Faucet where the flow may be controlled mechanically or electronically

Abstract

The invention relates to a faucet (1) where the water flow may be controlled mechanically or electronically or the start of the flow may be prevented mechanically or electronically.

Description

[0001] FAUCET WHERE THE FLOW MAY BE CONTROLLED MECHANICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY

[0002] Subject of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a faucet where the water flow may be controlled mechanically or electronically or the start of the flow may be prevented mechanically or electronically.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005] In every area where we need water, such as bathrooms, toilet rooms and kitchens, we use the faucets, which enable the water to be provided for use in a controlled manner, more particularly, enable the water flow to be started and stopped and enable the water flow rate to be controlled.

[0006] With the advancing technology, the use of the faucets able to be controlled in a touchless manner has become extensive today. Most of the time, a sensor is located on the faucet body and the water flow is initiated or terminated as a result of said sensor being triggered. Due to the space occupied by the electronic components and some design- related limitations, it is usually not possible to include the components that enable the water flow rate or the mixture temperature to be adjusted, and as a result, it is not possible to adjust the water temperature and flow rate in said faucets. Although the ability to adjust only the water temperature is provided in some applications, the adjustment members employed in such applications do not allow the water temperature to be adjusted with the required precision.

[0007] Both in the faucets with mechanical control and in the faucets with electronic control, the water flow is controlled by only one controller and this may cause the water leakage and the flooding as a result of the wear and tear of said controller. In the faucets with touchless control, the water flow may start due to the triggering during a cleaning process or due to some other undesirable triggering actions and this may in turn result in the undesirable consumption of water. Another drawback of the state of the art is the inability to provide a continuous water flow or a water flow at a desired flow rate in said faucets with touchless control.

[0008] Object of the Invention

[0009] An object of the invention is to present a faucet where it is possible to start and stop the water flow by means of a mechanical controller or in a touchless manner by means of an electronic controller.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to present a faucet where the touchless control is deactivated in the case where the water flow is started by means of a mechanical controller.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to present a faucet where the touchless control is activated in the case where the water flow is prevented by means of a mechanical controller.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to present a faucet where it is possible to start the water flow by means of a mechanical controller or in a touchless manner by means of an electronic controller depending on the preference.

[0013] Description of the Figures

[0014] Figure 1: A representative exploded view of a possible embodiment of the faucet according to the invention

[0015] Figure 2: A representative exploded view of a possible embodiment of the faucet according to the invention

[0016] Reference Numerals

[0017] 1 : Faucet 3 : Switching member

[0018] 4 : Switching object

[0019] 5 : Off-axis magnetic encoder

[0020] 6 : Magnetic member

[0021] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0022] The invention relates to a faucet (1) where the water flow may be controlled mechanically or electronically or the start of the flow may be prevented mechanically or electronically. More particularly, the invention relates to a faucet (1) where the touchless control is deactivated in the case where the water flow is started mechanically and the touchless control is activated in the case where the water flow is prevented mechanically.

[0023] Said faucet (1) comprises in its most basic form at least one on / off arm (2), which enables to control the start and the stop of the water flow mechanically; at least one electronic controller, which enables the water flow to be started and stopped in a touchless manner; at least one sensor, which enables the electronic controller to be controlled in a touchless manner; and at least one switching member (3), which is triggered based on the water flow provided by means of said on / off arm (2) and which, as a result of being triggered, enables said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized or deactivated. In this way, owing to the switching member (3) that is triggered by means of the on / off arm (2), it is made possible to deactivate the touchless use while the faucet (1) is being used mechanically. When the on / off arm (2) is in the off position, i.e., when the faucet (1) is not being used mechanically, the touchless use is in the active state. Accordingly, the touchless use of the faucet (1) is enabled owing to the electronic controller triggered by means of the sensor.

[0024] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a switching member (3), which is configured to deactivate said electronic controller and / or said sensor while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it permits the passage of the water. In a possible embodiment, said switching member (3) is configured to enable said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water.

[0025] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a magnetic sensor, which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving by means of the on / off arm (2).

[0026] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a magnetic sensor, which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving in a rotary manner by means of the on / off arm (2).

[0027] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is an off-axis magnetic encoder (5), which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving in a rotary manner by means of the on / off arm (2).

[0028] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a photoelectric switching member, which has at least one light source and at least one light sensor. In a possible embodiment, said photoelectric switching member is a photoelectric switching member of the type, in which the light source and the light detector are positioned opposite one another and which detects and delivers an object coming between the light source and the light detector. In a possible embodiment, the faucet (1) comprises at least one switching object (4), which moves in a way to move into and out of the space between said light source and said light detector owing to the movement of the on / off arm (2). In a possible embodiment, said switching object (4) is configured to interrupt the transmission between said light source and said light detector while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water.

[0029] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said photoelectric switching member is a photoelectric switching member of the reflective type, in which the light source and the light detector are positioned together and which detects a reflective object positioned in front of the light source and the light detector. In a possible embodiment, the faucet (1) comprises at least one reflective object, which moves in a way to come in front of said light source and said light sensor owing to the movement of the on / off arm (2). In a possible embodiment, said reflective object is configured to be positioned in front of said light source and said light sensor while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water. In a possible embodiment, said reflective object is a retroreflector.

[0030] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a switching member (3), which is normally arranged as closed-circuit.

[0031] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said switching member (3) is a switching member (3), which completes the electric circuit when the water flow is prevented by means of the on / off arm (2) and which does not complete the electric circuit when the water flow is enabled.

[0032] In a possible embodiment of the invention, the faucet (1) comprises at least one control unit, which, based on the signal it receives from said switching member (3), enables said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized or deactivated.

[0033] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said electronic controller is a valve. In a possible embodiment, said faucet (1) comprises at least one flow rate reducer on the water line where the touchless water flow, which is controlled by means of the electronic controller, is provided. In this way, while the desired flow rate is controlled by the user during the mechanical use, it is made possible to save water during the touchless use. In a possible embodiment, said flow rate reducer is positioned at a water inlet section of the electronic controller. In another possible embodiment, said flow rate reducer is positioned at a water outlet section of the electronic controller. In a possible embodiment, said flow rate reducer is a flow rate reducer permitting the passage of 3 liters of water per minute. Said flow rate reducer is a member known in the art and is not shown in the figures.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A faucet (1) where the water flow may be controlled mechanically or electronically or the start of the flow may be prevented mechanically or electronically, characterized in that the faucet (1) comprises• at least one on / off arm (2), which enables to control the start and the stop of the water flow mechanically;• at least one electronic controller, which enables the water flow to be started and stopped in a touchless manner;• at least one sensor, which enables the electronic controller to be controlled in a touchless manner; and• at least one switching member (3), which is triggered based on the water flow provided by means of said on / off arm (2) and which, as a result of being triggered, enables said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized or deactivated.

2. A faucet (1) according to Claim 1 characterized in that said switching member (3) is configured to deactivate said electronic controller and / or said sensor while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it permits the passage of the water.

3. A faucet (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said switching member (3) is configured to enable said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water.

4. A faucet (1) according to any one of Claims 1-3 characterized in that said switching member (3) is a magnetic sensor, which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving by means of the on / off arm (2).

5. A faucet (1) according to any one of Claims 1-3 characterized in that said switching member (3) is a magnetic sensor, which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving in a rotary manner by means of the on / off arm (2).

6. A faucet (1) according to any one of Claims 1-3 characterized in that said switching member (3) is an off-axis magnetic encoder (5), which is configured to be triggered via a magnetic member (6) moving in a rotary manner by means of the on / off arm (2).

7. A faucet (1) according to any one of Claims 1-3 characterized in that said switching member (3) is a photoelectric switching member, which has at least one light source and at least one light sensor.

8. A faucet (1) according to Claim 7 characterized in that said photoelectric switching member is a photoelectric switching member of the type, in which the light source and the light detector are positioned opposite one another and which detects and delivers an object coming between the light source and the light detector.

9. A faucet (1) according to Claim 8 characterized in that the faucet (1) comprises at least one switching object (4), which moves in a way to move into and out of the space between said light source and said light detector owing to the movement of the on / off arm (2).

10. A faucet (1) according to Claim 9 characterized in that said switching object (4) is configured to interrupt the transmission between said light source and said light detector while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water.

11. A faucet (1) according to Claim 7 characterized in that said photoelectric switching member is a photoelectric switching member of the reflective type, in which the light source and the light detector are positioned together and which detects a reflective object positioned in front of the light source and the light detector.

12. A faucet (1) according to Claim 11 characterized in that the faucet (1) comprises at least one reflective object, which moves in a way to come in front of said light source and said light sensor owing to the movement of the on / off arm (2).

13. A faucet (1) according to Claim 12 characterized in that said reflective object is configured to be positioned in front of said light source and said light sensor while the on / off arm (2) is in the position where it prevents the passage of the water.

14. A faucet (1) according to Claim 12 or 13 characterized in that said reflective object is a retroreflector.

15. A faucet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said switching member (3) is a switching member (3), which is normally arranged as closed-circuit.

16. A faucet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said switching member (3) is a switching member (3), which completes the electric circuit when the water flow is prevented by means of the on / off arm (2) and which does not complete the electric circuit when the water flow is enabled.

17. A faucet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the faucet (1) comprises at least one control unit, which, based on the signal it receives from said switching member (3), enables said electronic controller and / or said sensor to be energized or deactivated.

18. A faucet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said electronic controller is a valve.

19. A faucet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the faucet (1) comprises at least one flow rate reducer on the water line where the touchless water flow, which is controlled by means of said electronic controller, is provided.

20. A faucet (1) according to Claim 19 characterized in that said flow rate reducer is positioned at a water inlet section of the electronic controller.

21. A faucet (1) according to Claim 19 characterized in that said flow rate reducer is positioned at a water outlet section of the electronic controller.

22. A faucet (1) according to any one of Claims 19-21 characterized in that said flow rate reducer is a flow rate reducer permitting the passage of 3 liters of water per minute.

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