# US 12,000,125 B2 · Faucet

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- Number: US 12,000,125 B2
- Document ID: US12000125B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/000,376
- Filed: 2020-08-24
- Published: 2021-04-29
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-29
- Applicants: Xiamen Forbetter Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xiliang Yan; Yihui Chen; Qiang Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000125B2

## CPC

- E03C 1/055: {Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like}
- G01F 1/115: with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
- E03B 7/072: {Arrangement of flowmeters}
- E03B 7/075: {Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate}
- E03B 7/078: {Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other}
- E03C 1/04: Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths (valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K)
- E03C 1/05: Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps (remote control of taps or the like per se F16K)
- E03C 1/057: {touchless, i.e. using sensors}
- F16K 11/22: with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
- F16K 11/24: with an electromagnetically-operated valve, e.g. for washing machines
- F16K 19/006: {Specially adapted for faucets}
- F16L 37/0841: {by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube}
- G01F 1/58: by electromagnetic flowmeters
- G01F 15/003: {using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means (G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence)}
- G05D 7/0658: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a single flow from a plurality of converging flows (G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13)}
- E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A faucet includes a faucet spout, a communication valve, a first valve cartridge, a second valve cartridge, a solenoid valve, and an induction control circuit. A first input end, a second input end and a third input end of the communication valve are connected to the first valve cartridge, the second valve cartridge and the solenoid valve, respectively. An output end of the communication valve is connected to the faucet spout. The communication valve is provided with a water flow sensor electrically connected to the induction control circuit. The faucet provides a manual mode and an induction mode to control the flow of water and is convenient to use and can prolong its service life.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A faucet, comprising:
a faucet spout, the faucet spout having an outlet channel therein;
a communication valve, having an output end, a first input end, a second input end and a third input end, the output end being connected to the faucet spout, a first channel and a second channel being provided in the communication valve, the first channel communicating with the first input end, the second input end, and the output end, the first channel being provided with a water flow sensor, the second channel communicating with the third input end and the output end, wherein the output end is connected to the faucet spout;
a first valve cartridge, having a first inlet end and a first outlet end, the first outlet end being connected to the first input end of the communication valve, the first inlet end being configured to connect with a first water supply, as a result, the first valve cartridge is connected to the faucet spout through the first channel;
a second valve cartridge, having a second inlet end and a second outlet end, the second outlet end being connected to the second input end of the communication valve, the second inlet end being configured to connect with a second water supply, as a result, the second valve cartridge is connected to the faucet spout through the first channel;
a control box, the control box being provided with a first inlet passage for connecting with the first water supply and a second inlet passage for connecting with the second water supply, the first inlet passage being connected to the first inlet end of the first valve cartridge, the second inlet passage being connected to the second inlet end of the second valve cartridge;
a solenoid valve, having a first water inlet, a second water inlet and an output waterway, the first water inlet being configured to connect with the first water supply, the second water inlet being configured to connect with the second water supply, the output waterway being connected to the third input end of the communication valve, as a result, the solenoid valve is connected to the faucet spout through the second channel, the first water inlet of the solenoid valve communicating with the first inlet passage through a first connecting passage, the second water inlet of the solenoid valve communicating with the second inlet passage through a second connecting passage;
an induction control circuit, disposed on the faucet spout and including an induction window,
wherein when flow of water is controlled in a manual manner, the first valve cartridge and/or the second valve cartridge are opened, the induction control circuit receives a signal generated by the water flow sensor as the water flows through the first channel, the induction control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be closed according to the signal and an induction fails,
wherein when the flow of water is controlled in an induction manner, the first valve cartridge and the second valve cartridge are closed, the induction control circuit does not receive the signal of the water flow sensor and triggers the induction window for induction, and the induction control circuit controls the solenoid valve to be opened,
wherein the first connecting passage is provided with a flow control valve,
wherein the flow control valve includes a valve seat, a valve stem, and a valve plate, one end of the valve stem is connected to the valve seat, another end of the valve stem is connected to the valve plate, the valve plate is inserted into the first connecting passage, and the valve seat is rotatable to change a water-passing area of the first connecting passage, and
wherein the valve seat has an adjustment surface, and the adjustment surface is formed with an adjustment groove.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first connecting passage and the second connecting passage is provided with a one-way valve that allows water to flow to the solenoid valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The faucet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the one-way valve includes a valve body, a valve plug and a compression spring, the valve body has a water-passing cavity therein, the valve plug is disposed in the water-passing cavity and is movable axially along the water-passing cavity, the compression spring is sleeved on the valve plug, one end of the compression spring abuts against the valve body, and another end of the compression spring abuts against the valve plug for blocking an inlet of the water-passing cavity, when water flows through the solenoid valve, water pressure drives the valve plug to move and open the inlet of the water-passing cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is arranged in the control box.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first water supply is a hot water supply.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second water supply is a cold water supply.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water flow sensor includes a magnetic impeller that is rotatably arranged in the first channel and a Hall element that is arranged outside the first channel, the Hall element is electrically connected to the induction control circuit;
the Hall element is configured to sense whether the magnetic impeller rotates and output the signal to the induction control circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The faucet as claimed in claim 7, wherein an outer side of the communication valve, corresponding in position to the first channel, is formed with a receiving groove, the Hall element is fitted in the receiving groove, and the receiving groove is provided with glue for sealing the Hall element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The faucet as claimed in claim 7, wherein an outlet of the first channel of the communication valve is provided with a check valve that allows water to flow in one direction only to the output end of the communication valve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The faucet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input end, the second input end and the output end of the communication valve respectively communicate with the first outlet end of the first valve cartridge, the second outlet end of the second valve cartridge and the outlet channel of the faucet spout through a quick-release structure;
the quick-release structure includes a hollow connector and a receiving seat, one end of the connector is formed with a plug-in tube mating with the receiving seat, a middle portion of the receiving seat is formed with a receiving hole mating with the plug-in tube of the connector, the receiving seat is provided with two opposite elastic buckles, the two elastic buckles can be moved towards each other or moved away from each other to release or hold the plug-in tube of the connector;
the receiving seat and the connector of the quick-release structure that connects the first input end of the communication valve and the first outlet end of the first valve cartridge are connected to the first input end of the communication valve and the first outlet end of the first valve cartridge, respectively;
the receiving seat and the connector of the quick-release structure that connects the second input end of the communication valve and the second outlet end of the second valve cartridge are connected to the second input end of the communication valve and the second outlet end of the second valve cartridge, respectively;
the receiving seat and the connector of the quick-release structure that connects the output end of the communication valve and the outlet channel of the faucet spout are connected to the output end of the communication valve and the outlet channel of the faucet spout, respectively.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The faucet as claimed in claim 10, wherein each elastic buckle has a holding arm with a C-shaped opening, an inner surface of the C-shaped opening of the holding arm is composed of a small arc surface with a smaller radius and a large arc surface with a larger radius;
an outer wall of the plug-in tube of the connector is formed with an engaging groove, when the small arc surfaces of the two elastic buckles face each other to form a small hole, the holding arms of the two elastic buckles hold the plug-in tube of the connector tightly;
when the large arc surfaces of the two elastic buckles face each other to form a large hole, the plug-in tube of the connector can enter and exit the receiving seat.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The faucet as claimed in claim 10, wherein an inner side of each elastic buckle is provided with an elastic piece, and two ends of the elastic piece respectively act on the elastic buckle and the receiving seat to give the elastic buckle an outward force.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The faucet as claimed in claim 12, wherein two sides of the receiving seat are formed with side grooves for accommodating the respective elastic buckles;
each elastic buckle further has a blocking wall corresponding in shape to an opening of a corresponding one of the side grooves, and the elastic piece is disposed on an inner side of the blocking wall.