System for flushing of a vacuum toilet in an aircraft

• US 20080185477A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Seibt, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 13/00 Urinals without flushing devices A47K11/00 ; Means for connecting the urinal to the flushing pipe and the wastepipe; Splashing shields for urinals
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A system for flushing a vacuum toilet, includes a drain that is connected to a drain conduit, which vacuum toilet is connectable to a vacuum system by way of a suction valve. With the use of a combined valve including, for example, a flow-optimised intermediate storage device, inflow nozzle, bypass conduit with silencer and hose odor seal, the flow noises at the urinal bowl drain, urinal bowl overflow and upper end of the bypass conduit can be effectively suppressed. With the combination disc valve or the shut-off valve and suction valve, during the suction process the air stream is only drawn through the bypass conduit with a special odor seal and silencer.

Claims

1. A drain system for a vacuum toilet for an aircraft, the drain system comprising:

a drain pipe system;

a first closing device; and

a second closing device;

wherein the drain pipe system is provided with at least a first pipe section and a second pipe section that is connected to the first pipe section;

wherein a connection of the first pipe section is connectable to a bowl of a vacuum toilet, and a connection of the second pipe section is connectable to a vacuum system;

wherein the first closing device is provided in the first pipe section;

wherein the second closing device is provided in the second pipe section downstream of the first closing device; and

wherein the first closing device and the second closing device are coupled to each other such that in each instance only one of the first and of the second closing devices can be open.

2. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the drain pipe system comprises a third pipe section that leads between the first closing device and the second closing device into the drain pipe system.

3. The drain system of claim 1, further comprising a first fill-level measuring device for measuring a fill level between the first closing device and the second closing device.

4. The drain system of claim 1, further comprising a second fill-level measuring device for measuring a fill level upstream of the first closing device.

5. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the first closing device and the second closing device are arranged in a housing.

6. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the first closing device and the second closing device are mechanically coupled.

7. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the first closing device is a first gate shut-off valve, and the second closing device is a second gate shut-off valve.

8. The drain system of claim 7, wherein the first and the second gate shut-off valves comprise a shared shut-off plate.

9. The drain system of claim 8, wherein the shut-off plate is rotatably held and comprises a port opening such that only one gate shut-off valve can be open.

10. The drain system of claim 8, wherein the shut-off plate is driven by means of a motor.

11. The drain system of claim 1, further comprising a control device that is designed to control the first closing device and the second closing device based on at least one state from the group of a first fill-level measuring device between the first and the second closing device, a second fill-level measuring device upstream of the first closing device, a user detection sensor, a urine-water-mixture conductivity sensor, an exterior actuation device and a time-control unit.

12. The drain system of claim 1, wherein the second closing device is a suction valve that is designed as a pneumatic or electromechanical pinch valve.

13. The drain system of claim 2, wherein the connection of the third pipe section is connected to at least one device from the group of an odour seal and a silencer.

14. A vacuum toilet comprising a drain system, the drain system comprising:

a drain pipe system;

a first closing device; and

a second closing device;

wherein the drain pipe system is provided with at least a first pipe section and a second pipe section that is connected to the first pipe section;

wherein a connection of the first pipe section is connectable to a bowl of a vacuum toilet, and a connection of the second pipe section is connectable to a vacuum system;

wherein the first closing device is provided in the first pipe section;

wherein the second closing device is provided in the second pipe section downstream of the first closing device; and

wherein the first closing device and the second closing device are coupled to each other such that in each instance only one of the first and of the second closing devices can be open.

15. The vacuum of claim 14, wherein the vacuum toilet comprises a vacuum urinal.

16. An aircraft with a toilet or a urinal comprising a drain system, the drain system comprising:

a drain pipe system;

a first closing device; and

a second closing device;

wherein the drain pipe system is provided with at least a first pipe section and a second pipe section that is connected to the first pipe section;

wherein a connection of the first pipe section is connectable to a bowl of a vacuum toilet, and a connection of the second pipe section is connectable to a vacuum system;

wherein the first closing device is provided in the first pipe section;

wherein the second closing device is provided in the second pipe section downstream of the first closing device; and

wherein the first closing device and the second closing device are coupled to each other such that in each instance only one of the first and of the second closing devices can be open.

17. A method for operating a drain system for a vacuum toilet for an aircraft, comprising

providing of a first closing device that is provided in a first pipe section of a drain pipe system, and a second closing device that is provided in a second pipe section of the drain pipe system, downstream of the first closing device, wherein a connection of the first pipe section can be connected to a bowl of a vacuum toilet, and a connection of the second pipe section can be connected to a vacuum system;

closing the second closing device and opening the first closing device;

closing the first closing device; and

opening the second closing device;

wherein in each case only one of the first and the second closing devices is open.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions causing a processor to operate a drain system for a vacuum toilet for an aircraft including a first closing device that is provided in a first pipe section of a drain pipe system, and a second closing device that is provided in a second pipe section of the drain pipe system, downstream of the first closing device, wherein a connection of the first pipe section can be connected to a bowl of a vacuum toilet, and a connection of the second pipe section can be connected to a vacuum system, the instructions causing the processor to:

close the second closing device and opening the first closing device;

close the first closing device; and

open the second closing device;

wherein in each case only one of the first and the second closing devices is open.