U.S. patent application number 09/777123 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for faucet system for sanitary fixtures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Gransow, Eckhard, Humpert, Jurgen.
Application Number | 20010011390 09/777123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7630496 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Humpert, Jurgen ; et
al. |
August 9, 2001 |
Faucet system for sanitary fixtures
Abstract
A valve system in which a magnetic valve is in series with a
manually-operated valve and contact with the handle of the
manually-operated valve initiates flow via the electronic
controller whereas, upon loss of contact, a proximity detector
controls the magnetic valve when an object, such as a user's hand,
is in range. The manual contact is superordinate and proximity
detection is subordinate and the proximity detector remains
permanently switched on during the operating duration.
Inventors: |
Humpert, Jurgen; (Hemer,
DE) ; Gransow, Eckhard; (Frondenberg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
Friedrich Grohe AG & Co.
KG
|
Family ID: |
7630496 |
Appl. No.: |
09/777123 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/623 ;
4/677 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/623 ;
4/677 |
International
Class: |
E03C 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 9, 2000 |
DE |
10005961.9 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A valve system comprising: a manually controlled valve having a
handle for controlling flow between an inlet and an outlet; an
electrically controlled valve hydraulically in series with said
manually controlled valve and openable to permit flow through said
manually controlled valve and closable to limit flow through said
manually controlled valve; a contactless proximity detector
responsive to presence of an object in a vicinity of said manually
controlled valve; a contact sensor responsive to contact of said
handle by a hand of a user; and an electronic controller connected
to said electrically controlled valve, said proximity detector and
said contact sensor and constructed and arranged so that: said
sensor is hierarchically superordinate to said detector and
maintains said electrically controlled valve open as long as there
is contact with said handle by the hand of the user, said detector
is hierarchically subordinate to said sensor and maintains said
electrically controlled valve open even in an absence of contact
with said handle by the hand of the user, and said detector is
continuously activated.
2. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein the
manually-controlled valve is a single-lever mixing and flow control
valve.
3. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein the
electrically-controlled valve is an electromagnetically-operated
pilot valve.
4. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein the
electrically-controlled valve is provided upstream of said
manually-controlled valve.
5. The valve system defined in claim 4 wherein the
electrically-controlled valve comprises a pair of valves connected
respectively in hot and cold water lines running to said
manually-controlled valve.
6. The valve system defined in claim 5 wherein said pair of valves
are formed in a single body as a twin valve for the hot and cold
water, operated by a pilot valve member.
7. The valve system defined in claim 4 wherein each of said valves
of said pair of valves is provided with a check valve preventing
backflow.
8. The valve system defined in claim 4 wherein each of said pair of
valves is provided with a screen for removing contaminants from
water flowing therethrough.
9. The valve system defined in claim 7 wherein each of said pair of
valves is provided with a screen for removing contaminants from
water flowing therethrough.
10. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said
manually-controlled valve is a single-lever faucet for a sanitary
fixture controlling water flow and water temperature by mixing hot
and cold water, said contact sensor being located on said handle,
said contactless proximity detector being located in a valve
housing for said manually-controlled valve on said sanitary
fixture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Our present invention relates to a valve system for a
sanitary fixture, for example a faucet for a washbasin or the like,
with a manually-controlled valve having a handle and a further
valve controlled by electronic circuitry, the two valves being
provided in series and the control circuitry having a proximity
detector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A faucet system of the type described is found in German
patent document DE 197 23 312 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,170. In
this system, the manually-controlled valve serves for initiating
and terminating water flow, control of the temperature and control
of the flow rate and upon it is superimposed an electrical control
utilizing a detecting device which is switched in and out.
[0003] While that system has been found to be satisfactory, it is
capable of further simplification.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore the principal object of the present
invention to provide an improved valve system or faucet arrangement
with the advantages of the prior art system but which is further
simplified.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a faucet
system for sanitary fixtures, including but not limited to wash
basins and the like, utilizing a proximity detector responding to
an object, e.g. a hand of the user, in the range of the detector
and which affords reliable control of the faucet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] These objects and others which will become apparent
hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the invention in a
system in which a manually-controlled valve is provided in series
with an electrically-controlled valve, an electronic controller is
provided for the electrically-controlled valve and the system
includes a sensor for contact of the user with the handle of the
faucet and a proximity detector for detecting the presence of an
object in a range of that detector.
[0007] According to the invention the sensor on the handle of the
faucet is superordinate in hierarchy of control of the
electrically-controlled valve while the proximity detector is
subordinate in that hierarchy so that only during the period of
contact with the handle by the user is the electrically-controlled
valve held in its open position by the electronic controller while
that electrically-controlled valve responds to the detection device
only when the handle of the faucet is not in contact with the hand
of the user. The detection device, however, remains enabled during
the entire operating period or interval of the faucet.
[0008] More particularly, the valve system or faucet system of the
invention can comprise:
[0009] a manually controlled valve having a handle for controlling
flow between an inlet and an outlet;
[0010] an electrically controlled valve hydraulically in series
with the manually controlled valve and openable to permit flow
through the manually controlled valve and closable to limit flow
through the manually controlled valve;
[0011] a contactless proximity detector responsive to presence of
an object in a vicinity of the manually controlled valve;
[0012] a contact sensor responsive to contact of the handle by a
hand of a user; and
[0013] an electronic controller connected to the electrically
controlled valve, the proximity detector and the contact sensor and
constructed and arranged so that:
[0014] the sensor is hierarchically superordinate to the detector
and maintains the electrically controlled valve open as long as
there is contact with the handle by the hand of the user,
[0015] the detector is hierarchically subordinate to the sensor and
maintains the electrically controlled valve open even in an absence
of contact with the handle by the hand of the user, and
[0016] the detector is continuously activated i.e. is permanently
in an enabled state ready to detect an object in its range.
[0017] According to a feature of the invention, the
manually-controlled or first valve controlled by the handle, is a
mixing and flow-control valve while the second or
electrically-controlled valve has an electromagnetically-controlled
pilot valve. The electrically-controlled valve is advantageously
provided upstream of the manually-controlled valve and can include
two valve units for the hot and cold water respectively, preferably
embodied in a single valve housing with a twin valve, controlled by
the electromagnetic pilot valve. The electrically-controlled valve
can be provided with or in series with check valves preventing
backflow and/or dirt-blocking screens in the lines for the hot and
cold water.
[0018] The aforementioned features allow a significant
simplification of a faucet system in that the manually-operated
valve handle itself requires only the contact sensor. It has been
found that electronic circuitry utilizing a proximity detector is
substantially more economical if it is utilized continuously, i.e.
when the proximity sensor remains in an enabled state continuously.
With the system of the invention, the proximity sensor is enabled
or activated and thus in an activated state continuously.
[0019] While in a preferred state the valve operated by the control
circuit is located upstream of the manually-operated valve, it is
possible to provide the electrically-operated valve downstream of
the manually-operated valve and between the outlet and the
manually-operated valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0020] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a washbasin provided
with a faucet system according to the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical
relationship of the contact sensor and the proximity detector in
operating the pilot valve by the electronic controller.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0023] In FIG. 1, the washbasin 7 is provided with a bore 70 above
which the faucet body 6 is mounted.
[0024] The faucet body forms a housing receiving a mixing cartridge
3 which serves to mix hot and cold water supplied by the connecting
lines 21 and 22 and to control the rate of flow of the
mixed-temperature water from the spigot 23. The connecting lines 21
and 22 pass through the opening 70 into the valve body 2.
[0025] The cartridge 3 of the manually-operated valve is connected
by a positioning lever 30 with a handle 1, the manually-operated
valve being of the single handle type. A pivoting movement of the
handle about a perpendicular to the central axis 13 in the
direction of arrow 11 controls the rate of flow from the spigot and
represents a first degree of freedom for this valve. A pivotal
movement of the handle 1 about the central axis 13 as represented
by the double-headed arrow 12 controls the mixing ratio of cold and
hot water.
[0026] In a lower part of the body 2 of the manually-operated
faucet is a detection device 6, referred to here as a proximity
detector which can ascertain whether an object, e.g. the hand of a
user, is within a certain detection range, usually close enough to
the flow from the spigot 23 to enable washing of the hands or other
activity in the basin.
[0027] In addition, the handle 1, in the region of the handle arm
10 has a sensor 100 on its surface which can detect a contact with
the handle by the hand of the user. The sensor 100 is connected by
a conductor 50 and the detector 6 is connected by a conductor 51
with the electronic control circuitry 5 disposed beneath the
washbasin.
[0028] The connection pipes 21 and 22 are provided with elbow
valves 8 for the hot and cold water and connected to the hot and
the cold networks of the building. In the drawing, only one elbow
valve has been shown, the second elbow valve being provided behind
the one illustrated and behind the drawing plane.
[0029] Downstream of the elbow valve, each of the lines is provided
with a dirt-collecting screen 25 and the check valve or backflow
preventer 24 each of which communicates with a respective valve
unit in a twin valve structure of the electrically-controlled valve
4 which is represented diagrammatically in the drawing. In other
words, the valve 4 with its electromagnetically-controlled pilot
valve 40, as separate valve units for the hot and cold water which
are both shut off when the pilot valve 40 is de-energized and are
both opened when the pilot valve is energized. Of course, the pilot
valve 40 need not be of the type which is closed when de-energized
but can be a bistable valve which is energized to open and
energized again to close. The pilot valve 40 is connected by an
electric line 52 with the electronic control 5.
[0030] The electronic control 5 is so programmed that it operates
continuously and provides a hierarchical response to actuation of
the sensor 100 and the proximity detector 6. In other words the
contact with the sensor 100 produces a signal which is
superordinate while the proximity detector 6 provides a signal
which is subordinate in control of the pilot valve 40. The
electrical energy supply for the electronic circuitry 5, the
detection device 6 and the pilot valve 40 is one or more batteries
in the control unit 5. Of course it is also possible to have the
control unit 5 connected to an electric supply network.
[0031] The faucet system operates substantially as follows.
[0032] In the position of the handle 1 shown in FIG. 1, the first
valve 3 is in its closed position. Since the sensor 100 is not
touched by the user, the electronic control 5 maintains the pilot
valve 40 of the second valve (twin valve) in a closed position.
[0033] If a user contacts the sensor, e.g. by engaging the handle
1, the electronic control 5 activates the pilot valve 40 which
opens the twin valve 4 and holds the latter open as long as the
user is in contact with the sensor 100.
[0034] In this state, the user can employ the faucet under the
control of the handle to dispense the requisite volume rate of flow
of the water at the desired temperature. By a pivoting of the
handle 1 in the direction of the arrow 11, the valve 3 is moved
increasingly from its blocking position into the fully
open-position so that more water emerges from the spigot 23 as a
free stream. By a rotation of the handle 1 in the direction of
arrow 12, the mixing ratio of cold and hot water and thus the
temperature of the emerging stream can be regulated. If the user
loses contact with the sensor 100 in an open position of the valve
3, the detection device 6 takes over control of the pilot valve via
the control 5. If there is, therefore, an object in the range of
the detector 6, the electronic control 5 retains the pilot valve 40
and the twin valve 4 in its open position. If no object is
detected, the electronic controller 5 closes the pilot valve. If at
a later point an object is introduced into the range of the
detector 6, the electronic circuit 5 energizes the pilot valve 40
to again open the twin valve 4 for the duration that an object
remains in the detection range. The faucet then operates as a
contactless automatic flow faucet.
[0035] In the embodiment illustrated, the second valve 4 is formed
as a twin valve upstream of the manually-controlled valve 3 and can
either have two pilot valves, one for each valve unit, or a single
pilot valve for both units, i.e. for the hot and cold water.
Instead of two magnetically-controlled valve units, at the
downstream side of the pilot valve a single magnetic valve can be
provided. The electric circuitry can be provided together with a
proximity detector in the valve body and the proximity detector can
be an infrared light proximity switch. The invention of course is
also applicable to a water tap type of faucet in which the
manually-operated valve only controls the on and off state and acts
as a flow controller without affecting the flow temperature.
[0036] An information flow diagram is shown in FIG. 2 to depict
this operation and the detector is activated at 100 and remains
enabled continuously. When the hand engages the handle at 101, the
controller detects at 102 this engagement and operates the magnetic
valve at 103 or permits detection at 104 of an object in the range
of the proximity detector, this latter stage being subordinate.
* * * * *