Automatic dual flush activation
View Patent ↗A multi flush volume flush valve is in communication with an automatic flush control. The flush control determines the presence of a user and the amount of time the user uses the toilet. The usage time is compared to a predetermined time value to determine the appropriate flush volume based on an assumption regarding usage time and flush volume needs. The comparative value statistically adjusts to the restroom traffic.
1. A system for controlling the flush volume of a flushometer, comprising:
a dual flush valve associated with a waste receptacle fixture, the dual flush valve having a solid waste flush volume corresponding to a full flush volume and a liquid waste flush volume corresponding to a reduced flush volume;
a presence detection sensor associated with the flush valve, the presence detection sensor configured to monitor for the presence of a user and provide a signal upon the detection of a user in a predefined area;
an automatic flush control in communication with the presence detection sensor and the dual flush valve, the automatic flush control comprising a memory unit associated with the presence detection sensor and the flush valve, the memory unit having stored therein computer program instructions for:
receiving the presence detection sensor signal;
initiating a usage timer upon the detection of the user;
stopping the usage timer upon no longer receiving a presence detection sensor signal; generating a usage time t x that equals time elapsed from initiation to stoppage of the usage timer when the user is no longer detected;
modifying a usage cycle count N c by increasing N c by 1;
determining if a number of cycles N c is less than a predetermined number of cycles N p ,;
if N c <N p ,
then determining if the usage time t x is greater than or equal to a preset usage time value T p where if t x is greater than or equal to the preset value T p , then the flush valve is opened for the full volume flush, and if t x is less than the preset value T p , then the flush valve is opened for the reduced volume flush;
if N c >N p ,
then determining if the usage time t x is greater than or equal to a calculated average usage time t p where if t x is greater than or equal to the calculated average usage time t p , then a full volume flush is performed, and if t x is less than the predetermined average usage time t p , then the reduced volume flush is performed; and
modifying t p according to the value of t x ,
wherein the automatic flush control provides instructions actuating the dual flush valve for the solid waste flush volume or the liquid waste volume based on usage time.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein T p and t p further comprise a preset liquid waste use time value T 1 and an average liquid waste use time value t 1 , respectively.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein modifying t p comprises modifying t 1 based on t x to calculate a new t 1 .
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein T p and t p further comprise a preset solid waste use time T s and an average solid waste use time value t s , respectively.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein modifying t p comprises modifying t s based on t x to calculate a new t s .
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising storing the time t x in a memory unit.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the user comprises the use of a sensor selected from the group consisting of infrared, capacitance, weight, thermal, motion, and combinations thereof.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory unit further includes instructions to trigger a flush of a specific volume after a predetermined time even if a user is detected.