Redundant layer for inflatable evacuation component

• US 10,549,861 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Volny, Jaro S., Hartman, Drew
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frazier, Brady W
• Application Number:
  US15/350,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20180134398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 2441372, 244905, 1523421
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/18 Flotation gear aircraft alighting gear B64C

Abstract

The inflatable component includes, according to various embodiments, a first inflatable bladder defining a first fluid chamber and a second inflatable bladder defining a second fluid chamber. The second inflatable bladder may circumscribe the first inflatable bladder such that the first inflatable bladder is disposed in the second fluid chamber. The inflatable component also includes, according to various embodiments, an inlet valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder, wherein the inlet valve is configured to deliver fluid to the first fluid chamber. In various embodiments, the inflatable component also includes a pressure relief valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder, wherein fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is via the pressure relief valve.

Claims

1. An inflatable component of an aircraft evacuation assembly, the inflatable component comprising:

a first inflatable bladder defining a first fluid chamber;

a second inflatable bladder defining a second fluid chamber, wherein the second inflatable bladder circumscribes the first inflatable bladder such that the first inflatable bladder is disposed in the second fluid chamber;

an inlet valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder, wherein the inlet valve is configured to deliver fluid to the first fluid chamber; and

a pressure relief valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder, wherein fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is via the pressure relief valve;

wherein the first inflatable bladder is coupled to the second inflatable bladder exclusively via the inlet valve.

2. The inflatable component of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve comprises an interface for connecting to a fluid storage tank of the aircraft evacuation assembly.

3. The inflatable component of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve comprises an aspirator configured to entrain air from atmosphere into the first fluid chamber.

4. The inflatable component of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable bladder is coupled to the inlet valve at a first location along a length of the inlet valve and the second inflatable bladder is coupled to the inlet valve at a second location along the length of the inlet valve, wherein the inflatable component comprises complete layer redundancy via the first and second inflatable bladders.

5. The inflatable component of claim 4, wherein the first location is directly adjacent the second location such that a portion of an exterior surface of the first inflatable bladder is substantially in direct contact with a portion of an interior surface of the second inflatable bladder.

6. The inflatable component of claim 4, wherein the first location is spaced apart from the second location such that a gap exists and is partially defined between the first inflatable bladder at the first location and the second inflatable bladder at the second location.

7. The inflatable component of claim 6, wherein the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder, in response to both the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder being inflated, bound a void defined between the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder.

8. The inflatable component of claim 1, wherein the second fluid chamber is isolated from direct fluid receiving communication with the inlet valve.

9. The inflatable component of claim 8, wherein fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is exclusively via the pressure relief valve.

10. The inflatable component of claim 1, wherein the inflatable component is a slide-raft inflatable of the aircraft evacuation assembly.

11. The inflatable component of claim 10, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a diameter between about 1 inch and about 6 inches.

12. The inflatable component of claim 10, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a diameter between about 2 inches and about 4 inches.

13. An aircraft evacuation assembly comprising:

a packboard;

a fluid storage tank mounted to the packboard;

a slide-raft inflatable comprising;

a first inflatable bladder defining a first fluid chamber;

a second inflatable bladder defining a second fluid chamber, wherein the second inflatable bladder circumscribes the first inflatable bladder such that the first inflatable bladder is disposed in the second fluid chamber;

an inlet valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder, wherein the inlet valve is coupled in fluid receiving communication with the fluid storage tank to deliver a fluid from the fluid storage tank to the first fluid chamber; and

a pressure relief valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder, wherein fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is via the pressure relief valve;

wherein the first inflatable bladder is coupled only indirectly to the second inflatable bladder, and such indirect coupling is via the inlet valve.

14. The aircraft evacuation assembly of claim 13, wherein the inlet valve comprises an aspirator configured to entrain air from ambient atmosphere into the first fluid chamber in response to the fluid from the fluid storage tank being delivered to the first fluid chamber.

15. A method of deploying a slide-raft inflatable of an aircraft evacuation assembly, the method comprising:

inflating a first inflatable bladder by actuating an inlet valve to deliver fluid into a first fluid chamber of the first inflatable bladder of the slide-raft inflatable; and

in response to a fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber reaching a predetermined pressure, inflating a second inflatable bladder by delivering fluid from the first fluid chamber of the first inflatable bladder to a second fluid chamber of the second inflatable bladder of the slide-raft inflatable, wherein the second inflatable bladder circumscribes the first inflatable bladder such that the first inflatable bladder is disposed in the second fluid chamber;

wherein in response to inflating the first inflatable bladder and inflating the second inflatable bladder, the first inflatable bladder is free from direct contact with the second inflatable bladder.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inlet valve comprises an aspirator such that inflating the first inflatable bladder of the slide-raft inflatable comprises entraining air from atmosphere into a flow of fluid from a fluid storage tank of the aircraft evacuation assembly into the first fluid chamber of the first inflatable bladder.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein fluid communication between the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder is exclusively via a pressure relief valve.