EP2489791A2 - Flush-out and inspection unit for a sanitary fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

The inspection unit (100) has a connector portion (10) which is inserted into protection element. A supporting portion (30) is provided in the protection element. The tubular portions of protection element are overlapped with supporting portion. A cover (31) is provided for covering the test tubes (41-44). The upper end of test tube is provided with threaded connection, while lower end of test tube is inserted into connection bores.

Description

• einen Anschlussgrundkörper mit wenigstens je einem Anschluss für eine Wasserzulaufleitung und für eine Mischwasserleitung aufweist, welche Anschlüsse sich jeweils in einem Wasserführungskanal fortsetzen, der in einer Anschlussbohrung an einer Anschlussfläche des Anschlussgrundkörpers austritt,
• ein zumindest über einen Teilbereich seiner Höhe rohr- oder schlauchartig ausgebildetes Schutzelement, in das der Anschlussgrundkörper einsetzbar.

The invention relates to a flushing and testing unit for a sanitary fitting, which sanitary fitting comprises:

• a connection base body having at least one connection each for a water supply line and for a mixed water line, which connections each continue in a water guide channel which emerges in a connection bore on a connection surface of the connection base body,
• a protective element which is tubular or tubular at least over a partial area of its height and into which the connection body can be inserted.

From the DE 10 2005 041 920 a connection body is known, on which an attachment element can be placed, which contains mixer and Umstelleinheiten and which forms a sanitary fitting together with the connection body. The connection body is installed in a wall opening or niche and connected to connection lines for cold and hot water as well as for at least one mixed water outlet. For example, a mixed water outlet leads to a hand shower and to a bath spout. The pipe connections are installed in the shell phase of an installation and then plastered. There remains only a wall opening, the like is great that later, when the wall is completely tiled, the attachment element is inserted therein. From this then only protrudes a cover plate and at least one operating element beyond the wall surface.

In order to keep open the necessary for the insertion of the attachment element opening during plastering and the application of the tiles, the connection body is inserted into a protective element which has at least one tubular section formed of a flexible material. This is designed to be relatively long, so that it protrudes significantly beyond the connecting surface of the terminal body during the shell construction phase and extends beyond the intended wall surface also forward. Once the wall surface is finished, the flexible section is cut flush with the wall surface. This construction has proven itself.

According to the current regulations, it is necessary to rinse thoroughly an installation intended for connection to the public drinking water supply and to check for pressure tightness.

From the EP 1 0026 243 B1 For this purpose, a so-called flushing block is known, which can be placed on the connecting base body instead of the attachment element, which contains the mixing and switching elements of the sanitary fitting. Channels formed within the purge block allow the various port holes on the port main body to mutually interconnect to purge the conduits such that the water exits at one of the mixed water outlets. Also, a flow path can be blocked to determine whether there is a leak in one of the connections made to the terminal body at the upcoming line pressure.

The disadvantage is that the flushing block must be inserted deep into the protective element and fastened in depth to the connection base body. In addition, the flushing block must be used to make the various flow paths also repeatedly removed, rotated and fixed again, which is cumbersome especially with a narrow inner diameter of the protective element. In particular, however, there is the problem that the interior of the protective element must remain freely accessible for rinsing and testing, in order to be able to place the rinsing block appropriately or to position it in other positions. In practice, it has been shown that in the shell phase even later, so after the valve has already been rinsed and tested, dirt can penetrate, just pollute the areas designated as sealing surfaces on the connection holes and can damage, so that after completion of the shell work a repeated careful and time-consuming cleaning of the terminal body must be done.

If the exposed terminal body is even damaged, the entire installation site must be reamed again, and the connection body has to be replaced at considerable expense. The responsible for the proper function and in particular tightness of flush-mounted fitter therefore has no assurance that the properly prepared by him shell installation has remained unaffected by subsequent trades, so he just the mentioned checks and cleanings before the completion of the installation by placing the attachment body again and liable for damage caused by third parties.

The object of the present invention is thus to develop a flushing and testing unit for a sanitary fitting such that the already installed and connected to the water pipes connection body is completely protected from damage and dirt until the end of shell construction, but at the same time rinsing and testing The prepared and protected installation should be possible at any time, without having to remove the parts protecting the connection body.

This object is achieved by a flushing and testing unit with the features of claim 1.

This comprises as an essential element an additional support body which can be inserted into the at least partially flexible protective element. The diameter of the flexible part of the protective element and the outer diameter of the support body are coordinated so that here a play-free, dense transition is created, where no dirt can penetrate, even if the flexible portion of the protective element is provided from the outside directly with cleaning compounds or tile adhesive , In order to prevent ingress of dirt and building materials not only from the side, the protective element has a protective cover, but which has a plurality of openings. Through each of these a test tube protrudes to the outside. Each test hole in the connection body a test tube is provided which is sealingly inserted with its lower end in a connection bore or placed on the edge region and having at its other, outwardly projecting end connecting means such as a connecting thread with a conventional thread size, so that test hoses and Blind plug can be attached.

In this way, it is possible to examine the flush-mounted installation without removing the support body or the protective cover and to flush by connecting the test tubes in pairs or individual test tubes are sealed pressure-tight by blind plugs. The height of the flexible portion of the protective element and the height of the support body are so generously dimensioned that at usual installation depths, a portion of the height may protrude beyond the finished wall surface. Only later, at the completion of the fine installation, the protruding part is removed. The overhang protects against laterally penetrating cleanables, tile adhesives or water and even allows the installer to seal his shell assembly to check and verify the integrity of its installation at all times.

Preferably, the protective element has feet which extend above the holes provided for connection to a sanitary fitting in the connection base body. This makes it possible to insert the feet either directly into the hole or on the mounting screws to use this as a point of attachment.

In order to achieve a high pressure resistance, it is furthermore advantageously provided that the test tubes have a collar at their lower end which can be inserted into the connection body or can be placed in the edge region of the connection bores, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the connection bores and that at a distance from the latter Pad of the terminal body is arranged a template element. In the template element, the test tubes are on the one hand aligned in the correct position to each other so that they can be used as a complete unit easily in the connection body. On the other hand, the template element allows the positive fixing of the test tubes by means of the existing at the bottom federal. The recesses in the template element are designed to be smaller than the respective diameter of the collar on the test tubes. If the template element is connected to the connection base body, in particular screwed, it simultaneously blocks the upper side of the respective collar of the test tube and thus holds the test tubes as a whole firmly in or on the connection base body. At the same time, the test tubes are forced into a position that is exactly perpendicular to the connection surface.

It is particularly advantageous if the template element is connected to the connection base body by means of screws and the feet of the support body simultaneously have receptacles for the screw head. The screws engage in the necessary anyway for the subsequent screwing the sanitary fitting bores. By placing the support body with its feet on the screw heads, it is positioned in the correct position and secured against rotation.

A completely delivered rinsing and testing unit additionally comprises at least two, preferably four dummy plugs and at least one test tube for the respective connection to the connecting threads of the outer ends of the test tubes.

In order to be able to absorb the torques arising when these elements are screwed on, it is preferably provided that the test tubes and the recesses for this purpose have a non-circular cross-sectional contour in the template element. Thus, the test tubes when screwing the additional elements on the outside can not rotate about their own longitudinal axis.

To accommodate even greater torques, a preferred embodiment provides that the test tubes have radial projections in the region of their lower end, in particular on opposite sides, which engage in compatible recesses on the underside of the template element.

The positive fixing causes a firm clamping and a reliable fixing of the test tubes, even if with larger forces elements are screwed onto the connecting thread. In addition, it is possible to match the projections and recesses to one another in such a way that a clamping or latching function is provided so that all the test tubes can be inserted or placed as a unit together with the template element into or onto the connection base body and removed again from the latter.

It can also be provided to provide targeted breaking points, for example on laterally projecting pins of a bayonet connection. If at the upper free end of the respective test tube, the screw for test hoses and blind plugs is tightened too much, a defined shearing of such pins or the like can take place. Although the test tube then rotates about its central axis. But by it is inserted or placed below in the terminal body and through the template element in the is secured inserted position, a tightness of the flushing and testing device according to the invention is always guaranteed.

Fig. 1

eine Spül- und Prüfeinheit von vorne außen;

Fig. 2

auf den Anschlussgrundkörper aufgesetzte eine Spül- und Prüfeinheit; Fig. 3 ein Prüfrohr in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 4

die Spül- und Prüfeinheit in Ansicht von unten;

Fig. 5

Teile der Spül- und Prüfeinheit in teilweise geschnittener Ansicht;

Fig. 6

eine Einbausituation der Spül- und Prüfeinheit innerhalb einer Wandöffnung;

Fig. 7

die eingebaute Spül- und Prüfeinheit nach Verputzen und Aufbringen der Wandbeläge;

Fig. 8

die eingebaute Spül- und Prüfeinheit mit angesetztem Spülschlauch und

Fig. 9

die einbaute Spül- und Prüfeinheit beim Entfernen der Prüfrohre.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with further advantageous embodiments with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The figures show each in perspective view:

Fig. 1

a rinsing and testing unit from the front outside;

Fig. 2

a rinsing and testing unit placed on the connection body; Fig. 3 a test tube in perspective view;

Fig. 4

the rinsing and testing unit in bottom view;

Fig. 5

Parts of the rinsing and testing unit in a partially sectioned view;

Fig. 6

an installation situation of the rinsing and testing unit within a wall opening;

Fig. 7

the built-in rinsing and testing unit after plastering and applying the wall coverings;

Fig. 8

the built-in flushing and test unit with attached rinsing hose and

Fig. 9

the built-in flushing and testing unit when removing the test tubes.

Fig. 1 shows a rinsing and testing unit 100 which is fully assembled.

To the wall side, a protective element 20 can be seen, which belongs to the actual sanitary fitting and remains permanently installed, the inventive flushing and testing unit 100 is installed only during a temporary period during construction.

From the protective element 20 protrude only the connecting pieces 11, 12, 13 of a connection body for the cold and hot water and mixed water pipes out. The protective element 20 is preferably formed from an elastomer and has a first tubular or tubular portion 21, which is intended to be positioned in the region of the wall surface to be formed later. A further region 22 protrudes further outwards and overlaps, in particular, with a cylindrically formed tube wall of a support body 30, which is formed, for example, from a thermoplastic.

Of the support body only an outwardly outstanding annular area in the region of the outer edge can be seen. Attached to the edge are two support elements 33, which are aligned mirror-inverted with respect to a vertical mirror axis. They allow the placement of a spirit level, in order to align the entire flushing and testing unit 100 accurately.

In order to ensure the correct installation, the outer edge of the support body 30 has a recess into which a tab of a protective cover 31 protrudes. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 32 is disposed on the vertical centerline. The protective cover 31 also has labels to ensure the correct assignment of the connections.

In addition, the protective cover 31 includes recesses from which the ends of test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 protrude. In the illustrated installation situation, a blind plug 50 is screwed onto the upper right test tubes 41, 42, whereas the connecting threads of the left, lower test tubes 43, 44 are exposed.

Fig. 2 shows the rinsing and testing unit in a perspective view more from the side. To better explain the structure and function of the protective element 20 is completely removed here.

Below is the terminal body 10 with its terminals 12, 13, 14 visible. Via spacer elements 66, a template element 60 is placed thereon and fastened thereto by means of screws 67. The template element 60 further includes a plurality of recesses, each surrounded by a collar 62. The recesses serve to receive the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44. The collar 62 reduces the surface pressure between the outer circumference of the test tubes and the inner edges of the recesses in the template 60th

In Fig. 2 the support body 30 is shown in a slightly lifted position from the template 60 position. In this way, it can be seen that the feet 34 of the support body 30 are positioned just above the screw heads of the screws 67. The feet 34 are cylindrical tube-shaped and slotted at the lower end, so that a clamping connection with the screw heads can be produced.

Fig. 3 shows a single test tube 41 with its outer connecting thread 41.4. At the other end facing the connection body 10, a connection 41.1 is formed with a groove for a sealing ring, which can be inserted into one of the connection bores in the connection body 10. The overlying collar 41.2 serves to support the test tube 41 on the upper side of the connection surface of the connection base body 10 and the fixing under the template element 60. Lateral projecting projections 41.5 are used for fixing in the template element 60, as in particular Fig. 4 recognizable.

In Fig. 4 only the support body 30, the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 and the template element 60 are shown. The terminal body 10 together with the protective element 20 is completely removed for better illustration.

The underside of the template element 60 is stiffened with numerous ribs. The ribs are arranged so that they form a receptacle 63, in which the radial projections 41.5 can engage the test tubes.

In Fig. 4 the upper right test tube 41 is shown during assembly. It is inserted with its outer end, which carries the connecting thread 41.4, from below into the recess in the template element 60 until the Bund 41.2 rests against the underside of the template element 60 and the projections 41.5 are fully inserted into the receptacles 63. In this way, a unit of the template element 60 is formed with the four test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44, which is convenient to mount. Due to the coupling with the template element 60, it is not necessary in particular to have to insert all the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 individually into the connection bores of the connection base body 10.

Rather, the in Fig. 4 represented unit can be positioned as a whole in the correct position. Nevertheless, the training with the individual test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 has the advantage that the flushing and testing unit 100 produced therewith can be produced cost-effectively. The production of several individual test tubes according to FIG. 3 and a flat template element 60 is possible in small injection molds on small injection molding machines, whereas the production of a complete ready-to-use unit of stencil and test tubes similar to FIG. 4 Although possible, but would be much more expensive in terms of the necessary tool as the production machine.

In addition, in the preferred construction with the inserted test tubes easily one of the test tubes can be removed, for example, if the connection body 10 contains only three connection holes, because the finished sanitary fitting only has a mixed water outlet. In this case, simply one of the test tubes from the in Fig. 4 taken before unit is placed on a terminal body with only one output. For the supplier and retailer, there is only one flushing and testing unit that can be used for all fittings.

Fig. 5 shows in the lower part of the connection body 10. Due to the partially sectioned illustration, the water supply channels 10.1, 10.3 are clearly visible therein. It is also visible how the sockets 41.1, 42.1 and 43.1 of the test tubes 42, 43 are inserted into the connection body and protrude into the water supply channels 10.1, 10.3.

The use of the rinsing and testing unit 100 according to the invention in the shell phase is described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 explained in more detail:

Fig. 6 shows the installation situation in a wall opening 9 before plastering. The connection body 10 itself is not visible since it is completely accommodated in the particular elastomeric protection element 20. Only the connecting pieces 11, 13 project out of the protective element 20.

The support body 30 together with the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 and the protective cover 31 is inserted. Characterized in that the support body 30 is positioned with its feet 34 directly on the screw heads 67 (see. Fig. 2 ), wherein the screws in turn engage in predetermined holes of the connection base body 10, an exact angular orientation of the support body 30 is predetermined with respect to the connection base body 10. This makes it possible, by placing a measuring instrument, in particular a spirit level, on the mirror-symmetrically oriented support elements 33 on the support body 30 to align the entire unit before it is firmly attached by means of screws 6 on the back of the wall opening 9.

In Fig. 6 is also shown how cold and hot water pipes 2, 4 and lines for the mixed water outlets 1, 3 are already connected and installed in a front layer of the wall. After the unit has been aligned in its entirety and fastened in the wall opening 9, it can be trimmed. The support body 20 together with the protruding connection piece 11, 13 is placed completely under plaster.

After the flush plastering with the top of the shell wall 8, a sealing collar 26 is mounted on the portion 21 of the protective element 20, the in Fig. 7 is shown.

In Fig. 7 is drawn in the upper quadrant a schematic section through the wall structure; in a real installation situation, of course, this is also Area completely filled with cement or plaster or covered by drywall elements in case of pre-wall installation.

The sealing collar 26 prevents water, which possibly runs behind the aperture of the fitting to be applied later, on the outer side of the section 21 of the protective element 20 along into deeper wall layers. The sealing collar 26, which is positioned immediately behind the tile layer 8 'on the wall surface 8, thus serves as a barrier.

The representation in the FIGS. 6 and 7 shows that during the entire shell work, the rinsing and testing unit 100 remains completely closed. The opening in the interior of the protective element 20 is completely closed by the support body 30 together with its lid 31. The protruding portions of the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 can be additionally protected by blind plugs 50. It is in each of the FIGS. 6 and 7 shown situations possible to perform a flushing or pressure tightness test by simply connecting hoses and test equipment to the outwardly projecting connecting thread of the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 43.

Fig. 8 shows a flushing process in which cold water is passed through a test hose 51 in a lower mixing water line, so that it exits, for example, at a tub outlet again. If the test hose 51, however, connected to the test tube 41, so the shower outlet can be flushed. By virtue of the fact that each of the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 can always be closed with a blind plug 50, individual tapping points can already be put into operation in a shell, while in the flush-mounted installation prepared for the sanitary fitting with the flushing device according to the invention. and test unit 100 a tight barrier is guaranteed at any time without inserted attachment element.

After completion of all structural work, the rinsing and testing unit 100 is removed again. First, the lid 31 is removed, over the Connecting thread of the test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 can be easily pulled away. Thus, the interior of the flushing and testing unit 100 is accessible. The support body 30 can also be removed. Since he was clamped with his feet 34 only on the screw heads of the template element, no fasteners must be solved for it.

Only the screw 67 of the template element 60 must be finally solved in the depth of the protective element 20. However, since the slim test tubes 41, 42, 43, 44 require only little space, working with a long screwdriver in the remaining space is easily possible.

Once the screw connections 67 have been released, the template element 60 can likewise be pulled off over the test tubes. In Fig. 9 For example, the stencil element 60 is shown in a position in which it has already been peeled off. Visible are there also the non-circular recesses 61, which are each reinforced by a circumferential collar 62.

The test tubes are then individually gripped at their ends and pulled out by slight tilting and rotating movements with their sockets from the insertion holes of the terminal body 10.

Alternatively, the entire unit of template element and test tubes may be withdrawn as one part.

The connection surface of the connection body 10 is now free.

Due to the given in the shell phase two-stage shield - outside the protective cover 31, including the template element 60 - the connection surface is clean and free of damage, so that the fitting attachment element can be attached directly with a mixer valve and a diverter valve.

Finally, it is then only a flush completion of the protective element 20 with the finished wall surface 8 'produce by the protective element is cut in its portion 21 flush with the wall surface or is cut to length so that the portion 21 protrudes a few millimeters outwards, this small projection is covered by the later aufzusetzende panel of the valve.

Claims (15)

Flushing and testing unit (100) for a sanitary fitting, comprising sanitary fitting: - a connection main body (10) with at least one respective connection (11, 12, 13, 14) for a water supply line (2, 4) and for a mixed water line (1, 3), which terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) each continue in a water supply channel (10.1, 10.3), which emerges in a connection bore on a connection surface of the connection base body (10), a protective element (20) which is tubular or tubular at least over a partial region (21, 22) and into which the connecting base body (10) can be inserted,
characterized in that the rinsing and testing unit (100) comprises at least: - A support body (30) which is insertable into the protective element (20) and at least in one with the tubular portion (21, 22) of the protective element (20) at least partially overlapping height range has a rigid tube wall, which by a on or attached protective cover (31) is coverable and - A test tube (41, 42, 43, 44) per connection bore, which can be inserted with its lower end (41.1, 43.1) in the connection bore or on the edge region of the connection bore and at its other end with a connecting thread (41.4) or other connection means for blind plugs and test hoses is provided. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective element (30) has feet (34) which are in the for connection with the sanitary fitting provided mounting holes in the connection body (10) open. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44) at its on the connection body (10) on or attachable, lower end (41.1, 43.1) a collar ( 41.2), whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the connection bores. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at a distance from the connecting surface of the connecting base body (10) a template element (60) is arranged with at least one recess per test tube, in which template element the test tubes (41 , 42, 43, 44) are arranged in the correct position relative to one another and guided to the connection bores and / or to which they are fastened. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that the diameter of the recesses in the template element (60) for the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44) is smaller than the diameter of the collar on the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44) and that the template element (60) is to be connected to the connection base body (10). Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the template element (60) by means of screws with the connection base body (10) is to be connected and that the feet (34) of the support element (30) to the diameter and the Shape of the screw heads have corresponding receptacles. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe wall of the support body (30) is round and that on the outer edge of the pipe wall at least two spaced-apart contact elements (33) are arranged. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe wall of the support element (30) and the protective cover (31) are provided with positively locking interlocking elements (32). Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that on the outer edge of the pipe wall of the support element (30) is provided at least one recess into which a radially outwardly extending tab (32) of the protective cover (31) can be inserted , Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44) are non-round in cross-section at least in the region of their passage through the template element (60) and the Recesses in the template element (60) have a cross-section of the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44) compatible contour. Rinsing and testing unit (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the edge regions of the recesses in the template element (60) are reinforced by webs and / or a collar (62). Flushing and testing unit (100) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that on the underside of the template element (60) per test tube, a receptacle (63) is formed, into which a collar (41.2, 43.2) and / or radially externally extending projections (41.5) can be used. Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjoining the protective element (20) is an annular disk-shaped sealing collar (26). Flushing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two dummy plugs (50) and two test tubes (51) for connection to the connecting threads of the test tubes (41, 42, 43, 44). Flush-mounted installation unit with a sanitary fitting, with at least: - a connection main body (10) with at least one respective connection (11, 12, 13, 14) for a water supply line (2, 4) and for a mixed water line (1, 3), which terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) each continue in a water supply channel (10.1, 10.3), which emerges in a connection bore on a connection surface of the connection base body (10), - At least over a portion (21, 22) of its height flexibly formed, hose-like protective element (20), in which the terminal body (10) can be used, and - A rinsing and testing unit (100) according to at least one of claims 1 to 14.

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