Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Tl~MPERATUR~-CONTROLLl~D MIXING FITTINt:
BACRGROllND OF T~IE Dl SCLOSIJRE
FIE:LD OF T~ INV~NTION
Mixing fittings of this kind have not come into very
widespread use to date. The reasons for thîs lie not only in
the comparatively high cost of such fittings, but also and
especially in a complicated manufacturing technology in
combination with a design not very amenable to installation and
repair.
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTION
The object of the invention is to eliminate these
disadvantages and so provide a mixing fitting whereof the
complex ~etails present no manufacturing problem and whose
components are structural and functional units, dependable in
operation, easy to install, interconnectable and readily
replaceable. Also, the fitting is easily actuated manually in
the event of power failure.
This object is accomplished essentially by the
structural combination of several modules, namely:
1. a valve module having one or more valves for mixing,
shu~off and/or distribution, with one or more
temperature sensors but at least one temperatùre
- - sensor-for the mixed-water,
2. an electromechanical motor module having electrical
contacts for automatic contacting witll the temperature
sensor or sensors and means for automatic coupling of
the electric drives to the valve or valves, and
3. a control module which houses the electron~cs.
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BRl~P DESCRIPTION OP T~ D~A~INGS
In the drawings, the inven~ion is represe~ted by two
embodiments by way of example, to wit:
~ IG. l is a front eleva~ional view of a mixing fitting,
according to the i~venti~n;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view in side elevation;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the valve module
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a motor-reducer
module;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view,
partly in section, of the coupling means of a cold and hot
wa~er valve and the associated motor; a~d
FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating
another embodiment of the invention.
DBTAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~ PREFE~RXD ~M~ODIMENT
In the figures, 7 designates a valve module having 2 cold
water inlet 9, a hot water inl~ 8 a~d mixed water outlets 10,
e.g. for tub or shower use. In valve module 7, there are
openings 11 to accommodate a hot water, a c~ld water and a
three-way valve 12,i3,14, FIG. 3. The valves have coupling
means in the form of flanges 15 and are threaded on the valve
spindles 16. The valves include tooth profiles 17 which are
engaged by coupling means of a motor reducer module l~. Valve
mod~e 7 further Xas temperature sensors 19 for cold9 hot and
mixed water reducers 20 on the cold and hot water side sound
absorbers.
Motor reducer module 18 has a mo~or 21 ~or cold water, a
motor 22 for hot water~ and a motor 23 for mixed w~ter. The
motors are each associated-with reducin~ g~ars, not shown,
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cooperating with the coupling ~eans of motor reducer module 18
These coupling means comprise spring cross-couplings 24, shown
in FIG. 5, its longer fingers 25 engaging frontal rece5ses 26
of coupling gears 27, whi~e the shorter, projecting spring
fingers 28 engage teeth 17 of coupling flanges lS of valves
12,13,14. The coupling means of motor reducer module 18
further comprises gears 29 fixedly connected to coupling gears
27 and rotatable together with them, are stationary bearings
30, while on the other hand, coupling gears 27 with the motor
transmissions, not shown. In the event o~ a power failure,
however, the transmissions of cold and hot water motors 21,22
can be uncoupled. A decoupling of the transmission of smaller
motor 23 to control the mixed water and, hence, three-way
valve 14 may be provided in the embodiments shown~
Motor reducer module 18, at the end facing valve module
7, is provided with a wall serving as conductor plate 31,
which, in addition to electric spring contacts 32 for
temperature sensors 19 and motors 21,22,23, is provided with
plug contacts 33 for connection to the supply voltage of a
transformer, not shown, and a bar 34 to deliver the supply
voltage to the electronics of control 35, having a multi-pole
flat cable plug 36 for connection to bar 34.
Motor reducer module 18 is equipped with manually
actuable shafts 37, of which two shafts are directly
connectable to gears 29 of coùpiing 27 for cold and hot water
valves 12,13, while being decoupled from transmissions of
motors 21,22. The third shaft 37 is continuously in
communication by way of a belt drive, not shown, with ex~ernal
teeth 38 of coupling gear 27 associated with motor 23 for
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three-way valve 14.
As shown, control module 35 provides LED displays 39 and
a film keyboard 40 for the various functions, such as on and
off, shower or tub flow and temperature setting, cold or hot
water operation, time recall, and possible other functions.
Control module 35 is provided with handwheels 41, the
outer two of which may be brought into engagement with gears
29 by way of two of the shafts 37 in the event of power failure
assoicated with motors 21,22 for hot and cold water valves
12,13. Two outer handwheels 41 are pushed in somewhat in the
event of power failure, thereby disengaging the associated
motor reducers. In this way, the mixing fitting remains
operational by manual actuation without much exertion. As to
the three-way valve, decoupling from the smaller motor is not
required. Manual actuation is readily achieved when needed by
way of intermediate handwheel 41 and the belt drive.
Modules 7,18,35 are arranged in the opening of a wall, not
shown. Valve module 7 is contained in a recessed box 42 and
covered with a housing 43 before final installation, to be
afterwards replaced by motor reducer module 18. The wall
opening is closed watertight to the outside by control module
35. For this--purpose, control module 35-is provided with a rim
44 to rest in contact with the wall, with interposition of a
seal disposed in a peripheral groo~e 45. Rim 44 is also
connected watertight, welded to film keyboard 40, and is an
integral part of housing 46 sealing the electronics of control
module 35, of which housing, the wall forming keyboard 40
passes through opening 47 of a surround 48, by which it is
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encircled like a rosette. Surround 48 has a bottom flap 4
for access to handwheels 41, When flap 49 is open, the time
may also be set after first pressing clock symbol key 50.
Valve module 7 and motor reducer module 18 are provided
with openings 51 to accommodate centering pins 52 for positive
centering between valve module 7 and motor reducer module 18.
Valve module 7 has a threaded opening 53 for ~crew connection
to motor reducer module 18, by screw 54 through hole 55 in
motor reducer module 18. Valve module 7 is further provided
with openings 56 for screw connection 57 to recessed box 42
and housing 43.
Control module 35 is connected by two screws 58 to motor
reducer module 18. Screws 58 are splashproofed from the
outside by caps 59.
Valves 12,13,14 are held in a T-shaped body 60, and motors
21,22,23 are laterally offset from valves 12,13,14 so that
after structural assembly of modules 7,18,35, they are
positioned about in the plane of valves 12,13,14.
According to a further embodiment, shown in FIG. 6,
cross-couplings 24' may be alternatively rigid with longer and
shorter fingers 25' and 28'. The engagement of cross-coupling
24' is assisted by corrugated springs 61 provided between
coupling gears 27 and the one wall 62 of motor reducer module
18. Cross-couplings 24,24' are imprisoned behind lugs 63 of
bearings 30.
Independently of the position of valves 12,13,14 and
hence of teeth 17 of coupling flange 15, the shorter fingers
28,28' of cross-couplings 24,24' will automatically mesh with
flange ~eeth 15 after assembly of modules 7,35. Stripping or
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jamming by the screw connection of modules 7/1~ owing to
placement of cross-couplings 24,24' being in misengagement,
is ruled out.
As previously mentioned, the embodiments represented and
described are only examples of the invention, and the latter
is not limlted thereto, rather there are still other
possibilities and variations within the scope of the
invention. Thus, besides rotary drives such a~ for example,
direct-current motors, linear motors may be employed instead,
their physical principles beinq electromagnetic, piezoelectric
or thermal. Also, still other functions are conceivable, for
example, automatic actuation of a drain valve. As to the keys
64, for cold water only or hot water only, right or left
respectively, to avoid accidental scalding the "START-STOP"
key must be pressed after pressing the lefthand key 64 if hot
water operation is intended. As to the "VOL. IN ~", provision
is made 50 that a setting from 20% is available for shower
operation and any volume set~ing for tub operation. The valves
12,13,14 are of conventional type, with cartridge-shaped
housing 63 and stops 66. Lastly, of course, surface-mounted
designs may be preferred, as well as variants serving purposes
other than tub and shower operation.
