Electronic flush valve arrangement

A method for operating a flushing device that includes a sensor for a flushing device having an electric solenoid operated flush valve, said sensor comprising:

• a control box;
• a first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box;
• a radiation detector adapted to detect reflected radiation from said first radiation emitting source and said first radiation emitting source and said radiation detector forming a sensing unit;
• a lens cover attached to said control box and adapted to permit radiation to pass therethrough to and from said sensing unit, said lens cover spaced apart on one side thereof from said sensing unit;
• and
• a control circuit contained within said control box responsive to said sensing unit and connected to the solenoid for initiating operation of said flush valve, said control circuit including means approximate said lens cover for bypassing said sensing unit for deactivating said flush valve, said means for bypassing said sensing unit being magnetically activated when subjected to a magnet disposed on the opposite side of said lens cover;
• said method includes the steps of:
• placing a magnet on the opposite side of said cover and adjacent to said means for bypassing said sensing unit;
• activating said means for bypassing said sensing unit by said magnet;
• determining a predetermined length of time which said magnet activated said means for bypassing said sensing unit;
• and
• removing said magnet away from said means for bypassing said sensing unit performing one of the following steps depending on the determined predetermined length of time which said magnet activated said means for bypassing said sensing unit:
• a) activating the solenoid operated flush valve when said predetermined length of time is within a first time interval;
• or
• b) disabling the solenoid operated flush valve when said predetermined length of time is greater than said first time interval.

A sensor for a flushing device having an electric solenoid operated flush valve, said sensor comprising:

• a control box;
• a first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box;
• a radiation detector adapted to detect reflected radiation from said first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box, said first radiation emitting source and said radiation detector forming a sensing unit;
• a lens cover attached to said control box and adapted to permit radiation to pass therethrough to and from said sensing unit, said lens cover spaced apart on one side thereof from said sensing unit;
• a control circuit contained within said control box responsive to said sensing unit and connected to the solenoid for initiating operation of said flush valve, said control circuit including means approximate said lens cover for bypassing said sensing unit, said means for bypassing said sensing unit being magnetically activated when subjected to a magnet disposed on the opposite side of said lens cover for a predetermined length of time, said means for bypassing said sensing unit including:
• means for determining said predetermined length of time which said means for bypassing said sensing unit is activated;
• and
• means for performing one of the following steps depending on the determined predetermined length of time which said means for bypassing said sensing unit is activated:
• a) activating the solenoid operated flush valve when said predetermined length of time is within a first time interval;
• or
• b) disabling the solenoid operated flush valve when said predetermined length of time is greater than said first time interval.

In combination, a magnetic member and a sensor for a flushing device having an electric solenoid operated flush valve, said sensor comprising:

• a control box;
• a first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box;
• a radiation detector adapted to detect reflected radiation from said first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box, said first radiation emitting source and said radiation detector forming a sensing unit;
• a lens cover attached to said control box and adapted to permit radiation to pass therethrough to and from said sensing unit, said lens cover being spaced apart on one side thereof from said sensing unit;
• and
• a control circuit contained within said control box responsive to said sensing unit and connected to the solenoid for initiating operation of said flush valve, said control circuit including means approximate said lens cover for bypassing said sensing unit for deactivating said flush valve, said means for bypassing said sensing unit being magnetically activated when said magnetic member is disposed on the opposite side of said lens cover.

A sensor for a flushing device having an electric solenoid operated flush valve, said sensor comprising:

• a control box;
• a first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box;
• a radiation detector adapted to detect reflected radiation from said first radiation emitting source mounted in said control box, said first radiation emitting source and said radiation detector forming a sensing unit;
• a lens cover attached to said control box and adapted to permit radiation to pass therethrough to and from said sensing unit, said lens cover being spaced apart on one side thereof from said sensing unit;
• a control circuit contained within said control box responsive to said sensing unit and connected to the solenoid for initiating operation of said flush valve, said control circuit including means approximate said lens cover for bypassing said sensing unit, said means for bypassing said sensing unit being magnetically activated when subjected to a magnet disposed on the opposite side of said lens cover, said means for bypassing said sensing unit including means for selectively activating said solenoid operated flush valve and for disabling said solenoid operated flush valve when said means for bypassing said sensing unit is activated by the magnet.