Integrated aircraft galley and appliance operating system

Abstract

An aircraft galley power and control system is disclosed having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley control system including a control panel removed from the electrical appliances that include controls for operating each of the electrical appliances. The galley also includes a galley controller interface for receiving commands from a display screen on the control panel and communicating the commands to the electrical appliances.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An aircraft galley having a plurality of electrical appliances within a monument, the galley comprising:
 a power control distribution device for allocating and managing power supplied to the electrical appliances, the power control distribution device assigning a priority to each electrical appliance and supplying power to the electrical appliances based on the assigned priority according to a predetermined protocol;   a universal control panel connected to each electrical appliance, whereby the management of the electrical appliances is controlled by the universal control panel and wherein multiple electrical appliances can be controlled by the universal control panel simultaneously, the universal control panel including a display and a communication system for receiving instructions for the electrical appliances remotely;   whereby the display of the universal control panel displays diagnostic information regarding the electrical appliances, said diagnostic information including maintenance information and error codes corresponding to each electrical appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft galley of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical appliances include beverage makers, ovens, and chillers. 
     
     
         3 . The aircraft galley of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel includes touch screen command entry. 
     
     
         4 . The aircraft galley of  claim 1 , further comprising a main power supply for supplying power to the electrical appliances, and a power control and distribution unit connected to the main power supply and further connected to each electrical appliance for distributing power to the electrical appliances according to a predetermined logic. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft galley of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined logic is based on a hierarchical order of electrical appliances. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft galley of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel can display diagnostic information relating to the electrical appliances. 
     
     
         7 . The aircraft galley of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication system for communication with other galleys in the aircraft and for communication with individual passengers. 
     
     
         8 . The aircraft galley of  claim 7 , wherein the control panel includes a map of the aircraft's interior, and the map illuminates to show where a communication to the galley is coming from. 
     
     
         9 . The aircraft galley of  claim 7 , wherein the control panel can communicate within the aircraft with handheld communication devices. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft galley of  claim 7 , wherein the control panel can communicate directly with a passenger sitting in his seat. 
     
     
         11 . The aircraft galley of  claim 7 , where the communication system can convey textual messages.