FITTING FOR A SANITARY INSTALLATION

Abstract

A fitting for a sanitary installation having a control unit and at least one sanitary element controllable with the control unit where the fitting having at least one vibration detector for detecting ambient vibrations, and at least one vibration detector is connected to the control unit via a data channel, and the settings of the at least one sanitary element being changeable based on the ambient vibrations.

Claims

1. A fitting for a sanitary installation comprising a control unit (1) and at least one sanitary element (2) controllable with the control unit (1), characterized in that the fitting comprises at least one vibration detector (3) for detecting ambient vibrations (S), wherein the at least one a vibration detector (3) is connected to the control unit (1) via a data channel (4), wherein the settings of the at least one sanitary element (2) being changeable on the basis of the ambient vibrations (S).

2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is a piezoelectric detector or a strain gauge.

3. The fitting according to claim 1, comprising two, three or more sanitary elements (2).

4. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein at least one supply line (5) is connected before the at least one sanitary element (2) and at least one discharge line (6) is connected after the at least one sanitary element (2).

5. The fitting according to claim 1, comprising two, three or more vibration detectors (3).

6. The fitting according to claim 4, wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged on the at least one line (5, 6) and/or on the at least one sanitary element (2) or wherein the at least one vibration detector (3) is arranged spaced apart from the at least one line (5, 6) and/or the at least one sanitary element (2).

7. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary element (2) can be selected from the group comprising valve (20), pump (21) and fan (22).

8. The fitting according to claim 7, wherein the sanitary element (2) is designed for use with gas or liquid.

9. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (1) and the vibration detector (3) are designed in such a way that they can detect the presence of a user in a predetermined area (A, B, C) of the environment and, based on this, can change the settings of a specific sanitary element (2).

10. A fitting arrangement comprising a sanitary installation and a fitting according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detector (3) is arranged at a distance from the sanitary installation.

11. The fitting arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sanitary installation can be selected from the group comprising wash basin, shower, bathtub, soap dispenser, lotion dispenser, hand dryer, hair dryer, toilet and urinal.

12. The fitting arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising a sound generator which is arranged at a distance from the fitting.

13. A method for changing a setting of a sanitary element (2) of a fitting according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: detecting ambient vibrations (S) with the at least one vibration detector (3); generating a vibration signal with the at least one vibration detector (3); transmitting the vibration signal to the control unit (1) with the data channel (4); and changing the setting of the sanitary element (2) by the control unit based on the transmitted vibration signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the settings can be selected from the group comprising fully and partially opening and closing a valve, turning a pump or fan on and off, and increasing and decreasing the volume flow of the medium delivered by the pump or fan.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. These are for explanation only and should not be interpreted restrictively. It shows

[0024] FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a fitting according to the invention with a vibration detector spaced from the discharge line.

[0025] FIG. 2 a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 1 with two controllable sanitary elements and a common discharge line.

[0026] FIG. 3 a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 2 with a further controllable sanitary element and a further discharge line and vibration detectors arranged on the discharge lines; and

[0027] FIG. 4 a schematic front view of another fitting with three discharge lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a fitting according to the invention with a vibration detector 3 spaced from the discharge line 6. The fitting comprises a control unit 1, a controllable sanitary element 2, a vibration detector 3, a data channel 4, wherein the control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected with the sanitary element 2 and the vibration detector 3, for example by a data channel 4, with which electrical signals can be transmitted. The data channel 4 can be implemented with a cable or wirelessly. The components of the fitting can be supplied with electrical energy by a power source, not shown. For example, by a power connection or a battery. The vibration detector 3 can detect ambient vibrations 5, convert them into electrical signals and transmit them to the control unit 1 for evaluation. The settings of the sanitary element 2 can be changed on the basis of the evaluated signals. A fluid, such as, for example, a liquid or a gas, can be supplied to the sanitary element 2 through a supply line 5 and can be removed therefrom through a discharge line 6.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 1 with two controllable sanitary elements 2 and a common discharge line 6. In each case, one supply line 5 leads to one of the sanitary elements 2. For example, the two lines are a cold water line and a hot water line. The two lines adjoining the sanitary element on the discharge side are brought together in a common discharge line 6. The mixing temperature and the flow rate of the water in the drain line can be set by adjusting the two sanitary elements. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected to each of the two sanitary elements 2.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the fitting of FIG. 2 with a further controllable sanitary element 21 and a further discharge line 60 and vibration detectors 3, 30 arranged on the discharge lines. In contrast to the fitting of FIG. 2, the vibration detector 3 is arranged directly on the discharge line 6. Cold water and hot water can be supplied to the respective valve 20 through the supply lines 5. The two lines from the two valves 20 are brought together to form a discharge line 6. Soap, for example, can be fed to a pump 21 via a further supply line 50 and can be discharged from it with a further discharge line 60. Another vibration detector 30 is arranged on the further discharge line 60. However, the further vibration detector 30 can also be arranged at a distance from the further discharge line 60. The control unit 1 is electrically operatively connected with all sanitary elements, i.e. the two valves 20 and the pump 21. The vibration detectors 3, 30 are also electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 through data channels 4, 40. If the evaluation of the signals received by the control unit 1 shows that a user is in the area of the first discharge line, the control unit changes the settings of the valves accordingly. If a user is in the area of the second or further discharge line, this can be determined by the control unit and the settings of the pump 21 can be changed accordingly. For example, the pumping of a predetermined amount of soap or disinfectant can be initiated.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of another fitting with three discharge lines 6, 60, 61. For example, the middle discharge line 6 is a water spout, the left discharge line 60 is a soap or disinfectant dispenser and the right discharge line 61 a hand dryer. In the embodiment shown, a vibration detector 3 is provided, which can detect in which areas A, B, C in front of the fitting there is a user or the hands of a user. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors can be provided, which can recognize, individually or in combination, in which area a user's hand is located. The detector or detectors 3 are again electrically operatively connected to the control unit 1 by means of a data channel 4, which is electrically operatively connected to the corresponding sanitary elements (not shown).

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE SIGN LIST 1 Control unit 2 Sanitary element 20 Valve 21 Pump 22 Fan 3 Vibration detector 30 Vibration detector 4 Data channel 40 Data channel 5 Supply line 50 Supply line 6 Discharge line 60 Discharge line 61 Discharge line 7 Instruction element A Area B Area C Area S Vibration