Electrically controlled fitting

• US 5,111,846 A
• Filed: 11/06/1990
• Issued: 05/12/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KWC AG (Michael Pieper, MBA)
• Original Assignee: KWC AG (Michael Pieper, MBA)
• Inventors: Oesterle, Helmut, Hochstrasser, Ferdinand
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/609,913
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 137/606, 137/607, 137/595, 251/65, 251/38, 251/33, 251/41
• US Class Current: 137/607
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/402 acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

The fitting has in each case a hydraulically operable shutoff valve (40, 42) for hot and cold water. The diaphragm-shaped closure part (56) interacts with the valve seat (52). Provided on the side opposite the valve seat (52) is a pilot control space (60) which is connected through the passage (62) to the annular channel (48) and the corresponding feedline (20). Via control lines (86'"'"'), each pilot control space (60) is connected to the outlet line (24) via an auxiliary valve (70'"'"'). The two auxiliary valves (70'"'"') are constructed on a ceramic disk valve (72) and can be operated jointly. When the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') are closed, the pressure in the pilot control space (60) corresponds to the pressure in the annular channel (48), the shutoff valves (40, 42) are closed. By rotating the operating shaft (86) the two auxiliary valves (70'"'"') are opened, by which means the pressure in the pilot control spaces (60) drops. The closure part (56) is lifted from the relevant valve seat (52) and the shutoff valves (40, 42) are opened. When the auxiliary valves (70'"'"') are closed by rotating the operating shaft (86), the pressure in the pilot control spaces (60) rises again, by which means the shutoff valves (40, 42) are closed. The joint operation of both shutoff valves (70, 70'"'"') requires extremely little energy.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled sanitary fitting having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet and an outlet and having in each case one hydraulically operable shutoff valve arranged between the relevant inlet and the outlet for releasable blocking of the hot and cold water flow, the hydraulic control circuit of which shutoff valve is connected to the relevant inlet and the outlet and can be closed or interrupted by means of an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the shutoff valve which auxiliary valve is operable by a drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity, wherein a common drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity is provided for both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), each shutoff valve (40, 42) having a diaphragm-shaped or piston-shaped closure part (56), on the one side of which there is provided a valve seat (52) interacting with the closure part (56) and, on the other side, a pilot control space (60) which is connected to the respective inlet (20,20'"'"') via a passage (62), can be connected via the auxiliary valve (70,70'"'"') to the outlet (24) to open the shutoff valve (40,42) and can be separated from said outlet for closing the shutoff valve, the auxiliary valves being apart from the pilot control spaces, wherein the drive arrangement (32) has a drive member (34) fed by electricity and a transmission element (36) which is in effective connection with said drive member and acts on both auxiliary valves (70,70'"'"'), wherein the drive member (34) has a solenoid arrangement with a plunger (112) which operates both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') via a transmission linkage (114), and wherein each auxiliary valve (70, 70'"'"') has a stationary, annular auxiliary valve seat (130) and a closure element (132) interacting with said auxiliary valve seat having an operating shaft (134) extending through the auxiliary valve seat (130).

2. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission linkage (114) for each auxiliary valve (70, 70'"'"') has a tappet (118) which, in its position of rest, is lifted from the relevant operating shaft (134) and, when it is moved into the operating position (114'"'"') contacts the operating shaft (134) to operate the closure element (132).

3. The fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end of the operating shaft (134) facing the tappet (118) is provided on the outlet side relative to the auxiliary valve seat (130).

4. An electrically controlled sanitary fitting having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet and an outlet and having in each case one hydraulically operable shutoff valve arranged between the relevant inlet and the outlet for releasable blocking of the hot and cold water flow, the hydraulic control circuit of which shutoff valve is connected to the relevant inlet and the outlet and can be closed or interrupted by means of an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the shutoff valve which auxiliary valve is operable by a drive arrangement fed by electricity, wherein a common drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity is provided for both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), the drive arrangement (32) having a drive member (34) fed by electricity and a transmission element (36) which is in effective connection with said drive member and acts on both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') being operable magnetically, and the transmission element (36) having a permanent magnet arrangement (196) which can be brought into and out of action on the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') by means of the drive member (34).

5. The fitting as claimed in claim 4, wherein the direction of movement of the permanent magnet arrangement (196) extends transversely in relation to the direction of the action of force on the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"').

6. An electrically controlled sanitary fitting having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet and an outlet and having in each case one hydraulically operable shutoff valve arranged between the relevant inlet and the outlet for releasable blocking of the hot and cold water flow, the hydraulic control circuit of which shutoff valve is connected to the relevant inlet and the outlet and can be closed or interrupted by means of an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the shutoff valve which auxiliary valve is operable by a drive arrangement fed by electricity, wherein a common drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity is provided for both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), the fitting having a ceramic disk valve (72) having two ceramic disks (74, 74'"'"') which are located next to each other and can be rotated counter to each other by means of the drive arrangement (32) and on which the two auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') are constructed.

7. The fitting as claimed in claim 6, wherein each shutoff valve (40,42) has a diaphragm-shaped or piston-shaped closure part (56), on the one side of which there is provided a valve seat (52) interacting with the closure part (56) and, on the other side, a pilot control space (60) which is connected to the respective inlet (20, 20'"'"') via a passage (62), can be connected via the auxiliary valve (70, 70'"'"') to the outlet (24) to open the shutoff valve (40, 42) and can be separated from said outlet for closing the shutoff valve, the auxiliary valves being apart from the pilot control spaces, and one ceramic disk (74) is arranged fixedly and has in each case a control passage (94, 94'"'"') connected to the corresponding pilot control space (60) and the other ceramic disk (74) is constructed to be rotatable and is provided with a control groove (92) connected to the outlet (24), which control groove can be brought into and out of flow connection with the two control passages (94, 94'"'"') by rotating the ceramic disk (74'"'"').

8. The fitting as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixedly arranged ceramic disk (74) has a passage opening (96) connected to the outlet (24) in the region of the rotating axle (88) of the rotatable ceramic disk (74'"'"'), the two control passages (94, 94'"'"') connected to the pilot control rooms (60) are located approximately diametrically opposite each other but slightly offset relative to this rotating axle (88), and the control groove (92) is constructed so as to be wider in the region of these control passages (94, 94'"'"') in order always to open the shutoff valve (42) for the cold water first and always to close that for the hot water (40) first.

9. The fitting as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drive arrangement (32) has an electric gear motor which is connected to the ceramic disk valve (72) via a crank mechanism (98, 100, 102).

10. An electrically controlled sanitary fitting having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet and an outlet and having in each case one hydraulically operable shutoff valve arranged between the relevant inlet and the outlet for releasable blocking of the hot and cold water flow, the hydraulic control circuit of which shutoff valve is connected to the relevant inlet and the outlet and can be closed or interrupted by means of an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the shutoff valve which auxiliary valve is operable by a drive arrangement fed by electricity, wherein a common drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity is provided for both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), and wherein a mixing valve (46) is connected downstream from the two shutoff valves (40, 42).

11. The fitting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mixing valve (46) has two feedlines (44, 44'"'"') which are connected in terms of flow in each case to one shutoff valve (40, 42) and which are bounded by annular mixing valve seats (154, 154'"'"') which are spaced apart, are essentially aligned with one another and are directed counter to one another, and a disk (156) which is displaceable back and forth between the mixing valve seats (154, 154'"'"') and interacts with its lateral surfaces with said mixing valve seats, the region between the mixing valve seats (154, 154'"'"') being connected to the outlet (24).

12. The fitting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shutoff valves (40, 42) and the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') are each arranged in a block (18, 22) which can be manufactured individually and the blocks (18, 22) located next to each other are connected to each other, wherein the connection lines (68, 68'"'"') between the shutoff valves (40, 42) and the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') are provided in the blocks (18, 22), and the auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') and the mixing valve (46) are provided in the same block (22) and the feedlines (44, 44'"'"') from the shutoff valves (40, 42) to the mixing valve (46) are worked out of the blocks (18, 22).

14. A fitting as claimed in claim 11 wherein the disk (156) is formed from rubber elastic material.

13. An electrically controlled sanitary fitting having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet and an outlet and having in each case one hydraulically operable shutoff valve arranged between the relevant inlet and the outlet for releasable blocking of the hot and cold water flow, the hydraulic control circuit of which shutoff valve is connected to the relevant inlet and the outlet and can be closed or interrupted by means of an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the shutoff valve which auxiliary valve is operable by a drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity, wherein a common drive arrangement (32) fed by electricity is provided for both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), each shutoff valve (40, 42) having a diaphragm-shaped or piston-shaped closure part (56), on the one side of which there is provided a valve seat (52) interacting with the closure part (56) and, on the other side, a pilot control space (60) which is connected to the respective inlet (20,20'"'"') via a passage (62), can be connected via the auxiliary valve (70,70'"'"') to the outlet (24) to open the shutoff valve (40,42) and can be separated from said outlet for closing the shutoff valve, the auxiliary valves being apart from the pilot control spaces, wherein the drive arrangement (32) has a drive member (34) fed by electricity and a transmission element (36) which is in effective connection with said drive member and acts on both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"'), wherein the drive member (34) has a solenoid arrangement with a plunger (112) which operates both auxiliary valves (70, 70'"'"') via a transmission linkage (114), and wherein the solenoid arrangement is of a bistable type.