Induction type automatic-controlled fluid faucet

• US 4,948,090 A
• Filed: 09/27/1989
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chge-San Chen
• Original Assignee: Chge-San Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chge-San
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/413,226
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/65, 251/30.03, 4/623
• US Class Current: 251/30.03
• 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: F16K 31/404 the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by an electrically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm

Abstract

The present invention is to provide an induction type automatic-controlled fluid faucet, especially referring to a water faucet with completely brand new electromagnetic valve structure and automatic control circuit, which is characteristically comprising said electromagnetic valve device constituted by an iron-core consisted of a magnetic iron-core with a threaded non-magnetic iron core, and an engaged movable valve stem, which is equipped in the control valve and is wrapped on the exterior with several sets of polar plate, connected to a permanent magnet in series for each set of polar plate. The movable valve stem is attracted in the state of water-discharging due to the function of electromagnetic effects and is continuously attracted by the permanent magnet so as to avoid the usage of power and to prolong the service life of battery and to ensure the stable actuation of the movable valve stem while shielding (waving the hand) in front of the emission amplifier. And then the movable valve stem is going to be restored to the original "Shut the water flow" state while repeating the shielding action. A reset circuit is provided on the automatic control circuit device to ensure the movable valve stem to be able to secure in the "Shut the water flow" state at the beginning stage. A rapid-response circuit is preferably installed in the water-discharging controller so as to save the consumption of power during the water-discharging period. As a result, the present invention is indeed very economical and practical.

Claims

1. In an induction type automatically controlled fluid faucet having a valve body including a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, a valve chamber interposed between said inlet port and said outlet port, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling flow from said inlet port to said outlet port, said valve having a valve seat and a valve member extending across said valve seat and dividing said valve chamber into an inlet side and an outlet side, said valve member being movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat to prevent and to permit flow between said inlet port and said outlet port, said valve member having a control port therein communicating between said inlet side and said outlet side of said valve chamber, and a valve stem mounted in said inlet side of said valve chamber for reciprocation into and out of engagement with said control port of said valve member, said valve member being moved by fluid pressure within said inlet side of said valve chamber into engagement with said valve seat when said valve stem is moved into engagement with said control port;

improved means for controlling the reciprocal movement of said valve stem, wherein;

said valve stem comprises an elongated body having one end composed of magnetic material and the other end thereof composed of non-magnetic material, said valve stem body being mounted in said valve chamber with said non-magnetic end adjacent said control port of said valve member for axial reciprocation into and out of engagement with said control port;

a first permanent magnet assembly having a central bore therein, said first magnet assembly being mounted with said central bore thereof coaxially aligned with the path of reciprocation of said valve stem body and adjacent said magnetic end of valve stem body when said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body is in engagement with said control port;

a first electromagnetic solenoid mounted coaxially along the path of reciprocation of said valve stem body near the end of said path remote from said control port, said magnetic end of said valve stem body extending partially within said first solenoid when said valve stem body is at said end of said path;

a second permanent magnet extending axially into said first solenoid from the end thereof opposite the end of entry of said valve stem body into said first solenoid; and

current control means connected to the winding of said first solenoid and adapted to apply a first momentary electric current to said winding of said first solenoid in a first direction to cause said first solenoid to generate a magnetic field attracting said valve stem body to enter said first solenoid and moving said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body out of engagement with said control port,

said control current means being further adapted to apply a second momentary electric current to said winding of said first solenoid in a direction opposite to said first direction to cause said first solenoid to generate a magnetic field repelling said valve stem body away from said first solenoid and moving said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body into engagement with said control port,

said valve stem body being held within said first solenoid by said second permanent magnet after the end of said first current,

said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body being held in engagement with said control port by the action of said first permanent magnet on said magnetic end of said valve stem body after the end of said second current.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1, with additionally:

a second electromagnetic solenoid mounted coaxially along the path of reciprocation of said valve stem body near the end of said path adjacent said control port, the winding of said second solenoid being electrically connected in series with said first solenoid,

said current control means being connected to said series connected windings of said first and second solenoids and being adapted to apply a momentary electric current to the windings of both said first and second solenoids in said first direction to cause said first solenoid to generate a magnetic field attracting said valve stem body to enter said first solenoid and to cause said second solenoid to generate a magnetic aiding said magnetic field of said first solenoid in attracting said valve stem body to enter said first solenoid.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said current control means is further adapted to apply a momentary electric current in a direction opposite to said first direction to the windings of said series connected first and second solenoids,

said opposite direction current causing said second solenoid to generate a magnetic field attracting said valve stem body away from said first solenoid and moving said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body into engagement with said control port and causing said second solenoid to generate a magnetic field aiding said magnetic field of said second solenoid in attracting said valve stem body away from said first solenoid,

said non-magnetic end of said valve stem body being held in engagement with said control port by the action of said first permanent magnet on said magnetic end of said valve stem body after the end of said current of said opposite direction.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said current control means includes:

a first output amplifier connected to one end of said series connected windings of said first and second solenoids for supplying current to said windings in said first direction;

a second output amplifier connected to the end of said series connected windings opposite said one end thereof for supplying current to said windings in said direction opposite to said one direction;

each of said first and second amplifiers being responsive to individual trigger signals applied thereto to conduct for the duration of said applied trigger signals,

said first and second amplifiers being operatively interconnected so that when said first amplifier is conductive, said second amplifier is non-conductive and when said second amplifier is conductive, said first amplifier is non-conductive, and

a reset circuit, operative upon the initial application of power to said current control means, for supplying a first trigger signal to said second amplifier to cause said second amplifier to conduct,

said first trigger signal having a duration corresponding to the duration of said momentary current in said direction opposite to said first direction.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said current control means further includes:

sensing means for generating a proximity signal in response to the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said faucet;

logic means for alternately generating a second trigger signal and a third trigger signal upon successive appearances of said proximity signals from said sensing means,

said logic means being responsive to the first appearance of said proximity signal after the initial application of power to said current control means to generate said second trigger signal,

said second trigger signal being applied to said first amplifier to cause said first amplifier to conduct and supply current to said series connected windings of said first and second solenoids in said first direction,

said logic means being responsive to the second appearance of said proximity signal to generate said third trigger signal,

said third trigger signal being applied to said second amplifier to cause said second amplifier to conduct and supply current to said series connected windings in said direction opposite to said first direction; and

a timing controller for limiting the duration of each said second and third trigger signals to a duration corresponding to the duration of said momentary current in said first direction and to the duration of said momentary current in said direction opposite to said first direction.