Maintenance mode for aircraft vacuum toilet

• US 10,208,468 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Hardwick, Christopher, Hoang, Thao, Buniak, Bradley J., Kurshinsky, Christian C., Pedersen, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Skubinna, Christine
• Application Number:
  US15/084,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20160289939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 42521
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/13 Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls , e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/135 Supports for bowls
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/16 Means for connecting the bowl to the floor, e.g. to a floor outlet
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/012 combined with movable closure elements in the bowl outlet bowls with closure elements between bottom or outlet and outlet pipe E03D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/02 operated mechanically or hydraulically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence(or pneumatically) also details such as push buttons, levers and pull-card therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/10 operated electrically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence, e.g. by a photo-cell; also combined with devices for opening or closing shutters in the bowl outlet and/or with devices for raising/or lowering seat and cover and/or for swiveling the bowl
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/00 Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/04 with pivoted closure members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/047 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means F16K31/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/465 by flexible transmission means, e.g. cable, chain, bowden wire

Abstract

A method of controlling an operation of a toilet system on-board an aircraft is disclosed. The toilet system includes a toilet bowl, a fluid valve controlling input of fluid into the toilet bowl, a flush switch configured to be activated by a user, and a controller configured to operate the fluid valve. The method includes detecting an activation of the flush switch, monitoring a flush switch activation time period, and determining whether the flush switch activation time period exceeds a preset threshold time period. In response to determining that flush switch activation time period does not exceed the preset threshold time period, a standard flush cycle is initiated. In response to determining that the flush switch activation time period exceeds the preset threshold time period, a maintenance mode is initiated allowing a larger volume of fluid to fill the toilet bowl for maintenance.

Claims

1. A toilet bowl system for use on-board an aircraft, the system comprising:

a toilet bowl body comprising a toilet bowl and a shroud;

a fluid valve configured to control the flow of fluid into the toilet bowl;

a flush switch configured to be activated by an input from a user;

a controller configured to control the operation of the fluid valve;

wherein

the controller, upon detecting activation of the flush switch in a first sequence comprising activation of the flush switch for a regular mode flushing time period, controls the fluid valve to introduce a first amount of fluid into the toilet bowl to a first preset level in the toilet bowl for a first period of time; and

the controller, upon detecting activation of the flush switch in a second sequence different from the first sequence, the second sequence comprising activation of the flush switch for a maintenance mode flushing time period that is longer than the regular mode flushing time period, controls the fluid valve to introduce a second amount of fluid into the toilet bowl to a second preset level in the toilet bowl for a second period of time, the second preset level higher than the first preset level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first period of time is shorter than the second period of time, and the first amount of fluid is less than the second amount of fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sequence of activation of the flush switch comprises alternatively pressing and releasing the flush switch a preconfigured number of times.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor positioned at a rim portion of the toilet bowl, wherein the controller is configured to close the fluid valve when a fluid level in the toilet bowl is a predetermined distance away from the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to close the fluid valve after at least one of i) the second period of time has elapsed or ii) the second amount of fluid has been introduced into the toilet bowl.

6. A method of controlling an operation of a toilet system on-board an aircraft, the toilet system including a toilet bowl, a fluid valve controlling input of fluid into the toilet bowl, a flush switch configured to be activated by a user, and a controller configured to operate the fluid valve, the method comprising:

detecting an activation of the flush switch;

monitoring a flush switch activation time period;

determining whether the flush switch activation time period exceeds a preset threshold time period;

in response to determining that flush switch activation time period does not exceed the preset threshold time period, initiating a standard flush cycle and controlling the fluid valve to allow fluid input into the toilet bowl for a first period of time to a first preset level in the toilet bowl; and

in response to determining that the flush switch activation time period exceeds the preset threshold time period, initiating a maintenance mode, wherein

in the maintenance mode, the controller is configured to control the fluid valve to allow fluid input into the toilet bowl for a second period of time to a second preset level in the toilet bowl, the second period of time being longer than the first period of time, the second preset level higher than the first preset level.