Patent Abstract:
A valve mechanism for a plumbing device includes a valve for a plumbing conduit. The valve is movable between an open position and a closed position. An actuator moves the valve between the open position and the closed position. When the plumbing device malfunctions the valve moves to the closed position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a flow restricting valve mechanism and, more particularly, to a mechanical shut off device for an automatic water faucet.  
         [0002]     Plumbing devices using valves to restrict and permit flow, such as automatic water faucets, are known. These plumbing devices may rely on detecting an object, such as a user&#39;s hands, to trigger an actuator to open the valve permitting water flow through the faucet. After the user&#39;s hands are removed, the actuator moves the valve to a flow restricting position. The flow restricting position can prevent flow though the automatic water faucet.  
         [0003]     These plumbing devices typically rely on battery-powered actuators to manipulate the valve. Accordingly, in the event of a battery failure or other actuator malfunction, the valve may remain in a flow permitting position. This situation may result in wasted water or even flooding.  
         [0004]     Therefore, there exists a need in the art to provide a mechanical shut off device for an automatic water faucet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a valve mechanism for a plumbing device. The present invention includes a movable valve, an actuator and a plumbing conduit. When powered, the actuator moves the valve between a flow restricting position and a flow permitting position. Under normal operation, the actuator moves the valve between these positions. However, in the event of a malfunction, such as a battery failure, the valve moves to the flow restricting position and may do so without relying on the powered actuator. Thus, a malfunction triggers the valve to move to the flow restricting position.  
         [0006]     The invention may have a spring, which is used to move the valve in the event of a malfunction independent of the battery. The spring is more relaxed when the valve is in the flow restricting position, than when the valve is in the flow permitting position. Therefore, as the valve moves from the flow restricting position to the flow permitting position, the spring becomes less relaxed. If a malfunction occurs, the spring moves the valve to the flow restricting position. Under normal operation, the actuator moves the valve to the flow restricting position.  
         [0007]     The invention may be used in an automatic water faucet. The actuators in automatic water faucets are typically battery powered. Automatic water faucets usually contain an object detection system triggering the actuator to move the valve. Generally, the actuator will utilize planetary gears to move the valve. The actuator also moves the spring between a relaxed position and a less relaxed position. If, when triggered, the actuator cannot fully actuate the valve, such as during a battery failure, the spring returns the valve to the flow restricting position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of the plumbing device when the valve is in a flow permitting position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of the plumbing device when the valve is in a flow restricting position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of the plumbing device after detecting a malfunction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic depicting the operation of a valve mechanism  10  for a plumbing device  12  is illustrated. The schematic depicts a valve  14  in communication with an automatic water faucet  30 . Although the present invention is described in terms of an automatic water faucet  30 , it should be recognized that other plumbing devices  12  may employ configurations similar to the one described herein.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates the position of a spring  34  when the valve  14  is in a closed position  22 , a flow restricting position. The valve  14  may be of the sliding variety such that the valve  14  will rotate into the closed position  22 . A sliding type valve  14  lessens the force necessary to restrict the flow through the automatic water faucet  30 .  
         [0014]     The valve  14  in the closed position  22  prevents water from flowing from a water supply  26  to the automatic water faucet  30 . Generally, the flow rate through an automatic water faucet  30  is less than 2 gallons per minute. However, the present invention may also be used in higher flow rate environments, such as Roman tubs or bathtubs, where flow rates may exceed 5 gallons per minute. In addition, flow rates through plumbing devices  12  may be controlled by mechanisms upstream or downstream from the valve  14 .  
         [0015]     The spring  34  is in communication with the valve  14 . When the valve  14  is in the closed position  22  the spring  34  maintains a more relaxed position  38 . A power supply  54  powers a powered actuator  50 . Under normal operation, the powered actuator  50  moves the valve  14  between the closed position  22  and an open position  18 , a flow permitting position.  
         [0016]     An object detection system  58  can trigger the valve  14  to move from the closed position  22  to the open position  18 . When the object detection system  58  detects an object, such as a user&#39;s hands, the powered actuator  50  moves the valve  14  to the open position  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the object is no longer detected, the powered actuator  50  returns the valve  14  to the closed position  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The powered actuator  50  also moves the spring  34  from the more relaxed position  38  of  FIG. 1  to a less relaxed position  42  of  FIG. 2 . Thus, the valve  14  moves from the closed position  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to the open position  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2  while the spring moves from the more relaxed position  38  to the less relaxed position  42  during normal operation.  
         [0017]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , a set of planetary gears  46  may move the spring  34  and the valve  14 . The powered actuator  50  drives the planetary gears  46 , although other types of a low force operating mechanisms or commercially available devices may be used. Typically, the planetary gear set  46  comprises a three-stage gear set. The planetary gears  46  may rotate the valve  14  between the closed position  22  and the open position  18 , a position permitting flow.  
         [0018]     The default position of the valve  14  is the closed position  22 , and the valve  14  will move to the closed position  22  after a malfunction  66 , such as a control circuit failure, in the plumbing device  12 .  FIG. 3  schematically depicts the positions of the spring  34  and the valve  14  after the malfunction  66 , in the plumbing device  12 . As shown, the spring  34  returns to the more relaxed position  38 , the default position of the spring  34  and, in so doing, moves the valve  14  to the closed position  22 . The spring  34  does not rely on the powered actuator  50  and the planetary gears  46  to move the valve  14  when the malfunction  66  is detected. Operating the plumbing device  12  in this manner prevents the valve  14  from maintaining the open position  18  upon the malfunction  66  in the plumbing device  12 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  also shows an alternative power supply  54 , a battery  62 . The battery  62  is frequently used as a power source for powered actuators  50  in automatic water faucets  30 . Failure of the battery  62  is the type of malfunction  66  capable of triggering moving the valve  14  to the closed position  22 . There are many advantages to moving the valve  14  to the closed position  22  upon a malfunction  66  in the automatic water faucet  30 . For example, as the valve  14  moves to the closed position  22  when the batteries  62  fail, there is minimal risk of flooding or wasting water.  
         [0020]     It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications are within the scope of this invention. The following claims define the invention and should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4