Abstract: A waste disposal system quietly and effectively evacuates solid, liquid, and slurry food waste from a galley sink via a vacuum action created when a normally closed flush valve momentarily opens and eliminates the differential pressure between the sink and the drain line. The system is automatically disabled when a clogged condition is sensed. The sink bowl is equipped with a sealable cover that cuts down the noise associated with vacuum pressure evacuation systems to an acceptable level. The system also has a rinse subsystem including a rinse valve for introducing rinse water into the sink just before a flush operation commences. The sink bowl includes an air inlet port in communication with an air inlet duct that extends outside of and above the cart for providing cabin pressure air to the sink. A controller controls the timing and operation of the flush and rinse operations.

Abstract: A light weight gate valve and method for a aircraft vacuum toilet system. The valve resists jamming due to scale buildup, thereby reducing maintenance costs associated with repair or cleaning. The gate valve is intended for mounting between two portions of a sewer pipe connected between a waste receiving bowl and a waste reservoir. More particularly, the gate valve includes a housing having an internal valve chamber with an inlet opening opposing an outlet opening. A slice-of-pie shaped rotary gate is mounted within the chamber of the housing for rotation about a predetermined axis to selectively allow fluid communication between the inlet and outlet of the housing for flushing of the toilet. The gate has opposing side surfaces, each of which opposes an associated sidewall of the chamber enclosing the gate. The distance between each the side surface of the gate and its associated sidewall of the chamber is from 0.050 inch to 0.120 inch.

Abstract: A waste disposal system quietly and effectively evacuates solid, liquid, and slurry food waste from a galley sink via a vacuum action created when a normally closed flush valve momentarily opens and eliminates the differential pressure between the sink and the drain line. The system is automatically disabled when a clogged condition is sensed. The sink bowl is equipped with a sealable cover that cuts down the noise associated with vacuum pressure evacuation systems to an acceptable level. The system also has a rinse subsystem including a rinse valve for introducing rinse water into the sink just before a flush operation commences. The sink bowl includes an air inlet port in communication with an air inlet duct that extends outside of and above the cart for providing cabin pressure air to the sink. A controller controls the timing and operation of the flush and rinse operations.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing water consumption in a vacuum toilet on an aircraft. The system and method includes a weight sensing device that is mounted to an aircraft toilet and is responsive to weight applied to the bowl of the toilet. The weight sensing device detects that a toilet user is seated upon the toilet seat when it measures a weight applied to the toilet bowl. On the other hand, the weight sensing device detects that a toilet user is standing when the weight sensing device does not measure a weight applied to the toilet bowl. A flush control unit is connected to the weight sensing device and controls the amount of water utilized in the flushing of the toilet. When the toilet is flushed and the weight sensing device has detected that a toilet user has sat upon the toilet seat, the flush control unit commands that a standard amount of water be used to remove the solid waste of the toilet user.

Abstract: A waste disposal system quietly and effectively evacuates solid, liquid, and slurry food waste from a galley sink via a vacuum action created when a normally closed flush valve momentarily opens and eliminates the differential pressure between the sink and the drain line. The system is automatically disabled when a clogged condition is sensed. The sink bowl is equipped with a sealable cover that cuts down the noise associated with vacuum pressure evacuation systems to an acceptable level. The system also has a rinse subsystem including a rinse valve for introducing rinse water into the sink just before a flush operation commences. The sink bowl includes an air inlet port in communication with an air inlet duct that extends outside of and above the cart for providing cabin pressure air to the sink. A controller controls the timing and operation of the flush and rinse operations.

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 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 flush valve is provided for opening and closing a drain connecting a toilet bowl to a waste holding tank maintained at a partial vacuum. The flush valve is located external to the drain and comprises a pinch or nip mechanism surrounding a flexible section of the drain and an electro-mechanically operated actuator for moving the pinch mechanism to close the drain by pinching it shut or to open the drain by pulling it apart. The actuator includes a motor for moving a piston in opposite directions, and a cylinder having one end connected to the pinch mechanism and another end containing an enclosure. The piston is retained and reciprocable a limited distance within the enclosure, and a spring is interposed within the enclosure to provide biasing means between the piston and the cylinder.