EP2167745B1 - Wastewater control module - Google Patents

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

The present invention relates to an aircraft with a vacuum supply system with a wastewater control module integrated in the latter according to the preamble of claim 1.

Aircraft are usually equipped with vacuum systems. In each case, the toilets, washbasins, galley sinks and similar devices of the corresponding aircraft are connected via an associated valve unit and a line system to a collection in which, based on the ambient pressure of the device concerned (the cabin pressure), there is a negative pressure. 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 systems is the strong noise especially at the end of the emptying of the device concerned (sink 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. Incidentally, this also adversely affects the life of a vacuum generator, which is typically used to generate the negative pressure in the system.

In the interest of reduced noise aircraft of the generic type have been proposed (see.

WO 2006/110295 A1 ), in which - according to the preamble of claim 1 - a storage container is provided, in which a separate, controllable via a valve air inlet (bypass) opens. Another generic aircraft is from the EP 0 295 508 A1 known, in which case the storage container is used to hold up service water for the flushing of an on-board toilet.

Vacuum systems are also known for stationary applications, for example, when in a spatially extended disposal system, the lines due 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, sewage control modules are known for the aforementioned stationary applications, each having a buffer and a storage container, an inlet nozzle and connectable to a vacuum suction outlet nozzles, the inlet nozzle opens into the storage container and in the flow path between the storage container and the outlet nozzle arranged in the bottom region of the storage container valve is arranged, which comprises a valve seat and a valve body relative to this movable.

So revealed the DE 2450026 A1 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, wherein the pressure change in a pneumatic switch downstream pilot line causes a 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 intermediate storage described 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, that is from the DE 2450026 A1 Known wastewater control module 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. Also, that is from the DE 2450026 A1 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 turned off) can freeze and render the entire wastewater control module inoperative.

From the EP 829584 A2 and the WO01 / 53618 A2 is another known for use in a stationary vacuum supply system and unsuitable for aerospace applications, a cache having wastewater control module known in which the storage container to be emptied automatically when reaching a predetermined level. 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 actuator 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, those in connection with the DE 3450026 A1 explained disadvantages in a corresponding manner. For example, sewage contaminated with solids soon leads to the inability of the wastewater control module to function. Device water or other liquid, for the handling of which the known control module is determined in the emptying controlling nozzles, this entails a malfunction of the control module, which makes the latter unsuitable for mobile applications in which a sloshing of the liquid is unavoidable. And pressure fluctuations in the environment of the device, such as unavoidable in aerospace applications due to changing cabin pressure, also affect the operability of the sewage control module. As a result, the wastewater control module after the EP 829584 A2 and the WO01 / 53618 A2 namely not the requirements applicable to aeronautical applications.

Against the background of the prior art set out above, the object of the present invention is accordingly to improve a generic aircraft with a vacuum supply system comprising a waste water control module in such a way that the disadvantages described above in connection with known vehicle-mounted vacuum supply systems are 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 aircraft specified in claim 1. This

• das Abwasser-Kontrollmodul weist einen Zwischenspeicher auf;
• es umfasst einen Speicherbehälter, einen in diesen mündenden Eintrittsstutzen und einen an eine Unterdruck-Absaugleitung anschließbaren Austrittsstutzen;
• in dem Strömungsweg zwischen dem Speicherbehälter und dem Austrittsstutzen ist im Bodenbereich des Speicherbehälters ein Ventil angeordnet, welches einen Ventilsitz und einen relativ zu diesem bewegbaren Ventilkörper umfasst;
• an dem Zwischenspeicher ist unterhalb des Speicherbehälters ein Ventilgehäuse angeordnet, und der Ventilkörper liegt auf der dem Speicherbehälter abgewandten Seite an dem Ventilsitz an;
• der Ventilkörper ist mittels einer Membran gegenüber dem Ventilgehäuse in diesem verschiebbar abgedichtet; der Austrittsstutzen mündet in einen durch den Ventilkörper, das Ventilgehäuse, die Membran und den Ventilsitz begrenzten Arbeitsraum;
• auf den Ventilkörper wirkt eine schaltbare, den Ventilkörper nach unten vom Sitz abhebende Betätigungseinrichtung;
• auf der dem Arbeitsraum abgewandten Seite des Ventilkörpers ist ein durch das Ventilgehäuse und den Ventilkörper begrenzter Steuerraum vorgesehen, der über eine Steuerleitung, welche mittels eines aktiv schaltbaren Pilotventils absperrbar ist, an die Unterdruck-Absaugleitung anschließbar ist;
• der Austrittsstutzen ist als ein Winkelrohr mit einer definierten Abrisskante ausgeführt, wobei die Steuerleitung stromabwärts der Abrisskante in einen Totraum des Winkelrohres mündet.

is thus characterized by the combination of the following features:

• the wastewater control module has a buffer;
• 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 limited by the valve body, the valve housing, the diaphragm and the valve seat working space;
• on the valve body acts a switchable, the valve body down from the seat lifting actuator;
• on the side facing away from the working space of the valve body a limited by the valve housing and the valve body control chamber is provided, which can be connected via a control line, which can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve to the vacuum suction line;
• the outlet nozzle is designed as an angle tube with a defined spoiler edge, wherein the control line opens downstream of the spoiler edge in a dead space of the angle tube.

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 - an annularly extending around the valve body around shape, which may not be equated with circular ring course. 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. Thus, when the actuator that lifts the valve body off the seat to empty the reservoir for the purpose of draining the reservoir downwardly, the closing of the valve can be actively performed by pneumatic assisting 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 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 furthermore significant for the aircraft according to the invention, in conjunction with the further features, that the valve body of the Adwasser control module is sealed off from the valve housing by means of a membrane separating the working space from the control space. 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 therefore essential for the achievement of the desired objective that according to the invention on the side facing away from the working space of the valve body through the valve housing, the valve body and the latter relative to the valve housing sealing membrane limited control chamber is provided which via a control line which by means of a actively switchable pilot valve can be shut off, can be connected to the vacuum suction line. In this case, the actuating means by means of which the valve is to be actively opened, insofar as pneumatic, 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 wastewater control module has the property that a waste water transport only from the storage tank to the outlet nozzle is possible, regardless of the prevailing at the inlet and outlet nozzle pressure ratios 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 specific design of the outlet nozzle effectively prevents clogging of the control line by foreign bodies contained in the wastewater. The pilot valve can be controlled in particular by an electromagnet, preferably in such a way that it is locked when the electromagnet is de-energized. In a suitable embodiment of the pilot valve can support the closing function of the pilot valve in the normal operating state of the vacuum liquid disposal system of a erfindungsgemäβen aircraft, ie at a prevailing in the vacuum suction line vacuum, the latter. 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 by means of a mechanical spring in its the control line occluding position biased. In this case, the pilot valve takes during the commissioning of the equipped with the vacuum liquid disposal facility (aircraft) as well as in the case of a pressure equalization between the sump of a vacuum sewage disposal system and the environment (with 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.

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 (see above) of the wall of the collecting container. 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 in such a way 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 (s.o.) sealed off from the working space, 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 an aircraft according to the invention, a vacuum generator is preferably connected to the collecting container, which is put into operation as needed, if the pressure difference prevailing between the collecting container and the environment (eg in the case of a parked aircraft) is insufficient to ensure reliable operation To promote promotion of accumulated in the buffer memory liquid in the collection. 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.

Fig.1

einen Vertikalschnitt durch ein Abwasser-Kontrollmodul, welches sich bei einem erfindungsgemäβen Luftfahrzeug zum Einsatz im Rahmen eines im übrigen dem hinlänglich bekannten Stand der Technik entsprechen Vakuum-Abwasserentsorgungssystems eignet, und

Fig.2

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht des unteren Bereichs des Abwasser-Kontrollmoduls nach Fig.1.

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

Fig.1

a vertical section through a wastewater control module, which in an inventive aircraft for use in the rest of the well-known prior art vacuum-wastewater disposal system is suitable, and

Fig.2

an enlarged detail view of the lower portion of the sewage control module after Fig.1 ,

The wastewater control module shown in the drawing comprises a storage container 1, an opening into the storage tank inlet nozzle 2 and an outlet nozzle 3, which is connectable to a vacuum suction line. 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, whose other end communicates with the outlet nozzle 3. The control line 29 can be opened or closed in a controlled manner by means of a pilot valve 31 which can be actuated via an electromagnet 30. 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 separation edge for the waste water 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 the electronic determination of 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 (10)

1. An aircraft with a vacuum waste disposal system that features an integrated waste water control module and has the following characteristics:

   the waste water control module features a reservoir;

   it comprises a storage tank (1), an inlet connection (2) leading into said storage tank and an outlet connection (3) that can be connected to a vacuum suction line;

   a valve (19) is arranged in the bottom area of the storage tank in the flow path between the storage tank and the outlet connection;

   a valve housing (11) is arranged on the reservoir underneath the storage tank (1);

   characterized by the following characteristics:

   the valve (19) comprises a valve seat (10) and a valve body (12) that can be moved relative to the valve seat;

   the valve body (12) rests against the valve seat on the side that faces away from the storage tank;

   the valve body can be displaced in the valve housing and is sealed relative thereto by means of a membrane (20) ;

   the outlet connection (3) leads into a working chamber (23) that is defined by the valve body, the valve housing, the membrane and the valve seat;

   the valve body is acted upon by a switchable actuating device (34) that downwardly lifts the valve body off the seat;

   a control chamber (25) defined by the valve housing (11) and the valve body is provided on the side of the valve body (12) that faces away from the working chamber (23) and can be connected to the vacuum suction line via a control conduit (29) that can be shut off by means of an actively switchable pilot valve (31); and

   the outlet connection (3) is realized in the form of an angled pipe with a defined break-away edge, wherein

   the control conduit (29) leads into a dead space of the angled pipe downstream of the break-away edge.
2. The aircraft according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the pilot valve (31) is realized in the form of a solenoid valve that is closed in the currentless state of the electromagnet (30).
3. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in
   that an electric control (35) acts upon the pilot valve (31), wherein at least one fill level sensor (40) that generates an electric output signal is assigned to the storage tank (1).
4. The aircraft according to Claim 3,
   characterized in
   that the electric control (35) is accommodated in a housing section (37) that is arranged underneath the valve housing (11).
5. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in
   that that the control chamber (25) is connected to the surroundings via a throttled ventilation opening (33).
6. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in
   that a mechanical closure spring (28) is provided and prestresses the valve body (12) against the valve seat (10).
7. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in
   that the valve body (12) is connected to a guide pin (15) that is guided in a guide bushing (26) of the valve housing (11).
8. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in
   that suitable position sensing means (41) are provided in order to determine the position of the valve body (12).
9. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in
   that the cross section of the storage tank (1) widens from the top to the bottom.
10. The aircraft according to one of Claims 1 to 9, comprising a collecting tank and a conduit system that connects the waste water control module to the collecting tank, wherein the reservoir of the waste water control module features at least one fill level sensor that is assigned to the storage tank, wherein a control unit connected to the fill level sensor acts upon the actuating device of the waste water control module, wherein a vacuum generator is connected to the collecting tank, and wherein the control unit switches on the vacuum generator after it receives a signal indicating a predefined fill level from the fill level sensor and before the actuating device is activated such that the valve of the waste water control module opens.

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