Patent Publication Number: US-6219859-B1

Title: Cabinet door operated faucet valve

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/166,667, filed on Oct. 5, 1998, which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,417 on Apr. 11, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sink faucets and, more specifically, to an automatic valve control system for remotely activating a water faucet. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Remote and automatic control of a sink faucet go back many years. In early years, the use of photo cells and foot pedals were common, and, more recently, the use of electronic proximity switches has become widespread. The introduction of numerous electronic controlled faucets in recent years points to the need of a functional multipurpose remote and automatic sink faucet control system. Besides the protection from transfer of bacteria and the convenience of hand free operations, the water saving potential and capability of a reliable, low maintenance, functional system will make such a device a necessity rather than a luxury. 
     Unfortunately, the electronic and foot pedal versions of faucet control valves have demonstrated many limitations and short falls, making the need for a more practical and user friendly device for households even more apparent. The existing electronic version of the faucet control valve limits its use for simple hand washing application. Its indiscriminate actuation by sensing an object makes this type of valve faucet useless for any other application that requires instantaneous on/off control of water flow. The uncontrolled and indiscriminate actuation by proximity or motion sensing devices make simple tasks such as dishwashing, clothes washing, or even sink cleaning a self defeating act. Other disadvantages of electronic faucets are the lack of control over the water flow and ability to override the system. In case of power failure, these units can only rely on limited storage capacity of the battery cells. 
     Furthermore, because the components of the electronic faucets are interdependent and inseparable, they replace the existing faucet without making any use of it. Also, because of extensive electronic circuitry and its related high cost, plus their functional limitations, the electronic faucets are most suitable only for newly built public hand washing facilities where high cost and limitations are not of any major concern. 
     Similarly, the floor mounted foot pedal is an obtrusive device, difficult to use and to install and requires extensive plumbing changes. The foot pedals&#39; bulky space-taking body makes floor cleaning difficult and becomes an obstacle to foot traffic. Its use by the elderly and some physically impaired individuals is also limited. Due to extensive plumbing changes and its related high cost, foot pedal sink faucet controls are only suitable for institutional use. The impracticality, inconvenience, difficulty of installation and high cost of existing devices necessitates the need for a new device that is practical, responsive, easy to use, easy to install, and low cost. 
     To work in the consumer market, an automatic faucet control must be a retrofitted appliance, sold as a kit to be installed by consumer, which uses the existing plumbing and fixtures, and is responsive to almost every demand that one may expect from a faucet. To accommodate the existing plumbing and accessories such as water filters, ice makers, and auxiliary water heaters, the auto faucet inlet ports must be numerous and strategically placed for all conceivable connecting situations. The low cost, user-friendliness, and ease of installation would play a crucial role in success of such a product. To be practical it should be possible for a consumer to override the automation easily and conveniently. In the case of power failure, the consumer must be able to bypass the system with ease. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention fulfills the above stated needs by providing an automatic control system for a faucet of a sink, the automatic control system including a valve manifold adapted to be disposed beneath the sink, the valve manifold adapted to communicate with at least one of a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line and at least one of a hot water faucet connecting line and a cold water faucet connecting line for delivering water to the faucet of the sink, the valve manifold including at least one electrically actuatable valve for controlling the flow of water to at least one of the hot water faucet connecting line and the cold water faucet connecting line, the at least one electrically actuatable valve adapted to electrically communicate with an electrical power supply, and at least one switch adapted to selectively cause a connection between the electrical power supply and the at least one electrically actuatable valve to be completed, whereby, upon completion of the connection, the at least one electrically actuatable valve at least partially opens to allow the flow of water to the faucet, and the valve manifold including a diversionary valve adapted to allow water in the valve manifold to bypass the at least one electrically actuatable valve and flow to at least one of the hot water faucet connecting line and the cold water faucet connecting line. 
     Implementation of the above aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following. The diversionary valve includes a manually operable diversionary valve. The diversionary valve includes an automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve adapted to open when power ceases to be supplied to the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve. The automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve includes a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve closed when the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve is supplied with electricity and urge the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve open when the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve is not supplied with electricity. The biasing mechanism includes an electromagnetic mechanism adapted to close the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve when the electromagnetic mechanism is supplied with electricity and a spring adapted to open the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve when electricity is not supplied to the electromagnetic mechanism. The valve manifold is adapted to be disposed beneath the sink, inside a cabinet frame having a pair of hinged doors mounted thereon, the at least one switch adapted to be mounted to the cabinet frame, at least one of the doors including an internal surface facing the inside of the cabinet and adapted to contact the at least one switch when the at least one door is substantially closed, the at least one switch adapted to be activated by the internal surface of the at least one door when pressure is applied to an external surface of the at least one door. The at least one switch includes a latching switch that, upon being activated a first time, maintains completion of the connection of the electrical power supply and the solenoid valves until the switch is reactivated. The at least one switch includes a momentarily non-latching switch. The at least one switch and the at least one valve are adapted to provide variable flow control in the valve manifold proportionate to the amount of pressure applied to the external surface of the at least one door. The at least one switch includes a variable-resistance push switch and the at least one electrically actuatable valve includes a servo valve. The automatic control system further includes a wireless mechanism adapted to communicate the at least one switch with the at least one electrically actuatable valve to control the at least one electrically actuatable valve. The wireless mechanism includes a transmitter associated with the at least one switch, and a receiver and a control unit associated with the valve manifold, the transmitter is adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the state of the at least one switch to the receiver which communicates the signal to the control unit for control of the at least one electrically actuatable valve. 
     An additional aspect of the invention includes an automatic control system for a faucet of a sink, the automatic control system including a valve manifold adapted to be disposed beneath the sink, inside a cabinet frame having a pair of hinged doors mounted thereon, the valve manifold adapted to communicate with at least one of a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line and at least one of a hot water faucet connecting line and a cold water faucet connecting line for delivering water to the faucet of the sink, the valve manifold including at least one electrically actuatable valve for controlling the flow of water to at least one of the hot water faucet connecting line and the cold water faucet connecting line, the at least one electrically actuatable valve adapted to electrically communicate with an electrical power supply, at least one switch adapted to be mounted to the cabinet frame, at least one of the doors including an internal surface facing the inside of the cabinet and adapted to contact the at least one switch when the at least one door is substantially closed, the at least one switch adapted to be selectively activated by the internal surface of the at least one door when pressure is applied to an external surface of the at least one door so as to cause a connection between the electrical power supply and the at least one electrically actuatable valve to be completed, whereby, upon completion of the connection, the at least one valve at least partially opens to allow the flow of water to the faucet. 
     Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. The at least one switch includes a mechanical or electronic latching switch that, upon being activated a first time, maintains completion of the connection of the electrical power supply and the solenoid valves until the switch is reactivated. The at least one switch includes a momentarily non-latching switch. The at least one switch and the at least one valve are adapted to provide variable flow control in the valve manifold proportionate to the amount of pressure applied to the external surface of the at least one door. The at least one switch includes a variable-resistance push switch and the at least one electrically actuatable valve includes a servo valve. The automatic control system further includes a wireless mechanism adapted to communicate the at least one switch with the at least one electrically actuatable valve to control the at least one electrically actuatable valve. The wireless mechanism includes a transmitter associated with the at least one switch, and a receiver and a control unit associated with the valve manifold, the transmitter adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the state of the at least one switch to the receiver which communicates the signal to the control unit for control of the at least one electrically actuatable valve. The valve manifold includes a diversionary valve adapted to allow water in the valve manifold to bypass the at least one electrically actuatable valve and allow flow to at least one of the hot water faucet connecting line and the cold water faucet connecting line. The diversionary valve includes a manually operable diversionary valve. The diversionary valve includes an automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve adapted to open when power ceases to be supplied to the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve. The automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve includes a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve closed when the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve is supplied with electricity and urge the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve open when the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve is not supplied with electricity. The biasing mechanism includes an electromagnetic mechanism adapted to close the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve when the electromagnetic mechanism is supplied with electricity and a spring adapted to open the automatic electrically actuatable diversionary valve when electricity is not supplied to the electromagnetic mechanism. The at least one switch includes a switch adapted to be activated by an upper side of a user&#39;s foot. The at least one switch includes a static sensitive switch connected to an uncoated metallic sink, a metallic faucet or numerous metallic ornamental probes placed in a location of convenience such as a sink countertop and all being isolated from the ground and to be activated by the user&#39;s touch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art hand or dish washing faucet, plumbing, sink, and cabinet shown with the cabinet doors open. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the faucet, plumbing, sink, and cabinet shown in FIG. 1 retrofitted with an automatic faucet control valve system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front, partially broken-away view of the faucet, plumbing, sink, automatic faucet control valve, and cabinet shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the sink and cabinet of FIG.  2  and shows an embodiment of the controlling switches in an exemplary location on the cabinet frame. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the valve manifold of the automatic faucet control valve system. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the valve manifold taken through lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the valve manifold taken through lines  7 — 7  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the valve manifold taken through lines  8 — 8  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a faucet, sink, and cabinet retrofitted with an automatic faucet control valve system with the cabinet doors closed to show another embodiment of the controlling switches in the form of mounted switch pads in an exemplary location on an external side of the cabinet doors. 
     FIG. 10 is an exemplary simplified circuit diagram of an embodiment of the automatic faucet control valve system. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of an automatic faucet control valve system constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a faucet, sink, and cabinet with the automatic faucet control valve system and the wireless control unit. 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 8, of an automatic faucet control valve system constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 are cross-sectional views of an automatic electrically actuated needle valve assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 16 is an exemplary simplified circuit diagram of the automatic faucet control valve system illustrated in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a faucet, sink, and cabinet and shows exemplary locations of a switch that may be used with the automatic faucet control valve system illustrated in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a hammer arrestor device that may be used with the automatic faucet control valve system illustrated in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a faucet, sink, and cabinet with an alternative embodiment of an automatic faucet control valve system and illustrates an alternative embodiment of a switch, in a variety of exemplary locations, that may be used with the automatic faucet control valve system. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the switch illustrated in FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the switch illustrated in FIG.  20 . 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a valve manifold including a pair of servo valves, and automatic electrically actuated diversionary valves. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a prior art sink  1 , faucet with faucet valves  2 ,  3 , sink cabinet with doors  4 ,  5 , supply gland nuts  6 ,  7 , connecting tubes  8 ,  9 , and upper door frame  10  are shown. The sink faucet valves  2 ,  3  are connected by tubes  8 ,  9  to the supply valve gland nuts  6 ,  7 . The cabinet doors  4 ,  5  are hingeable connected to the cabinet frame and, when closed, an upper inside part of each door  4 ,  5  rests adjacent to or against the upper door frame  10 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 2,  3 , and  5 - 8 , a valve manifold  17  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. During installation of the valve manifold  17 , the gland nuts  6 ,  7  are first removed, two of the valve manifold inlet ports  11 ,  12  are connected to the gland nuts  6 ,  7  via supply tubes  15 ,  16 , and the faucet connecting tubes  8 ,  9  are then connected to the valve manifold outlet ports  13 ,  14 . The inlet ports  11 ,  12  not connected to the supply tubes  15 ,  16  may be capped or may be coupled to other appliances that require water, e.g., ice makers, water filtration devices, auxiliary water heater for coffee or tea making purposes. 
     In the embodiment of the controlling switches  21 ,  22  shown in FIGS. 2,  4  and  10 , the controlling switches  21 ,  22  are normally opened push button switches and controlling switch  21  is a latching switch and the controlling switch  22  is a momentary switch. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the opposite may be true, only one of the above types of switches may be used, or, as will become better understood below, one or more of these types of switches and a different type of switch may be installed on a cabinet, giving the user more selectivity. 
     The controlling switches  21 ,  22  are preferably connected to a central portion of the inside upper door frame  10 , inside of the cabinet. Although the controlling switches are shown connected near the center of the inside upper door frame, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the controlling switches  21 ,  22  may be positioned in locations on the inside upper door frame  10  other than that shown and may be connected to other elements of a cabinet other than that shown. For example, but not by way of limitation, the controlling switches  21 ,  22  may be connected to the inside faces of the doors  4 ,  5  or a center frame (not shown) of the cabinet. The switches  21 ,  22  should be located so that when a user applies gentle pressure with his or her knee to the exterior surface of the cabinet door, when the door is substantially closed, this pressure will cause the corresponding switch  21 ,  22  to close. 
     With reference to FIG. 9, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the switches  21 ,  22  may instead be activated by pressure sensitive switch pads  37  mounted on the exterior surface of the cabinet doors. This embodiment advantageously immediately makes the user aware that the sink is equipped with a cabinet door faucet valve system. 
     With reference to FIG. 12, in a further embodiment of the invention, one or both of the switches  21 ,  22  may be replaced with a contact switch  54  that activates a self-powered infrared or radio frequency (RF) transmitter  55  for wirelessly communicating with a matching receiver  57  separate from or integrated with the valve manifold  17 , to activate the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  remotely and wirelessly. Also, a commercially available transmitter circuit board  59  along with a battery  61  and the contact switch  54  can be encased in a container  63  and attached by means of adhesive or fasteners to the upper inside of the cabinet door  4 ,  5  just below the door frame  10  in a manner such that when pressure is applied to the closed door  4 ,  5 , the upper door frame  10  causes the contact switch  54  to close, thus activating the transmitter  55 , sending coded instructions or signals to the receiver  57  to activate the solenoid valves  19 ,  20 . A control unit  58  including a power switching circuit is associated with the receiver  57  to decode and amplify the coded emission from the infrared or RF transmitter  55  and activate or open the solenoid valves  19 ,  20 . When the contact switch  54  opens, transmitting stops and the power switch unit cuts power to the solenoid valves  19 ,  20 , causing them to close. Also, as will be described in more detail below, the contact switch  54  may be a variable-resistance switch to operate a servo valve for variable flow control. Although RF and infrared communication means have been described for communicating the switch with the valve  19 ,  20 , it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other wireless means may be used to accomplish this same purpose. 
     With reference to FIGS. 19-21, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, one or more lever-operated switches  110  may be strategically positioned on the cabinet or cabinet frame to control the valves  19 ,  20  in a wired or wireless manner such as that described immediately above. Although not shown, the switch  110  may include a transmitter and associated electronics such as that described above to achieve this purpose. The one or more lever-operated switches  110  may be located on a front edge  112  (FIGS. 12,  19 ) of the sink or cabinet, on a front surface of the cabinet door  4 ,  5  or to a bottom surface  114  of the cabinet frame. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the switch  110  is located on the bottom surface  114  of an overhang  116  of the cabinet frame, behind and below the cabinet door  4 ,  5 , or in a similar location where the user can activate the switch  110  with upper toe pressure. Because the switch  110  is located above ground, but beneath the overhang  116 , the switch  110  is not obtrusive or an obstacle to foot traffic, mopping, cleaning, etc. This location is also desirable because the user&#39;s feet normally extend underneath the overhand  116  of the cabinet, in the area underneath the switch  110 . The valves  19 ,  20  are activated by simply lifting one&#39;s toes and applying pressure to the switch  110  with the upper side of one&#39;s toes. 
     With reference specifically to FIGS. 20 and 21, the switch  110  will now be described in detail. A series of electrically connected metallic springs  126  are attached to a non-metallic housing  122 , just above a metallic strip lever  124 . The metallic springs  126  include bottom ends  128  that are normally separated from the strip lever  124  by a gap G by the action of springs  120 . The separation distance of the gap G should not be more than ⅛ to {fraction (3/16)} inches. The metallic strip lever  124  is the first leg of the contact switch  110  and the springs  126  form the second leg of the contact switch  110 . First and second conductive cables  130 ,  132  are connected to the strip lever  124  and the springs  126 , respectively, to complete the circuit. By closing the gap G with the external pressure of, for example, a user&#39;s toe, the circuit is completed, activating the valves  19 ,  20 . It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other upper toe-activated switches may have alternative constructions such as, but not by way of limitation, reflective infrared emitter and detector switch that detects a nearby object such as a user&#39;s toe underneath the overhang  116 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 4-19 in an alternative embodiment of the invention, a static sensitive switch circuit can be integrated to the existing control unit circuitry  58  or the infrared or RF transmitter circuitry  59  to activate solenoid  19 ,  20  conventionally or wirelessly. The input terminal of the static sensitive switch, which may be integrated in the control unit  58  or transmitter circuitry  59 , can communicate by means of conductive cable to a ground isolated metallic probe such as a faucet spout  140 , an uncoated metallic sink  1 , or to numerous ornamental metallic probes such as a chrome plated button  142  (FIGS. 4,  19 ) placed at any location of convenience. Those skilled in the art will understand that there are almost no numerical limitations for such a metallic probe being connected to a single input terminal of such a static sensitive switch provided that all those metallic probes remain ground isolated. Although not shown, the switch  110  may include a transmitter and associated electronics such as that described above to achieve this purpose. The static-sensitive switch is similar to those used in touch-on, touch-off light fixtures. The switch includes a sensing terminal connected to a ground isolated metallic body of the sink  1  (stainless steel sink) or to a ground isolated spout of a faucet. To activate the valves  19 ,  20 , the user touches, for example, an edge of the sink or spout of a faucet. To deactivate the valves,  19 ,  20 , a second touch is required. 
     With reference to FIG. 10, the solenoid coils  31  of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  are connected in parallel, and the connection to a low voltage transformer  18  is interrupted so long as the switches  21 ,  22  remain open. The solenoid valves  19 ,  20  are closed to water flow unless the coils  31  are energized when the switches  21 ,  22  are closed. Because the switches  21 ,  22  are normally open, they interrupt the connection of the solenoid coils  31  to the low voltage transformer  18 , which serves as the power supply, until the switches  21 ,  22  are closed. For consumer safety, transformer  18  is preferably a 24 Volt step-down transformer that reduces the high wall reciprocal voltage to a safe handling voltage. 
     Latching switch  21  is adapted to stay in a closed position when activated (so as to cause a continuous flow of water), thereby continuously maintaining the connection of the solenoid coils  31  to the low voltage transformer  18  until the latchable switch  21  is engaged a second time, which re-opens the switch  21 . The latching switch  22  also can be replaced by a momentary switch similar to switch  22  to activate a timer circuitry incorporated in control unit  58  to activate solenoids  19 ,  20  for a predetermined duration. 
     Instantaneous on-off control of water may be accomplished by the push button or momentary switch  22 . The switch  22  remains closed, causing the solenoid valve(s)  19 ,  20  to remain open and water to flow to the faucet, as long pressure is imparted on the switch  22 . 
     The valve manifold inlet ports  11 ,  12  are denied access to the valve manifold outlet ports  13 ,  14  (FIG. 8) by the action of needle valves  23 ,  24  at point  25 ,  26  and by the inactivated solenoid valves  19 ,  20  (FIG.  6 ). Solenoid valves  19 ,  20  are typical, normally closed solenoid valves which restrict the water flow through their inlet port  27  and the outlet port  28 . Because the internal configuration of a normally closed solenoid valve is not part of the claimed invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any suitable configuration for a normally closed solenoid valve may be adopted. However, for purposes of illustration, FIG. 6 shows the function of a basic dual solenoid valve arrangement consisting of spring-loaded non-corrosive magnetic plungers  29  and guides  30 , electromagnetic coils  31  and valve manifold with inlet ports  11 ,  12  and outlet ports  13 ,  14 . 
     In a non-actuated mode, the spring-loaded plunger  29  of FIG. 6, aided by water pressure of inlet ports  11 ,  12 , creates a positive seal against the outlet port  28  of the solenoid valves,  19 ,  20  thus restricting the water flow. 
     In the activated mode, the energized magnetic coil  31  causes the plunger  29  to move upward, thus removing the obstacle of communication between valve manifold inlet ports  11 ,  12  and valve manifold outlet ports  13 ,  14  of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20 . In the activated mode, the two solenoid valves  19 ,  20  simultaneously open, permitting unrestricted water flow through their outlet ports  28 , and consequently to the-sink faucet, as its settings permit. 
     With reference to FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13  in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  may be replaced with one or more variable liquid flow control valves that allow the user to more precisely control the flow rate through the valve manifold  17 . For example, but not by way of limitation, the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  may be replaced with respective servo valves  50 ,  52  or servo-operated plungers to provide variable liquid flow control in the valve manifold  17 . It should be noted, replacing the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  with servo valves  50 ,  52  may even be done within the same valve manifold  17  with little or no changes to the valve seats of the manifold  17  because the valve seats may be designed for valve interchangeability. 
     To control the servo valves  50 ,  52 , one or both of the switches  21 ,  22  may be replaced with a pressure sensitive switch such as a variable resistance push switch  54 , a transmitter unit  63  (infrared or RF), a receiver  57 , a signal amplifier  56 , and control unit  58  to operate one or both servo valves  50 ,  52 . Of course, in an alternative embodiment, a wired connection may exist between the pressure sensitive switch and the control unit  58 . The resistance of undisturbed switch  54  is set to maintain servo valve or servo plunger  50 ,  52  in a closed condition. Increasing or decreasing the pressure on the cabinet door  4 , 5  changes the resistance of the variable resistance push switch  54 , which is amplified by the signal amplifier  56  and processed by the control unit  58  to control one or both of the servo valves  50 ,  52  to provide variable fluid control through the open faucet. Preferably, this embodiment would be configured so that as the pressure on the cabinet door  4 ,  5  is increased by the user, the flow rate through the servo valve(s)  50 ,  52  would proportionately increase. 
     It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other pressure sensitive switches may be used to provide variable control of the valves. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, instead of the aforementioned control switches controlling both of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  or variable flow control valves  50 ,  52  simultaneously, respective control switches may be used to control respective hot and cold water valves in the valve manifold  17  to independently control the relative amounts of hot and cold water going to the faucet. This would reduce the need for the hot and cold water handles  2 ,  3  for the faucet. 
     With reference to FIG. 8, a pair of needle valve assemblies  23  allow a user to manually bypass the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  for the free flow of fluid through the valve manifold  17  in the event of a power failure or malfunction, or for any other reason. A needle valve  24  of the needle valve assembly  23  may be manually withdrawn (at least partially) from bores  25 ,  26  to allow free irrigational communication between inlet ports  11 ,  12  and outlet ports  13 ,  14  of valve manifold  17  in order to bypass the closed solenoid valves  19 ,  20 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 13-16, a pair of automatic electrically actuated needle valve assemblies  70  that automatically open in the event of a power failure or malfunction so that the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  are bypassed for the free flow of fluid through the valve manifold  17  will now be described. The automatic electrically actuated needle valve assemblies  70  may physically replace the manually actuated needle valve assemblies  23  discussed above. The needle valve assembly  70  includes a needle valve stem  74  attached to a circular magnetically excitable plate  76 . The needle valve stem  74  carries a spring  78  adjacent to the plate  76  and a retaining ring  80 . 
     The needle valve stem  74  is disposed in the bore of a magnetically excitable flange  82  having magnetic coil  84  in the center. The flange  82  carries an O ring  86  and includes an external thread  88  compatible with a internal thread  90  in the valve manifold  17 , making retrofitting or replacement of the manually operable needle valve assembly  23  easy, inexpensive, and standardized. The retaining ring  80  insures the limited movement of the needle valve stem  74  with respect to the flange  82  and the O ring  86  insures proper fluid seals between the needle valve stem  74  and the flange  82 . 
     With reference to FIG. 16, the magnetic coils  84  are connected in parallel through a normally closed switch  92  and are in constant communication with the power supply  18 , resulting in magnetization of flange  82  and, as a result, a constant pull on plate  76 . The constant pull on plate  76  causes needle valve stem  74  to close the manifold bores  25 ,  26 , preventing water flow there through. 
     In the event of a power failure or opening of switch  92 , the flange  82  demagnetizes. The lack of pull on the plate  76 , along with the action of spring  78  and fluid pressure in bore  25 ,  26 , forces the valve stem  74  backward, causing the free communication of fluid between the inlet ports  11 ,  12  and the outlet ports  13 ,  14  in the valve manifold  17 . When the supply of power is resumed or the switch  92  is closed, the magnetized flange  84  attracts plate  76 , thus closing the bore passage way  25 ,  26  and causing the valve manifold  17  to resume to its normal operating condition. 
     With reference to FIG. 17, the switch  92  may be conveniently located on a wall behind or adjacent to the sink or on a cabinet fixture so that by opening the switch  92 , the operator can override or bypass the valves  19 ,  20  so that the faucet works manually and conventionally if so desired. 
     With reference to FIG. 8, the valve manifold  17  may include a hammer arrestor device to provide a shock absorbing environment to minimize the hammering action and related noises that may be generated by the sudden closing action of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20 . For example, such a device may be comprised of two cylindrical cavities  30  filled with compressed air and sealed by two pistons  32  containing O-rings  33  as a seal, and retaining rings  34  to retain the pistons  32  within the cylindrical cavities  30 . The lower end of each of the two cylindrical cavities, on the uncompressed side of the piston  32 , may be sealed by threaded plugs  35  and connected by passage ways  36  to water inlets  11 ,  12 . 
     The sudden shock caused by the closing action of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  passes through bores  36  and causes the pistons  32  to move against the preset pressurized cavities  30 , thus absorbing the shock and hammer effect of sudden closure. 
     With reference to FIGS. 13 and 18, in another embodiment, the hammer arrestor device may include a flexible air bag  100  made out of a thin wall of corrugated stainless steel cylinder that is pressurized with predetermined quantity of compressed air and sealed at both ends. Cylindrical cavities  30  in the valve manifold  17  may be filled with a compressed air to absorb the hammering effect. When placed in cavity  30  (FIG.  13 ), the longitudinal flexibility of the corrugated cylinder  100  will absorb the sudden impact and hammering effect of sudden valve closure. 
     The present invention will now be described in use. Slight knee pressure on one of the cabinet doors  4 ,  5  causes the switch  21 ,  22  to close, in turn causing the solenoid valve(s)  19 ,  20  to open, allowing the water to flow freely through the existing faucet as its flow settings permits. 
     Continuous water flow may be accomplished by way of the push button latchable switch  21 . To latch the latchable switch  21 , a light knee pressure is applied to one of the cabinet doors  4 ,  5 . In the latch mode, the solenoid valve(s)  19 ,  20  remain open indefinitely and the faucet works conventionally, and the user can manipulate the water flow manually and conventionally or terminate the flow by applying a second knee pressure to the same cabinet door  4 ,  5  or by turning the faucet manually to the off position. 
     Instantaneous on-off control of water may be accomplished by the push button or momentary switch  22 . The switch  22  remains closed, causing the solenoid valve(s)  19 ,  20  to remain open and water to flow to the faucet, as long pressure is imparted on the switch  22 . 
     Variable control may be accomplished by the variable control or pressure sensitive switch  54 . Increasing or decreasing the pressure on the cabinet door  4 , 5  changes the resistance of the variable resistance push switch  54 , which is amplified by the signal amplifier  56  and processed by the servo control unit  58  to control one or both of the valves  50 ,  52  to provide variable fluid control through the open faucet. If a static-sensitive switch is used, the touch-on, touch-off control of water can be accomplished by the user by touching a metallic object such as uncoated metallic sink  1 , a faucet spout  140 , or an ornamental metallic button  142  (FIG. 4,  19 ). The static-sensitive switch should be ground isolated, placed in a location of convenience, and should be in communication with the input terminal of the touch sensitive switch. 
     To child proof the invention, all that is necessary is to close the sink faucet manually. In this case, if a child exerts pressure on the doors  4 ,  5 , the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  will activate, but the closed sink faucet restricts the flow. 
     In the event that the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  become fixed in a closed condition due to a power failure or malfunction, manually operable needle valve assemblies  23  allow a user to manually bypass the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  and automatic electrically actuated needle valve assemblies  70  automatically open to bypass the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  for the free flow of water through the valve manifold  17  and to the faucet. The remote switch  92  may be used with the electrically actuated needle valve assemblies  70  to control the opening of the electrically actuated needle valve assemblies  70  in the event of a power failure or malfunction. 
     The illustrated embodiment is exemplary in nature and many of the details thereof could be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the internal configuration of the solenoid valves  19 ,  20  could be of a different type, such as a piloted solenoid valve, which can rely on storage energy of the battery cell for its operations. It must also be noted that such piloted solenoid valves can also work with dual energy source such as battery cells and AC current, or as described above, a servo valve. The general shape of the valve manifold  17  could also be different. For example, a single valve manifold  17  could be replaced with two separate manifolds or blocks, each containing a solenoid valve, a diversionary valve, and multiple inlet ports for a single fluid, e.g., hot water. Style-wise, the inlet or outlet ports may be configured differently or the switching apparatus, namely control unit  58 , can contain an electronic version of the latching switch, replacing the mechanical latching switch with a momentary switch. Control unit  58  can also contain a static sensitive switch or a timer circuitry for measured fluid flow or a voice activated switch which converts voice commands to a working current to activate solenoid valves  19 - 20 . To reduce consumer cost, the shock-absorbing portion may be simplified or eliminated. 
     The arrangement of the present invention makes the automatic valve control system advantageously very easy to install as a retrofit or with new faucet plumbing, even by non-plumber consumers. Its simplicity and minimal parts makes it inexpensive, and its practicality and ease of operation encourage its use. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other changes and modifications can be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.