EP4308833A1

EP4308833A1 - Actuating device for actuating valves

Info

Publication number: EP4308833A1
Application number: EP22715579.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adrijan Strmsek
Original assignee: Neoperl GmbH
Current assignee: Neoperl GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-18
Filing date: 2022-03-15
Publication date: 2024-01-24
Also published as: WO2022194876A1; DE202021101386U1; CN117083479A; US20240301966A1

Abstract

The invention relates the simplified operation of a valve arrangement (2) which comprises a plurality of valves (3), and actuating elements (8) which each serve to manually open a valve (3), and with the aid of at least one blocking part (6), valves can be intermittently blocked such that actuation at least of one of the other valves (3) of the valve arrangement (2) is prevented at that moment.

Description

Actuating device for actuating valves

The invention relates to an actuating device for actuating at least two valves in a valve arrangement.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a further actuating device for actuating at least two valves of a valve arrangement, each having an actuating element for opening a respective one of the at least two valves, with the valves each being designed to be self-closing. The first-mentioned actuating device can also be designed with these features. Such actuating devices are already known per se in the prior art and are used in particular to switch various waterways on and off by means of the valves. Such a task arises, for example, in shower rooms, where various shower outlets of a sanitary fitting are to be supplied with water by means of an actuating device as explained at the outset.

In such applications, there is often a legal or normative requirement that two valves of the valve arrangement can or may not be opened at the same time by means of the actuating device.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of enabling improved handling or actuation of valves of a valve arrangement which, on the one hand, is user-friendly and, on the other hand, complies with the statutory or normative specifications.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided according to the invention in an actuating device. In particular, the invention thus solves the problem proposed in an actuating device of the type mentioned that by actuating one of the at least two valves in an actuating device, a blocking element of the actuating device can be moved into a blocking position. Furthermore, it is proposed that an actuation of at least one, but preferably all the others, of the at least two valves is blocked as soon as the blocking element is in the blocking position.

The actuating device can preferably be configured as a manual device that can be actuated manually. The blocking element, on the other hand, can be composed of several parts (in the simplest case two) blocking parts. As a result, the blocking element on each of the valves can be individually subdivided or separable, for example in order to block adjacent valves in each case.

The advantage of such an embodiment is that the actuating device can reliably prevent a plurality of the valves from opening at the same time.

In other words, according to the invention, it is therefore proposed that a blocking element can be moved into different blocking positions, wherein in each of these blocking positions one of the valves of the valve arrangement can still be actuated, i.e. in particular opened, while at least one, but preferably all the remaining valves of the valve arrangement are currently blocked in this blocking position and therefore cannot be actuated or opened. The same then applies analogously to the other possible blocking pitches, the number of possible blocking pitches naturally increasing with the number of valves in the valve arrangement. According to the invention, the object can also be achieved by further advantageous embodiments according to the dependent claims.

For example, at least one blocking part of the blocking element can be configured as a sliding part and/or can be displaced into the blocking position.

In addition or as an alternative, it can also be provided that at least one locking part of the locking element is designed as a pivoting part and/or can be pivoted into the locking position. In such a case, the at least one pivoting part can be mounted in particular in such a way that it can pivot on a circular path.

The invention also proposes an actuating device that is designed for a valve arrangement with at least three valves. Here, the blocking element has at least two blocking parts, which can be displaced into a respective blocking position by a respective actuation of a respective one of the at least three valves. It is also provided here that an actuation of at least one, but preferably all the others, of the at least three valves is blocked as soon as one of the blocking parts is in its blocking position.

As already mentioned, actuation of one of the valves of the valve assembly can cause that valve to open. In this way it can be achieved in particular that a flow of water can flow through the open valve from a common inlet which supplies all valves.

Thus, it can be provided that each of the at least two valves by means of the actuator, ie in particular by means of associated respective Actuator elements, individually opened, preferably and closed, can be.

It can also be provided that each of the at least two valves can be blocked by means of the blocking element. This can preferably be done in such a way that each of the at least two valves can be blocked by means of each of the at least two blocking parts.

If one of the valves is blocked, this blocked valve can thus be prevented from being opened by actuating the actuating element belonging to this valve. In this way it can be achieved that only one of the valves can be opened at any given time, i.e. in particular actuated by a user. Because opening one of the valves causes a blockage of all the other valves, specifically by means of the blocking element.

In other words, the blocking of the non-actuated valves of the valve arrangement can be canceled or can be canceled by closing a valve of the valve arrangement that is currently open.

The blocking element, ie in particular the blocking parts, can be movable in a direction of blocking movement into the (respective) blocking position. If the locking parts are designed as sliding parts or if the locking parts are designed as pivoting parts, this direction of locking movement can run transversely to the direction of actuation, ie in particular to a respective direction of actuation in which the actuation elements of the actuation device can be actuated. This means that the valves can be opened by means of respective actuators and that the actuators, the blocking element, ie in particular move (either push or pivot) at least one respective locking part of the locking element into the locking position. Here, the actuating elements can be designed, for example, as a push button. When the actuating elements are pressed, they pivot or move a respective associated blocking part of the blocking element.

In such a configuration, it is preferred if a respective deflection element, for example in the form of an inclined surface, is formed on each of the actuating elements. This deflection element can in each case convert a linear actuation of the respective actuation element in the actuation direction (for example pressing) into a respective blocking movement of at least one of the blocking parts. Here, the blocking movement of one of the blocking parts can be transferred to the other of the blocking parts of the blocking element, for example by the blocking part actuated with the actuating element pushing or pivoting the other blocking parts. This means that a respective blocking part, which is currently being actuated via an actuating element, then actuates the other blocking parts.

A situation can arise in which, for example, when one of the valves in the middle is actuated, the blocking movements of at least two of the blocking parts take place in opposite directions, namely, for example, when the actuating element associated with the valve presses the two blocking parts apart. A situation can also arise in which when an outermost valve (i.e. a valve which is arranged in an outer position of the valve arrangement) is actuated, the blocking movements of all blocking parts take place in the same direction (e.g. all blocking parts move from left to right, since the leftmost blocking part also moves from left to right moves), in particular due to an actuation by one of the actuating elements.

Furthermore, in particular all locking parts can be designed with the same shape and/or all actuating elements with the same shape, which means that manufacturing costs can be saved.

A further embodiment provides that the blocking parts can each be moved in two blocking pitches, which are used to block a respective adjacent valve. Thus, a blocking part can block, for example, a valve to the left of the blocking part and another valve to the right of the blocking part, specifically by moving to the left or to the right. The same applies analogously to pivoting a blocking part clockwise or counterclockwise.

The actuating elements can, for example, each be guided linearly, so that movements of the actuating elements transverse to the direction of actuation are excluded.

With such a configuration, it is preferable if the blocking element, i.e. in particular the at least two blocking parts of the blocking element, are also guided linearly, so that movements of the blocking parts or the blocking element in the actuating direction are precisely excluded. This is possible with locking sliding parts as well as locking pivoting parts.

The aforementioned configurations can in particular ensure that all valves are blocked by means of the blocking element when any two of the actuating elements are actuated simultaneously. In this way it can be achieved that two valves are not opened at the same time be able. It is preferred here if the blocking element establishes an operative connection between the actuating elements. This can therefore mean that the blocking element transmits blocking forces, which emanate from one of the actuating elements, to the other actuating elements, for example in order to keep these other actuating elements in a respective blocking position.

A further possible embodiment provides that the actuating elements, mediated by respective associated intermediate elements, only actuate a respective actuating element, which is designed to open the respective valve, from a second section of an actuating movement. In such a case, provision can be made for the actuating elements to be relatively displaceable in relation to the respective associated intermediate element in a first section of the actuating movement. This can ensure that the other valves are blocked during the first section of the actuating movement, i.e. even before a valve to be opened is opened by the actuating movement of one of the actuating elements (which only occurs in a second section of the

actuating movement can happen). In the second section of the respective actuation movement, a respective actuation element and the associated intermediate element can thus move together. For this purpose, a respective driver can be formed on each actuating element, for example, which takes the intermediate element with it from the second section of the actuating movement and thus actuates it.

Another possible embodiment of the blocking parts of the blocking element provides that the at least two blocking parts touch each other (at least temporarily in certain positions) and can thus be actuated, for example when one of the blocking parts moves into a respective blocking position is shifted or panned or moved. Alternatively or additionally, provision can also be made for the locking parts to reach through the actuating elements, in particular in such a way that the locking parts can just touch one another.

Furthermore, the at least two locking parts can each be guided in a guide along the locking movement direction. This guide can be formed straight from the actuators. Here, the guide can continue to allow displacement of the actuating elements in the direction of actuation relative to the respective blocking part, for example if the guide in the direction of actuation is longer than the height of the blocking parts.

Provision can furthermore be made for the at least two locking parts to each have a bearing surface, by means of which the respective locking part is mounted such that it can be displaced or pivoted on a displacement surface without tilting.

According to a further aspect of the present invention of possibly independent inventive character, a further actuating device for actuating at least two valves of a valve arrangement is proposed to solve the initially mentioned object, which can be configured as explained above. As already mentioned at the outset, this actuating device has an actuating element for opening each of the at least two valves, with the valves each being designed to be self-closing. This actuating device can in particular be designed as already described above or according to one of the claims directed to an actuating device. To solve the problem mentioned above, it is now proposed that the

Actuating device has a holding mechanism with which the valves can be held individually in a respective open position. In this case, the holding mechanism can have a separate release element, which is characterized in that the release element can release each of the valves by means of a release movement. Configurations are also possible in which the release element can be actuated with each of the actuating elements for the release movement (ie up to a release position), so that in this case the release element does not have to be actuated itself.

As an alternative or in addition to the configuration of a separate release element, it can also be provided that the holding mechanism (22) can be released with the, preferably with each of the, actuating elements (which serve to open a respective valve). Thus, the holding mechanism can in particular be configured such that by actuating one of the actuating elements of a valve which is still closed, a valve which is currently being held in the open position by the holding mechanism can be released. By releasing the open valve can close automatically. On the other hand, the actuation that triggered the release can transfer the valve, which was previously still closed, into the open position in order to be held there again by the holding mechanism.

By such a holding mechanism according to the invention can thus be achieved that one of the valves, which is currently being held in the open position by the holding mechanism, by actuating another, just closed valve and / or by means of the release element, ie more precisely by means of the release movement of the release element. This allows the valve to move automatically from the open position to a closed position due to the fact that the valves are each self-closing are trained. Corresponding restoring elements, for example in the form of compression springs, can be provided for this purpose, which bring about the automatic closing.

If said release element is in a release position, it can act on the holding mechanism in such a way that it releases the valve held in the open position to automatically return to a closed position.

It can thus be provided that the valves can be held in a respective open position by means of at least one locking element of the holding mechanism.

In particular, it can be provided that the valves can be held in the respective open position by means of respective locking elements of the holding mechanism. These locking elements are designed in a variety of ways, with a variety of exemplary embodiments being known in the prior art.

The at least one locking element can either be configured as a sliding part and/or can be moved into a locking position, or the at least one locking element can be configured as a pivoting part and/or can be pivoted into a locking position. In the second alternative, the at least one locking element can be pivoted, for example, on a circular path.

A locking movement of the locking element (which conveys this into the locking position) can thus be a linear movement or a rotary movement. If several locking elements are designed, linear and rotary movements can also be used to lock the valves. At the end of its release movement, the release element, however, an actuation force from one of the

Transfer actuators to a locking element of a particular valve. This can happen in particular when this particular valve is being held in the open position by the holding mechanism.

The release element can preferably transfer each of the designed locking elements from a respective locking position to a releasing position in which the associated valve is just released (and can thus automatically return to the closed position).

A possible embodiment provides that individual or each of the locking elements forms a self-locking pawl mechanism. For example, this pawl mechanism can have a pawl that can be deflected against the restoring force of a restoring element. The pawl can also be brought into engagement with a rotatably mounted ratchet wheel of the ratchet mechanism by means of a return element.

The release element itself can also be deflected against the restoring force of a restoring element. In this case, it can be provided in particular that the release element has to be actuated manually in order to release one of the valves for automatic closing. It can thus be achieved that the release element returns automatically due to the restoring force in a return movement to a starting position in which the release element is at a distance from the locking elements, specifically as soon as this return movement is released. The locking elements can preferably be arranged in a common plane. Furthermore, each of the locking elements can act on an associated valve via a respective form fit in order to lock this valve in the open position.

The at least one locking element can preferably be deflectable against the restoring force of a restoring element. In this case, the locking element must therefore be manually actuated in order to lock one of the valves in the open position.

According to a further possible configuration, both the blocking element and the release element can each be configured by means of at least one sliding part.

A further embodiment provides that the valves can be held or locked in the respective open position by means of at least one sliding part and/or by means of at least one pivoting part of the holding mechanism (which acts as a locking element). Provision can be made here for the at least one sliding part (which serves as a locking element) to be displaceable in a locking plane transversely to an actuation direction of the actuating elements into a respective locking position and/or for the at least one pivoting part to be displaceable in a pivoting plane (= locking plane) which is aligned transversely to the direction of actuation, is pivotable. In such configurations, it is also preferable if the at least one sliding part can be displaced in the locking plane by actuating one of the actuating elements in the actuating direction and/or the pivoting part can be pivoted in the locking plane by actuating one of the actuating elements in the actuating direction. In this case will So the respective sliding or pivoting part is actuated directly by one of the actuating elements in the locking plane.

In addition or as an alternative, provision can also be made for the at least one sliding or pivoting part to engage in the respective recesses in the respective locking position, which are formed in the actuating elements. It can thereby be achieved that the actuating elements can be locked in an ON position in which an associated one of the valves is held in the open position.

If, on the other hand, the at least one sliding or pivoting part is mounted linearly, it is possible to prevent movements of the at least one sliding part in the direction of actuation, so that this type of movement is ruled out.

With the previously presented actuation devices it can thus be achieved that an actuation of at least one of the actuation elements, but preferably all of the other actuation elements, is blocked as soon as the at least one sliding part of one of the actuation elements is arrested. In this situation, the at least one sliding or pivoting part can in particular block a respective reach-through window of the blocked actuating elements. If, on the other hand, the access window is released, the respective actuating element can be actuated through the access window in order to open an associated one of the valves of the valve arrangement.

In general, all of the actuating devices presented so far can be further developed by the following features: the valves of the valve arrangement can be, for example, as touch valves and/or self-closing, ie in particular by means of a respective reset element be updated, designed. A touch valve can be understood to mean a valve which has a button as an actuating element for operating the valve. This button can then be actuated with one of the actuating elements.

Furthermore, the valves of the valve arrangement can be arranged, for example, along a curve, in particular a circular line or an ellipse, or else along a straight line. The arrangement on a circular line is appropriate, for example, if the blocking parts are designed as pivoting parts and/or if the release element is designed as a pivoting part. The arrangement along a straight line, on the other hand, makes sense if either the blocking parts are designed as sliding parts and/or the release element is designed as a sliding part.

The actuating elements can also each have their own restoring element. It can thereby be achieved that the respective confirmation element has to be actuated against the restoring force of the associated restoring element if the respectively assigned valve is to be opened. As a result, the respective actuating element returns automatically due to the restoring force to an initial position in which the associated valve is not actuated by the actuating element.

According to the invention, an actuating device as described above can be used particularly advantageously for actuating valves of a sanitary installation, in particular a shower and/or bath fitting. Therefore, to solve the problem, a sanitary installation, in particular a shower and/or bath fitting, with an actuating device according to one of the claims relating to an actuating device, as well as the use of an actuating device according to one of claims directed to an actuating device are proposed for such a sanitary installation.

The invention will now be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Further developments of the invention can be obtained from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the general description, the claims and the drawings. In the following description of various preferred

Embodiments of the invention are given the same reference numbers in their function, even if the design or shape differs.

It shows:

Fig. 1 the components of a first invention

Actuating device including the associated valve arrangement,

2 shows the device from FIG. 1 in the assembled state,

3 shows a side cross-sectional view of the device from FIGS. 1 and 2,

4 to 10 further cross-sectional side views of the

Device from Figures 1 and 2 in different states of operation,

11 shows a second embodiment of an inventive

Actuating device including the associated valve arrangement, 12 shows the device from FIG. 11 seen from below,

13 and 14 the components of the second actuating device according to the invention,

FIG. 15 shows the second actuating device of FIG. 11 in a partial sectional view,

FIG. 16 shows an oblique view of a cross section through the device from FIG. 11,

17 shows the components of a third embodiment of an actuating device according to the invention together with the associated valve arrangement,

18 shows the device from FIG. 17 in the assembled state,

Fig. 19 actuating elements and locking parts of the actuating device of Figure 17, Fig. 20 to 27 side cross-sectional views of the

Device from Figure 17 in different states of operation and

28 shows an application example of the use of an actuating device according to the invention for controlling a plurality of water outlets in one

shower cabin.

Figures 1, 11 and 17 each show ones according to the invention

Actuating devices 1, which serve to actuate at least two valves 3a, 3b of a valve arrangement 2. Such devices can be used, for example, to supply water from a central water connection via the individual valves to conduct different water outlets, as illustrated in Figure 28.

For example, the configuration according to FIG allows the respective valve 3 to open, so that water can flow from a common inlet, which supplies all valves 3, through the respective open valve 3, for example to reach a water outlet from there.

The three actuating elements 8a, 8b, 8c (as well as the other

Actuating element 8d) are each designed as pushbuttons 15 and can be deflected against the restoring force of a respective restoring element 10. By pressing one of the actuating elements 8a, 8b, 8c in FIG

4 illustrated actuation direction 11, an actuation force can be transmitted or exerted on a respective actuating element 21 of the associated valve 3a, 3b, 3c, so that the actuated valve 3 can be converted into an open position 24, in which water can flow through the valve 3.

The actuating device 1 of FIG. 1 also has a blocking element 4 which, in the example of FIG. In addition, the actuating device 1 also includes a locking element 23 which is also designed as a sliding part 34 . Both the locking element 23 and the blocking parts 6a, 6b, 6c are guided in respective guides of a guide device 45 of the actuating device 1. Therefore, these elements on respective sliding surfaces 41 in respective planes are linearly displaced, which are orthogonal to the common direction of actuation 11 of the actuation elements 8 .

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the individual locking parts 6a, 6b, 6c have corresponding contact surfaces 44 via which actuation forces can be transmitted, so that each of the three locking parts 6a to 6c can push an adjacent one of the locking parts 6a to 6c. For example, in Figure 5 the locking part 6a pushes the locking part 6b and the locking part 6b in turn pushes the locking part 6c so that, driven by the actuating movement 17 of the actuating element 8a, in Figure 5 the three locking parts 6a to 6c move together to the right in the direction of locking movement 12 move into their respective blocking positions 5a ^y , 5b ^y , bc ^J . This locking movement direction 12 runs straight across to the direction of actuation of the actuation elements 8.

The three blocking parts 6a, 6b, 6c are also guided linearly by the guide device 45 in such a way that movements of the blocking parts 6a to 6c in the actuating direction 11 are precisely excluded.

As the view in FIG. 2 shows, both the locking element 23 and the blocking parts 6 form respective reach-through windows 38 through which the actuating elements 8 can be actuated and thus can act on the actuating elements 21 of the respective valves 3 . It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the locking element 23 can be deflected against the restoring force of the restoring element 10e.

The actuating device 1 is designed in such a way that each of the three valves 3a, 3b, 3c is opened individually by means of the respectively associated actuating element 8a, 8b, 8c can be. Each of the three valves 3a, 3b, 3c can also be blocked by means of the blocking element 4, with a currently blocked valve 3 no longer being able to be opened by pressing the associated actuating element 8, as will be explained in more detail below.

3 to 10: FIG. 3 shows the initial situation in which all four restoring elements 10a-10d are fully deflected, so that the respective actuating elements 8a to 8d are in a respective top position.

In FIG. 4, the actuating element 8a is now actuated by means of an actuating movement 17 in the actuating direction 11 shown. The actuating element 8a, which is designed identically to the other actuating elements 8b and 8c, has a cylindrical basic shape with a circumferential inclined surface 16 at the lower end, which forms a deflection element 13 in order to deflect the actuating force exerted during actuation into the plane in which the locking parts 6 move. It can also be seen in FIG. 4 that a circumferential groove, which forms a recess 36, is formed in a middle section of the actuating element 8a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined surface 16 of the actuating element 8a first encounters a corresponding inclined surface 16 which is at the upper edge of a

Access window 38 is formed, which in turn is formed in the locking element 23 (see FIG. 1). By means of the deflection element 13 thus transmits the actuating element 8a, the actuating force on the locking element 23 and thus moves it to the right (see. The block arrow in Figure 4), so that the locking element 23 against the Restoring force of the restoring element LOE is deflected to the right.

During the further downward movement of the actuating element 8a, which is now made possible (i.e. released) by the sideways movement of the locking element 23, the deflection element 13 next comes up against another inclined surface 16, which is formed on the left upper edge of the locking part 6a (cf. Figure 1 ). As a result, the first blocking part 6a is displaced to the right (in FIG. 5), as a result of which the reach-through window 38 formed in the guide device 45 (far left in FIG. 5) is released. As a result, the actuating element 8a can now transmit the actuating force to the actuating element 21 of the first valve 3a in order to open this valve 3a.

In other words, by actuating the valve 3a with the aid of the actuating element 8a in the actuating direction 11, a blocking element 4 of the actuating device 1 is moved into the blocking position 5 shown in FIG. This is because the displacement of the first blocking part 6a causes a further displacement of the blocking parts 6b and 6c into the blocking positions 5b ^y and bc ^J shown in FIG. In the situation shown in FIG. 5, the first blocking part 6a blocks the access window 38b assigned to the second actuating element 8b and the second blocking part 6b blocks the access window 38c assigned to the actuating element 8c. This means that actuation of the two remaining valves 3b and 3c is blocked as soon as the blocking element 4, ie its blocking parts 6a, 6b, 6c, is/are in the blocking position 5 illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 also shows that pressing the first actuating element 8a downward causes its recess 36 (cf. FIG. 4) to reach the level of the locking element 23 has been. Driven by the restoring element 10e, the locking element 23 therefore automatically moves to the left in the situation shown in FIG. 5 and engages in the recess

36 a. The valve 3a can be held in the open position 24 shown in FIG. 5 by this holding mechanism 22 . This is because the actuating element 8a is prevented from automatically returning to the uppermost position as long as the locking element 23 is in the position illustrated in FIG

Locking position 26 remains.

In order to return the locking element 23 to the releasing position 27 illustrated in Figure 4, in which the actuating element 8a was still displaceable along the actuating direction 11, the fourth actuating element 8d can now be actuated, as illustrated in Figure 7: this actuating element 8d also points an inclined surface 16 at its lower end and can therefore move the locking element 23 back to the right into the position shown in FIG. 7 when actuated along the actuating direction 11 .

By actuating the first valve 3a with the aid of the actuating element 8a, the blocking parts 6a, 6b, 6c can thus be shifted into their respective blocking positions 5a ^y , 5b ^y , bc ^J in the situation in FIG. In this case (cf. Figure 5), actuation of the other two valves 3b and 3c is blocked, since even if the actuation element 8b is actuated, for example, this can only be pushed forward as far as the first blocking part 6a, in which case the first blocking part 6a can then be shifted to left is just prevented, since this movement of the blocking part 6a is blocked by the first actuating element 8a (namely exactly when the blocking part 6a is in the ON position shown in Figure 5

37 is located, in which the valve 3a is open). In Figure 5 can also be seen that not only the lower inclined surface 16 of the fourth actuating element 8d rests against a corresponding inclined surface 16 of the locking element 23, but also the lower inclined surface 16 of the third actuating element 8c. The same applies to the lower inclined surface 16 of the second actuating element 8b. The locking element 23 can therefore also be transferred into the releasing position 27 by actuating the actuating element 8c or the actuating element 8b in the actuating direction 11 . As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the first actuating element 8a can automatically return to the upper position (by means of the restoring force of the restoring element 10a), as a result of which the first valve 3a can just close automatically again.

If the third actuating element 8c is now pressed further down in the direction of actuating direction 11, the situation illustrated in Figure 6 arises, in which the locking element 23, driven again by the reset element 10e, moves into the recess 36 of the

Actuating element 8c engages and thus keeps the valve 3c in the open position 24 shown. The actuating device 1 is thus designed in such a way that by actuating a valve which has just closed (here the valve 3c) a valve (here the valve 3a) which is currently held in the open position 24 by the holding mechanism 22 (cf. Figure 5 ), is releasable. Each of the four actuating elements 8a to 8d can be actuated as a release element 25 in order to release a valve 3 of the valve arrangement 2 that has just been locked in the open position 24 by means of a respective release movement 33 .

It can be seen in FIG. 8 that actuating the actuating element 8d (ie the release element 25—cf. FIG. 7) causes the actuating element 8c to be locked (cf. Figure 6) could be solved, so that the actuating element 8c now in Figure 8, driven by the restoring element 10c, moves upwards and thus enables an automatic closing of the valve 3c. If now--as illustrated in FIG. 9--the actuating element 8d is released, this also returns to the upper position, as a result of which an initial situation similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 is reached again.

FIG. 10 once again shows a complete actuation series, with FIG. 10a showing the initial situation and in FIG. 10b the actuating element 8a is actuated first. After this has moved both the locking element 23 and the first blocking part 6a to the right, the first actuating element 8a opens the valve 3a (cf. FIG. 10d). Here again the holding mechanism 22 ensures that in FIG. 10d the locking element 23 locks the actuating element 8a in the ON position 37 shown. This locking is released in FIG. 10e by actuating the actuating element 8c, since this moves the locking element 23 back to the right into the releasing position 27. FIG. Here, the actuation force exerted on the actuating element 8c is deflected with the aid of the deflection element 13 and used to compress the compression spring 10e. By releasing the locking of the actuating element 8a, this again automatically moves upwards (Figure 10f) and after a further downward movement of the actuating element 8c, the locking element 23 returns to the locking position 26 so that, as shown in Figure 10f, the actuating element 8c is now in the ON position 37 to fix. The fixing of the actuating element 8c is then released by actuating the actuating element 8d, as shown in FIG. 10g. As a result, the valve 3c can close automatically again, as shown in FIG. 10h. Finally, the actuating element 8d returns to its position Starting position back, driven by the return element lod - see Figure lOi.

FIG. 11 shows a further possible embodiment of an actuating device 1 according to the invention, in which case—unlike in FIG. 1—three valves 3 are no longer arranged linearly but on a circular line (cf. also FIG. 12). This second embodiment also has three separate locking parts 6a, 6b, 6c, which, however, are each designed as pivoting parts 42, as can be seen in FIGS. The actuating device 1 also has a pivotable locking element 23 in the form of a disc with three access windows 38, one for each of the three actuating elements 8a/8b/8c.

The blocking parts 6a, 6b, 6c, as well as the disk-shaped locking element 23, can each be pivoted/rotated about a center of rotation 49, ie about a common axis of rotation 50. For this purpose, the associated guide device 45 includes the stationary parts 45a, 45b, 45c and

45d and also the stationary fixing means 46, which fixes the entire arrangement by means of a lock nut 51 (cf. FIG. 13).

The fixing means 46 also holds a restoring element 10e in the form of a torsion spring, which is used for restoring the disk-shaped locking element 23 in rotation.

Projections 47b and 47c are formed on the stationary parts 45b and 45c, which in the assembled state according to FIG is. The part 45d also forms three limiters 48 that the Limit movements of the parts 6a, 6b, 6c and 23 in the respective pivoting plane.

Part 45b offers three access windows 38; on the other hand, a recess 36b, which is formed larger than the associated projection 47e, which the locking element 23 has. The interaction of the projection 47e and the recess 36b means that the rotational movement of the locking element 23 is limited to a narrow angular range, for example less than 15°. By actuating one of the three actuating elements 8a/8b/8c, the locking element 23 can thus be pivoted clockwise or counterclockwise in this angular range, in each case against the restoring force of the restoring element 10e. As a result, the locking element 23 can automatically engage in the respective recesses 36 of the actuating elements 8a/8b/8c (cf. FIG. 14 and FIG. 16) in order to lock the actuating elements and to hold the respective actuated valve 3 in the open position 24, analogously to the explained holding mechanism 22 of the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG.

If one of the three actuating elements 8a/8b/8c of the embodiment according to Figure 11 hits one of the blocking parts 6a/6b/6c during actuation by pressing/actuating, the corresponding blocking part is pivoted about the center 49 of the arrangement (cf. Figure 13 ), the associated axis of rotation 50 corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the fixing means 46.

The guide device 45, more precisely its stationary part 45d, of the actuating device 1 forms a surface 41 on which the respective blocking parts 6 can be pivoted in relation to the center of rotation 49 of the actuating device 1. The three actuating elements 8a to 8c are also each designed as pushbuttons 15, which can be deflected against a respective restoring element 10a, 10b, 10c. Figures 17 and 18 show a third possible embodiment of an actuating device 1 according to the invention. This has a total of 4 separate actuating elements 8a/8b/8c/8d, with which a total of four valves 3a/3b/3c/3d of a linear valve arrangement 2 are manually actuated or let open. With this

Actuating device 1 could therefore, for example—as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 28—four different water outlets be controlled.

As FIG. 19 shows, the design of the actuating elements 8a-8d differs from that of FIG. The guide 39 is designed in such a way that the actuating elements 8 can each be moved in the actuating direction 11 relative to the respective blocking part 6, even when the respective blocking part 6 is currently engaging in the respective actuating element 8, as is the case with the actuating element, for example 8b in Figure 19 can be seen.

The functioning of the actuating device 1 according to FIGS. 20 to 27 is analogous to the mechanism explained with reference to FIGS. However, the valve arrangement 2, which is used in the third exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 17, has four valves 3a to 3d, the fourth valve 3d being able to be opened with the aid of the fourth actuating element 8d. If, for example, the actuating element 8c is in the ON position 37, as can be seen in FIG. 24, the locking element 23 can be moved into the releasing position 27 illustrated in FIG. 25 by actuating any one of the three remaining actuating elements 8a, 8b and 8d will. If about the second actuator 8b, as shown in Figure 25 and 26, as Release element 25 is used, the starting situation of FIG. 26 or FIG. 20, in which all four valves 3a to 3d are closed, can be reached again at any time. The sequence of actuation of the individual valves can take place as illustrated in Figure 27: Starting from the initial situation shown in Figure 27a, the actuating element 8a is first actuated (cf. Figure 27b) and transferred to the ON position 37 shown in Figure 27d, in which the first valve 3a is held in the open position 24.

Then, by actuating the actuating element 8c, the valve 3a can be closed again and the valve 3c can be moved to the open position 24, as is shown in FIG. 27h. After actuating the actuating element 8b (cf. FIG. 27i), the locking of the

Actuating element 8c (which still prevailed in FIG. 27h) can be lifted again, so that in FIG. 27k the starting position of FIG. 27a is reached again.

In summary, to simplify the operation of a valve arrangement 2, which comprises a plurality of valves 3, it is proposed that the respective actuating elements 8, which are used to open the valves 3 manually, be temporarily blocked with the aid of at least one blocking part 6 in such a way that actuation of at least one of the remaining valves 3 of the valve assembly 2 is just excluded.

/ List of References Reference List

1 actuator (to operate 3)

2 valve assembly

3 valve (of 2)

4 blocking element (for blocking individual valves of 2)

5 locking pitch

6 locking part (part of 4)

7 return element (for automatic closing of 3)

8 actuating element (to actuate, in particular to open 3)

9 touch valve

10 reset element

11 operating direction

12 direction of locking movement

13 baffle (to convert 11 to 12)

14 locking movement

15 push buttons

16 bevel

17 actuation movement

18 first section (of 17)

19 second section (of 17)

20 intermediate element (arranged between 8 and 21)

21 actuator (to open 3)

22 hold mechanics

23 locking element

24 open position (of 3)

25 release element

26 locked position (of 23)

27 releasing position (of 23)

28 fork

29 starting position (of 25)

30 pawl mechanism

31 pawl

32 ratchet wheel 33 locking movement (of 23)

34 sliding part

35 locking plane (in this one 34 moves)

36 recess (in 8) 37 ON position (of 8)

38 pass-through windows (through which 8 is actuable unless blocked by 4/6)

39 lead (in 8 to lead 6 towards 12)

40 bearing surface (from 6 to slide to 41) 41 sliding surface

42 swivel part

43 pins

44 touch surface

45 guiding device 46 fixing means

47 protrusion

48 limiters

49 center of rotation

50 axis of rotation 51 lock nut

/ Expectations

Claims

Expectations

1.Actuating device (1) for actuating at least two valves (3) of a valve arrangement (2), characterized in that

- that by actuating one of the at least two valves (3) in an actuating direction (11), a blocking element (4) of the actuating device (1) can be moved into a blocking position (5) and

- That an actuation of at least one, preferably all the others, of the at least two valves (3) is blocked as soon as the blocking element (4) is in the blocking position (5).

2.Actuating device (1) according to claim 1,

- wherein at least one blocking part (6a, 6b, 6c) of the blocking element (4) is designed as a sliding part (34) and/or can be displaced into the blocking position (5), and/or

- wherein at least one blocking part (6a, 6b, 6c) of the blocking element (4) is designed as a pivoting part (42) and/or can be pivoted into the blocking position (5),

- In particular, wherein the at least one pivoting part (42) is pivotably mounted on a circular path.

3. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, but designed for a valve arrangement (2) with at least three valves (3a, 3b, 3c),

- wherein the blocking element (4) has at least two blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c) which can be displaced into a respective blocking position (5a, 5b, 5c) by a respective actuation of a respective one of the at least three valves (3a, 3b, 3c). and

- An actuation of at least one, preferably all of the others, blocks the at least three valves (3a, 3b, 3c). is as soon as one of the blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c) is in its blocking position (5a, 5b, 5c).

4.Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation of one of the valves (3) causes this valve (3) to open,

- in particular so that a flow of water from a common inlet serving all valves (3) can flow through the opened valve (3).

5.Actuating device (1) according to any one of the preceding

Claims, wherein each of the at least two valves (3) can be individually opened, preferably and closed, by means of the actuating device (1), in particular by means of associated respective actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c), and/or

- Wherein each of the at least two valves (3) can be blocked by means of the blocking element (4), preferably by means of each of the at least two blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c).

6. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein when one of the valves (3a) is blocked, this blocked valve (3a) is prevented from opening by actuating an actuating element (8a) associated with the blocked valve (3a),

- Preferably so that only one of the valves (3) can be opened/actuated at any given time, since opening one of the valves (3a) causes a blockage of all the other valves (3b, 3c) by means of the blocking element (4).

7.Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blockage of the non-actuated valves (3) can be canceled by closing a just opened valve (3) of the valves (3).

8.Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking element (4), in particular the blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c), each in a blocking movement direction (12) in the blocking division (5) are movable, which runs transversely to of, or a respective, direction of actuation (11).

9.actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valves (3) by means of respective,

- preferably each designed as a push button (15),

Actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) can be opened and wherein the actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) the blocking element

(4), in particular at least one respective locking part (6a, 6b, 6c), can move into the locking part (5),

- preferably wherein for this purpose on each of the actuating elements

(8a, 8b, 8c) a respective deflection element (13), for example in the form of an inclined surface (16), is formed, which enables linear actuation of the actuation element (8a) in the actuation direction (11) into a respective blocking movement (14) of at least one of the blocking parts (6a, 6b).

10. Actuating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking parts (6a, 6b, 6c) in two locking position (5a / 5a ^y , 5b / 5b ^y , bc / bc ') are movable, the blocking of a respective adjacent valve (3) are used.

11. Actuating device (1) according to any one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) are each guided linearly, so that movements of the actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) transverse to

operating direction (11) are excluded,

- preferably wherein the blocking element (4), in particular the at least two blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c), guided linearly are, so movements of the locking element (4) / the

Locking parts (6a, 6b, 6c) are excluded in the actuating direction (11).

12. Actuating device (1) according to any one of the preceding

Claims, wherein when any two of the actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) are actuated simultaneously, all of the valves

(3) are blocked by means of the blocking element (4),

- in particular so that two valves (3) cannot be opened at the same time,

- Preferably for this purpose the blocking element (4) a

Active connection between the actuating elements (8a, 8b,

8c) produces.

13. Actuating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two locking parts (6a, 6b, 6c)

- Can touch and actuate each other when one of the blocking parts (6a, 6b, 6c) is moved into a respective blocking position (5a, 5b, 5c) and/or

- reach through the actuating elements (8), in particular to be able to touch one another, and/or

- are each guided in a guide (39) along the locking movement direction (12), which is formed by the actuating elements (8),

- in particular wherein the guide (39) allows a displacement of the actuating elements (8) in the actuating direction (11) relative to the respective blocking part (6), and/or

- each have a bearing surface (40), by means of which the respective blocking part (6a, 6b, 6c) is mounted on a displacement surface (41) such that it can be displaced or pivoted without tilting.

14. Actuating device (1) for actuating at least two valves (3) of a valve arrangement (2), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with

- one actuating element each (8a, 8b, 8c) for opening each of the at least two valves (3),

- wherein the valves (3) are each designed to be self-closing, characterized in that

- that the actuating device has a holding mechanism (22) with which the valves (3) can be held individually in a respective open position (24).

15. Actuating device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the valves (3a), which is currently held in the open position (24) by the holding mechanism (22), by actuating another, just closed valve (3b ) is releasable or

- Wherein the holding mechanism (22) has a release element (25) which can release each of the valves (3) by means of a release movement (33).

16. Actuating device (1) according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the valves (3) by means of at least one sliding part (34) and/or by means of at least one pivoting part (42) of the holding mechanism (22) in the respective open position (24) can be locked,

- In particular, wherein the at least one sliding part (34) in a locking plane (35) transverse to a

actuating direction (11) of the actuating elements (8) can be displaced into a respective locking position (26),

- preferably wherein the at least one sliding part (34)

- can be displaced in the locking plane (35) by actuating one of the actuating elements (8) in the actuating direction (11), and/or - engages in the respective locking position (26) in the respective recesses (36) of the actuating elements (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d),

- in particular to lock the actuating elements (8) in an ON position (37), in which an associated one of the valves (3) is held in the open position (24), and/or

- Is mounted linearly, in particular so that movements of the at least one sliding part (34) in the

Actuating direction (11) are excluded.

17. Actuating device (1) according to one of claims 14 to 16, wherein an actuation of at least one of the actuating elements (8), but preferably all the other actuating elements (8), is blocked as soon as the at least one sliding part (34) of one of the actuating elements ( 8) locked,

- In particular, in this situation, the at least one sliding or pivoting part (8) a respective

Access window (38) of the blocked actuators (8) blocked.

/ Summary