Cistern, in Particular In-Wall Cistern, for a Toilet or Urinal, and Drinking Water Pipe System Having a Cistern

Abstract

The invention relates to a cistern, in particular an in-wall cistern, for a toilet or urinal, with a drain valve which has a closure body which can be lifted from a closed position into a flushing position. The closure body is designed as an overflow pipe and has a seal which rests tightly on a valve seat in the closed position, with at least one water intake line, with a valve assembly for letting in drinking water present in the water intake line, with a water discharge line for discharging the drinking water let in by the valve assembly, and with a controller which generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly as a function of a sensor signal and/or when a predefined time interval has been exceeded since the last withdrawal of drinking water from a cold water or hot water line connected to the water intake line. The valve assembly lets in water from the water intake line as a function of the control signal. According to the invention, the water discharge line is designed in such manner that it discharges the drinking water let in by the valve assembly directly into the overflow pipe. The cistern according to the invention makes it easier to maintain the drinking water hygienic, offers the possibility of carrying out required hygienic flushes with relatively low water consumption and enables a hygienic flushing independent of the flushing water level.

Claims

1. A cistern, in particular in-wall cistern, for a toilet or urinal, with a drain valve which has a closure body which can be lifted from a closed position into a flushing position, wherein the closure body is designed as an overflow pipe and has a seal which, in the closed position, rests tightly on a valve seat, with at least one water intake line, with a valve assembly for letting in drinking water present in the water intake line, with a water discharge line for discharging the drinking water let in by the valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly lets in the drinking water before into the water discharge line, and with a controller and a sensor assigned to the controller, wherein the controller generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly as a function of a sensor signal, the sensor signal being proportional to a measured water temperature in the water intake line, and/or when a predefined time interval has been exceeded since a last withdrawal of drinking water from the water intake, wherein the valve assembly lets in drinking water from the water intake line as a function of the control signal, wherein the water discharge line is designed in such manner that it discharges the drinking water let in by the valve assembly directly into the overflow pipe.

2. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water intake line is designed two or more times, wherein one of the water intake lines is provided as a cold water intake line and another of the water intake lines is provided as a hot water intake line.

3. The cistern according to claim 2, wherein the valve assembly is designed as a mixing unit for mixing, preferably variably mixing drinking water let in from the cold water intake line and from the hot water intake line.

4. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is provided with an electromechanical drive, which is coupled to at least one movable valve body, preferably in the form of a movable perforated disc.

5. The cistern according to claim 3, wherein an outlet of the valve assembly or the water discharge line is provided with a sensor for measuring the water temperature and for generating a temperature signal, wherein this sensor is the sensor assigned to the controller, and wherein the controller controls the valve assembly as a function of the temperature signal.

6. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge line has an outlet piece, which is connected, preferably detachably connected, to the drain valve.

7. The cistern according to claim 6, wherein the outlet piece is provided with a fastening means, which is positively connected, preferably detachably locked, to a positioning frame connected to the drain valve.

8. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly and the controller are arranged in a common housing.

9. The cistern according to claim 8, wherein the valve assembly and the controller are mounted on a common support frame.

10. The cistern according to claim 9, wherein the support frame is mounted on an inspection opening of the cistern.

11. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly and the controller are arranged below or behind a hood-shaped cover.

12. The cistern according to claim 11, wherein the cover provided with a connection for a water intake line, preferably a cold water intake line, wherein a water line directed into the cistern and having a branch connected to the connection.

13. The cistern according to claim 1, wherein the controller is provided with a network connection for linking to a further or superordinate controller.

14. A drinking water pipe system, with at least one cold water line and/or at least one hot water line, with a sensor for measuring the water temperature in the cold water or hot water line and/or for detecting a withdrawal of drinking water from the cold water or hot water line, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal proportional to the measured water temperature and/or a detected withdrawal of drinking water, and wherein, when the sensor is suited for detecting a withdrawal of drinking water from the cold water or hot water line the drinking water pipe system comprises a time-measuring device and the sensor activates the time-measuring device when a withdrawal of drinking water is detected, and with a cistern according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly as a function of the sensor signal and/or when a predefined time interval has been exceeded since the last withdrawal of drinking water, wherein the at least one cold water line or the at least one hot water line is connected to the at least one water intake line, and wherein the valve assembly lets in drinking water from the water inflow line into the water discharge line as a function of the control signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to a drawing representing an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing is shown:

[0030] FIG. 1A a cistern according to the invention, which is partially sectioned, in a perspective rear view;

[0031] FIG. 1B the section of the cistern delimited in FIG. 1A by a circle IB, shown in enlarged detailed view;

[0032] FIG. 2A the cistern from FIG. 1A in rear view; and

[0033] FIG. 2B a vertical sectional view of the cistern along the intersection line IIB-IIB in FIG. 2A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The drawing shows a cistern 1 designed for example as a in-wall cistern for a toilet or urinal. The cistern 1 is equipped with a drain valve 2 which has a closure body 3 which can be lifted from a closed position into a flushing position. The closure body 3 is designed as an overflow pipe and has a seal 4 at its lower end, which rests tightly on a valve seat 5 in the closed position.

[0035] The cistern body of the cistern 1 has at its front side 6, and preferably in the upper third of the front side, an inspection opening 7. The inspection opening is elongated and substantially rectangular, with its longitudinal extension running horizontally. A mounting frame (fixing frame) 8 is or will be attached at the inspection opening 7, on which an actuating plate (not shown) is subsequently mounted, which comprises at least one actuating element, e.g. a pivotably mounted button or a pushbutton. The respective actuating element (not shown) is operatively connected to a pivotably mounted lever 9 via a connecting element (not shown), which is for example designed in the form of an actuating pin, wherein the lever is connected to the closure body (overflow pipe) 3 of the drain valve 2 in order to lift the closure body 3 in the event that a flushing is triggered. For this purpose, the overflow pipe 3 is provided with at least one pull tab 10, into which the assigned lever 9 engages.

[0036] Furthermore, the cistern body of the cistern 1 also has an inspection opening 11 on its upper side. The cistern 1 thus offers the possibility of actuating the drain valve 2 either from the front or from above depending on the arrangement of the assigned actuating device. For actuation from above, an actuating plate would be arranged on the upper side inspection opening 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, a mixing unit 12, preferably an electronic mixing unit 12, is arranged on the upper side inspection opening 11, which serves the hygienic flushing of a cold water line and a hot water line according to need. It is conceivable to arrange the mixing unit 12 on the front side inspection opening 7 and an actuating plate for actuating the drain valve 2 on the upper side inspection opening 11.

[0037] The mixing unit 12 has a valve assembly (not shown in more detail) for mixing, preferably variably mixing drinking water taken in from a cold water intake line 13 and a hot water intake line 14. The hot water intake line 14 can also be designated as a warm water intake line. The mixing unit 12 is provided with a water discharge line 15 for discharging the drinking water let in by the valve assembly. The water discharge line 15 is designed in such manner that it discharges the drinking water let in by the valve assembly directly into the closure body of the drain valve 2 designed as overflow pipe 3.

[0038] The water discharge line 15 has an outlet piece 16 which is connected, preferably detachably connected, to the drain valve 2. The outlet piece 16 is provided with a fastening means 17, which is positively connected, preferably detachably locked, to a positioning frame 18 connected to the drain valve 2. The positioning frame 18 is, for example, articulatedly connected to the upper end of the drain valve housing. The fastening means 17 of the outlet piece 16 is substantially U-shaped and has on its outer side stops 19 and locking projections 20, wherein the locking projections 20 engage the positioning frame 18 in the assembled state of the outlet piece 16.

[0039] The outlet piece 16 of the water discharge line 15 preferably has a connecting piece 21 for connecting a flexible pipe or hose line. The connecting piece 21 is preferably provided with an external thread for screwing on a union nut 22 connected to the flexible pipe or hose line. The outlet piece 16 preferably has a pipeline-like section 16.1 running obliquely, which begins at the connecting piece 21 and merges into a substantially vertically running section 16.2, the vertical longitudinal axis of which is directed into the overflow pipe 3 of the drain valve 2 and preferably aligns roughly with the longitudinal axis of the overflow pipe 3. The overflow pipe 3 can have a mesh-like basket 23 at its upper end, which prevents the penetration of coarse building material or small parts into the overflow pipe 3. The basket 23 shown in the drawing has a ring on its upper side, so that drinking water let in by the valve assembly is discharged through the ring, without hindrance, directly into the overflow pipe 3. However, the mesh-like basket 23 can also be omitted.

[0040] A controller (not shown) integrated in the mixing unit 12 is preferably configured in such manner that it can cause a hygienic flushing of the cold water line according to need independently of the hygienic flushing of the hot water line according to need. The controller is assigned to one or a plurality of sensors (not shown) for measuring the water temperature in the cold water intake line 13 or cold water line and/or in the hot water intake line 14 or hot water line. The respective sensor generates a sensor signal proportional to the measured water temperature. As a function of the sensor signal, the controller integrated in the mixing unit 12 generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly so that a hygienic flushing is triggered.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, one or a plurality of sensors for detecting a withdrawal of drinking water from the cold water line and/or hot water line can also be assigned to the controller of the mixing unit 12. In this case, the sensor in question generates a sensor signal proportional to a detected withdrawal of drinking water, wherein, in the case of a detected withdrawal of drinking water, the sensor activates a time-measuring device, e.g. a timer. If a predefined, in particular predefinable, time interval has been exceeded since the last withdrawal of drinking water from the cold water line and/or hot water line, the controller then generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly so that a hygienic flushing is triggered.

[0042] The valve assembly is provided with an electromechanical drive (not shown) coupled to at least one movable, preferably rotatable, valve body (not shown). The electromechanical drive comprises, for example, an electric motor, the motor shaft of which is coupled to the movable valve body of the valve assembly via a toothed gear mechanism. The valve assembly is for example designed in the manner of a mixing cartridge of a single-lever mixer tap.

[0043] The output of the valve assembly or the water discharge line 15 is preferably provided with a sensor (not shown) for measuring the water temperature and for generating a temperature signal, wherein the controller integrated in the mixing unit 12 controls the electric motor and thus the valve assembly as a function of the temperature signal.

[0044] The valve assembly and the controller are preferably arranged in a common housing 24. The housing 24 or the valve assembly and the controller are mounted on a common support frame 25, which is mounted on the upper side inspection opening 11 of the cistern 1. Furthermore, the support frame 25 is provided with a hood-shaped cover 26, below which the valve assembly and the controller or the mixing unit 12 formed therefrom are/is arranged.

[0045] The cistern 1 is provided with connections 27, 28 for connecting a cold water intake line and for connecting a hot water intake line. The connections 27, 28 are preferably designed as angle valves. One (27) of the connections, for example the one for the hot water intake line, is preferably fixed to one of the narrow side walls of the cistern body at the height of the front inspection opening 7. The other connection 28, for example the one for the cold water intake line, is preferably arranged on the upper side of the cistern 1. Preferably, the cover 26 is provided with one of the connections 27, 28. It can be seen in the drawing that the cover 26 is provided with the connection (angle valve) 28 for a cold water intake line, wherein a water line 30 directed into the cistern 1 and having a branch 29 is connected to the connection 28. On the one hand, a float-operated filling valve 31 and, on the other hand, the cold water intake line 13 leading to the valve assembly of the mixing unit 12 are connected to the water line 30 and its branch 29.

[0046] The valve assembly of the mixing unit 12 is provided with connecting pieces 32, 33, 34 for the cold water intake line 13, the hot water intake line 14 and the water discharge line 15. The connecting pieces 32, 33, 34 are preferably designed in the form of pipe elbows on which a flexible pipe section of the cold water intake line 13, the hot water inflow line 14 or the water discharge line 15 is pressed or shrink-fitted in a liquid-tight manner. The other end of the flexible pipe section is also provided with a connecting piece 35, 36, 37, which is preferably designed in the form of a pipe elbow piece and has a union nut for connecting the connecting piece (pipe elbow piece) 35, 36, 37 to the assigned branch 29 of the water line 30, to the assigned water intake connection 27 or to the connecting piece 22 of the outlet piece 16 of the water discharge line 15.

[0047] The implementation of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment represented in the drawing. In fact, numerous variants are conceivable that also make use of the invention indicated in the attached claims in the case of a design deviating from the exemplary embodiment shown.