MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A WATER LEVEL IN A PLUMBING ELEMENT, AND A PLUMBING ELEMENT

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring a water level in a plumbing element. The monitoring system has a sensor unit, which includes at least one sensor for detecting a measured value and with the aid of which a water level in a receiving space of the plumbing element may be ascertained. A plumbing element is also provided that comprises a receiving space for accommodating water and at least one water outlet for emptying the water from the receiving space.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for monitoring a water level in a plumbing element, the monitoring system comprising: a sensor unit that comprises at least one sensor for detecting a measured value and via which a water level in a receiving space of the plumbing element is ascertained.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system has a memory, in which at least one parameter of the plumbing element, in particular a holding capacity, a maximum permissible water level, a height of a water inlet and/or a depth of the plumbing element is stored.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes an arithmetic unit, with the aid of which the water level in the plumbing element, in particular at least one maximum permissible water level and/or an exceeding of the maximum permissible water level is ascertained or calculated based on the measured value detected by the at least one sensor and/or the at least one parameter stored in the memory.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes at least one actuator, with the aid of which a water inlet and/or a water outlet of the plumbing element is opened, closed and/or set.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes a controller, which is connected to the sensor unit, in particular to the arithmetic unit and/or the actuator and with the aid of which the actuator is controllable for the purpose of avoiding an overflow of the plumbing element such that the maximum permissible water level is not exceeded.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor for measuring a water pressure, wherein a height of a water column over the pressure sensor is ascertained from the measured water pressure with the aid of the arithmetic unit, and/or wherein at least the maximum permissible water level is ascertained from at least one parameter and the water column with the aid of the arithmetic unit.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a water level sensor, which may detect at least the maximum permissible water level when it comes into contact with the water, and/or wherein at least the maximum permissible water level is ascertained from the measured value of the water level sensor with the aid of the arithmetic unit. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, which may measure a propagation time of ultrasonic waves between itself and a water surface of the water in the plumbing element, wherein a distance between the ultrasonic sensor and a water surface is ascertained from the propagation time with the aid of the arithmetic unit, and/or wherein at least the maximum water level may be ascertained from at least one parameter and the distance with the aid of the arithmetic unit.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a flow sensor; a water inflow rate and/or a water outflow rate of the plumbing element is ascertained, in particular with the aid of the arithmetic unit; and/or at least the maximum water level may be ascertained from the at least one parameter and, in particular, a difference between the water inflow rate and/or the water outflow rate with the aid of the arithmetic unit.

9. A plumbing element comprising: a receiving space for accommodating water; and at least one water outlet for emptying the water from the receiving space wherein the plumbing element includes a monitoring system according to claim 1.

10. The plumbing element according to claim 9, wherein the monitoring system includes a controller that is adapted to control and/or regulate the water outlet via an actuator at least when a maximum permissible water level is exceeded, by at least partially opening a closure disposed in the water outlet, and/or adapted to control and/or regulate a water inlet by at least partially closing a valve in the water inlet.

11. The plumbing element according to claim 9, wherein the sensor, in particular a pressure sensor, is disposed in an area of the water outlet on a closure disposed in the water outlet of the receiving space.

12. The plumbing element according to claim 9, wherein the sensor, in particular a water level sensor, is disposed on an interior of the receiving space and/or higher than the water outlet.

13. The plumbing element according to claim 9, wherein the sensor, in particular an ultrasonic sensor, is disposed on the water inlet of the plumbing element on a side facing the receiving space.

14. The plumbing element according to claim 9, wherein the sensor is a flow sensor, preferably a first flow sensor being disposed in the water inlet and/or a second flow sensor being disposed in the water outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element, including a monitoring system which comprises a sensor unit;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element, including a monitoring system;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element, including a monitoring system; and

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element, including a monitoring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element 2, including a monitoring system 1 which comprises a sensor unit 4. Plumbing element 2 has a receiving space 3, which may accommodate water 6 and is delimited by a wall 7. Plumbing element 2 is designed as a washbasin in the present exemplary embodiment. Plumbing element 2 may also be designed, for example, as a sink, a shower tub, a bathtub, a toilet and/or a bidet.

[0038] To ascertain a water level 8 in receiving space 3, according to the invention monitoring system 1 comprises sensor unit 4, which includes at least one sensor 5 for detecting a measured value. Water level 8 is ascertained to protect against water 6 overflowing out of receiving space 3. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a maximum permissible water level in receiving space 3 is characterized, for example, in that it comes up to a rim 9 of receiving space 3, so that water 6 does not quite flow out of receiving space 3.

[0039] Alternatively, however, the maximum permissible water level of water 6 in receiving space 3 may also be defined by water level 8 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated here. The distance between rim 9 and illustrated water level 8 may be used, for example, as a safety buffer.

[0040] To ascertain water level 8 from the measured value measured by sensor 5, sensor unit 4 may have an arithmetic unit.

[0041] Moreover, monitoring system 1 may have a memory, in which at least one parameter of plumbing element 2 may be stored. The parameter may be, for example, a holding capacity of receiving space 3, the maximum permissible water level, a height of a water inlet and/or a depth 10 of plumbing element 2.

[0042] Plumbing element 2 furthermore includes a water outlet 11, which in the present exemplary embodiment may be closed with the aid of a closure 12. Closure 12 may be opened and closed with the aid of a linkage 13.

[0043] According to FIG. 1, sensor 5 of sensor unit 4 is designed as a pressure sensor and in the present exemplary embodiment is disposed in closure 12. Alternatively, the pressure sensor may also be disposed in the area of water outlet 11.

[0044] With the aid of the pressure sensor, a water pressure may be measured, which, according to FIG. 1, prevails at the pressure sensor or at closure 12. The arithmetic unit may preferably ascertain from the water pressure the height of a water column over the pressure sensor. If the pressure sensor is disposed at the lowest point in receiving space 3, as illustrated in the present exemplary embodiment, the height of the water column is equal to a water depth 14.

[0045] With the aid of a parameter which includes the depth of plumbing element 2, the arithmetic unit may ascertain whether the maximum water level has been reached based on the height of the water column. For example, if the arithmetic unit ascertains that depth 10 of plumbing element 2 and water depth 14 are the same, the arithmetic unit may extrapolate the fact that water 6 has reached rim 9, and water 6 is not yet overflowing.

[0046] All other water levels 8 may, of course, also be ascertained with the aid of the pressure sensor. Water depth 14 may be measured continuously by measuring the pressure of water 6 at closure 12.

[0047] Monitoring system 1 may also advantageously include a controller 15, which is connected to sensor unit 4 and/or the arithmetic unit via a data line 16. Controller 15 may activate an actuator, which opens closure 12 to avoid the overflow of water 6. The actuator may displace closure 12 upwardly or downwardly with the aid of linkage 13, so that closure 12 releases water outlet 11. As a result, water 6 flows out of receiving space 3 so that water level 8 drops. For example, if water level 8 again drops below the maximum permissible water level, controller 15 may close closure 12 again to prevent water level 8 from dropping any further. Controller 15 may additionally or alternatively activate closure 12 in such a way that water level 8 remains constant, i.e. the amount of water flowing out of receiving space 3 through water outlet 11 is the same as the amount of water flowing into receiving space 3 through a water inlet.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a plumbing element 2, including a monitoring system 1, in an alternative exemplary embodiment; In this exemplary embodiment, sensor 5 of sensor unit 4 is disposed on an inside 17 of receiving space 3.

[0049] Sensor 5 in this exemplary embodiment is designed as a water level sensor, which may measure water level 8 when it comes into contact with water. The water level sensor may have, for example, an electrical contact, which closes an electrical circuit when it comes into contact with water.

[0050] A sensor 5 designed as a water level sensor according to FIG. 2 may measure only one water level 8, which, however, may be sufficient to ascertain the maximum permissible water level. Sensor 5 may be disposed at a point on inside 17 of receiving space 3 which corresponds to the maximum permissible water level. According to FIG. 2, for example, sensor 5 is disposed to form another safety buffer up to rim 9.

[0051] Alternatively the water level sensor may also be designed in such a way that it may continuously measure water level 8 between an empty and a full receiving space 3. For this purpose, for example, the water level sensor may extend along inside 17 from rim 9 to water outlet 11.

[0052] Sensor unit 4 may, for example, also include the arithmetic unit, which ascertains the water level from the measurement of sensor 5. Sensor unit 4 is also connected to controller 15 via a data line 16. Controller 15 may open closure 12 upon reaching the maximum permissible water level, so that water 6 may flow out, and water level 8 drops or at least does not continue to rise. To regulate water level 8, controller 15 may also close a water inlet.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of plumbing element 2, including a monitoring system 1, in another alternative exemplary embodiment; Plumbing element 2, including a water inlet 18, is illustrated in FIG. 3. Water inlet 18 in this case is an inlet faucet, but it may also be a shower head if plumbing element 2 is a shower.

[0054] Sensor unit 4, which includes sensor 5, is disposed on an underside of water inlet 18 facing receiving space 3 for the purpose of ascertaining water level 8. Sensor 5 in this case is designed as an ultrasonic sensor, which may transmit ultrasonic waves 19 in the direction of receiving space 3. Ultrasonic waves 19 are reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor on water 6, and they are received by the sensor. For example, the arithmetic unit disposed in sensor unit 4 may ascertain distance 21 between sensor 5 and water 6 from a propagation time of ultrasonic waves 19. The arithmetic unit may ascertain water level 8 based on a parameter stored in the memory and distance 21. The parameter includes, for example height 20 of water inlet 18. Sensor unit 4 and/or arithmetic unit is/are also connected to controller 15 with the aid of data line 16. Controller 15 may control water inlet 18 and/or water outlet 11 with the aid of an actuator, if the maximum permissible water level is exceeded, so that water level 8 drops or at least remains constant.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of plumbing element 2, including a monitoring system 1, in another exemplary embodiment. Monitoring system 1 comprises a sensor unit 4a, 4b, divided into two parts, each of which has a sensor 5a, 5b. Monitoring system 1 thus includes two sensors 5a, 5b. In this exemplary embodiment, sensors 5a, 5b are designed as flow sensors, which are able to measure a water through-flow rate.

[0056] Sensor 5a is disposed in water inlet 18 and may the water inflow rate flowing into receiving space 3. Sensor 5b is disposed in water outlet 11 and may measure the water outflow rate flowing out of receiving space 3. Water level 8 may be calculated from the water outflow rate and/or the water inflow rate with the aid of the arithmetic unit. Both sensor units 4a, 4b are connected to controller 15, which is also able to ascertain water level 8 based on the measurements of sensors 5a, 5b. For example, controller 15 and/or the arithmetic unit may calculate a difference between the water inflow rate and the water outflow rate, making it possible to ascertain whether as a whole more water 6 is flowing into or out of receiving space 3, or whether the water volume remains constant. The water volume in receiving space 3 may be calculated from this difference and a time measurement. Water level 8, preferably at least the maximum permissible water level, may then be preferably calculated with the aid of a parameter, for example the holding capacity of receiving space 3.

[0057] Once the maximum permissible water level has been reached, controller 15 may again control and/or regulate water outlet 11 and/or water inlet 18 in such a way that water 6 is drained and/or less water 6 may flow into receiving space 3.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments. Modification within the scope of the patent claims are possible, as is a combination of features, even if they are illustrated and described in different exemplary embodiments.