WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT, AND AIRCRAFT WITH THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

Abstract

A water supply system for an aircraft has water lines which lead to a consumer group with at least one water consumer and at least one buffer upstream of the at least one water consumer. A discharge line discharges water from a water tank into the water lines and a feed pump in the discharge line supplies water from the water tank into the water lines. Each of the water lines is a flexible hose made of plastic with an internal diameter of at least 4 mm and a length of at most 100 m, and the feed pump is configured to convey water from the water tank into the water lines at a pressure of at most 25 bar and a flow rate of at most 1.4 liters per minute.

Claims

1. A water supply system for an aircraft, the water supply system comprising: a water tank; one or more water lines, each of said water lines leading to a consumer group with at least one water consumer and, in a water flow direction upstream of said at least one water consumer, at least one buffer for receiving water from the respective said water line; a discharge line for discharging water from said water tank into said one or more water lines; said one or more water lines each being a flexible hose made of plastic, having an internal diameter of at least 4 mm and having a length of at most 100 m; and a feed pump connected in said discharge line for supplying water from said water tank into said one or more water lines, said feed pump being configured to convey water from said water tank into said one or more water lines at a pressure of at most 25 bar and at a flow rate of at most 1.4 liters per minute.

2. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more water lines leads to a maximum of four water consumers, the water consumers being lavatories.

3. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein said consumer group further comprises at least one pressure reducer between said at least one water consumer and said at least one buffer.

4. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one buffer is configured to have an air pressure of at least 3 bar in an empty state.

5. The water supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a recirculating line disposed to lead from an upstream side of said feed pump back to said water tank and an excess pressure valve connected in said recirculating line, said excess pressure valve being open when a pressure on a downstream side of said feed pump is greater than 25 bar.

6. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more water lines is a plurality of water lines each leading to a consumer group with at least one water consumer, and which further comprises a header connecting said discharge line to said plurality of water lines.

7. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said water lines include a common water line leading to at least two consumer groups, each of the consumer groups having at least one water consumer and a buffer, and wherein said buffers that are connected to said common water line are configured to equalize one another.

8. The water supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a booster pump connected downstream of said feed pump in a given water line if a respective said consumer group that is connected to the given water line has an increased water requirement or the given water line has an increased length requiring said booster pump.

9. The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said water lines is configured to be vented and is connected to at least one drainage line that leads via said feed pump in said discharge line to a drainage water outlet; and water supply valves provided upstream and downstream of said feed pump in said discharge line from said water tank; and drainage valves provided in said drainage line from said at least one water line upstream and downstream of said feed pump; wherein said feed pump is enabled to selectively allow water to be conveyed from said water tank into said at least one water line or from said at least one water line to a drainage water outlet.

10. An aircraft, comprising at least one water supply system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a similar diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a similar diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention; and

[0029] FIG. 4 is a similar diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a water supply system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a water supply system for an aircraft.

[0031] The water supply system 10 has a water tank 12 for the storage of fresh water, from which water can be discharged via a discharge line 13. The water from the water tank 12 is fed via multiple water lines 16a . . . 16f (in short, 16n) to multiple consumer groups which each have at least one water consumer 14a . . . 14f (in short, 14n), i.e., a large number of water consumers 14n (in particular lavatories and/or galleys). The water is conveyed by means of a feed pump 18 through the discharge line 13 from the water tank 12 into the water lines 16n, wherein between the discharge line 13 and the multiple water lines 16n is arranged a corresponding header 19.

[0032] In this exemplary embodiment, the water is conducted by way of example via a water line 16a to a consumer group with one water consumer 14a, via another water line 16b to a another consumer group with one water consumer 14b, via another water line 16c to another consumer group with two water consumers 14c1 and 14c2, via another water line 16d to another consumer group with four water consumers 14d1-4, via another water line 16e to another consumer group with a water consumer 14e, and via another water line 16f to another consumer group with two water consumers 14f1 and 14f2.

[0033] The water supply system may, of course, also be designed for fewer or more consumer groups (with a corresponding number of water lines 16n) and for consumer groups with different numbers of water consumers. As indicated in FIG. 1, each of the water lines 16n leads to a maximum of four lavatories representing water consumers.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, each consumer group also includes a buffer 24 for receiving and/or temporarily storing the water from the respective water line 16n, wherein the buffer 24 is arranged upstream of the at least one water consumer 14n in the water flow direction in each case. Alternatively, consumer groups which have multiple water consumers may also contain more than one buffer, for example one buffer per water consumer. However, the multiple buffers of a consumer group would then also be connected to a joint water line.

[0035] Moreover, FIG. 1 shows that depending on the application, the consumer groups may each optionally contain a pressure reducer 26 between the buffer 24 and the at least one water consumer 14n. Unlike other traditional water supply systems, the pressure reducers 26 in the water supply system 10 according to the invention, in the water flow direction from the water lines 16n, are not arranged upstream, but downstream, of the respective buffer 24, i.e., the buffers 24 are arranged on the pressure side upstream of the pressure reducer 26. The pressure reducers 26 are not necessary in the water supply system 10 according to the invention and may be omitted, particularly in the case of the lower operating pressure of roughly 16 bar.

[0036] The water lines 16n are each a flexible tube made of plastic with an internal diameter of 4 mm or 5 mm and a length of roughly 100 m or only 70 m, at most, so that they do not require drainage in order to protect against freezing and can be integrated into an aircraft very flexibly and easily. Moreover, the flexible plastic tubes have smooth inner surfaces, in principle, as a result of which no additional pressure losses occur. The feed pump 18 is configured in such a manner that the water is conveyed from the water tank 12 at a maximum pressure of 25 bar and a maximum flow rate of 1.4 l/min (e.g., approx. 0.7 l/min or approx. 1.4 l/min) into each of the water lines 16n. If the internal diameter of the water lines 16n is roughly 4 mm, the operating pressure is preferably roughly 25 bar, and if the internal diameter of the water lines is 16n is roughly 5 mm, the operating pressure is preferably roughly 16 bar. The output of the feed pump 18 is, of course, adapted to the number of attached water lines 16n. As a result of the relatively low pressure loss, as described above, the pressure at the end of the water lines to the buffer 24 is more than 3 bar in each case, i.e., slightly more than the customary requirement of the water consumers 14n in aircraft.

[0037] In order to safeguard the necessary minimum pressure for the water consumers 14n even more effectively, the buffers 24 of the consumer groups may each be configured in such a manner that they have an air pressure of at least 3 bar in the empty state. If a pressure reducer 26 is arranged between the buffer 24 and the water consumers 14n of the consumer group, said buffer 24 has an air pressure of at least 4 bar in the empty state, so that the pressure loss of roughly 1 bar generated by the pressure reducer 26 can also be The feed-in pressure of a buffer 24 may be generated, for example, by air behind a membrane in the buffer or a spring behind a piston in the buffer, each of which are positioned on the side opposite the connection of the water line 16n. Depending on the operating pressure through the feed pump and the lengths and the integration paths of the water lines 16n, the buffers 24 store the water from the water lines 16n at a pressure in the range of 4-16 bar or 4-25 bar.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply system 10 also has a recirculating line 20 between the header 19, i.e., downstream of the feed pump 18, and the water tank 12. The recirculating line 20 also contains an excess pressure valve 21 which is a passive valve, for example, which is closed in principle and opens automatically when a threshold pressure value is exceeded. The excess pressure valve 21 is designed in such a manner that the pressure threshold value is 16 bar or 25 bar, for example, depending on the configuration of the water lines 16n and the feed pump 18. In this way, the intended operating pressure of 16 bar or 25 bar in the water lines 16n can be guaranteed even more reliably, because when the operating pressure is too high, some water is conducted out of the water lines 16 through the recirculating line 20 into the water tank 12 and the operating pressure in the water lines 16n is lowered accordingly.

[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a water supply system for an aircraft. The same components as in the first exemplary embodiment are designated using the same reference signs.

[0040] The water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 2 differs from the first exemplary embodiment, in that not each of the water lines 16n is fed to a single consumer group of water consumers 14n, but that at least one water line (for example 16a and 16e in this case) is fed to multiple consumer groups (in this case three consumer groups of the water consumers 14a/14b/14c1-14c2 and two consumer groups of the water consumers 14e/14f1-14f2, for example). With this concept of water supply to the consumer groups, the buffers 24 of different consumer groups, which are connected to a joint water line 16a, 16e, counterbalance one another and therefore, for example, adapt the water supply to a variable/different use of the respective water consumers 14n in the different consumer groups.

[0041] The connection shown in FIG. 2 of multiple consumer groups to joint water lines 16n is of course exemplary and other combinations are naturally also possible. For example, the consumer group with the water consumer 14b can also be combined with the consumer group with the water consumer 14e, rather than with the consumer groups with the water consumers 14a and 14c1-2, and/or the consumer group with the water consumers 14c1-2 can also be combined with the consumer group with the water consumers 14f1-2, rather than with the consumer groups with the water consumers 14a and 14b.

[0042] Otherwise, the water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 2 corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment, including the variants indicated above.

[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a water supply system for an aircraft. The same components as those in the preceding exemplary embodiments are denoted using the same reference signs.

[0044] The water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 3 differs from the first and second exemplary embodiment, in that a sequential pressure increase for a consumer group is provided in the associated water line.

[0045] In this exemplary embodiment, the one consumer group with the four water consumers 14e1-4 has, by way of example, a greater water requirement than the other consumer groups of the water supply system 10. So that this consumer group is nevertheless effectively supplied with water from the water tank 12 via the feed pump 18 and the water line 16e, n booster pump 28 is also contained in the water line 16e fed to this consumer group, said booster pump being connected downstream of the feed pump 18 and therefore supplying more water to this consumer group than to the other consumer groups. As indicated in FIG. 3, an additional buffer 29 may, moreover, be optionally located upstream of this booster pump 28, in order to simplify the operation of said booster pump 28.

[0046] Other consumer groups can of course also be supported alternatively or additionally in their respective water lines with a booster pump of this kind.

[0047] Otherwise, the water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 3 corresponds to that in the second exemplary embodiment. The additional use of the booster pump in the third exemplary embodiment may, however, of course also be carried out in the first exemplary embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 4 depicts a fourth exemplary embodiment of a water supply system for an aircraft. The same components as in the previous exemplary embodiments are denoted using the same reference signs.

[0049] The water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 4 differs from the first exemplary embodiment, in that the water lines 16n in the water supply system 10 can be vented. The venting may be carried out by bleeder valves on the buffers 24, for example, or by the water consumers 14n (e.g. open water cock in a lavatory).

[0050] In order to be able to perform this venting of the water lines 16n, said water lines 16n are connected via the header 19 not only to the discharge line 13 from the water tank 12, but in addition to a drainage line 30 to a drainage water outlet 33. As shown in FIG. 4, this drainage line 30 preferably also uses the feed pump 18 contained in the discharge line 13 from the water tank 12. With this duplicate use of the feed pump 18, a water supply valve 31a is also provided in the discharge line 13 from the water tank 12 upstream of the feed pump 18 and a water supply valve 31b is provided downstream of the feed pump 18 and in the drainage line 30 from the water lines 16n, a drainage valve 32a is provided upstream of the feed pump 18 and a drainage valve 32b is provided downstream of the feed pump 18. With the water supply in operating mode, the water supply valves 31a and 31b are open in the discharge line 13 and the drainage valves 32a and 32b are closed in the drainage line 30; and when the water drainage is in operating mode, the water supply valves 31a and 31b in the discharge line 13 are closed and the drainage valves 32a and 32b in the drainage line 30 are open through venting.

[0051] While in this exemplary embodiment all water lines 16n are connected via the header 19 to the one drainage line 30, multiple drainage lines could also be provided as an alternative for different water lines and/or only some of the water lines could be connected to the drainage line.

[0052] Otherwise, the water supply system 10 depicted in FIG. 4 corresponds to the one in the first exemplary embodiment. Of course, this embodiment with the drainage line can, however, also be integrated in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0053] The subject matter of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodiments explained above only serve to improve understanding of the invention, but they are not intended to limit the scope of protection defined by the claims. As can be seen by the person skilled in the art, other embodiments are also possible within the framework of the invention, in particular by omitting individual features from, or by adding additional features to, the exemplary embodiments described above and through further combinations of features (not specifically mentioned) of two or more of the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0054] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

[0055] 10 water supply system

[0056] 12 water tank

[0057] 13 discharge line

[0058] 14n water consumers

[0059] 16n water lines

[0060] 18 feed pump

[0061] 19 header

[0062] 20 recirculating line

[0063] 21 excess pressure valve

[0064] 24 buffer

[0065] 26 pressure reducer

[0066] 28 booster pump

[0067] 29 additional buffer

[0068] 30 drainage line

[0069] 31a,b water supply valves

[0070] 32a,b drainage valves

[0071] 33 drainage water outlet