External Pressure Relief Valve With Deflecting Disk for Inflatable Slides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure relief valves in inflatable slides for aircraft evacuation systems are difficult to repair due to their location within the inflatable volume and are made from rigid materials, creating hard spots that complicate folding and packing.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief valve design featuring a deflecting disk and seal, mounted to a conduit, which deflects away from the housing when internal pressure exceeds a threshold, using a biasing member like a torsion spring to facilitate easy access and reduce noise, and is configured to be external to the inflatable tube for easier maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure relief valve is located within the inflatable volume, then it can effectively vent excess gas, but it becomes difficult to repair and creates hard spots that complicate folding and packing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional location of the pressure relief valve from inside the inflatable volume to outside on the end cap. This allows the valve to maintain its pressure relief function while being easily accessible for repair and eliminating hard spots within the inflatable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief valve is moved from the internal three-dimensional space to the external surface of the inflatable device, changing its spatial dimensionality. This external placement on the end cap provides accessibility for maintenance while preserving the valve's functional effectiveness.
2Strength
If rigid materials are used for the pressure relief valve, then structural strength is provided, but hard spots are created that make folding and packing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid pressure relief valve is extracted from the inflatable volume and placed on the external end cap. This separation allows the rigid valve to provide necessary structural strength for pressure relief while being removed from the flexible inflatable portion, eliminating hard spots that would interfere with folding and packing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a deflecting disk mechanism is used, then noise is reduced and accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deflecting disk that dynamically responds to pressure changes, bending to open or close the valve aperture. This dynamic mechanism reduces noise by allowing gradual pressure equalization while maintaining a relatively simple overall valve structure through the use of flexible materials and straightforward geometry.
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 design allows for easier repair and reduces noise, eliminates hard spots, and simplifies the folding and packing of inflatable slides by using a deflecting mechanism that reduces pressure-induced noise and improves accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force against the disk
Implementation Method 2
The disk may be configured to deflect away from the housing in response to a pressure within the cavity exceeding a preselected threshold pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief valve may comprise a housing, a disk, and a seal. The disk may be configured to deflect relative to the housing. The seal may form a sealing interface with at least one of the housing or disk. The pressure relief valve may be coupled to an inflatable slide or an aspirator.