Flushing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9758956-B2
Application number	US-201514685828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A flushing device for a urinal comprises a connection unit and a control unit, wherein the connection unit can be fixed to the urinal and the control unit can be connected to the connection unit via an interface. The connection unit comprises a connection pipe with an inlet, for connection to a mains system, and an outlet, a flushing pipe with an inlet and an outlet for connection to a nozzle arrangement for discharging flushing water into the urinal bowl of the urinal, and a support element on which the outlet of the connection pipe and the inlet of the flushing pipe are mounted in a fixed position. The control unit comprises a support element on which are arranged at least one control element, a pipe section with an inlet and an outlet and a flushing valve, which is arranged between the inlet and outlet and has a power-supply element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flushing device for a urinal, comprising:
a connection unit,
a control unit, and
an interface,
wherein the connection unit is configured to be fixed to the urinal and the control unit is configured to be connected to the connection unit via said interface,
wherein the connection unit comprises a connection pipe with an inlet, for connection to a mains system, and an outlet, a flushing pipe with an inlet and an outlet for connection to a nozzle arrangement for discharging flushing water into the urinal bowl of the urinal, and a support element on which the outlet of the connection pipe and the inlet of the flushing pipe are mounted in a fixed position,
wherein the control unit comprises a support element on which are arranged at least one control element, a pipe section with an inlet and an outlet and also a flushing valve, which is arranged between the inlet and outlet and has a power-supply element,
wherein said interface is provided by the outlet of the connection pipe and by the inlet of the flushing pipe, on the part of the connection unit, and by the inlet and the outlet of the pipe section, on the part of the control unit, and
wherein the inlet of the pipe section is configured to be connected to the outlet of the connection pipe, and the outlet of the pipe section is configured to be connected to the inlet of the flushing pipe.

2. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the connection pipe, the inlet of the flushing pipe, and the inlet and the outlet of the pipe section run parallel to one another, and wherein the distance between the outlet of the connection pipe and the inlet of the flushing pipe is equal to the distance between the inlet and the outlet of the pipe section.

3. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the flushing device comprises a securing element, by means of which the control unit is arrested mechanically in relation to the connection unit.

4. The flushing device according to claim 3 , wherein the securing element is a securing lever which is mounted on the connection unit or on the control unit and has at least one receiver, which interacts with at least one pin arranged on the other unit.

5. The flushing device according to claim 4 , wherein the receiver has a curved track which, upon actuation of the securing lever, subjects the control unit to an installation force, and therefore said control unit is connected to the connection unit and/or released.

6. The flushing device according to claim 3 , wherein the securing element comprises an arresting, by means of which the securing element is secured in an arresting position.

7. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection unit further comprises a power-supply cable with an electrical plug-in connector, wherein the plug-in connector is fastened on the support element, and wherein the control unit likewise comprises a plug-in connector for electrical connection to the plug-in connector of the connection unit, wherein the plug-in connectors run parallel to the outlet of the connection pipe, the inlet of the flushing pipe and/or to the outlet or the inlet of the pipe section.

8. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection pipe comprises a nonreturn valve which, upon removal of the control unit, is closed by a spring pressure.

9. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the connection pipe and the inlet of the pipe section have a coupling, and/or wherein the inlet of the flushing pipe and the outlet of the pipe section have a coupling, the respective parts being connected to one another via said couplings.

10. The flushing device according to claim 9 , wherein the coupling comprises in each case two pipe sections assigned to the elements which are to be connected, wherein one of the pipe sections projects into the other pipe section, and wherein a sealing ring is arranged between the pipe sections.

11. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe section and the flushing valve are arranged on an upper side of the support element, and wherein the control element is arranged on an underside of the support element.

12. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the power-supply element is a battery or a power-supply unit, which is connected to the connection cable, or a turbine arranged in the pipe section.

13. A urinal arrangement comprising a urinal having a urinal bowl and a cavity, and also comprising a flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the flushing device is arranged, at least in part, in the cavity.

14. The urinal arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the cavity is accessible via an inspection opening which, in the installed position, is located beneath the urinal bowl.

15. The urinal arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the connection unit is fixed to the urinal, and wherein the control unit is connected in an interchangeable manner to the connection unit.

16. The urinal arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein, with the control unit being installed, the control element projects out of the inspection opening.

17. The flushing device according to claim 11 , wherein the control element is a detecting sensor for detecting a user.

18. The urinal arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein a lower periphery of the inspection opening, in the installed position, is located in the horizontal.

19. The urinal arrangement according to claim 16 , wherein the control element is a detecting sensor.

20. The flushing device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection unit and the control unit are two separate units which are connectable with each other.

Assignees

• Geberit Int Ag

Inventors

• Oberholzer Roland
• Roest Maarten
• Raissle Daniel

Classifications

• E03D13/00

  Urinals (without flushing devices A47K11/00 ){; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals} · CPC title

• E03D1/34

  Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves · CPC title

• E03D5/105 Primary

  touchless, e.g. using sensors · CPC title