Water flow control system
First Claim
1. A water flow control system comprising:
- a conduit for water having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of water under a primary water pressure;
a solenoid valve of the non-latching type disposed in said conduit to control flow of water through said conduit;
a pressure control valve disposed in said conduit upstream of said solenoid valve for reducing the primary pressure and for delivering to said solenoid valve a flow of water under a secondary pressure, inclusive of the static pressure, having a predetermined pressure level generally lower than the primary pressure at said inlet; and
,electric control means for controlling said solenoid valve, said electric control means being operable to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a first intensity when the opening movement of said solenoid valve is to be initiated and being operable to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a second intensity lower than said first intensity when said solenoid valve is to be maintained in its open state.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery-operated flushing system (10) comprises a flushing valve (34) of the pilot-operated self-closing type having a pressure chamber (46) connected to a pilot conduit (52) controlled by a solenoid valve (50) of the non-latching type. A pressure control valve (48) is disposed between the pressure chamber (46) and the solenoid valve (50) for limiting the static water pressure applied to the solenoid valve (50) when the solenoid valve is closed. The provision for the pressure control valve (48) enables considerable reduction in the power consumption required to lift a solenoid valve plunger against the action of the static hydraulic pressure. Once the plunger is lifted, the non-latching type solenoid valve is energized with a reduced electric current sufficient to hold the valve in its open position. In total, energy consumption per cycle of operation is reduced. Use of the non-latching type solenoid valve permits to avoid malfunction inherently involved in the solenoid valves of the latching type. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A water flow control system comprising:
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a conduit for water having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of water under a primary water pressure; a solenoid valve of the non-latching type disposed in said conduit to control flow of water through said conduit; a pressure control valve disposed in said conduit upstream of said solenoid valve for reducing the primary pressure and for delivering to said solenoid valve a flow of water under a secondary pressure, inclusive of the static pressure, having a predetermined pressure level generally lower than the primary pressure at said inlet; and
,electric control means for controlling said solenoid valve, said electric control means being operable to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a first intensity when the opening movement of said solenoid valve is to be initiated and being operable to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a second intensity lower than said first intensity when said solenoid valve is to be maintained in its open state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automatic flushing system for a urinal comprising:
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a flushing valve having a water inlet adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure and a water outlet discharging to said urinal, said flushing valve being of the pilot-operated self-closing type having a pilot-operated pressure chamber for initiating the opening movement thereof and for retarding the closing movement thereof; pressure control means disposed upstream of said flushing valve inlet in fluid communication therewith for reducing the pressure from said source of water and for delivering to said flushing valve inlet a flow of water having a total pressure, being the sum of dynamic and static pressures, of a predetermined pressure level generally lower than the pressure at said source of water; a pilot passage connected to said pressure chamber of the flushing valve for releasing water pressure from said pressure chamber; a solenoid valve of the non-latching type disposed in said pilot passage to control release of pressure through said passage; sensing means for detecting the use of said urinal; and
,electric control means for controlling said solenoid valve, said electric control means being responsive to said sensing means to energize said solenoid valve for a predetermined period of time upon termination of the use of said urinal, said electric control means operating to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a first intensity when the opening movement of said solenoid valve is to be initiated and to energize said solenoid valve with an electric current having a second intensity lower than said first intensity when said solenoid valve is maintained in its open state; said flushing valve operating to deliver to said urinal a predetermined quantity of flushing water regardless of the pressure variation at said source of water. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification