LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED BY PROXIMITY OF A HAND THERETO

• US 3,556,146 A
• Filed: 03/13/1969
• Issued: 01/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Groen Johannes
• Original Assignee: Groen Johannes
• Inventors: GROEN JOHANNES
• Application Number:
  US04/806,946
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A liquid dispensing device, in particular for hospitals and clinics, whereby the supply of hot or cold water to a wash bowl or the like may be controlled without touching any valves by hand. The water supply is regulated by an electromagnetic valve controlled by a proximity detector operating as a variable voltage divider. The proximity detector is fed with a high frequency signal and delivers an output voltage which may be influenced by putting the hand near the proximity detector. Separate proximity detectors for controlling the supply of hot and cold water, respectively, are mounted on the outlet pipe of the wash bowl in such manner that they may be actuated either separately or simultaneously, os that hot, cold or tepid water may be supplied as desired.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device, comprising an outlet pipe, at least one electromagnetic valve regulating the flow of a liquid through said outlet pipe, a proximity detector operating as a variable voltage divider, associated with said electromagnetic valve and attached to said outlet pipe, a high frequency oscillator, means connecting said high frequency oscillator with said proximity detector, a control circuit adapted to receive an input voltage and to actuate said electromagnetic valve in dependence on said input voltage, and means for supplying the output voltage of said proximity detector to said control circuit, the arrangement being such that the output voltage of the proximity detector may be influenced by putting the hand near the same.

2. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises two series connected condensers having one electrode in common and each having one separate electrode, one of the said separate electrodes being connected with said high frequency oscillator and the other one with said control circuit, the arrangement being such that the output voltage of said proximity detector may be influenced by putting the hand near said common electrode.

3. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said proximity detector comprises a dielectric plate, three juxtaposed separate electrodes on one side of said plate, a continuous electrode facing the said separate electrodes on the other side of said plate, ground connections for said continuous electrode and for the middle one of the said separate electrodes, and means connecting one of the outer separate electrodes with said high frequency oscillator and the other outer separate electrode with said control circuit, the arrangement being such that the output voltage of said proximity detector may be influenced by putting the hand near the said separate electrodes.

4. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an impedance transformer betweEn said proximity detector and said control circuit.

5. A liquid dispensing device, comprising an outlet pipe , two electromagnetic valves regulating the flow of different liquids through said outlet pipe, two proximity detectors operating as variable voltage dividers, each associated with one of the said electromagnetic valves attached to said outlet pipe, a common high frequency oscillator, means connecting said high frequency oscillator with each of the said proximity detectors, two control circuits each associated with one of the said electromagnetic valves and each adapted to receive an input voltage and to actuate the associated electromagnetic valve in dependence on said input voltage, and means for supplying the output voltage of each of the said proximity detectors to the associated control circuit, the arrangement being such that the output voltage of each of the said proximity detectors may be influenced by putting the hand near the same.

6. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two electromagnetic valves regulate the flow of hot and cold water through said outlet pipe, respectively.

7. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two proximity detectors are arranged on opposite sides of said outlet pipe.

8. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two proximity detectors are arranged on said outlet pipe in such positions that they may be simultaneously influenced by one hand.

9. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an insulating housing attached to said outlet pipe and enclosing the two proximity detectors, and means within said housing to screen the two proximity detectors with respect to each other.

10. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a group of connecting lines for each proximity detector, means for insulating each of the said groups, and means for leading the said insulated groups through said outlet pipe.

11. A liquid dispensing device, comprising an outlet pipe, at least one electromagnetic valve regulating the flow of a liquid through said outlet pipe, a proximity detector operating as a variable voltage divider, associated with said electromagnetic valve and attached to said outlet pipe, a high frequency oscillator, means connecting said high frequency oscillator with said proximity detector, means for amplifying the output voltage of said proximity detector, rectifying means converting said amplified output voltage into a direct voltage, and control means actuating said electromagnetic valve in dependence on said direct voltage in such manner that said valve is opened by a first proximity, and closed again by a second proximity.

12. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said control means comprises a first, a second and a third relay each having at least one contact, said first relay being energized at each proximity, an energizing circuit for said second relay extending through a make contact of said first relay and a break contact of said third relay, a circuit for holding said second relay and for energizing said third relay extending through a break contact of said first relay and a first make contact of said second relay, a holding circuit for said third relay extending through a make contact of said first relay and a make contact of said third relay, and an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic valve extending through a second make contact of said second relay.

13. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said control means comprise a Schmitt trigger fired at each proximity, a flip-flop changed over at each firing of said Schmitt trigger and having a zero-output and a one-output and means for energizing said electromagnetic valve connected with the one-output of said flip-flop.

14. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a DC source for feeding the said control means, and a Zener diode inserted betweeN said DC source and the said control means.

15. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an AC source, a thyristor having a gating electrodes, means for connecting said electromagnetic valve with said AC source through said thyristor, and means connecting the gating electrode of said thyristor with the one-output of said flip-flop.

16. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a resetting circuit for said flip-flop, a condenser in said resetting circuit, charging means for said condenser, means for deriving a voltage impulse from the said charging means, and means for supplying said voltage impulse to said flip-flop in such manner, that said flip-flop is kept in its zero-condition during a predetermined interval following the time at which the liquid dispensing device is switched on.