Electronic user interface for electronic mixing of water for residential faucets

• US 9,715,238 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Spangler, Anthony G., Rodenbeck, Robert W., Koottungal, Paul D., Veros, Michael J., Marty, Garry R., Jonte, Patrick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US15/069,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20160195882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 25112904, 137801, 137603, 137605, 137896-898, 4676-678, 4654, 236 121- 1212
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/02 Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1353 combined with flow controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87579 Faucet attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8766 With selectively operated flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A water delivery system is disclosed. The water delivery system may have an electronic user interface. The electronic user interface may be a portable device. The electronic user interface may include inputs to select water temperature, water flow rates, water flow patterns, and/or task based presets. A mixing valve for use with either manual faucets or electronic faucets is disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the provision of water from a source of cold water and a source of hot water, the apparatus comprising:

a mixing valve in fluid communication with the source of cold water and the source of hot water;

a spout in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve;

an electronic user interface including a transmitter, a temperature input for setting water temperature at the outlet, a flow rate input for setting water flow rate at the outlet, and a plurality of preset tasks inputs;

a controller operably coupled to the electronic user interface and to the mixing valve, the controller including a receiver; and

wherein the electronic user interface is a portable device, and the transmitter of the electronic user interface communicates wirelessly with the receiver of the controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic user interface further includes a metering input to define a quantity of water to be delivered.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the metering input includes a units input.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to a sink deck and coupled to the spout, the connector having a plurality of ports each of which includes a fluid connector and an electrical connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the connector is in fluid communication with the mixing valve and operably coupled to the controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a fluid connector of the spout and an electrical connector of the spout are coupled to a first port of the connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a container filler apparatus is coupled to a second port of the connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the container filler apparatus is configured to be coupled to a container.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the container filler apparatus includes a tap sensor to start the filling of a container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the container filler apparatus supports a container.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the container filler apparatus includes a metered input.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a diverter valve located beneath the sink deck in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve, the diverter valve having a first outlet and a second outlet, and

wherein the mixing valve is located beneath the sink deck, the electronic user interface is located above the sink deck, and the spout includes a first fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first outlet of the diverter valve and with a spray outlet of the spout and a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the second outlet of the diverter valve and with a stream outlet of the spout.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve comprises:

a body having a first inlet adapted to be coupled to the source of cold water, a second inlet adapted to be coupled to the source of hot water, an outlet adapted to be coupled to a water delivery device; and

a moveable valve member having a fluid conduit, the moveable valve member being positionable in a first position wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are in fluid communication with the outlet in a low flow configuration, and in a second position wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are in fluid communication with the outlet in a high flow configuration, the temperature of water provided to the outlet being adjustable in both the low flow configuration and the high flow configuration by moving the moveable valve member.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve comprises:

a valve body having a first opening in fluid communication with the source of hot water, a second opening in fluid communication with the source of cold water, and an outlet in fluid communication with a water delivery device;

a first valve member having a first opening positionable in fluid communication with the first opening of the valve body and a second opening positionable in fluid communication with the second opening of the valve body, the first valve member being rotatable relative to the valve body; and

a second valve member having a fluid conduit positionable in fluid communication with the first opening and the second opening of the first valve member, the second valve member being translatable relative to the first valve member, wherein a rotation of the first valve member relative to the second valve member controls a temperature of the water provided to the outlet and a translation of the second valve member relative to the first valve member controls a flow rate of the water provided to the outlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve comprises:

a valve body having a first opening in fluid communication with the source of hot water, a second opening in fluid communication with the source of cold water, and an outlet in fluid communication with a water delivery device;

a first moveable valve member in fluid communication with the first opening, the second opening, and the outlet;

a second moveable valve member in fluid communication with the first opening, the second opening, and the outlet through the first moveable valve member; and

wherein the regulation of the temperature and flow rate of the water provided to the outlet is independently controlled by the movement of the first valve member and the second valve member, respectively.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the temperature input of the electronic user interface includes a first touch slider user input for setting the water temperature at the outlet; and

the flow rate input includes a second touch slider user input for setting the water flow rate at the outlet.