Adjusting and servicing a computer-controlled mixing valve
AssigneeFriedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Co.
InventorsHeinz-Dieter Eichholz, Hans-Jurgen Ludewig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus usable in combination with a mixing valve having hot- and cold-water inlets and a mixed-water outlet and a actuating drive for operating the valve to change the blend of hot and cold water at the outlet. The apparatus controls and sets the valve via the actuating drive and has a sensor at the outlet for producing an actual-value output corresponding to the temperature of the water at the output, a digital computer, a line connecting the computer to the sensor and to the actuating drive, a display for indicating settings of the computer, a removable program module engageable in the computer for supplying a valve- and user-specific program thereto, and an input panel connected to the computer for programming same.
Claims17
In combination with
- a mixing valve having hot- and cold-water inlets and a mixed-water outlet;
- and
- an actuating drive for operating the valve to change the blend of hot and cold water at the outlet;
- an apparatus for controlling and setting the valve via the actuating drive, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor at the outlet for producing an actual-value output corresponding to the temperature of the water at the outlet;
- a digital computer;
- a line connecting the computer to the sensor and to the actuating drive;
- means including a display for indicating settings of the computer;
- a removable program module engageable in the computer for supplying a valve- and user-specific program thereto;
- and
- an input panel connected to the computer for programming same and provided with pushbuttons including
- a set button actuatable to start the apparatus,
- a minus button to reduce the parameter shown on the display,
- a plus button to increase the parameter shown on the display, the set button further being actuatable to store a number on the display,
- a real button actuatable to set the apparatus in a real mode automatically operating the valve to set the temperature detected by the sensor to a set set-point temperature and to display the temperature detected by the sensor, the plus and minus buttons having lamps that light in the real mode to indicate operation of the valve to effect the corresponding temperature correction, and
- a nominal button actuatable to show on the display the set point temperature and enable the plus and minus buttons to operated to change it.
In combination with
- a mixing valve having hot- and cold-water inlets and a mixed-water outlet;
- and
- an actuating drive for operating the valve to change the blend of hot and cold water at the outlet;
- an apparatus for controlling and setting the valve via the actuating drive, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor at the outlet for producing an actual-value output corresponding to the temperature of the water at the outlet;
- a digital computer;
- a line connecting the computer to the sensor and to the actuating drive;
- means including a display for indicating settings of the computer;
- a removable program module engageable in the computer for supplying a valve- and user-specific program thereto;
- and
- an input panel connected to the computer for programming same, the program including several different and independent security routines capable of displaying errors on the display and capable of being changed with respect to sensitivity via the panel.
In combination with
- a mixing valve having hot- and cold-water inlets and a mixed-water outlet;
- and
- an actuating drive for operating the valve to change the blend of hot and cold water at the outlet;
- an apparatus for controlling and setting the valve via the actuating drive, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor at the outlet for producing an actual-value output corresponding to the temperature of the water at the outlet;
- a digital computer;
- a line connecting the computer to the sensor and to the actuating drive;
- means including a display for indicating settings of the computer;
- a removable program module engageable in the computer for supplying a valve- and user-specific program thereto;
- and
- an input panel connected to the computer for programming same, when used for controlling the temperature of water fed in a circulation loop containing a circulation pump and several draw-off points adjustment of the water temperature by the apparatus being interrupted automatically as long as there is no draw-off of water and the temperature of the water in the circulation loop is controlled by another device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.