System and method to position and retain a sensor in a faucet spout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10273669-B2
Application number	US-201715610934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2012
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A method for controlling touchless operation of a faucet that includes turning on a sensor of the faucet in response to receiving a signal that a mechanical valve of the faucet is in an open position, wherein the mechanical valve is movable between the open position and a closed position; shifting an electronic valve of the faucet from a closed state, in which a fluid does not flow from the faucet, to an open state, in which the fluid is configured to flow from the faucet, in response to a first interruption of a field of detection of the sensor; and shifting the electronic valve to the closed state in response to a second interruption of the field of detection of the sensor, so long as the second interruption follows the first interruption within a predetermined period of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling touchless operation of a faucet, comprising:
turning on a sensor of the faucet in response to receiving a signal that a mechanical valve of the faucet is in an open position, wherein the mechanical valve is movable between the open position and a closed position;
shifting an electronic valve of the faucet from a closed state, in which a fluid does not flow from the faucet, to an open state, in which the fluid is configured to flow from the faucet, in response to a first interruption of a field of detection of the sensor;
shifting the electronic valve to the closed state in response to a second interruption of the field of detection of the sensor, so long as the second interruption follows the first interruption within a predetermined period of time; and
changing a radial position of a ring relative to the mechanical valve to cause a switch, which is mounted on the ring, to open and close in response to movement of a valve channel member, wherein the ring is disposed around the mechanical valve, and wherein a handle of the faucet is operably coupled to the mechanical valve and is moveable relative to the ring between a first position, in turn placing the mechanical valve in a closed position in which water does not flow from the faucet, and a second position, in turn placing the mechanical valve in the open position.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
starting a shut off timer within the faucet in response to the first interruption of the field of detection of the sensor; and
shifting the electronic valve to the closed state through the shut off timer in response to the predetermined period of time passing without the second interruption of the field of detection of the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the faucet also includes a thermostat that is configured to measure a temperature of the flow of fluid, and the method further comprises moving the electronic valve to the closed state to stop the flow of fluid in response to the measured temperature being greater than a threshold temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising shifting the electronic valve to the closed position in response to receiving a second signal that the mechanical valve is in the closed position.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
shifting the electronic valve to the open state in response to a third interruption of the field of detection subsequent to the second interruption the field of detection;
wherein moving the mechanical valve to the closed position at any point stops the flow of fluid.

6. A method for touchless actuation of a faucet, the method comprising:
shifting an electronic valve of the faucet from a closed state, in which a fluid does not flow from the faucet, to an open state, in which the fluid is configured to flow from the faucet, in response to:
a first interruption of a field of detection of a sensor of the faucet; and
receiving a signal from a switch indicating that a mechanical valve of the faucet is in an open position;

shifting the electronic valve to the closed state in response to at least one of:
a second interruption of the field of detection within a predetermined time following the first interruption; or
a signal from a shut off time of the faucet after the predetermined time has passed without a second interruption of the field of detection; and

changing a radial position of a ring relative to the mechanical valve to cause the switch, which is mounted upon the ring, to open and close in response to movement of a valve channel member, wherein the ring is disposed around the mechanical valve, and wherein a handle of the faucet is operably coupled to the mechanical valve and is moveable relative to the ring between a first position, in turn placing the mechanical valve in a closed position in which water does not flow from the faucet, and a second position, in turn placing the mechanical valve in the open position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the valve channel member is oriented approximately diametrically opposite from the switch, and the movement of the valve channel member is translation.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the electronic valve comprises a normally closed solenoid such that the electronic valve closes to stop fluid flow from the faucet in response to a power failure associated with the faucet.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
starting the shut off timer of the faucet in response to the first interruption of the field of detection of the sensor; and
shutting off the shut off timer in response to the electronic valve shifting to the closed state.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising measuring a voltage of a thermistor within the faucet using an analog to digital converter and turning on:
a red LED of the faucet in response to the measured voltage being equal to or greater than a threshold; or
at least one of a blue LED or a white LED in response to the measured voltage being less than the threshold.

11. A method for touchless actuation of a faucet, the method comprising:
placing the faucet in an operational mode by moving a handle of the faucet from a first position, in which fluid does not flow from a spout of the faucet, to a second position, in which fluid flows from the spout;
stopping the fluid flow from the spout by closing an electronic valve of the faucet in response to:
an interruption of a field of detection of a sensor of the faucet; or
fluid flow for a predetermined period of time without the interruption of the field of detection of the sensor;

detecting and communicating a position of a mechanical valve within the faucet, the mechanical valve being selectively operable in an open state and a closed state;
providing a ring at least partially around an outer member of the mechanical valve, the ring having a switch fixedly disposed on a side of the ring and a screw disposed substantially radially opposite the switch;
aligning a movable member coupled to the mechanical valve with the screw, the movable member being radially movable relative to the outer member between an open position and a closed position in response to operation of the mechanical valve between the open state and the closed state; and
adjusting, with the screw, a radial position of the ring relative to an exterior of the outer member, such that a radial movement of the movable member between the open position and the closed position actuates the switch, wherein the radial movement of the movable member moves the screw radially, which in-turn moves the ring radially.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the interruption of the field of detection of the sensor is a first interruption, and further comprising resuming the fluid flow from the spout by opening the electronic valve in response to a second interruption of the field of detection of the sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
initiating a reset;
initializing a processor of the faucet;
setting an initial state of all controls lines; and
reading the faucet state to determine if the handle is in the first position or the second position, such that the sensor is turned on or kept on if the handle is determined to be in the first position, and the sensor is turned off if the handle is determined to be in the second position.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical valve is operatively coupled to the handle and is fluidly coupled to the electronic valve, the switch is positioned above the mechanical valve, and changing the radial position of the ring opens/closes the switch to turn on/off an annunciat

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Esche John C
• Hansen David E

Classifications

• E03C2001/0415

  having an extendable water outlet · CPC title

• Y10T137/9464

  Faucets and spouts · CPC title

• F16K37/0041 Primary

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

• Y10T137/87917

  Flow path with serial valves and/or closures · CPC title

• Y10T137/0324

  With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid · CPC title