Inflatable Toroidal Rescue Apparatus for High-Rise Emergency Descent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing people rescue devices for high-rise buildings are bulky, heavy, and inefficient, particularly in terms of energy dissipation during landing, making them unsuitable for effective emergency evacuations.
Innovation Solution
A personal emergency apparatus featuring a central toroidal chamber inflatable by an independent gas source, connected to inflatable shafts forming a cone shape, and an additional damping structure with its own toroidal chamber, creating a conical deceleration shield with air-impermeable fabric or covers, providing effective aerodynamic braking and stabilization during descent and a safe landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional emergency devices with multiple inflatable chambers and complex pneumatic structures are used, then the deceleration and landing protection function is provided, but the device size becomes large and weight becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional segments: a single main inflatable chamber for deceleration, a separate damping structure for shock absorption, and an independent gas-filling source. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible inflatable chambers and thin film structures instead of rigid frameworks. The inflatable chambers provide structural support and deceleration function when inflated, eliminating the need for heavy permanent structural elements while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional emergency devices with multiple chambers and complex structures are used, then landing protection is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the deceleration function and landing protection function into an integrated system where the inflatable chamber and damping structure work together as a unified mechanism, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses pneumatic inflation from a gas-filling source to activate both deceleration and protection functions simultaneously. This pneumatic actuation system replaces complex mechanical activation mechanisms, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
3Reliability
If conventional emergency devices are used, then person accommodation is provided, but the device takes up considerable space
Solution Approach 1:
The damping structure is positioned within or adjacent to the inflatable chamber in a nested arrangement, and the gas-filling source is integrated into the chamber structure. This nesting minimizes the overall device volume while ensuring all protective functions are available when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a compact stowed configuration to an expanded operational configuration through inflation. The inflatable chamber and damping structure expand dynamically during deployment, providing full person accommodation and protection functions only when needed, thus minimizing stored volume.
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 apparatus ensures a safe, efficient, and lightweight rescue by minimizing shock loads during landing, maintaining a stable descent speed, and preventing excessive pressure, thereby ensuring a secure landing with reduced load factors and quick energy dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a central toroidal chamber (1) inflatable by an independent gas source
Implementation Method 2
creating a conical deceleration shield with air-impermeable fabric or covers, providing effective aerodynamic braking and stabilization during descent
Implementation Method 3
an additional damping structure with its own toroidal chamber, creating a conical deceleration shield... providing effective aerodynamic braking and stabilization during descent and a safe landing
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for the emergency lowering of a person from a high-rise building is fastened on the person's back. The apparatus includes an inflatable central toroidal chamber having a membrane for accommodating the person. The chamber is connected on one side to inflatable shafts which, upon inflation, are arranged in a cone, and which are interconnected by inflatable connectors. The chamber is connected on the other side to an inflatable damping structure with a toroidal inflatable chamber connected by inflatable shafts to the central toroidal chamber. The toroidal inflatable chamber of the damping structure has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the central toroidal chamber and is less than the diameter of the base of the cone formed by shafts straightened out upon inflation. An air-impermeable perforated fabric is stretched between the shafts and toroidal chambers. An independent gas source is connected to one of the toroidal inflatable chambers or to one of the inflatable shafts.