Galley waste disposal system

Abstract

A waste disposal system quietly and effectively evacuates solid, liquid, and slurry food waste from a galley sink via a vacuum action created when a normally closed flush valve momentarily opens and eliminates the differential pressure between the sink and the drain line. The system is automatically disabled when a clogged condition is sensed. The sink bowl is equipped with a sealable cover that cuts down the noise associated with vacuum pressure evacuation systems to an acceptable level. The system also has a rinse subsystem including a rinse valve for introducing rinse water into the sink just before a flush operation commences. The sink bowl includes an air inlet port in communication with an air inlet duct that extends outside of and above the cart for providing cabin pressure air to the sink. A controller controls the timing and operation of the flush and rinse operations. The flush control assembly is activated by depressing a flush switch above the assembly which itself is operational only when a vacuum condition is present in the drain line and when a proximity sensor indicates that the sink cover is closed and sealed. An elbow-shaped pipe that prevents rigid, elongate objects from becoming lodged in the drain line connects the sink's disposal outlet to the flush valve assembly.