DE102023204083A1 - Cleaning routine for a bidet nozzle of an integrated toilet-bidet unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a toilet-bidet unit (40), a sanitary cell with a toilet-bidet unit (40) and a rail vehicle for public transport with a sanitary cell, wherein the toilet-bidet unit (40) comprises a toilet bowl (43) and a bidet nozzle (42) integrated into the toilet bowl (43), wherein a flush of the toilet bowl (43) is detected and the bidet nozzle (42) is flushed depending on the detected flush of the toilet bowl (43).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a toilet-bidet unit, a sanitary cell with a toilet-bidet unit and a rail vehicle for public transport with a sanitary cell, wherein the toilet-bidet unit comprises a toilet bowl and a bidet nozzle integrated into the toilet bowl.

A well-known solution for a toilet with a bidet facility is a hand shower on a hose that is positioned next to the toilet bowl. When in use, the area around the toilet bowl is regularly flooded. When not in use, the hand shower can be stored on a wall bracket to the side of the toilet bowl in a hygienically safe position.

Toilets with a bidet function, so-called integrated toilet-bidet units, are also well known.

For example, the US 2010/0235978 A1 a mechanical extendable bidet nozzle that is located in the toilet bowl. When the bidet function is not in use, it is in a parking position and is protected from contamination. When it is used, the bidet nozzle automatically moves to an operating position and from there emits a jet of water, the bidet jet. Once the bidet function has been used, the bidet nozzle automatically moves back to the parking position.

What both solutions have in common is that the hand shower or bidet nozzle is only exposed inside the toilet bowl when the bidet function is in use. This means that accidental contamination with standing liquids or deposits is excluded.

However, the solution with the hand shower attached to the hose is undesirable for public toilet facilities, such as sanitary cubicles in public transport vehicles, as this usually causes a lot of water to be applied to the surrounding ground. It is also easy for the hose and hand shower to be misused or stolen.

An extendable bidet nozzle, on the other hand, is mechanically vulnerable and also seems unsuitable for use in public toilet facilities, such as sanitary cubicles in public transport vehicles. It quickly becomes calcified, which in the long run prevents the toilet from being returned to its parking position. It is also exposed to accidental or deliberate damage through the use of force (vandalism).

Toilets with vacuum pressure or central vacuum technology are usually used for sanitary facilities in rail vehicles. Vacuum toilets with integrated bidets have also become popular in rail vehicles for public transport. WO 2015/197348 A1 discloses a generic vacuum toilet of a rail vehicle with an integrated bidet. At least one bidet nozzle is connected to a falling water system with a water pressure determined by gravity and is directed upwards or, if appropriate, is designed as an adjustable ball nozzle, so that when the bidet function is activated, it emits a water jet directed diagonally upwards that extends over an upper edge of the toilet.

The WO 2015/197348 A1 The bidet nozzle described is a solid component that is firmly integrated into the toilet bowl.

It cannot have any moving parts and is insensitive to force.

The bidet nozzle, on the other hand, is located within the area of the toilet where hygiene is questionable. The bidet nozzle can become contaminated with residues during normal use of the toilet. Liquids can also collect in the bidet nozzle, which is directed at an angle upwards. The bidet nozzle can become contaminated, particularly when the toilet is used by passengers standing in front of it. When the bidet function is used subsequently or at a later time, the water jet from the bidet nozzle will first spray the foreign matter onto the user.

The water consumption of the entire system is also critical. A large number of uses leads to high water consumption and therefore a large volume of water that has to be transported.

The invention is based on the object of improving the hygiene of a toilet-bidet unit.

The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further developments and refinements of the invention can be found in the features of the dependent patent claims.

1. a. Erfassen einer Spülung des Toilettenbeckens;
2. b. Spülen der Bidet-Düse in Abhängigkeit einer erfassten Spülung des Toilettenbeckens.

A method according to the invention for operating an integrated toilet-bidet unit in a sanitary cell, in particular a public one, wherein the toilet-bidet unit has a toilet bowl and at least one, in particular exactly one, bidet nozzle integrated into the toilet bowl, comprises the following method steps:

1. a. Detecting a toilet bowl flush;
2. b. Flushing the bidet nozzle depending on a detected flush of the toilet bowl.

The sanitary cell can be a public sanitary cell, in particular for a vehicle, for example a rail vehicle for passenger transport, an aircraft or a ship, but also for a stationary public toilet facility.

A sanitary cell according to the invention is set up to carry out the method according to the invention. For this purpose, it comprises the means already mentioned that are suitable for carrying out the respective method step. These are at least one integrated toilet-bidet unit with a toilet bowl, in particular a commode, and at least one bidet nozzle integrated into the toilet bowl, wherein the sanitary cell further comprises a control device for controlling the discharge of water through the bidet nozzle and at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl, for example a flush sensor, wherein the control device is connected to the at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl, wherein the control device is designed to flush the bidet nozzle depending on a detected flush of the toilet bowl.

The at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl can be designed as a flush sensor, which generates a signal in response to a detected flush of the toilet bowl and transmits it to the control device via a signaling connection to the latter. The control device is in turn designed to receive and process the signal and to control a flush of the bidet nozzle in response to the received signal, which represents a detected flush of the toilet bowl, in particular to generate and output a control signal when the flush of the toilet bowl is detected. To flush the toilet bowl, the toilet-bidet unit can comprise at least one flush nozzle integrated into the toilet bowl.

1. a. Erfassen einer Spülung des Toilettenbeckens mittels des wenigstens einen Mittels zur Erfassung einer Spülung des Toilettenbeckens;

Process step a. could therefore read:

1. a. detecting a flush of the toilet bowl by means of the at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl;

• - Erzeugen wenigstens eines Signals über eine erfasste Spülung des Toilettenbeckens durch das wenigstens eine Mittel zur Erfassung einer Spülung des Toilettenbeckens und Übermitteln des wenigstens einen erzeugten Signals über eine erfasste Spülung des Toilettenbeckens an die wenigstens eine Steuerungseinrichtung;
• - Empfangen des wenigstens einen übermittelten Signals des wenigstens einen Mittels zur Erfassung einer Spülung des Toilettenbeckens über eine erfasste Spülung des Toilettenbeckens von der wenigstens eine Steuerungseinrichtung;
• - Erzeugen wenigstens eines Steuerungssignals zur Spülung der Bidet-Düse durch die Steuerungseinrichtung in Antwort auf das empfangene Signal über eine erfasste Spülung des Toilettenbeckens und Ausgeben des wenigstens einen Steuerungssignals zur Spülung der Bidet-Düse.

The following steps could be carried out between steps a. and b.:

• - generating at least one signal about a detected flushing of the toilet bowl by the at least one means for detecting a flushing of the toilet bowl and transmitting the at least one generated signal about a detected flushing of the toilet bowl to the at least one control device;
• - receiving the at least one transmitted signal of the at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl via a detected flush of the toilet bowl from the at least one control device;
• - generating at least one control signal for flushing the bidet nozzle by the control device in response to the received signal about a detected flushing of the toilet bowl and outputting the at least one control signal for flushing the bidet nozzle.

A rail vehicle for public transport according to the invention accordingly comprises at least one sanitary cell according to the invention.

The flushing of the bidet nozzle serves to clean it. A water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle is activated once or several times. This flushes out any liquids that have penetrated the nozzle from the outside and rinses away any buildup. The duration of the activations, the water pressure during activation and the length of the breaks between multiple activations can be individually configured. A cleaning cycle of the bidet nozzle takes place after each use of the toilet bidet unit and is started after each flush of the toilet. The invention thus enables a significant improvement in the hygiene of a toilet bidet unit.

In particular, the bidet nozzle is flushed after each use of the toilet function of the toilet-bidet unit, whereby the use of the toilet function of the toilet-bidet unit is recorded by detecting a completed flush.

According to a further development of the invention, the toilet-bidet unit is a vacuum toilet, for example in a sanitary cell of a rail vehicle for passenger transport. The toilet-bidet unit therefore includes a vacuum flush. In principle, if the bidet function is used exclusively, additional flushing water during flushing, for example by means of the flushing nozzles, could be dispensed with in the toilet bowl. Nevertheless, the initiation of a flushing process of the toilet-bidet unit is necessary in order to drain the water that has accumulated in the toilet bowl when the bidet function is used. This, if necessary dry, flushing of the toilet bowl is detected and then the bidet nozzle is flushed.

In a further development, the toilet-bidet unit is a vacuum toilet, whereby a water reserve is created in the toilet bowl by flushing the bidet nozzle according to process step b. Before the toilet bowl is vacuumed, when the toilet bowl of a vacuum toilet is flushed, flushing water is usually released into the toilet bowl through the flushing nozzles. After suction has taken place, a small amount of water is then released into the toilet bowl through the flushing nozzles to create a water reserve. In a further development, after suction has taken place, this small amount of water is released into the toilet bowl not through the flushing nozzles but through the bidet nozzle, on the one hand to flush the bidet nozzle, and on the other hand to create the water reserve. If the bidet is used exclusively, the flushing water can be dispensed with through the flushing nozzles when flushing the toilet bowl of the vacuum toilet-bidet unit - the toilet bowl can thus be flushed "dry", i.e. only vacuumed - with the water reserve then being created by flushing the bidet nozzle. When the toilet function of the toilet-bidet unit is used, as explained above, a normal flushing process is initiated, with flushing water being dispensed through the flushing nozzles into the toilet bowl, followed by vacuuming and the subsequent flushing of the bidet nozzle and the associated creation of the water reserve.

A further advantage of the invention is that the water consumption is not increased by flushing the bidet nozzle to create the water supply in the toilet-bidet unit designed as a vacuum toilet.

For this purpose, the control unit can be adapted in such a way that the water introduced into the toilet by the bidet nozzle cleaning routine is taken into account when the water supply is introduced into the toilet after each flush. The aim is to ensure that the bidet nozzle cleaning routine does not result in any additional flush water consumption at the end of the flush.

To flush the toilet bowl, the toilet-bidet unit of the sanitary cell comprises at least one flush nozzle integrated into the toilet bowl, in particular a plurality of flush nozzles. These are connected to a water reservoir for supplying the flush nozzles with water via water-carrying pipes. In the water inlet to the flush nozzles, i.e. in particular in said pipes between the water reservoir and the flush nozzles, at least one, in particular exactly one flush actuation valve is arranged for controlling the delivery of water through the flush nozzles. This flush actuation valve can in particular be designed as a control valve acting as a throttle valve for setting a predetermined flow rate. The control device can be further developed in a suitable manner and connected to the at least one flush actuation valve in terms of signaling in order to control the at least one flush actuation valve.

The control device can be designed to receive and process a trigger signal from a manually operated flush button and to control a flush of the toilet bowl in response to the received signal, in particular to generate a control signal and to output it to the at least one flush actuation valve and/or to at least one suction valve if necessary. These control signals can in turn represent a flush of the toilet bowl, whereby they are to be regarded as detected by the control device, whereupon the flush of the bidet nozzle can be controlled.

According to a further development of the invention, at least one, in particular exactly one bidet actuation valve, in particular a control valve acting as a throttle valve for setting a predetermined flow rate, is provided for controlling the delivery of water through the bidet nozzle, which is arranged in particular in the water inlet to the bidet nozzle, i.e. in particular between the bidet nozzle and a water reservoir, in particular a fresh water tank, and is connected to the bidet nozzle and the water reservoir by means of pipes.

The control device is advantageously set up and connected to the at least one bidet actuation valve in terms of signal technology in order to control the at least one bidet actuation valve. This can apply both to regular use of the bidet function and to flushing the bidet nozzle. In order to flush the bidet nozzle, as already explained above, at least one control signal is generated when the flushing of the toilet bowl is detected and output to the bidet actuation valve. Similarly, a further control signal can be generated when the bidet function is used and output to the bidet actuation valve.

The water reservoir to which the bidet nozzle is connected is in particular a fresh or drinking water tank, in which fresh water of drinking water quality is stored. The flushing nozzles can also be connected directly to the fresh or drinking water tank. However, it is advantageous if the flush nozzles are connected to a grey water treatment system that provides grey water for flushing the toilet.

The sanitary cell comprises, in a correspondingly developed manner, at least one grey water treatment system, to which water is supplied from a wash basin, for example, and the grey water treated by the grey water treatment system is used to flush the toilet and is accordingly supplied to the at least one flush nozzle of the toilet. Generic grey water treatment systems or sanitary facilities for rail vehicles with generic grey water treatment systems are known, for example, from EP 2 781 248 B1 , EP 3 515 784 B1 , EP 3 488 057 B1 , EP 3 487 742 B1 or EP 3 487 743 B1 known, to which reference is made here. These grey water treatment systems have a connection for the supply of grey water, for example from the wash basin, and possibly a fresh water inlet for the supply of fresh water from a fresh water tank.

This means that treated grey water can be used to flush the toilet bowl when using the toilet, and fresh water can be used to use the bidet and flush the bidet nozzle, and if necessary to create the water reservoir. This further reduces overall water consumption.

When using the bidet function of the toilet bidet unit, a water jet is preferably emitted through the bidet nozzle, which describes an arc that locally exceeds an upper edge of the toilet bowl at least in sections. On the one hand, this is not absolutely necessary for flushing the bidet nozzle, and on the other hand, it is intended to prevent a person still sitting on the toilet bowl, especially a commode, from being unexpectedly hit by a water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle when flushing the toilet bowl.

This can be achieved, for example, by reducing the "flying height" of the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle when the bidet nozzle is flushed, so that the water jet remains completely within the toilet bowl and thus below an upper edge of the toilet bowl when the bidet nozzle is flushed. This can be achieved in particular by means of a reduced operating pressure or by reorienting an adjustable bidet nozzle.

According to a further development, a water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle when the bidet nozzle is flushed according to method step b. is dimensioned such that it runs completely within the toilet bowl. When the bidet function is used regularly, the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle describes in particular an arc that at least partially passes locally over an upper edge of the toilet bowl. The bidet nozzle can be directed upwards, i.e. towards the edge of the toilet bowl. When the bidet nozzle is flushed, however, the water jet does not exceed the upper edge of the toilet bowl.

In a further development, particularly when the bidet nozzle is directed upwards, the water pressure for generating the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle when flushing the bidet nozzle is adjusted in accordance with process step b. so that the water jet remains completely within the toilet bowl and thus below the upper edge of the toilet bowl. Due to the reduced water pressure when flushing the bidet nozzle compared to normal bidet use, despite the bidet nozzle being directed upwards, the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle when flushing it describes an arc that runs completely below the upper edge of the toilet bowl.

According to a further development, the control device is designed to control an opening degree of the bidet actuation valve, in particular as a function of a flushing of the bidet nozzle to be carried out according to method step b. and as a function of regular use of the bidet function. The different opening degrees control the flow (mass and/or volume flow) of water in the inlet to the bidet nozzle and/or the water pressure at the bidet nozzle. When the bidet function is used, the opening degree is higher compared to when the bidet nozzle is flushed. Thus, the water pressure at the bidet nozzle and/or the flow of water in the inlet to the bidet nozzle is reduced when the bidet nozzle is flushed compared to when the bidet function is used. Thus, the control device of the further developed sanitary cell is designed to control the arc of the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle, accordingly below the edge of the toilet bowl when flushing the bidet nozzle and above the edge of the toilet bowl when using the bidet.

The water pressure in the pipe between the water reservoir, which supplies the bidet nozzle with water, and the bidet actuation valve can be assumed to be essentially constant. The changed water jet is due to the different control of the degree of opening of the bidet actuation valve.

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one bidet nozzle can be designed to be adjustable, for example rotatable, wherein it is directed upwards for regular use of the bidet function and the water pressure for use of the bidet function is dimensioned such that a water jet is emitted by the bidet nozzle when the bidet function is used, which describes an arc that locally exceeds an upper edge of the toilet bowl at least in sections, wherein before the bidet nozzle is flushed according to method step b., the bidet nozzle is aligned, in particular adjusted, for example rotated, pointing into the toilet bowl, so that a water jet is emitted by the bidet nozzle when the bidet nozzle is flushed, which describes an arc that runs completely below the upper edge of the toilet bowl. This can happen with the same water pressure as when using the bidet, or the water pressure is reduced as compared to when using the bidet.

The control device of the sanitary cell can be further developed to control the orientation of the bidet nozzle. The orientation of the bidet nozzle is controlled and adjusted by the control device depending on the type of water delivered by the bidet nozzle, i.e. depending on whether the bidet nozzle is flushed or the bidet function is used.

The bidet nozzle is further developed but is freely accessible at all times in the toilet bowl. It cannot be pushed in or out. The bidet nozzle is in particular fixed and, if necessary, only its direction for dispensing water can be adjusted. In particular, the bidet nozzle is arranged on an inner surface of the toilet bowl, in particular integrated into the inner surface of the toilet bowl, and is designed to be rotatable. The bidet nozzle is further developed as a ball nozzle.

Another possibility of hitting a person still sitting on the toilet bowl, in particular the commode, when the toilet is flushed with a water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle is for the sanitary cubicle to have a lockable door and a locking sensor for monitoring a door lock, with the bidet nozzle being flushed according to method step b. depending on whether the lockable door of the sanitary cubicle has been detected. Additionally or alternatively, the toilet-bidet unit of the sanitary cubicle can comprise a toilet lid for closing the toilet bowl and a sensor for monitoring the toilet lid position, with the bidet nozzle being flushed according to method step b. depending on whether the lockable door of the sanitary cubicle has been detected or whether a toilet lid of the toilet-bidet unit has been detected closing. The bidet nozzle is flushed according to method step b. This only occurs when the toilet bowl is flushed and the door of the sanitary cubicle is unlocked and/or when the toilet bowl is flushed and the toilet lid is closed. The bidet nozzle is therefore not flushed immediately after the toilet is flushed, but only when the door is unlocked and/or the toilet lid is closed. This ensures that no one is sitting on the commode during the cleaning cycle.

The control device is designed to receive an unlocking signal from the locking sensor and/or a closing signal from the sensor for monitoring the toilet lid position and to control the flushing of the bidet nozzle in response thereto.

In order to prevent a person from leaving the sanitary cubicle without flushing the toilet, it can be concluded that the toilet-bidet unit has been used by detecting an unlocking of the door of the sanitary cubicle in which the integrated toilet-bidet unit is located. If the door is unlocked without first flushing the toilet bowl, a toilet flush can be activated, as described, for example, in the patent application with the file number DE 10 2023 201 831 taught, to which reference is made here. Following the toilet flush, the bidet nozzle is then flushed according to the invention. The flushing of the toilet bowl does not necessarily have to have taken place in order for it to be detected by a flush sensor. In particular, if the flushing of the toilet bowl is controlled by the control device that also controls the flushing of the bidet nozzle, it is sufficient to trigger a flushing of the toilet bowl, in particular to detect a flushing signal from a flush sensor, in order to detect a flushing of the toilet bowl according to method step a. The control device receives a flushing signal for triggering a flushing of the toilet from a flush sensor. The flush sensor can be designed as a sensor or switch, for example a hand or foot switch, or contactless, for example as a proximity sensor or as a gesture recognition module with a camera to detect a gesture or as a voice recognition module with a microphone to detect a person's flush request and/or to detect the use of a toilet, here the integrated toilet-bidet unit, as for example from the not yet published patent application with the file number DE 10 2023 201 831 known, to which reference is made here. The flush sensor detects a command from a person to initiate a flush of the toilet or it detects use of the toilet function of the toilet-bidet unit and then generates a flush signal which is output to the control device. The control device can in turn be designed to receive the flush signal and then initiate or control a flush of the toilet bowl. Thereafter, in particular after a predetermined period of time, which is in particular dimensioned such that the flushing of the toilet bowl is completed, the control device then initiates the flushing of the bidet nozzle according to method step b., as described in detail above.

The solution described makes it possible to keep a mechanically tolerant, fixed bidet nozzle in a hygienically acceptable condition without running the risk of flooding in the sanitary cell or having to factor in increased maintenance costs for decalcification or for repairing damage caused by vandalism.

• 1 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Schienenfahrzeug, das mit einer fallwasserbetriebenen Bidet-Toilettenanlage ausgestattet ist, während der Ausführung der Bidet-Funktion
• 2 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Schienenfahrzeug, bei dem eine fallwasserbetriebene Bidet-Toilettenanlage zusätzlich mit einem Waschbecken und Wasserhahn ausgestattet ist,
• 3 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Toiletten-Bidet-Einheit, wie sie bei den Schienenfahrzeugen gemäß den 1 und 2 eingesetzt werden kann,
• 4 zeigt schematisch einen Ablaufplan des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

The invention allows for numerous embodiments. It is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, each of which shows an embodiment example. Identical elements in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

• 1 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the invention, which is equipped with a fall-water-operated bidet toilet system, during the execution of the bidet function
• 2 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the invention, in which a downflow bidet toilet system is additionally equipped with a washbasin and faucet,
• 3 shows an example of a toilet-bidet unit as used in rail vehicles according to the 1 and 2 can be used,
• 4 shows schematically a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

In 1 a rail vehicle 10 for passenger transport is shown, which is equipped with a downwater-operated bidet toilet system 20 in a sanitary cell of the rail vehicle 10. The downwater-operated bidet toilet system 20 comprises a downwater system 30 and a toilet-bidet unit 40 connected to it.

The toilet-bidet unit 40 has a toilet bowl 43, possibly also called a toilet bowl, and several flushing nozzles 41 which serve to flush the toilet when the toilet-bidet unit 40 is used.

In addition to the flushing nozzles 41, the toilet-bidet unit 40 is equipped with one or more bidet nozzles 42, which are arranged together with the flushing nozzles 41 in the toilet bowl 43 or are integrated into it. In the following, it is assumed by way of example that a single bidet nozzle 42 is integrated into the toilet bowl 43.

The flushing nozzles 41 are connected via a flushing water line 100 to a preferably unheated main water line 200 of the fall water system 30. The main water line 200 connects the flushing water line 100 to a water tank 300 of the fall water system 30.

A flush water actuating valve 110 is provided in the flush water line 100, with which the toilet flushing of the toilet bidet unit 40 can be controlled. If the flush water actuating valve 110 is triggered, a predetermined amount of water will flow through the flush water line 100 and the flush nozzles 41 into the toilet bowl 43 and clean the toilet.

The bidet nozzle 42 is connected to the unheated main water line 200 via a water line 400. The water line 400 is preferably provided with a pipe heating system 410, which can heat the water flowing through the water line 400 or the water standing therein. The water line 400 is accordingly referred to below as a hot water line 400, since it delivers water preheated or warmed downstream by the pipe heating system 410.

A bidet actuation valve 420 is arranged in the hot water line 400, which can be a solenoid valve, for example. The bidet actuation valve 420 preferably allows a fixed amount of water to flow downstream towards the bidet nozzle 42 per actuation in order to enable the bidet function of the toilet bidet unit 40 when actuated. The amount of water that is allowed to pass through per actuation of the bidet actuation valve 420 is preferably selected such that it is sufficiently large for normal bidet use. The amount of water released per actuation is preferably in a range between 0.2 l and 0.5 l in a time period between 10 and 30 seconds.

To ensure that when using the bidet, even in the case of multiple actuation of the bidet actuation valve 420, sufficient water is available, it is considered advantageous if the heating output of the pipe heating 410 and the diameter and length of the hot water pipe 400 are dimensioned such that the heated water quantity or water column available in the hot water pipe 400 is sufficiently large for at least two bidet actuation processes.

In the embodiment according to 1 the flushing water line 100 and the hot water line 400 are connected to the water tank 300 via the unheated main water line 200; alternatively, it can be provided that either the flushing water line 100 and/or the hot water line 400 are connected directly to the water tank 300.

1 shows the toilet bidet unit 40 during operation of the bidet function. As soon as the bidet actuation valve 420 is activated and a water flow is permitted through the bidet actuation valve 420, the water located upstream of the bidet actuation valve 420 and preheated by the pipe heating 410 will flow towards the bidet nozzle 42 due to gravity and in the form of an arc-shaped water jet which is in the 2 marked with the reference number 500, at least partially locally pass the upper edge 43a of the toilet bowl 43 before it lands in the toilet bowl 43.

In order to be able to set or, if necessary, readjust the illustrated curved path of the water jet 500, it is considered advantageous if the bidet nozzle 42 is a pivotable or adjustable ball nozzle.

A significant advantage of the described downflow-operated bidet toilet system 20 is that the water jet 500, which is emitted upwards by the bidet nozzle 42 beyond the upper edge 43a of the toilet bowl 43, will reliably remain within the toilet bowl 43 and will re-enter the toilet bowl 43 within the inner edge of the toilet bowl 43. This is ensured by the downflow operation or the gravity-induced drainage of the water from the water tank 300, because the height of the water column in the water tank 300 and between the water tank 300 and the bidet nozzle 42 as well as the pipe cross-section determine the water flow and the pressure conditions and thus determine the height and width of the water jet 500 after leaving the bidet nozzle 42.

In 2 A further embodiment of a rail vehicle 10 is illustrated, which is equipped with a downflow-operated bidet toilet system 20. In contrast to the bidet toilet system 20 according to 1 the bidet toilet system 20 is equipped with an additional wash basin 600, which is provided with a water tap 610. The water tap 610 is connected via a hand-wash valve 620 to the hot water pipe 400, which also supplies the bidet nozzle 42 of the toilet-bidet unit 40 with hot water.

The connection of the water tap 610 or the hand-wash valve 620 to the hot water pipe 400 ensures that the wash basin 600 is operated with water at a pleasant temperature.

In order to prevent the water temperature within the hot water pipe 400 from rising too much, it is considered advantageous if the pipe heating system 410 is equipped with a thermostat and/or a temperature monitoring device which ensures that the water column in the hot water pipe 400 does not exceed a predetermined limit temperature of, for example, 20°C.

During operation, the bidet nozzle 42 of the integrated toilet bidet unit 40 is flushed after the toilet bowl 43 has been flushed by releasing water through the flushing nozzles 41.

In the 1 and 2 the water jet 500 is shown when the bidet is in use. This exceeds the upper edge 43a of the toilet bowl 43. When the bidet nozzle 42 is flushed, however, it preferably does not exceed the upper edge 43a of the toilet bowl 43 and remains completely within the toilet bowl 43. This can be ensured by a lower water pressure, which is regulated by the bidet actuation valve 420 in the inlet to the bidet nozzle 42. The bidet actuation valve 420 can, for example, be fully open when the bidet function of the toilet bidet unit 40 is used, but when the bidet nozzle 42 is flushed, it only opens partially, whereby both the flow of water to and through the bidet nozzle 42 and the water pressure applied to it are reduced.

The pressure in front of the bidet actuation valve 420 can be assumed to be essentially constant in the case of the above-mentioned fall-water system. In addition to the above-mentioned fall-water system, water could also be supplied to the bidet nozzle 42, and possibly also to the flushing nozzles 41, from a lower-lying fresh water tank by means of pumps. The water pressure can then also be kept constant and the water jet emitted by the bidet nozzle 42 can be controlled by means of the bidet valve. The actuation valve 420 can be regulated depending on the type of use, i.e. the flushing pressure can be reduced compared to bidet use. Alternatively, the water pressure could also be adjusted to the type of use by the pump.

In addition to the reduced water pressure, the bidet nozzle 42, which is designed as a ball nozzle, could be directed downwards to flush the bidet nozzle 42 in order to reduce the flight height of the water jet 500.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the bidet nozzle 42 is only flushed after the toilet bowl 43 has been flushed and after a door (not shown) of the sanitary cubicle has been unlocked. This is preferably controlled by a control device (also not shown).

The 3 shows an embodiment of a toilet-bidet unit 40, which is used in the fall water operated bidet toilet system 20 according to the 1 and 2 can be used. The 4 shows the toilet-bidet unit 40 in a three-dimensional view from the side. Three flushing nozzles 41 can be seen, which are preferably mounted rotationally symmetrically inside the toilet bowl 43 or are integrated into the inner surface 43b of the toilet bowl 43.

Also integrated into the toilet bowl 43, namely also into the inner surface 43b of the toilet bowl 43, is a bidet nozzle 42, with which an arc-shaped water jet, such as the water jet 500 according to 1 and 2 , solely due to gravity through the falling water system 30 according to the 1 and 3 can be generated.

In the embodiment, the bidet nozzle 42 is a ball nozzle which can be adjusted during installation and/or maintenance such that the arc-shaped water jet 500 remains within the bowl area or within the inner contour of the bowl area of the toilet bowl 43.

The bidet nozzle 42 is separated from the flushing nozzle 41 located underneath; with a view to minimizing assembly effort, it can alternatively be provided that the bidet nozzle 42 forms a combination nozzle with an associated flushing nozzle 41, which can be assembled and adjusted in a single assembly step and has a connection to both the flushing water line 100 and the hot water line 400 in accordance with the 1 and 2 allowed.

4 shows schematically a flow chart of the inventive method for operating an integrated toilet-bidet unit 40 according to the 1 to 3 in a sanitary cell of a rail vehicle 10 for passenger transport.

After the toilet-bidet unit 40 has been used, in particular after the toilet function of the toilet-bidet unit 40 has been used, the toilet bowl 43 is flushed by releasing water from the flushing nozzles 42 and by sucking out the waste water in the toilet bowl 43. Even after the bidet function of the toilet-bidet unit 40 has been used, a flushing process can take place which at least includes sucking out the waste water in the toilet bowl 43.

According to method step a., the flushing of the toilet bowl 43 is detected, in particular by a suitable means for detecting a flushing of the toilet bowl 43, for example by a flush sensor. A flush sensor detects, for example, the flushing of the toilet bowl 43 and then generates a flush signal, which it transmits to a control device connected to it by signal technology.

According to method step b., the bidet nozzle 42 is then flushed itself depending on the detected flushing of the toilet bowl 43, by releasing water once or multiple times through the bidet nozzle 42. In this case, a predetermined amount of water can be released through the bidet nozzle 42, in particular at a predetermined water pressure. As already explained above, the predetermined amount of water and the predetermined water pressure can differ from the amount of water and the water pressure of regular bidet use.

The control device is designed to control the delivery of water through the bidet nozzle 42 in order to flush the bidet nozzle 42 depending on a detected flushing of the toilet bowl 43 and, if necessary, also to control the delivery of water through the bidet nozzle 42 when using the bidet function. Additionally or alternatively, the orientation of the bidet nozzle 42 can be adjusted between use of the bidet function and flushing of the bidet nozzle 42, which can also be controlled by the control device.

If the toilet-bidet unit 40 is a vacuum toilet, a water reservoir in the toilet bowl 43 is advantageously created by flushing the bidet nozzle 42 according to method step b.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 20100235978 A1 [0004]
• WO 2015197348 A1 [0008, 0009]
• EP 2781248 B1 [0033]
• EP 3515784 B1 [0033]
• EP 3488057 B1 [0033]
• EP 3487742 B1 [0033]
• EP 3487743 B1 [0033]
• DE 102023201831 [0046]

Claims (11)

Method for operating an integrated toilet-bidet unit (40) in a sanitary cell, wherein the toilet-bidet unit (40) comprises a toilet bowl (43) and at least one bidet nozzle (42) integrated into the toilet bowl (43), characterized by the following method steps: a. detecting a flush of the toilet bowl (43); b. flushing the bidet nozzle (42) depending on a detected flush of the toilet bowl (43). procedure according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flushing of the bidet nozzle (42) according to method step b. takes place in further dependence on a detected unlocking of a lockable door of the sanitary cell or in further dependence on a detected closing of a toilet lid of the toilet-bidet unit (40). Method according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that a water jet (500) emitted by the bidet nozzle (42) runs completely within the toilet bowl (43) when the bidet nozzle (42) is flushed according to method step b. procedure according to claim 3 , characterized in that a water pressure for generating the water jet (500) emitted by the bidet nozzle (42) when flushing the bidet nozzle (42) is adjusted according to method step b., so that the water jet (500) runs completely within the toilet bowl (43). procedure according to claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the at least one bidet nozzle (42) is adjustable and is aligned pointing into the toilet bowl (43) before flushing the bidet nozzle (42) according to method step b. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the toilet-bidet unit (40) is a vacuum toilet, wherein a water reserve in the toilet bowl (43) is created by flushing the bidet nozzle (42) according to method step b. Sanitary cell for a public transport vehicle comprising at least one integrated toilet-bidet unit (40) with a toilet bowl (43) and at least one bidet nozzle (42) integrated into the toilet bowl (43), a control device and a means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl (43), wherein the control device is connected to the at least one means for detecting a flush of the toilet bowl (43), characterized in that the control device is designed to control a discharge of water through the bidet nozzle (42) in order to flush the bidet nozzle (42) depending on a detected flush of the toilet bowl (43). sanitary cell after claim 7 , characterized in that it comprises a bidet actuating valve (420) for controlling the delivery of water through the bidet nozzle (42), wherein the control device is designed to control an opening degree of the bidet actuating valve (420). Sanitary cell after one of the Claims 7 or 8 , characterized in that it comprises at least one lockable door or toilet lid for the toilet-bidet unit (40), wherein the control device is designed to control the flushing of the bidet nozzle (42) in further dependence on a detected unlocking of a lockable door of the sanitary cell or in further dependence on a detected closing of a toilet lid of the toilet-bidet unit (40). Sanitary cell after one of the Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that the bidet nozzle (42) is adjustable so that in an orientation for using the bidet function it emits a water jet which points upwards out of the toilet bowl (43) and in an orientation for flushing the bidet nozzle it emits a water jet which points downwards into the toilet bowl (43), wherein the control device is designed to control the orientation of the bidet nozzle (42). Rail vehicle for public transport with at least one sanitary cell according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 .

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