# US 10,501,916 B2 · Vehicle galley drainage systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,916 B2 - Document ID: US10501916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/646,143 - Filed: 2017-07-11 - Published: 2019-01-17 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-11 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Darren Carl McIntosh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501916B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/26: Object-catching inserts or similar devices for waste pipes or outlets (E03C1/28 takes precedence) - B01D 15/08: Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography - B01D 15/267: {using neutral sorbents, e.g. activated carbon or diatomaceous earth} - B01D 35/28: Strainers not provided for elsewhere - B64D 11/04: Galleys - E03C 1/182: connected to the waste-pipe - E03C 1/264: Separate sieves or similar object-catching inserts - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract A drainage system for a galley of a vehicle includes a sink that is configured to receive a colored liquid. A liquid pigment remover is in fluid communication with the sink. The liquid pigment remover is configured to remove color from the liquid. A drain is in fluid communication with the liquid coloration. The drain is configured to pass the liquid overboard from the vehicle after the color is removed (or partially removed) from the liquid by the liquid pigment remover. The drainage system may also include a strainer that is configured to strain particulates from the liquid before the liquid passes overboard out of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drainage system for a galley of a vehicle, the drainage system comprising: a sink that is configured to receive a liquid; a liquid pigment remover that is in fluid communication with the sink, wherein the liquid pigment remover is configured to remove color from the liquid, wherein the liquid pigment remover comprises: (a) a main body including a rear wall, a front wall, and a perimeter wall, wherein an interior chamber is defined between the rear wall, the front wall, and the perimeter wall, wherein a liquid-receiving channel is formed within the interior chamber, (b) a liquid inlet formed through a top portion of the perimeter wall, wherein the liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the liquid-receiving channel, (c) a liquid outlet formed through a portion of the perimeter wall, and (d) a pigment-removing filter disposed within the interior chamber below and around sides of the liquid-receiving channel; and a drain that is in fluid communication with the liquid pigment remover, wherein the drain is configured to pass the liquid overboard from the vehicle after the color is removed from the liquid by the liquid pigment remover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a strainer that is configured to strain particulates from the liquid before the liquid passes overboard out of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drainage system of claim 2, wherein the strainer is disposed between the sink and the drain upstream from the liquid pigment remover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The drainage system of claim 2, wherein the strainer is disposed between the sink and the drain downstream from the liquid pigment remover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The drainage system of claim 2, wherein the liquid pigment remover is within the strainer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The drainage system of claim 2, wherein the strainer comprises a housing that removably retains the liquid pigment remover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drainage system of claim 1, wherein the pigment-removing filter comprises activated charcoal elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drainage system of claim 1, wherein the perimeter wall comprises an overflow channel. ### Claim 9 A drainage method for a galley of a vehicle, the drainage method comprising: depositing colored liquid within a sink; removing color pigment from the liquid by a liquid pigment remover that is in fluid communication with the sink, wherein the liquid pigment remover comprises: (a) a main body including a rear wall, a front wall, and a perimeter wall, wherein an interior chamber is defined between the rear wall, the front wall, and the perimeter wall, wherein a liquid-receiving channel is formed within the interior chamber, (b) a liquid inlet formed through a top portion of the perimeter wall, wherein the liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the liquid-receiving channel, (c) a liquid outlet formed through a portion of the perimeter wall, and (d) a pigment-removing filter disposed within the interior chamber below and around sides of the liquid-receiving channel; and passing the liquid overboard out of the vehicle via a drain that is in fluid communication the liquid pigment remover after the removing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drainage method of claim 9, further comprising straining particulates from the liquid by a strainer before the passing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drainage method of claim 10, wherein the straining occurs before the removing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The drainage method of claim 10, further comprising removably retaining the liquid pigment remover within the strainer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The drainage method of claim 9, wherein the removing comprises using the pigment-removing filter of the liquid pigment remover to remove the color from the liquid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The drainage method of claim 9, wherein the pigment-removing filter comprises activated charcoal elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The drainage method of claim 9, wherein the perimeter wall comprises an overflow channel. ### Claim 16 A vehicle comprising: an internal cabin; a galley within the internal cabin; and a drainage system that is configured to drain liquid overboard from the vehicle from the galley, the drainage system comprising: a sink that is configured to receive colored liquid; a liquid pigment remover that is in fluid communication with the sink, wherein the liquid pigment remover is configured to remove color from the colored liquid, wherein the liquid pigment remover comprises a pigment-removing filter having a plurality of activated charcoal elements, wherein the liquid pigment remover comprises: (a) a main body including a rear wall, a front wall, and a perimeter wall, wherein an interior chamber is defined between the rear wall, the front wall, and the perimeter wall, wherein a liquid-receiving channel is formed within the interior chamber, (b) a liquid inlet formed through a top portion of the perimeter wall, wherein the liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the liquid-receiving channel, (c) a liquid outlet formed through a portion of the perimeter wall, and (d) a pigment-removing filter disposed within the interior chamber below and around sides of the liquid-receiving channel; a strainer that is configured to strain particulates from the liquid; and a drain that is in fluid communication with the liquid coloration, wherein the drain is configured to pass the liquid overboard from the vehicle after the color is removed from the colored liquid by the liquid pigment remover and the particulates are strained form the liquid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the strainer is disposed between the sink and the drain upstream or downstream from the liquid pigment remover. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the liquid pigment remover is removably retained within a housing of the strainer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the perimeter wall comprises an overflow channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The drainage method of claim 10, wherein the straining occurs after the removing.