Apparatus and system for automatic activation and de-activation of water flow

Abstract

The present invention comprises an apparatus and system for automatic activation and de-activation of water flow to a sink, bathtub, shower, or similar plumbing fixture. It can be readily installed and operated safely using AC or DC power of varying voltage, even in locations in which electrical power sources are unreliable, inconsistent, or unstable. One or more normally closed solenoid valves, activated by way of a capacitance-sensitive electronic switch, control water flow. The switch functions in response to contact by a part of the human body with one or more touch-sensitive pads, which are designed to be resistant to malfunctions associated with the buildup of soap and scum. A programmable microprocessor periodically re-calibrates and resets the system to ensure accurate function and longevity. The manner and timing of water flow can be adjusted, and a by-pass is included to allow continued access to water in the event of power failure.

1 . An apparatus and system for automatic activation and de-activation of water flow, comprising:
 One or more electrically operated, normally closed solenoid valves, each connectably interposed between a water inlet port and a water outlet port, and each of which, when energized, will open to activate the flow of water from its water inlet port to its water outlet port, and when de-energized, will close to de-activate the flow of water from said water inlet port to said water outlet port;   One or more control circuits for actuating the one or more electrically operated, normally closed solenoid valves, said control circuits capable of being open and closed by means of one or more capacitance-sensitive electronic switches;   One or more capacitance-sensitive electronic switches, each embedded on a circuit board, for opening and closing a control circuit, comprising one or more programmable microcontrollers each with at least two memory registers, one or more high-frequency, free-running, stable oscillators, one or more dip switches or similar timing control devices, and one or more low-signal dry-contact relays and associated relay contacts;   One or more touch-sensitive pads that, upon coming in contact with a part of the human body, cause one or more of the one or more of the capacitance-sensitive electronic switches to open or close;   Insulation for each of the one or more touch-sensitive pads to separate the one or more touch-sensitive pads from any mounting surfaces to which the one or more touch-sensitive pads may be affixed; and   A means of regulating the voltage to the components of each of the capacitance-sensitive electronic switches that includes one or more split winding step-down transformers and one or more linear regulators.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the normally closed solenoid valves operate on AC current. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the normally closed solenoid valves operate on DC current. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the one or more programmable microcontrollers is programmed to reset and recalibrate the measured capacitance of the system periodically. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus and system of  claim 4  in which one or more of the one or more programmable microcontrollers is programmed to reset and recalibrate the measured capacitance of the system approximately once per hour. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which there are at least four dip switches and at least one microcontroller is programmed open one or more normally closed solenoid valves for so long as a touch-sensitive pad is in contact with a part of the human body when the first dip switch is the open position, irrespective of the positions of the remaining three dip switches, and when the first dip switch is in the closed position and the remaining three dip switches are in the open position, to open one or more normally closed solenoid valves from the time the touch-sensitive pad first comes into contact with a part of the human body until, and only until, the touch-sensitive pad comes into contact with a part of the human body again. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus and system of  claim 6  in which at least one microcontroller is programmed to assign a water flow time interval to one or more of the second and higher-numbered dip switches when said switches are in the closed position, such that when the first dip switch is in the closed position, and any other dip switches are in the closed position, the assigned time intervals of the closed second and higher-numbered dip switches will be summed and the one or more normally closed solenoid valves will remain open for the sum of those time intervals, or otherwise until such time as the touch-sensitive switch again comes into contact with a part of the human body. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus and system of  claim 7  in which at least one microcontroller is programmed to assign a water flow time interval of 1 minute to the second dip switch, a time interval of 5 minutes to the third dip switch, and a time interval of 10 minutes to the fourth dip switch. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the one or more touch-sensitive pads is made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which the insulation for one or more of the one or more touch-sensitive pads is made of rubber. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which the insulation for one or more of the one or more touch-sensitive pads results in a ⅛ inch or greater separation between the touch-sensitive pad and the mounting surface for said pad. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the one or more the split winding step-down transformers is capable of accepting AC current of either 120 or 240 volts and reducing said AC current to 6 volts. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1  in which one or more of the one or more linear regulators converts incoming voltage between 6 volts and 30 volts to 5 DC positive volts. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus and system of  claim 1 , further comprising a means by which water from a water inlet port may be made to bypass the one or more normally closed solenoid valves, said means to include one or more pipes through which the water may flow, T-connectors to divert water from a water inlet port into said one or more pipes and then into a water outlet port, and one or more ¼-turn ball valves to activate or de-activate the flow of water through the pipe to bypass the one or more normally closed solenoid valves.