EP0245577B1

EP0245577B1 - Tap for the delivery of liquids for the conversion from automatic to manual

Info

Publication number: EP0245577B1
Application number: EP86830123A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enzo Fava
Original assignee: Dmp Electronics Socrl
Current assignee: Dmp Electronics Socrl
Priority date: 1986-05-12
Filing date: 1986-05-12
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Also published as: EP0245577A1; DE3670327D1; ATE51918T1

Abstract

A fluid delivery system can be alternately manually or automatically controlled. The system comprises a body (2) for directing fluid to a desired location. Means (6) for supplying fluid to the body are also provided. A regulator (1) manually controls the flow of fluid through the body. A releasable lock (B) secures the regulator in an open position so that fluid can flow through the body. An electrically operated valve (7) in the fluid supply has an automatically controlled fluid flow circuit and a manually controlled fluid flow circuit. Sensing means (3) detect the presence of an object proximate the body and provide an electrical signal in response thereto. A controller is provided for opening and closing the valve. Transmitting means (5) transmit the electrical signal from the sensor to the controller for opening the automatically controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve. When the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is closed, the lock for the regulator is engaged. On the other hand, the lock is released when the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is open. The delivery system is useful in combination with the wash basins.

Description

This invention relates to a tap for the delivery of water or other liquids, and in particular to a tap that can be converted from automatic to manual operation.
Automatic taps provided with a sensor are known in the art and are particularly useful in sanitary services. The sensor consists of an emitter or receiver of infrared or visible rays, or any other device for surveying a space for the presence of bodies, such as a person's hands placed in a wash basin on which the tap is mounted. When the hands are placed into the wash basin near the water outlet, the tap operates by means of an electronic circuit and an electronic valve without manual intervention or an opening handle. The operation of automatic taps of this type are subject to interruption in the event of an electronic or electromechanical breakdown or a black-out of electric current. This results in considerable inconvenience to the user.
It is an object of this invention to provide a tap that is automatically operable and which can be easily converted to manual operation in the event of damage to the tap or electrical black-out.
This invention provides a tap with electronic and electromechanical components in which a by-pass operated by an electronic valve is provided, and in which a water opening and closing mechanism that will not be used during normal automatic operation is provided. The opening and closing mechanism can be in a warm and cold water mixer.
More particularly,this invention provides a fluid delivery system, which can be alternately manually or automatically controlled. The fluid delivery system comprises a body for directing fluid to a desired location. Means for supplying fluid to the body are provided. Also provided are regulator means for manually controlling flow of fluid through the body. Locking means for releasably locking the regulator means in an open position so that fluid can flow through the body are included in the fluid delivery system. An electrically operated valve means in the fluid supply means is comprised of an automatically controlled fluid flow circuit and a manually controlled fluid flow circuit. Sensor means for detecting the presence of an object proximate the body and for providing an electrical signal response thereto are included in the system. Controller means regulates opening and closing of the valve. Means are provided for transmitting the electrical signal from the sensing means to the controller for the opening the automatically controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve. The locking means for the regulator is engaged when the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is closed. On the other hand, the locking means is released when the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is open.
In the event of damage of an electronic or electromechanical component in the system, the locking means for the regulator may be released and the by- pass of the electronic valve may be opened by a key, screw-driver or similar device, therby transforming the automatically operated tap to a traditional tap without the need of electronic and electromechanical parts.
This invention will be described in more detail with reference to the Figures in which some possible embodiments of the invention are shown, and wherein:

figure 1 shows the layout of an automatic tap with an electronic valve and with points A and B, which can be adjusted for converting the tap from automatic to manual operation;
figure 2 depicts a tap with an electronic valve in which a direct by-pass is obtained by unscrewing screw A' ;
figure 3 shows the same scheme of figure 2 with an electronic valve in which a by-pass on a servo control causes the continous opening of the electronic valve by unscrewing screw A;
figure 4 depicts another embodiment with an electronic valve in which a direct by-pass is obtained by unscrewing screw A' ;
figure 5 depicts the same electronic valve scheme of figure 4 in which a by-pass on the servo control causes the continous opening of the electronic valve by unscrewing screw A;
figure 6 depicts another tap in which a mixer is held by screw B in a position of rotation only and therefore of mixing only; and
figure 7 depicts an embodiment for releasing the mixer by unscrewing screw B thus allowing the control lever of the mixer to be raised. Upward movement of the lever stops the flow of the water as in a single control tap.

With reference to the figure 1 , a fluid delivery system of the invention for delivering liquids is depicted. The delivery system can be converted from automatic to manual operation. The fluid delivery system is provided on a wash basin 4, and the system comprises a mixing handle 1, body 2, electronic sensor 3, electric cable 5, water conduit 6, electronic valve 7 having a water regulation handle 8 on a capacity regulator 9, and an electronic circuit 10 with a transformer 11.
According to the present invention, unscrewing scew A results in a by-pass in electronic valve 7, which allows the water entering electronic valve 7 to freely flow towards body 2 of the tap. Unscrewing screw B on the mixer handle 1 permits upward and rotative movement of the handle, which stops the flow of water through the body 2.
In all of the embodiments of figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the electronic valve is shown in a deenergized state in which the water does not flow.
During automatic functioning of the fluid delivery system, if bobbin F is tensioned, a pin or small piston M moves to the left thereby opening hole C. The water in chamber D freely flows through hole C toward the outlet and the pressure in chamber D diminishes with respect to the pressure in chamber E. This results in membrane F moving to the left in the figures thus opening outlet G. All the water entering the inlet then freely passes from the chamber E to the outlet through hole G.
In the embodiment shown in figure 2, unscrewing the screw A' results in a continous functioning of the electronic valve due to the opening of hole H. All the water entering the inlet flows directly to the outlet through hole H.
In the figures, the dashed lines shown the flow of water when the electronic valve is energized and the menbrane F is open. The alternate dash-dot line shows the flow of water when the manual by-pass is being employed.
In the embodiment shown in figure 3, unscrewing screw A results in continous functioning of the electronic valve so that the water in chamber D freely flows through the manual by-pass, and the pressure in chamber D is diminished with respect to the pressure in chamber E. This results in membrane F being moved to the left, thus opening outlet hole G. The direction of water flow is shown with broken lines as in figure 2.
In the embodiment shown in figure 6, the tap normally functions automatically. The flow of water is started and stopped by the electronic valve. By keeping screw B tight, the upper handle rotates only and effects mixing of the water only. With reference to figure 7, by unscrewing screw B, the handle is permitted to rotate for mixing of the water,and in addition, the handle may be lifted for stopping the flow of water and lowered for initiating the flow of water through the faucet depicted in the figure.

Claims

1. A tap for the automatic or manual delivery of water to a wash-basin (4) comprising a mixer with a handle (1), a tap body (2), an electronic sensor (3), an electric cable (5), a water duct (6), an electrovalve (7) with a water-flow regulation handle (8) on a regulator (9), an electronic control circuit (10), and a transformer (11), characterized in that unscrewing a screw (A) a bypass of the electrovalve (7) allows water entering the electrovalve (7) to flow towards the tap body (2), and in that unscrewing a screw (B) allows the mixer handle (1) to be upward and/or rotatably moved so as to control the water flow.

2. A tap according to claim 1, characterized by a screw (B) placed on the mixer (1) of the tap, and by a screw (A) placed on the electrovalve (7) at the water inlet, whereby said screws may be operated for performing the conversion.

3. A tap according to claim 1, characterized by the mixer (1) having the function of mixing warm and cold water, and by a water opening and closing mechanism placed before or behind said mixer (1), which is usually not used and can be brought into use in case of damage.

4. A tap according ro claim 1, characterized in that by unscrewing a screw (A'), a hole (H) is released so that the water flows directly from inlet (IN) to outlet (OUT) via a direct by-pass.

5. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that by unscrewing a screw (A), the water freely flows from chamber (D) through the by-pass (7), and in chamber (D) the pressure decreases with respect to chamber (E) moving membrane (F) to release outlet (G), so that all inlet water freely passes from chamber (E) to outlet hole (G).

6. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that by keeping screw (B) tight, the upper handle can only rotate and performs the mixing of the water, while unscrewing said screw (B) said handle may be lifted for stopping the delivery, lowered for opening the water supply.