Proximity sensor
First Claim
1. A proximity switch flow sensor for detecting flow through a faucet of a water heater container, the proximity switch flow sensor comprising:
- a faucet handle mounted to the faucet of the water heater container, said faucet handle having a movable portion that is movable between an open position allowing flow through the faucet and a closed position preventing flow through the faucet; and
a sensor cooperatively mounted in association with said movable portion of said faucet handle to detect movement of said movable portion of said faucet handle between said open position of the faucet handle and said closed position of the faucet handle, said sensor generating a faucet position signal indicating whether said movable portion of said faucet handle is in said open position of the faucet handle or said closed position of the faucet handle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A proximity switch flow sensor detects movement of a faucet handle of a faucet of a hot water container in order to detect flow from the hot water container. The proximity switch flow sensor includes an emitter paired with a detector, which can be mounted in association with the faucet handle to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle, to provide electronic logic information regarding the status of the faucet handle position, as an indication of a flow condition, to a control unit that controls heating of water in the hot water container. An electro-mechanical switch and a mechanism to transfer movement of the faucet handle to the switch may also be used to detect open and closed positions of the faucet handle as an indication of a flow condition.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A proximity switch flow sensor for detecting flow through a faucet of a water heater container, the proximity switch flow sensor comprising:
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a faucet handle mounted to the faucet of the water heater container, said faucet handle having a movable portion that is movable between an open position allowing flow through the faucet and a closed position preventing flow through the faucet; and a sensor cooperatively mounted in association with said movable portion of said faucet handle to detect movement of said movable portion of said faucet handle between said open position of the faucet handle and said closed position of the faucet handle, said sensor generating a faucet position signal indicating whether said movable portion of said faucet handle is in said open position of the faucet handle or said closed position of the faucet handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A proximity switch flow sensor for detecting flow through a faucet of a water heater container, the proximity switch flow sensor comprising:
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a faucet handle mounted to the faucet of the water heater container, said faucet handle having a movable portion that is movable between an open position allowing flow through the faucet and a closed position preventing flow through the faucet; and a proximity sensor including a sound emitter configured to emit a detectable field and an acoustic proximity detector arranged in cooperation with said sound emitter, said acoustic proximity detector being configured to detect said detectable field when said faucet handle is in said closed position, and said acoustic proximity detector being configured to not detect said detectable field when said faucet handle is in said open position, said proximity sensor being cooperatively mounted in association with said movable portion of said faucet handle to detect movement of said movable portion of said faucet handle between said open position of the faucet handle and said closed position of the faucet handle, said proximity sensor generating a faucet position signal indicating whether said movable portion of said faucet handle is in said open position of the faucet handle or said closed position of the faucet handle. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification