UNIVERSAL CAPACITANCE-TYPE TOUCH INDUCTIVE SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR FAUCET

• US 20150129060A1
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guang Zhou Seagull Kitchen And Bath Products Co.,Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zhuhai Edison Ecotech Corporation Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YANG, Yuanhong
• Granted Patent: US 9,284,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/551
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet, comprising: an adjustable locking component, which is formed by a conductive metallic material and is locked to a faucet spout; a control circuit board, which is provided with a capacitance-type touch unit, wherein touch electrodes of said capacitance-type touch unit are connected with said adjustable locking component through a touch circuit; a solenoid valve, which is arranged in a water supply line of the faucet, wherein said control circuit board controls opening and closing of said solenoid valve according to a touch signal from the capacitance-type touch unit; and a power supply module, which supplies power to said control circuit board and said solenoid valve. The switch assembly of the present invention can be installed in a manner compatible with all existing metal faucets.

Claims

1. A universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet, characterized in that the switch assembly comprises:

an adjustable locking component, which is formed by a conductive metallic material and is locked to a faucet spout;

a control circuit board, which is provided with a capacitance-type touch unit, wherein touch electrodes of said capacitance-type touch unit are connected with said adjustable locking component through a touch circuit;

a solenoid valve, which is arranged in a water supply line of the faucet, wherein said control circuit board controls opening and closing of the solenoid valve according to a touch signal from the capacitance-type touch unit; and

a power supply module, which supplies power to said control circuit board and said solenoid valve.

2. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 1, characterized in that, said adjustable locking component is a locking buckle, wherein the locking buckle is divided into two half-ring shaped components which are buckled with each other, and said two half-ring shaped components are tightened by screws and buckled to a portion of said faucet spout below the top.

3. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 1, characterized in that, said adjustable locking component comprises:

a metallic lock belt, which has an open annular shape, wherein both ends of said metallic lock belt are arranged at the opening of the open annular shape, an outer circumferential surface for one of the ends is sleeved by a slidable plate, and an outer circumferential surface of said metallic lock belt is provided with oblique threads;

a sleeve, which is provided with female threads and is fastened to said slidable plate;

a rotary screw, one end of which engages with female threads of said sleeve, and the other end of which engages with oblique threads on the outer circumferential surface of the said metallic lock belt.

4. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 1, characterized in that, both said control circuit board and said solenoid valve are arranged in a waterproof control box, an upper cover of said waterproof control box is provided with a sliding cover, and the sliding cover is slid to expose a time delay select switch which adjusts the setting of effective touch duration by the control circuit board, a function select switch which adjusts the setting of whether the control of the solenoid valve is enable by the control circuit board, and a reset switch which adjusts the control circuit board to the original setting value.

5. A universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet, characterized in that the switch assembly comprises:

an induction component, which is formed by a conductive metallic material;

a control circuit board, which is provided with a capacitance-type touch unit, wherein touch electrodes of said capacitance-type touch unit are connected with said induction component through a touch circuit;

a solenoid valve, which is arranged in a water supply line of the faucet, wherein said control circuit board controls opening and closing of said solenoid valve according to a touch signal from the capacitance-type touch unit;

a power supply module, which supplies power to said control circuit board and said solenoid valve; and

an electric quantity detect module, which detects the electric energy of the power supply, and notifies the control circuit board to keep the solenoid valve in an opened state, when the electric energy is lower than a predetermined value.

6. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 5, characterized in that, said control circuit board is further provided with a time delay select unit, for selecting a touch duration which activates opening or closing of the solenoid valve.

7. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 6, characterized in that, said control circuit board is further provided with a buzzer unit, wherein if the touch duration exceeds a time delay which is selected by the time delay select unit, the buzzer makes a sound which indicates the touch is an effective touch, and the control circuit board opens or closes the solenoid valve.

8. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 5, characterized in that, said induction component contacts with the faucet spout through conductive adhesion, snap connection or threaded connection, or

said induction component is spaced apart from the faucet spout by a gap, so that a capacitor is formed between said induction component and the faucet spout for passing through a high-frequency current.

9. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 8, characterized in that, said control circuit board further comprises an amplifier circuit, which amplifies said high-frequency current by a factor of 80-150, so that a body approach the faucet spout, a body capacitance induction occurs.

10. A universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet, characterized in that the switch assembly comprises:

an induction component, which is formed by a conductive metallic material;

a control circuit board, which is provided with a capacitance-type touch unit, wherein touch electrodes of said capacitance-type touch unit are connected with said induction component through a touch circuit;

a cold water solenoid valve and a hot water solenoid valve, which are arranged in a cold water feed line and a hot water feed line respectively, wherein said cold water feed line and hot water feed line are both arranged upstream with respect to a water mixing valve in the water supply line of the faucet, and said control circuit board controls opening and closing of said cold water solenoid valve and said hot water solenoid valve according to a touch signal from the capacitance-type touch unit; and

a power supply module, which supplies power to said control circuit board and said solenoid valves.

11. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 10, characterized in that, said control circuit board, said cold water solenoid valve and said hot water solenoid valve are all arranged in a waterproof control box, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe of said cold water solenoid valve as well as an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe of said hot water solenoid valve extend from said waterproof control box, and said touch circuit also extends from said control box.

12. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 10, characterized in that, said induction component contacts with the faucet spout through conductive adhesion, snap connection or threaded connection, or

said induction component is spaced apart from the faucet spout by a gap, so that a capacitor is formed between said induction component and the faucet spout for passing through a high-frequency current.

13. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 10, characterized in that, in case said hot water solenoid valve and said cold water solenoid valve are both closed, a touch is an effective touch if its duration exceeds a time delay which is selected by a time delay select unit, and if a continuous time elapses after the end of the effective touch during which there is no effective touch, said control circuit board opens both the hot water solenoid valve and cold water solenoid valve.

14. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 13, characterized in that, if a second effective touch occurs in a continuous time after a first effective touch, then these two effective touches form a continuous effective touch, and if the times of continuous effective touch are two or more, said control circuit board closes the hot water solenoid valve and only opens the cold water solenoid valve.

15. The universal capacitance-type touch inductive switch assembly for a faucet of claim 11, characterized in that, said waterproof control box is further provided with a LED indicator, which is connected with said control circuit board, wherein when said control circuit board detects an effective touch, the indicator is lighted up, and/or;

said control circuit board is provided with a buzzer, wherein when said control circuit board detects an effective touch, said buzzer gives an alarm.