SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED WATER IN AN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A system for providing temperature-controlled water in an aircraft has a tank, a water temperature-controlling unit, a control unit, and a power supply terminal. The water temperature-controlling unit can be coupled to the tank to heat or to cool water situated therein. The control unit is connected to the water temperature-controlling unit to activate the water temperature-controlling unit for controlling the temperature of water in the tank to a predefined temperature. The power supply terminal can be connected to an on-board voltage source for the water temperature-controlling unit and the control unit to be supplied with electrical voltage. The system is in the form of a coherent and self-contained unit which can be integrated into a standard parking place of a galley of the aircraft. The tank is mounted so as to be exchangeable or the system has a water discharge connection which is coupled to the tank.

Claims

1. A system for providing temperature-controlled water in an aircraft, comprising: at least one tank; at least one water temperature-controlling unit; a control unit; and a power supply terminal, wherein the at least one water temperature-controlling unit is configured to be coupled to the at least one tank to heat or to cool water situated therein, wherein the control unit is connected to the at least one water temperature-controlling unit to activate the at least one water temperature-controlling unit for controlling the temperature of water in the at least one tank to a predefined temperature, wherein the power supply terminal is configured to be connected to an on-board voltage source for the at least one water temperature-controlling unit and the control unit to be supplied with electrical voltage, wherein the system is in the form of a coherent and self-contained unit configured to be integrated into a standard parking place of a galley of the aircraft, and wherein the at least one tank is mounted so as to be exchangeable or the system has a water discharge connection which is coupled to the at least one tank.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a water feed connection coupled to the at least one tank to supply the at least one tank with water from an on-board water tank.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein a filter unit is arranged between the water feed connection and the at least one tank.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor connected to the control unit and configured for detecting a water temperature in the at least one tank.

5. The system according claim 1, wherein the at least one water temperature-controlling unit has a heat exchanger through which water from the at least one tank is configured to flow and wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a heating or cooling device for the water flowing through to be heated or to be cooled.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger has a first connection, connected fluidically to the respective tank, and a second connection, connected fluidically to the respective tank, such that water, after flowing through the heat exchanger, is guided back into the respective tank.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one germ-reducing unit configured to be coupled to the at least one tank and configured for reducing the germ count of water in the at least one tank.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the germ-reducing unit has a UV lamp arranged in the at least one tank.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet connection for selective removal of water.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a water-receiving connection configured for receiving water from a unit provided with a supply by the system and for feeding said water to the outlet connection.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a water discharge connection arranged at a flexible water line for connection to a connection provided outside the system.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for being arranged in a half-size or full-size trolley parking place of a galley and is configured so as to be complementary thereto.

13. A galley for an aircraft, comprising at least one parking place, and having at least one system according to claim 1 integrated therein.

14. An aircraft comprising at least one galley according to claim 13 arranged therein.

15. The aircraft according to claim 14, further comprising a trolley configured to be provided with a supply by the system and having a device for receiving and discharging temperature-controlled water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] Further features, advantages and possible uses of the present invention emerge from the following description of the exemplary embodiments and from the figures. Here, all of the features described and/or illustrated in the figures form the subject matter of the invention individually and in any desired combination, even independently of the combination of said features in the individual claims or the back-references thereof. Furthermore, in the figures, the same reference signs are used for identical or similar objects.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows an aircraft in which such a system is integrated into a galley.

[0031] FIG. 4 schematically shows a galley with a system installed therein.

DETAILED ILLUSTRATION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a system 2 for providing temperature-controlled water in an aircraft. By way of example, the system 2 has a first tank 4 and a second tank 6. A cooling unit 8 is arranged as a water temperature-controlling unit on the first tank 4. Analogously, a heating unit 10 is arranged as a water temperature-controlling unit on the second tank 6. The two water temperature-controlling units 8 and 10 are connected to a control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured for activating the water temperature-controlling units 8 and 10 so that they cool water in the first tank 4 or heat water in the second tank 6. For this purpose, both tanks 4 and 6 may have in each case one sensor 43 which is coupled to the control unit 12 and is configured for transmitting a water temperature in the tanks 4 and 6 to the control unit 12 for control. Both tanks 4 and 6 are connected via a filter unit 14 to a water feed connection 16, which is coupled to an on-board water tank 18 situated in the respective aircraft. Additionally, a power supply terminal 20 for connection to an on-board voltage source 21 is provided. This, together with the water feed connection 16, would allow an interface 22 to be formed.

[0033] Here, by way of example, the system 2 has a water discharge connection 24, which is provided together with a water-receiving connection 26 at a flexible tube-like line 28. Consequently, the system 2 can be connected to a trolley 30 in order for water to be discharged from the first tank 4 and/or from the second tank 6 or in order for water to be received from the trolley 30 and guided to an outlet connection 32. The system 2 may have a pump 25 by which the trolley 30 can be supplied with water. In this way, it is not necessary, for delivering water to the trolley 30, to permit the inflow of fresh water via the water feed connection 16.

[0034] The trolley 30 has a water discharge apparatus 34 which is configured for discharging water from a trolley tank 35. The trolley tank 35 could, for example, store cold or warm water and be used for the preparation of beverages by means of the discharge apparatus 34. Merely by way of example, a battery 36 which supplies an integrated pump 37 with electrical voltage is provided here. The pump 37 is intended for delivering water to the discharge apparatus 34 from the trolley tank 35. The battery 36 can be recharged via an inductive charging apparatus. For this purpose, the battery 36 is equipped with a first coil unit 39 which can be brought into alignment with a second coil unit 38 to enable transmission of electrical power from the second coil unit 38 into the first coil unit 39. Here, the second coil unit 38 is arranged in a trolley parking place such that, when the trolley 30 is parked, a supply of energy to the trolley 30 is realized directly. The first coil unit 39 may additionally have an electronics unit (not shown), which controls the charging process of the battery 36.

[0035] For the purpose of reducing the germ count, both tanks 4 and 6 are in each case equipped with a germ-reducing unit 40, which is for example in the form of a UV lamp.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows an alternative system 42, in which, by way of example, only a single tank 44 is provided. It goes without saying, however, that a plurality of tanks 44 is possible. A water temperature-controlling unit 46 which is coupled via a heat exchanger 48 to the interior of the tank 44 is provided. For this purpose, the heat exchanger 48 has a first connection 50 and a second connection 52 that are connected fluidically to the tank 44. The water temperature-controlling unit 46 has, for cooling or heating, according to choice, a cooling unit 54 and a heating unit 56, which are also connected to the control unit 12. The use of the heat exchanger 48 makes it possible for water to be circulated, so as to continuously allow cooling or heating of the water in the tank 44. The tank 44 may likewise have a sensor 43 which is coupled to the control unit 12 in order to transmit the present water temperature in the tank 44 to the control unit 12 for control. The power supply terminal 20 is, by way of example, provided on a bottom side of the system 42.

[0037] The replenishment of water is realized here via the exchange of the tank 44, wherein, for example, provision could be made of a further trolley 58 in which a plurality of filled tanks 44 are provided. The filling of the trolley 30 is however likewise realized via insertion of the tank 44.

[0038] Finally, FIG. 3 shows an aircraft 60 in which there is provided a cabin 62 with a galley in which at least one system 2 and/or 42 as presented above is provided.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a detail from the cabin 62. Here, a galley 64 can be seen in a plan view. The galley 64 has a plurality of parking places 66 which serve for receiving a trolley. By way of example, the trolley 30 from the preceding illustrations is shown at a parking place 66. Another parking place 66 is provided with the system 2, which, in terms of its size, is matched to the parking place 66. This applies analogously to the use of the system 42 in the parking place 66. All the connections intended for the operation of the system 2 or 42 and an on-board water tank 18 required for the system 2 are provided in the galley 64 or in the aircraft 60.

[0040] It is additionally pointed out that “having” or “comprising” does not rule out other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not rule out a multiplicity. It is also pointed out that features that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments may also be used in combination with other features of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limiting.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 2 System [0042] 4 First tank [0043] 6 Second tank [0044] 8 Cooling unit/Water temperature-controlling unit [0045] 10 Heating unit/Water temperature-controlling unit [0046] 12 Control unit [0047] 14 Filter unit [0048] 16 Water feed connection [0049] 18 On-board water tank [0050] 20 Power supply terminal [0051] 21 On-board voltage source [0052] 22 Interface [0053] 24 Water discharge connection [0054] 25 Pump [0055] 26 Water-receiving connection [0056] 28 Line [0057] 30 Trolley [0058] 32 Outlet connection [0059] 34 Water discharge apparatus [0060] 35 Trolley tank [0061] 36 Battery [0062] 37 Pump [0063] 38 Second coil unit [0064] 39 First coil unit [0065] 40 Germ-reducing unit [0066] 42 System [0067] 43 Sensor [0068] 44 Tank [0069] 46 Water temperature-controlling unit [0070] 48 Heat exchanger [0071] 50 First connection [0072] 52 Second connection [0073] 54 Cooling unit [0074] 56 Heating unit [0075] 58 Trolley [0076] 60 Aircraft [0077] 62 Cabin [0078] 64 Galley [0079] 66 Parking place