Apparatus for operating a vacuum plumbing system in an aircraft

• US 5,707,027 A
• Filed: 09/26/1995
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimlerchrysler North America Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Hiesener, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,262
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1 R, 244/118.5, 244/129.1, 4/158, 4/321, 4/431, 4/432, 417/158, 417/157
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/00 Special constructions of flushing devices in motor vehicles or trailers B60R15/00; in railway carriages B61D35/00; in ships B63B29/14; in aircraft B64D11/02, e.g. closed flushing system
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A vacuum plumbing system especially in an aircraft equipped with jet engines, is provided with a tap air supply source (4) that receives the tap air from the engine exhaust and is connected with a nozzle (1A) of at least one ejector or jet air pump (1) while the suction port (1C) of the pump (1) is connected through ducts or pipes (7, 11, 12) to a refuse collecting duct (15) either directly or indirectly through refuse collecting tank (9). Filters in the tank and conveying pumps are thus avoided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating a vacuum plumbing system especially in an aircraft equipped with a power plant, said apparatus comprising at least one refuse (16A) generating source (16), a tap air source (4) connectable to said power plant, at least one collecting tank (9), at least one collecting duct (15) connecting said at least one refuse generating source to said at least one collecting tank (9), an ejector (1) having a nozzle (1A) connected to said tap air source (4) and a suction port (1C) connected to said collecting tank (9), and connecting elements interconnecting said collecting duct (15) and said suction port (1C) of said ejector (1) through said collecting tank (9) so that refuse is directly sucked into said collecting tank (9) through said ejector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a throttling and closure valve (3) and a pressure pipe (2), wherein said tap air source (4) is connected through said throttling and closure valve (3) in said pressure pipe (2) with said nozzle (1A) of said ejector (1).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a venting duct (5) and a vent closure and control valve (6), wherein said ejector (1) has a housing with a funnel-shaped discharge port (1B) connected to said venting duct (5), and wherein said connecting elements interconnect said suction port (1C) of said ejector (1) with said collecting tank (9), said apparatus further comprising a water separator (8) in said tank, whereby said suction port (1C) is connected to said water separator, and a non-return valve (12) in said collecting duct (15) which connects said refuse generating source (16) to said refuse collecting tank (9).

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one end of said venting duct (5) comprises a venting air discharge (5B) leading to the outside of the aircraft.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a discharge valve (10) arranged inside said collecting tank at the lowest point of said collecting tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising in an upper area of said collecting tank (9.), at least one inlet for refuse (16A) and at least one air output for discharging air (5A).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hot air duct (14) and a valve (13) in said hot air duct (14), wherein said tap air source (4) is connected through said valve (13) to said hot air duct (14), and hot air discharge devices connected to said hot air duct (14) for feeding hot air to said hot air discharge devices positioned near components endangered by freeze-up near said collecting tank (9).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said hot air discharge devices are constructed as air discharge channels (14B, 14C) 3 positioned at said collecting tank (9) and/or at a discharge valve (10) in said collecting tank (9).

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said venting duct (5) comprises a coupling inlet port (5B) connectable to a compressed air source to pressurize said collecting tank (9) for discharge of its content.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising closed loop control valves.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said coupling inlet port (5B) is connectable to an external source of air combinable with a source of cleaning liquid for cleaning said refuse collecting tank.

12. An apparatus for operating a vacuum plumbing system especially in an aircraft equipped with a power plant, said apparatus comprising at least one refuse (16A) generating source (16), a tap air source (4) connectable to said power plant, at least one collecting tank (9), at least one collecting duct (15) connecting said at least one refuse generating source to said at least one collecting tank (9), an ejector (1) having a nozzle (1A) connected to said tap air source (4), a suction port (1C) connected to said refuse generating source (16), and a discharge port (1B) connected directly to said collecting tank (9), a venting and cleaning duct (5) connecting said refuse collecting tank (9) to the atmosphere, and a control valve (6) in said venting duct (5).

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a discharge valve (10) arranged inside said collecting tank at the lowest point of said collecting tank.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising in an upper area of said collecting tank (9), at least one inlet for refuse (16A) and at least one air output for discharging air (5A).

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a hot air duct (14) and a valve (13) in said hot air duct (14), wherein said tap air source (4) is connected through said valve (13) to said hot air duct (14), and hot air discharge devices connected to said hot air duct (14) for feeding hot air to said hot air discharge devices positioned near components endangered by freeze-up near said collecting tank (9).

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said hot air discharge devices are constructed as air discharge channels (14B, 14C) positioned at said collecting tank (9) and/or at a discharge valve (10) in said collecting tank (9).

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said ejector (1) has a housing with a funnel-shaped discharge port 1B connected with said collecting tank (9), wherein said suction port (1C) of said ejector (1) is connected to said refuse collecting duct (15) whereby said refuse collecting duct (15) extends from said refuse generating source (16), wherein said refuse collecting duct (15) comprises a non-return flap (12), said apparatus further comprising a water separator (8) in said collecting tank (9), said venting and cleaning duct (5) being connected to said collecting tank (9) through said water separator (8).

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one end of said venting duct (5) comprises a venting air discharge (5B) leading into the outside of the aircraft.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said venting duct (5) comprises a coupling inlet port (5B) connectable to a compressed air source to pressurize said collecting tank (9) for discharge of its content.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said coupling inlet port (5B) is connectable to an external source of air combinable with a source of cleaning liquid for cleaning said refuse collecting tank.