Plumbing fixture

• US 5,349,985 A
• Filed: 03/12/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cosmos Entwicklungs-Und Forschungsanstalt
• Original Assignee: Cosmos Entwicklungs-Und Forschungsanstalt
• Inventors: Fischer, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US08/030,326
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 137/607, 137/487.5, 137/101.21, 290/52, 310/156, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/607
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

The plumbing fixture, which can be actuated without physical contact, has a water line that is connected to a source of water and has a water outlet. A shut-off valve is disposed in the water line downstream of a mixer valve. A control unit controls the shut-off valve as a function of control signals from a proximity-sensitive sensor. A turbine is disposed in the water line for supplying electrical energy to the control unit. Permanent magnets are distributed equidistantly about an outer periphery of a wheel of the turbine. At the level of the permanent magnets, at least two magnet coils are provided in a tubular section of the water line. The coils cooperate with the permanent magnets to form a generator.

Claims

1. A plumbing fixture that can be actuated without physical contact, comprising:

a water line that is connected to a source of water and has a water outlet;

a mixer valve disposed in said water line;

a shut-off valve disposed in said water line downstream of said mixer valve;

a proximity-sensitive sensor;

a control unit for controlling said shut-off valve as a function of control signals from said sensor;

a turbine disposed in said water line for supplying electrical energy to said control unit, said turbine having a wheel that is rotatably drivingly mounted on a shaft that extends in a direction of flow in a water supply channel of a tubular section of said water line, wherein said tubular section is provided with a first partition through which water can flow and a second partition through which water can flow, with said turbine wheel being disposed between said first and said second partitions, said first partition being disposed upstream of said turbine wheel and being provided in an outer region thereof with at least one jet aperture, which is disposed at an angle relative to said direction of flow; and

a generator that is operatively associated with said turbine, whereby permanent magnets are distributed equidistantly about an outer periphery of said turbine wheel, and a wall of said tubular section is provided, at a level of said permanent magnets, with at least two magnet coils that are oriented in an axial direction of said tubular section and cooperate with said permanent magnets to form said generator.

2. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein said generator is connected to an energy accumulator.

3. A plumbing fixture according to claim 2, wherein said energy accumulator is a capacitor.

4. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein said turbine wheel is rotatably supported in said first and second partitions by means of appropriate centering points and centering bores.

5. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein at a level of said at least one jet aperture, said turbine wheel is provided with vanes.

6. A plumbing fixture according to claim 5, wherein said vanes extend perpendicular to an axis of said at least one jet aperture.

7. A plumbing fixture according to claim 5, wherein the number of vanes of said turbine wheel corresponds to the number of jet apertures in said first partition.

8. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein said turbine wheel is provided with an axially projecting extension that extends into a recess of said tubular section of said water line, and wherein said permanent magnets are disposed in said extension.

9. A plumbing fixture according to claim 8, wherein said generator is a synchronous generator.

10. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein said turbine wheel, radially inwardly of said permanent magnets, is provided with vanes that are adapted to be driven by flowing medium.

11. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a side of said turbine wheel facing away from said first partition, and outer sides of said first and second partitions, are provided with conical projections that are shaped in a way that enhances flow.

12. A plumbing fixture according to claim 1, wherein said tubular section includes a conical widened portion in which are disposed said first and second partitions and said turbine wheel that is disposed therebetween.

13. A plumbing fixture that can be actuated without physical contact, comprising:

a water line that is connected to a source of water and has a water outlet;

a mixer valve disposed in said water line;

a shut-off valve disposed in said water line downstream of said mixer valve;

a proximity-sensitive sensor;

a control unit for controlling said shut-off valve as a function of control signals from said sensor;

a turbine disposed in said water line for supplying electrical energy to said control unit, said turbine having a wheel that is rotatably drivingly mounted on a shaft that extends in a direction of flow in a water supply channel of a tubular section of said water line, wherein said tubular section is provided with a first partition through which water can flow and a second partition through which water can flow, with said turbine wheel being disposed between said first and said second partitions, said first partition being disposed upstream of said turbine wheel and being provided in an outer region thereof with at least one jet aperture, wherein at a level of said at least one jet aperture, said turbine wheel is provided with vanes that extend perpendicular to an axis of said at least one jet aperture; and

a generator that is operatively associated with said turbine, whereby permanent magnets are distributed equidistantly about an outer periphery of said turbine wheel, and a wall of said tubular section is provided, at a level of said permanent magnets, with at least two magnet coils that are oriented in an axial direction of said tubular section and cooperate with said permanent magnets to form said generator.

14. A plumbing fixture according to claim 13, wherein said at least one jet aperture is disposed at an angle relative to said direction of flow.

15. A plumbing fixture that can be actuated without physical contact, comprising:

a water line that is connected to a source of water and has a water outlet;

a mixer valve disposed in said water line;

a shut-off valve disposed in said water line downstream of said mixer valve;

a proximity-sensitive sensor;

a control unit for controlling said shut-off valve as a function of control signals from said sensor;

a turbine disposed in said water line for supplying electrical energy to said control unit, said turbine having a wheel that is rotatably drivingly mounted on a shaft that extends in a direction of flow in a water supply channel of a tubular section of said water line, wherein said tubular section is provided with a first partition through which water can flow and a second partition through which water can flow, with said turbine wheel being disposed between said first and said second partitions, said first partition being disposed upstream of said turbine wheel and being provided in an outer region thereof with at least one jet aperture, wherein at a level of said at least one jet aperture, said turbine wheel is provided with vanes, and wherein the number of vanes of said turbine wheel corresponds to the number of jet apertures in said first partition; and

a generator that is operatively associated with said turbine, whereby permanent magnets are distributed equidistantly about an outer periphery of said turbine wheel, and a wall of said tubular section is provided, at a level of said permanent magnets, with at least two magnet coils that are oriented in an axial direction of said tubular section and cooperate with said permanent magnets to form said generator.