Aircraft having drinking water system and method for installing drinking water system in aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to an aircraft with a potable water system and a method for installing a potable water system in an aircraft. An aircraft having a potable water system adapted to feed potable water from a potable water tank to consumption equipment of a monument in an aircraft cabin, the potable water system comprising a plurality of potable water interfaces and at least one monument, a drinking water system is provided with at least one opening adapted to establish a fluid connection with a consumer device, through which at least one drinking water interface is accessible, and an assembly method for installing a drinking water system, in which a standard part of the drinking water system is pre-installed and a custom part is subsequently installed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an aircraft having a drinking water system and to a method for installing a drinking water system in an aircraft. Background Art

[0002] Usually, aircraft offer different positions for monuments such as galleys and washroom cabins. In so-called standard positions, the monuments are installed as standard in every aircraft of this type. In so-called dual positions, the monument positions are fixed, but the user can select or deselect the installation of the monument. For example, if the user does not need the monument, seats can be installed in these positions. In so-called flexible zones, the number, type and position of the monuments can be selected individually by the user.

[0003] In order to supply fresh water to consumers such as washbasins in buildings, drinking water systems are provided. Drinking water systems are adapted to feed drinking water from drinking water tanks to consumers. To meet the different user requirements, the piping of drinking water systems is technically expensive. In addition, the piping limits the individual positioning of buildings. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an aircraft with an improved drinking water system which enables a flexible installation of monuments in the aircraft cabin and a simplified assembly method of a drinking water system.

[0005] This object is achieved by an aircraft according to the main aspect of the invention and by a method according to the main aspect of the invention. Advantageous embodiments are also disclosed in the present application.

[0006] According to the invention, an aircraft has a drinking water system, which is suitable for feeding drinking water from a drinking water tank to consumers of a monument in the aircraft cabin. The drinking water system comprises a plurality of drinking water connections and at least one monument. The drinking water connection is arranged in a cabin floor section and is fluidically connected to the drinking water tank. The monument has a floor section with at least one opening. The opening is suitable for establishing a fluid connection with a consumer of the monument. The at least one drinking water connection can be reached via the at least one opening. Alternatively, the drinking water connection is located in the monument floor section and the opening is located in the cabin floor section.

[0007] According to the method for installing a drinking water system in an aircraft to feed drinking water from a drinking water tank to consumers of a building in the aircraft cabin, a drinking water connection is installed at a defined position in a cabin floor section. In the building floor section, an opening suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer of the building is provided. After this, the building is installed in the aircraft cabin. The consumer is connected to the accessible drinking water connection via a drinking water building line, and the required drinking water connection is connected to the drinking water main line.

[0008] Alternatively, the opening is provided in the cabin floor and the drinking water connection is located in the building floor. The drinking water connection is installed at a defined position in the building floor section. Then, an opening is provided in the cabin floor section, which is suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer of the building. After this, the building is installed in the aircraft cabin. Then, the consumer is connected to the accessible drinking water connection via the drinking water building line, and the required drinking water connection is connected to the drinking water main line.

[0009] It should be noted that in both embodiments, the connection of at least one required drinking water connection to the drinking water main line can be done before the monument is installed in the nacelle.

[0010] The invention enables a pre-installed drinking water connection (arranged at a predetermined position in the aircraft) to be combined with a customized pipe (drinking water monument line). Basically, the invention can be used in a standard position, in a double position and in a flexible area. The drinking water system can be a high-pressure system with an operating pressure of more than 5 bar. The drinking water connection is of the quick-connect type (quick-disconnect type, e.g. connecting a drinking water monument line is easy). The monument line and all other lines of the drinking water system can be pipes, hoses, tubes, etc.

[0011] Preferably, each cabin floor panel in a building cabin position of an aircraft cabin is equipped with at least one drinking water connection. By means of this, the floor panels can have the same design and the same manufacturing steps. A preferred building cabin area is in the elastic zone.

[0012] In one embodiment, at least one opening has a circular shape similar or identical to the through hole. Such a shape is easy to create.

[0013] Alternatively, at least one opening has an elongated shape. By means of this, more than one drinking water connection can be reached through only one opening.

[0014] Preferably, a plurality of openings are provided in the monument floor, so that the monument can be mounted in different axial and / or transverse directions while providing access to at least one drinking water connection.

[0015] Advantageously, the drinking water connection and the opening are arranged at a distance from an adjacent drinking water connection and an adjacent opening, respectively, which distance corresponds to the axial displacement of the passenger seat. By this measure, the monument can be flexibly moved in the longitudinal direction along the seat track. For example, if the seat track has an inch grid, adjacent openings and adjacent drinking water connections are also spaced apart from each other by a distance of one inch (25.4 mm).

[0016] If the drinking water connections are located in an axial row, the assembly of the construction is simplified. Then, each connection can be connected to the longitudinal drinking water main line via the same branch line.

[0017] In order to form a smooth building floor, unused openings are closed by plugs.

[0018] Advantageously, a drinking water system, at least one drinking water main line and a plurality of water branch lines are provided. At least one drinking water main line and the drinking water branch line are suitable for feeding the drinking water stored in the drinking water tank to a plurality of drinking water interfaces. At least one drinking water main line is laid out in a longitudinal direction from the drinking water tank and is positioned in a warm area of ​​the aircraft located below the cabin floor, the warm area having an ambient temperature that prevents the drinking water from freezing. It is important that the temperature in the warm area does not drop below freezing during all operating scenarios (cruise flights of different lengths, climbs, descents, cold weather turns, and some doors open, etc.). If these criteria are met, the water main line route is the correct route. This is mainly the case if a certain distance is maintained from a cold a / c skin or other structural elements that may be very cold. An example of an area that meets these criteria is the central area of ​​the aircraft. However, it does not have to be located in the center of the fuselage cross section. It is possible that this cannot be achieved by a straight layout and a more complex pipeline route including a bend, etc.

[0019] The drinking water branch lines extend from at least one main drinking water line to those drinking water connections (selected connections) required for the installation of the structure. Due to this measure, freezing of the drinking water system is avoided because all lines are positioned in a warm area of ​​the aircraft. Therefore, antifreeze ice equipment for the drinking water lines can be omitted by design. This will significantly reduce the complexity and weight of the drinking water system. Depending on the layout of the main drinking water line and the position of the enabled drinking water connections, the branch lines can extend in a transverse direction, in a diagonal direction or only in a vertical direction. For example, if the main water line is positioned in the middle of the aircraft, the drinking water line also extends in a transverse direction. If the main drinking water line is positioned laterally, the drinking water line can be positioned directly below at least one drinking water connection, so that (essentially) only a vertical extension of the drinking water branch line exists. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that various elements and components are depicted only as examples and may be optional and / or combined in a manner different from that depicted. Reference numerals for relevant elements are used comprehensively and are not necessarily defined again for each of the accompanying drawings. Schematically shown in the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 : Cabin layout with an exemplary innovative drinking water system;

[0022] Figure 2 : A top view of the building base of the innovative building,

[0023] Figure 3 :exist Figure 2 Installation of the monument shown in FIG. 1 in the region of an innovative monument location of a fuselage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the cabin layout of a single-aisle passenger aircraft and an innovative drinking water (distribution) system 1 are shown. Here, the cabin 2 has three different types of monument positions - standard position 4, double position 6 and flexible area 8. The standard position 4 is in front of the first cabin door 10 in the front fuselage and behind the last cabin door 12 in the rear fuselage. The positions of monuments 14 such as galleys and toilets are fixed, and the type of monument 14 can be changed according to the needs of the user.

[0025] In the dual position 6, the monument position is fixed, but the user can select or cancel the selection installation. For example, if the user does not need a monument, the seat 16 can be installed in these positions.

[0026] The number, type and position of the monuments 14 in the elastic zone 8 can be selected individually by the user. The user can select individual positions of the monuments at least in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft (e.g., at one-inch intervals). In the example shown, the elastic zone 8 is located in the front area of ​​the cabin 2 between the first door 10 and the central wing box (not shown).

[0027] In the embodiment shown, the drinking water system 1 comprises a drinking water tank (tank) 20 and a water distribution network (pipeline). The drinking water is stored in the tank 20 in the rear fuselage and is distributed to the cabin monument 14 by means of the water distribution network. However, it is also possible to provide a plurality of tanks 20, which are positioned in different locations in the aircraft, for example in the front section or in the middle section. The network comprises at least one drinking water main line 22 (main line), a plurality of drinking water branch lines 24 (branch lines), a plurality of drinking water interfaces 26 (interfaces) and a plurality of drinking water monument lines 28 (monument lines).

[0028] The main line 22 extends in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The main line 22 is connected to the box 20 and is routed to the aircraft skin 30 or to other cold areas at a sufficient distance so that no anti-icing equipment is required. For example, the main line 22 is positioned below the cabin floor 32 in the central area of ​​the fuselage.

[0029] By means of branch lines 24, drinking water is distributed to the connections 26. The branch lines 24 extend in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction below the cabin floor 32 and each branch line 24 is fluidly connected to a selected drinking water connection 26. However, if the connection 26 is positioned vertically above the main line 22, the branch lines 24 have only vertical components.

[0030] The interfaces 26 are of the quick-disconnect type and are positioned in the cabin floor 32. Each interface 26 is fluidly connected to a drinking water monument line 28 via a branch line 24. The monument line 28 is fluidly connected to a consumer 38 of the monument 14, such as a washbasin 38 or a toilet 33 (see Figure 2 ).

[0031] Preferably, the main line 22 , the branch line 24 and the interface 26 are preassembled at fixed positions in the fuselage and the cabin floor 32 , respectively, and the structure line 28 is subsequently installed according to the needs of the individual user.

[0032] Preferably, only nacelle positions 4 , 6 are provided for standard monument positions and duplicate monument positions, the monument 14 being connected to the main line 22 via a secondary distribution line 40 which is already installed as a standard part during assembly.

[0033] exist Figure 2 , a monument 14 is shown which is designed as a washroom with a toilet 33 and a washbasin 38. A plurality of openings 36 are provided in a longitudinal monument floor section 34. Here, the openings 36 have a circular shape similar to through-holes. The openings 36 are positioned in a row and are spaced apart from one another by a defined distance d, preferably by a distance corresponding to the axial displacement of the passenger seat 16. The openings 36 are suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumers 33, 38 via a monument line 28 extending between the interface 26 and the consumer 38, such as Figure 3 The opening 36 can also be connected to a so-called buffer of the high-pressure water system, which is also a consumer.

[0034] like Figure 3As shown, in the longitudinal cabin floor section 39, for example in the elastic zone 8, a plurality of interfaces 26 are provided. The interfaces 26 are mounted so that the cabin floor is airtight to prevent smoke from the underfloor area from entering the passenger cabin in the event of a fire. In addition, the interfaces 26 are mounted in a watertight manner to prevent water from the cabin from entering the underfloor area and impairing the function of electronic equipment etc.

[0035] Preferably, one interface 26 is provided in each floor panel. The interfaces 26 are spaced apart from one another and advantageously also correspond to the axial displacement of the passenger seats 16. The interfaces 26 are pre-installed and each interface 26 is fluidically connected to the main line 22 via a branch line 24. To avoid freezing of drinking water, the interfaces 26 and the openings 36 in the building floor section 34 are positioned in a warm cabin area.

[0036] The monument 14 is positioned on the nacelle floor 32 so that at least one opening 36 in the monument floor section 34 coincides with one interface 26. This means that, when the monument 14 is installed in its desired position, at least one interface 26 can be reached via the opening 36 in the monument floor section 34. The monument floor 14 is also watertight. Therefore, the monument pipeline 28 can be fed through the opening 36 and can be connected with the interface 26. The other interfaces 26 are covered by blind plugs 41 to protect them (physically and hygienically) and are covered by the monument floor area 40 between the openings 36 and are therefore inaccessible. In order to form a flat nacelle floor 32, the blind plugs 41 are lowered. These inaccessible interfaces 26 are hidden under the monument floor. It should be noted that the connection of at least one required drinking water interface 26 to the drinking water main line 22 can be done before the monument 14 is installed in the nacelle.

[0037] The plug 42 with the sealing funnel will allow the waterproof introduction of the monument lines 28 from underneath the nacelle floor 32 into the interior of the monument 14. The unused openings 36 in the monument floor sections 34 are closed by the plug 44.

[0038] In the following, a method for installing a drinking water system 1 in an aircraft is described to feed drinking water from a drinking water tank 20 to a consumer 38 of a monument 14 in an aircraft cabin 2. The concept can also be used for monuments 14 such as galleys. Likewise, the drinking water system 1 enables the monument 14 to be connected to a pre-installed aircraft drinking water interface 26 via custom, standard or manual pipe sections. All parts of the drinking water distribution network - such as the drinking water main line 22 and the drinking water branch lines 24, the drinking water interface 26 and the drinking water monument line 28 - are laid in a warm fuselage area to avoid freezing of the drinking water.

[0039] In a first step, the interfaces 26 are installed at defined cabin locations. An opening 36 is provided in the floor section 34 of the monument, which opening 36 is suitable for establishing a fluid connection with a consumer 38 of the monument. After this, the monument 14 is installed in the aircraft cabin 2. The consumer 38 is then connected to the accessible drinking water interfaces 26 via the drinking water monument line 28, and the required interfaces 26 are connected to the main line 22. The unselected interfaces 26a are deactivated, as Figure 3 As shown. The unneeded openings 36 are closed by plugs 44. Here, two options are possible. The openings 36 can be closed by plugs 44 from the beginning, so that the required openings 36 are already open. Or the openings 36 are open from the beginning, so that plugs 44 are already placed on those openings 36 that are not needed.

[0040] For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that fastening and coupling means, such as elbows, clamps, brackets, sleeves and control means, such as valves, required for installing a fluid network including hoses and pipes are not illustrated. For example, in order to avoid large bending radii of the construction pipeline 28, the construction pipeline 28 can be divided into a plurality of sections, some of which are in fluid connection via elbows.

[0041] An aircraft having a drinking water system is disclosed, which is suitable for feeding drinking water from a drinking water tank to consumers of a monument in the aircraft cabin, the drinking water system comprising a plurality of drinking water connections and at least one monument, wherein at least one opening suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer is provided in the monument, wherein the at least one drinking water connection is accessible through the at least one opening, and an assembly method for installing the drinking water system is disclosed, wherein standard parts of the drinking water system are pre-installed and customized parts are subsequently installed.

Claims

1. An aircraft having a drinking water system (1), the drinking water system (1) being adapted to feed drinking water from a drinking water tank (22) to a consumer (38) of a monument (14) in an aircraft cabin (2), the drinking water system (1) comprising: a plurality of drinking water connections (26, 26a), and at least one building (14), wherein the drinking water connection (26, 26a) is arranged in a cabin floor section (39) or in a building floor section (34) and is fluidically connected to the drinking water tank (22). wherein at least one opening (36) is provided in the building floor segment (34) or in the cabin floor segment (39), and the at least one opening (36) is suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer (38), in, At least one drinking water connection (26) is accessible through the at least one opening (36).

2. The aircraft according to claim 1, wherein: Each cabin floor panel in a building cabin position of an aircraft cabin (2) is equipped with at least one drinking water connection (26, 26a).

3. The aircraft according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The opening (36) has a circular shape.

4. The aircraft according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The opening (36) has an elongated shape.

5. An aircraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A plurality of openings (36) are provided.

6. The aircraft according to claim 5, wherein: The drinking water interface (26) and the opening (36) are respectively arranged at a certain distance (d) from an adjacent drinking water interface (26, 26a) and an adjacent opening (36), wherein the distance (d) corresponds to an axial displacement of the passenger seat (16).

7. An aircraft according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: The drinking water connections (26) are located in an axial row.

8. An aircraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Unused openings (36) are closed by plugs.

9. An aircraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: at least one drinking water main line (22), and A plurality of drinking water branch pipelines (24) are provided, The at least one drinking water main line (22) and the drinking water branch lines (24) are suitable for delivering the drinking water stored in the drinking water tank (20) to a plurality of drinking water interfaces (26). wherein at least one main drinking water line (22) is laid out from the drinking water tank (20) in the longitudinal direction and is positioned in a warm area of ​​the aircraft below the cabin floor (32), and The drinking water branch line (24) extends from the at least one drinking water main line (22) to a selected drinking water connection (26).

10. A method for installing a drinking water system in an aircraft for feeding drinking water from a drinking water tank (20) to a consumer (38) of a structure in an aircraft cabin (2), the method comprising the following steps: a. installing the drinking water connection (26, 26a) at a defined position in the cabin floor section (39), b. providing an opening (36) in the monument floor section (34), the opening (36) being suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer (38) of the monument (14), c. installing the structure (14) in the aircraft cabin (2); d. connecting the consumer (38) to the accessible drinking water connection (26) via a drinking water construction pipeline (28); and e. Connect the required drinking water interface (26) to the water main line (22); Wherein, step e) can be completed before step c); or, a. installing the drinking water connection (26, 26a) at a defined position in the floor section (34) of the structure, b. providing an opening (36) in the cabin floor section (39), the opening (36) being suitable for establishing a fluid connection with the consumer (38) of the monument (14), c. installing the structure (14) in the aircraft cabin (2); and d. connecting the consumer (38) to the accessible drinking water connection (26) via a drinking water construction pipeline (28); and e. Connect the required drinking water interface (26) to the water main line (22); Wherein, step e) can be completed before step c).

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