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EP-4737313-A1 - AIRCRAFT SECTION AND AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A FREEZING PROTECTION FOR A WATER LINE

EP4737313A1EP 4737313 A1EP4737313 A1EP 4737313A1EP-4737313-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aircraft section (10) and aircraft (1) having a monument (50) and a water supply line (110) with a heating element (120) as freezing protection in a space overlapping with frames (3) of the aircraft.

Inventors

  • OHLFEST, CARSTEN
  • Albers, Frederik
  • Wenderoth, Stefan

Assignees

  • AIRBUS Operations GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250925

Claims (9)

  1. An aircraft section (10), comprising: at least a section of a frame (3) arranged in a circumferential direction of the aircraft section; at least a section of a cabin floor (5) coupled to the frame (3); a monument (50) having a water consumer (130); and a water supply line (110) fluidly connected to the water consumer (130) and configured to supply water to the water consumer, characterised in that the water supply line (110) is installed in a space overlapping with the frame (3) in a longitudinal direction of the aircraft section, and the aircraft section further comprises: a heating element (120) configured to heat the water supply line (110) in the space overlapping with the frame (3).
  2. The aircraft section (10) of claim 1, wherein the water supply line (110) is further installed in a space underneath the cabin floor (5), and wherein the heating element (120) is further configured to heat a portion of the water supply line (110) arranged in the space underneath the cabin floor (5).
  3. The aircraft section (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element (120) is a heated water supply hose fluidly coupled to the water supply line (110) and arranged in the space overlapping with the frame (3) and, preferably, further arranged in the space underneath the cabin floor (5).
  4. The aircraft section (10) of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating element (120) is an electrical heating element having an electrical connector (125).
  5. The aircraft section (10) of claim 4, further comprising: a power supply line (25) configured to provide electrical power to the monument (50), wherein the electrical connector (125) of the heating element (120) is electrically connected to the power supply (25), wherein, preferably, the electrical connector (125) is arranged in the monument (50).
  6. The aircraft section (10) of one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: at least a section of a main water line (250), wherein the water supply line (110) is fluidly connected to the main water line (250).
  7. The aircraft section (10) of claim 6, wherein the main water line (250) is installed in the space underneath the cabin floor (5).
  8. The aircraft section (10) of one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a temperature sensor (160) arranged in the space overlapping with the frame (3), and preferably arranged adjacent to the water supply line (110); and/or a controller (180) configured to control operation of the heating element (120), preferably based on a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor (160).
  9. An aircraft (1), comprising: at least one aircraft section (10) of one of claims 1 to 8.

Description

The present disclosure generally relates to an aircraft section and aircraft having a water supply line with a freezing protection. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an aircraft section and aircraft having a monument and a water supply line with a heating element, wherein the water supply line is installed in a space close to frames of the primary structure of the aircraft that is at risk of freezing. A conventional water supply system in an aircraft is installed in a manner that it can be drained by gravity. This makes the installation route of the water lines and ducts complex and the installation cumbersome. In order to avoid freezing of such water lines and ducts, an additional electric ice protection system can be provided, which has to be routed in the same way as the water lines, which makes the installation work even more complex. A further water supply system comprises flexible hoses with smaller diameters and operates at a higher pressure. The hoses can be drained pneumatically due to the smaller diameter, which allows less complex installation routes and easier installation in the aircraft. Nevertheless, even the flexible hoses may be arranged in areas of the aircraft that are at risk of freezing, either during flight operation of the aircraft or during phases where the aircraft is on ground in a cold environment. It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved water supply system, particularly a water supply system with improved operational availability and with a reduced risk of damage due to freezing. This object is solved by the present invention as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims. According to a first aspect to better understand the present disclosure, an aircraft section comprises at least a section of a frame arranged in a circumferential direction of the aircraft section, at least a section of a cabin floor coupled to the frame, a monument having a water consumer, and a water supply line fluidly connected to the water consumer and configured to supply water to the water consumer. For instance, such monument can be a lavatory, a galley, a separating wall with water dispenser or similar water consumer, or the like. The water supply line is installed in a space overlapping with the frame (when viewing) in a longitudinal direction of the aircraft section. The aircraft section further comprises a heating element configured to heat the water supply line in the space overlapping with the frame. In other words, the water supply line is at least partially arranged in a space or region of the aircraft section that is close to an outer skin of the aircraft, which is regularly mounted onto the frames of the aircraft fuselage. During flight or on ground in a freezing environment, a region close to the outer skin is at risk of freezing. The heating element is only provided in this region. Thus, it is possible to arrange the water supply line in areas of the aircraft section, where it is not in the way for installation or arrangement of other components. At the same time, the water supply line can be prevented from damage, as the heating element is provided in a section (or one or more sections) that are at risk of freezing. As a mere example, installing the water supply line in the space overlapping with the frame in a longitudinal direction allows "hiding" the water supply line in the structure of the aircraft, i.e. the frame region. In an implementation variant, the water supply line can be installed in a space underneath the cabin floor, and the heating element can further be configured to heat a portion of the water supply line arranged in the space underneath the cabin floor. Specifically, since the cabin floor is mounted to the frames or to a structure close to the frames, the space underneath the cabin floor is also at risk of freezing, at least a portion of this space is at risk of freezing. Nevertheless, the heating element may be provided in the entire region at risk of freezing, which covers some of the space between the frames as well as the space, for example, between floor beams. It is to be noted that "underneath the cabin floor" is to be understood as including a space delimited by beams carrying the cabin floor, and not necessarily a space underneath such beams. "Underneath the cabin floor", hence, is to be understood as including any space underneath the actual floor panels (e.g., arranged on top of beams). In any case, the cargo area may be free for cargo, since the water supply line is not arranged in the space dedicated for cargo and other goods. Thus, the water supply line can be "hidden" in the cargo floor. It is to be understood that the water supply line with the heating element can be arranged in any other area that is at risk of freezing. In an implementation variant, the water supply line can be a conventional water pipe made from stainless steel or titanium, such as water p