SAFETY VALVE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SAFETY VALVE

Abstract

A method for controlling a safety valve for providing a safety valve that has a valve having an inlet and an outlet, the flow rate of the water being variable by changing a valve position, at least one temperature sensor by which the water temperature can be sensed, and at least one control unit by which the data of at least one temperature sensor can be processed and the valve can be actuated defining at least one valve position is disclosed. The method includes the steps of defining a temperature threshold, determining user actuation, setting the at least one valve position by at least partially opening the valve after a user actuation has been determined, sensing the water temperature by the at least one temperature sensor comparing the sensed water temperature with the temperature threshold, and automatically closing the valve if the sensed water temperature lies above the temperature threshold.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a safety valve comprising the steps of: providing a safety valve (7) comprising: a valve (1) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4), wherein the flow rate of the water can be changed by the valve (1) by changing a valve position (V.sub.1,V.sub.2), at least one temperature sensor (2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c) with which the water temperature can be detected, at least one control unit with which the data of the at least one temperature sensor (2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c) can be processed and with which the valve (1) can be actuated; defining at least one valve position (V.sub.1,V.sub.2); defining a temperature threshold (T.sub.s); determining a user actuation; setting the at least one valve position (V.sub.1,V.sub.2) by opening the valve (1) at least partially after a user actuation has been determined; detecting the water temperature (T) with the at least one temperature sensor (2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c); comparing the detected water temperature (T) with the temperature threshold (T.sub.s); automatically closing the valve (1) when the detected water temperature (T) is above the temperature threshold (T.sub.s).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: defining at least one interval (I.sub.1, I.sub.2); waiting during the at least one interval (I.sub.1, I.sub.2) before the valve (1) is opened automatically, after the valve (1) has been closed automatically due to the temperature threshold (T.sub.s) being exceeded.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: transmitting a signal to a user, to a control center or to a display unit, by means of a transmission unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first valve position (V.sub.1) and a second valve position (V.sub.2) are defined and wherein the first valve position (V.sub.1) is set when the detected water temperature (T) is below the temperature threshold (T.sub.s) and wherein the second valve position (V.sub.2) is set when the valve (1) is opened automatically.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first interval (I.sub.1) and a second interval (I.sub.2) are defined, the second interval (I.sub.2) being defined relative to the first interval (I.sub.1) based on the recorded temperature profile.

6. A safety valve (7) comprising: a valve (1) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4), wherein the flow rate of the water can be changed by the valve (1) by changing a valve position (V.sub.1,V.sub.2), at least one temperature sensor (2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c) with which the water temperature can be detected, and at least one control unit with which the data of the at least one temperature sensor (2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c) can be processed and with which the valve (1) can be actuated, wherein the control unit is designed such that the method according to claim 1 can be carried out.

7. The safety valve (7) according to claim 6, wherein the temperature sensor (2a,2b,2c) is arranged in the region of the inlet (3), the outlet (4) or the valve (1).

8. The safety valve (7) according to claim 6, wherein the valve (1) comprises a valve from the group comprising solenoid valve, powered cartridge, spindle valve, proportional valve, and ball valve.

9. The safety valve (7) according to claim 6, comprising a transmission unit operatively connected to the control unit, with which signals can be transmitted to a user, to a control center or to a display unit, wired or wirelessly or can be received.

10. A safety fitting comprising: a safety valve (7) according to claim 6, and an extraction location (8).

11. The safety fitting according to claim 10, wherein the safety valve (7) is arranged before the extraction location (8) or in it.

12. The safety fitting according to claim 10, wherein the extraction location (8) comprises an extraction location from the group which comprises basin fitting, kitchen fitting, shower fitting and bath fitting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments of the current invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the figures. These are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. It shows

[0029] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a safety valve according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of row withdrawal locations with valves according to the invention and a mixer;

[0031] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a withdrawal fitting with an upstream valve according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 a schematic representation of a withdrawal fitting with an integrated valve according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 5 the extraction fitting according to FIG. 4 with an integrated mixer;

[0034] FIG. 6 a schematic temperature profile of the water flowing through the safety valve according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0035] FIG. 7 a schematic temperature profile of the water which flows through the safety valve according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a safety valve 7 according to the invention with a valve 1, a valve inlet 3, a valve outlet 4 and at least one temperature sensor 2.sub.a,2.sub.b,2.sub.c, wherein the temperature sensors can be provided at the inlet 3 and/or in the valve 1 and/or at the outlet 4. The control unit and any transmission unit are not shown.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of row withdrawal locations 8 with valves 7 according to the invention and a mixer 5. The mixer 5 is fed with cold water C and hot water H and delivers mixed warm water to a mixed water line 6. The mixed water line 6 leads the warm water through the valves 7 to the extraction locations.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a withdrawal fitting 8 with an upstream valve 7 according to the invention. A corner valve 9 is connected upstream of the safety valve 7.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a withdrawal fitting 8 with an integrated valve 7 according to the invention.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows the extraction fitting according to FIG. 4 with an integrated mixer 5, wherein a cold water line C and a hot water line H leading to the mixer 5.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a schematic temperature profile of the water flowing through the safety valve 7 according to an embodiment of the invention. The temperature profile shown starts with an initial temperature T.sub.0, which is set when the valve has not been operated for a long time. For example, the initial temperature T.sub.0 can correspond to the ambient temperature. At a first point in time Z.sub.1, a user actuation is detected and a first valve position V.sub.1 is set, whereby the measured water temperature rises to the desired mixed temperature T.sub.1. The safety valve remains open because the measured temperature is below the temperature threshold T.sub.s. Subsequently, the cold water supply fails. At a second point in time Z.sub.2, a user actuation is detected and the first valve position V.sub.1 is set. Due to the lack of cold water, the temperature determined by the safety valve exceeds the temperature threshold T.sub.s, whereupon the valve closes immediately and automatically. Over time, the measured temperature decreases as heat is released into the environment. As long as the measured temperature is above the temperature threshold, the valve is not opened upon a user actuation. If the measured temperature falls below the temperature threshold, as a result of the cooling, the valve is opened upon a user actuation, as is shown in the third point in time Z.sub.3. If the temperature rises above the temperature threshold again, the valve is closed again. Before the fourth point in time Z.sub.4, the disturbance has been resolved. If the measured temperature is below the temperature threshold upon a user actuation, the valve is opened, and the measured temperature drops to the desired mixed temperature.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a schematic temperature profile of the water which flows through the safety valve according to a further embodiment of the invention. At the second point in time Z.sub.2, the exceeded of the temperature threshold T.sub.s is detected again and the safety valve is closed immediately and automatically. In this embodiment, the valve opens automatically after a first interval I.sub.1, but only the amount of water required for a reliable temperature measurement is let through the valve. I.e. the valve is opened less or for a shorter time. If the measured temperature is still above the temperature threshold, the valve closes automatically and the self-opening is repeated after the first interval has elapsed. This continues until the temperature falls below the threshold. In a further embodiment, a second interval I.sub.2 is defined based on the temperature profile and relative to the first interval I.sub.1. If, for example, after the first interval has elapsed, the measured temperature is still massively too high, the duration of the second interval is defined to be longer than that of the first. I.e. the higher the temperature excess, the longer the subsequent interval gets. Accordingly, the subsequent interval becomes shorter as the temperature excess is smaller.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0043]

TABLE-US-00001 1 Valve C Cold water 2.sub.a, b, c Temperature sensor H Hot water 3 Inlet V.sub.1, 2 Valve position 4 Outlet 5 Mixer T.sub.0, 1 Temperature 6 Mixed water line T.sub.S Temperature threshold 7 Safety valve Z.sub.1, 2, 3, 4 Point in time 8 Withdrawal location I.sub.1, 2 Interval 9 Corner valve