fixiert.

It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through a sanitary fitting according to the invention with a spout, which is attached by means of a base to a support is, wherein the spout is galvanically isolated from the base;

Fig. 2

also in longitudinal section and with respect Fig. 1 enlarged, a part of the sanitary fitting with an electronic control and a valve device; and

Fig. 3

also in longitudinal section an outflow-side end portion of the spout with a translucent mouth member which fixes a hose.

Fig. 1 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of a sanitary fitting 10 according to the invention with an outflow pipe 12, which has a discharge pipe section 14 and a base pipe section 16 and to a base 17, of this galvanically isolated, is attached. The base 17 defines a longitudinal axis of the sanitary fitting 10. The discharge pipe section 14 is freely accessible from the environment and arranged outside the base 17. The electrical isolation takes place by means of an electrical first insulation 18. Due to the electrical isolation between the spout 12 and the base 17, the spout 12 can be used as an electrode of a sensor device 19.

In the interior of the outflow pipe 12 there is an electrically insulating hose 20, which runs through the outflow pipe 12 and electrically separates the water flowing through it from the outflow pipe 12. The electrical insulating tube 20 forms an electrical second insulation 21. The water flowing through the electrically insulating tube 20 passes from a, in an outflow-side end portion of the spout 12 arranged mouth member 22, through a jet former 23 from. The electrically insulating tube 20 is connected at its downstream end to the mouth member 22 and at its upstream end to a threaded coupling 24 (see Fig. 2 ), for example by means of the brand name John Guest, well-known couplings that are used in sanitary technology connected. The threaded coupling 24 is used for connection to a, arranged below a support 26 valve device 28 (see FIG. 2 ).

• Blau; die Sanitärarmatur 10 gibt kaltes Wasser ab,
• Orange; die Sanitärarmatur 10 gibt lauwarmes Wasser ab,
• Rot; die Sanitärarmatur 10 gibt heisses Wasser ab,
• Grün; die Sanitärarmatur 10 befindet sich im Reinigungsmodus und kann, ohne dass bei einer Annäherung durch ein Objekt Wasser abgegeben wird, gereinigt werden.

The base 17 has a sleeve-like light guide 30, below which a base light source 32 is arranged, which illuminates the sleeve-like light guide 30. A discharge light source 34 is disposed on the mouth member 22 of the sanitary fitting 10, wherein the base light source 32 by a first electrical feed cable 36 and the outflow light source 34 are powered by a second electrical feed cable 38 with energy. The power supply and the control of the two light sources 32, 34 takes over an electronic control 40. The two feeder cables 36, 38 are the source side with the electronic controller 40 (see Fig. 2 ) connected. The color of the light is preferably selected according to the following explanation, wherein in a standby state of the sanitary fitting 10, for example, white light or no light can be selected:

• Blue; the sanitary fitting 10 releases cold water,
• Orange; the sanitary fitting 10 releases lukewarm water,
• Red; the sanitary fitting 10 releases hot water,
• Green; the sanitary fitting 10 is in the cleaning mode and can be cleaned without giving off water when approaching through an object.

In addition to the outflow pipe section 14 or the base pipe section 16, the sensor device 19 has a sensor electronics 42 arranged below the support 26, which is electrically connected to the base pipe section 16 or the outflow pipe section 14 by means of a pin 43 likewise belonging to the sensor device 19.

The Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through an enlarged portion of the base 17, the in Fig. 1 The sanitary fitting shown 10. The sensor electronics 42 is electrically connected to the electronic controller 40, and this with the valve device 28. The sensor electronics 42 serve to generate a presence or absence signal and to pass to the electronic controller 40, which controls the valve means 28 and the light sources 32, 34. A presence signal is generated when an object, eg a hand, is located in a defined sensor area 44. An absence signal is generated when there is no object in the defined sensor area 44. The sensor region 44 extends around the outflow tube section 14 at a distance of, for example, about 25 cm; comp. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 ,

The base 17 has a base sleeve 45, which passes through the support 26, for example a washstand, and at its upper end has a radially outwardly projecting flange 46, which is supported on the support 26. The base sleeve 45 is by means of a, on a External thread, which is located in the lower region of the base sleeve 45, screwed fastening nut 47 and where necessary by means of a spacer 48 on the support 26, in a known manner, clamped.

The base pipe section 16 passes through the base sleeve 45 and is mounted within the base sleeve 45 by means of the electrical first insulation 18, which is formed by an electrically insulating clamping disk 50 and a pin-shaped insulating element 52. Radially outwardly, the electrically insulating clamping disk 50 is supported with a radially outwardly lying support portion 51 on an inner shoulder of the base sleeve 45 and radially inside an outer shoulder of the base pipe section 16 is supported by means of the clamping plate 50 from. The pin-shaped insulating element 52 has a radially projecting bead, which is supported on the inlet-side end 54 of the base sleeve 45. The base pipe section 16 is passed through a passage in the peg-shaped insulating element 52. The base pipe section 16 has in its upstream end region on an external thread on which a, a holding member forming, retaining nut 55 (may also be formed in other ways), which is electrically connected to the base pipe section 16, is screwed. With the help of the clamping plate 50, the external thread on the base pipe section 16 and the retaining nut 55, which is supported on the pin-shaped insulating member 52 and thus pulls the outer shoulder of the base pipe section 16 and the base pipe section 16 down, the base pipe section 16 is clamped to the base sleeve 45 , The electrically insulating clamping disk 50 points in the radial direction between base pipe section 16 and Base sleeve 45 passages in the direction of the longitudinal axis, through which the first electrical feed cable 36 is passed for the base light source 32.

The sleeve-like light guide 30, which is arranged on the base 17, has a hollow cylindrical portion 56 which engages in the base sleeve 45. Above the support 26 and then to the flange 46, the light-guiding element 30 has a cylindrical section 57, which connects in one piece to the hollow cylindrical section 56. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 57 is larger than the flange 46 of the base sleeve 45. In the direction of the longitudinal axis, the light guide 30 has a passage for the base pipe section 16. The light-conducting element 30 is held in place by means of two sealing rings forming quad rings 60, 62. The first quadring 60 is clamped between the free end of the truncated cone 58 and a circumferential shoulder on the base pipe section 16. The second quadring 62 is arranged radially outside the flange 46 of the base sleeve 45, between the cylindrical portion 57 of the light-guiding element 30 and the support 26. The quad rings 60, 62 prevent excessive tension in the light guide 30 and the ingress of dirt and water. The second quadring 62 simultaneously compensates for unevenness on the support 26, so that a controlled fixation can take place. The light-guiding element 30 is preferably formed from Plexiglas or glass.

The base light source 32 is arranged directly below the light guide element 30, within the base sleeve 45, the front side and can thus engage light in the light guide 30, which exits above the support 26 from the light exit surface 64 and lateral surface of the cylindrical portion 57 and the truncated cone 58 again. The base light source 32 has two semi-annular printed circuit boards 66, 68, which form a ring in the mounted state and on the surface, on the light guide 30 side facing evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, LED's are arranged. The base light source 32 feeds the light via the light entry surface 70 at the upstream end of the light guide element 30.

The outflow pipe section 14 is screwed with its upstream end region up to a stop 72 on the base pipe section 16 on this and thereby electrically connected thereto.

The electrical connection of the base pipe section 16 and thus of the discharge pipe section 14 with the sensor electronics 42 is made by the pin 43, which engages with an upper end in a blind hole 74 in the retaining nut 55 and a lower end in a female connector 76 of the sensor electronics 42. The free surface of the pin 43, between the retaining nut 55 and the female connector 76 is electrically isolated from external influences.

The sensor electronics 42 is in a preferred manner, according to that in the document WO 2004/013966 (Fig. 4B) disclosed circuit, wherein the discharge pipe section 14 has a so-called absorption surface forms. With regard to the structure and operation of the sensor electronics 42 is on the document WO 2004/013966 directed. The described sensor electronics 42 generates a presence or absence signal and forwards it to the electronic controller 40, which then controls the valve device 28, according to the presence or absence signal, whereby the flow of water is started or interrupted. In Fig. 2 For example, an AC generator G, a first capacitor C1, a second capacitor C2 and a signal amplifier A are shown. The AC voltage generator G generates a signal which is coupled via the capacitor C1 into the outflow pipe 12 and thus into the outflow pipe section 14. The signal which is changed by the presence or absence of an object, for example a hand, is coupled into the signal amplifier A by the capacitor C2. The signal amplifier A then forwards the generated presence or absence signal to the electronic controller 40.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the outflow-side end portion of the outflow pipe 12, which in Fig. 1 Sanitary fitting shown 10. In the outflow-side end portion of the mouth member 22 is arranged, which has a cup-shaped mounting portion 78 with an inner and an outer thread. The external thread serves to screw the orifice element 22 tight in the outflow-side end section of the outflow tube 12, which has an internal thread. The internal thread of the mouth member 22 serves the light-transmitting jet former 23, preferably the company Neoperl, which has a corresponding external thread has to fasten. The cup-shaped attachment portion 78 of the mouth member 22 projects, in the longitudinal direction of the outflow tube 12 with respect to its end face, so that a bead forms a face 80 and a lateral surface 82, through which the light originating from the outlet light source 34 can escape to the environment , The lateral surface 82 of the mouth element 22 lies in the extension of the outer lateral surface 83 of the outflow tube 12. The end face 80 of the mouth element 22 is preferably aligned at right angles to the lateral surface 82 of the mouth element 22.

The cup-shaped attachment portion 78 has a bottom 84 with a central passage. From this bottom 84 is, on the beam former 23 side facing away, a hollow cylindrical fixing sleeve 86 from. The electrically insulating tube 20 is connected to the protruding, hollow cylindrical fixing sleeve 86, for example by means of the John Guest coupling. The mouth member 22 is in a translucent material, preferably Plexiglas and preferably in one piece, executed.

The second electrical feed cable 38 for the outflow light source 34 extends between the tube 20 and the outflow tube 12 and is connected in the region of the mouth element 22 to the outlet light source 34. On the side of the bottom 84 facing away from the fastening section 78, the outlet light source 34 is supported, so that the light is coupled into the mouth element 22 or the bottom 84. Approximately a first half of the light passes through the bottom into a water jet or chamber 88 passing through the attachment section 78 and the jet former 23 is limited, coupled. Approximately a second half of the light exits through the face 80 and the lateral surface 82 of the mouth member to the environment. The outflow light source 34 has two semi-annular printed circuit boards 90, 92, which form a ring in the assembled state and on the surface, on the side facing the light guide 30, evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, LEDs are arranged.

The outflow pipe section 14 fed by the AC generator G builds up an electromagnetic field around it. If an object, for example a hand, is moved or is in this electromagnetic field or sensor area 44, this object influences the electromagnetic field. This is detected by the sensor electronics 42. Subsequently, the valve device 28 and the light sources 32, 34 are controlled accordingly and started the flow of water and energy. The light serves as an indicator and indicates whether an object is located in the sensor area 44 and which operating state the sanitary fitting 10 has at the current time.

The sanitary fitting 10 can also be equipped with a one-piece outflow tube 12, which is formed from an electrically conductive material.

It is also possible to provide the outflow pipe 12 with an internally applied electrical insulation which would be used instead of the hose 20. In this case, the upstream connection region of the outflow tube 12 must be galvanically separated from the valve device 28, preferably at the upstream end of the outflow tube 12.

The outflow pipe section 14 may also be rotatably supported on the base pipe section 16 with respect to the longitudinal axis. If the outflow tube 12 is formed in one piece, then it is conceivable to rotatably support the outflow tube 12 on the electrical first insulation 18 with respect to the longitudinal axis. In both cases, the outflow pipe section 14 or the outflow pipe 12 must be made of electrically conductive material.

In areas with very clean drinking water, it is also possible to dispense with insulation inside the spout 12, since very clean drinking water is a bad electrical conductor.

The outflow pipe section 14 may also be electrically insulated from the base pipe section 16, in which case an electrical conductor must lead from the sensor electronics 42 to the outflow pipe section 14.

The mouth member 22 may also be formed of an opaque material, such as steel. In this case, an electrical insulation between the mouth member 22 and the discharge pipe section 14 must be arranged in order to galvanically separate the water flowing through the sanitary fitting 10 from the discharge pipe section 14.

Claims (10)

1. Sanitary fitting (10) comprising a mounting base (17) and an outflow pipe (12) disposed on the mounting base (17) and having an outflow pipe section (14) running outside the mounting base (17), at least the electrically conductive outflow pipe section (14) being galvanically isolated from the mounting base (17), and having a sensor device (19) for detecting the presence and absence of a person in a sensor zone (44), having sensor electronics (42) electrically connected to the outflow pipe section (14), the outflow pipe section (14) forming an electrode of the sensor device (19) and an electrical first insulation (18) being arranged between the mounting base (17) and an electrically conductive mounting base pipe section (16) in order to isolate the outflow pipe (12) galvanically from the mounting base (17), characterized in that the outflow pipe (12) has the electrically conductive mounting base pipe section (16) and the outflow pipe section (14) arranged thereon, the electrically conductive mounting base pipe section (16) running through the mounting base (17), and in that the first insulation (18) has an insulation element (50), preferably a conical spring washer (50), reached through by the mounting base pipe section (16), which insulation element rests with a radially outer supporting region (51) against the mounting base (17), preferably against a mounting base sleeve (45), and provides support for the mounting base pipe section (16), and in that the first insulation (18) also has a further insulation element (52) disposed between the mounting base (17), where appropriate the mounting base sleeve (45), and the mounting base pipe section (16); preferably, on the one hand, this further insulation element (52) rests against the inlet-side end (54) of the mounting base (17), where appropriate the mounting base sleeve (45), and, on the other hand, a retaining nut (55) disposed on the mounting base pipe section (16) rests against the further insulation element (52).
2. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least the outflow pipe section (14) is also galvanically isolated from the specific water which is to flow through the outflow pipe (12) and its outflow pipe section (14).
3. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by an electronic control system (40) and a valve device (28), controlled by means of the electronic control system (40), for controlling the water flow through the outflow pipe (12).
4. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the control electronics (42) is connected to the electronic control system (40) in order to deliver presence and absence signals thereto.
5. Sanitary fitting (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the inner side of the outflow pipe (12) there is an electrical second insulation (21) for separating the outflow pipe (12) galvanically from the water.
6. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the second insulation (21) has an electrically insulating tube (20) running through the outflow pipe (12), and the water is led through this tube (20).
7. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the tube (20) is connected on the outlet side to a nozzle element (22) disposed on the outflow pipe (12), preferably on its outflow pipe section (14), the nozzle element (22) being made of electrically insulating material and a further electrical insulation being present between the nozzle element (22) and the outflow pipe (12).
8. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 7, which comprises an outlet light source (34) assigned to the nozzle element (22), which illuminates the water jet leaving the nozzle element (22) and/or couples light into the nozzle element (22) made of light-conducting material, which light passes out of the nozzle element (22) at a free end face (80) and/or shell surface (82) thereof.
9. Sanitary fitting (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that an electrical feeder line (38) for the outlet light source (34) runs between the outflow pipe (12) and the tube (20).
10. Sanitary fitting (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the mounting base (17) has a light conducting element (30) running, preferably in the manner of a collar, around the outflow pipe (12), where appropriate the mounting base pipe section (16), which light-conducting element has a light entry area (70) inside the mounting base (17) and a light exit area (64) free to the environment, in which mounting base (17) there is arranged a mounting base light source (32) emitting light to the light entry area (70), which light passes out through the light exit area (64) into the environment.

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