Abstract: An aircraft waste storage system and method intended to avoid leakage of liquid waste from an aircraft waste holding tank through the tank outlet tube during flight. The system uses a valve movable from a position at a predetermined depth within the outlet tube to form a liquid-tight circumferential seal with the outlet tube interior surface during flight to an open position during ground servicing in which the valve is withdrawn into the tank to allow the waste to discharge. The waste system uses an electric motor and drive screw to move the valve, which is controlled from the aircraft. It incorporates an alarm to provide a warning if the valve has failed to reach the predetermined depth within the outlet relied upon to prevent leakage.

Abstract: A drain valve is provided for connection to a water supply line for draining water in a vacuum flush aircraft sanitation system. The valve comprises a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The housing also includes a pressure chamber with a diaphragm that is normally biased to a first position by a spring when the chamber is depressurized. This allows water to flow from the fluid inlet to the drain outlet and ultimately to a drain mast of the aircraft. When the chamber is pressurized, however, the diaphragm moves to a second position which operates a linkage mechanism that moves a plug against a seat in the drain outlet to close the drain outlet so that rinse water does not drain from the valve's fluid inlet. A sanitation system also is disclosed, in which grey water from the aircraft lavatory sink is collected and transferred under pressure through a rinse line to flush a toilet bowl when the drain valve is closed.

Abstract: A fastener and method for fastening panels is disclosed. The fastener comprises a bolt and a nut with a locking feature to prevent loosening of the fastener from vibration after it has been set. The locking feature comprises a frustoconical tip on the inserted end of the bolt that engages a retainer ring in the nut. When setting the fastener, the retainer ring deforms around the outer end of the tip and slides down the narrowing frustoconical surface of the tip until the fastener is fully set. Unthreading of the bolt from the nut is prevented since the retainer ring will resist deformation along the increasingly larger diameter portions of the frustoconical tip. In another aspect of the invention, the nut is provided with shear tabs which engage a wrenching tool. These tabs are designed to shear when the fastener is fully set to prevent further application of torque by the tool.

Abstract: A blind fastener for securing workpieces is provided having as principle components a stem member, a drive-nut, and a deformable annular means. The stem member has an externally-threaded-portion on the accessible-side thereof, and may have a stem-head on the nonaccessible side thereof. The drive-nut to be screwed onto the externally-threaded-portion of the stem member. The deformable annular means has as principle parts a head which is larger in diameter than the diameter of the boreholes of the workpieces, and an intermediate-part adjacent the head and having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the boreholes, and a deformable tail-part adjacent the intermediate-part and abutting and stem-head for securing the workpieces when the fastener is set. The outer-portion of the stem member contains a turning means for rotating the stem member relative to the drive-nut.

Abstract: A flow control valve is provided for connection to a water supply line for ontrolling the flow of water between a water tank and a toilet bowl in an aircraft. The valve comprises a valve housing having an axial bore therethrough. A cylindrical valve member axially slidable within the bore is moved between a normally closed position against a valve seat and an open position spaced from the seat. The valve member also has an axial bore therethrough. When the supply line is pressurized, a float in the bore of the valve member moves against a seat in the valve member to completely stop flow through the valve when the valve member is normally closed. When the supply line is depressurized, the float moves away from the valve member seat by the force of gravity to permit draining of the supply line.

Abstract: A drain valve is provided for connection to a water supply line for draining water in a vacuum flush aircraft sanitation system. The valve comprises a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The housing also includes a pressure chamber with a diaphragm that is normally biased to a first position by a spring when the chamber is depressurized. This allows water to flow from the fluid inlet to the drain outlet and ultimately to drain mast of the aircraft. When the chamber is pressurized, however, the diaphragm moves to a second position which operates a linkage mechanism that moves a plug against a seat in the drain outlet to close the drain outlet so that rinse water does not drain from the valve's fluid inlet. A sanitation system also is disclosed, in which grey water from the aircraft lavatory sink is collected and transferred under pressure through a rinse line to flush a toilet bowl when the drain valve is closed.

Abstract: A blind fastener for securing workpieces is provided having as principle components a stem member, a drive-nut, and a deformable annular means. The stem member has an externally-threaded-portion on the accessible-side thereof, and may have a stem-head on the nonaccesssible side thereof. The drive-nut to be screwed onto the externally-threaded-portion of the stem member. The deformable annular means has as principle parts a head which is larger in diameter than the diameter of the boreholes of the workpieces, and an intermediate-part adjacent the head and having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the boreholes, and a deformable tail-part adjacent the intermediate-part and abutting the stem-head for securing the workpieces when the fastener is set. The outer-portion of the stem member contains a turning means for rotating the stem member relative to the drive-nut.