Motorized shower diverter system
OwnerAlberto Sidinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorized shower water diverter valve for a handheld shower is connected to a shower water inlet pipe in lieu of a conventional showerhead. A conventional showerhead is then connected to one of two valve outlets and a hose for the handheld shower is connected to the other valve outlet. The valve may be constructed as a rotary or linear type. A motor output shaft is coupled to a gear assembly to either rotate a valve core of a rotary valve or laterally displace the core of a linear valve. The gear assembly may include a slip clutch. There is also provided a control circuit for operating the motor, a wireless remote control and a sensor for enabling the control circuit to detect the position of the valve core.
Claims20
A motorized shower diverter system for controlling water flow between a water supply elbow and a fixed showerhead or an alternate shower, the system comprising a diverter valve having a valve housing, the valve housing including an inlet for coupling to the water supply elbow, a first outlet for coupling to the fixed showerhead and a second outlet for coupling to the alternate shower, the diverter valve having a core movable within the housing from a first position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the first outlet and a second position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the second outlet, the system further including a motor having an output shaft and a gear assembly operatively connected to the output shaft and to the valve core for moving the valve core between the first position and the second position.
A motorized shower diverter system for controlling water flow between a water supply elbow and a fixed showerhead or an alternate shower, the system comprising a diverter valve having a valve housing, the valve housing including an inlet for coupling to the water supply elbow, a first outlet for coupling to the fixed showerhead and a second outlet for coupling to the alternate shower, the diverter valve having a core movable within the housing from a first position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the first outlet and a second position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the second outlet, the system further including a motor operatively connected to the valve core for moving the valve core between the first position and the second position, a wireless remote control for transmitting a command signal indicative of a desired water flow path and a control circuit, the control circuit receiving the command signal and in response thereto, driving the motor to move the valve core to a position corresponding with the desired water flow path.
A motorized shower diverter system for controlling water flow between a water supply elbow and a fixed showerhead or an alternate shower, the system comprising a diverter valve having a valve housing, the valve housing including an inlet for coupling to the water supply elbow, a first outlet for coupling to the fixed showerhead and a second outlet for coupling to the alternate shower, the diverter valve having a core movable within the housing from a first position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the first outlet and a second position, wherein a water flow path is provided between the inlet and the second outlet, the system further including a motor operatively connected to the valve core for moving the valve core between the first position and the second position, a programmable micro-controller, a sensor for sensing the position of the valve core and a command signal source for generating a command signal indicative of a desired water flow path, the sensor and the command signal source being operatively connected to the micro-controller, the micro-controller receiving a sensor signal and in response thereto, ascertaining the position of the valve core, the micro-controller receiving the command signal and in response thereto, driving the motor to move the valve core to a position corresponding with the desired water flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.