Electronic faucet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184232-B2
Application number	US-201214362765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2012
Priority date	Dec 6, 2011
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

An electronic faucet assembly includes a mixing valve and a user interface in communication with a controller. Input to the user interface illustratively causes the controller to operate in a flow control mode or a temperature control mode. In the flow control mode the mixing valve provides flow control of water at a constant temperature, while in the temperature control mode the mixing valve provides temperature control of water at a constant flow. A memory device may be secured to a faucet component to store identification data related thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic faucet comprising:
a delivery spout including a dispensing outlet, the delivery spout configured to be supported by a mounting deck;
a mixing valve fluidly coupled to the delivery spout, the mixing valve including:
a hot water inlet;
a cold water inlet spaced from the hot water inlet;
an outlet spaced from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet;
a fixed valve member including a lower surface, an upper surface, a hot water opening in fluid communication with the hot water inlet and extending between the lower surface of the fixed valve member and the upper surface of the fixed valve member, and a cold water opening in fluid communication with the cold water inlet and extending between the lower surface of the fixed valve member and the upper surface of the fixed valve member; and
a moveable valve member including a lower surface and an upper surface, the lower surface of the moveable valve member sealingly engaging the upper surface of the fixed valve member, the moveable valve member supported for movement relative to the hot water opening and the cold water opening to control the flow of water from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet to the outlet;

an electrically operable actuator operably coupled to the moveable valve member for rotating the moveable valve member;
a controller operably coupled to the electrically operable actuator, the controller configured to selectively provide a flow control mode of operation and a temperature control mode of operation by causing the electrically operable actuator to move the valve member;
a user interface in electrical communication with the controller;
wherein input to the user interface within a first input range causes the controller to operate in the flow control mode, and input to the user interface within a second input range causes the controller to operate in the temperature control mode, the flow control mode positioning the valve member to provide variable flow rate of water through the cold water inlet to the outlet while preventing the flow of water through the hot water inlet to the outlet, and the temperature control mode positioning the valve member to provide substantially constant flow rate of water through the outlet and variable mixing of water from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet to adjust the temperature of water at the outlet;
wherein successive input to the user interface within the first range varies the flow rate of water having a substantially constant temperature supplied to the outlet, and successive input to the user interface within the second range varies the temperature of water having a substantially constant flow rate supplied to the outlet;
wherein the moveable valve member comprises a rotatable valve disc including a blind flow control recess providing selective communication between the hot water inlet, the cold water inlet, and the outlet, such that successive rotation of the disc results in the flow control recess operating in the flow control mode followed by the temperature control mode;
wherein the blind flow control recess extends upwardly from the lower surface of the moveable valve member short of the upper surface of the moveable valve member, the upper surface being continuous between a periphery of the moveable valve member such that the blind flow control recess is sealed from the upper surface;
wherein the blind flow control recess of the rotatable valve disc includes stepped hot water control edges to selectively overlap with the hot water opening of the fixed valve member, and stepped cold water control edges to selectively overlap with the cold water opening of the fixed valve member, the hot water control edges and the cold water control edges configured to maintain a substantially constant flow area to maintain the substantially constant flow rate of water in the temperature control mode;
wherein the user interface comprises an input member rotatably supported by the spout for rotation about a support axis, the first input range comprises a first angular range of rotation of the input member about the support axis, and the second input range comprises a second angular range of rotation of the input member about the support axis, the second angular range of rotation being contiguous with, and greater than, the first angular range of rotation; and
a user interface position sensor in electrical communication with the controller and operably coupled to the input member.

2. The electronic faucet of claim 1 , further comprising a valve position sensor in communication with the controller and operably coupled to the actuator to sense the relative position of the valve member.

3. The electronic faucet of claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the controller and fluidly coupled to the outlet for measuring the temperature of water supplied to the outlet.

4. The electronic faucet of claim 3 , further comprising a light supported by the input member for providing an indication of water temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

5. The electronic faucet of claim 3 , further comprising a maximum temperature user input adjustable by a user and in communication with the controller.

6. The electronic faucet of claim 5 , wherein the controller provides incremental water temperature control within a predetermined temperature range by associating rotational position of the input member with a desired setpoint temperature, wherein the setpoint temperatures within the predetermined range are linearized between a cold temperature limit and a hot temperature limit, and causing the actuator to move the valve member to a predicted position based upon the selected setpoint temperature, and adjusting the position of the valve member based upon measured temperature feedback from the temperature sensor.

7. An electronic faucet comprising:
a delivery spout including a dispensing outlet and supported above a mounting deck;
a mixing valve supported below the mounting deck and including:
a hot water inlet;
a cold water inlet spaced from the hot water inlet;
an outlet spaced from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet; and
a valve member supported for movement relative to the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet to control the flow of water from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet to the outlet;

wherein the valve member comprises a rotatable valve disc including a blind flow control recess providing selective communication between the hot water inlet, the cold water inlet, and the outlet;
wherein the blind flow control recess extends upwardly from a lower surface of the valve member short of an upper surface of the valve member, the upper surface being continuous between a periphery of the valve member such that the blind flow control recess is sealed from the upper surface;
an electrically operable actuator operably coupled to the valve member for moving the valve member;
a controller operably coupled to the electrically operable actuator, the controller configured to provide a flow control mode and a temperature control mode by causing the electrically operable actuator to move the valve member, the flow control mode providing variable flow rate of water through the cold water inlet to the outlet while preventing the flow of water through the hot water inlet to the outlet, and the temperature control mode providing substantially constant flow rate of water through the outlet and variable mixture of water from the hot water inlet and the cold water inlet to adjust the temperature of water at the outlet;
a valve position sensor operably coupled to the valve member and in electrical communication with the controller;
a user interface in electrical communication with th

Assignees

• Masco Corp
• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Veros Michael J
• Thomas Kurt J
• Galambus Mark
• Devries Adam M
• Tyner Anthony E
• Sawaski Joel D
• Davidson Kyle Robert

Classifications

• F16K37/0041

  for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K11/074

  with flat sealing faces · CPC title

• E03C2001/026

  with flow restricting devices · CPC title

• F16K31/043

  characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means · CPC title

• E03C1/0404

  Constructional or functional features of the spout · CPC title