Valve apparatus and system

Abstract

The present invention includes a hands free faucet system and a valve configured for delivery of water in a predetermined temperature and volume. The valve can include a first body portion having a first inlet port and a first outlet port connected to the first water line, a second body portion connected to the first body portion and having a second inlet port, a second outlet port, a third inlet port third outlet port. The valve can also include at least a first selectively positionable gate defining a first opening and a second opening and disposed adjacent to the second outlet port and the third outlet port such that in response to the first selectively positionable gate being positioned in a first position, water of a predetermined temperature will flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port.

1 . A valve apparatus comprising:
 a first body portion comprising a first inlet port and a first outlet port, the first inlet port and first outlet port contiguous with a first cavity;   a second body portion connected to the first body portion, the second body portion comprising a second inlet port connected to a second outlet port and a third inlet port connected to a third outlet port; and   a first selectively positionable gate defining a first opening and a second opening and disposed adjacent to the second outlet port and the third outlet port such that in response to the first selectively positionable gate being positioned in a first position, a predetermined amount of water will flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second selectively positionable gate defining a third opening and disposed adjacent to the first inlet port of the first body portion such that in response to the second selectively positionable gate being positioned in a second position, a predetermined amount of water will flow into the first inlet port. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a septum disposed between the first selectively positionable gate and the second selectively positionable gate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the septum is adapted to receive water flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port and further adapted to merge water flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port into the third opening of the second selectively positionable gate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening define elongate eccentric openings. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the third opening defines an elongate eccentric opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of claim  5 , wherein the first selectively positionable gate comprises a first rotatable spool. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second selectively positionable gate defines a second rotatable spool. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first selectively positionable gate comprises a first rotatable spool. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller connected to the first and second rotatable spools. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller comprises a first motor adapted to rotate the first rotatable spool in response to user input and a second motor adapted to rotate the second rotatable spool in response to user input. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first motor is adapted to control a water temperature and the second motor is adapted to control a water volume. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second motors are independently controllable by a user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller further comprises a user interface connected to the first and second motors. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a faucet;   a first water line connected to the faucet;   a valve comprising:
 a first body portion comprising a first inlet port and a first outlet port connected to the first water line, the first inlet port and first outlet port contiguous with a first cavity; 
 a second body portion connected to the first body portion, the second body portion comprising a second inlet port connected to a hot water line and a second outlet port, a third inlet port connected to a cold water line and a third outlet port; and 
 a first selectively positionable gate defining a first opening and a second opening and disposed adjacent to the second outlet port and the third outlet port such that in response to the first selectively positionable gate being positioned in a first position, water of a predetermined temperature will flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second selectively positionable gate defining a third opening and disposed adjacent to the first inlet port of the first body portion such that in response to the second selectively positionable gate being positioned in a second position, a predetermined amount of water will flow into the first inlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a septum disposed between the first selectively positionable gate and the second selectively positionable gate. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the septum is adapted to receive water flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port and further adapted to merge water flow from at least one of the second outlet port and the third outlet port into the third opening of the second selectively positionable gate. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first opening and the second opening define elongate eccentric openings. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third opening defines an elongate eccentric opening. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first selectively positionable gate comprises a first rotatable spool. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the second selectively positionable gate comprises a second rotatable spool. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first selectively positionable gate comprises a first rotatable spool. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a controller connected to the first and second rotatable spools. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the controller comprises a first motor adapted to rotate the first rotatable spool in response to user input and a second motor adapted to rotate the second rotatable spool in response to user input. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first motor is adapted to control a water temperature and the second motor is adapted to control a water volume. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second motors are independently controllable by a user. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the controller further comprises a user interface connected to the first and second motors.