Faucet apparatus with ultrasonic control device

• US 5,170,944 A
• Filed: 09/26/1991
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INAX Corporation (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: INAX Corporation (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shirai, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US07/765,823
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 239/200, 239/273, 239/282, 239/283, 239/525, 239/569, 239/588, 239/602, 4/623, 251/129.04, 137/801, 367/197-199
• US Class Current: 239/569
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A faucet apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver provided at a predetermined distance away from each other through a water flow passage. An ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitter is propagated through the flow passage as a control signal for operation control of the faucet apparatus and is received with the receiver.

Claims

1. A faucet apparatus comprising:

a liquid passage having a receiving portion for receiving liquid and a discharge portion for discharging liquid, said liquid passage being filled with liquid at least between the receiving portion and the discharge portion,

means for controlling flow of liquid passing through the liquid passage, said flow controlling means being provided in the liquid passage,

a control unit for operating the flow controlling means,

an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and situated in the liquid passage between the receiving and discharge portions,

an ultrasonic receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal transmitted from the transmitter, said receiver being situated in the liquid passage away from the transmitter between the receiving and discharge portions and connected to the control unit for operating the flow controlling means, and

means for controlling the ultrasonic transmitter connected to the transmitter, said transmitter controlling means, when actuated, operating the transmitter to transmit the ultrasonic signal so that the signal from the transmitter passes through liquid filled in the liquid passage and arrives at the receiver to thereby actuate the control unit to control the flow controlling means.

2. A faucet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said flow controlling means is a valve situated in the liquid passage to open and close the liquid passage based on the signal transmitted from the transmitter.

3. A faucet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing valve having a manual control lever, said mixing valve being installed in the liquid passage at an upstream side of the flow controlling means.

4. A faucet apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shower head attached to the liquid passage discharge portion, said transmitter being installed in the shower head.

5. A faucet apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a mixing valve having a manual control lever, said mixing valve being installed in the liquid passage at an upstream side of the flow controlling means.

6. A faucet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said liquid passage includes a hose connected to the shower head and a guide pipe disposed outside the hose, said hose being freely movable relative to the guide pipe.

7. A faucet apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said guide pipe is arranged separately from the mixing valve.

8. A faucet apparatus comprising:

a water passage having a receiving portion for receiving water and a discharge portion for discharging water, said water passage being filled with water at least between the receiving portion and the discharge portion,

a shower head attached to the water passage at the discharge portion,

a valve for controlling flow of water passing through the water passage, said valve being installed in the water passage,

a control unit for operating the valve,

an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and situated inside the shower head,

an ultrasonic receiver for receiving the ultrasonic signal transmitted from the transmitter, said receiver being situated in the water passage away from the transmitter near the receiving portion and connected to the control unit for operating the valve, and

means for controlling the ultrasonic transmitter attached to the shower head and electrically connected to the transmitter, said transmitter controlling means, when actuated, operating the transmitter to transmit the ultrasonic signal so that the signal from the transmitter passes through water filled in the water passage and arrives at the receiver to thereby actuate the control unit to control the valve.