By Radiant Energy Responsive Means Patents (Class 4/304)
  • Patent number: 4793588
    Abstract: The invention relates to flush valves in which an external operating handle is eliminated. An electronic sensor, solenoid valve and a solenoid contained within a single unit to operate a flush valve are provided which is either built into the flush valve or can be retrofitted to a conventional flush valve with an external operating handle. The solenoid valve can also be controlled by external means separate and apart from the infra-red sensor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Coyne & Delany Co.
    Inventor: Martin J. Laverty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4742583
    Abstract: A water supply control apparatus includes a flushing device to be supplied with water, a water supply valve for controlling the supply of water to the flushing device, a driving signal generator for selectively generating driving signals of first and second periods, respectively, a sensor responsive to one, at a time, of the driving signals for detecting whether there is a user of the flushing device at one of the first and second periods, to produce a sensor signal selectively including a user-present signal and a user-absent signal of the one period, and a control circuit responsive to the sensor signal for controlling the water supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yoshida, Kiyoshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 4707867
    Abstract: A toilet-flushing control apparatus comprising a detector, a delay circuit, a judging circuit, a first timer, a second timer, and a flush valve. The detector detects that a person is using a toilet, and outputs a signal. This signal is input to the delay circuit. Upon lapse of a predetermined time after receiving this signal, the delay circuit outputs a signal. The output signal of the delay circuit is supplied to the judging circuit. When the output signal of the detector lasts shorter than a reference time, the judging circuit determines that the toilet user has urinated. Conversely, when this signal lasts for the reference time or a longer time, the judging circuit determines that the toilet user has defecated. In the first case, the first timer is operated, and the flush valve opens for the time set to the first timer, thereby flushing the toilet. In the second case, the second timer is operated, and the flush valve opens for the time set to the second timer, thus flushing the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: F.M. Valve Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Kawabe, Tetsuo Iwasaki, Hiroshi Kozuru, Masashi Yoda, Masakazu Matsunaga, Takesi Takamori, Matao Nakasima
  • Patent number: 4667350
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lavatory hopper flushing apparatus, particularly, a lavatory hopper flushing apparatus comprising a sensor unit capable of detecting the use of any one of a plurality of lavatory hoppers arranged side by side, and providing a detection signal upon the detection of the use of any one of the lavatory hoppers; a control unit capable of being actuated by the detection signal; and a water supply unit capable of being driven by the control unit so as to flush all the lavatory hoppers simultaneously; wherein the control unit capable of being actuated by the detection signal given by a sensor unit and driving a water supply unit includes a counter control unit which has a counting circuit that counts the frequency of the detection signal and which provides an output signal when the count of the detection signals reaches a predetermined number, and an output control unit which provides an output signal to actuate the water supply unit, upon the reception of the output signal given by the co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ikenaga, Toshifumi Shigematsu, Tatsumi Hamanaka, Manabu Hirahara
  • Patent number: 4624017
    Abstract: A flushing system for controlling the flushing operation of a urinal having one or more remotely controllable valves arranged in a flow path of fluid to the urinal, one or more sensors for detecting the presence of a user and controlling means including a timer for receiving the output from the sensor to actuate the valve(s) for a predetermined period of time and then turn the valve off to terminate the supply of fluid to the urinal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventor: John D. Foletta
  • Patent number: 4616368
    Abstract: A sanitary cleaning apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a cleaning water discharge device, a functional device including another cleaning water discharge device or a private parts dryer, a member for turning on and off the cleaning water discharge device, and a human body (presence or absence) detector. Only while the human body detector produces a human body detection signal, the on-off member for the cleaning water discharge device or the functional device is turned on, thereby selectively actuating a corresponding device. One of the devices thus turned on as selected above is de-energized by (a) the turning off of the on-off member of the selected device, (b) the turning on of the on-off member of the other device not selected, or (c) extinction of the human body detection signal of the human body detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Nagai, Hirofumi Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 4604764
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system can be alternately manually or automatically controlled. The system comprises a body for directing fluid to a desired location. Means for supplying fluid to the body are also provided. A regulator manually controls the flow of fluid through the body. A releasable lock secures the regulator in an open position so that fluid can flow through the body. An electrically operated valve in the fluid supply has an automatically controlled fluid flow circuit and a manually controlled fluid flow circuit. Sensing means detect the presence of an object proximate the body and provide an electrical signal in response thereto. A controller is provided for opening and closing the valve. Transmitting means transmit the electrical signal from the sensor to the controller for opening the automatically controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve. When the manually controlled fluid flow circuit in the valve is closed, the lock for the regulator is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Inventor: Fava Enzo
  • Patent number: 4309781
    Abstract: An automatic flushing system having an electrically-operated flush valve, a sensor for determining the presence of a person and a control circuit responsive to the sensor for initiating the operation of the flush valve. The sensor emits pulses from within a defined viewing area. A lens system is arranged to collect reflected light only from the defined viewing area. Light reflected from walls, tile or other shiny surfaces does not activate the control circuit. The sensor is mounted below and behind the flush valve actuating means so as to be partially hidden from view and thus discourage tampering with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: Frederic Lissau
  • Patent number: 4134163
    Abstract: An automatic flushing system for flushing a plurality of toilet bowls with water, which is provided with a solenoid-controlled valve and a detecting device. So long as the detecting appliance detects no toilet user, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened every time a predetermined time lapses, thereby to flush all the toilet bowls. If only one toilet user is detected, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened thereafter upon lapse of a reference time shorter than the predetermined time, thereby to flush the toilet bowls. If two or more toilet users are detected, the solenoid-controlled valve is opened thereafter upon lapse of a time shorter than the reference time, the time being shorter by a predetermined length for each additional toilet user detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: F. M. Valve Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Matsunaga