Control cartridge for regulating the water flow at a water outlet of a fitting

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a control cartridge for regulating water flow and to a fitting having at least one water outlet. The present application claims priority to European Application 02 008 893.6 filed Apr. 20, 2002.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In many fittings, in particular those having two water outlets which can be used independently of each other, it is necessary to regulate the water flow directly by means of a valve arranged on the water outlet. Fittings of this type have a single-piece water outlet. The valve is situated at the end of the water outlet. Because the predetermined axial dimensions of the valve mean that it can only be fitted in a cylindrical section of the water outlet, the water outlet must have, at its end, a cylindrical section for accommodating the valve. Because this end is directed downward in most fittings, a certain minimum height of the fitting body is defined and the height must not fall short of this. Very compact fittings having a low overall height cannot therefore be realized for space reasons.

[0005] Valves used for fittings of this type conventionally have two control elements which are provided with through-holes, can be rotated relative to each other and are inserted directly into the water outlet. One of the two control elements is connected rotatably to an actuating element. Rotation of the actuating element causes the holes of the rotatable control element to be brought into overlap with those of the positionally fixed control element, with the result that the valve opens.

[0006] Because the control elements are arranged directly in the water outlet, the entire water outlet has to be replaced if the valve is to be exchanged.

[0007] European Patent EP-B-0 616 156 describes a control cartridge having a valve of this type which additionally takes on the function of mixing hot and cold water. For this purpose, hot and cold water supplied separately to the control cartridge, are metered by the control elements and mixed in a mixing chamber.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of providing a valve for regulating the water flow at a water outlet. This valve, when in use, can be used to reduce the overall height of a fitting. The water flow through the valve is to be regulated at the outlet. Furthermore, a fitting having a reducible overall height is to be supplied.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a valve in the form of a control cartridge for regulating the flow of water and a fitting having at least one water outlet. Advantageous developments are illustrated in more detail below.

[0010] The fitting according to the invention has a water outlet which comprises a first outlet part and a second outlet part. The control cartridge according to the invention is arranged between the first outlet part and the second outlet part. The overall height can be reduced, since the control cartridge can be arranged horizontally.

[0011] The control cartridge according to the invention has a rotatable, first control element provided with passage holes, a positionally fixed, second control element which bears against the first control element and is likewise provided with passage holes, and an actuating element. The first and second control elements are arranged in a cartridge housing, with the actuating element being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first control element via a connection reaching through the cartridge housing. When in use, the cartridge housing can be connected fixedly to the first outlet part of the water outlet and is capable of holding the second outlet part which is situated downstream with respect to the first outlet part.

[0012] The control cartridge according to the invention takes on both the regulation of the water flow and also the securing and connection of the two outlet parts. The special design of the control cartridge enables it to form a fixed unit in the form of a cartridge which is screwed into the first outlet part. This design is made possible by the cartridge housing which serves as sole securing means for the control elements and the inner ring and also holds these parts in a centered and concentric manner with respect to each other. The cartridge housing furthermore takes on the sealing of the ceramic discs and of the second outlet part. The control cartridge can thus be preassembled as a unit and then be screwed from the front into the first outlet part. The second outlet part is then fastened to the control cartridge which preferably serves as sole support of the second outlet part and centers the latter.

[0013] Accordingly, exchanging the control cartridge where necessary turns out to be very easy. In particular, the second outlet part can be exchanged without any problem in order to replace it, for example, by a longer outlet part or by a different type of outlet part. In addition, the modular construction of the fitting results in great flexibility for retailers and customers. The agreeable operation of the control cartridge is likewise advantageous. Since said control cartridge is not situated at the end of the water outlet, the operator does not become wet when opening the control cartridge. When closing the control cartridge, the water present on the hands drips into the wash basin and not onto the rear ledge or edge of the wash basin where lime could accumulate.

[0014] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the control cartridge also takes on a mixing function in addition to regulating the water flow. In this case, hot and cold water are supplied separately to the control cartridge, metered by the control elements and mixed in a mixing chamber, as is described, for example, in European Patent EP-B-0 616 156. As a result, the mixing cartridge in the fitting body can advantageously be omitted.

[0015] Examples for the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. In the drawings, purely diagrammatically:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a control cartridge arranged between two outlet parts, in cross section according to the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows the control cartridge from FIG. 1 arranged on the water outlet of a fitting, in cross section according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a further control cartridge arranged between two outlet parts, in cross section with a rotatable outlet part according to the invention; and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a further control cartridge arranged between two outlet parts with a mixing function, in cross section according to the invention.

[0020] In the drawings, three embodiments of the control cartridge are illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The control cartridges in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 differ only in the manner of the fastening of a second outlet part 8 of the water outlet 12 to the-control cartridge. The control cartridge in FIG. 4 also takes on a mixing function in addition.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the control cartridge in the fitted state. The control cartridge comprises an essentially cylindrical cartridge housing 7 which has an external thread 15 on an end region 13. The external thread is used to screw the cartridge housing 7 into the first outlet part 9. For this purpose, the cartridge housing 7 has, on an end region 14 situated downstream, a hexagonal socket 28 which can accommodate a tool in a rotationally fixed manner. The tool is used to screw the cartridge housing 7 into the first outlet part 9. The end of the end region 13 of the cartridge housing 7 bears against a first stop 27 within the first outlet part 9. Because the cartridge housing 7 protrudes over the first outlet part 9, the second outlet part 8 can be placed, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, onto that end region 14 of the cartridge housing 7 which is situated downstream. The fastening to the control cartridge takes place by means of a fixing screw 10 which projects into a recess 17 in the end region 14. The right end of the cartridge housing 7 bears against a second stop 19 of the second outlet part 8. This achieves the effect of spacing apart the two outlet parts from each other, with the user gaining access to the actuating element situated in between. The first outlet part 9 is, as FIG. 2 shows, a straight, cylindrical pipe and the second outlet part 8 is a curved, cylindrical pipe.

[0022] The control cartridge furthermore comprises an inner ring 3 which can be rotated about an axis A and is situated within the cartridge housing 7. The inner ring 3 has carry-along cams 5, 18 via which the inner ring 3 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a first control element 4 provided with passage holes. A second control element 6, which is provided with passage holes, is situated bearing against the first control element 4. In the present case, the control elements 4, 6 are valve disks, preferably made from ceramic, which are provided with passage holes. The second control element 6 is held in a positionally fixed manner by means of holding elements 26 arranged on the end region 13 of the cartridge housing 7.

[0023] It is likewise conceivable for the inner ring 3 and the first control element 4 and/or the cartridge housing 7 and the second control element 6 to be a single part. In order to open the control cartridge, the first control element 4 has to be rotated about the axis A, so that its passage holes overlap with those of the positionally fixed, second control element 6. This takes place by means of an annular actuating element 1 which is situated on the radially outer edge of the control cartridge and which preferably has an actuating handle 11 for this purpose. The actuating element 1 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the inner ring 3 via a carry-along pin 2 reaching through an opening 16 in the cartridge housing 7. The opening 16 covers a certain angular region about the axis A, with the result that the actuating element can be rotated in this angular region. If the actuating element 1 is rotated with the actuating handle 11 about the axis A, then the inner ring 3 and the first control element 4 likewise rotate about the axis A.

[0024] In the opened state of the control cartridge, the water first flows through the first outlet part 9, then through a channel 20 formed within the inner ring 3 and the cartridge housing 7, and finally through the second outlet part 8.

[0025] The water-conducting spaces are sealed by a sealing element 21. This is shown in the present case as a lip seal, which is arranged on the end region 13. The sealing element 21 is held in the radial direction by a sealing supporting ring 22, and by two sealing rings 23, 24 arranged on the inner ring 3 and a sealing ring 25 arranged on the end region 14.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the control cartridge from FIG. 1 in the fitted state on a water outlet of a fitting. As is apparent, the minimum overall height of the fitting is determined only by that height h of the second outlet part 8 which is necessary for the curvature. The control cartridge in FIG. 3 differs from the control cartridge from FIG. 1 by the fact that the fixing screw 10 is not pressed against the bottom of the recess 17. As a result, the second outlet part 8 can be rotated about the axis A.

[0027] In FIG. 4, the first outlet part 9 has a hot water channel 29 which, when in use, conducts hot water, and a cold water channel 30 which is separated fluid-dynamically therefrom and, when in use, conducts cold water. Said channels open into a respective passage hole in the second control element 6. In that end region 13 of the cartridge housing 7 which is situated upstream, the second control element 6 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first outlet part 9 by means of cams 32, 33. The first control element 4 can be rotated about the axis A by rotation of the actuating element 1.

[0028] The passage holes are designed in such a manner that when the first control element 4 is rotated in the opening direction, first of all the supply of cold water via the cold water channel 30 is opened up to approximately the maximum, then in addition the supply of hot water via the hot water channel 29 is opened up and then the supply of cold water is restricted again. The water flowing out of the hot water channel 29 and cold water channel 30 is mixed in a mixing chamber 31 arranged downstream of the control elements 4, 6.

[0029] The mixing chamber 31 is formed in the cartridge housing 7. In the present case, it is bounded by an additional sleeve 34, but may also be bounded directly by the cartridge housing 7 and/or the inner ring 3. It is likewise possible that instead of the hot water channel 29 and the cold water channel 30 in the first outlet part 9, a cold water conduit and a separate hot water conduit are connected to the control cartridge. In this case, the control cartridge has corresponding connections which can be connected to conduits guided in the fitting. An example for the design of the control elements 4, 6 is illustrated in EP-B-0 616 156.

[0030] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or constructions. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various elements of the embodiments are shown in various combinations and configurations, which are exemplary, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the invention.