Valves and valve actuation – Electrically actuated valve – Remote or follow-up control system for electrical actuator
Patent
1996-06-19
1999-01-05
Rivell, John
Valves and valve actuation
Electrically actuated valve
Remote or follow-up control system for electrical actuator
4623, 236 1212, F16K 3102, E03C 105
Patent
active
058553568
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a sanitary tap for automatic water delivery.
BACKGROUND ART
To deliver/mix the hot and/or cold water, known taps generally require the operation of suitable control members, generally by contact with the user's hand (or foot).
Taps are also known which deliver water when the user positions his hands close to the tap, to activate a proximity sensor which determines water delivery. However such taps deliver water at only a single predetermined temperature, it not being possible to adjust the temperature other than by manually adjusting the control members (in the normal manner).
The object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary tap able to deliver water at the desired temperature without contact being required between the hands (or another part of the body) of the user and a part of the tap.
The purpose of this is to make the use of the tap more comfortable, more rapid and more hygienic.
A typical application of the tap of the invention is in washrooms open to the public (restaurants, public toilets, offices, communities, public transport, etc.) where the requirements of hygiene are particularly felt.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the tap comprises: hands; of the tap; and for consequently controlling the water temperature regulating means such that the temperature of the water delivered by the port 11 differs on the basis of the differing distance of the user's hands 3 from the tap.
When in use, the user positions his hands below the tap, which then delivers water at a temperature which differs in accordance with the distance between the hands and the tap.
For example, the temperature can be higher the greater this distance, or vice versa.
The user can then control the water delivery and determine its temperature simply by placing his hands at the required distance under the tap delivery port without touching any part of it.
The invention is described in detail hereinafter with the aid of the accompanying figures, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the tap according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the temperature regulating means 40.
The tap of the invention, shown very schematically in FIG. 1, is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a usual water deliver port 11, and is typically positioned above a wash basin 2 in which the delivered water is collected.
With the tap 1 there is associated a sensor means 20 arranged to determine the distance of the user's hands 3 from the tap.
The sensor means 20 is positioned close to the delivery port 1 (as shown in FIG. 1), and faces the underlying wash basin 2.
The sensor means 20 can be of infrared reflecting type, or can incorporate laser diodes or ultrasound means.
The tap also comprises means 30 for processing the distance values provided by the sensor means 20.
Specifically, the means 30 comprise a microcontroller 31 which processes the information received from the sensor means 20 to implement the desired function.
The means 30 act on the temperature regulating means 40 for the water fed to the delivery port 11.
The microcontroller 31 contains software for controlling the means 40 such that the delivered temperature depends on the distance of the hands 3 from the sensor 20.
For example, the microcontroller 31 operates by dividing the space below the port 11 into several sectors and associating with each sector a respective delivered water temperature.
For example, on positioning the hands 3 within the sector nearest to the port 11, this delivers water at "cold" temperature; on positioning the hands 3 within the sector farthest from the port 11, this delivers water at "hot" temperature; finally on positioning the hands 3 within one of the intermediate sectors, the port 11 delivers water at "tepid" temperature, hot to a greater or lesser extent.
The software of the microcontroller 31 can be such as to cause the delivered water temperature to vary instantaneously as the distance of the hands 3 from the por
REFERENCES:
patent: 3333160 (1967-07-01), Gorski
patent: 3576277 (1971-04-01), Blackmon
patent: 4921211 (1990-05-01), Novak et al.
patent: 5095945 (1992-03-01), Jensen
patent: 5184642 (1993-02-01), Powell
patent: 5322086 (1994-06-01), Sullivan
American Standard Inc.
Homa Joseph M.
Rivell John
Robinson Elaine Brenner
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