Electronic plumbing fixture fitting

• US 9,212,473 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Moen, Inc. (Canada) (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Daniel W., Parikh, Harshil R., Song, Inho
• Primary Examiner(s): JELLETT, MATTHEW WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US13/889,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 137/801, 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 462/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting, such as an electronic faucet.

Claims

1. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet operable to deliver water;

an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated;

a mechanical flow device, the mechanical flow device being operable to permit transmission of varying intensities of energy through the mechanical flow device based on the position of the mechanical flow device, the mechanical flow device including an inlet and an outlet;

a mechanical actuation device, the mechanical actuation device being operable to change the position of the mechanical flow device; and

a parameter sensor, the parameter sensor being operable to detect the intensity of energy transmitted through the mechanical flow device and provide information to set at least one of a temperature and a volume of water flowing through the electronic valve based on the intensity of energy detected, the parameter sensor including an emitter and a detector, the emitter is operable to be mounted in at least one of the inlet and the outlet, the detector is operable to be mounted in at least one of the inlet and the outlet;

wherein when the emitter is activated, energy is transmitted from the emitter through the mechanical flow device to the detector.

2. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

based on the intensity of energy transmitted from the emitter to the detector, the parameter sensor provides information to set the temperature of water flowing through the electronic valve.

3. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

based on the intensity of energy transmitted from the emitter to the detector, the parameter sensor provides information to set the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve.

4. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

based on the intensity of energy emitted from the emitter that is detected by the detector, the parameter sensor determines whether the inlet is open.

5. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

based on the intensity of energy emitted from the emitter that is detected by the detector, the parameter sensor determines a degree of openness of the inlet.

6. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

the mechanical flow device includes a moveable disk and a fixed disk;

at least one of the moveable disk and the fixed disk includes the inlet; and

at least one of the moveable disk and the fixed disk includes the outlet.

7. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 6, wherein:

movement of the moveable disk relative to the fixed disk varies an intensity of energy that is transmitted from the emitter through the mechanical flow device to the detector.

8. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 6, wherein:

the moveable disk is operable to be moved relative to the fixed disk in a first direction and in a second direction; and

the first direction is different than the second direction.

9. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 6, wherein:

movement of the moveable disk relative to the fixed disk in the first direction controls the temperature of water flowing through the electronic valve; and

movement of the moveable disk relative to the fixed disk in the second direction controls the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve.

10. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is open, the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature and the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve.

11. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, wherein:

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is closed, the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature of water flowing through the electronic valve.

12. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, further including:

an activation sensor, the activation sensor being operable to activate the electronic valve when the activation sensor is triggered;

wherein;

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is open;

the electronic valve is activated,

the activation sensor cannot be triggered, and

the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature and the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve; and

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is closed;

the activation sensor can be triggered,

the activation sensor provides information to control the activation and deactivation of the electronic valve,

the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature of water flowing through the electronic valve, and

the parameter sensor does not provide information to control the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve.

13. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, further including:

an activation sensor, the activation sensor being operable to activate the electronic valve when the activation sensor is triggered;

wherein;

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is open;

the electronic valve is activated,

the activation sensor cannot be triggered, and

the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature and the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve; and

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is closed;

the activation sensor can be triggered,

the activation sensor provides information to control the activation and deactivation of the electronic valve, and

the parameter sensor does not provide information to control the temperature or the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve.

14. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1, further including:

an activation sensor, the activation sensor being operable to activate the electronic valve when the activation sensor is triggered;

wherein;

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is open;

the activation sensor can be triggered,

the activation sensor provides information to control the activation and deactivation of the electronic valve, and

the parameter sensor provides information to control the temperature and the volume of water flowing through the electronic valve; and

when the parameter sensor detects that the mechanical flow device is closed;

the electronic valve is deactivated, and

the activation sensor cannot be triggered.

15. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:

a discharge outlet operable to deliver water;

an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated;

a mechanical flow device, the mechanical flow device being operable to permit transmission of varying intensities of energy through the mechanical flow device based on the position of the mechanical flow device, the mechanical flow device including a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the outlet having a first side and a second side;

a mechanical actuation device, the mechanical actuation device being operable to change the position of the mechanical flow device; and

a parameter sensor, the parameter sensor being operable to detect the intensity of energy transmitted through the mechanical flow device and provide information to set at least one of a temperature and a volume of water flowing through the electronic valve based on the intensity of energy detected, the parameter sensor including a first emitter, a second emitter, a first detector, and a second detector, the first emitter is operable to be mounted in at least one of the first inlet, the second inlet, the first side of the outlet, and the second side of the outlet, the second emitter is operable to be mounted in at least one of the first inlet, the second inlet, the first side of the outlet, and the second side of the outlet, the first detector is operable to be mounted in at least one of the first inlet, the second inlet, the first side of the outlet, and the second side of the outlet, and the second detector is operable to be mounted in at least one of the first inlet, the second inlet, the first side of the outlet, and the second side of the outlet;

wherein, when the first emitter is activated, energy is transmitted from the first emitter through the mechanical flow device to the first detector and the second detector; and

wherein, when the second emitter is activated, energy is transmitted from the second emitter through the mechanical flow device to the first detector and the second detector.

16. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein:

the energy emitted from the first emitter is the same as the energy emitted from the second emitter; and

the emission of energy from the first emitter is sequenced with the emission of energy from the second emitter.

17. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 15, wherein:

the energy emitted from the first emitter is different than the energy emitted from the second emitter.