Programmed water flow through electronic plumbing devices and related methods

• Main Author: MARCICHOW MARTIN E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.05.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; CALCULATING; COCKS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUIDLEVEL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METERING BY VOLUME; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR REACTORS; PHYSICS; SEWERAGE; SINKS; TAPS; TESTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VALVES; WATER SUPPLY; WEAPONS

An electronic plumbing device, such as a faucet, has a microprocessor that is programmed to periodically purge stagnant water remaining in the faucet at predetermined time intervals. The microprocessor energizes a solenoid associated with a water valve to initiate the flow of water through the faucet in response to a detector sensing the presence of a user near the faucet. A first timer is programmed into the microprocessor and controls the minimum run time of the faucet for activations initiated by either a user or by the purge feature. A second timer is also programmed into the microprocessor to measure a second predetermined time interval. If the faucet is not used during the second predetermined time interval, the microprocessor will energize the solenoid for the minimum run time to open the water valve and flush out any stagnant water remaining in the faucet from the prior activation.