Aircraft vacuum toilet system splash guard

Abstract

The present application is entitled "Splash Guard for Aircraft Vacuum Toilet System". A toilet bowl system for use on an aircraft includes a toilet bowl body body, the toilet bowl body body including a toilet bowl body and a cover. The toilet bowl body has a rim. A removable splash guard is positioned between the toilet bowl body and the cover, and includes a substantially flat flexible planar shield having a central opening. The shield includes a top portion and a rear portion, the top portion facing the cover, and the lower portion facing the toilet bowl body, and the lower portion is shaped to correspond to an upper portion of the rim of the toilet bowl body and is configured to secure the removable toilet splash guard to the toilet bowl body.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application 201680030085.5 (PCT / US2016 / 024909) filed on March 30, 2016 and entitled “Splash-proof device for aircraft vacuum toilet system”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 140,260, entitled “VACUUM TOILET SYSTEM AND INSTALLATION METHOD THEREOF” and filed on March 30, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to vacuum toilet systems, and more generally to splash guards for such systems. Background Art

[0005] Designing a toilet for an aircraft presents challenges that are not generally present in ground-based toilet design. For example, in an aircraft, space and weight are at a premium, and using a conventional flush toilet is impractical. There are additional disadvantages associated with existing systems. For example, existing systems allow waste matter to splash under the shroud and above the toilet bowl, and create odors and potential corrosion-related damage. Moreover, performing routine maintenance and cleaning is more difficult because space limitations make access to the plumbing system nearly impossible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] While the appended claims set forth the features of the present technology with particularity, these technologies will be better understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toilet system configured according to an embodiment.

[0008] Figure 2A 2. It is a bottom view of a toilet splash guard according to an embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of a toilet splash guard taken across section line 2B according to an embodiment.

[0010] Figure 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the interaction between a toilet splash guard and a rim of a toilet bowl, according to an embodiment.

[0011] Figure 4Ais a cross-sectional view of airflow between the splash guard and the toilet bowl cover during a rest state of the splash guard according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4B is a cross-sectional diagram of airflow between a splash guard and a toilet bowl cover during a flush sequence according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The following discussion relates to various exemplary embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the examples disclosed herein have broad applications, and the discussion of any embodiment only means that the embodiment is exemplary, and is not intended to imply that the scope of the present disclosure (including claims) is limited to the embodiment.

[0014] Certain terms are used throughout the following description to refer to particular features or components. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different people may refer to the same features or components by different names. This document is not intended to distinguish between components or features that are different in name but not functionally different. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Certain features and components herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in slightly schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown for clarity and conciseness.

[0015] The present disclosure generally relates to a toilet bowl system for use on an aircraft. The toilet bowl body includes a toilet cover and a toilet bowl having a rim portion. A removable splash guard is positioned between the toilet bowl and the cover and includes a substantially flat flexible planar shield having a central opening. The shield includes a top portion and a rear portion, wherein the top portion faces the cover and the lower portion faces the toilet bowl. The lower portion is shaped to correspond to the upper portion of the rim of the toilet bowl and is configured to secure the removable toilet splash guard to the toilet bowl. In addition, the lower portion of the planar shield has the additional benefit of sealing the toilet bowl and thereby preventing waste from migrating from the inside of the toilet bowl to the outside.

[0016] Steering Figure 1 , showing a toilet system configured according to an embodiment. The toilet, generally designated 100, is configured to be deployed on an aircraft and may be contained within an external housing (not shown). The toilet 100 includes a bowl 102 attached to a frame 104. The bowl 102 includes a rim 110. The toilet 100 also includes a fluid control valve 130 provided near the rim 110.

[0017] The toilet 100 further includes a removable splash guard 160 positioned between the toilet bowl 102 and the cover 410 (shown in FIG. 4 ). The splash guard 160 is a removable splash guard having a central opening O, a top portion A, and a bottom portion B (in FIG. Figure 2ANext, reference will be made to Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 3 The structure of the splash prevention device 160 is described in more detail.

[0018] Now refer to Figure 2A , shows a splash guard 160 configured according to an embodiment of a toilet system 200. The lower portion B of the splash guard 160 includes a first ridge 204 extending along an outer peripheral edge 210 of the guard and extending substantially perpendicular to the planar guard. Figure 3 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 , the first ridge 204 extends downwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the outer circumferential edge 210 .

[0019] Return to Figure 2A and Figure 2B , the lower portion B of the splash guard 160 includes a second ridge 208 extending concentrically with the first ridge 204 and also extending substantially perpendicularly to the planar shield. Figure 3 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 , the second ridge 208 also extends downwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the outer circumferential edge 210. According to an embodiment, the first ridge 204 and the second ridge 208 are axially spaced apart from each other. Figure 3 As shown, according to one embodiment, the rim 110 of the toilet bowl 102 is configured to fit in the axial space between the first ridge 204 and the second ridge 208. According to some embodiments, the lower portion B together with the second ridge 208 helps the toilet splash guard 160 seal the toilet bowl 102 to prevent waste from migrating to the outside of the toilet bowl 102.

[0020] As in Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown in FIG. 1 , the first ridge 204 includes a lip 206 extending substantially vertically from the free end of the first ridge 204. Figure 3 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 , the lip 206 extends toward the central opening O of the planar shield. Figure 3 In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the lip 206 of the first ridge 204 is configured to overlap a portion of the rim 110 of the toilet bowl 102 to secure the removable toilet splash guard 160 to the toilet bowl 102. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various other mechanisms for retaining the removable toilet splash guard 160 to the toilet bowl 102 may be used in place of or in addition to the mechanisms discussed above. For example, in an embodiment, a plurality of removable fasteners may be used to secure the removable toilet splash guard 160 to the toilet bowl 102.

[0021] Now turn to Figure 4A , the removable splash guard 160 is configured to be positioned between the toilet cover 410 and the toilet bowl 102. In an embodiment, the lower portion B of the removable splash guard 160 is configured to substantially prevent waste disposed into the toilet bowl 102 from contacting the cover 410 as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0022] In an embodiment, there is an air gap between the toilet cover and the top of the vacuum toilet bowl to ensure that negative pressure is not exerted on the occupant if the occupant forms a seal between their body and the toilet cover during use. However, in conventional toilet systems, this air gap allows waste matter to splash under the cover and above the bowl. This buildup can create odor / smell behind the cover if not cleaned properly or regularly.

[0023] In accordance with an embodiment of the toilet system disclosed herein, the removable splash guard 160 is configured to prevent both liquid and solid waste from splashing beneath the toilet cover 410 and over the top of the toilet bowl 102 while still providing adequate vacuum breaker (air gap) protection for the occupant.

[0024] More specifically, if Figure 4A As shown, the removable toilet splash guard 160 is designed to prevent waste material from splashing under the toilet cover 410 by closing the gap between the toilet bowl 102 and the toilet cover 410. In an embodiment, the removable toilet splash guard 160 acts like a check valve and prevents waste from splashing under the cover 410, but allows air to enter the toilet if a seal has been formed between the occupant and the cover 410. As shown in Figure 4B As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1 , during a flush sequence, an airflow path (indicated by arrows) is created connecting the exterior and interior of the toilet bowl 102 due to the flexibility of the removable toilet splash guard 160 .

[0025] In addition, the toilet splash guard 160 can be easily cleaned using a current toilet cleaning brush to remove any waste that splashes onto the toilet splash guard 160. Over time, the toilet splash guard 160 can be easily replaced by directly replacing the detachable plastic toilet bowl 102 or replacing the splash guard 160. The splash guard 160 is designed to facilitate assembly to and removal from the top of the toilet bowl 102. According to an embodiment, the flexible planar shield of the splash guard 160 can be customizable to meet a specific cover opening. This can be done using a specific tool or trimming tool at the time of manufacture, or by making a template for trimming on site.

[0026] The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein is intended only to better illustrate the present invention and does not constitute a limitation on the scope of the present invention unless otherwise required. Many modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined not by the detailed description of the present invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope should be interpreted as being included in the present invention.

[0027] The specific implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development, and other functional aspects of the systems (as well as components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail.

[0028] The steps of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order, unless otherwise noted herein or obviously contradictory to the context. Unless an element is particularly described as "necessary" or "critical", no project or component is necessary for the implementation of the present invention. It should also be recognized that the terms "comprise", "include", "contain", "contain", "have" and "have" as used herein are intended to be specifically interpreted as open terms in the art. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms "one", "one", "the" and similar reference objects used in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the claim) will be interpreted as covering both the singular and the plural. In addition, it should be understood that although the terms "first", "second" etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms, and these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. In addition, the description of the range of values ​​herein is only intended to be used as a shorthand method for referring to each independent value falling within the range individually, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each independent value is incorporated into the specification, as it is described individually in this article.

Claims

1. A toilet body system, comprising: A toilet bowl body, which includes a toilet bowl and a cover, wherein the toilet bowl includes a rim; a removable splash guard positioned between the toilet bowl and the cover, the removable splash guard comprising a shield having a central opening, a top portion and a lower portion, the top portion facing the cover and the lower portion facing the toilet bowl; The lower part comprises: a first ridge extending along an outer periphery of the guard; A second ridge extends concentrically with the first ridge, the guard forming an extension that protrudes inwardly from the second ridge as a continuation of the guard, the extension being configured to be in a first position in contact with the cover to prevent waste disposed into the toilet bowl from contacting the cover, and being configured to be in a second position spaced apart from the cover to maintain an airflow path from the interior of the toilet bowl to the exterior of the toilet bowl.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable splash guard is secured to the rim of the toilet bowl by a removable fastener.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the removable splash guard is customizable to correspond to the opening of the cover.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first ridge and the second ridge are axially spaced from one another.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover is positioned relative to the toilet bowl to define an air gap between the cover and the toilet bowl.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable splash guard is configured to provide an airflow path connecting an interior and an exterior of the toilet bowl during a flush sequence.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second ridge extends perpendicular to the shield.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the shield is flexible.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the rim of the toilet bowl is configured to fit in a space between the first ridge and the second ridge.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein: The first ridge includes a free end and a lip extending from the free end of the first ridge and toward the central opening of the shield.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein: The lip of the first ridge is configured to overlap a portion of the rim of the toilet bowl to secure the removable splash guard to the toilet bowl.

12. A detachable toilet splash guard, comprising: a guard having a central opening, a top portion and a lower portion, the top portion facing the cover and the lower portion facing the toilet bowl; The lower part comprises: a first ridge extending along an outer periphery of the guard; A second ridge extends concentrically with the first ridge, the guard forming an extension that protrudes inwardly from the second ridge as a continuation of the guard, the extension being configured to be in a first position in contact with the cover to prevent waste disposed into the toilet bowl from contacting the cover, and being configured to be in a second position spaced apart from the cover to maintain an airflow path from the interior of the toilet bowl to the exterior of the toilet bowl.

13. The detachable toilet splash guard according to claim 12, wherein: The first ridge includes a free end and a lip extending from the free end of the first ridge and toward the central opening of the shield.

14. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 13, wherein the lip of the first ridge is configured to overlap a portion of a rim of a toilet bowl to secure the removable toilet splash guard to the toilet bowl.

15. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the first ridge and the second ridge are axially spaced from one another.

16. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the removable splash guard is configured to provide an airflow path connecting the interior and exterior of the toilet bowl during a flush sequence.

17. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the second ridge extends perpendicular to the guard.

18. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the shield is flexible.

19. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the central opening is inward from the first ridge and the second ridge.

20. The removable toilet splash guard of claim 12, wherein the first ridge extends perpendicular to the guard.

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