Urine stowage system for spacecraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016236802-A1
Application number	US-201615140932-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2012
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A waste handling system includes a urinal and first and second urine storage containers. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system that selectively fluidly connects the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A waste handling system comprising:
a urinal; first and second urine storage containers; and a distribution system fluidly interconnecting the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers, the distribution system includes a switching system selectively fluidly connecting the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the urine storage container includes a cavity having a bag, the bag movable within the cavity between first and second volumes.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the bag includes a quick disconnect removably coupled to the distribution system.

4 . The system according to claim 3 , comprising a water processing unit configured to produce potable water, the bag configured to be coupled to the water processing unit by the quick disconnect to generate potable water from the urine.

5 . The system according to claim 3 , comprising a storage container and a new bag, the storage container configured to receive a full bag from one of the first and second storage containers, and the new bag configured to replace the full bag and connect to the distribution system at the quick disconnect.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the switching system includes a flow diverter valve, and the input corresponds to a command signal to the flow diverter valve, the command signal commanding the flow diverter valve between first and second positions respectively corresponding to a fluid connection between the first and second urine storage containers and the urinal and a fluid disconnect between the other of the first and second urine storage containers and the urinal.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the switching system includes a switch configured to provide the command signal.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , comprising a light electrically connected to the switch, the light configured to illuminate during a full bag condition.

9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the flow diverter valve automatically switches between the first and second urine storage bags in response to the command signal.

10 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein a switch is arranged in each of the first and second urine storage containers, each switch including first and second contact elements biased apart from one another in a first condition corresponding to a first volume, and electrically engaging one another in a second condition corresponding to the second volume.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second urine storage containers include a cavity having a bag, the bag movable within the cavity between first and second volumes, and comprising an electrical switch communicates with the bag, the electrical switch including first and second contact elements biased apart from one another in a first condition corresponding to the first volume and electrically engaging one another in a second condition corresponding to a second volume.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , comprising a light electrically connected to the switch, the light configured to illuminate during a full bag condition.

13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein a flow diverter valve is in communication with the switch, and switch provides a command signal to the flow diverter valve, which is configured to change between first and second positions corresponding respectively to a fluid connection between the urine storage container and another urine storage container.

14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second urine storage containers include a cavity having a bag, the bag movable within the cavity between first and second volumes, and comprising a mechanical device configured to be actuated in response to the bag changing from the first volume to the second volume, the mechanical device providing a visual indicator of the bag being full at the second volume.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , comprising a manual flow diverter valve configured to be manually changed between first and second positions corresponding respectively to a fluid connection between the at least one of the first and second urine storage containers and the other of the at least one of the first and second urine storage containers.

16 . The system according to claim 1 , comprising a waste processing unit including a urinal inlet configured to receive urine, a urinal outlet, and a pumping element fluidly connected between the urinal inlet and the urinal outlet, and a differential pressure valve selectively fluidly connecting the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urine storage containers, the differential pressure valve includes first, second and third pressure inputs, the first pressure input corresponding to a pressure from the urinal outlet, the second pressure input corresponding to a pressure from the at least one of the first and second urine storage containers, and the third pressure input corresponding to a reference pressure, the differential pressure valve configured to open and close in response to a differential pressure between the first and third pressures, wherein the differential pressure valve is configured to automatically open at a selected pressure differential.

17 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein the reference pressure is generally constant and the second pressure increases as the at least one of the first and second urine storage containers transitions from an empty condition to a full condition.

18 . The system according to claim 17 , wherein the reference pressure corresponds to a cabin pressure.

19 . The system according to claim 16 , comprising a shut-off valve fluidly arranged between the urinal outlet and the differential pressure valve.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Space Sys

Inventors

• Stapleton Thomas J
• Todd Iv Charles H
• Morrison Terrell Lee

Classifications

• B64G1/60 Primary

  Crew or passenger accommodations · CPC title

• A47K11/12

  Urinals without flushing · CPC title

• E03D13/007

  Waterless or low-flush urinals; Accessories therefor (siphons E03C1/281) · CPC title