Patent classifications
Y10T137/86389
Faucet handle with angled interface
A faucet assembly including a handle that rotates about a rotational axis extending perpendicular to an angled interface for adjusting a water parameter.
HANDS-FREE DISPENSERS WITH MANAGED POWER CONSUMPTION
Exemplary embodiments of dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap, sanitizer or lotion includes a housing, an actuator, a processor, a battery power supply and a sensor for detecting a user. The sensor for detecting a user operates in first duty cycle or a second duty cycle. Operating in the second duty cycle consumes less power than operating in the first duty cycle. The sensor operates in the first duty cycle if a user is detected and the sensor operates in the second duty cycle if the sensor does not detect a user and a selected period of time has elapsed.
System For And Method Of Fast Pulse Gas Delivery
A system for delivering pulses of a desired mass of gas to a tool, comprising: a mass flow controller including flow sensor, a control valve and a dedicated controller configured and arranged to receive a recipe of a sequence of steps for opening and closing the control valve so as to deliver as sequence of gas pulses as a function of the recipe. The mass flow controller is configured and arranged so as to operate in either one of at least two modes: as a traditional mass flow controller (MFC) mode or in a pulse gas delivery (PGD) mode. Further, the mass flow controller includes an input configured to receive an input signal; an output configured to provide an output signal; a communication port configured to receive program instructions; memory configured and arranged to receive programming data determining the programmed configuration of the mass flow controller as either a digital or analog configuration; and a processor/controller for operating the mass flow controller in accordance with the programmed configuration.
Methods for managing power consumption for a hands-free dispenser
Methods for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device such as a fluid dispenser are disclosed. One method includes setting a duty cycle of a sensor used by the device to a first range and setting a timer upon detection of a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a second range. The method continues by checking for another triggering event during the second range. The checking step is repeated if the timer has not lapsed, but if the timer has lapsed the process returns to the setting step. Related methods may be used to adjust the duty cycle based upon a detected characteristic such as light, sound, motion or time.
System for and method of fast pulse gas delivery
A system for delivering pulses of a desired mass of gas to a tool, comprising: a mass flow controller including flow sensor, a control valve and a dedicated controller configured and arranged to receive a recipe of a sequence of steps for opening and closing the control valve so as to deliver as sequence of gas pulses as a function of the recipe. The mass flow controller is configured and arranged so as to operate in either one of at least two modes: as a traditional mass flow controller (MFC) mode or in a pulse gas delivery (PGD) mode. Further, the mass flow controller includes an input configured to receive an input signal; an output configured to provide an output signal; a communication port configured to receive program instructions; memory configured and arranged to receive programming data determining the programmed configuration of the mass flow controller as either a digital or analog configuration; and a processor/controller for operating the mass flow controller in accordance with the programmed configuration.
CODE REPLACEMENT FOR IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS
Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers comprising: a housing; a control unit including a first microcontroller configured to execute irrigation programs and a first set of code; and a removable plug-in device that removably mates with a portion of the irrigation controller and communicationally couples to the first microcontroller, wherein the plug-in device comprises a memory storing a second set of code to replace at least a portion of the first set of code, wherein the plug-in device is configured to re-flash at least a portion of the first set of code allowing a copy of the second set of code to overwrite at least the portion of the first set of code; wherein the first set of code comprises a bootloader that writes the copy of the second set of code over the first set of code with the exception of the bootloader that is not written over.
MIXING VALVE
A mixing valve that includes a housing having a first outlet, a second outlet, and a mixing chamber; a first flow control valve for controlling flow through the first outlet to the mixing chamber; and a second flow control valve for controlling flow through the second outlet to the mixing chamber; wherein the housing has a length dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension, and the largest of these dimensions is no more than approximately 65 millimeters.
Method of controlling mixing valve
A method including configuring a valve so that an operating force to actuate the valve when in an open position is substantially independent of water flow. The valve includes a first valve member assembly comprising a spool having a connector portion; a first valve member mounted on the spool at a first location and configured to seat against a first valve outlet in a closed position of the valve; and a second valve member mounted on the spool at a second location spaced apart from the first location and configured to seat against a second valve outlet in the closed position of the valve. The method also includes controlling the valve to output a flow of the water having a desired flow rate by moving the spool in a linear direction with a portion of a stepper motor coupled directly to the connector portion of the spool.
Shower head with integrated mixing valve
A plumbing fitting having a body and a housing located in the body that includes a first inlet for receiving the first fluid, a second inlet for receiving the second fluid, and a mixing chamber. The plumbing fitting includes a first flow control valve operatively coupled to the housing; a second flow control valve operatively coupled to the housing; and an actuator assembly configured to move the first flow control valve relative to the housing to control flow of the first fluid from the first inlet to the mixing chamber, such that the first fluid exerts substantially no net force on the first flow control valve, and configured to move the second flow control valve relative to the housing to control flow of the second fluid from the second inlet to the mixing chamber, such that the second fluid exerts substantially no net force on the second flow control valve.
PLUMBING FIXTURE WITH USER INTERFACE
A water delivery device that includes a body having a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and an outlet; a mixing valve in the body, and a touchscreen user interface on a surface of the body. The mixing valve includes a housing having a mixing chamber that is fluidly connected to the outlet, a first flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber, and a second flow control valve moveably disposed in the housing to control a hot water flow from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber. The touchscreen user interface allows a user to control a temperature and/or a flow rate of water from the outlet by controlling the first and second flow control valves.