Modular lavatory assembly for a vehicle cabin, cabin of a vehicle and aircraft having a cabin and at least one modular lavatory arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customized redesign of lavatory assemblies for vehicle cabins is cumbersome and economically disadvantageous, especially for low-volume applications, as existing solutions require individual adjustments to the housing and lack flexibility in accommodating different service units.
Innovation Solution
A modular lavatory assembly with a compact housing that allows for the attachment of self-contained service modules on the outside, enabling customization without redesigning the housing, and featuring a waterless design to reduce space and weight, with service modules accessible from both inside and outside for easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual customization of lavatory assemblies is performed through individual arrangement of service units and adjustment of housing shape, then the lavatory can be adapted to specific vehicle requirements, but the redesign process becomes cumbersome and economically disadvantageous for low-volume applications
Solution Approach 1:
The lavatory assembly is divided into a standardized housing and separate service modules that can be independently selected and attached. This segmentation allows customization through module selection rather than housing redesign, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal housing design with standardized attachment interfaces serves multiple vehicle configurations by accommodating different service module combinations. This universal base structure eliminates the need for individual housing redesign while maintaining customization capability through module variation.
2Volume of moving object
If service units are arranged inside the housing, then the lavatory assembly is compact, but accessing service units for maintenance requires disassembly or entry into the housing
Solution Approach 1:
Service modules are nested within the housing structure but designed with external access mechanisms. The modules fit within the housing volume while incorporating recesses and openings that allow maintenance personnel to access service units from the exterior without disassembling the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The service module acts as an intermediary between the housing interior and exterior maintenance access. The module contains the service units and provides its own access interfaces, mediating between the space-efficient housing configuration and the ease of repair requirement.
3Ease of operation
If traditional water-based service units are installed, then complete sanitation functions are provided, but the lavatory assembly weight increases and space requirements expand
Solution Approach 1:
The water-based sanitation system is extracted from the traditional lavatory configuration and replaced with alternative service units that provide essential sanitation functions without requiring water storage, supply, and waste management systems, thereby reducing weight and space.
Solution Approach 2:
The sanitation approach changes from water-based to alternative methods (such as chemical or mechanical systems), fundamentally changing the operational parameters of the service units while maintaining core sanitation functionality with reduced weight and space requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular lavatory assembly for a vehicle cabin includes a lavatory module having a housing and a toilet system having a toilet arranged in an inner space of the lavatory module and at least one service module having at least one service unit for personal use by a passenger. The at least one service module is attached to an outside of the housing. The housing encloses an inner space, which is free from additional service modules and includes at least one recess for accessing the at least one service unit of the at least one service module from an inside of the housing with the at least one service module being configured for providing access through the at least one recess. The at least one service module includes at least one additional access for accessing the at least one service unit from outside the housing.