EP2167745A2

EP2167745A2 - Wastewater control module

Info

Publication number: EP2167745A2
Application number: EP08785058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ingo Zerbes
Original assignee: AOA Apparatebau Gauting GmbH
Current assignee: AOA Apparatebau Gauting GmbH
Priority date: 2007-07-25
Filing date: 2008-07-25
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-25
Also published as: WO2009013003A3; ATE554240T1; WO2009013003A2; DE102007034499A1; EP2167745B1

Abstract

A wastewater control module in a vacuum disposal unit on board a vehicle has an intermediate store and comprises a storage tank (1), an inlet pipe (2) leading into said tank, and an outlet pipe (3) which can be connected to a vacuum suction line; a valve (19) which comprises a valve seat (10) and a valve body (12) which can be moved relative to said seat is arranged in the bottom region of the storage tank, in the flow path between the storage tank and the outlet pipe; a valve housing (11) is arranged on the intermediate store, below the storage tank (1), and the valve body (12) bears on its side facing away from the storage tank against the valve seat; the valve body is sealed by means of a membrane (20) with respect to the valve housing such that it can be displaced therein; the outlet pipe (3) leads into a working chamber (23) defined by the valve body, the valve housing, the membrane and the valve seat; on the valve body acts a switchable actuating device (34) which lifts the valve body downwardly off the seat; on that side of the valve body (12) facing away from the working chamber (23) is provided a control chamber (25) which is defined by the valve housing (11) and the valve body and which can be connected to the vacuum suction line via a control line (29) which can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve (31).

Description

Sewage control module

The present invention relates to a waste water control module in a vacuum supply system on board a vehicle.

Aircraft, z.T. but also ships and trains are equipped with vacuum systems. In each case, the toilets, wash hand basins, galley sinks and similar facilities of the corresponding air, water or land vehicle via an associated valve unit and a line system connected to a collection in which, based on the ambient pressure of the device concerned (in aircraft the Cabin pressure) a negative pressure prevails. If the respective valve unit is opened, the contents of the relevant washing, rinsing, toilet or other basin is transported due to the pressure gradient in the sump.

A disadvantage of such conventional vacuum supply systems is the strong noise development especially at the end of the emptying of the device in question (washbasin or the like). This is all the more disturbing as, in particular for reasons of hygiene, in each case after each use of the device emptying is provided. This also has an adverse effect on the life of a vacuum generator, which is typically used to generate the negative pressure in the system.

Vacuum systems are also known for stationary applications, for example when the lines in a spatially extended disposal system Due to the local conditions may have only a slight slope. For such intended for stationary use liquid vacuum systems various wastewater control modules have been proposed in which between the basin in which the liquid is collected and / or collected, and the respective device (eg sink) associated valve unit arranged a buffer with a storage container is. Accordingly, wastewater control modules are known for the above-mentioned stationary applications, each having a buffer and a storage container, an inlet nozzle and connectable to a vacuum suction outlet nozzle, the inlet nozzle opens into the storage container and in the flow path between the storage container and the Outlet nozzle disposed in the bottom region of the storage container valve is arranged, which comprises a valve seat and a relative to this movable valve body.

Thus, DE 2450026 Al discloses such a buffer for a float-controlled wastewater control module of a stationary vacuum supply system, wherein in the bottom region of the storage container, a valve seat is executed, on which a arranged in the interior of the storage volume, buoyant closing body rests. By negative pressure, which acts on the closing body in the region of the valve opening, the latter is held on the valve seat even when the storage container is filled. The storage container is, if the liquid collected in it or reaches a predetermined level, automatically emptied by opening the valve. For this purpose, the liquid Level within the storage container by means of a float, which acts on a pilot pneumatic switch detected, the pressure change in a pneumatic switch downstream pilot line causes floating of the closing body and consequently opening of the valve. The floating of the closing body can be brought about in particular mechanically or pneumatically.

The wastewater control module constructed using the known buffer discussed above is unsuitable for mobile applications; in particular, it does not meet the strict reliability requirements in the aviation sector. For example, a reliable closing of the valve provided in the known buffer is not ensured even if, as is regularly the case for galley wastewaters, comparatively small foreign bodies are present in the wastewater, namely those which are buoyant. Furthermore, the inevitable in mobile applications on board vehicles vibrations in an intolerable manner adversely affect the reliability of the waste water control module by they can cause uncontrolled opening or closing of the valve. Also, the wastewater control module known from DE 2450026 Al is not failsafe in the sense that the valve still safely closes in case of failure of the vacuum source or any other decrease in the negative pressure in the system; because the negative pressure is, as stated, required for holding the valve in its closed position. As a result, the state-of-the-art waste water control module is not backflow-proof. This is also from the DE 2450026 Al known wastewater control module therefore not suitable for aviation, because it can be used only in a frost-free environment; namely, the buffer can not be emptied manually independently of the fill level of the storage container, so that the contents accumulated in it (eg when the aircraft is off) can freeze and thus renders the entire wastewater control module inoperative.

EP 829584 A2 discloses another wastewater control module intended for use in a stationary vacuum supply installation and suitable for this purpose alone, having a buffer store, in which the storage tank is to be automatically emptied when a predetermined fill level is reached. The storage container is surrounded by an annular space which communicates with the storage container via a connection arranged near the bottom of the storage container. As a result, increasing pressure builds up in the annular space in the event of a rising liquid level in the storage container. This is scanned via a control diaphragm, which is part of an actuating device acting on the actual valve body; upon reaching a pressure corresponding to the predetermined level in the buffer memory below the control diaphragm actuates a pilot valve, which establishes a compound arranged below the valve body control chamber to the vacuum line, so that the valve body is lifted down from the associated seat and the contents of the buffer is emptied into the vacuum line inside. For this wastewater control module apply the explained in connection with DE 3450026 Al disadvantages in a corresponding manner. So lead with solids contaminated waste water within a short time to the inoperability of the wastewater control module. And pressure fluctuations in the environment of the device, such as unavoidable in aviation applications due to changing cabin pressure, also compromise the operability of the sewage control module. As a result, the waste water control module according to EP 829584 A2 does not meet the requirements governing aviation applications in particular.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve a vacuum system on board a vehicle (air, water or land vehicle) in such a way that the disadvantages described above in connection with known vehicle-mounted vacuum systems come to be seen against the background of the prior art set out above be avoided. In particular, the requirements imposed on aerospace applications should be met, for example by high reliability.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by the specified in claim 1, in a vacuum supply system on board a vehicle integrated AbwassersteuolImodul. The wastewater control module according to the invention is thus characterized by the following features: the wastewater control module has a temporary storage; it comprises a storage container, an inlet connection opening into the latter and an outlet connection piece connectable to a vacuum suction line; in the flow path between the storage container and the discharge nozzle, a valve is arranged in the bottom region of the storage container, which valve comprises a valve seat and a valve body movable relative thereto; a valve housing is arranged on the intermediate store below the storage container, and the valve body bears against the valve seat on the side facing away from the storage container; the valve body is sealed by means of a membrane relative to the valve housing in this slidably; the outlet nozzle opens into a working space bounded by the valve body, the valve housing, the membrane and the valve seat; a switchable actuating device, which lifts the valve body downwards from the seat, acts on the valve body; On the side of the valve body which faces away from the working space, a control space bounded by the valve housing and the valve body is provided, which can be connected to the vacuum suction line via a control line, which can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve.

A particularly important aspect in connection with the further characteristic features of the invention is accordingly that the outlet nozzle of the intermediate store, which bears the negative pressure prevailing in the collecting container and the line system, opens into a working space bounded by the valve seat, the valve body , the valve housing and the valve body deformable relative to the valve housing sealing membrane, in which respect to the valve seat and an adjacent area, in particular of the soil of the storage container can count and to the valve housing also from the bottom of the storage container downwardly projecting, projecting into the valve housing, the edge of the membrane spanning coat or collar. Typically, the corresponding working space - with the valve closed - has an annular shape extending around the valve body, which of course can not be equated with circular ring shape. The prevailing in the line system vacuum can thus - via a corresponding action on the working space - help to close the valve after emptying of the storage container active and / or then keep closed. The closing of the valve can thus, when the actuating device, which has lifted the valve body for opening the valve for the purpose of emptying the storage container down from the seat or lifted off, off, take place actively by a pneumatic support of the closing movement. Furthermore, both the opening of the valve, by switching on an actively switchable pilot valve comprehensive actuator, as well as - caused by switching off the actuator - closing the valve regardless of the level of the storage tank is possible. Thus, in particular a complete emptying of the storage container including all foreign bodies can be ensured, which is particularly favorable for the reliable operation of the valve of the buffer. And even a partially filled storage container, wherein the liquid level is below a value initiating the automatic draining, can be emptied by actively switching on the actuator. For aircraft and other vehicles that are parked after operation is This is a decisive advantage, because by appropriate systematic emptying of all storage containers in the (to be emptied after operation) collection container into the risk that frozen in the storage container wastewater is eliminated.

According to the above, it is thus furthermore significant for the wastewater control module according to the invention, in conjunction with the further features, that the valve body is sealed off from the valve housing by means of a membrane separating the working chamber from the control chamber. Because this results in a particularly high tolerance of the function of the buffer against foreign bodies, which in turn has a positive effect on the reliability of the buffer. Furthermore, it is essential for the achievement of the desired objective that, according to the invention, a control chamber delimited by the valve housing, the valve body and the diaphragm sealing the latter relative to the valve housing is provided on the side of the valve body which is remote from the working space and which has a control line can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve, can be connected to the vacuum suction line. In this case, the actuator, by means of which the valve is to be actively opened, insofar as it is pneumatically executed when the pilot valve of the present in the vacuum suction line vacuum also prevails in the control chamber, whereby the valve body is lifted down from the seat.

The waste water control module has the property that a waste water transport only from the storage tank to the Trittsstutzen is possible, regardless of the Einbzw. Outlet nozzle prevailing pressure conditions and the position of the pilot valve. Thus, the wastewater control module reliably prevents the backflow of wastewater into the sink. (For sanitary reasons, this is a mandatory requirement for aircraft sewage systems.)

In the event of overpressure in the outlet connection, the space above and below the membrane is likewise pressurized, since the pilot valve is pressed open. Therefore, the level of pressure is irrelevant, the wastewater control module remains closed.

The cross section of the storage container can expand from top to bottom, for example by the corresponding housing is made more or less conical. This is also favorable with regard to the operational reliability of the low-temperature vacuum supply system equipped with the wastewater control module according to the invention, if there is a potential risk that the liquid accumulated in the storage container will freeze; because a possible ice layer can be easily solved in this way at an actively initiated emptying of the collecting container (s.o.) From the wall of the collecting container.

Particularly preferred in the wastewater control module according to the invention at the outlet nozzle an angle tube is connected to a defined spoiler edge, wherein the control line opens downstream of the spoiler edge in a dead space of the angle tube. This effectively prevents clogging of the control line by foreign matter contained in the waste water. The pilot Valve can be controlled in particular by an electromagnet, and preferably such that it is locked when the electromagnet is de-energized. In a suitable embodiment of the pilot valve can in the normal operating state of the invention equipped with the wastewater control module vacuum liquid disposal system, ie at a prevailing in the vacuum suction line negative pressure, the latter support the closing function of the pilot valve. This makes the wastewater control module - regardless of a possible complementary mechanical bias of the pilot valve (see below) - failsafe in the sense that the valve of the buffer remains reliably closed in an interruption of the power supply to the solenoid. Furthermore, the pilot valve is preferably also biased by means of a mechanical spring in its closing the control line position. In this case, the pilot valve takes

Equipped liquid disposal system equipped (eg aircraft) as well as in the case of pressure equalization between the sump of a vacuum sewage disposal system and the environment (when parked aircraft) reliably its closing the control line position, so that a stable operating condition is always guaranteed. Furthermore, the control chamber is preferably connected via a throttled ventilation opening with the environment. This supports via a correspondingly defined pressure equalization between the control chamber and the environment, the closing function of the valve after switching off the actuator. Regardless of the above-described manual initiation of the emptying of the storage container by any time turning on the actuator, the buffer preferably also has at least one level sensor associated with the storage container, whose output acts on the actuator such that the storage container is automatically emptied upon reaching a predetermined level. Particularly preferred is an electrical output signal generating level sensor is provided, which can be based for example on a capacitive or resitive measuring principle. The at least one level sensor preferably also determines whether the buffer is completely emptied in order to initiate the closing of the valve in dependence thereon and only then - by corresponding actuation of the pilot valve. By means of a suitable control, the closing of the valve can be delayed by a predetermined time interval in order to favor the emptying of the buffer and / or a cleaning of the valve and / or the promotion of the extracted liquid from the buffer into the collecting container by a corresponding flushing.

Preferably, one of the actuator associated electrical control is housed protected against moisture in the buffer in a arranged below the valve housing housing portion. This results in a particularly compact design of the buffer with all associated facilities. And the corresponding unit can be quickly assembled and disassembled. With regard to the closing function of the valve and in particular the fail-safe operation of the buffer, it is advantageous if a mechanical locking spring is provided, which biases the valve body against the valve seat in addition to the negative pressure effect described above.

In a non-wastewater-exposed area, which may consist in particular of the control chamber sealed off from the working space (see above), the valve housing particularly preferably has a guide bush in which a guide pin connected to the valve body is guided. Such a guide is especially indicated for reliable operation of the valve, when the valve body is sealed by a diaphragm against the valve housing.

A further preferred development of the present invention is characterized in that suitable position detection means are provided for determining the position of the valve body. This allows a regular reliable control of the function of the valve of the buffer by an evaluation circuit, to which also the actuator and the level sensors, if any, are connected.

In one equipped with the waste water control module according to the invention Flüssigkeits- Vakuütungorgungs- plant preferably a vacuum generator is connected to the collecting tank, which is set in operation as needed, if the prevailing between the sump and the environment pressure difference (eg in a parked aircraft) not sufficient to ensure a reliable Sige promotion of accumulated in the buffer storage liquid in the collection ensure. When initiating the emptying of the buffer, when such an operating state is determined (for example via pressure sensors), the vacuum generator is put into operation before the valve of the wastewater control module is opened by activating the actuating device.

In certain applications, for example, in the case of an extremely limited installation space, could waive the above-mentioned, associated with the arrangement of a separate cache below the pool or other device advantages the basin itself take over the function of the "buffer". In this case, the valve seat would be arranged directly in the bottom region of the basin in question. A significant part of the stated advantages could also be realized in this case. The Applicant reserves the right to separately protect such an arrangement, for example in the form of a divisional application.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. It shows

Fig.l is a vertical section through an inventive wastewater control module, which is suitable for use in the context of an otherwise well-known prior art vacuum wastewater disposal system, and

2 is an enlarged detail view of the lower portion of the sewage control module according to Fig.l. The waste water control module shown in the drawing comprises a storage tank 1, an inlet opening 2 opening into the storage tank and an outlet pipe 3 which can be connected to a vacuum suction pipe. The storage container 1 is limited by an upwardly slightly tapered wall 4 of the housing 5, a the inlet nozzle 3 having cover 6 and a fixed mounted on a step 7 of the housing 5 bottom ring 8. In the region of the central opening of the bottom ring. 8 is formed by a corresponding annular, inwardly directed projection 9, a valve seat 10.

The region of the housing 5 located underneath the bottom ring 8 forms a valve housing 11. A valve body 12 cooperating with the valve seat 10 is accommodated therein. The valve body 12 comprises a base body 13 with a plate 14, a downwardly projecting from this guide pin 15 and an upwardly projecting lug 16 on the neck 16, a cap-like upper part 17 is mounted, which carries a sealing ring 18 which in the closed position of Valve 19 sealingly cooperates with the valve seat 10. Between the peripheral edge of the plate 14 and the edge of the upper part 17 of the valve body 12, the edge of a substantially tubular membrane 20 is clamped, whose other edge defined by the end edge of the bottom ring 8 downwardly projecting shell 21 at a stage 22 of the valve housing 11 is. In this way, a - when the valve is closed ring 19 - working space 23 defined by the bottom ring 8, the valve housing 11 and in this protruding jacket 21 of the bottom ring 8, the valve body 12 and the membrane 20 is limited. At this working space 23 is connected via the opening 24 of the outlet nozzle 3.

The sealed by the membrane 20 and the plate 14 of the valve body 12 relative to the working space 23 part of the interior of the valve housing 11 forms a control chamber 25. In this, the central portion of the valve housing is formed into a guide sleeve 26 in which the guide pin 15 of the valve body 12th slidably guided along the vertical axis of the buffer. Around the guide sleeve 26 around a designed as a helical spring 27 Zuhaltefeder 28 is provided, which biases the valve body 12 against the valve seat 10. Furthermore, opens into the control chamber 25, a control line 29, the other end communicates with the outlet - clip 3. The control line 29 is controlled by means of a controllable via an electromagnet 30 pilot valve 31 and closable. On the valve body of the pilot valve 31 acts - not shown bias spring and (the front side) prevailing in the outlet nozzle negative pressure, whereby the control line is locked in the de-energized state of the electromagnet 30. The outlet nozzle 3 is designed in the form of a 90 ° -Winkelrohres with a defined Abrißkante for wastewater flow in the bend 32. The control line 29 opens downstream of the tear-off edge in a dead space of the angle tube. The control chamber 25 communicates with the environment via a throttled ventilation opening 33 arranged in the wall of the valve housing 11. By opening the pilot valve 31, the control chamber 25 can be acted upon by the negative pressure prevailing in the outlet connection 3, as in the downstream line system and the collecting container. As a result, the valve body 12 is lifted down from the valve seat 11 and the valve 19 is opened. In that regard, in the illustrated in the drawing embodiment of the buffer of the control chamber 25, the control line 29, the pilot valve 31 and the solenoid 30 taken together form a switchable, in their operation the valve body 12 down from the valve seat 10 lifting actuator 34th

An electrical control 35 controlling the electromagnet 30 is arranged on a printed circuit board 36, which is accommodated in a housing section 37 arranged below the valve housing 11. The corresponding housing portion 37 is closed by a cover 38, to which a connection of the controller 35 of the buffer to the on-board electronics serving connector 39 is arranged. In the wall 4 of the housing, three level sensors 40 are arranged, which are connected to the controller 35, so that when it reaches a predetermined wastewater level in the storage tank 1 whose emptying can be automatically initiated.

For electronically determining the position of the valve body 12, position detection means are provided which comprise a magnet 42 connected to the guide pin 15 and a sensor 45 arranged on the circuit board and projecting into a corresponding recess 44 arranged in the bottom 43 of the valve housing 11.

Claims

claims

1. Wastewater control module in a vacuum system on board a vehicle, having the following features: the wastewater control module has a buffer; it comprises a storage container (1), an inlet connection (2) opening into the latter and an outlet connector (3) which can be connected to a vacuum suction line; in the flow path between the storage container and the discharge nozzle, a valve (19) is arranged in the bottom region of the storage container, which valve comprises a valve seat (10) and a valve body (12) movable relative thereto; a valve housing (11) is arranged below the storage container (1) on the intermediate store, and the valve body (12) rests on the valve seat on the side facing away from the storage container, - the valve body is in contact with the valve housing by means of a membrane (20) slidably sealed; the outlet nozzle (3) opens into a working space (23) delimited by the valve body, the valve housing, the membrane and the valve seat; on the valve body acts a switchable, the valve body down from the seat lifting actuator (34); on the side facing away from the working space (23) of the valve body (12) is a through the valve housing (11) and the valve body limited control chamber (25) is provided, which via a control line (29), which can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve (31) can be connected to the vacuum suction line.

2. Wastewater control module according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet nozzle (3) is designed as an angled pipe with a defined spoiler edge, wherein the control line (29) opens downstream of the spoiler edge in a dead space of the angle tube.

3. Wastewater control module according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pilot valve (31) is designed as a solenoid valve which is locked in the de-energized state of the electromagnet (30).

4. Wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pilot valve (31) an electrical control (35) acts, wherein the storage container (1) is associated with at least one an electrical output signal generating level sensor (40).

5. wastewater control module according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrical control (35) in a below the valve housing (11) arranged housing portion (37) is housed.

6. Wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control chamber (25) via a throttled vent opening (33) communicates with the environment.

7. Wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a mechanical locking spring (28) is provided, which biases the valve body (12) against the valve seat (10).

8. Wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that with the valve body (12), a guide pin (15) is connected, which is guided in a guide bush (26) of the valve housing (11).

9. wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that for determining the position of the valve body (12) suitable position detecting means (41) are provided.

10. Wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cross section of the storage container (1) widens from top to bottom.

11. Vacuum wastewater disposal system on board a vehicle, comprising a wastewater control module according to one of claims 1 to 10, a collecting container and a wastewater control module with the collecting container connecting line system, wherein the buffer of the wastewater control module has at least one level sensor associated with the storage tank, on the actuator of the waste water control module connected to the level sensor control unit acts, a vacuum generator is connected to the collecting container and the control unit turns on after receiving a signal indicating a predetermined level of the level sensor in front of an opening of the valve of the wastewater control module causing actuation of the actuator the vacuum generator.