Evacuation Slide Guidance Markings and Light Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current evacuation slides in aircraft, especially those in midcabin or overwing areas, face challenges in guiding evacuees due to lack of clear visual cues, particularly in dark conditions, leading to hesitation and reduced evacuation efficiency and increased risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
The evacuation slide features a sliding face with a flat porch section connected to an inclined section via a transition section, equipped with guidance markings such as arrows and scratch lines to indicate the evacuation direction and separation, and incorporates a light signal generating device to enhance visibility in low-light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If evacuation slides are equipped with additional doors or exit pairs to increase passenger capacity, then the passenger number can be increased, but the technical outlay, costs and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing guidance markings and light signals in advance to prepare evacuees for the correct evacuation path before they actually need to evacuate. This reduces hesitation and improves flow rate through existing exits without requiring additional doors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of visibility by introducing light signal generating devices that emit light in low-visibility conditions, and changes the information parameter by adding guidance markings that provide clear directional information to evacuees.
2Productivity
If evacuation slides lack guidance markings and visual cues, then the device complexity is reduced, but evacuees experience hesitation and evacuation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes by employing fluorescent materials that change appearance under different lighting conditions, and light signals that provide visual contrast to guide evacuees clearly along the evacuation path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guidance markings and light signals as intermediary elements that mediate between the evacuees and the evacuation slide, providing clear directional information and reducing hesitation without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the slide itself.
3Illumination intensity
If evacuation slides operate in dark-of-night conditions without enhanced visibility, then energy consumption is reduced, but evacuees cannot discern the escape route clearly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of visibility by introducing light signal generating devices that emit light in low-visibility conditions, and changes the information parameter by adding guidance markings that provide clear directional information to evacuees.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs energy-efficient light signaling that operates only when needed (during evacuation events), using relatively low-energy components that provide sufficient illumination for the critical evacuation period without requiring continuous high energy consumption.
4Ease of operation
If a flat porch section is added to the sliding face to allow proper deployment, then the slide can be positioned away from engines, but evacuees need additional steps and orientation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing guidance markings and light signals in advance on the flat porch section to prepare evacuees for the correct evacuation path before they actually need to evacuate, reducing hesitation and orientation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes by employing fluorescent materials and light signals that provide visual contrast and clear directional information on the flat porch section, guiding evacuees efficiently toward the inclined sliding path.
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 improves guidance and orientation for evacuees, increasing evacuation flow rates and reducing the risk of injuries by providing clear visual cues and enhanced visibility, even in adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a light signal generating device (40), in particular a light signal generating device which comprises a plurality of lighting elements (42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54), is provided
Data Source
AI summary
An evacuation slide comprises a sliding face having a top end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an exit of a region to be evacuated, and a bottom end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an escape route leading away from, and at a lower height, than the region. The sliding face, at the top end portion, comprises a flat porch section connected to an inclined section of the sliding face via a transition section. The sliding face has at least one of a first guidance marking placed in the flat porch section and having a shape and orientation adapted indicate a predefined evacuation direction in the inclined section of the sliding face and a second guidance marking placed in the transition section and having a shape and orientation adapted to indicate a separation between the flat porch section and the inclined section.