Conductive Lacing for Aircraft Evacuation Slide Static Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable aircraft evacuation slides often accumulate static electricity, requiring additional components and complexity for a conductive path to prevent static buildup, which existing solutions do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An attachment device featuring a girt sleeve with electrically conductive lacings that provide both structural and electrical connections between the inflatable slide, packboard, and aircraft, using conductive fabric and grommets to facilitate the dissipation of static electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conductive path is added to prevent static electricity buildup, then static electricity prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conductive lacing element with the attachment device structure, integrating the electrical connection function into the mechanical attachment system. The conductive lacing serves dual purposes: providing structural support for the slide and establishing an electrical pathway to ground the static charge, thereby eliminating the need for separate conductive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical attachment of the slide to the aircraft, structural support during evacuation, and electrical conduction to prevent static buildup. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components are added for conductive path, then static electricity prevention is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the conductive function into the existing attachment device structure through conductive lacings, the patent eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for installing conductive components. The conductive lacings are incorporated during the normal attachment device assembly process, reducing overall assembly time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components are added for conductive path, then static electricity prevention is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing attachment device structure and conductive lacings to provide both mechanical support and electrical conduction functions. This integration approach avoids adding separate heavy conductive components, thereby minimizing weight increase while achieving static electricity prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces part costs, assembly time, and weight while eliminating snagging hazards, providing a single attachment device that effectively prevents static electricity buildup and allows for quick deployment and disengagement of the inflatable slide.
Implementation Method 1
at least one lacing of the plurality of lacings is an electrically conductive lacing, and the girt sleeve and the girt are in electrical communication via the electrically conductive lacing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A method and system to provide an electrical connection and a releasable attachment (40) includes a girt sleeve (42) having a plurality of lacings (48), wherein at least one lacing (48b) of the plurality of lacings (48) is an electrically conductive lacing (48), and a girt (46) having a plurality of openings to receive the plurality of lacings (48), wherein the girt sleeve (42) and the girt (46) are in electrical communication via the electrically conductive lacing (48b) when releasably attached.