Patent ID: 6305663
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: E03C

Abstract:
A liquid flow control apparatus for controlling the flow of water through a faucet having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, a discharge spout and a faucet lever for manually controlling water temperature and water through the discharge spout, the apparatus comprising:a. a housing;b. a first solenoid operated valve which starts and stops the flow of hot water through said flow control apparatus and housed within said housing, the first solenoid operated valve having an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports protruding through a wall of said housing;c. a second solenoid operated valve which starts and stops the flow of cold water through said flow control apparatus and housed within said housing and parallel to said first solenoid operated valve, the second solenoid operated valve having an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports protruding through said wall of said housing;d. means for respectively connecting said inlet ports of said first and second solenoid operated valves to hot and cold water supply means;e. means for respectively connecting said outlet ports of said first and second solenoid operated valves to said hot and cold water lines of said faucet;f. at least two micro-switches electrically connected together and housed at opposite ends of an elongated bar switch actuator, the bar switch actuator having a top half housing and a bottom half housing, where the top half housing is depressible by a body part of a user which in turn activates either one of the at least two micro-switches for electrically operating said first and second solenoid operated valves to an open condition, which allow the flow of water therethrough, and when said first and second solenoid valves are deactivated, said first and second solenoid operated valves are in a closed condition which stop the flow of water therethrough; andg. a transformer for providing current to operate said first and second solenoid operated valves;h. whereby said faucet lever is in an open condition and preset to a predetermined water temperature such that when the user depresses on said bar switch actuator which in turn activates either one of said at least two micro-switches which in turn activates said first and second solenoid operated valves to the open condition to allow water flow therethrough, and when said bar switch actuator is not depressed, said at least two micro-switches are deactivated which in turn deactivate said first and second solenoid operated valves to the closed condition to stop water flow therethrough.