AU595569B2 - Water supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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5 5 5569 COMMONWEALTH O' AUSTRALIA FORM PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICAT ION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: 6711/ 97 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: a a 0 Name of Applicant: ooo S Address of Applicant: MALCOLM LEONARD STEPHEN DEAN 590 GREAT SOUTH ROAD,

OTAHUHU,

NEW ZEALAND MATLCOLM LEONARD STEPHEN DEAN Actual Inventor: Address for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 2 This invention relates to water supply apparatus and has particular but not necessarily exclusive application to such apparatus for location above a washing facility such as a basin, sink, shower or drain.

It has previously been proposed to provide an apparatus for automatically causing water to flow out of a spout mounted on a wash basin. This apparatus is disclosed in US patent no. 3151340 to Teshima in which a high frequency oscillating circuit sensitive, through an antenna forming part thereof, to the presence of a part of the human body (in this case the hands) is located under a wash basin. The circuit is connected, through suitable electrical apparatus, to a valve in the pipe supplying water to the spout. When the hands of the user are inserted in the wash basin the circuit is energised through the antenna and the valve is opened, causing water to flow through the spout.

o 0 Various problems are envisaged with this prior art apparatus. First, o installation appears to be difficult and time consuming. Second, it: may be difficult or even impossible both to install it and get it to work satisfactorily in conjunction with wash basins of different designs. This is an important consideration if it is intended to install the apparatus in conjunction with previously installed wash basins. Third, access to the .0 o apparatus is difficult for maintenance purposes.

0 0 However it would be problematical to use an opto-el.ectronic sensor in an arrangement such as described in US patent 3151340. In the case of an infra red sensor' which is sensitive to movement or reflection the head would have .1 to be directed horizontally and this could give rise to unwanted activatin of the apparatus, for example, by a person walking past the wash basin without putting his hands into it.

It is an object of the invention to provide such apparatus in a form in which it may be installed adjacent an existing wash basin without any need to move the basin or to get behind or under it except possibly for making pipe conections.

According to the invention there is provided a water supply apparatus including a water conduit system with an inlet and an outlet and a flash heater therebetween capable of heating water as it passes from the inlet to the outlet, a carrier for carrying the conduit system and which carrier is provided with means by which it can be mounted in working .position above a receptacle or drain into which the water will flow from the outlet of the 3 conduit system, and sensing means mountable on the carrier and arranged to sense the presence of part of the body in a zone below the level of the outlet and to be connected to valve means for controlling the flow of water through the conduit system.

The term 'body' as used herein, while implying primarily the human body may also conceivably include the body of an animal.

In one form of the invention the apparatus includes dispensing means arranged to release a washing agent into the water as it passes through the conduit system.

According to one aspect of the invention the outlet is located on the carrier in a position and the means by which the carrier is mounted is such that the outlet will be located over the receptacle or drain when the S carrier is in position.

0 0 According to another aspect of the invention the sensing means is located on the carrier in a position such that it will be located over the i cpeeltac1.L' or- drain when the carrier in position.

Further according to the invention the apparatus includes said valve means which is located in the conduit system.

The term 'flash heater' is intended to indicate a heater capable of heating water from ambient to a desired temperature as it p..:!ses therethrough, the heater not being intended to store the hot water and having no reservoir for that purpose.

Ii one aspect the flash heater is provided with a nozzle constituting the outlet of the conduit system.

In one form of the invention the apparatus includes means to close the valve means at the end of a predetermined time interval after opening.

In an alternative form of the invention the apparatus includes means to sense the absence from the said zone of the said part of the body and in response thereto to close the valve means.

In one aspect of the invention the sensing means is arranged to sense movement of the said part of the body in the said zone to open the valve 4 means and to sense the absence of movement of or reflection from the said part of the body in the said zone to'close the valve means.

According to an important aspect of the invention the sensing means may include an opto-electronic sensor such as an infra-red sensor, The invention is further discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings which by way of example illustrate various embodiments of the invention and in which Figure 1 is a front view of a unit for automatically supplying water to a wash basin; Figure 2 is a rear view of the unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of three units of slightly different shape mounted in tandem above three wash basins; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a third unit according to the invention; Figure 5 is a view from below of the unit shown in Figure 4; and I Figure 6 is an exemplary block diagram showing the interaction the various components of any of the units shown in the drawings.

SIn Figures 1 and 2 a unit 10 comprises a support 12 in the form of a moulding of any suitable plastics material including GRP, or of metal or porcelain. The support 12 has a flat rectangular front face 14 which is Elanged around the edges and which is vertically disposed in use. A formation comprising an upper face 16 which slopes outwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of the front face 14 and a lower face 20 which slopes inwardly and upwardly from the lower part of the front face 18 is provided.

An intermediate face 22 joins the lower edge of the upper face 16 to the upper edge of the lower face 20. Naturally all of the faces 16, 20 and 22 are contoured at their peripheries to blend in smoothly with the front face 14. The intermediate face 22 is disposed approximately perpendicularly to the lower face 20 so that the intermediate face 22 faces outwardly and downwardly.

A central aperture 24 is formed in the face 22 and the nozzie 26 of a flash i electrical heater 28 mounted on the support 12 behind the face 22 is located in this aperture 24. The heater is connected to a feed pipe 30 provided w ith an inlet connection 32 and an electrically operated valve 34, shown more or less diagrammatically. The valve 34 controls the flow of water through the pipe 30 and hence to the heater 28 and nozzle 26. A dispenser 36 for liquid soap is mounted behind the support and is connected to the pipe 30 by means of connecting pipe 38. The dispenser is provided with a reservoir 40 for the soap, which reservoir can be accessed for replenishment of the soap through an aperture 42 formed in the upper face 16 and covered a0 with a lid 44. The dispenser may also be provided with an electrically operated valve for controlling the feed of the soap to the pipe 38 or be a venturi type sucker.

Electronic circuitry housed in a box 46 is mounted behind the support 12.

This circuitry is of known type capable of sensing, through an aperture the hands of a user when they are brought up close to the unit 10. In the present case this is achieved by means of the infra red heat given off by the user (the so called passive infra red sensor) but any other suitable system may be employed including those sensitive to a change in the capacitive or inductive field therearound. Also a system sensing a break in an infra red beam or in a reflection of an infra red beam may be used. In addition a simple hand or foot operated tap could be used although the latter would not be as hygienic as the other suggested systems. Instead of the latter a tap operated by a solenoid controlled by a timer actuated by a push button (which could be located on the front face of the support) or a foot button or foot pad could be used.

The circuitry is connected to the valve 34 and the dispenser valve. The circuitry is arranged to open the valve 34 upon sensing the hands of the user so that water commences to flow through the nozzle 26, having been heated by the heater 28. At the same time the circuitry opens the dispenser valve so that liquid soap is drip fed to the water flowing to the nozzle.

After a preset period of time the timer cuts off the flow of water by closing the valve 34. This period is determined by the average time taken for a person to wash his hads. The amount of liquid soap drip fed to the water is chosen so that it is exhausted well before the flow of water ceases. This enables, the user to rinse the soap off his hands.

The unit 10 is designed to be mounted on the vertical surface of a wall behind a wash basin. Only a single cold water supply need 'be provided and 7 i i -6the unit 10 can be readily demounted form the wall for maintenance purposes.

To this end it may be held in place by an suitable means such as screws or a surrounding frame which is itself screwed or otherwise demountably fixed to the wall. The support 12 is conveniently of a size to match up with tiling therearound, If it is inconvenient or uneconomic to provide a recess in the wall surface to accornodate the parts projecting behind the unit 10, the unit may be irounted on the front of a cabinet which stands proud of the wall surface.

Figure 3 il.lustrates an installation comprising three independently operable 0 units 10' of modified appearance mounted adjacent a set of three wash basins. It will be clear that three units 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 could also be used.

e Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the unit 60 comprises a carrier or support 62 which is mounted, in a housing 64 on pivots 66 so as to be capable, of .tO pivotal movement therein about a horizontal axis. The housing 64 is 4 mountabLe on a wall in similar fashion to the units 10 and 10' already described. The carrier 62 carries the flash heater with its nozzle indicated at 68 and the pivotal movement of the.carrier enables the direction of water issuing from the nozzle to be varied to suit different 3 installations. The carrier can be held in a desired position in the housing 64 by means of a spring loaded detent ball 70 which lodges in any one of a series of complementally shaped recesses 72 formed in the carrier.

The unit 60 is also provided with a control 74 by means of which the flow of water through the flash heater can be adjusted, thereby enabling the temperature of the water to be controlled.

,r The components shown in Figure 5 and in the block diagram in Figure 6 include a proximity sensor 80, an amplifier 82 to amplify the signal from the sensor a timer 84 which is started by a signal from the amplifier and a solenoid valve 86 which opens at the start of an interval timed by the 3timer. The water flow circuit comprises the inlet 90, an adjustment valve 92 for controlling the water flow rate through the solenoid valve 86 to the flash heater 94. Between the solenoid and the flash heater the water line branches to a pressure sensitive switch 100. When the solenoid valve opens the water pressure causes the switch 100 to close thereby providing electric power to fc heating coil in the flash heater.

I

7 The sensor 80 is shown as being located to one side of the nozzle 68 but can be located in any other position best suited to the requirements of the situation, such as the front or back of the nozzle.

The unit 60 could be applied to the vertical surface of a\wall or to the horizontal surface of the top of a wash basin or to the junction of the top of a wash basin and a vertical wall.

Thne sensor in any of the units may as described be an opto-electronic device such as an infra red movement detector, an infra red transmitter and receiver unit, or a frequency or otherwise controlled proximity detector.

\0 The unit of the invention may beneficially also be used with an oscillator or other proximity detector' because the unit can be designed with regard to the optimum location of the components of the detector.

0 o The working parts, i.e. the heater, solenoid flow adjusting valve, sensor 0 and the electronics together with the associated piping may be partly or wholly encapsulated in a resin primarily for safety reasons but also to offer sane protection against vandalism.

till A primary avantage of the apparatus is that it cen be installed over virtually any suitable existing wash basin or other washing facility. In the simplest case the only modification to the existing facility would be the need to break into the cold water water line.

Flash heaters have the ability to heat water instantly but should a serious fault occur it is important that any water pressure build up should be easily released and the water disposed of. Provision can be made for this by allowing a section of the heater to separate when such pressure build up occurs. It is then conveniently already installed above a safe draining situation.The drain hole described earlier at the cusp may be in the same J] place as the optional 'manually operated water temperature control lever 74.

The great advantage of the system is that a small sensor activates a water control which in turn controls a large heating element providing hygiene and convenience and eliminating the losses involved in a hot water storage tank at the same time.

A second advantage is that any leakage, in the system would simply drain into the wash basin therebelow. It may be noted that the carrier 62 in Figure 4 is provided with a cusp 102 at its lowest point to which for this purpose water leaking from the flash heater will. gravitate. A drain hole is -8- 8 advantageously provided in the cusp to drain any such water into the wash basin. In the event of a burst pipe or other component the fact that all the components are housed in a housing will help to prevent water being sprayed about. The housing also helps to reduce vandalism, a very common problem with flash heaters which are ordinarily used, for example, as showers.

One advantage of the flash heater shown with a wide nozzle is that it dissipates the energy in a surge of water which occurs when the solenoid valve opens. This assists in preventing water issuing from the nozzle at excessive speed and thereby causing splashing.

Another advantage of the flash heater is that the heater can' be located at the outlet. There is thuis no hot water in the apparatus when it is not working the heat of which might encourage the growth of bacteria. This is especially undesirable in locations such as hospitals where the apparatus of the invention may be particularly beneficial.

It wil.l also be clear that the unit may also be mounted at a higher level on the wall of a shower cubicle to function as a shower. In this case it may be necessary to provide alternative sensing means to cause the apparatus to operate autcmatically.' The flash-heater may alternatively be located in the pipe between the nozzle and the solenoid valve. The pipe would then simply terminate at the aperture 24 (Figure 1) in a spray nozzle. In yet another alternative the f].ash heater could be dispensed with altogether. The pipe could be connected up to a hot or cold water supply as desired.

It will stil.l further be clear that the units illustrated could be adapted to the use of washing or dipping animals as they pass, for example, through a passage or the like.

It is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiments shown by way of example herein. Various alterntives which remain within the spirit and scope of the invention will be clear to those s' led in the art.

Claims (8)

1. A water supply apparatus including a water conduit system with an inlet and an outlet and a flash heater therebetween capable of heating water as it passes from the inlet to the outlet, a carrier for carrying the conduit system and which carrier is provided with means by which it can be mounted in working position above a receptacle or drain into which the water will flow from the outlet of the conduit system, and sensing means mountable on the carrier and arranged to sense the presence of part of the body in a zone below the level of the outlet and to be connected to valve means for controlling the supply of water to the 1O flash heater.

2. A water supply apparatus according to claim i, in which the outlet is located on the carrier in a position and the means by which the carrier is mounted is such that the outlet will be located over the receptacle or drain when the carrier is in position.

3. A water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensing Smeans is located on the carrier in a position such that it will be located over the receptacle or drain when the carrier in position.

4. i A water supply apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes the valve means which is located in the conduit system. j A water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the flash heater is provided with a nozzle constituting the Soutlet of the conduit system.

6. A water supply apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including means to close the valve means at the end of a predetermined time interval after opening.

7. A water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, including means to sense the absence of movement of or reflection from I the said part of the body in the zone or proximity of the said part of the body in the zone to the sensing means and in response thereto to close the valve means.

8. A water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the sensing means is arranged to sense movement of the said part of the body in the said zone to open the valve means and to sense the absence of movement of the said part of the body in the said zone to close the valve means.

9. A water supply apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing means includes an electronic proximity detector. A water supply apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figures 4 and 5, or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. A I DATED this 2nd day of January, 1987 MALCOLM LEONARD STEPHEN DEAN A!orney: PFTER TEP ATHCOTE lo n stitute cI P Attoo; rn. of Au:!a of SH-iELUSi4Oi t FS i i I i i "i i