Electronic plumbing fixture fitting with electronic valve having low seal force

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10036149-B2
Application number	US-201615001149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting with an electronic valve having a low seal force, such as an electronic faucet with an electronic valve having a low seal force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:
a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water; and
an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve including a motor, a piston, a seat, and a sealing member;
one of the piston and the seat being operable to move relative to the other of the piston and the seat;
the sealing member being operable to be received on one of the piston and the seat; and
the motor being operable to move one of the piston and the seat relative to the other of the piston and the seat so that the piston is out of the seat to open the electronic valve, the motor being operable to move one of the piston and the seat relative to the other of the piston and the seat so that the piston is in the seat to close the electronic valve;
wherein, upon startup of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of startup open steps causing the piston to be out of the seat;
wherein the predetermined number of startup open steps is greater than a maximum number of open steps required for the electronic valve to be in a completely open position;
wherein, after the motor has been actuated the predetermined number of startup open steps, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of startup close steps causing the piston to be in sealing contact with the seat; and
wherein the predetermined number of startup close steps is greater than a maximum number of close steps required for the electronic valve to be in a completely closed position.

2. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1 , wherein, during the predetermined number of startup close steps, the motor starts at a minimum speed, is accelerated to a maximum speed, and is decelerated to the minimum speed.

3. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 2 , wherein, prior to the piston being in sealing contact with the seat, the motor reaches the minimum speed.

4. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 2 , wherein, the motor is accelerated and decelerated at a predetermined rate of acceleration and deceleration.

5. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1 , wherein, after the motor has been actuated the predetermined number of startup close steps, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of seal compression steps to ensure that the sealing member is compressed.

6. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 5 , wherein, during the predetermined number of seal compression steps, the motor is actuated at a minimum speed.

7. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 5 , wherein:
during the predetermined number of startup close steps, the motor is actuated at a first power level;
during the predetermined number of seal compression steps, the motor is actuated at a second power level; and
the second power level is less than the first power level.

8. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 1 , wherein:
during a full opening operation of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of full open steps causing the piston to be out of the seat;
the predetermined number of full open steps is at least the maximum number of open steps required for the electronic valve to be in the completely open position;
during a full closing operation of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of full close steps causing the piston to be in sealing contact with the seat;
the predetermined number of full close steps is at least the maximum number of close steps required for the electronic valve to be in the completely closed position; and
after the motor has been actuated the predetermined number of full close steps, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of seal compression steps to ensure that the sealing member is compressed.

9. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8 , wherein, during the predetermined number of full close steps, the motor starts at the minimum speed, is accelerated to a maximum speed, and is decelerated to the minimum speed.

10. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9 , wherein, prior to the piston being in sealing contact with the seat, the motor reaches the minimum speed.

11. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 9 , wherein, the motor is accelerated and decelerated at a predetermined rate of acceleration and deceleration.

12. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8 , wherein, during the predetermined number of seal compression steps, the motor is actuated at a minimum speed.

13. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of claim 8 , wherein:
during the predetermined number of full close steps, the motor is actuated at a first power level;
during the predetermined number of seal compression steps, the motor is actuated at a second power level; and
the second power level is less than the first power level.

14. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:
a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet being operable to deliver water; and
an electronic valve, the electronic valve being operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve including a motor, a piston, a seat, and a sealing member, one of the piston and the seat being operable to move relative to the other of the piston and the seat;
the sealing member being operable to be received on one of the piston and the seat; and
the motor being operable to move one of the piston and the seat relative to the other of the piston and the seat so that the piston is out of the seat to open the electronic valve, the motor being operable to move one of the piston and the seat relative to the other of the piston and the seat so that the piston is in the seat to close the electronic valve;
wherein, upon startup of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of startup open steps causing the piston to be out of the seat;
wherein the predetermined number of startup open steps is greater than a maximum number of open steps required for the electronic valve to be in a completely open position;
wherein, after the motor has been actuated the predetermined number of startup open steps, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of startup close steps causing the piston to be in sealing contact with the seat;
wherein the predetermined number of startup close steps is greater than a maximum number of close steps required for the electronic valve to be in a completely closed position;
wherein, after the motor has been actuated the predetermined number of startup close steps, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of seal compression steps to ensure that the sealing member is compressed;
wherein, during a full opening operation of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of full open steps causing the piston to be out of the seat;
wherein the predetermined number of full open steps is at least the maximum number of open steps required for the electronic valve to be in the completely open position;
wherein, during a full closing operation of the electronic valve, the motor is actuated a predetermined number of full close steps causing the piston to be in sealing contact with the seat;
wherein the predetermined number of full close steps is at leas

Assignees

• Moen Inc

Inventors

• Wallerstorfer Kurt

Classifications

• E03C1/057 Primary

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• H02P8/22

  Control of step size; Intermediate stepping, e.g. microstepping · CPC title

• F16K31/046

  with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor (F16K31/041 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K19/006

  Specially adapted for faucets · CPC title