Dispensing device and battery package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10030782-B2
Application number	US-201615004596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2016
Priority date	Oct 26, 2012
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A fluid dispensing device, a battery package for a fluid dispensing device, and a method of assembling a fluid dispensing device. The dispensing device has a housing defining a passage having an outlet, and fluid being dispensed through the passage and out of the outlet. The dispensing device also has a powered component. The battery package has a battery cell and a capacitor operable to power the powered component. The battery cell and the capacitor are encapsulated as a unitary battery package. The unitary battery package is supportable in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispensing device comprising:
a housing defining a passage having an outlet; a sensor operable to sense a condition and to send a signal based on the sensed condition; a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense fluid through the passage and out of the outlet; a solenoid controlled, based on the signal from the sensor, to cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense fluid; and a hybrid battery including a battery cell and a capacitor disposed in the housing and operable to power the solenoid, the battery charging the capacitor, the capacitor thereafter energizing the solenoid, a space being defined between and around the battery cell and the capacitor, wherein the hybrid battery further includes resin substantially filling the space between and around the battery cell and the capacitor to inhibit airflow through the space, thereby fully encapsulating the battery cell and the capacitor.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid battery further includes a polymeric cup, the resin substantially filling the polymeric cup such that the battery cell and the capacitor are encapsulated in the cup.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is operable to sense a presence of a user, and wherein the sensor includes a touchless sensor.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines an inlet, fluid being dispensed through the inlet into the passage, through the passage and out of the outlet, wherein the housing defines an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet, an outlet chamber communicating with the outlet, a pressure chamber in communication with the inlet chamber, and a vent passage in selective communication between the pressure chamber and atmosphere, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a piston movably supported in the passage between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, and wherein the solenoid is operable to selectively place the pressure chamber in communication with the vent passage to thereby cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense fluid.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4 , wherein the solenoid has a first condition, in which the pressure chamber is not in communication with the vent passage, and a second condition, in which the pressure chamber is in communication with the vent passage, the solenoid being operable between the first condition and the second condition, and wherein the solenoid includes an armature movable between a first position, in which communication between the pressure chamber and the vent passage is inhibited, and a second position, in which communication between the pressure chamber and the vent passage is allowed, the armature being movable between the first position and the second position.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5 , wherein the housing defines an opening between the pressure chamber and the vent passage, and wherein, in the first position, a portion of the armature closes the opening.

7. The dispensing device of claim 5 , wherein the armature is latched when in the first position, the armature being movable from the first position to the second position when energized by the hybrid battery, and wherein the armature is latched when in the second position, the armature being movable from the second position to the first position when energized by the hybrid battery.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a flushometer for a bathroom fixture.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed in the housing.

10. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid is disposed in the housing.

11. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid battery is operable to power the sensor.

12. The dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a wire, a first portion of the wire being encapsulated within the resin, and a second portion of the wire disposed outside of the resin and exposed for connection to powered devices.

13. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the battery cell and the capacitor includes a terminal, wherein the terminal is fully encapsulated within the resin.

14. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the resin includes a curable material.

15. A battery package for a fluid dispensing device, the dispensing device including a housing defining a passage having an outlet, fluid being dispensed through the passage and out of the outlet, the dispensing device also including a powered component, the battery package comprising: a battery cell; and a capacitor operable to energize the powered component, the battery cell being operable to charge the capacitor, a space being defined between and around the battery cell and the capacitor, the battery cell and the capacitor being fully encapsulated in resin, the resin substantially filling the space between and around the battery cell and the capacitor to inhibit airflow through the space, thereby forming a fluid-tight unitary battery package around the battery cell and the capacitor, the unitary battery package being supportable in the housing.

16. The battery package of claim 15 , further comprising a polymeric cup, the resin substantially filling the polymeric cup such that the battery cell and the capacitor are encapsulated in the cup.

17. The battery package of claim 15 , further comprising a wire, a first portion of the wire being encapsulated within the resin, and a second portion of the wire disposed outside of the resin and exposed for connection to powered devices.

18. The battery package of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the battery cell and the capacitor includes a terminal, wherein the terminal is fully encapsulated within the resin.

19. A method of manufacturing a fluid dispensing device, the dispensing device also including a powered component, the method comprising: providing a housing for the fluid dispensing device, the housing defining a passage having an outlet, fluid being dispensed through the passage and out of the outlet; fully encapsulating a battery cell and a capacitor in resin as a unitary fluid-tight battery package around the battery cell and the capacitor by substantially filling a space between and around the battery cell and the capacitor with the resin, thereby inhibiting airflow through the space; connecting the battery package to a powered component, the battery cell being operable to charge the capacitor, the capacitor being operable to energize the powered component; and supporting the unitary battery package in the housing.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the hybrid battery further includes a cup, and wherein fully encapsulating includes vacuum forming the cup to fit around the battery cell and the capacitor.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the battery cell and the capacitor further includes a terminal, the method further comprising encapsulating the terminal within the unitary battery package.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the hybrid battery further includes a wire, the method further comprising encapsulating a first portion of the wire within the unitary battery package, and exposing a second portion of the wire outside of the unitary battery package for connection to powered devices.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Cochart Chad J
• Smith Joel T
• Venugopal Balachander
• Leichty Ryan F

Classifications

• H01M50/227

  Organic material · CPC title

• H01M50/202

  Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery · CPC title

• F16K31/06

  using a magnet {, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid} · CPC title

• E03C1/057 Primary

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title