Plumbing fixture with line-powered control unit

• US 5,618,023 A
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eichholz, Heinz-Dieter, Rudrich, Hans-Peter, Kleinhans, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/488,489
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 363/125
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors

Abstract

A plumbing fixture has a housing adapted to be secured to a support surface, forming a compartment dimensioned to snugly receive a battery, and formed with a passage extending from the compartment to the surface. Contacts exposed in the compartment are positioned to engage terminals of the battery. At least one feed conduit extends from the housing through a hole in the support surface so that liquid can be fed to the housing through the conduit. An electrically controlled valve in the housing is connected to the contacts and to the conduit for altering characteristics of fluid flow through the housing. A battery simulator is provided including a battery-replacement unit dimensioned like the battery, received in the compartment, and having terminals engaging the contacts. A flexible supply cable extends from the unit through the passage and surface and has an outer end outside the housing. A fitting on the outer end can fit with a standard line-voltage supply. Circuitry in the battery simulator converts alternating line-voltage current to low-voltage direct current and supplies the direct current to the terminals of the battery-replacement unit.

Claims

1. A plumbing fixture comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to a support surface, forming a compartment dimensioned to snugly receive a battery, and formed with a passage extending from the compartment to the surface;

contacts exposed in the compartment and positioned to engage terminals of the battery;

at least one feed conduit extending from the housing through the support surface, whereby liquid is fed to the housing through the conduit;

electrically controlled valve means in the housing connected to the contacts and to the conduit for altering characteristics of fluid flow through the housing; and

a battery simulator including

a battery-replacement unit dimensioned like the battery, received in the compartment, and having terminals engaging the contacts,

a flexible supply cable extending from the unit through the passage and surface and having an outer end outside the housing,

a fitting on the outer end adapted to be fitted to a standard line-voltage supply, and circuit means including power-conditioning circuitry for converting alternating line-voltage current to low-voltage direct current and for supplying the direct current to the terminals of the battery-replacement unit.

2. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the cable extends at least at the surface alongside the conduit.

3. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the fitting is a standard line-voltage plug.

4. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 3 wherein the circuit means includes a step-down transformer at the plug and a plug-and-socket connector outside the housing between the transformer and the valve means.

5. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a voltage regulator.

6. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a rectifier.

7. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes storage means for storing current and operating the valve means in the event of a line-voltage power failure.

8. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the circuit means includes means for converting an incoming alternating-current voltage to a direct-current output voltage of 6 v.

9. The plumbing fixture defined in claim 1 wherein the circuit means includes means for monitoring the line voltage and for shutting down the valve means in the event of a power outage and for reenergizing the valve means only when the line voltage is restored.

10. A plumbing fixture for use on a support surface formed with a throughgoing hole, the fixture comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to the support surface over the hole thereof, forming a compartment dimensioned to snugly receive a battery, and formed with a passage extending from the compartment to the hole;

contacts exposed in the compartment and positioned to engage terminals of the battery;

at least one feed conduit extending from the housing through the hole, whereby liquid is fed to the housing through the conduit;

electrically controlled valve means in the housing connected to the contacts and to the conduit for altering characteristics of fluid flow through the housing; and

a battery simulator including

a battery-replacement unit dimensioned like the battery, received in the compartment, and having terminals engaging the contacts,

a flexible inner supply cable extending from the unit through the passage and hole and having an outer end outside the housing and provided with an inner plug,

a flexible outer supply cable having an inner socket fittable with the inner plug and an outer end,

a step-down transformer on the outer end and provided with an outer plug adapted to be fitted to a standard line-voltage supply, and

circuit means in the housing including power-conditioning circuitry connected to one of the cables for converting alternating line-voltage current from the transformer to low-voltage direct current and for supplying the direct current to the terminals of the battery-replacement unit.