SOLENOID OPERATED FAUCET

A faucet (10) has a body (12) with a hollow inner cavity (18) and a spout (13) which opens into the inner cavity (18). A valve assembly (20) is located within the inner cavity (18) to control the flow of water from a source into the spout (13). The valve assembly (20) comprises a housing (21) with an inlet chamber (22) which opens into a ring-shaped channel (32), an outlet chamber (23) having an opening (33) centrally located with respect to the ring of the channel, and a diaphragm (34) to selectively close the communication of the inlet (22) and outlet (23) chambers. A solenoid (50) includes a plunger (56) that is biased by a spring (58) against the diaphragm (34) and an electromagnetic coil (52) to pull the plunger (56) away fron the diaphragm (34). A proximity sensor (14) is included to detect the presence of an object adjacent the faucet (10) and energize the coil (52). A safeguard alarm mechanism (61) is provided to deenergize the coil (52) after a given interval if the object continues to be detected and thereafter periodically briefly energize the solenoid (50) until the object is removed.