AU2008200883A1

AU2008200883A1 - Sanitary mixing fitting having a fitting housing and a control cartridge arranged in the latter

Info

Publication number: AU2008200883A1
Application number: AU2008200883A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ulrich Cichos; Hans-Herrmann Hecker
Original assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
Current assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
Priority date: 2007-02-28
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2008-09-11
Also published as: DE102007010121A1; EP1965110A1

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title Sanitary mixing fitting having a fitting housing and a control cartridge arranged in the latter The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- P/00/011 5102 la 00

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00 00 The invention relates to a sanitary mixing fitting having 0 a fitting housing and a control cartridge arranged in the 00 latter, which cartridge for its part has at least two water inlets for hot and for cold water and an adjustable control unit which, depending on its adjustment, closes the water inlets or connects them to at least one water outlet for the purpose of controlling the quantity and the mixing proportions.

A sanitary fitting of this type is known from DE 36 25 289 C2, in which, in order to change the quantity of water and/or the water temperature, a movable control disc is displaced or rotated relative to a fixed control disc from outside by means of a transmission element and an operational control element. If the movable control disc is displaced or rotated in relation to the fixed control disc in such a way that it frees at least one through-opening in the fixed control disc for the hot and for the cold water, a water flow flows through the sanitary fitting. On complete freeing of the through-opening, a strong water flow may cause undesired flowing noises in the control cartridge and lead to a high water consumption.

2 00 SFrom the market there are known a large number of ND sanitary fittings in which a throughflow limiter is arranged in the fitting housing to limit the quantity of water flowing through the sanitary fitting. Throughflow 00 5 limiters arranged in this manner cannot, however, be 00 easily retrofitted and are, moreover, expensive to 00 produce.

The object of the present invention is therefore to design a sanitary fitting of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it can be easily retrofitted or converted with a component which limits the water throughflow.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that a component which limits the water throughflow is arranged in or on the water outlet of the control cartridge.

According to the invention, the component which limits the throughflow is therefore integrated in the control cartridge. It thus limits the water throughflow and lowers the water consumption and reduces flowing noises already in the control cartridge. The component is accommodated in a space-saving manner in the water outlet without thereby affecting the external dimensions of the control cartridge. The control cartridge according to the invention can therefore be easily used instead of a known 3 00 Scontrol cartridge without the sanitary fitting having to IND be otherwise altered.

SIn an advantageous embodiment according to Claim 2, the 00 00 component can be easily arranged in or on a wall, in particular the base, of the control cartridge.

00 Particularly for installation and removal, or for maintenance or repair purposes, according to Claim 3 the component can be easily accessible from outside the control cartridge.

Expediently, according to Claim 4 the component can for this purpose be detachably mounted, in particular clamped or screwed, in or on the water outlet. In this way, the component can be easily installed and removed.

Particularly advantageously, according to Claim 5 a holding means, in particular an elastic clamping element or a thread, can be provided for the purpose of holding the component. With such a holding means, the component can in particular be detachably fixed in or on the water outlet.

Alternatively, according to Claim 6 a holder of the component can advantageously be formed, in particular injection-moulded or cast, in or on the wall of the control cartridge. Thus, the holder can be easily and 4 stably integrated in the control cartridge already at the factory.

Particularly advantageously, the component is a quantity regulator. With the quantity regulator, from a specific value the water throughflow can be kept constant independently of the water pressure.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 schematically shows an axial section of a control cartridge according to a first exemplary embodiment having a quantity regulator inserted into the cartridge base; shows the control cartridge from Figure 1 in bottom view; schematically shows an axial section of a control cartridge according to a second exemplary embodiment having a formed-on quantity regulator; shows a bottom view of the control cartridge from Figure 3.

Figure 4 00 <d 4 Figure 1 shows in axial section a first exemplary ND embodiment, provided as a whole with the reference symbol of a control cartridge for a sanitary mixing fitting.

SA housing 12 is closed off at its lower side by a 00 00 5 cartridge base 14, which is provided with two water inlets 16 for hot and for cold water, respectively, of 00 which only one can be seen in Figure 1, and also with a water outlet 18 for mixed water.

The centres of the mouth openings of the water inlets 16 and the water outlet 18 are situated at the corners of an approximately isosceles triangle, when seen in the bottom view of Figure 2, the water outlet 18 being hidden in Figure 2 by a quantity regulator 19, which is explained in more detail below.

The water inlets 16 each run in a cylindrical water inlet connecting piece 20, which is integrally formed on the lower side of the cartridge base 14, and through bores of the cartridge base 14. The circumferential sides of the water inlet connecting pieces 20 merge into one another at the mutually facing sides.

The control cartridge 10 has an adjustable control unit 22 for controlling the quantity and the mixing proportions for mixed water. For this purpose, the control cartridge 10 contains directly above the cartridge base 14 a fixed bottom disc 24, which has an outlet through-opening 26 arranged directly above the -6- 00 <d Swater outlet 18 in the cartridge base 14. The, in Figure D I1, upper boundary surface of the bottom disc 24 is plane.

SThe bottom disc 24 furthermore has two inlet through- 00 00 openings 28 arranged directly above the two water inlets

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16 and shown in Figure 2.

00 SResting on top of the bottom disc 24 is a movable control disc 30, the, in Figure 1, lower boundary surface of which is plane.

The lower extension of an adjusting shaft 34 acts on the io control disc 30 via a driver 32, which shaft is mounted in a guide 38 pivotably and rotatably with the aid of a pin 36, which guide is itself rotatable about the axis of the bottom disc 24.

Owing to the movement of the adjusting shaft 34, the control disc 30 can be displaced and rotated relative to the bottom disc 24 via the driver 32.

The control disc 30 contains a mixing through-opening which overlaps the water outlet 18. The mixing throughopening 40 is upwardly closed by the lower end surface of the driver 32. If this movable control disc 30 is located in such a way that at least one of the inlet throughopenings 28 of the bottom disc 24 is at least partially open, the water can flow out through the mixing throughopening 40 and the outlet through-opening 26 downwardly 7 00 i through the water outlet 18. If, in contrast, the control IND disc 30 is moved in such a way that the inlet through-

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openings 28 are closed, the valve, also realised by the M control unit 22, is closed.

00 00 A closed outlet seal 42 surrounding the outlet through- 00 opening 26 is arranged between the cartridge base 14 and the bottom disc 24. The cylindrical outlet seal 42 runs coaxially with the water outlet 18, half of it extending into a seal groove 44a in the upper side of the cartridge io base 14 and half into a seal groove 44b in the lower side of the bottom disc 24.

A closed O-ring seal 46, surrounding the mixing throughopening 40, is also arranged between the control disc and the driver 32, in a groove 48 in the lower end surface of the driver 32.

A cylindrical holder 50 of the quantity regulator 19 is inserted by its upper edge region into the water outlet 18 from the lower side of the cartridge base 14 so as to be easily accessible from outside. A known regulating element 54 is situated in the holder 50. In a manner of no further interest here, the quantity regulator 19 is used to keep the water throughflow constant independently of the water pressure, as soon as a specific quantity of the water flow is reached. The water consumption is thereby lowered and flowing noises reduced.

8 00 SThe holder 50 of the quantity regulator 19 is held by two ND support fins 56 and a clamping spring 58, which are

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arranged at the corners of an imaginary isosceles M triangle in the bottom view (Figure 2).

00 00 s On both sides of the clamping spring 58, between the 00 00 clamping spring 58 and each of the support fins 56, there is arranged in each case one centring pin 59, which act as a centring aid on insertion of the quantity regulator 19. The centring pins 59 are each fastened by one end to the lower side of the cartridge base 14 or are formed on the latter. They are bevelled on their circumferential sides facing the quantity regulator 19 and taper towards their free ends.

The clamping spring 58 has a spring arm 60 running axially with respect to the water outlet 18, which arm is integrally formed on the lower side of the cartridge base 14, on that side of the quantity regulator 19 lying opposite the water inlet connection pieces The free end of the spring arm 60 is shaped, on its side facing the holder 50 of the quantity regulator 19, into a barb 62 which engages around the lower edge of the holder The two support fins 56 are each formed on the circumferential sides of the water inlet connection pieces 20. They are situated at the same height as the 9 00 <d 4 barb 62 of the clamping spring 58, when seen in axial IND section (Figure so that they too engage around the lower edge of the holder 00 00 The sides of the support fins 56 facing the edge of the

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holder 50 run in the radial direction with respect to the 00 holder 50. The sides facing away from the holder 50 are Cinclined towards the holder On insertion of the quantity regulator 19, the holder slides along the inclined sides of the support fins 56, the centring pins 59 and the barb 62 and in the process pushes the clamping spring 58 radially outwards, to the right in Figure 1. As soon as the upper edge of the holder 50 facing the cartridge base 14 is inserted into the water outlet 18, the lower edge of the holder engages above the radial surfaces of the support fins 56; the clamping spring 58 snaps back and with the barb 62 engages around the lower edge of the holder 50. To remove the quantity regulator 19, the clamping spring 58 is bent radially outwards and the quantity regulator 19 is pulled out of the water outlet 18 with a pivoting movement.

In a second exemplary embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, those elements which are similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are provided with the same reference symbols plus 100, so that, as regards their description, reference is made to what has been stated in respect of the first exemplary 10 00 <d 4 embodiment. This exemplary embodiment differs from the IND first in that the holder 150 of the quantity regulator 119 is integrally formed, preferably injection-moulded or Scast, on the cartridge base 114. The support fins 56 and 00 00 5 the clamping spring 58 of the first exemplary embodiment can thus be dispensed with. The quantity regulator 119 is 00 00 integrated in the cartridge base 114 during the actual production of the cartridge base 114. The regulator element 154 is installed subsequently and may also be removed again later, for example for repair purposes.

In all the above-described exemplary embodiments of a control cartridge 10; 110, the following modifications, inter alia, are possible: The holder 50; 150 of the quantity regulator 19; 119 may also be completely inserted into or formed in the water outlet 18; 118, or be formed simultaneously by the latter.

Instead of the clamping spring 58 and the support fins 56, the quantity regulator 19 may also be detachably mounted in or on the water outlet 18 in some other way; for example, the holder may be screwed into the water outlet.

Instead of the control unit 22; 122 having the bottom disc 24; 124 and the control disc 30; 130, it is also possible to use a different kind of adjustable control -11- 00 unit to control the quantity and the quantitative IND proportions for mixed water.

M ,Provision may also be made for a plurality of water 00 00 outlets, for example a water outlet for a bathtub or a basin and a water outlet for a shower.

(iii 00 Instead of the quantity regulator 19; 119, provision may also be made for another kind of component which limits the water throughflow, for example also a throughflow limiter without regulating function.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps is but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

12 00 00 r^ The refernce numerals in the following claims do not in \0 any way limit the scope of the respective claims.

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Claims

1. Sanitary mixing fitting having a fitting housing Sand a control cartridge arranged in the latter, 00 00 which cartridge for its part has at least two water inlets for hot and for cold water and an adjustable 00 5 control unit which, depending on its adjustment, closes the water inlets or connects them to at least one water outlet for the purpose of controlling the quantity and the mixing proportions, characterised in that a component (19; 119) which limits the water throughflow is arranged in or on the water outlet (18; 118) of the control cartridge (10; 110)

2. Control cartridge according to Claim 1, characterised in that the component (19; 119) is arranged in or on a wall, in particular the base, of the control cartridge (10; 110)

3. Control cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the component (19; 119) is accessible from outside the control cartridge (10; 110) 14 00

4. Control cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the component (19) is detachably mounted, in particular clamped or M screwed, in or on the water outlet (18) 00 00

5. Control cartridge according to one of the preceding 00 claims, characterised by a holding means (58, 56), in particular an elastic clamping element (58) or a thread, for the purpose of holding the component (19)

6. Control cartridge according to Claim 2, characterised in that a holder (150) of the component (119) is formed, in particular injection- moulded or cast, in or on the wall of the control cartridge (110)

7. Control cartridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the component is a quantity regulator (19; 119)