Sanitary installations and shower assembly

Abstract

A sanitary fixture (1), including a flow regulator unit (5) and a movable adjustment element (6) that adjusts a flow rate and has a control connection to a temperature-sensitive control element (8). The invention provides arranging a return spring (13) on a same side of the flow regulator unit (5) as the control element (8), with respect to the flow direction, and/or designing the control element (8) to assume at least one intermediate position.

Claims

1. A sanitary fixture (1) comprising a flow regulator unit (5) which is arranged in a flow path (2) including a movable adjustment element (6), wherein a throughflow rate defined by the flow regulator unit (5) is settable by the adjustment element (6), a control element (8) which changes at least one of a shape or size depending on a temperature arranged in the flow path (2) and operatively connected to the adjustment element (6), wherein, in the event of a change in the temperature over a temperature range between a lower temperature value and an upper temperature value, the control element (8) displaces the adjustment element (6) along an adjustment path (10) between a starting position and an end position, and at at least one intermediate temperature value between the lower temperature value and the upper temperature value, the control element (8) sets an intermediate position of the adjustment element (6) in the adjustment path between the starting position and the end position.

2. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate position is spaced apart from at least one of the starting position or the end position by at least 1% of an overall length of the adjustment path (10).

3. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control element (8) assumes at least one of three different shapes or sizes at at least three different temperature values.

4. The sanitary fixture according to claim 1, wherein the control element (8) has at least two material components (25, 26) which have different coefficients of expansion or different phase transition temperatures or both within the temperature range.

5. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element (6) includes a bimetallic element (28).

6. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 4, wherein the material components (25, 26) are arranged in succession in an adjustment direction.

7. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 4, wherein the material components (25, 26) comprise a material mixture, the material mixture is a thermowax mixture, and the material components (25, 26) are in each case a thermowax component and the phase transition temperatures are given by a particular melting point of the thermowax component.

8. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element (6) defines a lower throughflow rate in the starting position than in the end position.

9. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a guide element (15) carrying the restoring spring (13) formed on the adjustment element (6), and the guide element (15) encloses a throughflow duct (17).

10. A shower arrangement (30) having a heating element (33) which is arranged in the flow path (2) designed for constant heat output, and having a sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1 connected upstream of the heating element (33) in the flow direction.

11. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein an increase in the temperature at the control element (8) causes a displacement of the adjustment element (6) towards greater throughflow rates.

12. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 4, wherein the material components (25, 26) are formed in each case from a material having shape memory.

13. The sanitary fixture (1) according to claim 1, wherein a throughflow rate of the flow regulator unit (5) which increases with increasing temperature is set by the control element (8) and the adjustment element (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, but is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments emerge from combining the features of individual claims or of a plurality of claims with one another and/or with individual features or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiments.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a sanitary fixture according to the invention in an exploded illustration,

(4) FIG. 2 shows the sanitary fixture from FIG. 1 in a sectional illustration,

(5) FIG. 3 shows the sanitary fixture from FIG. 1 in a sectional illustration with a shape-changed control element,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a further sanitary fixture according to the invention in an exploded illustration with a control element having shape memory,

(7) FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 show the sanitary fixture from FIG. 4 in a sectional illustration in each case with an adjustment element located in different positions,

(8) FIG. 8 shows a further sanitary fixture according to the invention in a sectional illustration in the starting position with cold water,

(9) FIG. 9 shows the sanitary fixture according to FIG. 8 in the end position with hot water,

(10) FIG. 10 shows the sanitary fixture according to FIG. 8 in a three-dimensional exploded illustration,

(11) FIG. 11 shows a shower arrangement according to the invention, and

(12) FIG. 12 shows a zigzag spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) FIG. 1 shows a sanitary fixture 1 according to the invention in an exploded illustration.

(14) FIGS. 2 and 3 show the sanitary fixture 1 from FIG. 1 in sectional illustrations in different switching positions.

(15) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are described together below.

(16) A flow path 2 which leads from an input side 3 to an output side 4 is formed in the sanitary fixture 1.

(17) A flow regulator unit 5 is arranged in the flow path 2.

(18) The flow regulator unit 5 has a movable adjustment element 6.

(19) The adjustment element 6 is arranged movably axially, i.e. parallel to a longitudinal axis 7, in the sanitary fixture 1.

(20) By means of this movement, a changeable throughflow rate along the flow path 2 is settable by way of the adjustment element 6.

(21) A control element 8 which has a size or shape which is changeable with the temperature prevailing at the control element 8 is furthermore arranged in the flow path 2.

(22) The control element 8 is operatively connected to the adjustment element 7 and sets the position of the latter by means of the size and/or shape change as a function of the temperature.

(23) The control element 8 has a piston 9, the position of which is displaceable between a retracted starting position (FIG. 2) and an extended end position (FIG. 3).

(24) The starting position belongs here to a low temperature value while the end position is taken up at an upper temperature value.

(25) In the event of a change in the temperature over the temperature range between the lower temperature and the upper temperature, the control element 8 displaces the adjustment element 6 along the adjustment path 10.

(26) A material mixture 12 is arranged in a receiving chamber 11 of the control element 8. This material mixture 12 has a plurality of material components 25, 26 which in each case have differing phase transition temperatures. Alternatively, the material components 25, 26 can be arranged separately from one another in succession along the adjustment path in the receiving chamber 11 in order to act serially.

(27) In the exemplary embodiment, the material mixture 12 is a thermowax mixture, and the material components are different thermowaxes having an individual phase transition temperature in each case. The phase transition temperatures here are melting points.

(28) In the event of heating or cooling over the temperature range mentioned, these phase transition temperatures are reached successively.

(29) During each phase transition temperature, the associated material component passes through a phase transition and expands abruptly during heating and/or contracts abruptly during cooling. By this means, the piston 8 is driven outward by a predetermined distance.

(30) Since the phase transition temperatures are distributed spaced apart from one another over the temperature range, a stepped expansion/contraction is thus produced.

(31) A continuous, temperature-dependent code of the adjustment element 6 is thus produced approximately with a quality of approximation which increases with the number of material components used.

(32) The individual intermediate positions are distributed uniformly over the adjustment path 10, and therefore intermediate positions which are away from the starting position and the end position by at least 10% or even at least 30% of the overall length of the adjustment path 10 exist and are taken up.

(33) FIGS. 2 and 3 show two sizes of the control element 8 that belong to two temperature values. In order to set the remaining intermediate positions, the control element 6 assumes sizes lying between the extreme positions. These intermediate positions belong in each case to an individually assigned temperature value.

(34) The adjustment element 6 has a conical basic shape which narrows counter to the adjustment direction in the event of an increase in the temperature.

(35) By this means, the cross-sectional area of the opening 19 is larger at high temperatures than at low temperatures.

(36) This means that the higher the input temperature at the control element 8, the more rapidly the liquid in the sanitary fixture 1 flows. By this means, the liquid heats up less strongly.

(37) On the other hand, the cross-sectional area decreases if the input temperature decreases and therefore the difference between the input temperature and a (constant) output temperature increases. This is because the liquid then has to be limited in terms of throughflow rate to a greater extent in order to be able to ensure sufficient heating.

(38) Furthermore, a restoring spring 13 which restores the adjustment element 6 into the starting position in the event of cooling is arranged in the sanitary fixture 1.

(39) The restoring spring 13 is arranged downstream of the flow regulator unit 5 in the flow path 2 and is therefore arranged on the same side of the flow regulator unit 5 as the control element 8.

(40) The restoring spring 13 is in the form of a helical spring and encloses the control element 8.

(41) In other words, the control element 8 is at least partially arranged in an interior space 14 bounded by the restoring spring 13 (at least in the state thereof according to FIG. 2). The control connection 29, here the piston 9, via which the control element 8 displaces the adjustment element 6, therefore reaches through the interior space 14.

(42) In further exemplary embodiments, the restoring spring 13 is in the form of a zigzag spring 35 instead of the helical spring.

(43) A zigzag spring 35 of this type is shown by way of example in FIG. 12.

(44) The zigzag spring 35 is wound helically like a helical spring.

(45) However, in contrast to a conventional helical spring, the wire 36 forms troughs 37 and peaks 38 in the profile thereof.

(46) FIG. 12 shows a state of the zigzag spring 35, in which the windings 39 are in contact in a puncture form or sectional manner without the zigzag spring 35 being blocked. On the contrary, the zigzag spring 35 can be compressed further in the axial direction.

(47) The troughs 37 and peaks 38 of the individual windings 39 are offset in the circumferential direction in such a manner that one peak 38 in each case of a winding 39 is in contact with a trough 37 of the adjacent winding 39, and vice versa. This results in the elasticity mentioned even beyond the contacting position.

(48) In addition, a guide element 15 which is connected to the adjustment element 6 is arranged in the interior space 14 in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(49) The guide element 15 has, radially on the outer side, an outer cylinder 16, against which the restoring spring 13 bears for guidance.

(50) An axially extending throughflow duct 17, through which the flowing liquid is conducted onto the control element 8, is formed in the guide element 15.

(51) The control element 8 is therefore coupled readily thermally to the temperature of the flowing liquid.

(52) For regulation of the flow rate, the flow regulator unit 5 has an O-ring 18 through which the adjustment element 6 passes.

(53) This O-ring 18, in the event of an increasing inflow-side pressure, is pressed against an annular opening 19, as a result of which the latter is narrowed ever further. Grooves 20 that extend along the flow path 2 and against which the O-ring 19 bears are formed on the adjustment element 6, which is provided with a conical basic shape.

(54) The flow resistance is increased by the narrowing, as a result of which the desired flow rate limitation is produced.

(55) By displacement of the adjustment element 6 in the axial direction, the cross-sectional area of the opening 19 can be changed, and therefore a different value is produced for the throughflow rate of the flow rate limitation realized. In the shown arrangement of the adjustment element 6 and of the control element 8, an increasing throughflow rate is produced with increasing temperature at the control element 8.

(56) The sanitary fixture 1 is surrounded to the outside in a housing-building manner by a tubular sleeve 21 which is designed to be open on the input side 3 and the output side 4.

(57) The tubular sleeve 21 accommodates the flow regulator unit 5, the control element 8 and the restoring spring 13.

(58) A first insert 22 which holds the O-ring 18 is clipped into place at the axial end of the input side 3.

(59) On the inner side, a rib 23 on which the restoring spring 13 is supported is formed in the tubular sleeve 21 at the axial end. The rib 23 also carries the O-ring 18. A plurality of ribs which take over holding functions can also be formed axially next to one another.

(60) A second insert 24 on which the control element 8 is supported is clipped into place at the second axial end, i.e. at the output side 4.

(61) A functionally pre-assemblable unit of a sanitary fixture 1 is therefore provided, which unit can be fitted as a whole.

(62) A heating element (not illustrated specifically) which is known per se and has a constant heat output is connected to the output side 4 during operation. Depending on the temperature on the input side 3, the sanitary fixture 1 increases or reduces the throughflow rate in order to be able to heat the liquid flowing out on the output side, for example water, to a constant temperature without having to vary the heat output.

(63) FIGS. 4 to 7 show a further sanitary fixture 1 according to the invention. Components and functional units which are similar or are identical structurally and/or functionally to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numbers and are not described separately. The above explanations therefore apply correspondingly.

(64) The sanitary fixture 1 according to FIGS. 4 to 7 differs from the sanitary fixture 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in that, instead of the material mixture 12, two material components 25, 26 are arranged serially in succession in the flow path 2.

(65) A guide element 27 guides the material components 25, 26 and connects them to each other.

(66) The material components 25, 26 are manufactured from different materials having shape memory and each have a phase transition temperature, above which said materials abruptly expand.

(67) The phase transition temperature can be set by suitable selection of additives.

(68) The material component 25 here has a lower phase transition temperature than the material component 26.

(69) FIG. 5 shows the sanitary fixture 1 at the lower temperature value.

(70) The two material components 25, 26 are contracted, and a minimal throughflow is set at the flow regulator unit 5.

(71) If the inflowing water is then heated, first of all the phase transition temperature of the first material component 25 is reached, and said material component abruptly expands by a certain amount. The opening 19 is therefore opened somewhat further and then takes up an intermediate position between the starting position according to FIG. 5 and the end position according to FIG. 7. The situation according to FIG. 6 is produced.

(72) If the temperature of the inflowing liquid then remains constant, the situation remains in the intermediate position according to FIG. 6. In other words, the intermediate position is stable.

(73) If the temperature of the inflowing liquid is increased further, the phase transition temperature of the second material component 26 is reached, and the latter expands abruptly.

(74) The expansions of the interior components 25, 26 are cumulative as a result since said material components are arranged serially.

(75) The end position according to FIG. 7 which defines a maximum throughflow rate at the flow regulator unit 5 is then assumed.

(76) It can be seen that the adjustment path 10 is longer in FIG. 7 than in FIG. 6.

(77) FIGS. 8 to 10 show a further sanitary fixture 1 according to the invention. Components and functional units which are similar or identical structurally and/or functionally to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numbers and are not described separately. The above explanations therefore apply correspondingly.

(78) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 10, a stacked arrangement of bimetallic elements 28 is used instead of the material having shape memory.

(79) Each bimetallic element 28 is of disk-shaped design, wherein two material components 25, 26 having different thermal coefficients of expansion are connected to each other in each disk.

(80) The bimetallic element 28 therefore converts different heating of the various material components 25, 26 connected to each other into a macroscopic shape change, by way of which the adjustment element 6 can be adjusted.

(81) FIG. 8 shows the starting position of the adjustment element 6 at the lower temperature value, and FIG. 9 shows the end position of the adjustment element 6 at the upper temperature value. Each bimetallic element 28 is curved in the end position.

(82) Since the bimetallic elements 28 expand continuously with increasing temperature, the adjustment amount 6 is displaced in intermediate positions along the adjustment path 10 at intermediate temperature values between the lower temperature value and the upper temperature value.

(83) In the event of cooling, each bimetallic element 28 is deformed back again into the starting shape according to FIG. 8. The water pressure bearing against the input side 3 generally suffices in order to adjust the adjustment element 6 back into the starting position.

(84) A restoring spring (not illustrated specifically) which can be guided by the guide element 15 as described previously can be provided in a supporting manner analogously to the preceding exemplary embodiment.

(85) FIG. 11 shows a shower arrangement 30 according to the invention.

(86) The shower arrangement 30 has a shower head 31 which is fastened to a supply line 32.

(87) The supply line 32 is fastened to a wall or ceiling (not illustrated specifically).

(88) A heating element 33 which is operable via an electric connection 34 in order to heat up the water from the supply line 32 is arranged on the shower head 31. The heating element 33 has a constant heat output which is given by the electric power consumption.

(89) The supply line 32 defines a flow path 2 for flowing water.

(90) In said flow path 2, a sanitary fixture 1 according to the invention is inserted into the supply line 32. By way of example, FIG. 11 illustrates, on the right, the sanitary fixtures according to FIGS. 1 to 3 (at the top) and according to FIGS. 4 to 7 (at the bottom). However, use can also be made of other sanitary fixtures 1 according to the invention, for example the sanitary fixture 1 according to FIGS. 8 to 10.

(91) In further exemplary embodiments, the shower head 31 can also be in the form of a handheld shower or side shower.

(92) During operation, the sanitary fixture 1 sets the throughflow rate as a function of the water temperature on the input side 3 in such a manner that the heating element 33 heats the flow of water to a constant use temperature. Accordingly, the closer the water temperature on the input side 3 moves to the use temperature, the greater the throughflow rate becomes. The throughflow rate is conversely lower, the greater the distance is between the water temperature and the input side 3 and the use temperature, and therefore the limited heat output of the heating element 33 suffices in order actually to reach the use temperature.

(93) Since, as described, the adjustment element 6 is displaceable in precise stages or even continuously as a function of temperature, even relatively small temperature fluctuations during operation, such as occur, for example, when changing stagnant water to freshly supplied water from the mains, can be compensated for.

(94) In the case of a sanitary fixture 1 having a flow regulator unit 5 and a movable adjustment element 6 which sets a throughflow rate and is in control connection with a temperature-sensitive control element 8, it is proposed to arrange a restoring spring 13 in the direction of flow on the same side of the flow regulator unit 5 as the control element 5, and/or to design the control element 8 to take up at least one intermediate position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(95) 1 Sanitary fixture 2 Flow path 3 Input side 4 Output side 5 Flow regulator unit 6 Adjustment element 7 Longitudinal axis 8 Control element 9 Piston 10 Adjustment path 11 Receiving chamber 12 Material mixture 13 Restoring spring 14 Interior space 15 Guide element 16 Outer cylinder 17 Throughflow duct 18 O-ring 19 Opening 20 Groove 21 Tubular sleeve 22 First insert 23 Rib 24 Second insert 25 Material component 26 Material component 27 Guide element 28 Bimetallic element 29 Control connection 30 Shower arrangement 31 Shower head 32 Supply line 33 Heating element 34 Connection 35 Zigzag spring 36 Wire 37 Trough 38 Peak 39 Winding