Integrated vehicle galley trash compactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950488-B2
Application number	US-201414262496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2014
Priority date	Jan 21, 2010
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A space-saving in-flight trash compactor, comprising a trash chute, a compactor mechanism disposed above a level of the trash chute, and a storage chamber removably positioned below the compactor mechanism and below a level of the trash chute. The storage chamber is vertically aligned with the compactor mechanism. The trash chute is configured to channel trash disposed through an opening of the trash chute at a level of a counter top and above a level of a top of the storage chamber into an opening of the storage chamber at the top of the storage chamber. The opening of the trash chute may be horizontally offset from the vertical alignment of the storage chamber and compactor mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft galley trash compaction system comprising:
an aircraft galley having a workdeck;
a trash chute;
a compactor mechanism disposed above a level of the trash chute and above a level of the workdeck; and
a storage chamber removably positioned below the compactor mechanism and below both the trash chute and the workdeck, the storage chamber vertically aligned with the compactor mechanism, the trash chute configured to channel trash disposed through an opening of the workdeck into an opening of the storage chamber,
wherein an opening of the trash chute is at the opening of the workdeck and above a level of a top of the storage chamber, and
wherein the opening of the trash chute is horizontally offset from the vertical alignment of the storage chamber and compactor mechanism.

2. The trash compaction system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic system controller that controls operation of the compactor mechanism; and
a user interface which interfaces with the electronic system controller to initiate a compaction cycle upon a command input from an operator.

3. The trash compaction system of claim 2 , wherein the storage chamber includes a weight sensor communicatively coupled with the electronic system controller, and wherein the electronic system controller activates operation of the compactor mechanism when a weight reading of the weight sensor exceeds a threshold value.

4. The trash compaction system of claim 2 , wherein the storage chamber includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled with the electronic system controller, and wherein the electronic system controller deactivates operation of the compactor mechanism according to a pressure reading of the pressure sensor exceeding a threshold value.

5. The trash compaction system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic system controller includes a communications network interface, and wherein the electronic system controller initiates a compaction cycle in response to a command received over the communications network interface.

6. The trash compaction system of claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber has a generally cylindrical shape oriented in a vertical direction.

7. The trash compaction system of claim 1 , wherein the compactor mechanism comprises a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and a compactor actuator hydraulically driven to compact trash within the storage chamber.

8. The trash compaction system of claim 6 , wherein the compactor actuator is constructed of aircraft alloy steel.

9. The trash compaction system of claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic pump includes a brushless DC motor.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Fritz Robert J
• Rezner Mark P
• Zimmerman Jr Michael T

Classifications

• B30B9/3075

  with press boxes on a movable carrier, e.g. turntable · CPC title

• B65F1/1405

  Compressing means incorporated in, or specially adapted for, refuse receptacles (presses in general B30B) · CPC title

• B65F1/1431

  having a waste disposal chute integrally connected to a work top or the like, the refuse receptacle remaining static · CPC title

• B30B9/3057

  Fluid-driven presses · CPC title

• B30B9/3032

  Press boxes · CPC title