초록 ▼

A self-contained unit 160 that rapidly and accurately senses, controls and maintains the temperature of water delivered to the user of a shower or bath. The invention allows a user to preset a desired water temperature using a manual control interface 60 and uses a sensor 10 located on (or within) t

A self-contained unit 160 that rapidly and accurately senses, controls and maintains the temperature of water delivered to the user of a shower or bath. The invention allows a user to preset a desired water temperature using a manual control interface 60 and uses a sensor 10 located on (or within) the mixer outlet pipe 20 to measure the temperature of the mixed water being delivered to the user. The sensor produces an input signal that is used by a microprocessor 30 to calculate both derivative gain and proportional gain, and fuzzy logic may also be used by the microprocessor to produce an output signal, such that the system responds quickly and accurately to both quantum temperature changes and to the rate of temperature change. The output signal controls a motor 80, that via the action of gears 90, controls the action of the water mixer valve 110 thus maintaining a constant temperature of water delivered to the user. The present invention also allows a number of users to preset temperatures for their own comfort, and to select this preset temperature before entering the shower, so negating the need for manual "trial and error" adjustment. Importantly, the present invention is also designed so that any lay-person, with no plumbing experience and the minimum of mechanical ability may retrofit the device to an existing water delivery system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] For a water delivery system having a single-stemmed mixer valve and a single mixer valve outlet pipe, a modular water temperature control device which can be easily retrofitted onto an existing water delivery system without the disassembly of piping or the use of speciali

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] For a water delivery system having a single-stemmed mixer valve and a single mixer valve outlet pipe, a modular water temperature control device which can be easily retrofitted onto an existing water delivery system without the disassembly of piping or the use of specialized plumbing tools, comprising:a temperature sensor contacting said mixer valve outlet pipe,a computing unit executing a control algorithm, said computing unit communicating with said sensor by means of a conducting wire,said computing unit being mounted onto a circuit board,said computing unit further communicating with and controlling the operation of an electric motor,an electric power source communicating with and supplying power to said motor and said computing unit,said motor communicating with a torque-transfer mechanism,said torque-transfer mechanism communicating with a shaft,said shaft communicating with said mixing valve such that rotation of said shaft tends to alter the flow of water,a temperature display mounted onto said circuit board,a manual control interface, communicating with said circuit board,a watertight case enclosing said modular water temperature control unit which can replace the existing wall cover unit.