Multipurpose Evacuation Slide Lane Divider
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft evacuation systems with canopy support tubes are heavy, serve a single purpose, and are difficult to inflate or attach in high wind conditions, particularly when used for water landings.
Innovation Solution
An evacuation system with a multipurpose lane divider that is detachably coupled to the evacuation slide, allowing it to serve as both a lane divider and canopy support, featuring a detachable restraint system and lanyard to maintain the divider's position and angle, reducing the need for additional canopy supports and simplifying deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If canopy support tubes are added to the evacuation system, then canopy support capability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lane divider is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a lane divider during normal evacuation and as a canopy support structure when deployed. This eliminates the need for separate canopy support tubes, reducing overall system weight while maintaining canopy support capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If canopy support tubes are manually attached and orally inflated, then canopy support is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates in high wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The lane divider is integrated into the slide structure and automatically inflated through fluid communication with the slide's inflation system. This eliminates the need for manual attachment and oral inflation, allowing automatic deployment even in high wind conditions where manual operations would be difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
The lane divider is in fluid communication with the slide's inflation system, allowing it to be automatically inflated through pneumatic pressure from the same system that inflates the slide. This eliminates the need for separate manual inflation mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If integral canopy support tubes are used, then structural integration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lane divider serves dual purposes as both a lane marking structure and a canopy support element. This eliminates the need for separate integral canopy support tubes, simplifying the overall slide structure while maintaining structural integration and stability.
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 system reduces weight, simplifies deployment, and allows for faster evacuation by dividing the sliding surface into lanes, while also providing effective canopy support in adverse conditions, reducing material and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the lane divider is in fluid communication with the center tube
Data Source
AI summary
An evacuation system may comprise a packboard, an evacuation slide configured to deploy from the packboard, and a lane divider attached to the evacuation slide, wherein a first end and a second end of the lane divider are detachably coupled to a center tube of the evacuation slide, wherein a connecting member is coupled to the center tube between the first end and the second end of the lane divider. The lane divider may be in fluid communication with the center tube. A detachable restraint may be disposed between first end and the center tube, the detachable restraint comprising a first portion coupled to the center tube and a second portion coupled to first end, wherein the first portion of the detachable restraint detachably couples to the second portion of the detachable restraint.