JPH01203530A - Automatic water stopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an automatic water stopper compact by a method in which a hot water and water mixer set in the base of a water stopper is operated controllably by a hot water and water controller set along an outlet side flow path connecting the outlet with the hot water and water mixing stopper in the water stopper. CONSTITUTION:A hot water and water mixing stopper C is integrally built in the vertical base 20a of a water stopper 20, and a controller D and actuators E and F are set in an inclined outlet 20b. In the stopper C, the inlet side is connected to a water supply tube 21 and a hot water supply tube 22, and the outlet side is connected to an outlet side flow path 24. A piezo-electric actuator 1 to operate plunger (d) is attached to both side walls of the base. A source power switch set on the sloped wall 52, temperature set switch 54, and flow rate set switch 55 are operated, and the stopper C is operated through the controller D to supply mixed hot water of a desired temperature from the outlet 23. The automatic water stopper of compact size and saved space can thus can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that can automatically control the temperature and amount of mixed hot water.

(B) Prior Art Hitherto, various forms of such automatic faucets have been known, such as one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 147178/1983.

The automatic faucet consists of a sensing part that senses the human body, a control part that generates an output based on the sensing signal, a drive part that receives the output from this control part and drives it, and a water washer that is operated by this drive part. The system is equipped with a water supply section that supplies water to the system.

When the user approaches the water washer, the sensing part senses the human body and supplies water via the control part, drive part and water supply part.On the other hand, when the user leaves after washing his hands etc., the sensing part senses the human body. The system detects this and stops the water supply.

-(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, such conventional automatic faucets still have the following problems.

In other words, in an automatic faucet, the sensing part, control part, and drive part each require complicated electrical wiring from the main power supply, which requires separate electrical work in addition to plumbing work. Construction costs were high.

In addition, since the sensing section, control section, and drive section are installed in separate locations from the water supply section, the installation space for these needs to be separate from the installation space for the water supply section, which reduces the indoor space. It was also becoming.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic faucet that can solve the above problems.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention incorporates a hot water mixing faucet into the base of a faucet body having a discharge port on the distal end side, and also incorporates the hot water mixed faucet and the discharge port within the faucet body. This invention relates to an automatic faucet characterized by being provided with a control device for controlling the driving of a hot water mixing faucet along a discharge side flow path that communicates with the water mixing faucet.

(E) Actions and Effects With this configuration, the present invention has the following actions and effects.

■Since the hot and cold water mixing faucet and the control device that controls the hot and cold water mixing faucet are compactly integrated into the faucet body, automatic faucets require minimal installation space in washrooms, etc., maximizing the space in washrooms, etc. available for a limited time.

Electrical work etc. can also be kept to a minimum.

■The hot water mixer faucet and the control device that controls the hot water mixer faucet are compactly integrated into the faucet body, simplifying the wiring to the hot water mixer faucet and the control device, and the wiring between the hot water mixer faucet and the control device. Electrical work etc. can be kept to a minimum.

■The hot and cold mixing faucet is installed at the base of the faucet body, improving the stability and seating comfort of the faucet body. Further, since hot water and water are mixed at the base of the faucet body, a discharge side flow path that can sufficiently mix hot water and water up to the discharge port can be formed, so that mixed hot water with a uniform temperature can be obtained.

(f) Examples The present invention will now be explained in detail based on examples shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a washbasin B equipped with an automatic faucet A according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the automatic faucet A is placed in a fixed state on the back placement surface 10a of the washbowl IO. Note that 11 is a washstand counter to which the washbowl 10 is attached.

2 and 3 show the internal structure of automatic faucet A, 20 is a faucet body, and the faucet body has a vertical base 20.
It consists of a cylindrical body in which the base end of an inclined discharge part 20b is connected to the upper part of a.

A hot and cold water mixing faucet C is integrally incorporated into the vertical base 20a of the faucet body 20, and the hot water and cold water mixing faucet C communicates its inflow side with the water supply pipe 21 and the hot water supply pipe 22, as will be described later. At the same time, the outflow side is connected to the tip side 2.
4a is connected to the base end side 24b of a discharge side flow path 24 which communicates with the discharge port 23.

Further, as is clear from FIG. 2, in the inclined discharge part 2Ob of the faucet main body 20, the discharge part 20 is divided by a partition wall 40 to form a discharge side flow path 24, and A space S for installing a control device and the like is formed above the flow path 24 in a watertight manner.

In this control device installation space S, there are provided a control device for controlling the drive of the hot water mixing faucet C, and activation units E and F for sending drive signals to the control device.

In this way, in this embodiment, the hot water mixing faucet C and the control device are compactly incorporated into the faucet main body 20, so that the required installation space for the automatic faucet A can be minimized. , space such as a washroom can be utilized to the maximum, and wiring can be simplified and electrical work etc. can be minimized.

Moreover, since the hot water mixing faucet C is provided at the base of the faucet main body 20, the stability and seating comfort of the automatic faucet are improved. Also,
Since hot water and water are mixed at the base of the faucet main body A, a discharge side flow path 24 of sufficient length is provided between the hot water and water mixing faucet C and the discharge port 23.
The hot water and water can be sufficiently mixed in the flow path 24 to form a mixture of hot water and water having a uniform temperature, which can be discharged from the discharge port 23.

Hot water mixer faucet C1 control device D and starting part E used in this embodiment
, F may take various forms, but the illustrated embodiment has a configuration as described below.

First, the configuration of the hot water mixing faucet C will be explained.

In FIG. 3, reference numerals 30 and 31 indicate a pair of channels formed in the vertical direction at the bottom of the vertical base 20a of the faucet body 20.

The − side flow paths 30 and 31 function as a water supply flow path and a hot water supply flow path for the hot and cold mixer faucet C, and their lower open ends communicate with the water supply pipe 21 and the hot water supply pipe 22, respectively.

On the other hand, the upper opening ends of the − side flow paths 30 and 31 are, respectively,
It communicates with compartments 32 and 33 formed on both side walls of the vertical base 20a of the faucet body 20.

Furthermore, a T-shaped channel 34 is formed in the center of the vertical base 20a of the faucet body 20.

The T-shaped flow path 34 functions as a mixed water flow path for the hot and cold water mixing faucet C, and its outer open end 34
a communicates with the discharge channel 24, while its inner bifurcated open end communicates with the compartment 32,33.

Further, valve seats 35 and 36 are provided at the inner bifurcated opening of the T-shaped flow path 34, respectively.
At 6, valve bodies 37 and 3 are made of diaphragm valves that move back and forth in the left and right horizontal directions within the vertical base 2Oa of the faucet body 20 to come into contact with and separate from the valve seats 35 and 36 to open and close the inner bifurcated opening end.
8 are arranged.

Furthermore, piezoelectric actuators (1), which are a form of a micro-distance stepless drive type actuator, are attached to both side walls of the base of the faucet body 20, respectively.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each piezoelectric actuator I has a plunger movable concentrically and retractably in a cylindrical actuator casing C having front and rear walls a and b, as shown in FIG. d and the same plunger d.
The tip of the valve body 38, 39 can freely come into contact with the branch of the valve body 38, 39, and four piezoelectric elements e and f are arranged concentrically on the outer peripheral surface of the plunger d.

It is constructed by arranging a piezoelectric element assembly G consisting of g+h.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the piezoelectric element g+h is disposed in the center of the actuator casing C, and is fixed to the tip of a holder H whose base end is fixed to the actuator casing C.

Further, j+J is a cantilever-shaped elastic bridge whose base ends are fixed to the piezoelectric elements g and h and whose tips extend toward the front and rear walls a and b.

The tips of the elastic bridges i and j are fitted with piezoelectric elements e and f on their outer circumferential surfaces, and on their inner circumferential surfaces,
The l is fixed to the brake shoe.

The piezoelectric elements e, f, g, and h are configured to contract when the power is turned off.

That is, the piezoelectric elements e and f expand when energized and expand their inner diameters to unclamp the plunger d, and contract when not energized to clamp the plunger d.

On the other hand, the piezoelectric elements g and h extend in the axial direction on the plunger d when energized, and in the non-energized state they contract on the plunger d, shortening the total length in the axial direction. The plunger d can be moved in the axial direction by appropriately controlling the procedure for applying voltage to the four piezoelectric elements e, f, g, and h using a control device that will be described later.

The piezoelectric element e + f + g + h is a cylindrical element formed by laminating a large number of piezoelectric element pieces in the axial direction of the plunger d, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. An electrode is provided on the electrode, and it is configured to expand by applying a voltage to both ends of the electrode.

Note that the piezoelectric element piece can be made of, for example, piezoelectric ceramics, and examples of such piezoelectric ceramics include AB
PZT (Pb (Zr.

Ti)Ori] system, and PLZT (Pb (Zr, Ti)
03), PT (PbTi03) system, or pz
A three-component system based on T can be used.

The piezoelectric element e + f + g + h can also be formed by layering a large number of thin ring-shaped piezoelectric element pieces in the axial direction around the axis of the plunger d, as shown in FIG. . In this case, the direction of voltage application is changed by 90 degrees.

Further, in FIG. 3, m is a U-shaped or 7-shaped packing having low sliding resistance and provided to improve the watertightness of the piezoelectric actuator I.

In addition, in the above configuration, piezoelectric elements e, f, g, h are as follows:
It can have not only a circular cross section but also a rectangular cross section, for example, and can also be formed from divided pieces as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Furthermore, the piezoelectric actuator I shown in FIG. 3A is capable of clamping the plunger d when no voltage is applied, and is made of elastic rubber or the like at the center of the wall and facing the plunger d. A manual return button p is installed. When the manual return button p is pressed, its front surface projects forward and comes into contact with the rear end of the plunger d, pushing the plunger d forward against the clamping force of the piezoelectric elements e and f. Can be moved.

Therefore, if the plunger d stops with the valve etc. open during a power outage, etc., the manual return button p is immediately activated.
By pressing , the valve can be completely closed to prevent spills, etc.

It also shows a modification example of the piezoelectric actuator I shown in FIG. 3A, which releases the clamp of the plunger d when no voltage is applied, and there is a gap between the rear wall and the plunger d. It is characterized by the interposition of a spring q that constantly urges the plunger d in the advancing direction.

With this configuration, even if the clamp of the plunger d is released during a power outage, the plunger d advances due to the biasing force of the spring q, and the valve can be quickly closed.

Next, a control device which is disposed in the inclined discharge portion 2Ob of the faucet body 20 and controls the drive of the piezoelectric actuator i, and an actuator E, F which sends a drive signal to the control device, and related components thereof. The configuration will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, a printed circuit board 50 is disposed within the control device storage space S, and the control device C is substantially formed on the same substrate 20. As shown in FIG.

Next, the configuration of the starting part E will be described. In this embodiment, the starting part E is formed as a touch switch provided at the tip of the inclined discharge part 20b.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a power switch 53, a temperature setting switch 54, and a flow rate setting switch 55 are attached to the inclined wall 52 which forms the front of the switch mounting space 51 which forms the tip of the inclined discharge part 20b. It is being

Then, by operating the touch switches 53, 54 and 55, the above-mentioned hot water mixer faucet C is driven via the control device, and a desired amount of mixed hot water at a desired temperature is dispensed.
It can be discharged from the discharge port 23.

Note that a display board 56 made of a thin flexible board with a display as shown in FIG. Moreover, the drive signal can be reliably sent to the control device.

Further, the activation part F is provided on the back side of the inclined discharge part 20b in a position close to the discharge port 23, and is connected to a sensor mounting tube 60 formed integrally with the inclined discharge part 20b at the same position. A hand detection sensor 61 mounted inside the sensor mounting tube 60 senses the hand of the user when he holds it out in front of the discharge port 23, generates an output signal, and controls the control device based on the output signal. As the hand sensing sensor 61, a dual type pyroelectric sensor or the like can be used.

Further, in FIG. 2, 70 is a temperature sensor provided on the vertical base 20a of the faucet main body 20, and its sensor element is extended to the tip of the discharge side flow path 24. Note that 71 is a waterproof cover.

With this configuration, the temperature sensor 70 can detect the hot water temperature Tm
is detected, and based on the difference between the detected value and the output value of the set temperature Ts set by the temperature setting switch 54, the control device is PID controlled to drive the piezoelectric actuator I of the hot water mixing device C.

In addition, in FIG. 2, a control device D, a touch switch 5
3, 54, 55, the lead wires connected to the hand sensing sensor 70, etc. are protected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the control device includes a microprocessor r and an input/output interface S.

t, and a memory U that stores a drive sequence program for the piezoelectric elements e, f, g, and h and a program for performing PID control based on the output of the temperature sensor 70.

The input interface S includes a power switch 5.
3. Temperature setting switch 54. A flow rate setting switch 55, a hand detection sensor 61, and a temperature sensor 70 are connected.

On the other hand, piezoelectric actuators E on the water side and the hot water side are connected to the output interface t.

Next, the operation of the automatic faucet A having the above structure will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 9 to 12.

As shown in FIG. 9, the temperature setting switch 54 is pressed to select the set temperature, and the flow rate setting switch 55 is pressed to select the set flow rate.

Thereafter, when the user extends his hand in front of the outlet 23, the hand sensing sensor 61 generates an output signal.

Then, based on this output signal, the control device reads out a drive order program for the piezoelectric elements e, f, g, h from the memory U, and uses the program, temperature setting button 54, and flow rate setting button 55 to control the control device. PID control is performed based on the temperature set value and flow rate set value that were inputted.
It is possible to control the temperature and flow rate of mixed hot water from the hot water mixing faucet C, and to discharge the mixed hot water from the discharge port 23.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1θ, the voltage application to the piezoelectric element e is released to retract and clamp the plunger d, and the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element f to expand its diameter and release the clamp on the plunger d.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements g and h and they are stretched, the piezoelectric elements e and f move in the direction of the arrow.
also moves in the direction of the arrow.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element e to expand its diameter and release the clamp of the plunger d, and at the same time, when the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element g+tl is released, the piezoelectric element g+h contracts in the direction of the arrow. Plunger d further moves in the direction of the arrow.

After that, by repeating the above operation, plunger d
can be moved in a linear manner with a stroke on the μm order or sub-μm order, and the piezoelectric actuator 1
．． By opening and closing one of the valve bodies 38 and 39, the temperature and flow rate of mixed hot water can be precisely and accurately controlled, and mixed hot water at a desired temperature and in a desired amount can be discharged from the discharge port 23.

Further, if it is desired to change the hot water temperature or the amount of mixed hot water, this can be easily done by pressing the temperature setting switch 54 or the flow rate setting switch 55, respectively.

In this case, if a flow rate sensor is provided in the discharge side flow path 24, the actual flow rate can be detected and input to the control device to control the flow rate.

In addition, in this operation, the hot water/cold water mixing faucet C according to the present embodiment uses a micro-distance stepless drive type actuator such as the piezoelectric actuator I, so that the mixer faucet C according to the present embodiment can be moved in a straight shape with a stroke on the order of μm or sub-μm. It can be moved and temperature and flow rate adjustments can be made more accurately and precisely.

With the configuration described above, this embodiment has the following effects.

■The automatic faucet A has a hot water mixing device C installed at the base of the faucet body 20.
It is formed by providing a control device or the like for controlling the drive of the hot water mixing device C along the discharge side flow path 23 within the faucet main body 20.

In other words, since the hot water mixer faucet C and the control device can be compactly incorporated into the automatic faucet A, the installation space for the automatic faucet A is sufficient, making it possible to make maximum use of the space in the washroom, etc. Construction work can also be kept to a minimum.

■Since the hot water mixing faucet C is installed at the base of the faucet body 20,
The stability and sitting comfort of the faucet body 20 are improved.

In addition, since hot water and water are mixed at the base of the faucet body 20, the discharge side flow path 24 allows sufficient mixing of hot water and water up to the discharge port 23.
can be formed, so it is possible to obtain a mixture of hot water and water with a uniform temperature.

■The hot water mixer faucet C uses a micro-distance stepless actuator such as the piezoelectric actuator I, so it can be moved in a linear manner with a stroke on the μm order or sub-μm order, and can adjust the temperature and flow rate. Adjustments can be made accurately and precisely.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a washbasin equipped with an automatic faucet according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the automatic faucet.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-I in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of a modification example of the piezoelectric actuator, and FIG.
5 is a sectional view taken along line m-m in FIG. 3, FIGS. 6 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of other embodiments of the piezoelectric element, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the control device. , FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 are explanatory views of the operating state of the piezoelectric actuator. In the figure, A: Automatic faucet B: Washbasin C: Hot water mixer faucet D: Control device E: Starting part F: Starting part ■ = Piezoelectric actuator 20: Faucet body 23: Discharge port 24: Discharge side flow path

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Faucet body (20) equipped with a discharge port (23) on the tip side
), and within the faucet main body (20), the hot water and cold water mixing faucet (C) and the outlet (23
) An automatic faucet characterized in that a control device (D) for controlling the driving of a hot water/cold water mixing faucet (C) is provided along a discharge side flow path (24) that communicates with the hot water/cold water mixing faucet (C).