Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corp.

Eugene F Colditz

Laurence M Grills

Lawrence M Grills

John D Krause

A non recirculating, low volume toilet system for aircraft includes a interim storage tank connected to the toilet bowl. A waste drain leads to a gate valve which opens to a vacuum assisted luid gas separator. The separator is connected to the main waste tank. In a first embodiment, the main waste tank is a non pressurizable vessel and is maintained within a pressurized portion of the aircraft. The separator is alternatively connected to the exterior environment and the pressurized interior. When the toilet is utilized, the flushing operation uses a very small amount of flushing fluid to clean the bowl and transfer the contents to the interim tank. Opening the gate valve subjects the bowl and the interim tank to a pressure differential which transfers the flushing liquid and waste matter to the separator. The gate valve is closed and the separator is permitted to reach pressure equilibrium with the main waste tank at which time the contents of the separator are transferred to the main waste tank. A partial vacuum is again drawn in the separator, awaiting the next flush operation. In an alternative embodiment, the main waste tank can be a pressure vessel in the pressurized portion of the aircraft and can be maintained at the exterior pressure. In this embodiment, the separator is then maintained at the same pressure as the main waste tank at all times.

Method and apparatus for a vacuum assisted toilet system

A hydraulically operated drain valve is interposed in the cleaning fluid path before the spray/rinse outlet. The fluid under pressure activates a piston which operates the drain valve. A precharge reservoir is also interposed in the supply line before the spray rinse outlet to store a measured precharge which drains into the tank after the drain valve has closed. A manual override is provided to open the drain valve in the event of a failure of the hydraulic system.

Fluid operated waste tank servicing assembly

A flexible stick tank gauge is made of a thin metal or plastic tape. The tape is sufficiently thick to be self-supporting when held vertically from the lower end. Alternatively, the tape is curved to be a narrow sector of a cylinder. Measuring indicia are applied to at least one surface of the tape. The tape remains flexible at extreme environments of temperatures and will not break in normal use such as airline fuel measuring operations.

Flexible tank gauge

A liquid storage tank is provided with an internal fixed support tube. Magnet-bearing liquid level and liquid density indicator floats are concentrically related to the fixed support tube externally thereof. Concentrically related, magnet-bearing indicator tubes are movably disposed within the fixed support tube and furnish liquid level and liquid density readout information when their respective magnets become magnetically latched with the float magnets.

Volume and density indicator system for liquids in tanks

This invention relates to an aircraft toilet drain assembly of the type utilizing a drain plug, intended to prevent a maintenance operator from failing to replace the drain plug at the completion of after-flight servicing. The assembly is installed at the end of an outlet tube from a toilet holding tank in a position adjacent an access opening in the aircraft, which is closed in flight by an access panel. The assembly includes an outlet nipple, secured to the outlet tube, and a releasable cover mountable on the end of the nipple. A handle mounted on the cover is selectively movable between an extended position in which it obstructs the access opening to prevent the access panel from being closed and a depressed condition in which the access panel can be closed. An interlock responsive to the presence of the drain plug in the nipple locks the handle in its extended position unless a drain plug is present. The toilet drain assembly thus ensures that the aircraft access panel cannot be closed and the aircraft cleared for flight, unless a drain plug has been installed.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Eugene F Colditz