Pivoting Chute Modules for Rapid High-Rise Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-rise buildings, such as skyscrapers, often lack effective evacuation mechanisms during disasters like fires, posing a significant challenge for rapid and safe escape.
Innovation Solution
The escape chute system consists of a straight chute and a turning chute, connected via chute bases with hinge and butt joints, and a fire-proof ventilation device, allowing for a continuous escape channel and efficient smoke extraction, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional evacuation system is used in high-rise buildings, then the building structure remains simple, but the evacuation efficiency is insufficient during disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation system is divided into multiple independent chute modules, each capable of being deployed separately. Each module includes a chute body, support structure, and connection mechanisms that can be independently installed and operated, allowing the system to scale with building height while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The chute modules are designed with movable and adjustable components that can be deployed dynamically during emergencies. The support structures can be extended or repositioned, and the chute modules can be quickly assembled or reconfigured based on the specific evacuation needs, transforming a static building structure into a dynamically adaptable evacuation system
2Productivity
If multiple straight chutes are used for evacuation, then the evacuation capacity increases, but the occupied space in the building increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chute modules are designed to be nestable within each other when not in use. The chutes can be collapsed or stored in a compact configuration within dedicated shafts, allowing multiple evacuation pathways to be accommodated in minimal vertical space while maintaining full evacuation capacity when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The evacuation system utilizes the vertical dimension of the building by deploying chutes along vertical shafts and using vertical space for storage and deployment mechanisms. This transforms the problem from a two-dimensional floor space constraint to a three-dimensional vertical space utilization, allowing high evacuation capacity with minimal footprint on each floor
3Reliability
If the turning chute has a complex structure to ensure safe sliding, then the sliding safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turning chute incorporates curved transition sections with optimized radius and profile to guide evacuees smoothly from vertical to horizontal movement. The curved geometry naturally distributes forces and reduces impact, improving safety without requiring complex mechanical restraint systems or control mechanisms
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 enables safe and rapid evacuation from high-rise buildings by forming a continuous escape chute and effectively removing smoke, allowing hundreds of people to evacuate within minutes.
Implementation Method 1
Each chute base 2 of the upper straight chute and the lower straight chute is in hinge joint with the guard plate 3A of the middle wall 3 through a rotating axle 8
Data Source
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AI summary
A slide for rapid evacuation from a tall building is characterized in that chute bottom plates of a turning chute (7) comprise a chute bottom plate (20A) of a fan-shaped front turning section of the chute, a chute bottom plate (22A) of a rear turning section of the chute, and a chute bottom plate (21A) of a middle turning section of the chute, wherein the chute bottom plate (20A) of the front turning section of the chute is pivotally connected by two identical chute bottom plates; the upper end of the chute bottom plate (20A) of the front turning section of the chute is pivotally connected to the lower end of a chute bottom plate (2) of an upper level straight slide chute, with the bottom thereof being pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute bottom plate (21A) of the middle turning section of the chute; the inner end of the chute bottom plate (21 A) of the middle turning section of the chute (21) is pivotally connected to a wall protection board (3A) by a pivot (8) and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute bottom plate (22A) of the rear turning section of the chute; and the lower end of the chute bottom plate (22A) of the rear turning section of the chute is connected in abutment to the upper end of the chute bottom plate (2) of a lower level straight slide chute. The slide for rapid evacuation from a tall building according to the present invention enables people to evacuate from a fire in a rapid, low-profile, convenient and safe way, thus saving lives.