TOILET ARRANGEMENT FOR AN AIRCRAFT CABIN OF AN AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT HAVING THE TOILET ARRANGEMENT, AND METHOD FOR DRYING A STANDING SURFACE IN THE TOILET ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A toilet arrangement for an aircraft cabin of an aircraft having a cabin ventilation system for supplying the aircraft cabin with cabin air, includes at least one standing surface for cladding the toilet arrangement. The standing surface is disposed within the toilet arrangement. A ventilator has an entry interface for connection to the cabin ventilation system for transfer of the cabin air. An outlet element is connected to the entry interface for take-over of the cabin air. The ventilator generates a surface-air stream from the cabin air. The surface-air stream flows over the standing surface from the outlet element to dry the standing surface. An aircraft having the toilet arrangement and a method for drying a standing surface of the toilet arrangement are also provided.

Claims

1. A toilet arrangement for an aircraft cabin of an aircraft having a cabin ventilation system for supplying the aircraft cabin with cabin air, the toilet arrangement comprising: at least one standing surface cladding the toilet arrangement, said at least one standing surface disposed within the toilet arrangement; a ventilator having an entry interface for connection to the cabin ventilation system for transfer of the cabin air; and an outlet element connected to said entry interface for taking over the cabin air; said ventilator generating a surface-air stream from the cabin air and causing the surface-air stream to flow over said standing surface from said outlet element for drying said at least one standing surface.

2. The toilet arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one standing surface is formed horizontally in the toilet arrangement, permitting liquid to accumulate on said at least one standing surface, and the surface-air stream is configured to dry said at least one horizontally formed standing surface.

3. The toilet arrangement according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one installation item as an interior structure of the toilet arrangement, said at least one standing surface disposed on said at least one installation item, and the surface-air stream flowing onto said at least one installation item for drying said at least one standing surface.

4. The toilet arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said outlet element (5) is connected to said at least one installation item or is integrated in said at least one installation item, and said outlet element and said at least one standing surface (2) are disposed adjacent one another.

5. The toilet arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said outlet element has a distribution channel with at least one outlet opening, said distribution channel is connected to said ventilator for areal distribution of the surface-air stream, and the surface-air stream flows onto said at least one standing surface from said at least one outlet opening for drying said at least one standing surface.

6. The toilet arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said at least one installation item has a collecting channel for accumulating liquid, said collecting channel is at least one of formed within said at least one standing surface or disposed on said at least one installation item adjoining said at least one standing surface.

7. The toilet arrangement according to claim 6, which further comprises a wastewater interface for connection to a vacuum wastewater system of the aircraft, said collecting channel being connected to said wastewater interface for drainage of the accumulating liquid.

8. The toilet arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said at least one installation item is a toilet module or a washbasin module.

9. The toilet arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said at least one installation item is a flooring installation for cladding a base surface in the toilet arrangement, and said at least one standing surface is disposed on said flooring installation.

10. The toilet arrangement according to claim 9, wherein: said flooring installation has at least one trough portion and one base portion; said at least one trough portion is perpendicular to said base portion; said at least one trough portion has said outlet element; said base portion has said at least one standing surface; and the surface-air stream proceeds from said at least one trough portion and flows from said outlet element against said base portion to dry said at least one standing surface of said flooring installation.

11. The toilet arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said base portion has said collecting channel for accumulating liquid, and said collecting channel is disposed on said base portion at a boundary of said at least one standing surface.

12. The toilet arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said ventilator has a fan apparatus for compressing the cabin air, said fan apparatus increases an air stream speed of the surface-air stream, causing the surface-air stream to blow away liquid and dry said at least one standing surface.

13. The toilet arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said ventilator has a heating element for thermally heating the cabin air, and said heating element is connected fluidically to said entry interface and to said outlet element, causing the cabin air to flow past said heating element for heat exchange, resulting in thermally heating the surface-air stream for drying said at least one standing surface.

14. An aircraft, comprising: an aircraft cabin having a toilet arrangement according to claim 1; and a cabin ventilation system for supplying the aircraft cabin with cabin air.

15. A method for drying a standing surface in a toilet arrangement of an aircraft, the method comprising: providing an aircraft having an aircraft cabin and a cabin ventilation system for supplying the aircraft cabin with cabin air; providing the aircraft with a toilet arrangement having a standing surface according to claim 1; and drying the standing surface in the toilet arrangement by using a direct surface-air stream of extracted cabin air of the cabin ventilation system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a toilet arrangement for an aircraft cabin with multiple installation items as a preferred exemplary embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a highly diagrammatic, perspective view of the toilet arrangement with one of the installation items from FIG. 1 and with a ventilator as a preferred exemplary embodiment; and

[0037] FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the installation item from FIG. 2 as a flooring installation in a preferred exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a diagrammatic illustration of a toilet arrangement 1 in a preferred arrangement. In this case, merely a detail of the toilet arrangement 1 is shown, the latter being disposed in an aircraft cabin of an aircraft (not shown). Basically, the toilet arrangement 1 has multiple side walls, a rear wall, and a top and a base, wherein the toilet arrangement 1 can be entered through a door for passengers. The toilet arrangement 1 has multiple installation items 7 which, for example, are in the form of sanitary installation items or cladding elements. According to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the toilet arrangement has a toilet module 8, a washbasin module 9 and a flooring installation 10, as installation items 7.

[0039] The installation items 7 each have a standing surface 2, which are indicated by dashed lines on the installation items 7. The standing surfaces 2 are formed for the setting-down of items or persons, and so the standing surfaces 2 are disposed in a substantially horizontal manner on the installation items 7. Due to the horizontal arrangement of the standing surfaces 2, liquid can be deposited thereon. For example, standing moisture is formed on the standing surfaces 2 when the passengers use the toilet arrangement 1, for example the washbasin module 9 for washing hands. The liquids are in some cases responsible for the formation of unpleasant odors in the toilet arrangement 1 and for the quicker soiling of the toilet arrangement 1. This reduces the comfort of the passengers and also requires a greater cleaning effort for the toilet arrangement 1 by on-board or ground personnel.

[0040] The toilet arrangement 1 has multiple outlet elements 5. The outlet elements 5 are each assigned to a standing surface 2 and disposed adjacent thereto in the toilet arrangement 1. The outlet elements 5 are in the form of slot-like nozzles, wherein the outlet elements 5 are disposed in a manner adjoining the installation items 7 in the toilet arrangement 1. For example, these are integrated in an adjoining cladding part of the toilet arrangement 1. As an alternative or optionally in addition, the outlet element 5 is integrated in the installation item 7. For example, the washbasin module 9 has a placement surface, for example for placement of passengers' items, wherein the placement surface is in the form of a standing surface 2, wherein the outlet element 5 is integrated in the washbasin module 9 in such a way that it adjoins the placement surface or is formed within the placement surface.

[0041] The toilet arrangement 1 has a ventilator 3, which is connected to the outlet element 5. The ventilator 3 generates a surface-air stream 6 for the purpose of drying the standing surfaces 2. The surface-air stream 6 flows over the standing surface 2 close to the surface, whereby any liquid on the standing surface 2 is evaporated. The ventilator 3 for generating the surface-air stream 6 is shown in

[0042] FIG. 2.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows, in a highly diagrammatic illustration, the toilet arrangement 1 with the ventilator 3, wherein, for the sake of clarity, merely one installation item 7 is shown. The installation item 7 is in the form of the flooring installation 10 and has the standing surface 2. The surface-air stream 6 is generated by the ventilator 3, wherein the ventilator 3 is connected to a cabin ventilation system 20 for ventilation and air-conditioning of the aircraft cabin. The ventilator 3 has an entry interface 4 for connecting to the cabin ventilation system 20. Cabin air, for example fresh air, can be extracted from the cabin ventilation system 20 through the entry interface 4. In FIG. 2, the cabin ventilation system 20, the ventilator 3 and the entry interface 4 are illustrated highly diagrammatically and in simplified form as lines for guiding the cabin air. The cabin air is taken over from the cabin ventilation system 20 through the entry interface 4, for example of an air-coupling device and/or a compressed-air connection, and fed to the ventilator 3. The ventilator 3 passes the cabin air, optionally through a heating element 31 for thermally heating the cabin air, on to the outlet element 5, wherein the surface-air stream 6 for drying the standing surface 2 is and/or can be generated from the cabin air. The ventilator 3 is constructed as a passive system, and so no additional ventilation of the cabin air is required. The ventilator 3 uses the existing pressure of the cabin ventilation system 20 to generate the surface-air stream 6. Optionally, the ventilator 3 has a fan apparatus 17. The fan apparatus 17 is constructed to compress the cabin air in order to increase an air stream speed of the surface-air stream 6. For example, in the case of relatively large quantities of liquid being detected on the flooring installation 10 or on the standing surface 2, for example by sensors in the flooring installation, it may be necessary to intensify the surface-air stream 6 so as to enhance drying action.

[0044] The standing surface 2 can be dried by the surface-air stream 6 in such a way that proceeding from the outlet element 5, the surface-air stream 6 flows over the standing surface 2. The outlet element 5 is integrated in the flooring installation 10. The outlet element 5 is formed beside the rectangular standing surface 2 at the boundary thereof. The outlet element 5 is formed over an entire side length of the standing surface 2, with the result that the surface-air stream 6 flows over the full area of the standing surface 2. The flooring installation 10 has a collecting channel 13, wherein the collecting channel 13 is disposed on the flooring installation 10 opposite the outlet element 5. The collecting channel 13 is formed as a channel and/or groove in the flooring installation 10 in a recessed manner. The collecting channel 13 collects relatively large quantities of liquid which, for example, do not evaporate directly. This liquid from the collecting channel 13 may be guided for example into a collecting container for disposal. Optionally, the collecting channel 13 is connected to a wastewater interface 14 for drainage of the liquid. The wastewater interface 14 is for example in the form of a valve, wherein the wastewater interface 14 is connected to a vacuum wastewater system 30. The vacuum wastewater system 30 is constructed for disposal of fecal matter, for example from the toilet module 8. For example, upon actuation of a toilet flush, extraction by suction, for example for a toilet bowl of the toilet module 8, is realized by way of a negative pressure of the vacuum wastewater system 30. The same result can occur, upon actuation of the toilet flush, with the liquid in the collecting channel 13. For example, the wastewater interface 14 is opened such that, by way of the negative pressure in the vacuum wastewater system 30, the liquid is extracted by suction from the collecting channel 13 and fed to the vacuum wastewater system 30 for disposal.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows the flooring installation 10 from FIG. 2 in a side view, wherein the flooring installation 10 has the standing surface 2 and the outlet element 5. According to the exemplary embodiment, the flooring installation 10 has a trough portion 11a and a further trough portion 11b, which are formed oppositely at the boundary of the flooring installation 10. The flooring installation 10 has a base portion 12, which is formed between the two trough portions 11a, 11b. The trough portions 11a, 11b are both formed perpendicular to the base portion 12. The base portion 12 has the standing surface 2, and the trough portion 11a has the outlet element 5. The trough portions 11a, 11b are in principle suitable for bordering the base portion 12 in a trough-like manner at the boundary thereof such that liquid on the base portion 12 stops and, for example, does not flow out of the toilet arrangement 1.

[0046] The outlet element 5 has a distribution channel 15 which is connected to the ventilator 3 for the purpose of taking over and distributing the cabin air. The distribution channel 15 is formed as a cutout or “thin” channel within the trough portion 11a. The distribution channel 15 is connected for example at an end and/or a face side of the trough portion 11a to the ventilator 3 for the purpose of taking over the cabin air. The outlet element 5 furthermore has an outlet opening 16, wherein the outlet opening 16 is connected to the distribution channel 15. The outlet opening 16 is formed towards the base portion 12 with the standing surface 2. The outlet opening 16 extends for example over the entire length or at least over most of the distribution channel 15, with the result that the surface-air stream 6 exiting the outlet opening 16 flows over the full area of the standing surface 2. The outlet opening 16 is in the form of a single-part continuous opening, wherein the outlet opening 16 has for example a total length of at least 50 cm. As an alternative, the outlet element 5 has multiple outlet openings 16 which are disposed in a line in an adjacent manner. For example, the multiple outlet openings 16 have a total length of at least 50 cm. It is conceivable for example that small webs within the outlet opening 16 divide it into multiple outlet openings 16. This may be carried out for example for reasons of the stability of the outlet element 5. The distribution channel 15 and the outlet opening 16 are disposed almost on a plane with the base section 12 or with the standing surface 2, with the result that the surface-air stream 6 flows over the latter close to the base. In the process, any liquid evaporates and rises as moist used air 40. The used air 40 can, for example, be extracted from the toilet arrangement 1 by the cabin ventilation system 20 through exhaust-air nozzles. The used air 40 is indicated in FIG. 3 as ascending wavy lines.

[0047] The flooring installation 10 has the collecting channel 13, wherein the collecting channel 13 is formed as a depression in the flooring installation 10. The collecting channel 13 is disposed on the base portion 12 opposite the outlet element 5. The collecting channel 13 is for example formed as a straight channel between the standing surface 2 and the further trough portion 11b. As an alternative, the collecting channel is disposed in a U shape, or in a manner passing peripherally around the standing surface 2, on the base portion 12. The collecting channel 13 is connected for example at an end to the wastewater interface 14 for disposal of the liquid. The surface-air stream 6 blows for example liquid on the standing surface 2 in the direction of the collecting channel 13. In this case, the surface-air stream 6 can be intensified by the fan apparatus 17 such that one part of the liquid evaporates as used air 40 and the remaining part of the liquid is blown into the collecting channel 13 for accumulation. In order to promote the running-off of the liquid into the collecting channel 13, the base portion 12 is formed so as to be inclined in the direction of the collecting channel.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1 Toilet arrangement [0049] 2 Standing surface [0050] 3 Ventilator [0051] 4 Entry interface [0052] 5 Outlet element [0053] 6 Surface-air stream [0054] 7 Installation item [0055] 8 Toilet module [0056] 9 Wash basin module [0057] 10 Flooring installation [0058] 11a Trough portion [0059] 11b Further trough portion [0060] 12 Base portion [0061] 13 Collecting channel [0062] 14 Wastewater interface [0063] 15 Distribution channel [0064] 16 Outlet opening [0065] 17 Fan apparatus [0066] 20 Cabin ventilation system [0067] 30 Vacuum wastewater system [0068] 31 Heating element