Evacuation Slide

• US 20170088273A1
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
• 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: Prevost, Craig Erwin, Evans, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 10,000,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes

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.

Claims

1. A slide comprising:

a support structure;

a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and

a weakened support region in the support structure, wherein

the slide is configured to be supported on a ground surface at a slide angle, the weakened support region enabling the support structure to bend and the slide angle to change in response to a bending load imposed on the slide.

2. The slide of claim 1, wherein the weakened support region comprises a bend region, wherein the slide is configured to bend at the bend region in response to the bending load.

3. The slide of claim 2, wherein the slide is an inflatable slide used for emergency evacuation of an aircraft and configured to be packed within a compartment of the aircraft.

4. The slide of claim 2, wherein the support structure is in bordering engagement with the sliding surface, and wherein the support structure is inflatable.

5. The slide of claim 4, the support structure comprising a first slide rail, a second slide rail, and a ground rail,

wherein, the first slide rail and the second slide rail boarder opposite sides of the sliding surface, and the ground rail boarders a bottom side of the sliding surface,

wherein the ground rail is coupled between the first slide rail and the second slide rail, and

wherein the first slide rail, the second slide rail, and the ground rail form a continuous air filled tube when the support structure is inflated.

6. The slide of claim 5, the bend region defining an upper tube region of the continuous air filled tube above the bend region, and a lower tube region of the continuous air filled tube below the bend region, the bend region further comprising:

a first bend region on the first slide rail, and

a second bend region, corresponding to the first bend region, on the second slide rail opposite the first bend region.

7. The slide of claim 6, wherein the upper tube region and the lower tube region of the continuous air filled tube comprise a first diameter which is generally uniform throughout the upper tube region and the lower tube region, and

wherein the bend region comprises a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter.

8. The slide of claim 2, the slide having a top, a ground rail, and a slide midpoint between the top and the ground rail, wherein the bend region is located below the slide midpoint.

9. The slide of claim 8 wherein the bend region is located approximately between the slide midpoint and the ground rail.

10. The slide of claim 8, the slide further comprising a lower support located slightly above the bend region.

11. The slide of claim 10, the lower support comprising a lower drop down support comprising a ground support bar and vertical posts, wherein the ground support bar is integrally coupled between the vertical posts, wherein the vertical posts are coupled to the support structure.

12. A slide comprising:

a support structure comprising a ground rail configured to support the slide on a ground surface;

a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and

a weakened support region in the support structure, wherein

when the slide is supported on the ground surface at a slide angle formed between the sliding surface and the ground surface, the weakened support region enables the slide angle to change in response to a bending load imposed on the slide, wherein

the weakened support region defined a lower half of the support structure below the weakened support region, and wherein the lower half of the support structure is configured to bend from a first slide angle to a second slide angle.

13. The slide of claim 12, wherein the second slide angle is lower than the first slide angle.

14. The slide of claim 13 wherein the first slide angle is greater than approximately 36°

.

15. A slide comprising:

a support structure comprising a ground rail and a lower drop down support;

a sliding surface supported by the support structure; and

a weakened support region in the support structure, wherein

the ground rail is configured to support the slide on a ground surface at a first slide angle, and the lower drop down support is configured to support the slide on the ground surface at a second slide angle with respect to the ground surface, wherein the first slide angle is greater than the second slide angle, and wherein

the weakened support region enables a slide angle to change in response to a bending load imposed on the slide.

16. The slide of claim 15, wherein the weakened support region defines a lower half of the support structure below the weakened support region, and wherein the lower half of the support structure is configured to bend and change slide angle of the lower half of the support structure.

17. The slide of claim 16, wherein when the slide is supported by the ground rail, the first slide angle is configured to bend to a lower slide angle.

18. The slide of claim 17, wherein when the slide is supported by the lower drop down support, the second slide angle is configured to bend to a higher slide angle.

19. The slide of claim 18, wherein the second slide angle is less than about 20°

.

20. The slide of claim 15, wherein the slide is an inflatable slide used for emergency evacuation of an aircraft and configured to pack within a compartment of the aircraft.