Abstract: A hybrid water storage system for an aircraft includes separate variable volumes for respectively storing/holding potable water and gray water occupying a common container. The hybrid water storage system is generally configured to draw potable water from a first variable volume in order to provide fresh water to one or more aircraft appliances (e.g., sinks, showers, ice-makers, etc.), and the used potable water (i.e., the potable water that is collected in drains from the aircraft appliances), referred to herein as gray water, is routed to a second variable volume that occupies the same container as the first variable volume.

Abstract: A hybrid water storage system for an aircraft includes separate variable volumes for respectively storing/holding potable water and gray water occupying a common container. The hybrid water storage system is generally configured to draw potable water from a first variable volume in order to provide fresh water to one or more aircraft appliances (e.g., sinks, showers, ice-makers, etc.), and the used potable water (i.e., the potable water that is collected in drains from the aircraft appliances), referred to herein as gray water, is routed to a second variable volume that occupies the same container as the first variable volume.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes a ball element arranged to be rotated by rotation of a shaft in engagement with the ball element, the ball element having first and second flow channels defined therethrough, a first inlet port at a first end of said first flow channel, a first outlet port at a second end of the first channel, a second inlet port at a first end of the second flow channel and a second outlet port at a second end of the second channel.

Abstract: A hybrid water storage system for an aircraft includes separate variable volumes for respectively storing/holding potable water and gray water occupying a common container. The hybrid water storage system is generally configured to draw potable water from a first variable volume in order to provide fresh water to one or more aircraft appliances (e.g., sinks, showers, ice-makers, etc.), and the used potable water (i.e., the potable water that is collected in drains from the aircraft appliances), referred to herein as gray water, is routed to a second variable volume that occupies the same container as the first variable volume.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes a ball element arranged to be rotated by rotation of a shaft in engagement with the ball element, the ball element having first and second flow channels defined therethrough, a first inlet port at a first end of said first flow channel, a first outlet port at a second end of the first channel, a second inlet port at a first end of the second flow channel and a second outlet port at a second end of the second channel.

Abstract: A hybrid water storage system for an aircraft includes separate variable volumes for respectively storing/holding potable water and gray water occupying a common container. The hybrid water storage system is generally configured to draw potable water from a first variable volume in order to provide fresh water to one or more aircraft appliances (e.g., sinks, showers, ice-makers, etc.), and the used potable water (i.e., the potable water that is collected in drains from the aircraft appliances), referred to herein as gray water, is routed to a second variable volume that occupies the same container as the first variable volume.

Abstract: A dual purpose valve assembly may comprise a conduit, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve may comprise a vacuum breaker valve. The second valve may comprise a check valve. A drain system may comprise a supply tube, a drain tube, and a dual purpose valve disposed between the supply tube and the drain tube. The drain system may allow fluid to drain based on gravity alone, and the dual purpose valve assembly may operate based on gravity alone.

Abstract: A dual purpose valve assembly may comprise a conduit, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve may comprise a vacuum breaker valve. The second valve may comprise a check valve. A drain system may comprise a supply tube, a drain tube, and a dual purpose valve disposed between the supply tube and the drain tube. The drain system may allow fluid to drain based on gravity alone, and the dual purpose valve assembly may operate based on gravity alone.

Abstract: A liquid level sensing system includes a vessel and an electrode. The vessel includes a vessel wall separating a vessel interior from a vessel exterior. The electrode is mounted to an exterior side of the vessel wall spanning a distance corresponding to a desired-level-determining range. The vessel wall is a dielectric gap between the electrode and the vessel interior. The electrode is configured to collect a charge corresponding to a liquid level. A method for determining a liquid level in a vessel includes collecting a charge on an electrode, sensing the collected charge on the electrode with a capacitance sensor through an electrical line, and determining a liquid level in a vessel based on the collected charge sensed by the capacitance sensor.

Abstract: A liquid level sensing system includes a vessel and an electrode. The vessel includes a vessel wall separating a vessel interior from a vessel exterior. The electrode is mounted to an exterior side of the vessel wall spanning a distance corresponding to a desired-level-determining range. The vessel wall is a dielectric gap between the electrode and the vessel interior. The electrode is configured to collect a charge corresponding to a liquid level. A method for determining a liquid level in a vessel includes collecting a charge on an electrode, sensing the collected charge on the electrode with a capacitance sensor through an electrical line, and determining a liquid level in a vessel based on the collected charge sensed by the capacitance sensor.

Abstract: An aircraft potable water system (20) comprises outlet facilities (30) and a recirculation path (40) that supplies potable water thereto. The system (20) can operate in a high-usage condition whereat recirculation through path (40) is temporarily interrupted, thereby permitting supply water pressure to remain relatively high despite water being quickly tapped therefrom.

Abstract: An electro-optic deflector 51 has an electro-optic material body 519 through which an optical beam 46 is passed. The deflector has no more than three longitudinal electrodes, of which no more than two electrodes 511, 512 have arcuate transverse cross-sections. The electrodes are arranged to create an electric field substantially transverse to a direction of the optical beam to deflect the optical beam passing between the electrodes. The electro-optic deflector has particular application in a Q-switched laser for generating sub-nanosecond optical pulses.

Abstract: An electro-optic deflector 51 has an electro-optic material body 519 through which an optical beam 46 is passed. The deflector has no more than three longitudinal electrodes, of which no more than two electrodes 511, 512 have arcuate transverse cross-sections. The electrodes are arranged to create an electric field substantially transverse to a direction of the optical beam to deflect the optical beam passing between the electrodes. The electro-optic deflector has particular application in a Q-switched laser for generating sub-nanosecond optical pulses.

Abstract: A computer system and method for adapting subpicture data for being displayed on a user device having a small screen, the subpicture data being temporally correlated with associated video data, the method comprising the steps of: reading subpicture data from a source; determining a subpicture data portion from the read subpicture data which has a readability value less/greater than a predetermined readability limit; and partitioning the subpicture data portion into at least two subpicture data portion parts, and re-sizing the subpicture data portion parts such that each of the subpicture data portion parts has a readability value which is equal or greater/equal or less than the predetermined readability limit.