Patent ID: 8557048
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: A47L,D06F

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a failure of a fill sensor that detects water flowing into a water-bearing household appliance, the method comprising: opening a locking arrangement to fill the water-bearing household appliance with water, the locking arrangement controlled by the water-bearing household appliance, the locking arrangement allowing the water to flow into the water-bearing household appliance when the locking arrangement is in an open position; monitoring the fill sensor, the fill sensor emitting a water-is-flowing signal when the water flows past the fill sensor when the fill sensor is operating properly; holding the locking arrangement open for a predetermined period of time in response to an absence of the water-is-flowing signal from the fill sensor while the monitoring of the fill sensor is continually performed; closing the locking arrangement after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time and in the absence of the water-is-flowing signal; after closing the locking arrangement, activating a pump to convey the water that flowed into the water-bearing household appliance, the pump being activated after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time; monitoring a performance characteristic of the pump, the performance characteristic of the pump corresponding to a load of a motor driving the pump; evaluating the performance characteristic of the pump while the pump is activated after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time; and determining that the failure exists in the fill sensor if the performance characteristic of the pump indicates that the pump is pumping water.