Intelligent control box for faucet

Abstract

This utility model discloses an intelligent control box for faucets, belonging to the field of bathroom intelligent control technology, aiming to solve the problems of existing intelligent faucets being unable to accurately adjust water temperature and flow, and having complex structures that are prone to leakage. The control box includes a box-shaped structure composed of an upper shell and a lower shell, with an integrally molded valve body inside, featuring hot and cold water inlets and outlets. A temperature regulation component drives a temperature-regulating valve via a rotary actuator to adjust the mixing ratio of hot and cold water. A flow regulation component drives a piston via a linear actuator to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage to control the flow rate. A flow meter component includes a rotor and a Hall sensor to detect real-time flow. A temperature sensor detects the outlet water temperature and feeds it back to the PCB component, which centrally controls the temperature and flow, achieving intelligent adjustment and stable output of the outlet water temperature and flow. This design is suitable for household or commercial intelligent faucets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of intelligent control technology for bathroom fixtures. More specifically, this utility model relates to an intelligent control box for faucets. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most smart faucets on the market use infrared sensing or touch control. These methods can only turn the water flow on and off, and it is difficult to make precise intelligent adjustments to the water temperature and flow rate. Users still need to roughly judge the water temperature by touch and cannot know the accurate temperature in real time, which limits the user experience. Under water pressure fluctuations, traditional mechanical mixing valves cannot respond quickly, resulting in unstable water temperature and flow rate.

[0003] Some existing improvement solutions achieve basic control functions by adding independent solenoid valves and thermostatic valves to traditional faucets. However, this discrete structure increases the number of internal water circuit connection points, which not only increases assembly complexity but also raises the risk of leakage. At the same time, such structures usually require multiple microswitches for position detection, further increasing the number of components and the probability of failure. Since temperature and flow regulation requires the coordination of multiple actuators, high requirements are placed on the control accuracy and reliability of the drive motor. Conventionally, carbon brush motors are used to drive temperature regulation. However, carbon brush motors have a short lifespan, and the large impact force during opening and closing can affect the service life of structural components. If an open-loop stepper motor is used, there will be accumulated errors due to missed steps. If a closed-loop motor is used, there are significant practical difficulties in cost control.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a compact, reliable, and cost-effective intelligent control solution to address the shortcomings of existing intelligent faucets in terms of temperature control accuracy, water flow stability, and structural reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One objective of this utility model is to provide an intelligent control box for a faucet, comprising an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell and the lower shell together forming a box-shaped structure, the box-shaped structure comprising: The valve body is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, at least one outlet, and an internal water flow channel connecting the cold water inlet, the hot water inlet and the outlet. The valve body has a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity inside. A temperature regulating assembly includes a rotary actuator, a connector driven to rotate by the rotary actuator, and a temperature regulating valve whose valve stem is driven to rotate by the connector. The temperature regulating valve is disposed in the first receiving cavity of the valve body. A flow regulating assembly includes a linear actuator, a mounting base, and a piston. The linear actuator is fixed to the valve body via the mounting base, and its telescopic shaft is connected to the piston. The piston is disposed in the second receiving cavity of the valve body and can move relative to it to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage. A flow meter assembly, comprising a flow meter rotor disposed in an internal water flow channel and a Hall sensor disposed outside the water flow channel corresponding to the position of the flow meter rotor; A temperature sensor is located in the internal water flow channel downstream of the temperature control valve; The PCB assembly is electrically connected to the rotary driver, linear driver, Hall sensor, and temperature sensor.

[0006] Preferably, the valve body is a one-piece molded structure, and a third receiving cavity is provided on it. The first receiving cavity is connected to the third receiving cavity through a warm water outlet channel, the third receiving cavity is connected to the second receiving cavity through a connecting channel, and the second receiving cavity is connected to the water outlet through a water outlet channel.

[0007] Preferably, a solenoid valve is installed in the third receiving cavity.

[0008] Preferably, the temperature control valve is a temperature control valve with a shut-off function, and a plug for sealing the cavity is installed in the third receiving cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the temperature control assembly also includes a fixed bracket and two micro switches. The rotary driver is fixed on the fixed bracket, and the two micro switches are fixed on the fixed bracket. The two micro switches correspond to the full cold water position and the full hot water position of the temperature control valve, respectively.

[0010] Preferably, the surface of the connector is provided with at least one protrusion for mechanical limiting or triggering a micro switch to generate a position signal.

[0011] Preferably, the rotary driver is a linear stepper motor and the linear driver is a linear stepper motor.

[0012] Preferably, the flow regulating component is detachably installed within the second receiving cavity.

[0013] This utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: This invention integrates a temperature control component, a flow control component, a flow meter component, a temperature sensor, and a PCB component into a box-shaped structure consisting of an upper and lower housing. The PCB component provides unified control of the water temperature and flow rate at the faucet, enabling integrated intelligent regulation of these parameters. This achieves unified control of water temperature and flow rate, significantly reducing external piping connections, lowering the risk of leakage, and improving system response speed and control reliability.

[0014] The one-piece molded structure of this utility model avoids the sealing failure problem caused by the assembly of multiple parts and simplifies the production process; while the optimized internal flow channel layout (first receiving cavity → warm water outlet channel → third receiving cavity → connecting channel → second receiving cavity → water outlet channel) ensures smooth water flow, reduces pressure loss and eddy current phenomenon, and provides a stable fluid environment for precise control.

[0015] This invention achieves rapid automatic on / off control of the water circuit through a solenoid valve, with fast response speed, improving safety and energy efficiency. For example, it can automatically cut off the water flow when there is a timeout or when no one is present. At the same time, the solenoid valve is built into the cavity, saving external installation space and making the overall structure more compact.

[0016] This utility model can be equipped with either the temperature control valve's own shut-off function or an independent solenoid valve. While realizing the water circuit opening and closing function, it reduces the number of components, simplifies the circuit control logic, and lowers manufacturing costs and potential failure points.

[0017] This invention achieves modular installation of the rotary driver and micro switches through a fixed bracket, improving assembly accuracy and efficiency. The two micro switches provide mechanical limit detection and electrical signal feedback for the full cold water and full hot water positions of the temperature control valve, effectively preventing motor stall and providing reliable origin calibration and travel limit protection for the open-loop control system, thereby improving the repeatability of temperature control and system safety.

[0018] The convex structure of this invention is simple and reliable. It can be used as a hard limit stop for mechanical rotation, or to trigger a micro switch to generate a position signal. It provides an absolute position reference point for the rotational movement of the temperature control valve, which helps with system initialization positioning and position calibration during operation, and compensates for the cumulative error of the stepper motor.

[0019] The horizontal stepper motor of this invention can precisely control the rotation angle, thereby accurately adjusting the hot and cold water mixing ratio; the linear stepper motor can precisely control the linear displacement, thereby accurately adjusting the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage. Both are controlled by pulse signals, resulting in high control precision and fast response speed, jointly achieving high-precision, digital adjustment of the outlet water temperature and flow rate.

[0020] This invention allows the flow regulation component to be installed, maintained, and replaced as an independent module. When the component needs cleaning or repair, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire control box or damage the main water circuit structure, which greatly facilitates later maintenance, reduces after-sales costs, and ensures the sealing reliability after repeated assembly.

[0021] Other advantages, objectives and features of this invention will be partly apparent from the following description, and partly understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a side sectional view of the intelligent control box according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a side view of the intelligent control box according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model. Figure 3 This is a side view of the valve body according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a side sectional view of the valve body according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model; Figure 5 An exploded view of the temperature regulating component according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model; Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the flow regulation component according to one of the technical solutions of this utility model.

[0023] The markings in each of the attached figures are as follows: 1. Upper housing; 2. Lower housing; 3. Valve body; 4. Cold water inlet; 5. Hot water inlet; 6. Outlet; 7. First receiving cavity; 8. Second receiving cavity; 9. Rotary actuator; 10. Connector; 11. Temperature control valve; 12. Linear actuator; 13. Mounting base; 14. Piston; 15. Base; 16. Flow meter rotor; 17. Hall sensor; 18. Temperature sensor; 19. PCB assembly; 20. Third receiving cavity; 21. Protrusion; 22. Connecting channel; 23. Outlet channel; 24. Solenoid valve; 25. Fixing bracket; 26. Micro switch. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods described in the following embodiments are all conventional methods, and the reagents and materials described are all commercially available unless otherwise specified. In the description of this utility model, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. It does 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0026] like Figures 1-6 As shown, this utility model provides an intelligent control box for a faucet, including an upper shell 1 and a lower shell 2. The upper shell 1 and the lower shell 2 together form a box-shaped structure, which includes: The valve body 3 has a cold water inlet 4, a hot water inlet 5, at least one outlet 6, and an internal water flow channel connecting the cold water inlet 4, the hot water inlet 5, and the outlet 6. The valve body 3 has a first receiving cavity 7 and a second receiving cavity 8 inside. Specifically, the valve body 3 can be integrally injection molded from engineering plastics such as POM or nylon. The number of outlets 6 can be one or two, which are used for different water outlet modes. The cross-sectional shape of the internal water flow channel can be circular or rectangular. The first receiving cavity 7 and the second receiving cavity 8 are used to accommodate the temperature control valve 11 and the flow regulating component, respectively. The cavities of the first receiving cavity 7 and the second receiving cavity 8 are connected by a channel and can be sealed with a sealing ring. The temperature control assembly includes a rotary driver 9, a connector 10 driven to rotate by the rotary driver 9, and a temperature control valve 11 whose valve stem is driven to rotate by the connector 10. The temperature control valve 11 is disposed in the first receiving cavity 7 of the valve body 3. Specifically, the rotary driver 9 can be a stepper motor with an output torque range of 0.1 to 0.5 N·m. The connector 10 can be made of plastic (such as POM, nylon, etc.) or metal such as zinc alloy. It is connected to the valve stem by a spline or flat key. The temperature control valve 11 can be a ceramic valve core with horizontal rotation and a closing function. Its valve stem rotation angle range can be 0 to 180 degrees. The rod must be coaxial during assembly. The flow regulating assembly includes a linear actuator 12, a mounting base 13, and a piston 14. The linear actuator 12 is fixed to the valve body 3 via the mounting base 13, and its telescopic shaft is connected to the piston 14. The piston 14 is disposed in the second receiving cavity 8 of the valve body 1 and can move relative to it to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage. Specifically, the linear actuator 12 can be a linear stepper motor with a stroke range of 15 to 35 mm, and the specific model can be Minebea PL25L. The mounting base 13 can be made of aluminum alloy and fixed to the valve body 3 by bolts. The piston 14 can be made of PEEK or stainless steel, and the cross-sectional area changes with the displacement of the piston 14, ranging from 0 to 50 square millimeters. The flow meter assembly includes a flow meter rotor 16 disposed in an internal water flow channel and a Hall sensor 17 disposed on the outside of the water flow channel corresponding to the position of the flow meter rotor 16. Specifically, the flow meter rotor 16 can be made of magnetized PPS, POM or ceramic material, and the Hall sensor 17 can be a digital output type, installed on the outer wall of the water flow channel, and calculates the flow rate by detecting the number of times the rotor rotates. Temperature sensor 18 is located in the internal water flow channel downstream of temperature control valve 11. Specifically, temperature sensor 18 can be an NTC thermistor or PT1000. The NTC thermistor R25=50K±1% B25 / 50=3950K±1% MF51 has a measurement range of -30℃ to 200℃, a measurement accuracy of ±0.5℃, and an accuracy of ±1 degree Celsius. It is fixed to the wall of the water flow channel by thread or crimping. PCB assembly 19 is electrically connected to rotary driver 9, linear driver 12, Hall sensor 17 and temperature sensor 18. Specifically, PCB assembly 19 can be made of FR4 material with a thickness of 1.6 mm. It integrates a microcontroller, motor driver chip, signal conditioning circuit and communication interface. The microcontroller can be selected from the ARM Cortex-M series. It controls rotary driver 9 and linear driver 12 through PID algorithm to realize closed-loop control of temperature and flow. PCB can be fixed to the inside of lower housing 2 by screws. All electrical connections are made by plug-in or soldering. Cold water and hot water enter the internal water flow channel of valve body 3 through cold water inlet 4 and hot water inlet 5, respectively. PCB assembly 19 sends control commands to drive rotary driver 9 according to user-set or default parameters. A horizontal stepper motor drives the valve stem of thermostatic valve 11 to rotate through connector 10, changing the mixing ratio of cold and hot water to initially adjust the water temperature. The mixed water flow is detected by temperature sensor 18, and its signal is fed back to PCB assembly 19 to form a closed-loop temperature control. At the same time, PCB assembly 19 controls linear driver 12 to move, pushing piston 14 relative to the telescopic shaft. The base 15 moves, changing the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage in the second receiving cavity 8, thereby adjusting the water flow rate. The flow meter rotor 16 rotates under the impact of the water flow. The Hall sensor 17 detects its rotation speed and converts it into an electrical signal, which is fed back to the PCB assembly 19 to form a closed-loop flow control. Finally, the water, after precise adjustment of temperature and flow rate, flows out from the outlet 6. This control box integrates temperature and flow regulation functions into a single unit, reducing external pipe connections, lowering the risk of leakage, and improving control accuracy and response speed. It is suitable for smart faucet systems in both household and commercial settings.

[0027] In another technical solution, the valve body 3 is a one-piece molded structure, and a third receiving cavity 20 is also provided on it. The first receiving cavity 7 is connected to the third receiving cavity 20 through a warm water outlet channel 23. The third receiving cavity 20 is connected to the second receiving cavity 8 through a connecting channel 22. The second receiving cavity 8 is connected to the water outlet 6 through the water outlet channel 23. Specifically, the third receiving cavity 20 can be located in the middle or side of the valve body 3, and its volume can be in the range of 5 to 15 cubic centimeters. The diameter of the warm water outlet channel 23 can be between 3 and 5 millimeters, and it is used to receive the first receiving cavity 7. The mixed warm water is introduced into the third receiving chamber 20. The diameter of the connecting channel 22 can be the same as or slightly larger than that of the warm water outlet channel 23, for example, 3 to 6 mm, and is used to connect the third receiving chamber 20 and the second receiving chamber 8. The diameter of the outlet channel 23 can be between 4 and 8 mm, and is used to guide the water in the second receiving chamber 8 to the outlet 6. The third receiving chamber 20 can be designed as a cylindrical or rectangular cavity, and its inner wall can be smoothed to reduce water flow resistance. The warm water outlet channel 23, the connecting channel 22, and the outlet channel 23 can be designed to gradually widen along the water flow direction. Alternatively, a tapered shape can be used to optimize fluid performance and reduce eddies and pressure losses. The connections between channels and cavities can employ rounded transitions, with the radius of the transition between diameters ranging from 1 to 2 millimeters, to further reduce flow resistance and avoid stress concentration. Warm water, after being mixed in the first receiving cavity 7 by the temperature control valve 11, first flows into the third receiving cavity 20 through the warm water outlet channel 23. The third receiving cavity 20 serves as a temporary water flow transfer and buffer zone. Subsequently, the water flows into the second receiving cavity 8 through the connecting channel 22. The flow regulation component is located in the second receiving cavity. The flow rate is regulated within the 8th chamber, and the regulated water flows out from the outlet 6 through the outlet channel 23. This integrated flow channel design ensures smooth water flow and sealing. The one-piece molded valve body 3 structure integrates multiple functional chambers and water circuits into a single component, significantly reducing the number of pipe joints 10 and sealing points required for traditional discrete water circuit connections. This reduces the overall assembly complexity and potential leakage risk. This compact flow channel layout helps maintain the stability and response speed of the water flow, providing a structural basis for achieving precise temperature and flow control.

[0028] In another technical solution, a solenoid valve 24 is installed inside the third receiving cavity 20. Specifically, the solenoid valve 24 can be a normally closed two-position two-way direct-acting or pilot-operated solenoid valve 24, with a nominal diameter between 2 mm and 4 mm. The operating voltage can be DC 12V or 24V. The valve body 3 of the solenoid valve 24 can be made of brass or stainless steel, and the sealing material can be nitrile rubber or fluororubber to withstand water temperature and ensure sealing. The solenoid valve 24 is fixedly installed at the inlet or outlet end of the third receiving cavity 20 by threaded connection or snap-fit, with its coil facing outwards for easy wiring. The drive signal for the solenoid valve 24 is provided by the PCB assembly 19, and the control signal can be a PWM wave or a switching level, with a frequency between 1 kHz and 10 kHz. Within the z-range, the opening response time of the solenoid valve 24 can be less than 100 milliseconds, and the closing response time can be less than 80 milliseconds, so as to achieve rapid on / off control of the water circuit. During installation, a sealing ring needs to be installed between the solenoid valve 24 and the installation interface of the third receiving cavity 20. The sealing ring can be made of silicone or EPDM material to ensure the sealing reliability of the connection. The solenoid valve 24 is installed in the third receiving cavity 20, so that the control box has an automatic water circuit cut-off function. Through the control of the PCB assembly 19, the solenoid valve 24 can quickly cut off the water flow to the second receiving cavity 8 according to user instructions or preset conditions (such as timeout, water shortage), which enhances the safety and energy saving of use. The solenoid valve 24 is integrated inside the cavity, saving external installation space and making the overall structure more compact.

[0029] In another technical solution, the temperature control valve 11 is a temperature control valve 11 with a shut-off function, and a plug for sealing the cavity is installed in the third receiving cavity 20. Specifically, the temperature control valve 11 can be a ceramic valve core with a shut-off function, and its rotation angle range is usually 0 to 90 degrees or 0 to 180 degrees, where the 0-degree position corresponds to the fully closed state and the 90-degree position corresponds to the fully open state. The valve core can have dual functions of hot and cold water mixing and shut-off. The torque of the valve stem can be controlled between 0.2 and 0.6 Nm. The plug can be made of brass, stainless steel, or POM engineering plastic, and its structure can be in the form of an external hexagon head, internal hexagon head, or slotted head screw. The fit between the plug and the opening of the third receiving cavity 20 can be... A sealing ring is provided, and the sealing ring material can be nitrile rubber or silicone, with a hardness between Shore A60 and 80. During installation, the plug is fixed to the opening at the end of the third receiving cavity 20 by multiple screws to ensure a reliable seal. The use of a temperature regulating valve 11 with a shut-off function, combined with the plug at the end of the third receiving cavity 20, provides a simplified water circuit configuration for this control box. When the function of the third receiving cavity 20 is not required in the application scenario, it can be closed by the plug, allowing the water flow to be completely mixed through the temperature regulating valve 11 and directly enter the subsequent process. This design improves the versatility and adaptability of the valve body 3 structure, reduces the types of mold development, and maintains the sealing integrity of the water circuit.

[0030] In another technical solution, the temperature regulating assembly also includes a fixed bracket 25 and two microswitches 26. A rotary driver 9 is fixed to the fixed bracket 25, and the two microswitches 26 are also fixed to the fixed bracket 25. The two microswitches 26 correspond to the full cold water position and the full hot water position of the temperature regulating valve 11, respectively. Specifically, the fixed bracket 25 can be made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy plate by stamping and bending, with a thickness between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm. It can have through holes for mounting the rotary driver 9 and threaded holes or slots for mounting the microswitches 26. The rotary driver 9 can be fixed to the motor mounting surface of the fixed bracket 25 using M3 or M4 screws. The two microswitches 26 can be small basic switches with single-pole double-throw contacts, an operating force between 1.5 N and 2.5 N, and a stroke between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm. The microswitches 26 can be symmetrically fixed to the fixed bracket 25 using screws or clips. The specific installation position on the side wing or extension arm of the temperature control valve 11 should be such that when the valve stem or connector 10 of the temperature control valve 11 is rotated to the extreme position of full cold water or full hot water, it can press the actuator of the corresponding micro switch 26. The gap between the actuator of the micro switch 26 and the protrusion 21 or trigger arm on the valve stem or connector 10 can be preset to 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm to ensure reliable triggering and no excessive wear. The electrical signal output line of the micro switch 26 is connected to the PCB assembly 19 through a connector. By setting a fixed bracket 25 to integrate and install the rotary driver 9 and the micro switch 26, the modularity and assembly accuracy of the temperature control component are improved. The two micro switches 26 are used to detect the extreme mechanical position of the temperature control valve 11. The switching signal generated by them is fed back to the PCB assembly 19, which can be used as the origin calibration or stroke limit protection of the rotary driver 9 control system. This helps to prevent motor stall and improve the initial position repeatability accuracy of temperature control, thus ensuring the stable operation of the system.

[0031] In another technical solution, the surface of the connector 10 is provided with at least one protrusion 21 for mechanical limiting or triggering the micro switch 26 to generate a position signal. Specifically, the number of protrusions 21 provided on the surface of the connector 10 can be one, two, or four, symmetrically or asymmetrically distributed along the circumference of the connector 10. The protrusions 21 can be integrally formed from the same material as the connector 10, or they can be fixed by inlay. The height of the protrusions 21 can be between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, the diameter can be between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, and the shape can be hemispherical, cylindrical, or wedge-shaped. The protrusions 21 are usually provided on the outer cylindrical surface or end face of the connector 10, and their positions correspond to a specific rotation angle of the temperature control valve 11, such as the all-cold water position or the all-hot water position. At a specific temperature point, when the connector 10 rotates with the rotary driver 9, the protrusions 21 on its surface rotate accordingly. When rotated to a specific angle, the protrusions 21 will contact the mechanical limit blocks fixed to the periphery to achieve hard limiting, or press the actuator of the micro switch 26 fixed on the fixed bracket 25 to generate an electrical signal. Through the protrusions 21 on the surface of the connector 10, a mechanical limit reference or electrical signal trigger condition is provided for the rotational movement of the temperature control valve 11. These protrusions 21, in conjunction with the micro switch 26, can provide the absolute or reference point signal of the valve core position to the PCB assembly 19 for system power-on initialization positioning or position calibration during operation, which helps to reduce the cumulative error of the stepper motor and improve the repeatability and consistency of temperature control.

[0032] In another technical solution, the rotary driver 9 is a horizontal stepper motor, and the linear driver 12 is a linear stepper motor. Specifically, the horizontal stepper motor can be a two-phase hybrid stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8 degrees or 0.9 degrees, a holding torque in the range of 0.2 Nm to 0.6 Nm, and an operating voltage of DC 12V or 24V. This motor is connected to connector 10 via its front output shaft. The output shaft can be designed as a D-type shaft or a smooth shaft with a set screw for fixing. The axial installation clearance can be controlled between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm. The horizontal stepper motor is fixed to the mounting bracket 25 or a pre-set motor mount on the valve body 3 using screws. The linear stepper motor can be externally driven or internally driven, with a step angle of 1.8 degrees, a lead screw of 1 mm, 2 mm, or 4 mm, a maximum thrust in the range of 10 Nm to 30 Nm, and a repeatability accuracy of [missing information]. Better than 0.05 mm, the telescopic shaft of the linear stepper motor is directly connected to the piston 14 via a coupling or thread. The motor body is fixed to the mounting base 13 with screws through the mounting holes on its housing. The mounting base 13 is then fixed to a preset platform on the valve body 3 with screws. A flat-rotating stepper motor drives the temperature control valve 11 to rotate. The opening of the valve core is adjusted by precisely controlling the number and direction of the motor's steps, thereby controlling the mixing ratio of hot and cold water. A linear stepper motor drives the piston 14 to move linearly. The position of the piston 14 relative to the base 15 is changed by precisely controlling the number and direction of the motor's steps, thereby adjusting the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage to control the water flow rate. Both motors are controlled by pulse signals emitted by the PCB assembly 19. By controlling the number, frequency, and phase sequence of pulses, precise control of the rotation angle or linear displacement is achieved, thereby realizing high-precision regulation of water temperature and flow rate.

[0033] In another technical solution, the flow regulating component is detachably installed within the second receiving cavity 8. Specifically, the detachable installation of the flow regulating component can be achieved through threaded connection, snap-fit ​​connection, or screw plate fixing. If a threaded connection is used, an internal thread can be machined at the inlet of the second receiving cavity 8, with thread specifications of M20×1.5, M22×1.5, or G3 / 4. The corresponding position of the flow regulating component housing is machined with an external thread, and the thread engagement length can be 5 mm to 8 mm. If a snap-fit ​​connection is used, a groove can be provided on the inner wall of the second receiving cavity 8, with a groove depth of 1 mm to 2 mm. The corresponding position of the flow regulating component housing is provided with elastic claws, and the number of claws can be 2 to 4. During installation, the flow regulating component is aligned axially with the inlet of the second receiving cavity 8 and gently pushed or screwed in. If a threaded connection is used, the tightening torque is [not specified]. The flow rate can be controlled between 2 Nm and 5 Nm, and a sealing ring is installed at the threaded connection. The sealing ring can be made of nitrile rubber or silicone, and the cross-sectional diameter can be 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. If it is a snap-fit ​​connection, a clear click will be heard when it is pushed in, indicating that the claw has been engaged in the slot. For disassembly, if it is a threaded connection, it can be removed by rotating it in the opposite direction; if it is a snap-fit ​​connection, it can be unlocked by using a special tool or pressing the release mechanism. The flow regulation component is installed in the second receiving cavity 8 in a detachable manner, which facilitates the independent maintenance, replacement or cleaning of this component without disassembling the entire control box or damaging the main water circuit structure. This design improves the maintainability of the product. When the flow regulation function malfunctions or the seal needs to be replaced, it can be quickly handled on-site, reducing the cost and complexity of after-sales maintenance, while ensuring the reliability of the seal after repeated assembly.

[0034] In another technical solution, the flow regulating component also includes a base. The piston moves relative to the base to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage. Specifically, the base 15 can be made of brass or engineering plastic, and its structure is cylindrical or stepped shaft-shaped, with an outer diameter ranging from 10 to 20 mm and a height ranging from 5 to 12 mm. A through hole with a diameter ranging from 2 to 6 mm can be opened in the center of the base 15 for water flow. The end face of the base 15 that mates with the piston 14 can be flat-ground, and the flatness tolerance can be controlled within 0.02 mm to ensure sealing. The piston 14 is relatively movable within the second receiving cavity 8 of the valve body 3, and the piston 14 can move within a range of 5 to 15 mm. Driven by the linear actuator 12, the piston 14 moves 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm with each pulse of the stepper motor. The relative movement between the piston 14 and the base 15 changes the cross-sectional area of ​​the annular water passage formed between them. By controlling the number of pulses of the linear actuator 12, the position of the piston 14 can be precisely controlled, thereby achieving continuous adjustment of the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage and thus controlling the water flow rate.

[0035] Although the embodiments of this utility model have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, this utility model is not limited to the specific details and the illustrations shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A smart control box for a faucet, comprising an upper housing and a lower housing, the upper housing and the lower housing together forming a box-like structure, characterized in that, The box-shaped structure includes: The valve body is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, at least one outlet, and an internal water flow channel connecting the cold water inlet, the hot water inlet and the outlet. The valve body has a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity inside. A temperature regulating assembly includes a rotary actuator, a connector driven to rotate by the rotary actuator, and a temperature regulating valve whose valve stem is driven to rotate by the connector. The temperature regulating valve is disposed in the first receiving cavity of the valve body. A flow regulating assembly includes a linear actuator, a mounting base, and a piston. The linear actuator is fixed to the valve body via the mounting base, and its telescopic shaft is connected to the piston. The piston is disposed in the second receiving cavity of the valve body and can move relative to it to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage. A flow meter assembly, comprising a flow meter rotor disposed in an internal water flow channel and a Hall sensor disposed outside the water flow channel corresponding to the position of the flow meter rotor; A temperature sensor is located in the internal water flow channel downstream of the temperature control valve; The PCB assembly is electrically connected to the rotary driver, linear driver, Hall sensor, and temperature sensor.

2. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body is a one-piece molded structure, and a third receiving cavity is provided on it. The first receiving cavity is connected to the third receiving cavity through a warm water outlet channel. The third receiving cavity is connected to the second receiving cavity through a connecting channel. The second receiving cavity is connected to the water outlet through a water outlet channel.

3. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A solenoid valve is installed in the third accommodating cavity.

4. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature control valve is a temperature control valve with a shut-off function, and a plug for sealing the cavity is installed in the third receiving cavity.

5. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in any one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that, The temperature control assembly also includes a fixed bracket and two microswitches. The rotary driver is fixed on the fixed bracket, and the two microswitches are fixed on the fixed bracket. The two microswitches correspond to the full cold water position and the full hot water position of the temperature control valve, respectively.

6. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the connector is provided with at least one protrusion for mechanical limiting or triggering a micro switch to generate a position signal.

7. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary driver is a horizontal stepper motor, and the linear driver is a linear stepper motor.

8. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flow regulation component is detachably installed in the second receiving cavity.

9. The intelligent control box for a faucet as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flow regulation assembly also includes a base, and the piston moves relative to the base to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the water passage.

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