Patent ID: 6363549
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: E03C

Abstract:
A valve system comprising:a manually controlled valve having a handle for controlling flow between an inlet and an outlet; an electrically controlled valve hydraulically in series with said manually controlled valve and openable to permit flow through said manually controlled valve and closable to limit flow through said manually controlled valve; a contactless proximity detector responsive to presence of an object in a vicinity of said manually controlled valve; a contact sensor responsive to contact of said handle by a hand of a user; and an electronic controller connected to said electrically controlled valve, said proximity detector and said contact sensor and constructed and arranged so that: said sensor is hierarchically superordinate to said detector and maintains said electrically controlled valve open as long as there is contact with said handle by the hand of the user, said detector is hierarchically subordinate to said sensor and maintains said electrically controlled valve open even in an absence of contact with said handle by the hand of the user, and said detector is continuously activated.