Patent Publication Number: US-2021180621-A1

Title: Valve arrangement

Description:
The invention relates to a method for controlling the discharge of a liquid from a fitting, particularly for the discharge of water from a thermostatic mixing valve or thermostatic mixing battery, comprising a control knob which interacts with a valve stem of a first valve, wherein the control knob has a first stop element or such originates therefrom, which interacts with a second or a third stop element or a stop device, which is or are arranged fixed in position as relates to the first valve, as a function of the position of the control knob, wherein the liquid discharged from the fitting
         has a temperature T1 upon interaction of the first stop element with the second stop element,   has a temperature T2, where T2&gt;T1, after the second stop element is overcome and the first stop element is interacting with the third stop element, and   has a temperature T3, where T3&gt;T2, after the third stop element is overcome.       

     The subject matter of the invention is also a liquid valve assembly, particularly a thermostatic mixing valve or battery, comprising a control knob, interacting with a valve stem originating from a valve housing, having a first stop element adjustable with said control knob, which stop element interacts with second and third stop elements or stop devices arranged in a fixed position as relates to the valve housing or on the valve housing, in different rotational positions of the rotary knob. 
     In order to prevent scalding, it is customary to limit water fixtures to a maximum end temperature of about 42° C. However, this temperature carries the risk of microbial contamination with, e.g.,  Legionella  bacteria, which makes it necessary to carry out a thermal disinfection, in which the liquid is flushed through the lines and the fitting at a temperature of, e.g., 70° C. 
     Mixing batteries having two stops are typically used in hospitals, nursing homes, or children&#39;s homes, wherein the temperature can be up to 38° C. when a first stop is reached and the temperature can be between 38° C. and 42° C. in the region between the first and the second stop. In order to carry out a disinfection, the second stop must be overcome. This is frequently done by opening the fitting in order to then manually adjust the control knob actuating the fitting such that flushing takes place at the temperature enabling disinfection. 
     The corresponding handling is associated with high labor requirements. In addition, there is the risk that the control knob may not be remounted properly to the extent that there is the risk of scalding upon use. 
     The subject matter of EP 1 903 268 A2 is a control knob for a water valve, which is attached to a valve stem originating from a valve housing in a movable manner and which has a fixed stop, which interacts with at least one stop arranged on the valve housing, wherein a stop is provided on the control knob, which stop is arranged concealed further outward and which is releasable from its stop position, wherein a device is provided for interacting with the control knob in order to displace the releasable stop from its stop position in order to release the internal limit. This device is arranged to be displaceable in the axial direction as relates to the control knob in order to release the stop. 
     A control knob of a fitting as per EP 0 778 434 A1 is arranged, in a rotationally fixed manner, on a valve stem with limited rotation and which originates from a valve housing, wherein a rotary stop, which is releasable by a user, is provided on the valve for the control knob. Furthermore, the control knob is arranged to have limited axial displacement on the valve stem and has at least one axial protrusion, which interacts with one or more stops of the valve housing such that the axial protrusion of the control knob is rotatable on the stop or stops, in the one axial end position. 
     The object upon which the present invention is based is to further refine a method and a valve assembly of the aforementioned type such that harmless use can occur and simultaneously there is the option of easily implementing a disinfection. 
     According to the invention, the object is achieved according to the method in that the liquid discharge is then shut off by means of a shut-off valve, as a second valve, which is actuated via a codable electric control unit when the liquid discharged by the first valve has the temperature T3, and in that the shut-off valve is only opened at temperature T3 when a specified code is entered into the control unit. 
     According to the invention, the third stop element and/or stop device, which is the second stop element or stop device immovably assigned to the valve housing, can consequently be controllably overcome in order to carry out disinfection without the risk of, for example, scalding occurring; a liquid discharge is suppressed by means of the electrically actuating shut-off valve, e.g. solenoid valve, when the liquid exiting from the valve has a temperature which could lead to a hazard. In this case, the temperature can be measured, for example in a tub inlet or in a shower inlet or showerhead or in a tub, by means of one or more sensors in order to impact the control unit for shutting off the second valve. Preferably, a temperature measurement can take place at several points in order to prevent a hazard, wherein a shut-off of the second valve takes place when an impermissible temperature is recorded at a sensor. 
     In a refinement of the invention, it is further provided that a warning sound beeps when the temperature reaches a critical range, which warning sound occurs intermittently at a temperature of 41° C. and beeps continually at a higher temperature of, e.g., 42° C. 
     If temperature T3 is reached, the shut-off valve is closed according to the invention so that the water supply is interrupted. In order to open the shut-off valve, a code must be entered, for example, on a touch panel or touch screen. After the code is entered, the continued water supply is enabled at increased temperatures, wherein the shut-off valve is automatically closed after a specified and/or adjustable timeframe. 
     Upon the next use of the fitting, the shut-off valve remains open or is only open when the temperature recorded by the one or more sensors is below critical temperature T3. 
     In particular, it is provided that the first stop element interacts with an insurmountable fourth stop element or stop device after the third stop element or device is overcome and upon a further actuation, such as turning, of the control knob. 
     In the following, the term “stop element” is always used even if it refers as well to a stop device such as an intermediate space. 
     Preferably, the first stop element connected to the control knob is adjusted radially in the direction of the valve stem in order to overcome the second stop element, i.e. the first stop element immovably assigned to the valve. 
     In order to bypass the third stop element, the first stop element is adjusted both radially and axially. 
     A liquid valve assembly of the aforementioned type is characterized in that an electrically actuatable shut-off valve is assigned to the valve assembly as a second valve, which is connected to a control unit, by means of which the shut-off valve can be automatically shut off when the temperature of the liquid in the outlet region and/or in a receptacle collecting the liquid exceeds a specified temperature T3, and in that the shut-off valve remains closed when there is no entering of a specified code into the control unit, provided a temperature T, where T≥T3, continues to prevail in the liquid. 
     If the third stop element, which is the second stop element immovably assigned to the valve, is overcome and thus a temperature can prevail at the outlet of the valve assembly which can lead to a hazard, the liquid inflow through the shut-off valve, which is preferably a solenoid valve, is automatically shut off. In order to carry out disinfection regardless of this, a code must be entered into the control unit in order to reopen the shut-off valve. After completion of disinfection or after the shut-off valve is again automatically shut off, the control knob is rotated back after a predefined time in order to shut off the first valve or to adjust it such that permissible temperatures prevail. The shut-off valve is opened after a previously programmed time or through the input of a code. When the sensors then record a temperature upon the liquid inflow which is below the hazard level, the shut-off valve thus remains open and a customary use of the valve assembly is enabled. 
     In particular, it is provided that the valve assembly has a fourth stop element which is immovably assigned to the valve housing and which can be overcome by the first stop element. 
     Thus, the invention is particularly characterized in that the valve assembly has a total of three stops immovably assigned to the first valve, wherein liquid has an outlet temperature which enables a disinfection upon the adjustment between the immovable second and third stop, i.e. the third and fourth stop element. 
     In particular, it is provided that the first stop element is formed to be radially adjustable via a spring-preloaded actuating element originating from the control knob for overcoming the second and third stop element. 
     Furthermore, it should be emphasized that at least the second and the third stop element originate from a base structure penetrated by the valve stem and coaxially surrounding it and connected to the valve housing or forming a section therefrom, which base structure should have an upper side with a ring geometry, wherein the second stop element is a first end surface of a first annular or hollow cylinder casing section originating from the upper side and extending coaxially as relates to the valve stem, and/or the third stop element is formed by an intermediate space extending coaxially as relates to the second annular or hollow cylinder casing section, which extends between a second end surface of the first hollow cylinder casing section and a first end surface of a second annular or hollow cylinder casing section extending coaxially as relates to the valve stem. 
     The end surfaces should extend perpendicular or diagonal as relates to the plane spanned by the upper side. 
     The inner sides of the hollow cylinder casing sections in this case provide guide surfaces for the first stop element originating from the control knob upon a rotation of the control knob. 
     It is provided in refinement that the second hollow cylinder casing section has, as the fourth stop element, i.e. the third immovable stop, a section which is angled or offset in the direction of the stem in its end region positioned remotely as relates to its first end surface. 
     In this case, the inner surface of the second hollow cylinder casing section also serves as the guiding surface during adjustment of the first stop element. 
     In order to prevent an unintentional overcoming of the third stop element, it is provided that a radially extending protrusion originates from the inner side of the second hollow cylinder casing section and in the region of its first end surface, the height of said protrusion extending in the axial direction of the base structure preferably being less than the height of the second hollow cylinder casing section. Thus, not only a radial adjustment of the first stop element is necessary, but also the control knob must be moved axially away from the valve housing. In other words, it is provided that the first stop element is adjusted radially in the direction of the stem and axially in order to overcome the protrusion. 
    
    
     
       Further details, advantages, and features of the invention result not only from the claims, the features to be taken from said claims—on their own and/or in combination—as well as the preferred exemplary embodiment to be obtained from the following description of the drawing. 
       The following is shown: 
         FIG. 1  a valve assembly; 
         FIG. 2  the valve assembly according to  FIG. 1  in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 3  an annular body with stop elements; 
         FIG. 4  a schematic representation of the annular body in a top view with stop elements; 
         FIG. 5  a section of a bathtub with touch panel; 
         FIG. 6  a schematic representation of the valve assembly with shut-off valve; and 
         FIG. 7  an installation diagram. 
     
    
    
     The teaching according to the invention is explained by means of the figures; based on said teaching, a thermal disinfection of a water fitting can take place at temperatures of, e.g., 60° C. to 70° C. without the risk of scalding during normal operation of the fitting. 
     To this end, it is provided according to the invention that an electrically actuatable shut-off valve  12  is arranged in the inlet or outlet of a valve assembly  10 , which shut-off valve then automatically shuts off when a temperature is recorded, via one or more sensors  16 , in the outlet region of the valve assembly  10  and/or in a region, in which liquid is collected, which is above a permissible temperature, i.e. particularly above 42° C. In order to carry out a disinfection regardless of this, i.e. in order to reopen the shut-off valve  12 , a code must be entered, e.g. via a touch panel, based on which the shut-off valve  12  is opened via a control unit  14 . The sensor or sensors in this case may be provided, for example, in the inlet of a bathtub or in a showerhead and/or a supply line to a showerhead and/or in a bathtub itself. 
     The valve assembly  10  in this case makes it possible that water can be discharged in various temperature ranges due to the interaction of stop elements, which are to be described in greater detail in the following, wherein the range can also be adjusted without changes to the valve assembly in that a thermal disinfection is implemented. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a valve assembly  100 . A rotatable valve stem  104  with groove toothing  106  protrudes from a valve housing  102  of a particularly thermostat-controlled water-mixing valve in order to be connected, in a rotationally fixed manner, to a control knob  108 , which has toothing  110  corresponding to the grooving  106 . 
     A handle  111  for turning the adjusting knob  108  protrudes laterally from the adjusting knob  108 , which is basically formed as a cylinder head. Furthermore, an actuating element  114 , which is pretensioned by means of, e.g., a spring  112 , is provided protruding radially, with the first stop element  116  originating from the actuating element, with the stop element interacting with the further stop elements immovably assigned to the valve and described in greater detail in the following. These stop elements originate from an annular and/or hollow-cylinder-shaped base structure  118 , and specifically its upper side  120  extending perpendicular as relates to the longitudinal axis of the stem  104 . The base structure  118  in this case is likewise immovably connected to the housing  102  via toothing. 
     The upper side  120  can be formed by an annular disk which is the headwall of the base structure  118 . 
     In the present application, the term “stop element” also includes stop device or other means, by means of which the rotational movement of the control knob  108  is limited. 
     Cold water and hot water supply lines  122 ,  124  as well as a discharge line  126 , which is connected, e.g., to the pipe of a showerhead  128  and/or to an inlet  130  of a bathtub  132 , are connected to the valve housing  102 . 
     Alternatively, the shut-off valve may also be provided in the discharge line of the valve assembly  10 , as is indicated by the dashed lines shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In order to obtain water of different temperature ranges, the first stop element  116 , which is connected to the rotary knob  108 , interacts with stop elements of the annular body  118  immovably connected to the valve assembly  100 , as is shown by means of  FIG. 3 . 
     The first stop element  116  extends particularly in the axial direction of the valve housing  102  and may have the shape of a pin, such as a cylinder section. 
     Two annular sections, which are spaced apart from one another and thus have an intermediate space  138  available, which extend coaxially as relates to the longitudinal axis of the base structure  118  and thus of the stem  104  and which are also characterized as the first and second hollow cylinder casing sections  134 ,  136 , originate from the upper side  120  of the base structure  118  extending perpendicular as relates to the longitudinal axis of the stem. The inner sides  140 ,  142  of the annular sections  134 ,  136  likewise extend coaxially as relates to the longitudinal axis of the base structure  118  and serve as a guiding surface for the first stop element  116 , shown purely schematically, which is shown in three positions in  FIG. 3 . 
     The first annular section  134  has a first end surface  144 , which extends radially as relates to the stem axis and perpendicular as relates to the plane spanned by the upper side  120 . 
     This first end surface  144  forms a second stop element, which is a first stop element or a first stop, which is positioned immovably in the valve assembly  100 . 
     The intermediate space  138  between the first and the second annular or hollow cylinder casing section  134 ,  136  forms a third stop element, which is a second stop element which is immovably arranged. Consequently, the intermediate space  138  is delimited by the second end surface  146  of the first annular section  134  and by the opposite-facing first end surface  148  of the second annular section  136 . In this case, the second end surface  146  extends at an obtuse angle as relates to the inner surface  140  of the first annular section  134  such that a diagonal is formed which enables the rotary knob  108  to be turned back with low-friction if the rotary knob  108  is rotated clockwise, as in the exemplary embodiment. 
     Furthermore, an inwardly protruding protrusion  150 , which is to be characterized as a cam, originates from the first end surface region of the second annular section  136 , the height of the protrusion extending in the longitudinal direction of the annular body  118  being less than the height of the annular section  136  itself. 
     The second annular section  136  is angled inward (section  151 ) in its region which is remote from the first end surface  148  in order to thus form a further, i.e. fourth, stop element for the stop  116  originating from the control knob  108 , in the transition region  152 . The fourth stop element, which is the third immovable stop element, is thus formed by an end section of the annular section  136  which is inwardly offset. 
     Thus, the annular body  118  has three stop elements, namely the first end surface  144  of the first annular section  134 , the intermediate space or gap  138  formed by the end surfaces  146 ,  148  of the first and second annular section  134 ,  136 , as well as the region  152  extending through angled region of the second annular section  136 , as a second, third, and fourth stop element. 
       FIG. 4  shows three regions  154 ,  156 ,  158  in reference to the base structure  108  and/or the annular disk  120  such that when the first stop element  116  originating from the control knob  108  is situated in these regions, the water flowing from the outlet has temperatures deviating from one another. 
     When the valve is closed, the first stop element  116  is situated in the region of the line  162 . If the control knob  108  is turned counter-clockwise up to line  164 , the first stop element  116  reaches the first second stop element  144  originating from the annular disk  120 , said second stop element being the first end surface of the annular section  134 . In the region  154  up to the second stop element  144 , water between cold and, e.g., a maximum of 38° C. (T1) is discharged by the valve assembly. 
     In order to reach a higher temperature, the stop element which is formed by the end surface  144  of the first annular section  134  and designated as the second stop element must be overcome. To this end, the first stop element  116  is moved radially inward due to the pressing of the actuating element  114  into the control knob  108  (dashed circle  166  in  FIG. 4 ) such that further rotation of the control knob  108  is possible. In this case, when the actuating element  114  is released, the first stop element  116  is guided along the inner surface  140  of the first annular element  134  in a sliding manner A rotation of the control knob  108  continues to be possible until the stop element  116 , which is forced outward from impact due to the effect of the spring  112 , slides into the gap or intermediate space  148  between the first and the second annular element  134 ,  136 , i.e. engages the stop characterized as the third stop element. Further rotation beyond the third stop (line  168 ) is not possible. The temperature of the water in this region  156  between the second and third stop is typically between 38° C. and 42° C. (T2) as a function of the position of the control knob  108 . 
     Basically, the second stop element which immovably originates from the base structure  118  and/or the annular disk  120 , which is characterized as the third stop element  148 , cannot be overcome by means of turning the control knob  108 . In the event of an axial—upward in the figure—adjustment, the cam  150  can be overcome if the first stop element  116  is simultaneously adjusted inward. In this case, the valve would be opened in a scope such that temperatures of more than 42° C. to 60° C., e.g. 70° C. (T3), would prevail and thus there would be a risk of scalding. 
     In order to prevent this in a controlled manner, the shut-off valve  12  is provided according to the invention which closes via the control unit  14 , provided the sensors  16  record temperatures, e.g., of above 42° C. However, an opening of the shut-off valve  12  is possible when a code is entered into the control panel by a person authorized to do this so that the thermal disinfection can take place. 
     If the control knob  108  in the exemplary embodiment is turned clockwise and thus the valve reaches a position in which water of a permissible temperature flows out, this is recorded by the sensor or sensors such that the shut-off valve  12  remains open via the control unit  14  and thus a normal use of the mixing battery is possible. Of course, the shut-off valve must be opened beforehand, whether it be programmed to do so or upon the entry of a code. 
     Line  168  is intended to show the position in which the first stop element  116  basically engages the third stop element  148  and which indicates the maximum permissible adjustment range for the mixing valve. The range in which the disinfecting temperature can be reached is limited by straight lines  168 ,  170 , wherein straight line  170  indicates the position in which the first stop element  116  is insurmountably adjacent the third stop element  152 , which is characterized as the fourth stop element, and which is immovably originating from the base structure  118 . 
     The valve assembly  100  with the stop elements and/or stop devices  116 ,  138 ,  144 ,  152  has independent protection and is inherently inventive. 
       FIG. 7  shows, purely schematically, an installation diagram, based on which it is ensured that a disinfection of the valve assembly  100  can take place without, for example, the bathtub  132  being filled with water or water exiting from the showerhead  128  which has a temperature which represents a risk of scalding. 
     The valve assembly  100  is connected to lines  122 ,  124  in order to supply hot and cold water. A line  125 , in which the water has the temperature set via the valve assembly, originates from the connection  126  of the valve assembly. 
     In order to ensure that the water has a permissible temperature, sensors  127 ,  129 ,  131  are arranged in the supply lines to the showerhead  128  and the water inlet to the bathtub  132  as well as a sensor  131  arranged in the bathtub  132  itself. These sensors are connected, for example, to a microprocessor in the control unit in order to then close the solenoid valves or other equivalent electrically actuatable valves arranged in the supply lines to the bathtub  132  and/or the showerhead  128  when an impermissibly high temperature is recorded. 
     If corresponding shut-off valves  133 ,  135  are provided on the outlet side, corresponding valves may obviously also be provided in the supply lines to the valve assembly  100  or in the connections of these supply lines.