Aircraft Lavatory Toilet Seat Venting Structure for Step Load Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft lavatory toilet seats are prone to breakage due to the application of negative pressure during waste discharge and the load applied when users or cleaners step on the seat with shoes on, which existing designs fail to adequately mitigate.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates toilet seat cushion blocks with band-like shapes extending along the circumferential direction, providing air communication passageways between the seat and the flange, and recess/protrusion features to distribute load and secure attachment, preventing negative pressure from affecting the human body and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If air communication passageways are provided between the toilet seat and flange to prevent negative pressure from affecting the user, then the harmful effect of negative pressure is reduced, but the toilet seat becomes more prone to breakage when stepped on

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenegative pressure effect on human bodyVSAvoidtoilet seat strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet seat cushion block is divided into multiple segments along the circumferential direction, with air communication passageways formed between these segments. This segmentation allows the cushion block to maintain structural integrity while providing necessary air communication passages to prevent negative pressure effects on the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The toilet seat cushion block acts as an intermediary element between the toilet seat and the flange. It provides air communication passageways to prevent negative pressure effects while also serving as a load-bearing structure that distributes step loads, thereby protecting the toilet seat from breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple air communication passageways are provided through cushion blocks, then negative pressure protection is improved, but the structural complexity of the toilet seat assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenegative pressure protectionVSAvoidtoilet seat structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet seat cushion block combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides air communication passageways for negative pressure protection, distributes mechanical loads from stepping, and facilitates attachment to the flange. This merging reduces the overall structural complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushion block serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it creates air communication passages between the toilet seat and flange, acts as a load-distributing element when users step on the seat, and provides attachment features for securing the toilet seat to the flange. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If the toilet seat cushion block covers the entire circumferential area, then load distribution is improved, but air communication passageways cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distribution capabilityVSAvoidair communication

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The toilet seat cushion block has varying local properties: it is provided with air communication passageways at specific locations where negative pressure protection is needed, while maintaining sufficient coverage in other areas to distribute loads effectively. This local differentiation allows both functions to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively prevents the application of negative pressure to the human body and reduces the risk of toilet seat breakage by distributing loads through the cushion blocks, ensuring the seat's structural integrity and ease of attachment.

Implementation Method 1

Aircraft lavatory unit adopts the system of sucking waste in the toilet body into a discharge pipe by negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11186370B2Toilet seat structure for aircraft lavatory unit

Publication Date: 2021.11.30 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a toilet seat structure for an aircraft lavatory unit. A toilet seat cushion block includes an inner and outer band-like bodies. The inner band-like body extends in a band-like shape at a section close to an inner circumference of a lower surface of a toilet seat, and the outer band-like body extends in a band-like shape at a section close to an outer circumference of the lower surface. Air communication passageways communicating with an inside and an outside of a bowl portion include: inner openings provided at an interval in the extension direction of the inner band-like body; an annular space between the inner and outer band-like bodies; and outer openings provided at an interval in the extension direction of the outer band-like body at sections of the outer band-like body, which are shifted from the inner openings in a circumferential direction of the toilet seat.