Flushing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flushing device that can be connected to a potable water system for flushing at least one water line (4), the flushing device comprising a flushing valve (8), a control line (24) that is connected to the flushing valve (8) in a controlling manner and a control device (22) that controls a position of the flushing valve (8) via the control line (24) in a time-dependent manner and/or in a manner depending on a water temperature and/or in a manner depending on a water consumption. In order to comply with the hygiene requirements for a potable water system and to enable efficient flushing, the flushing device according to the present invention is adapted to control the flushing process in a manner depending on the water pressure.

Claims

1. A flushing device that is connectable to a potable water system for flushing at least one water line, comprising a flushing valve, a control line that is connected to the flushing valve; and a control device that controls a position of the flushing valve via the control line, and which opens the flushing valve at given times; wherein the control device further comprises a mechanical control element which controls a flushing process such that flushing does not occur when said control element perceives a drop in the water pressure in the water system; wherein the control element comprises a mechanically preloaded check valve that is disposed in the direction of flow upstream of said flushing valve and that opens in the direction of said flushing valve.

2. The flushing device according to claim 1, wherein a measured water temperature is incorporated into the flushing process.

3. The flushing device according to claim 1, wherein a measured water consumption is incorporated into the flushing process.

4. The flushing device according to claim 1, wherein said flushing device is connected to said potable water system, said potable water system comprises said water line and a connection to a public water supply mains, and the water line leads to at least one consumer.

5. A flushing device that is connectable to a potable water system for flushing at least one water line, comprising a flushing valve, a control line that is connected to the flushing valve; and a control device that controls a position of the flushing valve via the control line; wherein the control device further comprises a mechanical control element which controls a flushing process such that flushing does not occur when said control element perceives a drop in the water pressure in the water system; wherein the control element comprises a mechanically preloaded check valve that is disposed in the direction of flow upstream of said flushing valve and that opens in the direction of said flushing valve; and wherein a measured water temperature is incorporated into the flushing process.

6. The flushing device according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to control a position of the flushing valve via the control line, and to open the flushing valve at given times.

7. The flushing device according to claim 5, wherein a measured water consumption is incorporated into the flushing process.

8. The flushing device according to claim 5, wherein said flushing device is connected to said potable water system, said potable water system comprises said water line and a connection to a public water supply mains, and the water line leads to at least one consumer.

9. A flushing device that is connectable to a potable water system for flushing at least one water line, comprising a flushing valve, a control line that is connected to the flushing valve; and a control device that controls a position of the flushing valve via the control line, wherein said flushing device is adapted to control a flushing process, wherein a measured water consumption is incorporated into the flushing process; and wherein the control device further comprises a mechanical control element which controls said flushing process such that flushing does not occur when said control element perceives a drop in the water pressure in the water system; and wherein the control element comprises a mechanically preloaded check valve that is disposed in the direction of flow upstream of said flushing valve and that opens in the direction of said flushing valve.

10. The flushing device according to claim 9, further comprising a means that is adjusted to couple the position of a valve associated with a consumer with the position of said flushing valve such that opening said valve associated with the consumer causes said flushing valve to close.

11. The flushing device according to claim 9, wherein a measured water temperature is incorporated into the flushing process.

12. The flushing device according to claim 9, wherein the control device is configured to control a position of the flushing valve via the control line and to open the flushing valve at given times.

13. The flushing device according to claim 9, wherein said flushing device is connected to said potable water system, said potable water system comprises said water line and a connection to a public water supply mains, and the water line leads to at least one consumer.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the present invention shall arise from the following description of embodiments of the invention in combination with the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a unifilar drawing of a potable and tap water system with a flushing device according to an embodiment comprising a mechanically preloaded check valve with a detail D which is illustrated enlarged in FIG. 1b,

(3) FIG. 1b shows an enlarged illustration of detail D from FIG. 1a,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a unifilar drawing of a potable and tap water system with a flushing device according to an embodiment comprising a pressure switch, and

(5) FIG. 3 shows a unifilar drawing of a potable and tap water system with a flushing device according to an embodiment comprising a pressure measuring device.

(6) FIG. 1a shows a potable and tap water system with a connection 2 to the public water supply mains via which a supply line 4 is supplied with fresh water, preferably cold water. Connected to the supply line 4 are two consumers which are realized in the embodiments as emergency shower 6a for the entire body and eye shower 6b. Disposed in the direction of flow downstream of the last consumer, i.e. of the eye shower 6b, is a flushing valve 8 with the aid of which stagnant water in the supply line 4 can be drained and replaced with fresh water that flows in via the connection 2. The flushing valve discharges via a free drain 10 into a wastewater line. The free drain 10 includes a drop line which is in direct communication with the ambient atmosphere, so that the legal requirements for the separation of potable water and wastewater or tap water, respectively, are complied with.

(7) The flushing valve 8 is coupled in a controlling manner to a control unit 22 via a control line 24, wherein a time modul is integrated into the control unit 22, the time modul prompting the control unit 22 at given times to open the flushing valve 8 via an actuator 28 which is coupled to the control line 24.

(8) A sensor 30 is provided in the supply line 4 and connected, for transmitting signals, to the control unit 22. The sensor 30 can be a temperature sensor or a flow rate sensor. Needless to say, that more than one sensor may be provided, particularly at least one temperature sensor and at least one flow rate sensor. The measured values of the sensor(s) are evaluated in the control unit 22 and incorporated into the control of the flushing valve 8. Thereby, for instance, the time intervals between flushing processes stipulated by the time module can be shortened when a temperature rise is registered or lengthened when an increase of the flow rate is registered.

(9) Disposed in the line section in the direction of flow upstream of the flushing valve 8 is a mechanically preloaded check valve 12. The check valve 12 can be seen in the enlarged illustration of the circled detail D of the potable and tap water system in FIG. 1b, in which a valve seat 14 and a spring preloaded valve body 16 are shown schematically. The spring preload is set in such a way that the valve body 16 bears against the valve seat 14 when the emergency shower 6a or the eye shower 6b is open and the water pressure is in the supply line 4 drops. In this case, no flushing takes place, even if the flushing valve 8 should open due to respective control of the control unit 22. If the connection 2 is opened and the emergency shower 6a and the eye shower 6b are closed, then the valve body 16 is pressed by the water pressure in the supply line 4 against the spring force to an open position, so that replacement of the stagnant water in the supply line 4 is possible by opening the flushing valve 8 via respective control of the control unit 22.

(10) Reference numeral 18 is used to mark a cutoff valve for maintenance purposes with which the section downstream of the valve 18 can be switched to be without pressure.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a flushing device connected to a potable and tap water system according to the present invention. Same components as in FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference numerals. A mechanical pressure switch 20 is provided instead of the mechanically preloaded check valve 12. It is disposed in a section between the consumer that is last in the direction of flow, i.e. the eye shower 6b, and the flushing valve 8 and is exposed to the water pressure in this section. A lowered water pressure in this section affects the deflection of a e.g. metallic membrane within the pressure switch 20, which thereby closes an electrical contact in the pressure switch 20, whereupon a signal is sent to the control unit 22. The control unit 22, which is connected to the flushing valve 8 via the control line 24 for control purposes, actuates the flushing valve 8 to the closed position after receiving the signal and/or disconnects the control line 24 from the power supply to leave the flushing valve 8 in the closed position or blocks the flushing valve 8 in the closed position, for example, with the aid of a mechanical blocking element.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a flushing device connected to a potable and tap water system according to the present invention. Same components as in the preceding figures are again marked with the same reference numerals. The embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in that a pressure measuring device 26 is provided at the place where the pressure switch 20 is provided in FIG. 2. The pressure measuring device quantitatively detects the pressure in this section and sends the measurement signals to the control unit 22. The person skilled in the art is familiar with various pressure measuring devices that are suitable for measuring a water pressure in a line, and of which at least one is used in the embodiment. The control unit 22 evaluates the measurement signals using an integrated logic, typically compares the measured values with a preset reference value and transfers the pressure valve 8 to the closed position when a pressure has dropped and/or disconnects the control line 24 from the power supply to leave the flushing valve 8 in the closed position or blocks the flushing valve 8 in the closed position, for example, with the aid of a mechanical blocking element.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) 2 connection to the public water supply mains 4 water supply line 6a emergency shower 6b eye shower 8 flushing valve 10 free drain 12 check valve 14 valve seat 16 spring preloaded valve body 18 cutoff valve 20 pressure switch 22 control unit 24 control line 26 pressure measuring device 28 actuator 30 sensor