Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for an aircraft comprising upper and lower sliding regions interconnected by an intermediate sliding region and including a flexible sliding support surface. An inflatable support structure extends outwardly from the upper sliding region and formed by at least first and second support sections spaced from each other and extending in planes transverse to a plane of the sliding support surface. Each support section comprises an engaging member interposed between a connecting member and a supporting member. The connecting and supporting members are connected to the upper sliding region, so that the engaging members are substantially parallel to each other and spaced from the upper sliding region.

Abstract: An emergency evacuation slide has an internal energy dissipation characteristic so that the slide is especially suitable for evacuation of persons from a relatively great height. By dissipating the energy internally in the slide rather than by frictional heating of the clothing and skin of the evacuating persons, the danger of skin burns and other injuries to the persons is reduced or avoided. The slide surface of the slide is made up of a plurality of slide modules that each include an elastically elongatable segment, an interconnecting segment, and an anti-slip segment, which are respectively connected together one after another. The anti-slip segment has an upper anti-slip surface with a high coefficient of friction so that the anti-slip segment remains in static frictional contact and moves along with the evacuating person. The bottom surface of the anti-slip segment has a predefined coefficient of friction.

Abstract: An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft, with the slide having side tubes and cross tubes along with a slide panel that extends the full length of the slide. The slide has a head end and a toe end with one of the cross tubes located at the head end defining a head end tube. A girt, secured to the aircraft, has a quick release connection to the escape slide that is actuated by a lanyard, which lanyard is also connected to a plurality of releasable straps which provide support to the slide while it is being inflated. Such releasable straps are located at the head end of the slide and interconnect the head end tube and the side tubes to the girt.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for an aircraft consists of first and second longitudinal support beams, upper and lower transverse support members and a flexible sliding support surface. The first and second longitudinal support members are spaced from each other and formed having proximal and distal ends thereof. The lower support member is transverse to the first and second longitudinal support beams and spaced from the distal ends thereof, so that each longitudinal support beam is formed having an extension portion extending between the lower support member and the distal ends thereof. The flexible sliding support surface is connected to and limited by at least the upper and lower support members.

Abstract: An inflatable escape slide that includes a plurality of inflatable tubes that are held in a folded condition and elastic strap members at the site of the fold of the folded tubes that puckers up the material at the fold site to maintain an unobstructed passageway at the fold to provide communication throughout the inflatable tubes.

Abstract: An aircraft slide assembly used for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated structure having a longitudinally extending inflatable escape slide and a stabilizing support tube assembly attached to the underneath portion thereof closely adjacent the head end or upper end of the escape slide. The support tube has a first chamber and a second chamber with an orifice therebetween that allows inflation of the second chamber from the first chamber and thence allows the end wall of the first chamber to retract.

Abstract: An inflation system for use in inflating an inflatable foldable escape slide or foldable container for use in evacuating personnel from an aircraft, platform or other device in cases of emergencies. The slide has a gas source such as a bottle member having pressurized fluids therein or as a solid fuel propellant which upon actuation directs pressurized fluids to a turbocharger fastened onto the escape slide or foldable container. The turbocharger has a turbine at one end of a shaft driven by the pressurized fluids to drive such shaft that has a plurality of centrifugal compressors mounted on the other end of the shaft whereby the exhaust fluids from the turbine and the pressurized gas resulting from the driving of the compressors unite to inflate the escape slides or foldable container.

Abstract: In an escape device for an aircraft having a pair of air bags formed of sheet members and a slide surface, the sheet members have a high tear strength and excellent flame retardancy. The sheet members forming the air bags are a rubber covered fabric having a substrate of fabric and covering layers of a thermosetting elastomer which contains a flame retardant. By using a flame retardant in the form of needle-like crystals having a high aspect ratio and a small crystal grain diameter, the flame retardant will not aggregate in the elastomer, but will be uniformly dispersed, so that the bond strength between the substrate and the covering layer is high.

Abstract: An escape device for aircrafts having a pair of gas bags and a slide member joined to the gas bags. The escape device provides a high resistance to radiation heat and reliable bonding between the sheet members. The sheet member forming the gas bags and the slide member includes a substrate of fabric and covering layers of thermosetting elastomer containing a flame retardant. The sheet members forming the gas bags are bonded together before the covering layer of one of the sheet members hardens completely. A protective layer is provided on the outer surface of the joint portion between the sheet members to reflect radiation heat.

Abstract: An emergency escape slide for a commercial passenger airplane includes a girt bar which connects the slide to the airplane. The girt bar includes a middle portion having a rectangular cross section to which the slide is connected, and cylindrical end fittings which are attached to opposite ends of the middle portion. When the escape slide is armed, the cylindrical end fittings are positioned within floor mounted receptacles which permit the end fittings to rotate. Thus, when the escape slide is deployed, the girt bar is permitted to rotate so that the wide axis of the girt bar remains aligned with the loads generated by the slide deployment. In this manner, the strongest portion of the girt bar is in position to react the loads.

Abstract: An aircraft life raft escape slide assembly for evacuating passengers from an aircraft and thereafter for providing a floating support when the evacuation is over water. Such assembly has an inflatable slide structure releasably connected to an inflatable boarding slide structure to define an integral unit but each structure being independently inflatable. The slide structure is inflated and deployed to operate as a slide and upon release of the inflatable slide structure from the aircraft and upon deployment of the boarding slide as a chute or slide, the inflatable slide structure operates as a raft.

Abstract: A safety device for an aircraft inflatable escape slide which functions to prevent inadvertent inflation of the slide during shipping. The safety device incorporates a rotatable hook means which retains the firing lanyard in a fixed position and is adapted to release the firing lanyard when the slide pack covers are leased. A pair of swaged ball elements are provided on the lanyard, one on either side of the hook means.

Abstract: An arrangement which permits installation of an inflatable aircraft evacuation slide in an enclosure disposed in a non-pressurized cavity beneath an aircraft exit. The enclosure is opened when activated by the gas used to inflate the slide and the arrangement provides a more rigid and positive attachment of the inflated slide to the aircraft than has heretofore been the case.

Abstract: A fire escape chute for a home includes a housing secured to a building wall below a window having a first chamber for a compressed air tank having an outlet with a normally closed release valve and a second storage chamber. A yieldable chute support pan forms the bottom of the second chamber and is pivotally mounted upon the housing and retained in a horizontal position. A hollow double wall open ended collapsible chute is stacked within the second chamber upon the pan. A normally closed cover is pivotally mounted upon the housing and supportably retains the pan. A retracted expansion device within the second chamber is connected to the cover and when manually released tilts the cover to an upright position retainingly engaged by a latch. An air plenum on the cover having a plurality of outlets is connected to the air release valve. One end of the chute encloses and is secured to the plenum and communicates with its outlets.

Abstract: An improved inflatable over-the-wing evacuation slide. The slide is provided with an inflatable wing ramp section projecting from the foot of the wing exit door to a point on the aircraft wing remote from the door. The wing ramp section also includes a generally flat upper or walkway surface and a lower face surface projecting in a tapered contact with the sloping aircraft wing. It also includes a pair of inflatable guard rails attached to the side margins of the inflatable wing ramp. The wing ramp then includes a right angle turn remote from the exit door and continues to terminate in an extended section proceeding from the wing to the ground. A unique support system is provided on the underside of the central portion of the extended ramp consisting of inflatable portions shaped to provide support to the slide regardless of the position of the trailing edges of the wing flaps.

Abstract: An improved emergency slide evacuation device wherein a second ply substantially parallels a sliding ply of the emergency slide evacuation device but remains substantially unattached to the sliding ply except for edge portions of the second ply whereby the second ply supports the sliding ply in the event of tears or rips in the sliding ply but remains at least partially isolated from the forces being applied to the sliding ply to effect tearing or ripping. The improvement finds use particularly in the fabrication of aircraft evacuation slides.

Abstract: An inflatable escape slide having an inflatable platform that provide a horizontal walkway from an elevated vehicle such as a train. An inflatable slide portion is connected to the platform and is deployable in a longitudinal direction that is in the same general direction as the train thus ensuring deployment where clearance space to either side of the elevated train is limited. The escape slide and platform are an integral unit.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation device to simultaneously evacuate from both an overwing aircraft exit and an aircraft exit aft of the trailing edge of the aircraft wing.

Abstract: Radiant head resistant fluid-distendable structure and methods for making same.

Abstract: The off loading of bulk particulate cargo from self unloading ships creates considerable dust. A self erecting canopy arrangement is described which connects between a ship's boom and a dockside hopper and which can adjust to sudden movement of the boom created by the effect of wind and waves on the ship. The canopy comprises a pliant skirt and resilient, self supporting means such as an inflatable framework for supporting the skirt.

Abstract: A delayed restraint releaseable device utilized to restrain and controllably release the lower end of an inflating escape slide at a predetermined pressure, orientation and time. The device combines two distinct restraint mechanisms into one combination unit. The primary release is accomplished by means of shear pin or pins located at the first end of the device. Under normal conditions, the release is accomplished by shearing of the pin or pins under the load provided by the tied back inflating slide. The back-up release, in series with the primary release, occurs when the pressure of the reduced load causes a piston within the restraint to move against both a spring and captive fluid. As the piston moves, the fluid transfers through a precise sized orifice in the piston, from one side of the piston to the other. The piston moves eventually to a point at which the interlocking leg of the piston support shaft is released, thus allowing the ends of the mechanism to separate.

Abstract: A selectively extendable chute assembly includes a fabric chute covering member having a plurality of extender tubes secured thereto. A coil spring is secured inside each extender tube to continuously urge the extender tube into a retracted position. Pressurized fluid is selectively provided to the extender tubes to urge them into an extended position whereby the chute becomes usable for unloading a vehicle or another type of storage facility.

Abstract: A packboard fixture device consisting of a support cradle, aluminum vacuum caps, pressure block and cargo strap assembly. The support cradle is an aluminum structure with a base, side supports, and two vertical end walls, the shorter of which is hinged to allow installation and removal of the packboard with collapsed slide. The vacuum caps are preferably aluminum with rubber sealing lips which are pushed onto the pump heads mounted in the packboard. These seal off the pumps and allow a vacuum to be established within the fabric slide to evacuate all air within the slide to be folded. A thick wooden member functions to uniformly compress the deflated slide into the packboard. It acts as a pressure block to distribute the compressive forces uniformly over the hinged mechanism as it is drawn down by straps using a rachet type device for drawing the straps in tension.

Abstract: A sequenced, directional restraint system for an inflatable evacuation slide wherein three separate restraints are provided across the width of the fluid distensible member of the inflatable evacuation slide and a sequenced, directional method of deploying an inflatable evacuation slide from an elevated egress to a lower surface.

Abstract: An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated place and thereafter providing a floating support when the evacuation is on water. A slide portion of the assembly has side tubes connected to transverse and longitudinal tubes of an outrigger portion to provide additional seating capacity of the assembly when used as a life raft. Upon inflation and extension of the slide portion, the outrigger portion is reefed or held in against the side tubes and only partially inflated so that the partially inflated longitudinal tubes reinforce the side tubes of the slide portion. When the outrigger portion is fully inflated and extended by releasing the reefing, the pressure in the assembly will be reduced due to the increased volume of the inflatable support tubes; however, the reduced pressure is at a preferred level for operation of the assembly as a life raft.

Abstract: A strap restrains full extension of an evacuation slide until a bag on the slide inflates to extend and unlace a cord to separate the strap coupling the restrained segments of the slide. The device is especially useful as a back-up restraint in escape slides of the dual chamber variety wherein the inflation of one but not the other of the chambers will not create sufficient pressure to break a primary restraint device employing shear pins separable by a predetermined pressure being attained in the inflatable slide chambers.

Abstract: The container (12) has an inflation opening (46) which is closed by a valve (56) with seals (66) compressed by spring (90) pressure during the packing process. Air is removed from the container (12) for deflation by a vacuum pump (20) and excessive vacuum necessary for deflating the container (12) in a reasonable time but which is too high for the packing process and may damage the valve (56) or seals (66) is limited by a vacuum control unit (20) adjusted to maintain the vacuum below a predetermined vacuum and then admit atmospheric air over that level. The vacuum control unit (20) may have a screw adjustment (34) engageable with a spring (36) for increasing or decreasing pressure on an inlet valve member (32).

Abstract: Rescue apparatus is described for use in the rescue of persons from high rise and other buildings which includes an inflatable funnel of fabric carried by a bracket which is secured to an interior portion of a building, the funnel preferably being located below a window from which an escape is to be made, the funnel having a chute or conduit connected to its lower end through which the person jumping into the funnel slides to and through a window located below the funnel.

Abstract: An inflatable slide device for emergency evacuation from structures such as aircraft, offshore drilling platforms, etc. The slide device comprises two assemblies of tubular members defining two mutually independent inflatable chambers. One chamber includes tubular members supportive of the slide panel of the device and certain side rail tubular members as well as another tubular member functioning as the central slide support. The other chamber also includes tubular members supportive of the slide panel of the device and certain other side rail tubular members as well as another tubular member also functioning as an additional central slide support.

Abstract: A self-contained emergency evacuation system of the type including an inflatable escape slide is disclosed wherein a packboard and three hinged together deployment links form the system stowage pack which is secured to the floor of an aircraft adjacent to an upwardly and outwardly swinging emergency door. As the door opens, a deployment lanyard that is connected between a door-mounted arming and deployment mechanism and the upper portion of the stowage pack tips the stowage pack out of the aircraft door, with the deployment lanyard being automatically released as the stowage pack begins to fall under the force of gravity. Since the first of the three hinged together deployment links is hinged to the system base plate and swings into contact with the door sill region, the two other deployment links and packboard swing arcuately out of the aircraft.

Abstract: An escape slide for evacuating personnel from an aircraft wing or other elevated surface where persons to be evacuated must walk a short distance before sliding down the slide. The escape slide has an entrance portion with a walkway and a walkway ramp of an inflatable bulkhead construction providing a firm walkway surface. The slide portion joins the entrance portion and is inclined toward the ground. When used on an aircraft wing with flaps, the bottom of the slide portion is engageable with and supported by the flaps at different operating positions. A support pillow attached to the bottom of the slide portion is engageable with the flap in the fully extended landing position. Inflatable indicator tubes are also attached to and in communication with the inflatable members of the slide to indicate when the slide is inflated and ready for passengers.

Abstract: An escape slide for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated place where there is the possibility of damage to the slide from fire or abrasion during the deployment and evacuation process. A protective shield of flexible material having a metalized coating for reflecting heat is positioned over the underside of the inflated slide to protect the slide. The protective shield may be connected to the sides of the slide and be spaced from the bottom of the slide to provide an insulating air space. The protective shield may also be movable to a position over the slide when used as a life raft and serve as a canopy to protect passengers on the slide raft from the weather and sea.

Abstract: An inflatable device, such as an emergency evacuation slide device, is principally composed of rubberized fabric sheet material wherein at least portions of said sheet material is a two ply laminate. The outer or upper ply of this laminate comprises rubberized high strength aramid fabric while the inner or lower ply comprises rubberized nylon fabric. The plies are biased relative to each other such that the warp cords of the outer ply lie at an acute angle relative to the warp cords of the inner ply.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a trigger mechanism for use in controlling the supply of a compressed gas to a gas activated device, including a valve body including an inlet port for connection to the supply of compressed gas and at least one outlet port for connection to the gas activated device and with an internal recess coupled to the inlet and outlet ports, a valve member located within the recess in the valve body and intermediate the inlet and outlet ports and with the valve member having a closed position providing for no path between the inlet and outlet ports and having an open position providing for a path between the inlet and outlet ports, a spring member coupled between the valve member and the valve body for providing a force for normally moving the valve member from the closed position to the open position, a trigger mechanism mounted on the valve body and including an armed position with the trigger mechanism locked and a fired position, and with the trigger mechanism coupled to the valve member

Abstract: A fruit collector for hillside orchards, which includes a channel spaced chute formed of inflated tubes, the two sides of the chute being joined by a cross web having a series of fruit receiving openings approximately the spacing between rows of trees, the chute being laid downhill between sloping rows of trees. In a first embodiment, the openings are formed by U-shaped slits to receive fruit, and retarding flaps extend into the chute to retard movement of the fruit. In a second embodiment, the cross web is tubular, but non-inflated, and receives a series of longitudinally extensible and retractable ribbons protruding from the upper margins of the openings and extending into the chute between the openings; the strips serve to retard movement of the fruit and may be in axially overlapping relation, and adjustable to change their retarding effect thereby to compensate for different degrees of slope.

Abstract: Evacuee deceleration means are provided at the lower end of an inflatable evacuation slide.

Abstract: An escape slide container is mounted for selective, upward movement with a track-mounted, overhead sliding door in an aircraft fuselage. Slide deployment mechanism for releasing the container from the door and for attaching it to the floor of the aircraft allows the door to move upwardly independently of the container, leaving the container attached to the floor. An over-center linkage supports the container above the floor while upward movement of the door trips the over-center linkage to propel the container outwardly through the door opening to deploy the escape slide under the urging of gravity.

Abstract: An emergency evacuation device adapted for mounting on the edge of the deck of a ship or platform has a panel formed of two hinged sections which upon release rotate over the edge of the deck forming a protective apron. Devices are operatively associated with release of the panel to activate a system for inflating an emergency evacuation device such as a slide or slide/raft stowed in the container. The slide or slide/raft may be situated on an adjustable slope sheet which assists the slide or slide/raft in being properly and effectively deployed.

Abstract: An inflatable, generally horizontal, elevated platform fastened to a supporting structure is connected to an inflatable escape slide extending downwardly at an inclination from the platform to a lower surface. An elongated tension strap is connected at one end to the platform adjacent the supporting structure and at the other end to the slide at a position around midway down the slide to reinforce the platform and maintain the horizontal position of the platform under the weight of persons using the platform and slide.The slide may have a laterally extending inflatable member on the underside with longitudinally extending slide reinforcing tension members cooperative with the laterally extending inflatable member to provide a truss-like structure. The tension strap for reinforcing the platform may be connected to the slide at a position at the laterally extending inflatable member at one end and be connected to the platform at a position adjacent the supporting structure at the other end.

Abstract: Support apparatus for stabilizing an inflatable aircraft escape slide both during deployment and use is disclosed. The support apparatus includes a series of panels or links that are hinged together to form a mechanical girt (support). The upper end of the mechanical girt is attached to a girt bar that is mounted near the lower region of the aircraft egress door to secure the upper end of the escape slide. The mechanical girt is deployed through the aircraft door with the escape slide. As the mechanical girt swings against the exterior surface of the aircraft, latching mechanisms automatically engage mating catches located on the aircraft exterior near the sill of the aircraft door and at a location near the lower edge of the mechanical girt to securely fasten the mechanical girt to the exterior surface of the aircraft. A lower girt bar, that extends across a lower region of the mechanical girt is connected to the inflatable escape slide by a lower girt.

Abstract: A system for the emergency debarkation of personnel from an aircraft includes a first container member mounted to the door of the aircraft and a second container member hingeably mounted on the first container member to form a container for an inflatable raft or slide. A first latch assembly attached to the first container member and a second latch assembly attached to the second container member cooperate to secure the container when the container is closed. The second latch assembly includes first and second latch arms pivotal on the second container member between a first position in engaging relationship with the first latch assembly and a second position in disengaging relationship with the first latch assembly. Locking members cooperate with the latch arms for positively locking the second latch assembly in the first position to inhibit opening of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a generally five-sided inflatable evacuation slide in which one corner of the slide is supported on the aircraft wing surfaces and the sliding surface is both banked and canted away from the elevated egress of the aircraft.