Goodrich Corporation

Michael A Luzader

Timothy C Haynes

José Morales

An aspirator air vent valve may include an air vent valve body coupled with an aspirator body and a pipe fitting. The air vent valve body may include an air vent valve air channel defined by an inner wall of the air vent valve body and disposed between the aspirator body and the pipe fitting. The aspirator air vent valve may further include a vent passage defined by a first vent wall and a second vent wall and disposed between an outer wall and the inner wall of the air vent valve body, wherein the vent passage is in fluid communication with the air vent valve air channel. The aspirator air vent valve may further include a plunger coupled with the air vent valve body.

Aspirator air vent valve

A life raft may include a base comprising a first side and a second side, and a self-supporting, collapsible spring canopy. The canopy may include a spring wire frame, a first panel circumscribed by the spring wire frame, and a second panel circumscribed by the spring wire frame. A method of manufacturing a life raft arrangement includes folding the canopy, inserting the canopy into a storage pouch, and coupling the storage pouch to a life raft.

Life raft canopy with spring wire frame

An evacuation slide may comprise a ballast bag attached to an underside of the evacuation slide. A first tension strap may be attached to the ballast bag. The tension strap may be configured to extend a bottom surface of the ballast bag away from the underside of the evacuation slide upon deployment of the evacuation slide.

Evacuation slide having immediately extending ballast bags

A life raft may include a base comprising a first side and a second side, and a self-supporting, collapsible spring canopy. The canopy may include a spring wire frame, a first panel circumscribed by the spring wire frame, and a second panel circumscribed by the spring wire frame.

An evacuation system may comprise a packboard, an evacuation slide configured to deploy from the packboard, and a lane dividing apparatus attached to the evacuation slide, the lane dividing apparatus comprising a strap having flexible material. The lane dividing apparatus may be a dual wall lane divider. The lane dividing apparatus may be a single lane dividing apparatus. The lane dividing apparatus may comprise a first patch disposed at a proximal end of the evacuation slide and a second patch disposed at a second end distal to the proximal end. The lane dividing apparatus may extend from the proximal end to the second end. The lane dividing apparatus may be taut upon deployment of the evacuation slide.

Lane dividing apparatus

An evacuation system may comprise a packboard, an evacuation slide configured to deploy from the packboard, and a canopy support apparatus is disclosed. The canopy support apparatus may comprise a valve extending from a proximal end of a canopy support tube toward a distal end of the canopy support tube and into an internal cavity of the canopy support tube. The valve may be configured to open a channel during inflation. The valve may be configured to seal the channel via internal pressure in the internal cavity acting on a sealing component of the valve when the canopy support tube is in an inflated state.

Canopy support apparatus

An aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel, an aspirator inlet disposed in the aspirator body whereby the air channel receives a compressed fluid, a venting aperture disposed in the aspirator body in fluid communication with the air channel, and a venting valve disposed in the venting aperture. The venting valve is in an open position and the venting valve moves to a closed position in response to the compressed fluid being received by the aspirator.

Venting inflation valve aspirator

An evacuation system includes an inflatable device, and a charged cylinder configured to store a compressed gas. The evacuation system further includes an aspirator configured to receive the compressed gas and to inflate the inflatable device in response to receiving the compressed gas. The evacuation system further includes a firing cable having a maximum length and an elastic component configured to cause the firing cable to have an at-rest length that is less than the maximum length in response to a lack of force applied to the firing cable, the firing cable being coupled to the charged cylinder and configured to cause the charged cylinder to release the compressed gas in response to sufficient force being applied to the charged cylinder via the firing cable.

Automatic retracting firing cable

The present disclosure provides a self-orienting raft system. The self-orienting raft system may comprise a base comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first tube wall coupled to the first side of the base, a charged cylinder coupled to a second side of the base, and an anchor coupled to a second side of the base. The charged cylinder and the anchor may be coupled to the second side of the base proximate to a geometric center of the base when the self-orienting raft system is in an inflated configuration.

Self-orienting raft

A life raft includes a base and an inflatable canopy. The base has a first side and a second side and the inflatable canopy is coupled to the first side of the base and configured to inflate and extend across the first side of the base to form a first chamber defined between the first side of the base and the inflatable canopy. The inflatable canopy is configured to inflate in response to deploying the life raft. Inflation of the inflatable canopy enables the life raft to self-right. In various embodiments, the base includes an inflatable border tube defining a first inflatable volume. The inflatable canopy may define a second inflatable volume and the first inflatable volume may be in fluidic communication with the second inflatable volume.

Self-righting life raft

A life raft is disclosed. In various embodiments, the life raft includes a flotation platform, a container and a ballast bag, the ballast bag being attached to the flotation platform and to the container. The container is configured to separate upon deployment of the life raft on a surface of a body of water and draw the ballast bag down into the body of water upon separation.

Compartment ballast system

A life raft may comprise a base and a multipurpose inflatable boarding deck coupled to the base and moveable between a first position whereby the multipurpose inflatable boarding deck facilitates embarking and a second position whereby the multipurpose inflatable boarding deck supports a canopy.

Life raft system with multipurpose inflatable boarding deck

A life raft may include a base having a first side and a second side. The life raft may also include a first canopy support arm coupled proximate the base, a second canopy support arm coupled proximate the base, and a canopy coupled to the base. At least one of the first canopy support arm or the second canopy support arm may comprise a joint.

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Laveen, AZ, United States of America

Michael A Luzader