Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers

• US 8,042,202 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fatih Guler, Gregory P. Greene, Kay Herbert, Natan E. Parsons, Xiaoxiong Mo
• Original Assignee: Fatih Guler, Gregory P. Greene, Kay Herbert, Natan E. Parsons, Xiaoxiong Mo
• Inventors: Greene, Gregory P., Mo, Xiaoxiong, Parsons, Natan E., Herbert, Kay, Guler, Fatih
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli; John
• Application Number:
  US12/592,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.15, 251/129.17, 251/30.01, 251/30.02, 137/554, 462/3
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/02 Self-closing flushing valves self-closing valves in general F16K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/06 with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/105 touchless, e.g. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member. The bathroom flusher includes one of several novel sensors and is controlled by one of several novel controllers, as described. The controller may execute a novel control algorithm.

Claims

1. A bathroom flusher, comprising:

a flusher body having an inlet and an outlet,

a valve assembly in said body positioned to close water flow between said inlet and outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling said water flow from said inlet to said outlet,

a pilot chamber constructed to control movement of said moving member, and

an actuator system for actuating operation of said moving member by releasing pressure in said pilot chamber and thereby initiating movement of said moving member, said actuator system, comprising;

a battery for powering said actuator system;

an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an elongated armature arranged in a linearly movable relationship;

a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said solenoid coil for displacing said armature and thereby controlling said water flow; and

an actuator sensor constructed and arranged to sense said armature due to voltage induced by movement of said armature and provide a sensor signal to said controller, said controller being constructed to provide said drive signal at various levels depending on said sensor signal.

2. The bathroom flusher of claim 1 wherein said moving member a high flow rate diaphragm constructed to linearly move within a valve cavity.

3. The bathroom flusher of claim 1 wherein said moving member is a diaphragm.

4. The bathroom flusher of claim 1 wherein said moving member is a piston.

13. The bathroom flusher of claim 1, wherein said actuator sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of said drive signal, and a voltmeter constructed to measure voltage across said resistor.

14. The bathroom flusher of claim 1, wherein said actuator sensor includes a coil sensor constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced said armature movement.

15. The bathroom flusher of claim 14, wherein said coil sensor is connected in a feedback arrangement to a signal conditioner providing conditioned signal to said controller.

16. The bathroom flusher of claim 15, wherein said signal conditioner includes a preamplifier and a low-pass filter.

17. The bathroom flusher of claim 1, wherein said actuator sensor includes two coil sensors each constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by said armature movement.

18. The bathroom flusher of claim 17, wherein said two coil sensors are connected in a feedback arrangement to a differential amplifier constructed to provide a differential signal to said controller.

19. The bathroom flusher of claim 1, wherein said actuator sensor includes a bridge for sensitively detecting said voltage due to movement of said armature.

5. An electromagnetic actuator system for controlling hydraulically a battery-operated automatic bathroom flusher, comprising:

a pilot mechanism constructed to control hydraulically movement of a diaphragm, located within a flusher body, constructed and designed to control water flow from an inlet to an outlet of the bathroom flusher;

an actuator including a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an armature arranged in a linearly movable relationship;

a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said solenoid coil for displacing said armature and thereby open or close a valve passage for fluid flow within said pilot mechanism, said fluid flow controlling hydraulically said movement of said diaphragm; and

an actuator sensor constructed and arranged to sense a position of said armature by detecting induced voltage due to movement of said armature and provide a sensor signal to said controller, said controller being constructed to provide said drive signal at various levels depending on said sensor signal.

6. The actuator system of claim 5 wherein said sensor is constructed and arranged to detect changes to said drive signal due to the movement of said armature.

7. The actuator system of claim 5 wherein said sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of said drive signal, and a voltmeter constructed to measure voltage across said resistor.

8. The actuator system of claim 5 wherein said sensor includes a coil sensor constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by said armature movement.

9. The actuator system of claim 8 wherein said coil sensor is connected in a feedback arrangement to a signal conditioner providing conditioned signal to said controller.

10. The actuator system of claim 9 wherein said signal conditioner includes a preamplifier and a low-pass filter.

11. The actuator system of claim 5 wherein said sensor includes two coil sensors each constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by said armature movement.

12. The actuator system of claim 11 wherein said coil sensors are connected in a feedback arrangement to a differential amplifier constructed to provide a differential signal to said controller.