Abstract: A solenoid plunger (36) is disposed for reciprocation in a plunger pocket that is formed by the stationary parts of a solenoid-type actuator (10). A flexible diaphragm (22) closes the plunger pocket's open mouth and is deformed by movement of a plunger (36) between an open position, in which it is displaced from a valve seat (20), and a closed position, in which it is seated on the valve seat and thereby prevents flow from a valve inlet (16) to a valve outlet (18). The diaphragm thereby isolates the plunger from the fluid thereby being controlled, but a separate, incompressible fluid fills the chamber in which the plunger reciprocates. A through-plunger passage (44, 56) provides a low-flow-resistance path for the incompressible fluid to flow into and out of the portion (52) of the plunger chamber behind the plunger as the plunger moves. This reduces actuation time and thus the energy required for an actuation.

Abstract: A combination junction provides a fluid, electrical-power and control-signal connections. A combination tap comprises a flow probe that pierces a main conduit when it is attached to it. It thereby provides fluid communication between a tap conduit and the main conduit. The combination tap also includes one or more tap electrical conductors to tap electrical conductors embedded in the main-conduit wall.

Abstract: A valve system (10) includes a piezoelectric transducer (44) mounted on its housing (16). To change the valve's state, a microcontroller (54) causes a valve driver (58) to drive current through the actuator's coil (12) at a relatively high level. It continues driving current through the coil (12) at the high level until the transducer's output reaches a magnitude characteristic of the disturbance that typically results when the actuator's armature (22) reaches the end of its travel. At that point, the microcontroller (54) reduces coil drive.

Abstract: An actuator base, bobbin, and pole piece form a pocket for an armature that a flexible membrane encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane protects the armature from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit. Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane against a valve seat. Pressure from the controlled fluid in the conduit is transmitted through the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane by the conduit fluid's pressure.

Abstract: An automatic flusher employs an infrared-light-type object sensor to provide an output on the basis of which a control circuit decides whether to flush a toilet. After each pulse of transmitted radiation, the control circuit pushes a new entry onto stack if the resultant percentage of reflected radiation differs significantly from the last, and it includes in that entry's direction field an indication of whether the percentage change was positive or negative. Otherwise, the control circuit increments the existing top entry's duration field. From the numbers of entries in a row having a given direction and the sums of the values in their duration fields, the control circuit determines whether a user has approached the facility and then withdrawn from it, and it operates the flusher's valve accordingly.

Abstract: A tank-type flusher includes an intake valve, i.e., a fill valve, a diaphragm-operated flush valve, and a pressure control mechanism. The intake valve is connected to an external water source and is constructed to close water flow to a water storage tank at about a predefined water level in the water tank. The diaphragm-operated flush valve is constructed to control a flush valve member between a seated state and an unseated state allowing water discharge from the water tank into a toilet bowl. There is a diaphragm, separating a flush-valve chamber and a pilot chamber, arranged to seal the flush-valve chamber and thereby maintain pressure forcing the flush valve member to the seated state preventing the water discharge from the water storage tank to the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A solenoid-controlled pilot-operated valve includes an operator assembly containing a solenoid that operates a pilot valve. The pilot valve in turn controls a pressure-relief opening from a chamber whose pressure tends to hold a main valve closed until the pressure is relieved. The pilot-valve body, which forms the pilot-valve inlet, outlet, and seat is secured to the operator assembly's stationary part, and the resultant structure is only then assembled together with the main valve. This enhances positioning repeatability and thus consistency in valve timing.

Abstract: A solenoid plunger (36) is disposed for reciprocation in a plunger pocket that is formed by the stationary parts of a solenoid-type actuator (10). A flexible diaphragm (22) closes the plunger pocket's open mouth and is deformed by movement of a plunger (36) between an open position, in which it is displaced from a valve seat (20), and a closed position, in which it is seated on the valve seat and thereby prevents flow from a valve inlet (16) to a valve outlet (18). The diaphragm thereby isolates the plunger from the fluid thereby being controlled, but a separate, incompressible fluid fills the chamber in which the plunger reciprocates. A through-plunger passage (44, 56) provides a low-flow-resistance path for the incompressible fluid to flow into and out of the portion (52) of the plunger chamber behind the plunger as the plunger moves. This reduces actuation time and thus the energy required for an actuation.

Abstract: A valve device and a method for operating at least two valves is actuated by an actuator and arranged for controlling fluid flow in at least two separate fluid lines. The two valves are preferably diaphragm operated valves, but may be also piston valves. The valve device includes a pressure release mechanism constructed to change pressure in a diaphragm chamber of each diaphragm operated valve and thereby open or close the valve. The pressure release mechanism may include a fluid passage in communication with each diaphragm chamber, where it is simultaneously controlled by a movement of a single sealing member actuated by a single actuator. The valve device may also include a manual actuator.

Abstract: An electronic faucet has a housing adapted to seat against a support surface and defining an internal barrel having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. There is at least one fluid inlet extending through the bottom wall into the barrel, a fluid outlet in the side wall of the barrel, and a valve cartridge seated in the barrel. The cartridge includes a main valve for controlling fluid flow between the at least one inlet and the outlet, a pilot valve and a solenoid operator for opening and closing the pilot valve. A faucet head removably mounted to the housing covers the open top of the barrel, the faucet head including an activator which produces an output signal of a selected duration when approached by a user, and a control circuit which responds to the signal by activating the solenoid operator so as to open the pilot valve which thereupon opens the main valve.

Abstract: An automatic flusher includes an object sensor. When the object sensor detects a target meeting certain criteria, battery-powered control circuitry causes the flusher's valve to open. By pressing a push button, a user can make the circuit open the flusher's valve. If the circuit has been pressed continually for an extended period, the control circuit assumes a sleep mode, in which its power consumption is negligible. A button actuator in the flusher's container keeps the button pressed while the container is closed. As a consequence, the flusher can be packed with the control circuit's batteries installed without draining those batteries significantly during shipping and storage.

Abstract: A land (56) on an index member (32) disposed in the interior chamber of a manifold (38) is aligned with an actuating member (34) and thereby holds open a check valve (36) through which fluid flows into the manifold's interior chamber, through a control valve (12), and out a manifold outlet (74). At the same time, another actuating pin (42) is so aligned with a recess (58) in the indexing member (32) as to permit another check valve (44) to prevent flow through itself into the manifold chamber. When the control valve is closed, flow stops, and pressure builds up in the manifold chamber. The index member (32) is accordingly driven against the force of a bias spring (48) to a lower position, in which a lower cam-follower surface (82) engages a lower cam surface (84). That engagement rotates the index member to a position in which it permits pressure to be communicated through both check valves (36 and 44) into the manifold chamber.

Abstract: An actuator base (16), bobbin (14), and pole piece (24) form a pocket for an armature (30) that a flexible membrane (40) encloses to form an armature chamber filled with an incompressible fluid. The membrane (40) protects the armature (30) from exposure to corrosive fluids flowing in a conduit (44). Conduit flow can be stopped by driving the membrane (40) against a valve seat (54). Pressure from the fluid in the conduit (44) is transmitted though the membrane to the fluid within the armature chamber so that the armature does not need to counteract force applied to the membrane (40) by the conduit fluid's pressure.

Abstract: A solenoid-controlled pilot-operated valve includes an operator assembly containing a solenoid that operates a pilot valve. The pilot valve in turn controls a pressure-relief opening from a chamber whose pressure tends to hold a main valve closed until the pressure is relieved. The pilot-valve body, which forms the pilot-valve inlet, outlet, and seat is secured to the operator assembly's stationary part, and the resultant structure is only then assembled together with the main valve. This enhances positioning repeatability and thus consistency in valve timing.

Abstract: A hand-operated cart constructed for carrying luggage or packages includes a frame including a cargo area, and cart wheels connected to the frame and connected to a handrail arranged for manually displacing the cart. The cart also includes a distance sensor constructed and arranged to measure a travel distance of the cart, an interface unit and a processor constructed to receive travel distance data from the distance sensor.

Abstract: An automatic flusher employs an infrared-light-type object sensor to provide an output on the basis of which a control circuit decides whether to flush a toilet. After each pulse of transmitted radiation, the control circuit pushes a new entry onto stack if the resultant percentage of reflected radiation differs significantly from the last, and it includes in that entry's direction field an indication of whether the percentage change was positive or negative. Otherwise, the control circuit increments the existing top entry's duration field. From the numbers of entries in a row having a given direction and the sums of the values in their duration fields, the control circuit determines whether a user has approached the facility and then withdrawn from it, and it operates the flusher's valve accordingly.

Abstract: An electronic faucet has a housing adapted to seat against a support surface and defining an internal barrel having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. There is at least one fluid inlet extending through the bottom wall into the barrel, a fluid outlet in the side wall of the barrel, and a valve cartridge seated in the barrel. The cartridge includes a main valve for controlling fluid flow between the at least one inlet and the outlet, a pilot valve and a solenoid operator for opening and closing the pilot valve. A faucet head removably mounted to the housing covers the open top of the barrel, the faucet head including an activator which produces an output signal of a selected duration when approached by a user, and a control circuit which responds to the signal by activating the solenoid operator so as to open the pilot valve which thereupon opens the main valve.

Abstract: An automatic flusher includes an object sensor. When the object sensor detects a target meeting certain criteria, battery-powered control circuitry causes the flusher's valve to open. By pressing a push button, a user can make the circuit open the flusher's valve. If the circuit has been pressed continually for an extended period, the control circuit assumes a sleep mode, in which its power consumption is negligible. A button actuator in the flusher's container keeps the button pressed while the container is closed. As a consequence, the flusher can be packed with the control circuit's batteries installed without draining those batteries significantly during shipping and storage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve device and a method for operating at least two valves actuated by an actuator and arranged for controlling fluid flow in at least two separate fluid lines. The valve device can simultaneously control at least two diaphragm operated valves using a single actuator. The valve device includes a pressure release mechanism constructed to change pressure in a diaphragm chamber of each diaphragm operated valve and thereby open or close the diaphragm operated valve.

Abstract: A solenoid plunger (36) is disposed for reciprocation in a plunger pocket that is formed by the stationary parts of a solenoid-type actuator (10). A flexible diaphragm (22) closes the plunger pocket's open mouth and is deformed by movement of a plunger (36) between an open position, in which it is displaced from a valve seat (20), and a closed position, in which it is seated on the valve seat and thereby prevents flow from a valve inlet (16) to a valve outlet (18). The diaphragm thereby isolates the plunger from the fluid thereby being controlled, but a separate, incompressible fluid fills the chamber in which the plunger reciprocates. A through-plunger passage (44, 56) provides a low-flow-resistance path for the incompressible fluid to flow into and out of the portion (52) of the plunger chamber behind the plunger as the plunger moves. This reduces actuation time and thus the energy required for an actuation.