Variable temperature electronic water supply system

• US 5,504,950 A
• Filed: 07/07/1994
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adams Rite Aerospace, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Adams Rite Sabre International
• Inventors: Natalizia, Mark L., Pham, Tan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/271,509
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 4/623, 137/102, 137/625.41, 251/129.04, 251/129.11, 251/129.12, 251/207
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/242 automatically actuating supply or draining valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve

Abstract

A variable temperature electronic faucet water supply system provides a plurality of preset water temperature settings from which the user may select a desired water temperature by pressing a temperature selection button. If no water temperature is selected by the user, the faucet automatically delivers water at a default temperature setting. The faucet water supply system includes a motion detector mounted in the head of the faucet which will detect motion near the faucet head. The water is delivered from the faucet head at the preselected temperature when motion is detected near the faucet head. Water is delivered at the preselected temperature for up to two seconds after motion is last detected near the faucet.

Claims

1. A variable temperature water control system for automatically delivering a user-selected mixture of a hot water supply and a cold water supply comprising:

a mixing chamber having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet;

a rotary valve positioned in the chamber, the valve including a disk portion having a plurality of various sized openings, which are selectively alignable with the water inlets upon rotation of the rotary valve to thereby control the proportion of hot and cold water introduced to the mixing chamber;

a stepper motor connected to control the rotation of the rotary valve;

a solenoid valve capable of controlling the flow of water from the mixing chamber;

a motion detector capable of generating a motion detection signal indicating that motion is occurring near the water control system; and

a microcontroller connected to a water temperature selector to receive a desired water temperature signal, the microcontroller being capable of generating an output signal, which is delivered to the motor to control the desired rotational position of the valve to achieve the desired water temperature, the microcontroller additionally being connected to the motion detector and being capable of generating a signal to open the solenoid valve when motion is detected near the water control system.

2. The system of claim 1, including a faucet having mounted thereon said water temperature selector and said motion detector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said water temperature selector includes a plurality of membrane switches which are preset to provide a plurality of selected temperature settings.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the faucet has an upper surface and the switches are positioned in said upper surface.