# US 2019/0167066 A1 · Dishwasher appliance having a pressure sensor and a tub lip sensor for flood detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167066 A1 - Document ID: US20190167066A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,849 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167066A1 ## CPC - A47L 15/0049: {Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention (arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421)} - A47L 15/421: {Safety arrangements for preventing water damage} - A47L 15/4225: {Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps} - A47L 15/4246: {Details of the tub (A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209)} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05D 7/0688: {by combined action on throttling means and flow sources (G05D7/0694 takes precedence)} - A47L 2401/09: Water level - A47L 2401/14: Water pressure or flow rate - A47L 2401/20: Time, e.g. elapsed operating time - A47L 2501/01: Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve - A47L 2501/02: Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve - A47L 2501/03: Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow - A47L 2501/05: Drain or recirculation pump, e.g. regulation of the pump rotational speed or flow direction - A47L 2501/26: Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A dishwasher appliance that includes features that allow for prevention and detection of flood events or tub overfills without sacrificing performance or efficiency of the dishwasher appliance is provided. Moreover, methods for detecting and preventing such flood events are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a flood event in a dishwasher appliance, the dishwasher appliance comprising a cabinet and a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub comprising a tub lip, the dishwasher appliance further comprising a pressure sensor, a tub lip sensor, a drain pump, and a circulation pump, the method comprising: determining whether the circulation pump is activated; determining whether a pressure sensor output of the pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a first pressure threshold for a predetermined time if the circulation pump is not activated, or, determining whether the pressure sensor output of the pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a second pressure threshold for a predetermined time if the circulation pump is activated; determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time if the pressure sensor output is not greater than or equal to either the first pressure threshold for the predetermined time or the second pressure threshold for the predetermined time; and activating the drain pump if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: canceling a current cycle of the dishwasher appliance if the tub lip sensor sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the dishwasher appliance comprises a water inlet valve, and wherein canceling comprises deactivating the water inlet valve of the dishwasher appliance and deactivating the circulation pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: notifying a consumer of the flood event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein after activating the drain pump, the method further comprises: determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein after determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time, the method further comprises: deactivating the drain pump if the tub lip sensor has not sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein after activating the drain pump and after determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time, the method further comprises: determining whether a current time is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein after determining whether the current time is less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold, the method further comprises: logging a drain fault if the current time is not less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein after determining whether the current time is less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold, the method further comprises: determining whether the pressure sensor output is less than or equal to the minimum pressure threshold if the current time is less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein during determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time, the tub lip sensor must sense wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip consecutively for the predetermined time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein after determining whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time, the method further comprises: logging a flood fault if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 12 A dishwasher appliance, comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing, the tub comprising a tub lip; a tub lip sensor positioned proximate the tub lip; one or more spray assemblies; a circulation pump for circulating wash fluid to the one or more spray arm assemblies; a drain pump; a sump; a pressure sensor mounted to the sump; a controller communicatively coupled with the pressure sensor, the tub lip sensor, the drain pump, and the circulation pump, the controller configured to: determine whether the circulation pump is activated; determine whether a pressure sensor output of the pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a first pressure threshold for a predetermined time if the circulation pump is not activated, or, determine whether the pressure sensor output of the pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a second pressure threshold for a predetermined time if the circulation pump is activated; determine whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time if the pressure sensor output is not greater than or equal to either the first pressure threshold for the predetermined time or the second pressure threshold for the predetermined time; and activate the drain pump if the controller determines that the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dishwasher appliance of claim 12, wherein after the controller determines whether the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time, the controller is further configured to: cancel a current cycle of the dishwasher appliance if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dishwasher appliance of claim 13, further comprising: an inlet water valve communicatively coupled with the controller; wherein when the controller cancels the current cycle, the controller is configured to: deactivate the inlet water valve; and deactivate the circulation pump. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The dishwasher appliance of claim 12, wherein after the controller activates the drain pump, the controller is further configured to: determine if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time; and deactivate the drain pump if the tub lip sensor has not sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for the predetermined time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The dishwasher appliance of claim 12, further comprising: a communication interface communicatively coupled with the controller, and wherein when the controller cancels a current cycle of the dishwasher appliance, the communication interface is configured to: communicate a notification that a flood event has occurred. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The dishwasher appliance of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to: start a timer upon activating the drain pump; determine, after the controller activates the drain pump, if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time; and determine whether a current time provided by the timer is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold if the tub lip sensor has sensed wash fluid at or proximate the tub lip for a predetermined time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The dishwasher appliance of claim 17, wherein after the controller determines whether the current time provided by the timer is less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold, the controller is further configured to: log a drain fault if the current time provided by the timer is not less than or equal to the predetermined time threshold.