Subject of the Invention

The invention relates to a system, which enables the water flow to be controlled also in a touchless manner by being fitted to the water outlet of a mechanically controlled faucet.

State of the Art

In every space we need water, such as bathrooms, toilet rooms and kitchens, we use the faucets, which enable the water to be supplied for use in a controlled manner, more specifically, enable the water flow to be started and stopped and the flow rate to be controlled.

With the advancing technology, the use of the faucets able to be controlled in a touchless manner has currently become widespread. Most of the time, a sensor is present on the faucet body and the water flow is started or stopped as a result of said sensor being triggered. The electronic components said faucets include lead to certain design limitations, and therefore, the electronically controlled faucets are unable to enjoy a design range as diverse as that in the mechanically controlled faucets. Consequently, it is possible that some users still prefer the mechanically controlled faucets.

When the users currently having a mechanically controlled faucet need a faucet able to be controlled in a touchless manner, they are required to replace their existing faucet with a faucet able to be controlled in a touchless manner. The requirement for the power connection due to the power requirement of the faucets able to be controlled in a touchless manner is one of the biggest obstacles before the users who wish to switch to the faucets able to be controlled in a touchless manner.

Various solutions are available in the state of the art, which are intended to eliminate these problems and render the existing mechanically controlled faucets capable of being controlled in a touchless manner. Among these, the most frequently preferred solution is the apparatus, which enable the water flow to be controlled in a touchless manner by being fitted to the water outlet of the existing faucets. With these apparatus, the water flow is permitted or the water flow is prevented. In case the battery supplying the power requirement of said apparatus runs down or in case the apparatus fails for any reason, the apparatus prevents the water flow and thus the faucet becomes unusable. Another disadvantage of these apparatus is that it is not possible to disable the touchless control in cases where desired. More specifically, as long as said apparatus remains fitted to the faucet water outlet, it is not possible to permit the water flow unless said apparatus is triggered in a touchless manner and it is not possible to control the water flow via the existing mechanical controller of the faucet.

The invention relates to a control system, which is positioned at the water outlet of the faucet and which has a mode enabling the water flow to be controlled in a touchless manner as a result of at least one sensor being triggered and a mode enabling the water flow to be controlled via the existing mechanical controller of the faucet.

Object of the Invention

An object of the invention is to develop a system, which enables the mechanically controlled faucets to be controlled also in a touchless manner.

Another object of the invention is to develop a system wherein the member enabling the faucet to be controlled in a touchless manner is positioned at the faucet water outlet.

Another object of the invention is to develop a system, which has a mode enabling the water flow to be controlled in a touchless manner and a mode enabling the water flow to be controlled via the existing mechanical controller of the faucet.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1: An exploded view of the system according to the invention Figure 2: A sectional view showing the valve seats

Figure 3: A sectional view showing the electronically controlled valve

Figure 4: A sectional view showing the guide valve

Figure 5: A sectional view showing the channels

Figure 6: A sectional view showing the water inlet and outlet of the guide valve seat

Reference Numerals

1 : Water guide structure

11 : Faucet connection

12 : Guide valve seat

121 : Guide valve seat water inlet

122 : Guide valve seat water outlet

13 : Electronically controlled valve seat

131 : Electronically controlled valve seat water inlet

132 : Electronically controlled valve seat water outlet

14 : Guide structure water outlet

151 : Channel between the faucet connection and the guide valve seat

152 : Channel between the guide valve seat and the guide structure water outlet

153 : Channel between the guide valve seat and the electronically controlled valve seat

154 : Channel between the electronically controlled valve seat and the guide structure water outlet

2 : Guide valve

3 : Electronically controlled valve

4 : Guide valve controller

41 : Controller protrusion

5 : Control unit

61 : Triggering sensor

62 : Position sensor

71 : Body upper part

72 : Body lower part

8 : Guide valve fixing member 9 : Flow regulator

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a system, which enables the water flow to be controlled also in a touchless manner by being fitted to the water outlet of a mechanically controlled faucet. More particularly, the invention relates to a system enabling a mechanically controlled faucet to be controlled also in a touchless manner, wherein said system is fitted to the water outlet of the faucet and has an option enabling the water flow to be controlled in a touchless manner and a second option enabling the water flow to be controlled via the existing mechanical controller on the faucet.

The water flow control system according to the invention comprises in its most basic form

• at least one water guide structure (1), which has at least one faucet connection (11) enabling said structure to be fixed to the faucet water outlet, at least one guide structure water outlet (14) where the water is supplied for use and more than one channel enabling to guide the water that enters via the faucet connection (11),

• at least one electronically controlled valve (3), which enables the water flow to be controlled electronically, and

• at least one guide valve (2), which enables the water entering the water guide structure (1) via the faucet connection (11) to be directed to the guide structure water outlet (14) or to the electronically controlled valve (3).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water guide structure (1) has at least one guide valve seat (12), into which the guide valve (2) is to be positioned, and/or at least one electronically controlled valve seat (13), into which the electronically controlled valve (3) is to be positioned. The water exiting the faucet water outlet and entering the water guide structure (1) via the faucet connection (11) first enters the guide valve seat (12). The water entering the guide valve seat (12) is directed by the guide valve (2) to the electronically controlled valve (3) or to the guide structure water outlet (14). In case the water is directed to the guide structure water outlet (14), the water is directly supplied for use via the guide structure water outlet (14), independently of the position of the electronically controlled valve (3). When the water is directed by the guide valve (2) to the electronically controlled valve (3), the flow of the water is controlled by the electronically controlled valve (3).

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one guide valve controller (4), which enables to control the guidance of the water flow by the guide valve (2) to the guide structure water outlet (14) and/or to the electronically controlled valve (3), more specifically, to the electronically controlled valve seat (13).

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises at least one triggering sensor (61), which provides the triggering required for the electronically controlled valve (3) to permit the water flow from the guide structure water outlet (14) or to prevent the water flow. Said triggering sensor (61) is a sensor capable of detecting the motion and/or the proximity. In said embodiment, the system has at least one control unit (5), which controls the electronically controlled valve (3) to enable said valve to permit or prevent the water flow based on the motion and/or proximity signals coming from the triggering sensor (61). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said control unit (5) enables the electronically controlled valve (3) to direct the water to the guide structure water outlet (14) upon the first signal coming from the triggering sensor (61) and enables the electronically controlled valve (3) to stop the water flow upon a second triggering signal. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said control unit (5) enables the electronically controlled valve (3) to direct the water to the guide structure water outlet (14) upon the first signal coming from the triggering sensor (61) and enables the electronically controlled valve (3) to automatically stop the water flow at the end of a predefined duration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply of power to the electronically controlled valve (3) and/or the triggering sensor (61) and/or the control unit (5) is interrupted in the case where the guide valve (2) guides the water directly to the guide structure water outlet (14). In this way, the undesirable power consumption is prevented and said components are prevented from operating in cases where such operation is not required. Said embodiment comprises at least one position sensor (62), which detects the position of the guide valve controller (4) and enables to determine that the guide valve controller (4) is at the position where the guide valve (2) guides the water directly to the guide structure water outlet (14). Said position sensor (62) enables the electronically controlled valve (3) and/or the triggering sensor (61) and/or the control unit (5) to become activated and thus enables the water flow to be controlled in a touchless manner, according to the position of the guide valve controller (4). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide valve controller (4) has at least one controller protrusion (41), which enables the position sensor (62) to be triggered, and more specifically, enables the position sensor (62) to detect the position of the guide valve controller (4). According to the position of the guide valve controller (4), said controller protrusion (41) contacts the position sensor (62) and/or moves in or out of the area where it can be detected by said position sensor (62), and in this way, it enables the position of the guide valve controller (4) to be detected. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, while the position sensor (62) may be a sensor capable of detecting the proximity and/or motion, it is also possible for the same to be a switch or a button.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one power storage unit, which enables to supply the electrical energy required by the electronically controlled valve (3) and/or the control unit (5) and/or the triggering sensor (61) and/or the position sensor (62). Said power storage unit is preferably a battery, preferably a chargeable battery.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one body into which the water guide structure (1) and/or the triggering sensor (61) and/or the position sensor (62) and/or the control unit (5) and/or the power storage unit is/are to be positioned. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body has a two-piece structure consisting of a body upper part (71) and a body lower part (72).

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one channel (151) between the faucet connection and the guide valve seat, said channel (151) enabling the water entering the water guide structure (1) via the faucet connection (11) to be directed to the guide valve seat (12) in which the guide valve (2) is positioned. A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one channel (152) between the guide valve seat and the guide structure water outlet, said channel (152) enabling the water delivered to the guide valve seat (12) to be transmitted to the guide structure water outlet (14).

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one channel (153) between the guide valve seat and the electronically controlled valve seat, said channel (153) enabling the water delivered to the guide valve seat (12) to be transmitted to the electronically controlled valve seat (13). A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one channel (154) between the electronically controlled valve seat and the guide structure water outlet, said channel (154) enabling the water delivered to the electronically controlled valve seat (13) to be transmitted to the guide structure water outlet (14).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide valve seat (12) has at least one guide valve seat water inlet (121) permitting the water, which enters the water guide structure (1) via the faucet connection (11) and is transmitted via the channel (151) between the faucet connection and the guide valve seat, to enter the guide valve seat (12). Further, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide valve seat (12) has at least one guide valve seat water outlet (122) directing the water in the guide valve seat (12) to the guide structure water outlet (14) via at least one channel (152) between the guide valve seat and the guide structure water outlet and/or at least one guide valve seat water outlet (122) permitting the water in the guide valve seat (12) to be transmitted to the electronically controlled valve seat (13) via at least one channel (153) between the guide valve seat and the electronically controlled valve seat.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronically controlled valve seat (13) has at least one electronically controlled valve seat water inlet (131) permitting the water, which is transmitted via the channel (153) between the guide valve seat and the electronically controlled valve seat, to enter the guide valve seat (12). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronically controlled valve seat (13) has at least one electronically controlled valve seat water outlet (132) permitting the water, which is transmitted to the guide valve seat (12) via the channel (153) between the guide valve seat and the electronically controlled valve seat, to be transferred to the channel (154) between the electronically controlled valve seat and the guide structure water outlet. In the system according to the invention, the water entering the water guide structure (1) via the faucet connection is first transmitted to the guide valve seat (12). In case the guide valve (2) is at the position where it permits the water flow to be controlled manually by the existing mechanical controller of the faucet, the water entering the guide valve seat (12) is guided directly to the guide structure water outlet (14) and the water is supplied for use. At this position of the guide valve (2), the electronically controlled valve (3) does not have any intervention in the water flow. In case where it is desired to control the water flow in the touchless manner, the guide valve (2) directs the water flow to the electronically controlled valve (3). As a result of being triggered, the electronically controlled valve (3) either permits or prevents the passage of the water to the guide structure water outlet (14). In this way, the water flow may be started or stopped in a touchless manner, independently of the existing mechanical controller of the faucet. In order for the faucet to be able to be controlled in a touchless manner, the existing mechanical controller of the faucet should be at a position where it permits the water flow. After the flow rate of the water and/or the water mixture temperature is/are adjusted via the existing mechanical controller, the water flow is enabled to occur each time at the same flow rate and/or temperature upon the triggering sensor (61) being triggered.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one guide valve fixing member (8), which enables the guide valve (2) to be fixed to the guide valve seat (12). After the guide valve (2) is positioned into the guide valve seat (12), the guide valve (2) becomes fixed into the guide valve seat (12) upon fitting the guide valve fixing member (8) to the guide valve seat (12).

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises at least one flow regulator (9), which enables the water flow to be regulated by being fitted to the guide structure water outlet (14).