Abstract: Evacuation slide systems including a slide pack comprising a packboard coupled to an aircraft door, a girt bar coupled to an aircraft floor when the aircraft door is armed, and a restraint coupled to the packboard and the girt bar are detailed. The restraint controls a speed at which the aircraft door opens when the aircraft door is armed until the aircraft door has traveled beyond a predetermined distance.

Abstract: Ballast systems for, particularly, inflatable decontamination shelters are described. The systems may be integrated into the overall structures of the shelters so as to avoid need for sand bags or other discrete weight-providing objects. They additionally may use liquids (rather than or in addition to solids) for weight-providing purposes, with the liquids including water supplied by the same plumbing system that supplies a shower of a shelter.

Abstract: Embodiments generally to raft assembly components and methods. Specific aspects provide a tape configuration that can assist positioning of raft tubes with respect to one another, as well as positioning a life raft floor with respect to one or more of the raft tubes. The tape configuration may have a base and an extending T-shaped flange.

Abstract: Evacuation systems including slide readiness indicators are detailed. The indicators may include lights colored, preferably, red and green and powered using either pre-existing or dedicated electricity sources. Associated switching equipment defaults to illumination of a red light until a slide is satisfactorily inflated and deployed, at which time the red light is extinguished and a green light is illuminated to provide affirmative indication that evacuation via the slide may commence.

Abstract: Detailed are restraints intended principally (but not necessarily exclusively) for inflatable evacuation slides or rafts. At least one such restraint may be designed to release based on geometric shape of an object (such as a slide) rather than merely as a function of its inflation pressure or length. One version of this type of restraint includes a connector pin attached to a cord, with tensioning of the cord eventually retracting the pin to effect release of the restraint.

Abstract: Evacuation systems including gravity-assist mechanisms are detailed. The systems may facilitate slide pack deployment from, e.g., aircraft doors by increasing an initial downward velocity of a slide pack. The increased velocity assists the pack in clearing an associated enclosure before jamming the opening door or twisting or flipping into an undesirable orientation.

Abstract: Actuations systems in which pulley systems may be used as redundant (back-up) mechanisms are described. The systems provide mechanical advantage, especially useful when manual input is required to deploy a back-up mechanism. A pulley may be integrated into a clevis, a cable routed about the pulley, and one end of the cable made stationary, causing the pulley to counterbalance approximately twice the input force provided.

Abstract: Pin-locking devices are detailed. The devices may be placed atop inflation valves and mechanically interfere with movement of pins associated with the valves. Some versions of the devices are single-piece, rigid discs including through holes and curved protrusions interacting with inflation pins.

Abstract: Evacuation slide systems including a slide pack comprising a packboard coupled to an aircraft door, a girt bar coupled to an aircraft floor when the aircraft door is armed, and a restraint coupled to the packboard and the girt bar are detailed. The restraint controls a speed at which the aircraft door opens when the aircraft door is armed until the aircraft door has traveled beyond a predetermined distance.

Abstract: Actuators, principally for inflating emergency-usage objects such as floats and rafts, are detailed. Two opposite positive actions may be required to effect complete inflation of the objects, inhibiting inadvertent deployment of, particularly, the rafts while readily permitting deployment when intended.

Abstract: Actuations systems in which pulley systems may be used as redundant (back-up) mechanisms are described. The systems provide mechanical advantage, especially useful when manual input is required to deploy a back-up mechanism. A pulley may be integrated into a clevis, a cable routed about the pulley, and one end of the cable made stationary, causing the pulley to counterbalance approximately twice the input force provided.

Abstract: Detailed are restraints intended principally (but not necessarily exclusively) for inflatable evacuation slides or rafts. At least one such restraint may be designed to release based on geometric shape of an object (such as a slide) rather than merely as a function of its inflation pressure or length. One version of this type of restraint includes a connector pin attached to a cord, with tensioning of the cord eventually retracting the pin to effect release of the restraint.

Abstract: Described are girt panel assemblies including a panel, at least two hinges coupled to the panel, and at least one fabric girt coupled to the panel. The fabric girt may also be configured to couple to an evacuation slide. The evacuation slide may, but not necessarily, include a sill tube, where an upper fabric girt is coupled to an upper surface of the sill tube and a lower fabric girt is coupled to a lower surface of the sill tube. In these examples, the sill tube applies pressure to the upper fabric girt and the lower fabric girt when inflated. As a result, the sill tube is positioned between a lower surface of the panel and the passenger vehicle when inflated.

Abstract: Aspirators for inflating devices such as (but not limited to) aircraft evacuation slides and rafts are detailed. Housings of the aspirators may be made of wound filaments of composite materials, reducing their weight as compared to conventional metal structures. Such actions as reconfiguring and repositioning jet nozzles within the housings also contribute to enhancing performance of the aspirators.

Abstract: Evacuation slide systems having extendable portions are detailed. The extendable portions of slides may be inflated separately from the main portions and actuated manually if desired. Consequently, attitude changes of, for example, an aircraft subsequent to inflation of the main portion of a slide would not necessarily defeat its use, as inflation of the extendable portion could still occur.

Abstract: Systems for inhibiting installation of emergency escape slides behind bustles (or other covers) when removable safety pins (or similar objects) remain intact are addressed. Versions of the systems mechanically interfere with installation of the bustles as long as the safety pins remain in place. Only when all safety pins are removed can the mechanical impediment be detached (or moved sufficiently) to permit installation of the bustles.

Abstract: A pressurized actuator system for independent deployment of at least two inflatable structures having a first primary section adapted for deployment of a primary inflatable structure and second section for deployment of a secondary inflatable structure and an auxiliary source of pressurized fluid for operating said device. A control assembly for controlling a flow of pressurized fluid from the auxiliary source of pressurized into the second system is provided. Thus, the system assures independent deployment of the primary and secondary inflatable structures.

Abstract: A flexible connection joint for inflatable structures such as life rafts, evacuation slides, and the like, includes a flexible connection member to join walls of the inflatable structure together. The flexible connection member includes first and second strip portions that are bonded together at one end to from three legs that can be joined to two or three walls of the structure or to other connecting elements or strips. In this manner, a tensile force acting on at least one of the walls of the structure causes generation of shear forces between the flexible legs and walls to thereby resist their separation.

Abstract: A pressurized actuator system for simultaneously deploying a plurality of inflatable floatation devices or other structures for a rotorcraft or other mobile or stationary devices includes a plurality of primary sources of pressurized fluid adapted for deploying a corresponding number of inflatable structures, a plurality of primary valves that are each operatively associated with one of the primary sources, a plurality of pressure-responsive primary transducers operative to open a different one of the primary valves, and a secondary source of pressurized fluid adapted for simultaneously operating the primary transducers to thereby open the primary valves and simultaneously deploy the plurality of inflatable structures.

Abstract: An emergency floatation system associated with a landing gear of a rotorcraft comprising at least a float unit and a raft module. The float unit is formed by a base and a float cover with an inflatable float being positioned therebetween. The raft module is formed with a raft compartment adapted to receive an inflatable raft in the packed condition thereof. The raft module is supported on the float by the base. The raft is adapted for inflation and deployment from the raft module independently of the float deployment.