U.S. patent number 3,639,920 [Application Number 05/044,501] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for programmed plumbing service.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Standard Inc.. Invention is credited to Norman A. Forbes, James R. Griffin.
United States Patent |
3,639,920 |
Griffin , et al. |
February 8, 1972 |
PROGRAMMED PLUMBING SERVICE
Abstract
Covers a proximity apparatus for a lavatory or basin or other
plumbing fixture which responds to the approach of the user to the
plumbing fixture to dispense water and soap according to a
predetermined pattern. Water may be turned on for a first
predetermined interval, for example, when the user reaches the
front of the plumbing fixture, after which the water will be
briefly turned off and the soap will be turned on for another
predetermined interval. Then there will be a predetermined pause
during which neither soap nor water will be dispensed, after which
the flow of water will be reinstated and the flow continued until
the user has departed from the plumbing fixture.
Inventors: |
Griffin; James R. (Louisville,
KY), Forbes; Norman A. (Louisville, KY) |
Assignee: |
American Standard Inc. (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21932723 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/044,501 |
Filed: |
June 8, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/623; 4/628;
4/304 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C
1/046 (20130101); E03C 1/057 (20130101); A47K
2005/1218 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03C
1/04 (20060101); E03C 1/046 (20060101); E03C
1/05 (20060101); A47k 001/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/1,100,101,166
;222/76,63 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Artis; Henry K.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The combination of a plumbing fixture having a faucet for the
discharge of water and a dispenser for the discharge of soap,
sensing mechanism responsive to the approach of a user to the
plumbing fixture to open said faucet to transmit water from the
faucet for a predetermined time interval and for opening said
dispenser for subsequently transmitting soap from the dispenser for
a different predetermined interval.
2. The combination recited in claim 1, including means for
reinstating the flow of water through the faucet after soap has
been dispensed by the dispenser for said different predetermined
interval of time.
3. The combination recited in claim 2, including means to interrupt
the flow of water through the faucet upon the departure of the user
from the plumbing fixture.
4. The combination recited in claim 1, including two delay networks
to introduce the respective operating time intervals.
5. The combination recited in claim 1, including separate conduits
for the discharge of water and soap so as to prevent the mixture of
the water with the soap.
6. The combination of a plumbing fixture having a spout for the
discharge of water and a dispenser for the discharge of soap, a
solenoid valve for controlling the flow of water through the spout,
a pump for feeding soap to the dispenser, an antenna, and means
controlled by said antenna for operating the solenoid valve for a
first predetermined time interval to discharge water through the
spout, said means also including means for operating the pump for a
second predetermined time interval to discharge soap through the
dispenser.
7. The combination recited in claim 6 including a programming
network having two delay networks for fixing the first and second
predetermined time intervals.
8. The combination of claim 6, including means for operating the
solenoid valve for another time interval after the discharge of
soap through the dispenser.
9. The combination of a plumbing fixture having first and second
spouts for supplying water and soap respectively, a first device
including means for controlling the discharge of water through the
first spout, a second device including means for controlling the
flow of soap through the second spout, and programming apparatus
coupled to said first and second devices and including mechanism
for sequentially operating said first and second devices for first
and second predetermined time intervals, respectively.
10. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the programming
apparatus includes means for interrupting the flow of water through
the first spout and for thereafter reinstating the flow of water
through the first spout.
11. The combination recited in claim 10, including separate
conduits for the soap and the water to prevent any mixture of the
two substances.
12. Program apparatus for a plumbing fixture comprising, in
addition to the plumbing fixture, a solenoid valve and a faucet to
control the flow of water through the plumbing fixture, a pump and
a fitting to control the flow of soap to the plumbing fixture,
electrical sensing means responsive to the advent of a user to the
plumbing fixture to operate the solenoid valve to transmit water
through the faucet for a first predetermined time interval and to
operate the pump to dispense soap through the fitting for a second
predetermined interval, and means to interrupt the flow of water
through the faucet for a third predetermined time interval and
thereafter to reinstate the flow of water through the faucet.
13. Program apparatus according to claim 12, including a delay
network to fix the time interval between the separate operations of
the solenoid valve.
14. Program apparatus according to claim 12, including means to
mechanically couple the faucet and the fitting to each other so
that the soap and the water may be emitted in the same general
direction.
15. Plumbing apparatus comprising a soap dispenser, a water
dispenser, and electrical sensing means coupled to both dispensers
and including mechanism responsive to the approach of a user to the
plumbing apparatus to sequentially operate the water and soap
dispensers for different predetermined time intervals.
16. Plumbing apparatus according to claim 15, including the means
to operate the water dispenser continuously after said different
predetermined intervals have expired and to interrupt the flow of
water through the water dispenser upon the departure of the user
from the plumbing fixture.
17. Plumbing apparatus according to claim 16, including means to
couple the soap dispenser to the water dispenser so that the
emission paths of the soap and water will be substantially parallel
to each other.
18. Plumbing apparatus according to claim 17, including two
indicators coupled respectively to the soap and water dispensers to
indicate that the respective dispensers are in operation.
Description
The invention relates to proximity equipment for a lavatory,
washbasin or other plumbing fixture. More particularly, the
invention relates to apparatus associated with a plumbing fixture
for supplying soap and water to the plumbing fixture according to
predetermined patterns.
Proximity apparatus heretofore proposed for lavatories, washbasins
and other plumbing fixtures was designed to control the flow of
water to the plumbing fixture without requiring the user to touch
the faucet or any other part of the plumbing fixture. However, in
such arrangements, there may be a need for a soap dispenser to
enable the user to receive a selected or predetermined quantity of
soap, in liquid or granulated solid or other form, so that the user
may "soap" his hands or face and then remove the soap from the
parts of his body to which the soap has been applied. Soap
dispensers, however, have heretofore required mechanical means,
controlled by the user, for dispensing the soap. Such a
user-operated mechanical dispensing equipment generally requires
the user to touch the soap-dispensing equipment to release soap.
This independent mechanical operation by the user usually defeats
or nullifies the automatic operating feature of the overall
equipment at the plumbing fixture.
In the usual soap-dispensing apparatus, especially in
soap-dispensing apparatus used in association with a lavatory or
washbasin, the soap dispensed by the equipment and not used
sometimes falls upon an exposed surface of the plumbing fixture and
remains fixed or hardened in the position in which it has fallen.
This mars the appearance of the plumbing fixture. Moreover, if the
fixture is in a public place, an attendant may be required, and
usually is required, to clean the fixture and remove all of the
unused soap which remains on the fixture. It is, therefore, one of
the objects of this invention to provide an arrangement which
dispenses soap upon or after the approach of the user, and which
also discharges water from the plumbing fixture, so that both soap
and water will be dispensed from the plumbing fixture but no soap
will be deposited on the plumbing fixture to mar the fixture.
Hence, such an arrangement will diminish, or perhaps eliminate, the
usual requirement for the maintenance of the plumbing fixture.
Furthermore, experience with mechanical soap-dispensing apparatus
suggests that such apparatus may be exposed to vandalism, or may
become an object of vandalism, possibly because a frustrated user
who wanted and needed soap and was unable to get it, relieved his
frustration and his feelings by vandalism, especially if the soap
dispenser were readily breakable. This invention is provided to
minimize or eliminate faulty operation of soap dispensers and
thereby minimize vandalism and render their operation automatic and
positive.
According to one exemplary form of the invention to be described
hereinafter, a proximity equipment for a lavatory or washbasin or
like plumbing fixture will be illustrated and described having
mechanism for the control of the flow of water from the spout of
the plumbing fixture and having also additional mechanism coupled
to the spout for the control of the disposal of soap from a soap
container or dispenser. Water will be supplied from the spout for a
predetermined time interval promptly when the user arrives at the
plumbing fixture, then the water will be turned off and soap will
be dispensed for a predetermined time interval, then there will be
a pause during which neither water nor soap will be dispensed, and
finally the water will be again turned on and remain turned on as
long as the user remains at the plumbing fixture. By turning the
water during a first predetermined interval, the user may get his
hands into position and wetted in advance of a soaping operation.
Then the water will be turned off and soap will be supplied for a
second predetermined interval so that the user may receive soap
independently of any additional water. Then there will be a pause
lasting a third predetermined interval during which the user may,
if he wishes, build up a lather on his hands or face sufficient for
his intended purpose. Finally, the water will be turned on again
and remain on (without any soap dispensation) until the user has
completed his washing or rinsing functions at the plumbing fixture.
It is only necessary for the user to remove himself from the
plumbing fixture to cause the water flowing from the spout to be
interrupted. This will complete the programmed sequence of events
while the user remains at the plumbing fixture. This cycle will be
restarted and completed with each approach of a user.
This invention and its objects and features will be more clearly
understood from the more complete and more detailed description and
explanation hereinafter following when read in connection with the
accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 generally and schematically shows a front elevational view
of a plumbing fixture along with the additional apparatus, shown
generally and schematically therein, for the control of the flow
and dispensation of water and of soap;
FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the equipment shown
schematically in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of associated circuitry for the
overall control and programming of the apparatus of the plumbing
fixture; and
FIG. 4 shows a diagram exhibiting the time intervals which may be
employed in the practice of one form of the invention.
Referring especially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing there is shown
an antenna ANT, which may be a proximity antenna such as may be
employed with a lavatory or basin or other plumbing fixture LV, a
control equipment CN which is activated and otherwise controlled by
the approach of the user to the antenna ANT, a solenoid valve SV
which is employed for controlling the flow of water through the
spout ST of the plumbing fixture LV, and a soap pump SP for
dispensing soap through a fitting or spout SF of the plumbing
fixture LV. These are the principal components of the invention and
they are interconnected by the electrical circuitry of FIG. 3 which
is provided for regulating and programming all of the operations to
be performed at the plumbing fixture LV, as will be explained. A
form of antenna arrangement suitable for the indicated purpose is
disclosed in our copending application, Ser. No. 856,667, filed
Sept. 10, 1969.
As is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lavatory LV, which
may be of any conventional shape, includes, in addition to the
spout ST, the usual basin BA for the lavatory and a hanger section
HN for hanging the lavatory LV against a backwall or other suitable
support. The spout ST is employed primarily to control the downward
flow of water through the spout ST and into the basin BA. The flow
of water, according to this invention, will not be controlled by
the usual form of valves which are manually operated by the user to
turn water on and off as desired, but the flow of water will be
automatically controlled by the electrical solenoid valve SV and
its associated equipments. The solenoid valve SV is connected to
the control apparatus CN as will be described and, according to
this invention, the control apparatus CN will promptly respond to
the approach of a user to the front of the lavatory LV, thereby
changing the capacitance of the antenna ANT and causing the
solenoid valve SV to be energized to initiate the flow of water
through the spout ST. Water will continue to flow through the spout
ST only as long as the solenoid valve SV is operated. The flow of
water will be stopped upon the release of the solenoid valve.
In addition to the water control mechanism, the equipment of the
invention includes the soap pump SP which is connected by means of
a separate pipeline, or so-called soap conduit line SC, to a
mechanically coupled soap fixture or spout SF through which soap
may be dispensed. According to this invention, the control
mechanism CN is provided and arranged to activate the soap pump SP,
which is connected to a soap reservoir (not shown) from which soap
is applied through the conduit SC to fitting SF. The soap conduit
and the water conduit are separate and distinct from each other so
as to prevent any commingling of the soap and water through a
common faucet.
Thus, water may be dispensed through the spout ST and soap may be
dispensed through the fitting SF, to enable the user to obtain a
predetermined but ample supply of soap along with a sufficient
quantity of water to enable the user to develop a good lather on
his hands or his face, and thereafter collect water additionally
discharged through the spout ST to wash away or rinse the user's
hands or face. Such an agenda can make for the efficient use and
operation of the plumbing equipment.
A primary feature of the invention resides, therefore, in the
programmed dispensation of water and soap to the user in sufficient
quantities to enable the user to develop an appropriate lather for
the customary washing and rinsing purposes. The water and soap
dispensations may be arranged in any desired order, and the
intervals of dispensation, if desired, may overlap to some extent.
But in any case, the minimal requirements of soap and water for
adequate lathering will be supplied by the equipment for the
customary washing purposes.
According to this invention, moreover, after sufficient materials
have been supplied for lathering, the solenoid valve SV will be
operated to allow water to be transmitted through the spout ST for
a sufficient time interval to enable all the lather to be fully
removed. If desired, the waterflow may be continued as long as the
user remains in front of the lavatory LV, and the waterflow may be
interrupted only when the user has left the vicinity of the
plumbing fixture LV. Then, and only then, will the waterflow be
interrupted.
Before the user arrives at the plumbing fixture, that is, while the
equipment is in its quiescent state and is in its unoperated
condition, power supplied from a source PS, which may be the
conventional 110-volt AC source, will be transmitted through the
transformer TR. The negative half cycles of the applied AC voltage
will charge capacitor C2 through the diode D2, so that a negative
DC voltage appears across capacitor C2. This negative voltage
appears across a voltage divider made up of resistor R1 and diode
D3, and the negative voltage across diode D3 will apply a negative
potential to the base of the transistor Q1 and maintain it in a
nonconductive state. However, the positive half cycles of the
applied AC voltage will charge capacitor C1 through diode D1, and
positive current will flow from the positive charge on capacitor C1
through a circuit including resistor R2 and resistor R3. This
current will generate a positive potential at the base of the
transistor Q2, whereupon the transistor Q2 will become conductive.
During the conductive state of transistor Q2, current will flow
from the positive charge on capacitor C1, through resistor R4,
through the collector and emitter electrodes of transistor Q2 and
back to the grounded side of capacitor C1. As long as transistor Q2
remains conductive, the flow of current through the winding of
relay L3 will be insufficient to energize that relay. Hence the
lower or operating contact of relay L3 will remain open.
A negative voltage appears across capacitor C2, as already
explained, and this negative voltage is supplied to a series
circuit made up of resistor R5 and diode D4. The small fraction of
this negative voltage that appears across diode D4 supplies a
negative potential to the base of transistor Q3 and maintains
transistor Q3 nonconducting. However, additional negative current
will flow from capacitor C2 through diode D4 over a circuit
including the base and collector of transistor Q3, resistor R6 and
back to capacitor C2. This negative current will apply a negative
potential to the base of transistor Q4 and maintain transistor Q4
in a nonconducting state.
When transistor Q4 is in its nonconducting state, positive current
will flow from the positive charge on capacitor C1 through resistor
R7 and resistor R10 and back to the grounded side of capacitor C1.
This positive current will supply a positive potential to the base
of the transistor Q5, whereupon transistor Q5 will become
conducting. As long as transistor Q5 remains conducting, current
will flow from the positive charge on capacitor C1 through resistor
R8, through the collector and emitter electrodes of transistor Q5
and back to the grounded side of capacitor C1. This current will be
sufficiently large so that very little current may traverse the
winding of relay L1. Hence, relay L1 will remain deactivated.
It is noted, moreover, that the schematically represented control
network CN interconnects the antenna ANT to the winding of relay
L2. As long as the user is remote from the plumbing fixture LV, the
antenna ANT will be unchanged in capacitance. Hence, the control
network CN will not supply operating current to the winding of
relay L2. Relay L2 will, therefore, remain deenergized and the
forward or operating or make contact of this relay will remain
open. As long as relay L2 remains deenergized, current cannot flow
through the solenoid valve SV. Hence, no water will be supplied
through the spout ST of the plumbing fixture LV. Furthermore, while
the user is remote from the plumbing fixture LV, relay L4 will be
in its normal or nonoperated position. Hence, current cannot flow
to the motor MO which controls the soap pump SP. The soap pump SP
is shown coupled to the motor MO by a coupler CP. The motor MO is
also wired through a conventional full-wave rectifier, including
diodes D8 to D11, from the make-contact of relay L4. Because of the
normal release of relay L4, the motor MO will not be operated and
the soap dispenser SP will remain inactive and no soap will be
dispensed by the fitting FS.
Thus, during the idle condition of fig. 3 and the associated
equipment, all the relays L1, L2, L3 and L4 will be in their
released positions and remain released. No water or soap will be
dispensed by any part of the equipment associated with the lavatory
LV.
Upon the arrival of the user in front of lavatory LV, the antenna
ANT will be sufficiently changed in its capacitance so that the
relay L2 will become operated. Immediately upon the operation of
relay L2, current will flow from the secondary winding of
transformer TR over a circuit extending through the armature and
make-contact of relay L2, then through the solenoid valve SV, then
over the back contact and armature of relay L1, and back to the
secondary winding of transformer TR. This current will operate the
solenoid valve SV, and water will be transmitted through the spout
ST of the plumbing fixture LV.
The operation of the relay L2, in response to the approach of the
user to the antenna ANT, will also establish a circuit to three
delay networks DL1, DL2 and DL3. That circuit will be established
from the secondary winding of transformer TR through the armature
and make-contact of relay L2, through diode D12 and capacitor C6
and back to the secondary winding of the transformer. This will
cause positive pulses of current to be supplied to the upper
terminal of capacitor C6. Capacitor C6 will become charged by these
positive pulses. It is to be observed that the capacitor C6 is
bridged by a resistor R9.
Capacitor C6 is also connected to the three delay networks DL1, DL2
and DL3 in a parallel arrangement. The delay network DL1 includes
the series resistors R16 and R15 which extend to the terminal
common to the collector of transistor Q3 and the base of transistor
Q4. The terminal common to resistors R15 and R16 is bridged by a
capacitor C5 extending to the grounded terminal of the secondary
winding of transformer TR. Likewise, the delay network DL2 is
connected to the upper terminal of capacitor C6 through series
resistors R12 and R11 and this series circuit is connected to the
base terminal of transistor Q1. A capacitor C3 of delay network DL2
is bridged between the terminal common to resistors R11 and R12 and
the grounded terminal of the secondary winding of transformer TR.
Similarly, the delay network DL3 is connected to the upper terminal
of the capacitor C6 through a series circuit including resistors
R14 and R13 and this circuit extends to the base terminal of
transistor Q3. The several resistors R16, R12 and R14 of the
respective delay networks DL1, DL2 and DL3 are bridged by
corresponding diodes D7, D5 and D6. These delay networks DL1, DL2
and D3, all of which are controlled by the charge of capacitor C6,
are provided to furnish appropriate but different predetermined
time intervals for the operation of the mechanism of this
invention.
Immediately after the user arrives, the flow of current to
capacitor C6 to charge the capacitor C6 and the flow of current
from capacitor C6 to the delay network DL1 causes the capacitor C5
of this network to become charged, the lower terminal of the
capacitor C5 receiving a positive voltage. After a sufficient
charge has been collected on capacitor C5, the flow of positive
current through resistors R16 and R15 will develop a positive
voltage on the base of transistor Q4. Transistor Q4 will therefore
become conducting. As the transistor Q4 becomes conducting, the
current flow via diode D1, resistor R7, and the collector and
emitter of transistor Q4 will change the direction of the current
flowing through resistor R7 to the new path through the collector
and emitter electrodes of transistor Q4, so that the base of
transistor Q5 will receive a zero current. This will render
transistor Q5 nonconducting.
As soon as transistor Q5 becomes nonconducting, the positive pulses
of current flowing from the secondary winding of transformer TR
will traverse a circuit through diode D1, resistor R8 and the
winding of relay L1 and return to the secondary winding of the
transformer TR. This will cause relay L1 to operate. Hence, upon
the breakage of the back contact of relay L1, the circuit through
solenoid valve SV will be opened, whereupon the flow of water
through the faucet ST will be opened, whereupon the flow of water
through the faucet ST of the plumbing fixture LV will cease. The
solenoid valve SV will be operated for a predetermined time
interval which is designated t.sub.0 t.sub.1 in FIG. 4 of the
drawing.
Upon the operation of relay L1, a circuit will be established
through the winding of relay L4 over a path which includes the
secondary winding of transformer TR, the armature and make-contact
of relay L2, the armature and back contact of relay L3, the winding
of relay L4, the make-contact and armature of relay L1 and back to
the secondary winding of transformer TR. Relay L4 will therefore
operate.
Upon the operation of relay L4, which will occur after a
predetermined time interval denoted by the period t.sub.o to
t.sub.1 of FIG. 4, a circuit will be established to operate the
motor MO and the soap pump SP coupled thereto. This circuit will
include the secondary winding of transformer TR, the armature and
make-contact of relay L4, resistor R17, the full-wave rectifier
consisting of diodes D8, D9, D10 and D11, and back to the secondary
winding of transformer TR. The full-wave rectifier will permit the
motor MO to be fed current unidirectionally during both halves of
each cycle of current supplied by the power source PS. The soap
pump SP will then be activated, thereby supplying soap to the
soap-dispensing fixture SF affixed to or associated with the
plumbing fixture LV.
Soap will be dispensed by the soap pump SP via spout or fitting SF
for a period of time determined by the constants of the delay
network DL2 which may be, for example, during an interval t.sub.1
to t.sub.2 of FIG. 4 of, say, 2 seconds. During this predetermined
interval, the capacitor C3 will continue to receive a rather large
charge of voltage, and the voltage on capacitor C3 will increase to
the magnitude required to make transistor Q1 conductive at about
the end of the interval.
Following the operation of relay L2 and the charging of capacitor
C6, positive current will be fed through resistors R12 and R11 and
through resistor R1 to the terminal between diode D2 and capacitor
C2. This positive current will, at time t.sub.2, cause the base of
transistor Q1 to become positive and render the transistor Q1
conducting. The flow of current through the collector and emitter
of transistor Q1 will substantially reduce the positive voltage
previously supplied through resistor R2 to the base of transistor
Q2. As the positive voltage applied to the base of transistor Q2
becomes sufficiently reduced, the transistor Q2 will become
nonconducting. When this happens, the current through the winding
of relay L3 will be increased sufficiently to cause this relay to
become operated. Thus, the relay L3 will become operated to break
the circuit previously established to the winding of relay L4. The
relay L4 will be released and will stop the current flow to the
motor MO and, therefore, stop the discharge of soap from pump SP to
the soap dispenser SF.
Thus, there will be no flow of water via the solenoid valve SV
because relay L1 had been operated to break the circuit of solenoid
valve SV and, as already explained, the release of relay L4 will
interrupt the discharge of soap from the soap dispenser. This
status, i.e., the condition in which there is no flow of water and
no discharge of soap, will continue for a period of time t.sub.2 to
t.sub.3 of FIG. 4 determined by the time constants provided by the
delay network DL3 as will be presently explained.
After the operation of relay L3, there will continue to be a flow
of positive current from the terminal common to diode D12 and
capacitor C6 through the resistors R14 and R13, serving to charge
the capacitor C4. After a sufficient and predetermined time
interval, such as 5 seconds after time t.sub.o, the charge on
capacitor C4 will reach a value which is sufficient to develop a
considerable positive current at the base electrode of transistor
Q3, rendering transistor Q3 conducting. Hence, transistor Q4 will
be deprived of the positive current previously applied to its base
electrode, and, therefore, transistor Q4 will be rendered
nonconducting. As soon as transistor Q4 becomes nonconducting,
transistor Q5 will again become conducting, thereby shunting much
of the current previously flowing through the winding of relay L1
to the path established by the collector and emitter electrodes of
transistor Q5, so that relay L1 releases. The release of relay L1
will again connect the solenoid valve SV to the secondary winding
of transformer TR over a path established through the armature and
make-contact of relay L2, the solenoid valve SV, the back contact
and armature of relay L1 and back to the transformer secondary
winding. This operation of the solenoid valve will reestablish a
flow of water through the faucet ST of the plumbing fixture LV.
The flow of water through the solenoid valve SV will be continued
and maintained as long as relay L2 remains operated. As already
explained, relay L2 is controlled by the control network CN which,
in turn, is controlled by the capacitance of the antenna ANT.
Hence, when the user departs from the plumbing fixture LV, and only
then, the relay L2 will become released, breaking the circuit
extending to the solenoid valve SV and interrupting the flow of
water through the faucet ST of the plumbing fixture LV.
There are, therefore, three distinct time intervals which are
effective in controlling the flow of water and soap into the
plumbing fixture LV. The first interval, determined by delay
network DL1, which may be 1 second, for example, will effect the
interval of the initial flow of water through the solenoid valve SV
and, therefore, through the faucet ST. The second time interval,
determined by the delay network DL2, will determine the end of the
period of time, such as 2 seconds, for example, during which soap
alone will be dispensed by the soap dispenser SP through the spout
SF. The third period of time, which is determined by the delay
network DL3, will determine the end of the period of time, such as
2 seconds, for example, during which neither soap nor water will be
dispensed. The solenoid valve SV will then be turned on a second
time to permit the user to wash his hands or face, etc. The water
will continue to flow through faucet ST until the user leaves his
position adjacent to the plumbing fixture LV. The three time
intervals are exemplified in FIG. 4 and may be adjusted to any
desired values merely by changing the parameters of the
circuitry.
It will be observed that each of the three delay networks DL1, DL2
and DL3 embodies a distinctive diode. The three diodes are
designated, respectively, D7, D5 and D6, and they bridge the
resistors R16, R12 and R14 respectively. These diodes are intended
to dissipate the discharge current flow through the respective
delay networks so as to discharge their respective capacitors
rapidly. The rapid discharge of the capacitors of the three delay
networks serves to reinstate the three delay networks in readiness
for their prompt return for delaying action as may be required with
the approach of a subsequent user of the same lavatory LV.
Although the first or initial flow of water through the faucet ST
precedes the discharge of soap from the dispenser SF, the time
intervals need not be adjacent or sequential, but may be partially
or fully overlapping, as may be desired. The objective in having
them in sequential order is to allow the user to become aware and
cognizant of the automatic operation of the equipment before
allowing soap to be dispensed to the user. This helps to avoid the
unnecessary wastage of soap. These time factors may, of course, be
changed as may be desired to change the intervals.
Although the equipment of this invention has been illustrated as
embodying two different outlets ST and SF for the water and soap,
respectively, it will be readily apparent that a common faucet may
be used if desired to discharge both of the media-- water and soap.
A common faucet would serve to maintain the paths of both media in
a common direction.
The arrangement of this invention, as already noted, employs a
control network CN to operate relay L2 when the user arrives at the
plumbing fixture and to release relay L2 when the user departs from
the fixture. The control network CN may be of any suitable
structure available for this purpose. Any appropriate vacuum tube
system or transistor system will suffice if it is triggered by a
predetermined change in capacitance of a capacitive antenna or by a
change in impedance of a photocell or other device to operate relay
L2 upon the user's arrival and to release relay L2 upon the return
of the device to its normal condition as the user departs.
Two lamps RL and SL are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lamp RL, which
is controlled by relay L3, will be operated at about time t.sub.2
(see FIG. 4) when neither water nor soap are being discharged. The
lamp RL will continue to be lighted from the beginning of the pause
in the discharge of the soap until the user has departed from the
plumbing fixture. The other lamp SL, which is connected to the back
contact of relay L3, will be lighted as soon as the user arrives at
the plumbing fixture and remain lighted until the soap delivery has
been completed-- which will occur at about time t.sub.2 (of FIG.
4). Preferably, the lamp SL is labeled "SOAP" and the lamp RL is
labeled "RINSE." These lamps are provided to help explain the
operation of the device to an uninitiated user.
Although the structure of this invention employs an antenna in the
form of a capacitance which changes in magnitude with the approach
of the user and returns to its original capacitive value when the
user departs, any other form of device such as a photoelectric
cell, may be substituted therefor. The photocell would be employed
to undergo a change in its impedance when the user arrives and to
return to its initial impedance when the user departs. A suitable
photoelectric arrangement for this purpose is fully shown and
described in a copending application of N. A. Forbes, Ser. No.
37,077, filed on or about May 14, 1970.
Although this invention has been shown and described in certain
particular embodiments merely for illustration and explanation and
the equipment of this invention has been represented schematically
to simplify the illustration and explanation, it will be apparent
that the features and principles of this invention may be applied
to other and widely varied organizations without departing from the
spirit and scope of this invention.
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