Control device for faucet assemblies

• US 10,227,758 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangzhou Seagull Kitchen and Bath Products Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Guangzhou Seagull Kitchen and Bath Products Company Limited
• Inventors: Tang, Taiying
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiet Jen, Marina A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barry, Daphne M
• Application Number:
  US15/323,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20180179743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 137801
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/044 having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The invention discloses a control device for faucet assemblies. Faucet assemblies comprises a faucet spout with a first and a second water outlet; a first water supply pipe communicating with second water outlet, a second water supply pipe communicating with first water outlet and containing a water outlet pipe section connected with first water outlet and a first water inlet pipe section and a second inlet pipe section communicating with water outlet pipe section, control device comprising a first and a second solenoid valve respectively provided on first and second water inlet pipe section; a capacitive touching unit disposed on faucet spout; and electrically connected to a second control unit, when touch time is less than first predetermined time, opening second solenoid valve, and is greater than second predetemined time, opening first solenoid valve. The invention has effects of meeting different demands, combining touch and manual, and being convenient operation.

Claims

1. A control device for faucet assemblies, the faucet assemblies comprising:

a faucet spout with a first water outlet and a second water outlet;

a first water supply pipe communicating with the first water outlet, and

a second water supply pipe communicating with the second water outlet, the second water supply pipe containing a water outlet pipe section connected with the second water outlet and a first water inlet pipe section and a second inlet pipe section communicating with the water outlet pipe section, being characterized in that;

the control device comprises a first solenoid valve provided on the first water inlet pipe section to control on-off of the first water inlet pipe section;

a second solenoid valve provided on the second water inlet pipe section to control on-off of the second water inlet pipe section;

a capacitive touching unit disposed on the faucet spout, the capacitive touching unit for sensing touch time of human body and emitting touch signal; and

a second control unit electrically connected to the capacitive touching unit to switch the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve in accordance with a touch signal of the capacitive touching unit to control opening and closing of the second water outlet, when touch time is less than a first predetermined time, turning on the second solenoid valve, when touch time is greater than a second predetermined time, turning on the second solenoid valve;

the second water outlet of the faucet assemblies is connected to a manual valve which connects a hot water and a cold water, and water outlet temperature is adjusted by the manual valve;

the hot water passes through the first solenoid valve, a house and a throat section on the first inlet pipe section and the heater into the first water outlet, a third solenoid valve for backflow hot water is provided between the heater and the first water outlet;

the cold water passes through the second solenoid valve, the house and the throat section disposed on the second inlet pipe section into the first water outlet;

the control device also includes a delay switch for adjusting the second control unit for setting delay turn-off time;

wherein the second control unit does not receive touch signal of the capacitive touch unit again within a continuous delay turn-off time after receiving last touch signal of the capacitive touch unit, a control module controlling the first solenoid valve or the second solenoid valve to be closed.

2. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 1, being characterized in that:

the capacitive touching unit comprises;

a touch key disposed on the faucet spout;

a capacitive sensing module connected with the touch key to sense action of human body touching the touch key; and

a touch sensing circuit connected to the capacitive sensing module to detect touch time of human body touching the capacitive sensing module and to generate a touch signal according to the touch time.

3. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 1, being characterized in that:

the first predetermined time is 1 s, and the second predetermined time is 3s.

4. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 3, being characterized in that:

the control device also comprises a manual valve provided on the faucet spout to control opening and closing of the first water outlet.

5. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 4, being characterized in that:

the first solenoid valve is disposed on the upstream side of the heater along water outlet direction, and controls water flow entering into the heater;

the second solenoid valve disposed on the upstream side of the housing along water outlet direction for controlling water flow entering into the water outlet pipe section.

6. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 5, being characterized in that:

the control device also comprises a third solenoid valve disposed on the downstream side of the heater along water outlet direction for controlling backflow water from the water outlet pipe section to enter the heater.

7. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 6, being characterized in that:

the control device also comprises a display device disposed on a touch switch, the display device comprising;

a red indicator light and a blue indicator light which are turned on or off in accordance with states of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve; and

a first control unit that controls turning on or off of the red indicator light and the blue indicator light.

8. The control device for faucet assemblies according to claim 4, being characterized in that:

a filter is provided on the second water supply pipe.