Faucet control device

A faucet control device to provide asepsis and conservation of water consisting of a diaphragm valve block connected inline between the hot and cold water supply and faucet. Pilot hot and cold water pressure from said valve block is routed through three flexible conduit assemblies to a three-way valve remotely located to facilitate operation by knee, foot or elbow. The application of force to the three way valves cycles the diaphragm valve block from the closed to open position while preventing crossflow between the hot and cold water supplies.

This invention relates to the control of cold and hot water flowing through 
a faucet by a method other than hand operation. 
It has been amply demonstrated by a variety of studies and research that 
conventional hand operated faucets are a source of wasted water and energy 
and a cross contamination point for the spread of infectious diseases. 
Several devices have been developed and marketed to overcome these 
problems but all have some disadvantages. Mechanical foot pedal or knee 
operated faucets are expensive and often require extensive and costly 
modifications to plumbing and cabinetry. Infra-red sensor electrically 
operated faucets are costly to install, require an electrical outlet, may 
be erratic in operation and may permit cold and hot water cross flow. Foot 
pedal valves controlling the application of air pressure to water 
controlling valves are expensive and often difficult to install and 
require a compressed air source. Some devices attach to the spout of the 
faucet and although easily installed, they connect the cold and hot water 
supplies together, thereby permitting cross flow between them. Of these, 
ultrasound sensor electrically operated valves require batteries and are 
too bulky to comfortably adapt to many faucets. Other types operate by a 
foot control supplying fluid pressure through flexible tubings connected 
to a spout mounted valve. These tend to be untidy and cumbersome to 
operate. Examples of such devices are described and illustrated in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,029,806, dated Jul. 9, 1991 granted to Chaung for a 
"Foot-Controlled Water Faucet"; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,035, dated Oct. 4, 
1977, granted to Kenny and Armstrong for a "Remotely-Controlled Valve" and 
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,294, dated Oct. 27, 1970, granted to Rodrigues for 
a "Foot-Operated Control Valve Attachment Device for Water Faucets". 
It is desirable to have a water control device which employs supply water 
pressure for control, is easily installed, simple in construction, 
reliable, economical and has the ability to convert existing hot and cold 
water outlets of any style, in any facility to other than hand operation. 
The present invention, now provides a water outlet control assembly which 
substantially overcomes the disadvantages of the aforementioned devices. 
Accordingly the present invention provides a water outlet control assembly 
for control of water flow to a water outlet such as a faucet or spout by 
other than hand operation. The control assembly includes a control block 
connected between a pressurized water source preferably a hot water and a 
cold water source and the control block managing the flow of pressurized 
water to the water outlet depending on a pilot water pressure supplied 
thereto, and a pilot pressure control means connected to the control block 
by appropriate conduits, whereby the pilot pressure control means is 
selectively operable for example by a knee, foot or elbow. 
In the preferred embodiment of the control block, hot and cold water flow 
is respectively controlled by a diaphragm gate valve preferably 
constructed similar to the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,310 issued 
Feb. 1, 1972, to Austin for a "Dental Handpiece Control" and used in the 
control of air and water in dental drilling equipment. In the preferred 
embodiment a three way valve is associated with the control block and the 
application of pressurized pilot or operating water concurrently to the 
chambers of the diaphragm gate valves closes the valves and blocks cold 
and hot water from flowing to the water outlet. The operation of the 
three-way valve allows the pilot water pressure to vent to atmosphere from 
the chambers of the diaphragm gate valves by way of the water outlet 
whereby hot and cold water are allowed to pass through to the water 
outlet. 
In another preferred aspect of the invention, pilot water pressure is 
supplied within the control block from upstream of the diaphragm gate 
valves and combined from both the cold and hot water sources to assure 
closure of the diaphragm gate valves. 
In a further preferred aspect of the invention pilot water pressure is 
vented into both main hot and cold water outlet ports of the control block 
to assure opening of the diaphragm gate valves provided that either the 
hot or cold valve of the faucet is set open. 
In still another preferred aspect of the invention, the control block 
features a pair of one-way valves respectively located in the pilot water 
supply path from the main cold and hot water inlet ports of the control 
block to prevent cross flow between the cold and hot water pressurized 
sources. 
In yet another preferred aspect of the invention, the control block 
features a pair of one way valves respectively located in the pilot water 
exhaust path leading to the main cold and hot water outlet ports of the 
control block to prevent water cross flow between them. 
In still a further preferred aspect of the invention the control block 
includes a plurality of outlet or inlet ports rather than a single port 
for each of the diaphragm gate valves to enhance their operation by 
distributing control circuit water pressure acting upon the diaphragm over 
several outlet or inlet orifices rather than one, thereby increasing the 
pressure and flow ratings of the valve. 
In another preferred aspect of the invention the control block features 
filter elements respectively located in the pilot water supply path from 
the main cold and hot water inlet ports to prevent fouling of the elements 
in the pilot water circuit by water born pollutants and debris.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the faucet control assembly 
consisting of a control block 10, a flexible pilot water supply conduit 
11, flexible pilot water exhaust conduits 12 and 13 and a three way valve 
14 in a typical sink cabinet arrangement 15. The control block assembly 10 
connects by known adapting conduits between a pressurized cold water 
source 16C, a pressurized hot water source 16H and a faucet 17. Flexible 
conduits 11, 12 and 13 connect the control block 10 to the three-way valve 
14 which controls operation of the control block and is mounted in such a 
manner as to set the cabinet door 18 sufficiently ajar to permit operation 
of the three way valve 14 with the application of force to the cabinet 
door by a knee or leg. 
FIG. 2 shows schematically the control of the cold water 16C and hot water 
16H supply by the preferred faucet control assembly. The elements of the 
cold water circuit which are identical in construction and interchangeable 
with those of the hot water circuit are accorded the same numerical 
references followed by the corresponding letter "C" or "H". Pressurized 
water from the pressurized water supplies 16C and 16H enter the control 
block 10 through main inlet ports 19C and 19H, and flows through manifolds 
20C and 20H directly to inlet ports 21C and 21H of diaphragm gate valves 
22C and 22H and pilot pressure ports 23C and 23H. 
The control block assembly 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 consists of a cover 
block 10A and a main body 10B and when assembled they retain filter 
elements 28C and 28H, o-ring seals 29C and 29H, port washers 30C and 30H 
and a diaphragm 24 constructed of a flexibly resilient material, common to 
both diaphragm gate valves 22C and 22H (see also FIG. 2) and one way 
valves 31C, 31H, 35C and 35H. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the closed position of the faucet control 
assembly hot and cold water flow through the control block 10 is blocked 
by the diaphragm 24 of diaphragm gate valves 22C and 22H when sufficient 
pilot or operating water pressure is delivered concurrently into 
respective pilot water chambers 26C and 26H of the diaphragm gate valves, 
thereby seating portions of the diaphragm against the inlet ports 21C and 
21H and outlet ports 25C and 25H. In the open position of the faucet 
control assembly (see also FIG. 5), pilot water pressure in the pilot 
water chambers 26C and 26H is vented to atmosphere, thereby unseating the 
diaphragm. This permits water flow between the inlet and outlet ports 21C, 
21H and 25C, 25H of both diaphragm gate valves 22C, 22H. Cold and hot 
water can then pass through manifolds 36C and 36H and main outlet ports 
37C and 37H respectively and directed through onward by known conduits to 
the faucet 17. 
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 pilot water pressure is controlled by the 
three-way valve 14, in the first position of the three-way valve (see FIG. 
6), pilot water is supplied to a normally open port 34 of the three-way 
valve and routed through a common port 35 and the through flexible conduit 
12, into a manifold port 27 from where it is diverted into the diaphragm 
pilot chambers 26C and 26H. Pilot water is delivered to the three-way 
valve from the control block 10 through pilot pressure ports 23C and 23H, 
filter elements 28C and 28H, port washers 30C and 30H and one way valves 
29C and 29H. Cold and hot water is combined in a manifold port 32, and 
passes through the flexible conduit 11 to the three way valve 14. 
In operation of the faucet control assembly, with reference to FIG. 2 and 
5, an externally applied force 33 urges the three way valve 14 to its 
second position venting pilot pressure from the pilot chambers 26C and 26H 
of diaphragm gate valves 22C and 22H into manifold port 27 through the 
flexible conduit 12 and the common port 39 of the three-way valve, out the 
normally closed port 40 through flexible conduit assembly 13 into manifold 
port 34 and through one way valves 35C and 35H output manifolds 36C and 
36H and main outlet ports 37C and 37H (see also FIG. 5) into the faucet 
17. Thus the pilot water pressure is released to atmosphere, provided at 
least one valve in the faucet is set open. 
In this embodiment the relative flow settings of hot and cold water valves 
in the typical faucet will not affect the operation of the faucet control 
assembly. Pilot water pressure is vented to atmosphere into either hot or 
cold or both portions of the faucet from the one way valves 35C and 35H. 
Both pairs of one way valves 31C and 31H and 35C and 35H respectively 
block cold and hot water cross-flow in the input and output portion 
respectively of the control block 10. The operation of the faucet control 
assembly is unaffected by variations in pressure between the hot and cold 
supply. The higher pressure will always be applied as the pilot pressure 
thereby assuring closure of the valve. Further, the incorporation of 
filter elements 28C and 28H in the initial pilot water flow path prevents 
fouling of control elements in the control block 10 and the valve 14 by 
water born pollutants and debris thereby reducing potential valve failure. 
Various changes, adaptations and modifications may be made in the details 
of construction, design and layout of the above described embodiment of 
this invention without departing from the spirit thereof. These may 
include various mechanical arrangements so designed to operate the 
three-way valve by knee, foot or elbow, combined with various mechanical 
latching features for manual operation of the faucet or a push on or a 
push off feature. Also it may be desirable to divide the control block 
into separate cold and hot blocks to ease installation in some plumbing 
arrangements. In such an embodiment (not shown) the respective manifold 
ports of the separate control blocks are interconnected by appropriate 
conduits to the three-way valve. The control block may also be integrated 
in various embodiments directly into a faucet or shower assembly. 
Further, it may be desirable, such as in an integrated faucet assembly to 
control the volume or rate of water flow through the diaphragm gates 
valves. This may be accomplished by a means which allows for adjusting 
volume of the chambers of the diaphragm gate valves thereby constricting 
the passage of water therethrough. One embodiment of such a means is shown 
in FIG. 7. The chamber 26 of the diaphragm gate valve 22 is constructed in 
an appropriate manner to accommodate a plunger 50 moveable within the 
chamber and acting upon the diaphragm 24. An "O" ring 51 is used as a 
means to seal the chamber from atmosphere with the application of pilot 
water pressure through manifold port 27 wherein the diaphragm gate valve 
operates as previously described. The plunger is mechanically urged by an 
eccentric cam lever assembly 52 to various positions when a force 53 is 
applied thereto variably constricting or stopping the flow of water 
between the inlet port 21 and outlet port 25 of the diaphragm gate valve. 
It may also be desirable to use a two way valve in lieu of the three way 
valve 14 to vent pressure from the pilot chambers 26C and 26H of the 
diaphragm gate valves 22C and 22H. This can be accomplished with the 
addition of one or more orifices or constrictions placed in the flowpath 
of the pilot water circuit between the pressurized water supplies 16C and 
16H and the chambers 26C and 26H of the diaphragm gate valves 22C and 22H. 
The use of an appropriate constriction (approximately 0.010 of a inch in 
diameter) creates a pressure differential between the supply pressures and 
atmosphere sufficient to unseat the diaphragm thereby permitting water 
flow through the diaphragm valve block.