System and method for disposing of fluid from a galley sink

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479505-B2
Application number	US-201715586424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	May 4, 2016
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A fluid-disposing system for a galley sink includes: a galley sink for a galley cabin monument, a self-regulating valve, a control unit, a sensor, and a signal connection between the sensor and the control unit. The valve input is connected to a fluid line, connected to a drainage opening of the galley sink. The valve is arranged underneath the drainage opening, such that fluid from the galley sink can flow through the associated drainage opening into the fluid line. The valve output is designed to be couplable with a source of negative pressure. The valve is designed to automatically open at a predetermined amount M 1 of fluid in the fluid line, such that fluid can flow out of the fluid line, and to automatically close at a predetermined amount M 2 of fluid in the fluid line, such that the predetermined amount M 2 of fluid remains in the fluid line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for disposing of fluid from a galley sink, comprising:
a galley sink for a galley cabin monument of a vehicle;
a self-regulating valve;
a control unit;
a sensor; and
a first signal connection between the sensor and the control unit,
wherein the input of the self-regulating valve is connected to a first fluid line, which is connected to a drainage opening of the galley sink at least indirectly,
wherein the self-regulating valve is arranged underneath the drainage opening of the galley sink, such that fluid from the galley sink can flow through the associated drainage opening into the first fluid line,
wherein the output of the self-regulating valve is configured to be couplable with a source of negative pressure at least indirectly, and
wherein the self-regulating valve is configured to automatically open at a predetermined first amount M 1 of fluid in the first fluid line, such that the self-regulating valve is in an opening state and that fluid can flow out of the first fluid line through the self-regulating valve, and to automatically close at a predetermined second amount M 2 of fluid in the first fluid line, such that the self-regulating valve is in a closing state and that the predetermined second amount M 2 of fluid remains in the first fluid line as a residual fluid amount,
wherein the sensor is configured to detect the opening state or the closing state of the self-regulating valve,
wherein the sensor is configured to transferring a sensor signal, which represents the state of the self-regulating valve to the control unit, and
wherein the control unit is configured to provide at least one control signal based on the transferred sensor signal.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first controllable valve, whose output is at least indirectly couplable with a source of negative pressure for suctioning of fluid;
a fluid connection between an output of the self-regulating valve and an input of the first controllable valve; and
a second signal connection between the control unit and the first controllable valve,
wherein the control unit is configured for closing the first controllable valve through a transfer of a control signal to the first controllable valve, if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the closing state.

3. The system according claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured for opening the first controllable valve through a transfer of a control signal to the first controllable valve if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the opening state.

4. The system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an input unit; and
a signal connection between the input unit and the control unit,
wherein the control unit is controllable through the input unit in such a manner to open or to close the first controllable valve and/or to open or to close the second controllable valve.

5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured for receiving an instruction signal from a superordinate supervising unit,
wherein the control unit is controllable based on the instruction signal in a manner to open or to close the first controllable valve and/or to open or to close the second controllable valve.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claim 1 , further comprising:
a water supply faucet for supplying of water into the galley sink;
a second controllable valve configured for controlling a water flow to the water supply faucet; and
a third signal connection between the control unit and the second controllable valve, wherein the control unit is configured for opening the second controllable valve through a transfer of a control signal to the second controllable valve if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the opening state.

7. The system according claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured for closing the second controllable valve through a transfer of a control signal to the second controllable valve is and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the closing state.

8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured for closing the second controllable valve after the expiration of a delay time following the detected closing state of the self-regulating valve through a transfer of a control signal to the second controllable valve.

9. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a check valve directly upstream of the output.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the check valve comprises a selectively releasable tensioning device, which exerts an additional holding force into the floating ball in the direction of the seal seat.

11. A method for controlling a system according to claim 1 , comprising:
detecting the state of the self-regulating valve; and
transferring the sensor signal from the sensor to the control unit, wherein the sensor signal represents the detected state of the self-regulating valve.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: closing the first controllable valve through transferring a control signal from the control unit to the first controllable valve if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the closing state.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: opening the first controllable valve through transferring a control signal from the control unit to the first controllable valve, if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the opening state.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: opening the second controllable valve through transferring a control signal from the control unit to the second controllable valve if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the opening state.

15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: closing the second controllable valve through transferring a control signal from the control unit to the second controllable valve if and/or as soon as the self-regulating valve is in the closing state.

16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: closing the second controllable valve after the expiration of a delay time following the detected closing state of the self-regulating valve through transferring a control signal from the control unit to the second controllable valve.

17. A vehicle having a system for disposing of fluid from a galley sink, comprising:
a galley sink for a galley cabin monument of a vehicle;
a self-regulating valve;
a control unit;
a sensor; and
a first signal connection between the sensor and the control unit,
wherein the input of the self-regulating valve is connected to a first fluid line, which is connected to a drainage opening of the galley sink at least indirectly,
wherein the self-regulating valve is arranged underneath the drainage opening of the galley sink, such that fluid from the galley sink can flow through the associated drainage opening into the first fluid line,
wherein the output of the self-regulating valve is configured to be couplable with a source of negative pressure at least indirectly, and
wherein the self-regulating valve is configured to automatically open at a predetermined first amount M 1 of fluid in the first fluid line, such that the self-regulating valve is in an opening state and that fluid can flow out of the first fluid line through the self-regulating valve, and to automatically close at a predetermined second amount M 2 of fluid in the first fluid line, such that the self-regulating valve is in a closing state and that the predetermined second amount M 2

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Lutzer Wilhelm
• Reiss Matthias
• Kiehne Oliver
• Kempa Michael
• Spille Marc
• Czopka Holger

Classifications

• B64D11/04 Primary

  Galleys · CPC title

• F16K37/0041

  for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K31/1266

  one side of the diaphragm being acted upon by the circulating fluid · CPC title

• E03C2001/2311

  the actuation force being magnetic or electromagnetic · CPC title

• E03C2001/2313

  the actuation force being pneumatic or hydraulic · CPC title