Pyrotechnic Inflator Controller for Evacuation Slide Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional evacuation systems for aircraft and life rafts are bulky and heavy due to the use of pressurized cylinders for inflation, and they lack efficient control over deployment, which can lead to increased maintenance costs and reduced service intervals.
Innovation Solution
The system employs pyrotechnic inflators with a controller that determines an ignition sequence based on environmental conditions, such as temperature, wind speed, and sill height, to inflate evacuation slides and life rafts, reducing the need for regular inspections and maintaining the inflatable in a controlled deployment state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized cylinders are used for inflation, then the inflatable can be deployed, but the system becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy pressurized gas cylinder from the inflation system and replaces it with pyrotechnic inflators that generate gas on-demand through chemical reaction. This extraction of the bulky storage component directly reduces system weight while maintaining deployment capability through alternative gas generation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of the inflation system from storing compressed gas under high pressure to generating gas through controlled chemical reactions. This parameter change from physical storage to chemical generation eliminates the need for heavy cylinders and pressure containment structures.
2Reliability
If conventional inflation systems are used, then the inflatable can be deployed, but the envelope size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the large pressurized gas storage cylinder from the system envelope and replaces it with compact pyrotechnic inflators. This removal of the bulk storage component directly reduces the overall envelope size while maintaining the ability to deploy the inflatable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pyrotechnic inflators are positioned within the collapsed inflatable structure, nesting the inflation components inside the envelope itself. This nesting arrangement minimizes the external envelope size by utilizing the internal space of the collapsed structure for housing inflation components.
3Reliability
If conventional inflation systems are used, then the inflatable can be deployed, but maintenance frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pyrotechnic inflators as disposable, single-use components that are replaced rather than maintained. These inflators have no moving parts and require no servicing, eliminating maintenance activities entirely. After deployment, the spent inflators are discarded and new ones installed, significantly extending productive service intervals between maintenance events.
Solution Approach 2:
The pyrotechnic inflators are designed to be self-contained units that require no external maintenance, calibration, or servicing. They simply perform their inflation function and are then replaced, making the system self-sufficient between replacement cycles and eliminating the need for regular maintenance interventions.
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
This approach decreases the size and weight of the evacuation system, enhances control over deployment, and extends maintenance intervals, thereby reducing costs and downtime.
Implementation Method 1
Each inflator may include a solid gas generating material and an ignitor configured to ignite the solid gas generating material
Implementation Method 2
an ignitor configured to ignite the solid gas generating material in response to receiving an electrical signal from the controller
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
An inflation system for an evacuation system may comprise an inflator (100) and a controller (150) operationally coupled to the inflator. The inflator (100) may include a solid gas generating material (120) and an igniter 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. The controller may be configured to send the ignite signal to the inflator.