Wing slide capable of being used as life raft
By designing a detachable wing-mounted slide, using a porous rope connection and an optimized inflation system, the problem of rapid and safe conversion of the wing-mounted exit evacuation device during water landing was solved, optimizing the gliding and floating functions and improving the survival rate of the occupants.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610055843.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-17
AI Technical Summary
The existing technology lacks an emergency evacuation device specifically designed for overwing exits that can enable rapid and orderly initial evacuation during an aircraft's forced landing on water, and allow life rafts to safely and quickly detach from the aircraft to a relatively safe distance, while also optimizing gliding and floating functions.
The wing-mounted slide features a detachable structural design, comprising an inflatable horizontal section assembly, a sliding section assembly, and a connecting section assembly. Multiple connecting holes and a single rope form a releasable connection mechanism, ensuring the slide's applicability in land evacuation and water landing scenarios. The inflatable assembly utilizes a throttling device and ejector to optimize the inflation strategy, ensuring priority inflation of the sliding section assembly, and employs a double-layered airbag design to enhance buoyancy reliability.
It enables the wing slide to quickly switch functions in emergency situations, ensuring the safety and reliability of the evacuation route and the independent floating of the life raft, improving the survival rate of the occupants, and reducing operational complexity and time delays.
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Figure CN121536471A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to an aircraft emergency evacuation device, in particular to a wing-mounted slide serving as a life raft, and more particularly to a wing-mounted emergency slide integrated above the wing of an aircraft, which can be used as both a land evacuation slide and a stand-alone life raft after a water ditching, and a function conversion mechanism thereof. BACKGROUND
[0002] Modern civil aviation passenger aircraft must be equipped with emergency evacuation devices for passengers and crew to quickly evacuate in emergency situations. For conventional land evacuation, emergency slides are standard equipment, while for the special and high-risk situation of water ditching, life rafts are the key lifesaving equipment.
[0003] Currently, the existing technical solutions to solve the problem of personnel evacuation after a water ditching of an aircraft mainly fall into two categories. The first category of solutions is an independent configuration, that is, an emergency slide and a life raft are separately and independently installed on the aircraft. The emergency slide is usually installed at the passenger door for land evacuation, while the life raft is separately stored in a specific storage compartment in the cabin, and needs to be manually taken out, carried to the door and thrown into the water by the crew or passengers after a water ditching, then the personnel jump into the water and climb onto the raft, and finally the raft is inflated and deployed. The defect of this solution is that the operation process is complex and time-consuming. Time is extremely valuable after a water ditching, and the process of manually taking out, carrying and launching the life raft will seriously delay the valuable evacuation time. Secondly, it occupies valuable cabin space and weight. The independent life raft and its storage device increase the weight of the aircraft and occupy the cabin space that could be used for commercial loading, reducing operational economy. Moreover, this technical solution also increases the crew training burden and operation risk. This process relies on the skilled operation of the crew under extreme pressure, and any delay or mistake in any step can have serious consequences.
[0004] The second category of solutions is a function integration, aiming to overcome the shortcomings of independent configuration. One of the current attempts is to design the emergency slide itself to have the function of a life raft, that is, a "slide-raft" type slide. This type of device is usually installed at the passenger door and can be used directly as a slide after inflation and deployment, and if it encounters water, it can be used as a life raft as a whole. However, for emergency exits mounted above the wing of an aircraft (wing-mounted exits), this solution has a significant defect in that the evacuation path is separated from the final lifesaving position, and the wing-mounted exit is at a considerable height difference from the water surface. If the entire wing-mounted slide is used as a life raft, its final floating position is in close proximity to the aircraft wing and fuselage. The life raft close to the aircraft is extremely vulnerable to being sucked into danger during the sinking process of the aircraft, posing a great threat to the safety of the passengers.
[0005] Secondly, a single inflatable structure is difficult to simultaneously optimally meet the requirements of both "slide" and "float" functions. For example, in order to meet the length and slope requirements for sliding, the structure can be long and narrow, which is not conducive to stable floating as a life raft. The additional material added to meet the buoyancy requirements is bulky and increases the weight and cost when used as a slide.
[0006] Therefore, there is a lack of an emergency evacuation device for overwing exits in the prior art, which can achieve rapid and orderly initial evacuation, and enable the final life-saving life raft to quickly separate from the aircraft to a relatively safe distance during a water ditching, while also optimizing the structure and inflation control to efficiently consider both function modes. SUMMARY
[0007] Therefore, in order to overcome the defects and deficiencies of the prior art, the present application provides an emergency evacuation slide for overwing exits and a conversion method thereof. The present application aims to decouple the evacuation and life-saving functions in time and space through an innovative separable structure design, thereby ensuring rapid initial evacuation while enabling the life-saving unit to safely, quickly and reliably separate from the aircraft body, ultimately optimizing the overall rescue process and improving the survival probability of passengers.
[0008] The present application provides an overwing slide that can be used as a life raft, comprising: an inflatable horizontal section assembly mounted to a wing of the civil aircraft; an inflatable slide section assembly configured to extend downwardly and obliquely relative to the horizontal section assembly in an inflated state; a connecting section assembly configured to connect the horizontal section assembly and the slide section assembly; and an inflation assembly configured to inflate the horizontal section assembly and the slide section assembly, wherein the connecting section assembly includes a plurality of connecting holes arranged at intervals and provided in each of the horizontal section assembly and the slide section assembly, and a single rope strap for cooperating with the plurality of connecting holes, the connecting section assembly is configured to connect the horizontal section assembly and the slide section assembly by the single rope strap cooperating with the plurality of connecting holes.
[0009] By setting the connecting section assembly composed of multiple connecting hole portions and a single rope, the connecting section assembly can be used as a releasable connecting mechanism, converting the traditional fixed structure into a "connectable-separable" modular design. This enables the wing slide to be applied in different emergency scenarios, i.e. land evacuation / water ditching. In the connected state, it ensures the integrity of the slide as a whole structure, ensuring the safety and reliability of the evacuation path. After triggering the separation operation, it releases the functional module, i.e. the sliding section, by releasing the mechanical constraint, so that it can quickly switch from the sliding function to the independent floating life-saving function. In addition, by designing the sliding section assembly as a double-sided airbag structure, the two independent airbags form a parallel system. This design ensures that even if one of the airbags is completely disabled due to damage, the other air chamber can still provide the required buoyancy, significantly improving the reliability of the life raft in unexpected situations and meeting aviation safety requirements.
[0010] In another technical solution of the wing slide of the present application, more specifically, the single rope is divided into an initial section at one end of the arrangement direction of the multiple connecting hole portions, an end section at the other end of the arrangement direction, and an intermediate section between two adjacent connecting hole portions in the multiple connecting hole portions, In the initial section, one end of the single rope is fixedly connected with respect to a first connecting hole portion located in the initial connecting hole portion of the initial section, In the end section, the other end of the single rope is detachably connected with respect to an end connecting hole portion located in the end section, In each intermediate section, the single rope includes a first travel portion, a second travel portion, a third travel portion, a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a third connecting portion, The first travel portion travels from one of the two adjacent connecting hole portions to the other of the two adjacent connecting hole portions on one side of the connecting hole portions along the arrangement direction of the multiple connecting hole portions, The second travel portion travels from the other of the two adjacent connecting hole portions to one of the two adjacent connecting hole portions on the other side of the connecting hole portions along the arrangement direction of the multiple connecting hole portions, The first connecting portion connects the first travel portion and the second travel portion on one side of the connecting hole portions at the other of the two adjacent connecting hole portions, The third travel portion travels from one of the two adjacent connecting hole portions to the other of the two adjacent connecting hole portions on the other side of the connecting hole portions along the arrangement direction of the multiple connecting hole portions, The second connecting portion passes through one of the two adjacent connecting hole portions from one side of the connecting hole portion to the other side of the connecting hole portion to connect the second travel portion and the third travel portion, The third connecting portion passes through the other of the two adjacent connecting hole portions from the other side of the connecting hole portion to the one side of the connecting hole portion to connect the third travel portion and the first travel portion of the other intermediate section.
[0011] In another technical solution of the wing-on-body slide of the present application, the connecting section assembly further comprises: an upper docking cloth arranged on the horizontal section assembly on the side close to the sliding section assembly; and a lower docking cloth arranged on the sliding section assembly on the side close to the horizontal section assembly, The plurality of connecting hole portions comprises: a plurality of first connecting hole portions arranged at intervals and arranged on the upper docking cloth; and a plurality of second connecting hole portions arranged at the intervals and arranged on the lower docking cloth. Preferably, the connecting section assembly further comprises a hook arranged on the other end of the single rope, which is used to connect the first connecting portion of the intermediate section closest to the connecting hole portion of the end section and the connecting hole portion of the end section together. The aforementioned connecting section assembly ensures the structural strength of the slide when used as a slide, and ensures that the connection can be quickly and reliably released when the slide is desired to be used as a life raft. This makes it possible to ensure the connection strength while achieving labor-saving, time-saving and convenient personnel operation. The combination of the flexible body, i.e. the single rope, and the through-holes of the connecting hole portions, such as the locking ring, forms a connection. The distributed connection formed by the single rope under tension and the plurality of connecting hole portions can effectively disperse the load to multiple points of the horizontal section assembly, avoiding stress concentration and providing excellent connection strength and reliability. Among them, the single rope can form a quick-release knot, such as a slip knot. When subjected to tension, the knot point will become closer and closer, and only a small reverse tension or pulling of a specific rope end at one end of the single rope is required to make the entire knot loose instantaneously. This makes the separation operation extremely fast and does not require complex tools, greatly shortening the key preparation time for water evacuation. And with the auxiliary locking of the hook, it is ensured that the knot will not accidentally come loose in the connected state, increasing the reliability of the entire device in the connected state.
[0012] In another technical solution of the wing-on-body slide of the present application, the connecting section assembly further comprises a tether rope connected between the horizontal section assembly and the sliding section assembly. In another technical solution of the wing-on-body slide of the present application, the inflatable assembly comprises: A gas source, which stores filling gas for supplying to the horizontal section assembly and the sliding section assembly; A three-way valve, the three-way valve having a first port, a second port, and a third port connected to the outlet of a gas source; and A first hose and a second hose, wherein one end of the first hose is connected to the first port and the other end is connected to the horizontal section assembly, and one end of the second hose is connected to the second port and the other end is connected to the sliding section assembly.
[0013] Preferably, the inflation assembly further includes a throttling device connected between the first hose and the horizontal section assembly and / or between the second hose and the sliding section assembly, for controlling the flow rate of the filling gas in the horizontal section assembly and / or the sliding section assembly.
[0014] By adding a throttling device to the pipeline, the flow resistance of this branch is increased. According to the flow distribution principle of parallel pipelines, the flow rate of the branch with high flow resistance decreases, while the flow rate of the branch with low flow resistance increases. This ensures that most of the gas from the same gas source flows preferentially to the gliding section assembly, allowing it to complete inflation first. This means the gliding section completes inflation first and quickly, rapidly acquiring the rigidity and buoyancy required to support personnel and maintain floatation. Thus, the inflation strategy is optimized at the system level, ensuring the highest priority for the lifesaving function.
[0015] In another technical solution of the overwing slide of the present invention, the inflation assembly further includes an ejector and a one-way valve disposed on the ejector. The ejector is connected between the first hose and the horizontal section assembly and / or between the second hose and the taxiing section assembly. The ejector is used to draw in external gas from the external environment of the civil aircraft. The one-way valve is configured to allow only filling gas from the gas source to enter the ejector. The ejector of the present invention is configured to have a rubber sheet assembly consisting of two pieces that are normally closed but can open inward when drawing in external gas. Utilizing the ejection effect of high-pressure gas, i.e., the Venturi effect, the high-pressure working fluid is accelerated through the nozzle, forming a low-pressure zone in the mixing chamber, thereby entraining and introducing a large amount of ambient air to mix with the high-pressure working fluid, i.e., the high-pressure gas. This achieves a multiplied utilization of a limited high-pressure gas source, inflating an airbag several times its volume with one unit of high-pressure gas, significantly increasing the total inflation volume, enabling the life raft to obtain more buoyancy and a more stable shape, without increasing the weight and volume of the gas source. Furthermore, by adding a one-way valve, only filling gas from the gas source is allowed to enter the ejector. This valve is installed in the inflation passage to prevent backflow of gas inside the airbags when external pressure changes or structural deformation occurs. This ensures that each airbag remains fully inflated under any operating condition, maintaining the structural rigidity and buoyancy stability.
[0016] In another technical embodiment of the wing-mounted slide of the present invention, the inflation assembly further includes a high-pressure quick-release connector, which is connected between the ejector connected to the sliding section assembly and the second hose. When the connecting section assembly is mechanically separated, the inflation line must also be physically disconnected. The high-pressure quick-release connector allows for complete gas release from the high-pressure cylinder without interrupting the gas flow when pulled open, and a one-way valve near the ejector prevents gas leakage from the airbag, ensuring the life raft maintains buoyancy after separation.
[0017] Preferably, the gliding section assembly includes an upper airbag and a lower airbag, and the inflation assembly further includes: The third hose is used to connect the second hose to the upper airbag; A fourth hose, the fourth hose being used to connect the second hose to the lower airbag; and A double-connector is provided for connecting the second hose to the third hose and the fourth hose. Preferably, the upper and lower connecting fabrics are designed to allow the horizontal section assembly to be clamped between the upper and lower air bladders of the sliding section assembly when the upper and lower connecting fabrics are connected together. In another technical solution of the wing-mounted slide of the present invention, a mutually cooperating physical limiting structure is provided between the contact surfaces of the horizontal section assembly and the sliding section assembly to resist shearing forces in the connected state. In another technical solution of the wing-mounted slide of the present invention, an item bag is also included, which is disposed in the sliding section assembly and contains a knife for cutting the mooring rope, such as a hook-shaped knife with the blade inside the hook.
[0018] Placing the knife in an item bag on the sliding section component ensures that the tool is within easy reach in extreme situations where manual cutting of the tether rope may ultimately be necessary.
[0019] This invention combines the functions of an overboard slide and a life raft through a series of collaborative designs, enabling rapid and reliable switching between the two functions in emergencies. Its core lies in a releasable connection mechanism, which uses a single rope threaded through multiple connection holes to form a connection. Compared to traditional methods with several centralized hinges or pin connections, the flexible rope effectively distributes the tension and shear forces generated during sliding to multiple fixed points on the horizontal section component—the mounting points of the connection holes—avoiding stress concentration and significantly improving the structural strength and fatigue life of the connection. Furthermore, the quick-release knot, such as a slipknot, serves as the release mechanism. Under working tension, friction tightens the knot, ensuring a secure lock. When release is needed, simply pulling out a specific "live end" instantly and completely loosens the knot. This buys valuable time for emergency evacuation after a water landing. Secondly, the hook between the hook and the connection hole at the end provides secondary locking and visual indication of the connection status. Regarding the inflation of the overwing slides, the inflation system restricts airflow to the horizontal section components through a throttling device, ensuring that the gliding section components are inflated first and reach usable status first. Simultaneously, the gliding section components employ a double-layered, independent airbag design, so even if one airbag ruptures, the other can still provide sufficient buoyancy, greatly enhancing the survivability of the life raft. Attached Figure Description
[0020] The following figures are only used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and form part of this specification. They are used to explain the principles of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.
[0021] In the diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the components of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the horizontal section assembly and the sliding section assembly of the overwing slide according to the present invention in a separated state; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inflatable assembly of the over-wing slide according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the composition of the high-pressure hose and ejector of the inflation assembly of the overwing slide according to the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting section assembly of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention; Figure 6A A top view showing the knotting method of the rope knot in the connecting section assembly of the wing slide according to the present invention; Figure 6B A bottom view showing the knotting method of the rope in the connecting section assembly of the wing slide according to the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the end of a knot in the connecting section assembly of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention; Figure 8 Another schematic diagram of the connecting section assembly of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention; and Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the sliding section assembly of the wing slide according to the present invention in a separated state.
[0022] List of reference numerals Detailed Implementation
[0023] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.
[0024] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, for example, that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or units must precede those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.
[0025] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and "middle," etc., indicate directions or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.
[0026] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in certain circumstances to indicate a certain dependency or connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0027] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setting," "arrangement," "equipped with," "connection," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium; or they can refer to the internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0028] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. To make the solution of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0029] See Figure 1This invention provides a wing-mounted slide that can be used as a life raft. The wing-mounted slide includes: an inflatable assembly 1, a horizontal section assembly 2, a connecting section assembly 3, and a gliding section assembly 4. The horizontal section assembly 2 is disposed at the wing 5 of a civil aircraft. In the inflated state, the gliding section assembly 4 is configured to extend downward at an angle relative to the horizontal section assembly. The connecting section assembly 3 connects the horizontal section assembly 2 and the gliding section assembly 4. The inflatable assembly 1 is capable of inflating the horizontal section assembly 2 and the gliding section assembly 4. Specifically, the connecting section assembly 3 includes a plurality of connecting holes 31 and a single rope 32, wherein the plurality of connecting holes 31 are arranged at certain intervals, and both the horizontal section assembly 2 and the gliding section assembly 4 are provided with a plurality of connecting holes 31. The single rope 32 is used to mate with the plurality of connecting holes of the horizontal section assembly 2 and the gliding section assembly 4. The connecting section assembly 3 is configured to connect the horizontal section assembly 2 and the gliding section assembly 4 through the single rope 32 mates with the plurality of connecting holes 31. In their initial installation state, these components are folded and enclosed within the hatch at the upper wing exit of the aircraft. In an emergency, inflation is triggered, and the entire device unfolds downwards along the surface of wing 5, forming a complete slide. One end of the horizontal section assembly 2 is connected to the hatch at the upper wing exit, and the end of the horizontal section assembly 2 furthest from the aircraft is connected to the taxiing section assembly 4 via the connecting section assembly 3. Additionally, the horizontal section assembly 2 is provided with an inflation port connected to the main inflation line from the air source 12, i.e., the high-pressure gas cylinder. The connecting section assembly 3 includes an upper mating fabric 34 and a lower mating fabric 35, which are fixedly connected to the horizontal section assembly 2 and the taxiing section assembly 4, respectively. Specifically, the connecting hole portion 31 includes a plurality of first connecting holes and a plurality of second connecting holes. The plurality of first connecting holes are arranged at certain intervals on the upper mating fabric 34, and the plurality of second connecting holes are arranged at the same intervals between the plurality of first connecting holes and are located on the lower mating fabric 35. Thus, the upper mating fabric 34 and the lower mating fabric 35 are connected by a releasable connecting mechanism. The releasable connection mechanism includes multiple connection holes 31, a single cord 32, and a hook 33. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the gliding section assembly 4 includes at least an upper airbag 41 and a lower airbag 42. The two airbags, when inflated, form a rigid support structure, providing primary buoyancy for occupants during gliding or as a life raft. The upper airbag 41 and lower airbag 42 are physically isolated and not interconnected. Each airbag 41 and lower airbag 42 has two independent inflation ports, which are connected to the main inflation line from the high-pressure gas cylinder via a double-connector 19. This dual-airbag design ensures that even in extreme circumstances where one airbag ruptures or is punctured, the other airbag can still provide sufficient buoyancy, increasing the occupants' chances of survival.
[0030] like Figure 3As shown, the inflation assembly 1 includes a first hose 141, a second hose 142, a third hose 143, a fourth hose 144, and a two-way connector 19. The first hose 141 is in fluid communication with the horizontal section assembly 2, the third hose 143 connects the second hose 142 to the upper airbag 41, the fourth hose 144 connects the second hose 142 to the lower airbag 42, and the two-way connector 19 connects the second hose 142 with the third hose 143 with the fourth hose 144. The inflation assembly 1 is responsible for supplying gas to the entire system and controlling the inflation process. This invention uses a single high-pressure gas cylinder as a single gas source 12, which simplifies the system and reduces weight. The high-pressure gas cylinder is triggered by an initiator. The output high-pressure gas is delivered through the main pipeline. To achieve branch inflation, the main pipeline is divided into two paths by a three-way valve 13, namely a first inflation path and a second inflation path. The three-way valve 13 has a first port, a second port, and a third port connected to the outlet of the gas source 12. One end of the first hose 141 is connected to the first port, and the other end is connected to the horizontal section assembly 2. One end of the second hose 142 is connected to the second port, and the other end is connected to the gliding section assembly. That is, the first inflation passage leads to the horizontal section assembly 2 via the first hose 141, and the second inflation passage leads to the gliding section assembly 4 via the second hose 142. This inflation assembly 1 also has an inflation throttling function. To ensure priority and rapid inflation of the gliding section assembly 4, a throttling device 15, such as a fixed-diameter orifice plate or an adjustable valve, is installed on the first inflation passage leading to the horizontal section assembly 2. This throttling device 15 limits the gas flow into the horizontal section assembly 2, ensuring that most of the gas preferentially inflates the gliding section assembly 4 through the second inflation passage. This ensures that the gliding section assembly 4, i.e., the future life raft, first obtains sufficient rigidity and buoyancy, providing a guarantee for the core life-saving function. Furthermore, this inflation assembly 1 also has the function of ejecting and allowing only filling gas to enter the assembly to be inflated. To further increase the inflation volume, an ejector 17 is installed in the first inflation passage.
[0031] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, an ejector 17 is installed on the inflation passage connected to the upper airbag 41, and another ejector 17 is installed on the inflation passage connected to the lower airbag 42. When the high-pressure gas flows through the ejector 17, it utilizes the Venturi effect to draw in a large amount of ambient air, which mixes with the high-pressure gas to inflate the sliding section assembly 4, greatly improving the inflation efficiency. Figure 4As shown, the gas source 12, i.e., the high-pressure gas cylinder, is connected to the horizontal section assembly 2 via a first filling passage, a first hose 141, a throttling device 15, a one-way valve 16, and an ejector 17. The high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the horizontal section assembly 2 via a second filling passage. The second filling passage includes a second hose 142, a third hose 143, and a fourth hose 144, wherein the second hose 142 is connected to the third hose 143 and the fourth hose 144, respectively. Additionally, the third hose 143 and the fourth hose 144 are connected to the ejector 17, respectively. A one-way valve 16 is also provided in all filling passages to allow only filling gas from the gas source, i.e., the high-pressure gas cylinder, to enter the assembly to be filled. Furthermore, as... Figure 4 As shown, the ejector 17 is also equipped with a rubber sheet assembly, which consists of two opposing rubber sheets. This rubber sheet assembly is configured to be closed in the normal state and open inward when external gas is drawn in, thus providing unidirectional conduction when the ejector is in operation.
[0032] Considering that the connecting section assembly 3 needs to be separated, the inflation line must also be able to be quickly disconnected. Therefore, a high-pressure quick-release connector 18 is installed on the second inflation passage, near the connection with the sliding section assembly 4. During separation, its two parts can be easily pulled apart, achieving a sealed disconnection of the air passage and preventing gas leakage.
[0033] like Figure 5 As shown, multiple connecting holes 31 are equally spaced and respectively provided on the upper and lower connecting fabrics, which are connected to the horizontal section assembly 2 and the sliding section assembly 4, respectively. A single rope is threaded through the multiple connecting holes 31 in a quick-release knot manner, such as a slip knot or a quick-release knot. One end of the single rope 32 is fixedly connected to the starting end of the upper or lower connecting fabric, and the other end of the single rope 32 is provided with a hook 33. (The text abruptly ends here.) Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the final connection method of the knot in the connecting section assembly. With the horizontal section assembly 2 connected to the sliding section assembly 4, the operator tightens a single rope and hooks the end hook 33 onto the last connecting hole 31 opposite the starting end of the upper or lower connecting fabric, thus achieving a reliable connection between the horizontal section assembly 2 and the sliding section assembly 4, ensuring the structural integrity and strength of the wing slide. When the sliding section assembly 4 needs to be used as a life raft, i.e., when it needs to be separated from the horizontal section assembly 2, the operator only needs to pull a specific end of the single rope, such as the release end of the slip knot (in this invention, this means unhooking the hook 33) and pulling the hook 33, which allows the single rope 32 to quickly disengage from the multiple connecting holes 31, achieving rapid separation of the two parts.
[0034] like Figure 6A The image shown is a top view illustrating the knotting method of a single rope in the connecting section assembly of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention.Figure 6A , Figure 6B and Figure 7 As shown, a single rope 32 can be divided into an initial section 321, multiple intermediate sections, and an ending section 324. The knotting method is the same for each intermediate section. A connecting hole 31 is provided in the initial section 321, and one end of the single rope 32 is fixedly connected to the first connecting hole 31 located in the initial section 321. Figure 7 As shown, the end section 324 has a connecting hole 31, and the other end of the single rope 32 is detachably connected to the connecting hole 31 in the end section 324. In the middle section, the single rope 32 includes a first traveling portion 322A, a second traveling portion 322B, a third traveling portion 322C, a first connecting portion 322D, a second connecting portion 322E, and a third connecting portion 322F. The first traveling portion 322A travels along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes 31 from one of two adjacent connecting holes 31 on one side of the connecting holes 31, and travels parallel to the other of the two adjacent connecting holes 31. The second traveling portion 322B travels along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes 31 from the other of the two adjacent connecting holes 31 on one side of the connecting holes 31, and travels parallel to the other of the two adjacent connecting holes 31. Furthermore, the first connecting portion 322D connects the first traveling portion 322A and the second traveling portion 322B on one side of the connecting hole portion 31 and at the other of two adjacent connecting holes portion 31. The third traveling portion 322C proceeds along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes portion 31 from one of two adjacent connecting holes portion 31 on the other side of the connecting hole portion 31 and proceeds parallel to the other of two adjacent connecting holes portion 31. The second connecting portion 322E passes through one of two adjacent connecting holes portion 31 from one side of the connecting hole portion 31 to the other side of the connecting hole portion 31, and is used to connect the second traveling portion 322B and the third traveling portion 322C. The third connecting portion 322F passes through the other of two adjacent connecting holes portion 31 to one side of the connecting hole portion 31, and is used to connect the third traveling portion 322C to the first traveling portion of the next adjacent intermediate section.
[0035] like Figure 7 The diagram shows the end of the knot in the connecting section assembly of the wing-mounted slide according to the present invention. The second end of the single rope 32 wraps around the edge of the upper connecting fabric 34 or the lower connecting fabric 35 from bottom to top, and folds back towards the connecting hole 31 in the ending section 324. Figure 7 As shown, a hook 33 is provided at the second end of a single rope, which hooks onto the connecting hole 31 in the end section 324 for detachable connection.
[0036] In an emergency, when it is necessary to quickly separate the connecting section assembly, simply open the hook 33 on the end section 324, remove the hook 33 from the connecting hole 31 in the end section 324, and pull the hook 33, i.e. the second end of the single rope, in one direction. This will quickly release the nesting between the single rope 32 of each knot section and the connecting hole 31, so that the single rope 32 of the entire connecting section assembly is loosened from the connecting hole 31, i.e., the upper connecting cloth 34 and the lower connecting cloth 35, thus achieving the separation of the connecting section assembly.
[0037] To prevent the sliding segment assembly 4 from drifting completely away after separation, the present invention incorporates a tethering system. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the tethering system includes a tether rope 37 and a tether rope storage bag 36. One end of the tether rope 37 is fixed to the horizontal section assembly 2, and the other end is fixed to the taxiing section assembly 4. In the connected state, any excess length of the tether rope 37 is neatly stored in the storage bag 36, which can be opened and closed via Velcro or snaps. After separation, the tether rope 37 is straightened, flexibly connecting the life raft (i.e., the taxiing section assembly 4) to the aircraft fuselage. This ensures that the life raft is not immediately swept away by the water flow and maintains a safe distance from the dangerous aircraft fuselage. This distance is equal to the length of the tether rope, facilitating subsequent rescue efforts.
[0038] To enhance the stability of the connection, the connecting segment assembly 3 also includes an upper mating fabric 34 and a lower mating fabric 35. When the connecting mechanism is locked, the airbag at the end of the horizontal segment assembly 2 is precisely clamped between the upper and lower double-layer airbags of the sliding segment assembly 4, forming a tight fitting structure that effectively prevents the connection from tilting or twisting under stress. A mutually cooperating physical limiting structure is provided between the contact surfaces of the horizontal segment assembly 2 and the sliding segment assembly 4 to resist shear forces in the connected state.
[0039] like Figure 9 As shown, the gliding section assembly 4 employs a double-layer airbag structure, comprising an upper airbag 41 and a lower airbag 42. These two airbags are physically independent. This design provides redundant safety: even in extreme circumstances where one airbag punctures and fails, the other airbag can still provide rated buoyancy, ensuring the life raft does not sink and greatly increasing the chances of survival. Additionally, as... Figure 9 As shown, an item bag 43 is fixed to the side wall of the taxiway assembly 4. It contains emergency supplies, including knives, such as a hook-shaped knife with the blade inside the hook. In extreme circumstances, if the tether line 37 cannot be untied or become entangled by conventional means, the occupants can use the knife to cut the tether line 37, allowing the life raft to detach completely from the aircraft for greater maneuverability or to avoid being dragged by the sinking aircraft.
[0040] The working mode of the wing slide according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
[0041] Normal slide mode: In case of emergency, the inflation procedure is initiated. Gas is simultaneously inflated by the inflation component 1 to both the horizontal section component 2 and the sliding section component 4 according to the control logic described above. The connecting mechanism, i.e., the connecting section component, is in a locked state, and the entire device forms a complete slide for personnel to evacuate to the wing 5 or the ground.
[0042] Water mode conversion: If it is determined to be a water landing, after the personnel evacuate to wing 5 via the slide, the operators, i.e. the crew or passengers, gather at the taxiing section component 4.
[0043] Separation Procedure: The operator releases hook 33 and pulls the release end, causing the single rope 32 to detach from the connecting hole 31, thus quickly separating the connecting section assembly 3, i.e., quickly separating the horizontal section assembly 2 from the taxiing section assembly 4. At this time, the taxiing section assembly 4 will serve as a life raft, providing an emergency water refuge for the crew and passengers.
[0044] Life raft deployment: Taxi section assembly 4 separates from the aircraft under its own buoyancy and gravity, falls into the water, and is connected to the aircraft via mooring rope 37. At this point, taxi section assembly 4 becomes a fully functional independent life raft.
[0045] Final Escape: After all occupants have boarded the raft, depending on the situation on site, such as when the aircraft begins to sink, they can choose to manually untie or directly cut the mooring rope 37 with the knife in the pack 43, allowing the life raft to float freely and await rescue.
[0046] The implementation of this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be adjusted and optimized according to different design requirements and usage environments. The scope of protection of this invention should be determined by the content of the claims, and not limited to the embodiments described above. Although this invention has been described through specific embodiments, any modifications, changes, and combinations made by those skilled in the art to the various embodiments and implementation methods of this invention without departing from the spirit of this invention should be within the scope of protection of this invention.
Claims
1. A wing-mounted slide for a civil aircraft, characterized in that, include: An inflatable horizontal section assembly (2) is mounted on the wing of the civil aircraft; An inflatable gliding segment assembly (4) is configured to extend downward relative to the horizontal segment assembly (2) in an inflated state; Connecting segment assembly (3), the connecting segment assembly (3) being configured to connect the horizontal segment assembly (2) and the sliding segment assembly (4); and An inflation assembly (1) is configured to inflate the horizontal section assembly (2) and the sliding section assembly (4), wherein, The connecting segment assembly (3) includes a plurality of connecting holes (31) and a single rope (32). The plurality of connecting holes (31) are arranged at intervals and disposed in each of the horizontal segment assembly (2) and the sliding segment assembly (4). The single rope (32) is used to cooperate with the plurality of connecting holes (31). The connecting segment assembly (3) is configured to connect the horizontal segment assembly (2) and the sliding segment assembly (4) through the single rope (32) and the plurality of connecting holes (31).
2. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 1, characterized in that, The single rope (32) is divided into an initial section at one end of the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes (31), an end section at the other end of the arrangement direction, and an intermediate section between two adjacent connecting holes (31) among the plurality of connecting holes (31). In the initial section, one end of the single rope (32) is fixedly connected relative to the first connecting hole located in the initial section. In the ending section, the other end of the single cord (32) is detachably connected relative to the connecting hole located in the ending section. In each of the intermediate sections, the single rope (32) includes a first traveling section, a second traveling section, a third traveling section, a first connecting section, a second connecting section, and a third connecting section. The first traveling part travels along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes (31) from one of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) to the other of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) on one side of the connecting holes (31). The second traveling part travels along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes (31) from one of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) to the other of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) on one side of the connecting holes (31). The first connecting portion connects the first traveling portion and the second traveling portion on one side of the connecting hole portion (31) and at the other of the two adjacent connecting holes portions (31). The third traveling part travels along the arrangement direction of the plurality of connecting holes (31) from one of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) to the other of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) on the other side of the connecting holes (31). The second connecting portion passes through one of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) from one side of the connecting hole (31) to the other side of the connecting hole (31) to connect the second traveling portion and the third traveling portion. The third connecting portion passes through the other of the two adjacent connecting holes (31) from the other side of the connecting hole (31) to one side of the connecting hole (31) to connect the third traveling portion with the first traveling portion of another intermediate section.
3. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting segment assembly (3) further includes: Upper connecting fabric (34), the upper connecting fabric (34) being disposed on the side of the horizontal segment assembly (2) adjacent to the sliding segment assembly (4); and The lower connecting fabric (35) is disposed on the side of the sliding segment assembly (4) near the horizontal segment assembly (2). The plurality of connecting holes (31) include: A plurality of first connecting holes are arranged at certain intervals and disposed on the upper connecting fabric (34); and A plurality of second connecting holes are arranged at the aforementioned intervals and disposed on the lower connecting fabric (35).
4. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting segment assembly (3) further includes a hook (33) disposed at the other end of the single rope (32), the hook (33) being used to connect the first connecting portion of the middle section closest to the connecting hole of the end section to the connecting hole of the end section.
5. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting section assembly (3) also includes a tether rope (37) which is connected between the horizontal section assembly (2) and the sliding section assembly (4).
6. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inflation assembly (1) includes: Gas source (12), which stores filling gas for supplying to the horizontal section assembly (2) and the sliding section assembly (4); A three-way valve (13) having a first port, a second port, and a third port connected to the outlet of a gas source (12); and The first hose (141) and the second hose (142) are connected to the first port at one end and to the horizontal segment assembly (2) at the other end. The second hose (142) is connected to the second port at one end and to the sliding segment assembly (4) at the other end.
7. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inflation assembly (1) further includes a throttling device (15) connected between the first hose (141) and the horizontal section assembly (2) and / or between the second hose (142) and the sliding section assembly (4) for controlling the flow rate of the filling gas of the horizontal section assembly (2) and / or the sliding section assembly (4).
8. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inflation assembly (1) further includes an ejector (17) and a one-way valve (16) disposed on the ejector (17). The ejector (17) is connected between the first hose (141) and the horizontal section assembly (2) and / or between the second hose (142) and the taxiway assembly (4). The ejector (17) is used to draw external gas from the external environment of the civil aircraft. The one-way valve (16) is configured to allow only filling gas from the gas source (12) to enter the ejector (17).
9. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inflation assembly (1) also includes a high-pressure quick-release connector (18), which is connected between the ejector (17) connected to the sliding section assembly (4) and the second hose (142).
10. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 6, characterized in that, The gliding segment assembly (4) includes an upper airbag (41) and a lower airbag (42). The inflation assembly (1) further includes: The third hose (143) is used to connect the second hose (142) to the upper airbag (41). A fourth hose (144) is used to connect the second hose (142) to the lower airbag (42); and A double connector (19) is used to connect the second hose (142) to the third hose (143) and the fourth hose (144).
11. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper docking fabric (34) and the lower docking fabric (35) are designed to allow the horizontal segment assembly (2) to be held between the upper airbag (41) and the lower airbag (42) of the sliding segment assembly (4) when the upper docking fabric (34) and the lower docking fabric (35) are connected together.
12. The wing-mounted slide according to claim 1, characterized in that, A physical limiting structure is provided between the contact surfaces of the horizontal segment assembly (2) and the sliding segment assembly (4) to resist shear force in the connected state.
Citation Information
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