Fluid handling – Systems – Multiple inlet with single outlet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-11-27
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multiple inlet with single outlet
C251S129040, C004S623000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321785
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sanitary proximity fixture with an assigned control means which has a sensor means and a valve means which is coupled to the control means, after acquisition of a signal by the sensor means the control means triggering the valve means to release the water.
2. Description of Related Art
A proximity fixture of the initially mentioned type is already known from practice. The known proximity fixtures which are used in the industrial and public domain, compared to manually actuated fixtures, have various advantages of use which are also of interest in the private domain, specifically
contactless operation
saving of energy and water
easy cleaning
Other advantages prevail only in the commercial and industrial domain, specifically
security against vandalism
saving of water by autoclosure after a given time interval
prevention of infections.
Although proximity fixtures have been in commercial and industrial use for a long time, they are not common in the private domain. One of the reasons for the fact that proximity fixtures have not be able to prevail to date in the private domain is the comparatively poor handling when warm and cold water are required in alternation. Conventional proximity fixtures for this reason have a switching mechanism which can be manually actuated and must be switched by hand, again neutralizing the advantages of contactless turning-off. The operation of switching requires more time than for example in a lever mixer.
In addition, in the private domain the private user often requires operating functions which cannot be performed with the known proximity fittings, for example the possibility of choosing a longer running time for the water for the conventional autoclosing function or being able to turn the fixture off entirely. In addition there is a system-induced defect of proximity fixtures, regardless of whether they are being used in the commercial and industrial or private domain, in that their operation is often not reliable enough since the sensor means can be disrupted by dirt or by other external effects. Finally, changes of electrical components can lead to malfunctions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to make available a proximity fixture of the initially mentioned type which meets the requirements for use which are conventional in the private domain and moreover works reliably and without malfunctions.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a sanitary proximity fixture of the initially mentioned type in that the control means, after acquisition of a signal from one side, triggers the valve means for release of colder water, while the control means, after acquisition of a signal from the other side, triggers the valve means for release of warmer water. As a result, the invention makes available direction recognition of the control and sensor means which is used to connect either cold water or hot or warm water. Conventionally when a signal is acquired from the right the cold water valve is triggered, while when a signal is acquired from the left, hot or warm water is connected. The warm water is premixed to the warm temperature most often used in the private domain, for which known mechanical thermostatic mixer technologies can be used in the valve means.
Other features, advantages and possible applications of this invention follow from the dependent claims, the following description of embodiments using the drawings, and the drawings themselves.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3415278 (1968-12-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5694653 (1997-12-01), Harald
patent: 5855356 (1999-01-01), Fait
patent: 5868311 (1999-02-01), Cretu-Petra
patent: 6019130 (2000-02-01), Rump
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patent: 2195763 (1988-04-01), None
patent: WO 89/09312 (1989-10-01), None
patent: WO 94/00645 (1994-01-01), None
patent: WO 96/14477 (1996-05-01), None
Ideal-Standard GmbH
Lee Kevin
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Safran David S.
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