Vacuum packaged escape slide
First Claim
1. An inflatable escape slide system comprising:
- (a) a vacuum packaged envelope containing an inflatable escape slide, an aspirator and at least one slide light;
(b) means for fluidly connecting a carbon dioxide cylinder to the inflatable escape slide system;
(c) fluid connection means for connecting the means for connecting a carbon dioxide cylinder to the inflatable escape slide system to the aspirator through a vacuum envelope interface, said fluid connection means comprising a rapture disk at the vacuum envelope interface, said aspirator being fluidly connected to the inflatable escape slide;
(e) means for electrically connecting a battery pack through an electrical feedthrough in the vacuum envelope to the at least one slide light;
(f) a girt bar;
(g) at least one tear initiator cord, with each tear initiator cord being attached at one end to the vacuum envelope proximate to a tear initiator attachment point, and attached at the other end to the girt bar; and
(h) an outer girt attached at one end to the girt bar.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an environmentally sealed storage and deployment system for inflatable aircraft escape slides which is comprised of an environmentally sealed vacuum bag and an inflatable escape slide. Environmentally sealing the slide protects the slide fabric and components from degradation due to moisture, oxygen, ozone, tobacco smoke, and other deleterious agents. By protecting the slide from degradation in this manner, the time period between routine inspections may be extended. The force generated by the opening of the aircraft door tears open the environmentally sealed bag, initiating the deployment of the inflatable escape slide. The sealed vacuum bag is equipped with air-tight disconnect fittings that make it unnecessary to repack the slide after the changing of the CO2 cylinder or the slide light batteries.
37 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An inflatable escape slide system comprising:
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(a) a vacuum packaged envelope containing an inflatable escape slide, an aspirator and at least one slide light; (b) means for fluidly connecting a carbon dioxide cylinder to the inflatable escape slide system; (c) fluid connection means for connecting the means for connecting a carbon dioxide cylinder to the inflatable escape slide system to the aspirator through a vacuum envelope interface, said fluid connection means comprising a rapture disk at the vacuum envelope interface, said aspirator being fluidly connected to the inflatable escape slide; (e) means for electrically connecting a battery pack through an electrical feedthrough in the vacuum envelope to the at least one slide light; (f) a girt bar; (g) at least one tear initiator cord, with each tear initiator cord being attached at one end to the vacuum envelope proximate to a tear initiator attachment point, and attached at the other end to the girt bar; and (h) an outer girt attached at one end to the girt bar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inflatable escape slide system comprising:
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(a) a vacuum packaged envelope containing an inflatable escape slide, an aspirator and at least one slide light; (b) a carbon dioxide cylinder; (c) a hose fluidly connecting the carbon dioxide cylinder to the inflatable escape slide system to the aspirator through a vacuum envelope interface, said hose comprising a rupture disk at the vacuum envelope interface, said aspirator being fluidly connected to the inflatable escape slide; (e) means for electrically connecting a battery pack through an electrical feedthrough in the vacuum envelope to the at least one slide light; (f) a girt bar; (g) at least one tear initiator cord, with each tear initiator cord being attached at one end to the vacuum envelope proximate to a tear initiation attachment point, and attached at the other end to the girt bar; and (h) an outer girt attached at one end to the girt bar. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for deploying an escape slide, that is packed in a vacuum packaged envelope mounted on an interior surface of an aircraft door in an aircraft doorway, from the aircraft doorway comprising:
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(a) providing a carbon dioxide cylinder fluidly connected to the escape slide through a rupture disk in the vacuum packaged envelope, a girt attached to the escape slide, a girt bar attached to the girt and the doorway, and tear initiator cords attached at one end to the vacuum packaged envelope and at the other end to the girt bar; (b) triggering the deployment of the escape slide by opening the aircraft door, (c) the step of opening the aircraft door further pulling the tear initiator cords taut, such that they rip open the vacuum packaged envelope; (d) allowing the vacuum packaged envelope to fall out of the aircraft doorway, pulling the girt taught; (e) the girt pulling the escape slide out of the vacuum packaged envelope; and (f) rupturing the rupture disk such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide cylinder inflates the escape slide. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for vacuum packing an escape slide for an aircraft comprising:
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(a) providing an envelope having at least one flap, said flap comprising at least one tear initiator attachment point and at least one tear initiator point, said envelope also comprising a girt interface flange, a hose feedthrough and an electrical feedthrough, said hose feedthrough comprising a rupture disk, and said envelope having one rigid disk positioned inside the envelope below one flap; (b) placing a folded escape slide in the envelope; (c) placing an aspirator fluidly connected to the folded escape slide in the envelope below the rigid disk; (d) sealing the envelope around the girt interface flange, the hose feedthrough and the electrical feedthrough; (e) connecting a vacuum line to the escape slide and evacuating the escape slide; (f) disconnecting the vacuum line from the escape slide; (g) evacuating the envelope; and (h) sealing the envelope. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An envelope fabricated from gas-impermeable, notch sensitive materials comprising:
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(a) at least one flap, said flap comprising a tear initiator point and a tear initiator attachment point; (b) a girt interface flange; (c) a hose feedthrough comprising a rupture disk; (d) an electrical feedthrough; (e) a rigid disk positioned inside the envelope, just below a tear initiator attachment point; (f) an aspirator fluidly connected to the hose feedthrough positioned in the envelope below the rigid disk; and (g) an escape slide fluidly connected to the aspirator. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification