Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090001193 | Communication system for multizone irrigation - A multizone irrigation system includes a central control unit having a central control system interfaced with a central valve and a central communication unit. The central valve regulates water flow for irrigation from a water source and can lower water pressure in the pipes at its output. The central communication unit is constructed to transmit or receive pressure based communication signals providing irrigation information. Each zone includes a sprinkler control unit having a sprinkler connected to a water pipe for irrigation. Each sprinkler control unit includes a local controller interfaced with a local valve for controlling water flow to the sprinkler. The sprinkler control unit also includes a local communication unit (e.g., a pressure sensor) constructed to receive communication signals from the central communication unit and provide received irrigation information to the local controller. | 01-01-2009 |
20090049599 | Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers - The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. | 02-26-2009 |
20090121171 | Automatic bathroom flushers - An automatic bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member, and a controller. | 05-14-2009 |
20090179165 | Automated water delivery systems with feedback control - A water delivery system includes a water input port, a control circuit, and a valve device. The water input port is constructed to be coupled to a water conduit receiving water from a remotely located water source. The valve device includes an actuator located near and connected to the water input port; wherein the valve device is constructed to receive control signals from the controller for providing water to a water delivery unit. The controller may be battery operated. The actuator may be a latching actuator, a non-latching actuator, or an isolated latching actuator. The controller may include a microcontroller coupled and to a sensor. The system may include a communication interface constructed and arranged to provide data to the microcontroller. The control circuit may include a power consumption controller. The control circuit includes a voltage regulator. | 07-16-2009 |
20100019181 | Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow - An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. | 01-28-2010 |
20100024112 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers - A tank-type flusher is located in the water storage tank for flushing a toilet. The tank-type flusher includes an intake valve and a flush valve. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to the water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. The tank-type flusher may be controlled by a sensor module located at a reference location external to the water storage tank. | 02-04-2010 |
20100024895 | System and method for converting manually operated flush valves - Disclosed is a method and system for converting or retrofitting manually-operated flush valves. A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve includes a power module, a control module, and a driver module mechanically coupled to a manual handle to externally activate the converted flush valve. | 02-04-2010 |
20100051841 | Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow - An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece forming a pocket for a ferromagnetic armature located therein. The actuator including a radial magnet and a solenoid coil constructed and arranged to cause a linear displacement of the armature upon application of a coil drive current from a control circuit. The actuator may include a flexible membrane that partially encloses the armature to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. In a valve design, a fluid flow is stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. A fluid flow is opened by driving the membrane away from the valve seat. | 03-04-2010 |
20100146690 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers - A bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member. The bathroom flusher includes one of several novel sensors and is controlled by one of several novel controllers, as described. The controller may execute a novel control algorithm. | 06-17-2010 |
20100252759 | Automatic bathroom flushers - An automatic bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action. The bathroom flusher may include a user sensor, and one or more photovoltaic cells for supplying electrical power to the electronic control system. The bathroom flusher enables two or multiple flush volumes in automatic or manual modes, depending on a user action. The bathroom flusher may include a user interface including a button and visible LEDs. | 10-07-2010 |
20100269923 | Electronic faucets for long-term operation - An electronic faucet ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100327197 | Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers - The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. | 12-30-2010 |
20110017930 | Novel enclosures for automatic bathroom flushers - A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module. | 01-27-2011 |
20110155934 | Automatic bathroom flushers - An automatic toilet room flusher system includes a flusher having a valve body, a valve member, an electronic control module and a control panel. The valve body includes a flusher inlet and a flusher outlet and a valve seat located inside the valve body. The valve member is cooperatively arranged with the valve seat and is constructed and arranged to control water flow between the flusher inlet and the flusher outlet. The electronic control module includes a sensor and a controller. The control panel is mounted with respect to a bathroom wall and is designed to accommodate the electronic control module behind the wall. | 06-30-2011 |
20110302708 | Passive sensors and control algorithms for faucets and bathroom flushers - An optical system includes one or several passive optical detectors sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling, for example, the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. The passive optical sensors provide signals to flow controllers, including control electronics and flow valves and require only very small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. To control the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers based on ambient light, the controller executes novel algorithms. | 12-15-2011 |
20110309274 | Electrically operated valve for delivering water - An electrically operated valve for delivering water includes a valve body, a valve closure element and an electromagnetic actuator. The valve body has a water inlet and a water outlet. The valve closure element is located within the valve body and is constructed to move between an open state enabling water flow from the inlet to the outlet and a closed state preventing the water flow from the inlet to the outlet. The electromagnetic actuator is attached to move with the valve element including a sealing member. A pilot mechanism is constructed to control the movement of the valve element between the open state and the closed state based on a position of the sealing member. | 12-22-2011 |
20120068096 | Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow - An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. | 03-22-2012 |
20120132296 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers - A bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, and an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member. The bathroom flusher includes one of several novel sensors and is controlled by one of several novel controllers, as described. The controller may execute a novel control algorithm. | 05-31-2012 |
20130061380 | Automatic bathroom flushers - An automatic bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member, and a controller. | 03-14-2013 |
20130061381 | Bathroom flushers with novel sensors and controllers - A tank-type flusher is located in the water storage tank for flushing a toilet. The tank-type flusher includes an intake valve and a flush valve. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and constructed to close water flow to the water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. The tank-type flusher may be controlled by a sensor module located at a reference location external to the water storage tank. | 03-14-2013 |
20130145535 | Passive sensors for automatic faucets and bathroom flushers - The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers. | 06-13-2013 |
20130145536 | System and method for converting manually operated flush valves - A conversion system for converting an installed manually-operated flush valve used with a urinal or toilet is designed for automatic operation. The conversion system includes a power module, a control module, a driver module coupled to the manually-operated flush valve, and an optical sensor constructed to detect light arriving from a detection field. The control module is constructed to control activation of the driver module based on a signal from the optical sensor. | 06-13-2013 |
20140183388 | Electromagnetic apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow - An actuator including actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece forming a pocket for a ferromagnetic armature located therein. The actuator including a radial magnet and a solenoid coil constructed and arranged to cause a linear displacement of the armature upon application of a coil drive current from a control circuit. The actuator may include a flexible membrane that partially encloses the armature to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. In a valve design, a fluid flow is stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure. A fluid flow is opened by driving the membrane away from the valve seat. | 07-03-2014 |