Patent ID: 7712789

Claim:
An adapter for coupling a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe in a commercial aircraft through a floor of the aircraft, the first connecting pipe being above the floor of the aircraft and the second connecting pipe being below the floor, wherein the first and second connecting pipes are connected to an aircraft's internal vacuum system and laid out in the interior of the aircraft, the adapter comprising: an adapter top comprising a rigid adapter pipe for connection to the first connecting pipe; and an adapter bottom comprising a rigid adapter pipe for connection to the second connecting pipe, wherein the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter bottom is capable of being positioned within a recess in the floor, wherein the adapter bottom includes an attachment flange formed on an external circumference of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter bottom, the attachment flange having a central flange opening attached to the external circumference of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter bottom, such that a face of the attachment flange is capable of being attached to a lower surface of the aircraft floor, and the adapter top has a tubular supporting flange joined on an external circumference of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter top, such that the tubular supporting flange encloses the external circumference of a pipe end region of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter top, and the adapter top has a plurality of ring-shaped elevations extending outwardly from the pipe end region of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter top and the plurality of ring-shaped elevations are arranged side-by-side and at a spacing, the spacing defining a groove between the plurality of ring-shaped elevations, such that the pipe end region with the plurality of ring-shaped elevations is insertable in a first portion of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter bottom, and the adapter bottom includes a collar element extending outwardly from the face of the attachment flange such that an opening cross section of the collar element is axially aligned with the central flange opening of the attachment flange and a pipe aperture of the first portion of the rigid adapter pipe of the adapter bottom, and the collar element extends to a height above the face of the attachment flange selected to coincide with a thickness of the aircraft floor, such that an upper supporting surface of the collar element is flush with an upper surface of the aircraft floor when the face of the attachment flange is attached to the lower surface of the aircraft floor.