Escape slide and life raft
First Claim
1. An escape slide and life raft assembly adapted to be inflated and extend from an elevated position to a lower surface, said assembly comprising a slide portion having a longitudinally extending inflatable side tube at each side thereof, an outrigger portion positioned adjacent said side tube, said outrigger portion having an inflatable support tube, in fluid communication with said side tube, a flexible passenger supporting sheet member extending between said support tube and said side tube, and a reefing means for retaining said outrigger portion against said slide portion, means for inflating said assembly to a first predetermined pressure while said outrigger portion is in the reefed condition, said reefing means including a continuous flap of sheet material having substantially the length of the support tube and extending around said support tube of said outrigger portion for urging said support tube against said side tube so that upon inflation of said assembly with said outrigger portion retained against said slide portion said support tube will only partially inflate and reinforce said side tube, said reefing means including a release means to release said reefing means to permit full inflation of said support tube so that during operation of said assembly as a raft said outrigger portion will provide space on said flexible sheet member for additional passengers and said assembly being inflated to a second predetermined pressure with said outrigger portion in the extended condition after release of said reefing means by said release means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated place and thereafter providing a floating support when the evacuation is on water. A slide portion of the assembly has side tubes connected to transverse and longitudinal tubes of an outrigger portion to provide additional seating capacity of the assembly when used as a life raft. Upon inflation and extension of the slide portion, the outrigger portion is reefed or held in against the side tubes and only partially inflated so that the partially inflated longitudinal tubes reinforce the side tubes of the slide portion. When the outrigger portion is fully inflated and extended by releasing the reefing, the pressure in the assembly will be reduced due to the increased volume of the inflatable support tubes; however, the reduced pressure is at a preferred level for operation of the assembly as a life raft.
38 Citations
2 Claims
- 1. An escape slide and life raft assembly adapted to be inflated and extend from an elevated position to a lower surface, said assembly comprising a slide portion having a longitudinally extending inflatable side tube at each side thereof, an outrigger portion positioned adjacent said side tube, said outrigger portion having an inflatable support tube, in fluid communication with said side tube, a flexible passenger supporting sheet member extending between said support tube and said side tube, and a reefing means for retaining said outrigger portion against said slide portion, means for inflating said assembly to a first predetermined pressure while said outrigger portion is in the reefed condition, said reefing means including a continuous flap of sheet material having substantially the length of the support tube and extending around said support tube of said outrigger portion for urging said support tube against said side tube so that upon inflation of said assembly with said outrigger portion retained against said slide portion said support tube will only partially inflate and reinforce said side tube, said reefing means including a release means to release said reefing means to permit full inflation of said support tube so that during operation of said assembly as a raft said outrigger portion will provide space on said flexible sheet member for additional passengers and said assembly being inflated to a second predetermined pressure with said outrigger portion in the extended condition after release of said reefing means by said release means.
Specification