Patents by Inventor Lawrence M. Grills

Lawrence M. Grills has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4955091
    Abstract: A non recirculating, low volume toilet system for aircraft includes a interim storage tank connected to the toilet bowl. A waste drain leads to a gate valve which opens to a vacuum assisted luid gas separator. The separator is connected to the main waste tank. In a first embodiment, the main waste tank is a non pressurizable vessel and is maintained within a pressurized portion of the aircraft. The separator is alternatively connected to the exterior environment and the pressurized interior. When the toilet is utilized, the flushing operation uses a very small amount of flushing fluid to clean the bowl and transfer the contents to the interim tank. Opening the gate valve subjects the bowl and the interim tank to a pressure differential which transfers the flushing liquid and waste matter to the separator. The gate valve is closed and the separator is permitted to reach pressure equilibrium with the main waste tank at which time the contents of the separator are transferred to the main waste tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace and Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Grills, Eugene F. Colditz