JP2006144325A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic faucet for informing a user easily of a notice that a flow rate can be adjusted by handle operation even in water discharge, in the automatic faucet with a manual handle capable of selectively discharging temperature-adjusted water and water on the basis of human body detection by a human body detecting sensor. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic faucet can selectively discharge the temperature-adjusted water of the preset temperature adjusted by operation of the manual handle 60 and water from a water supply source on the basis of the human body detection by the human body detecting sensors 116 and 118; and can adjust both the temperature and a flow rate in the temperature-adjusted water, and only the flow rate in the water, by operation of the manual handle 60. The manual handle 60 is constituted to be divided into a first part (a lever part 184 and the central part 182-1 of a base part 182) rotating independently in the flow rate adjusting direction and a second part (a lateral part 182-2 of the base part 182) integrally rotating with the first part in the temperature adjusting direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that automatically discharges water based on human body detection by a human body detection sensor, and in particular, can selectively discharge temperature-controlled water and water from a water supply source. The present invention relates to an automatic faucet equipped with a manual handle for adjusting the flow rate and temperature of water.

Conventionally, as an automatic faucet that automatically discharges water based on human body detection by a human body detection sensor, temperature adjustment and flow rate adjustment by mixing hot water and water are performed by operating one manual handle. A device with a manual handle is known (Patent Document 1 below).
FIG. 11 shows a specific example thereof.
In the figure, reference numerals 200 and 202 denote a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe that form a water supply path and a hot water supply path, respectively.

A single lever type hot water mixing valve 208 is provided at the junction of the water supply path and the hot water supply path formed by the water supply pipe 200 and the hot water supply pipe 202. A single lever handle (manually) Handle 210 is operatively connected.
Reference numeral 212 denotes a hose that forms an outflow path, and the temperature-controlled water mixed by the mixing valve 208 is discharged from the water outlet 216 at the tip of the water discharge pipe 214 through the hose 212.

The water discharge pipe 214 is provided with a human body detection sensor 218, and the water side valve 204 and the hot water side valve 206 are opened under the control of the controller 220 based on the human body detection by the human body detection sensor 218, and the water discharge port 216. Water is automatically discharged from.
Here, the single lever-type hot water mixing valve 208 adjusts the mixing ratio of hot water and water, based on the left and right rotation operation and the vertical rotation operation of the single lever handle 210, that is, temperature adjustment and flow rate adjustment (including discharge water). Is possible.

  In the case of the automatic faucet for hot and cold mixing shown in FIG. 11, if the temperature of the temperature-controlled water discharged from the water outlet 216 is set to an appropriate temperature and flow rate by operating the single lever handle 210, then the human body detection sensor is simply used. It is possible to automatically discharge the temperature-controlled water at an appropriate temperature from the water discharge port 216 by simply detecting the human body using the H.218.

  In the case of this automatic faucet, if the single lever handle 210 is in a fully closed state, specifically, the mixing valve 208 is in a fully closed state, water discharge from the water outlet 216 is not performed even if the human body detection sensor 218 detects a human body. In this automatic faucet, water is discharged only at the temperature and flow rate set by the operation of the single lever handle 210. Therefore, the user does not discharge water because the single lever handle 210 is closed. You can realize that it is due to being.

By the way, for example, in kitchen work, there is a case in which it is desired to selectively discharge water at a set temperature adjusted to an appropriate temperature and water (cold water), and an automatic faucet with a manual handle is used by a human body detection sensor. If the temperature-controlled water and water can be selectively discharged based on the human body detection, such a request can be met and the convenience of the automatic water faucet can be greatly improved.
At this time, if the manual handle is configured so that not only the temperature adjustment and flow rate adjustment of the temperature-controlled water can be performed, but also the water flow rate can be adjusted, the convenience of the automatic water faucet can be further enhanced.

However, in this case, the user may misunderstand that the manual handle is for temperature adjustment and flow rate adjustment of temperature-controlled water, and not for water flow rate adjustment.
In particular, when the manual handle is operated in the temperature adjustment direction when water is discharged, the water discharge amount is constant and does not change, even if the manual handle is operated (in the temperature adjustment direction). Since the amount of water does not change, the above misunderstanding is particularly likely to occur.
Thus, if the user makes such a misunderstanding, the original function of the automatic faucet is not fully exhibited.

JP 2003-321856 A

  In the automatic faucet with a manual handle capable of selectively discharging temperature-controlled water and water based on the human body detection by the human body detection sensor in the background as described above, the manual handle is in a completely closed state. When there is no automatic water discharge, it can be easily noticed that the user can perform water discharge by operating the handle, and it is easy to adjust the flow rate by operating the handle even during water discharge. The purpose is to provide an automatic faucet that can be noticed.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to selectively discharge water based on the human body detection by the human body detection sensor, and the temperature adjustment water at the set temperature adjusted by the operation of the manual handle and the water from the water supply source. An automatic faucet that can adjust both the temperature and the flow rate for water, and only the flow rate for the water by operating the manual handle, and the manual handle is rotated independently in the flow rate adjustment direction. The first part and the second part that rotates integrally with the first part are arranged in a temperature adjustment direction different from the flow rate adjustment direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the second portion is provided with a display unit that displays a rotation operation position of the first portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, the amount of water discharged is constant and does not change even when the manual handle is operated in the temperature adjustment direction when the water is discharged. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the manual handle is operatively connected to a single hot and cold water mixing disc valve.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the manual handle includes a base portion that rotates along a handle mounting surface of the faucet and a lever portion that protrudes from the base portion. The lever part and the part of the base part integral with the lever part form the first part, and the other part of the base part forms the second part.

Effects and effects of the invention

As described above, the present invention is configured by dividing the manual handle into the first part that independently rotates in the flow rate adjustment direction and the second part that rotates integrally with the first part in the temperature adjustment direction. Thus, according to the present invention, even when the automatic water discharge is not performed due to the manual handle being in the fully closed state, it is indicated to the user that this is caused by the manual handle being in the fully closed state. Can be easily noticed.
Therefore, the user can be in a state where automatic water discharge can be performed by operating the first portion from the fully closed state.
In addition, even during water discharge, the manual handle is divided into a first part that rotates independently in the flow rate adjustment direction and a second part that rotates integrally with the first part in the temperature adjustment direction. By operating the first part, it is possible to let the user know that the flow rate can be adjusted, and the function inherent to the automatic faucet can be sufficiently exhibited.

  Here, in the present invention, a human body detection sensor for temperature adjustment water and a human body detection sensor for water are provided as the human body detection sensor, and the temperature adjustment water and water are based on human body detection by any of them. The water can be selectively discharged.

  In this case, the second part can be provided with a display unit for displaying the current rotation operation position of the first part (Claim 2). In this way, the first part is independent. It is possible to make the user know that it is operable more reliably.

The present invention is particularly effective when applied to an automatic faucet that assumes that the amount of water discharged is constant and does not change even if the manual handle is operated in the temperature adjustment direction during water discharge. Item 3).
Further, the present invention is suitable for application to an automatic faucet in which the manual handle is operatively connected to a single hot and cold water mixing disc valve.

In the present invention, the manual handle is configured to have a base portion that rotates along the handle mounting surface of the faucet and a lever portion protruding from the base portion, and the lever portion and the lever portion of the base portion are integrated with the first portion. One part can be formed, and the other part of the base part can be a second part.
In this way, the user can easily know that the temperature and flow rate can be adjusted with a single lever operation, and that only the flow rate can be adjusted in the first portion.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a kitchen hose storage type automatic faucet will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, 10 is a kitchen cabinet, 12 is a counter, and a water faucet main body 14 and a water discharge pipe 16 are provided in a state of standing on the counter 12. Here, the water discharge pipe 16 can be rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the main body 14.
Further, the water discharge pipe 16 has an inverted U-shaped gooseneck shape as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the water discharge pipe 16 has a water discharge port 18 at the tip, and functions as a water discharge head 22 that can be pulled out together with the flexible hose 20 and a holder that holds the water discharge head 22 in the storage position. The water discharge pipe main body 24 having

As shown in FIG. 1, a valve unit 26 is disposed inside the cabinet 10 at a position between the pair of stop cocks 28 and 30.
A water supply main pipe (hereinafter simply referred to as a water supply main pipe) is connected to the water inlet of the valve unit 26 via a stop cock 28, a branch joint 32, and a connection hose 34.
Further, a hot water supply main pipe (hereinafter simply referred to as a hot water supply main pipe) is connected to the hot water inlet through a water stop cock 30 and a connection hose 36.
Water and hot water supply pipes 38 and 40 extend upward from the water outlet and the hot water outlet of the valve unit 26, and their tips are connected to the main body portion 14 of the water faucet. 14 is supplied with water and hot water, respectively.

The main body 14 incorporates a mixing valve 58 (see FIG. 2) described later, and water (cold water) or temperature-controlled water (hot water and water are mixed by the mixing valve 58 from the downstream portion of the mixing valve 58. An outflow pipe 42 for flowing out temperature-controlled water) extends downward, and its tip is connected to the flexible hose 20 via a coupler 44.
Here, the hose 20 extends upward from the coupler 44 and then rotates once before being inserted into the main body 14 and the water discharge pipe main body 24 and connected to the water discharge head 22.

A water purifier 46 is also provided inside the cabinet 10, and water from the water supply source pipe is guided to the water purifier 46 through the branch joint 32 and the hose 48 in the upstream portion of the valve unit 26.
The water purifier 46 purifies the tap water by passing it through a filter 66 (see FIG. 2) described later, and a hose 50 for allowing the purified water to flow out extends from the water purifier 46.
The tip of the hose 50 is connected to the hose 20 connected to the water discharge head 22 via a coupler 44.
That is, the purified water flowing out from the water purifier 46 is guided to the water discharge head 22 through the hoses 50 and 20 and discharged from the water discharge port 18 at the tip thereof.

  As shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 1, the coupler 44 is provided with a thermistor 170 as a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of water discharged from the water outlet 18 at its upstream portion.

  A controller (control unit) 52 for controlling the operation of the faucet is also provided inside the cabinet 10 below the valve unit 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, water and hot water from the water supply main pipe and the hot water supply main pipe are supplied to the mixing valve 58 built in the main body 14 through the water supply path 54 and the hot water supply path 56.
The supplied water and hot water are mixed at a predetermined ratio based on the operation of the single lever handle (manual handle) 60, and also through the outflow passage 62 at a predetermined flow rate determined based on the operation of the single lever handle 60. It is sent to the water discharge head 22 and discharged from the water outlet 18 at the tip.
Here, the single lever handle 60 adjusts the mixing ratio of water and hot water, that is, adjusts the temperature by turning left and right, and adjusts the flow rate by turning up and down.

The water from the water supply main pipe is also taken out to the water purification path 64 branched from the water supply path 54 at the upstream portion of the electromagnetic valve 68 and passes through the filter 66 of the water purifier 46 provided on the water purification path 64 for purification there. In addition, the purified water (purified water) bypasses the mixing valve 58 and is guided to the outflow passage 62, and is discharged from the water outlet 18 of the water discharge head 22 through the outflow passage 62.
In each of the water supply path 54, the hot water supply path 56, and the water purification path 64, electromagnetic valves 68, 70, and 72 that open and close the flow path and a check valve 74 that prevents backflow are disposed.
A constant flow valve 73 is provided in the water purification path 64.

A bypass path 76 branches and extends from the water supply path 54 at an upstream portion of the electromagnetic valve 68, and a tip thereof is connected to the hot water supply path 56 and downstream portions of the electromagnetic valve 70 and the check valve 74.
An electromagnetic valve 78 and a check valve 74 for opening and closing the flow path are also provided on the bypass path 76.
These solenoid valves 68, 70, 72, 78 are electrically connected to the controller 52, and their operation is controlled by the controller 52.

In the present embodiment, the bypass path 76 that connects the water supply path 54 and the hot water supply path 56 is provided for the following reason.
That is, when the rotation position of the single lever handle 60 is in a state where the hot water flow path in the mixing valve 58 is fully open and the water flow path is fully closed, a human body detection sensor (water sensor 116) described later. This is not possible even if water is discharged from the water discharge port 18 based on the human body detection.
Therefore, the water supply channel 54 and the hot water supply channel 56 are connected by the bypass channel 76, and even if the water channel is fully closed in the mixing valve 58, the water from the water supply source pipe is supplied to the bypass channel 76 and the hot water supply channel. 56, and further, supply to the spout 18 through the outflow passage 62 is possible.

In the automatic water faucet of this embodiment, the electromagnetic valves 68 and 78 are opened and the electromagnetic valves 70 and 72 are closed as shown in FIG. Water from the water supply source pipe is sent to the mixing valve 58 through a part of the hot water supply path 56, and further, water is discharged from the water outlet 18 through the outflow path 62 via the mixing valve 58 (water discharge).
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, water from the water supply main pipe and hot water from the hot water supply main pipe are respectively supplied to the water supply channel with the electromagnetic valves 68 and 70 open and the electromagnetic valves 72 and 78 closed. 54 and the hot water supply path 56 are sent to the mixing valve 58 where they are mixed and adjusted to a temperature-controlled water at an appropriate temperature, and then discharged from the water outlet 18 through the outflow path 62 (temperature-controlled water discharge).
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6C, when all of the solenoid valves 68, 70 and 78 are closed and only the solenoid valve 72 is open, the water from the water supply source pipe is the water purifier 46, that is, The water is guided to the side of the water purification path 64, passes through the filter 66, becomes purified water, and is discharged from the water outlet 18 through the outflow path 62 (purified water discharge).

FIG. 4 specifically shows the configuration of the mixing valve (hot water / water mixing disk valve) 58.
As shown in the figure, the mixing valve 58 has a fixed disk valve body 82 inside the housing 80 and a movable disk valve body 84 that slides on the upper surface thereof. In contrast, a single lever handle 60 is operatively connected.
The fixed disc valve body 82 is provided with water and hot water inlets 86 and 86 of the same size, and the water and hot water sent through the supply pipes 38 and 40 upward in the figure through the inlets 86 and 86. Flows into the mixing chamber 88 of the movable disk valve body 84.
Then, the temperature-controlled water or water (cold water) after mixing in the mixing chamber 88 flows out from the outlet 89 to the outflow pipe 42 and is led to the water outlet 18 through the outflow path 62 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the water discharge pipe main body 24 in the water discharge pipe 16 having an inverted U-shaped gooseneck shape, specifically, the upper surface of the upper part of the water discharge pipe main body 24 downward from the uppermost part. A water sensor (human body detection sensor for selecting cold water discharge) 116 and a temperature adjustment water sensor (human body detection sensor for selecting temperature control water discharge) 118 are arranged in a line in the tube axis direction at predetermined intervals. Has been.
Here, the water sensor 116 is provided on the front side close to the user (on the front side), and the temperature adjustment water sensor 118 is provided on the back side. Accordingly, the water sensor 116 is located at a lower position with respect to the temperature adjustment water sensor 118, and the temperature adjustment water sensor 118 is located at an upper position with respect to the water sensor 116.
In the present embodiment, a water purification sensor (human body detection sensor for selecting purified water discharge) 120 is also provided on the side surface of the water discharge pipe main body 24.
A light irradiator 122 is provided on the lower surface of the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe main body 24 to irradiate the water or the sink or the container in the sink with light.

In the automatic water faucet of this embodiment, when a hand is held over the water sensor 116 and the water sensor 116 detects this, water is discharged from the water outlet 18 (water discharge). Further, when the hand is held over the water sensor 116 again under the water discharge state, the water discharge stops there. That is, the water is stopped.
On the other hand, when the hand is held over the temperature adjustment water sensor 118, the temperature adjustment water whose temperature is adjusted to an appropriate temperature is discharged from the water outlet 18 based on the detection of the hand by the temperature adjustment water sensor 118. When the hand is held over the temperature adjustment sensor 118 again during the water adjustment water discharge, the temperature adjustment water discharge stops there.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when a hand is put out to the side of the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe main body 24, the water purification sensor 120 detects this, and purified water is discharged from the water outlet 18 (purified water discharge). Further, when the hand is held again against the water purification sensor 120 under the state of water purging, the water purging is stopped there.
As such, the controller 52 controls the operation of the corresponding electromagnetic valves 68, 70, 72, 78.

A temperature display ring 162 is attached between the water discharge pipe body 24 and the water discharge head 22 so as to be sandwiched between them in the pipe axis direction as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature display ring 162 is made of a light-transmitting resin having a substantially ring shape, and a rearward extending portion is formed integrally with the extending portion. Thus, light from the three-color LED 152 is irradiated.
The light emitted from the three-color LED 152 to the extension portion is radiated from the outer peripheral surface to the periphery through the inside of the temperature display ring 162.

The three-color LED 152 is a unitized LED that develops red, green, and blue, and can change color continuously and continuously, and the temperature display ring 162 changes its color. Based on, the water discharge temperature is displayed.
That is, when the temperature detected by the thermistor 170, that is, the water discharge temperature from the water discharge port 18 is low, blue is displayed, when the water discharge temperature is high, red is generated, and when the water discharge temperature is intermediate, a color corresponding to them is developed. Is displayed by the color change.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the single lever handle 60 rotates in the left-right direction along the handle mounting surface 180, and the base 182 having a flat and circular appearance, and the side (front) And a lever portion 184 projecting from the head.
The base portion 182 is also divided into a band-shaped central portion 182-1 that is integrated with the lever portion 184, and a left and right portion 182-2 that is substantially semicircular.
That is, the single lever handle 60 is divided into two parts as a whole.
Here, the lever portion 184 and the central portion 182-1 form a first portion of the single lever handle 60, and the left and right portions 182-2 of the base portion 182 form a second portion.

In this embodiment, the first portion composed of the lever portion 184 and the central portion 182-1 can be independently rotated in the vertical direction in the drawing as shown in FIG. The flow adjustment of the temperature-controlled water and the flow rate of water (cold water) are performed by rotating the direction.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the second portion formed of the substantially semicircular left and right portions 182-2 is rotated integrally with the lever portion 184 and the central portion 182-1 of the first portion in the left-right direction in the figure. It is possible, and the temperature adjustment at the time of temperature controlled water discharge is performed by the rotation operation in the left-right direction.

In addition, when the water is discharged, the rotation operation position in the left-right direction of the entire single lever handle 60 does not affect the water discharge flow rate, and even if the entire single lever handle 60 is rotated in the left-right direction, the water discharge amount is constant. Does not change.
On the other hand, when the first portion composed of the lever portion 184 and the central portion 182-1 integrated with the lever portion 184 is turned up and down, the water discharge flow rate changes even during water discharge.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the main body 14 is provided with the display unit 186 for displaying the current left / right rotation operation position of the single lever handle 60 using the lever unit 184 itself as an instruction unit, and the left / right unit 182. On the upper surface of -2, a display unit 188 for displaying the current vertical rotation position of the first part is provided together with the instruction unit 190 provided in the central part 182-1 of the first part.

According to the automatic faucet of the present embodiment as described above, even when automatic water discharge is not performed due to the single lever handle 60 being in the fully closed state, this is because the single lever handle 60 is in the fully closed state. The display portion 188 provided in the left and right portions 182-2 as the second portion and the indication portion 190 provided in the central portion 182-1 of the first portion can be easily determined by the user. Can be noticed.
Therefore, the user can make the automatic water discharge possible by operating the lever portion 184 of the first portion from the fully closed state to the opening direction, and can also adjust the flow rate.
In addition, it is possible for the user to easily recognize that the flow rate can be adjusted by operating the lever portion 184 even during water discharge, and the function inherent to the automatic water faucet can be sufficiently exhibited.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the single lever handle 60. Here, the entire base portion 182 forms the second portion, and the lever portion 184 protruding from the side surface forms the first portion.
In this embodiment, the first portion composed of the lever portion 184 can be rotated independently in the vertical direction, and the second portion composed of the base portion 182 can be rotated in the left-right direction integrally with the lever portion 184. .

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 (B), the lever portion 184 itself is used as an indicator, and the upper and lower sides of the lever portion 184 are placed on the side surface of the base portion 182 that is the second portion and in the vicinity of the lever portion 184. A display unit 188 for displaying the rotation operation position in the direction is provided.
The lever portion 184 is also provided with a second display portion 192 on the front surface thereof to indicate this when the lever portion 184 is in the fully closed state, as shown in FIG. 9A.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, there is a possibility that a gap of a slit is formed at the split between the central portion 182-1 and the left and right portions 182-2 in the base portion 182, and dust or the like may enter from there. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, this can be prevented.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 188 and the second display unit 192 can be provided in various other forms as shown in FIG.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be applied even when the human body detection sensor is of a contact type, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. It can be configured in the added form.

It is a figure which shows the automatic water tap which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow path of the automatic water tap of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the water discharging pipe and various sensors of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mixing valve in the embodiment. It is a figure at the time of performing purified water spouting. It is explanatory drawing of the flow-path switching in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the single lever handle of the embodiment with the operation state at the time of flow volume adjustment. It is a figure which shows the operation state at the time of temperature control of the single lever handle of FIG. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the single lever handle in other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional automatic faucet.

Explanation of symbols

58 Mixing valve (Hot water mixing disc valve)
60 Single lever handle (manual handle)
116 Water sensor (human body detection sensor)
118 Temperature Control Water Sensor (Human Body Sensor)
180 Handle mounting surface 182 Base 182-1 Center (first part)
182-2 Left and right parts (second part)
184 Lever (first part)
188 display

Claims (5)

Based on the human body detection by the human body detection sensor, it is possible to selectively discharge the temperature adjusted water at the set temperature adjusted by the operation of the manual handle and the water from the water supply source, and the temperature adjusted water can be either temperature or flow rate. In addition, an automatic faucet that can adjust only the flow rate of the water by operating the manual handle, the first part rotating the manual handle independently in the flow rate adjustment direction, and the flow rate adjustment direction An automatic faucet characterized by being divided into a second part that rotates integrally with the first part in different temperature control directions.   2. The automatic water faucet according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is provided with a display portion for displaying a rotation operation position of the first portion.   3. The automatic water faucet according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge amount is constant and does not change even when the manual handle is operated in the temperature adjustment direction when water is discharged.   4. An automatic water faucet according to claim 1, wherein the manual handle is operatively connected to a single hot and cold water mixing disc valve.   5. The manual handle according to claim 1, wherein the manual handle has a form including a base portion that rotates along a handle mounting surface of the faucet, and a lever portion that protrudes from the base portion. An automatic faucet characterized in that a portion integral with the lever portion of the base portion forms the first portion, and the other portion of the base portion forms the second portion.

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