Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/06—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements
  • F16K11/072—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members
  • F16K11/074—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/06—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements
  • F16K11/072—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members
  • F16K11/074—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces
  • F16K11/0743—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only sliding valves, i.e. sliding closure elements with pivoted closure members with flat sealing faces with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/08—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks
  • F16K11/085—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks with cylindrical plug
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K19/00—Arrangements of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluids
  • F16K19/006—Specially adapted for faucets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C1/044—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
  • E03C1/24—Overflow devices for basins or baths
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C2201/00—Details, devices or methods not otherwise provided for
  • E03C2201/40—Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of hot and cold water mixers, such as for example shower, bath or kitchen sink mixers.
• the invention also relates to a water supply assembly comprising such a water mixer and to a water supply installation comprising such an assembly.
• Water mixers have been known for a long time and allow hot and cold water to be mixed in various proportions in order to provide a user with water at a desired temperature at their outlet.
• This mixer includes two inlets, one for hot water and one for cold water, as well as an outlet delivering a mixture of a quantity of hot water and a quantity of cold water, depending on the choice of the user.
• This mixer is part of an installation in which waste water is also recycled and added downstream to the clean water leaving the mixer for reuse.
• One aim of the invention is to address the problems of known mixer taps.
• the invention is defined by the independent claims.
• the dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.
• a four-way water mixer comprising a first water inlet, a second water inlet, a third water inlet and a single water outlet.
• the mixer also includes passage means to put the single water outlet in fluid communication: a. either with only the first water inlet, b. either with only the first water inlet and the second water inlet, c. or with only the first water inlet and the third water inlet.
• Such a mixer makes it possible to deliver, at its single outlet and at the request of a user, either exclusively a quantity of water supplied at its first inlet, for example exclusively recycled water, or a mixture of a quantity of water supplied to its first inlet and a quantity of water supplied to its second inlet, for example a mixture of recycled water and cold water, i.e. a mixture of a quantity of the water supplied to its first inlet and a quantity of water supplied to its third inlet, for example a mixture of recycled water and hot water.
• the mixer also includes passage means for putting the single water outlet in fluid communication with only the second water inlet and the third water inlet.
• a mixer makes it possible to deliver at its single outlet and at the request of a user, a mixture of a quantity of water supplied to its second inlet and a quantity water supplied to its third inlet, for example a mixture of cold water and non-recycled hot water.
• the mixer also includes passage means for putting the single water outlet in fluid communication with only the second water inlet, for example non-recycled cold water, or with only the third water inlet. water, for example non-recycled hot water. This allows even more flexibility in the composition of the water supplied to the single outlet of the mixer.
• the mixer also includes means for controlling a water flow at the single water outlet, said control means being operable by a user.
• the mixer also includes means for regulating the water temperature at the single water outlet as a function of an outlet water temperature setpoint.
• the invention also provides a water supply assembly comprising such a mixer and a water supply installation comprising such an assembly.
• Fig.1 schematically shows a mixer according to the invention
• Fig.2 shows schematically and in cross section a first example of production of means for passing a mixer according to the invention
• Fig.3 shows schematically and in axial section the first example of producing means for passing a mixer according to the invention
• Fig.4 schematically shows a second embodiment of means for passing a mixer according to the invention
• Fig.5 schematically shows a water supply assembly according to the invention
• Fig.6 schematically shows a preferred water supply assembly according to the invention
• Fig.7 schematically shows a water supply installation according to the invention
• Fig.8 schematically shows a preferred water supply installation according to the invention
• Fig.9 schematically shows a more preferred water supply installation according to the invention.
• Fig.1 schematically shows a mixer according to the invention.
• the mixer comprises a first water inlet (1 1), a second water inlet (12), a third water inlet (13) as well as a single water outlet ( 20), and it includes passage means for putting the single water outlet (20) into fluid communication: a. either with only the first water inlet (1 1), b. either with only the first water inlet (1 1) and the second water inlet (12), c. or with only the first water inlet (1 1) and the third water inlet (13).
• Said means of passage can be of several forms.
• Fig.2 shows schematically and in cross section a first embodiment of the passage means.
• the passage means comprise a first cylinder (30) including three axial channels opening at a first end of the first cylinder (30) and opening at the opposite end of the first cylinder (30) to respectively form the first water inlet (11), the second water inlet (12) and the third water inlet (13).
• the passage means comprise a second cylinder (40) placed end to end with the first cylinder (30) and including an axial hollow having for example the shape as shown in section in Fig.2 (non-hatched part of the section of the second cylinder (40)).
• One end of the second cylinder (40) faces the first end of the first cylinder (30) and the opposite end of the second cylinder (40) forms the single water outlet (20).
• the angular positioning of the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder can for example be done by means of a lever connected to the second cylinder, the first cylinder being fixed, or vice versa.
• the first cylinder (30) and for example placed in an angular position relative to the second cylinder (40) so that the axial hollow faces the first axial channel and partially faces the second axial channel, so that the single water outlet (20) will be in fluid communication with the first water inlet (11) and partially with the second water inlet (12).
• the axial recess can also face only the first axial channel, so that the single water outlet (20) will be in fluid communication with only the first water inlet (11).
• the axial recess can also be placed facing the first axial channel and facing the third axial channel, so that the single water outlet (20) will be in fluid communication with the first water inlet (11) and with the third water inlet (13).
• the passage means make it possible to put the single water outlet (20) in fluid communication with only the second water inlet (12) and the third water inlet (13).
• the passage means make it possible to put the single water outlet (20) in fluid communication with only the second water inlet. water (12) or with only the third water inlet (13).
• Fig.3 shows schematically and in axial section (along A-A) the first example of producing means for passing a mixer according to the invention.
• the two cylinders can for example be made of ceramic in order to ensure flat and wear-resistant contact between the two cylinders.
• Fig.4 schematically shows a second embodiment of means for passing a mixer according to the invention.
• the mixer comprises a first cylinder (30) and a second cylinder (40) nested in the first cylinder (30).
• the first cylinder (30) is a fixed cylinder and has three inlets, respectively the first water inlet (11), the second water inlet (12), and the third water inlet (13).
• the second cylinder (40) has the single water outlet (20) at one of its ends and has on its circumference three openings respectively occupying three arcs of a circle offset angularly and axially the in relation to each other. Each of the three openings is located in a transverse plane which respectively intersects each of the three water inlets.
• the second cylinder (40) By positioning the second cylinder (40) at different angles relative to the first cylinder (30), it is thus possible to place the openings of the second cylinder (40), either facing the first water inlet (11), or facing the second water inlet (12), either facing the third water inlet (13), or facing a combination of two of the three water inlets of the first cylinder (30).
• the first cylinder (30) is for example placed in an angular position relative to the second cylinder (40) so that only one of the three openings (the one which is furthest away) right in Fig.4) faces the third inlet of the second cylinder (40), so that the single water outlet (20) will be in fluid communication with only the third water inlet (13).
• the angular positioning of the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder can for example be done by means of a lever connected to the second cylinder, the first cylinder being fixed, or vice versa.
• the mixer further comprises means for controlling a water flow at the single water outlet (20), said control means being operable by a user.
• said control means can for example include a valve mounted at the single outlet of the mixer.
• said control means can for example comprise an outer ring fixed to the second cylinder (40) and movably connected in axial translation to the first cylinder (30) in order to be able to move the second cylinder ( 40) axially relative to the first cylinder (30) and thus vary the axial position of the three openings.
• Fig.5 schematically shows an assembly for supplying water to a user, according to the invention.
• This assembly comprises a mixer (1) according to the invention and such as for example described above, as well as a device for supply of water (3) to the user, connected or fluidly connectable to the single water outlet (20) of the mixer, as indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 5.
• This water supply device (3) can for example be a hand shower or a faucet spout.
• the assembly also includes an open container (4) for collecting water after being supplied by the water supply device (3).
• This open container (4) can for example be a tub or shower collector, or a sink, or a bathtub.
• the water supply device (3) can for example be a hand shower and the open container (4) can for example be a tub or shower collector.
• the assembly also comprises a hydraulic circuit (5) comprising a fourth water inlet (14) connected or fluidically connectable to a first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) and comprising a second water outlet ( 22) connected or fluidically connectable to the first water inlet (11) of the mixer, as indicated by a dotted line in the figure.
• the hydraulic circuit (5) comprises at least one filter (70) and a pump (80) for pumping water coming from the open container (4) and bringing it to the first water inlet (11) of the mixer.
• the filter (70) can for example be a sand filter or an active carbon filter.
• the pump (80) may be any type of pump suitable for pumping water, preferably a pump suitable for pumping hot water.
• the pump (80) is mounted downstream of the filter (70), as shown in Fig.5.
• the water supply assembly preferably also comprises a control unit (60) connected or connectable to the pump and configured to control and start the pump (80) provided that water is present in the open container (4) and that the mixer (1) is placed in a position where the single water outlet (20) is at least partially in fluid communication with the first water inlet (11).
• the detection of the position of the mixer by the control unit (60) can be done by different known means, for example by means of a coding wheel mounted on the moving part of the mixer (for example on the second cylinder 40 of the mixer). example in Fig.3) and connected to the control unit.
• the detection of the presence of water in the open container (4) by the control unit (60) can be done by different known means, for example by means of a water level sensor or presence of water in the open container (4) and connected to the control unit.
• the control unit is configured to start the pump when the mixer (1) is placed in a position where the single water outlet (20) is at least partially in fluid communication with the first water inlet. water (11) and that a minimum water level is present in the open container (4), and to stop the pump as soon as one of these two conditions is no longer satisfied.
• This hydraulic circuit (5) thus makes it possible to recycle the used water as collected in the open container (4) to reinject this water, after having filtered it, into the water supply device (3) via the mixer.
• Fig.6 schematically shows a preferred water supply assembly according to the invention.
• This assembly is identical to the assembly in Fig.5, except that the hydraulic circuit (5) here additionally comprises a water heating device (90) which travels through this hydraulic circuit (5) when the pump (80 ) is in operation.
• the hydraulic circuit (5) here additionally comprises a water heating device (90) which travels through this hydraulic circuit (5) when the pump (80 ) is in operation.
• the advantage of providing such a heating device is to be able to maximize the quantity of recycled water while maintaining thermal comfort for the user, and thus to minimize the consumption of non-recycled hot water.
• the heating device (90) may for example comprise an electric heating resistor, as used in a conventional instantaneous water heater for example.
• the heating device (90) has a fixed heat capacity, that is to say a device operating in “all or nothing” (or “ON/OFF”). It can for example be an electric heating resistor which is either powered or not powered, depending on whether or not there is a need to heat the water circulating in the hydraulic circuit (5).
• the control unit (60) is configured to turn the heating device (90) on or off depending on a difference between a temperature measured by the control unit and a set temperature supplied to the control unit.
• the control unit (60) is for example configured to turn on the heating device (90) when the difference between the measured temperature and the set temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold and provided that the pump is in operation, and to turn off the heating device (90) when the difference between the measured temperature and the set temperature falls below a predetermined threshold or the pump is stopped.
• the temperature measured by the control unit is a temperature measured downstream of the single outlet (20) of the mixer (1), for example by means of a temperature sensor to be placed at such a location and connected to the control unit.
• the set temperature can for example be supplied to the control unit by means of a potentiometer or keys connected to the control unit and on which a user can act.
• the heating device (90) has variable heat capacity and the control unit (60) is configured to modify the heating power of the heating device (90) as a function of the set temperature. chosen by the user. It may for example be an electric heating resistor whose power supply is modulated by the control unit (60) as a function of the difference between the measured temperature and the set temperature as described above. . As this type of heating is known elsewhere, it will not be described in more detail here.
• Fig.7 schematically shows a water supply installation according to the invention.
• the installation comprises a water supply assembly according to the invention and such as for example described above, as well as a cold water inlet (F ) and a hot water inlet (C).
• the open container (4) is arranged to collect water after being supplied by the water supply device (3).
• the open container (4) can be a shower tub placed vertically with a shower head (3).
• the second water inlet (12) of the mixer is connected to the cold water inlet (F) and the third water inlet (13) of the mixer is connected to the hot water inlet (VS).
• Fig.8 schematically shows a preferred water supply installation according to the invention.
• This installation is identical to the installation of Fig.7, except that the installation further comprises a sewer inlet and a three-way controllable valve (100) to which a fifth water inlet (105) is fluidly connected at the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4), a third water outlet (103) of which is fluidly connected to the fourth water inlet (14) of the hydraulic circuit (5), and one of which Fourth water outlet (104) is fluidly connected to the sewer inlet.
• Said controllable valve (100) is for example a solenoid valve.
• the control unit (60) is in this case configured to act on the valve (100) in order to either put the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) in fluid connection with the fourth inlet of water (14) from the hydraulic circuit (5) ("water recycling” mode), or put the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) in fluid connection with the sewer inlet (“mode”) drain”).
• the three-way valve thus allows all or part of the water coming from the open container (4) to be discharged into a sewer. This may be necessary, for example if the water coming from the open container (4) is too dirty, or if the water coming from the open container (4) is added by the mixer (1) to water supplied to the second and/or third water inlet of the mixer (1), so that the open container (4) does not overflow.
• the control unit (60) is thus configured to act on the two positions of the valve (100) depending on the need or circumstances.
• the installation can also include a water level sensor in the open container (4) and the control unit (60) can in this case be configured to put the first water outlet (21) from the open container (4) in fluid connection with the sewer inlet (“drain” mode) as soon as and as long as the water level in the open container (4) exceeds a predefined level, and to put the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) in fluid connection with the fourth water inlet (14) of the hydraulic circuit (5) (“water recycling” mode ), as soon as and as long as the water level in the open container (4) is below a predefined level.
• Fig.9 schematically shows a more preferred water supply installation according to the invention.
• This installation is identical to the installation of Fig.8, except that the installation further comprises a water quality sensor (1 10) arranged between the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) and the three-way valve (100).
• the control unit (60) is in this case also configured to act on the three-way valve and on the pump (80) according to a water quality measurement supplied to it by the water quality sensor (110).
• the control unit (60) is in this case configured to act on the valve (100) to put the first water outlet (21) of the open container (4) in fluid connection with the fourth water inlet.
• control unit is therefore configured to turn on the pump (80) and thus recycle water, on the triple condition that the mixer (1) is placed in a position where the single water outlet ( 20) is at least partially in fluid communication with the first water inlet (1 1), that water is present in the open container (4), and that the quality of the water leaving the open container and such that measured is sufficient.
• the water quality sensor (110) is a water turbidity sensor and the water quality measurement and a water turbidity measurement.
• the present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which have purely illustrative value and should not be considered limiting. Generally speaking, it will appear obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and/or described above. The presence of reference numbers in the drawings cannot be considered limiting, including when these numbers are indicated in the claims.
• the invention can also be described as follows: a four-way mixer comprising a first water inlet (11), for example for receiving recycled water, a second water inlet (12), for example for receiving cold water, a third water inlet (13), for example to receive hot water, and a single water outlet (20).
• the mixer comprises passage means for putting the single water outlet (20) in fluid communication, either with only the first water inlet (11), or with only the first water inlet (11) and the second water inlet (12), or with only the first water inlet (11) and the third water inlet (13).
• the invention also relates to a water supply assembly comprising such a mixer and to a water supply installation comprising such an assembly.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83005948

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2023
  • 2023-07-26 EP EP23745540.7A patent/EP4562248A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-07-26 CA CA3263023A patent/CA3263023A1/fr active Pending
  • 2023-07-26 US US18/998,385 patent/US20260062903A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-07-26 WO PCT/EP2023/070768 patent/WO2024023179A1/fr not_active Ceased

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