Fluid faucet

• US 4,741,363 A
• Filed: 10/29/1986
• Issued: 05/03/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hydrotek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hydrotek Corporation
• Inventors: Hu, Lee-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US06/925,498
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 137/607, 137/613, 137/625.41, 137/614, 251/129.04, 4/304, 4/305, 4/623, 4/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 137/607
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures

Abstract

A fluid faucet includes a first passage having a first mouth and connected to a first fluid source, a second passage having a second mouth and connected to a second fluid source, a hollow cylinder having a first hole and a second hole, a third passage having a third mouth for passing a fluid mixed from the first and second fluids, an electromagnetic valve having a valve stem engagable with the third mouth and an infrared coupling-and-controlling circuit. The first and second holes are capable of respectively fully shielding or communicating with the first and second mouths when the hollow cylinder is rotated. The infrared coupling-and-controlling circuit actuates the electromagnetic valve to set the valve stem to be in disengagement with the third mouth to permit the mixed fluid passing through the third mouth when a body is in a distance close enough to such a faucet.

Claims

1. A water faucet comprising:

a first passage having a first mouth and adapted to be connected to a hot water source;

a second passage having a second mouth and adapted to be connected to a cold water source wherein said second mouth is in communication with said first mouth;

a third passage having a third mouth for passing the mixed water constituted from said hot and cold water;

an outlet for discharging said mixed water;

a hollow tube passing through said first and second passages for guarding the opening amount of each of said first and second mouths, said tube including a first hole capable of fully escaping from said first mouth when said tube is in a first position and fully communicating with said first mouth when said tube is in the second position, and a second hole capable of fully escaping from said second mouth when said tube is in a second position and fully communicating with said second mouth when said tube is in said first position and a third hole permitting the mixed water to enter a communicating passage between said tube and said third passage, whereby said tube will guard the opening amounts of both of said first and second mouths when said tube is in a position between said first and said second position to regulate water passed through said first and second mouths from said hot and said cold water sources;

a handle connected to said tube for moving said tube between said first position and said second position without resulting in axial translation of said tube;

a mouth engaging disk capable of sealingly engaging said third mouth;

an electromagnetic valve including;

a valve stem for engaging said mouth engaging disk which in turn sealingly engages said third mouth;

a spring connected to the end of said valve stem that does not engage said mouth engaging disk;

a valve stem receiver for receiving said valve stem and said spring when said electromagnetic valve is actuated; and

a valve body for housing said valve stem receiver, whereby said spring biases said valve stem against said mouth engaging disk and prevents the water from entering said third mouth when said electromagnetic valve is not actuated and whereby said spring is compressed by said valve stem into said valve stem receiver when said electromagnetic valve is actuated allowing the water contained within said communicating passage to push said mouth engaging disk axially to compress said spring and allow said water to pass through said third mouth to said third passage and to be discharged from said outlet;

a sensing means with an infrared coupling-and-controlling circuit for sensing a body, said circuit actuating said electromagnetic valve to permit said mixed water to pass through said third mouth when said body is at a distance close to said faucet and to deactuate said electromagnetic valve to prevent said mixed water from passing through said third mouth when said body is at a distance remote from said faucet, said circuit adapted to be powered by a regulator voltage, said circuit including;

a signal generator for generating infrared rays of intermediate frequency;

a receiver for receiving said infrared rays reflected from said body to effect a potential difference and for giving a voltage output obtained through amplifying said potential difference;

a filter for filtering said voltage output and transmitting an output signal of stabilized voltage;

an amplifier amplifying said output signal; and

an electronic trigger for receiving the amplified output signal and triggering said electromagnetic valve when said reflected rays received by said receiver reach a certain quantity.

2. In a water faucet of the type having a first passage having a first mouth and adapted to be connected to a hot water source;

a second passage having a second mouth and adapted to be connected to a cold water source wherein said second mouth is in communication with said first mouth;

a third passage having a third mouth for passing the mixed water constituted from said hot and cold water;

an outlet for discharging said mixed water;

a hollow tube passing through said first and second passages for guarding the opening amount of each of said first and second mouths, said tube including a first hole capable of fully escaping from said first mouth when said tube is in a first position and fully communicating with said first mouth when said tube is in the second position, and a second hole capable of fully escaping from said second mouth when said tube is in a second position and fully communicating with said second mouth when said tube is in said first position, and a third hole permitting the mixed water to enter a communicating passage between said tube and said third passage, whereby said tube will guard the opening amounts of both of said first and second mouths when said tube is in a position between said first and said second position to regulate water passed through said first and second mouths from said hot and said cold water sources;

a handle connected to said tube for moving said tube between said first position and said second position without resulting in axial translation of said tube;

the improvement comprising;

a mouth engaging disk capable of sealingly engaging said third mouth;

an electromagnetic valve including;

valve stem for engaging said mouth engaging disk which in turn sealingly engages said third mouth;

a spring connected to the end of said valve stem that does not engage said mouth engaging disk;

a valve stem receiver for receiving said valve stem and said spring when said electromagnetic valve is actuated; and

a valve body for housing said valve stem receiver, whereby said spring biases said valve stem against said mouth engaging disk and prevents the water from entering said third mouth when said electromagnetic valve is not actuated and whereby said spring is compressed by said valve stem into said valve stem receiver when said electromagnetic valve is actuated allowing the water contained within said communicating passage to push said mouth engaging disk axially to compress said spring and allow said water to pass through said third mouth to said third passage and to be discharged from said outlet;

a sensing means with an infrared coupling-and-controlling circuit for sensing a body, said circuit actuating said electromagnetic valve to permit said mixed water to pass through said third mouth when said body is at a distance close to said faucet and to deactuate said electromagnetic valve to prevent said mixed water from passing through said third mouth when said body is at a distance remote from said faucet, said circuit adapted to be powered by a regulated voltage, said circuit including;

a signal generator for generating infrared rays of intermediate frequency;

a receiver for receiving said infrared rays reflected from said body to effect a potential difference and for giving a voltage output obtained through amplifying said potential difference;

a filter for filtering said voltage output and transmitting an output signal of stabilized voltage; and

an electronic trigger for receiving the output signal and triggering said electromagnetic valve when said reflected rays received by said receiver reach a certain quantity.