Macerating apparatus and method

A method of macerating solids contained in liquid effluent discharged from a toilet, the method comprising:

• a) sensing the presence of the liquid effluent in an inlet tube in fluid communication with a side wall of an intake basket of a macerating apparatus, the sensing performed at a location so as to detect the presence of liquid effluent in advance of solids in the effluent contacting a macerating cutter disposed in the intake basket and operatively connected to a motor;
• and
• b) communicating a signal indicative of the discharge to the motor and causing the motor to accelerate the macerating cutter to an operating speed sufficient to prevent solids from stopping the macerating cutter, before solids in the liquid effluent contact the macerating cutter.

An apparatus for macerating solids contained in liquid effluent discharged from a toilet, the apparatus comprising an intake basket comprising a side wall, an inlet tube in fluid communication with the side wall of the intake basket and configured to pass into the basket a volume of the liquid effluent and solids received from the toilet;

• a macerating cutter operatively connected to a motor;
• and means for detecting flushing of the toilet before effluent discharged from the toilet as a result of the flushing contacts the macerating cutter;
• wherein when the effluent is discharged from the toilet toward the macerating cutter, the means for detecting flushing of the toilet is provided in a location so as to detect the discharge in sufficient advance of solids in the effluent contacting the macerating cutter, to communicate a signal indicative of the discharge to the motor, and to cause the motor to accelerate the macerating cutter to an operating speed sufficient to prevent solids from stopping the macerating cutter, before solids in the effluent contact the macerating cutter.