In-wall sanitary fixture

The invention relates to a Santitärarmatur, especially concealed sanitary fitting, with<ul><li>a) a connector body having at least one connection for a cold-water-house line and a connection for a hot-house management;</li><li>b) a functional unit, which in turn comprises a housing in which a sanitary valve is arranged and which has connection means for water connection to complementary connection means of the terminal body;</li><li>c) a connecting means with which the function unit to the terminal body can be detachably fastened.</li></ul>

Recently, increasingly find concealed sanitary fittings used in which the owner's decision as to which exact type sanitary flush-mounted fitting he wishes, may postpone until the final phase of interior of a building. First, in a niche of the building wall only a universally applicable connecting body is installed which is connected to the laid in the building wall house lines, ie in particular the cold-house line, the hot-house line, and optionally mixed water outgoing lines. The display fittings such niche is then covered, until the interior design of the building has been largely completed. Only then will the cover of the niche is removed again. Now decide the builder which special type of concealed fitting he wants, for example, a mixer, a thermostatic valve or the like. The manufacturer of the concealed fitting an entire set will be maintained by functional units, which are standardized so that they can all be connected to the same terminal body, but contain different sanitary valves. The specific, desired by the client function unit is then connected to the terminal body; Finally need is the niche covering rosette and the controls to be installed.

Similarly, simple as that, if at a later date a specific type of fitting to be replaced by another: It then needs only the already-assembled functional unit against the corresponding other functional unit to be substituted.

In known sanitary flush valves of this type occurs, the connection between functional unit and connecting body generally by screws. The screwing takes however relatively time-consuming and must be carried out sometimes difficult in cramped space and poor visibility.

Similar problems connecting a functional unit and a terminal body also result in other types of sanitary fittings.

Object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary fitting of the kind set forth so that the connection between functional unit and connecting member is quick and easy to prepare.

This object is achieved in that<ul><li>d) the connecting device is designed such that the functional unit by a purely linear movement at least partially in the connecting member insertable and this is so locked that they are no longer of the connecting body is releasable by train;</li><li>e) there is provided a release device with which the locking connection between functional unit and connection body can be solved.</li></ul>

Thus, according to the invention use is made of movement with which the two can be approximated to be joined parts together, namely in a linear movement for fastening the functional unit at the terminal body in the easiest way. The functional unit needs to be in the assembly with their water connection means having end only toward the terminal body and partially into the latter moved to then produce by latching a compound that can no longer be solved by itself. In this self-locking effects can play a role in particular. If the functional unit of the terminal body to be removed again, the unlocking device is used with the example, the previously prevailing self-locking is canceled.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the connecting means comprises a plurality of rocker arms, the two hinged each having in one end portion interconnected legs of which the one arm in its other end region on the housing of the functional unit, or a rigid part connected thereto and other limb is articulated in its other end region with a the casing of the functional unit movably guided part, wherein a spring device is provided which seeks radially to press outwards the pivotably interconnected end regions of the two legs of the two rocker arms, and wherein the terminal body has an inner recess , into which can engage the pivotally interconnected end portions of the rocker arms.

In this embodiment, the rocker arms are the detent elements whose end portions connected to one another so as to further withstand radially outwardly, the smaller the angle between the two legs. The spring device looks for this angle to be kept as small as possible, so to push the interconnected end regions as far as possible radially outward. In this position, then engage the end portions in the recess of the joint body, so that a retraction of the functional unit is no longer possible initially. If the rocker arm, however, extended with the aid of the housing of the functional unit movably guided part again, thus increasing the angle between the two legs of the rocker arm can be of the radial projection of the interconnected end portions of the two legs of the Kipphebe collapse so that the functional unit of the terminal body can be removed.

Preferably, at least one leg of the rocker arm on a bearing surface with which it abuts in the detent position, in which the function unit is connected to the terminal body to a surface of the terminal body. Such contact surface contributes to the self-locking of the connection.

An embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to the drawing; show it<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>seen in an isometric view, from below, a functional unit, which is one of the two main components of a sanitary flush-mounted fitting;</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>seen in an isometric view, obliquely from above, a terminal body, which is the second major component of the sanitary flush-mounted fitting;</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>the bottom view of the functional unit of the functional unit of Figure 1;</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>the side view of the functional unit of Figure 1;</dd><dt>figures 5-7</dt><dd>different in a partially broken side view of stages in the assembly of sanitary flush-mounted fitting.</dd></dl>

In the flush valve shown in the drawing, indicated overall by the numeral 1 is a member of a whole set of concealed fittings, the optionally be used in individual cases. The various concealed fittings belonging to the set, differ in their function. For example, can be a thermostatic mixer and a third member of the set is a two-handle faucet is a member of this sentence, a mixer, another member of the sentence. All the set belonging concealed fittings 1 are composed of two main components, namely a connection member 2 and a so-called "functional unit" 3. The connecting body 2, which is described in more detail below, is deselbe for all members of the set; the "functional unit" 3, however, is different for the various members of the set of concealed fittings. The detailed structure of both of the terminal body 2 and the functional unit 3 is in the present context not of interest; it will be described only as far as this is to understand the manner in which the functional unit 3 is attached to the terminal body 2, are required.

As especially the figure 2 reveals, the connecting body has 2 the basic shape of an upwardly open cup or a bowl, in the lower region thereof four connecting pieces 4, 5, 6, 7 introduced. In the example shown, the connecting piece 4, 5, 6, 7 separated from the terminal body 2 parts; However, they may also be in one piece with this.

Water-carrying channels in the connecting piece 4, 5, 6, 7 lead to four substantially cylindrical, axially parallel connecting bores 46, of which in figure 2 only one can be seen and which are led out of the bottom portion of the terminal body 2 slightly upwards.

Slightly below the upper edge of the cup-shaped terminal body 2 is formed in its inner circumferential surface, an annular groove thirteenth In the inner circumferential surface of the terminal body 2, also include four relatively wide, axially parallel grooves 9, 10, 11, 12, which are guided up to the annular upper end face of the terminal body 2 and crossing the annular groove. 13 The four axially parallel grooves 9, 10, 11, 12 and the annular groove 13 are used in the following manner to be described the attachment of the functional unit 3 to the terminal body second

The connector body 2 is mounted in a relatively early stage of expansion of the housing in a niche of the respective building wall at the relevant depths. Here are the four connecting pieces 4, 5, 6, 7 connected to respective installed in the wall of the building house lines. The connecting piece 5, 7, in which additional shut-off valves may be arranged to be connected to the cold water and the hot water-house line, while the connecting piece 4, 6 with those lines are connected, which lead to a shower or a bath outlet.

During other interior finishing of the building of the terminal body 2 initially remains alone in the niche of the building wall, which is closed during this time in an appropriate manner. Only in the final stage of interior work, the client must decide what kind of flush-mounted fitting 1 he wishes. Then select each correct functional unit 3 from the available set and connected in further described below manner to the connecting body. 2

For a description of the functional unit 3 is now particularly referred to Figures 1, 3 and 4. FIG.

The functional unit 3 has a substantially cylindrical adapter housing 14, in the upper region 14a, a receiving chamber for a valve cartridge 15 is provided. The skilled artisan will recognize at which the top of the valve cartridge 15 herauserstreckenden actuating shaft 16 that it is the valve cartridge of a single-lever mixer in the present case.

The lower portion 4b of the adapter housing 14 run according to the function of each valve cartridge used various water-conducting channels that are not visible in the drawing. Overall, open at the lower end face 19 of the adapter housing 14 has four channels, in whose end region expanded in the diameter in each case one push-in 19, 20, 21, 22 is tightly inserted. The terminal image that is formed by the four insertion stubs 19, 20, 21, 22 is complementary to the terminal screen, which is formed by the connection openings 46 in the terminal body. 2 On the outer circumferential surface of the insertion stubs 19, 20, 21, 22 each have a O-ring seal 23 is one. It serves in the mounted state of the seal the Einsteckstutzens 19, 20, 21, 22 against the lateral surface of the respective receiving opening 46 in the connector body second

In the illustrated case, in which the valve cartridge 15 in the upper portion 14a of the adapter housing 14 is part of a single-lever mixer, the receiving space in the upper portion 14a of the adapter housing 14 is substantially cylindrical and has a bottom surface, in which open the three water-conducting channels. Two of these water-conducting channels directly to those insertion stubs 19, 22, which are inserted in the assembled functional part 3 in those receiving openings 46 of the connecting body 2, which communicate with the cold water or hot water pipe house. These channels are the valve cartridge 15 respectively hot and cold water is supplied.

A third, einmündender in the bottom surface of the receiving space and in the drawing, not shown, channel leads to a provided in the lower portion 14b of the adapter housing 14 change-over, which is also not shown. From Changeover extend two channels to the insertion stubs 20 and 21, which are introduced with mounted flush-mounted fitting 1 in those connecting openings 46 of the connecting body 2, which communicate with the bath spout or the shower.

Thus, the arrangement is that the functional part 3 with its insertion stubs 19, 20, 21, 22 can be inserted into the connector body 2 forward, whereby the necessary water connections between the laid in the building wall lines and the valve cartridge 15 are made in the functional unit 3 ,

To allow this insertion and secure the functional part 3 at the terminal body 2, the following measures are provided:

In the outer surface of the lower portion 14b of the adapter housing 14 has four axially parallel grooves 24 are formed so that remain 24 four radially projecting, arc-shaped projections 25 between the grooves. The arc length of the projections 25 corresponds to the arc length of the grooves 9, 10, 11, 12 in the connecting body second

The bottommost portion 14c of the adapter housing 14 which is adjacent the lower end face, has a diameter slightly larger than the overlying region 14b, such that between the areas 14b and 14c, a small step 14d is formed.

In the step 14d, a retaining ring is from the top 26 placed in a press fit, which engages with radially inwardly extending arcuate projections 27 in the grooves 24 of the adapter housing portion 14b and is secured in this way against the adapter housing 14 against axial displacement and rotation. The retaining ring 26 also includes outwardly extending, arcuate projections 28, between which stepped grooves 29 remain, whose middle portion somewhat deeper than the two outer regions.

An actuation ring 30 with a circular, outwardly projecting actuating bead is also pushed from above over the area 14b of the adapter housing 14; also its internal contour is complementary designed to the outer contour of the region 14b, so that the actuating ring 30 relative to the adapter chassis 14 is not twisted, with respect to this can be moved axially but. Between an engaged in a groove of the adapter housing 14 counter ring 31 and the upper end face of the actuating ring 30 a pressure spring 32 is clamped.

The actuating ring 30 comprises a slightly downwardly axially extending approximately cylindrical collar 30a, which is connected in the following manner by a plurality of rocker arms 33 with the retaining ring 26: Each rocker arm 33 comprises an upper leg 33a and lower leg 33b, the mutually facing end portions are hinged together. The opposite end portion of the upper leg 33a of each rocker arm 33 is hinged to the collar 30a of the actuating ring 30, while the remote from the junction between the two limbs 33a, 33b end portion of the lower leg 33b is hinged to the retaining ring 26th

The rocker arms 33 are divided in the embodiment shown in four groups, each comprising three rocker arms 33, the articulation points of the lower leg 33b respectively in the deepest area of ​​the grooves 29 of the retaining ring 26 are. These ratios are particularly well apparent from the figures 3 and 4. FIG.

The thus equipped functional unit 3 can be releasably connected to the terminal body 2 is now in the following manner:

First, the lower end portion of the functional unit 3 with the insertion stubs 19, 20, 21, 22, as shown in Figure 5, advance introduced from above into the connector body second Here, the outer projections 28 of the retaining ring 26 engage the grooves 9, 10, 11, 12 of the terminal body second The functional unit 3 is thereby rotation angle properly guided downward, so that the insertion stubs 19, 20, 21, 22 enter the terminal openings 46 of the terminal body second

During this first phase of the implementation process of the actuation ring 30 is pressed by the compression spring 32 as far down as possible. This has the consequence that the junction between the two limbs 33a, 33b of the rocker arm 33 is pushed radially outward. The outermost portions of the rocker arms 33 lie on a circle whose radius is larger than the radius of the inner circumferential surface of the terminal body second

Upon further insertion of the functional unit 3, the upper leg 33a abut the rocker arm on a slope 34 of the upwardly facing, annular end face of the terminal body. 2 You can therefore first the further axial movement of the functional unit 3 does not follow. However, since the retaining ring 26 is further moved axially to the functional unit 3, moves away under compression of the compression spring 32, the distance between the retaining ring 25 and the actuation ring 30, whereby the rocker arms stretch 33 until the previously each other at an angle to leg 33a, 33b almost aligned. In this position, the junction between the two limbs 33a, 33b radially moved inward so that the rocker arm can pass through the now opening in the interior of the terminal body second This is the position shown in Figure 6, in which the compression spring 32 is stronger than clamped in the position shown in FIG. 5

With continued movement of the functional unit 3 reach the interconnected end portions of the legs 33a, 33b of the rocker arm in the axial height of the annular groove 13 of the terminal body 2. The axial pressure from the compression spring 32 exerts on the actuating ring 30 now approach the actuation ring 30 and the retaining ring 26 to each other again, wherein the interconnected end portions of the two legs 33a, 33b move radially outward and penetrate into the annular groove 13 of the terminal body second In this case, a planar contact surface 34 of the upper leg 33a of the upper wall of the annular groove 13 creates.

Due to a self-locking, which enters through the described geometry, the functional unit 3 can now not be resolved by simple axial train on the adapter housing 14 of the connector body. 2 Instead, the operating ring, must, if the functional unit 3 is to be extended again, to 30 pulled axially against the action of compression spring 32 upwards. In this process, the legs 33a, 33b of the rocker arms 33 stretch again so that the position shown in Figure 6 is reached again. Through continued axial train the operating ring 30, the functional unit 3 can now be removed again from the terminal body. 2