Pyrotechnic Inflation Assemblies for Aircraft Evacuation Slides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional evacuation systems for aircraft are bulky and heavy due to the use of charge cylinders in inflation assemblies, requiring frequent inspections and increasing maintenance costs and downtime.
Innovation Solution
The use of pyrotechnic inflators fluidly coupled to a manifold, with a turbine fan to inflate an evacuation slide or raft, allowing for controlled deployment and reducing the need for pressure relief valves, inspections, and maintenance, by igniting the inflators sequentially based on environmental conditions and sensor readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charge cylinders are used in inflation assemblies, then the inflatable device can be inflated, but the envelope size and overall weight of the evacuation system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the charge cylinder from the inflation assembly, replacing it with an alternative inflation mechanism that does not require a pressurized gas cylinder. This extraction eliminates the heavy cylindrical pressure vessel while maintaining the essential inflation function through a different technical approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressurized cylinder system with an alternative inflation mechanism that uses controlled chemical or physical processes to generate inflation pressure on-demand, eliminating the need for pre-stored compressed gas in heavy cylinders.
2Reliability
If charge cylinders are used in inflation assemblies, then the inflatable device can be inflated, but the device complexity increases requiring frequent inspections and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable or single-use inflation mechanism that eliminates the need for complex, reusable pressurized cylinders. The alternative system is designed to be simpler, potentially disposable, or requiring minimal maintenance, thereby reducing inspection frequency and maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the charge cylinder and its associated pressure regulation, safety valve, and inspection systems, the patent simplifies the overall device complexity and eliminates the maintenance burden associated with pressurized gas storage systems.
3Reliability
If conventional inflation assemblies are used, then the inflatable device can deploy, but the envelope size of the evacuation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removal of the charge cylinder and associated hardware significantly reduces the spatial envelope required for the evacuation system. The alternative inflation mechanism occupies less volume, allowing for more compact system packaging and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the inflation function directly into the evacuation system structure without requiring separate, bulky cylinder assemblies. This merging of functions consolidates the system volume and reduces the overall envelope size.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inflation assembly for an evacuation system may comprise a manifold (102) defining an interior volume (148) and a plurality of inflators (100) fluidly coupled to the manifold. Each inflator of the plurality of inflators may include a solid gas generating material (130) and an igniter (122) configured to ignite in response to receiving an ignite signal. The solid gas generating material may be configured to generate a gas in response to an ignition of the igniter.