Hybrid faucet assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12215488-B2
Application number	US-202318370698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2023
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A hybrid faucet assembly configured to operate in a touchless, hands-free automatic mode and a manual mode comprises a faucet body; a faucet spout; a first manual flow control valve connected to a cold water source; a second manual flow control valve connected to a hot water source; an electromechanical valve connected to a cold water source or to both a cold water source and a hot water source; a flow director; a controller; and an activator device. The hybrid faucet assembly may comprise an override mechanism to disable an automatic mode during operation of a manual mode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A faucet assembly comprising
a faucet body;
a faucet spout;
a first manual flow control valve;
a second manual flow control valve;
an electromechanical valve;
a flow director;
a temperature control assembly:
a controller; and
an activator device,
wherein
the first manual flow control valve is configured to be fluidly connected to a cold water source and the flow director, and to deliver cold water to the faucet spout,
the second flow control valve is configured to be fluidly connected to a hot water source and the flow director, and to deliver hot water to the faucet spout,
the temperature control assembly is configured to be fluidly connected to the cold water source and to the hot water source,
the temperature control assembly is fluidly connected to the electromechanical valve,
the electromechanical valve is configured to be fluidly connected to the cold water source, to the hot water source, and to the flow director, and to deliver a hot/cold water mixture to the faucet spout,
the electromechanical valve, the controller, and the activator device are configured to be in electrical communication, and
the controller is configured to receive a signal from the activator device indicating it has been activated, and to send a signal to the electromechanical valve to open to deliver the hot/cold water mixture to the faucet spout, and
wherein the faucet assembly is configured to be independently operated in a manual mode via operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, and to be independently operated in an automatic mode via operation of the electromechanical valve.

2. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the faucet assembly is configured such that the automatic mode is disabled upon manual operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves.

3. The faucet assembly according to claim 2 , comprising an override assembly associated with the first and/or second manual flow control valves,
wherein
the override assembly is in electrical communication with the controller,
upon operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, the override assembly is configured to communicate the manual valve operation to the controller,
and
the controller is configured to disable the electromechanical valve and/or the activator device upon receiving the communication from the override assembly, or
the override assembly is in electrical communication with the electromechanical valve and/or with the activator device, and
upon operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, the override assembly is configured to disable the electromechanical valve and/or the activator device.

4. The faucet assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the override assembly comprises a flow sensor in electrical communication with the controller,
upon operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, the flow sensor is configured to detect water flow from the first and/or second manual flow control valves, and to communicate the water flow to the controller, and
the controller is configured to disable the electromechanical valve upon receiving the communication from the flow sensor.

5. The faucet assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the override assembly comprises an electric switch in electrical communication with the controller,
upon operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, the electric switch is configured to detect movement of a faucet handle associated with the first and second manual flow control valves, and to communicate the faucet handle movement to the controller, and
the controller is configured to disable the electromechanical valve upon receiving the communication from the switch.

6. The faucet assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the override assembly comprises an electric switch in electrical communication with the electromechanical valve and/or the activator device,
upon operation of the first and/or second manual flow control valves, the electric switch is configured to break a circuit, and
the electromechanical valve and/or the activator are disabled upon breaking the circuit.

7. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the temperature control assembly comprises a temperature adjuster,
the temperature adjuster configured to adjust a ratio of hot water and cold water in the hot/cold water mixture.

8. The faucet assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the temperature control assembly is configured to be positioned upstream from the electromechanical valve,
the temperature adjuster is configured to be set manually, and
the temperature adjuster comprises an off position, wherein when in the off position, the automatic mode is disabled.

9. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the activator device comprises one or more of a motion sensor, a presence sensor, or a microphone.

10. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the faucet assembly is configured to be positioned on a deck, and wherein the flow director, the electromechanical valve, and the temperature control assembly are configured to be positioned below the deck.

11. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a housing, wherein one or more of the controller, the electromechanical valve, or the flow director are disposed within the housing.

12. The faucet assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature control assembly is at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to protrude from the housing so as to be manipulated from a housing exterior.

13. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flow director is configured to be downstream of the electromechanical valve.

14. The faucet assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a manifold.

15. The faucet assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the faucet assembly is configured to be positioned on a deck, and wherein the manifold is configured to be positioned below the deck.

16. The faucet assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the electromechanical valve is fluidly coupled to the manifold, and wherein the manifold is configured to deliver the hot/cold water mixture to the faucet spout in the automatic mode.

17. The faucet assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the flow director and the electromechanical valve are independently coupled to the manifold and positioned upstream of the manifold.

18. The faucet assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the manifold comprises a flow sensor fluidly connected to the first and/or second manual flow control valves.

19. The faucet assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the temperature control assembly is positioned upstream of the electromechanical valve.

20. The faucet assembly according to claim 17 , comprising a housing, wherein the electromechanical valve and the manifold are disposed within the housing.

Assignees

• As America Inc

Inventors

• Ye Xiaojing
• Pitsch Walter
• Garcia Jesus
• Gonzalez Enrique

Classifications

• F16K11/22

  with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves · CPC title

• E03C1/055 Primary

  Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like · CPC title

• E03C1/057 Primary

  touchless, i.e. using sensors · CPC title