Actuating device for fixtures and method for the operation thereof

• US 7,784,481 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Original Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Inventors: Kunkel, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US11/660,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20080128645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/1, 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

Disclosed is an actuating device for fixtures, particularly plumbing fixtures, comprising at least one input unit that is provided with a plurality of sensors which are connected to a control unit, and at least one drive unit for at least one closing device for at least one fluid pipe, especially a valve of a water pipe that can be controlled by means of the control unit. At least three sensors are arranged in a substantially regular manner essentially along a closed curve. The drive unit is triggered when signals of at least two adjacent sensors are detected.

Claims

1. An actuating device for a fixture having at least one input unit, the device comprising:

a plurality of sensors that are connected to a control unit; and

,

at least one drive unit for at least one shut-off device for at least one fluid pipe, wherein at least three of the plurality of sensors are disposed so as to be substantially uniformly distributed substantially along a closed curve, wherein the control unit is configured such that the control unit detects an order of incoming chronologically successive sensor signals and the control unit conducts changes of a parameter when an actuation of at least two sensors is detected to be chronologically successively, and wherein the control unit determinates from the order of the incoming sensor signals if an increase or a decrease of the parameter is to be made, and provides a signal which acts on the drive unit of the shut-off device.

2. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a decrementer/incrementer.

3. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a timer.

4. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are actuable by being swept over by at least one finger.

5. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are tactile sensors.

6. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are capacitive sensors.

7. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are proximity-type sensors.

8. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are infrared sensors.

9. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are disposed along a guide device.

10. The actuating device of claim 1, further comprising a dial including an operator control.

11. The actuating device of claim 10, wherein the operator control is assignable to the at least three sensors.

12. The actuating device of claim 10, wherein the dial has at least one magnet, which by rotation of the dial is guidable along the at least three sensors realized in the form of field probes.

13. The actuating device of claim 10, wherein the dial has at least one minor element, which by rotation of the dial is guidable along the at least three sensors realized in the form of reflex sensors.

14. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the at least three sensors are connected in parallel.

15. The actuating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three sensors are disposed along each of at least two closed curves, by means of which different operating parameters are variable.

16. A method of operating an actuating device for fixtures, whereby in dependence upon sensor signals at least one drive unit for a shut-off device of a fluid pipe is activated, wherein the activation is effected when signals from at least two adjacent sensors of at least three of a plurality of sensors disposed substantially along a closed curve are acquired.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein depending on the order of the two signals and the position of the corresponding sensors relative to one another, a parameter that specifies a degree of opening of the shut-off device, is incremented and/or decremented, and then the drive unit is activated accordingly.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least three of the plurality of sensors are cyclically scanned.

19. The method of claim 16, whereupon the event of repeat acquisition of a signal from a same sensor a previous incrementing and/or decrementing operation is negated.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the activation is effected when the signals of the at least two adjacent sensors are acquired within a specified time interval.

21. An actuating device for a fixture having at least one input unit, which comprises:

a plurality of sensors that are connected to a control unit;

at least one drive unit for at least one shut-off device for at least one fluid pipe; and

,

a dial including an operator control; and

,

wherein at least three of the plurality of sensors are disposed so as to be substantially uniformly distributed substantially along a closed curve; and

a dial including an operator control.

22. An actuating device for a fixture having at least one input unit, which comprises:

a plurality of sensors that are connected to a control unit;

at least one drive unit for at least one shut-off device for at least one fluid pipe; and

,

wherein at least three of the plurality of sensors are disposed so as to be substantially uniformly distributed substantially along a closed curve; and

a dial including an operator control; and

,

wherein at least two of the at least three sensors are connected in parallel.

23. An actuating device for a fixture having at least one input unit, which comprises:

a plurality of sensors that are connected to a control unit;

at least one drive unit for at least one shut-off device for at least one fluid pipe; and

,

wherein at least three of the plurality of sensors are disposed so as to be substantially uniformly distributed substantially along a closed curve; and

a dial including an operator control; and

,

wherein the at least three sensors are disposed along each of at least two closed curves, by means of which different operating parameters are variable.

24. A method of operating an actuating device for fixtures, whereby in dependence upon sensor signals at least one drive unit for a shut-off device of a fluid pipe is activated, wherein the activation is effected when signals from at least two adjacent sensors of at least three of a plurality of sensors disposed substantially along a closed curve are acquired;

and, whereupon the event of repeat acquisition of a signal from a same sensor a previous incrementing and/or decrementing operation is negated.