Patent Description:
In aircrafts, water stored in a dedicated tank is used as drinking water, etc. Pressure in the tank is increased by introducing compressed air taken from an aircraft engine, etc., or compressed air from an air pump, into the tank and water in the tank is thereby sent to predetermined supply outlets (faucets, etc.).

Patent Document <NUM> can be found as prior art document information related to the invention of the present application.

Document <CIT> discloses a self-contained system for treating and recycling waste water, particularly for a toilet cubicle in a railway carriage or the like.

Document <CIT> discloses a water disinfection system includes a water disinfection device, having a UV light generator for the UV treatment of water, and a water pipe, having a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion and a third pipe portion which branches off between the first and the second pipe portion.

Document <CIT> discloses a water supply in aircraft for on-board use in conjunction with water outlets in lavatories and a galley.

In aircraft water supply systems, tanks and water supply pipes are cleaned with chemicals, etc., to suppress growth of bacteria, etc., in the tanks and water supply pipes. However, sterilization performed by cleaning is not sufficient and very low-quality water is used as drinking water under the current circumstances.

Particularly with aircrafts, water in the tank is sometimes used as it is in the return flight without being replaced because the water in the tank cannot be discharged in a cold district, etc., and the quality of water stored for a long time is never high.

An aircraft water supply system having a filter in a water supply pipe has been proposed. However, bacteria collected by the filter could grow in the filter, hence, improvement is desired.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a water supply system for aircraft that is capable of improving the quality of water supplied in an aircraft.

To solve the above-described problem, the invention provides a water supply system for aircraft to supply water to a plurality of water supply outlets in the aircraft according to claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a water supply system for aircraft that is capable of improving the quality of water supplied in an aircraft.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below in conjunction with the appended drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a water supply system for aircraft in the present embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, a water supply system <NUM> for aircraft is a system that is mounted on an aircraft to supply water to plural water supply outlets <NUM> in the aircraft.

The water supply system <NUM> for aircraft includes a tank <NUM> for storing water, and a water supply pipe <NUM> that extends from the tank <NUM>, branches and is connected to each of the plural water supply outlets <NUM> and supplies water from the tank <NUM> to the plural water supply outlets <NUM>.

The tank <NUM> is a large-size water storage tank storing water, and is also called a water tank or a portable water tank. A refilling pipe <NUM> for supplying water from the outside of the aircraft to the tank <NUM> is connected to the tank <NUM>. A drainage pipe <NUM> is also connected in such a manner that it branches off the water supply pipe <NUM> extending out of the tank <NUM>. A drain valve <NUM>a which is opened at the time of drainage is provided on the drainage pipe <NUM>.

One end of the water supply pipe <NUM> is connected to the tank <NUM> and the other end branches and is connected to each of the water supply outlets <NUM>. In the example described here, the water supply outlets <NUM> have a water heater <NUM>, a coffee maker <NUM> and a faucet <NUM> in a cooking cabinet (galley) <NUM> and a sink <NUM> and a toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM> in a toilet <NUM>. However, the water supply outlet <NUM> is not limited to that shown in the drawing and can be appropriately changed.

A compressed air introduction line <NUM> for introducing compressed air into the tank <NUM> is also connected to the tank <NUM>. The compressed air introduction line <NUM> has a first line <NUM> for introducing compressed air from an engine or auxiliary engine of the aircraft, and a second line <NUM> for guiding outside air, which is compressed by an air pump <NUM>b, into the tank <NUM>. An air filter <NUM>a, a pressure regulator <NUM>b and a check valve <NUM>c are provided on the first line <NUM>. An air filter <NUM>a, the air pump <NUM>b and a check valve <NUM>c are provided on the second line <NUM>. Pressure in the tank <NUM> is increased by compressed air introduced from the compressed air introduction line <NUM> and water in the tank <NUM> is thereby supplied to each water supply outlet <NUM>.

The water supply system <NUM> for aircraft includes ultraviolet sterilization devices <NUM> provided on the water supply pipe <NUM> respectively close to at least the water supply outlets <NUM> for drinking water. The ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> has light-emitting diodes <NUM> emitting ultraviolet light (see <FIG>), and sterilizes water supplied to the water supply outlets by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light from the light-emitting diodes <NUM>. Sterilization here also includes suppression of bacterial growth by inactivating bacteria.

In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet sterilization devices <NUM> are provided at portions of the water supply pipe <NUM> respectively connected to the water heater <NUM>, the coffee maker <NUM> and the faucet <NUM> in the cooking cabinet <NUM>. In this regard, however, when the branching points of the water supply pipe <NUM> are close to the water supply outlets <NUM>, one ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> may be provided for plural water supply outlets <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> has a spherical chamber <NUM> as a sterilization flow path inserted to the water supply pipe <NUM> and sterilizes water by irradiating water in the chamber <NUM> with ultraviolet light from the light-emitting diode <NUM>. An inner peripheral surface <NUM>a of the chamber <NUM> is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet light, and it is desirable to improve efficiency of water sterilization by causing multiple reflection of ultraviolet light in the chamber <NUM>. To avoid re-contamination by bacteria, etc., after sterilization, it is desirable to arrange the ultraviolet sterilization devices <NUM> as close to the water supply outlets <NUM> as possible. The specific configuration of the ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> is not limited to the configuration shown in <FIG>.

The light-emitting diode <NUM> used for the ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> preferably emits ultraviolet light with a wavelength of not less than <NUM> nm and not more than <NUM> nm. That is, it is desirable to use the light-emitting diode <NUM> of which center wavelength or peak wavelength is included in the range of not less than <NUM> nm and not more than <NUM> nm. To further improve the sterilization effect, it is more desirable to use the light-emitting diode <NUM> that emits ultraviolet light with a wavelength of not less than <NUM> nm and not more than <NUM> nm which has a high bactericidal effect.

In this regard, for example, a device for performing sterilization by irradiating water in the tank <NUM> with ultraviolet light could be provided in the tank <NUM>, but in this case, contamination by bacteria in the water supply pipe <NUM> is not avoided. By providing the ultraviolet sterilization devices <NUM> on the water supply pipe <NUM> close to the water supply outlets <NUM> as in the present embodiment, it is possible to kill (or inactivate) bacteria contaminating the tank <NUM> or the water supply pipe <NUM> and thereby possible to improve the quality of water supplied through the water supply outlets <NUM>.

Returning back to <FIG>, in the present embodiment, a small running water power generator <NUM> which generates power using water flowing through the water supply pipe <NUM> is provided close to each ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM>. Each ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> is driven using power generated by the corresponding running water power generator <NUM>. The ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> may alternatively be driven using power generated by the running water power generator <NUM> and another power. As a result, it is possible to suppress power consumption of the ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> and the running cost is reduced.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a filter <NUM> for filtering water is provided on the downstream side of each ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM>. For example, if the filter <NUM> is provided on the upstream side of the ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM>, the bacteria collected by the filter <NUM> could grow in the filter <NUM>, causing a decrease in the quality of water. In contrast, since the filter <NUM> is provided on the downstream side of each ultraviolet sterilization device <NUM> in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress growth of bacteria in the filter <NUM>.

In the water supply system <NUM> for aircraft in the present embodiment, a water supply faucet <NUM>a, a sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b for supplying ozone water and a hand dryer <NUM>c are provided at the sink <NUM> in the toilet <NUM>. The faucet <NUM>a and the sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b are respectively connected to branches of the water supply pipe <NUM>.

An ozone water generator <NUM> for generating and supplying ozone water to the sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b is provided on the water supply pipe <NUM> close to the sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b. As shown in <FIG>, the ozone water generator <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped chamber <NUM> inserted to the water supply pipe <NUM>, and plate-shaped anode and cathode electrodes <NUM> and <NUM> provided so as to sandwich the chamber <NUM>. The water in the chamber <NUM> is electrolyzed by applying a voltage between the two electrodes <NUM>, <NUM> and ozone water is thereby generated. A cathode water discharge flow path <NUM> is connected to the chamber <NUM> to discharge cathode water that is generated in the chamber <NUM> and contains a large amount of hydrogen. The specific configuration of the ozone water generator <NUM> is not limited to the configuration shown in <FIG>.

An ozone concentration meter <NUM> for measuring an ozone concentration in the ozone water generated by the ozone water generator <NUM> is provided on the downstream side of the ozone water generator <NUM>. As the ozone concentration meter <NUM>, it is possible to use an ultraviolet light absorbing-type ozone concentration meter that uses a light-emitting diode emitting ultraviolet light. A running water power generator that generates power using water flowing through the water supply pipe <NUM> may be provided to drive the ozone water generator <NUM> or the ozone concentration meter <NUM>.

In aircrafts, part of drainage water is discharged from a drain mast to the outside, but wastewater from toilets, etc., is stored in a waste tank. Drainage water from the sink <NUM> is also stored in the waste tank. However, when soap is used in the sink <NUM>, the waste tank becomes sudsy and it makes post-treatment awkward. For this reason, less lathering soap is generally used in the sink <NUM> under the current circumstances, but it is difficult to obtain a sufficient sterilization effect only by such a measure. By enabling handwashing with ozone water at the sink <NUM> as in the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a sufficient sterilization effect. In addition, since the ozone water is collected into the waste tank, it is also possible to sterilize the waste tank.

In an example not within the scope of the appended claims, the compressed air introduction line <NUM> (the first line <NUM> and the second line <NUM>) is connected to the hand dryer <NUM>c via a dryer connection line <NUM>, and it is configured that compressed air from the compressed air introduction line <NUM> is blown out of the hand dryer <NUM>c. A pressure regulator <NUM>a for regulating pressure of air blown out of the hand dryer <NUM>c is provided on the dryer connection line <NUM>. By configuring so that the hand dryer <NUM>c uses compressed air from the compressed air introduction line <NUM>, the necessity of driving a fan as in the conventional technique is eliminated and it is possible to reduce power consumption.

Additionally, an ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>d for emitting ultraviolet light onto user's hands to be dried may be provided on the hand dryer <NUM>c, as shown in <FIG>. As a light source used for the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>d, it is desirable to use a light-emitting diode that is low in power consumption. When ozone water is irradiated with ultraviolet light, hydroxy radicals with a powerful oxidizing action are produced and the sterilization effect is improved by enhanced oxidation. Therefore, it is possible to provide handwashing with higher sterilization effect to passengers by combining the ozone water supply with the hand dryer <NUM>c having the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>d.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is configured that the ozone water is also used in the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM> used for cleaning the toilet bowl in the toilet. In this regard, the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM> is used to store water for flushing a toilet bowl <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, an ozone water generator <NUM> for generating and supplying ozone water to the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM> is provided on the water supply pipe <NUM> close to the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM>. However, it is not limited thereto, and an ozone water generator may be provided in the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM>. The detailed description of the ozone water generator <NUM> will be omitted since it has the same structure as the ozone water generator <NUM> described in reference to <FIG>. Although the separate ozone water generators <NUM> and <NUM> are used for supplying ozone water to the sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b and for supplying ozone water to the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM> in the present embodiment, it may be configured such that ozone water generated by one ozone water generator <NUM> or <NUM> is supplied to both the sterilized water supply outlet <NUM>b and the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM>.

By configuring to clean the toilet bowl <NUM> with ozone water stored in the toilet bowl cleaning tank <NUM>, the toilet bowl <NUM> can be sterilized every time water is flushed, and it is thus possible to suppress occurrence of airborne bacteria from the toilet bowl <NUM>.

As described above, the water supply system <NUM> for aircraft in the present embodiment includes the ultraviolet sterilization devices <NUM> provided on the water supply pipe <NUM> close to at least the water supply outlets <NUM> for drinking water, each having light-emitting diodes emitting ultraviolet light, and sterilizing water supplied to the water supply outlets <NUM> by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light from the light-emitting diodes.

Claim 1:
A water supply system (<NUM>) for an aircraft, the system configured to be located in an aircraft and configured to sterilize water to be supplied to a plurality of water supply outlets (<NUM>) in the aircraft, the system comprising:
a tank for storing water (<NUM>);
a water supply pipe (<NUM>) extending from the tank (<NUM>), branching and suitable for connecting to at least one of a plurality of water supply outlets (<NUM>), and supplying water from the tank (<NUM>) to the plurality of water supply outlets (<NUM>); and
an ultraviolet sterilization device (<NUM>) provided on the water supply pipe (<NUM>) configured to be positioned close to a water supply outlet for drinking water, comprising a light-emitting diode (<NUM>) emitting ultraviolet light, and configured for sterilizing water supplied to said
water supply outlet by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light from the light-emitting diode (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the ultraviolet sterilization device (<NUM>) has a spherical chamber (<NUM>) inserted to the water supply pipe (<NUM>);
in that an inner peripheral surface of the spherical chamber (<NUM>) is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet light; and
in that the light-emitting diode (<NUM>) is disposed in the spherical chamber (<NUM>).