INFLATABLE LIFE RAFT ESCAPE SLIDE

• US 3,827,094 A
• Filed: 06/25/1973
• Issued: 08/06/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Fisher
• Original Assignee: John M. Fisher
• Inventors: Fisher, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US05/373,120
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137P 9/11A,2A 193/25B 182/48,20 14/27 52/2,224
• US Class Current: 441/38
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 1/20 by making use of sliding-ropes, sliding-poles or chutes, e.g. hoses, pipes, sliding-grooves, sliding-sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes

Abstract

An improved inflatable life raft escape slide having a plurality of inflatable tube members which, upon inflation, define an escape slide that is also usable as a life raft. A plurality of inflatable auxiliary tube members are cooperative with the escape slide which, upon inflation, deploys a canopy that protects the occupants of the slide raft when used as a raft.

Claims

1. An inflatable life raft escape slide comprising an inflatable slide member;

said slide member having an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion;

said upper surface portion providing a slideway surface for the discharge of aircraft passengers;

said slide member having a cross section with a width greater than the height thereof;

said slide including a plurality of inflatable longitudinally extending tube members thereof, and laterally extending inflatable tube members communicating with said longitudinally extending members;

an inflatable pusher tube member extending across the under surface of said slide to provide body and stability thereto;

strut means having their one ends pivotally attached to the intermediate under surface portion of said slide;

cables extending from the respective end portions of said slide for connection to the other ends of said struts to provide a rigid truss-like supporting means upon inflation of said slide;

pressurizing means operative upon actuation to pressurize said pusher tube, said inflatable longitudinally extending tube members, and said inflatable laterally extending tube members;

valve means interconnecting said pusher tube to said pressurizing means for inflating said pusher tube but operative upon exhaustion of pressure from said pressurizing means to deflate said pusher tube, an inflatable U-shaped tube mounted above said pusher tube and cooperative with said inflatable members upon inflation to provide an enclosure for said slide surface thereby presenting a boat-like structure;

valve means interconnecting said U-shaped tube and said inflatable members to bleed off pressurized air from said inflatable members to said U-shaped tube;

inflatable arch member secured to the upper side portions of said slide member;

releasable means confining said inflatable arch members in a deflated condition and upon actuation thereof communicating said arch members with said longitudinally extending members for inflation thereof; and

canopy means connected to said arch members for deployment therewith to cover the slide surface of said slide on deployment of said arch members.

2. An inflatable escape slide raft as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinally extending inflatable tube members communicate with spaced inflatable rail means for guiding and confining passengers on said slideway surface;

said inflatable arch members comprising a plurality of auxiliary inflatable tube members on each of said inflatable rails, and means on one end of said auxiliary tubes for joining adjacent ends of said auxiliary tubes to form said arch members.

3. An inflatable life raft escape Slide as set forth in claim 2 wherein said canopy comprises a pair of panel members deployable with said auxiliary inflatable tube members;

and said pair of panel members cooperative with each other to cover the entire slide in spaced relationship with said slideway surface.