Abstract: An emergency evacuation slide system includes a control valve having a normally-open vent that closes after a predetermined period of time calculated to vent excess inflation gas produced by the gas generator. In operation, in the event of an aircraft emergency exit door being opened in the “armed” condition, the primary valve member of the control valve is opened allowing inflation gas to flow into the valve chamber. A portion of the gas entering the chamber is vented through the normally-open vent. After a predetermined period of time calculated to be sufficient to vent the excess inflation gas, the normally-open valve is closed to divert 100% of the remaining inflation gas into the evacuation slide.

Abstract: A floor track fitting for securing seating or other equipment to a section of aircraft floor track consists of a pair of substantially U-shaped cleat members and a captive bolt. The cleat members are inserted back-to-back through the holes in the floor track. Once the cleat members are in place, a cover is placed over the cleat members so that the captive bolt passes through the top of the cover. The inside of the cover has a pair of integral spaces that force the cleat members outward against the sides of the track channel holes so that the undercut portion of the cleat members locks onto the underside of the floor track. As the bolt is tightened it presses down on the cover and simultaneously draws the cleat members upward against the underside of the floor track to clamp the floor track firmly between the cleat members and the cover.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide system includes an inflatable evacuation slide stored in a packboard compartment the cover panel of which is retained by a plurality of frangible pneumatic latches. The frangible pneumatic latches each comprise a tension member one end of which is attached to the packboard housing and the other end of which is releasably attached to the cover panel. In normal operation, a pneumatic signal operating on an actuator piston withdraws the piston to allow the latch mechanism to release the cover panel. In the event of a failure of the release mechanism, since the releasable latch secures the cover panel to the frangible tension member rather than to the packboard directly, the force of the inflating evacuation slide breaks the frangible member allowing the cover panel to drop away with only a brief delay in slide deployment.

Abstract: An inflation valve for use with an inflatable emergency evacuation slide includes a thermally actuated gas relief valve having an exhaust port the effective size of which increases with increasing temperature. The exhaust port is metered by a valve member. The valve member position is controlled by a thermal actuator that lengthens with increasing temperature. At high ambient temperatures, the valve member moves to uncover the exhaust port thereby increasing the effective size of the port so that a large percentage of the inflation gas is vented. At low ambient temperatures the valve member moves to cover the exhaust port, thereby decreasing effective size of the exhaust port so that little or no inflation gas is vented.

Abstract: An inflatable aircraft evacuation slide system includes a primary valve, a bust disk and a valve leakage trap operatively disposed between the primary valve and the burst disk. The valve leakage trap comprises a small exhaust vent opening into a flow restriction orifice in the gas path between the primary valve and the burst disk. In operation, when the aircraft emergency exit is opened in the armed condition, the primary valve opens and pressurizes the chamber until the burst disk ruptures allowing inflation gases to pass through the flow restriction orifice to inflate the inflatable evacuation slide. Because there is a substantial pressure drop across the flow restriction orifice, the presence of the valve leakage safety vent in the orifice does not result in significant loss of inflation gas needed for inflating the inflatable evacuation slide. In the event of leakage past the primary valve, however, the valve leakage trap safely vents the leakage pressure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide includes a flexible slide surface that is supported by longitudinal main support members. Illumination of the slide surface is provided by a plurality of illumination sources that are supported above the upper surface of the main support members on inflatable stanchions that extend upward from the upper surface of the main support members. The plurality of illumination sources may be high efficiency light emitting diodes or other high efficiency light sources. By providing an illumination source that is elevated above the upper surface of the main support members, a greater portion of the slide surface can be illuminated without shadows.

Abstract: A method of lacing together two parts of an inflatable evacuation slide uses a single piece of cord that is passed through multiple pairs of apertures formed in the two parts to be joined. Thereafter, the loops formed by passing the cord through the multiple apertures are laced together and secured with a conventional key loop. In operation, once the key loop is released, since the lacing is composed of a single length of cord, rather than multiple independent loops, the tension in all of the lacing is released simultaneously thereby allowing the lacing to unravel reliably irrespective of the load on the lacing.

Abstract: An inflatable emergency evacuation slide system comprises a slide pack (60) with an emergency evacuation slide (10) stored in an uninflated, folded condition together with an inflator (30). A manual inflation lanyard (38) having a mechanical stop (44), such as a crimped ferrule located along its length, is routed in a conventional manner to a point proximal the girt bar (64) securing the evacuation slide (10) to the aircraft (20). The manual inflation lanyard (38) is routed through a grommet (46) at one end of an automatic inflation lanyard (50), the other end of which is attached to the aircraft exit door (18). In operation, when the aircraft exit door (18) is opened in the armed condition, the evacuation slide pack (60) is released from its storage compartment and is dropped from the emergency evacuation exit.

Abstract: An aircraft life raft assembly for use as a deployable escape slide from an egress opening of an aircraft. The escape slide is a longitudinally extending structure with a center line that extends from the head end of the slide, adjacent the egress opening, to a toe end that is located adjacent the horizontally extending ground plane. Pressurizing means is operative to inflate the escape slide, which escape slide has panels or panel members of flexible material with an upper sliding surface that extends in the longitudinal direction. The escape slide has a portion of its length that is curvilinear in plan view, which curvilinear portion maybe close to the egress opening of the aircraft or anywhere along the length of the escape slide.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide includes a feature to ensure against buckling of the sliding surface under load. In one embodiment, the slide is made from a fabric sliding surface stretched between two lateral side rail tubes. The lateral side rail tubes are supported by a plurality of transverse tubes and transverse trusses such that the side rail tubes maintain the sliding surface in a taut condition suitable for use as a slide. The foot end of the slide includes an additional longitudinal tube extending from the toe end partway toward the head end of the slide. This toe end longitudinal tube acts as a pneumatic spring to support a sliding passenger as he or she reaches the extreme toe end of the evacuation slide.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an inflatable over-the-wing evacuation slide having a readiness indicator the meaning of which is intuitively obvious to an untrained person. In one embodiment, the slide is provided with an inflatable guard rail attached to the side margins of the inflatable walking surface. Attached to the side of the inflatable guard rail in a position that is clearly visible from the aircraft exit doorway is a visual readiness indicator. In one embodiment, the visual readiness indicator comprises a conventional red, octagonal “stop” sign that is releasably mounted to the guard rail. The stop sign is removed (to indicate that it is safe to proceed) when the evacuation slide has properly deployed by means of a connected to toe end of the evacuation slide. As the evacuation slide unfurls, the lanyard is paid out until, at the last stage, when the toe end unfolds the lanyard pulls the stop sign off the guard rail, so that it is no longer visible to a disembarking passenger.

Abstract: A system for controlling with safety the transfer or control of high pressure fluids from a container for use as to an inflatable escape slide. The pressurized container houses valve mechanisms such as a first and second valve mechanism, with the first valve mechanism controlling by actuation the on off flow of high pressure fluids to the second valve mechanism. The second valve mechanism controls the rate of flow by reducing the pressure for delivery to the inflatable escape slide. A safety valve operates in conjunction with the first valve mechanism and upon breaking of the valve mechanisms from the pressurized container to prevent the contents of the pressurized container from rapid escape or uncontrolled release.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained air bag module and to a method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle in a collision involving the vehicle using the self-contained air bag module of the invention. The self-contained air bag module of the invention has an air bag having an interior volume in fluid communication with a high thermal efficiency inflator, the high thermal efficiency inflator having an initiator, and adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate the air bag; and an impact detector in electrical or mechanical communication with the initiator. The high thermal efficiency inflator contains a pyrotechnic material in an amount sufficient to produce at least about 10 mole percent of the inflation gas, and a pressurized gas is present in an amount sufficient to produce up to about 90 mole percent of the inflation gas.

Abstract: One or more tubular inflatables are mounted in pockets spaced around a flight vest to assist and maintain upper body stiffness during ejection. The inflatables function to maintain the body stiff and prevent its moving from side to side during ejection. By proper positioning of the inflatables around the body, spinal compression may be prevented. In addition, connected to the flight vest is a collar-like inflatable that supports and protects the neck and head of the air crewmember from moving. The collar-like member can encircle the neck like a scarf. In another embodiment, it can also extend above the shoulders and completely encircle the helmet holding the head in a vertical position. In each embodiment, the collar-like member properly maintains the center of gravity of the air crewmember on the aircraft seat.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint system for holding and securing an aircrew member in his seat during ejection from an aircraft has one or more members forming a shield around him or her. The system is controlled to inflate after the aircrew member has started the sequence of ejection and before the rockets that power the seat from the aircraft are ignited. The forces of windblast are deflected by the inflatable restraint from the aircrew member as the aircrew member enters into and remains in the windblast and in his seat.

Abstract: A passenger restraint system (100) for an occupant of a vehicle (102) includes an inflatable belt portion comprising a seamless hollow inflatable textile member that becomes inflated upon the occurrence of a collision. The inflatable textile member may vary in size and construction along its length. The belt portion (104, 112) tightens against the occupant's body when the inflatable belt portion becomes inflated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a stationary plenum to receive hot inflation gases from a vehicle safety system gas inflator and for such plenum to supply such gases to an inflatable member which protects a vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A safety belt system for a vehicle to protect an occupant having an inflatable member attached at one portion to the vehicle with the remainder of the inflatable member free to move along the safety belt during the inflation of the inflatable member. The safety belt system may be buckled up or not during such inflation.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag, in its uninflated state, is folded against a seat belt that is secured around the waist of a vehicle occupant and is enclosed by a tubular webbing making the assembly appear as a typical seat belt. Upon a sudden deceleration of a vehicle, the air bag inflates and takes an L-shaped form against an occupant of a vehicle. A rearward protrusion from the upright portion of the L bears against the upper torso portion of the occupant. The rearward protrusion does not bear against the face of either a fifth, fiftieth or ninety-fifth percentile occupant. When inflated the air bag in addition to the rearward protrusion, has a torso section, a waist section and a lap section. The waist section functions to bear against the occupant to push the occupant back into the seat. The torso and lap sections function to push the occupant back and down into the seat. The deployment sequence of the inflation of the sections is determined by the method of folding the air bag against the seat belt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an age-stabilized and/or strengthened ammonium nitrate propellant composition wherein the strengthening agent is selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, dicyandiamide, oxamide and mixtures thereof and wherein the age-stabilizing agent is a molecular sieve having a pore size of 13 angstroms or less.