# US 8,540,118 B2 · Water dispenser and method of operating it > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,118 B2 - Document ID: US8540118B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/916,658 - Filed: 2010-11-01 - Published: 2012-05-03 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-01 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Neil McDonald; Daniel Capelle; Daniel Brosnan - Inventors: Neil McDonald; Daniel Capelle; Daniel Brosnan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540118B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/0014: {the beverage being supplied from water mains} - B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)} - B67D 2001/0088: {operated by push buttons} - B67D 2210/0001: for liquid - B67D 2210/00149: Fixed containers to be filled in situ - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) ## Abstract A water dispenser is fluidly connectable to a water source. The water dispenser includes a water tank; a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank and configured to generate an activation signal after being activated; a valve fluidly connectable to the water source and fluidly connected to the water tank; a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank and configured to generate an open signal after moving away from a predetermined position; and a controller operatively connected to the faucet and the first float switch. The controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source after the controller receives both the activation signal from the faucet and the open signal from the first float switch. A method of operating the water dispenser is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water dispenser fluidly connectable to a water source, the water dispenser comprising: a water tank; a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank and configured to generate an activation signal after being activated; a valve fluidly connectable to the water source and fluidly connected to the water tank; a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank and configured to generate an open signal after moving away from a predetermined position; and a controller operatively connected to the faucet and the first float switch, the controller being configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source in response to both the activation signal from the faucet and the open signal from the first float switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first float switch is movable between a first uppermost floating position and a first lowermost position, the predetermined position being the first uppermost floating position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The water dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a second float switch disposed in the water tank and movable between a second uppermost floating position and a second lowermost position, the second lowermost position being lower than the first lowermost position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The water dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a second float switch disposed in the water tank and movable between a second uppermost floating position and a second lowermost position, the second lowermost position being higher than the first lowermost position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The water dispenser of claim 4, wherein the second float switch is configured to generate a close signal after the second float switch moves upward from the second lowermost position, the controller closing the valve after receiving the close signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The water dispenser of claim 4, wherein the second float switch is configured to generate a close signal after the second float switch reaches the second uppermost floating position, the controller closing the valve after receiving the close signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The water dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a third float switch disposed in the water tank and directly connected to the valve, the third float switch being movable between a third uppermost floating position and a third lowermost position which is higher than at least one of the second lowermost position and the second uppermost floating position, the third float switch being configured to close the valve after the third float switch moves upward from the third lowermost position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The water dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a third float switch disposed in the water tank and directly connected to the valve, the third float switch being movable between a third uppermost floating position and a third lowermost position which is higher than at least one of the second lowermost position and the second uppermost floating position, the third float switch being configured to close the valve after the third float switch reaches the third uppermost floating position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source after the controller receives the activation signal and the open signal in a predetermined sequence. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source in response to both the activation signal and the open signal and immediately after expiration of a predetermined period of time, and wherein the predetermine period of time starts when the faucet generates the activation signal or when the first float switch generates the open signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to open the valve for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the predetermine period of time starts when the faucet generates the activation signal or when the first float switch generates the open signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The water dispenser of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 7 minutes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the predetermined period of time is under a minute, about a minute or above several minutes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The water dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a third float switch disposed in the water tank and operatively connected to the controller, the third float switch being movable between a third uppermost floating position and a third lowermost position which is higher than at least one of the second lowermost position and the second uppermost floating position, the third float switch being configured to generate a close signal after the third float switch moves upward from the third lowermost position or reaches the third uppermost floating position, the controller closing the valve after receiving the close signal. ### Claim 15 A method of operating a water dispenser, the water dispenser comprising a water tank, a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank, a valve fluidly connectable to a water source and fluidly connected to the water tank, the method comprising: opening the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source in response to both an activation signal from the faucet and an open signal from a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the opening step occurs immediately after expiration of a predetermined period of time, and wherein the predetermined period of time starts when the activation signal or the open signal is generated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the valve remains open for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the predetermined period of time starts when the activation signal or the open signal is generated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 7 minutes.