Method for draining a local water distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503232-B2
Application number	US-202318318297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2023
Priority date	May 25, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A method for draining a local water distribution system including a buffer, supply lines connecting one or more consumers to the buffer and consumer valves associated with the one or more consumers. The buffer is configured for locally storing water from an aircraft water supply system to be distributed to the one or more consumers. Water from the buffer can be dispensed through a consumer of the one or more consumers by opening the consumer valve associated with the respective consumer. Water is drained from the supply lines by opening the consumer valves. Water is drained from the buffer through one of the supply lines and the consumer valves or through a drain valve connecting the buffer to a wastewater system of an aircraft. A corresponding local water distribution system and an aircraft are disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for draining a local water distribution system comprising:
a plurality of consumers; a buffer that locally stores water from an aircraft water supply system to be distributed to each of the plurality of consumers; supply lines connecting each of the plurality of consumers to the buffer; and consumer valves, each of which is associated with one or more of the plurality of consumers; wherein the water from the buffer can be dispensed through a respective consumer of the plurality of consumers by opening the consumer valve associated with the respective consumer; the method comprising:
opening the consumer valves to drain the water from the supply lines;
wherein the water is drained from the buffer through:
one of the supply lines and the consumer valves; or
a drain valve connecting the buffer to a wastewater system of an aircraft;

wherein opening the consumer valves comprises opening the consumer valves sequentially, so that the water is only drained from the supply lines connecting the consumer associated with an open one of the consumer valves to the buffer; and
wherein opening the consumer valves sequentially comprises opening the consumer valves in a predetermined sequence based on:
a length of the supply lines connecting the consumer associated with the consumer valves to the buffer; and/or
a relative vertical arrangement of the consumer valves.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
only one of the consumer valves is opened at a time; and/or each of the consumer valves is opened for a predetermined time.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the water is drained from the buffer and/or the supply lines by gravity; one of the consumer valves associated with a respective consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically below the buffer, is opened for draining water from the supply lines connecting the respective consumer to the buffer through the outlet arranged vertically below the buffer; and/or one of the consumer valves associated with a respective consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically above the buffer, is opened for draining water into the buffer from the supply lines connecting the respective consumer to the buffer; and/or one of the consumer valves associated with a respective consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically below the buffer, is opened for draining water from the buffer through the outlet arranged vertically below the buffer.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising subjecting the supply lines to a drainage pressure for draining water from the supply lines;
wherein the drainage pressure is provided by one of:
a pump arranged in the buffer for supplying the water from the buffer to the plurality of consumers;
a pressurizer that maintains the water in the buffer during regular operation of the buffer at a predetermined consumer pressure; or
the aircraft water supply system, from which the buffer receives the water to be supplied to the plurality of consumers.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the drainage pressure is a positive drainage pressure and is created:
in the supply lines such that, when the consumer valve associated with a corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open, the water is pushed out of the supply lines through the corresponding consumer; and/or in the buffer such that, when the consumer valve associated with a further corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open, the water is pushed out of the buffer through the further corresponding consumer.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the drainage pressure is a negative drainage pressure and is created:
in the supply lines such that, when the consumer valve associated with a corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open, the water from the supply lines connecting the corresponding consumer is drained into the buffer or the aircraft water supply system; and/or in the buffer such that, when the consumer valve associated with a further corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open or when a vent of the buffer is open, the water is drained into the aircraft water supply system.

7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the drainage pressure is a positive drainage pressure and is created:
in the supply lines such that, when the consumer valve associated with a corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open, the water is pushed out of the supply lines through the corresponding consumer; and in the buffer such that, when the consumer valve associated with a further corresponding consumer of the plurality of consumers is open, the water is pushed out of the buffer through the corresponding consumer.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the water is drained from the buffer and/or the supply lines by gravity; one of the consumer valves associated with a respective first consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically below the buffer, is opened for draining water from the supply lines connecting the respective first consumer to the buffer through the outlet arranged vertically below the buffer; and one of the consumer valves associated with a respective second consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically above the buffer, is opened for draining water into the buffer from the supply lines connecting the respective second consumer to the buffer; and one of the consumer valves associated with a respective third consumer of the plurality of consumers, which has an outlet arranged vertically below the buffer, is opened for draining water from the buffer through the outlet arranged vertically below the buffer.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein opening the consumer valves sequentially comprises opening the consumer valves in a predetermined sequence based on:
the length of the supply lines connecting the consumer associated with the consumer valves to the buffer; and the relative vertical arrangement of the consumer valves.

10 . A local water distribution system comprising:
a plurality of consumers;
a buffer that is configured to locally store water from an aircraft water supply system to be distributed to each of the plurality of consumers;
supply lines connecting each of the plurality of consumers to the buffer; consumer valves, each of which is associated with one or more of the plurality of consumers; and a control; wherein the buffer is configured to dispense the water contained therein through a respective consumer of the plurality of consumers by opening the consumer valve associated with the respective consumer; wherein the control is configured for opening the consumer valves for draining the water from the supply lines; and wherein the control is configured for:
opening one or more of the consumer valves for draining water from the buffer through one of:
the supply lines; and
the one or more of the consumer valves that is open; or
opening a drain valve for draining the water in the buffer to a wastewater system of an aircraft;
wherein opening the consumer valves comprises opening the consumer valves sequentially, so that the water is only drained from the supply lines connecting the consumer associated with an open one of the consumer valves to the buffer; and wherein opening the consumer valves sequentially comprises opening the consumer valves in a predetermined sequence based on:
a length of the supply lines connecting the consumer associated with the consumer valves to the

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Rempe Michael
• Schneider Frank
• Lübbert Tim
• Albers Frederik
• Müller Hannes

Classifications

• B64D11/04

  Galleys · CPC title

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title

• F16L55/07

  Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T) · CPC title

• F17D3/01

  for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product · CPC title

• F17D1/14

  Conveying liquids or viscous products by pumping · CPC title