Abstract:
Device ( 10 ) for the automatic delivery of water from a tap ( 12 ) comprising a mixer cartridge ( 30 ), able to be arranged inside the monoblock ( 11 ) of said tap ( 12 ), means to regulate the mixing of the water and actuation means ( 42 ), arranged above said monoblock ( 11 ), able to determine the opening and closing of the flow of water, said actuation means ( 42 ) being commanded electrically and able to cooperate with a corresponding interception element ( 20 ) of said mixer cartridge ( 30 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention concerns a device for the automatic delivery of water able to be employed in electronically controlled taps wherein delivery is commanded, substantially automatically, through sensor means which detect the presence of the user.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The state of the art includes monocommand mixer taps comprising a mixer cartridge, located inside the monoblock of the tap, associated with a lever, which allows to regulate both the mixing and the delivery of the water, and which is mounted above the monoblock.  
           [0003]    The state of the art also includes taps of the electronic type wherein the water is delivered substantially automatically when the user approaches the taps.  
           [0004]    Such taps comprise a valve provided with interception means cooperating with a solenoid device, or with an electric motor, able to command the opening and closing thereof, respectively to deliver and interrupt the flow of water; the solenoid device or the motor is activated by appropriate sensor means able to detect the presence of the user.  
           [0005]    In some embodiments, the valve is associated with manual activation means which allow to regulate the mix of hot and cold water.  
           [0006]    The structure of this type of valve and the need to feed the solenoid device or drive motor of the interception means electrically make it necessary to locate the valve and the electric and electronic components in the lower part of the monoblock, or cast block, of the tap, which therefore must be appropriately sized.  
           [0007]    This means that it is necessary to design and make specific monoblocks for the electronically controlled taps, that is, different from those for monocommand mixer taps, with greater problems in terms of planning the production and managing stocks.  
           [0008]    Moreover, the greater size of the monoblock considerably limits the design and aesthetics of the tap.  
           [0009]    Furthermore, the presence of electric and electronic parts inside the monoblock in the zone where the water passes can cause malfunctions of the tap and can compromise the safety of the user.  
           [0010]    The present Applicant has devised and embodied this invention to overcome these shortcomings and to obtain further advantages.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.  
           [0012]    The purpose of the invention is to achieve a device for the automatic delivery of water, which can be associated with a monoblock for mixer taps of a substantially standardized type, that is, of the type for monocommand mixer taps, thus obviating the need to produce a specific monoblock for electronically controlled mixer taps.  
           [0013]    Another purpose of the invention is to achieve a device for the automatic delivery of water which is practical, functional and compact and can be used in conditions of absolute safety for the user.  
           [0014]    The device according to the invention comprises a mixer cartridge, able to be arranged inside a monoblock for mixer taps of a conventional type, means to regulate the mixing of water and actuation means, commanded electrically, which can be associated with the monoblock from the above and able to cause the flow of water to open and close by acting on an interception element of the mixer cartridge.  
           [0015]    The actuation means cooperate with a sensor able to detect the presence of the user and to automatically determine the activation of said actuation means.  
           [0016]    In a preferential embodiment of the invention, the actuation means are driven by a member powered by batteries.  
           [0017]    In one embodiment, the means to regulate the mixing, the actuation means and the electric and electronic components connected thereto are integrated into a single block able to be coupled on the mixer cartridge in a position outside the monoblock.  
           [0018]    The device according to the invention is therefore able to be associated with monoblocks for monocommand mixer taps and thus allows to obviate both the problem of stylistic limitations and design imposed by the devices for electronically controlled taps, and also the problem of production and storage of different types of monoblock.  
           [0019]    The separation of the electric and electronic parts from the mixer cartridge confers characteristics of extreme safety and functionality on the device according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a device according to the invention associated with the monoblock of a tap;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a tap provided with the device according to the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components of the device according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    With reference to the attached drawings, a device  10  for the automatic delivery of water according to the invention is able to be associated with the monoblock  11  of taps  12  of a substantially standardized type.  
         [0025]    The device  10  comprises a mixer cartridge  30  associated at the upper part with a command and regulation unit  40 .  
         [0026]    The mixer cartridge  30  is able to be housed in the upper part of the monoblock  11  and comprises a containing body  13  closed at the bottom part by a bottom  14  of a substantially conventional type and defining therewith a compartment  15  which houses: a fixed platelet  16 , a movable platelet  17 , a distributor element  18 , a drawing element  19  and a membrane  20 .  
         [0027]    The bottom  14  can be associated with the monoblock  11  in correspondence with a supporting plane  22  and is provided, in this case, with three holes,  14   a,    14   b  and  14   c,  able to respectively allow the passage of hot and cold water and mixed water to be sent to the delivery outlet  21  of the tap  12 .  
         [0028]    The fixed platelet  16  is able to be solidly associated with the bottom  14  and has three respective holes  16   a,    16   b  and  16   c  functionally connected to the holes  14   a,    14   b  and  14   c.    
         [0029]    The movable platelet  17  is mounted rotary on a plane parallel to and above that of the fixed platelet  16 ; it is provided with a hole  17   a  able to cooperate with the hole  16   c  and with a curved eyelet  17   b  able to communicate selectively with only one or both the holes  16   a  and  16   b.    
         [0030]    The distributor element  18  is associated by having the same shape above the movable platelet  17  and is therefore able to rotate solidly therewith.  
         [0031]    The distributor element  18  comprises a central aperture, or discharge or outlet aperture  18   a,  communicating with the hole  17   a  and a peripheral aperture  18   b  communicating with the eyelet  17   b.    
         [0032]    Sealing elements  23 ,  24 ,  25  are provided respectively between the bottom  14  and the supporting base  22 , between the bottom  14  and the fixed platelet  16  and between the movable platelet  17  and the distributor element  18 .  
         [0033]    The drawing element  19  is coupled axially with the distributor element  18  and defines an inner chamber  26  therewith.  
         [0034]    The upper part of the drawing element  19  protrudes with respect to the containing body  13  and has a knurling  27  on the perimeter and, at the center, a cavity  28  opening upwards.  
         [0035]    The cavity  28  communicates with the chamber  26  by means of a first channel  29  and with the central aperture  18   a  by means of a second channel  31  made partly on the distributor element  18  and partly on the drawing element  19 .  
         [0036]    The membrane  20  is housed on the bottom of the chamber  26  and is peripherally constrained between the drawing element  19  and the distributor element  18 ; it has an extension  20   a  on the lower part which in its normal condition, that is, when the tap  12  is closed, closes the central aperture  18   a.    
         [0037]    The membrane  20  is also provided with a small through hole  32  located in correspondence with the peripheral aperture  18   b  and able to make the latter communicate with the chamber  26 .  
         [0038]    The command and regulation unit  40  comprises a base  33  and a handle  45 , which can be solidly associated with the latter and is hollow inside, able to contain: a drive member  41  provided with a piston  42 , feeder batteries  36  and an electronic circuit  43 .  
         [0039]    The base  33  is provided with a plurality of columns  34  (in this case five) on which a plate  35  is able to be engaged and attached by means of screws  37 .  
         [0040]    The base  33  is also provided at the center with a hole  49  on the inner wall of which there is a knurling  50  able to couple with the knurling  27  of the drawing element  19 .  
         [0041]    The base  33  and the plate  35  define the seating  39  for the drive member  41  at the center and, on the periphery, seatings  38  for the batteries  36 .  
         [0042]    The drive member  41 , which can consist of a solenoid device or an electric motor, is fed by the batteries  36  and comprises an extension  41   a  able to be constrained to the inside of the cavity  28 .  
         [0043]    The extension  41   a  is provided at the lower part with a seating  51 , the function of which is to connect the channels  29  and  31 .  
         [0044]    The drive member  41  is able to move the piston  42  axially, permitting it to be selectively inserted into the first channel  29 .  
         [0045]    To be more exact, the piston  42  is able to be taken from an extracted position, wherein it closes the first channel  29 , to a retracted position, wherein it leaves the latter free.  
         [0046]    According to a variant, the piston  42  is able to close only, or also, the second channel  31 .  
         [0047]    The electronic circuit  43  mounted on the plate  35  is able to manage the drive member  41  according to what is detected by a presence sensor  44  associated therewith. The sensor  44  is closed at the upper part by a cover  46  associated with the handle  45  by means of a sealing ring  47 .  
         [0048]    In the assembled condition of the device  10 , the command and regulation unit  40  is mounted above the mixer cartridge  30 , and in a position outside the monoblock  11 , due to the coupling between the knurling  27  of the drawing element  19  and the knurling  50  of the base  33 . The stability of this coupling is ensured by the presence of an elastic clamping ring  48  which prevents the command and regulation unit  40  from coming off.  
         [0049]    The device  10  as described heretofore functions as follows.  
         [0050]    When there is nobody near the tap  12 , the drive member  41  is inactive and has the piston  42  in the extracted position, that is, closing the first channel  29 .  
         [0051]    In this condition, the chamber  26  is in communication with the peripheral aperture  18   b  only.  
         [0052]    The water arriving from the pipes of the water system therefore rises from the peripheral aperture  18   b,  through the through hole  32 , into the chamber  26 , compressing the membrane  20  which closes the central aperture  18   a  and therefore prevents the water from flowing towards the delivery outlet  21 .  
         [0053]    When the user approaches the tap  12 , the sensor  44  detects the presence and, through the electronic circuit  43 , causes the activation of the drive member  41  which takes the piston  42  to the retracted position, leaving the first channel  29  free which is therefore in communication with the second channel  31  and with the central aperture  18   a.    
         [0054]    In this condition the pressure inside the chamber  26  is substantially atmospheric pressure, therefore the water under pressure arriving from the peripheral aperture  18   b  raises the membrane  20  which frees the central aperture  18   a,  allowing the water to pass and flow towards the delivery outlet  21  through the holes  17   a,    16   c  and  14   c.    
         [0055]    When the user moves away from the tap  12 , the sensor  44 , no longer detecting any presence, causes the de-activation of the drive member  41  which takes the piston  42  to the extracted position wherein the tap  12  is closed.  
         [0056]    According to a variant, a timer is associated with the electronic circuit  43  and is able to de-activate the drive member  41  after a pre-determined time, which can be programmed as desired, from its activation.  
         [0057]    The temperature of the water delivered can be regulated by making the handle  45  rotate, which, being constrained to the drawing element  19 , causes a mating movement of the latter and hence of the distributor element  18  and the movable platelet  17 .  
         [0058]    To be more exact, the rotation of the movable platelet  17  causes the displacement of the eyelet  17   b  with respect to the holes  16   a  or  16   b  with a variation in the flow rates of hot and cold water to be mixed.  
         [0059]    It is obvious however that modifications and/or additions can be made to the device  10  as described heretofore, but these shall remain within the field and scope of the invention.  
         [0060]    For example, the mixer cartridge  30  can have different components from those shown and described here and the bottom  14  can be replaced by another, functionally equivalent element.  
         [0061]    Or the plate  35  can be attached to the columns  34  in a different way, for example by clamping pins, instead of the screws  37 . It is also obvious that, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of the device for the automatic delivery of water, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the invention.  
         [0062]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.