Patent ID: 7810362

Claim:
A washing machine comprising: a bowl adapted to hold water, an inlet with a valve adapted for connection to a water supply, the inlet and valve allowing controlled introduction of water into the bowl when the inlet is connected to a water supply, a variable speed pump adapted to recirculate water within the bowl, a sensor adapted to measure one or more parameters indicative of current drawn by the pump during operation, a controller apparatus operatively connected to said pump and said sensor, and configured to: (a) compare said measure of said current drawn by said pump during operation to a threshold current, said current being below said threshold indicative of when said pump is ventilating, (b) increment a first timer when said pump is pumping, (c) increment a second timer when said pump is ventilating, (d) determine a ratio between said first and second timers, and (e) operate said valve to prevent the flow of water into said bowl when said ratio between said first and second timers exceeds a timer threshold.