Flushable toilet with flood control

Abstract

A toilet comprising a bowl sized to contain a fluid and a valve movable between an open position in which a liquid is delivered to the bowl and a closed position in which the liquid does not flow to the bowl. A sensor is operable to sense a liquid level within the bowl and an actuator is movable between a flush position and an idle position. A controller is operable to move the valve to the open position in response to movement of the actuator to the flush position and a liquid level within the bowl below a predetermined level.

1 . A toilet comprising: 
 a bowl sized to contain a fluid;    a valve movable from a normally-closed position in which a liquid does not flow to the bowl to an open position in which the liquid is delivered to the bowl;    a sensor operable to sense a liquid level within the bowl;    an actuator movable between a flush position and an idle position; and    a controller operable to move the valve to the open position in response to movement of the actuator to the flush position and a liquid level within the bowl below a predetermined level.    
   
   
       2 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a solenoid-actuated valve.  
   
   
       3 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a liquid level sensor.  
   
   
       4 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sensor is disposed within the bowl.  
   
   
       5 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects a pressure and sends a signal to the controller when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value.  
   
   
       6 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the controller inhibits movement of the valve to the open position when the sensor senses a liquid level above the predetermined level.  
   
   
       7 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a timer operable to initiate movement of the valve to the closed position after the valve has been in the open position for a predetermined length of time.  
   
   
       8 . The toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is the sole valve used to inhibit flooding and to flush the toilet.  
   
   
       9 . An electrically-controlled toilet comprising: 
 a bowl sized to contain a fluid;    a solenoid-operated valve movable from a normally-closed position to an open position in which a liquid is delivered to the bowl and returned to a closed position in which the liquid does not flow to the bowl;    a liquid-level sensor at least partially positioned within the bowl and operable to sense a liquid level within the bowl;    an actuator movable between a flush position and an idle position; and    a controller operable to move the valve to the open position in response to movement of the actuator to the flush position and a liquid level within the bowl below a predetermined level.    
   
   
       10 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor detects a pressure and sends a signal to the controller when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value.  
   
   
       11 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the controller inhibits movement of the valve to the open position when the sensor senses a liquid level above the predetermined level.  
   
   
       12 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the controller includes a timer operable to initiate movement of the valve to the closed position after the valve has been in the open position for a predetermined length of time.  
   
   
       13 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the valve is the sole valve used to inhibit flooding and to flush the toilet.  
   
   
       14 . The toilet of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor sends a first signal to the controller when the liquid level is below a predetermined value and the sensor sends a second signal to the controller when the liquid level is above a predetermined value.  
   
   
       15 . A method of operating a toilet, the method comprising: 
 providing a bowl operable to contain a liquid;    sensing a liquid level within the bowl;    moving an actuator to a flush position;    opening a valve to provide a flow of liquid to the bowl when the actuator is in the flush position and the liquid level within the bowl is below a predetermined value.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing step includes measuring a pressure within the bowl.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein opening the valve further comprises energizing a solenoid.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising comparing the liquid level to a predetermined liquid level and inhibits the opening step when the liquid level exceeds the predetermined level.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising timing the duration that the valve is open.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising closing the valve in response to the passage of a predetermined length of time.