Automatic bathroom flushers

Abstract

An automatic bathroom flusher includes a body having an inlet in communication with a supply line and an outlet in communication with a flush conduit, a valve assembly in the body positioned to close water flow between the inlet and the outlet upon sealing action of a moving member at a valve seat thereby controlling flow from the inlet to the outlet, an actuator for actuating operation of the moving member, and a controller.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electromagnetic actuator system, comprising: an actuator including a solenoid coil and an armature housing constructed and arranged to receive in a movable relationship an armature;
 a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said solenoid coil for displacing said armature and thereby open or close a valve passage for fluid flow; and   an actuator sensor constructed and arranged to sense a position of said armature and provide a signal to said controller.   
     
     
         22 . The actuator system of  claim 21  wherein said sensor is constructed to detect voltage induced by movement of said armature. 
     
     
         23 . The actuator system of  claim 22  wherein said sensor is constructed and arranged to detect changes to said drive signal due to the movement of said armature. 
     
     
         24 . The actuator system of  claim 22  wherein said sensor includes a resistor arranged to receive at least a portion of said drive signal, and a voltmeter constructed to measure voltage across said resistor. 
     
     
         25 . The actuator system of  claim 22  wherein said sensor includes a coil sensor constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by movement of said armature. 
     
     
         26 . The actuator system of  claim 25  wherein said coil sensor is connected in a feedback arrangement to a signal conditioner providing conditioned signal to said controller. 
     
     
         27 . The actuator system of  claim 26  wherein said signal conditioner includes a preamplifier and a low-pass filter. 
     
     
         28 . The actuator system of  claim 22  wherein said sensor includes two coil sensors each constructed and arranged to detect said voltage induced by movement of said armature. 
     
     
         29 . The actuator system of  claim 28  wherein said coil sensors are connected in a feedback arrangement to a differential amplifier constructed to provide a differential signal to said controller. 
     
     
         30 . The actuator system of  claim 21  wherein said actuator sensor includes an optical sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The actuator system of  claim 21  wherein said actuator sensor includes a capacitance sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The actuator system of  claim 21  wherein said actuator sensor includes a bridge for sensitively detecting a signal change due to movement of said armature. 
     
     
         33 . The actuator system of  claim 21  wherein said armature housing is constructed and arranged for a linear displacement of said armature upon said solenoid receiving said drive signal. 
     
     
         34 . The actuator system of  claim 33  wherein said actuator is a latching actuator constructed to maintain said armature in said open passage state without any drive signal being delivered to said solenoid coil. 
     
     
         35 . The actuator system of  claim 34  wherein said latching actuator includes a permanent magnet arranged to maintain said armature in said open passage state. 
     
     
         36 . The actuator system of claim  14  wherein said latching actuator further includes a bias spring positioned and arranged to bias said armature toward an extended position providing a close passage state without any drive signal being delivered to said solenoid coil. 
     
     
         37 . The actuator system of  claim 21  further including a presence sensor coupled to said controller. 
     
     
         38 . A valve device, comprising:
 a fluid input port and a fluid output port;   a valve body defining a valve cavity and including a valve closure surface; and   a fram assembly providing two pressure zones and being movable within said valve cavity with respect a guiding member; said fram assembly being constructed to move to an open position enabling fluid flow from said fluid input port to said fluid output port upon reduction of pressure in a first of said pressure zones; and being constructed to move to a closed position, upon increase of pressure in said first pressure zone, creating a seal at said valve closure surface.   
     
     
         39 . The valve device of  claim 38 , wherein said two pressure zones include two chambers separated by said fram assembly and wherein said first pressure zone includes a pilot chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The valve device of  claim 39  including an operator constructed and arranged to release pressure in said pilot chamber and thereby initiate movement of said fram member from said closed position to said open position. 
     
     
         41 . The valve device of  claim 40 , wherein said operator includes a latching actuator. 
     
     
         42 . The valve device of  claim 40 , wherein said operator includes a non-latching actuator. 
     
     
         43 . The valve device of  claim 40 , wherein said operator includes an actuator having an isolation membrane for containing fluid inside a plunger cavity of said actuator. 
     
     
         44 . The valve device of  claim 38  wherein said fram assembly includes a pliable member and a stiff member, said pliable member being constructed to come in contact with said valve closure surface to form said seal in said closed position. 
     
     
         45 . The valve device of  claim 44 , wherein said valve closure surface includes a lip providing said seal in said closed position. 
     
     
         46 . The valve device of  claim 38  including a bias member. 
     
     
         47 . The valve device of  claim 44  wherein said bias member is constructed and arranged to assist movement of said fram member from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
         48 . The valve device of  claim 44  wherein said bias member includes a spring. 
     
     
         49 - 51 . (canceled)