B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Bradley J Buniak

Thao Hoang

William Pedersen

Christian C Kurshinsky

Mark A Pondelick

Christopher Hardwick

Stephen M Niznik

Avinash Srikantegowda Hasirumane

Alan L White

Robert Bauer

Tyson J Steenstra Toussaint

Gregory E Sund

Avinash Hasirumane Srikantegowda

A variable power water heater is disclosed. In embodiments, the variable power water heater includes a water tank, a heating element, a power supply circuit, a switch, and a controller. The heating element may be disposed within or coupled to the water tank. The power supply circuit may be configured to generate a power signal for the heating element. The switch may be configured to couple the power supply circuit to the heating element, and the controller may be configured to toggle the switch according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme to control a duty cycle of the power signal transmitted from the power supply circuit to the heating element.

Variable power water heater

A system and method for continuous level sensing is disclosed. The system employs a continuous level sensing strain gauge measuring a weight of an aircraft waste tank, a lower and upper point level sensors to signal the system as the liquid level reaches each sensor, and a flush counter to correlate with the CLS and the PLS to determine an average flush volume (AFV). Once the AFV is known and updated, the system determines a weighted waste tank level based on a weighted addition of the flush count and the quantity as measured by the CLS. As the aircraft tank reaches a predetermined value, the system alerts a crewmember to the status.

Tank continuous level sensing based on average flush volume

A toilet bowl system for use on-board an aircraft includes a toilet bowl body comprising a toilet bowl and a shroud. The toilet bowl has a rim. A removable splash guard is positioned between the toilet bowl and the shroud, and comprises a generally flat, flexible, planar shield having a central opening. The shield includes a top portion and a rear portion, the top portion faces the shroud and the lower portion faces the toilet bowl, and the lower portion is shaped to correspond with an upper portion of the rim of the toilet bowl and is configured to secure the removable toilet splash guard to the toilet bowl.

Aircraft vacuum toilet system splashguard

An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.

Method and apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet

An apparatus for controlling a waste outlet of a toilet includes a flush handle that is rotated by a user. A valve pinion arm is coupled to the flush handle and a waste discharge valve disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet is coupled to the valve pinion arm at an opposite end. The rotation of the flush handle is configured to move the valve pinion arm in a first direction. The movement of the valve pinion arm is configured to move the waste discharge valve to an open position. Upon release of the flush handle, the valve pinion arm is configured to move in a second direction and to move the waste discharge valve to a closed position. According to an embodiment, the apparatus includes an actuated flush control mechanism and a manual flush control mechanism.

A method of controlling an operation of a toilet system on-board an aircraft is disclosed. The toilet system includes a toilet bowl, a fluid valve controlling input of fluid into the toilet bowl, a flush switch configured to be activated by a user, and a controller configured to operate the fluid valve. The method includes detecting an activation of the flush switch, monitoring a flush switch activation time period, and determining whether the flush switch activation time period exceeds a preset threshold time period. In response to determining that flush switch activation time period does not exceed the preset threshold time period, a standard flush cycle is initiated. In response to determining that the flush switch activation time period exceeds the preset threshold time period, a maintenance mode is initiated allowing a larger volume of fluid to fill the toilet bowl for maintenance.

Maintenance mode for aircraft vacuum toilet

A method of installing a toilet system on board an aircraft is generally described. The toilet system includes a base support having a right base support and a left base support, a toilet bowl, a right side support and a left side support each supporting the toilet bowl. The method comprises lowering the toilet bowl on to the base supports to at least partially engage a first locking mechanism; sliding the toilet bowl in a forward direction to engage a second locking mechanism; and inserting a first pin to couple the right base support to the right side support and a second pin to couple the left base support to the left side support in order to completely engage the first locking mechanism.

Method and apparatus for installation of a toilet system on an aircraft

A toilet system configured for operation on-board an aircraft includes, according to an implementation, a toilet bowl, a left side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a right side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a control box including a first set of pins, and a harness connector configured to electrically couple the toilet to the aircraft. The harness connector includes a set of pins, where the first set of pins of the control box are configured to be connected to the set of pins included in the harness connector, and the control box is configured to determine a platform of the aircraft based on the presence or absence of a pin in the set of pins included in the harness connector.

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Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Bradley J Buniak