Modular Aircraft Escape Slide Container With Rolling Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing emergency escape slides for aircraft are heavy and cumbersome, causing injuries to maintenance personnel during transport and storage, and require inefficient manual handling and frequent replacement, leading to lost workdays and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A modular emergency escape slide container with separate portions that allow for secure storage and transport of deflated slides, featuring rolling mechanisms and forklift-compatible designs to facilitate easy movement and reduce manual handling, enabling safe and efficient replacement of slides within aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If emergency escape slides are stored in traditional wooden containers, then storage capacity is achieved, but the containers are very heavy and cause back injuries to maintenance personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separated from each other. Each portion can be independently handled, reducing the weight that maintenance personnel must lift at any one time while maintaining full storage capacity when portions are assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
A rolling mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the container and the ground surface. This rolling mechanism reduces the effort required to move the container by converting lifting and dragging motions into rolling motion, thereby reducing the effective weight impact on maintenance personnel.
2Ease of operation
If emergency escape slides are manually carried through aircraft aisles, then installation is achieved, but slides can become hooked or torn on aircraft parts
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into movable portions with rolling mechanisms, allowing the container to be rolled rather than carried through narrow aircraft aisles. This reduces the risk of the slide becoming hooked or torn on aircraft parts during transport to the installation location.
3Productivity
If maintenance personnel frequently lift and position heavy slides, then replacement is achieved, but personnel suffer back injuries and loss of workdays
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the container into lighter portions reduces the lifting weight for maintenance personnel, decreasing the risk of back injuries while maintaining the ability to perform slide replacements efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling mechanism serves as an intermediary that reduces the physical strain on maintenance personnel during slide transport and installation, converting heavy lifting into lighter rolling motions and thereby reducing injury risk.
4Reliability
If traditional storage containers are used, then storage function is provided, but containers are not durable and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed as separable portions that can be independently maintained or replaced. This segmentation allows individual portions to be more durable while the overall system remains manageable in complexity, as each portion can be independently handled and replaced if needed.
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 container system allows for safe and efficient storage, transport, and replacement of emergency escape slides, reducing the risk of injury and increasing operational efficiency by enabling single-person handling and minimizing manual lifting, thus enhancing maintenance safety and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
The first side wall includes a first rolling mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency escape slide container includes a first portion having a first end wall and a first side wall, the first side wall and the first end wall defining a first storage space that is sized and shaped to receive an emergency escape slide. The first side wall also includes a first rolling mechanism. The emergency escape slide container also includes a second portion having a second end wall and a second side wall, the second side wall and the second end wall defining a second storage space sized and shaped to receive the emergency escape slide. The second side wall also includes a second rolling mechanism. The first portion and the second portion cooperate to define a third storage space therebetween, the third storage space being equal to a combination of the first storage space and the second storage space.