Electronic user interface for electronic mixing of water for residential faucets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10698429-B2
Application number	US-201715626745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2017
Priority date	Apr 20, 2006
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling the provision of water from a source of cold water and a source of hot water above a sink deck, the apparatus comprising:
a mixing valve in fluid communication with the source of cold water and the source of hot water, the mixing valve being located beneath the sink deck;
a spout supported above the sink deck and in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve;
an electronic user interface supported by the spout above the sink deck;
a controller operably coupled to the electronic user interface and to the mixing valve;
wherein the electronic user interface includes a temperature input for setting water temperature, a flow rate input for setting water flow rate, and a metering input whereby a user selects a desired volume of water to be dispensed from an outlet of the spout, the volume of water dispensed being controlled by the controller;
a diverter valve located beneath the sink deck in fluid communication with the outlet of the mixing valve, the diverter valve having a first outlet and a second outlet;
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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic user interface further includes a plurality of preset tasks inputs.

3. An apparatus for controlling the provision of water from a source of cold water and a source of hot water above a sink deck, the apparatus comprising:
a mixing valve in fluid communication with the source of cold water and the source of hot water, the mixing valve being located beneath the sink deck;
a spout supported above the sink deck and in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve;
an electronic user interface supported by the spout above the sink deck;
a controller operably coupled to the electronic user interface and to the mixing valve;
wherein the electronic user interface includes a temperature input for setting water temperature, a flow rate input for setting water flow rate, a metering input whereby a user selects a desired volume of water to be dispensed from an outlet of the spout, the volume of water dispensed being controlled by the controller, and a plurality of preset task inputs;
the temperature input of the electronic user interface includes a first touch slider user input for setting water temperature; and
the flow rate input includes a second touch slider user input for setting flow rate.

4. An apparatus for controlling the provision of water from a source of cold water and a source of hot water above a sink deck, the apparatus comprising:
a mixing valve in fluid communication with the source of cold water and the source of hot water, the mixing valve being located beneath the sink deck;
a spout supported above the sink deck and in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve;
an electronic user interface supported by the spout above the sink deck;
a controller operably coupled to the electronic user interface and to the mixing valve;
wherein the electronic user interface includes a temperature input for setting water temperature, a flow rate input for setting water flow rate, and a metering input whereby a user selects a desired volume of water to be dispensed from an outlet of the spout, the volume of water dispensed being controlled by the controller;
wherein the electronic user interface includes a curved face coupled to the spout, the curved face extending arcuately about at least two orthogonal planes; and where the electronic user interface includes vertically oriented capacitive sensors.

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

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

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

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least two orthogonal planes are in substantially vertical and horizontal directions.

9. An apparatus for controlling the provision of water from a source of cold water and a source of hot water above a sink deck, the apparatus comprising:
a mixing valve in fluid communication with the source of cold water and the source of hot water, the mixing valve being located beneath the sink deck;
a spout supported above the sink deck and in fluid communication with an outlet of the mixing valve;
an electronic user interface supported by the spout above the sink deck;
a controller operably coupled to the electronic user interface and to the mixing valve;
wherein the electronic user interface includes a temperature input for setting water temperature, a flow rate input for setting water flow rate, and a metering input whereby a user selects a desired volume of water to be dispensed from an outlet of the spout, the volume of water dispensed being controlled by the controller;
further comprising a connector coupled to the sink deck and to the spout, the connector having a plurality of ports each of which includes a fluid connector and an electrical connector;
wherein the connector is in fluid communication with the mixing valve and operably coupled to the controller;
wherein a fluid connector of the spout and an electrical connector of the spout are coupled to a first port of the connector; and
wherein a container filler apparatus is coupled to a second port of the connector.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Rodenbeck Robert W
• Jonte Patrick B
• Koottungal Paul D
• Spangler Anthony G
• Veros Michael J
• Marty Garry R

Classifications

• G05D23/1393 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• Y10T137/87676

  With flow control · CPC title

• Y10T137/8766

  With selectively operated flow control means · CPC title

• E03C1/057

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title

• A62C31/02

  Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing · CPC title