AIRCRAFT SINK WITH INTEGRATED WASTE DISPOSAL FUNCTION

• US 20060225200A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wierenga, Scott M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/664
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 35/007 comprising toilet waste receiving, treatment, storage, disposal or removal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1453 Drain masts
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A sink system includes a sink and a storage area receiving and storing matter from the sink. The storage area receives air from the bypass line during a flush. Also, matter from the storage area and sink is vacuumed through a common line during the flush. A valve limits an amount of air supplied by the bypass line such that increased suction is applied to the sink through the common line. The valve may be manually operated or operated by a controller.

Claims

1. A sink system comprising:

a sink;

a storage area receiving matter from said sink and storing said matter;

a bypass line supplying air to said storage area during a flush of said matter;

a common line for vacuuming said matter from said sink through said storage area;

a first valve limiting an amount of air supplied by said bypass line such that increased suction is applied to said sink through said common line when said first valve is operated; and

a first actuator operating said first valve.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second valve restricting flow of said matter from said storage area when closed and draining said storage area when opened;

and a second actuator controlling said second valve.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a manual switch operating said second valve.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a pressure switch activating said second actuator as a function of an amount of said matter in said storage area.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a controller controlling said first valve, said second valve, and vacuuming of said matter from said sink through said storage area.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a manual switch activating said second actuator.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising a level switch indicating said storage area is substantially full.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller comprises sink mode logic comprising initial conditions of said first valve open and said second valve closed,

said controller further activating a vacuum blower generating a pressure differential, thereby opening said second valve and emptying said matter from said storage area, whereby said second valve closes at an end of said emptying of said matter.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller comprises disposal mode logic, activated in response to a disposal mode switch, said disposal mode logic comprising activating a vacuum source, opening said second valve, closing said first valve, and resetting the system by opening said first valve and closing said second valve.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller comprises disposal mode logic activated in response to manually closing said first valve, said disposal mode logic comprising activating a vacuum source, opening said second valve, closing, and resetting the system by closing said second valve after said first valve is manually opened.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller comprises disposal mode logic activated in response to disposal mode switch after manually closing said first valve, said disposal mode logic comprising activating a vacuum source, opening said second valve, closing, and resetting the system by closing the second valve, and said first valve is manually opened.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said bypass line further comprises an air inlet routed higher than said sink.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a vent coupled to said bypass line for venting odors from said storage tank.

14. A method for operating a sink system coupled to a common waste disposal line with a second waste disposal system, the sink system having a storage area receiving matter from a sink, receiving air from a bypass line as regulated by a first valve, and expelling waste through the common line as regulated by a second valve, the method comprising:

setting initial conditions of the first valve open and the second valve closed;

activating a vacuum source generating a pressure differential across the second valve, thereby opening the second valve and emptying the matter from the storage area, whereby the second valve closes at an end of emptying the matter; and

limiting an amount of air supplied by the bypass line in the case of a clog in the system by closing the first valve such that increased suction is applied to the sink through the common line activating said vacuum source.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of limiting further comprises manually operating a switch controlling the first valve.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising detecting a clog through a pressure switch detecting a pressure differential across the second valve.

17. An airplane system comprising:

a sink;

a storage area receiving matter from said sink and storing said matter;

a bypass line supplying air to said storage area during a flush;

a waste disposal unit;

a toilet;

a common line receiving matter from said storage area, said waste disposal unit, and said toilet;

a vacuum unit vacuuming matter from said sink through said storage area, and further vacuuming matter from said waste disposal unit and said toilet;

a first valve limiting an amount of air supplied by said bypass line such that increased suction is applied to said sink through said common line;

a first actuator operating said first valve; and

a controller controlling said vacuum unit, said controller further controlling said first actuator as a function of a clog between at least one of said sink and said storage area or between said storage area and said common line.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a second valve restricting flow of said matter from said storage area when closed and draining said storage area when opened;

and a second actuator controlling said second valve.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a manual switch operating said second actuator.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a pressure switch activating said second actuator as a function of an amount of said matter in said storage area.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a level switch indicating said storage area is substantially full.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said bypass line further comprises an air inlet routed higher than said sink.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said first valve is positioned above said sink and exposed only to air.

24. The system of claim 17 further comprising a vent coupled to said bypass line for venting odors from said storage tank.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said storage area is sized to fit behind a galley cart in a galley unit.