Automatic bathtub filing control system

Abstract

A control system for filling a bathtub which automatically shuts off the bathtub faucet when the water has reached a desired level, by detecting a volume of water that has passed through the dispensing pipe or a level of water in the bathtub. In the preferred embodiment a timer is provided to automatically shut off the bathtub faucet after a preset time interval, as a backup or as an independent filling regulator. In one embodiment a temperature sensor or timer is provided to adjust the flow of hot water and cold water as necessary to maintain a constant temperature which has been set by the user. In another embodiment one or more timers are provided to control the flow of hot water and cold water separately as necessary to reach the desired temperature.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to plumbing. In particular, this invention relates to an automatic filling control system for a bathtubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically bathtub fixtures comprise a tap or faucet for filling the tub with a combination of hot and cold water. The tap or faucet may comprise separate ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ taps or a single tap that controls the flow of both hot and cold water. Opening the faucet allows water to flow through a lookout into the tub. As is well known, the user adjusts the temperature of the water as desired, then inserts a plug into the drain and allows the tub to fill.

Bathtubs are designed to be filled to close to the rim. As a safeguard against over filling, bathtubs are typically provided with an overflow outlet connected to the main drain. This way, if a user forgets to turn off the faucet while filling the tub, for example being distracted with other household chores, the tub will not overflow into the room. However, even though the tub may not overflow, the water draining through the overflow outlet (and the energy used to heat the water) is wasted. Further, if for any reason the overflow outlet or the tub's drain pipe is plugged so that water does not drain out of the tub, or is sufficiently sluggish that the water drains more slowly than the faucet is filling the tub, water will eventually overflow from the tub onto the bathroom floor and likely cause damage to the surrounding structure.

Further, although the user has set the faucet according to the desired temperature, the use of water elsewhere in the premises can affect the temperature of the water filling into the tub by diverting hot or cold water from the tub to another fixture. The user may thus return when the tub is filled to find that the water in the tub is not the desired temperature. This also wastes water and energy. However, it is inconvenient and an annoyance for the user to repeatedly check the tub to see if the temperature is still suitable and that the water is not overflowing.

It would accordingly be advantageous to provide a system which automatically shuts off the tub faucet when the water has reached a desired level in the tub, or a preset time after the water faucet has been turned on. Further, it would be advantageous to provide a system which automatically compensates for changes in the temperature of the water due to, for example, water usage elsewhere in the premises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a control system for filling a bathtub which automatically shuts off the bathtub faucet when the water has reached a desired level.

The invention accomplishes this by providing a fill regulator mechanism for automatically shutting off the bathtub faucet before the bathtub has an opportunity to overflow. In a first preferred embodiment the means comprises a timer which automatically shuts off the bathtub faucet after a preset time interval.

In a further preferred embodiment the invention comprises a volume meter which measures a volume of water dispensed by the faucet and shuts off the faucet when a preset volume has been reached.

In a still further preferred embodiment the invention comprises a float or level sensor which detects the water level in the tub rising above a predetermined limit and actuates a shut off valve, to shut off the water supply faucet.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a temperature sensor may also be provided to adjust the flow of hot water and cold water as necessary to maintain a constant temperature which has been set by the user.

These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows.

The present invention thus provides a system for automatically shutting off a bathtub faucet filling a bathtub through a water dispensing pipe, comprising: a fill regulator mechanism for detecting a water volume, a water level in the bathtub or an elapsed water dispensing time, and a valve actuated by the regulator mechanism for shutting off a flow of water to the tub when water in the tub has reached a desired fill level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a first embodiment of the bathtub water shut off system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of a further embodiment of the bathtub water shut off system according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation of a further embodiment of the bathtub water shut off system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 1, a bathtub 10, located for example in a stall area 12 in a bathroom, comprises a main drain 14 connected to an overflow outflow 16 via drainpipe 18. A faucet 20, illustrated in FIG. 1 as a single-lever faucet which controls both hot and cold water flow according to the position of the handle 20a, controls the flow of water from the hot and cold water supplies 24, 26, respectively. The faucet 20 is turned on and adjusted to allow a predetermined mix of hot and cold water to flow through to the lookout 22 via pipe 22a. Optionally pipe 22a is coupled to a shower head 20a and a valve 22b is provided to divert water from the lookout 22 to the shower head 20a.

The plumbing arrangement described thus far is conventional. According to the invention, a valve 30, which may conveniently be a solenoid valve but may alternatively be any other suitable type of valve, is activated by a fill regulator mechanism, for example a timer-controlled valve system. The timer is contained in a control panel 52 and actuates solenoid valve 30 either when the user starts the preset time interval, or at a time programmed by the user into the control panel.

In operation, on the control panel 52 the user sets the duration of time that water is to be dispensed into the tub before shutoff, determined for example by timing the tub fill cycle, by pressing mode select button 56 to select the timer mode, then turning knob 58 until the LCD display 54 shows the selected time interval. The user then turns on the faucet 20. As the timer counts down the selected time interval water is dispensed into the tub 10. At the end of the time interval the control panel 52 shuts off the solenoid valve 30.

Because the water flow rate may vary, for example depending upon whether other water supplies in the premises are being used, the invention may also or alternatively include a volume meter 60. The volume meter 60 may be disposed, for example, behind the lookout 22. The volume meter 60 is located in the water dispensing pipe 22a, preferably behind the wall of the stall (or may alternatively be located in the supply pipes 24, 26 upstream of the faucet 20). The volume meter 60 is connected to control panel 52, which receives periodic signals from the volume meter 60, for example with each litre that passes through dispensing pipe 22a, and thus counts the total volume of water that has passed through the dispensing pipe 22a.

In operation, on the control panel 52 the user sets the volume of water to be dispensed into the tub before shutoff, which can be any volume at or below the maximum fill line M, by pressing mode select button 56 to select the volume mode, then turning knob 58 until the LCD display 54 shows the desired volume. The user then turns on the faucet 20. As water is dispensed into the tub 10 it passes through the volume meter 60, which signals control panel 52 as each unit (e.g. litre) is dispensed. The control panel contains a counter which tracks the number of units of water dispensed and shuts off the solenoid valve 30, which may optionally be shown on LCD display 54, when the preset volume has been reached. Optionally an audible (or other) alarm indicates when the preset volume has been reached.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 it is also desirable to include a timer in the control panel 52, set for example via knob 58 when the control panel is set to the timer mode via mode button 56, so that the user can set a preset filling time. The timer feature allows the user to program a start time for the filling of the bathtub 10 (by pressing mode select button 56 to select the program mode, then turning knob 58 until the LCD display 54 shows the desired start time), so that the bathtub 10 will fill automatically at the designated time.

Once the solenoid valve 30 is shut off, the user may optionally manually shut off the faucet 20. Alternatively, the faucet 20 can be left on, at the desired temperature setting (i.e. mix of hot and cold water), and the control panel 52 can be used as the sole water dispensing regulator for the tub 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, in which a pair of shut off valves 30a, 30b are provided, one each respectively for the hot and cold water supplies 24, 26. As opposed to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in which the control valve 30 shuts off the entire water supply downstream of the faucet 20 (and after the hot and cold water are mixed together), in the embodiment of FIG. 2 the valves 30a, 30b control the flow of hot and cold water to the faucet 20 independently. In this embodiment a temperature sensor 50 may be disposed in the tub 10 below the preset maximum water level M, and is electrically coupled to a control panel 52, for example mounted on a wall adjacent to the bathtub 10. The control panel 52 is electrically coupled to actuators for the valves 30a, 30b, and preferably provides an LCD (or other) display panel 54 giving a visual indication to the user of the temperature of the water in the tub 10, which the user can regulate through knob 58, when the control panel is set to the temperature mode via mode button 56, and optionally a visual indication of the temperature set by the user.

In the operation of this embodiment, the user sets the desired temperature by adjusting thermostat control knob 56. The valves 30a, 30b are controlled independently by control panel 52, and in unison by valve lever 40. Thus, if the temperature of the water flowing into the tub 10 changes, control panel 52 increases or decreases the flow of hot water and/or cold water to compensate for the temperature change. However, once the water reaches the maximum fill level M, the water level detection mechanism 32 simultaneously shuts off both valves 30a and 30b to stop the flow of water into the tub 10. This arrangement may be utilized in conjunction with any of the previously described embodiments.

The amount of hot water and/or cold water used to fill the tub 10 in this embodiment can alternatively be controlled by a timer in the control panel 52, or by independent timers in the control panel 52 (one for each valve 30a, 30b), to fill the tub to an approximate temperature based on relative amounts of hot and cold water. This arrangement allows the hot and cold water to be dispensed into the bathtub 10 simultaneously, but for different time intervals; or if desired sequentially, for example the hot water could be maintained on for 8 minutes, followed by the cold water being maintained on for 3 minutes (or vice versa) to reach the desired temperature.

In a further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 3, the solenoid valve 30 is actuated by a water level detection mechanism 32. In the preferred embodiment shown, the water level detection mechanism 32 comprises a float 34 attached to a rod 36 slideably mounted through one or more mounts 38 and articulated to valve lever 40, which activates the solenoid valve 30. The water level detection mechanism 32 could alternatively be a water sensor which provides a signal to a control panel (not shown in FIG. 2) when the water reaches the sensor, and the control panel then shuts off valve 30.

In the operation of this embodiment, the rod 36 is cut or formed to the desired length so that the float 34 is suspended just below the desired maximum water level M, shown as a dashed line. As the tub 10 fills, when the water contacts the float 34 the float 34 rises, forcing rod 36 to push valve lever 40 up and close the valve 30, shutting off the water supply from the faucet 20.

Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for automatically shutting off a bathtub faucet filling a bathtub through a water dispensing pipe, comprising:

a fill regulator mechanism for detecting a water volume, a water level in the bathtub or an elapsed water dispensing time, and

a valve actuated by the regulator mechanism for shutting off a flow of water to the tub when water in the tub has reached a desired fill level.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the fill regulator mechanism comprises a water volume meter associated with the water dispensing pipe.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the fill regulator mechanism comprises at least one timer.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the fill regulator mechanism comprises a water level detector for detecting a level of water in the bathtub.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to a control panel, the control panel regulating a supply of hot and/or cold water to the tub to maintain a constant preset temperature.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a separate valves regulated by the timer to regulate a supply of hot and/or cold water to the tub to achieve a preset temperature.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a separate timer for each valve.