EP2871422B2 - Hydraulic distributor for a hydraulic heating and/or cooling system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hydraulic distributor for a hydraulic heating and / or cooling system with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Hydraulic distributors are known, for example, in underfloor heating systems, from which the individual load circuits or underfloor heating circuits extend. The hydraulic distributor connects a plurality of load circuits to the heating system. The known distributors are generally essentially made up of two pipes, one of which functions as an inlet and the other as a return. Connections for the individual load circuits are arranged on the pipes. Each load circuit is connected to a connection on the inlet and a connection on the return.

In addition, it is known in underfloor heating systems to use mixing devices or mixers which admix colder water from the return line to the fluid acting as a heat carrier in order to lower the flow temperature. Such mixers are particularly necessary when the underfloor heating is used in combination with normal radiators, since the underfloor heating requires a lower flow temperature than normal radiators. In known floor heating systems, a central mixer is used, which is arranged upstream of the hydraulic distributor or the inlet in the hydraulic distributor. The flow temperature for the underfloor heating provided by the mixer is set either as a function of a room temperature sensor in a room or as a function of the outside temperature. The temperature of the rooms to be heated is usually set by opening and closing the individual circles of the underfloor heating.

DE 94 11 684 U1 discloses a control device for a heating or cooling circuit, which has a plurality of pump modules, each of which serves to supply a load circuit. The individual pump modules are connected to a heat or cold source via a distributor module. The distributor module is adapted to a certain number of pump modules, ie it has as many connections as there are pump modules. This configuration therefore has the disadvantage that a suitable distributor must be kept available for each desired number of pump modules.

It is an object of the invention to improve a heating and / or cooling system in such a way that on the one hand the energy consumption can be reduced and the heating and / or cooling comfort in rooms to be tempered can be improved and on the other hand a simple adjustment the system to a desired number of areas to be tempered.

This object is achieved by a hydraulic distributor for a hydraulic heating and / or cooling system with the features specified in claim 1. Preferred embodiments result from the subclaims, the description and the figures.

The hydraulic distributor according to the invention is intended for use in a hydraulic heating and / or cooling system which has a pipeline system in which a liquid heat transfer medium, such as, for. B. water circulates. This can be either an exclusive heating system, such as underfloor heating, or an exclusive cooling system or a combined system that allows both cooling and heating of objects or rooms. For example, the system can be used as heating in winter and for cooling or air conditioning in summer.

The hydraulic distributor according to the invention has an inlet line and a return line, the inlet line having at least one inlet connection and the return line having at least one return connection. The inlet connection and the return connection serve to connect a load circuit, for example an underfloor heating circuit. The inlet or the input of the load circuit is connected to the inlet connection and the outlet or return of the load circuit to the return connection. A plurality of inlet connections are preferably formed on the inlet line and a plurality of return connections are formed on the return line in order to be able to connect a plurality of load circuits to the hydraulic distributor.

The hydraulic distributor according to the invention has a plurality of load modules, in each of which a section of the inlet line with at least one inlet connection and a section of the return line with a return connection are formed. I.e. the load modules are used to connect one load circuit to the distributor. According to the invention, the load modules each have a mixing device with a pump and a regulating valve, which are designed to mix fluid from the return line to a fluid flow from the inlet line to the inlet connection. In the case of a heating system, such a mixing device serves to reduce the flow temperature of the fluid or the liquid from the feed line by adding colder liquid from the return connection. Conversely, in the case of a cooling system, the mixing device can be used to increase the flow temperature of a cold liquid flowing through the supply line by admixing warmer liquid from the return connection. Thus, the flow temperature of the liquid serving as heat transfer medium for the load circuit connected to the load module can be set individually by means of the mixing device. The regulating valve, which is arranged in such a way that the degree of admixing of liquid from the return connection can be varied by its actuation. A temperature setting or temperature control for the load circuit is possible. The arrangement of the mixing device directly on the load circuit has the advantage that an individual temperature adjustment for this load circuit is possible, which is not possible with a central mixer. In addition, the arrangement of the mixing device in the hydraulic distributor has the advantage that the feed line to the hydraulic distributor can be integrated into a normal heating and / or cooling system without problems. For example, a heating system does not require a separate feed line to the central mixer hydraulic distributor. Rather, the hydraulic distributor can be connected to conventional heating lines, which lead to radiators, for example. This simplifies the installation.

Furthermore, the load modules each have connections for a further load module. The section of the feed line has an additional connection and the section of the return line has an additional connection, which can each be connected to corresponding corresponding connections of a further, preferably identical load module. These additional connections are preferably designed as hydraulic couplings, as described below. It is thus possible to line up several load modules, the sections of the inlet line and the sections of the return line of the respective load modules being connected to one another via the additional connections.

The distributor has a plurality of load modules, preferably releasably connected to one another in such a way that the sections of the feed line are each connected to one another and the sections of the return line are each connected to one another. A separate load module with a mixing device is preferably provided for each load circuit. The flow temperature can be individually set for each load circuit and adapted to the heating and cooling requirements of the individual load circuit. This enables individual control for the individual load circuits or for rooms to be temperature-controlled by the load circuits, which results in energy savings and a gain in comfort. The modular structure of the hydraulic distributor according to the invention with individual load modules has the advantage that the hydraulic distributor can easily be adapted to the required number of load circuits, so that special hydraulic distributors do not have to be provided for different numbers of load circuits. Rather, the required number of load modules can be connected to one another, to build a hydraulic distributor with the desired number of load modules. The load modules are preferably releasably connected to one another so that they can be easily replaced in the event of defects. It is therefore not necessary to replace the entire hydraulic distributor.

The load modules are further preferably connected, preferably detachably, to a main module which has a control device and / or an input for the feed line and / or an output for the return line. I.e. the main module is preferably used to connect the hydraulic distributor to supply lines which produce the inlet and the return to the hydraulic distributor from a heating or cooling system. The at least one load module is preferably connected to the main module such that the section of the feed line in the load module is fluidly connected to an input for the feed line on the main module. Alternatively or additionally, the section of the return line in the load module can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the outlet for the return line on the main module. Both the section of the inlet line and the section of the return line in the load module are preferably hydraulically connected to the main module in the manner mentioned. The hydraulic connection is preferably established via detachable couplings, in particular plug-in couplings. The load modules are preferably designed in such a way that they have hydraulic couplings for connection to the main module on one side and hydraulic couplings for connection to a further load module at an opposite end. The hydraulic couplings for connection to a further load module are expediently designed identically to the hydraulic couplings on the main module. So several load modules can be plugged together in series, preferably the sections of the Inlet line and the sections of the return line of the assembled load modules form a continuous inlet line and a continuous return line. This enables the construction of a hydraulic distributor of different lengths, depending on how many load modules are strung together.

Alternatively or additionally, the main module can have a control device, for example a distributor control device, as will be described below. In addition, sensors can preferably be arranged in the main module, for example temperature sensors, which detect the temperature in the inlet line and / or the return line. Such sensors can be signal-connected to the control device, so that the control device can detect the temperatures directly in the main module.

According to the invention, there is a distributor control device which is designed to control the regulating valves and / or the pumps in the plurality of load modules. However, the arrangement of a central distributor control device which controls the mixing devices of the load modules has the advantage that only one control device has to be provided for a plurality of load modules. In addition, the control can control or regulate several load modules in connection, for example to ensure that the available heating or cooling energy is distributed in the desired manner to the several load circuits. By controlling the regulating valve, the degree of admixture of liquid or fluid from the return to the inlet is set in the manner described above. The control can also be such that the distributor control device switches the pump on and off in order to switch the associated load circuit on and off. A speed control of the pump is particularly preferably provided, as a result of which the flow rate or volume flow through the load circuit can also be set by the distributor control device, so that the amount of heat carrier supplied, ie. H. Fluids can be adapted to the needs of the respective load circuit by controlling the pump.

The distributor control device is signal-connected to the load modules or the electrical components arranged in the load modules, namely the pump and / or the regulating valve, the connection taking place in particular via a data bus. It is thus possible to transmit control signals from the distributor control device to the load module or its components to be controlled or regulated. Status data or sensor signals can also be transmitted in the opposite direction via the signal connection. For example, feedback about the operating state of the regulating valve and / or the pump can be sent to the distributor control device. For example, the degree of opening of the regulating valve or the current speed of the pump can be reported back. Additional sensors, for example temperature sensors, whose signals are transmitted to the distributor control device, can be particularly preferably provided in the load modules. For example, a temperature sensor can be arranged in the return connection or in the flow path between the return connection and the section of the return line in the load module in order to detect the outlet temperature of the heat transfer medium or fluid from the load circuit. The signal connection via a data bus is particularly advantageous when different numbers of load modules are to be strung together in the manner described above. Such a data bus, which then preferably extends over all load modules, enables signals to be forwarded to other load modules via individual load modules.

Each load module preferably has a module control device or a communication unit which can be uniquely addressed by the distribution control device in order to be able to exchange data and / or signals with the load module. Addressing is preferably done automatically. The distributor control device is particularly preferably designed such that it detects a connected load module and automatically assigns an address to the load module or its module control device. As an alternative or in addition, actuation elements can be provided on the distributor control device and / or the load module, which enable a manual activation of the coupling procedure.

The distributor control device is particularly preferably arranged in the main module. In addition to the hydraulic connection for the load modules, the main module thus also forms the central control device for preferably the entire hydraulic distributor. Corresponding electrical connections, in particular detachable plug connections, can be provided for the electrical or signal connection between the main module and the load module. More preferably, the load modules also have corresponding electrical plug connections on a longitudinal end opposite the main module, which enable the electrical connection to an adjacent further load module. For example, an electrical supply line for the electrical components of the load modules can extend from the main module via the plug connections through all load modules. At the same time, a data bus can extend from the main module through the individual load modules in this way. The data bus can also take place via an electrical connection, or else via another suitable connection, for example an optical connection. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the at least one load module, which is signal-connected to the distributor control device, in particular via a data bus. As described above, this can be, for example, a temperature sensor in the return of the load circuit.

A temperature sensor is preferably arranged in each case in the load modules in such a way that it detects the temperature of a fluid to flow through the inlet connection into the connected load circuit. I.e. a temperature sensor is preferably located in the flow path from the mixing device to the inlet connection, so that it detects the temperature of the fluid mixed by the mixing device. This enables temperature control via the distributor control device, since the temperature set via the regulating valve in the load module is detected by the temperature sensor and feedback is thus given to the control device. In addition, a further temperature sensor can be provided in the return as described.

The distributor control device is preferably designed to set the temperature of a fluid flow through the inlet connection by controlling the regulating valves in the load modules. This is preferably done in Interaction with the temperature sensor described above. The distributor control device particularly preferably controls the regulating valves of a plurality of load modules, so that the temperatures at the inlet connections of the individual load modules can be set centrally by the distributor control device.

The distributor control device is further preferably designed to set a fluid flow or volume flow through the inlet connection into the connected load circuit by actuating the pumps in the load modules. For the multiple load modules, the pumps of a plurality, preferably all, of the load modules are also controlled by the distributor control device, so that it functions as a central control of all the load circuits and, in particular, can adjust the fluid flows through the individual load circuits to one another. As described above, this is preferably done by controlling the speed of the individual pumps.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the distributor control device has at least one communication interface for receiving signals from at least one external control element, in particular a room thermostat. It is thus possible to arrange room thermostats in the rooms to be temperature-controlled by the load circuits, which record the current temperature in the rooms and, if necessary, transmit the temperature values to the distributor control device. The room thermostats are particularly preferably designed such that they enable the setting of a target temperature for the respective room. If there is a deviation from this target temperature, the room thermostat sends a corresponding signal to the distributor control device via the communication interface, which then activates it depending on the load circuit or circuits belonging to the room.For example, the pump described is switched on in this load circuit and is then switched on Control of the control valve (s), the adjustment of the flow temperature in the load circuits. The communication interface can be designed as a wired interface or, for example, also as a radio interface. A plurality of control elements, in particular a plurality of room thermostats, preferably communicate with the communication interface of the distributor control device. An assignment of the individual room thermostats to the connected load modules is stored or set accordingly in the control device. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the main module has an energy supply for the pump and / or the regulating valve in the at least one load module, preferably a plurality of load modules. The electrical energy supply can take place, for example, via a mains connection line which is provided on the main module, via corresponding electrical connections, for example plug contacts on the main module to the load module and then from the load module to any further connected load modules. In the event that the load modules or their electrical and electronic components are not operated with mains voltage, it is preferred that a corresponding power supply unit is arranged in the main module for energy supply, which has the desired, preferably lower output voltage that the load modules require as energy supply , issues. This has the particular advantage that only a central power supply unit has to be provided. In addition, the electrical connections between the main module and the load module or the load modules do not have to be designed for mains voltage, which simplifies the structure due to the lower insulation requirement.

In the load modules, the pump is preferably arranged in a flow path between a mixing point, in which a flow path from the inlet line and a flow path from the return connection meet, and the inlet connection. This arrangement ensures that the pump can suck in fluid both through the connection to the return connection and through the connection to the feed line.

The regulating valves in the load modules are preferably each arranged in a flow path from the return connection to a mixing point, in which a flow path from the inlet line and the flow path from the return connection meet, or in the flow path from the inlet line to the mixing point. If the flow through the regulating valve is reduced and the pump simultaneously generates a constant fluid flow, a correspondingly larger proportion is then sucked in by the pump via the mixing point from the flow path in which no regulating valve is arranged. For example, if the regulator valve is located in the flow path from the return port to the mixing point and the pump is located downstream of the mixing point in the flow path to the inlet connection, when the regulator valve is closed, the pump will only draw fluid from the connection from the mixing point to the inlet line . When the regulating valve is opened, a portion proportional to the degree of opening is sucked out of the return connection via the regulating valve. The mixing ratio at the mixing point can be varied and the flow temperature changed accordingly.

The regulating valve is particularly preferably a valve driven by a motor, in particular by an electric motor. For example, a stepping motor can be provided as the drive motor for the valve, so that the regulating valve can be opened and / or closed in defined steps. In this case, a defined degree of opening, in particular proportional to a control signal, is established at the regulating valve.

Fig. 1

schematisch einen hydraulischen Verteiler gemäß der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf einen hydraulischen Verteiler gemäß der Erfindung,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des hydraulischen Verteilers gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Hauptmoduls des Verteilers gemäß Figuren 2 und 3,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Lastmoduls des hydraulischen Verteilers gemäß Figuren 2 und 3,

Fig. 6

schematisch den modularen Aufbau des hydraulischen Verteilers gemäß Figuren 2 und 3 im nicht zusammengesetzten Zustand und

Fig. 7

schematisch den Aufbau des hydraulischen Verteilers gemäß Figur 6 im zusammengefügten Zustand.

The invention is illustrated below by way of example of the accompanying figures. In these shows:

Fig. 1

schematically shows a hydraulic distributor according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a plan view of a hydraulic distributor according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the hydraulic distributor according to Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the main module of the distributor according to Figures 2 and 3 ,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of the load module of the hydraulic distributor according to Figures 2 and 3 ,

Fig. 6

schematically the modular structure of the hydraulic distributor according to Figures 2 and 3 in the unassembled state and

Fig. 7

schematically the structure of the hydraulic distributor according to Figure 6 in the assembled state.

The hydraulic distributor shown and described by way of example has a modular structure. It has a main module 202 and a plurality of load modules 204. The main module 202 is used for the hydraulic and electrical connection of the load modules 204 and has a control device 206 which serves as a distributor control device for controlling the plurality of load modules 204. The main module 202 also has an inlet connection 208 and a return connection 210. With the inlet connection 208 and the return connection 210, the main module 202 is connected to a heating or cooling system. Thereby, temperature-controlled fluid is supplied through inlet connection 208, which flows after flowing through one or more load circuits through return connection 210 back into the heating or cooling system. A temperature sensor can be arranged in the main module 202 on the section of the inlet line 212 and / or the section of the return line 216, which detects the inlet and the return temperature. These sensors can be signal-connected to the distribution control device 206. The distributor control device 206 can thus directly detect the temperatures in the main module.

The hydraulic distributor is further described below using the example of a heating system. However, it should be understood that the hydraulic distributor could also be used in a cooling system or in a combined heating or cooling system. In a heating system, heated fluid, in particular heated water, is fed to the inlet connection 208, for example from a boiler or heat store. The fluid flows through the return connection 210 after flowing through the heat exchangers in the rooms or objects to be heated back to the boiler or the heat accumulator.

The inlet connection 208 is connected to an outlet 214 in the interior of the main module 202 by a section of an inlet line 212. Correspondingly, the return connection 210 is connected to an inlet 218 via a section of a return line 216 inside the main module 202. The outlet 214 and the inlet 218 are designed as hydraulic couplings on one side of the main module 202, which face an adjacent load module 204. The load modules 204 also each have a section of an inlet line 212 and a section of a return line 216 in their interior. The sections of the feed line 212 and the return line 216 extend in the longitudinal direction through the load modules 204. On a first side, the sections of the feed line 212 and the return line 216 are connected to first hydraulic couplings. The section of the feed line 212 at the first end is connected to a first feed coupling 220 and the section of the return line 216 on the same side is connected to a first return clutch 222. The first inlet clutch 220 is engaged with the outlet 214 of the main module 202, while the first return clutch 222 is engaged with the inlet 218 of the main module 202 to establish a fluid-conducting connection.

The load modules 204 have a second inlet coupling 224 and a second return coupling 226 on one of the first inlet coupling and the longitudinal end opposite the first return coupling 222. The second inlet clutch 224 forms the axial end of the section of the inlet line 212 in the load module 204 opposite the first inlet clutch 220, while the second return clutch 226 forms the axial end of the section of the return line 216 in the load module 204 opposite the first return clutch 222. The plurality of load modules 204 are all of the same design. This means that the design and arrangement of the second inlet coupling 224 and the second return coupling 226 corresponds in its design to the arrangement of the outlet 214 and the inlet 218 on the main module 202. This makes it possible to attach a load module 204 either to the main module 202 or to another load module. In this way, several load modules can be lined up in the longitudinal direction. In Fig. 1 An arrangement of two load modules 204 is shown, further load modules 204 being indicated schematically. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figures 2 and 3 six load modules 204 are arranged on a main module 202.

Essential feature of the load modules 204, which in the arrangements according to Figures 1 to 7 shown is, moreover, that each load module 204 has an integrated mixing device for temperature adjustment of the flow temperature for an associated load circuit 228. The mixing device has a regulating valve 230 in a flow path from the inlet line 212 to the inlet 229 of the load circuit 228 and a circulation pump 232 downstream thereof. The circulation pump 232 serves to convey fluid from the feed line 212 through the load circuit 228 and via the return line 234 back into the return line 216. The mixing device also has a connection from the return 234 to a mixing point 236, the mixing point 236 being located in the flow path between the regulating valve 230 and the circulation pump 232. A check valve 238 is located in the connection 235, which has the effect that a flow through the connection 235 is only possible in the direction from the return 234 to the mixing point 236.

The regulating valve 230 is signal-connected to the distributor control device 206 for its activation. I.e. the distributor control device 206 controls the regulating valve 230 in order to set a desired flow temperature at the input 229 of the load circuit 228. This flow temperature at input 229 is detected by a temperature sensor 240. When the regulating valve 230 is completely closed, the circulation pump 232 pumps fluid exclusively via the connection 235 in the circuit through the load circuit 228. When the regulating valve 230 is opened, the circulation pump 232 simultaneously causes a fluid flow from the feed line 212 and a fluid flow from the connection 235 sucked in. The fluid from the feed line 212 is thus mixed with fluid from the return 234 via the connection 235, so that the flow temperature of the fluid from the feed line 212 is changed. In the case of a heating system, the supply temperature in the supply line 212 is usually higher than in the return line 234, i.e. H. in this case, colder fluid from the return line 234 is mixed in via the connection 235 to the flow from the inlet line 212, so that the inlet temperature is reduced. Conversely, in a cooling system, the flow temperature of the fluid from the feed line 212 can be increased by admixing warmer fluids from the return line 235. By changing the opening straight line of the regulating valve 230, the proportion of fluid which is fed from the feed line 212 to the mixing point 236 can be varied. With a constant delivery rate of the circulation pump 232, a larger or smaller proportion of the delivery flow is sucked in via the connection 235, whereby the temperature of the fluid at the inlet 229 of the load circuit 228 can be varied by changing the mixing ratio of the two flows at the mixing point 236. The temperature that is actually set is detected by the temperature sensor 240. The detected temperature value is communicated to the distribution control device 206 for regulation via a suitable signal connection. In this way, the distributor control device 206 regulates the individual load modules 204 independently, so that the flow temperature for the individual load circuits 228 can be individually regulated or set.

In this exemplary embodiment, a second temperature sensor 242 is also arranged at the output of the load circuit 248. This is also preferably signal-connected to the distributor control device 206 and detects the outlet temperature from the load circuit 228. Since the inlet and outlet temperatures of the load circuit 228 are detected in this way, it is possible to determine the temperature difference across the load circuit 228 and, for example, that of of the circulating pump 232 to regulate the volume flow depending on this temperature difference. For this purpose, the circulation pump 232 is preferably also controlled by the control device 206 via a suitable signal connection, in particular in order to set the speed of the circulation pump 232. The flow can be set individually for each load circuit by changing the speed of the respective circulation pump 232.

The constructive structure of the on the basis of Fig. 1 described hydraulic distributor is based on the Figures 2 to 7 described. The main module 202 has a hydraulic section 250 and an electronics housing 252, in which the control device or distributor control device 206 and possibly further components for energy supply, such as a power supply unit, are arranged. The hydraulic section 250 is preferably designed as a one-piece component made of plastic and has the inlet connection 208 and the return connection 210 on one side. The inlet connection 208 and the return connection 210 are designed as hydraulic couplings for connecting supply lines which establish the connection to a heating or cooling system. The inlet 218 and the outlet 214 are arranged on a second side surface of the hydraulic section 250. The outlet 214 is connected to the inlet connection 208 via a channel inside the hydraulic section 250, while the inlet 218 is connected to the return connection 210 via another channel inside the hydraulic section 250. As described above, the outlet 214 and the inlet 218 are designed as hydraulic couplings for the pluggable connection of a load module 204. For this purpose, the first inlet clutch 220 of an adjacent load module 204 engages in the outlet 214 and a first return clutch 220 of an adjacent load module in the inlet 218. In this example, the outlet 214 and the inlet 218 are each formed as female parts of a plug-in coupling. Accordingly, the first inlet clutch 220 and the first return clutch 222 are each designed as the male parts of a hydraulic plug-in coupling. By plugging the hydraulic couplings into one another, a mechanical connection is simultaneously established between the main module 202 and the load module 204 created. Seals, in particular O-rings, are arranged in the couplings for sealing purposes.

The load module 204 also has a housing part made in one piece from plastic, which serves as a pump housing for the circulation pump 232 and has the required flow paths and in particular the sections of the feed line 212 and the return line 216 in its interior. The drive of the regulating valve 230 and the stator housing 256 of the circulation pump 232 project outwards from the housing part 254. The housing part 254 has the first inlet coupling 220 and the first return coupling 222 at one longitudinal end and the second inlet coupling 224 and the second return coupling 226 at an opposite longitudinal end, the second inlet coupling 224 and the second return coupling 226 corresponding to the outlet 214 and the inlet 218 are formed on the main module 202 as female parts of a hydraulic plug-in coupling. Since the second inlet coupling 224 and the second return coupling 226 are shaped and arranged corresponding to the outlet 214 and the inlet 218, it is possible to connect identically designed load modules 204 either directly to the main module 202 or to a further load module 204, in which case the first inlet coupling 220 of a second load module engages in the second inlet clutch 224 of a first load module and the first return clutch 222 of a second load module in the second return clutch 226 of a first load module. In this way, several load modules can be plugged together to form a hydraulic distributor with the desired number of connections for load circuits 228. The number of load modules 204 is essentially limited by the configuration of control device 206. The housing part 254 of the load module 204 also has an inlet connection 258 and a return connection 260. The inlet connection 258 connects the input 229 of a load circuit 228, while the outlet connection 260 connects an output 231 of the load circuit 228.

The Figures 2 and 3 show the assembled arrangement of six load modules 204 on the main module 202 as shown in FIGS Figures 4 and 5 are shown. It can be seen that such a hydraulic distributor is created, which has six inlet connections 256 and six return connections 260 for six load circuits. All six load modules 204 are of identical design. The last, ie the load module 204 facing away from the main module 202, is closed at its second inlet coupling 224 and its second return coupling 226 by an end piece 262.

The flow paths of the hydraulic distributor thus coupled are in Figure 7 shown again in more detail. Figure 6 shows the structure according to Fig. 7 in the non-assembled state of the load modules 204. In Figures 6 and 7 only the arrangement of four load modules 204 is shown schematically.

In addition to the hydraulic connections and elements described, the main module 202 and the load modules 204 have electrical or electronic components. As described, the load module has the electronic control device 206. This is connected in the main module 202 to an electrical connector 264. In each of the load modules 204, an electrical connection 266 is provided, which ends in an electrical connector 268 at a first axial end and in an electrical connector 270 at the opposite axial end. The electrical connector 268 and 270 are configured so that the electrical connector 268 can engage the electrical connector 264 on the main module 202 or an electrical connector 270 of an adjacent load module to form an electrical coupling and an electrical connection between the Load module 204 and an adjacent load module 204 or the main module 202 to manufacture. The drive of the regulating valve 230, the temperature sensor 240 and the circulation pump 232 are connected to the electrical connection 266, which is designed as a data bus, in the interior of the load module 204. The electrical connection 266 serves for the energy transmission to these components and also for the signal transmission to these components or from these components to the distributor control device 206 in the main module 202.

If a further load module 204 is plugged into a load module 204, an energy supply of this subsequent load module 204 from the main module 202 as well as a data transmission from the main module 202 to this further load module 204 via the or the intermediate load modules 204 are manufactured. The individual load modules 204 can be addressed via a module control device 272 in each load module 204. The module control device 272 is used for data communication with the central distributor control device 206. For this purpose, each module control device 272, that is to say each load module 204, is assigned an address. This can be done automatically by the distribution control device 206 when the respective load module 204 is connected. Via this address and the module control device 272, the regulating valve 230 and the circulation pump 232 in each load module 204 can then be individually controlled by the distributor control device 206 in order to bring about temperature and volume flow control for the connected load circuit. The output signal of the temperature sensor 240 and possibly the temperature sensor 242 is reported back to the distributor control device 206 via the module control device 272 and can be incorporated there into the regulation of the respective load module 204.

To enable room temperature-dependent control, room thermostats 274 are provided in the rooms to be tempered (see Fig. 1 ). The room thermostats 274 communicate with a communication interface 276 of the control device 206. A desired target temperature can be set on the room thermostats 274. If the actual temperature deviates from this target temperature, the room thermostat 274 sends a corresponding signal to the communication sections 276 of the control device 206. The latter then activates the load circuit 228 associated with the room by switching on the circulation pump 232 in the associated load module 204 Temperature and flow control for the associated load circuit 228. If the entered target temperature is reached at the room thermostat 274, the room thermostat 274 sends a corresponding signal to the communication interface 276 of the control device 206. The latter then deactivates the associated load circuit 228, ie switches that in the respective room located load circuit 228 by the circulation pump 232 is switched off in the associated load module 204.

Reference list

202

Main module

204

Load module

206

Control device, distribution control device

208

Inlet connection

210

Return connection

212

Inlet pipe

214

Outlet

216

Return line

218

inlet

220

first inlet coupling

222

first return clutch

224

second inlet coupling

226

second return clutch

228

Load circuit

229

entrance

230

Regulating valve

231

output

232

Circulation pump

234

Rewind

235

connection

236

Mixing point

238

check valve

240,248

Temperature sensor

250

Hydraulic section

252

Electronics housing

254

Housing part

256

Stator housing

258

Inlet connection

260

Return connection

262

Tail

264

electrical connector

266

electrical connection, data bus

268, 270

electrical connector

272

Module control device

274

Room thermostats

276

Communication interface

Claims (14)

1. A hydraulic manifold for a hydraulic heating and/or cooling system and which comprises a feed conduit (212) and a return conduit (216), wherein the feed conduit (212) comprises feed connections (258), and the return conduit (216) comprises return connections (260), for the connection of several load circuits (228), wherein the manifold comprises several load modules (204), characterised in that a section of the feed conduit (212) with a feed connection (258) and a section of the return conduit (216) with a return connection (260) are formed in each load module, wherein the load modules (204) each comprise at least one mixing device with a pump (232) and with a regulating valve (230) which are designed to admix fluid from the return connection (260) to a fluid flow from the feed conduit (212) to the feed connection (258), and the section of the feed conduit (212) and of the return conduit (216) each comprise an additional connection for connection to a further load module, and that a manifold control device (206) is present, said manifold control device being designed for the control of the regulating valves (230) and/or the pumps (232) in the several load modules (204).
2. A hydraulic manifold according to claim 1, characterised in that the manifold comprises several load modules (204) which are connected to one another, preferably releasably, in a manner such that the sections of the feed conduit (212) are each connected to one another, and the sections of the return conduit (216) are each connected to one another.
3. A hydraulic manifold according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one load module (204) is connected, preferably releasably, to a main module (202) which comprises a control device (206) and/or an entry (218) for the feed conduit (212) and/or an exit (214) for the return conduit (216).
4. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the manifold control device (206) is signal-connected to the load modules (204), in particular via a data bus (266).
5. A hydraulic manifold according to claim 3, characterised in that the manifold control device (206) is arranged in the main module (202).
6. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one temperature sensor (240, 248) is arranged in the at least one load module (204) and is signal-connected to the manifold control device, in particular via a data bus (266).
7. A hydraulic manifold according to claim 6, characterised in that the temperature sensor (240) in the load module (204) is arranged in a manner such that it detects the temperature of a fluid flowing through the feed connection (258).
8. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the manifold control device (206) is designed in order to set the temperature of a fluid flow through the feed connection (258) by way of activating the regulating valve (230).
9. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the manifold control device (206) is designed for setting a fluid flow through the feed connection (258) by way of activating the pump (232).
10. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the manifold control device (206) comprises at least one communication interface (276) for receiving signals from an external control element, in particular from a room thermostat (274).
11. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main module (202) comprises an energy supply for the pump (232) and the regulating valve (230) in the at least one, preferably several load modules (204).
12. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the at least one load module (204) the pump (232) is arranged in a flow path between a mixing point (236), at which a flow path from the feed conduit (212) and a flow path from the return connection (260) meet, and the feed connection (258).
13. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the regulating valve (230) is arranged in a flow path from the return connection (260) to a mixing point (236), at which a flow path from the feed conduit (212) and the flow path (235) from the return connection (260) meet, or in the flow path from the feed conduit (212) to the mixing point (236).
14. A hydraulic manifold according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the regulating valve (232) is a motorically driven valve.

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