US20080289098A1 - Plumbing Fixture - Google Patents

Plumbing Fixture Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080289098A1
US20080289098A1 US11/661,406 US66140605A US2008289098A1 US 20080289098 A1 US20080289098 A1 US 20080289098A1 US 66140605 A US66140605 A US 66140605A US 2008289098 A1 US2008289098 A1 US 2008289098A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
plumbing fixture
valve
operating element
timer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/661,406
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English (en)
Inventor
Horst Kunkel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hansa Metallwerke AG
Original Assignee
Hansa Metallwerke AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hansa Metallwerke AG filed Critical Hansa Metallwerke AG
Assigned to HANSA METALLWERKE AG reassignment HANSA METALLWERKE AG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KUNKEL, HORST
Publication of US20080289098A1 publication Critical patent/US20080289098A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
    • E03C1/0412—Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a plumbing fixture with an electrically actuated valve for controlling a water flow through the plumbing fixture, with a first switch executed as a proximity switch for opening the valve and with a mechanically actuatable operating element for regulating a further function of the plumbing fixture.
  • Plumbing fixtures such as e.g. taps are known, which are turned on via a proximity switch and turn themselves off again automatically following a predetermined period of time.
  • such plumbing fixtures also have a temperature adjustment lever for manual regulation of the water temperature. Limitations arise in this case in respect of the arrangement of the temperature adjustment lever.
  • the temperature adjustment lever must be arranged so that when it is operated the proximity switch is not actuated inadvertently, as this would irritate an operator and in the worst case could even result in the risk of scalding with water that is too hot.
  • the plumbing fixture has an electrically actuated valve with which a water flow through the plumbing fixture can be turned on and off.
  • a first switch executed as a proximity switch serves to open the valve and thus release the water flow.
  • the plumbing fixture also has a further, mechanically actuatable operating element, which is used for regulating a further function of the plumbing fixture.
  • a second switch is provided, which is assigned to the mechanically actuatable operating element and is used for blocking the first switch electrically. The second switch is disposed so as to respond when the further operating element is operated.
  • the first proximity switch and the mechanically actuatable operating element can thereby be arranged at a short spatial distance from one another without the danger existing of erroneous activation occurring.
  • a feeling of a higher quality rating of the plumbing fixture is also communicated to the user by reason of the invention.
  • the second switch is expediently likewise executed as a proximity switch.
  • Such a solution has an especially low susceptibility to faults.
  • the switches can be executed as infrared sensors or as capacitive sensors. These sensors are especially reliable and practicable.
  • the plumbing fixture has a programmable control device, which is connected to the first and the second switch and is programmed such that on actuation of the first switch it emits a control signal for opening or closing the valve and only on actuation of the second switch taking place prior to emission of the control signal does it prevent the emission of the control signal for a predetermined period of time.
  • Blocking therefore only takes place if no water flow has yet been released.
  • the blocking function is reversed, i.e. if the water flow had already been released, actuation of the first switch and thus the closing of the solenoid valve is blocked for a predetermined period of time following actuation of the second switch. It is thereby rendered possible that the operator can regulate a function of the plumbing fixture such as e.g. the water temperature according to subjective sensation as normal with one hand in the water jet and with the other on the temperature adjustment lever.
  • control device is programmed such that on expiration of a shut-off timer it turns off the water flow through the valve and in the event of actuation of the second switch taking place following emission of the control signal it resets the shut-off timer.
  • the plumbing fixture has a mixer for regulating the water temperature as a further function.
  • the mechanically actuatable operating element in this embodiment is a temperature adjustment lever for operation of the mixer.
  • the further function is regulation of the quantity of water.
  • the plumbing fixture has a substantially cylindrical basic body, arranged on the head piece of which is the first switch.
  • Such a plumbing fixture can be operated particularly easily and intuitively even by operators not familiar with the mode of operation.
  • a tubular water outflow directed forwards and in the rear area facing away from the water outlet the further operating element formed as an adjusting lever, at the end of which the second switch is arranged. This like-wise facilitates particularly intuitive operation.
  • FIG. 1 shows a view of a plumbing fixture with proximity switch
  • FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram of a control device for the plumbing fixture from FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the control program for the control device in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 1 A schematic view of a plumbing fixture 10 is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the plumbing fixture 10 has a cylindrical basic body 17 , arranged on the front side of which is an outlet pipe 18 directed forwards.
  • Accommodated in the interior of the plumbing fixture is an electrically actuated valve (not shown), via which a water flow can be turned on and off.
  • a proximity switch 12 Accommodated in the rounded head piece 13 of the basic body 17 is a proximity switch 12 , via which the valve is actuated.
  • a mixer (not shown), which is connected to house hot and cold water connections and mixes incoming hot and cold water in an adjustable ratio.
  • a temperature adjustment lever 14 is provided, which is fitted on the rear side of the plumbing fixture 10 opposite the water outlet pipe 18 . The mixing ratio in the mixer is adjusted by lateral swinging of the temperature adjustment lever 14 .
  • a proximity switch in the sense of this description is a switch of a contactless nature, which detects the approach for example of a hand, and as a reaction to an approach changes the switching state.
  • Various types of proximity switches are known. In the practical example, the proximity switch is realized by a capacitance sensor. However, infrared sensors for example are also suitable.
  • the proximity switch 12 If the hand of an operator approaches the head piece 13 of the plumbing fixture 10 , this approach is detected by the proximity switch 12 and a water flow is released by opening of the valve. Since the temperature adjustment lever 14 is arranged at a small spatial distance directly behind the proximity switch 12 , there would be a risk that the proximity switch 12 also triggers if the operator is only reaching for the temperature adjustment lever 14 and in doing so passes his hand close to the proximity switch 12 . To prevent this, a further capacitance sensor is fitted in the end piece of the temperature adjustment switch 14 , which sensor serves as a switch 15 for blocking the proximity switch 12 . The switches 12 and 15 are connected for this purpose to a control device (not shown in FIG. 1 ) likewise arranged in the basic body of the plumbing fixture 10 . The control device is realized by a microprocessor, on which a control and monitoring program runs.
  • FIG. 2 shows the control device 16 in a block circuit diagram. Connected to the control device 16 are the proximity switch 12 and the further capacitance sensor 16 . An output of the control device 16 leads to a valve driver 19 , which is connected to the electrically actuated valve 11 .
  • the control and monitoring program running in the control device 16 generates a signal for the valve driver 19 when the proximity switch 12 is actuated.
  • the valve driver 19 then applies an operating voltage to the electrically actuated valve 11 , so that the valve 11 opens.
  • the proximity switch 12 is blocked for a predetermined period of time, i.e. switched to inoperable, so that no signal can be generated for the valve driver. An unintentional release of the water flow is thereby prevented if the actuation of both switches 12 and 15 takes place within the set time window.
  • the control and monitoring program is therefore adapted such that the mode of operation of the blocking is reversed if the water flow had already been released when the temperature adjustment lever was operated, i.e. closing of the valve 11 by renewed actuation of the proximity switch 12 is suppressed for a predetermined period of time, so that the possibility exists of the operator being able to regulate the temperature as normal with one hand in the water jet and the other hand on the temperature adjustment lever 14 according to subjective sensation without the proximity switch 12 inadvertently responding when the temperature adjustment lever 14 is reached for and turning the water flow off again.
  • a shut-off timer also runs in the control and monitoring program, which timer closes the valve 11 again via the valve driver 19 after a predetermined time span has elapsed and thus turns the water flow off again.
  • This shut-off timer is reset if the second switch 15 is actuated. Water is thereby available to the operator for a sufficiently long period of time even after the water temperature has been adjusted.
  • FIG. 3 A work flow of the control and monitoring program is shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a flow chart.
  • an interrupt is activated in step 301 that starts the control and monitoring program. It is then first checked in step 302 whether switch 12 (S 1 ) or switch 15 (S 2 ) was actuated. If switch S 2 was actuated, then in step 303 a timer for switch S 2 is set and the control and monitoring program is acknowledged in step 312 .
  • step 304 On actuation of S 1 , on the other hand, it is now checked in step 304 whether the timer for S 2 has expired. If this is not the case, the control and monitoring program is acknowledged immediately without further steps.
  • the control program is thus terminated on actuation of S 1 without a function being executed.
  • the switch S 1 is thus blocked following actuation of S 2 for a predetermined period of time, i.e. until the timer for S 2 expires.
  • the timer for S 2 thus serves to set the time span during which the switch S 1 is blocked.
  • step 304 if the check in step 304 reveals that the timer for S 2 had expired when S 1 was actuated, i.e. the switch S 1 was not blocked, then step 305 is proceeded with in the flow chart and a timer is set for S 1 . Then it is checked in step 306 whether the timer for S 1 has already expired. As long as the timer for S 1 has not yet expired, a check is now carried out in step 307 in the form of a loop of whether S 2 was actuated. If S 2 is actuated before the timer for S 1 has expired, the timer for S 2 is set in step 308 and the control and monitoring program is acknowledged in step 312 . The timer for S 1 thus serves to determine the time window during which blocking of S 1 takes place when both switches are actuated, in order to prevent an unintentional release of the water flow.
  • step 309 If S 2 is not actuated before the timer for S 1 expires, then it is checked in step 309 whether the valve is closed. If the valve is open, it is closed in step 310 , a timer is set for the “closed period” and the control and monitoring program is acknowledged in step 312 . The valve now remains closed at least for a time span of this “closed period” and cannot be re-opened beforehand. Unstable situations in which the valve opens and closes at short intervals are thereby avoided.
  • valve is opened in step 312 , a timer for the “open period” is set and the control and monitoring program is acknowledged in step 312 .
  • the valve now remains open at least until the timer for the “open period” expires before it is automatically closed again if neither of the two switches S 1 or S 2 is operated again in the meantime.
  • the two switches 12 , 15 are realized by capacitance sensors in the practical example.
  • the switch 15 can also be formed such that it operates touch-sensitively.
  • the plumbing fixture 10 can also be executed using any other sensor technology, provided that at least one of the switches 12 , 15 operates contactlessly.
  • the switch 15 can also be realized alternatively by one or more microswitches, which are arranged in the interior of the basic body of the plumbing fixture 10 such that when the temperature adjustment lever 14 is swung at least one of the microswitches is pressed down by the temperature adjustment lever 14 . Actuation of the temperature adjustment lever is thereby likewise detected and can be used in the manner explained to block the proximity switch 12 .

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)
  • Temperature-Responsive Valves (AREA)
US11/661,406 2004-08-30 2005-08-18 Plumbing Fixture Abandoned US20080289098A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102004041786.5 2004-08-30
DE102004041786A DE102004041786B4 (de) 2004-08-30 2004-08-30 Sanitärarmatur
PCT/EP2005/008931 WO2006024401A1 (de) 2004-08-30 2005-08-18 Sanitärarmatur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080289098A1 true US20080289098A1 (en) 2008-11-27

Family

ID=35463969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/661,406 Abandoned US20080289098A1 (en) 2004-08-30 2005-08-18 Plumbing Fixture

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20080289098A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1784542A1 (de)
CN (1) CN101010466B (de)
DE (1) DE102004041786B4 (de)
WO (1) WO2006024401A1 (de)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8127782B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2012-03-06 Jonte Patrick B Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet
USD663016S1 (en) 2011-08-25 2012-07-03 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory system with integrated hand dryer
US8296875B2 (en) 2007-09-20 2012-10-30 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory system
US8376313B2 (en) 2007-03-28 2013-02-19 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive touch sensor
US8469056B2 (en) 2007-01-31 2013-06-25 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Mixing valve including a molded waterway assembly
US8613419B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2013-12-24 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet
US8944105B2 (en) 2007-01-31 2015-02-03 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive sensing apparatus and method for faucets
US8997271B2 (en) 2009-10-07 2015-04-07 Bradley Corporation Lavatory system with hand dryer
US9170148B2 (en) 2011-04-18 2015-10-27 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Soap dispenser having fluid level sensor
US9243392B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2016-01-26 Delta Faucet Company Resistive coupling for an automatic faucet
US9267736B2 (en) 2011-04-18 2016-02-23 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Hand dryer with point of ingress dependent air delay and filter sensor
US20160208948A1 (en) * 2015-01-19 2016-07-21 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve having operation modes
US9657471B2 (en) 2012-11-02 2017-05-23 Kohler Co. Touchless flushing systems and methods
US9758953B2 (en) 2012-03-21 2017-09-12 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Basin and hand drying system
US10041236B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2018-08-07 Bradley Corporation Multi-function fixture for a lavatory system
US10100501B2 (en) 2012-08-24 2018-10-16 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Multi-purpose hand washing station
US11015329B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2021-05-25 Bradley Corporation Lavatory drain system
US11111656B2 (en) * 2019-04-28 2021-09-07 Harda Intelligent Technologies Co., Ltd. Temperature-regulating double-control automatic faucet

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101858451B (zh) * 2010-07-16 2014-10-15 厦门市易洁卫浴有限公司 定时触摸龙头及其控制方法
CN105042153B (zh) * 2014-04-23 2018-05-25 柯勒米拉有限公司 用于对放水装置进行编程和控制的系统和方法
DE102015001208B4 (de) * 2015-02-03 2023-02-02 Oras Oy Sanitärarmatur

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5351347A (en) * 1991-03-01 1994-10-04 Hansa Metallwerke Ag Proximity controlled sanitary fitting
US6003170A (en) * 1997-06-04 1999-12-21 Friedrich Grohe Ag Single-lever faucet with electronic control
US20010011389A1 (en) * 2000-02-09 2001-08-09 Friedrich Grohe Ag & Co. Kg Single-lever faucet with manual or automatic flow control

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EP0353183A1 (de) * 1988-07-28 1990-01-31 Geberit AG Radarsonde zur selbsttätigen Einzelsteuerung von Sanitärarmaturen
CN2046951U (zh) * 1988-08-11 1989-11-01 陈振发 可自动手动使用的水龙头
DE4106539C2 (de) * 1991-03-01 1994-12-15 Hansa Metallwerke Ag Einrichtung zur berührungslosen Steuerung einer Dusche
DE19501014A1 (de) * 1995-01-14 1996-07-18 Grohe Armaturen Friedrich Automatische Duschensteuerung
DE19510218C2 (de) * 1995-03-21 2000-03-09 Grohe Kg Hans Elektrisch betätigbares Sanitärventil
CN2272966Y (zh) * 1996-03-08 1998-01-21 李金丁 自动手动两用水龙头
CN1213053A (zh) * 1997-09-26 1999-04-07 黄添财 可手动与自动驱动的水龙头开关
CN2442061Y (zh) * 2000-08-25 2001-08-08 江洪 一种可手动操作的感应式水龙头
CN2542898Y (zh) * 2002-05-10 2003-04-02 韩玉芳 自动手动两用水龙头

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5351347A (en) * 1991-03-01 1994-10-04 Hansa Metallwerke Ag Proximity controlled sanitary fitting
US6003170A (en) * 1997-06-04 1999-12-21 Friedrich Grohe Ag Single-lever faucet with electronic control
US20010011389A1 (en) * 2000-02-09 2001-08-09 Friedrich Grohe Ag & Co. Kg Single-lever faucet with manual or automatic flow control

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9243391B2 (en) 2004-01-12 2016-01-26 Delta Faucet Company Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet
US8528579B2 (en) 2004-01-12 2013-09-10 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet
US9243392B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2016-01-26 Delta Faucet Company Resistive coupling for an automatic faucet
US8127782B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2012-03-06 Jonte Patrick B Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet
US8844564B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2014-09-30 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Multi-mode hands free automatic faucet
US8469056B2 (en) 2007-01-31 2013-06-25 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Mixing valve including a molded waterway assembly
US8944105B2 (en) 2007-01-31 2015-02-03 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive sensing apparatus and method for faucets
US8376313B2 (en) 2007-03-28 2013-02-19 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive touch sensor
US8296875B2 (en) 2007-09-20 2012-10-30 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory system
US8950019B2 (en) 2007-09-20 2015-02-10 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory system
US8613419B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2013-12-24 Masco Corporation Of Indiana Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet
US9315976B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2016-04-19 Delta Faucet Company Capacitive coupling arrangement for a faucet
US8997271B2 (en) 2009-10-07 2015-04-07 Bradley Corporation Lavatory system with hand dryer
US9441885B2 (en) 2011-04-18 2016-09-13 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory with dual plenum hand dryer
US9267736B2 (en) 2011-04-18 2016-02-23 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Hand dryer with point of ingress dependent air delay and filter sensor
US9170148B2 (en) 2011-04-18 2015-10-27 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Soap dispenser having fluid level sensor
USD663016S1 (en) 2011-08-25 2012-07-03 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Lavatory system with integrated hand dryer
US9758953B2 (en) 2012-03-21 2017-09-12 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Basin and hand drying system
US10100501B2 (en) 2012-08-24 2018-10-16 Bradley Fixtures Corporation Multi-purpose hand washing station
US9657471B2 (en) 2012-11-02 2017-05-23 Kohler Co. Touchless flushing systems and methods
US10851532B2 (en) 2012-11-02 2020-12-01 Kohler Co. Touchless flushing systems and methods
US11560702B2 (en) 2012-11-02 2023-01-24 Kohler Co. Touchless flushing systems and methods
US20160208948A1 (en) * 2015-01-19 2016-07-21 Moen Incorporated Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve having operation modes
US10041236B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2018-08-07 Bradley Corporation Multi-function fixture for a lavatory system
US11015329B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2021-05-25 Bradley Corporation Lavatory drain system
US11111656B2 (en) * 2019-04-28 2021-09-07 Harda Intelligent Technologies Co., Ltd. Temperature-regulating double-control automatic faucet

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101010466B (zh) 2010-12-01
CN101010466A (zh) 2007-08-01
WO2006024401A1 (de) 2006-03-09
EP1784542A1 (de) 2007-05-16
DE102004041786A1 (de) 2006-03-02
DE102004041786B4 (de) 2008-12-18

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: HANSA METALLWERKE AG, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KUNKEL, HORST;REEL/FRAME:020833/0733

Effective date: 20070730

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION