Automatic flow control water tap with manual control function

• US 5,092,560 A
• Filed: 02/20/1991
• Issued: 03/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen, Jan-Sun
• Original Assignee: Chen, Jan-Sun
• Inventors: Chen, Jan-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/658,149
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 251/30.03, 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 251/129.11, 4/623
• US Class Current: 251/30.03
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/055 for rotating valves

Abstract

A water tap, comprising a motor-control water supply mechanism controlled by an infrared sensor via a control circuit board to open or stop the water passage therein automatically, and a manual-control water supply mechanism controlled by a revolving knob to open or stop the water passage therein manually during power failure.

Claims

1. A water tap, comprising a casing having a water intake pipe at one end connected to a water supply, a water outlet hole at an opposite end, a water passage disposed between said water intake pipe and said water outlet hole, a control valve set in said water passage, said control valve having a center hole disposed in communication with said water passage, an infrared sensor for proximity detection of the reach of hands, a control circuit board controlled by said infrared sensor to drive a motor-control water supply mechanism to close or open the center hole of said control valve, and a manual-control water supply mechanism for controlling said control valve to open or close through manual control, and characterized in that:

said motor-control water supply mechanism comprises a motor having a bolt coupling connected to the motor shaft thereof, a holder plate fastened inside said casing, a water stop control rod inserted through said holder plate with a gasket ring set therebetween, said water stop control rod having an outer thread portion at one end screwed in the inner thread of said bolt coupling, an elongated groove longitudinally disposed at the top and a stub rod at an opposite end stopped in the center hole of said control valve, said holder plate having a screw fastened therethrough in a radial direction and in said elongated groove to confine said water stop control rod to move in axial direction;

said manual-control water supply mechanism comprises a connector having an outer thread portion fastened in a bolt hole on said casing in communicating with said water passage with a seal ring mounted thereon for water leakage protection and an inner thread portion defined therein, a guide rod having an outer thread at the middle screwed with the inner thread of said connector with a seal ring mounted thereon for water leakage protection, a notch at one end disposed in the center hole of said control valve to let water pass therethrough, and a square rod portion at an opposite end inserted through said control circuit board and fastened in a square hole at the center of a revolving control knob; and

wherein

said infrared sensor detects the presence of user'"'"'s hands to trigger said control circuit board to drive said motor to rotate closkwise for a measured time so as to drive said water stop control rod to carry said stub rod to leave away from the center hole of said control valve permitting flow of water to pass through said water passage for discharge through said water outlet hole;

said control circuit board triggers said motor to rotate counter-clockwise for a measured time when user'"'"'s hands leave away, so as to drive said water stop control rod to move said stub rod to insert in the center hole of said control valve to further block up said water passage; and

said guide rod can be driven to move forward or backward by said revolving control knob during power failure, so as to stop or open said control valve.