GB2518608A

GB2518608A - Aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool

Info

Publication number: GB2518608A
Application number: GB1316984.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynne Lewis Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-09-25
Filing date: 2013-09-25
Publication date: 2015-04-01
Also published as: GB201316984D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool for unblocking aircraft vacuum toilet pipes. The tool has an attachment means in the form of a rubber bung 2 to secure the tool to the pipe which is blocked. By rotating a wingnut 4 the rubber bung 2 is forced to compress which therefore expands radially in the aircraft pipe 13C. The bung 2 in the pipe13C is then securely fixed to the pipe walls, which also seals the pipe 13C at the inserted tool end. This enables compressed air/nitrogen from the bottle rig (17figure 6) to flow through the coupling 5 and also through pipe bung retainer 1 into the pipe to clear the blockage. The tool also comprises a safety valve 8 to limit the air/nitrogen pressure through the tool.

Description

Aircraft vacuum toilet unbiocking tool This invention is used to unblock debris in aircraft vacuum toilet pipes causing a blockage and preventing the toilet system functioning correctly. A blockage in the system occurs when an aircraft toilet has items such as nappies mistakenly disposed of into the system via the toilet, instead of the waste bins provided by the airlines. Once a blockage occurs the toilet is unusable until the blockage is removed. To bring the aircraft back to operational status, access is required by a team of aircraft engineers to the toilet pipe to remove the blockage.

This is done by the removal of cabin passenger seats, carpet and floor panels. The engineers then disconnect the quick release clamps that retain the blocked toilet pipe and remove to a safe and secure location to unblock or replace the pipe. Either option will incur high engineering labour costs either to unblock or a replace the pipe. It will also incur down time of the aircraft incur many none flying hours, thus accruing more financial penalties to the carrier.

To overcome these access issues this invention enables the user to remove the blockage via a tool supplying compressed air/nitrogen to the system with the blockage in the reverse flow direction to force the debris causing the blockage out of the pipe. This also removes the requirement to remove the cabin passenger seats, carpet and floor panels, as access to the quick release clamps can be gained by other access points than through the floor panels as there is no requirement to remove the pipe totally.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing sheet 1/3: Shows a diagram of a typical aircraft vacuum system and blockage location.

Drawing sheet 2/3: Shows a diagram of the aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool.

Drawing sheet 3/3: Shows a diagram of how the aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tcol is used to unblock a pipe. 2.

Drawing sheet 1/3 is a typical aircraft fuselage cross section showing the forward aircraft vacuum toilet item 10 and the aft aircraft vacuum toilet Item 9. The passenger cabin comprises of the cabin floor item 11 and the passenger cabin seats item 16. The area below the cabin floor item 11 is the cargo bay area. The toilet tank item 14 and vacuum generator item 13 which use the vacuum generator item 13 portion to draw waste from the forward and aft toilets items 9 and 10 respectively. The waste flows via the toilet pipes items 1 3A, 1 3B and 13C is deposited into the toilet tank item 14.

If a blockage item 15 occurs in the pipe item 13C as shown on drawing sheet 1/3 figure 1. To gain access to the blockage item 15, the passenger seats item 16 and the floorboards item 11 must be removed in the vicinity above the toilet pipe item 13C. The blocked toilet pipe item 13C section can now be removed by disconnecting the quick release clamps attaching pipe 13C to pipes 13A and 13B. Then the pipe item 13C can either be unblocked or a replacement toilet pipe item 1 3C fitted. Followed by refitting of floorboards item 11 and passenger seats item 16 that were removed for access. 3.

Drawing sheet 2/3 figure 3 Item I -Pipe bung retainer.

Item 2 -Pipe bung.

Item 3 -Pressure plate.

Item 4-Wing nut.

Item 5-Quick release coupling.

Item 6-V piece connector.

Item 7-Hexagon nipple.

Item 8 -Pressure regulating valve.

Drawing sheet 2/3 figure 4 The toilet unblocking tool item 19 is fitted into a blocked toilet pipe and the wing nut item 4 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown by rotating arrow on figure 4. As the wingnut item 4 is rotated along the screw threads it compresses the bung item 2 onto the pipe bung retainer item 1. This causes the bung item 2 to expand and grips the inside of the toilet pipe item 13C which retains the toilet unblocking tool item 19 in the pipe item 13C and also creates a seal at the end of the pipe item 1 3C.

Drawing sheet 2/3 figure 5 The toilet unblocking tool item 19 is now securely fitted in pipe item 13G. The air/nitrogen rig pipe item 17 is connected to the quick release coupling item 5 and air/nitrogen is released into the pipe item 13G. In event of over pressurization the toilet unblocking tool item 19 is filled with a pressure relieve valve item 8.

Drawing sheet 3/3 figure 6 & 7 This drawing shows the tool item 19 installed in the blocked aircraft toilet pipe item 13C. The air/nitrogen rig item 17 has been connected to the quick release coupling item 5 on the toilet unblocking tool item 19. On the aft end of the disconnected toilet pipe item 1 3C a waste bag item 18 is fitted. The toilet pipe item 1 3C is then pressurized from the air/nitrogen rig item 17.

This pushes the blockage item 15 in to the waste bag item 18. After the toilet unblocking tool item 19 is removed, the existing aircraft pipe quick release connections are reconnected to the unblocked pipe section item 130 at both ends. 4.

Claims

Claims 1. An aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool item 19 gives a means of attachment to a blocked aircraft toilet pipe item I 3C and the ability to control the maximum compressed air/nitrogen pressure through the tool to remove the blockage.
2. An aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking item 19 tool according to claim 1 in which an expanding rubber bung item 2 fitted internally to a blocked aircraft vacuum toilet pipe item 1 3C is used to secure the aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool item 19 in position.
3. An aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool item 19 according to claim 1 in which compressed air/nitrogen controlled by a pressure relief valve item 8 mounted on the aircraft vacuum toilet unblocking tool item 19 is used to remove a blockage in an aircraft vacuum toilet pipe item 13C.