Patent Description:
Aircraft cabins include lavatories having drain systems disposed therein. Waste tank level sensing systems and methods may be prone to erroneous readings indicating a waste tank is in a full state when the waste tank is not. In this regard, an associated toilet may be inoperable during a period of time while the waste tank is deemed in the full state.

<CIT> discloses a control system for a flush toilet that includes a water delivery device for delivering a source of flush water to a bowl. The control system includes a controller and a user interface. The controller is operative to control the toilet through a flush sequence in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the controller opens the water delivery device to deliver a predetermined amount of water to the bowl. In the second mode, the controller opens the water delivery device to deliver a user adjustable amount of water to the bowl. The user interface allows selection via the controller between the first and second modes. Where the toilet is a macerator toilet, the controller monitors current draw unit when the current draw satisfies a predetermined current condition. The controller may operate in a normal mode and a lockout mode. <CIT> discloses a vacuum flush waste disposal system for aircraft; wherein the required vacuum is acquired at altitude through the differential pressure between the aircraft cabin pressure and the ambient pressure above <NUM>,<NUM> feet. When the aircraft is below this altitude or on the ground, the vacuum is provided by a blower. For flushing the toilet bowl, a timing device is initially actuated and functions: to introduce a recirculated flush fluid into a flush ring in the upper portion of the toilet bowl; and to open a drain in the lower portion of the toilet bowl, leading to the vacuum waste line; whereby, the waste and flush water are rapidly propelled through the waste line towards a centrally located holding tank, by the differential pressure acting upon it. Once in the holding tank, the waste fluid is filtered out for further use as the recirculated flush fluid. <CIT> discloses a fuel sensing system that utilizes non-contact plastic optical fiber (POF) to optically sense the level of liquid fuel in a fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel level sensing system includes: (i) a high-speed and high-power red laser diode; (ii) an ultra-high-sensitivity photon-counting avalanche photodiode; and (iii) a large-diameter and large-numerical-aperture graded-index POF. The fuel level is sensed when the avalanche photodiode first detects impinging light reflected by the POF end face and then detects impinging light reflected by the fuel surface in response to emission of a laser pulse by the red laser diode. A time delay detection circuit calculates the time interval separating the respective times of arrival. A fuel level calculator calculates the fuel level based on the time interval provided by the time delay detection circuit. <CIT> discloses a toilet monument, for a passenger transport vehicle, which comprises a receptacle that is configured to receive a mobile sanitary unit. The mobile sanitary unit comprises components for operating the sanitary unit. The mobile sanitary unit may be removed completely from the toilet monument in order to make it possible to affect decentralized cleaning and servicing of the mobile sanitary unit. The mobile sanitary unit may be, for example, to a toilet unit, a hand wash facility, a urinal or a shower unit.

A plumbing system for an aircraft is disclosed as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the system may further comprise a display device electronically coupled to the controller, the controller configured to send the waste water level to the display device. The system may further comprise an actuator electronically coupled to the controller, the controller configured to actuate the actuator in response to the controller determining the waste water level exceeded a level threshold. The actuator may be configured to lock a lavatory in an aircraft. The actuator may be configured to close a valve disposed between a toilet bowl and the waste tank. The contactless sensor may comprise a laser doppler sensor. The system may further comprise the waste tank and a transparent lens, the contactless sensor configured to transmit and receive a laser beam through the transparent lens, the transparent lens coupled to the waste tank.

According to the invention, the plumbing system comprises a waste water level detection system comprising the contactless sensor, the waste water level detection system configured for rotatory motion of the contactless sensor. The plumbing system may further comprise a transparent lens coupled to the waste tank, the laser beam configured to travel through the transparent lens. The plumbing system may further comprise a controller in electronic communication with the contactless sensor, the controller configured to calculate the waste water level in the waste tank based on sensor data from the contactless sensor. The plumbing system may further comprise a display device electronically coupled to the controller, the display device configured to display the waste water level in the waste tank. The controller may be configured to send the waste water level in the waste tank to the display device. The plumbing system may further comprise an actuator electronically coupled to the controller, the controller configured to actuate the actuator in response to the controller determining a waste water level threshold has been exceeded. The actuator may be configured to at least one of lock a lavatory in the aircraft and close the valve.

An aircraft is disclosed herein as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the contactless sensor is a laser doppler sensor. The aircraft may further comprise a transparent lens coupled to the waste tank, the contactless sensor configured to emit the laser beam through the transparent lens. The contactless sensor may be disposed external to a cavity defined by the waste tank.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and their best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option.

Disclosed herein is waste water level detection systems and method for use in aircrafts. The waste water level detection system comprises a contactless sensor configured to emit a laser beam and receive a return signal from the laser beam within a waste tank to determine a waste water level within the waste tank. The waste water level detection system may reduce a part count of typical systems, increase accuracy relative to typical contact systems, and/or provide continuous monitoring, e, in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a perspective view of a lavatory <NUM> of an aircraft is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The lavatory <NUM> comprises a toilet <NUM>, a water basin <NUM> (e.g., a sink), and a faucet <NUM>. In various embodiments, the lavatory <NUM> further comprises a plumbing system <NUM>. The plumbing system <NUM> is in fluid communication with the toilet <NUM>, the water basin <NUM>, and the faucet <NUM>. In this regard, in response to flushing the toilet <NUM>, waste water may be transferred throughout the plumbing system <NUM> as described further herein. Similarly, in response to running water via the faucet <NUM>, waste water may be transferred throughout the plumbing system <NUM> as described further herein.

Referring now to <FIG>, a plumbing system <NUM> comprising a waste water level detection system <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the plumbing system <NUM> comprises a rinse valve <NUM> associated with each toilet bowl (e.g., toilet bowls <NUM>, <NUM>). The rinse valve <NUM> is configured to open in response to external activation (e.g., via flushing of a handle, via a sensor detecting a person is no longer in front of the sensor, or the like). In response to opening the rinse valve <NUM>, waste water may flow (e.g., via fluid conduits <NUM>, <NUM>) from the toilet bowl (e.g., toilet bowl <NUM> or toilet bowl <NUM>) to a waste tank <NUM>. In various embodiments, during the flushing process, potable water may be dispensed through a potable water port <NUM> disposed in each toilet bowl (e.g., toilet bowls <NUM>, <NUM>). In this regard, any solid waste may be transported from the toilet bowl (e.g., toilet bowl <NUM> or toilet bowl <NUM>) to the waste tank <NUM> as waste water, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a contactless sensor <NUM> is coupled to the waste tank <NUM>. As described further herein, the contactless sensor <NUM> may be disposed within the waste tank <NUM>, coupled to an external surface of the waste tank <NUM>, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard. The contactless sensor <NUM> is in electronic communication with the controller <NUM>.

In various embodiments the contactless sensor <NUM> is in electronic (i.e., electrical or wireless) communication with a controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be integrated into computer system of the aircraft. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be configured as a central network element or hub to access various systems and components of the system <NUM>. Controller <NUM> may comprise a network, computer-based system, and/or software components configured to provide an access point to various systems and components of the system <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may comprise a processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be implemented in a single processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> may be implemented as and may include one or more processors and/or one or more tangible, non-transitory memories and be capable of implementing logic. Each processor can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programable gate array (FPGA) or other programable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. Controller <NUM> may comprise a processor configured to implement various logical operations in response to execution of instructions, for example, instructions stored on a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium configured to communicate with controller <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the contactless sensor <NUM> comprises a laser doppler sensor. The contactless sensor <NUM> may be disposed proximate a top portion of the waste tank <NUM>. In this regard, the waste tank <NUM> may continuously or periodically provide a waste water level in the waste tank <NUM> to the controller <NUM>. Thus, in response to a waste level exceeding a predetermined threshold (e.g., <NUM>% to <NUM> % vertical height of the waste water level sensor), the controller <NUM> may send a signal to the display device <NUM> a waste tank full condition. Thus, the crew may be informed that the waste tank is full and appropriate actions may be taken. In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> may be configured to send a warning signal at a predetermined level (e.g., <NUM>% vertical height of the waste water level sensor) to indicate the waste tank should be emptied soon (i.e., a waste tank near full condition signal).

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic view of the waste water level detection system <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The system <NUM> comprises the contactless sensor <NUM> coupled to the waste tank <NUM> of the plumbing system <NUM> from <FIG>. In various embodiments, the contactless sensor <NUM> may be disposed external to the waste tank <NUM>. For example, a transparent lens <NUM> may be disposed between a cavity defined by the waste tank <NUM> and the contactless sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, the transparent lens <NUM> is coupled to the waste tank <NUM> and the contactless sensor <NUM> is coupled to the transparent lens <NUM>. Although illustrated with transparent lens <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the contactless sensor <NUM> may be coupled directly to the waste tank <NUM> or disposed within the waste tank <NUM> and still be within the scope of this disclosure. Although illustrated as being coupled to the transparent lens <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the contactless sensor <NUM> may be spaced apart from the transparent lens <NUM> to facilitate motion of the contactless sensor <NUM> during use, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the transparent lens <NUM> may provide protection from waste water splash, or the like during operation of the plumbing system <NUM> from <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the contactless sensor <NUM> comprises a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to emit a laser beam into the waste tank <NUM>, receive a return signal of the laser beam, calculate a time from emitting the laser beam to receiving the return signal, and determine a height of waste water within the waste tank <NUM> based on the time and a speed of the laser beam.

According to the invention, the waste water level detection system <NUM> is configured to facilitate rotary motion <NUM> of the contactless sensor <NUM> (e.g., via a ball and socket joint, or the like) to allow the contactless sensor <NUM> to obtain various data points within the waste tank <NUM> and map a waste water profile within the waste tank <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the contactless sensor <NUM> may prevent any erroneous readings due to clogging of waste from contact sensors (e.g., point level sensors). Additionally, in various embodiments, as multiple contact sensors are typically used for waste water level detection, the contactless sensor <NUM> may reduce a sensor count from multiple to one, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the contactless sensor <NUM> may provide continuous waste water level data to the controller <NUM>. In this regard, the controller <NUM> may be configured to send the waste water level data to the display device <NUM> to be displayed to any member of the cabin crew. Thus, the waste water level may be continuously monitored, in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic view of a control system <NUM> for the system <NUM> from <FIG> and <FIG>. In various embodiments, the control system <NUM> comprises the controller <NUM>, the contactless sensor <NUM>, a power source <NUM>, and the display device <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may be electrically coupled, and configured to power, the contactless sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, the power source is a battery, or any other power source disposed on an aircraft. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In various embodiments, the control system <NUM> further comprises an actuator <NUM> electronically (e.g., via a wired connection or wireless connection) the controller <NUM>. In this regard, in response to the controller <NUM> determining the waste tank <NUM> from <FIG> and <FIG> is full, the controller <NUM> may actuate the actuator <NUM> to lock a respective lavatory, close a respective valve <NUM>, or the like. In this regard, a lavatory, or toilet may be decommissioned in response to the waste tank <NUM> for the respective lavatory or toilet being filled.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

Claim 1:
A plumbing system (<NUM>) for an aircraft, comprising:
a waste tank (<NUM>);
a toilet bowl (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a fluid conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the waste tank to the toilet bowl;
a valve (<NUM>) at least partially disposed in the fluid conduit; and
a waste water level detection system comprising a contactless sensor (<NUM>) coupled to the waste tank (<NUM>), the contactless sensor (<NUM>) configured to emit a laser beam into the waste tank (<NUM>) and receive a return signal of the laser beam to determine a waste water level in the waste tank (<NUM>) , the waste water level detection system configured to facilitate rotatory motion of the contactless sensor (<NUM>) to allow the contactless sensor to obtain various data points within the waste tank (<NUM>) and map a waste water profile within the waste tank (<NUM>).