FIELD

The present disclosure relates to aircraft evacuation systems and, in particular, to an evacuee-centering evacuation slide.

BACKGROUND

Emergency evacuation systems, including inflatable evacuation slides, may be used to exit an aircraft absent a jet way or other suitable means of egress for passengers. The evacuation slides may deploy, for example, from the side of an exit door located along the aircraft fuselage. In the event of a water landing, the inflatable evacuation slide may be employed as a life raft. As set forth by various governmental agencies, width and/or capacity requirements for when the slide is in “raft-mode” may lead to single lane slides having an increased width. For example, some single lane slides may be formed having a width similar to the width of a double lane slide, due the capacity requirements for when the slide is in raft-mode. Asymmetric loading can occur when evacuees slide near a side, as opposed to a middle, of wider slides. To accommodate the asymmetric loading and/or to reduce a probability the slide will buckle, various reinforcements (e.g., transverse support tubes, longitudinal support tubes, greater diameter rails, etc.) may be employed. The reinforcements tend to increase the amount of fabric associated with forming the slide and/or a weight of the evacuation system.

SUMMARY

An evacuation slide is disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the evacuation slide may comprise a first inflatable tube assembly and a second inflatable tube assembly adjacent to the first inflatable tube assembly. The first inflatable tube assembly may include a first upper longitudinal tube and a second upper longitudinal tube. The second inflatable tube assembly may include a first lower longitudinal tube, a second lower longitudinal tube, a head end tube, a toe end tube extending between the first lower longitudinal tube and the second lower longitudinal tube, a first funnel tube extending from the first lower longitudinal tube to the toe end tube, and a second funnel tube extending from the second lower longitudinal tube to the toe end tube.

In various embodiments, a first end of the first funnel tube may be located closer to the head end tube than to the toe end tube. In various embodiments, a first end of the first funnel tube may be between a buckling point of the first lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube. In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located at a midpoint between the buckling point of the first lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube.

In various embodiments, a first end of the first funnel tube may be connected to the first lower longitudinal tube and a second end the first funnel tube may be located closer to a lateral center of a sliding surface of the evacuation slide as compared to the first end of the first funnel tube.

In various embodiments, a first end of the second funnel tube may be connected to the second lower longitudinal tube and a second end of the second funnel tube may be located closer to the lateral center of the sliding surface as compared to the first end of the second funnel tube.

In various embodiments, the first funnel tube and the second funnel tube may be configured to create raised areas in the sliding surface.

An evacuation system is also disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the evacuation system may comprise a fluid source and an evacuation slide fluidly coupled to the fluid source. The evacuation slide may comprise a first inflatable tube assembly fluidly coupled to the fluid source and a second inflatable tube assembly fluidly coupled to the fluid source. The first inflatable tube assembly may include a first upper longitudinal tube and a second upper longitudinal tube. The second inflatable tube assembly may include a first lower longitudinal tube, a second lower longitudinal tube, a head end tube, a toe end tube, a first funnel tube extending from the first lower longitudinal tube to the toe end tube, and a second funnel tube extending from the second lower longitudinal tube to the toe end tube.

In various embodiments, a first end of the first funnel tube may be connected to the first lower longitudinal tube and a second end the first funnel tube may be located closer to a lateral center of a sliding surface of the evacuation slide as compared to the first end of the first funnel tube.

In various embodiments, a first end of the second funnel tube may be connected to the second lower longitudinal tube and a second end of the second funnel tube may be located closer to the lateral center of the sliding surface as compared to the first end of the second funnel tube.

In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located between a first buckling point of the first lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube, and the first end of the second funnel tube may be located between a second buckling point of the second lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube.

In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located at a midpoint between the first buckling point of the first lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube, and wherein the first end of the second funnel tube may be located at a midpoint between the second buckling point of the second lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube.

In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located between a midpoint of the first lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube, and the first end of the second funnel tube may be located between a midpoint of the second lower longitudinal tube and the head end tube.

In various embodiments, a first portion of the sliding surface located over the first funnel tube and a second portion of the sliding surface located over the second funnel tube are raised with respect to a portion of the sliding surface located at the lateral center of the sliding surface.

An evacuation slide, in accordance with various embodiments, may comprise a sliding surface and an inflatable tube assembly located opposite the sliding surface. The inflatable tube assembly may be configured to direct an evacuee toward a lateral center of the sliding surface.

In various embodiments, the inflatable tube assembly may comprise a first funnel tube having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the first funnel tube. The first end of the first funnel tube may be located closer to a head end of the sliding surface as compared to the second end of the first funnel tube. The second end of the first funnel tube may be located closer to the lateral center of the sliding surface as compared to the first end of the first funnel tube.

In various embodiments, the inflatable tube assembly may comprise a second funnel tube having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second funnel tube. The first end of the second funnel tube may be located closer to the head end of the sliding surface as compared to the second end of the second funnel tube. The second end of the second funnel tube may be located closer to the lateral center of the sliding surface as compared to the first end of the second funnel tube.

In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located between a buckling point of the inflatable tube assembly and the head end of the sliding surface. In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located at a midpoint between the buckling point of the inflatable tube assembly and the head end of the sliding surface.

In various embodiments, the first end of the first funnel tube may be located at a midpoint between a toe end of the sliding surface and the head end of the sliding surface.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

