Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
  • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
  • G05D23/01—Control of temperature without auxiliary power
  • G05D23/13—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures
  • G05D23/1393—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures characterised by the use of electric means
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/05—Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps
  • E03C1/055—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
  • E03C1/057—Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like touchless, i.e. using sensors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a service water tap or faucet which automatically controls operation and discharge of a water supply. More specifically the invention relates to an automatic service water tap or faucet which comprises, within a specially designed body, one or more detecting sensors mounted in the tap, a water supply valve connected to and controlled by the sensor(s) (which may be either AC or DC powered) , a mixing valve for mixing hot and cold water, a built-in check valve, and filters arranged so that hot and cold service water are mixed fully and automatically to a predetermined set temperature and will automatically flow out of the tap without the need to operate a tap handle.
• the sensor and an aerator are installed in a nozzle cover mounted on the outlet end of the faucet body.
• the sensor is mounted at an angular position of from 0° to 20° from the vertical, with the optimum position being 10°.
• a solenoid coil 10 is magnetized as soon as a sensor perceives the presence of a physical object; at the same time a diaphragm 12 is opened to pass water rapidly. If the object is removed from the detecting range of the sensor, electric power supplied to the solenoid coil will be cut off. As a result, the diaphragm is suddenly closed, stopping water flow. Because of the resulting high water pressure difference a water hammer shock occurs.
• a further object of the invention is to provide an automatic service water tap which can be easily installed without providing new electric power lines so that the construction cost will be greatly decreased and so that the device can be utilized semi-permanently.
• a still further object of the invention is to reduce operating costs by reducing breakdowns or leaking caused by heavy use of the faucet.
• a still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic service water tap which has an energy saving and economical effect, by allowing the automatic service water tap to be changed easily without any difficulties in existing buildings.
• an automatic service water tap or faucet which includes detecting sensor means for detecting a physical object to be supplied with the water out of the water tap.
• An electronic control unit receives an electronic signal from the detecting sensor means, processes the signal and produces an output signal to control a water supply valve for closing or opening the valve to control water flowing through the valve and thus the water tap.
• the output signal from the electronic control unit also controls a hot and cold water mixing valve of an automatic temperature control device.
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the configuration of the elements during operation of the device;
• FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams illustrating the condition in which the sliding control tube opens or closes the hot or cold water flowing holes by the operation of the bimetal, in which:
• Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A line of Fig. 8 illustrating the control cam at the opened condition of the automatic water supply valve
• Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the B-B line of Fig. 9 illustrating the cam control at the closed condition of the automatic water supply valve
• Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mixing valve structure in the interior of the tap shown in Fig. 14;
• Fig. 24 is a rear view of the automatic faucet of Fig. 21, with parts broken away to illustrate the battery mounting;
• Fig. 25 is a partially schematic view similar to Fig. 22, illustrating the installing position and angle of the sensor;
• Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic water supply valve, taken along line 26-26 of Fig. 22;
• Fig. 26c is a view similar to Fig. 26b illustrating the opened condition of the automatic water supply valve of Fig. 26;
• Fig. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an existing automatic water supply valve
• Fig. 29 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the automatic water supply valve according to the present invention
• Fig. 30 is a time chart illustrating the signals of the electronic circuit of the automatic faucet
• Fig. 32a is a view similar to Figure 32 showing the use of a digital temperature read out
• Fig. 33 is a schematic side sectional view showing a drainage control feature of the invention.
• Fig. 34 is a side sectional view of a faucet constructed according to the invention illustrating operating of the drainage control.
• an automatic service water tap T which includes a hot and cold water mixing valve 2 arranged within the lower portion la of the body 1 of a water tap.
• a water discharge nozzle coupling tube 7b is mounted within the head portion lb of the upper end of the body 1 and a cylindrical water retaining piece 3 is coupled with a threaded boss tube 3a.
• the latter has a water dispersing disc 3b at its bottom center which includes a plurality of water flow holes 3d formed concentrically within the dispersing disc.
• a water jet nozzle 4 having the plurality of the jet holds 4a formed therein, is coupled with the water retaining piece by threading in at the front end thereof and by inserting through the opening lc formed in head portion of the water tap body 1.
• a detecting sensor 5 is mounted at the bottom side of the top head lb to be exposed outwardly at the extreme tip portion of the head of the body.
• the sensor is connected by a wire lead 5a to an electronic control unit 5' .
• the sensor 5 is generally of known construction, e.g. as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,741,363, and consists of an infrared signal generator 5 ' and a receiver 5 1 ' for receiving infrared rays emitted by generator 5' and reflected from a body or object placed below the tap to produce a potential difference and a voltage output. This signal is used, as described hereinafter, to control water flow from the tap.
• the infrared signal generator and receiver may be positioned side by side or, as seen in Fig. la, they may be mounted at angular position with respect to each other.
• the infrared generator may be mounted in any desired angular position from 0° to 60° from the vertical, as seen in Fig. 2a, as desired by modifying its mounting opening appropriately.
• the power of the generated infrared beam may be adjusted to vary its sensitivity by a control screw 5' ' ' or the like, in any known manner.
• a water supply valve 100 is located within the base of tap 1 and is connected at one side 100a to the outlet 2a of a hot and cold water mixing valve 2 and at its outlet side 100b to the hose 7. The latter, in turn, is connected to tube 7b by a nipple 7a to pass water from valve 100 to nozzle 4.
• the mounting pipe or ste 6 of the tap 1 has hot and cold water passages 6a,
• a vertical, straight groove 6c is formed externally in the threaded surface of stem 6 for holding an electric wire.
• Stem 6 extends from the bottom surface of valve body 2b of hot and cold water mixing valve 2 and is secured to the surface of a sink or the like with a water tap fixing nut 25 and gasket 24 '.
• a water supply tee or connector pipe 8 having hot and cold water passages 8a, 8b formed internally therein, is threadedly connected in communication with stem 6 as seen in Fig. 4, with a coupling nut 8e and stop ring 8f.
• the container 9 also includes a bottom plate 9b having a contact terminal piece 9".
• the container is dimensioned to accept appropriately sized batteries to power the unit as described hereinafter.
• the body 26 of hot and cold water mixing valve 2 has hot and cold water passages 10a, 10b located to communicate with the hot and cold water passages 6a, 6b of stem 6. Passages 10a and 10b (see Fig. 4) are formed to communicate with a hot and cold water mixing chamber
• the outer end 13b of the spirally shaped bimetal 13 is fixed to an opening and closing actuator 15.
• the collar 15a of actuator 15 receives a stud 16a formed on a sliding control tube 16 which surrounds and slides on a portion of the hot and cold water mixing pipe 11.
• expansion or the contraction of the bimetal 13 causes actuator 15 to pivot on shaft 14 (which is received in sleeve 15b of the actuator) and thus slide tube 16 on pipe 11. This movement will open and close the hot and cold water ports 11a, lib of pipe 11 of the hot and cold water mixing tube 11 to control the mixing temperature of the water.
• Net like tubes 10a' ' , 10b 1 ' are located within chambers 10a 1 and 10b 1 and surround check valves 18, 19.
• the nets serve to filter both the hot and cold water.
• Check valves 18, 19 include sliding pistons 18b, 19b having sealing gaskets 18a, 19a secured thereto locking bolts 18c, 19c on the faces thereof facing passages 10a and 10b.
• Coil springs 18d, 19d push sliding pistons 18b, 19b toward valve opening seats 18f, 19f to close passages 10a and 10b.
• the resilient force of the spring is adjusted by the adjusting screws 18e, 19e which are inserted into threaded holes 17' of screw sleeves 17.
• Water entering inlet 102a can pass to a chamber 108 in body 102 toward water outlet 102b upon opening of a main diaphragm 106 when it lifts away from the main valve seat 108a formed on the top of chamber 108 in opposition to water pressure in the chamber 107 located above the diaphragm.
• Water enters chamber 107 through a water inlet by-pass hole 109 which communicates with chamber 107 through an inlet path port Ilia of the inlet valve seat 11 located within a water inlet side cylinder 110, and via the inlet port hole 103a which penetrates mounting plate 103.
• the chamber 107 also communicates with the water outlet port 102b of the valve through an outlet passage 103b which penetrates mounting plate 103, thence through the outlet port 113a of the outlet valve seat 113 located within the water outlet side pilot cylinder 112 and finally through the outlet water by-pass hole 109a.
• Pilot pistons 110b, 112b which have pilot diaphragms 111b, 113b mounted respectively at their inner ends are biased towards each other in opposite directions within pilot cylinders 100, 112, by unnumbered springs, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9.
• Cam 114 is rotatably mounted on an axle shaft 115 between each of the steel balls 110a, 112a and controls the operation of pistons 110b, 112b against the bias of their associated springs.
• Cam 114 has an oscillating rod 114a formed at one end thereof extending from one side of a cam and located to push or operate the levers of microswitches SI or S2.
• a fragmentary circular arc gear segment 114b is formed at the opposite end of cam 14 and meshes with the pinion 116a fixed integrally with a reduction gear 116, which, in turn, meshes with the pinion 104c fixed integrally to the rotor 104a, of the small sized motor assembly 104. The latter is rotatably secured to the axle shaft 115.
• a level converting circuit VO is connected in series with turn over circuits V1-V6.
• the output of turn over circuit VI is connected through a resistor R3 to a terminal b of an OR gate V7 and to a terminal of microswitch SI.
• the output of turn over circuit V2 is connected through a resistor R4 to the terminal of microswitch S2, as well as to another input terminal the OR gate V7.
• the output of OR gate V7 is connected to the input terminals of turn over circuits V3- V-6.
• the output of a turn over circuit Tl is connected to a base of a transistor Ql, and the output T2 of a turn over circuit V4 to a base of a transistor Q2.
• Fig. 18 shows a modified embodiment of the signal control circuit for actuating the automatic water supply valve according to the present invention, in which the output of the turn over circuit VI is grounded through the resistor R3, and the output of the turn over circuit V2 is grounded also through the resistor R4 so that the interior circuit of the 3-state terminal turn over circuits V3-V6 may be controlled.
• Fig. 19 illustrates another modified embodiment of the signal control circuit for actuating the automatic water supply valve according to the present invention, in which the output of the level converting circuit VO allows to control the interior circuit of the 3-state terminal turn over circuit V3- V6 through the up/down edge trigger circuit and the one short circuit, so that the actuating signal for the small sized motor can be controlled without microswitches SI and S2.
• the element 117a in Fig. 16 is an axle shaft holding plate for shaft 115; element 105a is the terminal piece on the bottom surface of the signal control circuit board, elements 104a are the terminal pieces for the coils of the motor, element 118 is the stator field permanent magnet for the small sized motor, and element 119 is the motor cover cylinder.
• the DC power supply for the devices may be 3- 8v, being included within the operating range of C-MOS.
• the control circuit illustrated in Fig. 6 controls the ON-OFF operation of the valve.
• the cam 114 and the reduction gear 116 of the control circuit part are originally set to the position allowing the microswitch SI to be OFF when the input signal " P " from the sensor 5 is low (i.e. "L") .
• the control signal is high (i.e. "H") the valve opens and when low "L", it closes.
• the output Tl of the turn over circuits V3 becomes “L”
• the output T2 of turn over circuit V4 becomes “H”
• the output T3 of the turn over circuit V5 becomes “L”
• the output T4 of the turn over circuit V6 becomes “H”
• the transistors Ql and Q2, which are connected to the outputs Tl and T2 come to the forward direction bias and become to ON.
• the transistors Q3 and Q4 become to the backward direction bias and come to the OFF state, thereby the collector contact point 01 of the transistor come to "H", 02 to "L”.
• the power supply is applied to the rotor coil 104b of the small sized DC motor 104 and the rotor 104a begins to rotate in forward direction.
• the reduction gear 116 is meshed with the pinion 104c which is fixed on the bottom of the rotor 104a. Another pinion 116a of the reduction gear 116 is meshed with the fragmentary circular arc gear segment 114b and begins to operate. This moves the oscillating rod 114a of cam 114 away so that microswitch SI comes to the ON state (at this moment, even though the microswitch SI comes to ON state, the output of the OR gate V7 is not changed, since the output of the OR gate V7 is not changed until the microswitch S2 comes to OFF state, it is preferred that microswitches SI and S2 may be arranged at the appropriate position for opening and closing the valve) , if the microswitch S2 finally comes to the OFF state, the output of the turn over circuit V2 comes to "H", then the input terminal a of the OR gate V7 passes through the resistor R4 comes to "H”, the output terminal G of the OR gate becomes to "H”, the outputs of the turn over circuits V3
• the transistors Q3 and Q3 which are connected to the output T3 and T4 come to forward direction bias, whereby the collector contact point of the transistor 01 comes to "L", 02 to "H” and power supply comes to be applied to the DC motor, thereby the DC motor begins to operate in reverse direction.
• This state is the state which the valve turns
• the oscillating rod 114a reaches the microswitch SI and turns it to the OFF state. Since the input terminal b of the OR gate V7 comes to "H”, the output G of the OR gate becomes to "H”, and the turn over circuits V3-V6 may be changed to the high impedance state. That is to say, the power supply comes to be cut off with the DC motor 4, and this state is continued until the input P is varied.
• FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the filter chambers 10a'-1, 10b'-2 are formed in the hot and cold water passing holes 8a-l, 8b-l of the supply tee or connector pipe 8-1 which is to be connected to the existing hot and cold water supply pipes 28a, 28b.
• the net like filter tubes I0a"-1, 10b"-1 are inserted respectively and locked with the screw sleeve 17-1, while the check valve assembly 18-1, 19-1 are inserted therein so that the hot and cold water passing paths 10a-l, lOb-1 may be opened or closed.
• the battery container 9 is mounted behind the connector pipe 8-1 assembly, and the connector fittings 8-2 having the hot, and cold water passages 8a-2, 8b-2 extend from the center thereof.
• an AC/DC adaptor/converter can be used, as seen in Fig. 20.
• the water mixing valve means 2 of this embodiment is located within the water tap body 1, that is to say, a cylindrical cavity 51 is formed at the upper end of the water tap fixing pipe 6-1, a water mixing solid cap 52 is fixed within the cavity 51 by the fixing pin 53, and a mixing control block 54 having the hot and cold water outlet holes 54a, 54b and shaped as a cylindrical drum is movably fixed.
• the outer end of the spiral bimetal 13-1 (see Fig.
• the water supply valve 100-1 is arranged behind the L-shaped mixing valve body 2b-l, the water tap body 1 and' the water tap fixing pipe 6-1 are fixed with the small bolts 55, and the check valves 18-1, 19-1 with the connector pipe assembly is fixed at the bottom end of the water tap fixing pipe 6-1.
• This arrangement is intended to permit the water tap body to be beautifully shaped by maximizing the ability of water tap to be small-sized and to be light- weight.
• the check valve means and the hot and cold water mixing means which were formed integrally within a mixing valve 2 are divided from each other and the check valve means is removed from the water tap body 1 and fixed below the water tap fixing board.
• the hot and cold water supplied by the hot and cold water service pipes 28a, 28b are delivered through the hot and cold water passages 8a, 8b or the hot and cold water connector pipe 8 and also through the hot and cold water passages 6a, 6b of the water tap mounting pipe or stem 6.
• the water then passes through the hot and cold water passages 10a, 10b to the filter chambers 10a', 10b', respectively, through the hot and ' cold water inlets 11', 11'' to the hot and cold water mixing tube 11. It then flows through the hot and cold water outlet 11a, lib, after mixed at the desired temperature by the operation of the bimetal 13 within the hot and cold water mixing chamber 12 and flows out through the outlet pipe 2a.
• the water subsequently flows through the water inlet 100a and reaches the automatic water supply valve 100.
• the detecting signal from the detecting sensor 5 is transmitted to the electronic control unit 5' , and if the electronic control unit 5' transfers the instruction signal to the operation control circuit (FIG. 13) of the automatic water supply valve 100, the main diaphragm 106 is opened, the mixed water is delivered through the hose 7 connected to the outlet 100b to the water retaining piece 3 and its chamber 3c. It then flows through the plurality of the water flowing holes perforated at the bottom of the water retaining chamber 3c and may be dispersed uniformly and then spouted out of the jet holes 4a of the water jet nozzle 4.
• Fig. 7 illustrates the various conditions under which sliding control tube 16, coupled with the opening and closing actuator 15, opens or closes the hot and cold water flowing holes 11a, lib of the hot and cold water mixing tube 11 in response to the operation of the bimetal 13.
• the sliding control tube 16 coupled with the opening and closing actuator 15 of the bimetal may be located at the intermediate position of the hot and cold water mixing tube 11, accordingly both of hot and cold water flow respectively through cold water outlet hole lib and hot water outlet hole 11a and all mixed within the hot and cold water mixing chamber 12 of the mixing valve 2.
• Fig. 7B shows the operating condition of the bimetal 13 for increasing cold water in case the temperature of the mixed warm water is higher than the set temperature.
• sliding control tube 16, coupled with the opening and closing actuator 15 of the bimetal 13 closes the hot water outlet hole 11a, and only the cold water flows out of the cold water outlet hole lib.
• the sliding control tube 16 will be moved toward the hot water outlet hole 11a by the operation of the bimetal 13, then the hot water outlet hole 11a may be reasonably closed while the cold water outlet hole lib may be opened, and the hot and cold water may be mixed within the mixing chamber 12 of the mixing valve 2. Accordingly, warm water of the desired temperature will be delivered through the mixed water outlet tube 2 to the automatic water supply valve 100.
• the sliding control tube 16 will be moved toward the cold water outlet hole lib by the operation of the bimetal 13, the cold water outlet hole lib will be reasonably closed while the hot water outlet hole la will be opened, so that a user not only can use the water of desired temperature at any time, but also the extravagance of the water more than the required may be avoided.
• the present invention not only maximizes the facilities of utilizing the water tap without touching the handle by automatizing almost completely all of the operations by applying the latest technical functions to each component for controlling the water supply, but also maximizes the water tap to be small- sized and light-weight. An article of beautiful outward appearance is thus provided by integrating every component within water tap body 1.
• the operational electric power consumption of the automatic water supply valve 100 is minimized so that it may be used for one to ten years with only a lithium cell (3V, lOA/h) .
• only the water tap needs to be changed with the existing water pipe line facilities without establishing a new electric power line.
• construction costs will be greatly decreased.
• FIGs. 21, 22, 23 and 24 Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24, wherein an automatic faucet “T” is illustrated which includes a water supply valve 100, a valve controller 101, electronic circuits (hybrid IC) , and a hot and cold water mixing valve 2 all assembled as a unit compactly into faucet body 1.
• An aerator 4 and sensor 5 are installed as a unit in a nozzle cover la in the discharge end of the faucet with sensor 5 positioned at a suitable angle of 0°-20° to the vertical.
• the nozzle cover la is coupled with the nozzle end of the faucet body 1 by screws lb.
• a check valve assembly 8, battery case 9 and filter assemblies 10 are installed on the lower part of the faucet body 1.
• Hot and cold water is supplied to the faucet through water supply pipes (not shown) connected to the bottoms of cut-off valves 11 of conventional construction which are, in turn, connected to the lower ends of filter assemblies 10. The latter are connected by flexible tubes 11 to the check valve assembly 8 through the hot water inlet port 8a and the cold water inlet port 8b.
• Net-like tubes lOa", 10b" are located within chambers 10a' and 10b' of check valve assembly 8 and surround check valves 18, 19, respectively. The nets serve to filter the hot and cold water received from inlets 8a and 8b.
• Check valves 18, 19 include sliding pistons 18b, 19b having sealing gaskets 18a, 19a secured on the faces thereof facing passages 10a and 10b defined in the ends of chambers 10a' and 10b'.
• Coil springs 18d, 19d bias the sliding pistons 18b, 19b toward valve seats 18f, 19f to normally close passages 10a and lOb. The resilient force of the springs is adjusted by adjusting screws 18e, 19e which are inserted into threaded holes 17 of screw sleeves 17.
• valve body fixing screw sleeves 20 of the check valve assembly 8 The latter are threadedly inserted into the threaded holes 20' of valve body fixing screw sleeves 20 of the check valve assembly 8.
• the latter includes a neck portion 8' including outlet ports 8a 1 , 8b' from chambers 10a, 10b and is threadedly coupled to the valve body 2b of the hot and cold water mixing valve 2.
• check valves 18, 19 are positioned to control passage of hot and cold water to the mixing valve. When the tap is operated pressure upstream of the valve is less than the line pressure so valves 18, 19 open and water is supplied to the tap.
• a battery container 9 having a negative plate 9a (Fig. 24), including a contact spring 9' is mounted by screws 9" to the rear of check valve assembly 8.
• the plate 9a is removably secured to battery container 9 which also includes a positive plate 9b defining with plate 9a a battery chamber dimensioned to accept appropriately sized batteries to power the unit as described hereinafter.
• the mixing valve 2 may be of any convenient construction.
• the valve, as schematically illustrated in Figures 21-23 and 26 may be of the same general construction as the water mixing valve described with respect to Figures 14-15.
• the mixing valve has the construction illustrated in Figure 21.
• the cylindrical piston 16 has opposed ports 16a, 16b formed therein for respectively receiving water from tubes 8a, 8b and discharging the water combined within the piston to the supply valve 100 thereabove.
• a temperature sensor 13 is coupled with the piston 16 in the chamber 16'.
• This temperature sensor 13 is of known construction, as generally described hereinafter, and its sensitivity is adjusted by a control knob 26 engaged by a worm screw arrangement 14 to contract or expand the sensor, thereby to set the desired temperature. If the water temperature detected by the sensor 13 is lower than the set temperature determined by the temperature setting knob 26, piston 16 will slide to the left under the influence of spring 16b by contraction of the sensor 13, thereby to close the inlet hole of cold water 10b, and at the same time to open the inlet hole of hot water 10a much wider.
• Volume control is effected by the control knob 26a connected by worm screw arrangement 14a to piston 16. This adjusts the radial position of port 16b to outlet 2a and thereby controls the volume of water exiting the mixing valve.
• a water supply valve 100 which receives the mixed water from mixing valve 2.
• Valve 100 includes a valve body 102 which contains a piston 106 slidably mounted in the body and having a flexible sealing ring 106' which divides the interior of the valve body into a first chamber 108 and a second chamber 107.
• the water supply valve is controlled by a valve controller 101, which comprises a pilot valve 103, valve driver gear 104a and a valve driving motor 104.
• the valve piston 106 As the water pressure in the second chamber 107 is lowered, the valve piston 106 is pushed downwardly by the relatively high water pressure in the first chamber. As a gap between the valve piston 106 and the main seat 109 is opened, the water passes directly from inlet 102a through the outlet hole 102b of the water supply valve 100 to the nozzle.
• power consumption does not occur because the motor 104 remains stationary.
• a pulse signal from the electronic circuit 5' will be transmitted to the valve controller 101. The motor 104 is then driven by the pulse signal as power is supplied again to the motor 104.
• a hole 114a' is formed in the cam gear 114a, and two sensors are installed in the valve body 180° symmetrically on the arc of the passage of the hole 114a.
• the sensors 5 detect the hole 114a' at the point of 180° and send the detecting signal to the valve driver control circuit 104a.
• the circuit thus produces a signal to activate or deactivate the motor.
• the motor 104 rotates the cam gear 114a 180°.
• the motor then remains stationary at that point, while detecting the object. As the object disappears from the detecting range of the sensor 5, the motor drives again, and stops after rotating the cam gear 180°.
• the pulse width of the output pulse of the one-shot circuit is set off narrower than that of time base B, and the output pulse of the one-shot circuit is going to become a driving signal of the infrared emitter.
• the pulse signal with narrow pulse width is generated by synchronizing of the pulse signal rise received from the oscillator, and transmits to the amplifier of the detecting part, and the output pulse signal from time base A is designed to synchronize to the fall of the time base B.
• the output pulse signal from the time base A acts as an electric current supplying signal of the amplifier circuit in the detecting part, and amplifies the input signal received from the detecting part only when the pulse signal of the time base A is transmitted to the amplifier. All input signals from the detecting part are not amplified continuously, but are cut off by the pulse signal from time base A, thereby minimizing consumption of power. In other words, the current supplied to the amplifier is restricted by the time of pulse width of time base A.
• the delay off timer which also worked as a safety device of the detector serves to restrict the continuation of the opening of the valve more than a determined time (e.g., 30-60 seconds). Thus, it provides the automatic water cutoff function.
• the delay off timer can be set for a predetermined time (30-60 seconds) to prevent continuing flow of water when a physical object (i.e., a reflector) is accidentally placed in the detecting range of the sensor or when tape, paper, gum, etc. is adhered to the surface of the sensor. Thus, the water flow is automatically stopped after that time even if the sensor is disturbed.
• the inlet hole for hot water, 10a is then closed at the same time the cold water inlet hole 10b is opened.
• the amount of cold water influx becomes larger than that of hot water influx, the water temperature in the mixing valve 2 becomes lower, thereby the set temperature is maintained.
• water is mixed in mixing valve 2 to the appropriate set temperature and flows into the water supply valve 100 through the inlet hole 100a of that valve.
• a separate temperature sensor 210 can be provided in any convenient manner to create a digital read out on an LCD display unit 212 (Fig. 32a) .

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• 1989
  • 1989-08-09 WO PCT/US1989/003416 patent/WO1990002989A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1989-08-09 EP EP19890909991 patent/EP0386212A4/en not_active Withdrawn

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