Escape chute
OwnerPeter David Stokesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An escape chute (11) for an aircraft, the chute (11) having a collapsed condition for storage of the chute in an confined or reduced space and an extended condition providing a ramp down which people can slide, and means (15,16) for illuminating the chute in the extended condition, characterised in that the illumination means (15,16) is activated when the chute (11) is deployed to provide illumination identifying the position of the chute without relying on an electrical power source.
Claims31
An escape chute (11;111) for an aircraft, the chute (11;111) having a collapsed condition for storage of the chute in a confined or reduced space and an extended condition providing a ramp down which people can slide, and means (15,16;116) for illuminating the chute in the extended condition, characterised in that the illumination means (15,16;116) is activated when the chute is deployed to provide illumination identifying the position of the chute without relying on an electrical power source.
An escape chute according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the illumination means (15,16:116) is provided at both sides (13,14) of the chute so as to provide an indication of the lateral edges of the chute between which the passengers can slide down safely to the ground when the chute is deployed.
An escape chute according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the illumination means emits light substantially continuously along the length of the chute.
An escape chute according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chute comprises a hollow body connectable to a source of inert gas for inflating the body when the chute is deployed.
An escape chute according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chute can be rolled up into a compact cylindrical form for storage in the inoperative, collapsed condition.
A method of illuminating an escape chute (11;111) by initiating a chemical reaction to produce a light source (15,16;116) chemiluminescently when the chute is deployed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.