US 6,581,334 B2Granted

High strength T-joint for inflatable tube structures

AssigneeGoodrich Corporation

InventorsTed H. Oney, Haiwen Meng

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A high strength T-joint for inflatable tubular is formed by forming a butt joint between the end of a first two tubular member and the side wall of a second tubular member. The opening in the side wall of the second tubular member is sized to match the end of the transverse support member so that a sealing flange can be applied to the inner surface of the joint to provide an airtight seal. A reinforcing flange comprising a disk-shaped piece of fabric having a center opening, is then bonded over the opening in the second tubular member. The center opening in the reinforcing flange is substantially smaller than the opening in the side rail member. Therefore the reinforcing flange substantially reduces the size of the discontinuity in the side wall of side rail member, thereby substantially increasing the circumferential (“hoop”) load capacity of the side wall of the side rail member and substantially increasing the rupture pressure of the joint.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A reinforced T-junction between a first pressurized flexible tubular member having an arcuate wall with an opening therein, said arcuate wall defining a radially inward and a radially outward direction, and a second pressurized flexible tubular member extending generally radially outward from said first pressurized flexible tubular member, said second pressurized flexible tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a side wall defining an inner and an outer surface, said T-junction comprising:

a butt joint between said first end of said second pressurized flexible tubular member and said arcuate wall of said first pressurized flexible tubular member, said butt joint formed by abutting said first end of said second inflatable tubular member against said arcuate wall of said first pressurized flexible tubular member such that said first end of said first pressurized flexible tubular member covers said opening;
a first reinforcing flange, said first reinforcing flange comprising a flexible member having a flange portion and a radially outwardly extending body portion, said flange portion being bonded to said radially inward surface of said arcuate wall of said first pressurized flexible tubular member, and said outwardly extending body portion being bonded to said inner surface of said second pressurized flexible tubular member;
and
a second reinforcing flange, said second reinforcing flange comprising a flexible sheet having a front surface, a back surface and an aperture extending through from said front surface to said back surface, said second reinforcing flange being bonded to said radially inward surface of said arcuate wall, such that said aperture in said second reinforcing flange is positioned over and partially obstructs said opening in said arcuate wall.

1 more element

An inflatable escape slide assembly adapted to extended from an elevated supporting surface to a lower supporting surface, said inflatable escape slide assembly comprising:

a flexible panel defining a slide surface having first and second lateral edges and extending from a head end of the inflatable escape slide assembly to a foot end of the inflatable escape slide assembly;
first and second side rail members attached to said first and second lateral edges of said flexible panel, said first and second side rail members each comprising an inflatable tubular member extending from the head end to the foot end of the inflatable escape slide assembly, said first and second side rail members being disposed in a spaced-apart configuration for supporting said flexible panel;
and
a transverse support member attached to said first side rail member, said transverse support member comprising an inflatable tubular member having first and second ends and a side wall defining an interior cross sectional area proximal said first end, said transverse support member being attached to said first side rail member by means of a T-junction, said T-junction comprising an opening in a side wall of said first side rail member said opening having an inner edge defining a cross sectional area of said opening, said cross sectional area of said opening being less than said interior cross sectional area of said transverse support member, said first end of said transverse support member being sealingly attached to said first side rail member, whereby said side wall of said transverse support member surrounds and is outboard of said inner edge of said opening.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/003,689Filed 2 Nov 2001
Published: US 2003/0085567 A18 May 2003
Granted: 24 Jun 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16L 45/00
Pipe units with cleaning aperture and closure therefor
A62B 1/20
Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like: by making use of sliding-ropes, sliding-poles or chutes, e.g. hoses, pipes,…
B64D 25/14
Ejecting or escaping means: inflatable escape chutes
F16L 31/02
Arrangements for connecting hoses to one another or to flexible sleeves: for branching hoses