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Title:
WATER FLOW CONTROL DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2022/259176
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A water flow control device for selectively dispensing hot or mixed water to a faucet, the device comprising - a first manifold (4), a second manifold (7) and a third manifold (9), - a thermostatic mixing valve (5) having two inlets and one outlet - an electrovalve (6) and a switch (8) for actuating the electrovalve (6), and - a valve (10), wherein an inlet of the first manifold (4) is connected to a cold water supply, a first outlet of the first manifold (4) is connected to a faucet (3) and a second outlet of the first manifold (4) is connected to the first inlet of the thermostatic mixing valve (5), the outlet of the thermostatic mixer valve (5) is connected to a first inlet of the second manifold (7) through the electrovalve (6), an outlet of the second manifold (7) is connected to the faucet, an inlet of the third manifold (9) is connected to a hot water supply, a first outlet of the third manifold is connected to the thermostatic mixer valve (5) and a second outlet of the third manifold (9) is connected to a second inlet of the second manifold (7) via the valve (10).

Inventors:
KOSINSKI ROBERT (PL)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2022/055336
Publication Date:
December 15, 2022
Filing Date:
June 08, 2022
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
DIBORN SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA (PL)
International Classes:
E03C1/04; F24D17/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2008116242A12008-10-02
WO2020152500A12020-07-30
Foreign References:
EP1266161B12005-04-27
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SZYNIEC, Marcin (PL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Patent claims

1. A device for controlling the flow of water, connected to a cold water connector (1) and a hot water connector (2) and coupled to a water supply faucet (3), characterized in that the cold water connector (1) is connected to the input of the first manifold (4), which first output is connected to the water supply faucet (3) and which second output is connected to the first input of a thermostatic mixing valve (5), which with its output is connected through the first electrovalve (6) to the first input of the second manifold (7) and its output is connected to the water supply faucet (3), with the first switch (8) connected to the first electrovalve (6), while it is connected to the first electrovalve (6) by the first switch (8), and the hot water connector (2) is connected to the input of the third manifold (9), the first output of which is connected to the second input of the thermostatic mixing valve (5), while the second output of the third manifold (9) is connected through a valve (10) to the second input of the second manifold (7).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the valve (10) and the second manifold (7) there is a second electrovalve (11) controlled by a second switch (12).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the cold water connection (1) and the first manifold (4) there is a first filter (13).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, between the hot water connector (2) and the third manifold (9) there is a second filter (14).

Description:
Water flow control device

The object of the invention is a device for controlling the flow of water, especially water supply faucets to which hot and cold water is supplied. A water valve with a flexible pedal closure is known from the description of patent application CN101113794A. The solution is characterized in that the valve handle is equipped with a pedal opening device, which can be opened by pressing the pedal opening device with feet or other objects or by directly pulling or lifting the valve handle with the hands, and can be closed by the returning spring force of the spring return device after the opening force is negated.

A water-saving faucet is known from the description of utility model application CN208546548U. In this solution, the faucet is equipped with a water pipe. At the end of the water pipe there is a water supply tube. At The water outlet is at the end of the ceramic sealing element. The end of the water outlet is equipped with a shower. The second water pipe is located inside the faucet, and the end of the second water pipe is connected to the water supply pipe. The water tank is made of transparent material. The water tank is equipped with a linkage, the end of the linkage is equipped with a cable, the end of the watertank is equipped with a third water pipe and the third water pipe is equipped with a valve. The valve lever is connected to the wire and the end of the valve is connected to the second water pipe.

From the description of patent application JP2003003536A, a valve device consisting of a valve body part for connection to a municipal water pipe and a foot pedal connected by parts and a cable is known. A freely rotating working equipment equipped with a pusher to the upper part is placed inside the valve body, and when the ball is pushed out by the pusher, it is ejected from the hole in the isolation plate by the rotation of the working equipment, water is discharged. The control device changes the rotary position by moving up and down on the foot of the foot pedal, as a result, the control of opening and closing the water discharge is performed. Maintaining the flow of water and stopping the discharge can be done by moving the handle forward and backward, and by controlling the stopping position of the handle with a stopper.

From the description of utility model KR200412302Y1, a water-saving device is known, and more specifically, pedal restoring means, such as a gas spring, are placed on the pedal for opening and closing the valve in the water-saving device, so that the pedal is restored faster, so that accurate control of the valve is achieved. A pedal-controlled water supply having a sensor detecting the position of the foot is known from the description of patent application CN1306593A. The flow rate of cold water or hot water and water is determined according to the position of the user's foot. The device also includes a control part in which the pedal position parameter detected by the pedal position detection sensor is calculated and processed into a signal output. The device also includes cold and hot water valve actuators, in which the cold and hot water valve is either turned on or off according to the output signal from the control part.

From patent description KR100945248B1, the design of a hot and cold tap water control foot valve is known which is for regulating hot and cold water, in particular, a hot and cold tap water control foot valve of the movable type, in which the valve body for cold and hot water control is placed. In this invention, a foot valve for regulating cold and hot water connected to a faucet is installed at the bottom of the sink, and the cold/hot water regulator pedal therein is operated with the foot to supply the water.

From patent description KR100717415B1, a water supply control device is known, which includes a cold water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe, a discharge pipe into which cold water, hot water or a mixture thereof is supplied. At the end thereof is installed a nozzle, a cold water supply pipe and a valve assembly in which the supply pipe and the conveying pipe are connected to control the discharge of cold water, hot water or mixed water into the discharge pipe, and a valve to operate the valve assembly to discharge cold water, hot water or mixed water through the conveying pipe.

From the description of patent application US2007267074A1, a system is known that provides the user with control and regulation of the flow and temperature of the mixture using foot-operated devices. The system can be adapted to already existing water taps and conventional plumbing, allowing the adjustable foot- operated device to be fully integrated with conventional manual water taps. The handheld kit includes a control status module that allows the user to access BYPASS, ON, OFF, HOT and COLD operating modes. The fixture may include a sealed chamber body adapted to accommodate a mixing ball valve and having openings in the chamber, further serving as internal passageways to conduits adapted to said sealed chamber body for connection to the water line. The mixing ball may include inlet and outlet ports through which water may flow in and out, and is adapted to rotate relative to the stationary chamber body for selective alignment with said chamber openings. A foot -controlled actuator in operative connection with said mixing ball valve, the rotation of said mixing ball valve with said foot-controlled actuator enabling the user to control the flow rate and temperature of the water. The problem to be solved is the consumption of a large amount of water, mainly hot water, especially when washing dishes, and reducing the adverse effects in the form of damaged hand skin caused by washing and rinsing dishes in hot water. The purpose of the invention is also to improve the comfort of working at the sink or basin.

The object of the invention is a water flow control device connected to a cold water connection and a hot water connection connected to a water supply faucet.

Its essence is that the cold water connection is connected to the input of the first manifold, the first output of which is connected to the water faucet, and the second output is connected to the first input of the thermostatic mixing valve, which with its output is connected through the first electrovalve the first input of the second manifold and its output is connected to the water faucet. It is connected to the first electrovalve through the first switch. The hot water connector is connected to the input of the third manifold, whose first output is connected to the second input of the thermostatic mixing valve. The second output of the third manifold is connected via a valve to the second input of the second manifold.

Advantageously, between the valve and the second manifold there is a second electrovalve controlled by a second switch.

Optionally, between the cold water connector and the first manifold there is a first filter. Between the hot water connector and the third manifold there is a second filter.

The invention has been illustrated in exemplary embodiments and in the drawing, in which fig. 1 - presents the first embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 - presents second embodiment of the invention, fig. 3 - presents embodiments of the invention with a cover.

The water flow control device in the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 of the drawing is coupled to the cold water connector 1 and the hot water connector 2 and is connected to the water supply faucet 3. The cold water connector 1 is coupled to the input of the first manifold 4, the first output of which is connected by the first hose 15 to the water supply faucet 3, and the second output is connected to the first input of the thermostatic mixing valve 5. The thermostatic mixing valve 5 is connected by its output through the first electrovalve 6 to the first input of the second manifold 7. The output of the second manifold 7 is connected by the second hose 16 to the water supply faucet 3. The first electrovalve 6 is controlled by the first switch 8 in the form of a pushbutton through the controller 17 connected by the power cable 18 to the power grid. The hot water connector 2 is coupled to the input of the third manifold 9, the first output of which is connected to the second input of the thermostatic mixing valve 5. The second output of the third manifold 9 is connected through a valve 10 to the second input of the second manifold 7. In addition, between the cold water connector 1 and the first manifold 4 there is a first filter 13 and between the hot water connector 2 and the third manifold 9 there is a second filter 14. Part of the device is covered by a housing 19.

The invention in the second embodiment shown in fig. 2 of the drawing has an analogous construction as in the first embodiment with the exception that between the valve 10 and the second manifold 7 there is a second electrovalve 11. The first electrovalve 6 and the second electrovalve 11 are connected to the controller 17, which is wirelessly connected to the second wireless switch 12.

The device is used to control the flow of water especially in kitchen and sanitary installations. Thanks to this invention, the consumption of water, especially hot water, is significantly reduced; moreover, the solution increases the comfort of using water faucets because water of three different temperatures flows into it: hot, cold and mixed water of temperature according to the setting of the thermostatic valve. In addition, the possibility of rinsing dishes in lukewarm water significantly reduces the time of exposure of hands to high water temperature, which limits the adverse effects in the form of damaged hand skin. In addition, the comfort of using water in the system is increased by electrovalves controlled by foot switches.

Such a solution works perfectly, for example, when washing dishes, after turning on the tap hot water position, we have only a small stream of hot water at our disposal, this allows for efficient and comfortable washing and significantly contributes to reducing water consumption. When rinsing the washed dishes, it is not worth using hot water and to speed up the operation we need a much larger stream, so we press the switch with our foot and the mixed water with a larger stream immediately flows, after releasing the button we cut off the supply of mixed water. The temperature of mixed water is regulated by the thermostatic mixing valve at your own discretion, this contributes to significant savings of water, especially hot water, and to increase the comfort of use. LIST OF DENOTATIONS

1. Cold water connector

2. Hot water connector

S. Water supply faucet 4. First manifold

5. Thermostatic mixing valve

6. First electrovalve

7. Second manifold

8. First switch 9. Third manifold

10. Valve

11. Second electrovalve

12. Second switch

13. First filter 14. Second filter

15. First hose

16. Second hose

17. Controller

18. Power cable 19. Housing