EP3018427A1 - Protective device and hot water device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective device for a water heater, in particular for a domestic hot water device, for shutting off a water inlet at a leakage of a line system of the water heater, the protective device is de-energized, characterized in that leakage water initiates a closing operation for automatically shutting off the water inlet, and a water heater. The invention is particularly suitable in connection with a water heater or a hot water tank in the home, in the unguarded and off state or state of rest of the water heater effectively and automatically a possible water leakage from the water-bearing device section is to be prevented, regardless of whether the device is energized or not. The protective device can also be retrofitted in existing water heaters, protected against manipulation, enables a 100% inspection in production and has an easy-to-install design.

Description

The invention relates to a protective device for a water heater, in particular for a domestic hot water device, for shutting off a cold water inlet at a leakage of a conduit system of the water heater, and a water heater, in particular for the domestic sector.

In hot water appliances such as continuous water heaters in bare wire technology with a plastic-based heating block, it may, for example, come to water damage due to bursting of the heating block. To prevent water damage, so-called aquaStops are widely used in large appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. While in the dishwasher or in the washing machine water is supplied without pressure and for a short time when tapping for rinsing or pre- / main wash, running water through a water heater permanently and constantly under pressure. Therefore, special requirements must be placed on the safety devices for water heaters in order to prevent a reliable shut-off of a water supply.

From the DE4028423A1 a device with vapor barrier is known, which responds either to water weight or a pressure in the hose or water in a floor pan of the household appliance. However, this device requires a high water column to trigger. In the DE19650861A1 . EP0517293B1 . US007421784B2 . US003473553 . US006024116A and the US2010 / 0126235 are shown electrical protection device for. The WO2012 / 140598A2 . WO2012 / 140595A2 . US005713387A and EP2120032A2
describe mechanical protective devices for household appliances, but are only partially suitable because only one supply hose is protected. From the DE102010038580B3 An electrohydraulic protective device is known. Further prior art is in the US006792967B1 . US007082959B1 . US006253785B1 . US007424896B1 . US007562673B1 . US003920031 . DE392311A1 . US008006714B1 . US004294276 . US002798503 and WO01 / 01042A1 shown.

The object of the invention is to provide a protective device for a water heater, in particular for domestic use, which reliably, automatically and quickly shuts off the water supply in case of leakage of the water heater .. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a water heater , whose water supply is reliably, automatically and quickly controlled in case of leakage in the water-bearing device section.

This object is achieved by a protective device with the features of claim 1 and by a water heater with the features of claim 15.

A protective device according to the invention for a water heater, in particular for a domestic hot water device, for shutting off a water supply in case of leakage of a line system of the water heater is de-energized and leakage water initiates a closing process for automatically shutting off the water inlet of the water heater.

In the protective device according to the invention is an automatic, mechanical safety device that responds to the leaking from the water heater water and mechanically controls the water inlet in the event of leakage in the water heater. The guard provides protection against water damage when the heater block bursts, for example due to frost or transportation damage, and does not require power suppliers to trip.

A quantity of leakage water for initiating or triggering can be set. This makes it possible to make the protective device resistant to influences of condensate forming on the water-water device.

Preferably, the protective device has a shut-off valve for automatically shutting off the water inlet, a float in a float chamber, which is ingress of leakage water. floats, and a mechanism for releasing a closing element of the shut-off valve when floating the float .. By this measure, the initiating force to initiate the shut-off of the Leakage water applied itself. The protective device thus has relatively few components, which makes it relatively trouble-free, low maintenance, easy to install and inexpensive. In particular, the components can be individually matched and replaced depending on the respective water heater.
In order to prevent solids entering the float chamber, which could lead to jamming of the float, a separation chamber for cleaning the leakage water of solids may be arranged upstream of the float chamber.

Preferably, the float is biased by a spring element in its rest position. This prevents accidental lifting of the float as a result of, for example, bumps.

The guard may have a transport lock for fixing the float in its rest position. The transport lock prevents accidental triggering of the shut-off valve, for example as a result of transport loads, installation work and the like. The aim of this transport safety device is to make the safety device operational only after the start of operation of the water heater. The transport lock responds to leakage water in the water heater and then switches the guard to the active state. In one variant, water from the water system of the water device is used. In another exemplary variant, water is used outside the water system of the warning water device, either water after the hot water outlet or before the cold water inlet, or water that passes through the leakage.

Preferably, the float chamber has a closable outlet opening. As a result, a simple drainage of the float chamber after a decrease test is possible. After successful acceptance, the outlet opening is tightly closed, so that no leakage water can escape in later operation.

The closing element may be biased into its closed position and the mechanism may have a biased in its release position locking pin for holding the closing element in its open position and a lever which during the Floating the float releases the locking pin. By this measure, a purely mechanical actuation of the closing element takes place. In addition, the mechanism acts as a transmission or reduction between a buoyancy force of the float and a restoring force of a locking pin spring, so that a response of the protection device and the closing element can be accurately adjusted.

A simple technical transfer of a float movement of the float can be done via a guided out of the float chamber locking bar, which acts on the lever and de takes the float when floating.

In order to prevent leakage water from escaping through an opening through which the locking rod is guided out of the float chamber, the bottom opening of the float chamber is encompassed by a riser at least partially encompassing the locking bar, which extends into the float chamber and is sealed off from it , Air in the riser pipe must be taken into account when designing the float as the air affects the buoyancy force.

The largest possible leverage can be achieved if the lever is pivotable about an axis of rotation which is flattened around its pivot angle.

A sensitive response of the float or the mechanics can be achieved by reducing friction. For this purpose, for example, a contact surface of the lever for the locking bar relative to at least one viewed in the buoyancy direction adjacent lever surface be highlighted or an adjacent lever surface may be reset in the buoyancy against the attack surface.

A float chamber cover and / or a mechanical cover are preferably concealed latched with a device container forming the float chamber. By this measure, opening the float chamber and the accessibility to the mechanics is difficult and manipulation is prevented.

In order to be able to recognize at any time whether the float chamber cover and / or the mechanical cover have been removed, it is advantageous if they can not be removed without damage. For example, they consist of a brittle material such as PS, which breaks very quickly in the event of violence or shows cracks.

In order to protect the wear element from manipulation, an end cap for closing a mounting opening for the closing element can have at least one latching arm for latching with a housing section receiving the closing element, and the lever cover has a screen for concealing the at least one latching arm. Through the aperture access to the at least one locking arm is covered, so that the end cap can not be removed without destroying.

A hot water device according to the invention, in particular for domestic use, has a line system with a cold water inlet for supplying cold water, a hot water outlet for taking hot water, and with a heating block fluidly arranged between the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet for heating the cold water. According to the invention, the water heater has a protective device for shutting off the cold water inlet in the event of a leakage of the line system, wherein the protective device is de-energized and leakage water initiates or initiates a closing operation for the automatic shut-off of the cold water inlet.

The hot water device according to the invention is due to the protection reliable in unguarded and off state or idle state automatically protected against water leakage from a damaged water-bearing device section, regardless of whether the device is energized or not. The maximum amount that can escape is the water that was in the damaged device section at the time the protective device was triggered.

The invention is particularly suitable in connection with a water heater or a hot water tank in the home, in the unguarded and off state or state of rest of the water heater effectively and automatically a possible water leakage from the water-bearing device section is to be prevented, regardless of whether the device is energized or not. The protective device can also be retrofitted in existing water heaters, protected against manipulation, enables a 100% inspection in production and has an easy-to-install design.

Other embodiments are the subject of further subclaims.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Schutzeinrichtung für ein Warmwassergerät,
• Figur 2 einen Schnitt durch einen Anbindungsbereich der Schutzeinrichtung in einen Wasserzulauf des Warmwassergeräts
• Figur 3 einen Teilschnitt durch die Schutzeinrichtung in Öffnungsstellung im Bereich ihres Absperrventils,
• Figur 4 einen Teilschnitt durch die Schutzeinrichtung in Schließstellung im Bereich ihres Absperrventils,
• Figur 5 einen Teilschnitt durch die Schutzeinrichtung im Bereich ihrer Schwimmerkammer,
• Figur 6 eine Detaildarstellung einer durch einen Schwimmkörper der Schutzeinrichtung geführten Verriegelungsstange,
• Figur 7 eine Unteransicht der Schutzeinrichtung mit abgenommener Mechanikabdeckung in Öffnungsstellung,
• Figur 8 eine Unteransicht der Schutzeinrichtung mit abgenommener Mechanikabdeckung in Schließstellung,
• Figur 9 eine zweidimensionale Detaildarstellung eines Hebels der Schutzeinrichtung,
• Figur 10 eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung des Hebels,
• Figur 11 einen Teilschnitt durch die Schutzeinrichtung durch Verrastungen eines Schwimmerkammerdeckels und der Mechanikabdeckung,
• Figur 12 eine Detaildarstellung einer teilweisen Verblendung einer Endkappe des Absperrventils, und
• Figur 13 eine Innenansicht der Mechanikabdeckung.

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic representations. Branch:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a protective device according to the invention for a water heater,
• FIG. 2 a section through a connection area of the protection device in a water inlet of the water heater
• FIG. 3 a partial section through the protective device in the open position in the region of its shut-off valve,
• FIG. 4 a partial section through the protective device in the closed position in the region of its shut-off valve,
• FIG. 5 a partial section through the protective device in the area of its float chamber,
• FIG. 6 a detailed representation of a guided by a float of the guard locking bar,
• FIG. 7 a bottom view of the protective device with removed mechanical cover in the open position,
• FIG. 8 a bottom view of the protective device with removed mechanical cover in the closed position,
• FIG. 9 a two-dimensional detail of a lever of the protective device,
• FIG. 10 a detailed perspective view of the lever,
• FIG. 11 a partial section through the protective device by latching a float chamber cover and the mechanical cover,
• FIG. 12 a detail of a partial veneering of an end cap of the check valve, and
• FIG. 13 an interior view of the mechanics cover.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a protective device 1 according to the invention for a water heater, in particular for a domestic hot water device, for shutting off a water inlet of the water heater in the event of leakage in a water-conducting device section or in the pipe system. The water heater is for example a water heater or a hot water tank.

The protective device 1 has a shut-off valve 2 for shutting off the water inlet and a hollow watertight container 4 which is closed by a cover 6 and provided on the bottom side with a cover 8 for covering a mechanism 10 which will be explained below.

The shut-off valve 2 has a preferably plastic-based tubular valve housing 12, in which in the axial direction a closing element 14, which will be explained below, is displaceably guided. The shut-off valve 2 can be integrated into the water inlet via two orthogonally oriented pipe sections 16, 18 of the valve housing. While the axial pipe section 16 is connectable by means of a clamp 20 to a water inlet section downstream of the closure element 14, a metallic union nut 22 is provided on the transversely extending pipe section 18 for connection to an upstream water inlet section.

As in FIG. 2 shown, the union nut 22 has a radially inner annular shoulder 24, by means of which it is rotatably disposed between a radial collar 26 of a screw-28. The screw-in 28 is a plastic part and screwed with a threaded portion 30 in the transversely extending pipe section 18. To prevent leakage of water along the threaded engagement, a ring seal 32 is inserted in the area of the threaded engagement. Between the radial collar 26 and the annular shoulder 24, a preferably metallic washer 34 is arranged, by means of which excessive squeezing of the radial collar 26 when tightening the union nut 22 is prevented.

As in FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown, the closing element 14 between an open position ( FIG. 3 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 4 ) axially displaceable in the valve housing 12. It is in particular a closing piston 14 which is biased by a valve spring 36 in its closed position. The valve spring 36 is supported on an end cap 38 and engages an inner surface 40 of the closing piston 14. The end cap 38 sealingly closes an axial opening 42 of the valve housing 12, through which the closing piston 14 and the valve spring 36 are inserted into the valve housing 12. In the closed position of the closing piston 14 is sealingly against a housing-side valve seat 44 and thus blocks a passage between the two pipe sections 16, 18 from. In its open position, the closing piston 14 is secured by a locking pin 46, which is guided by a radial opening 48 of the valve housing 12 and forms a stop for a body portion 52 of the closing piston 14. When the locking pin 46 is withdrawn and thus transferred into its release position, the closing piston 14 is released and is transferred by means of the valve spring 36 in its closed position.

The locking pin 46 forms part of the mechanism 10, which is activated via a floating float 54.

To FIG. 5 the float 54 is a cube-like plastic body which is arranged in a float chamber 56 formed by or in the container 4. He is play-absorbed in the float chamber 56 and is absorbed by the flow of leakage water 58 from its rest position into its in FIG. 5 transferred floating position shown. In its rest position it lies on the bottom side in the Float chamber 56 and is spaced from the lid 6. In its floating position, the leakage water 58 generates a buoyancy force that lifts it from its rest position until it abuts against the lid 6.

The float chamber 56 has a cover-side inlet 60, for introducing the leakage water 58. The inlet 60 is arranged centrally here the float chamber 56 and forms a pipe socket on which, for example, a leaking water-carrying hose can be plugged. On the bottom side, the float chamber 56 has a drain 62, which has been closed after successful acceptance test or 100% test in which water is passed into the float chamber 56 in order to check the function of the float 54.

The float 54 is penetrated vertically by a centrally arranged here locking bar 64 of the mechanism 10. The latch bar 64 occurs in the latch gear, i. in the non-floating state of the float 54, with its foot portion 66 through a bottom opening 68 of the float chamber 56 therethrough and has a here handle-like head portion 70, by means of the floating of the float 54, a positive connection between the float 54 and the locking rod 64 is formed, which is a lifting allows the locking bar 64 when floating.

The bottom opening 68 is surrounded by a riser 72 that extends into the float chamber 56 to the float 54, as in FIG. 6 figured, and a tube interior 74 for the locking bar 64 forms. To prevent frictional effects between the riser 72 and the float 54, the riser 72 has an outside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the riser 72 receiving tubular cavity 76. As the float 54 floats, the riser 72 is lapped by the leakage water 58. To be able to use air, which is located in the tube interior 74 and in the cavity 76, as a buoyancy aid, the locking bar 64 has an in FIG. 6 numbered sealing collar 78, by means of which a passage extending axially from the cavity for the locking rod 64 is sealed by the float body 54.

In the FIGS. 7 and 8 the mechanism 10 of the protective device 1 is shown. This includes, in addition to the floatable with the float 54 locking rod 64 and the locking pin 46, a bolt spring 80 for biasing the locking pin 46 in its release position and a pivotable lever 82, which establishes an operative connection between the locking bar 64 and the locking pin 46.

The bolt spring 80 is a compression spring. It is supported on a container portion 84, engages around the locking pin 46 and engages an annular shoulder 86 of the locking bolt 46, whereby it is biased against the lever 82.

The lever 82 is pivotable about a pivot axis 88. The pivot axis 88 is near an engagement surface 90 (see FIG. 9 ) of the locking pin 46 and extends in the installed position of the protective device 1 in the vertical direction and thus transversely to this. Remote from the pivot axis 88, the bottom opening 68 and thus the locking bar 64 is positioned. When the locking bar 64 with its foot portion 66 passes out of the bottom opening 68, it lies as in FIG. 7 shown with its foot portion 66 laterally on the lever 82 and secures it in its Verrieglungsstellung. When the latch bar 64 is raised, the lever 82 is released and, as in FIG FIG. 8 shown pivotable about a pivot angle. The bolt spring 80 relaxes and pulls the locking pin 46 out of engagement with the closing piston 14, whereupon the closing piston 14 is transferred via the valve spring 36 from its open position to its closed position and the water inlet is shut off. The pivoting angle of the lever 82 is limited by a pin 92 extending from a bottom wall 94 of the container 4.

As in the FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrates, the locking rod 64 is disposed behind the locking pin 46 from the perspective of the pivot axis 88. To reduce a effective length I of the locking pin 46, the pivot axis 88 is flattened toward the locking pin 46 to the pivot angle. To avoid frictional effects between the lever 82 and the locking bar 64, a lever-side contact surface 96 for the locking bar 64 is web-like or viewed in the vertical direction or buoyancy direction adjacent lever surfaces 98 are downgraded relative to the contact surface 96, so that the contact surface 96 protrudes.

In FIG. 11 Locking the lid 6 and the cover or mechanical cover 8 are shown with the container 4. The lid 6 and the cover 8 each have a circumferential border 100, 102, on the inside locking projections 104, 106 are formed, which cooperate with outer container projections 108, 110. When mounted, the locks are completely covered and not visible from the outside. For this purpose, the container 4 also has two circumferential webs 112, 114, which lie in the assembled state of the lid 4 and the cover 8 in the region of their border edges 116, 118 and dive behind them. The cover 6 and the cover 8 per se are preferably made of such a brittle material that a respective damage-free removal is not possible. An exemplary material is polystyrene or PS.

As in FIG. 11 can also be seen, the float 54 here feet 119, 121, by means of which it is spaced in its basic position of the bottom wall 94 of the float chamber 56. As a result, the reliable underflow of the float 54 is ensured by the inflowing water, so that the float 54 is raised safely. The feet 119, 121 are for example individual feet, single bars or circumferential bars.

In FIG. 12 is in relation to FIG. 2 a locking of the end cap 38 with the valve housing 12 for closing the axial opening 42 is shown. The end cap 38 protrudes into the axial opening 42 with a cylinder section 120 and surrounds the valve housing 12 on the outer peripheral side. In order to prevent water leakage along the end cap 38, a sealing ring 122 is inserted between the cylinder section 120 and the valve housing 12. The outer peripheral side latching is designed as a bayonet closure or a plurality of bayonet locks. For this purpose, the end cap 38 has a plurality of resilient latching arms 124, which latched in the assembled state with valve housing-side locking lugs 126. The latching arms 124 are uniformly distributed over the circumference and locked with the locking lugs 126, for example, after a 90 ° rotation.

In order to prevent disassembly of the end cap 38, at least one locking arm 124 is blocked in its locking position or a free access to at least one locking arm 124 is blocked. For this purpose, the cover 8 has a diaphragm 128, which corresponds to a Arc section of the end cap 36 and the locking arm 124 is formed and a locking arm 124 hidden. The panel 128 is guided so close to the end cap 38, that the concealed latching arm 124 can not be performed on the associated latching lug 124.

In FIG. 13 an interior view of the mechanical cover 8 is shown. In addition to its clearly recognizable border 102 with the inner latching projections 106, the cover 8 has an abutment 130 for the locking pin 46 and an abutment 132 for the pivot axis 88 of the lever 82. The abutment 130 for the pivot axis 88 is formed as an annular bead, which is formed according to a cross section of the flattened pivot axis 88. The abutment 132 for the locking pin essentially consists in an upright wall 134, in which a trough 136 for receiving a free end of the locking pin 46 is introduced.

In normal operation of a hot water device, such as a water heater or a hot water tank, its water-conducting pipe system is undamaged. The float chamber 56 is free of leakage water 58 and the float 54 is in its rest position, in which it rests on the bottom of the float chamber 56. By a compression spring, not shown, which is arranged between the cover 6 and the float 54, the float 54 can be made insensitive to shocks and the like, so that an accidental release is prevented. The locking rod 64 is maximally extended and the lever 82 is in its locking position in which the locking pin 46 is fixed in its blocking position. The locking pin 46 abuts against the body portion of the closing piston 14 and holds it in its open position. A cold water inlet of the water heater is turned on.

In fault mode, a leakage has formed in the line system. The leakage water 58 is led to the inlet 60 of the float chamber 56 and enters into it. The leakage water 58 collects in the float chamber 56 and generates above a certain amount a buoyancy force acting on the float 54. Float 54 floats and lever 82 is unlocked and thus pivotable. The locking pin 46 is now transferred by means of the bolt spring 80 in its release position. The positive connection between the locking pin 46 and with closing piston 14 is canceled. As a result, the closing piston 14 is transferred via the valve spring 36 in its closed position, in which it bears sealingly against the valve seat 44 and the cold water inlet is shut off. The water heater is thus disconnected from the house water network and cold water can no longer flow into the damaged line section. The line section now runs empty above the damaged wall section, wherein the leaking leakage water 58 is completely absorbed in a drip pan, not shown.

Disclosed is a protective device for a water heater, in particular for a domestic hot water device, for shutting off a water supply in the event of leakage of a line system of the water heater, the protective device is de-energized, characterized in that leakage water initiates a closing operation for automatically shutting off the water inlet, and a water heater.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

guard

2

shut-off valve

4

container

6

Cover / float chamber cover

8th

Cover / mechanical cover

10

mechanics

12

valve housing

14

Closing element / closing piston

16

pipe section

18

pipe section

20

clip

22

Nut

24

annular shoulder

26

radial collar

28

screw-in

30

threaded portion

32

ring seal

34

washer

36

valve spring

38

endcap

40

palm

42

axial opening

44

valve seat

46

locking pin

48

breakthrough

52

body part

54

swimmer

56

float bowl

58

leak water

60

Intake

62

procedure

64

locking bar

66

foot section

68

bottom opening

70

header

72

riser

74

Tube interior

76

cavity

78

sealing collar

80

pin spring

82

lever

84

container section

86

annular shoulder

88

swivel axis

90

attack surface

92

pen

94

bottom wall

96

contact area

98

lever surface

100

border

102

border

104

catch projection

106

catch projection

108

container edge

110

container edge

112

web

114

web

116

border edges

118

border edges

119

foot

120

cylinder section

121

foot

122

sealing ring

124

detent arm

126

locking lug

128

cover

130

thrust bearing

132

thrust bearing

134

wall

136

trough

I

effective length

Claims (15)

Protection device (1) for a water heater, in particular for a water heater for domestic use, for closing a water inlet valve in a leakage in a conduit system of the hot water device, the protection device (1) is de-energized, characterized in that leakage of water initiates a closing process for the automatic shutting off of the water supply , Protective device according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of leakage water for initiating is adjustable. Protective device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective device (1) a shut-off valve (2) and a float (54) in a float chamber (56), the penetration of leakage water. floats, and a mechanism (10) for releasing a closing element (14) of the shut-off valve (2) during the floating of the float (54). Protective device according to claim 3, wherein the float (54) is biased by a spring element into its rest position. Protective device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a transport lock for fixing the float (54) is provided in its rest position. Protective device according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the float chamber (56) has a closable drain (62). Protective device according to one of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the closing element (14) is biased into its closed position and the mechanism comprises a locking pin (46) biased into its release position for holding the closing element (14) in its open position and a lever (82), the floating of the float (54) releases the locking pin (46). Protective device according to claim 7, wherein the float (54) acts on the lever (82) via a locking rod (64) guided out of the float chamber (56), which the float (54) entrains when floating. Protective device according to claim 8, wherein the locking rod is guided through an opening of the float chamber (56), from which a locking rod (48) at least partially embracing riser (72) extends into the float chamber (56) sealed to the float chamber (56) is. Protective device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the lever (82) about a pivot axis (88) is pivotable, which is flattened about its pivot angle. Protective device according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein a contact surface (64) of the lever (82) for the locking rod (48) with respect to at least one in the buoyancy direction adjacent lever surface (98) is highlighted Protective device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a float chamber cover (and / or a mechanical cover concealed with a float chamber (56) forming the device container are latched. Protective device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the float chamber cover (6) and / or the mechanical cover (8) can not be removed without damage. Protective device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein an end cap (38) for closing an axial opening (42) for the closing element (14) has at least one latching arm (124) for latching with a housing section receiving the closing element (14), and the mechanical cover (8 ) has a panel for covering the at least one latching arm (124). Water heater, in particular for domestic use, with a protective device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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