Water Flow Delivery System

Abstract

A system for supplying water to a user at a wash basin from a main water line, the system including a splitter having a main water intake, a high flow output port and a lower flow output port. The high flow port is coupled to a high flow water line and a high flow outlet while the low flow port is coupled to a low flow water line and a low flow water outlet. First and second electrically controlled valves control the flow of water out of the high flow and low flow ports, respectively. A control unit is coupled to the first and second valves. The control unit is further configured to close both valves and to switch which of the valves is open and which of the valves is closed so that only one valve is open at a time.

Therefore, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water flow delivery system for delivering wash water to a person at a wash basin, the water flow deliver system comprising:
 a. A main water supply line;   b. A branch joint for dividing the main water supply line into a low flow water line and a high flow water line, the high flow water line coupled to a high flow water outlet and the low flow water line coupled to a low flow water outlet;   c. A first electrically operated valve coupled to the high flow water line between the high flow water outlet and the branch joint, the first electrically operated valve switchable between an off state wherein water is prevented from flowing through the high flow water line and an on state wherein the water is permitted to flow through the high flow water line;   d. A second electrically operated valve coupled to the low flow water line between the low flow water outlet and the branch joint, the second electrically operated valve switchable between an off state wherein water is prevented from flowing through the low flow water line and an on state wherein the water is permitted to flow through the low flow water line;   e. A control unit for selectively activating the first and second electrically operated valves, the control unit configured to switch between a fully off state wherein both the first and second electric control valves are in the off state, a high flow state wherein the first electric valve is in the on state and the second electric valve is in the off state and a low flow state wherein the first electric valve is in the off state and the second electric valve is in the on state.   
     
     
         2 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the wash basin comprises a shower stall and the high flow water outlet comprises a shower head, the low flow water outlet being positioned in the shower stall at a distance from the shower head. 
     
     
         3 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 2  further comprising a position sensor coupled to the control unit, the position sensor switching the control unit between its low flow and high flow states by sensing the relative position of the person in the shower stall. 
     
     
         4 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 3  wherein the position sensor comprises first and second proximity sensors, the first proximity sensor oriented towards a first position in the shower stall and the second proximity sensor oriented towards a second position in the shower stall. 
     
     
         5 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a position sensor coupled to the control unit, the position sensor switching the control unit between its low flow and high flow states by sensing the relative position of the person at the wash basin. 
     
     
         6 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 3  wherein the position sensor comprises first and second proximity sensors, the first proximity sensor oriented towards a first position at the wash basin and the second proximity sensor oriented towards a second position at the wash basin. 
     
     
         7 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the high flow water line and the first electrically operated valve have a water flow capacity that is much greater than the low flow water line and second electrically operated valve. 
     
     
         8 . A water flow deliver system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the control unit is further configured to pulse the second electrically operated valve on and off every few seconds. 
     
     
         9 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second electrically operated valves are configured to be selectively placed between a fully open and a fully closed state and wherein the control unit is further configured to place the first and second valves at a plurality of different flow rates including a 100% flow state, a 75% flow state, a 50% flow state and a zero flow state. 
     
     
         10 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 9  wherein the control unit further comprises a timer circuit for selectively switching the first and second electrically controlled valves between states in a timed sequence. 
     
     
         11 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the branch joint, the first electrically operated valve and the second electrically operated valve are all combined into a single splitter unit, the splitter unit having an intake for attachment to the main water line, a high flow output for attachment to the high flow water line, a low flow output for attachment to the low flow water line, the first and second electrically operated valves positioned at the high flow and low flow outputs, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the control unit is remote from the splitter unit. 
     
     
         13 . A water flow delivery system for delivering wash water from a main water line to a high flow water line and a low flow water line at a wash basin, the water flow deliver system comprising:
 a. A splitter unit comprising a housing, an intake for attachment to the main water line, a high flow outlet for attachment to the high flow water line and a low flow outlet for attachment to the low flow water line;   b. The splitter unit further comprising a first electrically operated valve for controlling the flow of water through the high flow outlet, the first electrically operated valve switchable between an off state wherein water is prevented from flowing through the high flow outlet and an on state wherein the water is permitted to flow through the high flow outlet;   c. The splitter unit further comprising a second electrically operated valve for controlling the flow of water through the low flow water outlet, the second electrically operated valve switchable between an off state wherein water is prevented from flowing through the low flow outlet and an on state wherein the water is permitted to flow through the low flow outlet;   d. A control unit for selectively activating the first and second electrically operated valves, the control unit configured to switch between a fully off state wherein both the first and second electric control valves are in the off state, a high flow state wherein the first electric valve is in the on state and the second electric valve is in the off state and a low flow state wherein the first electric valve is in the off state and the second electric valve is in the on state.   
     
     
         14 . A water flow deliver system as defined in  claim 13  wherein the control unit is further configured to selectively switching the states of the first and second electrically controlled valves in a programmed timed sequence. 
     
     
         15 . A water flow deliver system as defined in  claim 14  wherein the control unit is further configured to couple to a first proximity sensor positioned adjacent the wash basin, the first proximity sensor configured to send a first signal to the control unit when the position sensor is triggered, the control unit being further configured to start the programmed timed sequence when the first signal is received. 
     
     
         16 . A water flow deliver system as defined in  claim 14  wherein the control unit is coupled to first and second proximity sensors, the first proximity sensor positioned adjacent a high flow water outlet of the high flow water line at the wash basin, the second proximity sensor positioned adjacent a low flow water outlet of the low flow water line at the wash basin, the first and second proximity sensors configured to send first and second signals to the control unit, the control unit configured to enter the high flow state when the first signal is received, and the control unit being further configured to enter the low flow state when the second signal is received. 
     
     
         17 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a control panel coupled to the control unit, the control panel and control unit being configured such that the operation of the control unit is controlled by the control panel. 
     
     
         18 . A water flow delivery system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a pressure sensitive matt operatively coupled to the control unit, the pressure sensitive matt configured to send positional information to the control unit, the control unit configured to control the activation of the first and second electrically operated valves dependant on the positional information received from the pressure sensitive matt.