Water management system
AssigneeMAG Aerospace Industries, LLC
InventorsKeith Holmes, Razmik B. Boodaghians, John Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a water management system for use on board a passenger transport vehicle. The water management system may be used to address and manage excess humidity, water leaks, or any other instance when water or other liquid may collect at a certain location. The disclosure provides a system for managing excess water and for optionally delivering the water to another location. The removal location may be a disposal outlet or it may be a beneficial use of the collected water on-board the vehicle.
Claims24
A water management system for use on-board an aircraft, comprising:
- (a) a water collection device comprising one or more areas for receiving moisture or water, the water collection device fluidly coupled to a source of vacuum;
- (b) a conduit between the water collection device and a removal location to which the moisture or water is to be removed, through which there is created a pressure differential to cause the moisture or water to be pulled into and through the conduit;
- (c) a valve to control passage of moisture or water through the conduit;
- (d) a controller that directs opening and closing of the valve based on water levels sensed by a water sensor, wherein the valve is opened and closed periodically throughout an entire flight duration, wherein the water sensor comprises a flow detection sensor, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a temperature sensor, or any combination thereof.
A method for collecting and removing undesired moisture or water from a location on an aircraft, comprising:
- (a) causing installation of a water management system on the aircraft, the water management system comprising:
- (i) a water collection device comprising one or more areas for receiving moisture or water;
- (ii) a conduit between the water collection device and a removal location to which the moisture or water is to be removed, through which there is created a pressure differential to cause the moisture to be pulled into and through the conduit;
- and (iii) a valve to control passage of moisture or water through the conduit wherein the valve is opened and closed periodically throughout an entire flight duration;
- (b) sensing presence of water via one or more water sensors;
- and
- (c) causing the water collected from the water collection device to be directed to the removal location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.