Water temperature and pressure control system

[0002] This invention relates generally to mixing valve systems for mixing fluids together and, more particularly, to a system for mixing hot and cold water to selectable temperature and pressure settings and which allows for manual adjustment of those settings during operation.

[0003] Setting the flow of water from a faucet or shower to a desired temperature and pressure is an inconvenient process that often requires repeated trial and error movements of a knob or lever. Finding just the right setting is also difficult in that different temperatures or pressures are desired for different applications, e.g. soaking dishes, cleaning dishes, rinsing dishes, showering, etc.

[0004] Various devices, valves, or systems have been proposed in the prior art for mixing fluids together. Although assumably for their intended purposes, existing systems do not provide for selecting a desired water temperature and pressure from a set of predetermined settings and being able to adjust these settings during operation. Existing devices also do not provide for conserving hot water which is in short supply by automatically decreasing water pressure in order to maintain a selected water temperature.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to have a system for regulating water temperature and pressure which allows a user to select from a set of predefined temperature and pressure settings. Further, it is desirable to have a system which automatically decreases pressure when a shortage of hot water is detected so as to maintain the desired temperature for as long as possible.

[0006] A water temperature and pressure regulating system according to the present invention includes a box-shaped control unit having a central processing unit (CPU) mounted therein and having a display module on one side. The display module includes a plurality of user controls thereon, such as selector buttons. The CPU includes a memory for storing a predetermined set of temperature and pressure settings that may be selected by a user using appropriate user controls. The system further includes first and second inlet conduits connected to traditional sources of hot and cold water, respectively. Each inlet conduit includes a control valve for regulating the amount of water allowed to flow through a respective conduit. Each inlet conduit further includes a temperature sensor connected thereto upstream of a respective control valve, the sensors being electrically connected to the CPU. An outlet conduit is coupled to the first and second conduits and defines an outlet through which the mixture of water from the inlet conduits may flow.

[0007] A pair of worm gear assemblies provide an electromechanical connection between the CPU and the control valves. Each worm gear assembly includes a motor positioned in the control unit that is electrically connected to the CPU. A shaft coupled to the motor includes threads at one end that mate with the teeth of a worm gear. An operation of the motor causes the shaft and worm gear to rotate which, in turn, actuates a corresponding control valve. Therefore, appropriate CPU signals to the motors operate to open or close the control valves which affects the temperature and pressure of water flowing through the outlet conduit.

[0008] The temperature sensor connected to the first inlet conduit communicates with the CPU for detecting the temperature of water flowing therethrough. If a decrease in temperature is detected, the CPU energizes the motors to partially close the control valves so as to conserve an apparent short supply of hot water. This decreases water pressure but maintains a selected water temperature as long as possible. This scenario accounts for a situation of high water consumption which may be emptying a hot water tank.

[0009] Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a system for regulating the temperature and pressure of a water stream.

[0010] Another object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, which includes user controls and a central processing unit for user selection of predefined water temperature and pressure settings.

[0011] Still another object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, in which control valves connected to inlet conduits are electromechanically actuated by signals from a CPU.

[0012] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, having temperature sensors connected to inlet and outlet conduits.

[0013] A further object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, which decreases a selected pressure when hot water is in short supply so as to maintain a selected temperature as long as possible.

[0014] A still further object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, which allows incremental adjustment of water temperature and pressure by a user even after selection of a predefined temperature and pressure setting.

[0015] Another object of this invention is to provide a system, as aforesaid, which allows total manual control of water temperature and pressure, if desired.

[0016] Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water temperature and pressure regulating system according to one embodiment of the present invention in use with a sink and faucet assembly;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of system as in FIG. 1 with the sink and faucet assembly removed;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the system as in FIG. 2; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a water temperature and pressure regulating system according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0021] A water temperature and pressure regulating system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings. A water temperature and pressure regulating system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 installed in a sink and faucet assembly 16. As better shown in FIG. 2, the system 10 includes a box-shaped control unit 12 that defines an interior space and includes a display module 70 as its front side. The display module 70 includes a plurality of user controls, as to be described in greater detail below. A central processing unit (CPU) 14 is positioned in the interior space of the control unit 12.

[0022] The system 10 further includes first 20 and second 30 conduits connected to conventional hot and cold water sources, respectively (FIG. 2). First 20 and second 30 conduits, also referred to as inlet conduits, each include a control valve 22, 32, respectively, coupled thereto for regulating the flow of water through the respective conduit. Preferably, each control valve is a ball valve of the type that is impregnated and coated with Teflon® although other conventional valves would also be suitable. Temperature sensors 24, 34 are connected to first 20 and second 30 conduits, respectively, for detecting the temperature of water flowing through the respective conduit. Each sensor 24, 34 is positioned upstream of respective control valves 22, 32 and are electrically connected to the CPU 14 with wires 26, 36, respectively.

[0023] A third conduit 40, also referred to as the outlet conduit, is connected to the first 20 and second 30 conduits with a T-shaped coupling 42. A temperature sensor 44 and a pressure sensor 46 are connected to the third conduit 40 and adapted to detect the temperature and pressure of water flowing therethrough, respectively. The temperature 44 and pressure 46 sensors are electrically connected to the CPU 14 with wires 45, 47, respectively. The third conduit 40 defines an outlet 48 adapted for connection to a faucet, shower head, etc. (FIG. 2).

[0024] The control valves 22, 32 are incrementally opened or closed by a pair of electromechanical worm gear assemblies 50. Each worm gear assembly 50 includes a motor (not shown) positioned within the interior space of the control unit 12 and electrically connected to the CPU 14. Each worm gear assembly 50 further includes a shaft 52 having first (not shown) and second 54 ends (FIG. 2). The first end of each shaft 52 is operatively connected to a respective motor such that the shaft 52 is rotated upon an operation of the motor. It is understood that the motor may operate to rotate the shaft 52 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending upon the signal received from the CPU 14. The shaft extends downwardly from the control unit 12 and the second end 54 includes a plurality of disc-shaped threads 56. Each worm gear assembly 50 also includes a circular worm gear 58 having a plurality of teeth 60 spaced radially about its peripheral edge. Each worm gear 58 is axially coupled to a respective control valve 22, 32 for incrementally opening or closing the respective valve upon an operation of a respective motor. When the control unit 12 is energized, each worm shaft 52 is operatively positioned such that the threads 56 thereof mate with the teeth 60 of a respective worm gear 58. Therefore, an operation of a motor as directed by the CPU operates to rotate a shaft 52 which causes its threads 56 to mate with the teeth 60 of a worm gear 58 which in turn operates to rotatably open or close a respective control valve 22, 32.

[0025] The display module 70 includes indicia 72 corresponding to the predefined temperature and pressure settings. Selector buttons 74 corresponding to this indicia and electrically connected to the CPU 14 are also provided for enabling a user to select a desired temperature and pressure setting. Temperature adjustment buttons 76 and pressure adjustment buttons 78 are also provided and electrically connected to the CPU 14 such that water temperature and pressure may be adjusted even after selecting a predefined setting. The display module 70 includes a first display screen 80 for displaying the water temperature detected by the outlet conduit temperature sensor 44. An on/off switch 82 is also provided for completely deactivating the system 10.

[0026] The system 10 may also include a timer 88 positioned in the interior space of the control unit 12 and electrically connected to the CPU 14 (FIG. 3). The display module 70 includes buttons 84 for selecting a desired amount of time for water to flow through the outlet conduit at a selected temperature and pressure. The display module includes a second display screen 86 for displaying a selected time as well as the gallons of water per second that are being used at the selected pressure. This allows a user to quickly calculate the amount of water that will be used before the timer 88 expires.

[0027] In operation, with the on/off switch 82 in the “on” position, a user may use the setting selector buttons 74 to select one of a predefined set of temperature and pressure settings. The selected setting is electrically communicated to the CPU 14 (FIG. 3). The temperature sensors 24, 34, 44 connected to the first 20, second 30, and third 40 conduits, respectively, provide temperature data to the CPU 14 several times per second. Upon selection of a preset, the CPU 14 utilizes data from first 24 and second 34 sensors in delivering signals to the motors controlling the worm gear assemblies 50 so as to open the control valves 22, 32 an effective amount to achieve the selected water temperature and pressure of water flowing from the inlet conduits 20, 30 into the outlet conduit 40. Thereafter, the CPU 14 utilizes data from the temperature sensor 44 connected to third conduit 40 to send subsequent signals to the worm gear assembly motors so as to refine the degree to which the control valves 22, 32 are in open or closed configurations (FIG. 3). The temperature within the third conduit 40 is displayed on the first display screen 80 (FIG. 2). The manual temperature adjustment buttons 76 or manual pressure adjustment buttons 78 may also be depressed by a user to signal the CPU 14 to further open or close the control valves 22, 32 and therefore to adjust either temperature or pressure, even after a predefined setting has been selected (FIG. 3). Data from the pressure sensor 46 is utilized by the CPU for properly signaling the worm gear assemblies 50 to adjust the valves.

[0028] If during operation the first conduit temperature sensor 24 indicates to the CPU 14 that the temperature of the water from the hot water source is decreasing, the CPU 14 will signal the worm gear assembly motors to partially close the control valves so as to decrease the water pressure and consequently slow the consumption of hot water while maintaining the selected temperature for as long as possible.

[0029] Another embodiment 90 of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a construction substantially similar to that described above except as specifically noted below. This embodiment is installed with a sink 92 having conventional hot 94 and cold 96 water knobs. When the control unit 12 is switched off, the worm gear shafts 52 disengage from respective worm gears 58. The conventional knobs 94, 96 are coupled to respective worm gears 58 so as to rotate them to actuate respective control valves upon operation of the knobs.

[0030] It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.