Abstract:
The present invention is part of the field of flowrate mixing and adjusting devices and in particular relates to a new device for mixing and adjusting the flow of liquids with electronic control of the temperature and of the flowrate, for domestic and/or industrial plumbing systems. The device is modular and stackable.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to the field of devices for mixing and adjusting the flowrate and in particular relates to a new device for mixing and regulating the flow of liquids with electronic control of the temperature and of the flowrate for plumbing systems, for domestic and/or industrial use. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Plumbing plants are known that are installed in homes, offices and factories to serve corresponding installations. Currently, said plumbing plants have two distinct pipes, one for cold water and the other for hot water, so as to convey the water to each plumbing accessory such as washbasins, showers, etc. At the dispenser and the mixer, the flowrate of the outlet flow is mixed and adjusted by fixtures and fittings that open or close, to different extents, the check valves located in the pipes. With these mechanical adjusting systems the ratio between the flowrates of the flows of hot and cold flows is adjusted, i.e. the final temperature of the water. The aforesaid technology, of mechanical type, is not devoid of drawbacks, first above all the high labour costs for installation and maintenance. It is also known that said double-pipe systems require walls to be demolished if the double-pipe systems are replaced or repaired and/or to modify the position of the plumbing installations which implies greater labour and material costs. 
         [0003]    Single-pipe plumbing plants are also known i.e. plants comprising a sole pipe that conveys already mixed water to the plumbing installation. 
         [0004]    In this case, mixing occurs upstream of the distribution, in a mixing collector, where the two pipes of the hot and cold water arrive and from which a single delivery conduit leads, for each plumbing feature as far as the installation to be served. The water, which has been properly mixed so as to have the desired temperature, reaches the installation through the single conduit, avoiding the use of two pipes, as indicated above. 
         [0005]    In this manner, the use of two pipes is avoided, with a significant saving of time and material and installation costs. 
         [0006]    In this case, mixing occurs upstream of distribution of the corresponding device, generally near the boiler, and by means the distribution collector, a three-way valve being connected -respectively at the inlet- to the hot and cold water conduits, at the outlet to the delivery conduit of the thus mixed water. 
         [0007]    Each conduit conveys water, mixed by the solenoid valve, to the plumbing installation to be served: the user uses an adjusting knob near the plumbing installation to adjust mixing and through electrical cables connected to the solenoid valve or to the corresponding control circuit commands the operation of the mixing collector. 
         [0008]    In this manner, by modifying the position of the adjusting knob, the position of the solenoid valve is adjusted, i.e. mixing of hot and cold water and the flowrate of the outlet water. 
       DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The aim of the present invention is to provide the prior art with a method and system for mixing and adjusting flows of hot and cold water through electronic control of the temperature and flowrate, so that the water arrives already mixed and at the temperature (and flowrate) requested by the user. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to be compact and easy to install. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to be modular, with the advantage of being conveniently joined to same devices. 
         [0012]    The rapid stacking holes simplify the assembly of several devices, thus creating a compact distribution system. 
         [0013]    Another object is to provide, in the case of joining of several devices as disclosed above, common serving by a single inlet conduit of the cold water and inlet conduit of the hot water. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to create contacts that are able to act as a supply bridge for supplying the entire distribution pack formed of several joined devices; only one of said devices will be connected to the electric source. 
         [0015]    Another object of the present invention is the use of a pressure switch that owing to detection of the outlet pressure triggers an emergency system in the case of water leaks. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is the use of minimal components and reduced dimensions of the object so as to reduce costs and waste. 
         [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to use materials that are compatible with foodstuffs with high thermal insulation such as PETP, POM-C, TEFLON. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to have a device that is able to control the mixed outlet temperature; a temperature probe, connected to the electronics, conducts a retrospective check of drive motors of the spheres intercepting the fluid of the device. 
         [0019]    Another object of the present invention is to manage with precision the adjustment by using as a reference point a mechanical limit switch. 
         [0020]    Another object o the present invention is to have a device that is able to provide an emergency stop in the event of a supply interruption. 
         [0021]    Such objects and advantages have all been achieved by the modular and composable mixing device, with electronic control of the temperature and of the flowrate of the outlet flow that is the object of the present invention, which is characterised by what is set out in the following claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    This and other features will be clearer from the following description of certain embodiments illustrated merely by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1 : is a schematic illustration of a solenoid valve or device for mixing and adjusting the flow of liquids with electronic control of the temperature and of the flow rate, which is the object of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2 : also illustrates the device without upper casing and in a three-dimensional view 
           [0025]      FIGS. 3 and 3A : illustrate the devices joined in parallel and integral with one another so as to define a single distribution system; the devices are connected electrically by supply bridge contacts and a hot and cold water inlet collector. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the components inside the device; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet another exploded view of the motors controlling pins, control spheres and seal washers, 
           [0028]      FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  illustrate an embodiment of the device with to outlets of the mixed flow that are nevertheless served by a single electronic and hydraulic control system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    With particular reference to the drawings indicated above,  20  overall refers to a solenoid valve or device for mixing and adjusting flow of liquids with electronic control of the temperature and of the flowrate. 
         [0030]    Overall, the solenoid valve  20  comprises a first body  22 , the actual valve body for intercepting fluids, of the three-way type (two inlets, one outlet); said first body  22  is joined to a second body  21  that extends perpendicularly therefrom and is suitable containing components such as for example the motor control electronics for driving fluid intercepting means, and others specified better below. 
         [0031]    As said, the valve body  22  is of the three-way type and thus comprises two inlet holes, indicated with the reference  5 , and a single outlet hole indicated with  9 . The two inlet holes  5  are connectable to the hot and cold water conduits arriving from the plant upstream whereas from the hole  9  the water mixed by the device  20  exits. 
         [0032]    The outlet conduit  9  is obtained along the axis AA of the valve whereas the connecting conduit  23  is obtained along the perpendicular axis BB; in other terms, the conduit  23  connects the conduit  9  and the inlet holes  5  with respective branches. 
         [0033]    The inlet holes  5  are on the other hand connected perpendicularly to both, i.e. along the axis CC defined in  FIG. 3 . Along the conduit  23 , i.e. between the outlet conduit  9  and the respective branches connecting the holes  5 , spheres  4  are located for intercepting and adjusting the flowrates of hot and/or cold water (arriving at each branch). 
         [0034]    The spheres  4  are known members for intercepting fluids and the corresponding passage cavity can be adjusted according to positions of partial and/or total opening or closure of the corresponding conduit  23 . 
         [0035]    In fact, the rotation of the spheres  4  is commandable by respective pins  3  that are inserted into the body  22  through corresponding holes  2  arranged along axes DD that are parallel and coplanar to the axis AA of the outlet pin. 
         [0036]    In turn, the pins  3  are connected, at the opposite end, to corresponding motors-reduction gears  14  that manage the rotation along the corresponding axis DD according to the signals arriving from the control electronics, identified with  1  inside the body  21 . 
         [0037]    Also, the pins  3  have seal members  3 C for coupling between hole  11  so as to ensure the seal thereof. 
         [0038]    A portion  3 B of the pin  3 , namely what extends from the side of the body  21  (i.e. the side of the device  20  that controls the electronics and the control of the spheres) has a square section: this enables the position of the pin to be zeroed, with respect to the rotation axis DD thereof, using a limit switch  12  as a zero point. 
         [0039]    The motors and the limits switches are fixed within the body  21  by means of a support  13 . 
         [0040]    The motors  14  act mechanically on the pins  3  which in turn position the spheres controlling the flowrate. 
         [0041]    From the drawing, the end portion  3 D of the pin  3  is observed, said end portion  3 D being suitable for insertion into a seat  18  obtained on the corresponding sphere; the section of said seat  18  and of the corresponding portion  3 D is quadrangular so as to make the pin  3  and the sphere  4  integral and in this manner to adjust the flowrate and the temperature. 
         [0042]    The control electronics  1  acts on the motors  14  controlling the position thereof through the aforesaid mechanical limit switch. 
         [0043]    The disclosed system is thus able to adjust two distinct flows coming from the holes  5  found in the valve body  22 . 
         [0044]    Holes  10  are also present for rapid stacking of the units that have just been disclosed; in fact, as has been said, the system is modular and can consist of two or more devices  20  with valve bodies  22  connected parallel, as drawing  2  clearly illustrates. 
         [0045]    Accordingly, the aforesaid holes  10  simplify the assembly of several devices  20 , creating a compact distribution system that is rapidly stacked. A plurality of contacts  10 B will act as a supply bridge to enable the entire distribution system to be supplied, connecting a sole device  20  to the electric source. 
         [0046]    In order to control the temperature on the mixed outlet  9 , a temperature control probe  6  is located inside the said conduit. 
         [0047]    The probe  6  is connected to the control electronics  1  that can thus precisely adjust the pin  3  control motors to adjust and stabilise the outlet temperature. 
         [0048]    A pressure sensor, indicated overall by the reference  7 , is provided to control the pressure on the mixed outlet  9 , the said pressure sensor comprising:
       a piston  7 A with magnet   a magnet field sensor  7 C   a spring  7 B.       
 
         [0052]    The piston  7 A, if it is driven by pressure on the outlet, approaches the sensor  7 C, which will detect the presence of the associated magnet. 
         [0053]    If the outlet pressure fails, the spring  7 B positions the piston  7 A (with magnet) in the rest position, the point in which the sensor  7 C is unable to detect the presence thereof. 
         [0054]    Said sensor  7 C is connected to the control electronics  1  and provides the system with a precise indication of the presence of pressure at the outlet  9 . 
         [0055]    In this manner, the system is able to detect possible losses and in this case will intervene to take the motors  2 A to the closed position of the conduit  23 . 
         [0056]    As is clear from everything that has been disclosed above, the device  20  is an electromechanical system for adjusting the flow of liquids by suitable positioning of the spheres  4 . 
         [0057]    The device also comprises storage batteries, identified with  8 , which will activate an emergency mode even in the absence of mains electric power. The batteries  8  enable the spheres to be returned to the closed position and the security of the system to be ensured. 
         [0058]    With  30 , in drawing  3 , the LED indicating correct operation or a fault of the device  20  is indicated, whereas  31 , in drawing  3 A, indicates the distribution collector of the two flows of hot and cold water, the collector being placed at the inlet of the series of devices  20  joined together as disclosed previously. 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIG. 6  there is illustrated an embodiment of the device  20 ; it comprises two outlets served by a single motor/electronic and hydraulic control. 
         [0060]    The two outlets are indicated by  9  and  19 . 
         [0061]    Now, the balls  4  of the single valve  22  have holes that are such that one is aligned with the motor and thus remains always positioned as in the drawing; substantially, it constantly accepts the water from the collector. The other hole on the sphere can be moved by the rotation of the pin  3  and can in this manner supply the central outlet  9  or the hole upwards that connects with the second outlet  19 . 
         [0062]    A further third position of the sphere  4  will close totally so as to stop the flow.