Fluid handling – Systems – Programmer or timer
Patent
1990-02-27
1991-01-01
Cohan, Alan
Fluid handling
Systems
Programmer or timer
25112904, E03C 105, G05D 706
Patent
active
049811584
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to non-contact control of equipment especially but not exclusively of valves for water supplies.
More particularly, the invention relates to non-contact control of valves in faucets such as those used for supplying water to a hand-basin. The general object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and cheap non-contact controller for a valve.
According to the present invention there is provided control means for a controllable device, such as a solenoid valve, comprising detection means for detecting movement of an object, a receiving circuit for producing motion signals in response to detected movement, signal generating means for generating control signals for controlling the device in response to said motion signals, and timing means for use in generating said control signals in a predetermined manner with reference to said motion signals, characterised in that the detection means comprises transmitting and receiving strip antennae for radiating and receiving microwave frequency electromagnetic signals into and from a predetermined detection volume.
Such control means is particularly advantageous in controlling a flow controller for a water supply line. It can be arranged to control water supply to a sink or basin, a bath, a shower, or other fixture, the detection volume being selected such that water supply can be regulated in a convenient and efficient fashion. For instance, the strip antennae may be used so as to generate a detection volume which lies substantially or entirely within a sink or basin. This can avoid accidental triggering of a water supply by motion of an object close to the control means which is not however intended to be a washing activity.
A problem with some known arrangements for automatic water supply equipment designed to trigger water flow on detection of motion has been a risk that the flowing water coming from a faucet, or flowing across the bottom of a container, itself is recognised by the equipment as a moving object so that the water flow becomes self-perpetuating. It has been found that control means according to the present invention can have additional advantages in this respect. By using electromagnetic signals having a wavelength in the range from 2 to 3 GHz, and more especially in the range from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, rather than for instance higher frequency signals of 5 or 10 GHz, the sensitivity of the control means in detecting the water flow has been found to be particularly low.
Another advantage of using signals having wavelengths in the ranges indicated is that contamination, by for instance soap or condensation, on the antennae or on a panel immediately covering the antennae, has relatively little effect on the performance of the control means.
It has been found beneficial that the faucet should have an aerator provided. In spite of the flow of a stream of water from the faucet, an aerator has been found to reduce the risk that the water flow itself should be detected by the control means.
Another factor in reducing the risk that the stream of water from a faucet should itself be detected is the relative positions of the strip antennae and the stream of water. It has been found that arrangement of the antennae in a plane which lies at an angle in the range from 40.degree. to 50.degree. to the stream of water reduces said risk. Preferably, a plane parallel to the antennae should extend at about 45.degree. to the direction of the stream.
It is also preferable that the receiving circuit of the control means should include sensitivity control means which can be used to preselect the size of the detection volume. Such sensitivity control means can be used to further reduce the risk that flow of water across the sides or bottom of a container such as a sink or basin will be detected as a moving object, and to adjust the control means to have an associated detection volume suitable to a particular installation.
Preferably, where the device comprises a flow controller for a water faucet, the timing means comprises a first timing circuit wh
REFERENCES:
patent: 3151340 (1964-10-01), Minoru
patent: 3333160 (1967-07-01), Gorski
patent: 3551919 (1971-01-01), Forbes
patent: 4682628 (1987-07-01), Hill
Batty Robin J.
Brondolino Charles
Brondolino Rose M.
Dedda Anthony
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