A temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves

Abstract

A dual-electromagnetic-valve sensor-controlled temperature faucet includes a faucet housing, a mixing valve core, hot and cold water inlet pipes, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a sensor control unit, and a power supply unit. The first and second solenoid valves are respectively located on the hot and cold water inlet pipes. The sensor control unit is electrically connected to the solenoid valves via a control circuit. By installing the two solenoid valves at the hot and cold water inlet ends and placing the sensor control unit on the surface of the faucet housing or in an adjacent area, the space at the outlet end is effectively freed up, solving the problem of difficult installation of the sensing device and solenoid valves due to limited space at the outlet end of small or compact faucets. When retrofitting existing non-sensor-controlled faucets, there is no need for large-scale modifications to the outlet structure, reducing retrofit costs and not affecting water flow performance. In case of equipment failure, maintenance does not require disassembly of the outlet end components, lowering the maintenance threshold. At the same time, it ensures sensing sensitivity, improving the faucet's installation adaptability, retrofit convenience, and maintenance efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of bathroom equipment technology, specifically to the structural design of a sensor-operated faucet, with particular emphasis on optimizing the installation position of the sensor and solenoid valve. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of sensor installation technology for sensor-operated faucets, the design of the installation position of the sensor and solenoid valve is crucial to the realization of the device's functionality and user experience. The traditional design approach of installing the sensor and solenoid valve at the outlet after mixing water has significant technical drawbacks: the space at the outlet is limited by the structural dimensions of the faucet itself. For small or compact faucets (such as undermount basins and wall-mounted faucets), the interior must accommodate the hot and cold water mixing channel, water flow control components, and other structures, resulting in extremely limited space available for installing the sensor and solenoid valve.

[0003] When integrating sensors and solenoid valves into the water outlet, insufficient space often leads to installation difficulties or even makes installation impossible. For example, some older faucets use an integrated sealing structure at the water outlet, directly limiting the feasibility of adding a sensor. For retrofitting existing non-sensor-operated faucets, adding a sensor to the water outlet requires large-scale modifications to the original water outlet structure, including widening the cavity and adjusting the piping layout. This not only increases retrofitting costs but may also affect water flow performance (such as the water outlet angle and water pressure stability). Furthermore, when the equipment malfunctions, repairs require disassembling the water outlet components, involving complex operations such as disassembling the mixing valve and replacing seals. Especially for recessed faucets, repairs may require damaging the countertop or wall structure, further increasing the maintenance threshold.

[0004] Although some improvements have emerged in the existing technology, such as the Chinese utility model patent application No. 202421793924.7 which proposes "A Basin Sensor Faucet", it directly molds the solenoid valve seat from copper to plastic, reducing the residue of copper shavings and other impurities in the water channel and lowering the risk of leakage caused by impurities sticking together. At the same time, a solenoid valve conversion seat is designed between the solenoid valve and the solenoid valve seat to provide sufficient space in the water channel and prevent debris from accumulating. This solution has solved the problem of difficult processing of the solenoid valve seat and leakage caused by impurities to a certain extent. However, it has not changed the basic design concept of installing the sensing device and solenoid valve on the faucet shell. Therefore, when facing miniaturized and compact faucets, the problems of installation, modification and maintenance caused by insufficient space at the water outlet still exist.

[0005] In summary, the core problem with existing technologies lies in the low installation feasibility, poor retrofit compatibility, and inconvenient maintenance caused by space constraints at the water outlet. Traditional design approaches can no longer meet the current demands for integrated functions and compact structures in sensor-operated faucets. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a design scheme that relocates the sensing device and solenoid valve to the water inlet end. By replanning the installation location and control logic, the bottleneck of space at the water outlet can be fundamentally solved, improving the equipment's installation adaptability, functional expandability, and maintenance convenience. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a dual-electromagnetic-valve temperature-controlled faucet that, in view of the above-mentioned existing technology, has a solenoid valve installed at the water inlet end to effectively release the space at the water outlet end, while optimizing the sensing control logic, and improving the installation adaptability, modification convenience and maintenance efficiency of the faucet without affecting the sensing sensitivity.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: the temperature-controlled faucet with dual electromagnetic valves includes...

[0008] The faucet casing has a spout at the front.

[0009] A mixing valve core is built into the faucet housing, and its mixing outlet is in fluid communication with the water outlet.

[0010] A cold water inlet pipe is connected to the cold water inlet of the mixing valve core;

[0011] A hot water inlet pipe is connected to the hot water inlet of the mixing valve core;

[0012] The first solenoid valve is installed on the cold water inlet pipe;

[0013] The second solenoid valve is installed on the hot water inlet pipe;

[0014] A sensing control unit is disposed on the surface of the faucet housing or in an adjacent area, and is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve through a control circuit;

[0015] The power supply unit provides operating power to the induction control unit, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve.

[0016] To achieve both manual and sensor-based control functions and ensure that the two control methods do not interfere with each other, preferably, a handle for manual control is also included. The handle is mechanically driven to the mixing valve core and is used to adjust the hot and cold water mixing ratio at the mixing outlet or to open and close the water outlet.

[0017] The handle and the sensing control unit are equipped with priority logic. The sensing control unit can only be activated when the handle is in the open state, and the opening and closing operation of the sensing control unit does not affect the hot and cold water mixing ratio that has been adjusted by the handle.

[0018] To ensure the synchronous control effect of the dual solenoid valves and to simplify the circuit structure and reduce costs, preferably, the positive terminals of the first and second solenoid valves are connected in parallel to the positive output terminal of the sensing control unit, and the negative terminals are connected in parallel to the negative output terminal of the sensing control unit. The parallel circuit structure enables the sensing control unit to synchronously control the opening and closing actions of the first and second solenoid valves.

[0019] To further enhance the reliability of synchronous control of the dual solenoid valves and reduce the number of control lines, preferably, the sensing control unit is configured to synchronously control the opening and closing actions of the first and second solenoid valves through the same control signal line, so that the two solenoid valves open or close simultaneously when a user operation signal is detected.

[0020] To meet the power supply requirements of different usage scenarios and improve the applicability and flexibility of the product, preferably, the power supply unit is an external power adapter or battery assembly, which is electrically connected to the induction control unit, the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve respectively.

[0021] To improve the convenience and sustainability of battery power supply, preferably, the battery assembly is a rechargeable battery and is equipped with a charging interface.

[0022] To achieve precise adjustment of the hot and cold water mixing ratio and to simplify the valve core structure and reduce costs, preferably, the mixing valve core adopts a rotary valve core structure, and the hot and cold water mixing ratio or the opening and closing of the water outlet is adjusted by the rotation angle of the valve core rotor.

[0023] To optimize the structural design of the mixing valve core and ensure the effective introduction and mixing of cold and hot water inlet pipes, preferably, the mixing valve core includes a valve seat, and both the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet are located on the valve seat.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: By setting the first solenoid valve on the cold water inlet pipe and the second solenoid valve on the hot water inlet pipe, and setting the sensing control unit on the surface of the faucet shell or its adjacent area, and electrically connecting it to the first and second solenoid valves through a control circuit, and simultaneously configuring a power supply unit to provide working power, the space at the outlet end is effectively freed up because the solenoid valve is installed at the inlet end, rather than the traditional outlet end. This solves the problem that the limited space at the outlet end makes it difficult or even impossible to install the sensing device and solenoid valve, and can also be installed smoothly for small or compact faucets. When retrofitting existing non-sensor faucets, there is no need to make large-scale modifications to the water outlet structure, reducing the modification cost and avoiding affecting the water flow performance. When the equipment malfunctions, maintenance does not require disassembling the water outlet components, reducing complex operations such as disassembling the mixing valve and replacing seals. For embedded faucets, there is no need to damage the countertop or wall structure, lowering the maintenance threshold. In addition, the position of the sensing control unit is reasonably set, improving the installation adaptability, modification convenience and maintenance efficiency of the faucet without affecting the sensing sensitivity. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the working principle of this embodiment;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the mixing valve core in this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] Figures 1 to 3 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention. The faucet obtained in this embodiment mainly includes a faucet shell 1, a mixing valve core 2, a cold water inlet pipe 3, a hot water inlet pipe 4, a first solenoid valve 5, a second solenoid valve 6, a sensing control unit 7, a power supply unit 8, and a manually controlled handle 9.

[0030] The structure and connection method of each component in this embodiment are as follows:

[0031] Faucet housing 1: The faucet housing 1 can be made of brass through a single casting. A spout 1a is located at its front end, and an aerator is installed inside the spout 1a to buffer the water flow and reduce splashing. The interior of the faucet housing 1 forms a mounting cavity to accommodate internal components such as the mixing valve core 2. The surface of the faucet housing 1 can be provided with a mounting groove for installing the sensor control unit 7. The position of the mounting groove is optimized for easy user operation while preventing direct water flow.

[0032] Mixing valve core 2: The mixing valve core 2 is built into the mounting cavity of the faucet housing 1, and its specific structure is a rotary valve core structure. The mixing valve core 2 includes a valve seat 2d and a valve core rotor. The valve seat is provided with a cold water inlet 2b and a hot water inlet 2c, which are respectively connected to the cold water inlet pipe 3 and the hot water inlet pipe 4. The valve core rotor is mechanically driven to the handle 9 through a rotating shaft, which is convenient for the user to operate the handle 9. The mixing outlet 2a of the mixing valve core 2 is fluidly connected to the spout 1a through an internal channel. When the valve core rotor rotates, it changes its relative position with the cold water inlet 2b and the hot water inlet 2c on the valve seat 2b, thereby adjusting the mixing ratio of cold and hot water or realizing the function of opening and closing the water outlet. The specific cold and hot water adjustment of the mixing valve core 2 here is a conventional setting, which will not be described in detail here. For the specific structure, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 As shown. A sealing ring can also be installed between the valve seat 2d and the valve core rotor to effectively prevent hot and cold water leakage and ensure the sealing performance of the mixing valve core 2.

[0033] Hot and cold water inlet pipes: Both the cold water inlet pipe 3 and the hot water inlet pipe 4 can be made of stainless steel corrugated pipe, which has good flexibility and pressure resistance. One end of the cold water inlet pipe 3 is connected to the cold water inlet 2b of the mixing valve core 2 by a threaded connection, and the other end is connected to the cold water supply system; one end of the hot water inlet pipe 4 is also connected to the hot water inlet 2c of the mixing valve core 2 by a threaded connection, and the other end is connected to the hot water supply system.

[0034] Solenoid valves: There are two solenoid valves: a first solenoid valve 5 and a second solenoid valve 6. The first solenoid valve 5 is installed on the cold water inlet pipe 3, and its specific installation position can be set according to actual needs. It is used to control the flow of cold water. The second solenoid valve 6 is installed on the hot water inlet pipe 4, and its specific installation position can also be set according to actual needs. It is used to control the flow of hot water. Both the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 are normally closed solenoid valves. They are closed when not energized to prevent water leakage.

[0035] Sensing Control Unit 7: The sensing control unit 7 can be installed in a mounting groove on the surface of the faucet housing 1, or in a nearby area convenient for human sensing. The sensing control unit 7 can employ infrared sensing technology, or other sensing devices with similar sensing functions. Infrared sensing technology includes an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver, capable of accurately detecting user operation signals. The sensing control unit 7 is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 via a control circuit 7a. The control circuit 7a includes a dual-core shielded signal line, one end of which is connected to a single output port of the sensing control unit 7, and the other end is connected to the control terminals of the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 respectively. The sensing control unit 7 internally includes a priority logic control module for handling the priority logic relationship between the handle 9 and the sensing control unit 7.

[0036] Power Supply Unit: The power supply unit 8 provides operating power to the sensing control unit 7, the first solenoid valve 5, and the second solenoid valve 6. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 8 uses a rechargeable battery assembly, which is installed inside the faucet housing 1, near the sensing control unit 7, and electrically connected to the sensing control unit 7, the first solenoid valve 5, and the second solenoid valve 6 via wires. The battery assembly is equipped with a waterproof charging interface, which can effectively prevent water from entering the charging interface and ensure charging safety.

[0037] Manual control handle: Handle 9 is mechanically driven to the rotating shaft of the mixing valve core 2. Users can adjust the hot and cold water mixing ratio or open / close the water outlet 2a by rotating handle 9. Priority logic is provided between handle 9 and the sensor control unit 7. The sensor control unit 7 is active only when handle 9 is in the open state; it is inactive when handle 9 is in the closed state. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the sensor control unit 7 does not affect the hot and cold water mixing ratio already adjusted by handle 9, ensuring that manual control and sensor control can operate normally without interference during use.

[0038] Circuit connection method: The positive terminals of the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 are connected in parallel to the positive output terminal of the sensing control unit 7, and the negative terminals are connected in parallel to the negative output terminal of the sensing control unit 7, forming a parallel circuit structure. This parallel circuit structure allows the sensing control unit 7 to synchronously control the opening and closing actions of the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 through the same control signal line. When the sensing control unit 7 detects a user operation signal, it will send an open or close signal to the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 simultaneously through the control circuit 7a, causing the two solenoid valves to open or close at the same time, ensuring the synchronous supply of hot and cold water, and improving the convenience and stability of the faucet.

[0039] The working principle of the temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves in this embodiment is as follows:

[0040] When a user needs to use the faucet, it can be controlled in two ways:

[0041] Manual control method: The user rotates the handle 9, which drives the valve core rotor of the mixing valve core 2 to rotate, thereby adjusting the mixing ratio of hot and cold water, realizing the functions of water output and water temperature regulation, and also realizing the opening and closing of water flow.

[0042] Sensing control method: When the handle 9 is in the open state, the sensing control unit 7 is in the working state. When the user brings their hand close to the surface of the faucet housing 1 or the adjacent sensing area, the infrared emitting tube of the sensing control unit 7 emits an infrared signal, and the infrared receiving tube receives the reflected infrared signal. The sensing control unit 7 determines that there is user operation and sends an opening signal to the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6 through the control circuit 7a. The two solenoid valves open simultaneously, and the cold and hot water enter the mixing valve core 2 through the cold water inlet pipe 3 and the hot water inlet pipe 4, respectively. After mixing, the water flows out from the outlet 1a. When the user leaves the sensing area, the sensing control unit 7 detects the signal change again and sends a closing signal to the first solenoid valve 5 and the second solenoid valve 6. The two solenoid valves close simultaneously, stopping the water flow.

[0043] Through the structural design of this embodiment, the solenoid valve is installed at the water inlet end, which effectively frees up the space at the water outlet end. This solves the problems of installation difficulties, high modification costs and inconvenient maintenance caused by the limited space at the water outlet end in traditional technologies. At the same time, through reasonable circuit design and control logic, the normal operation and ease of use of the faucet are guaranteed, and the installation adaptability, modification convenience and maintenance efficiency of the faucet are improved.

[0044] It should be noted that in the description of this embodiment, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "upper," and "lower," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. The terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves, characterized in that, include The faucet casing (1) has a spout (1a) at the front end; The mixing valve core (2) is built into the faucet housing (1), and its mixing outlet (2a) is in fluid communication with the water outlet (1a); The cold water inlet pipe (3) is connected to the cold water inlet (2b) of the mixing valve core (2); Hot water inlet pipe (4) is connected to the hot water inlet (2c) of the mixing valve core (2); The first solenoid valve (5) is installed on the cold water inlet pipe (3); The second solenoid valve (6) is installed on the hot water inlet pipe (4); The sensing control unit (7) is disposed on the surface or adjacent area of ​​the faucet housing (1) and is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6) through the control circuit (7a); The power supply unit (8) provides working power to the sensing control unit (7), the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6).

2. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a handle (9) for manual control, which is mechanically driven to the mixing valve core (2) for adjusting the hot and cold water mixing ratio of the mixing outlet (2a) or opening and closing the water outlet; The handle (9) and the sensing control unit (7) are provided with priority logic. The sensing control unit (7) can only be effective when the handle (9) is in the open state, and the opening and closing operation of the sensing control unit (7) does not affect the hot and cold water mixing ratio that has been adjusted by the handle (9).

3. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positive terminals of the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6) are connected in parallel to the positive output terminal of the sensing control unit (7), and the negative terminals are connected in parallel to the negative output terminal of the sensing control unit (7). The parallel circuit structure enables the sensing control unit (7) to synchronously control the opening and closing actions of the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6).

4. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensing control unit (7) is configured to synchronously control the opening and closing actions of the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6) through the same control signal line, so that the first solenoid valve (5) and the second solenoid valve (6) open or close simultaneously when a user operation signal is detected.

5. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power supply unit (8) is an external power adapter or battery assembly, which is electrically connected to the induction control unit (7), the first solenoid valve (5), and the second solenoid valve (6), respectively.

6. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 5, characterized in that: The battery assembly is a rechargeable battery and is equipped with a charging interface.

7. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mixing valve core (2) adopts a rotary valve core structure, and the mixing ratio of hot and cold water or the opening and closing of water outlet is adjusted by the rotation angle of the valve core rotor.

8. The temperature-controlled faucet with dual solenoid valves according to claim 7, characterized in that: The mixing valve core (2) includes a valve seat (2d), and the cold water inlet (2b) and the hot water inlet (2c) are both located on the valve seat.

Images