Subject of the Invention

The invention relates to a fixture with double control in which the water flow may be controlled mechanically with the help of an arm and/or electrically with the help of a trigger. More particularly, the invention relates to a fixture with double control in which the water flow from the fixture may be turned on and off mechanically with the help of an arm, the water flow from the fixture may be turned on and off electrically with the help of a trigger, the water flow from the fixture may be turned on mechanically with the help of an arm and turned off electrically with the help of a trigger or the water flow from the fixture may be turned on electrically with the help of a trigger and turned off mechanically with the help of an arm.

State of the Art

The fixtures are used for the purpose of supplying in a controlled manner the water in the plumbing for use. The fixtures located at the points where the water in the plumbing flows out either allow or stop the outflow of water from the plumbing. The fixtures are also employed for regulating the flow rate.

The fixtures are most of the time are controlled with the help of a mechanical control arm . The mechanical arm is connected to a packing or a cartridge, and through the motion of the mechanical arm, the packing or the cartridge either allows or stops the water flow. By means of said mechanical arm, it is also possible to mix the hot water and cold water according to desired proportions and thus to adjust the temperature of the mixture water.

Today, the electrically controlled fixtures are also employed in order to preclude the unnecessary water consumption, facilitate the use and enhance the hygiene. Such electrically controlled fixtures are triggered by an optical sensor, touch-sensitive sensor and the like and they activate an electrical valve to allow the flow of water. The water flow is stopped when the object activating the system is moved away from the sensor in a fixture with an optical sensor or when a fixture having a touch-sensitive sensor is touched again. The fixtures are also available, which are controlled both mechanically by means of a control arm and electrically with the help of sensors. In order to allow the water flow in such fixtures, it is necessary to both bring the cartridge or the packing into the open position by means of the mechanical arm and bring the electrical valve into the on position by triggering the sensor. US2013264505 describes a system where an electrically controlled solenoid valve and a mechanically controlled valve are used. In this system, the water reaches first the mechanically controlled valve. In case of the mechanically controlled valve being open, the water advances to the electrically controlled solenoid valve. Upon the triggering of the sensor, the solenoid valve assumes the on position and the water flows out from the fixture. In case the mechanically controlled valve is not open, the flow of water will not take place from the fixture even if the sensor is triggered and the solenoid valve assumes the on position. In this system, a bypass line is also formed against the possibility of the malfunction of the solenoid valve or the failure of the same to operate for any reason. Consequently, in order to be able to utilize the water in said system, it is required to bring both valves into open position.

The state of the art also includes the embodiments in which the mechanical control arm and the electrical valve operate independently of one another. In these embodiments, the water line that is controlled by the mechanical control arm and the water line controlled by the electrical valve are independent from each other. In this way, it becomes possible to enable the water flow by means of only the mechanical control arm and/or by way of bringing only the electrical valve into the on position. On the other hand, it is necessary to bring both the mechanical control arm and the electrical valve into the closed position in order to stop the flow of water in such embodiments. The technique employed in such embodiments is similar to the principle of combining the water outlets of two independent fixtures that are controlled by means of an electrical valve and a mechanical control arm, respectively.

A method similar to the one explained in the paragraph above is employed in US20160362876. According to this document, the water running from the plumbing to the fixture is controlled by two separate valves. One of these valves is an electrically controlled electromechanical valve, while the other is a mechanically controlled valve. Said valves are connected in parallel and they operate independently of one another. As a result, the necessity to activate both valves in order to enable the water flow is eliminated. However, it is necessary to stop the water flow by means of the mechanical valve in case the flow was enabled by means of said mechanical valve or to turn off the water flow by means of the electromechanical valve in case the flow was enabled by means of said electromechanical valve.

US2013248019 describes a system comprising three valves, one of which is electrically controlled and the other is mechanically controlled. The electrically controlled valve and one of the mechanically controlled valves are connected in parallel and operate independently of one another. The water flow may be activated by any one of the valves connected in parallel. The system disclosed in this document is similar to the technique disclosed in US20160362876 and, in order to deactivate the system, it is necessary to use the same valve that was used to activate the system. In other words, the water flow should be stopped by means of the mechanical valve in case the flow was enabled by means of said mechanical valve and the same should be stopped by means of the electrical valve in case the flow was enabled by means of said electrical valve. The other mechanical valve described in this document is connected in series to the electrical valve. It is used for the purpose of adjusting the temperature of the water when the electrical valve is active and the water flow is being enabled.

An examination of the state of the art reveals the fact that in order to enable the water flow in the systems where the electrically controlled valves and the mechanically controlled valves are connected in series, it is necessary to activate both valves. On the other hand, in case of the valves being connected in parallel, the valves operate independently of one another, and in order to stop the flow, it is required to use the same valve that was used for enabling the flow.

Owing to the fixture with double control according to the invention, it is possible to stop the flow by means of the sensor or the mechanical arm irrespective of whether said flow was initiated electrically by means of the sensor or mechanically by means of the mechanical arm.

Object of the Invention

An object of the invention is to develop a fixture with double control in which the flow may be enabled and stopped mechanically with the help of an arm, the flow may be turned on and off electrically with the help of a trigger, the flow may be turned on mechanically with the help of an arm and turned off electrically with the help of a trigger or the flow may be turned on electrically with the help of a trigger and turned off mechanically with the help of an arm.

Another object of the invention is to develop a fixture with double control by which it is possible to enable the flow by changing the position of any of the valves while both the mechanical valve and the electrically controlled valve are in a position not allowing the flow.

Another object of the invention is to develop a fixture with double control by which it is possible to stop the flow by changing the position of any of the mechanically controlled valve or electrically controlled valve while the flow of water is taking place from the fixture.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1: An exploded view of the components of the fixture with double control.

Figure 2: A partial sectional view of the fixture with double control.

Figure 3: Schemes showing the scenarios according to the positions of the valve and the cartridge.

Reference Numerals

1: Fixture body

11: Fixture water inlet

12: Fixture water outlet

2: Lower body

3: Connection adapter

4: Cartridge

41: Cartridge water inlet

42: Cartridge water outlet

43: Cartridge control arm

5: Valve body

51: Valve body water inlet

52: Valve body water outlet

6: Water conduit 7: Electronic valve

8: Trigger

9: Electronic control unit

Detailed Description of the Invention

In its most basic form, the fixture with double control according to the invention comprises the fixture body (1), the fixture water inlet (11) for enabling the water in the plumbing to enter the fixture, at least one cartridge (4) and at least one electronic valve (7) for providing the controlled flow of water, the trigger (8), the electronic control unit (9) for controlling the electronic valve (7) based on the signals received from the trigger (8), the fixture water outlet (12) for enabling the outflow of the water from the fixture and the connection members.

The supply of water to the system is provided by means of the fixture water inlet (11). The fixture water inlet (11) is connected with the valve body (5) wherein the water is distributed via the valve body (5). At least one electronic valve (7) is disposed within the valve body (5) and controls the flow of water. At least one valve body water inlet (51) and at least two valve body water outlets (52) are present on the valve body (5). The water exiting through the valve body water outlets (52) on the valve body (5) is conveyed to the fixture body (1) via a hose and/or preferably a lower body (2). The lower body (2) contains at least two parallel water conduits (6) connected to the valve body water outlets (52). The connection between the fixture body (1) and the lower body (2) is provided by means of the connection adapter (3). The water, which is conveyed to the fixture body (1) by means of the connection adapter (3), is controlled by the cartridge (4). The cartridge water inlet (41) connected to the cartridge water outlet (42) is altered according to the position of the cartridge control arm (43) connected to the cartridge (4). In case the electronic valve (7) and the cartridge (4) are in a position favoring the flow, the water entering the fixture via the fixture water inlet (11) will leave the fixture via the fixture water outlet (12).

At each of its different positions, the electronic valve (7) disposed within the valve body (5) guides the water coming via the fixture water inlet (11) to only one of the valve body water outlets (52). As a matter of the operating principle of the system, the water is not guided to more than one valve body water outlet (52) at the same time or it is not possible to bring all of the valve body water outlets (52) into the closed position. The water is present each time in one water conduit (6). The electronic valve (7) is controlled by an electronic control unit (9). A trigger (8) is connected to the electronic control unit (9). Said trigger (8) could be in the form of a button as well as an optical, touch-sensitive, ultrasonic or piezo-sensor. In case the trigger (8) is triggered, said trigger (8) transmits a signal to the electronic control unit (9), and based on this signal, the electronic control unit (9) changes the position of the electronic valve (7). With every new triggering action, the electronic valve (7) guides the water to another valve body water outlet (52).

The cartridge (4) operates with a structure similar to the electronic valve (7). Unlike the electronic valve (7), the cartridge (4) has at least two cartridge water inlets (41) and at least one cartridge water outlet (42). The cartridge (4) is controlled by a cartridge control arm (43). Depending on the motion of the cartridge control arm (43), the connection is provided between any of the cartridge water inlets (41) and the cartridge water outlet (42). When the position of the cartridge control arm (43) is changed, the cartridge water inlet (41) that is connected to the cartridge water outlet (42) is changed. As in the case with the electronic valve (7), the cartridge (4) each time provides the connection between at least one cartridge water inlet (41) and the cartridge water outlet (42). Preferably, it is possible to perform the adjustment of the water temperature by means of the cartridge control arm (43) or the thermostatic cartridge (4).

The cartridge (4) and the electronic valve (7) are positioned preferably inside the fixture body (1). However, one or both of these may be disposed outside the fixture body (1) depending on the application.

The trigger (8) is positioned preferably at an easily accessible point. According to a preferred embodiment of the fixture with double control where the optical sensor is employed, the optical sensor is placed on the front surface of the fixture body (1) and sends a signal to the electronic control unit (9) depending on the motion of the user's hand.

Each of the valve body water outlets (52) is directly connected to the cartridge water inlets (41) via the lower body (2). In order for the water entering the fixture via the fixture water inlet (11) to be able to leave the fixture via the fixture water outlet (12), it is necessary that the valve body water outlet (52) to which the electronic valve (7) guides the water be the same as the cartridge water inlet (41) at which the cartridge (4) guides the water to the fixture water outlet (12). According to another preferred embodiment of the fixture with double control, the water may enter the fixture via the cartridge water inlet (41), then pass through the electronic valve (7) and then leave the system via the fixture water outlet (12). The fixture with double control according to this embodiment would likewise be capable of achieving all the objects mentioned above.

The possible positions of the electronic valve (7) and the cartridge (4) are shown in Figure 3 for an exemplary embodiment in which there are present two valve body water outlets (52) on the valve body (5) and two cartridge water inlets (41).

In the scenario A illustrated in Figure 3, the water coming via the fixture water inlet (11) was guided via the electronic valve (7) to the water conduit II (6). Similarly, the cartridge (4) guided the water coming from the water conduit II (6) to the cartridge water outlet (42). As a result, the water entering the fixture via the fixture water inlet (11) will leave the fixture via the fixture water outlet (12). In order to stop the flow of water, it will be sufficient to change the position of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4); in other words, to select the path I using only one of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4).

In the scenario B, the water coming via the fixture water inlet (11) was guided via the electronic valve (7) to the water conduit II (6). However, the cartridge (4) guided the water conduit I (6) to the cartridge water outlet (42). As a result, it will not be possible for the water to flow through the fixture water outlet (12). In order to start the flow of water, it will be sufficient to change the position of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4). That is to say, it will be sufficient to select the water conduit I (6) by means of the electronic valve (7) or to select the water conduit II (6) by means of the cartridge (4).

In the scenario C, the water coming via the fixture water inlet (11) was guided via the electronic valve (7) to the water conduit I (6). Similarly, the cartridge (4) guided the water conduit I (6) to the cartridge water outlet (42). As a result, the water entering the fixture via the fixture water inlet (11) will leave the fixture via the fixture water outlet (12). In order to stop the flow of water, it will be sufficient to change the position of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4). In the scenario D, the water coming via the fixture water inlet (11) was guided via the electronic valve (7) to the water conduit I (6). However, the cartridge (4) guided the water conduit II (6) to the cartridge water outlet (42). As a result, it will not be possible for the water to flow through the fixture water outlet (12). In order to start the flow of water, it will be sufficient to change the position of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4).

As explained in the scenarios above, it is sufficient to change the position of any one of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4) in order to enable the flow to occur. Likewise, it is sufficient to change the position of any one of the electronic valve (7) or the cartridge (4) in order to stop the flow. Thus, it is possible to turn off the water, which was turned on via the triggering of the trigger (8), by way of triggering the trigger (8) again or changing the position of the cartridge control arm (43), or it is possible to turn off the water, which was turned on by the use of the cartridge control arm (43), by way of using the cartridge control arm (43) again or triggering the trigger (8).