1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the containment of fluids from an aircraft commode.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern commercial passenger aircraft include at least one and often several lavatories. The commodes installed in such lavatories typically comprise a metal bowl having a base that is in fluid communication with a waste holding tank. All portions of the commode, except for the inner surface of the howl, are typically concealed and covered by a removable rigid shroud, which is supported by a plurality anchors affixed to the walls of the lavatory. Ground service maintenance personnel can remove the shroud to obtain access the commode and other aircraft systems that may be installed near the base of the commode and concealed from view by the shroud. The shroud, which supports a toilet seat and a lid, provides aesthetic and easy-to-clean surfaces that are visible to users of the lavatory.
Liquid and solid waste deposited by a user into the bowl of the commode is transferred to the waste holding tank using a vacuum system. In addition, a quantity of chemical disinfectant fluid, which is typically blue in color and is thus sometimes referred to in the airline industry as xe2x80x9cblue juice,xe2x80x9d is pumped into contact with the inner sides of the bowl during waste transfer to rinse liquid and solid waste from the inner surface of the bowl to the waste holding tank and to sanitize and disinfect the inner surface of the bowl for subsequent users.
In many commercial aircraft, there is no fluid-tight seal between the shroud and the rim of the bowl of the commode to avoid the creation of zones within the passenger cabin that are at different air pressures. Thus, a space or gap exists between the shroud and rim through which fluids can flow or leak. And such leaks do occur with some degree of regularity.
For example, during ground servicing operations, waste material must be pumped out of the waste holding tank and a fresh supply of chemical disinfectant fluid must be charged into the system. During such ground servicing operations, an oversupply of chemical disinfectant fluid is sometimes pumped into the system. This fluid can flow into and fill up the commode bowl and then flow between the space between the rim of the commode bowl and the shroud. The fluid flowing out of the bowl and into the aircraft can damage avionics and other systems concealed beneath the shroud, can seep into the luggage compartment and other areas of the aircraft, and can flow across the floor of the lavatory and into the passenger cabin. It takes a significant amount of time to clean up an aircraft that has been oversupplied with chemical disinfectant fluid. The aircraft must be removed from service during this time, which results in significant expense to the airline.
Must less frequently, fluids can flow out of commodes in aircraft lavatories during flight, such as when the commode becomes clogged with waste or paper or when the aircraft experiences turbulence or other in-flight conditions that can result in the escape of fluid. In some aircraft, such as a DC-9, water from the sink adjacent to the toilet drains into the toilet. If the toilet is not flushed and the water is left running by a user, the water will flow out of the bowl and onto the floor. See, e.g., Adrienne P. Samuels, St. Petersburg Times, Sep. 20, 2002, Airliner""s Lavatory Leaks into Luggage Area. A method for the containment of such fluids is needed.
The present invention provides a method for the containment of fluids that flow from a bowl of a commode installed in an aircraft lavatory through a space between a rim of the bowl and a shroud positioned above the rim. The method comprises securing a central portion of an apron against an exterior perimeter of the bowl and fastening a plurality of fastening points formed in an outer peripheral portion of the apron to fixed anchors to thereby extend and retain the outer peripheral portion of the apron away from the exterior perimeter of the bowl. Once installed, the apron is able to contain at least a portion of fluids that flow from the bowl through the space between the rim of the bowl and the shroud positioned above the rim.
In the presently most preferred embodiment of the invention, the apron comprises a sheet of flexible multilayer material. A first ply of the multilayer material comprises a fluid impermeable barrier ply and a second ply of the multilayer material comprises an absorbent material. The apron is preferably held against the exterior perimeter of the bowl using a band of aluminum. The fixed anchors supporting the outer peripheral portion of the apron are preferably fastened to the walls of the lavatory.
The present invention also provides a kit for use in servicing an aircraft lavatory. The kit comprises an apron and optionally a supply of disposable absorbent material, a disposable floor covering for placement on the floor of the lavatory, and a disposable supplemental lavatory service pad.
The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.