Fluid handling – Systems – Programmer or timer
Patent
1984-12-13
1987-07-28
Nilson, Robert G.
Fluid handling
Systems
Programmer or timer
4623, 25112904, F16K 3102
Patent
active
046826289
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to faucets and in one particular embodiment those which turn off and on automatically.
Faucets have assumed various shapes and configurations over many years. The most basic of these comprises a plurality of taps with associated interdependent valve mechanisms. One tap is connected to a cold water supply whilst another is connected to a hot water supply. Typically each of the taps has its own outlet.
Modifications of this basic design have occurred to enable the use of a single outlet by connecting the respective outlets of the taps to a central outlet. This permits a blending or mixing of hot water and cold water thus facilitating a wide temperature range of issuing water. Notwithstanding such modification it is still necessary to manually adjust each flow of hot and cold water.
According to another improvement of the conventional faucet, there has been provided means to turn the water flow off and on automatically or remotely (e.g. by the foot). In the former case the automatic operation has in one case been achieved by providing a spring loaded return device in the valve mechanism. This permits the flow of water to be manually initiated and the water valve to shut under the action of the spring after a predetermined period.
A more sophisticated automatic system has been proposed in Australian patent application No. 81718/72 which discloses an ultrasonically operated water faucet. The water faucet is provided which has an ultrasonic sensor to sense the user's hand or an object that is within proximity of the faucet. The ultrasonic sensor is connected to a control circuit that activates an electrically controlled valve. When the user's hand is brought under the faucet the water is turned on and remains on for as long as the user's hand is under the faucet. When the user's hand is removed, the water is shut off, thus ensuring no more water than is necessary is used.
The automatic faucet of the aforementioned type is particularly suitable for public lavatories when for sanitary reasons contact with faucets is not desirable. Further such system prevents wastage of water due to faucets being left on.
Nevertheless in all these devices the regulation of water at an appropriate temperature is complicated in view of the usual high pressure differential between incoming hot and cold water and it is common for such mixing devices to leak. This leakage can interfere with the mixing capabilities of these mechanisms.
Furthermore, some known faucet systems suffer from the disadvantage that they initially deliver scalding hot water, which can cause considerable injury if the user is not aware of this disadvantage.
It is an object of this invention to provide an anti-scald faucet system.
A further object of the invention is the provision of electrical means to safely operate a faucet system by remote control.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided an anti-scald faucet valve comprising
(a) an elongated valve chamber having a side wall and first and second end walls, the side wall having spaced apart hot and cold water inlet ports, the cold water inlet port being nearest the first end wall,
(b) an elongate valve member movable in said chamber and having first and second valve closure members arranged to open and close the cold and hot water inlet ports respectively, and defining a first end zone and second end zone between the first and second end walls and said valve closure members respectively, and a mixing zone between the first and second valve closure members,
(c) means biassing the valve member towards the second end wall,
(d) a metering orifrce through the second valve closure member communicating the mixing zone with the second end zone,
(e) a faucet outlet chamber having an outlet and communicating with the mixing zone by a main passage which is opened or closed by a remotely controlled valve, and
(f) a regulating passage communicating the faucet outlet chamber with the first end zone, said regulating passage having a regulating valve to control the flow of water
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