Bath water control system

• US 4,923,116 A
• Filed: 05/24/1989
• Issued: 05/08/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Original Assignee: Gerald L. Homan
• Inventors: Homan, Gerald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/357,063
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.12, 236/46 R, 364/502, 364/557, 4/192
• US Class Current: 236/12.12
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A bath water control system in which the bath water is selectively supplied a bath or shower outlets, and the water supply is as to both temperature and period of supply. These parameters may be prestored in a memory along with discrete start times whereby a programmed bath will be automatically available at a discrete time or times in the future. As a means of ensuring that water is not accumulated in the tub prior to water temperature rising to a selected value, the tub drain is closed only after input bath water reaches a selected temperature. Further, means are provided for turning off water in the event that water in excess of a selected value appears. Still further, the temperature of water is indicated both digitally and aurally.

Claims

1. A bath water control system for controlling water flow to a personal bath unit including a bath drain and comprising:

mixing valve means having a hot water input, a cold water input, and a mixed water output and responsive to a control input for supplying a selected mixture of hot and cold water at said mixed water output;

actuator means responsive to both a selected temperature signal and a signal representative of the temperature of water from said mixed water output, for providing said control input to said mixing valve means;

at least one fluid passageway having an input connected to said mixed water output and having a passageway output; and

control means for providing a said selected temperature signal to said actuator means and comprising;

memory means for storing at least one selected temperature signal,

readout means for selectively sensing one of said selected temperature signals and providing it as a selected temperature signal to said actuator means,

temperature adjustments means coupled between said program selection means and said actuator means for selectively varying said selected temperature signal,

second D memory means for storing at least one selected time duration signal representative of a discrete time period, and

said program selection means further includes means in circuit with said actuator means and said second memory means for selectively sensing a said time duration signal together with a said selected temperature signal and providing said selected temperature signal to said actuator means for a said discrete time period.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of said time duration signals together with a plurality of said temperature representative signals for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 including first and second said passageways connected to said mixed water output and providing discrete tub and shower mixed water supplies, and said system further comprises:

a first electrically controlled valve in said first fluid passageway and having an "on" control input for providing fluid flow and an "off" control input for interrupting fluid flow;

a second electrically controlled valve in said second fluid passageway and responsive to an "on" control input for providing fluid flow and responsive to an "off" control input for interrupting fluid flow; and

said control means further includes means for selectively providing said "on" and "off" control inputs to said first and second electrically controlled valves.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 comprising shutoff means responsive to a temperature of water output from said mixing valve means in excess of a selected temperature for providing a said "off" control input to at least one of said electrically controlled valves.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 including drain closing means responsive to an "on" control input having been provided to one said electrically controlled valves and water temperature from said mixed water output being at least of a selected temperature for closing a drain associated with a said bath unit.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes time start selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said "on" input to said electrically controlled valves.

7. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said program selection means of said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of a said discrete time period.

8. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of pairs of time a duration signal and temperature signal for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said discrete time period.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising detection means responsive to a decreasing temperature rate larger than a predetermined decreasing temperature rate of said hot water input for providing a warning signal.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 comprising shutoff means responsive to a temperature of water output from said mixing valve means in excess of a selected temperature for providing a said "off" control input to at least one of said electrically controlled valves.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 including drain closing means responsive to an "on" control input having been provided to one said electrically controlled valves and water temperature from said mixed water output being at least of a selected temperature for closing a drain associated with a said bath unit.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of pairs of time a duration signal and temperature signal for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs.

15. A system as set forth in claim 8 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means.

16. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said "on" input to one of said electrically controlled valves.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means.

18. A system as set forth in claim 3 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means.

19. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said water output coupling means includes first, shower, and second, tub, mixed water output openings.

20. A system as set forth in claim 1 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means.

21. A system as set forth in claim 1 including voice synthesizer means responsive to the temperature of water from said mixed water output for providing a speech indication of said mixed water output temperature.

22. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mixing valve means includes:

an elongated housing;

an elongated chamber within said housing;

a set of first and second axially spaced openings, a hot water opening and a cold water opening, through a side of said housing to said chamber;

a plunger axially slidable in said elongated chamber and having a cavity shaped to differentially couple to said first and second openings of said housing as said plunger is axially slid;

water coupling means in said housing coupled between said cavity and the outside of said housing comprising at least one mixed water output opening;

whereby with differing axial positions of said plunger, varying ratios of hot and cold water are applied to a said mixed water output opening as a said mixed water output; and

electromechanical driving means coupled to said plunger and responsive to said control input for selectively positioning said plunger in said housing chamber of said housing.