A plumbing fixture has a housing adapted to be secured to a support surface, forming a compartment dimensioned to snugly receive a battery, and formed with a passage extending from the compartment to the surface. Contacts exposed in the compartment are positioned to engage terminals of the battery. At least one feed conduit extends from the housing through a hole in the support surface so that liquid can be fed to the housing through the conduit. An electrically controlled valve in the housing is connected to the contacts and to the conduit for altering characteristics of fluid flow through the housing. A battery simulator is provided including a battery-replacement unit dimensioned like the battery, received in the compartment, and having terminals engaging the contacts. A flexible supply cable extends from the unit through the passage and surface and has an outer end outside the housing. A fitting on the outer end can fit with a standard line-voltage supply. Circuitry in the battery simulator converts alternating line-voltage current to low-voltage direct current and supplies the direct current to the terminals of the battery-replacement unit.
The invention relates to a water fitting including a pipe having at least one water hook-up that is connected to a valve. A housing is detachably connected to the pipe and has a spout line that, when installed, is connected to the outlet of the valve. A screw secures the housing on the pipe. A sensing device is fitted inside the pipe. When the screw is removed, said sensing device automatically closes the valve and blocks the same in the closed position. This reliably prevents water from flowing out when the housing is disassembled.
An electrically controlled faucet is disclosed which is operable by pushing a button or placing hands within the operating range of a sensor. The faucet is mounted to a sink deck or like surface using specially configured gasket means which insure against slippage of the faucet on the deck. The gasketing means provide special channels through which electrical operating wires can be securely passed from the faucet to operating means below the sink deck. These operating means include a solenoid valve that controls fluid flow through the faucet and a temperature control valve fluidly linked to the solenoid valve. Solenoid disabling pressure buildup in the line linking the temperature control valve and solenoid is bled through special bleed means in the temperature control valve inlets.
A battery substitute pack (10), comprising a casing (15) dimensioned for accommodation in a battery compartment of predetermined size and housing therein an energy transfer circuit (14, 30) for receiving electrical energy remotely via a contactless charging unit (20-), and a positive supply terminal (16) and a negative supply terminal (17) coupled to the energy transfer circuit (14, 30) for connecting to corresponding positive and negative contacts of the battery compartment. Preferably, the battery substitute pack (10) contains at least one rechargeable cell (11) which may be recharged via induction by means of a contactless charging unit (20).
A battery-powered faucet control module has a housing, with a base portion and a cover portion. The cover portion is removably attached to the base portion. There is an electric control board mounted in the housing base portion and an electrically-operated control valve is associated with the housing and electrically connected to the control board. There is a cavity in the housing base portion and a removable battery pack is positioned within the cavity. The battery pack has positive and negative contact straps on the exterior thereof. There are positive and negative spring contacts connected to the electric control board and such spring contacts are in engagement with the positive and negative contact straps when the battery pack is positioned within the housing cavity.
An automatic faucet assembly includes a chassis and a cover removably connected to the chassis, wherein both chassis and cover extend above the surface of a deck of a sink basin. The chassis has a mounting section for mounting the chassis to the surface of the deck. A deck plate is mounted between the mounting section and the surface to provide support and stability to the faucet assembly. The faucet assembly further comprises: a fluid conduit extending through the chassis and connecting a fluid discharge port with a fluid supply; an infrared sensor mounted on the chassis for sensing the presence of a user of the faucet assembly; an electrical connector wire extending from the infrared sensor, through an opening in the deck, to a solenoid valve that turns on the fluid supply when infrared sensor senses the presence of the user; and a battery-operated power supply for supplying power to the infrared sensor. The cover connects with the chassis, providing a sealed chamber for the fluid conduit, infrared sensor, electrical connector wire, and power supply. Upon connection of the cover and chassis, a mechanical microswitch is activated by a switch actuator extending from the cover, enabling the power supply to energize the infrared sensor. Cover and deck plate each comprises a zinc die cast layer formed in the shape of the cover and the deck plate, respectively, a metallic polyester layer formed on the zinc die cast layer, and a substantially clear, polymer layer formed on the metallic polyester layer.
