US20090121171A1 - Automatic bathroom flushers - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member, and a controller.

Description

• This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/859,750, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,437,778, which is a continuation of PCT Applicat. PCT/US02/38758, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/012,252, entitled “Adaptive Object-Sensing System for Automatic Flushers” filed on Dec. 4, 2001; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/012,226, entitled “Automatic Flow Controller Employing Energy-Conservation Mode” filed on Dec. 4, 2001; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/011,390, entitled “Assembly of Solenoid controlled Pilot-Operated Valve” filed on Dec. 4, 2001; U.S. application Ser. No. 60/012,252, entitled “Controlling a Solenoid Based on Current Time Profile” filed on Mar. 5, 2002; U.S. application Ser. No. 60/391,282, entitled “High Flow-Rate Diaphragm Valve And Control Method” filed on Jun. 24, 2002; and U.S. application Ser. No. 60/424,378 entitled “Automatic Bathroom Flushers for Long-Term Operation” filed on Nov. 6, 2002; all of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention is directed to automatic bathroom flushers and methods for operating and controlling such flushers.
• 2. Background Information
• Automatic flow-control systems have become increasingly prevalent, particularly in public rest-room facilities, both toilets and urinals. Automatic faucets and flushers contribute to hygiene, facility cleanliness, and water conservation. In such systems, object sensors detect the user and operate a flow-control valve in response to user detection. In the case of an automatic faucet, for instance, presence or motion of a user's hands in the faucet's vicinity normally results in flow from the faucet. In the case of an automatic flusher, detection of the fact that a user has approached the facility and then left is typically what triggers flushing action.
• Although the concept of such object-sensor-based automatic flow control is not new, its use has been quite limited until recently. The usage is becoming more widespread due to the recent availability of battery-powered conversion kits. These kits make it possible for manual facilities to be converted into automatic facilities through simple part replacements that do not require employing electricians to wire the system to the supply grid. A consequence of employing such battery-powered systems is that the batteries eventually need to be replaced.
• There is still a need for automatic flushers that are highly reliable and can operate for a long time without any service or just minimal service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The described inventions are directed to automatic bathroom flushers and methods for operating and controlling such flushers.
• According to one aspect, the present invention is a bathroom flusher. The bathroom flusher includes a body, a valve assembly, and an actuator. The body has an inlet and an outlet, and the valve assembly is located in the body and positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet. The actuator actuates operation of the moving member.
• The moving member may be a high flow rate fram member, or a standard diaphragm, or a piston. The bathroom flusher may further include an infra-red sensor assembly for detecting a urinal or toilet user. The bathroom flusher may further include different types of electromechanical, hydraulic, or only mechanical actuators.
• According to another aspect, the present invention is a bathroom flusher that includes a cover mounted upon said body and defining a pressure chamber with the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher may further include a flexible member fixed relative to the cover at one end thereof, the other end of the flexible member being attached to a movable member of the valve assembly, wherein there is a passage in said flexible member arranged to reduce pressure in said pressure chamber. The flexible member may be a hollow tube.
• Preferably, the bathroom flusher may include an automatic flow-control system. The automatic flow-control system may employ infrared-light-type object sensors.
• Another important aspect of the present inventions is a novel design of an infrared-light-type object sensor including an indicator. In the IR sensor, an IR source (typically an infrared-light-emitting diode) is positioned behind an infrared-light-transmitting aperture as to transmit the infrared light into a target region. The indicator may be a visible-light-emitting diode included in an LED-combination device in which it is connected antiparallel to the infrared-light-emitting diode. When the combination device is driven in one direction, the infrared source shines normally through an appropriate aperture. When the device is driven in the other direction, visible light instead shines through the same aperture as the infrared light did. This arrangement avoids separate provisions for the visible light's location or transmission.
• Yet another important aspect of the present inventions is a novel algorithm for operating an automatic flusher. The automatic flusher employs an infrared-light-type object sensor for providing an output on the basis of which a control circuit decides whether to flush a toilet. After each pulse of transmitted radiation, the control circuit determines if the resultant percentage of reflected radiation differs significantly from the last, and determines whether the percentage change was positive or negative. From the determined subsequent data having a given direction and the sums of the values, the control circuit determines whether a user has approached the facility and then withdrawn from it. Based on this determination, the controller operates the flusher's valve. That is, the control circuit determines the flush criteria based on whether a period in which the reflection percentage decreased (in accordance with appropriate withdrawal criteria) has been preceded by a period in which the reflection percentage increased (in accordance with appropriate approach criteria). In this embodiment, the control circuit does not base its determination of whether the user has approached the toilet on whether the reflection percentage has exceeded a predetermined threshold, and it does not base a determination of whether the user has withdrawn from the toilet on whether the reflection percentage has fallen below a predetermined threshold.
• Yet another important aspect of the present inventions is novel system and method for storing or shipping the above-described automatic flushers. The automatic flushers may include an object sensor (e.g., an IR sensor) and a manual a push button actuator. When the flusher is operational, the push button is designed for a user to provide signal to the control circuit to open the flusher's valve. However, if the button actuator has been pressed continually for an extended period, the control circuit assumes a sleep mode, in which its power consumption is negligible. A storage or shipping container may be designed to activate the button actuator while the container is closed. As a consequence, the flusher can be packed with the control circuit's batteries installed without draining those batteries significantly during shipping and storage. Alternatively, the storage or shipping container may include an external magnet cooperatively arranged together with a reed sensor connected to the control circuit. If the magnet continually activates the reed sensor for an extended period, the control circuit assumes the sleep mode, in which its power consumption is negligible. There are also other “sleep mode inducing” devices that allow batteries to be installed without draining battery power significantly during the shipping and storage.
• According to yet another aspect, the present invention is a novel valve device and the corresponding method for controlling flow-rate of fluid between the input and output ports of the valve device. A novel valve device includes a fluid input port and a fluid output port, a valve body, and a fram assembly. The valve body defines a valve cavity and includes a valve closure surface. The fram assembly provides two pressure zones and is movable within the valve cavity with respect a guiding member. The fram assembly is constructed to move to an open position enabling fluid flow from the fluid input port to the fluid output port upon reduction of pressure in a first of the two pressure zones and is constructed to move to a closed position, upon increase of pressure in the first pressure zone, creating a seal at the valve closure surface.
• According to preferred embodiments, the two pressure zones are formed by two chambers separated by the fram assembly, wherein the first pressure zone includes a pilot chamber. The guiding member may be a pin or internal walls of the valve body.
• The fram member (assembly) may include a pliable member and a stiff member, wherein the pliable member is constructed to come in contact with a valve closure surface to form seal (e.g., at a sealing lip located at the valve closure surface) in the closed position. The valve device may include a bias member. The bias member is constructed and arranged to assist movement of the fram member from the open position to the closed position. The bias member may be a spring.
• The valve is controlled, for example, by an electromechanical operator constructed and arranged to release pressure in the pilot chamber and thereby initiate movement of the fram assembly from the closed position to the open position. The operator may include a latching actuator (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,516, which is incorporated by reference), a non-latching actuator (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,662, which is incorporated by reference), or an isolated operator (as described in PCT Application PCT/US01/51098, which is incorporated by reference). The valve may also be controlled may also including a manual operator constructed and arranged to release pressure in the pilot chamber and thereby initiate movement of the fram member from the closed position to the open position.
• The novel valve device including the fram assembly may be used to regulate water flow in an automatic or manual bathroom flusher.
• According to yet another aspect, the present invention is a novel electromagnetic actuator and a method of operating or controlling such actuator. The electromagnetic actuator includes a solenoid wound around an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive an armature including a plunger partially enclosed by a membrane. The armature provides a fluid passage for displacement of armature fluid between a distal part and a proximal part of the armature thereby enabling energetically efficient movement of the armature between open and closed positions. The membrane is secured with respect to the armature housing and is arranged to seal armature fluid within an armature pocket having a fixed volume, wherein the displacement of the plunger (i.e., distal part or the armature) displaces the membrane with respect to a valve passage thereby opening or closing the passage. This enables low energy battery operation for a long time.
• Preferred embodiments of this aspect include one or more of the following features: The actuator may be a latching actuator (including a permanent magnet for holding the armature) of a non-latching actuator. The distal part of the armature is cooperatively arranged with different types of diaphragm membranes designed to act against a valve seat when the armature is disposed in its extended armature position. The electromagnetic actuator is connected to a control circuit constructed to apply said coil drive to said coil in response to an output from an optional armature sensor.
• The armature sensor can sense the armature reaching an end position (open or closed position). The control circuit can direct application of a coil drive signal to the coil in a first drive direction, and in responsive to an output from the sensor meeting a predetermined first current-termination criterion to start or stop applying coil drive to the coil in the first drive direction. The control circuit can direct or stop application of a coil drive signal to the coil responsive to an output from the sensor meeting a predetermined criterion.
• According to yet another aspect, the present invention is a novel assembly of an electromagnetic actuator and a piloting button. The piloting button has an important novel function for achieving consistent long-term piloting of a main valve. The present invention is also a novel method for assembling a pilot-valve-operated automatic flow controller that achieves a consistent long-term performance.
• Method of assembling a pilot-valve-operated automatic flow controller includes providing a main valve assembly and a pilot-valve assembly including a stationary actuator and a pilot body member that includes a pilot-valve inlet, a pilot-valve seat, and a pilot-valve outlet. The method includes securing the pilot-valve assembly to the main valve assembly in a way that fluid flowing from a pressure-relief outlet of the main valve must flow through the pilot-valve inlet, past the pilot-valve seat, and through the pilot-valve outlet, whereby the pilot-valve assembly is positioned to control relief of the pressure in the pressure chamber (i.e., pilot chamber) of the main valve assembly. The main valve assembly includes a main valve body with a main-valve inlet, a main-valve seat, a main-valve outlet, a pressure chamber (i.e., a pilot chamber), and a pressure-relief outlet through which the pressure in the pressure chamber (pilot chamber) can be relieved. A main valve member (e.g., a diaphragm, a piston, or a fram member) is movable between a closed position, in which it seals against the main-valve seat thereby preventing flow from the main inlet to the main outlet, and an open position, in which it permits such flow. During the operation, the main valve member is exposed to the pressure in the pressure chamber (i.e., the pilot chamber) so that the pressurized pilot chamber urges the main valve member to its closed position, and the unpressurized pilot chamber (when the pressure is relieved using the pilot valve assembly) permits the main valve member to assume its open position.
• According to yet another aspect, the present invention is a novel electromagnetic actuator system. This electromagnetic actuator system includes an actuator, a controller, and an actuator sensor. The actuator includes a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in a movable relationship an armature. The controller is coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to the solenoid coil for displacing the armature and thereby open or close a valve passage for fluid flow. The actuator sensor is constructed and arranged to sense a position of the armature and provide a signal to the controller.
• Preferred embodiments of this aspect include one or more of the following features: The sensor is constructed to detect voltage induced by movement of the armature. Alternatively, the sensor is constructed and arranged to detect changes to the drive signal due to the movement of the armature.
• Alternatively, the sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of the drive signal, and a voltmeter constructed to measure voltage across the resistor. Alternatively, the sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of the drive signal, and a differentiator receiving current flowing through the resistor.
• Alternatively, the sensor includes a coil sensor constructed and arranged to detect the voltage induced by movement of the armature. The coil sensor may be connected in a feedback arrangement to a signal conditioner providing conditioned signal to the controller. The signal conditioner may include a preamplifier and a low-pass filter.
• Alternatively, the system includes two coil sensors each constructed and arranged to detect the voltage induced by movement of the armature. The two coil sensors may be connected in a feedback arrangement to a differential amplifier constructed to provide a differential signal to the controller.
• The actuator sensor includes an optical sensor, a capacitance sensor, an inductance sensor, or a bridge for sensitively detecting a signal change due to movement of the armature.
• The actuator may have the armature housing constructed and arranged for a linear displacement of the armature upon the solenoid receiving the drive signal. The actuator may be a latching actuator constructed to maintain the armature in the open passage state without any drive signal being delivered to the solenoid coil. The latching actuator may include a permanent magnet arranged to maintain the armature in the open passage state. The latching actuator may further include a bias spring positioned and arranged to bias the armature toward an extended position providing a close passage state without any drive signal being delivered to the solenoid coil.
• The controller may be constructed to direct the power driver to provide the drive signal at various levels depending on the signal from the actuator sensor. The drive signal may be current. The system may include a voltage booster providing voltage to the power driver.
• The controller may be constructed to direct the power driver to provide the drive signal in a first drive direction and thereby create force on the armature to achieve a first end position. The controller is also constructed to determine whether the armature has moved in a first direction based on signal from the actuator sensor; and if the armature has not moved within a predetermined first drive duration, the controller directs application of the drive signal to the coil in the first direction at an elevated first-direction drive level that is higher than an initial level of the drive signal.
• The controller may be constructed to trigger the power driver to provide the drive signal in a first drive direction and thereby create force on the armature to achieve a first end position. The controller is also constructed to determine whether the armature has moved in a first direction based on signal from the actuator sensor; and if the armature has moved, the controller directs application of the drive signal to the coil in the first direction at a first-direction drive level that is being lower than an initial level of the drive signal.
• The actuator system may include the controller constructed to determine a characteristic of the fluid at the passage based on the signal from the actuator sensor. The characteristic of the fluid may be pressure, temperature, density, or viscosity. The actuator system may include a separate a temperature sensor for determining temperature of the fluid.
• The actuator system may include the controller constructed to determine a pressure of the fluid at the passage based on the signal from the actuator sensor. The actuator system may receive signals from an external motion sensor or a presence sensor coupled to the controller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a toilet and an accompanying automatic flusher.
• FIG. 1A is a side view of a urinal and an accompanying automatic flusher.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B together form a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the flusher.
• FIGS. 2A and 3B together form a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the flusher.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the flusher.
• FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the flusher's control circuitry.
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a valve for controlling fluid flow in the flusher shown inFIG. 4.
• FIG. 5A is a perspective exploded view of the valve shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 5B is an enlarged sectional view of another embodiment of the valve shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 5C is an enlarged sectional view of another embodiment of the valve shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an alternative version's transmitter and receiver lenses and front circuit-housing part.
• FIG. 6A is a cross-section taken atline6A-6A ofFIG. 6.
• FIG. 6B is an isometric view of a container that can be used for a subassembly of a flusher conversion kit.
• FIG. 6C is a cross section taken atline6C-6C ofFIG. 6B.
• FIG. 6D is an isometric view of a container that may be employed for a flusher conversion kit of the type depicted inFIG. 2 orFIG. 3.
• FIG. 6E is a detailed cross section of a button-depression device included in a container.
• FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of an electromechanical actuator for controlling any one of the valves shown inFIGS. 5 through 5B.
• FIG. 7A is a perspective exploded view of the electromechanical actuator shown inFIG. 7
• FIG. 7B is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an electromechanical actuator for controlling the valves shown inFIGS. 5 through 6B.
• FIG. 7C is a sectional view of a third embodiment of an electromechanical actuator for controlling the valves shown inFIGS. 5 through 6B.
• FIG. 7D is a sectional view of another embodiment of a membrane used in the actuator shown inFIGS. 7 through 7C.
• FIGS. 7E is a sectional view of another embodiment of the membrane and a piloting button used in the actuator shown inFIGS. 7 through 7C.
• FIG. 7F is a sectional view of another embodiment of an armature bobbin used in the actuator shown inFIGS. 7 through 7C.
• FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a control system for controlling operation of the electromechanical actuator shown inFIGS. 7,7A,7B or7C.
• FIG. 8A is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a control system for controlling operation of the electromechanical actuator shown inFIGS. 7,7A,7B or7C.
• FIG. 8B is a block diagram of data flow to a microcontroller used in the fluid flow control system ofFIGS. 8A or8B.
• FIGS. 9 and 9A show the relationship of current and time for the valve actuator shown inFIG. 7,7A,7B or7C connected to a water line at 0 psi and 120 psi reverse flow pressure, respectively.
• FIG. 9B illustrates a dependence of the latch time on the water pressure for the actuator shown inFIG. 7,7A,7B or7C.
• FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a flushing cycle used to control the flushers shown inFIGS. 2,3 or4.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry that the flusher uses to drive its light-emitting diodes.
• FIGS. 12A,12B, and12C together form a simplified flow-charts a routine that the control circuitry ofFIG. 4A executes.
• FIGS. 13A and 13B together form a more-detailed flow chart of a step in the routine ofFIGS. 12A,12B, and12C.
• FIG. 14 illustrates a novel algorithm for controlling operation of the flushers
• FIG. 15 is a front view of another embodiment of an automatic flusher andFIG. 15A is a cross-section taken atline15A-15A inFIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
• InFIG. 1, aflusher10 receives pressurized water from asupply line12 and employs an object sensor, typically of the infrared variety, to respond to actions of a target within atarget region14 by selectively opening a valve that permits water from thesupply line12 to flow through aflush conduit16 to the bowl of atoilet18.FIG. 1A illustrates aflusher10 for automatically flushing aurinal18A. As described above,flusher10 receives pressurized water fromsupply line12 and employs the object sensor to respond to actions of a target within atarget region14A by selectively opening a valve that permits water from thesupply line12 to flow through theflush conduit16 to theurinal18A.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate in detail a first embodiment ofautomatic flusher10.FIG. 2B showssupply line12, which communicates with anannular entrance chamber20 defined by an entrance-chamber wall22 formed near theflush conduit16's upper end. Apressure cap24 secured by a retainingring25 to the chamber housing clamps between itself and that housing theouter edge26 of aflexible diaphragm28 seated on amain valve seat30 formed by theflush conduit16's mouth.
• The supply pressure that prevails in theentrance chamber20 tends to unseat theflexible diaphragm28 and thereby cause it to allow water from thesupply line12 to flow through theentrance chamber20 into theflush conduit16'sinterior32. But thediaphragm28 ordinarily remains seated because of pressure equalization that ableed hole34 formed by thediaphragm28 tends to permit between theentrance chamber20 and amain pressure chamber36 formed by thepressure cap24. Specifically, the pressure that thereby prevails in thatupper chamber36 exerts greater force on thediaphragm28 than the same pressure withinentrance chamber20 does, because theentrance chamber20's pressure prevails only outside theflush conduit16, whereas the pressure in themain pressure chamber36 prevails everywhere outside of a through-diaphragm feed tube38.
• The flusher also include a solenoid-operated actuator assembly, that can include any known solenoid or can include anactuator assembly40 described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,293,516 or 6,305,662 both of which are incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the solenoid-operated actuator assembly includes an isolated actuator assembly40A described in detail in PCT Application PCT/US01/51098, filed on Oct. 25, 2001, which is incorporated by reference as if fully reproduced herein. The isolated actuator assembly40A is also in this application called a sealed version of the operator.
• To flush thetoilet18, the solenoid-operatedactuator assembly40 controlled bycircuitry42 relieves the pressure in themain pressure chamber38 by permitting fluid flow, in a manner to be described in more detail below, between pilot entrance and exitpassages44 and46 formed by thepressure cap24's pilot-housing portion48. A detailed description of operation is provided below.
• FIG. 3 (formed byFIGS. 2A and 3B) illustrates in detail a second embodiment ofautomatic flusher10. This embodiment uses a novel high flow rate valve600 (shown inFIG. 3B) utilizing a fram assembly described in detail in connection withFIG. 5C below. Referring toFIGS. 2A and 3B,automatic flusher10 receives water input fromsupply line12, which is in communication with apliable member628 supported by asupport member632 of a fram member626.Grooves638 and638A provide water passages to apilot chamber642. The actuator relieves pressure inpilot chamber642 and thus initiate opening ofvalve600. Then water flows frominput line12 by avalve seat625 tooutput chamber32. The entire flushing cycle is controlled by the solenoid-operatedactuator assembly40 controlled bycircuitry42, shown inFIG. 2A. A detailed description of operation is provided below.
• FIG. 4 illustrates in detail a third embodiment ofautomatic flusher10.Automatic flusher10 is a high performance, electronically controlled or manually controlled tankless flush system. Water enters thruinput union12, preferably made of a suitable plastic resin.Union12 is attached via thread to input fitting12A that interacts with the building water supply system. Furthermore,union12 is designed to rotate on its own axis when no water is present so as to facilitate alignment with the inlet supply line.
• Referring still toFIG. 4,union12 is attached to aninlet pipe64 by afastener60 and aradial seal62, which enablesunion12 to move in or out alonginlet pipe64. This movement can align the inlet to the supply line. However, withfastener60 secured, there is pressure applied by the junction ofunion12 toinlet60. This forms a unit that is rigid and sealed throughseal number62. The water supply travels throughunion12 toinlet64 and thru the inlet valve assembly in the direction ofelements76,78,70,72, and74.Automatic flusher10 also includes aninlet screen filter80, which resides in a passage formed bymember82 and is in communication with amain valve seat525, the operation of the entire main valve is described in connection withFIGS. 5,5A and5B.
• As described in connection withFIGS. 5,5A and5B, an electro-magnetic actuator50 controls operation of the main valve. In the opened state, water flows thrupassage528 thrupassage528A thrupassage528B intomain outlet32. In the closed state, thefram element528 seals the valvemain seat525.
• Automatic flusher10 includes anadjustable input valve72 controlled by rotation of avalve element54 threaded together withvalve elements514 and540, which are sealed frombody54 via o-ring seals84 and54A.Valve elements514 and540 of the assembly are held down by threadedelement52, whenelement52 is threaded all the way. The resulting force presses downelement82 onvalve element72 therefore creating a path frominlet78 to passage ofbody82. Whenvalve element52 is unthreaded all the way,valve assembly514 and540 moves up due to the force of the spring located in theadjustable valve70. The spring force combined with fluid pressure frominlet78forces element72 againstseat72A resulting in a sealing action. Seal element74 blocks the flow of water to inner passage of82, which in turn enables servicing of all internal valveelements including elements82,50,514,50, and528 without the need to shut off the water supply at theinlet12. This is a major advantage of this embodiment.
• According to another function ofadjustable valve70, the threaded retainer is fastened part way resulting invalve body elements514 and82 to push downvalve seat72 only partly. There is a partial opening that provides a flow restriction reducing the flow of input water thruvalve70. This novel function is designed to meet application specific requirements. In order to provide for the installer the flow restriction, the inner surface ofvalve body54 includes application specific marks such as 1.6 W.C., 1.0 GPF urinals etc.
• Automatic flusher10 includes a sensor-based electronic flush system located inhousing144 and described in connection withFIG. 2A. Furthermore, the sensor-based electronic flush system may be replaced by an all mechanical activation button or lever. Alternatively, the flush valve may be controlled by a hydraulically timed mechanical actuator that acts upon a hydraulic delay arrangement. Such hydraulic system can reside inhousing144. The hydraulic system can be adjusted to a delay period corresponding to the needed flush volume for a given fixture such a 1.6 GPF W.C etc. The hydraulic delay mechanism can open the outlet orifice of the pilot section instead of electromagnetic actuator50 (shown inFIG. 4) for duration equal to the installer preset value.
• Alternatively,control circuitry42 can be modified so that the sensory elements housed inhousing144 are replaced with a timing control circuit. Upon activation of the flusher by an electromechanical switch (or a capacitance switch), the control circuitry initiates a flush cycle by activatingelectromagnetic actuator50 for duration equal to the preset level. This level can be set at the factory or by the installer in the field. This arrangement can be combined with the static pressure measurement scheme described below for compensating the pressure influence upon the desired volume per each flush.
• The embodiment ofFIG. 4 has several advantages. The hydraulic or the electromechanical control system can be serviced without the need to shut off the water supply to the unit. Furthermore, the valve mechanism enables controlling the quantity of fluid that is passed thru the unit. The main flush valve includes the design shown in detail in connection withFIGS. 5,5A, and5B. This flush valve arrangement provides for a high flow rate (for its valve size) when compared to conventional diaphragm type flush valves, as shown inFIG. 2B.
• The embodiment ofFIG. 4 provides fluid control valves in combination with a low power bi-stable electro magnetic actuator that combined with the described control circuitry can precisely control the delivered water volume per each flush. As described below, the capability of measuring fluid static pressure and in turn altering the main valve open time controls dynamically the delivered volume. That is, this system can deliver a selected water volume regardless of the pressure variation in the water supply line.
• The system can include a flexible conducting spring contact arrangement for converting electrical control signals from the control electronics to the electro magnetic actuator without the use of a wire/connector arrangement. The system can also enable actuation of the main flush valve using a direct mechanical lever or a mechanical level actuating upon a hydraulic delay arrangement that in turn acts upon the main valve pilot arrangement. The individual functions are described in detail below.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of avalve500 used in the faucet embodiment shown inFIG. 3 or4.Valve device500 includes avalve body513 providing a cavity for avalve assembly514, aninput port518, and anoutput port520.Valve assembly514 includes aproximal body522, adistal body524, and a fram member526 (FIG. 5A).Fram member526 includes apliable member528 and asupport member532.Pliable member528 may be a diaphragm-like member with a slidingseal530.Support member532 may be plunger-like member or a piston like member, but having a different structural and functional properties that a conventional plunger or piston.Valve assembly514 also includes a guiding member such as aguide pin536 or sliding surfaces, and includes aspring540.
• Proximal body522 includes threadedsurface522A cooperatively sized with threaded surface524A ofdistal body524. Fram member526 (and thuspliable member528 and a plunger-like member532) includes anopening527 constructed and arranged to accommodate guidingpin536.Fram member526 defines apilot chamber542 arranged in fluid communication withactuator cavity550 viacontrol passages544A and544B.Actuator cavity550 is in fluid communication withoutput port520 via acontrol passage546.Guide pin536 includes a V-shaped orU-shaped groove538 shaped and arranged together with fram opening527 (FIG. 5A) to provide a pressure communication passage betweeninput chamber519 andpilot chamber550.
• Referring still toFIG. 5,distal body524 includes anannular lip seal525 arranged, together withpliable member528, to provide a seal between input port chamber529 andoutput port chamber521.Distal body524 also includes one orseveral flow channels517 providing communication (in open state) betweeninput chamber519 andoutput chamber521.Pliable member528 also includes sealing members529A and529B arranged to provide a sliding seal, with respect tovalve body522, betweenpilot chamber542 andoutput chamber521. There are various possible embodiments of seals529A and529B (FIG. 5). This seal may be one-sided as seal530 (shown inFIG. 5A) or two-sided seal529aand529bshown inFIG. 5. Furthermore, there are various additional embodiments of the sliding seal including O-ring etc.
• The present invention envisionsvalve device10 having various sizes. For example, the “full” size embodiment, shown inFIG. 5B, has the pin diameter A=0.070″, the spring diameter B=0.360″, the pliable member diameter C=0.730″, the overall fram and seal's diameter D=0.812″, the pin length E=0.450″, the body height F=0.380″, the pilot chamber height G=0.280″, the fram member size H=0.160″, and the fram excursion I=0.100″. The overall height of the valve is about 1.39″ and diameter is about 1.178″.
• The “half size” embodiment (of the valve shown inFIG. 5B) has the following dimensions provided with the same reference letters (each also including a subscript 1). In the “half size” valve A₁=0.070″, B₁=0.30, C₁=0.560″, D₁=0.650″, E₁=0.38″, F₁=0.310″, G₁=0.215″, H₁=0.125″, and I₁=0.60″. The overall length of the ½ embodiment is about 1.350″ and the diameter is about 0.855″. Similarly, the valve devices ofFIG. 5B or5C may have various larger or smaller sizes.
• Referring toFIGS. 5 and 5B,valve500 receives fluid atinput port518, which exerts pressure onto diaphragm-like members528 providing a seal together with alip member525 in a closed state.Groove passage538 provides pressure communication withpilot chamber542, which is in communication withactuator cavity550 viacommunication passages544A and544B. An actuator (shown inFIGS. 5C,7) provides a seal atsurface548 thereby sealingpassages544A and544B and thuspilot chamber542. When the plunger of actuator142 or143 moves away fromsurface548, fluid flows viapassages544A and544B to controlpassage546 and tooutput port520. This causes pressure reduction inpilot chamber542. Therefore, diaphragm-like member528 and piston-like member532 move linearly withincavity542, thereby providing a relatively large fluid opening atlip seal525. A large volume of fluid can flow frominput port518 tooutput port520.
• When the plunger of actuator142 or143 seals controlpassages544A and544B, pressure builds up inpilot chamber542 due to the fluid flow frominput port518 throughgroove538. The increased pressure inpilot chamber542 together with the force ofspring540 displace linearly, in a sliding motion overguide pin536,fram member526 toward sealinglip525. When there is sufficient pressure inpilot chamber542, diaphragm-likepliable member528 seals inputport chamber519 atlip seal525. Preferably,soft member528 is designed to cleangroove538 ofguide pin536 during the sliding motion.
• The embodiment ofFIG. 5 showsvalve500 having input chamber519 (and guide pin536) symmetrically arranged with respect topassages544A,544B and546 (and the location of the plunger ofactuator701. However,valve device500 may have input chamber519 (and guide pin536) non-symmetrically arranged with respect topassages544A,544B (not shown) andpassage546. That is, this valve has input chamber519 (and guide pin536) non-symmetrically arranged with respect to the location of the plunger of actuator142 or143. The symmetrical and non-symmetrical embodiments are equivalent.
• Referring toFIG. 5C,valve device600 includes a valve body613 providing a cavity for avalve assembly614, aninput port618, and anoutput port620.Valve assembly614 includes aproximal body602, adistal body604, and a fram member or assembly626. Fram member626 includes apliable member628 and asupport member632.Pliable member628 may be a diaphragm-like member with a sliding seal630.Support member632 may be plunger-like member or a piston like member, but having a different structural and functional properties that a conventional plunger or piston.Valve body602 provides a guide surface636 located on the inside wall that includes one orseveral grooves638 and638A. These are novel grooves constructed to provide fluid passages from input chamber located peripherally (unlike the central input chamber shown inFIGS. 5 and 5B).
• Fram member626 defines apilot chamber642 arranged in fluid communication with actuator cavity650 viacontrol passages644A and644B. Actuator cavity650 is in fluid communication withoutput chamber621 via acontrol passage646. Groove638 (orgrooves638 and638A) provides a communication passage betweeninput chamber619 andpilot chamber642.Distal body604 includes anannular lip seal625 co-operatively arranged withpliable member628 to provide a seal betweeninput port chamber619 andoutput port chamber621. Distal body624 also includes aflow channel617 providing communication (in the open state) betweeninput chamber619 andoutput chamber621 for a large amount of fluid flow.Pliable member628 also includes sealing members629A and629B (or one sided sealing member depending on the pressure conditions) arranged to provide a sliding seal with respect to valve body622, betweenpilot chamber642 andinput chamber619. (Of course, groove638 enables a controlled flow of fluid frominput chamber619 topilot chamber642, as described above.)
• We now turn to the system for controlling the operator. Regarding the embodiments shown inFIG. 2 andFIG. 3, asFIG. 2A shows, the operator-control circuitry42 is contained in a circuit housing formed of three parts, afront piece116, acenter piece118, and arear piece120. Screws not shown secure thefront piece116 to thecenter piece118, to which therear piece120 is in turn secured by screws such asscrew122. That screw threadedly engages abushing124 ultrasonically welded into a recess that thecenter housing piece118 forms for that purpose. Amain circuit board126, on which are mounted a number of components such as acapacitor128 and a microprocessor not shown, is mounted in the housing. Anauxiliary circuit board130 is in turn mounted on themain circuit board126. Mounted on theauxiliary board130 is a light-emittingdiode132, which atransmitter hood134 also mounted on that board partially encloses.
• The front circuit-housing piece116 forms a transmitter-lens portion136, which has front and rearpolished surfaces138 and140. The transmitter-lens portion focuses infrared light from light-emittingdiode132 through an infrared-transparent window144 formed in theflusher housing146. FIG.1'spattern148 represents the resultant radiation-power distribution. Areceiver lens152 formed bypart116 so focuses received light onto aphotodiode154 mounted on themain circuit board126 that FIG.1'spattern150 of sensitivity to light reflected from targets results.
• Like the transmitter light-emittingdiode132, thephotodiode154 is provided with a hood, in thiscase hood156. Thehoods134 and156 are opaque and tend to reduce noise and crosstalk. The circuit housing also limits optical noise; its center andrear parts118 and120 are made of opaque material such as Lexan 141 polycarbonate, while itsfront piece116, being made of transparent material such as Lexan OQ2720 polycarbonate so as to enable it to formeffective lenses136 and152, has a roughened and/or coated exterior in its non-lens regions that reduces transmission through it. Anopaque blinder158 mounted onfront piece116 leaves acentral aperture160 for infrared-light transmission from the light-emittingdiode132 but otherwise blocks stray transmission that could contribute to crosstalk. Also to prevent crosstalk, an opaque stop162 is secured into a slot provided for that purpose in the circuit housing'sfront part116.
• The arrangement ofFIG. 2A, in which the transmitter and receiver lenses are formed integrally with part of the circuit housing, can afford manufacturing advantages over arrangements in which the lenses are provided separately from the housing. But it may be preferable in some embodiments to make the lenses separate, because doing so affords greater flexibility in material selection for both the lens and the circuit housing.FIGS. 6 and 6A are front-elevational and cross-sectional views of an alternative that uses this approach. That alternative includes a frontcircuit housing piece116′ separate fromlenses136′ and152′. Thehousing part116′ forms a teardrop-shapedrim164 that cooperates during assembly with a similarly shapedflange166 onlens136′ to orient that lens properly in its position on a teardrop-shapedshoulder168 to which it is then welded ultrasonically. Referring toFIG. 6A, the teardrop shape ensures that the lens is oriented properly. Thereceiver lens152 is mounted similarly. Since the front circuit-housing part116′ andlenses136′ and152′ do not need to be made of the same material,housing part116′ can be made of an opaque material so thatblinders170 and astop172 can be formed integrally with it. As was mentioned in connection withFIG. 2A, the circuit housing contains circuitry that controls the valve operator as well as other flusher components.
• FIG. 4A is a simplified block diagram of that circuitry. A microcontroller-basedcontrol circuit180 operates aperipheral circuit182 that controls the valve operator.Transmitter circuitry184, including FIG.2's light-emittingdiode132, is also operated by thecontrol circuit180, andreceiver circuitry186 includes thephotodiode154 and sends the control circuit its response to resultant echoes. Although the circuitry ofFIG. 4A can be so implemented as to run on house power, it is more typical for it to be battery-powered, andFIG. 4A explicitly shows a battery-basedpower supply188 because thecontrol circuit180, as will be explained below, not only receives regulated power from the power supply but also senses its unregulated power for purposes to be explained below. It also controls application of the supply's power to various of theFIG. 4A circuit's constituent parts.
• Since the circuitry is most frequently powered by battery, an important design consideration is that power not be employed unnecessarily. As a consequence, the microcontroller-based circuitry is ordinarily in a “sleep” mode, in which it draws only enough power to keep certain volatile memory refreshed and operate atimer190. In the illustrated embodiment, thattimer190 generates an output pulse every 250 msec., and the control circuit responds to each pulse by performing a short operating routine before returning to the sleep mode.FIGS. 12A and 12B (together, “FIG.12”) form a flow chart that illustrates certain of those operations' aspects in a simplified fashion.
• The automatic flushers shown inFIGS. 2,3, and4 may utilize various embodiments of the isolated actuator, shown inFIGS. 7,7B and7C.Isolated actuator701 includes anactuator base716, aferromagnetic pole piece725, aferromagnetic armature740 slideably mounted in an armature pocket formed inside abobbin714.Ferromagnetic armature740 includes a distal end742 (i.e., plunger742) and anarmature cavity750 having acoil spring748.Coil spring748 includes reduced ends748aand748bfor machine handling.Ferromagnetic armature740 may include one or several grooves orpassages752 providing communication from the distal end of armature740 (outside of actuator base716) toarmature cavity750 and to the proximal end ofarmature740, at thepole piece725, for easy movement of fluid during the displacement of the armature.
• Isolated actuator body701 also includes asolenoid windings728 wound aboutsolenoid bobbin714 andmagnet723 located in amagnet recess720.Isolated actuator body701 also includes a resiliently deformable O-ring712 that forms a seal betweensolenoid bobbin714 andactuator base716, and includes a resiliently deformable O-ring730 that forms a seal betweensolenoid bobbin714 andpole piece725, all of which are held together by asolenoid housing718. Solenoid housing718 (i.e., can718) is crimped atactuator base16 to holdmagnet723 andpole piece725 againstbobbin714 and therebysecure windings728 andactuator base716 together.
• Isolated actuator700 also includes aresilient membrane744 that may have various embodiments shown and described in connection withFIGS. 7D and 7E. As shown inFIG. 7,resilient membrane764 is mounted betweenactuator base716 and a pilotingbutton705 to enclose armature fluid located a fluid-tight armature chamber in communication with anarmature port752.Resilient membrane764 includes adistal end766, O-ring likeportion767 and aflexible portion768.Distal end766 comes in contact with the sealing surface in theregion708.Resilient membrane764 is exposed to the pressure of regulated fluid provided viaconduit706 in pilotingbutton705 and may therefore be subject to considerable external force. Furthermore,resilient membrane764 is constructed to have a relatively low permeability and high durability for thousands of openings and closings over many years of operation.
• Referring to still toFIG. 7,isolated actuator701 is provided, for storage and shipping purposes, with acap703 sealed with respect to the distal part ofactuator base716 and with respect to pilotingbutton705 using a resiliently deformable O-ring732. Storage andshipping cap703 includes usually water that counter-balances fluid contained byresilient membrane744; this significantly limits or eliminates diffusion of fluid throughresilient membrane744.
• Referring still toFIG. 7,actuator base716 includes a wide base portion substantially located inside can718 and a narrowed base extension threaded on its outer surface to receivecap703. The inner surface of the base extension threadedly engages complementary threads provided on the outer surface of pilotingbutton705.Membrane764 includes a thickenedperipheral rim767 located between thebase extension32's lower face and pilotingbutton705. This creates a fluid-tight seal so that the membrane protects the armature from exposure to external fluid flowing in the main valve.
• For example, the armature liquid may be water mixed with a corrosion inhibitor, e.g., a 20% mixture of polypropylene glycol and potassium phosphate. Alternatively, the armature fluid may include silicon-based fluid, polypropylene polyethylene glycol or another fluid having a large molecule. The armature liquid may in general be any substantially non-compressible liquid having low viscosity and preferably non-corrosive properties with respect to the armature. Alternatively, the armature liquid may be Fomblin or other liquid having low vapor pressure (but preferably high molecular size to prevent diffusion).
• If there is anticorrosive protection, the armature material can be a low-carbon steel, iron or any soft magnetic material; corrosion resistance is not as big a factor as it would otherwise be. Other embodiments may employ armature materials such as the420 or430 series stainless steels. It is only necessary that the armature consist essentially of a ferromagnetic material, i.e., a material that the solenoid and magnet can attract. Even so, it may include parts, such as, say, a flexible or other tip, that is not ferromagnetic.
• Resilient membrane764 encloses armature fluid located a fluid-tight armature chamber in communication with anarmature port752 or790 formed by the armature body. Furthermore,resilient membrane764 is exposed to the pressure of regulated fluid in main valve and may therefore be subject to considerable external force. However,armature740 andspring750 do not have to overcome this force, because the conduit's pressure is transmitted throughmembrane764 to the incompressible armature fluid within the armature chamber. The force that results from the pressure within the chamber therefore approximately balances the force that the conduit pressure exerts.
• Referring still toFIGS. 7,7A,7B and7C,armature740 is free to move with respect to fluid pressures within the chamber between the retracted and extended positions.Armature port752 or790 enables the force-balancing fluid displaced from the armature chamber's lower well through thespring cavity750 to the part of the armature chamber from which the armature's upper end (i.e. distal end) has been withdrawn upon actuation. Although armature fluid can also flow around the armature's sides, arrangements in which rapid armature motion is required should have a relatively low-flow-resistance path such as the one thatport752 or790 helps form. Similar considerations favor use of an armature-chamber liquid that has relatively low viscosity. Therefore, the isolated operator (i.e., actuator700) requires for operation only low amounts of electrical energy and is thus uniquely suitable for battery operation.
• In the latching embodiment shown inFIG. 7,armature740 is held in the retracted position bymagnet723 in the absence of a solenoid current. To drive the armature to the extended position therefore requires armature current of such a direction and magnitude that the resultant magnetic force counteracts that of the magnet by enough to allow the spring force to prevail. When it does so, the spring force moves armature740 to its extended position, in which it causes the membrane's exterior surface to seal against the valve seat (e.g., the seat of piloting button705). In this position, the armature is spaced enough from the magnet that the spring force can keep the armature extended without the solenoid's help.
• To return the armature to the illustrated, retracted position and thereby permit fluid flow, current is driven through the solenoid in the direction that causes the resultant magnetic field to reinforce that of the magnet. As was explained above, the force that themagnet723 exerts on the armature in the retracted position is great enough to keep it there against the spring force. However, in the non-latching embodiment that doesn't includemagnet723,armature740 remain in the retracted position only so long as the solenoid conducts enough current for the resultant magnetic force to exceed the spring force ofspring748.
• Advantageously,diaphragm membrane764 protectsarmature740 and creates a cavity that is filled with a sufficiently non-corrosive liquid, which in turn enables actuator designers to make more favorable choices between materials with high corrosion resistance and high magnetic permeability. Furthermore,membrane764 provides a barrier to metal ions and other debris that would tend to migrate into the cavity.
• Diaphragm membrane764 includes a sealingsurface766, which is related to the seat opening area, both of which can be increased or decreased. The sealingsurface766 and the seat surface of pilotingbutton705 can be optimized for a pressure range at which the valve actuator is designed to operate. Reducing the sealing surface766 (and the corresponding tip of armature740) reduces the plunger area involved in squeezing the membrane, and this in turn reduces the spring force required for a given upstream fluid-conduit pressure. On the other hand, making the plunger tip area too small tends to damagediaphragm membrane764 during valve closing over time. Preferable range of tip-contact area to seat-opening area is between 1.4 and 12.3. The present actuator is suitable for variety of pressures of the controlled fluid. including pressures about 150 psi. without any substantial modification, the valve actuator may be used in the range of about 30 psi to 80 psi, or even water pressures of about 125 psi.
• Referring still toFIGS. 7,7A,7B and7C, pilotingbutton705 has an important novel function for achieving consistent long-term piloting of the diaphragm valve shown inFIG. 2B, or the fram valve shown inFIG. 3B.Solenoid actuator701 together with pilotingbutton705 are installed together as one assembly into the electronic flusher; this minimizes the pilot-valve-stroke variability at the pilot seat in region708 (FIGS. 7,7B and7C) with respect to the closing surface (shown in detail inFIG. 7E), which variability would otherwise afflict the piloting operation. This installation is faster and simpler than prior art installations.
• The assembly ofoperator701 and pilotingbutton705 is usually put together in a factory and is permanently connected thereby holdingdiaphragm membrane764 and the pressure loaded armature fluid (at pressures comparable to the pressure of the controlled fluid). Pilotingbutton705 is coupled to the narrow end ofactuator base716 using complementary threads or a sliding mechanism, both of which assure reproducible fixed distance betweendistal end766 ofdiaphragm764 and the sealing surface of pilotingbutton705. The coupling ofoperator701 and pilotingbutton705 can be made permanent (or rigid) using glue, a set screw or pin. Alternatively, one member my include an extending region that is used to crimp the two members together after screwing or sliding on pilotingbutton705.
• It is possible to installsolenoid actuator701 without pilotingbutton705, but this process is somewhat more cumbersome. Without pilotingbutton705, the installation process requires first positioning the pilot-valve body with respect to the main valve and then securing to the actuator assembly onto the main valve as to hold the pilot-valve body in place. If proper care is not taken, there is some variability in the position of the pilot body due to various piece-part tolerances and possible deformation. This variability creates variability in the pilot-valve member's stroke. In a low-power pilot valve, even relatively small variations can affect timing or possibly sealing force adversely and even prevent the pilot valve from opening or closing at all. Thus, it is important to reduce this variability during installation, field maintenance, or replacement. On the other hand, when assemblingsolenoid actuator701 with pilotingbutton705, this variability is eliminated or substantially reduced during the manufacturing process, and thus there is no need to take particular care during field maintenance or replacement.
• As described above, the main valve assembly includes a main valve body with a main-valve inlet, a main-valve seat, a main-valve outlet, a pressure chamber (i.e., a pilot chamber), and a pressure-relief outlet through which the pressure in the pressure chamber (pilot chamber) can be relieved, wherein the main valve member can be diaphragm28 (FIG. 2B), a piston, or a fram member (FIG. 3B orFIG. 4), all of which are movable between a closed position, in which the main valve member seals against the main-valve seat thereby preventing flow from the main inlet (e.g.,input12 inFIGS. 2B,3B or4) to the main outlet (e.g.,output34 inFIGS. 2B,3B or4).
• Referring toFIGS. 7D and 7E, as described above,diaphragm membrane764 includes anouter ring767,flex region768 and tip orseat region766. The distal tip of the plunger is enclosed inside a pocket flange behind the sealingregion766. Preferably,diaphragm membrane764 is made of EPDM due to its low durometer and compression set by NSF part61 and relatively low diffusion rates. The low diffusion rate is important to prevent the encapsulated armature fluid from leaking out during transportation or installation process. Alternatively,diaphragm member764 can be made out of a flouro-elastomer, e.g., VITON, or a soft, low compression rubber, such as CRI-LINE® flouro-elastomer made by CRI-TECH SP-508. Alternatively,diaphragm member764 can be made out of a Teflon-type elastomer, or just includes a Teflon coating. Alternatively,diaphragm member764 can be made out NBR (natural rubber) having a hardness of 40-50 durometer as a means of reducing the influence of molding process variation yielding flow marks that can form micro leaks of the contained fluid into the surrounding environment. Alternatively,diaphragm member764 includes a metallic coating that slows the diffusion thru the diaphragm member when the other is dry and exposed to air during storage or shipping of the assembled actuator.
• Preferably,diaphragm member764 has high elasticity and low compression (which is relatively difficult to achieve).Diaphragm member764 may have some parts made of a low durometer material (i.e.,parts767 and768) and other parts of high durometer material (front surface766). The low compression ofdiaphragm member764 is important to minimize changes in the armature stroke over a long period of operation. Thus, contactpart766 is made of high durometer material. The high elasticity is needed for easyflexing diaphragm member764 inregions768. Furthermore,diaphragm part768 is relatively thin so that the diaphragm can deflect, and the plunger can move with very little force. This is important for long-term battery operation.
• Referring toFIG. 7E, another embodiment ofdiaphragm membrane764 can be made to include a forward slug cavity772 (in addition to the rear plunger cavity shaped to accommodate the plunger tip). Theforward slug cavity772 is filled with a plastic ormetal slug774. Theforward surface770 including the surface ofslug774 is cooperatively arranged with the sealing surface of pilotingbutton705. Specifically, the sealing surface of pilotingbutton705 may include apilot seat709 made of a different material with properties designed with respect to slug774. For example, highdurometer pilot seat709 can be made of a high durometer material. Therefore, during the sealing action, resilient and relativelyhard slug772 comes in contact with a relativelysoft pilot seat709. This novel arrangement ofdiaphragm membrane764 and pilotingbutton705 provides for a long term, highly reproducible sealing action.
• Diaphragm member764 can be made by a two stage molding process. where by the outer portion is molded of a softer material and the inner portion that is in contact with the pilot seat is molded of a harder elastomer or thermo-plastic material using an over molding process. The forward facing insert774 can be made of a hard injection molded plastic, such as acceptable co-polymer or a formed metal disc of a non-corrosive non-magnetic material such as300 series stainless steel. In this arrangement,pilot seat709 is further modified such that it contains geometry to retain pilot seat geometry made of a relatively high durometer elastomer such asEPDM 60 durometer. By employing this design that transfers the sealing surface compliant member onto the valve seat of piloting button705 (rather than diaphragm member764), several key benefits are derived. Specifically, diaphragm member764 a very compliant material. There are substantial improvements in the process related concerns of maintaining proper pilot seat geometry having no flow marks (that is a common phenomena requiring careful process controls and continual quality control vigilance). This design enables the use of an elastomeric member with a hardness that is optimized for the application.
• FIG. 7F is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an armature bobbin used in the actuator shown inFIGS. 7 through 7C. The bobbin's body is constructed to have low permeability to the armature fluid. For example,bobbin714 includesmetallic regions713, which are in contact with the armature fluid, andplastic regions713a, which are not in contact with the armature fluid.
• FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a fluid flow control system for a latching actuator801. The flow control system includes againmicrocontroller814,power switch818,solenoid driver820. As shown inFIG. 7, latchingactuator701 includes at least onedrive coil728 wound on a bobbin and an armature that preferably is made of a permanent magnet.Microcontroller814 providescontrol signals815A and815B tocurrent driver820, which drivessolenoid728 for movingarmature740.Solenoid driver820 receives DC power frombattery824 andvoltage regulator826 regulates the battery power to provide a substantially constant voltage tocurrent driver820.Coil sensors843A and843B pickup induced voltage signal due to movement ofarmature740 and provide this signal to a conditioning feedback loop that includespreamplifiers845A,845B and flow-pass filters847A,847B. That is,coil sensors843A and843B are used to monitor the armature position.
• Microcontroller814 is again designed for efficient power operation. Between actuations,microcontroller814 goes automatically into a low frequency sleep mode and all other electronic elements (e.g., input element orsensor818,power driver820, voltage regulator orvoltage boost826, signal conditioner822) are powered down. Upon receiving an input signal from, for example, a motion sensor,microcontroller814 turns on apower consumption controller819.Power consumption controller819 powers up signal conditioner that provides power tomicrocontroller814.
• Also referring toFIG. 7, to close thefluid passage708,microcontroller814 provides a “close”control signal815A tosolenoid driver820, which applies a drive voltage to the coil terminals. Provided bymicrocontroller814, the “close”control signal815A initiates in solenoid driver820 a drive voltage having a polarity that the resultant magnetic flux opposes the magnetic field provided bypermanent magnet723. This breaks themagnet723's hold onarmature740 and allows thereturn spring748 to displacevalve member740 towardvalve seat708. In the closed position,spring748 keepsdiaphragm member764 pressed against the valve seat of pilotingbutton705. In the closed position, there is an increased distance between the distal end ofarmature740 andpole piece725. Therefore,magnet723 provides a smaller magnetic force on thearmature740 than the force provided byreturn spring748.
• To open the fluid passage,microcontroller814 provides an “open”control signal815B (i.e., latch signal) tosolenoid driver820. The “open”control signal815B initiates in solenoid driver820 a drive voltage having a polarity that the resultant magnetic flux opposes the force provided bybias spring748. The resultant magnetic flux reinforces the flux provided bypermanent magnet723 and overcomes the force ofspring748.Permanent magnet723 provides a force that is great enough to holdarmature740 in the open position, against the force ofreturn spring748, without any required magnetic force generated bycoil728.
• Referring toFIG. 8,microcontroller814 discontinues current flow, byproper control signal815A or815B applied tosolenoid driver820, afterarmature740 has reached the desired open or closed state. Pickup coils843A and843B (or any sensor, in general) monitor the movement (or position) ofarmature740 and determine whetherarmature740 has reached its endpoint. Based on the coil sensor data frompickup coils843A and843B (or the sensor),microcontroller814 stops applying the coil drive, increases the coil drive, or reduces the coil drive.
• To open the fluid passage,microcontroller814 sendsOPEN signal815B topower driver820, which provides a drive current to coil842 in the direction that will retractarmature740. At the same time, coils843A and843B provide induced signal to the conditioning feedback loop, which includes a preamplifier and a low-pass filter. If the output of adifferentiator849 indicates less than a selected threshold calibrated forarmature740 reaching a selected position (e.g., half distance between the extended and retracted position, or fully retracted position, or another position),microcontroller814 maintainsOPEN signal815B asserted. If no movement ofarmature740 is detected,microcontroller814 can apply a different level ofOPEN signal815B to increase the drive current (up to several time the normal drive current) provided bypower driver820. This way, the system can movearmature740, which is stuck due to mineral deposits or other problems.
• Microcontroller814 can detect armature displacement (or even monitor armature movement) using induced signals incoils843A and843B provided to the conditioning feedback loop. As the output fromdifferentiator849 changes in response to the displacement ofarmature740,microcontroller814 can apply a different level ofOPEN signal815B, or can turn offOPEN signal815B, which in turn directspower driver820 to apply a different level of drive current. The result usually is that the drive current has been reduced, or the duration of the drive current has been much shorter than the time required to open the fluid passage under worst-case conditions (that has to be used without using an armature sensor). Therefore, the system ofFIG. 8 saves considerable energy and thus extends life ofbattery824.
• Advantageously, the arrangement ofcoil sensors843A and843B can detect latching and unlatching movement ofarmature740 with great precision. (However, a single coil sensor, or multiple coil sensors, or capacitive sensors may also be used to detect movement ofarmature740.)Microcontroller814 can direct a selected profile of the drive current applied bypower driver820. Various profiles may be stored in,microcontroller814 and may be actuated based on the fluid type, fluid pressure, fluid temperature, thetime actuator840 has been in operation since installation or last maintenance, a battery level, input from an external sensor (e.g., a movement sensor or a presence sensor), or other factors.
• Optionally,microcontroller814 may include a communication interface for data transfer, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a USB port, of a wireless communication interface (e.g., an RF interface). The communication interface is used for downloading data to microcontroller814 (e.g., drive curve profiles, calibration data) or for reprogrammingmicrocontroller814 to control a different type of actuation or calculation.
• Referring toFIG. 7,electromagnetic actuator701 is connected in a reverse flow arrangement when the water input is provided viapassage706 of pilotingbutton705. Alternatively,electromagnetic actuator701 is connected in a forward flow arrangement when the water input is provided viapassage710 of pilotingbutton705 and exits viapassage706. In the forward flow arrangement, the plunger “faces directly” the pressure of the controlled fluid delivered bypassage710. That is, the corresponding fluid force acts againstspring748. In both forward and reverse flow arrangements, the latch or unlatch times depend on the fluid pressure, but the actual latch time dependence is different. In the reverse flow arrangement, the latch time (i.e., time it takes to retract plunger740) increases with the fluid pressure substantially linearly, as shown inFIG. 9B. On the other hand, in the forward flow arrangement, the latch time decreases with the fluid pressure. Based on this latch time dependence,microcontroller814 can calculate the actual water pressure and thus control the water amount delivery.
• FIG. 8A schematically illustrates a fluid flow control system for another embodiment of the latching actuator. The flow control system includes againmicrocontroller814,power consumption controller819,solenoid driver820 receiving power from abattery824 orvoltage booster826, and anindicator828.Microcontroller814 operates in both sleep mode and operation mode, as described above.Microcontroller814 receives an input signal from an input element818 (or any sensor) and providescontrol signals815A and815B tocurrent driver820, which drives the solenoid of a latchingvalve actuator701.Solenoid driver820 receives DC power frombattery824 andvoltage regulator826 regulates the battery power. Apower monitor872 monitors power signal delivered to the drive coil ofactuator701 and provides a power monitoring signal tomicrocontroller814 in a feedback arrangement havingoperational amplifier870.Microcontroller814 andpower consumption controller819 are designed for efficient power operation, as described above.
• Also referring toFIG. 8A, to close the fluid passage,microcontroller814 provides a “close”control signal815A tosolenoid driver820, which applies a drive voltage to the actuator terminals and thus drives current throughcoil728.Power monitor872 may be a resistor connected for applied drive current to flow through (or a portion of the drive current)Power monitor872 may alternatively be a coil or another element. The output frompower monitor872 is provided to the differentiator ofsignal conditioner870. The differentiator is used to determine a latch point, as shown inFIG. 9A.
• Similarly as described in connection withFIG. 8, to open the fluid passage,microcontroller814 sendsCLOSE signal815A orOPEN signal815B tovalve driver820, which provides a drive current tocoil728 in the direction that will extent or retract armature740 (and close or open passage708). At the same time,power monitor872 provides a signal toopamp870.Microcontroller814 determines ifarmature740 reached the desired state using the power monitor signal. For example, if the output ofopamp870 initially indicates no latch state forarmature740,microcontroller814 maintainsOPEN signal815B, or applies a higher level of OPEN signal, as described above, to apply a higher drive current. On the other hand, ifarmature740 reached the desired state (e.g., latch state shown inFIG. 9A),microcontroller814 applies a lower level ofOPEN signal815B, or turns offOPEN signal815B. This usually reduces the duration of drive current or the level of the drive current as compared to the time or current level required to open the fluid passage under worst case conditions. Therefore, the system ofFIG. 8A saves considerable energy and thus extends life ofbattery824.
• Referring toFIG. 10, flow diagram900 illustrates the operation ofmicrocontroller814 during a flushing cycle.Microcontroller814 is in a sleep mode, as described above. Upon an input signal from the input element or external sensor,microcontroller814 is initialed and the timer is set to zero (step902). Instep904, if the valve actuator performs a full flush, the time T_basequals T_full(step906). If there is no full flush, the timer is set instep910 to T_basequals T_half. In step912, microcontroller samples the battery voltage prior to activating the actuator instep914. After the solenoid of the actuator is activated,microcontroller814 searches for the latching point (seeFIG. 9 or9A). When the timer reaches the latching point (step918),microcontroller814 deactivates the solenoid (step920). Instep922, based on the latch time,microcontroller814 calculates the corresponding water pressure, using stored calibration data. Based on the water pressure and the known amount of water discharged by the tank flusher, the microcontroller decides on the unlatch time, (i.e., closing time) of the actuator (step926). After the latching time is reached,microcontroller14 provides the “close” signal to current driver820 (step928). After this point the entire cycle shown in flow diagram900 is repeated.
• Referring toFIGS. 12A and 12B, blocks200 and202 represent the fact that the controller remains in its sleep mode untiltimer190 generates a pulse. When the pulse occurs, the processor begins executing stored programming at a predetermined entry point represented byblock204. It proceeds to perform certain initialization operations exemplified byblock206's step of setting the states of its various ports and block208's step of detecting the state of FIG.2'spush button210. That push button, which is mounted on theflusher housing146 for ready accessibility by a user, contains amagnet210awhose proximity to themain circuit board126 increases when the button is depressed. The circuit board includes areed switch211 that, asFIG. 6 suggests, generates an input to the control circuit in response to the resultant increased magnetic field oncircuit board126.
• Push button210's main purpose is to enable a user to operate the flusher manually. As FIG.12'sblocks212,214,216,217, and218 indicate, thecontrol circuit180 ordinarily responds to that button's being depressed by initiating a flush operation if one is not already in progress, and if the button has not been depressed continuously for the previous thirty seconds.
• This thirty-second condition is imposed in order to allow batteries to be installed during manufacture without causing significant energy drain between the times when the batteries are installed in the unit and when the unit is installed in a toilet system. Specifically, packaging for the flusher can be so designed that, when it is closed, it depresses thepush button210 and keeps it depressed so long as the packaging remains closed. It will typically have remained closed in this situation for more than thirty seconds, so, as FIG.12'sblock220 shows, the controller returns to its sleep mode without having caused any power drain greater than just enough to enable the controller to carry out a few instructions. That is, the controller has not caused power to be applied to the several circuits used for transmitting infrared radiation or driving current through the flush-valve operator.
• Among the ways in which the sleep mode conserves power is that the microprocessor circuitry is not clocked, but some power is still applied to that circuitry in order to maintain certain minimal register state, including predetermined fixed values in several selected register bits. When batteries are first installed in the flusher unit, though, not all of those register bits will have the predetermined values.Block222 represents determining whether those values are present. If not, then the controller concludes that batteries have just been installed, and it enters a power-up mode, asblock224 indicates.
• The power-up mode deals with the fact that the proportion of sensor radiation reflected back to the sensor receiver in the absence of a user differs in different environments. The power-up mode's purpose is to enable an installer to tell the system what that proportion is in the environment is which the flusher has been installed. This enables the system thereafter to ignore background reflections. During the power-up mode, the object sensor operates without opening the valve in response to target detection. Instead, it operates a visible LED whenever it detects a target, and the installer adjusts, say, a potentiometer to set the transmitter's power to a level just below that at which, in the absence of a valid target, the visible LED's illumination nonetheless indicates that a target has been detected. This tells the system what level will be considered the maximum radiation level permissible for this installation.
• Among the steps involved in entering this power-up mode is to apply power to certain subsystems that must remain on continually if they are to operate. Among these, for instance, is the sensor's receiver circuit. Whereas the infrared transmitter needs only to be pulsed, and power need not be applied to it between pulses, the receiver must remain powered between pulses so that it can detect the pulse echoes.
• Another subsystem that requires continuous power application in the illustrated embodiment is a low-battery detector. As was mentioned above, the control circuitry receives an unregulated output from the power supply, and it infers from that output's voltage whether the battery is running low, asblock226 indicates. If it is low, then a visible-light-emitting diode or some other annunciator, represented inFIG. 4A byblock228, is operated to give the user an indication of the low-battery state.
• Now, the battery-check operation that block226 represents can be reached without the system's having performed block224's operation in the same cycle, so block226's battery-check operation is followed by the step, represented byblock230, of determining whether the system currently is in the power-up mode.
• In the illustrated embodiment, the system is arranged to operate in this power-up mode for ten minutes, after which the installation process has presumably been completed and a visible target-detection indicator is no longer needed. If, as determined in the block-230 operation, the system is indeed in the power-up mode, it performs block232's step of determining whether it has been in that mode for more than ten minutes, the intended length of the calibration interval. If so, it resets the system so that it will not consider itself to be in the power-up mode the next time it awakens.
• For the current cycle, though, it is still in its power-up mode, and it performs certain power-up-mode operations. One of those, represented byblock234, is to determine from the unregulated power-supply output whether any of the batteries have been installed in the wrong direction. If any have, the system simply goes back to sleep, asblock236 indicates. Otherwise, asblock238 indicates, the system checks its memory to determine whether it has commanded the valve operator five times in a row to close the flush valve, as the illustrated embodiment requires in the power-up mode. We have found that thus ordering the valve to close when the system is first installed tends to prevent inadvertent flushing during initial installation.
• Asblock242 indicates, the system then determines whether a target has been detected. If is has, the system sets a flag, asblock244 indicates, to indicate that the visible LED should be turned on and thereby notify the installer of this fact. This completes the power-up-mode-specific operations.
• The system then proceeds with operations not specific to that mode. In the illustrated embodiment, those further operations actually are intended to be performed only once every second, whereas the timer wakes the system every 250 msec. Asblock246 indicates, therefore, the system determines whether a full second has elapsed since the last time it performed the operations that are to follow. If not, the system simply goes back to sleep, asblock248 indicates.
• If a full second has elapsed, on the other hand, the system turns on a visible LED if it had previously set some flag to indicate that this should be that LED's state. This operation, represented byblocks250 and252, is followed byblock254's step of determining whether the valve is already open. If it is, the routine calls a further routine, represented byblock256, in which it consults timers, etc. to determine whether the valve should be closed. If it should, the routine closes the valve. The system then returns to the sleep mode.
• If the valve is not already open, the system applies power, asblock258 indicates, to the above-mentioned subsystems that need to have power applied continuously. Although that power will already have been applied if this step is reached from the power-up mode, it will not yet have been applied in the normal operating mode.
• That power application is required at this point because the subsystem that checks battery power needs it. That subsystem's output is then tested, asblocks260 and262 indicate. If the result is a conclusion that battery power is inadequate, then the system performs block264's and block266's steps of going back to sleep after setting a flag to indicate that it has assumed the power-up mode. Setting the flag causes any subsequent wake cycle to include closing the valve and thereby prevents uncontrolled flow that might otherwise result from a power loss.
• Now, it is desirable from a maintenance standpoint for the system not to go too long without flushing. If twenty-four hours have elapsed without the system's responding to a target by flushing, the routine therefore causes a flush to occur and then goes to sleep, asblocks268,270, and272 indicate. Otherwise, the system transmits infrared radiation into the target region and senses any resultant echoes, asblock274 indicates. It also determines whether the resultant sensed echo meets certain criteria for a valid target, asblock276 indicates.
• The result of this determination is then fed to a series of tests, represented byblock278, for determining whether flushing should occur. A typical test is to determine whether a user has been present for at least a predetermined minimum time and then has left, but several other situations may also give rise to a determination that the valve should be opened. If any of these situations occurs, the system opens the valve, asblock280 indicates. If the visible LED and analog power are on at this point, they are turned off, asblock282 indicates. Asblock284 indicates, the system then goes to sleep.
• Block276's operation of determining whether a valid target is present includes a routine thatFIGS. 13A and 13B together, (“FIG.13”) depict. If, as determined in the step represented by that drawing'sblock288, the system is in its power-up mode, then a background gain is established in the manner explained above.Block290 represents determining that level.
• The power-up mode's purpose is to set a background level, not to operate the flush valve, so the background-determiningstep290 is followed by the block-292 operation of resetting a flag that, if set, would cause other routines to open the flush valve. TheFIG. 13 routine then returns, asblock294 indicates.
• If the step ofblock288 instead indicates that the system is not in the power-up mode, the system turns to obtaining an indication of what percentage of the transmitted radiation is reflected back to the sensor. Although any way of obtaining such an indication is suitable for use with the present invention, a way that tends to conserve power is to vary the transmitted power in such a way as to find the transmitted-power level that results in a predetermined set value of received power. The transmitted-power level thereby identified is an (inverse) indication of the reflection percentage. By employing this approach, the system can so operate as to limit its transmission power to the level needed to obtain a detectable echo.
• In principle, the illustrated embodiment follows this approach. In practice, the system is arranged to transmit only at certain discrete power levels, so it in effect identifies the pair of discrete transmitted-power levels in response to which the reflected-power levels bracket the predetermined set value of received power. Specifically, it proceeds to block296's and block298's steps of determining whether the intensity of the reflected infrared light exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if it does, reducing the system's sensitivity—typically by reducing the transmitted infrared-light intensity—until the reflected-light intensity falls below the threshold. The result is the highest gain value that yields no target indication.
• In some cases, though, the reflected-light intensity falls below the threshold even when, if the sensitivity were to be increased any further, the system would (undesirably) detect background objects, such as stall doors, whose presence should not cause flushing. The purpose ofblock290's step was to determine what this sensitivity was, and the steps represented byblocks300 and302 set a no-target flag if the infrared echo is less than the threshold even with the gain at this maximum, background level. As the drawing shows, this situation also results in the flush flag's being reset and the routine's immediately returning.
• If the block-300 step instead results in an indication that the echo intensity can be made lower than the threshold return only if the sensitivity is below the background level, then there is a target that is not just background, and the routine proceeds to steps that impose criteria intended to detect when a user has left the facility after having used it. To impose those criteria, the routine maintains a push-down stack onto which it pushes entries from time to time. Each entry has a gain field, a timer field, and an in/out field.
• Block304 represents determining whether the absolute value of the difference between the current gain and the gain listed in the top stack entry exceeds a threshold gain change. If it does not, the current call of this routine results in no new entry's being pushed onto the stack, but the contents of the existing top entry's timer field are incremented, asblock306 indicates. If the block-304 step's result is instead that the gain change's absolute value was indeed greater than the threshold, then the routine pushes a new entry on to the stack, placing the current gain in that entry's gain field and giving the timer field the value of zero. In short, a new entry is added whenever the target's distance changes by a predetermined step size, and it keeps track of how long the user has stayed in roughly the same place without making a movement as great as that step size.
• Asblocks310,312, and314 indicate, the routine also gives the entry's in/out field an “out” value, indicating that the target is moving away from the flusher, if the current gain exceeds the previous entry's gain, and it gives that field an “in” value if the current gain is less than the previous entry's gain. In either case, the routine then performs the block-306 step of incrementing the timer (to a value of “1”) and moves from the stack-maintenance part of the routine to the part in which the valve-opening criteria are actually applied.
• Block316 represents applying the first criterion, namely, whether the top entry's in/out field indicates that the target is moving away. If the target does not meet this criterion, the routine performs the block-292 step of setting the flush flag to the value that will cause subsequent routines not to open the flush valve, and the routine returns, asblock294 indicates. If that criterion is met, on the other hand, the routine performs block318's step of determining whether the top entry and any immediately preceding entries indicating that the target is moving away are preceded by a sequence of a predetermined minimum number of entries that indicated that the target was moving in. If they were not, then it is unlikely that a user had actually approached the facility, used it, and then moved away, so the routine again returns after resetting the flush flag. Note that the criterion that the block-318 step applies is independent of absolute reflection percentage; it is based only on reflection-percentage changes, requiring that the reflection percentage traverse a minimum range as it increases.
• If the step ofblock318 instead determines that the requisite number of inward-indicating entries did precede the outward-indicating entries, then the routine imposes the block-320 criterion of determining whether the last inward-movement-indicating entry has a timer value representing at least, say, 5 seconds. This criterion is imposed to prevent a flush from being triggered when the facility was not actually used. Again, the routine returns after resetting the flush flag if this criterion is not met.
• If it is met, on the other hand, then the routine imposes the criteria ofblocks322,324, and326, which are intended to determine whether a user has moved away adequately. If the target appears to have moved away by more then a threshold amount, as determined byblock322, or has moved away slightly less but has appeared to remain at that distance for greater then a predetermined duration, as determined inblocks324 and326, then, asblock328 indicates, the routine sets the flush flag before returning. Otherwise, it resets the flush flag.
• The test ofFIG. 13 is typically only one of the various tests that FIG.12B'soperation276 includes. But it gives an example of how the illustrated system reduces problems that variations in user-clothing colors would otherwise make more prevalent. As a perusal ofFIG. 13 reveals, a determination of whether a user has arrived and/or left is based not on absolute gain values but rather on relative values, which result from comparing successive measurements. This reduces the problem, which afflicts other detection strategies more severely, of greater sensitivity to light-colored clothing than to dark-colored clothing.
• It was mentioned above that the illustrated system employs a visible-light-emitting diode (“visible LED”). In most cases, the visible LED's location is not crucial, so long as a user can really see its light. One location, for instance, could be immediately adjacent to the photodiode;FIG. 4A shows anon-roughened region330 in the flange of receiver-lens part152′, and the visible LED could be disposed in registration with this region. In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, though, no such separate visible LED is apparent. The reason why is that the visible LED in that embodiment is provided as a part of a combination-LED device132, which also includes the transmitter's infrared source.
• To operate the two-color LED, transmitter andannunciator circuits184 and228 (FIG. 4A) together take the form shown inFIG. 11. That circuitry is connected to the two-color LED'sterminals332 and334. The control circuit separately operates the two-color LED's infrared-light-emitting diode D1 and the visible-light-emitting diode D2 by drivingcontrol lines336,338, and340 selectively. Specifically, drivingline340 high turns on transistors Q1 and Q2 and thereby drives the visible-light-emitting diode D2, at least ifline338 is held high to keep transistor Q3 turned off. Ifline340 is driven low, on the other hand, andline338 is also driven low, then infrared-light-emitting diode D1 is allowed to conduct, with a power that is determined by the voltage applied to aline336 that controls transistor Q4.
• It was stated above in connection with FIG.12'sblocks214,217, and220 that the system goes to sleep if the push button has remained depressed for over 30 seconds.FIG. 6 illustrates packaging that takes advantage of this feature to keep power use negligible before the kit is installed, even if the kit includes installed batteries while it is in inventory or being transported. To adapt a previously manual system to automatic operation, a prospective user may acquire a flow controller that, for example, contains all of the elements depicted inFIG. 2A except the through-diaphragm feed tube38. This flow controller, identified byreference numeral348 inFIG. 6D, is delivered in a container comprising a generallyrectangular cardboard box350. The box's top includes aninner flap352, which is closed first, and anouter flap354, which is closed over the inner flap.Tabs356 that fit intoslots358 provided in the box body keep the box closed. To keep the button depressed while the box is closed, the box is provided with abutton activator360 so mounted on theinner flap352 that it registers with thepush button310 when that flap is closed. The package may be provided with inserts, not shown, to ensure that the flow controller's push button registers correctly with the activator.
• FIG. 6E is a detailed cross-sectional view of thebutton activator360 showing it mounted on theinner flap352 with theouter flap354 closed over it. The illustratedactivator360 is typically a generally circular plastic part. It forms anannular stop ring362, which engages the top of the flow controller's housing146 (FIG. 2A) to ensure that acentral protuberance364 depresses the push button by only the correct amount. To mount theactivator360 in the inner flap, it is provided with abarbed post366.Post366 forms acentral slot368 that enables it to deform so that its barbs can fit through ahole370 in theinner flap352. Theouter flap354 forms anotherhole372 to accommodate thebarbed post366.
• Other arrangements may place the button actuator elsewhere in the container. It may be placed on the container's bottom wall, for example, and the force of the top flaps against the flow controller.
• Now, it sometimes occurs that the batteries are placed into the circuit even before it is assembled into the housing, and the circuit with the batteries installed may need to be shipped to a remote location for that assembly operation. Since there is as yet no housing, the circuitry cannot be kept asleep by keeping the housing's button depressed. For such situations, an approach thatFIGS. 6B and 6C depict can be employed.
• FIG. 6B is a view similar toFIG. 6D, but thecontents376 of FIG.6B'spackage350′ are only a subset of thekit348 that thepackage350 contains. They may, for instance, exclude FIG.2'shousing146 as well as thepressure cap24 and the solenoid and pilot-valve members mounted on it. So thepackage350′ in theFIG. 6B embodiment does not include a button activator like the one that thebox350 includes. Instead, asFIG. 6C shows, amagnet380 is glued to the inner surface of thepackage350'sbottom wall382, and ahole384 in aninsert board386 that rests on thebottom wall382 receives the magnet.
• Thecircuit assembly376, whichFIG. 6C omits for the sake of simplicity, is so placed into the package that the circuits reed switch is disposed adjacent to the magnet. That switch is therefore closed just as it is when the push button is operated, and the circuit therefore remains asleep.
• FIGS. 15 and 15A illustrate another embodiment of an automatic flusher including a flexible tube that eliminatesdynamic seal38 used in the flusher described in connection withFIG. 2. The automatic controller shown schematically inFIG. 15 transmitter and receiver lenses and front circuit-housing part (seeFIG. 6) described above. The automatic flusher includes theisolated operator701 in a side (perpendicular) position.
• The flush valve body is indicated at10 and may have aninlet opening12 and a bottom directedoutlet opening14. The area between the underside of theinner cover1030 and the upper side of thediaphragm1032 forms apressure chamber1038. The pressure of the water within this chamber holds thediaphragm1032 upon aseat1040 formed at the upper end of barrel which forms a conduit between theinlet12 and theoutlet14.
• Details of this operation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,179, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,309,781 and 4,793,588. Water flow through theinlet12 reaches thepressure chamber38 through a filter and bypass ring, the details of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,182. Thus, water from the flush valve inlet reaches the pressure chamber, to maintain the diaphragm in a closed position, and the pressure chamber will be vented by the operation of the solenoid as water will flow upwardly through passage44 (FIG. 2A), then intochamber46 and then through the passage in the flex tube as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,586, which is incorporated by reference.
• Theflex tube1050 is hollow and in the form of a flexible sleeve. The sleeve includes acoiled spring1052, which prevents the tube from collapsing due to water pressure flowing downwardly through the disc of the assembly. At its upper end, theflex tube1050 is attached to an inner cover adaptor or another element.
• Seated on top of the upper end of the guide is a refill head with thediaphragm1032 being captured between the upper surface of the refill head and a lower surface of a radially outwardly extending portion of the disc. The diaphragm, the disc and the guide, will all move together when pressure is relieved inchamber1038 and the diaphragm moves upwardly to provide a direct connection betweenflush valve inlet12 andflush valve outlet14. When this takes place, the disc will move up and will carry with it the lower end of theflex tube1050. Thus, the flex tube must bend as its upper end is fixed within the passage of theinner cover1030. However, the flex tube always provides a reliable vent passage for operation of the valve assembly.

Claims (30)

1-20. (canceled)

21. An electromagnetic actuator system, comprising: an actuator including a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in a movable relationship an armature;

a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said solenoid coil for displacing said armature and thereby open or close a valve passage for fluid flow; and

an actuator sensor constructed and arranged to sense a position of said armature and provide a signal to said controller.

22. The actuator system ofclaim 21 wherein said sensor is constructed to detect voltage induced by movement of said armature.

23. The actuator system ofclaim 22 wherein said sensor is constructed and arranged to detect changes to said drive signal due to the movement of said armature.

24. The actuator system ofclaim 22 wherein said sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of said drive signal, and a voltmeter constructed to measure voltage across said resistor.

25. The actuator system ofclaim 22 wherein said sensor includes a coil sensor constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by movement of said armature.

26. The actuator system ofclaim 25 wherein said coil sensor is connected in a feedback arrangement to a signal conditioner providing conditioned signal to said controller.

27. The actuator system ofclaim 26 wherein said signal conditioner includes a preamplifier and a low-pass filter.

28. The actuator system ofclaim 22 wherein said sensor includes two coil sensors each constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by movement of said armature.

29. The actuator system ofclaim 28 wherein said coil sensors are connected in a feedback arrangement to a differential amplifier constructed to provide a differential signal to said controller.

30. The actuator system ofclaim 21 wherein said actuator sensor includes an optical sensor.

31. The actuator system ofclaim 21 wherein said actuator sensor includes a capacitance sensor.

32. The actuator system ofclaim 21 wherein said actuator sensor includes a bridge for sensitively detecting a signal change due to movement of said armature.

33. The actuator system ofclaim 21 wherein said armature housing is constructed and arranged for a linear displacement of said armature upon said solenoid receiving said drive signal.

34. The actuator system ofclaim 33 wherein said actuator is a latching actuator constructed to maintain said armature in said open passage state without any drive signal being delivered to said solenoid coil.

35. The actuator system ofclaim 34 wherein said latching actuator includes a permanent magnet arranged to maintain said armature in said open passage state.

36. The actuator system of claim14 wherein said latching actuator further includes a bias spring positioned and arranged to bias said armature toward an extended position providing a close passage state without any drive signal being delivered to said solenoid coil.

37. The actuator system ofclaim 21 further including a presence sensor coupled to said controller.

38. A valve device, comprising:

a fluid input port and a fluid output port;

a valve body defining a valve cavity and including a valve closure surface; and

a fram assembly providing two pressure zones and being movable within said valve cavity with respect a guiding member; said fram assembly being constructed to move to an open position enabling fluid flow from said fluid input port to said fluid output port upon reduction of pressure in a first of said pressure zones; and being constructed to move to a closed position, upon increase of pressure in said first pressure zone, creating a seal at said valve closure surface.

39. The valve device ofclaim 38, wherein said two pressure zones include two chambers separated by said fram assembly and wherein said first pressure zone includes a pilot chamber.

40. The valve device ofclaim 39 including an operator constructed and arranged to release pressure in said pilot chamber and thereby initiate movement of said fram member from said closed position to said open position.

41. The valve device ofclaim 40, wherein said operator includes a latching actuator.

42. The valve device ofclaim 40, wherein said operator includes a non-latching actuator.

43. The valve device ofclaim 40, wherein said operator includes an actuator having an isolation membrane for containing fluid inside a plunger cavity of said actuator.

44. The valve device ofclaim 38 wherein said fram assembly includes a pliable member and a stiff member, said pliable member being constructed to come in contact with said valve closure surface to form said seal in said closed position.

45. The valve device ofclaim 44, wherein said valve closure surface includes a lip providing said seal in said closed position.

46. The valve device ofclaim 38 including a bias member.

47. The valve device ofclaim 44 wherein said bias member is constructed and arranged to assist movement of said fram member from said open position to said closed position.

48. The valve device ofclaim 44 wherein said bias member includes a spring.

49-51. (canceled)

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