AU2007200497A1 - Faucet Valve - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE STANDARD PATENT SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: FAUCET VALVE This invention is described in the following statement:- Faucet Valve Field of the Invention The disclosed technology relates to faucet valves. More particularly, faucet valves containing magnets.

Background of the Invention Hand-free faucet operation is a desirable feature in public areas such as public restrooms, or in areas such as hospitals or restaurants, where strict health codes are enforced. This feature may help reduce the time needed for washing, and reduce transmission of viruses or bacteria due to improper hand-washing or inadvertent contamination.

For some injured or disabled persons who have difficulties operating conventional faucets, the option to turn the tap on or off by stepping on an air bladder may mean a higher degree of autonomy and improved self-care.

Summary and Objects of the Invention It is desirable to have provided a faucet valve that is pneumatically actuated. The pneumatic force enables the movement of a magnet within the valve, for opening and closing the valve. The faucet valve can be attached to existing tap or faucet fixtures. Preferably there is further a faucet valve that is operable using a foot pedal.

Accordingly, there is provided a faucet valve comprising: a housing assembly further comprising a diaphragm housing, and a plunger housing at least partially located within the diaphragm housing, a diaphragm located within the diaphragm housing, a plunger that reciprocates in the plunger housing under an influence of a magnet attached to the diaphragm and surrounding the plunger housing. A first end wall of the diaphragm housing, and a secondary housing carried by the magnet define a variable volume chamber. The faucet valve further comprises a faucet adapter having an inlet, an outlet, and an outlet seat that is selectively blocked and unblocked by an action of the plunger, and a pneumatic assembly having a bladder connected to a hose, the hose leading to the variable volume chamber, wherein an actuation of the bladder increases a volume of the variable volume chamber, thereby moving the magnet and the plunger away from the outlet seat and unblocking it.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures In order that the invention be better understood, reference is now made to the following drawing figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the faucet valve showing the housing assembly, the faucet adapter, and the bladder and foot pedal assembly; Figure 2 is a cross section of the faucet adapter; Figure 3 is a cross section of the housing assembly; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the housing assembly and the faucet adapter, showing the plunger in a closed position; and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the housing assembly and the faucet adapter, showing the plunger in an open position.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments Referring to Figure 1, the faucet valve loo comprises a faucet adapter 200oo, a housing assembly 300 that is attached to the faucet adapter 200, and a pneumatic 400. The pneumatic assembly used here is a bladder and foot pedal assembly 400. The faucet valve loo is actuated using the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400. Stepping on the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400 stretches an internal diaphragm (not shown) and opens a water passage through the faucet adapter 200 and the housing assembly 3oo00, allowing water to flow out of the faucet adapter 200. The faucet valve loo is said to be in an open position when the water flow is enabled. It is said to be in a closed position when the water flow is stopped.

Further referring to Figure 1, the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400 comprises a bladder lol that is housed within a generally wedge shaped foot pedal 102. The assembly also comprises a hose 103 that connects to the housing assembly 300. The wedge shaped foot pedal further comprises a base plate 104 and a top plate 105. The base plate 104 has raised sidewalls 106, 107 that have a generally increasing height from a pivot edge 108 to a front end log. The top plate 105 can be made to pivot towards the base plate 104 about the pivot edge lo8. A taller third wall 11o is provided between the sidewalls 106, 107 at the front end log. The bladder lol is located within the spaced enclosed by the sidewalls, the third wall, and the top and base plates. The hose 103 exits out of the third wall.

As the user steps on the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400, the top plate 105 pivots towards the base plate 104 and depresses the bladder lO. Air is pumped out of the bladder and is directed towards the housing assembly via the hose 103.

As shown in Figure 2, the faucet adapter 200 comprises a water inlet 201 that opens into a connector 203, a water outlet 202 that communicates with the connector 203, and an outlet seat 204 that separates the water inlet 201 from the water outlet 202. The outlet seat 204 partially extends from a continuous sidewall 205 shared by both the inlet and the outlet.

The connector 203 in this embodiment contains an internal thread 206 for receiving the housing assembly 300 (not shown). In other embodiments, the connector 203 and the housing assembly 300 may be welded together or otherwise formed together. A second diaphragm 207 having a central opening 208 is adapted to be seated against the outlet seat 204. A plastic boss 209 is inserted through this opening 208 and into the outlet passage 210. As will be described later, this diaphragm 207 cooperates with a plunger (not shown) to open or block the water flow through the outlet seat 204. The operation of the diaphragm 207 and the plunger is in accordance with that employed for an electronic flow control valve and a solenoid driven plunger, found in some domestic dishwashers.

The second diaphragm 207 comprises a plurality of pin holes or small bleed holes 211 that are located radially away from the central opening 208, and are located within the inlet passage 212. The guide boss 209 has formed in it a stepped opening 213 that is larger in the outlet passage 210. The boss 209 may further have a plurality of guide flanges 214 for facilitating the insertion of the boss 209 through the second diaphragm 207.

The faucet valve 200 in this embodiment further includes a first tap thread 215 along an interior portion 216 of the inlet 201, and a second tap thread 217 along an exterior portion 218 of the outlet 202. The inclusion of tap threads 215, 217 allows the faucet adapter 200 to be used in conjunction with available tap fixtures and other accessories.

As shown in Figure 3, the housing assembly 300 comprises a diaphragm housing 301, a secondary housing 302, and a waterproof plunger housing 303 located within the secondary housing 302. The plunger housing acts as a seal between the internal cavity 309 and the variable volume chamber 317.

A neck 306 of the diaphragm housing 301 protrudes outwardly from a first wall 307 of the diaphragm housing 301. This neck 306 comprises an external thread 308 and an internal cavity 309. The external thread 308 enables the neck 306 to be received by the connector 203 (not shown), and the internal cavity 309 opens into the connector 203. As the neck 306 is fully screwed into the connector 203, this internal cavity 309 is completely covered and sealed by the second diaphragm 207, except for the bleed holes 211 and the stepped opening 213 formed in the boss 209.

The internal cavity 309 comprises a bore 310 that opens into the interior of the otherwise sealed plunger housing 303. The plunger housing 303 is attached to or integral with the first end wall 307. The bore 310 is thus continuous with the plunger housing 303.

The plunger housing 303 contains a magnetic plunger 312. The plunger 312 comprises a cylindrical shaft 313 a magnetic portion 315, and a nose 314.

The nose 314 may carry a polymer seal and is adapted to block the boss stepped opening 213 when the faucet valve is fully assembled and in the closed position. The magnetic portion 315 may be steel and the shaft 313 may be brass or bronze. There may further be an optional spring 322 that is located in the plunger housing 303, for biasing the plunger 321 toward the outlet seat 204 An air-tight elastomeric diaphragm 316 is arranged near the first wall 307 of the diaphragm housing 301. There is an air gap 317 between the diaphragm 316 and the first wall 307. This gap 317 leads to an air vent 318 that connects to the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400, via a through-opening 319 formed in the side wall 320 of the diaphragm housing 301. The air gap 317 forms a sealed variable volume chamber that is enclosed by the diaphragm housing 301, the diaphragm 316, the magnet 321. The secondary housing 302 further ensures the seal for the variable volume chamber 317 between magnet 321 and the plunger housing 303. The chamber 317 increases in volume as air pumped in from the pneumatic assembly 400 inflates the variable volume chamber 317 and stretches the diaphragm 316.

Only the diaphragm housing portion 323 the portion that includes the first end wall 307) that partially closes the variable volume chamber is needed. In preferred embodiments, the other diaphragm housing portion 324 is provided as a protective cover for the diaphragm 316.

A permanent annular magnet 321 is located around the plunger housing 303. Note that like a solenoid, the annular magnet 321 is situated adjacent to the magnetic portion 315 of the plunger 312. The annular magnet 321 and the magnetic portion 315 need not exactly align with each other.

However it is important that the two are close enough for their movements to be coupled. The annular magnet 321 is centrally attached to the dry side of the diaphragm and surrounds the secondary housing 302. Note that in this embodiment the secondary housing 302 is only partially retained within the diaphragm housing 301. In embodiments where the secondary housing 302 is small enough or the diaphragm housing 301 is large enough, the secondary housing 302 may be fully retained within the diaphragm housing 301.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the faucet valve. In Figure 4, the faucet valve 100 is in a closed position. In this position, the diaphragm 316 is in its resting position, and the nose 314 of the plunger 312 blocks the boss stepped opening 213. The water flowing into the inlet 201 is prevented from travelling directly to the outlet 202 by the outlet seat 204. Instead the water flows through the bleed holes 211, fills the neck's internal cavity 309 and the plunger housing 303, but does not enter other parts of the housing assembly.

Because of the bleed holes 211, the water pressure is equal on both sides of the first diaphragm 207. The secondary housing 302 and the diaphragm housing 301 are kept dry.

As shown in Figure 5, to actuate the faucet valve loo into its open position, the user steps on the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400 (not shown). Air entering the air gap 317 from the air vent 318 extends the diaphragm 316. The force of this extension causes the annular magnet 321 to move away from the first diaphragm 207. The plunger 312, whose movement is coupled to that of the annular magnet 321, follows the magnet 321. The plunger nose 314 is thus removed from the boss stepped opening 213. Water flow out of the neck's internal cavity 309, via the boss stepped opening 213, disturbs the pressure equalization between the two sides of the first diaphragm 207. This newly created imbalance in pressure causes water to flow into the internal cavity 309 from the inlet passage 212. Since the bleed hole 211 is smaller in size than the stepped opening 213, the replenishment of water into the bleed hole is slower than the clearing of the water out of the stepped opening. The first diaphragm 207 is thus forced away from the outlet passage 210, clearing a flow path between the inlet 201 and the outlet 202.

As the user releases the bladder and foot pedal assembly 400, air in the gap 311 leaves the housing assembly 300, allowing the magnet 321 and the plunger 312 to move back to the closed position and block the boss stepped opening 213. Water continues to enter the internal cavity 309 via the bleed holes, again equalizing the pressure on both sides of the first diaphragm 207.

The difference between the areas on both sides of the first diaphragm 207 also helps push the valve seat portion 210 to block the outlet passage 211.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A faucet valve, comprising: a housing assembly further comprising a diaphragm housing, and a plunger housing at least partially located within the diaphragm housing; a diaphragm located within the diaphragm housing; a plunger that reciprocates in the plunger housing under an influence of a magnet attached to the diaphragm and surrounding the plunger housing; a first end wall of the diaphragm housing, and a secondary housing carried by the magnet defining a variable volume chamber; a faucet adapter having an inlet, an outlet, and an outlet seat that is selectively blocked and unblocked by an action of the plunger; a pneumatic assembly having a bladder connected to a hose, the hose leading to the variable volume chamber; wherein an actuation of the bladder increases a volume of the variable volume chamber, thereby moving the magnet and the plunger away from the outlet seat and unblocking it.

2. The faucet valve of claim 1, further comprising, a second diaphragm located adjacent to the outlet seat, the second diaphragm having formed in it a central opening that is selectively blocked and unblocked by the plunger.

3. The faucet valve of claim 2, wherein, the second diaphragm further has formed in it a plurality of bleed holes.

4. The faucet valve of claims 2 or 3, wherein, a guide boss is located within the central opening, the boss having a through opening that is selectively blocked or unblocked by the plunger. The faucet valve of claim 4, wherein, Sthe through opening is a stepped opening. 5 6. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the plunger housing is sealed with respect to the variable volume chamber.

7. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, Sthe plunger housing is affixed to or integrally formed with the diaphragm housing.

8. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the secondary housing at least partially surrounds the plunger housing.

9. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising, the diaphragm housing comprises a protective cover for the diaphragm. lO. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, the housing assembly further comprises a neck having an internal cavity with a central bore that is defined by the plunger housing.

11. The faucet valve of claim lO, wherein, the faucet adaptor further comprises a connector for receiving the neck.

12. The faucet valve of claim 11, wherein, the connector and the neck have cooperating threads.

13. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, the plunger further comprises a cylindrical shaft, a magnetic portion, and a nose.

14. The faucet valve of claim 13, wherein, the nose carries a polymer seal.

15. The faucet valve of claims 13 or 14, wherein, the magnetic portion is magnetically coupled to the magnet.

16. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising, a spring located within the plunger housing.

17. The faucet valve of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, the pneumatic assembly further comprises a pedal that at least partially encases the bladder. Molins Co. for the Applicant Samuel Kutner