Evacuation system with wind lift deterrent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793280-B2
Application number	US-201715594389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2017
Priority date	May 12, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An evacuation system may comprise an evacuation slide and a first underwing tube. The first underwing tube may be coupled to an outboard tube or an inboard tube of the evacuation slide. The first underwing tube may be configured to extend away from the evacuation slide upon inflation of the first underwing tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An evacuation system, comprising:
an evacuation slide comprising an inboard tube and an outboard tube; and
a first underwing tube coupled to at least one of the outboard tube of the evacuation slide or the inboard tube of the evacuation slide, wherein the first underwing tube comprises a conical member having a first base portion and a first tip portion, a width of the first tip portion being less than a width of the first base portion, and wherein the first tip portion of the first underwing tube is configured to extend away from an underside surface of the evacuation slide in response to inflation of the first underwing tube, and wherein the first underwing tube and the least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube define a space configured to receive an aft edge of an aircraft flap in a flap down position, and wherein the first underwing tube is configured to extend forward of the aircraft flap and engage an underside of the aircraft flap in the flap down position.

2. The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the first tip portion extends away from at least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube at an angle between 10° and 80°.

3. The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the width of the first base portion is between 60% and 90% of a width of at least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube.

4. The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the evacuation slide further comprises a transverse support tube extending between the outboard tube and the inboard tube.

5. The evacuation system of claim 4 , wherein the first base portion of the first underwing tube is disposed closer to the transverse support tube than to a head end of the evacuation slide.

6. The evacuation system of claim 1 , wherein the first underwing tube is in fluid communication with at least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube.

7. The evacuation system of claim 1 , further comprising a second underwing tube coupled to at least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube.

8. The evacuation system of claim 7 , wherein the second underwing tube is in fluid communication with at least one of the outboard tube or the inboard tube.

9. The evacuation system of claim 1 , further comprising a releasable restraint coupled to the evacuation slide, wherein the first underwing tube is configured to inflate prior to a separating of the releasable restraint.

10. A slide for an evacuation system, comprising:
an outboard tube;
an inboard tube;
a first underwing tube coupled to the outboard tube, the first underwing tube comprising a first member fluidly coupled to the outboard tube, wherein a first tip portion of the first member is configured to extend away from the outboard tube in response to inflation of the first underwing tube, and wherein the first member of the first underwing tube is configured to engage an underside of a first aircraft flap in a flap down position; and
a second underwing tube coupled to the inboard tube, the second underwing tube comprising a second member fluidly coupled to the inboard tube, wherein a second tip portion of the second member is configured to extend away from the inboard tube in response to inflation of the second underwing tube, and wherein the second member of the second underwing tube is configured to engage at least one of the underside of the the first aircraft flap in the flap down position or an underside of a second aircraft flap in the flap down position.

11. The slide of claim 10 , further comprising a transverse support tube extending between the outboard tube and the inboard tube.

12. The slide of claim 11 , wherein a first base portion of the first member is disposed closer to the transverse support tube than a head end of the slide.

13. The slide of claim 10 , wherein the first member comprises a first base portion and the first tip portion, and wherein a width of the first base portion is greater than a width of the first tip portion; and
wherein the second member comprises a second base portion and the second tip portion, and wherein a width of the second base portion is greater than a width of the second tip portion.

14. The slide of claim 10 , wherein the first tip portion of the first member extends away from the outboard tube at an angle between 10° and 80°.

15. The slide of claim 13 , wherein the second tip portion of the second member extends away from the inboard tube at an angle between 10° and 80.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Haynes Timothy C
• Schmidt Ryan

Classifications

• B63C9/22

  Devices for holding or launching life-buoys, inflatable life-rafts, or other floatable life-saving equipment (equipment for handling life-boats or the like B63B23/00) · CPC title

• B63B2027/145

  Inflatable ramps · CPC title

• B64D25/14 Primary

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title