Aircraft Lavatory Trash Flap Control With Automatic Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft lavatory trash receptacles fill quickly with low-density items like hand towels, leading to overflow, odor emission, and fire hazards due to open flaps, and passengers are reluctant to close the flaps due to contamination fears.
Innovation Solution
A system with a carriage assembly and actuator that compresses trash in the receptacle, controlled by a controller to automatically close the flap and compact trash upon passenger exit or detection of ignitable materials, using sensors to manage space and prevent overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual flap opening is provided for trash receptacle access, then passenger can deposit refuse, but flap remains open causing odor emission and fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect passenger presence and automatically controls flap opening and closing, eliminating the need for manual operation while ensuring the flap closes promptly to prevent odor emission and fire hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect passenger presence and provide feedback to the controller, which then automatically adjusts flap position accordingly - opening when needed and closing when not in use to maintain safety and hygiene
2Quantity of substance
If trash receptacle capacity is increased, then more trash can be stored, but compression space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a movable compression plate that dynamically adjusts its position based on trash volume, allowing the receptacle to maintain both large storage capacity and sufficient compression space by adapting the compression zone size to actual needs
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle interior is segmented into a storage zone and a compression zone separated by a movable plate, allowing independent optimization of both trash storage capacity and compression functionality
3Quantity of substance
If compression action is continuously applied, then trash is compacted, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression plate operates periodically rather than continuously - activating in cycles to compact trash and then retracting, which achieves effective compaction while simplifying the control mechanism and reducing energy consumption
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
Prevents overflow, reduces odors, and minimizes fire hazards by automatically managing trash volume and flap closure, enhancing hygiene and safety in aircraft lavatories.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is configured to cause the carriage assembly to vertically move the plate to the variable position to exert a force on a space in the interior volume containing trash that is uncompressed wherein the space is configured between the variable position of the plate and a bottom of the interior volume
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling a compression action of a trash receptacle of an aircraft lavatory. Generally, the systems, methods, and articles of manufacture disclosed and described herein facilitate controlled opening and closing actuations of a flap of a trash receptacle of an aircraft lavatory, and a compression action after detection of at least the closing actuation of trash deposits in the trash receptacle to increase the interior volume of the trash receptacle. By controlling the closing actuations of the flap and compression actions of trash deposits, hygiene and sanitation of the lavatory are improved, odors are prevented from dispersing throughout the lavatory and/or cabin of the aircraft, and fire hazards are reduced.