Aircraft Lavatory Water Manifold With Touchless Temperature Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft lavatory water systems often rely on costly high-voltage electrical heating elements, which are prone to failure and lack efficient temperature control, necessitating a more reliable and efficient solution for touchless water temperature management.
Innovation Solution
A touchless manifold system utilizing dual solenoid-powered valves controlled by a microcontroller, which regulates the ratio of opening times between hot and cold water valves based on user input and temperature feedback from thermal sensors, ensuring efficient and accurate temperature control using standard aircraft electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high-voltage electrical heating elements are used for water heating, then water temperature control is achieved, but system cost increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the high-voltage heating element from the system entirely, extracting only the necessary function of temperature control. Instead of heating water electrically, the system uses mixing of pre-heated and cold water streams, eliminating the unreliable heating component while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixing chamber as an intermediary device between the hot water source and the faucet. This mixing chamber combines hot water from a heating element with cold water to achieve desired temperature outputs, allowing the use of a simpler, lower-voltage heating element while maintaining precise temperature control through proportional control of hot and cold water flows.
2Temperature
If high-voltage electrical heating elements are used for water heating, then water temperature control is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive high-voltage heating element from the system, extracting only the essential function of temperature control. By using a mixing chamber to combine hot and cold water streams, the system achieves temperature control without requiring costly high-voltage heating components, thereby reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex high-voltage heating elements with simpler, lower-cost components. The mixing chamber and proportional control valves are more economical than high-voltage heating systems, providing a cost-effective solution that maintains temperature control functionality while reducing manufacturing costs.
3Measurement precision
If touchless control with thermal sensors and microcontroller is implemented, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where thermal sensors continuously monitor the temperature of mixed water and provide feedback to a microcontroller. The microcontroller adjusts the proportional control of hot and cold water flows based on this feedback, achieving precise temperature control. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains accuracy while using standard aircraft electrical power and off-the-shelf components to manage complexity.
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
The system provides cost-effective and reliable temperature control, reducing the risk of valve failure and improving operational efficiency across various aircraft models, ensuring consistent water temperature without the need for high-voltage heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
durable solenoid operated valves
Implementation Method 2
temperature feedback from thermal sensors
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system and related method for touchless control of an aircraft lavatory water supply is disclosed. An aircraft lavatory touchless manifold (110) includes dual solenoid powered water valves opening and closing to regulate water flow through each of a cold conduit and a hot conduit as commanded by user touchless input to a manifold microcontroller commanding the valves. An aircraft input commands a temperature range while a thermal sensor (152,154) in a mixed water conduit provides output temperature feedback to the manifold microcontroller for positive control of the output temperature. The manifold microcontroller commands opening and closing of the dual solenoid powered valves to create a ratio of opening time between the valves. The solenoid powered valves provide a cost effective and reliable solution offering efficient linear valve operation and effective temperature and flow control.