Patent Application
20140041110
The technical field relates to an aircraft architecture, an aircraft trolley, an aircraft monument, an aircraft water supply unit and an aircraft having a hybrid water/waste system architecture, and in particular to respective devices having a combined decentralized and centralized water supply and waste system.
In present commercial aircraft, the water and waste systems are designed as centralized water and waste systems. This means, that the supply and the disposal for the used or generated materials like potable water, waste water, toilet waste is centralized. Within commercial cargo aircraft and within non-commercially used passenger aircraft, there also exist applications with decentralized systems or system-parts being not transferable to commercial passenger aircraft without fundamental adaptions or changes.
WO 2010/133646 for example describes an aircraft monument comprising an autonomous water module for aircrafts, embodied as a water trolley comprising a device for receiving a water module having a container with standard measurements of a trolley containing a fresh water tank, a device for dispensing fresh water and a device for discharging grey water.
DE 10 2006 042 300 describes a self-supplying washing room for mobile use. All of the above described references, however, do not describe a combination of a centralized and decentralized system.
Other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
According to various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an improved aircraft architecture, aircraft trolley, aircraft monument, aircraft water supply unit and aircraft contributing to an architecture combination of centralized and decentralized water system parts.
It should be noted that the following described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure apply also for the aircraft architecture, the aircraft trolley, the aircraft monument, the aircraft water supply unit, and the aircraft, respectively.
According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided an aircraft architecture comprising a plurality of toilet units, each toilet unit having a waste water terminal, wherein at least one of the plurality of toilet units comprises a local flush system, wherein the flush system has a receptacle for a replaceable flush fluid container, wherein the waste water terminal of each of the plurality of toilet units is connectable to a centralized waste water system of an aircraft.
Thus, it is possible to have a plurality of toilet units commonly using a centralized waste water system, but having at least partially a decentralized flushing system. Therefore, the water supply, or the flush fluid supply may be organized decentralized, so as to easily adapting and exchanging the local flush system, wherein the waste is organized centralized. It should be noted that the term “fluid” means liquids and aerosols, which may be used for a liquid supply system, like for example a fluid flush system.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft architecture further comprises at least one aircraft water supply unit, each water supply unit having a container, a fresh water supply interface, and a waste water drain interface, wherein the container includes fresh water volume and a waste water volume, wherein the fresh water volume is connected to the fresh water supply interface, and wherein the waste water volume is connected to the waste water drain interface.
Thus, the entire aircraft architecture may be provided with a decentralized fresh or white water supply and a decentralized waste or grey water drain as well as a centralized black water or waste water drain. It should be noted that fresh water may be potable water. In particular, a water supply unit is part of the aircraft architecture providing a combination of a decentralized fresh water supply and a decentralized waste water drain within a single unit, so that the fresh water supply and a grey water or waste water drain in combination may be supplied as a single unit, which unit allows an easy service interval and an easy maintenance in case of failure. It should be noted that the term interface may represent a fixedly connected unit as well as a releasably connectable unit.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the fresh water volume has at least one flexible wall section and the waste water volume has at least one flexible wall section, wherein the flexible wall section of the waste water volume is movable towards the flexible wall section of the fresh water volume upon filling the waste water volume with waste water.
It should be noted that the flexible wall section of the fresh water volume and the flexible wall section of the waste water volume do not mandatorily have to be in contact with each other. However, the flexible wall section of the waste water volume is movable towards the flexible wall section of the fresh water volume, so that the consumed space may be commonly used. In particular when taking out the fresh water, for example for washing purposes, the fresh water volume decreases, so that the flexible wall section allows reducing the covered volume of the fresh water volume. The fresh water volume therefore releases a particular volume, which may be occupied later on by the waste water volume owing to the flexible wall section of the waste water volume. Usually, when taking out fresh water from the fresh water volume, the fresh water volume decreases, but at the same time waste water is generated, so that the waste water volume increases. In particular, when using the water supply unit as a hand washing unit or the like, almost the same amount of fresh water taken out from the fresh water volume will later on flow into the waste water volume, so that the consumed space may be shared. As a result, the entirely consumed space by the fresh water volume and the waste water volume together substantially does not change, so that a considerable amount of space may be saved when using the space by the fresh water volume and the waste water volume commonly.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft architecture further comprises a heater, wherein the heater is functionally coupled between the fresh water volume and the fresh water supply interface.
Thus, it is possible to heat the fresh water taken from the fresh water volume to supply heated fresh water. This may be useful for example for hand washing or for preparing hot meal based on hot water. It should be noted that the fresh water supply interface may be a coupling unit for automatic coupling with a counter interface at the aircraft side, so that the aircraft water supply unit may be received within a bay or the like so that the fresh water supply interface and the waste water drain interface at the water supply unit side automatically couple with respective fresh water supply interface and waste water drain interface at the aircraft side. However, it should be noted that the fresh water supply interface as well as the waste water drain interface may be also fixedly connected to other units like for example a water tap or a sink.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the fresh water volume of the aircraft architecture and the waste water volume of the aircraft architecture share at least one wall formed by the flexible wall section of the waste water volume and the flexible wall of the fresh water volume.
Thus, there is an immediate interrelation between the both flexible wall sections together forming a separation between a waste water volume and a fresh water volume. It should be noted that the flexible wall section of the waste water volume may be a membrane and the flexible wall of the fresh water volume may also be a separate membrane, so that both membranes together form the wall between the waste water volume and the fresh water volume. However, it should be noted that there may also be one membrane formed as a single layer or a laminated layer between the fresh water volume and the waste water volume. It should be noted that the wall formed by the both flexible wall sections may include a rigid section and a resilient section, wherein for example the resilient section may be of rubber or the like. However, the flexible wall may also be formed by a linear moving rigid wall, compared to a cylinder in a cylinder housing. The particular aspect may be considered in sharing a volume.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft architecture further comprising an aircraft trolley having included the aircraft supply unit as described above, wherein the container is located inside a trolley housing, wherein the fresh water supply interface is releasably connectable to a water supply system of fresh water consuming devices at the aircraft side, wherein the waste water drain interface is releasably connectable to a drain system of the fresh water consuming devices at the aircraft side.
Thus, it is possible to put the aircraft trolley in a particular receptacle or bay to connect the waste water drain interface with a respective interface coupling portion at the aircraft side as well as the fresh water supply interface to a fresh water coupling interface at the aircraft side. The aircraft trolley and/or the aircraft may be provided with a signaling device informing the user on a proper coupling of the interfaces. It should be noted that the fresh water supply interface may also be releasably connectable to a water supply system of fresh water consuming devices which consuming devices are different from those consuming devices whose drain systems are releasably connected to the waste water drain interface of the aircraft trolley.
According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the fresh water supply interface and the waste water drain interface of the aircraft architecture comprise automatic coupling units being adapted for automatic coupling upon rolling the aircraft trolley into a respective bay, the bay comprising a counter coupling unit of a water supply system of fresh water consuming devices.
Thus, the automatic coupling units may serve as a quick coupling system allowing to hurry up the service when providing a decentralized water supply and waste water drain, so that the automatic coupling also serves for a safe connection between the respective interfaces of the aircraft architecture and respective interfaces at the aircraft side.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft architecture further comprises an aircraft trolley having included the aircraft water supply unit as described above, wherein the container is located inside a trolley housing, wherein the fresh water supply interface is connected to a water tap on top of the aircraft trolley, wherein the waste water drain interface is connected to a water bowl at the top side of the aircraft trolley and below the water tap.
Thus, the aircraft architecture including the aircraft trolley may provide a standalone hand washing unit or a servicing unit allowing to tap water from the water tap and draining the water to the waste water sink. Such a unit may for example be used within an aircraft restroom monument as well as an aircraft galley for providing servicing capacities.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft trolley further comprises a waste bin and a fire extinguisher for the waste bin, wherein the fire extinguisher takes extinguishing water from at least one of the fresh water volume and the waste water volume.
Thus, the fire extinguisher, which may be mandatorily for a waste bin, may not be provided with a separate extinguishing agent, but may take the content of the fresh water volume and/or the waste water volume for extinguishing a possible fire within the waste bin. It should be noted that the taking of water may be controlled so as to generally take water from the waste water volume, e.g. grey water, and then to take in a maintained emergency situation also water from the fresh water volume. The aircraft trolley may have a signaling unit signaling the possible take out of fresh water, so that at the next maintenance circle, the aircraft trolley may be checked with respect to disinfection of the fresh water section. As the sum of the fresh water and the waste water remains almost constant, the extinguisher may rely on a more or less guaranteed amount of water as an extinguishing agent regardless whether the freshwater volume is full or empty.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an aircraft monument comprises a toilet unit having a waste water terminal and a local flush system, wherein the flush system has a receptacle for a replaceable flush fluid container, wherein the waste water terminal of the toilet unit is connectable to a centralized waste water system of an aircraft.
Thus, an aircraft monument may be provided which may be easily connected to for example already existing waste water drain systems on a centralized base, but providing a possibility of a decentralized supply of a flushing fluid. It should be noted that also a plurality of aircraft monuments as described above may be provided within an aircraft, wherein the plurality of aircraft monuments with their respective waste water terminals may be connected to a centralized waste water draining system, wherein for example at least a part of the plurality of aircraft monuments may have a decentralized local flush system.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft monument further comprises a bay for receiving an aircraft trolley as described above, wherein the aircraft trolley is secured in use with the aircraft monument so that the water tap of the aircraft trolley may be reached from within the aircraft monument.
Thus, an aircraft monument may be provided with an easy exchangeable hand wash unit in form of an aircraft trolley, so that the entire hand wash system may easily be exchanged during service or maintenance.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an aircraft comprises at least one of the architectures as described above and a plurality of aircraft monuments as described above, as well as a centralized vacuum waste water system, wherein the waste water terminal of each of the plurality of toilet units is connected to the centralized vacuum waste water system.
Thus, an aircraft is provided, which realizes a hybrid water/waste system architecture, wherein such an aircraft may easily be adapted with the supply of additional architectures as described above.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft further comprises at least one of the water supply systems as described above, wherein the water supply system is removable and secured with respect to the aircraft.
This water supply system may be for example a hand wash unit which may be removable and secured with respect to for example a toilet monument of the aircraft. Additionally or alternatively, the water supply system may be a galley trolley with for example an automatic coupling system for water supply and waste water drain being removable and secured with respect to a galley of the aircraft.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft further comprises an aircraft monument according to the above described aircraft monument, wherein the waste water terminal is connected to the centralized vacuum waste water system.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an aircraft water supply unit comprises a container, a fresh water supply interface and a waste water drain interface, wherein the container includes a fresh water volume and a waste water volume, wherein the fresh water volume is connected to the fresh water supply interface, wherein the waste water volume is connected to the waste water drain interface, wherein the fresh water volume has at least one flexible wall section, wherein the waste water volume has at least one flexible wall section, wherein the flexible wall section of the waste water volume is movable towards the flexible wall section of the fresh water volume upon filling the waste water volume with waste water.
Thus, also an independent aircraft water supply unit being independent from the aircraft architecture may be provided, having a shared space being used by the fresh water volume as well as the waste water volume commonly.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft water supply unit further comprises a heater, wherein the heater is functionally coupled between the fresh water volume and the fresh water supply interface.
Thus, also independently from the aircraft architecture, the water supply unit may be provided with a heater for providing hot water.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the fresh water volume and the waste water volume of the aircraft water supply unit share at least one wall formed by the flexible wall section of the waste water volume and the flexible wall of the fresh water volume.
Thus, also independently from the aircraft architecture, the water supply unit may have the corresponding flexible wall sections of the fresh water volume and the waste water volume, so as to share the volume by forming a common wall between the fresh water volume and the waste water volume. It should be noted that the flexible wall may be formed by a single layer or a laminated layer formed by the flexible wall section of the fresh water volume and the flexible wall section of the waste water volume.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an aircraft trolley includes an aircraft water supply unit as described above, wherein the container is located inside a trolley housing, wherein the fresh water supply interface is releasably connectable to a water supply system of fresh water consuming devices, wherein the waste water drain interface is releasably connectable to a drain system of the fresh water consuming devices.
Thus, the aircraft trolley may be designed as a water/waste water supply/drain trolley for a galley. It should be noted that such an aircraft trolley serving as a water supply/waste water drain unit for an aircraft galley may be designed for example as a full size trolley or a half size trolley. In particular when using a half size trolley, a normal service trolley may be provided together with the half size trolley within a particular full size bay. In particular, a half size aircraft trolley having included an aircraft water supply unit may be received in a deeper section of the bay, wherein a further half size trolley being used for service purposes within the cabin may be positioned in an outer portion of the bay, so that the aircraft trolley having included an aircraft water supply unit as well as the half size aircraft trolley for cabin services purposes may be accommodated within one full size bay. This full size bay at the very deep portions may have automatic coupling portions corresponding to the fresh water supply interface and the waste water drain interface of the aircraft trolley having included an aircraft water supply unit.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an aircraft trolley having included an aircraft water supply unit as described above may have a container being located inside a trolley housing, wherein the fresh water supply interface is connected to a water tap on top of an aircraft trolley, wherein the waste water drain interface is connected to a water bowl on the top side of the aircraft trolley and below the water tap.
Thus, also a standalone aircraft trolley may be provided for being used for example as a separate hand washing unit.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the aircraft trolley as described above further comprises a waste bin and a fire extinguisher for a waste bin, wherein the fire extinguisher takes extinguishing water from at least one of the fresh water volume and the waste water volume.
Thus, also outside an aircraft architecture as described above, an aircraft trolley having a waste bin and a fire extinguisher may be provided.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the fire extinguisher of the aircraft trolley comprises a control unit for controlled water taking from either of the fresh water volume and the waste water volume upon a respective fill level.
Thus, also outside an aircraft architecture as described above, an aircraft trolley with a fire extinguisher may be provided having a respective controlled water taking from either the fresh water volume and the waste water volume.
It should be noted that the above features may also be combined. The combination of the above features may also lead to synergetic effects, even if not explicitly described in detail.
A person skilled in the art can gather other characteristics and advantages of the disclosure from the following description of exemplary embodiments that refers to the attached drawings, wherein the described exemplary embodiments should not be interpreted in a restrictive sense.
The various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
It should be noted that waste water may be grey water and black water. One possible concept of the present disclosure is to centralize the black water system and to de-centralize the white water system. In addition the grey water may also be de-centralized, in particular together with a white water system to provide de-centralized units like trolleys. Although some embodiments of the present disclosure deal with de-centralized grey water, it is not excluded that also an alternative or additional centralized grey water system may be provided.
Even if some embodiments described herein deal with toilet monuments having a centralized waste water drain, also a galley monument may be supplied with a centralized waste water drain.
The WSM may be situated in the lavatory and include the wash bowl also. The dimensions of the module assembly are comparable with a full-size trolley within a galley or can be adapted to the lavatory monument design. A water pump may supply potable water to a heater and a water tap. Grey water may flow back into the same tank, where a flexible tank wall may separate the potable water from the grey water. To service the WSM, the structural WSM interfaces must be disconnected and with the help of the mounted wheels at the bottom of the trolley the module can be rolled out of the aircraft through the aisle. This might be done during the galley catering process, without interfering the turn-around-time. Outside the aircraft the system drainage can be done and shall be possible by gravity. Another drained, maintained, cleaned and filled WSM may be pushed into the lavatory. Potable water may be stored in a potable water tank within the WSM and may be transferred after usage in a waste water tank. During servicing at the airport, the waste water may be drained completely (if necessary the potable water as well) and the potable water will be filled. Next to the water tank the waste bin may integrated in the WSM, therefore it may be necessary to provide a fire extinguisher. A power supply and data transfer for the WSM may be contactless and possibly must not be charged in the service. Further, this approach provides that no connection of plugs need to take place. The principle of the contactless power supply and data transfer could be made possible by using the inductive transmission, which is funded by electromagnetic induction. A data transfer in both directions as well as energy transfer from the primary coil to the secondary coil is possible at the same time. Thereby the primary coil may be installed on a fixed aircraft part (e.g. under floor area of the lavatory monument) and the secondary coil may be fixed on the moveable part (water sub-module). Another component is a water-tap. In addition, it is possible to integrate a waste bin at the right side of the WSM.
The FSM may be like the WSM and the GSM self-sufficient and movable. It may have a small extra fluid tank, which may be located in the lavatory, next to the toilet. It may contain water with a special cleaning agent to assure a sufficient cleaning of the toilet bowl and the pipes. Furthermore it may prevent the soiling of the toilet waste tank and the vacuum system pipes. This tank may be designed as a single-use box with an extra nipple, which can be opened by a cut and can be exchanged easily during the catering process. That implies a complete separation of the FSM from the WSM. It should be noted that the FSM may also be provided as a multi-use or a refillable unit.
The GSM may be situated in a galley. It may be a movable module, with mounted wheels and may be located at the already existing trolley position. Therefore it may have the same dimension like a half-size trolley, whereby the (fluid) weight may be limited to the structure/fixation principle. The GSM may be located in one of the half-size trolley positions below the water tap. Because of this close vicinity only a short installation path and thereby a small piping may necessary. A small water pump supplies potable water to the water tap and/or other water consuming units. The grey water may flow back into the same tank, where a flexible tank wall may separate the potable water from the grey water. To service the GSM the structural and hydraulic GSM interfaces must be disconnected and with the help of the mounted wheels at the trolley bottom the module can be rolled out of the aircraft. This might be done during the galley catering process, without interfering the turn-around-time. Outside the aircraft the system drainage can be done and shall be possible by gravity. Another drained, cleaned, maintained and filled GSM can pushed into the half-size trolley position.
The water trolley may have the same size like a standard (ARINC 810) half-size galley trolley which is used for cabin service, so it can be easily integrated into the present galley architecture. Compared to the water sub-module, this water trolley module may feature less components, because the purpose of this module is to provide potable water and store grey water only. Equipment like water heater, water tap, sink or coffee machine may part of the galley monument.
The power supply and the data transfer for the GSM may be contactless and possibly must not be charged in the service. Further, this approach provides that no connection of plugs need to take place. The principle of the contactless power supply and data transfer could be made possible by using the inductive transmission, which is funded by the electromagnetic induction. A data transfer in both directions as well as energy transfer from the primary coil to the secondary coil is possible at the same time. Thereby the primary coil may be installed on a fixed aircraft part (under floor area, galley monument) and the secondary part may be fixed on the moveable part (galley sub-module). Furthermore it is necessary to ensure a fast and simple servicing of the replaceable modules by the catering crew. This is given by an automatic lock.
The aircraft monument 100 may further have a bay 101 for receiving a water sub module. The water sub module 120 may be releasably coupled within the bay 101. The water sub module or water trolley 120 is further described in detail on the right hand side illustration of
In one exemplary embodiment, the water trolley 120 may also comprise a fire extinguisher 135, being connected to a waste bin 137. The waste bin 137 may have a fire detector for automatically activating the fire extinguisher 135. The fire extinguisher 135 may have a fire extinguisher control 136 being able to control the water taken from the fresh water volume and/or the waste water volume. A particular control 136 may detect the fill level of the waste water volume and the fresh water volume and may, in one example, take extinguishing water from the waste water volume. However, also water from the fresh water volume may be taken for fire extinguishing in emergency. The control unit may have a signal indicator indicating the water taken from the fresh water volume, so that for maintenance the service personal may disinfect the fresh water volume.
Returning to
A more detailed overview of a galley sub module 220 can be seen in
In addition, it should be noted that the present disclosure may also be applied to ships, busses, and trains as well as larger motor homes, and therefore is not limited to aircraft applications.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12179529.8 | Aug 2012 | EP | regional |
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 12 179 529.8, filed Aug. 7, 2012 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/680,294, filed Aug. 7, 2012, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61680294 | Aug 2012 | US |
