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US 9,475,582 B2Granted
Aircraft potable-water system
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsBryan J. Mackulin, Kurt M. Tauscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft potable-water system (10) comprising an automatic valve (60) associated with an overflow line (50) and an automatic switch (70) associated with the storage tank (30). The switch (70) vents the storage tank (30) when it is not full, and automatically converts to a tank-pressurizing condition when the storage tank (30) is full. This conversion of the switch (70) causes the valve (60) to move to an overflow-open position so that excess potable water can be drained through the drainmast (18).
Claims18
An aircraft potable-water system comprising:
- a storage tank that is full when it contains a set amount of potable water and not full when it contains less than this amount;
- a ground-fill line having an upstream end adapted for connection to an external potable-water source and a downstream end communicating with the storage tank;
- an overflow line having an upstream end communicating with the storage tank and/or the ground-fill line and a downstream end communicating with a drain;
- a valve movable between an overflow-open position whereat potable water is not blocked from draining through the drain and an overflow-closed position whereat potable water is blocked from draining through the drain;
- and
- wherein the valve automatically moves and/or remains in its overflow-open position when storage tank is full and automatically moves and/or remains in its overflow-closed position when the storage tank is not full, this automatic movement being caused without manual or electrical interaction with the valve;
- and
- wherein the drain is a drainmast.
5 more elements
An aircraft potable-water system comprising:
- a storage tank that is full when it contains a set amount of potable water and not full when it contains less than this amount;
- a ground-fill line having an upstream end adapted for connection to an external potable-water source and a downstream end communicating with the storage tank;
- an overflow line having an upstream end communicating with the storage tank and/or the ground-fill line and a downstream end communicating with a drain;
- a valve movable between an overflow-open position whereat potable water is not blocked from draining through the drain and an overflow-closed position whereat potable water is blocked from draining through the drain;
- and
- wherein the valve automatically moves and/or remains in its overflow-open position when storage tank is full and automatically moves and/or remains in its overflow-closed position when the storage tank is not full, this automatic movement being caused without manual or electrical interaction with the valve;
- and
- wherein the valve is set to activate at a pressure difference greater than the pressure difference corresponding to the maximum expected altitude of the aircraft and the expected minimum cabin pressure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.