Abstract: A vacuum toilet unit having a urinal function with reduced noise emission, system design size and system weight, in which vacuum toilet unit a triggering device for triggering the vacuum valve is adapted in such a manner that the triggering unit may not be triggered when a sit-down toilet is in use as intended.

Abstract: Lavatories on-board a vehicle, and in particular to a lavatory unit for use by persons with reduced mobility on-board a vehicle are described. The lavatory unit includes a lavatory housing structure enclosing a lavatory interior space, a door opening in the lavatory housing structure, a toilet assembly inside the lavatory interior space, and a transition seating support for a user. The transition seating support provides a first transfer position and a second transfer position. In the first transfer position, in an open door state the transition seating support is directly accessible for a person sitting in a wheelchair that is located at least partly outside the lavatory unit such that the person can transfer to the transition seating support and vice versa, and in the second transfer position, a person sitting on the transition seating support can transfer to the toilet assembly and vice versa.

Abstract: A door unit for a lavatory facility on board an aircraft comprises a door element, a door frame, and a locking and release mechanism. By an articulated device the door element is held on the door frame so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The locking and release mechanism comprises a locking device and a release device. Further, by the locking device the door element can be locked in a closed position (PVER) in the door frame so that any opening of the door element from outside the lavatory facility is blocked. By the release device the locking device can be released. For releasing the locking device, the release device comprises a non-contacting sensor device that can be activated with a movement of the hand.

Abstract: A sanitary unit for a cabin region on board a vehicle is provided with a first lavatory facility and a second lavatory facility. The first and the second lavatory facilities in each case form a longitudinally-directed interior space comprising two longitudinal sides and two narrow sides. In each case a narrow side comprises an access door. The first and the second lavatory facilities adjoin each other by their longitudinal sides and are separated from each other by a shared middle wall. The shared middle wall extends between lateral connection regions on the narrow sides and comprises at least one offset at least in a middle region between the two lateral connection regions in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A draining system having an odor seal for a vacuum toilet drain system in which a flexible hose acts as an odor seal. As a result of the flexible hose, propagation of odors can be prevented when the hose collapses flat, for example as a result of its intrinsic weight, and consequently there is no longer a flow-through cross section, wherein, however, drainage of liquids remains possible.

Abstract: This relates to an aircraft providing visual signalling of an aircraft. An aircraft for providing visual signalling is provided with at least one multifunctional light unit comprising at least one light source for outboard light emission, which unit is provided on sideway facing areas of the aircraft. The sideway facing areas comprise lateral facing sideway surface areas and/or forward and backwards facing surface areas of the aircraft. The at least one multifunctional light unit is configured to provide i) directional signalling of the aircraft, or ii) status signalling of the aircraft, wherein the status signalling relates to at least one of the group of status of the aircraft, status of the current flight mission, and status of the traffic situation; and/or iii) identification signalling of the aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering kinetic energy released during and aircraft landing after ground contact, for ground and/or flight operation, comprising at least one energy converter for conversion of the kinetic energy into another energy form, where the energy converter is located in the area of the nose landing gear and/or in the area of the main landing gear of the aircraft. At least one energy storage system is provided for receiving and releasing at least a part of the converted kinetic energy. The apparatus has a high degree of multiple utilization and enables, for example, maneuvering of a landed aircraft on the taxiway independently of the engines, where the aircraft is substantially moved with the braking energy recovered during the landing process. Since the main engines are no longer required for maneuvering, there is a considerable potential for saving energy and the use of motor-operated tow vehicles is eliminated.

Abstract: A vehicle lavatory in particular an aircraft lavatory, is described comprising a cabin having a circumferential wall surrounding a cabin interior space and defining a central vertical axis extending through said cabin interior space wherein said circumferential wall includes an entrance wall section and a sanitary wall section spaced from said entrance wall section a washstand unit extending from said sanitary wall section into said cabin interior space, wherein said washstand unit comprises a washstand top plate extending perpendicularly to said central vertical axis wherein said washstand unit further comprises a washbasin arranged in said washstand top plate, and a urinal unit extending from said sanitary wall section into said cabin interior space, wherein said urinal unit comprises a urinal having a urinal opening, wherein said urinal opening faces said central vertical axis and defines a urinal opening plane.

Abstract: A system for flushing a vacuum toilet in an aircraft, with a bowl drain for removing toilet waste water from a bowl, a drain line, a bypass flow line for feeding-in air, a drainage valve and a waste water line. The bowl drain and the bypass flow line are connectable to the drain line, and the drainage valve on the input side is connectable to the drain line, and on the output side is connectable to a waste water line. In an implementation of the vacuum toilet as a vacuum urinal, the system may provide either water flushing or waterless flushing.

Abstract: A hand treatment device is provided for drying a user's hands with an airflow. The hand treatment device comprises a hand treatment chamber comprising a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user's hands to the outflow sink. Therein, the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin is provided that comprises an cabin interior space, a plurality of cabin enclosing surfaces, and a multifunctional support rail. The multifunctional support rail comprises a plurality of rail segments connected to each other forming a continuous rail arrangement. Further a number of first segments are provided as handrail in a first height, and a number of second segments is provided as a support handrail in a second height. The first height is in a waist region of a standing passenger, and the second height is in a shoulder or head region of a standing passenger. Still further, the first segments are connected with the second segments by a number of third segments provided as support handle running in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Systems for storing an on-board-wheelchair on-board an aircraft are provided. In order to provide a stowage possibility for an on-board-wheelchair that requires less valuable space, an aircraft cabin is provided that comprises an on-board space unit and at least one stowage compartment for an on-board-wheelchair. The on-board space unit provides an on-board function, and is surrounded by a housing wall structure. The stowage compartment provides space to accommodate an on-board-wheelchair. The stowage compartment is at least partly surrounded by an enclosure structure. At least a part of the enclosure structure is provided by the housing wall structure.

Abstract: To provide an improved guiding of visually impaired passengers on-board a vehicle, a vehicle guidance system for guiding visually impaired passengers on-board a vehicle includes an interior space on-board the vehicle with at least one cabin zone at least one movement area and at least one seating zone located in the cabin interior space, and at least one guiding handrail. The guiding handrail is mounted at least along a part of the cabin zone in the vicinity of the movement area. The guiding handrail is a tactile guide, along which a passenger can be guided for movement within the cabin zone by a touching contact with the guiding handrail. The guiding handrail is provided with visually highlighted information and manually touchable information, both related to cabin information. The guiding handrail is mounted above the seating zone, and within reach of a passenger present in the adjacent movement area.

Abstract: To provide improved guidance for visually impaired passengers in lavatory situations on-board of vehicles, a vehicle guidance system for guiding visually impaired passengers on-board a vehicle is provided. The vehicle guidance system includes an interior space on-board the vehicle with at least one lavatory with enclosing cabin walls, and at least one guiding sanitary-handrail. The guiding sanitary-handrail is mounted along at least a part of the enclosing cabin walls inside the lavatory. The guiding sanitary-handrail is provided as a tactile guide. Further, the guiding handrail is provided with visually highlighted information and manually touchable information, both related to cabin information. Still further, a plurality of operating elements for controlling functions of the lavatory is provided inside the lavatory, and at least a part of the operating elements is arranged on the guiding sanitary-handrail.

Abstract: A vacuum toilet and a method for operating a vacuum toilet, wherein generating negative pressure to remove solids by suction is also used for generating a desired flushing medium flow. To this effect, if necessary, guiding devices are used which influence a flow upstream of a nozzle outlet and downstream of a nozzle outlet such that flow optimization of the flushing medium can be carried out.

Abstract: An inspection device is provided to monitor hygienic conditions of a space unit for a vehicle. The vehicle includes, but is not limited to, an inspection device, the use of an inspection device, and a method to assure hygienic conditions in a vehicle. In order to optimize assuring hygienic conditions in interior spaces on board a vehicle an inspection device is provided that includes, but is not limited to, an optical detection device. The optical detection device generates electromagnetic radiation to irradiate a surface to be cleaned, and renders visible soiling that, in visible light, is invisible to the human eye. The optical detection device is permanently installable on an interior lining.

Abstract: A vacuum toilet unit having a urinal function with reduced noise emission, system design size and system weight, in which vacuum toilet unit a triggering device for triggering the vacuum valve is adapted in such a manner that the triggering unit may not be triggered when a sit-down toilet is in use as intended.

Abstract: The invention relates to an odor seal for a vacuum toilet drain system whose cross section in the state of no throughflow tapers off in such a way in the downstream direction that the interior walls on the downstream end of the odor seal rest against each other so that the odor seal in a downstream direction allows throughflow while in the opposite direction it blocks throughflow, wherein the downstream end of the odor seal is closed in the state of throughflow and no throughflow of the odor seal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a drainage device comprising such an odor seal and a sieve which is arranged upstream of the odor seal. Moreover, the invention relates to a vacuum toilet system for an aircraft, comprising such an odor seal or a drainage device.

Abstract: A monitoring device and method are provided for monitoring a vacuum toilet, as well as a personal transport vehicle, in particular an aircraft, which uses a monitoring device for vacuum toilets. The monitoring device has a position detector for detecting the position of a toilet lid, a mechanical latching device and a flushing control unit. The latching device is designed to latch the toilet lid in an open position based on the weight of a person acting on a toilet seat. The flushing control unit is further designed to control the flushing operation based on the toilet lid position, and to block the flushing operation upon detection of the toilet lid in the open position. This makes it possible to improve both the comfort and hygienic conditions for the toilet user while using the vacuum toilet.