Electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus

• US 5,699,833 A
• Filed: 03/25/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsataros, Eddie J.
• Original Assignee: Tsataros, Eddie J.
• Inventors: Tsataros, Eddie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/621,353
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 251/129.04, 251/65, 4/623
• US Class Current: 137/624.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/06 using a magnet , e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1266 one side of the diaphragm being acted upon by the circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

An electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus to control the flow of water through a shower head directed to a target zone or a field from an external souce of pressurized water, the electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus comprising a valve assembly including a valve member and a valve member positioning device disposed in operatively relationship relative to the valve member to selectively move the valve member between a closed position and an open position and a control assembly to selectively move the valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through the valve assembly to the shower head.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus to control the flow of water through a shower head directed to a target zone or a field from an external souce of pressurized water wherein said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus comprises a valve assembly including a valve member and a valve member positioning device disposed in operatively relationship relative to the valve member to selectively move the valve member between a closed position and an open position and a control assembly to selectively move the valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through the valve assembly to the shower head, said valve member is movably mounted to a valve body by a resilient valve member retainer, said valve body includes a valve flow port disposed to be selectively closed by said valve member and coupled between a fluid inlet supply conduit and a fluid outlet supply conduit by an inlet port and an outlet port respectively, a valve housing comprises a lower enlarged housing portion having a valve chamber formed therein to operatively house said valve member and an upper elongated housing portion having an outer actuator assembly disposed about the exterior thereof including an actuator chamber formed therein to operatively house an inner actuator assembly movable between an extended and retracted position, said outer actuator assembly comprises an electro-magnetic coil disposed in surrounding relationship relative to said inner actuator assembly and electrically connected to said control assembly to receive control signals therefrom and a permanent magnet disposed in spaced relationship relative to said electro-magnetic coil and said inner actuator assembly, said inner actuator assembly comprises a lower actuator member having a lower bias disposed within a recess formed therein and a shaped valve positioning element movably mounted between a lower position and an upper position within a pair of grooves formed on opposite sides of said actuator member and an actuator member having an upper bias disposed within a recess formed therein such that said lower end of said valve positioning element is normally biased in said lower position to engage said valve member to retain said valve member in said closed position, and said electro-magnetic coil selectively moves said inner actuator assembly to the retracted position whereby the lower end of said positioning element disengages said valve member opening said valve member.

2. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signal to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state and said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.

3. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 2 further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

4. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

5. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 4 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signal to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state And said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.

6. An electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus to control the flow of water through a shower head directed to a target zone or a field from an external souce of pressurized water wherein said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus comprises a valve assembly including a valve member and a valve member positioning device disposed in operatively relationship relative to the valve member to selectively move the valve member between a closed position and an open position and a control assembly to selectively move the valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through the valve assembly to the shower head, said valve member is movably mounted to a valve body by a resilient valve member retainer, said valve body includes a valve flow port disposed to be selectively closed by said valve member and coupled between a fluid inlet supply conduit and a fluid outlet supply conduit by an inlet port and an outlet port respectively, a valve housing comprises a lower enlarged housing portion having a valve chamber formed therein to operatively house said valve member and an upper elongated housing portion having an outer actuator assembly disposed about the exterior thereof including an actuator chamber formed therein to operatively house an inner actuator assembly movable between an extended and retracted position, said outer actuator assembly comprises an electro-magnetic coil disposed in surrounding relationship relative to said inner actuator assembly and electrically connected to said control assembly to receive control signals therefrom and a permanent magnet disposed in spaced relationship relative to said electro-magnetic coil and said inner actuator assembly, said inner actuator assembly comprises a lower actuator member having a lower bias disposed within a recess formed therein and a shaped valve positioning element movably mounted between a lower position and an upper position within a pair of grooves formed on opposite sides of said actuator member and an actuator member having an upper bias disposed within a recess formed therein such that said lower end of said valve positioning element is normally biased in said lower position to engage said valve member to retain said valve member in said closed position, and said electro-magnetic coil selectively moves said inner actuator assembly to the retracted position whereby the lower end of said positioning element disengages said valve member opening said valve member, said control assembly includes switching logic to selectively switch operation of the electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between a first state and a second state and circuitry operatively coupled to said valve member positioning device to selectively generate a first signal to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through said valve assembly to the shower head and a second signal to move said valve member from the open position to the closed position isolating the external source of pressurized water from said shower head when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in the second state and to prevent flow of water through said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus when in the first state.

7. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signal to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state and said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.

8. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 7 further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

9. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 6 wherein further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

10. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 9 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signsl to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state and said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.

11. An electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus to control the flow of water through a shower head directed to a target zone or a field from an external souce of pressurized water wherein said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus comprises a valve assembly including a valve member and a valve member positioning device disposed in operatively relationship relative to the valve member to selectively move the valve member between a closed position and an open position and a control assembly to selectively move the valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through the valve assembly to the shower head, said control assembly includes switching logic to selectively switch operation of the electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between a first state and a second state and circuitry operatively coupled to said valve member positioning device to selectively generate a first signal to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position allowing water to flow from the external source of pressurized water through said valve assembly to the shower head and a second signal to move said valve member from the open position to the closed position isolating the external source of pressurized water from said shower head when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in the second state and to prevent flow of water through said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus when in the first state and a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

12. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signal to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state and said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.

13. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 12 further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

14. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 11 wherein further including a rechargeable battery rechargeable by a generator powered by the water flow through the shower head, water flowing through a rotor rotates a pair of retractable magnets past an inductive pickup coil, said pair of retractable magnets are normally retained in a retracted position at least partially disposed within a corresponding channel by a centrally disposed magnet such that said rotor starts turning without magnetic resistance and that as rotor rotates, centrifugal force will force said retractable magnets to move outwardly in said corresponding channel to induce pulses in said inductive pickup coil to recharge said rechargeable battery.

15. The electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus of claim 14 wherein said elector-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is operable in a first state to prevent flow of water therethrough and a second state to selectively allow water to flow therethrough, said control assembly includes switching logic to generate a power on signal and a power off signal to selectively switch operations of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus between said first state and said second state and control logic to selectively generate a first control signal upon switching from said first state to said second state to move said valve member from the closed position to the open position for a first predetermined period of time, a first intermediate control signal to close said valve member when said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is not sensed in the target zone or field for a second predetermined period of time and a second intermediate control signal to open said valve member for the second predetermined period of time of five seconds when said electromechanical fluid flow control apparatus is in said second state and a person is sensed in the target zone or field and a fourth control signal to switch operation of said electro-mechanical fluid flow control apparatus from said second state to said first state after a third predetermined period of time between said first intermediate control signal and said second intermediate control signal.