IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,590,072
Granted Patent B2
US 8,590,072 · App. 12/659,067 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Sanitary fitting with insulated outflow pipe

Inventors: Stefan Brunner (Moosleerau, CH); Pascal Henzmann (Reinach, CH)
Assignee: KWC AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,590,072
App. No.
12/659,067
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The sanitary fitting has an outflow pipe and a mounting base. The outflow pipe is arranged galvanically isolated from the mounting base and serves as the electrode of a sensor device. The sensor device detects whether an object, for example a hand, is present in a sensor zone or not and thereupon generates a presence or an absence signal. An electronic control system controls, in accordance with the presence or absence signal, a valve device, which controls a water flow. The electronic control system can also actuate light sources which illuminate the mounting base and the nozzle region.

Claims (21)

1. A sanitary fitting comprising:

a mounting base; and

an outflow pipe disposed on the mounting base, the outflow pipe having:

an outflow pipe section running outside the mounting base, the outflow pipe section being electrically conductive and being galvanically isolated from the mounting base, and

a sensor device for detecting a presence or absence of a person in a sensor zone having sensor electronics electrically connected to the outflow pipe section, the outflow pipe section forming an electrode of the sensor device, and an electrical first insulation being arranged between the mounting base and an electrically conductive mounting base pipe section in order to isolate the outflow pipe galvanically from the mounting base, wherein:

the outflow pipe has the electrically conductive mounting base pipe section and the outflow pipe section arranged thereon,

the electrically conductive mounting base pipe section runs through the mounting base,

the first insulation including:

a first insulation element, or a conical spring washer, arranged such that the mounting base pipe section reaches through the first insulation element, and a radially outer supporting region of the first insulation element rests against the mounting base or a mounting base sleeve, and provides support for the mounting base pipe section, and

a second insulation element disposed between the mounting base, or the mounting base sleeve, and the mounting base pipe section, and either (1) the second insulation element rests against an inlet-side end of the mounting base or the mounting base sleeve, or (2) a retaining nut disposed on the mounting base pipe section rests against the second insulation element.

2. The sanitary fitting according to claim 1 , wherein at least the outflow pipe section is also galvanically isolated from water that flows through the outflow pipe and the outflow pipe section.

3. The sanitary fitting according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an electronic control system; and

a valve device, controlled by the electronic control system, to control water flow through the outflow pipe.

4. The sanitary fitting according to claim 3 , wherein control electronics are connected to the electronic control system in order to deliver presence and absence signals thereto.

5. The sanitary fitting according to claim 1 , wherein on the inner side of the outflow pipe there is a second electrical insulation for separating the outflow pipe galvanically from water.

6. The sanitary fitting according to claim 5 , wherein the second electrical insulation has an electrically insulating tube running through the outflow pipe, and water flows through the electrically insulating tube.

7. The sanitary fitting according to claim 6 , wherein the electrically insulating tube is connected on an outlet side to a nozzle element disposed on the outflow pipe or the outflow pipe section, the nozzle element is made of electrically insulating material, and additional electrical insulation is present between the nozzle element and the outflow pipe.

8. The sanitary fitting according to claim 7 , further comprising an outlet light source assigned to the nozzle element, which illuminates the water jet leaving the nozzle element and/or couples light into the nozzle element made of light-conducting material, which light passes out of the nozzle element at a free end face and/or shell surface thereof.

9. The sanitary fitting according to claim 8 , wherein an electrical feeder line for the outlet light source runs between the outflow pipe and the electrically insulating tube.

10. The sanitary fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting base has a light conducting element running, in the manner of a collar, around the outflow pipe or the mounting base pipe section and the light-conducting element has a light entry area inside the mounting base and a light exit area free to the environment, such that on the mounting base, a mounting base light source emitting light to the light entry area is arranged, and light passes out through the light exit area into the environment.

Assignments (2)
RECORD TO CORRECT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON 2/24/2010 REEL 024026 FRAME 0497 Recorded Mar 30, 2010
From: BRUNNER, STEFAN; HENZMANN, PASCAL
To: KWC AG
Reel/Frame 024164/0573 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2010
From: BRUNNER, STEFAN; HENZMANN, PASCAL
To: KWC AG
Reel/Frame 024026/0497 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 09002624 · Feb 25, 2009 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100213398A1 · Aug 26, 2010