JP2013113052A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic faucet having a simple configuration and capable of executing changeover of a flow rate and improving comfortability.SOLUTION: In an automatic faucet, a first electromagnetic valve 21 and a second electromagnetic valve 22 which are switched by signals from a first sensor 17 and a second sensor 18 sensing a human hand or the like, respectively, are provided on a water supply passage 16 and on a main water supply passage 16a, respectively, and a throttle valve 23 is connected to a bypass channel 16b of a constant flow. Namely, both the electromagnetic valves 21, 22 are connected in series and the throttle valve 23 is connected in parallel with the second electromagnetic valve 22 on the downstream side. Then, the automatic faucet is constituted such that the throttle valve 23 is opened to discharge water at a small flow rate when the second sensor 18 does not sense a human hand or the like.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that is discharged by sensor sensing, and relates to an automatic faucet that can be used comfortably.

  In general, an automatic faucet is configured to automatically discharge water when an object such as a user's hand or tableware is detected by a sensor, and to stop automatically when an object is no longer detected by the sensor. ing. For this reason, useless water discharge can be eliminated and water saving can be achieved.

  Moreover, when washing tableware, objects such as the user's hand and tableware are frequently put in and out toward the water outlet of the faucet. In this case, from when the object is pushed out to the water outlet, until the sensor detects it and performs automatic water discharge, or after the object leaves the water outlet, until the sensor detects it and performs automatic water stop. There is a problem that if there is a time lag and water discharge and water stoppage are not performed with good response, the user feels inconvenience and irritation, and the automatic faucet cannot be used comfortably.

  An automatic faucet for solving such a problem is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The automatic faucet of Patent Document 1 is based on a sensor that detects an object, an on-off valve that is provided on a water supply channel to discharge and stop water, a flow rate adjustment valve that adjusts the water discharge flow rate, and a signal from the sensor. And a controller for controlling the operation of the flow rate adjusting valve. Then, the opening / closing valve is opened by the user's manual input, and when the sensor detects the object in that state, the opening of the flow rate adjustment valve increases and water is discharged at a large flow rate, and the sensor no longer detects the object. When the flow rate adjustment valve is opened, water is discharged at a small flow rate, and the on-off valve is closed by the user's manual input to stop water.

Japanese Patent No. 3999315

  In the automatic water faucet having the conventional configuration described in Patent Document 1 described above, the sensor detects the object and the flow rate adjustment valve opens to a predetermined opening and discharges water at a large flow rate under the control of the control unit as described above. When the sensor enters a non-detection state, the flow rate adjustment valve is throttled and water is discharged at a small flow rate. That is, in this patent document 1, even if a detection target remove | deviates from a sensor, the water discharge of a small flow volume is continued and, for this reason, the transition to a large flow volume is performed with sufficient responsiveness. However, in patent document 1, it is comprised so that the opening degree of one flow regulating valve may be controlled by a control part, and the large amount of water discharge and the small amount of water discharge may be obtained. For this reason, it takes time to adjust the opening until the sensor discharges the water at a large flow rate, and from when the sensor stops detecting until it is changed to a small flow rate and discharged. It takes time to adjust the opening. Thus, the user still feels uncomfortable due to the time delay and lacks comfort. In addition, in order to adjust the opening of the valve by the control unit, a program for adjusting the opening of the valve is stored in the storage area of the control unit, or when a program is not used, a complicated electric circuit is required. For this reason, it cannot be avoided that the configuration of the control unit becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to simplify the configuration, to quickly switch the flow rate, and to be comfortable. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic faucet that can improve the performance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the automatic faucet according to the first aspect of the present invention has a first and second electromagnetic valves that are opened and closed by a signal from the first sensor and the second sensor connected in series on the water supply channel. In addition, a throttle valve having a constant flow rate is connected so as to be in parallel with the second electromagnetic valve.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that a flow rate adjusting valve is provided on the upstream side of the first and second electromagnetic valves so that the flow rate can be adjusted manually.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the water supply channel is constituted by a main water supply channel and a bypass water channel connected in parallel to the main water supply channel, and the first and second solenoid valves are connected in series to the main water supply channel. The bypass water channel is configured to bypass the second electromagnetic valve, and the throttle valve is connected to the bypass water channel.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the unit composed of the first sensor and the first electromagnetic valve is an operation holding type, and the unit composed of the second sensor and the second electromagnetic valve is a switching type. And Here, the operation holding type means that the electromagnetic valve is opened when the sensor is turned on for the first time, and the open state of the electromagnetic valve is maintained until it is turned on for the second time. The electromagnetic valve is closed when the sensor is turned on for the second time. Refers to the valve state. The switching type means that the solenoid valve is opened only when the sensor is turned on and is closed when the sensor is turned off.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second electromagnetic valve is configured to be opened for a predetermined time when the first sensor is switched from the non-sensing state to the sensing state.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a water supply path is constituted by a first water supply path and a second water supply path that are connected in parallel, and a first electromagnetic valve that is opened and closed by a first sensor is provided in the first water supply path. The second water supply passage is connected with a second solenoid valve that is opened and closed by a second sensor, and the second water supply passage is connected with a constant flow rate throttle valve in series with the second solenoid valve. Features.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the unit composed of the first sensor and the first electromagnetic valve and the unit composed of the second sensor and the second electromagnetic valve are operation holding types.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be exhibited.
In the automatic water faucet of the present invention, the electromagnetic valve is opened by sensing of the sensor and water is discharged at a large flow rate, or only another electromagnetic valve is closed and water is discharged at a small flow rate by the throttle valve. It becomes possible. As described above, it is possible to quickly switch between a large flow rate water discharge and a small flow rate water discharge only by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve.

  Therefore, according to the automatic faucet of the present invention, it is not necessary to adjust the valve opening by the control configuration, the configuration can be simplified, and switching between the large flow rate water discharge and the small flow rate water discharge can be performed quickly. This has the effect of improving comfort.

(A) is a schematic front view which shows the automatic faucet of 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention, (b) is a schematic side view which shows the automatic faucet. The schematic diagram which shows the valve mechanism of the automatic faucet of 1st, 2nd embodiment. (A) is a schematic front view which shows the automatic faucet of 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a schematic side view which shows the automatic faucet. The schematic diagram which shows the valve mechanism of the automatic faucet of 3rd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a change.

(First embodiment)
Below, 1st Embodiment of this invention is described in detail based on FIG.1 and FIG.2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), an automatic faucet 10 is installed in an installation part 11 such as a kitchen sink, and an arc-shaped water discharge pipe 12 is connected to the upper part of the main body 10a. The tip of the water pipe 12 is a water outlet 12a. A single lever 13 is disposed on the side of the main body 10a. By manually operating the single lever 13, the flow rate adjustment valve 20 shown in FIG. 2 is adjusted. When the flow rate control valve 20 is opened, the water or hot water from the hot water supply pipe 14 and the water supply pipe 15 becomes hot water having the flow rate and temperature set by the flow rate control valve 20 and flows into the water supply path 16. It will be in the state discharged from the water discharge port 12a through the water discharge pipe 12 from the path 16. In the present specification, hot water means water, hot water, and mixed water of water and hot water.

  A non-contact sensing type first sensor 17 facing obliquely upward is provided at an upper position on the distal end side of the water discharge pipe 12, and a faucet user holds an object such as a hand or tableware in front of the first sensor 17. It is configured to turn on. A second non-contact sensing type second sensor 18 that faces downward is provided at the lower position on the distal end side of the water discharge pipe 12, and is configured to sense an object such as a hand or tableware existing below the second sensor 18. As the first sensor 17 and the second sensor 18, for example, near infrared diffuse reflection type sensors are used, and each of them is sensed when the object is located within a set distance. A valve mechanism 19 that is operated by the two sensors 17 and 18 is provided in the water supply passage 16 below the installation portion 11.

Next, details of the water supply channel 16, the first sensor 17, the second sensor 18, the valve mechanism 19, and the like will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply channel 16 is constituted by a main water supply channel 16a and a bypass channel 16b connected in parallel to the main water supply channel 16a. A first electromagnetic valve 21 that is opened and closed by a signal from the first sensor 17 is connected to the downstream side of the flow rate adjustment valve 20 on the main water supply path 16a. A second electromagnetic valve 22 opened and closed by a second sensor 18 is connected in series with the first electromagnetic valve 21 in the main water supply passage 16 a on the downstream side of the first electromagnetic valve 21. The first unit 31 of the first sensor 17 and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is an operation holding type, and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is opened when the first sensor 17 is turned on for the first time, and the second time. The open state of the first electromagnetic valve 21 is maintained until it is turned on, and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is closed when it is turned on for the second time. The second unit 32 of the second sensor 18 and the second electromagnetic valve 22 is a switching type that does not have an operation holding function, and the second electromagnetic valve 22 is opened only when the second sensor 18 is on, When turned off, the second electromagnetic valve 22 is closed.

  The bypass flow path 16b bypasses the second electromagnetic valve 22, and the bypass flow path 16b is configured by a normally open type constant flow valve to control the flow rate of hot water in the bypass flow path 16b. A throttle valve 23 for setting the flow rate is connected.

Next, an effect | action is demonstrated about the automatic faucet 10 of 1st Embodiment comprised as mentioned above.
When work such as dish washing is not performed and the first sensor 17 and the second sensor 18 are in the OFF state, the first electromagnetic valve 21 and the second electromagnetic valve 22 are closed. In this state, when the faucet user holds his / her hand in front of the first sensor 17 for washing dishes, the first sensor 17 is detected and turned on, and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is opened. And the state is continued. In this state, since the second solenoid valve 22 is closed and the first solenoid valve 21 is opened, the opening of the flow control valve 20 causes the temperature set by the flow control valve 20 to increase. Hot water is discharged from the spout 12a through the throttle valve 23 at a small flow rate. Therefore, a large flow rate water discharge is not performed suddenly, and water saving becomes possible. In this state, when the tableware or hand is brought under the second sensor 18, the second sensor 18 senses it and is turned on, and the second electromagnetic valve 22 is opened. Accordingly, the main water supply passage 16a is opened, and the hot water having the temperature and flow rate set by the flow control valve 20 is discharged from the spout 12a through the main water supply passage 16a and the bypass flow passage 16b at a large flow rate. Can be efficiently cleaned. Here, the opening / closing of the flow rate control valve 20 by the single lever 13, the opening degree adjustment, and the setting of the hot / cold water mixing ratio may be performed before or after the sensing operation of the first and second sensors 17, 18.

  Subsequently, for example, when the tableware is moved sideways to put the washed tableware into the drain basket, the second sensor 18 becomes non-sensing, so that the second electromagnetic valve 22 is closed. Although the water supply path 16a is closed, a small flow rate of hot water is discharged through the throttle valve 23 of the bypass flow path 16b. For this reason, it is possible to save water by suppressing the discharge amount of hot water to a small flow rate while not cleaning the dishes.

  Next, for example, when a tableware or a hand is positioned below the spout 12 a to wash another tableware, the second electromagnetic valve 22 is opened again by the detection of the second sensor 18. Accordingly, the discharge of hot water is switched from a small flow rate to a large flow rate, and another tableware can be washed with a sufficient amount of water. When the dishwashing is completed, the faucet user holds his / her hand in front of the first sensor 17 and retracts his / her hand or tableware from below the second sensor 18, the sensors 17 and 18 are switched, Even if the first solenoid valve 21 and the second solenoid valve 22 are closed and the flow rate control valve 20 is in an open state, the discharge of hot water is stopped.

  As described above, switching to a large flow of water discharge / stop water, switching to a small flow rate, or switching in the reverse order is performed instantaneously only by opening and closing the first electromagnetic valve 21 and the second electromagnetic valve 22, and the water outlet 12a When there is no tableware or the like below, only a small flow rate of water is discharged, and wasteful hot water discharge is suppressed.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the automatic faucet 10 according to the first embodiment, a large flow rate water discharge / water stop and a small flow rate water discharge / stop water can be performed quickly only by opening and closing the first electromagnetic valve 21 and the second electromagnetic valve 22. Is called.

Therefore, according to the automatic faucet 10 of the first embodiment, since an operation for adjusting the valve opening degree and a control configuration therefor are unnecessary, the configuration can be simplified, and the large flow rate and the small flow rate can be reduced. Switching between them can be performed quickly and smoothly, and the effect that comfort can be improved can be exhibited.
(2) Even when the first sensor 17 is in the sensing state, when the second sensor 18 is in the non-sensing state, only the bypass flow path 16b connected to the throttle valve 23 is opened and water is discharged at a small flow rate. For this reason, it is possible to save water when the dishes are not washed.
(3) The automatic faucet 10 of the first embodiment can be easily configured by adding the second electromagnetic valve 22 and the throttle valve 23 to the existing automatic faucet valve mechanism.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described. In the second and subsequent embodiments and modifications, the description will focus on parts that are different from the first embodiment.

  In the automatic faucet 10 of the second embodiment, a timer 18a is attached to the second sensor 18, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When the first sensor 17 switches from the non-sensing state to the sensing state (on state) and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is opened, the timer 18a senses the second unit 32 for a certain period of time (for example, 10 seconds). In the meantime, the second electromagnetic valve 22 is opened. Therefore, for example, for 10 seconds after the first sensor 17 first senses a hand or the like, a large amount of hot water set is discharged from the spout 12a by opening both the first solenoid valve 21 and the second solenoid valve 22. It becomes a state.

  That is, when the faucet user holds his / her hand in front of the first sensor 17 in order to clean the dishes, the first sensor 17 senses it, and the first electromagnetic valve 21 is opened, At the same time, the second electromagnetic valve 22 is opened over a certain period of time, and a state where a large amount of water is discharged is set. Therefore, by operating the single lever 13 in this state, the flow rate adjustment valve 20 can be operated to adjust the temperature of the hot water and the flow rate in the large flow rate discharge state. When the second sensor 18 is in the OFF state after a certain time has elapsed, the second electromagnetic valve 22 is closed. Thereafter, the same operation as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Therefore, the automatic faucet 10 according to the second embodiment has the following effects.
(4) In the second embodiment, the temperature of hot water and the flow rate when discharging a large flow rate can be easily adjusted prior to the use of water such as washing.
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment embodying the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, instead of the first sensor 17 and the second sensor 18 in the automatic faucet 10 of the first embodiment, hands or the like are placed on both side surfaces of the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe 12. A first sensor 25 and a second sensor 26 are provided for sensing without contact. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the water supply path 16 between the flow control valve 20 and the water discharge pipe 12 is comprised by the parallel circuit of the 1st water path 16A and the 2nd water path 16B.

  A first electromagnetic valve 41 and a second electromagnetic valve 42 are connected to the first water channel 16A and the second water channel 16B, respectively, and a normally open constant flow rate is provided to the second water channel 16B on the downstream side of the second electromagnetic valve 42. A throttle valve 23 that is configured by a valve and for setting a small flow rate is connected. The first unit 51 composed of the first sensor 25 and the first electromagnetic valve 41 and the second unit 52 composed of the second sensor 26 and the second electromagnetic valve 42 are the same as the first unit 31 in the first embodiment. It is a motion retention type.

  When the first sensor 25 senses a hand or the like for the first time, the first electromagnetic valve 41 is opened to discharge a large amount of hot water set by the flow control valve 20, and when it is sensed for the second time, the water is stopped. . When the second sensor 26 senses a hand or the like for the first time, the second electromagnetic valve 42 is opened, and a small amount of hot water set by the throttle valve 23 is discharged.

  Further, the first unit 51 and the second unit 52 are alternately operated, and the other sensor 25, 26 senses when the one solenoid valve 41, 42 is opened in accordance with the sensing of the one sensor 25, 26. When the state is reached, the opened electromagnetic valves 41 and 42 are switched to the closed state, and the electromagnetic valves 41 and 42 corresponding to the sensors 25 and 26 that are in the sensing state are opened. Accordingly, when the hand or the like is brought close to the sensors 25 and 26 on the opposite side of the operating units 51 and 52 in the large flow rate or small flow rate discharge state, the discharged flow rate can be switched.

  Accordingly, when a large flow of hot water is required to collect water or remove stains on the dishes, a large flow of hot water can be obtained immediately by bringing a hand or an object close to the first sensor 25. . In this state, when the operation is temporarily interrupted or when a small flow of hot water is required, a small flow of hot water can be obtained by bringing a hand or the like closer to the second sensor 26. Then, when it is desired to resume the water discharge at a large flow rate, the hand or the like may be brought closer to the first sensor 25 again. In order to stop a large flow rate of hot water or a small flow rate of hot water, a hand or the like may be brought close to the sensors 25, 26 of the water discharge side units 51, 52. Further, when a small flow rate water discharge is necessary in the water stop state, a hand or the like may be brought close to the second sensor 26. In the above case, large flow rate water discharge, small flow rate water discharge, or water stoppage is quickly executed only by opening and closing the first and second electromagnetic valves 41 and 42.

Therefore, also in the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
(Example of change)
In addition, each said embodiment can also be changed and actualized as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first unit 31 and the second unit 32 in the first embodiment are exchanged so that the first electromagnetic valve 21 is positioned downstream of the second electromagnetic valve 22 and The valve 23 is connected in parallel with the second electromagnetic valve 22 as in the first embodiment. When comprised in this way, like 1st Embodiment, when only the 1st solenoid valve 21 is opened, hot water is discharged by the small flow rate through the throttle valve 23, and both solenoid valves 21 and 22 are carried out. When the valve is opened, a large flow rate is discharged.

-You may comprise so that the setting small flow volume by the said throttle valve 23 can be adjusted.
-You may enable it to adjust the operating time of the timer 18a of 2nd Embodiment.
-The automatic faucet 10 of the present invention can also be used as a faucet in a washstand or the like.

The present invention may be embodied in a faucet that does not have the flow control valve 20. Therefore, water discharge and water stop are performed only by opening and closing the first and second electromagnetic valves 21 and 22.
-Instead of the first and second sensors, switches such as two foot switches may be provided. Therefore, the sensor in the present invention includes a switch.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Automatic faucet, 16 ... Supply channel, 16a ... Main supply channel, 16b ... Bypass channel, 16A ... First channel, 16B ... Second channel, 17, 25 ... First sensor, 18, 26 ... Second sensor , 20 ... Flow control valve, 21 ... First solenoid valve, 22 ... Second solenoid valve, 23 ... Throttle valve, 41 ... First solenoid valve, 42 ... Second solenoid valve, 31, 51 ... First unit, 32, 52. Second unit.

Claims (7)

The first and second solenoid valves that are opened and closed by signals from the first sensor and the second sensor are connected in series on the water supply channel, and a constant flow rate throttle valve is connected in parallel with the second solenoid valve. Automatic faucet characterized by. 2. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein a flow rate adjusting valve is provided on the upstream side of the first and second electromagnetic valves so that the flow rate can be adjusted manually. The water supply channel is constituted by a main water supply channel and a bypass water channel connected in parallel to the main water supply channel, and first and second solenoid valves are connected in series to the main water supply channel, and the bypass water channel The automatic faucet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the throttle valve is configured to bypass the second electromagnetic valve, and the throttle valve is connected to the bypass water channel. 4. The unit comprising the first sensor and the first solenoid valve is an operation holding type, and the unit comprising the second sensor and the second solenoid valve is a switching type. The automatic water tap as described in any one of. 5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein when the first sensor is switched from a non-sensing state to a sensing state, the second solenoid valve is configured to be opened for a certain period of time. Automatic faucet as described. The water supply path is constituted by a first water supply path and a second water supply path connected in parallel, the first water supply path has a first electromagnetic valve opened and closed by a first sensor, and the second water supply path has a second An automatic faucet characterized by connecting a second solenoid valve that is opened and closed by two sensors, and connecting a throttle valve having a constant flow rate in series with the second solenoid valve in the second water supply passage. 7. The automatic water faucet according to claim 6, wherein the unit composed of the first sensor and the first electromagnetic valve and the unit composed of the second sensor and the second electromagnetic valve are operation-holding types.