Solenoid operated faucet

A faucet comprising:

• a housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber communicating with the inlet chamber at an opening;
• a solenoid valve assembly mounted adjacent said housing which releasably seals the inlet chamber from the outlet chamber for controlling fluid flow therebetween;
• means for sensing the presence of an object in the proximity of said faucet and emitting a signal indicative of that presence;
• means, responsive to the signal from said means for sensing, for energizing said solenoid valve assembly to permit fluid flow when the presence of an object is sensed;
• first means for deenergizing the solenoid valve assembly to prevent fluid flow if after the presence of an object is detected, that presence is not detected for a first interval of time;
• and
• second means for deenergizing said solenoid valve assembly after the solenoid valve assembly to prevent fluid flow has been continuously energized for a second interval, notwithstanding the continued presence of the object being sensed, and thereafter periodically energizing said solenoid valve assembly to permit fluid flow for a third interval of time until the presence of the object is no longer sensed.

A faucet comprising:

• a base member;
• a faucet body, attached to said base member, having an inner chamber and a spout which opens into the inner chamber at an aperture;
• a valve housing, within the inner chamber of said faucet body and separable therefrom, having a inlet chamber opening into an external annular channel and an outlet chamber having a first opening centrally located relative to said annular channel, said housing having an annular surface between the channel and the outlet chamber first opening thereby defining a valve seat, said valve housing also having a first end portion extending into the aperture of said faucet body thereby sealing the inner chamber from the spout with the first end portion having a aperture therethrough to provide a passage between the outlet chamber and the spout, and having a second end portion;
• a tube attached to the second end portion of said valve housing in communication with the inlet chamber;
• one of said valve housing and said tube abutting said base thereby retaining said valve housing within said faucet body and holding said first end portion in the aperture of said faucet body;
• a resilient diaphragm having a first surface that releasably engages the valve seat and has a periphery which sealably engage said valve housing, said diaphragm including a central aperture and a metering aperture communicating with the inlet chamber;
• a tapered pin extending from said valve housing into the metering aperture;
• a diaphragm retainer in the central aperture of said diaphragm and having an aperture therethrough which communicates with the outlet chamber;
• a solenoid assembly mounted on said valve housing to form a cavity between said diaphragm and said solenoid assembly into which the metering aperture communicates, said solenoid assembly including a plunger biased by a spring against said diaphragm retainer to releasably seal the aperture in said diaphragm retainer and including a electrical coil around the plunger;
• and
• a means for sensing the presence of a user adjacent the faucet and in response thereto for energizing said electrical coil.