Device and method for operating at least two valves

• US 6,874,535 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Original Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc. (Sloan Valve Company)
• Inventors: Shamitz, Robert, Parsons, Natan E., Herbert, Kay, Hadley, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/440,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 137/607, 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 467/3
• US Class Current: 137/607
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/402 acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87161 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

A valve device and a method for operating at least two valves is actuated by an actuator and arranged for controlling fluid flow in at least two separate fluid lines. The two valves are preferably diaphragm operated valves, but may be also piston valves. The valve device includes a pressure release mechanism constructed to change pressure in a diaphragm chamber of each diaphragm operated valve and thereby open or close the valve. The pressure release mechanism may include a fluid passage in communication with each diaphragm chamber, where it is simultaneously controlled by a movement of a single sealing member actuated by a single actuator. The valve device may also include a manual actuator.

Claims

1. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet, an object sensor connected to a control circuit, a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a valve device having two valves actuated by an automatic actuator for controlling flow of hot water and cold water based on signals received from said control circuit;

said valve device including a pilot mechanism being in communication with each said valve via a fluid passage and being controlled by said automatic actuator, each said valve including a first check valve and a second check valve both being located in communication with said fluid passage and constructed to prevent mixing of said hot water and said cold water provided at different fluid pressures.

2. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein said two valves include a first diaphragm operated valve and a second diaphragm operated valve.

3. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein each of said two valves includes a piston for opening or closing said valve.

4. The automatic faucet system of claim 2 wherein said device includes:

hot water input and output ports and cold water input and output ports;

said pilot mechanism being constructed for simultaneously controlling flow of hot water between said hot water input and output ports and flow of cold water between said cold water input and output ports.

5. The automatic faucet system of claim 4 wherein said pilot mechanism includes a pressure release mechanism constructed to lower simultaneously pressure at each said diaphragm and thereby open each said diaphragm operated valve.

6. The automatic faucet system of claim 5 wherein a main body of said valve device is constructed to have said diaphragm operated valves arranged symmetrically with respect to said pressure release mechanism.

7. The automatic faucet system of claim 5 wherein said pressure release mechanism includes a fluid passage being in communication with a diaphragm chamber of said diaphragm operated valve and being arranged to be simultaneously controlled by a movement of a single sealing member actuated by said single automatic actuator.

8. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein said single automatic actuator includes a manual override.

9. The automatic faucet system of claim 8 wherein said manual override operates without electric power.

10. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein said valve device further includes a manual actuator constructed to control flow of said hot water and said cold water independently of said automatic actuator.

11. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein said single automatic actuator includes an electromagnetic actuator.

12. The automatic faucet system of claim 1 wherein said single automatic actuator includes a bi-stable electromagnetic actuator.

13. The automatic faucet system of claim 4 wherein said check valves are constructed to operate at a differential pressure of about 20 psi between hot and cold water.

14. The automatic faucet system of claim 4 wherein said check valves are constructed to operate at a differential pressure of about 60 psi between hot and cold water.

15. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, a water pipe coupled to a valve device being actuated by an automatic actuator designed to control water flow based on a state of said automatic actuator, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow through said valve device independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage and extending significantly below said faucet base.

18. The automatic faucet system of claim 15 wherein said manual actuator control uses mechanical torque actuation to change a state of said manual actuator.

19. The automatic faucet system of claim 18 wherein said mechanical torque actuation includes a flex cable coupled to said handle.

24. The automatic faucet system of claim 15 wherein said manual actuator control uses an electrical cable located in said passage for communication with said manual actuator.

25. The automatic faucet system of claim 15 further including an object sensor connected to a control circuit and arranged to provide a signal to said automatic actuator.

16. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, a water pipe coupled to a valve device being actuated by an automatic actuator designed to control water flow based on a state of said automatic actuator, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage, wherein said control passage includes a sink plug control passage modified to accommodate said manual actuator control.

17. The automatic faucet system of claim 16 wherein said sink plug control passage is also used to control a sink plug.

26. The automatic faucet system of claim 16 wherein said sink plug control passage includes an elongated rigid element arranged for controlling a sink plug and an elongated flexible element being part of said manual actuator control.

27. The automatic faucet system of claim 26 wherein said elongated rigid element includes a tube arranged to receive said elongated flexible element.

20. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, a water pipe coupled to a valve being actuated by an automatic actuator designed to control water flow based on a state of said automatic actuator, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage, wherein said manual actuator control uses hydraulic torque actuation to change a state of said manual actuator.

21. The automatic faucet system of claim 20 wherein said hydraulic torque actuation includes a flexible tube filled with fluid.

22. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, a water pipe coupled to a valve being actuated by an automatic actuator designed to control water flow based on a state of said automatic actuator, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage, wherein said manual actuator control uses pneumatic torque actuation to change a state of said manual actuator.

23. The automatic faucet system of claim 22 wherein said pneumatic torque actuation includes a flexible tube filled with gas.

28. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, an object sensor connected to a control circuit, a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a valve device having two valves actuated by an automatic actuator for controlling flow of hot water and cold water, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow through said valve device independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage and extending significantly below said faucet base.

29. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, an object sensor connected to a control circuit, a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a valve device having two valves actuated by an automatic actuator for controlling flow of hot water and cold water, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage wherein said control passage includes a sink plug control passage modified to accommodate said manual actuator control.

30. The automatic faucet system of claim 29 wherein said sink plug control passage is also used to control a sink plug.

31. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, an object sensor connected to a control circuit, a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a valve device having two valves actuated by an automatic actuator for controlling flow of hot water and cold water, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage, wherein said manual actuator control uses mechanical torque actuation to change a state of said manual actuator.

32. The automatic faucet system of claim 31 wherein said mechanical torque actuation includes a flex cable coupled to said handle.

33. An automatic faucet system including a water outlet in form of a faucet, an object sensor connected to a control circuit, a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe, and a valve device having two valves actuated by an automatic actuator for controlling flow of hot water and cold water, a manual actuator coupled to said valve device designed to control water flow independently of said automatic actuator, and a control for said manual actuator arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located above a base of said faucet near said water outlet and an elongated body located in said control passage, wherein said manual actuator control uses hydraulic torque actuation to change a state of said manual actuator.

34. The automatic faucet system of claim 33 wherein said hydraulic torque actuation includes a flexible tube filled with fluid.

35. A method for controlling water flow in an automatic faucet system including a water outlet above a sink, comprising the acts of:

providing a main body arranged to receive a first valve and a second valve, said main body including a pilot mechanism and a check valve;

providing a manual actuator connected to a manual actuator control arranged in a control passage, said manual actuator control including a handle located near said water outlet and an elongated body located in a control passage; and

triggering said pilot mechanism at said main body using said manual actuator control and thereby changing a state of both said valves.