Mixing valve including a molded waterway assembly

• US 8,469,056 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation Of Indiana (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Marty, Garry Robin, Davidson, Kyle Robert, Meehan, Steven Kyle, Crowe, Darrell Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US12/897,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 137/625.41, 137/625.4, 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 137/625.4
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/087 with spherical plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A fluid delivery device including a valve body fluidly coupled to an electrically insulating waterway assembly. The waterway assembly may include a molded base, and a capacitive sensor may be electrically coupled to the valve body.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a holder formed of an electrically non-conductive material;

a waterway assembly supported by the holder and formed of an electrically non-conductive material;

a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the waterway assembly and including a valve body formed of an electrically conductive material;

an electrical conductor electrically coupled to the valve body; and

a capacitive sensor electrically coupled to the electrical conductor.

2. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a fastener coupling the valve assembly to a sink deck.

3. The fluid delivery device of claim 2, wherein the fastener is electrically isolated from the sink deck.

4. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the waterway assembly comprises a plurality of tubes and a base overmolded around the tubes.

5. The fluid delivery device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of tubes and the base comprise a polymer.

6. The fluid delivery device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of tubes and the base comprise cross-linked polyethylene.

7. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the holder is formed of a polymer.

8. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a body and a securing member extending downwardly from the body and configured to secure to a sink deck.

9. The fluid delivery device of claim 8, wherein the securing member defines the electrical conductor.

10. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sleeve received over the valve assembly and including a lip defining an opening; and

wherein the valve assembly includes a bonnet supported by the valve body, the bonnet including a flange defining a retaining groove configured to receive the lip of the sleeve, the flange selectively preventing axial removal of the sleeve from the bonnet.

11. The fluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a delivery spout, wherein the waterway assembly includes a water inlet tube and a water outlet tube, the water outlet tube received within the delivery spout.

12. The fluid delivery device of claim 11, further comprising a spout capacitive sensor, wherein the spout includes an electrically conductive portion in electrical communication with the spout capacitive sensor.

13. The fluid delivery device of claim 12, wherein the water outlet tube is formed of an electrically non-conductive material to assist in electrically isolating water flowing through the outlet tube from the spout capacitive sensor.

14. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a waterway assembly formed of electrically non-conductive material and including a valve interface and a plurality of tubes coupled to the valve interface;

a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the valve interface of the waterway assembly;

an outer housing formed of electrically conductive material and receiving the waterway assembly;

an electrical conductor electrically coupled to the outer housing; and

at least one capacitive sensor electrically coupled to the electrical conductor.

15. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, wherein the valve assembly includes a valve body formed of an electrically conductive material.

16. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, wherein:

the waterway assembly includes a hot water inlet tube, a cold water inlet tube, and an outlet tube; and

the valve assembly includes a mixing valve coupled to the waterway assembly.

17. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, wherein the outer housing receives the waterway assembly and the valve assembly.

18. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, further comprising a delivery spout, wherein the waterway assembly includes a water inlet tube and a water outlet tube, the water outlet tube received within the delivery spout.

19. The fluid delivery device of claim 18, wherein the spout includes an electrically conductive portion in electrical communication with the at least one capacitive sensor, and the water outlet tube is formed of an electrically conductive material to assist in electrically isolating water flowing through the outlet tube from the at least one capacitive sensor.

20. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, further comprising a support base formed of electrically non-conductive material, the support base being coupled to the outer housing and configured to couple to a sink deck.

21. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of tubes comprise a polymer.

22. The fluid delivery device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of tubes comprise cross-linked polyethylene.

23. A fluid delivery device comprising:

a delivery spout, including an electrically conductive portion;

a waterway assembly including a water outlet tube formed of electrically non-conductive material and received within the delivery spout;

a capacitive sensor electrically coupled to the delivery spout;

an actuator driven valve assembly in fluid communication with the waterway assembly; and

a controller in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor and the actuator driven valve assembly, wherein the controller controls the actuator driven valve in response to input to the capacitive sensor.

24. The fluid delivery device of claim 23, further comprising an outer housing including an electrically conductive portion, the outer housing receiving the waterway assembly, the capacitive sensor electrically coupled to the outer housing.

25. The fluid delivery device of claim 23, further comprising a manual valve assembly fluidly coupled to the waterway assembly wherein the valve assembly includes a valve body and a mixing valve.

26. The fluid delivery device of claim 23, wherein the waterway assembly includes a cold water inlet tube, a hot water inlet tube, and an outlet tube.

27. The fluid delivery device of claim 26, wherein the outlet tube is comprised of electrically non-conductive material, whereby the outlet tube electrically insulates water flowing therethrough from the capacitive sensor.

28. The fluid delivery device of claim 23, wherein the electrically non-conductive material comprising the waterway assembly is a polymer.

29. The fluid delivery device of claim 23, further comprising a support base formed of electrically non-conductive material, the support base being coupled to the outer housing and configured to couple to a sink deck.

30. The fluid delivery device of claim 25, wherein the capacitive sensor is in electrical communication with the manual valve assembly.

31. The fluid delivery device of claim 30, wherein the manual valve assembly includes an electrically conductive handle in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor.