Bath water control system

Abstract

A bath water control system in which the bath water is selectively supplied a bath or shower outlets, and the water supply is as to both temperature and period of supply. These parameters may be prestored in a memory along with discrete start times whereby a programmed bath will be automatically available at a discrete time or times in the future. As a means of ensuring that water is not accumulated in the tub prior to water temperature rising to a selected value, the tub drain is closed only after input bath water reaches a selected temperature. Further, means are provided for turning off water in the event that water in excess of a selected value appears. Still further, the temperature of water is indicated both digitally and aurally.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bath water control system for controlling water flow to a personal bath unit including a bath drain and comprising: mixing valve means having a hot water input, a cold water input, and a mixed water output and responsive to a control input for supplying a selected mixture of hot and cold water at said mixed water output;   actuator means responsive to both a selected temperature signal and a signal representative of the temperature of water from said mixed water output;   for providing said control input to said mixing valve means;   at least one fluid passageway having an input connected to said mixed water output and having a passageway output; and   control means for providing a said selected temperature signal to said actuator means and comprising: memory means for storing at least one selected temperature signal,   .[.readout.]. .Iadd.program selection.Iaddend.means for selectively sensing one of said selected temperature signals and providing it as a selected temperature signal to said actuator means,     temperature adjustments means coupled between said program selection means and said actuator means for selectively varying said selected temperature signal,   second D memory means for storing at least one selected time duration signal representative of a discrete time period, and   said program selection means further includes means in circuit with said actuator means and said second memory means for selectively sensing a said time duration signal together with a said selected temperature signal and providing said selected temperature signal to said actuator means for a said discrete time period.   
     
     
       2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of said time duration signals together with a plurality of said temperature representative signals for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs. 
     
     
       3. A system as set forth in claim 1 including first and second said passageways connected to said mixed water output and providing, discrete tub and shower mixed water supplies, and said system further comprises: a first electrically controlled valve in said first fluid passageway and having an "on" control input for providing fluid flow and an "off" control input for interrupting fluid flow;   a second electrically controlled valve in said second fluid passageway and responsive to an "on", control input for providing fluid flow and responsive to an "off" control input for interrupting fluid flow; and   said control means further includes means for selectively providing said "on" and "off" control inputs to said first and, second electrically controlled valves.   
     
     
       4. A system as set forth in claim 3 comprising shutoff means responsive to a temperature of water output from said mixing valve means in excess of a selected temperature for providing a said "off" control input to at least one of said electrically controlled valves. 
     
     
       5. A system as set forth in claim 4 including drain closing means responsive to an "on" control input having been provided to one said electrically controlled valves and water temperature from said mixed water output being at least of a selected temperature for closing a drain associated with a said bath unit. 
     
     
       6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes time start selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said "on" input to said electrically controlled valves. 
     
     
       7. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said program selection means of said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of a said discrete time period. 
     
     
       8. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of pairs of time a duration signal and temperature signal for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs. 
     
     
       9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said discrete time period. 
     
     
       10. A system as set forth in claim 9 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means. 
     
     
       11. A system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising detection means responsive to a decreasing temperature rate larger than a predetermined decreasing temperature rate of said hot water input for providing a warning signal. 
     
     
       12. A system as set forth in claim 11 comprising shutoff means responsive to a temperature of water output from said mixing valve means in excess of a selected temperature for providing a said "off" control input to at least one of said electrically controlled valves. 
     
     
       13. A system as set forth in claim 12 including drain closing means responsive to an "on" control input having been provided to one said electrically controlled valves and water temperature from said mixed water output being at least of a selected temperature for closing a drain associated with a said bath unit. 
     
     
       14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said program selection means further includes means for selectively sensing a plurality of pairs of time a duration signal and temperature signal for providing as a sequence selected time-temperature signal pairs. 
     
     
       15. A system as set forth in claim 8 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means. 
     
     
       16. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means includes start time selection means for controlling the start time of operation of a said "on" input to one of said electrically controlled valves. 
     
     
       17. A system as set forth in claim 16 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means. 
     
     
       18. A system as set forth in claim 3 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means. 
     
     
       19. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said water output coupling means includes first, shower, and second, tub, mixed water output openings. 
     
     
       20. A system as set forth in claim 1 including lockout means for inhibiting the operation of said control means. 
     
     
       21. A system as set forth in claim 1 including voice synthesizer means responsive to the temperature of water from said mixed water output for providing a speech indication of said mixed water output temperature. 
     
     
       22. A system as set forth in claim I wherein said mixing valve means includes: an elongated housing:   an elongated chamber within said housing:   a set of first and second axially spaced openings, a hot water opening and a cold water opening, through a side of said housing to said chamber:   a plunger axially slidable in said elongated chamber and having a cavity shaped to differentially couple to said first and second openings of said housing as said plunger is axially slid:   water coupling means in said housing coupled between said cavity and, the outside of said housing comprising at least one mixed water output opening;   whereby with differing axial positions of said plunger, varying ratios of hot and cold water are applied to a said mixed water output opening as a said mixed water output; and   electromechanical driving means coupled to said plunger and responsive to said control input for selectively positioning said plunger in said housing chamber of said housing. .Iadd.   
     
     
       23.  A bath water control system for controlling water flow from a source of hot water and a source of cold water to a personal bath unit comprising: a mixing valve having a unitary body provided with a hot water input, a cold water input and an outlet, said said hot water input connected to said source of cold water, and said cold water input connected to said source of cold water, said mixing valve disposed for supplying hot, cold, or a selected mixing of hot and cold water at said outlet;   actuator means responsive to both a selected temperature signal and a signal representative of the temperature of water at said mixing valve outlet for actuating said valve;   valve outlet temperature sensing means disposed in said body in contact with water therein for providing a signal for terminating water flow from said mixing valve means in the event water in excess of a selected, permissibly high temperature is present in said mixing valve; and   control means for providing a said selected temperature signal to said actuator means and for receiving said signal from said outlet temperature sensing means for terminating water flow from said mixing valve, said control means comprising:   memory means for storing one said selected temperature signal;   program selection means for selectively sensing one of said selected temperature signals and providing it as a selected temperature signal to said actuator means;   temperature adjustment means coupled between said program selection means and said actuator means for selectively varying said selected temperature signal;   second memory means for storing at least one selected time duration signal representative of a discrete time period; and   said program selection means further includes means in circuit with said actuator means and said second memory means for selectively sensing a said time duration signal together with a said selected temperature signal and providing said selected temperature signal to said actuator means for a said discrete time period..Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A mixing valve comprising:   an elongated housing having an elongated chamber therein, said chamber having first and second ends, said housing having a set of first and second axially spaced openings defining hot and cold water passageways extending transversely through said housing, and a third passageway extending transversely through said housing to define at least one mixed water output passageway;   a solid plunger member axially slidable in said elongated chamber, said plunger member having a fourth passageway extending transversely therethrough, said fourth passageway disposed for communication with said first and second spaced passageways of said housing for differentially coupling with said first and second spaced openings of said housing to vary the mixture of hot and cold water applied to said mixed water passageway as a said mixed water output;   water coupling means in said housing comprising said at least one mixed water output passageway, an axial passageway communicating into said one end of said elongated chamber and in communication with said fourth passageway in said plunger member and said mixed water output passageway, said plunger disposed for slidable movement to differentially couple said first and second passageways with said fourth passageway to control the mixture of hot and cold water directed to said mixed water output;   electromechanical driving means coupled to said plunger and responsive to a control input for selectively positioning said plunger member between and including open and closed positions in said housing chamber; and   temperature sensing means positioned in said axial passageway adjacent to said second transversely extending outlet passageway for sensing the temperature of said water in said housing prior to said water exiting said output and for providing an electrical signal output indicative of sensed   
     
     
        temperature..Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  A valve as set forth in claim 24 wherein said temperature sensing means is an analog temperature sensor disposed for providing said water flow shut-off electrical signal..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  A valve as set forth in claim 25 wherein said mixed water output passageway of said valve is disposed for connection to passage means having electrical control valve means therein, said water flow shut-off electrical signal disposed for actuating said electrical control valve means to a closed position to effect shut-off of said water flow through said passage means..Iaddend.