Wireless power transfer device for a fluid delivery apparatus

• US 20080245422A1
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: McTargett, Charles W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A fluid delivery apparatus includes a fluid outlet located on a first side of a barrier and at least one electrically powered component located on a second side of the barrier. The apparatus also includes a wireless power transfer device to supply power to the electrically powered component.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery apparatus comprising:

a fluid outlet located on a first side of a barrier;

at least one electrically powered component located on a second side of the barrier, the electrical component performing a function of the fluid delivery apparatus; and

a wireless power transfer device comprising a first portion coupled to a power supply on the first side of the barrier and a second portion located on the second side of the barrier to receive power from the first portion, the second portion being electrically coupled and supplying power to the electrically powered component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface device located on the first side of the barrier, the user interface device being configured to receive an input from a user to control the fluid delivery apparatus, and wherein the first portion of the wireless power transfer device transmits data signals from the user interface device to the second portion, the data signals being used by the electrically powered component to control the fluid delivery apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the user interface device is a portable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically powered device coupled to the power supply on the first side of the barrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device also includes the first portion of the wireless power transfer device therein.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electrically powered device comprises at least one of a night light, a clock, a radio, an MP3 player, a water temperature indicator, a temperature controller, a flow controller, and a user interface device for setting temperature, flow, or preset fill conditions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the wireless power transfer device is a primary coil and the second portion of the wireless power transfer device is a secondary coil located in proximity to the primary coil.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically powered component comprises an electronic valve in fluid communication with a fluid source and the fluid outlet, the electronic valve further comprising a controller configured to control an operation of the valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one electrically powered component comprises at least one of a temperature mixing valve, a flow control valve, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a filter module, a heating module, a cooling module, a recirculation pump, and an electronic diverter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an object detection sensor located on the first side of the barrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a night light, the object detection sensor turning on the night light in response to detecting an object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a hot water recirculation pump located on the second side of the barrier and powered by the second portion of the wireless power transfer device, the object detection sensor turning on the recirculation pump in response to detecting an object.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the object detection sensor comprises a motion detector.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a diverter valve in fluid communication with an internal waterway of the fluid outlet and including a first position corresponding to a stream flow pattern and a second position corresponding to a spray flow pattern.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a controller actuates the diverter valve to position the diverter valve in a predetermined position corresponding to one of the first position and the second position.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrier is a countertop, the fluid outlet and the first portion of the wireless power transfer device being located above the countertop and the at least one electrically powered component and a second portion of the wireless power transfer device being located below the countertop.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrier is a wall, the fluid outlet and a first portion of the wireless power transfer device being located on a first side of the wall and the at least one electrically powered component and the second portion of the wireless power transfer device being located on a second side of the wall.

18. A method for delivering fluid comprising:

locating a fluid outlet on a first side of a barrier;

providing at least one electrically powered component located on a second side of the barrier, the electrical component performing a function of the fluid delivery apparatus; and

wirelessly supplying power to the electrically powered component.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly transmitting control signals from a user interface device to the electrically powered component to control the fluid delivery apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps of wirelessly supplying power to the electrically powered component and wirelessly transmitting control signals from the user interface device to the electrically powered component are performed by the same wireless power transfer device.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing an electrically powered device located on the first side of the barrier, the electrically powered device comprising at least one of a night light, a clock, a radio, an MP3 player, a water temperature indicator, a temperature controller, a flow controller, and a user interface device for setting temperature, flow, or preset fill conditions.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one electrically powered component located on the second side of the barrier comprises at least one of a temperature mixing valve, a flow control valve, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a filter module, a heating module, a cooling module, a recirculation pump, and an electronic diverter.