Sensor operated water flow control

• US 5,033,508 A
• Filed: 01/11/1990
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Original Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
• Inventors: Laverty, Martin J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/448,618
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.15, 4/623, 4/304, 137/624.11
• US Class Current: 137/624.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/20 Pillar fountains or like apparatus for dispensing drinking water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

System for controlling the flow of water to a faucet head and drinking fountain with controls for an on-off switch responsive to an individual activation or approach and including a control for preventing the continuous flow of water, and readying the faucet head and drinking fountain to supply water on a future demand, and material to isolate the water from the controls and employing separate filters to operate in circuit with the controls for rendering the switch responsive to individual activation.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the flow of water through water supply means to provide a supply of water, including a sensor operatively associated with the water supply means to cause water to be supplied by the water supply means to said supply of water;

said sensor including;

at least two filter retainers and a filter received within each said filter retainer, a circuit board including control circuit means and connection means associated with said filters for connection thereof with said control circuit means;

said control circuit means including;

a first control circuit coupled with said filters for sensing and determining the continued external activation characteristic of a presence of a user proximate to said supply of water or external activation of the sensor operatively associated with said supply of water and within the range of energization of said sensor and the absence of the characteristic of external activation or presence of a user;

a second control circuit coupled with said first control circuit including water flow time commencement means responsive to said characteristic for determining the time of commencement of the flow of water to said supply of water through said water supply means in response to an external activation of said control circuit means through said filters after the elapse of a predetermined period of time;

a third control circuit responsive to said second control circuit including water flow shut-off means for permitting water to flow solely to said supply of water for a predetermined period of time after commencement of water flow by said second control circuit, said third control circuit causing the water flow to said supply of water to be shut off after a predetermined period of time of water flow and overriding said second control circuit and activation of said control circuit means received thereby to prevent said second control circuit from commencing water flow; and

means for providing isolation for said first, second and third control circuits from water and other contaminants.

2. The system of claim 1, including a faucet head to which said supply of water is applied angulated to a sink associated therewith and wherein said control circuit means is located in said faucet head at the base thereof proximate to the sink for preventing vandalism and said control circuit means being potted.

3. The system of claim 1, including a spigot to which said supply of water is applied angulated to a sink associated therewith and wherein said control circuit means is located in said spigot at the base thereof proximate to the sink for preventing vandalism and said control circuit means being potted.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter retainers are carried by a spigot, and said isolation means includes potting enclosing said circuit board, said control circuit means and said connection means to prevent the contamination thereof by water and other contaminants.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein;

said water supply means includes said sensor built thereinto;

said sensor includes;

a back plate portion having filter receiving means including a filter retainer for each said filters; and

said connection means includes supply wires coupled with said control circuit means for supplying power thereto.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein;

said water supply means includes said sensor built thereinto;

said sensor includes;

a back plate portion having filter receiving means including a filter retainer for each said filters; and

said connection means includes supply wires coupled with said control circuit means for supplying power thereto.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and is at an angle of ten degrees to a top of a basin on which said spigot is mounted.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and is at an angle of ten degrees to a top of a basin on which said spigot is mounted.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said water supply means is a spigot and said sensor is built thereinto, said spigot having means forming said filter retainers for receiving said filters.

10. In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source to a spigot, comprising:

sensor means operatively associated with the water supply source and said spigot to cause water to be supplied thereto by the water supply source and responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water;

said sensor means including;

a sensor;

a pair of spaced filters, control circuit means and connection means coupling said control circuit means with said pair of spaced filters;

a first control circuit coupled with said filters for sensing and determining the continued presence of a user or external activation proximate to said filters and within the range of energization of said filters and the absence of a characteristic of external activation or presence of a user;

a second control circuit for determining the time of commencement of the flow of water from said water supply source in response to an external activation of said first control circuit through said filters after the elapse of a predetermined period of time; and

a third control circuit responsive to said second control circuit for controlling water flow whereby to permit water to flow solely for a predetermined period of time after commencement of water flow by said second control circuit, said third control circuit shutting water flow off after a predetermined period of time and overriding said second control circuit to prevent said second control circuit from commencing water flow.

11. In the system of claim 10, wherein said sensor means includes:

filter retaining means associated with said water supply means and including a pair of filter retainers;

a filter received within each said filter retainer;

connection means coupling said filters with said control circuit means; and

isolation means associated with said filters, said connection means and said control circuit means for isolation thereof from said water supply means.

12. In the system of claim 11, wherein said filters are infrared filters.

13. In the system of claim 11, wherein said isolation means includes potting enclosing said control circuit means.

14. In the system of claim 11, wherein said isolation means includes an outer casing for enclosing said control circuit means and said connection means.

15. In the system of claim 14, wherein said isolation means also includes potting means within said outer casing for encasing said control circuit means within said casing.

16. In the system of claim 14, wherein said outer casing includes means retaining said filter retaining mans.

20. In the system of claim 10, wherein said sensor means includes means isolating said control circuit means from the water.

17. In an automatic drinking fountain system having a water supply source and an on-off means to supply water from the water supply source having means connected with a spigot for supply water thereto, comprising a sensor coupled with said on-off means responsive to an individual within a predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for rendering said on-off means on after a predetermined period of time the individual is within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot to supply water from said water supply source to said spigot for a preset period of time, and to prevent the supply of water to said spigot for a predetermined time duration after said predetermined period to prevent another individual entering within said predetermined area proximate to said spigot and said sensor for maintaining said on-off means off until said predetermined time duration expires, thereby controlling the quantity and duration of flow of water as well as the duration time of non-flow of water.

18. In the drinking fountain of claim 17, wherein said sensor includes:

an outer casing;

at least two filter retainers on said outer casing;

a filter received within each said filter retainer; and

a circuit board and connection means associated with said filters and isolated from public access by said outer casing for connection to a transmitter and receiver; and

means sealing said filters to said outer casing to form an integral unit therewith to prevent damage to said circuit board and said connection means associated with said filter.

19. In the drinking fountain of claim 18, wherein sad sealing mans is a potting compound for preventing contamination of said circuit board.