Hand drying device and washing stand for an aircraft

• US 9,139,302 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Muin, Andrew, Reh, Jan, Dehn, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Rob
• Application Number:
  US13/370,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 342/02, 345/72, 462/3, 463/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A hand-drying device for an aircraft can be integrated into a washing stand, so that the hand washing and hand drying process can be performed within the washbasin of the washing stand. Corresponding sensors make this process contactless.

Claims

1. An interior fixture for an aircraft, comprising:

a hand-drying device configured to generate an air stream; and

a connection to an air supply line of the aircraft, which provides at least a portion of the air for the hand-drying device,

wherein the hand-drying device further comprises a plurality of air outlets, which are integrated into a hand-washing basin, and through which the air stream is blown out.

2. The interior fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a compressor that is configured to recompress the at least a portion of the air provided by the air supply line of the aircraft.

3. The interior fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

an additional air supply configured to provide additional air, which is mixed with the air provided by the air supply line of the aircraft.

4. The interior fixture of claim 1, wherein the interior fixture is a kitchen fixture.

5. An aircraft, comprising:

an engine;

an air supply line configured to bleed air from the engine;

a hand-drying device configured to generate an air stream; and

a connection configured to connect the hand-drying device to the air supply line of the aircraft, which provides at least a portion of the air for the hand-drying device,

wherein the hand-drying device further comprises a plurality of air outlets, which are integrated into a hand-washing basin, and through which the air stream is blown out.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:

a cabin, wherein at least a portion of the air provided by the air supply line to the hand-drying device is air having a higher pressure than cabin air of the cabin.

7. The aircraft of claim 6, further comprising a lighting arrangement that is configured to:

emit light of a first color when rinsing water is ejected from a washing stand; and

emitting light of a second color when the hand-drying device is active.

8. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:

a compressor that is configured to recompress the at least a portion of the air provided by the air supply line of the aircraft.

9. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:

an additional air supply configured to provide additional air, which is mixed with the air provided by the air supply line of the aircraft.

10. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the hand-drying device is a kitchen fixture.

11. The aircraft of claim 5,

wherein at least two air outlets of the plurality of air outlets are situated across from each other to generate at least two streams of air flowing in opposite directions.

12. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:

a first optical sensor configured to activate dispensing of water when detecting a hand at a first location of the hand-washing basin; and

a second optical sensor configured to activate the hand-drying device when detecting the hand at a second location of the hand-washing basin.

13. The aircraft of claim 5, further comprising:

an automated dispenser configured to dispense an agent into the hand-washing basin.