Patent Description:
Commercial aircraft typically employ evacuation slides that deploy beneath exit doors during evacuation. The evacuation slides may be used in case of emergency by passengers exiting the aircraft. During night evacuations, slide visibility may be limited. Limited visibility may cause hesitation in passengers and slow their evacuation. <CIT> describes a chemical light indicator for emergency illumination. <CIT>describes a passive deployment readiness indicator for an aircraft evacuation slide. <CIT> describes an escape chute.

An inflatable slide may comprise a slide surface with a tubular member coupled to the slide surface. The tubular member may comprise a translucent material defining a chamber internal to the tubular member. A light source may be directed into the chamber and configured to illuminate the tubular member from within the chamber.

In various embodiments, the tubular member may comprise a synthetic textile. The synthetic textile may be coated in urethane. The light source may be disposed inside of the chamber. The light source may comprise a light emitting diode and may be disposed external to the chamber. The synthetic textile or the urethane may include a color to add the color to light emitted from the light source.

An evacuation system may comprise a door sill, a girt coupled to the door sill, and a first tubular member defining a first chamber. The first tubular member may be coupled to the girt and comprise a translucent material. A slide surface may also be coupled to the first tubular member. A first light source may be coupled to the first tubular member and configured illuminate the first tubular member from within the first chamber.

In various embodiments, the evacuation system may also include a second tubular member defining a second chamber and coupled to the slide surface. A second light source may be coupled to the second tubular member and configured to illuminate the second tubular member from within. The first light source may be staggered relative to the second light source. The first tubular member may comprise a synthetic textile. The synthetic textile may be coated in urethane. The first light source may be disposed inside of the first chamber. The first light source may comprise a light emitting diode. The first light source may be disposed external to the first chamber. The synthetic textile or the urethane may include a color to add the color to light emitted from the first light source.

An evacuation slide is described herein and defined in claim <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the first light source may be staggered relative to the second light source. The first tubular member may comprise a synthetic textile coated in urethane, neoprene, or polyurethane. The first light source may comprise a light emitting diode and may be disposed inside the first chamber.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with the scope as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation.

Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Cross hatching lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

Slides according to the present disclosure provide improved lighting for night-time use by shining light sources on the skin of the slide. The skin may be translucent or transparent and may distribute light along the skin. In that regard, night time visibility of slide surfaces may be improved by illuminating the surfaces that make up the slide.

With reference to <FIG>, an exemplary evacuation system <NUM> is shown. Evacuation system <NUM> may comprise a fuselage <NUM> with a door sill <NUM>. Inflatable slide <NUM> may be coupled to door sill <NUM> by girt <NUM>. Inflatable slide <NUM> may comprise one or more inflatable chambers made from a translucent, transparent, and/or semi-transparent material with lights disposed at various locations about the inflatable chambers.

With reference to <FIG>, a slide <NUM> is shown having light sources <NUM> internally located. Slide <NUM> may comprise chambers <NUM> that are inflatable and defined by tubular members <NUM>. Tubular members <NUM> may be cylindrical, tubular, rectangular, elliptical, or other suitable shape to provide support for slide <NUM> when inflated. Chamber <NUM> may inflate to deploy slide <NUM> in case of an evacuation event. Slide <NUM> may further comprise a slide surface <NUM> coupled to tubular members <NUM> defining chambers <NUM>.

In various embodiments, slide <NUM> may be made from translucent, transparent, and/or semi-transparent materials. Translucent materials may include materials having a light transmission rate greater than <NUM>%. Transparent materials may include materials that have a light transmission rate greater than <NUM>%. Translucent, transparent, and/or semi-transparent materials may include sheer textiles. For example, slide <NUM> may be made from synthetic fibers woven to form a synthetic textile such as nylon, polyester, acrylic, rayon, acetate, latex, or other suitable materials. The textile may be coated to render the material sufficiently air tight to allow for inflation of chamber <NUM> defined by walls of tubular member <NUM> made from the textile. For example, the textile may be dipped in or sprayed with urethane, polyurethane, neoprene, or other plastic in liquid form that allows the textile to retain flexibility while making the coated textile impermeable or substantially impermeable to gas. The coating may be applied in a thin layer to retain the light transmission properties of the material. The textile and/or the coating may be colored with a dye or tint to give light emitted from slide <NUM> a colored hue. For example, the coating may be green to cause the slide to emit a green light in response to light shone through a surface of the slide. The textile may be sewn into a desired shape to form tubular member <NUM> and slide surface <NUM> of slide <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, light sources <NUM> may be disposed on internal surfaces of tubular members <NUM>. Light sources <NUM> may be light-emitting diode (LED), phosphorescent lights, incandescent lights, florescent lights, light strips, or any other suitable light source. For example, a light source <NUM> may include multiple LED light engines disposed at intervals along inner surfaces of slide <NUM> to illuminate slide <NUM> in a back-lighted, glowing manner. LED lighting may reduce the weight of slide <NUM> relative to other light sources. LED lighting may also conserve space and provide flexibility relative to other light sources such that light source <NUM> using LED lighting may be folded and stowed with slide <NUM> when slide <NUM> is packed for installation. The brightness and number of light sources <NUM> may be selected based on power and the total light output criteria.

The light source <NUM> may be directed inward with light <NUM> emitted from light source <NUM> directed into chamber <NUM>. Light <NUM> emitted from light source <NUM> may contact an inner surface of tubular member <NUM> and be partially reflected within chamber <NUM>. Light <NUM> may be distributed about tubular member <NUM> in response to being partially reflected by the inner surface of tubular member <NUM> so that the outer surface of tubular member <NUM> emits light <NUM>. Light <NUM> may cause slide <NUM> to have glowing surfaces where light <NUM> is emitted. In that regard, the coated textile material of tubular members <NUM> may diffract and diffuse light <NUM> from light source <NUM> within chamber <NUM>.

The light sources <NUM> may be distributed along tubular member <NUM> at intervals. For example, light sources <NUM> may be spaced <NUM> feet (<NUM>) to <NUM> feet (<NUM>) apart. Light sources may also be spaced <NUM> feet (<NUM>) to <NUM> feet (<NUM>) apart. The spacing of light sources may also be staggered within adjacent tubular members <NUM> so that tubular members <NUM> illuminate slide surface <NUM>. Staggered light sources may be located at different points along the lengths of two tubular members <NUM>. Light sources may also be directed at slide surface <NUM> to illuminate slide surface <NUM> in a glowing, back-lighted manner as described with respect to tubular members <NUM>. Illuminated surfaces of slide <NUM> may improve visibility for night-time use.

The light sources <NUM> may be powered by one or more power sources such as a battery, solar cell, or generator. Light sources <NUM> may be powered by wires electrically coupled to a power source. Light sources <NUM> may be wired in series or in parallel to power multiple light sources with a single power source. Light sources <NUM> may also be self-contained and powered by an individual battery for each light source <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a slide <NUM> is shown lighted by a light source <NUM> disposed external to chamber <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. Light sources <NUM> may also be installed in varying orientations on the tube. Installation of light sources <NUM> on an inside rail may also supply additional lighting on slide surface <NUM>. Slide <NUM> may be similar to slide <NUM> of <FIG>, as described above, but with light sources <NUM> mounted externally. Tubular member <NUM> may define a chamber <NUM> that is inflatable and provides support for slide surface <NUM> when inflated. Light source <NUM> is disposed external to chamber <NUM>, on an outer surface of tubular member <NUM>. Light source <NUM> may be directed into chamber <NUM> with light emitted from light source <NUM> entering chamber <NUM>. Light source <NUM> may shine through the synthetic textile of tubular member <NUM>. A transparent window may be formed in tubular member <NUM> to enhance light transmission of light <NUM> into chamber <NUM>. Light <NUM> within chamber <NUM> may be distributed about tubular member <NUM> by diffraction and reflection. Light <NUM> may be emitted from the outer surface of tubular member <NUM>.

In various embodiments, light source <NUM> located externally to chamber <NUM> may be used in conjunction with internally located light sources <NUM> of <FIG> to illuminate a slide <NUM>. In that regard, slide <NUM> may comprise internally located light sources and externally located light sources. Light sources <NUM> mounted externally may be LED, phosphorescent lights, incandescent lights, florescent lights, light strips, or any other suitable light source. For example, a light source <NUM> may include multiple LED light engines disposed at intervals along surfaces of slide <NUM> to illuminate slide <NUM> in a back-lighted, glowing manner. Externally mounted LED lighting may conserve space and provide flexibility relative to other light sources such that light source <NUM> using LED lighting may be folded and stowed with slide <NUM> when slide is packed for installation.

In various embodiments, light sources <NUM> may be distributed along tubular member <NUM> at intervals. For example, light sources <NUM> may be spaced <NUM> feet (<NUM>) to <NUM> feet (<NUM>) apart. Light sources <NUM> may also be spaced <NUM> feet (<NUM>) to <NUM> feet (<NUM>) apart. The spacing of light sources may also be staggered within adjacent tubular members <NUM> so that tubular members <NUM> illuminate slide surface <NUM>. Light sources <NUM> may also be directed at slide surface <NUM> to illuminate slide surface <NUM> in a glowing, back-lighted manner as described with respect to tubular members <NUM>. Illuminated surfaces of slide <NUM> may improve visibility for night-time use.

In various embodiments, light sources <NUM> may be powered by one or more power sources such as a battery, solar cell, or generator. Light sources <NUM> may be powered by wires electrically coupled to a power source. Light sources <NUM> may be wired in series or in parallel to power multiple light sources with a single power source. Light sources <NUM> may also be self-contained and powered by an individual battery for each light source <NUM>, or light sources <NUM> may be aircraft-powered.

Claim 1:
An evacuation slide, comprising:
a first tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) defining a first chamber (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the first tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a translucent material;
a slide surface coupled to the first tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a first light source (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the first tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>), directed into the first chamber, and configured to illuminate the first tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) from within the first chamber (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the first light source is disposed external to the first chamber on an outer surface of the first tubular member;
a second tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) defining a second chamber (<NUM>, <NUM>) and coupled to the slide surface; wherein the second tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a translucent material; and
a second light source (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the second tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>), directed into the second chamber, and configured to illuminate the second tubular member (<NUM>, <NUM>) from within the second chamber, wherein the second light source is disposed external to the second chamber on an outer surface of the second tubular member.