Flush toilet control system and related method

• US 8,997,268 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thetford LLC
• Original Assignee: Thetford Corporation (Recreational Vehicle Group)
• Inventors: Miller, James K., Danks, Ricky L., Smith, Julian N., Delaney, Daniel, Grech, George, Butterwick, Forrest D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANE, LAUREN ASHLEY
• Application Number:
  US13/470,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 432/4, 431/9, 431/3, 434/5
• US Class Current: 4/324
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 2001/147 having provisions for active interruption of flushing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/10 Waste-disintegrating apparatus combined with the bowl special flushing devices E03D5/00

Abstract

A control system for a flush toilet includes a water delivery device for delivering a source of flush water to a bowl. The control system includes a controller and a user interface. The controller is operative to control the toilet through a flush sequence in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the controller opens the water delivery device to deliver a predetermined amount of water to the bowl. In the second mode, the controller opens the water delivery device to deliver a user adjustable amount of water to the bowl. The user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting between the first mode and the second mode. Where the toilet is a macerator toilet, the controller monitors current draw unit when the current draw satisfies a predetermined current condition. The controller may operate in a normal mode and a lockout mode.

Claims

1. A control system for a flush toilet including a water delivery device for delivering a source of flush water to a bowl, the control system comprising:

an electronic controller;

a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface including a single user engageable control located for ready access by a user and operative to control the toilet through a flush sequence, such that when;

the single user engageable control is pressed for a duration less than a predetermined time duration, the controller implements a flush mode in which a flush operation for the toilet is initiated, and when the single user engageable control is held depressed for a time duration longer than the predetermined time duration a program mode is initiated which also includes initiating a flush operation for the toilet;

wherein in the flush mode the controller operates the water delivery device to deliver a first predetermined amount of water to the bowl during the flush operation;

wherein in the program mode the controller operates the water delivery device to deliver a user adjustable amount of water to the bowl during the flush operation that sets a new water level for the bowl in accordance with a time duration that the user holds the user engageable control pressed, the controller remembering the new water level setting for future flushes;

the controller configured to control the user interface to provide an optical signal to the user while the program mode is in use, until the user releases the user engageable control; and

wherein after exiting the program mode and returning to the flush mode, the controller uses the user adjustable amount of water that was set by the user during the program mode to refill the bowl to the new water level for each one of all subsequent flushes that are performed by the user when initiating the flush mode.

2. The control system of claim 1, in combination with the toilet.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the toilet is a macerator toilet.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is controllable by the user interface to deliver a second predetermined amount of water to the bowl prior to the flush sequence.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the controller subtracts the second predetermined amount of water from the first predetermined amount of water for subsequent operation in the flush mode.

6. A control system for a flush toilet including a water delivery device for delivering a source of flush water to a bowl, the control system comprising:

an electronic controller;

a user interface having a user depressible control in communication with the electronic controller and located for ready access by the user;

the electronic controller and the user depressible control operative to control the toilet through a flush sequence;

wherein in a flush mode, the electronic controller initiates a flush operation when the user depressible control is detected as having been depressed and held in a depressed position for less than a predetermined time interval by the user,

wherein a program mode is initiated by the electronic controller when the user depressible control is depressed and held in the depressed position for a time duration longer than the predetermined time interval, the program mode also operating to initiate a flush operation, and

when in the flush mode the electronic controller operates the water delivery device to deliver a first predetermined amount of water to the bowl during the flush operation;

when in the program mode the electronic controller both initiates the flush operation and further operates the water delivery device to deliver a user adjustable amount of water to the bowl which is set in accordance with a time duration that the user holds down the user depressible control, to define a new water level setting for the bowl;

the electronic controller further configured to control the user interface to provide an optical signal to the user while the program mode is in use, until the user releases the user depressible control;

wherein after exiting the program mode and returning to the flush mode, the electronic controller remembers the new water level setting and uses the user adjustable amount of water that was previously selected during the program mode for all subsequent flushes which are performed whenever the user initiates the flush mode; and

wherein the controller limits an amount of water that may be added to the bowl by the user during the program mode.