MXPA96002591A - Sanitary faucet for automatic supply of a - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tap comprising: sensor means (20) for determining the distance between the tap and the user's hands (3): means (40) for regulating the temperature of the water fed to the supply port (11) of the tap, and means (30) for processing the distance values provided by the sensor means (20) and for controlling consequently the water temperature regulating means (40), in such a way that the temperature of the water supplied by the port ( 11), differ on the basis of the difference in distance from the user's hands (3) to the gri

Description

Description SANITARY TAP FOR SUMI NISTRO TO WATER UTOMATICS Technical Field This invention refers to a sanitary tap for the automatic supply of water. Prior Art To supply / mix hot and / or cold water, known faucets generally require the operation of suitable control members, generally by contact with the user's hand (or foot). The faucets that supply water are also known when the user places his hands near the tap, to activate a nearby sensor, which determines the water supply. However, said taps supply water only at a single predetermined temperature, it being impossible to adjust the temperature other than manually adjusting the control members (in the normal manner). The object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary faucet capable of supplying water at the desired temperature without requiring contact between the hands (or other part of the body) of the user, and a part of the faucet. The purpose of this is to make the tap more comfortable, faster and more hygienic. A normal application of the tap of the invention is in toilets open to the public (restaurants, public restrooms, offices, communities, public transport, etc.) where hygiene requirements are particularly necessary. Description of the invention According to the invention, the tap comprises: - sensor means for determining the distance between the tap and the hands of the user; -means for regulating the temperature of the water fed to the tap supply port; and - means for processing the distance values provided by the sensor means and for controlling consequently the means that regulate the water temperature, in such a way that the temperature of the water supplied by port 11, differs on the basis of the distance difference between the hands of user 3, at the tap. When used, the user places his hands under the tap, which can supply water at a temperature which differs according to the distance between the hands and the tap. For example, the temperature may be higher the longer this distance is, or vice versa The user can then control the water supply and determine its temperature by simply placing his hands at the required distance below the tap supply port, without touching any part of him . The invention is described in detail below, with the help of the appended figures, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the tap according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the temperature regulating means 40. The tap of the invention, shown very schematically in FIG.

Figure 1, is generally indicated by 1, and comprises a common water supply port 1 1, and is typically positioned above a sink 2, in which the supplied water is collected. The tap 1 is associated with sensor means 20 arranged to determine the distance of the hands of the user 3 from the tap. The sensing means 20, are positioned near the supply port 1 (as shown in Figure 1), and look towards the underlying sink 2. The sensor means 20 may be of the infrared-reflective type, or may incorporate laser diodes or ultrasound means. The tap also comprises means 30, for processing the distance values provided by the sensor means 20. Specifically, the means 30 comprises a microcontroller 31, which processes the information received from the sensor means 20, to implement the desired function. The means 30 act on the temperature control means 40 for the water fed to the supply port 1 1.

The microcontroller 31 contains a program for controlling the means 40, in such a way that the temperature supplied depends on the distance of the hands 3 of the sensor 20. For example, the microcontroller 31, operates by dividing the space below the port 1 1, in several sectors, and with each sector, a respective water temperature is associated. For example, by placing hands 3 inside the sector near port 1 1, it supplies water at a "cold" temperature; by placing hands 3 within the sector farthest from port 1 1, it supplies water at a "hot" temperature; finally, by placing the hands 3 inside one of the intermediate sectors, the port 1 1 supplies water at a "warm" temperature, hot to a greater or lesser degree. The program of the microcontroller 31 may be such that it causes the water temperature supplied to vary instantaneously as the distance of hands 3 of port 1 1 varies. Alternatively, the temperature determined by the pressure of the hand 3, in one of the sectors, can be made to remain constant for a predetermined time, even if the hands move in another sector. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the means 40 comprises a plurality of on-off solenoid valves, each connected to a source 42, feeding cold water to the tap, or to a source 43, feeding hot water to the tap. valve outputs 41 are all connected to a single outlet pipe 44, in which water is mixed and fed to port 11. By means of an interconnecting device 32, between microcontroller 31 and valves 41, it controls the opening and closing of the latter, by means of the program of the microcontroller 31, according to different combinations, each of which corresponds to a respective mixture of hot and cold water, having a respective temperature, all temperatures being different. In the mode "shown in Figure 2, four valves 41 are provided, the same, associated restraining means 45, for regulating the flow rate.These valves 41 indicated by V1 and V2 are connected to the source 42 of cold water. , while the valves 41, indicated by V3 and V4, are connected to the hot water source 43. The restriction means 45, are adjusted in such a way that the flow rate through the valves V2 and V4, is half of the one that passes through valves V1 and V3, since, through the operation of valves V1-V4, five different combinations are obtained, with five corresponding temperatures, namely a cold temperature, a hot temperature and three intermediate temperatures, plus a configuration in which, the tap does not supply water, as shown in the following table: V1 V2 V3. V4 on on off off - > cold temperature, flow = 3/4 max on on off on - > almost cold temperature flow = max on off on off - > average temperature, flow = max off on on - > almost hot temperature, flow = max off off on on - > hot temperature, flow = 3/4 max off off off off - > tap closed. In a different embodiment (not shown) of the means 40, they use proportional valves to mix the hot and cold water together. The additional accessory means may be associated with the tap of the invention to facilitate its use. Or of these accessories, it is a water temperature indicator, in particular, a light emission indicator of the water temperature supplied, typically placed on top of the supply port 1 1, to provide signals of different color of according to the water temperature, so that the user can notice the temperature of the water supplied, not only by direct contact with hands, but also visually. A temperature sensor (not shown in the figures) for the supplied water may also be placed in such a way that it is itself rubbed, and be arranged to close the hot water source 43, if the temperature of the supplied water exceeds a maximum value pre-established. The regulating means 40 may be of a different type from those illustrated. For example, they can comprise electrical resistance elements submerged in the water stream to port 1 1, to be activated by means 30, in such a way as to heat the water supplied at different temperatures. Numerous modifications of a practical nature and of application can be made to the invention, without departing from the scope of the idea of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (4)

1. A sanitary tap for the automatic supply of water, characterized in that it comprises: - sensor means (20) to determine the distance between the tap and the hands of the user (3); - means (40) for regulating the temperature of the water fed to the supply port (11) of the tap; and - means (30) for processing the distance values provided by the sensor means (20) and for controlling consequently the water temperature regulating means (40), in such a way that the water temperature supplied by the port (1) 1), differ on the basis of the distance difference from the hands of the user (3) to the tap. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (30) for processing the distance values operate by dividing the space below the tap in several sectors and associating with each sector, a given water temperature, determined. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor means (20) are placed near the water supply port (11). A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that said water temperature regulating means (40), comprises a plurality of on-off valves (41), each connected to a source of cold water (42) or a source of hot water (43), and having its outputs connected to the tap supply port (1 1), said valves (41), being opened and closed by said processing means (30), in different combinations, each of which correspond to a respective hot / cold water mixture, having a respective temperature.