TOILET OVERFLOW PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A system (10) for preventing overflow of a toilet (12) includes a sensor (70), a processor (78) and an actuator (72). The sensor (70) senses a parameter caused by fluid dynamics within the toilet (12) during a flush cycle. The parameter may involve vibration, sound, pressure, fluid flow rate or other detectible characteristics of the toilet (12). The processor (78) uses information regarding the parameter that is gathered by the sensor (70) to evaluate the condition of the flush cycle to determine if an impeded flush condition exists. In the event of an impeded flush condition, the processor (78) directs the actuator (72) to close a valve (38), which may be the toilet flapper valve in some embodiments. Also disclosed are methods for preventing toilet overflow, detecting an impeded flush condition and calibrating the system.