Abstract: Lighter-than-air (LTA) systems and methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB). A plurality of tendons may extend around and bias the SPB to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The LTA may include a payload.

Abstract: A system for monitoring compressed fluid sources of an evacuation assembly may comprise a controller and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller. The controller may perform operations, which may comprise receiving a series of first pressure measurements from a first sensor system, receiving a series of second pressure measurements from a second sensor system, calculating a first pressure trend using the series of first pressure measurements, calculating a second pressure trend using the series of second pressure measurements, and comparing each of the first pressure trend and the second pressure trend to a threshold pressure trend.

Abstract: The hinge device performs the opening and closing of a door of a vehicle without the door changing orientation. The device has an L-shaped arm provided with two ends attached in a pivotable way, around parallel rotation axes, to respective mounting bodies, one being fixable to the door and the other to the frame of the vehicle. Each body has a concentric pulley body with the respective rotation axis and fixed to a respective mounting body. The device further has a linking mechanism that extends along the arm and has a path formed by a first segment and a second segment that cross at least once.

Abstract: An inflatable flotation device includes a main body having a distal end and a proximal end configured to be positioned nearer to the aircraft than the distal end, the main body configured to inflate to provide an evacuation route. The inflatable flotation device further includes an extendable portion coupled to the proximal end of the main body and having a plurality of segments coupled together. The inflatable flotation device further includes a weighted object coupled to the extendable portion and configured to cause the extendable portion to extend in response to a distance from the proximal end of the main body being equal to or greater than a threshold distance.

Abstract: A personal flotation device capable of providing buoyancy and preventing hypothermia and death caused by loss of body heat by supporting the individual's entire body out of the water. Special design features increase the ease of use to ensure successful deployment and boarding, even among injured, weak, and/or physically exhausted individuals. This personal flotation device is small and compact, so that it may be used in a prophylactic manner from low-risk to high-risk applications.

Abstract: An internal aircell inside a first flexible structural cover of a structural air-beam used in air supported supports such as tents is connected to the internal aircell of an adjacent air-beam by means of an air-beam aircell communicating airflow port assembly attached between said aircells through a cooperating structural cover port aperture in the structural cover. The airflow port assembly allows communicating airflow between the connected aircells forming an integral air volume for inflation and deflation through a single inflation point.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.

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: Latching devices are disclosed for an escape chute in an aircraft, wherein the escape chute has a girt bar for connection to the latching device and the escape chute is accommodated on an aircraft door in a storage container arranged on the inner side thereof. A latching device can include two floor fittings connected to the aircraft, in each of which an end pin of the girt bar can be arranged, a rotating shaft with at least two brackets for movement of the girt bar, two rockers for latching the girt bar, two door fittings, in which the rotating shaft is received so as to be pivotable, and two press-down elements.

Abstract: A door pod assembly includes a housing that defines a cavity for emergency equipment, a pod door, and a latch retaining the pod door in a closed position relative to the housing. The assembly is configured such that the latches, upon activation free the release door thereby exposing the emergency equipment and allowing it to be deployed. The door pod assembly maybe coupled to an interior surface of a baggage compartment door and is configured so that the baggage compartment may continue to be used for its originally intended purpose.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a multi-exit evacuation slide for an aircraft, an inflatable evacuation slide for emergency evacuation includes two coupled inflatable portions. The first inflatable portion, which includes a first inclined sliding surface, is configured to provide downward egress from an over-wing exit. Similarly, the second inflatable portion, which includes a second inclined surface, is likewise configured to provide downward egress from a non over-wing exit. In particular embodiments, the inflatable portions are configured to be deployed from a storage location proximate the over-wing and non over-wing exits. In other embodiments, at least one of the first and second inflatable portions includes a lateral area for horizontal movement. In alternative embodiments, the inflatable evacuation slide further includes a divider rail disposed between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion.

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: An inflatable evacuation slide system includes a slide pack that is ejected from its enclosure by means of an ejection bag, which inflates rapidly to force the evacuation slide out of the enclosure. The high accelerations imposed on the uninflated evacuation slide by the ejection bag make the slide prone to tearing on the edge of the fuselage as the slide pack is forced through the opening. Accordingly, the enclosure is provided with a chafing skirt, which comprises a flexible collar that deploys outward from the enclosure and lays flat against the aircraft fuselage to provide a smooth transition region between the enclosure and the aircraft skin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-exit evacuation for aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, an inflatable evacuation slide for emergency evacuation includes two coupled inflatable portions. The first inflatable portion, which includes a first inclined sliding surface, is configured to provide downward egress from an over-wing exit. Similarly, the second inflatable portion, which includes a second inclined surface, is likewise configured to provide downward egress from a non over-wing exit. In particular embodiments, the inflatable portions are configured to be deployed from a storage location proximate the over-wing and non over-wing exits. In other embodiments, at least one of the first and second inflatable portions includes a lateral area for horizontal movement. In alternative embodiments, the inflatable evacuation slide further includes a divider rail disposed between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion.

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: A girt assembly for releasably connecting an evacuation slide to an aircraft includes superimposed flexible panels that are continuous at a pair of spaced connection points for connection with the aircraft. One or more catenary loops are formed in each panel for distributing forces on the flexible panels along a length of the loops. The connection points may be releasably connected to a girt bar with spaced bracket assemblies or directly connected to floor brackets associated with the aircraft.

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 evacuation slide is presented that includes an aerodynamic spoiler to kill the lift caused by air flowing laterally over the slide. The slide preferably comprises a fabric sliding surface stretched between two longitudinal main side members. The spoiler comprises a fabric panel, supported by a plurality of fabric gussets, that extends outward from each of the main side members. When the main side member of the slide is exposed to a lateral wind load, the spoiler creates a flow separation that kills the lift generated by the airflow. By killing the lift induced by the airflow over the top of the inflatable evacuation slide, zero or negative lift is generated by the airflow over the inflatable evacuation slide, which causes the slide to deploy downward firmly contacting the ground even in high wind conditions.

Abstract: A system for deploying an aircraft emergency evacuation slide or other inflatable device utilizes an inflation gas that is stored in a partially liquified state. The inflation gas includes a gaseous compound, preferably nitrous oxide, that is capable of undergoing an exothermic thermal decomposition, which gives off heat and produces a greater number moles of inflation gas than the number of moles of gas stored. The increase in moles of gas allows a greater inflation volume for a given weight of stored gas, while the exothermic decomposition produces additional heat that offsets, to some extent, the endothermic boiling and expansion of the liquified stored gas.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide system (10) is selectively deployable in either a foreshortened or lengthened configuration. The foot end (50) of the escape slide (12) includes a compartment (92) containing an extensible slide portion (70) stored in an undeployed condition. The compartment is sealed by means of conventional speed lacing (92) held together by a single master loop (96). A pyrotechnic cable cutter (98) is attached to the master loop (96) to severe it at the appropriate time thereby releasing the extensible portion of the slide. A control circuit (100) determines whether to deploy the extensible portion based on input from a non-contacting electronic sensor (110) such as an inclinometer.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for emergency evacuation of an aircraft comprises a pair of main support tubes supporting a flexible sliding surface. The main support tubes taper from a widest point near the exit opening of the aircraft to a narrowest point at the foot end of the slide. This arrangement of main support tubes, together with the toe end transverse tube and the head end transverse tube, form a quasi-trapezoidal truss structure, which is inherently more stable than the rectangular slides of the prior art.

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: Fast evacuation device for an aircraft. An inflatable slide (18) is placed in a housing (20) close to an access door (16) to a cabin (14) of an aircraft. More precisely, the housing (20) is located in a pressurised area of the aircraft but outside the wall delimiting the cabin (14). Thus, there is no constraint for delimiting the housing (20) on the inside of the aircraft. On the outside, the housing (20) is closed by a hatch (24) capable of resisting the pressure. A lock (30) normally keeps the hatch (24) fixed in the closed position. A mechanism (32) connects this lock (30) to the door (16) when the slide arming system (33) is armed. Opening the door (16) then unlocks the hatch (24) that is then opened due to inflation of the slide (18).

Abstract: An escape chute (11) for an aircraft, the chute (11) having a collapsed condition for storage of the chute in an confined or reduced space and an extended condition providing a ramp down which people can slide, and means (15,16) for illuminating the chute in the extended condition, characterised in that the illumination means (15,16) is activated when the chute (11) is deployed to provide illumination identifying the position of the chute without relying on an electrical power source.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide includes a feature for propelling disembarking passengers onto their feet at the toe end of the slide. In one embodiment, the slide comprises a fabric sliding surface stretched between two lateral side rail tubes. The lateral side rail tubes are supported by 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 tube includes a transverse tube having a reduced diameter and a lower surface that is suspended above the ground or other surface on which the foot end of the evacuation slide is resting. The suspended toe end transverse tube has a lower spring rate than a full-diameter transverse toe end tube. Therefore, the suspended toe end transverse tube provides the appropriate springiness for catapulting a sliding passenger onto his or her feet at the foot end of the slide notwithstanding the higher inflation pressure.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for determining and adjusting the angle at which an escape slide is oriented. The system comprises an inflatable slide having a primary inflatable slide segment and at least one additional slide segments attached to the primary slide segment. Additionally, a state sensor configured to determine the attitude of the slide when inflated is attached to the slide or to structure surrounding the slide. Further, the system includes an inflation gas source coupled to the primary and at least one additional inflatable slide segments and an inflation controller in communication with the inflation gas source and the state sensor. The gas source and the state sensor operate to cause the gas source to adjust the at least one additional slide segments as a function of the attitude measured by the state sensor.

Abstract: An inflation system for inflating an inflatable evacuation slide includes an enclosure containing an uninflated, stored evacuation slide. The enclosure is sealed by means of a tightly fitting enclosure door that optionally includes a seal for excluding dirt and moisture. The system also includes a source of pressurized gas comprising a conventional pyrotechnic gas generator, stored pressurized gas, or hybrid inflator. The inflation system includes an overpressure relief vent, which vents inflation gas outside of the inflatable member in the event of an overpressure condition in the gas source. The overpressure relief vent includes a directional vent connected to a conduit. The conduit passes from the overpressure relief vent to an opening in the aircraft fuselage, which allows any vented gas to be safely directed away from the inflation system enclosure.

Abstract: A system for deployment of a vacuum-packed inflatable structure includes a primary cylinder with a primary valve that can be opened under a primary applied force for discharging a primary pressurized fluid into the inflatable structure. A first connecting arrangement extends between the primary valve and an inflatable actuator bag. A secondary cylinder has a secondary valve movable under a secondary applied force for discharging a secondary pressurized fluid into the inflatable actuator bag. With this arrangement, application of the secondary force to the secondary valve causes the secondary cylinder to inflate the inflatable actuator bag. This in turn causes the first connecting arrangement to open the primary value with the primary applied force and inflate the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A high strength T-joint for inflatable tubular is formed by forming a butt joint between the end of a first two tubular member and the side wall of a second tubular member. The opening in the side wall of the second tubular member is sized to match the end of the transverse support member so that a sealing flange can be applied to the inner surface of the joint to provide an airtight seal. A reinforcing flange comprising a disk-shaped piece of fabric having a center opening, is then bonded over the opening in the second tubular member. The center opening in the reinforcing flange is substantially smaller than the opening in the side rail member. Therefore the reinforcing flange substantially reduces the size of the discontinuity in the side wall of side rail member, thereby substantially increasing the circumferential (“hoop”) load capacity of the side wall of the side rail member and substantially increasing the rupture pressure of the joint.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation device includes an inflatable slide portion and an inflatable arch-shaped support portion for supporting the inflatable slide portion. The inflatable slide portion has a support frame with a first inflatable elongate beam and a second inflatable elongate beam spaced from the first inflatable elongate beam. A floor extends between the first and second inflatable elongate beams and is constructed of a flexible material. The inflatable arch-shaped support portion comprising first and second inflatable curved beams connected to the inflatable slide portion such that forces generated at least at a central region of the inflatable slide portion are transferred to the curved beams to thereby support at least the central region.

Abstract: An airbag system for elevating the fuselage of an aircraft off a landing surface a sufficient degree to allow for emergency egress of passengers and crew through ventral emergency exit doors. An airbag assembly made up of a plurality of independent airbags is disposed within the aircraft. When activated, the airbag system deploys the airbags external of the aircraft that elevate the fuselage of the aircraft a sufficient degree to allow for utilizing the ventral emergency exit doors on the fuselage to enable evacuating the passengers and crew. An activation mechanism is connected to the inflation.devices associated with each of the airbags. The activation mechanism generates an electrical signal which activates the inflation devices, which in turn fill the airbags with a compressed fluid, thus expanding the airbags and lifting the fuselage. A crew member initiates the activation of the airbag system through one or more switches.

Abstract: The door (10) of an aircraft incorporates a housing (14) able to receive a slide, in a folded up state. The housing (14) is delimited between a cover (16) facing outwards from the door (10) and intermediate bulkhead (18). The cover (16) is jettisonable outside the aircraft or able to swivel by its lower edge on a threshold of the door, by the use of setting de-setting means. In one embodiment, the housing occupies the greater part of the door surface.

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: An inflatable slide for attachment to a house window including an elongated self-inflating slide portion having an upper end, an enlarged lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween. The slide portion further includes a pair of opposed raised side portions extending a length thereof with a generally planar central sliding portion disposed therebetween. The upper end is secured to an outside of a house immediately below a window of the house whereby an unobstructed space exists between the window and a ground surface therebelow. The slide portion has a length greater than a length between the window and the ground surface whereby the enlarged lower end rests on the ground surface creating an obtuse angle with respect to the slide portion. A safety system is coupled with respect to the slide portion. The safety system prevents a user from falling off the slide portion during use.

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: A mechanism(10) arms, disarms, and activates an airplane emergency evacuation system having a slide with one end connected to a girt bar (16). The mechanism includes floor fittings (18) mountable below and at each edge of the airplane door (14). Each floor fitting includes a base (32) defining a notch (40) for receiving the girt bar and a pawl (42) mounted to the base. The pawl rotates relative to the base from a locked position preventing removal of the girt bar from the notch, and to an unlocked position permitting removal of the girt bar. Support fittings (20) mountable to the door, engages the floor fittings when the door is closed and locked. A first jaw (58) extends downwardly to one side of the notch, and faces generally towards the notch from the support fitting. First and second linkage members (60) and (70) connect to one another and rotatably mount to the support fitting. A second jaw (94) extends from the second linkage member and faces generally towards the first jaw.

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: A deployment control for an inflatable escape slide for use in a structure such as an aircraft is disclosed wherein the escape slide has an inboard end and an toe end. The inboard end of the slide is suitably attached to an egress on the structure for deployment and extension of the slide by inflation means whereby the slide extends from an elevated egress to a ground support. The slide has inflatable tubes with a slide surface. The inflation means is operative upon actuation to provide pressurized fluids to the tubes which will inflate and distend the tubes into a longitudinally extending escape slide under the control of a restraining control device (or devices). Such device is operative upon pressurization of the tubes to deploy an outboard portion of the slide to which one end of the device is connected to move relative to the inboard end of the slide to which the other end of the device is connected at a controlled rate for a predetermined length of the slide.

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: 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: The invention is a ballonet system for a lighter-than-air-vehicle, the vehicle having a lift producing gas bag and a longitudinal, vertical and lateral axis. In detail, the ballonet system includes a plurality of ballonets located within the gas bag positioned along the longitudinal axis and on each side of the vertical axis of the vehicle. Each of the ballonets include a flexible sheet joined at its periphery thereof to a portion of the wall of the gas bag. A ballonet pressurization system is coupled to each ballonet for pressurizing them with air that includes the portion of the wall of the gas bag forming the ballonet having a plurality of holes therethrough. A manifold having an inlet port is joined to the wall covering the holes therein and is adapted to diffuse the pressurized air entering therein.

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 rescue ramp (10) for use by a watercraft (11) includes a laterally extending first inflatable tube member (14) attachable to the watercraft (11). Second spaced inflatable tube members (15) are connected at one end to and extend longitudinally from the ends of the first tube member (14). A third inflatable tube member (16) is connected between the second tube members (15) near the other end thereof and is adapted to be positioned in the water. A ramp (17) is connected to the first and second tube members (14, 15) so that when the rescue ramp (10) is inflated and attached to the watercraft (11), a person may traverse from the water to the watercraft (11) or from the watercraft (11) to the water. The first tube member (14) is attached to the watercraft (11) by means of a girt bar (23) releasably mounted on the watercraft (11). The girt bar (23) is connected to a first flap (26) which is detachably connected to a second flap (20) attached to the first tube member (14).