Abstract: An automatic drain system may comprise a drain including a neck defining a drain orifice and a flange extending from the neck. A liquid detection sensor is located on at least one of the neck or the flange. A sink assembly may comprise a sink basin and the drain located in a sink opening formed in the sink basin.

Abstract: A sanitization system for an aircraft may comprise: a power source; and a plurality of sanitizers in electrical communication with the power source, each sanitizer in the plurality of sanitizers configured to emit ultraviolet radiation having an average wavelength between 200 and 230 nm, the power source configured to provide power to each sanitizer in the plurality of sanitizers in succession during an occupied flight of the aircraft.

Abstract: A recline mechanism is described. The recline mechanism provides for adjusting an angle of a seatback of a passenger seat. The recline mechanism prevents angular adjustments of the seatback when a cylinder and piston assembly is in a locked state and permits the angular adjustments when in an unlocked state. A solenoid is provided to lock and unlock a valve of the recline mechanism. The solenoid is engaged and disengaged in response to receiving electrical signals from a button. The button generates an electrical signal when the button is depressed and again when the button is released. The button includes an electromagnet or a piezoelectric for generating the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method for quantifying an exposure dose for a surface is disclosed. The method may include emitting one or more beams of 222 nm light onto a portion of the surface using one or more far ultraviolet (UV) light sources capable of emitting 222 nm light, the portion of the surface being coated with one or more fluorescent coatings. The method may include capturing images of the portion of the surface. The method may include adjusting one or more image characteristics for the captured images using one or more filtering methods. The method may include generating a histogram of the adjusted images based on the one or more filtering methods. The method may include determining a pixel surface area for the generated histogram. The method may include calculating the exposure dose for the surface based on the generated pixel surface area and a predetermined calibration curve.

Abstract: A clockable articulation insert for a seat is disclosed. The clockable articulation insert includes a base portion that inserts into a cavity within the frame or spreader bar of the seat. The clockable articulation insert further includes a face that comprises a guide slot that couples to a cross piece of the seat that is itself coupled to a seat pan. Movement of the cross piece within the guide slot changes the tilt, extension, and/or rake of the seat pan. Clocking the clockable articulation insert to a different position alters the articulation profile of the clockable articulation insert, resulting in a different set of ranges of tilt, extension, and/or rake that can be accomplished by sliding the cross piece within the guide slot. The set of articulation profiles may be further changed by replacing the clockable articulation insert with another clockable articulation insert configured with a differently designed guide slot.

Abstract: A queue system for a lavatory of an aircraft can include an infotainment system configured to receive a user input and to output a request to use the lavatory associated with a seat or occupant, and a queue module operatively connected to the infotainment system. The queue module can be configured to receive the request from the infotainment system and to create and/or modify a virtual lavatory queue based on a request hierarchy of the request to position the request in the virtual lavatory queue, and output a vacancy indicator signal to the infotainment system when the request is at a front of the virtual lavatory queue. The infotainment system can be configured to receive the vacancy indicator signal and display an indication to indicate to a user of the infotainment system that it is the user's turn in the queue.

Abstract: A system for controlling airflow from a galley compartment to a plenum chamber is disclosed. The system includes an actuating assembly. The actuating assembly includes a cylinder, a heat-expanding material disposed in the cylinder, and a piston disposed in the cylinder, wherein the heat-expanding material is configured to actuate the piston when the heat-expanding material is heated. The system includes a valve assembly. The valve assembly may include a louver assembly coupled to the actuating assembly. The louver assembly includes a louver frame, one or more louver blades and bracket and a connecting rod that couples the actuating assembly to the valve assembly. The valve assembly may also include a poppet valve. The poppet valve includes a poppet body element, a poppet stem coupled to the actuating assembly that is inserted into a channel within the poppet body element, and a poppet head coupled to the poppet stem.

Abstract: A triple authentication waste level monitoring system for an aircraft includes a point level sensor for monitoring a wastewater level within a waste tank, a load cell for measuring a weight of the waste tank, and a flush counter for counting a number of toilet flushes since a previous service to the waste tank. A controller receives data from these three sensors and determines whether the waste tank is at capacity. The controller can determine waste tank capacity whether or not the point level sensor is faulty and compares the sensor data with various thresholds to ensure accuracy of the waste tank fluid level determination.

Abstract: An aircraft tray table may include a body with a defined interior cavity, a personal electronic device support, and a magnification lens. The personal electronic device support may be configured to hold a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device support is in a support deployed position. The magnification lens may be configured to fit within the interior cavity when the magnification lens is in a lens stowed position. The magnification lens may include a lens configured to magnify content displayed on the personal electronic device held by the personal electronic device support when the magnification lens is in a lens deployed position. The personal electronic device support may be parallel to the magnification lens when the personal electronic device is in the support deployed position and the magnification lens is in the lens deployed position.

Abstract: A method may comprise receiving, via a processor, a first indication that an object is in a first zone of interest of a first sensor in the plurality of sensors; receiving, via the processor, a second indication that the object is in a second zone of interest of a second sensor in the plurality of sensors; and determining, via the processor, whether the first sensor or the second sensor is falsely detecting the object within the respective zone of interest.

Abstract: An arm rest assembly and aircraft passenger seat including the same. The arm rest includes a friction mechanism for resisting abrupt rotational movements of the arm rest. A rotationally fixed frame member defining a rotational axis and receives a rotational member of the arm rest configured to rotate around the rotational axis. A groove formed in an outer circumferential surface of the rotational member seats a O-ring disposed between the groove and an inner circumferential surface of the frame member. Tolerance between the frame member and arm rest is such that the O-ring is held in the groove in a compressed state and frictionally engagement each of the rotational member and the frame member.

Abstract: A passenger seat arrangement for a vehicle including first and second partition walls positioned in spaced apart relation forming an area therebetween, each of the walls including at least a portion angled relative to an aisle and each of the walls having an end position proximate the aisle such that the area formed between the walls is directly accessible from the aisle. A passenger seat positioned in the area is coupled to a guide mechanism such that the passenger seat is configured to travel within the area between a first position distal from the aisle and a second position proximate the aisle for facilitating transfer of a person of reduced mobility (PRM), and in some implementations through an intermediate position for enhancing socialization between the passenger seat and an adjacent passenger seat.

Abstract: A system to distribute air across a lavatory floor is disclosed herein. The system includes a dryer unit and at least one sensor in an aircraft lavatory coupled to a locking mechanism of the aircraft lavatory responsive to an action comprising an actuation of a slide switch to open the locking mechanism of a door of the aircraft lavatory wherein the dryer unit is electronically coupled to the at least one sensor. In response to a detection by at least one sensor of the actuation of the slide switch to open the locking mechanism of the door of the aircraft lavatory, the dryer unit is configured to receive a command from a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor to cause the dryer unit to be activated.

Abstract: A heat transfer system (e.g., a heat pump) can include at least a first fin array and at least a first pump disposed in fluid communication with the first fin array and configured to cause a first fluid to flow through the first fin array. The system can include at least a first heat transfer layer attached to and/or in thermal communication with the first fin array. The first heat transfer layer can define a second fluid flow path therein for a second fluid to flow fluidly isolated from the first fluid. The first heat transfer layer and the first fin array can be configured to cause heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid.

Abstract: An oven having water injection system comprising an oven including a compartment enclosed on all sides, a water injector, and a first water valve coupled to the water injector, wherein the water valve includes proportional control.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aircraft water supply system. The water supply system comprises a water tank for storing potable water; and two or more faucets that are each connected to the water tank and configured to dispense the potable water on demand in response to a user actuating the faucet. Each of the two or more faucets includes a respective filtering unit. In embodiments the filtering units are integrated within the faucets and comprise three stages of filtering, namely (i) a coarse filtering stage; (ii) a first filtering stage comprising a hollow fiber filter and/or one or more ion exchange resin filters; and (iii) a second filtering stage comprising activated carbon.

Abstract: A boarding system and a computer-implemented method for boarding a plurality of passengers onto an aircraft, the aircraft having a plurality of seats and each passenger having an assigned seat from amongst the plurality of seats. The boarding system comprises a passenger monitoring system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices, the monitoring devices being configured to determine an occupancy of each of the plurality of seats and/or to determine an occupancy of one or more aisle or boarding tunnel; and a scheduling system configured to control a boarding schedule, the boarding schedule assigning each seat to one of a plurality of groups of seats, and comprising a pre-determined boarding sequence for the plurality of groups of seats.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling a compression action of a trash receptacle of an aircraft lavatory. Generally, the systems, methods, and articles of manufacture disclosed and described herein facilitate controlled opening and closing actuations of a flap of a trash receptacle of an aircraft lavatory, and a compression action after detection of at least the closing actuation of trash deposits in the trash receptacle to increase the interior volume of the trash receptacle. By controlling the closing actuations of the flap and compression actions of trash deposits, hygiene and sanitation of the lavatory are improved, odors are prevented from dispersing throughout the lavatory and/or cabin of the aircraft, and fire hazards are reduced.

Abstract: A lavatory system includes a toilet having a front end, a back end, a top end, and a bottom end, and a tube having a first end coupled to the toilet toward the top end and a second end extending above the top end. The toilet includes a toilet bowl defined by the front end, the back end, the top end, and the bottom end, and a toilet seat coupled to the toilet bowl on the top end.

Abstract: A locking assembly of a lavatory door in an aircraft, comprising: a locking mechanism; and an occupancy indicator. The occupancy indicator is configured with a display that enables viewing of a status of the lavatory of availability or is occupancy. The position of the locking mechanism and occupancy indicator has been changed from a higher location on the lavatory door that approximates a line-of-sight from a standing position at the lavatory door to a lower location that approximates the line-of-sight from a seated position at the lavatory door. The display of the occupancy indicator is configured with a plurality of display angles to display the status comprising at least a first display angle to allow viewing from the line-of-sight in the standing position and at a second display angle to allow viewing from the line-of-sight in a seated lower position at the lavatory door.