Valve system especially for a sanitary fixture

• US 6,390,125 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG & Co. KG (LIXIL Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gebhardt, Wolfgang, Ludewig, Hans-Jürgen, Pawelzik, Manfred, Philipps-Liebich, Hartwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/768,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 462/3, 467/7, 137/605, 137/801, 251/297
• US Class Current: 137/605
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0782 Single-lever operated mixing valves with closure members having flat sealing faces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/605 for single handle mixing valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A manually-operated valve is provided in series with an electromagnetically-operated valve and the manually-operated valve is provided with a proximity detector connected to the electronic controller whereby a switch in the manually-operated valve, in one position of the single control lever therefor, corresponding to about 50% of maximum supply rate, is operated to activate the proximity sensor and enable the water flow to be controlled by an object within its detection range. Removal of the object, e.g. the hand of the user from the range, will shut off the water through the manually-operated valve. Outside the position of the lever at which the switch is operated, the proximity detector is ineffective and control is effected exclusively by swinging the lever.

Claims

1. A valve system for a water outlet comprising:

a lever-operated valve having a housing provided with a central axis and formed with said water outlet, at least one water inlet communicating with said housing, a valve member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet, and a control lever swingable on said housing along a path about a pivot axis transverse to said central axis;

a detent member in said housing formed with a detent opening along an arcuate path of said lever;

a spring-loaded detent body bearing on said member and engaging in said opening upon displacement of said lever about said pivot axis to a predetermined angular position in opening of said valve; and

electric circuitry responsive to angular displacement of said lever and including;

at least one further valve in series with said lever-operated valve for controlling outflow from said outlet,

an electrical control for said further valve,

a contactless detector operatively connected to said electrical control for maintaining said further valve open for a duration determined by activation of said detector, and

a switch in said housing connected with said control for rendering said detector effective in said predetermined angular position of said lever and rendering said detector ineffective in angular positions of said lever other than said predetermined angular position for control of said outflow by said lever-operated valve without limitation by said further valve.

2. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said lever-operated valve is a single lever mixing valve wherein said control lever, upon displacement about said central axis, controls a proportion of hot and cold water mixed together before being discharged through said outlet.

3. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said switch is actuated through said detent opening by said body.

4. The valve system defined in claim 3 wherein said detent body is a ball, said ball being mounted on said lever.

5. The valve system defined in claim 4 wherein said ball is biased toward said detent opening by a spring received with said ball in a hollow screw threaded in a threaded bore of said lever.

6. The valve system defined in claim 3 wherein said detent member is a plate of a hard material extending along said path and along which said body rides, said detent opening being a bore in said plate and said switch being disposed on a side of said plate opposite said detent body and having an actuating element coaxial with said bore and so positioned that said switch is activated upon passage of a front of said body through said bore via said actuating element.

7. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said body engages in said detent opening at a flow rate through said outlet of about 50% of a maximum flow through said valve system.

8. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said further valve is an electromagnetically-controlled pilot valve.

9. The valve system defined in claim 8 wherein said further valve is located upstream of said lever-operated valve.

10. The valve system defined in claim 1 wherein said further valve is one of a pair of further valves which open and close synchronously and are connected respectively to cold and hot water supplies for said valve system.

11. The valve system defined in claim 10 wherein said further valves form a twin valve operated by a pilot from said electrical control.

12. The valve system defined in claim 11 wherein said body engages in said detent opening at a flow rate through said outlet of about 50% of a maximum flow through said valve system.

13. The valve system defined in claim 12 wherein said detent member is a plate of a hard material extending along said path and along which said body rides, said detent opening being a bore in said plate and said switch being disposed on a side of said plate opposite said detent body and having an actuating element coaxial with said bore and so positioned that said switch is activated upon passage of a front of said body through said bore via said actuating element.

14. The valve system defined in claim 13 wherein said detent body is a ball biased toward said detent opening by a spring received with said ball in a hollow screw threaded in a threaded bore of said lever.