Electronic faucet and manual override system therefor
First Claim
1. An electronic faucet for mixing a hot fluid and a cold fluid to a settable temperature and flow rate, the faucet comprising:
- h) a mixing body within said hot fluid and said cold fluid are mixed, said body comprising an inlet for the hot fluid and an inlet for the cold fluid, and an outlet from which the mixed fluids are discharged therefrom;
i) at least one mixing valve at said mixing body to control the ratio of said hot and cold fluids;
j) a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said mixed fluids and outputting a signal corresponding to said temperature;
k) an electronic control system which receives said signal of said fluid temperature sensor for controlling said at least one mixing valve to adjust the ratio of the hot and cold fluids;
l) an interface for programming said electronic control system to allow setting of at least one of the temperature and the flow rate of the mixed fluids; and
m) at least one motor for adjusting at least one of the ratio of the hot and cold fluids received by the mixing body and the flow rate of the mixed fluids discharged from the mixing body;
wherein the faucet further comprises a manual override system comprising a handle or pair of handles operably connected to said electronic control system and adapted to override said electronic control system whereby the faucet is manually controllable by said handle or pair of handles.
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Abstract
An electronic faucet for mixing hot and cold fluids and a manual override system therefor. The override system is adapted to override the electronics of the faucet in order to allow a user to gain full manual control, for example, if the user merely desires it or there is a malfunction in the faucet'"'"'s electronics or an electric power outage. The faucet can be operated in an automatic mode, a manual mode and switch between those modes. According to one embodiment, the override system disables the faucet'"'"'s electronics as a result of manual movement of the handles causing a motor of the electronic faucet to deviate from its normal resistance or current, signaling the electronics to become disabled. According to another embodiment, pulling or pushing of the handles mechanically disengage them from the electronic control.
28 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic faucet for mixing a hot fluid and a cold fluid to a settable temperature and flow rate, the faucet comprising:
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h) a mixing body within said hot fluid and said cold fluid are mixed, said body comprising an inlet for the hot fluid and an inlet for the cold fluid, and an outlet from which the mixed fluids are discharged therefrom; i) at least one mixing valve at said mixing body to control the ratio of said hot and cold fluids; j) a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said mixed fluids and outputting a signal corresponding to said temperature; k) an electronic control system which receives said signal of said fluid temperature sensor for controlling said at least one mixing valve to adjust the ratio of the hot and cold fluids; l) an interface for programming said electronic control system to allow setting of at least one of the temperature and the flow rate of the mixed fluids; and m) at least one motor for adjusting at least one of the ratio of the hot and cold fluids received by the mixing body and the flow rate of the mixed fluids discharged from the mixing body; wherein the faucet further comprises a manual override system comprising a handle or pair of handles operably connected to said electronic control system and adapted to override said electronic control system whereby the faucet is manually controllable by said handle or pair of handles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A manual override system for an electronically controlled faucet adapted to mix a hot fluid and a cold fluid to a settable temperature and flow rate, the faucet comprising:
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e) at least one mixing valve at said mixing body to control the ratio of said hot and cold fluids; f) a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of said mixed fluids and outputting a signal corresponding to said temperature; g) an electronic control system which receives said signal of said fluid temperature sensor for controlling said at least one mixing valve to adjust the ratio of the hot and cold fluids; h) an interface for programming said electronic control system to allow setting of at least one of the temperature and the flow rate of the mixed fluids; and n) at least one motor for adjusting at least one of the ratio of the hot and cold fluids received by the mixing body and the flow rate of the mixed fluids discharged from the mixing body; and the manual override system comprising a handle or pair of handles operably connected to said electronic control system and adapted to override said electronic control system whereby the faucet is manually controllable by said handle or pair of handles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification