An inductive control module for a water outlet terminal and an inductive faucet having the same

Abstract

This invention discloses a sensor control module for a water outlet terminal and a sensor faucet incorporating the same. The sensor control module includes: a housing with a cavity for fixed connection to a water outlet terminal; a control board installed in the cavity; a sensor module installed in the housing and electrically connected to the control board; a power supply located in the cavity and supplying power to the control board; and a drive module installed in the cavity and electrically connected to the control board. The drive module has an output terminal, and when the housing is fixedly connected to the water outlet terminal, the output terminal engages with a valve core on the water outlet terminal. The sensor module sends a sensing signal to the control board, which then controls the drive module to move according to the sensing signal. The drive module then drives the valve core to control the water flow from the water outlet terminal. This invention facilitates the replacement of the sensor control module in a water outlet terminal, making the conversion of a conventional water outlet terminal into a sensor-controlled water outlet terminal simpler, more convenient, and cost-effective.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sensor control module for a water outlet terminal, and a sensor faucet having the sensor control module. Background Technology

[0002] Currently available sensor faucets typically have their sensor control components scattered throughout the faucet body, making the internal structure complex. When a sensor control component fails, it is often difficult to replace or repair, rendering the sensor faucet unusable and requiring the entire faucet to be replaced, resulting in wasted resources and high replacement costs.

[0003] In addition, when some users of ordinary faucets want to replace them with more feature-rich sensor faucets, they often need to replace the entire ordinary faucet, which also wastes resources and incurs significant costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a sensor control module for a water outlet terminal and a sensor faucet with the same. Through integrated design, the entire sensor control module is an independent unit that can be used as an accessory or sold independently, thereby facilitating the replacement of the sensor control module in the water outlet terminal and making it simpler, more convenient, and cheaper to convert an ordinary water outlet terminal into a sensor water outlet terminal.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sensing control module for a water outlet terminal is provided, comprising:

[0006] The housing has a receiving cavity for fixed connection to a water outlet terminal;

[0007] The control panel is installed in the accommodating cavity;

[0008] The sensing module is installed in the housing and is electrically connected to the control board;

[0009] A power supply is located in the accommodating cavity and supplies power to the control board;

[0010] A drive module is installed in the accommodating cavity and electrically connected to the control board. The drive module has an output end. When the housing is fixedly connected to the water outlet terminal, the output end is linked and cooperates with the valve core provided on the water outlet terminal.

[0011] The sensing module sends a sensing signal to the control board, and the control board controls the drive module to drive according to the sensing signal. The drive module then drives the valve core to move in order to control the water outlet terminal.

[0012] According to the present invention, an induction control module for a water outlet terminal integrates the control board, induction module, power supply, and drive module into a housing, making the entire induction control module an independent integral structure that can be used as an accessory or sold independently. This facilitates the replacement of the induction control module of the water outlet terminal, making it simpler, more convenient, and more cost-effective to convert an ordinary water outlet terminal into an induction water outlet terminal.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, the drive module includes a motor and a gear transmission assembly. The motor is electrically connected to the control board, and the output shaft of the motor drives the valve core to rotate through the gear transmission assembly. The final gear of the gear transmission assembly is the output end of the drive module.

[0014] In the above scheme, the drive module adopts a motor and gear transmission assembly, which has a simple structure and reliable function.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, it also includes an adapter sleeve, which has a shaft hole. The adapter sleeve is fitted over the connecting shaft provided on the valve core through the shaft hole. The adapter sleeve and the connecting shaft form a circumferential limiting fit. The final gear of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably linked with the adapter sleeve to drive the connecting shaft to rotate through the adapter sleeve.

[0016] In the above scheme, by setting an adapter bushing, the gear transmission assembly can achieve effective transmission with the valve core, and the structure is simple.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment, the top of the accommodating cavity forms an opening, and a top cover is detachably sealed to the opening. The bottom wall of the accommodating cavity is provided with a through hole, and the final gear of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably disposed at the through hole. The final gear of the gear transmission assembly is provided with an inner hole, and the adapter sleeve is sleeved in the inner hole and forms a circumferential limiting fit with the inner wall of the inner hole.

[0018] In the above scheme, the last stage gear of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably positioned at the through hole on the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity. The last stage gear of the gear transmission assembly has an inner hole, and the adapter sleeve is fitted in the inner hole and forms a circumferential limiting fit with the inner wall of the inner hole. This makes the structural layout more compact and simple, which is conducive to the miniaturization design of the entire assembly.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment, the inner hole of the final stage gear of the gear transmission assembly is axially through, a bracket is fixed inside the accommodating cavity, and the connecting shaft passes through the inner hole and is rotatably connected to the bracket.

[0020] In the above solution, the connection between the sensing control module and the water outlet terminal is achieved by connecting the connecting shaft to the bracket, and the connection structure is simple.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment, the upper cover is provided with a sensing window, the sensing module is located at the sensing window, and the bracket supports and confines the sensing module at the sensing window.

[0022] In the above solution, the sensor module is supported and confined at the sensor window by a bracket, which simplifies the installation of the sensor module. The bracket serves as both a connector and a mounting component for the sensor module, thus simplifying the internal structure.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment, there are several adapter bushings, each with a different shape of its shaft hole. An adapter bushing with a shaft hole shape that matches the shape of the connecting shaft on the valve core is selected and fitted onto the connecting shaft so that the adapter bushing and the connecting shaft are circumferentially limited and fitted together.

[0024] In the above solution, by setting several adapter bushings, different adapter bushings can be selected according to the shape of the connecting shaft of different valve cores, which greatly improves the compatibility of the product.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment, the end of the housing for connecting to the water outlet terminal is provided with a hollow sleeve portion, and the housing is sleeved outside the end of the water outlet terminal through the sleeve portion.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment, the side wall of the sleeve is provided with a through screw hole, and a screw is screwed into the screw hole, with the inner end of the screw abutting against the outer wall of the water outlet terminal.

[0027] In the above solution, the screw is screwed into the screw hole of the sleeve, and the inner end of the screw abuts against the outer wall of the water outlet terminal, thereby restricting the relative movement of the housing of the sensing control module and the water outlet terminal, and further making the connection between the two more secure.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment, the sensing module includes an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or a light wave sensor; the power source is a dry cell battery or a lithium battery.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a sensor faucet, including a faucet body and a valve core disposed within the faucet body, and further including the sensor control module described in any of the above claims, wherein the housing is detachably fixed to the faucet body as the water outlet terminal. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To make the advantages of the invention more readily apparent, the invention briefly described above will be described in more detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and should not be considered as limiting its scope of protection. The invention is described and explained with additional features and details through the drawings. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a sensor faucet with a sensor control module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly process of a sensor-controlled faucet with a sensor control module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a sensor faucet with a sensor control module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a sensor-controlled faucet with a sensor control module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the CC direction;

[0035] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0036] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Cross-sectional view along the BB direction.

[0037] The labels in the attached figures are as follows:

[0038] 1-Induction control module; 2-Faucet body; 3-Valve core; 301-Connecting shaft;

[0039] 10-Housing shell; 11-Accommodating cavity; 12-Top cover; 121-Sensing window; 13-Through hole; 14-Sleeve part;

[0040] 20-Control panel;

[0041] 30 - Sensing module;

[0042] 40-Power supply;

[0043] 50 - Drive module; 51 - Motor; 52 - Gear transmission assembly; 521 - First gear; 522 - Last stage gear (second gear) of gear transmission assembly;

[0044] 60 - Fitting bushing; 61 - Shaft hole;

[0045] 70 - Bracket; 71 - Connecting hole; 72 - Connecting screw;

[0046] 80-Screw. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To make the technical problems, solutions, and beneficial effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0048] In the discussion below, details are provided to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In certain examples, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail to avoid confusion with the invention. It should be noted that the terms “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0049] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" used in this invention are merely identifiers and do not have any other meaning, such as a specific order. Moreover, for example, the term "first component" does not imply the existence of "second component," and the term "second component" does not imply the existence of "first component."

[0050] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a sensing control module for a water outlet terminal, comprising components such as a housing 10, a control board 20, a sensing module 30, a power supply 40, and a drive module 50.

[0051] The housing 10 has a receiving cavity 11 for fixed connection to a water outlet terminal. In this embodiment, the water outlet terminal is described using a faucet body as an example, but it is not limited to this; the water outlet terminal can also be a shower head body, a spray gun body, etc. The control board 20 is installed in the receiving cavity 11; the sensing module 30 is installed in the housing 10 and electrically connected to the control board 20; the power supply 40 is located in the receiving cavity 11 and supplies power to the control board 20; the drive module 50 is installed in the receiving cavity 11 and electrically connected to the control board 20. The drive module 50 has an output end. When the housing 10 is fixedly connected to the water outlet terminal, the output end is linked and cooperates with the valve core 3 provided on the water outlet terminal.

[0052] The sensing module 30 sends the sensing signal to the control board 20. The control board 20 controls the drive module 50 to drive according to the sensing signal. The drive module 50 then drives the valve core 3 to move to control the water outlet terminal. When the valve core 3 moves, it can open or close the water outlet, or switch the water outlet path of the water outlet terminal, etc.

[0053] According to the present invention, the sensing control module integrates the control board 20, sensing module 30, power supply 40, and drive module 50 into the housing 10, making the entire sensing control module an independent integral structure that can be used as an accessory or sold independently. This facilitates the replacement of the sensing control module of the water outlet terminal, making it simpler, more convenient, and more cost-effective to convert an ordinary water outlet terminal into a sensing water outlet terminal.

[0054] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5 In the sensing control module of this embodiment, the drive module 50 includes a motor 51 and a gear transmission assembly 52. ​​The motor 51 is electrically connected to the control board 20. The output shaft of the motor 51 drives the valve core 3 to rotate through the gear transmission assembly 52. ​​The final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly is the output end of the drive module 50. The drive module 50 uses a motor 51 and a gear transmission assembly 52, which has a simple structure and reliable function. Specifically, the gear transmission assembly 52 includes two gears, namely a first gear 521 and a second gear 522 that mesh with each other. The second gear 522 is the final stage gear 522. The first gear 521 is coaxially arranged with the output shaft of the motor 51.

[0055] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the sensing control module also includes an adapter sleeve 60. The adapter sleeve 60 has a shaft hole 61 and is fitted onto the connecting shaft 301 on the valve core 3 through the shaft hole 61. The adapter sleeve 60 and the connecting shaft 301 form a circumferential limiting fit. The final gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably linked with the adapter sleeve 60 to drive the connecting shaft 301 to rotate through the adapter sleeve 60. By setting the adapter sleeve 60, the gear transmission assembly 52 can achieve effective transmission with the valve core 3, resulting in a simple structure.

[0056] See Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the sensing control module of this embodiment, the top of the accommodating cavity 11 forms an opening, and a top cover 12 is detachably sealed to the opening via a threaded connection. The control board 20, sensing module 30, power supply 40, drive module 50, etc., are all installed into the housing 10 through the top opening of the accommodating cavity 11. The bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 11 is provided with a through hole 13, and the final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably disposed at the through hole 13. The final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly is provided with an inner hole, and the adapter sleeve 60 is sleeved in the inner hole and forms a circumferential limiting fit with the inner wall of the inner hole. By rotatably disposing the final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly at the through hole 13 on the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 11, and by providing an inner hole for the final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly, and by having the adapter sleeve 60 sleeved in the inner hole and forming a circumferential limiting fit with the inner wall of the inner hole, the structural layout is made more compact and simple, which is beneficial to the miniaturization design of the entire assembly.

[0057] See also Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the sensing control module of this embodiment, the inner hole of the final stage gear 522 of the gear transmission assembly is axially through, and a bracket 70 is fixed in the accommodating cavity 11. The connecting shaft 301 passes through the inner hole and is rotatably connected to the bracket 70. By connecting the connecting shaft 301 and the bracket 70, the sensing control module and the water outlet terminal are effectively connected, and the connection structure is simple. Specifically, an axially extending screw hole is provided at one end of the connecting shaft 301 that extends into the accommodating cavity 11, and a connecting hole 71 is opened on the bracket 70. A connecting screw 72 passes through the connecting hole 71 and is threaded into the screw hole to connect the bracket 70 and the connecting shaft 301. There is a gap between the head of the connecting screw 72 and the side of the connecting hole 71 facing the connecting screw 72, so that the connecting shaft 301 can rotate freely.

[0058] In the sensing control module of this embodiment, a sensing window 121 is provided on the upper cover 12, the sensing module 30 is disposed at the sensing window 121, and the bracket 70 supports and confines the sensing module 30 at the sensing window 121. By supporting and confining the sensing module 30 at the sensing window 121 by the bracket 70, the installation of the sensing module 30 is simplified. The bracket 70 serves as both a connector and a mounting component for the sensing module 30, thereby simplifying the internal structure.

[0059] In the sensing control module of this embodiment, several adapter sleeves 60 are provided, and the shape of the shaft hole 61 of each adapter sleeve 60 is different, such as square, knurled, or hexagonal. An adapter sleeve 60 whose shaft hole 61 shape matches the shape of the connecting shaft 301 on the valve core 3 is selected and fitted onto the connecting shaft 301 to achieve a circumferential limiting fit between the adapter sleeve 60 and the connecting shaft 301. By providing several adapter sleeves 60, different adapter sleeves 60 can be selected according to the different shapes of the connecting shaft 301 of the valve core 3, greatly improving the product's adaptability. Specifically, in this embodiment, the shaft hole 61 is knurled.

[0060] In the sensing control module of this embodiment, the end of the housing 10 for connecting to the water outlet terminal is provided with a hollow sleeve part 14. The housing 10 is sleeved on one end of the faucet body 2 through the sleeve part 14, so that the connection structure between the housing 10 and the faucet body 2 is simple and concise.

[0061] To further strengthen the connection between the housing 10 of the sensing control module and the faucet body 2, in this embodiment, the side wall of the sleeve portion 14 of the sensing control module is provided with a through-hole. A screw 80 is screwed into the screw hole, with the inner end of the screw 80 abutting against the outer wall of the faucet body 2. By screwing the screw 80 into the screw hole of the sleeve portion 14 and with the inner end of the screw 80 abutting against the outer wall of the faucet body 2, the relative movement between the housing 10 of the sensing control module and the faucet body 2 can be restricted, further strengthening the connection between them.

[0062] In the sensing control module of this embodiment, the sensing module 30 includes an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or a light wave sensor, etc. The power supply 40 is a dry cell battery or a lithium battery, etc., which can be selected according to needs.

[0063] See Figures 1 to 6 According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a sensor faucet, including a faucet body 2 and a valve core 3 disposed in the faucet body 2, and further including a sensor control module 1 of any of the above, wherein the housing 10 is detachably fixed to the faucet body 2 as a water outlet terminal.

[0064] When a component in the sensor control module 1 is damaged, the entire sensor control module 1 can be directly removed from the faucet body 2 for repair, or the entire sensor control module 1 can be directly replaced, which greatly facilitates repair and saves replacement costs.

[0065] The specific process of installing the sensor control module 1 on the faucet body 2 is as follows:

[0066] First, a matching bushing 60, whose shape matches the shape of the shaft hole 61, is fitted onto the outside of the connecting shaft 301.

[0067] Next, unscrew the top cover 12 from the housing 10, remove the sensing module 30, and then insert the connecting shaft 301 into the connecting hole 71 on the bracket 70. The connecting screw 72 passes through the connecting hole 71 and is threaded into the screw hole on the connecting shaft 301, thereby connecting the bracket 70 and the connecting shaft 301. A gap is made between the head of the connecting screw 72 and the side of the connecting hole 71 facing the connecting screw 72, so that the connecting shaft 301 can rotate freely.

[0068] Then, the sensing module 30 is resupported on the bracket 70, and the top cover 12 is re-threaded to the housing 10.

[0069] Finally, screw 80 is screwed into the screw hole of the sleeve portion 14 of the housing 10, and the inner end of screw 80 abuts against the outer wall of the faucet body 2, thereby completing the entire assembly process.

[0070] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. Terms such as “component” as used herein may refer to a single part or a combination of multiple parts. Terms such as “installation” or “installation” as used herein may refer to a component being directly attached to another component or a component being attached to another component via an intermediary. A feature described in one embodiment herein may be applied, alone or in combination with other features, to another embodiment, unless that feature is not applicable in that other embodiment or is otherwise stated.

[0071] The foregoing description illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the inventive concept by means of the foregoing teachings or techniques or knowledge in related fields. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sensor control module for a water outlet terminal, characterized in that, include: The housing has a receiving cavity for fixed connection to a water outlet terminal; The control panel is installed in the accommodating cavity; The sensing module is installed in the housing and is electrically connected to the control board; A power supply is located in the accommodating cavity and supplies power to the control board; A drive module is installed in the accommodating cavity and electrically connected to the control board. The drive module has an output end. When the housing is fixedly connected to the water outlet terminal, the output end is linked and cooperates with the valve core provided on the water outlet terminal. The sensing module sends a sensing signal to the control board, and the control board controls the drive module to drive according to the sensing signal. The drive module then drives the valve core to move in order to control the water outlet terminal. The housing has a hollow sleeve portion at one end for connecting to the water outlet terminal, and the housing is sleeved outside one end of the water outlet terminal through the sleeve portion. The drive module includes a motor and a gear transmission assembly; The valve core is provided with a connecting shaft; The final stage gear of the gear transmission assembly has an inner hole; A bracket is fixed inside the accommodating cavity, and the connecting shaft passes through the inner hole and is rotatably connected to the bracket; The top of the accommodating cavity forms an opening, and a top cover is attached to the opening. A sensing window is provided on the top cover, the sensing module is located at the sensing window, and the bracket supports and limits the sensing module to be located at the sensing window. An axially extending screw hole is provided at one end of the connecting shaft that extends into the accommodating cavity. A connecting hole is opened on the bracket. A connecting screw is threaded through the connecting hole and into the screw hole to connect the bracket and the connecting shaft. There is a gap between the head of the connecting screw and the side of the connecting hole facing the connecting screw, so that the connecting shaft can rotate freely.

2. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor is electrically connected to the control board, and the output shaft of the motor drives the valve core to rotate through the gear transmission assembly. The last gear of the gear transmission assembly is the output end of the drive module.

3. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes an adapter bushing, which has a shaft hole. The adapter bushing is fitted onto the connecting shaft through the shaft hole. The adapter bushing and the connecting shaft form a circumferential limiting fit. The final gear of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably linked with the adapter bushing to drive the connecting shaft to rotate through the adapter bushing.

4. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top cover is detachably sealed to the opening, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity is provided with a through hole, the final gear of the gear transmission assembly is rotatably located at the through hole, and the adapter sleeve is sleeved in the inner hole and forms a circumferential limiting fit with the inner wall of the inner hole.

5. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner hole of the final stage gear of the gear transmission assembly is axially continuous.

6. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adapter bushing is provided in several parts, and the shape of the shaft hole of each adapter bushing is different. The adapter bushing with the shape of the shaft hole that matches the shape of the connecting shaft on the valve core is selected and sleeved on the connecting shaft so that the adapter bushing and the connecting shaft are circumferentially limited and matched.

7. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side wall of the sleeve is provided with a through screw hole, and a screw is screwed into the screw hole, with the inner end of the screw abutting against the outer wall of the water outlet terminal.

8. The sensing control module for a water outlet terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing module includes an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or a light wave sensor; the power source is a dry cell battery or a lithium battery.

9. A sensor-operated faucet, comprising a faucet body and a valve core disposed within the faucet body, characterized in that, It also includes the sensing control module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing is detachably fixed to the faucet body, which serves as the water outlet terminal.

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