JP2006144329A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic faucet with a manual single lever handle for allowing a user to surely recognize that its cause is due to a handle closing state, when water is not automatically discharged due to being put in the handle closing state, while setting a completely water cut-off state by operation of the single lever handle. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic faucet has a human body detecting sensor and the manual single lever handle 60. A display window 183 is arranged in the single lever handle 60. A display means 185 is arranged for displaying an operation state of the single lever handle 60. When putting the single lever handle 60 in the closing state, a closing state display by the display means 185 appears in the display window 183. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that automatically discharges water from a spout based on human body detection by a human body detection sensor, and more particularly to an automatic faucet equipped with a manual single lever handle that adjusts the flow rate of discharged water.

Conventionally, as an automatic faucet that automatically discharges water based on human body detection by a human body detection sensor, a manual single lever handle has been provided, and the temperature of the discharged water and the flow rate are adjusted by operating the single lever handle. Is known (Patent Document 1 below).
FIG. 9 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 hot water mixing valve 208 is provided at the junction of the water supply channel and the hot water supply channel formed by the water supply pipe 200 and the hot water supply pipe 202, and a single lever handle 210 is provided for the mixing valve 208. Operatively linked.
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 mixing valve 208 can adjust the mixing ratio of hot water and water, that is, temperature adjustment and flow rate adjustment (including discharge water) based on the left and right rotation operation and the vertical rotation operation of the single lever handle 210.

In the case of the automatic faucet for hot and cold mixing shown in FIG. 9, 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.
However, in the case of this automatic faucet, if the single lever handle 210 is in a completely closed state, water is not discharged from the spout 216 even if the human body detection sensor 218 detects the human body. There is a risk of misunderstanding that it is out of order.

Therefore, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the solution is made assuming that the single lever handle 210 cannot be completely closed.
However, on the other hand, if the single lever handle 210 cannot be completely closed in this way, for example, when the water side valve 204 and the hot water side valve 206 cannot be closed due to failure, the water discharged from the water outlet 216 is discharged. Inconvenience that it is impossible to stop.
That is, even if there is a case where it is desired to stop water discharge in an emergency, there arises a problem that this cannot be done by operating the handle.

  In the case of this automatic faucet, it is intended to notify the user that the faucet is not broken by continuing to flow water from the spout 216, but as a means of recognition for the user directly. However, since only a small amount of water is discharged from the water outlet 216, there is a possibility that the user may be misunderstood that the faucet is out of order.

JP 2003-321856 A

  The present invention is based on such a situation, and by operating the single lever handle, the water discharged from the water outlet can be completely stopped, that is, the water can be completely stopped, and the single lever handle is in the fully closed state. Manual single that allows the user to recognize more reliably that the cause is due to the single lever handle being closed when automatic water discharge is not performed by human detection by the human detection sensor It was made for the purpose of providing an automatic faucet with a lever handle.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a human body detection sensor and a manual single lever handle are provided. Based on the human body detection by the human body detection sensor, the flow rate set by the operation of the single lever handle is automatically In the automatic faucet that discharges water, a display window is provided on the single lever handle, and a display means that indicates an operation state of the single lever handle is provided. When the single lever handle is in a closed state, A closed state display by the display means appears.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the temperature can be adjusted together with the flow rate adjustment of the water discharge by operating the single lever handle.

Effects and effects of the invention

As described above, the present invention provides an automatic faucet provided with a single lever handle for adjusting the flow rate of discharged water by a manual operation, and has a display window on the single lever handle and a display means for indicating an operation state of the single lever handle. When the single lever handle is in the closed state, the closed state display by the display means appears in the display window.
According to the present invention, when the single lever handle is in the fully closed state, the water discharged from the water discharge port can be in the completely stopped state, while the single lever handle is in the fully closed state and automatic water discharge cannot be performed. Even so, since the user can immediately know that the single lever handle is in the fully closed state by the display window and the display means, the reason for not automatically discharging water is that the single lever handle is in the closed state. This can be easily and reliably recognized.
Therefore, the user does not misunderstand that it is caused by a malfunction of the faucet, and the faucet can be automatically discharged by performing the act of opening the single lever handle.
Here, the display means can also display the flow rate of water discharge corresponding to the operation state of the single lever handle.

  The present invention is suitable for application to an automatic faucet that can also adjust the temperature together with the flow rate of discharged water by operating a single lever handle (claim 2).

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 60, and similarly to the water discharge head 22 through the outflow passage 62 at a predetermined flow rate determined based on the operation of the single lever handle 60. Then, the water is 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 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.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the single lever handle 60 has a base portion 182 having a circular planar shape and a substantially cap shape, and a lever portion 184 that protrudes forward from the side surface. Yes.
Thus, a display window 183 is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 182, and the display window 183 displays a handle operation state in the flow rate adjustment direction, more specifically, when the single lever handle 60 is fully closed. Display means 185 to appear.

FIG. 7B shows a state in which the single lever handle 60 is opened from its fully closed state, specifically, when it is turned upward. At this time, the display means 185 is hidden behind the base 182. Therefore, it can be known that the single lever handle 60 is not completely closed by looking at the display window 183.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the display means 185 appears in the display window 183 under the fully closed state, so that the user can easily see that the single lever handle 60 is currently in the fully closed state. be able to.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the lever portion 184 protruding from the side surface of the base portion 182 of the single lever handle 60 is a separate body. That is, the single lever handle 60 is divided into a base portion 182 and a lever portion 184.
Here, the lever portion 184 can be independently rotated in the flow rate adjustment direction, that is, the vertical direction in FIG. On the other hand, the lever portion 184 and the base portion 182 rotate together in the temperature adjustment direction, that is, the left-right direction.
Thus, a display window 183 is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 182. When the lever portion 184 is in a fully closed state, display means 185 for displaying that the lever portion 184 is in a fully closed state is displayed on the display window 183. It has come to appear.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples. For example, when the single lever handle 60 is rotated in the flow rate adjustment direction, the display means can be configured to display the operation state, that is, the water discharge amount.
Further, the present invention can be applied to a faucet provided with a contact-type human body detection sensor, and the present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

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 a display window and a display means. It is a figure which shows the single lever handle of other embodiment of this invention with a display window and a display means. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional automatic water tap.

Explanation of symbols

18 Water outlet 60 Single lever handle 116 Water sensor (human body detection sensor)
118 Temperature Control Water Sensor (Human Body Sensor)
183 display window 185 display means

Claims (2)

In an automatic faucet comprising a human body detection sensor and a manual single lever handle, and automatically discharging water from the water outlet at a flow rate set by operation of the single lever handle based on human body detection by the human body detection sensor,
The single lever handle is provided with a display window, and a display means for indicating the operation state of the single lever handle is provided. When the single lever handle is in a closed state, a closed state display by the display means is displayed in the display window. Automatic faucet characterized by appearing.   The automatic water faucet according to claim 1, wherein temperature adjustment can be performed together with flow rate adjustment of the water discharge by operating the single lever handle.

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