Mechanical Faucet Timing With Isolated Hydraulic Dampers

The patent divides the faucet into two separate chambers: a wet chamber containing the water flow path and a dry chamber containing the timing control mechanism. This segmentation isolates the timing mechanism from water exposure, eliminating corrosion and FOD issues while maintaining mechanical operation. The timing mechanism uses a piston and biasing members in the dry chamber that are actuated by water pressure transmitted through a sealed membrane, thereby achieving consistent timing without direct water contact.

The patent introduces a sealed membrane as an intermediary between the water flow and the timing mechanism. The membrane transmits water pressure to actuate the piston in the dry chamber without allowing direct contact between water and mechanical components. This intermediary solution enables direct water flow control while protecting the timing mechanism from corrosion and FOD caused by water quality variations.

The patent merges the water flow control function and the timing control function into a single integrated faucet body with interconnected wet and dry chambers. The sealed membrane and piston assembly serve dual purposes: transmitting water pressure for flow control while simultaneously acting as the timing mechanism. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity compared to having completely separate systems, while still achieving corrosion resistance through the isolated dry chamber design.