Electronic tapware

• US 5,095,945 A
• Filed: 09/19/1990
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ryemetal Holdings Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Ryemetal Forgings (VIC) Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jensen, Phillip H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/585,257
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 137/606, 137/607, 137/624.12, 137/624.15, 236/12.12, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/607
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

An electronic tap control unit for controlling water supply from a tap, forcep, system nozzle or the like is disclosed which comprises a water manifold (40) which has a plurality of inputs (46) for supplying water from a water supply. The supply inlets (46) are each provided with a solenoid valve (48, 50 and 52) which is controlled by a logic control circuit (14). The logic control circuit 14 is coupled to a detector (12) which detects the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to provide an output signal to cause the logic control circuit (14) to move through a sequence of water temperature and time range options until the user removes his hand from the proximity of the sensor (12) at a desired water temperature and time range. The logic control circuit (14) then outputs signals to the solenoid valves (48, 50 and 52) to cause water to be supplied through the inlets (46), to the manifold (40) and then to a tap, forcep, system nozzle or the like in accordance with the selected temperature and time range.

Claims

1. An electronic tap control unit for controlling the flow of water, at preselected first and second temperatures from first and second water supply lines respectively, to a water dispensing means, the unit comprising:

detecting means, in use, located remote from the water dispensing means for detecting a user control input and generating an output signal is response thereto;

logic control means responsive to said output signal for controlling first and second valve means in said first and second water supply lines respectively, said logic control means being responsive to said output signal to activate one or the other can select a flow of water from the water dispensing means at either one of said first or second preselected temperatures by supplying said user control input to the detecting means,

wherein the logic control means further comprises a sequential selecting means responsive to said user control input for sequentially selecting said first preselected temperature for said first predetermined time interval said second preselected temperature for said first predetermined time interval, said first preselected temperature for said second predetermined time interval and, then said second preselected temperature for said second predetermined time interval.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the logic control means includes a timing means whereby said first or second valve means can be activated for a predetermined time interval so that, in use, a user can select a flow of water from the water dispensing means for said predetermined time interval.

3. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises indicating means for indicating whether the first temperature or the second temperature has been selected in response to the user supplying the user control input to the detecting means.

4. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the logic control means includes a second timing means whereby said first or second valve means can be activated for a second different predetermined time interval so that, in use, a user can select a flow of water from the water dispensing means for said first or said second predetermined time interval at either one of said first or second preselected temperatures by supplying said user control input to the detecting means.

5. The control of claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises a proximity sensor and said user control input involves the user placing an object in, or removing an object from, close proximity to the detecting means.

6. The control unit of claim 1, wherein said indicating means is also capable of indicating whether the first or the second predetermined time interval has been selected in response to the user supplying the user control input to the detecting means.

7. An electronic tap control unit for controlling the flow of water, at preselected first and second temperatures from first and second water supply lines respectively, to a water dispensing means, the unit comprising:

detecting means, in use, located remote from the water dispensing means for detecting a user control input and generating an output signal in response thereto;

logic control means responsive to said output signal for controlling first and second valve means in said first and second water supply lines respectively, said logic control means being responsive to said output signal to activate one or the other of said first and second valve means whereby, in use, a user can select a flow of water from the water dispensing means at either one of said first or second preselected temperatures by supplying said user control input to the detecting means,

wherein said logic control means controls said first and second valve means in accordance with a predetermined sequence to open the first and second valve means a predetermined amount and for a predetermined time interval to provide a plurality of selected temperature and time intervals for supply of water, said detecting means causing said logic control means to commence said predetermined sequence upon receipt of said output signal and causing said sequence to stop at a desired one of said selected temperatures and time intervals when said user control input is removed from the vicinity of the detecting means.

8. A method of controlling the flow of water at preselected first and second temperatures from first and second water supply lines respectively to a water dispensing means using an electronic tap control unit responsive to a user control input to activate on or the other of first and second valve means in the first and second supply lines respectively, the method comprising:

detecting said user control input and in response thereto sequentially selecting said first preselected temperature and then said second preselected temperature;

detecting a change in the user control input and in response to said detection generating a first control signal if the first preselected temperature was selected or generating a second control signal if the second preselected temperature was selected; and

activating said first valve means in response to said first control signal or activating said second valve means in response to said second control signal whereby a user can select a flow of water from the water dispensing means at either one of said first or second preselected temperatures by supplying the user control input,

wherein said step of sequentially selecting said first and second preselected temperatures comprises sequentially selecting said first predetermined time interval;

selecting said first preselected temperature for a second different predetermined time interval; and

, then selecting said second preselected temperature for said second predetermined time interval.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first predetermined time interval is relatively short and said second predetermined time interval is relatively long.