Aircraft evacuation slide
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aircraft slide comprising:
- a support structure comprising a first slide rail, a second slide rail, and a ground rail;
a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and
a bend region formed in the support structure and comprising a first diameter, the bend region defining an upper tube region of the support structure above the bend region and a lower tube region of the support structure below the bend region, wherein the upper tube region comprises a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter and is generally uniform throughout the upper tube region and the lower tube region comprises a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter and is generally uniform throughout the lower tube region, wherein the bend region is located between the ground rail and a midpoint of the aircraft slide, the midpoint of the aircraft slide being halfway between the ground rail and a top of the aircraft slide opposite the ground rail, and whereinthe aircraft slide is configured to be supported on a ground surface at a slide angle relative to the ground surface, the bend region enabling the support structure to bend and the slide angle of the lower tube region to change in response to a bending load imposed on the lower tube region.
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Abstract
According to various embodiments, disclosed is a slide configured to be supported on a ground surface at a slide angle, comprising a support structure, a sliding surface supported by the support structure, and a weakened support region in the support structure, wherein the weakened support region enables the slide to buckle and the slide angle to change in response to a bending load imposed on the slide. According to various embodiments, the slide is an aircraft evacuation slide.
31 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An aircraft slide comprising:
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a support structure comprising a first slide rail, a second slide rail, and a ground rail; a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and a bend region formed in the support structure and comprising a first diameter, the bend region defining an upper tube region of the support structure above the bend region and a lower tube region of the support structure below the bend region, wherein the upper tube region comprises a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter and is generally uniform throughout the upper tube region and the lower tube region comprises a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter and is generally uniform throughout the lower tube region, wherein the bend region is located between the ground rail and a midpoint of the aircraft slide, the midpoint of the aircraft slide being halfway between the ground rail and a top of the aircraft slide opposite the ground rail, and wherein the aircraft slide is configured to be supported on a ground surface at a slide angle relative to the ground surface, the bend region enabling the support structure to bend and the slide angle of the lower tube region to change in response to a bending load imposed on the lower tube region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aircraft slide comprising:
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a support structure comprising a ground rail configured to support the aircraft slide on a ground surface; a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and a bend region in the support structure, the bend region comprising a first diameter, wherein the bend region defines a lower region of the support structure and an upper region of the support structure above the bend region, the lower region of the support structure comprising a second diameter greater than the first diameter of the bend region and the upper region of the support structure comprising a third diameter greater than the first diameter, the bend region being located between the lower region and a midpoint of the aircraft slide along a length of the aircraft slide, and wherein the support structure is configured to bend at the bend region and change an angle of the lower region of the support structure with respect the ground surface in response to a bending load being imposed on the lower region of the support structure, and wherein when the angle of the lower region of the support structure with respect the ground surface is less than 20°
the angle increases in response to the bending load being imposed on the lower region of the support structure, and wherein when the angle of the lower region of the support structure with respect the ground surface is greater than 36°
, the angle decreases in response to the bending load being imposed on the lower region of the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification