Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Urinals only
Patent
1995-11-30
2000-05-16
Fetsuga, Robert M.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Urinals only
4DIG3, E03D 1300
Patent
active
060618434
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for automatically triggering a flushing event for urinals with an electrically actuatable shut-off valve positioned in the water inlet line and with a temperature sensor arranged at the siphon, wherein the signals of the temperature sensor are evaluated in an electronic control and computing device for controlling the shut-off valve.
From German Gebrauschmuster application 92 00 161 a urinal with an automatic temperature-controlled flushing device is known in which a temperature sensor arranged exterior to the siphon triggers a flushing event as soon as a temperature increase, due to the presence of urine, is detected. This is supposed to avoid disadvantages which result from temperature increases within the siphon resulting in signals that cannot be evaluated when arranging temperature sensors within the siphon. However, even the arrangement of temperature sensors exterior to the siphon does not in all cases result in the generation of signals that can be easily evaluated.
It is an object of the invention to improve the aforementioned method for automatically triggering a flushing event for urinals such that with at least one temperature sensor arranged within the siphon under any operating conditions signals are generated that are reliably evaluatable for triggering a flushing event.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution to this object according to the invention is characterized in that with the control and computing device based on the values produced by the temperature sensor the temperature gradient is determined and upon exceeding a preset minimal value for the temperature gradient a flushing event is triggered.
Accordingly, the inventive method for automatically triggering flushing of a urinal with water is primarily characterized by the following steps: for shutting off water flow; control and computing device; gradient based on the signals generated by the temperature sensor; and gradient exceeds a preset limit.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of delaying the step of opening the shut-off valve.
With the inventive method a flushing event is triggered, independent of the respective absolute temperature within the siphon and even for slow temperature changes due to heating or cooling of the ambient air, when the speed of the temperature change, i.e., the change of the detected temperature over time, exceeds a certain preset value, for example, due to introduction of urine or waste water into the urinal. Since with the inventive method it is not the absolute temperature, but the temperature increase over time that is detected with the aid of the control and computing device, the invention prevents extraneous flushing events which could be caused by an increase or decrease of the absolute temperature resulting from heating or cooling of the ambient air and detected by the temperature sensor. On the other hand, a relatively small change of the temperature gradient, for example, a temperature change of 0.2.degree. C. per second, is sufficient to trigger the desired flushing event because such a change of the temperature gradient cannot be caused by heating or cooling with ambient air, but exclusively by introducing urine or waste water.
Since in the inventive method the temperature sensor is arranged within the siphon of the urinal, i.e., is invisible, the installation of visible parts such as light barrier or infrared sensors for triggering the flushing event are obsolete. This reduces the risk of vandalism that is especially caused by recognizing visible control parts.
According to a further feature of the invention it is finally suggested to perform the triggering of the flushing event with delay. This ensures that the flushing event takes place only after completion of use of the urinal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing schematically shows one embodiment of a device for automatically triggering a flushing event for flushing a urinal. It is shown in:
FIG. 1 a schematic vertical section of a urinal with
REFERENCES:
patent: 2707482 (1955-05-01), Carter
patent: 3751736 (1973-08-01), Egli
patent: 4309781 (1982-01-01), Lissau
Hiller Jorg
Pieper Norbert
Rump Hans
Schwarze Jan
"Keramag" Keramische Werke AG
Fetsuga Robert M.
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