Above deck modular faucet assembly

• US 20070157976A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Speakman Company
• Original Assignee: Speakman Company
• Inventors: Walbrandt, William, Paterson, Graham, Lee, Hui, Trenham, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,445,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8085 Hollow strainer, fluid inlet and outlet perpendicular to each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet is provided comprising in-service separable parts that can be removed from the faucet without having to remove the entire housing. The faucet includes a main support housing, bolts, brackets and nuts to secure the main support body to a sink surface, two water inlets for connecting hot and cold incoming water lines. A flow control assembly is provided at each inlet to regulate the hot and cold water introduced into a mixing chamber. The valve housing includes an independent adjustable mixing valve for regulating the flow of water, an inline screen filter for removing particulate matter from the water stream, and a check valve for preventing water from returning back to the water source. Upon passing through the check valve and into water mixing housing inlets, the water is mixed in a mixing chamber. From the mixing chamber the water is regulated by a solenoid. When sink users place their hands, or other objects in front of the sensor the solenoid is activated. This permits water to flow into the faucet head portion and ultimately to the user.

Claims

1. A modular faucet comprising:

a first flow control valve body comprising a first metering valve, a first inline filter, and a first check valve;

a second flow control valve body comprising a second metering valve, a second inline filter, and a second check valve;

a main valve housing comprising an upper valve housing and a lower valve housing, wherein the lower valve housing is sized and shaped to slidingly connect with first flow control valve body and second control valve body, wherein the lower valve housing includes mixing chamber for allowing mixing of water traveling from the first and second flow control valve bodies, and wherein a diaphragm controls water flowing into a water discharge piping when the faucet is activated and prevents water from flowing into the water discharge piping when the faucet is not engaged; and

an electronic solenoid for controlling the diaphragm.

2. The modular faucet according to claim 1, wherein the first flow control valve body is connected to a first water line for supplying water to the first flow control body and the second control valve body is connected to a second water line for supplying water to the second flow control body.

3. The modular faucet according to claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber has a generally annular shape.

4. The modular faucet according to claim 2, wherein the first check valve is placed after the first inline filter with respect to the water flow from the first water line and the second check valve is placed after the second inline filter with respect to the water flow from the second water line.

5. The modular faucet according to claim 1, further comprising a support housing and an outer housing, wherein the support housing and outer housing substantially enclose and surround the first flow control valve body, the second control valve body, the main valve housing, the water discharge piping, and the electronic solenoid, and wherein the support housing and outer housing are affixed to a substrate and the support housing and outer housing are above the substrate.

6. The modular faucet according to claim 1, wherein the water discharge piping is removably connected to discharge piping, the discharge piping connected to an aerator.

7. The modular faucet according to claim 1, wherein the first metering valve is threaded for insertion into a first threaded opening within first flow control body for receiving the first metering valve, the first threaded opening within the first flow control body intersecting the water flow, wherein the movement of the first metering valve along the first threaded opening within the first flow control body allows the water flow to be at least partially obstructed, the first metering valve further comprising an outward facing end shaped to receive an adjustment tool;

and wherein the second metering valve is threaded for insertion into a first threaded opening within second flow control body for receiving the second metering valve, the first threaded opening within the second flow control body intersecting the water flow, wherein the movement of the second metering valve along the first threaded opening within the second flow control body allows the water flow to be at least partially obstructed, the second metering valve further comprising an outward facing end shaped to receive the adjustment tool.

8. The modular faucet according to claim 7, wherein the first and second meter valve outward facing ends have substantially similar recessed shapes for receiving an adjustment tool.

9. The modular faucet according to claim 1, wherein the first inline filter is threaded for insertion into a second threaded opening within first flow control body for receiving the first inline filter, the second threaded opening within the first flow control body intersecting the water flow, wherein the movement of the first inline filter along the second threaded opening within the first flow control body allows water to at least partially flow through the second inline filter, the first inline filter further having an outward facing end shaped to receive an adjustment tool;

and wherein the second inline filter is threaded for insertion into a second threaded opening within second flow control body for receiving the second inline filter, the second threaded opening within the second flow control body intersecting the water flow, wherein the movement of the second inline filter along the second threaded opening within the second flow control body allows water to at least partially flow through the second inline filter, the second inline filter further having an outward facing end shaped to receive an adjustment tool.

10. The modular faucet according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment tool is a screwdriver.

11. The modular faucet according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid is powered by a battery pack.

12. The modular faucet according to claim 11, wherein the battery pack comprises a transformer for converting a 120V AC signal to a 12 V DC signal and a battery diode for reducing the 12V current to 6 volts.

13. The modular faucet according to claim 12, wherein the solenoid is powered by a 120V AC power source connected to the transformer.

14. A readily serviceable sensor operated faucet comprising:

a rigid main body fixedly attachable to a sink deck and extending above and away from the deck into an area where the faucet discharges fluid;

a vandal resistant durable outer body removably attached to the main body with no more than two fasteners; and

a water inlet, sensor operated valving, power supply and wiring for connecting the power supply to the sensor operated valving, water outlet, and discharge piping contained within the space between the main and outer body and each being readily serviceable by removal of the outer body from the main body.

15. The readily serviceable sensor operated faucet of claim 14, wherein the power supply comprises a 120V AC power source connected to a transformer for converting a 120V AC signal to a 12 V DC signal and a battery diode for reducing the 12V current to 6 volts.

16. The readily serviceable sensor operated faucet of claim 14, wherein the discharge piping is connected to an aerator, and wherein the discharge piping and aerator are attached to the rigid main body with a removable bolt and removable bracket so that the discharge piping and the aerator can be removed or replaced without removing the rigid main body from the sink deck.

17. The readily serviceable sensor operated faucet of claim 14, wherein the sensor operated valving comprises an annular mixing chamber for mixing water from two water sources, a diaphragm for controlling water flow from the mixing chamber to the water outlet and a solenoid controlled bleed valve, wherein in a non-energized state the solenoid controlled bleed valve causes the diaphragm to seal on a valve seat to prevent the flow of water from the annular mixing chamber to the water outlet and in an energized state the solenoid controlled bleed valve allows the diaphragm to lift off of the valve seat to permit water to flow from the annular mixing chamber to the water outlet.

18. The readily serviceable sensor operated faucet of claim 14, wherein the water inlet comprises:

a first flow control valve body comprising a first metering valve for controlling the flow of water from a first water source to the sensor operated valving, a first inline filter, and a first check valve; and

a second flow control valve body comprising a second metering valve for controlling the flow of water from a second water source to the sensor operated valving, a second inline filter, and a second check valve.