Separator system for aircraft waste system

An aircraft separator apparatus configured for use with an aircraft vacuum source and waste tank with a gas outlet, the apparatus comprising:

• a separator housing configured for being operatively coupled between the waste tank and the vacuum source, the separator housing having a housing wall defining a hollow interior, a separator inlet opening configured for being coupled to the gas outlet of the waste tank, and a separator outlet opening configured for being coupled to the vacuum source, the separator inlet and outlet openings defining a gas flow path extending between the separator inlet and outlet openings;
• a filter contained within the interior of the housing and disposed in the gas flow path;
• and
• a shroud configured for being disposed in the waste tank at the gas outlet of the tank, the shroud having an annular wall with an upper end disposed at the tank and extending downwardly to a lower end spaced from the gas outlet, the annular wall defining a plurality of apertures through which the gas passes in exiting the tank, the shroud further having a shield attached to the lower end of the annular wall, the shield being disposed in front of the gas outlet to prevent passage of the solids and liquids out of the gas outlet.

An aircraft separator apparatus configured for use with an aircraft waste tank and vacuum source, the apparatus comprising:

• a disposable, enclosed separator housing configured for being disposed on the waste tank, and configured for being operatively coupled between the waste tank and the vacuum source, the separator housing having a housing wall defining a hollow interior, a separator inlet opening configured for being removably coupled to a gas outlet of the waste tank, and a separator outlet opening configured for being removably coupled to the vacuum source such that the entire separator housing may be detached from the waste tank and vacuum source and discarded, the separator inlet and outlet openings defining a gas flow path extending between the separator inlet and outlet openings;
• and
• a filter contained within the interior of the housing and disposed in the gas flow path;
• and
• wherein the separator inlet opening is approximately 5 inches in diameter;
• and
• wherein the separator housing has an outer diameter of approximately less than 7 inches.

An aircraft separator system for removing moisture suspended in a gas of an aircraft waste system, the separator system comprising:

• a waste tank for receiving and holding waste material including solids and liquids and in which the moisture suspended in the gas is initially located, the waste tank having a waste inlet opening through which the waste material enters the tank and a gas outlet through which the gas with the moisture suspended therein exits the tank;
• a vacuum source operatively coupled to and in fluid communication with the waste tank for creating a vacuum for drawing the waste material into the tank and drawing the gas with the moisture suspended therein out of the tank;
• a disposable separator housing disposed on the tank and operatively coupled between the waste tank and the vacuum source, the separator housing having a housing wall defining a hollow interior, a separator inlet opening removably coupled to the gas outlet of the tank, and a separator outlet opening removably coupled to the vacuum source such that the entire separator housing may be detached from the waste tank and vacuum source and discarded, the separator inlet and outlet openings defining a gas flow path extending between the separator inlet and outlet openings, the separator inlet opening being approximately 5 inches in diameter;
• a two-stage filter contained within the interior of the housing and disposed in the gas flow path, the filter having at least two areas of different density mesh defining two stages including a first area located proximal to the separator inlet opening which is less dense, and a second area located proximal to the separator outlet opening which is more dense;
• and
• a shroud disposed in the waste tank at the gas outlet of the tank, the shroud having an annular wall with an upper end disposed at the tank and extending downwardly to a lower end spaced from the gas outlet, the annular wall defining a plurality of apertures through which the gas passes in exiting the tank, the shroud further having a concave shield with a lower end coupled to the lower end of the annular wall and extending upwardly to an upper end, the concave shield being disposed in front of the gas outlet to minimize passage of the solids and liquids out of the gas outlet.