|
(11) | EP 0 245 577 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
Tap for the delivery of liquids for the conversion from automatic to manual Armatur für die Abgabe von Flüssigkeiten mit Umschaltung von automatischer auf manuelle Steuerung Robinet pour liquide à commande variable d'automatique à manuelle |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] This invention relates to a tap for the delivery of water or other liquids, and in particular to a tap that can be converted from automatic to manual operation.
[0002] Automatic taps provided with a sensor are known in the art and are particularly useful in sanitary services. The sensor consists of an emitter or receiver of infrared or visible rays, or any other device for surveying a space for the presence of bodies, such as a person's hands placed in a wash basin on which the tap is mounted. When the hands are placed into the wash basin near the water outlet, the tap operates by means of an electronic circuit and an electronic valve without manual intervention or an opening handle. The operation of automatic taps of this type are subject to interruption in the event of an electronic or electromechanical breakdown or a black-out of electric current. This results in considerable inconvenience to the user.
[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a tap that is automatically operable and which can be easily converted to manual operation in the event of damage to the tap or electrical black-out.
[0004] This invention provides a tap with electronic and electromechanical components in which a by-pass operated by an electronic valve is provided, and in which a water opening and closing mechanism that will not be used during normal automatic operation is provided. The opening and closing mechanism can be in a warm and cold water mixer.
[0005] More particularly,this invention provides a fluid delivery system, which can be alternately manually or automatically controlled. The fluid delivery system comprises a body for directing fluid to a desired location. Means for supplying fluid to the body are provided. Also provided are regulator means for manually controlling flow of fluid through the body. Locking means for releasably locking the regulator means in an open position so that fluid can flow through the body are included in the fluid delivery system. An electrically operated valve means in the fluid supply means is comprised of an automatically controlled fluid flow circuit and a manually controlled fluid flow circuit. Sensor means for detecting the presence of an object proximate the body and for providing an electrical signal response thereto are included in the system. Controller means regulates opening and closing of the valve. Means are provided for transmitting the electrical signal from the sensing means to the controller for the opening the automatically controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve. The locking means for the regulator is engaged when the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is closed. On the other hand, the locking means is released when the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is open.
[0006] In the event of damage of an electronic or electromechanical component in the system, the locking means for the regulator may be released and the by- pass of the electronic valve may be opened by a key, screw-driver or similar device, therby transforming the automatically operated tap to a traditional tap without the need of electronic and electromechanical parts.
[0007] This invention will be described in more detail with reference to the Figures in which some possible embodiments of the invention are shown, and wherein:
figure 1 shows the layout of an automatic tap with an electronic valve and with points A and B, which can be adjusted for converting the tap from automatic to manual operation;
figure 2 depicts a tap with an electronic valve in which a direct by-pass is obtained by unscrewing screw A' ;
figure 3 shows the same scheme of figure 2 with an electronic valve in which a by-pass on a servo control causes the continous opening of the electronic valve by unscrewing screw A;
figure 4 depicts another embodiment with an electronic valve in which a direct by-pass is obtained by unscrewing screw A' ;
figure 5 depicts the same electronic valve scheme of figure 4 in which a by-pass on the servo control causes the continous opening of the electronic valve by unscrewing screw A;
figure 6 depicts another tap in which a mixer is held by screw B in a position of rotation only and therefore of mixing only; and
figure 7 depicts an embodiment for releasing the mixer by unscrewing screw B thus allowing the control lever of the mixer to be raised. Upward movement of the lever stops the flow of the water as in a single control tap.
[0008] With reference to the figure 1 , a fluid delivery system of the invention for delivering liquids is depicted. The delivery system can be converted from automatic to manual operation. The fluid delivery system is provided on a wash basin 4, and the system comprises a mixing handle 1, body 2, electronic sensor 3, electric cable 5, water conduit 6, electronic valve 7 having a water regulation handle 8 on a capacity regulator 9, and an electronic circuit 10 with a transformer 11.
[0009] According to the present invention, unscrewing scew A results in a by-pass in electronic valve 7, which allows the water entering electronic valve 7 to freely flow towards body 2 of the tap. Unscrewing screw B on the mixer handle 1 permits upward and rotative movement of the handle, which stops the flow of water through the body 2.
[0010] In all of the embodiments of figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the electronic valve is shown in a deenergized state in which the water does not flow.
[0011] During automatic functioning of the fluid delivery system, if bobbin F is tensioned, a pin or small piston M moves to the left thereby opening hole C. The water in chamber D freely flows through hole C toward the outlet and the pressure in chamber D diminishes with respect to the pressure in chamber E. This results in membrane F moving to the left in the figures thus opening outlet G. All the water entering the inlet then freely passes from the chamber E to the outlet through hole G.
[0012] In the embodiment shown in figure 2, unscrewing the screw A' results in a continous functioning of the electronic valve due to the opening of hole H. All the water entering the inlet flows directly to the outlet through hole H.
[0013] In the figures, the dashed lines shown the flow of water when the electronic valve is energized and the menbrane F is open. The alternate dash-dot line shows the flow of water when the manual by-pass is being employed.
[0014] In the embodiment shown in figure 3, unscrewing screw A results in continous functioning of the electronic valve so that the water in chamber D freely flows through the manual by-pass, and the pressure in chamber D is diminished with respect to the pressure in chamber E. This results in membrane F being moved to the left, thus opening outlet hole G. The direction of water flow is shown with broken lines as in figure 2.
[0015] In the embodiment shown in figure 6, the tap normally functions automatically. The flow of water is started and stopped by the electronic valve. By keeping screw B tight, the upper handle rotates only and effects mixing of the water only. With reference to figure 7, by unscrewing screw B, the handle is permitted to rotate for mixing of the water,and in addition, the handle may be lifted for stopping the flow of water and lowered for initiating the flow of water through the faucet depicted in the figure.
1. A tap for the automatic or manual delivery of water to a wash-basin (4) comprising
a mixer with a handle (1), a tap body (2), an electronic sensor (3), an electric cable
(5), a water duct (6), an electrovalve (7) with a water-flow regulation handle (8)
on a regulator (9), an electronic control circuit (10), and a transformer (11), characterized
in that unscrewing a screw (A) a bypass of the electrovalve (7) allows water entering
the electrovalve (7) to flow towards the tap body (2), and in that unscrewing a screw
(B) allows the mixer handle (1) to be upward and/or rotatably moved so as to control
the water flow.
2. A tap according to claim 1, characterized by a screw (B) placed on the mixer (1)
of the tap, and by a screw (A) placed on the electrovalve (7) at the water inlet,
whereby said screws may be operated for performing the conversion.
3. A tap according to claim 1, characterized by the mixer (1) having the function
of mixing warm and cold water, and by a water opening and closing mechanism placed
before or behind said mixer (1), which is usually not used and can be brought into
use in case of damage.
4. A tap according ro claim 1, characterized in that by unscrewing a screw (A'), a
hole (H) is released so that the water flows directly from inlet (IN) to outlet (OUT)
via a direct by-pass.
5. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that by unscrewing a screw (A), the
water freely flows from chamber (D) through the by-pass (7), and in chamber (D) the
pressure decreases with respect to chamber (E) moving membrane (F) to release outlet
(G), so that all inlet water freely passes from chamber (E) to outlet hole (G).
6. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that by keeping screw (B) tight, the
upper handle can only rotate and performs the mixing of the water, while unscrewing
said screw (B) said handle may be lifted for stopping the delivery, lowered for opening
the water supply.
1. Armatur für die automatische oder manuelle Abgabe von Wasser in ein Waschbecken
(4), enthaltend eine Mischbatterie mit einem Griff (1), einen Armaturenkörper (2),
einen elektronischen Fühler (3), ein elektrisches Kabel (5) eine Wasserleitung (6),
ein Elektroventil (7) mit einem Regelgriff (8) für den Wasserdurchfluss auf einem
Regler (9) einen elektronischen Steuerkreis (10) und einen Umformer (11), dadurch
gekennzeichnet, dass beim Losschrauben einer Schraube (A) ein Bypass des Elektroventils
(7), das Eintreten des Wassers in das Elektroventil (7) und den Fluss in Richtung
des Armaturenkörpers (2) ermöglicht, und dadurch dass durch das Losschrauben der Schraube
(B) der Mischbatteriegriff (1) nach oben und/oder drehend bewegt werden kann, so dass
der Wasserdurchfluss gesteuert wird.
2. Armatur nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Schraube (B) an
der Mischbatterie (1) der Armatur angeordnet ist und eine Schraube (A) sich an dem
Elektroventil (7) für den Wassereintritt befindet, wobei die genannten Schrauben zur
Durchführung der Umleitung betätigt werden.
3. Armatur nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Mischbatterie (1)
die Aufgabe hat, warmes und kaltes Wasser miteinander zu vermischen, und dadurch,
dass ein Öffnungs- und Schliessmechanismus vor oder hinter der genannten Mischbatterie
(1) angeordnet ist, die normalerweise nicht benutzt wird und im Falle von Beschädigung
in Betrieb genommen werden kann.
4. Armatur nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass durch das Losschrauben
einer Schraube (A') eine Bohrung (H) frei wird, so dass das Wasser direkt vom Einlass
(IN) zum Auslass (OUT) über einen direkten Bypass fliessen kann.
5. Armatur nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass durch das Losschrauben
einer Schraube (A) das Wasser frei von der Kammer (D) durch den Bypass (7) fliesst
und in der Kammer (D) der Druck im Verhältnis zu der Kammer (E) abnimmt, wobei die
Membrane (F) bewegt wird, um den Auslass frei von der Kammer (E) zu der Auslassbohrung
(G) fliessen kann.
6. Armatur nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass durch das Festziehen
der Schraube (B) der obere Griff nur gedreht werden und das Mischen des Wassers durchführen
kann, während durch das Losschrauben der genannten Schraube (B) der genannte Griff
angehoben werden kann, um den Wasserfluss anzuhalten, und gesenkt, um den Wasserfluss
zu öffnen.
1. Robinet pour l'écoulement manuel ou automatique d'eau dans une cuvette de lavabo
(4) comportant un mélangeur avec une poignée (1), un corps de robinet (2), un senseur
électronique (3), un câble électrique (5), une conduite de l'eau (6), une électrovalve
(7) pourvue d'une poignée (8) de réglage de l'écoulement de l'eau sur un régulateur
(9), un circuit de commande électronique (10), et un transformateur (11), caractérisé
en ce que par le dévissage d'une vis (A) une dérivation de l'électrovalve (7) permet
à l'eau qui entre dans l'électrovalve de s'écouler vers le corps du robinet (2), et
en ce que par le dévissage d'une vis (B) la poignée (1) du mélangeur peut être déplacée
vers le haut et/ou être mue à rotation de manière à commander l'écoulement de l'eau.
2. Robinet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par une vis (B) située sur l'électrovalve
(7) en correspondance du tuyau d'arrivée de l'eau, de sorte que par l'actionnement
desdites vis on peut effectuer la variation de commande d'automatique à manuelle.
3. Robinet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mélangeur (1) sert à
mélanger l'eau chaude et froide et en ce qu'il y a un mécanisme d'ouverture et de
fermeture de l'eau situé devant ou derrière ledit mélangeur (1) lequel normalement
n'est pas utilisé mais qui peut entrer en fonctionnement en cas de dommage.
4. Robinet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que par le dévissage d'une
vis (A'), on dégage un trou (H), de manière que l'eau s'écoule directement du tuyau d'entrée
(IN) au tuyau de sortie (OUT) à travers une dérivation directe.
5. Robinet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que par le dévissage d'une
vis (A), l'eau s'écoule librement de la chambre (D) à travers la dérivation (7), et
dans la chambre (D) la pression diminue par rapport à la chambre (E) déplacant ainsi
la membrane (F) de manière à libérer la sortie (G), de sorte que toute l'eau en entrée
passe librement de la chambre (E) au trou d'émission (G).
6. Robinet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'en maintenant la vis (B)
vissée, la poignée supérieure peut seulement tourner et effectuer le mélange de l'eau,
alors que si l'on dévisse la vis (B) ladite poignée peut être déplacée vers le haut
pour arrêter l'écoulement d'eau et vers le bas pour ouvrir l'approvisionnement d'eau.