Yoke strap with shock absorber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242154-B2
Application number	US-202016831316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2020
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A restraint arrangement for an inflatable slide may comprise a releasable restraint and a yoke coupled to the releasable restraint. The yoke may comprise a first strap and a second strap. A first dampener may be coupled to the first strap. A second dampener may be coupled to the second strap. The first dampener and the second dampener may deform in response to a tensile load.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A restraint arrangement for an inflatable slide, comprising:
a releasable restraint;
a yoke coupled to the releasable restraint, the yoke comprising a restraint attachment portion, a first strap, and a second strap, wherein the releasable restraint is coupled to a first end of the restraint attachment portion, and wherein the first strap and the second strap are sewn together at a second end of the restraint attachment portion, the second end of the restraint attachment portion being opposite the first end of the restraint attachment portion;
a first dampener coupled to the first strap; and
a second dampener coupled to the second strap.

2. The restraint arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first dampener and the second dampener comprise an elastic material and deform in response to a tensile load.

3. The restraint arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the tensile load is generated by a dropping of the inflatable slide.

4. The restraint arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first strap is wrapped around the first dampener.

5. The restraint arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first dampener comprises a plurality of openings and the first strap is threaded through the plurality of openings.

6. The restraint arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first dampener comprises at least one of a semi-circular dampener, a wraparound dampener, a threaded dampener, or a spring dampener.

7. A yoke for an evacuation system, comprising:
a first strap;
a second strap; and
a first dampener coupled to the first strap, the first dampener comprising at least one of a wraparound dampener, a threaded dampener, a semi-circular dampener, or a spring dampener, wherein a first portion of the first strap extends through a first opening in the first dampener and a second portion of the first strap extends through a second opening in the first dampener.

8. The yoke of claim 7 , wherein the first dampener comprises an elastic material and is configured to deform in response to a tensile load.

9. The yoke of claim 7 , further including a third strap, wherein the third strap and the second strap are sewn together.

10. The yoke of claim 9 , wherein the third strap and the second strap are coupled to the first dampener.

11. The yoke of claim 8 , further including a second dampener coupled to the second strap.

12. The yoke of claim 7 , further comprising a third strap coupled to the first portion of the first strap and the second portion of the first strap.

13. A method of making an evacuation assembly, comprising:
coupling a first strap of a yoke to an evacuation slide, wherein the first strap is coupled to the evacuation slide proximate a first edge of the evacuation slide;
coupling a second strap of the yoke to the evacuation slide, wherein the second strap is coupled the evacuation slide proximate a second edge of the evacuation slide opposite the first edge of the evacuation slide, the first edge and the second edge extending longitudinally between a head end of the evacuation slide and a toe end of the evacuation slide, and wherein the first strap and the second strap are sewn together at a restraint attachment portion of the yoke;
coupling a first dampener to the first strap, the first dampener comprising at least one of a wraparound dampener, a threaded dampener, a semi-circular dampener, or a spring dampener; and
coupling a second dampener to the second strap.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling the restraint attachment portion of the yoke to a releasable restraint.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first dampener comprises an elastic material.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Haynes Timothy C
• Bahena Daniel

Classifications

• B64D25/14 Primary

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title

• B63B2027/145

  Inflatable ramps · CPC title