Light weight variable force restraint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11964769-B2
Application number	US-202017084485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Mar 22, 2017
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

An evacuation system may comprise an evacuation slide configured to be deployed from an aircraft, first strap coupled to the evacuation slide, a second strap coupled to the evacuation slide, and a releasable restraint extending through the first strap and the second strap, the releasable restraint comprising a first stem connected to a first bead and a second stem connected to a second bead, where a diameter of the second stem is different from a diameter of the first stem.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for restraining an evacuation slide, comprising:
extending a releasable restraint through a first strap coupled to the evacuation slide, the releasable restraint comprising,
a lead end;
a female fastener opposite the lead end;
a first bead;
a second bead adjacent to the first bead;
a first stem connecting the first bead and the second bead;
a third bead adjacent to the second bead;
a second stem connecting the second bead and the third bead, wherein a diameter of the second stem is greater than a diameter of the first stem such that a first tensile load associated with breaking the first stem is less than a second tensile load associated with breaking the second stem, and wherein the second stem is located more proximate the female fastener as compared to the first stem;
a third stem connected to the third bead; and
a fourth bead and a fifth bead connected by a fourth stem, wherein the fifth bead is adjacent to the fourth bead, and wherein a diameter of the fourth stem is greater than the diameter of the second stem such that a third tensile load associated with breaking the fourth stem is greater than the second tensile load associated with breaking the second stem, and wherein the fourth stem is located more proximate the female fastener as compared to the third stem, and wherein the female fastener is configured to receive and retain the lead end and at least one of the first bead, the second bead, the third bead, the fourth bead, or the fifth bead; and

extending the releasable restraint through a second strap coupled to the evacuation slide.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locating the lead end and at least one bead of the first bead, the second bead, the third bead, the fourth bead, or the fifth bead through the female fastener.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a desired load associated with breaking the releasable restraint; and
determining a bead of the first bead, the second bead, the third bead, the fourth bead, or the fifth bead to be a last bead received by the female fastener based on the desired load associated with breaking the releasable restraint, wherein a last diameter of a last stem connected to the last bead received by the female fastener defines an actual load associated with breaking the releasable restraint such that the actual load associated with breaking the releasable restraint corresponds to the desired load associated with the breaking the releasable restraint.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a color or a shape of the first bead indicates at least one of the diameter of the first stem or the first tensile load associated with breaking the first stem.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the diameter of the first stem to the diameter of the second stem is between 6:5 and 7:1.

6. A method for restraining an evacuation slide, comprising:
locating a first releasable restraint through a first strap and a second strap of the evacuation slide; and
locating a second releasable restraint through a third strap and a fourth strap of the evacuation slide,
wherein the first releasable restraint comprises:
a plurality of first beads;
a plurality of first stems connecting the plurality of first beads, wherein each first stem of the plurality of first stems extends between a pair of first beads of the plurality of first beads, and wherein each first stem of the plurality of first stems has a first diameter;
a plurality of second beads;
a first female fastener configured to receive and retain at least one bead of the plurality of first beads or the plurality of second beads; and
a plurality of second stems connecting the plurality of second beads, wherein each second stem of the plurality of second stems extends between a pair of second beads of the plurality of second beads, and wherein each second stem of the plurality of second stems has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter, and wherein a first tensile load associated with breaking one of the plurality of first stems is less than a second tensile load associated with breaking one of the plurality of second stems, and wherein the first releasable restraint is attached to the first strap and the second strap such that the first releasable restraint is configured to break at the first tensile load, and wherein the second releasable restraint comprises:
a plurality of third beads;
a plurality of third stems connecting the plurality of third beads, wherein each third stem of the plurality of third stems extends between a pair of third beads of the plurality of third beads, and wherein each third stem of the plurality of third stems has a third diameter, the third diameter being equal to the first diameter of the plurality of first stems of the first releasable restraint;
a plurality of fourth beads;
a second female fastener configured to receive and retain at least one bead of the plurality of third beads or the plurality of fourth beads; and
a plurality of fourth stems connecting the plurality of fourth beads, wherein each fourth stem of the plurality of fourth stems extends between a pair of fourth beads of the plurality of fourth beads, and wherein each fourth stem of the plurality of fourth stems has a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter being equal to the second diameter of the plurality of second stems of the first releasable restraint, and wherein the second releasable restraint is attached to the third strap and the fourth strap such that the second releasable restraint is configured to break at the second tensile load.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of a color or a shape of one of the plurality of first beads indicates the first tensile load associated with breaking the plurality of first stems and is different from at least one of a color or a shape of the plurality of second beads.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of a color or a shape of the plurality of first stems is different from at least one of a color or a shape of the plurality of second stems.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first releasable restraint further comprises a plurality of inclusive stems connecting a plurality of inclusive beads, the plurality of inclusive stems including the plurality of first stems and the plurality of second stems, and the plurality of inclusive beads including the plurality of first beads and the plurality of second beads and wherein each stem of the plurality of inclusive stems is configured to be frangible at a selected tensile load.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selected tensile load increases along each of the plurality of inclusive stems of the first releasable restraint and the second releasable restraint in a direction extending from a lead end toward the first and second female fasteners respectively.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Haynes Timothy C
• Bahena Daniel

Classifications

• B64D25/14 Primary

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title

• 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

• B65D63/10

  Non-metallic straps, tapes, or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads or wires; Joints between ends thereof · CPC title

• B65D63/1027

  the integral securing member being formed as a female and male locking member, e.g. locking head and locking teeth, or the like · CPC title

• B63B2027/145

  Inflatable ramps · CPC title