EP2440446B1 - Inflatable evacuation ramp and ship rescue equipment including same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a "marine" inflatable evacuation ramp, for evacuating persons from a ship to at least one inflatable life raft (or survival), as well as a rescue installation, for passengers and / or members of a ship, and comprising at least one inflatable life raft, housed in the deflated and folded state and with associated inflating means in a container, around which is wound, in the deflated and folded state, a "marine" inflatable evacuation ramp according to the invention.

There are already known "marine" inflatable evacuation ramps, of the general type presented above, as well as rescue facilities comprising such an inflatable evacuation ramp and a container containing at least one inflatable life raft, and means associated inflation, also as presented above.

In particular, the patent document WO 95/14605 discloses a "marine" evacuation system comprising an inflatable evacuation ramp connected to an inflatable life raft by releasable ramp-raft interface connecting devices, which are deformable connecting devices to allow relative movements of the ramp and raft, the entire evacuation system that can be easily deployed and inflated in a short time interval, less than 2 minutes, although it includes a raft of large capacity, capable of receiving, for example, the order of a hundred passengers.

• trois poutres longitudinales multiples, comportant chacune au moins deux boudins longitudinaux, individuellement gonflables, solidarisés côte à côte et adjacents sur leur longueur, dont deux poutres inférieures latérales et une poutre supérieure centrale, espacées l'une de l'autre transversalement à leur longueur et sensiblement parallèles l'une à l'autre à l'état gonflé ;
• une glissière souple, destinée à supporter des personnes pendant leur évacuation par la rampe, ladite glissière reliant les deux poutres inférieures latérales et s'étendant en continu entre elles et sur toute la longueur de la rampe, de son extrémité d'entrée, équipée de moyens de liaison au navire, à son extrémité de sortie, équipée de dispositifs de liaison déformables et libérables d'interface rampe-radeau ;

• des entretoises inférieures, comportant des boudins inférieurs gonflables solidarisés aux deux poutres inférieures latérales et s'étendant sous la glissière d'évacuation ; et
• des entretoises latérales, comportant des boudins latéraux gonflables, solidarisés à la poutre supérieure centrale et aux poutres inférieures latérales, de sorte à rigidifier la structure de la rampe, à l'état gonflé, en lui conférant une section transversal, sensiblement perpendiculairement aux poutres longitudinales, de forme globale triangulaire.

In the "marine" rescue facility disclosed in WO 95/14605 , the inflatable escape ramp, for evacuating persons from a ship to an inflatable life raft, includes:

• three longitudinal multiple beams, each having at least two longitudinally extending, individually inflatable strands, joined side by side and adjacent along their length, including two lateral lower beams and a central upper beam, spaced from one another transversely to their length and substantially parallel to each other in the inflated state;
• a flexible slideway, intended to support persons during their evacuation by the ramp, said slide connecting the two lower lateral beams and extending continuously between them and along the entire length of the ramp, from its end inlet, equipped with means of connection to the ship, at its output end, equipped with deformable and releasable connection devices ramp-raft interface;

• lower struts, comprising inflatable lower strands secured to the two lateral lower beams and extending under the discharge slide; and
• lateral struts, comprising inflatable lateral struts secured to the central upper beam and the lower lateral beams, so as to stiffen the structure of the ramp, in the inflated state, by conferring on it a cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal beams; , of triangular global form.

In the example of inflatable escape ramp described with reference to figures 1 , 2 and 4 to 6 of WO 95/14605 the ramp, which extends, in the expanded, unfolded and inflated state, between a storage cradle of the ramp-container assembly housing a deflated and folded raft, attached to the vessel, and said inflated raft, includes a bearing structure comprising nine cylindrical longitudinal strands of circular section, which are individually inflatable (independently of the others) and connected together in three groups of three strands each, which thus form three longitudinal longitudinal beams for each of which the three corresponding strands are stacked so the transverse section of the stack is also substantially triangular in shape, the three longitudinal strands being substantially tangential two by two along generatrices and secured to one another along these generatrices, by gluing or by welding to high frequency. In the inflated state of the ramp, the groups of longitudinal flanges are kept spaced apart from each other and braced by flanges swollen diagonal lateral and inferior spacers said. The lateral spacers consist of lateral inflatable tubes contiguous in pairs inclined alternately upstream and downstream, that is to say toward the end respectively of entry and exit of the ramp, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the inflated longitudinal beads.

In the patent document WO 2009/026631 , of the same applicant WO 95/14605 and which also relates to a marine inflatable evacuation ramp of generally triangular cross section, a state of the art according to WO 95/14605 is represented on the figures 3 and 4 and described with reference to these figures as being an inflatable marine evacuation ramp including lateral strut assemblies in doubled and inclined inflatable tubes, used to reinforce the lateral sides of the ramp, are not connected to each other, and do not result in preventing movements of the ramp leading to its deflection and sagging under the effect of its own weight, even in the absence of additional load of any evacuated person, which is a major drawback, because the risk of deformation of the ramp spin or pinch under the bending and / or torsion loads incurred s is found to increase, making the ramp unfit for secure use, for which it was intended.

To overcome the disadvantages of the achievements according to WO 95/14605 , WO2009 / 026631 proposes an inflatable evacuation ramp of generally triangular cross-section, having a base and two lateral faces, each side face of which is constituted by a series of self-locking contiguous components, which block each other so that the ramp is rectilinear when it is inflated in use configuration, and the rest when loaded by at least one person evacuated, from an extended and unloaded position, wherein the ramp is prestressed so as to be slightly curved with its convexity towards the high. The self-locking components are inflatable components, adjacent and interconnected in series, arranged, in the inflated state, in closed frames of generally triangular shape occupying alternately reversed positions, so that a top of a "triangular" inflated frame is nested between two vertices each belonging to one respectively of the two "triangular" frames immediately adjacent in the series. Each inflated frame is, more exactly, a hexagonal frame with three long sides alternating with three small sides, so that each small side connects ends of two long sides of the corresponding "triangular" inflatable frame, and these inflated frames define a side face the ramp extending substantially in the same inclined plane, supported and fixed against the outside of the multiple upper longitudinal beam, three longitudinal inflatable rolls, and one respectively of the two simple lower side beams, each consisting of a single inflatable longitudinal bead of the ramp.

It is understood that the realization of an inflatable evacuation ramp of such self-supporting structure, whose side faces are each constituted by a series of adjacent inflatable frames blocking each other so that the ramp is straight, when inflated and deployed in use configuration, and possibly charged with people to evacuate, is of a complex structure and a delicate realization, so particularly expensive.

Also known by the patent document WO 95/15787 , an inflatable escape ramp (see figures 7 and 8 and the corresponding part of the description of this document), of rectangular cross section, with four longitudinal double beams, each consisting of two inflatable tubes joined side by side, and braced by transverse inflatable tubes constituting lower struts and upper spacers, as well as, as in WO 95/14605 lateral struts, constituted by inflatable tubes connecting the lower longitudinal beams to the upper longitudinal beams and inclined alternately upstream and downstream, in zigzag. A slideway extends between the two lower longitudinal double beams, above the transverse struts of lower struts.

In this embodiment, inflatable members (the longitudinal beams and, optionally, the lateral, lower and upper spacers) consist of an inflatable bead with a tubular chamber delimited between a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, which surround the inflatable cylindrical central chamber, for the tensioning of the coil, whose rigidity is reinforced by a sheet of a flexible semi-rigid material which extends in said annular chamber.

In this embodiment also, it is understood that the sufficient rigidity of the ramp depends, to a very large extent, the properties of flexible semi-rigid material disposed in sheet in the annular chambers of the inflatable tubes. This inflatable evacuation ramp is therefore also of a complex structure and a delicate embodiment, and therefore a very high cost.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide an inflatable evacuation ramp of generally triangular cross section, of the general type known by WO 95/14605 , providing performance at least as good as the known inflatable evacuation ramps in terms of safety and speed of evacuation, that is to say safety and speed of transhipment of people from a ship to at least one life raft or inflatable survival, improving the stiffness or stiffness of the ramp in the inflated state, and therefore its resistance to deformation under the effect of flexion-torsion and / or compression-traction loads due to wave movements, swell, taking wind, and non-synchronous movements of pitch and / or roll of the ship and raft, and relative movements thereof, by improving the structure of the inflatable evacuation ramp of the general type known above.

Another object of the invention is to improve the ramp structure of the aforementioned general type so as to make the ramp according to the invention more easily and more economically industrializable, at least partially modularizing the structure of said ramp, so, in particular , to facilitate the realization of ramps of different lengths, adapted to the needs, according to the type of ships equipped (cruise ships, in particular cruises, or ferries).

Another object of the invention is to improve the inflatable evacuation ramp of the general type known above, so as to make it advantageously compatible with the large capacity of modern life rafts or survival of large capacity (of the order of 100 persons) and / or with a reception platform area, as known from the patent document FR 2 756 809 of the applicant, and / or to make it advantageously compatible with the recent evacuation installation developments associating an inflatable evacuation ramp with a container with several inflatable life rafts, as known from the patent document. FR 2 912 111 of the Applicant, evacuation installations in which the deflated and folded ramp is wrapped around the container, being connected on the one hand to the ship, on the other hand to the single raft in the container or to a first raft in the container, to allow deployment and inflation in sequence or in succession, following the release and the unwinding of the ramp-container assembly, followed by inflation of the ramp, then the opening of the container and the inflation in sequence of the raft or rafts contained in this last.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an inflatable evacuation ramp, of the general type presented above and known from WO 95/14605 , and characterized in that inflatable tubes of the lateral and lower spacers are arranged in closed inflatable, inflatable, polygonal frameworks in the inflated state, surrounding the three longitudinal beams to which said strands of the stiffening frames are connected by means of securing and inflation means via said longitudinal beams.

Thus, the compressive / tensile and / or bending / torsion forces urging any one of the three longitudinal multiple beams, or any of the flanges longitudinaux such a beam comprises, are introduced into at least one of said closed stiffening frames lateral and lower spacers and are looped by the closed stiffening frames or frames concerned, to be distributed on the other beam (s) (s) longitudinal (s), that is to say the longitudinal strands it (s) comprises (s) and thus transmitted to other closed stiffening frames of the ramp, so that thanks to these closed stiffening frames, relatively concentrated forces urging any one of the three longitudinal beams and / or any of said closed stiffening frames are distributed and distributed over the entire frame of the ramp, as it is constituted by these beams and stiffening frames.

Advantageously, to facilitate the realization of ramps according to the invention of different lengths, to suit applications on different types of ship, and keeping the general structure of the ramp as defined above, the lateral and lower spacers are arranged in stiffening modules, inflatable, mechanically and pneumatically independent of each other, each traversed by the slide and the longitudinal beams, and joined to each other by their base, from one to the other of the two ends of the ramp said stiffening modules being connected to the three longitudinal beams by securing means and inflating means.

Thus, the closed stiffening frames made by some of the inflatable tubes of the lateral and lower spacers are integrated in said stiffening modules, whose number is chosen, to achieve a ramp of a given length, depending on this length of the ramp and the unit length of said stiffening modules.

Advantageously, in addition, so that a damage in a stiffening module, such as a tear or piercing of strands, does not cause a loss of rigidity of the boom section in which the three longitudinal beams are braced by said stiffening module damaged, because of the deflation of the latter, each stiffening module is a compartmentalized assembly consisting of several inflatable structures integral with each other, each inflatable structure delimiting a sealed compartment and individually inflatable relative to the other compartments of said assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, each stiffening module comprises at least one inflatable structure forming, in the inflated state, a hexagonal closed stiffening frame, comprising three long strands, constituting two lateral struts and a lower strut, alternating with three short strands. , constituting two lower lateral connections of the lateral ends of the lower spacer to the lower ends of the lateral spacers, and a short upper spacer, connecting the upper ends of the two lateral spacers.

Thus, the hexagonal closed stiffening frames of all the stiffening modules of the ramp define, together, substantially a hexagonal cross-section prism, that is to say 6 facets (3 large and 3 small) which not only have the advantage of to wrap closer to the three multiple longitudinal beams, especially when each of them is constituted by the stack of three inflatable longitudinal strands, with a cross section of the stack of substantially triangular shape, but also and especially provide a great rigidity at the ramp, which is due to the relatively large number of facets.

Furthermore, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, each stiffening module has, in the inflated state, a generally external shape of hollow truncated pyramid with a square or rectangular base, the inclined edges of which are formed by lateral struts of struts. delimiting two substantially triangular opposite lateral faces, an upstream face facing towards the inlet end of the ramp, and a downstream face facing the exit end of the ramp, also opposite and substantially triangular, the upstream faces and downstream being traversed by the three longitudinal beams and the slideway, and the base of each stiffening module is formed by an upstream lower spacer bar and a lower downstream spacer bar which, in the inflated state of the stiffening module, are braced; by a spacer substantially in x extending under the two lower side beams and the slide.

Thus, according to an example of a particularly advantageous embodiment, combining the interest of closed hexagonal stiffening frames and stiffening modules having a generally external shape of hollow pyramid trunk, each stiffening module of the ramp according to the invention comprises, in the state inflated, an outer hexagonal frame and a downstream outer hexagonal frame, each constituting an independent inflatable structure, lined, along its two long lateral struts and three short flanges, and inwardly of the module, by two long flanges and three short flanges homologous respectively to an upstream inner polygonal frame and a downstream inner polygonal frame, each constituting another independent inflatable structure, and each also comprising a flared bottom U-shaped flange connected by the ends of the flanges. branches of the U to the two lower lateral short strands of the inner polygonal frame upstream or downstream corresponding, t andis that each lower U-section is secured along the length of the base of the U to the base of the U of the lower flange homologous to the other inner polygonal frame, to form the spacer substantially x of the base of said stiffener module.

In this particular example, each stiffening module therefore comprises four independent inflatable structures, that is to say that each is inflated independently of the others, for the sake of safety, two of these four inflatable structures being hexagonal frames, while the other two are frames that each double one of the hexagonal frames on a part of its perimeter, and, at the base level, participates in the constitution of the spacer in x, which violates the bases of the two hexagonal frames.

In addition, in order to provide the ramp with maximum rigidity or rigidity where it needs it most, to limit its deformation by pinching, bending, or twisting, in torsion, that is to say its ends input or upper or upstream, and output, or lower or downstream, where the ramp is respectively connected to the ship and the raft, said ramp advantageously comprises, at each of its two ends, one respectively two stiffening modules end portions which are more rigid in the inflated state than intermediate stiffening modules mounted between the two end stiffener modules.

For this purpose, according to a structure that is both simple and secure, each end stiffening module comprises a greater number of independent inflatable structures than each intermediate stiffening module.

Thus, in the case where the intermediate modules are each made according to the preferred example mentioned above, with four independent inflatable structures including two hexagonal frames, at least one end stiffener module may advantageously comprise at least two inflatable structures independent, additional, each of overturned overall V-shaped, and consisting of two long struts of lateral strut and a short flange of shorter upper strut, which are secured along their length respectively on the outside of the two long strands of lateral strut and short upper strut short strand of one respectively upstream and downstream outer frames, so that said at least one end stiffener module comprises at least six independent inflatable structures.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in that the end modules as the intermediate modules all have a basic structure which is common to them, and which is that of an intermediate module to which are simply added the two independent additional inflatable structures V-shaped each inverted, to obtain an end module from an intermediate module.

On such a ramp, and always for safety purposes, in order to prevent the damage (tearing or piercing) of one of the longitudinal inflatable tubes from causing the loss of rigidity of a boom section, by deflation not only of this longitudinal coil, but also of inflatable structures homologous to several adjacent stiffening modules, said homologous inflatable structures of two adjacent modules of the ramp are mainly connected by individual inflation means to longitudinal inflatable rolls different from said longitudinal beams.

Ideally, it would be desirable for each inflatable structure of each of two or even three adjacent stiffening modules to be connected by individual inflating means to a respective inflatable longitudinal strand of the longitudinal beams. However, the number of beams being limited to 3, and the number of longitudinal inflatable tubes per beam being also limited, for example, to 3, according to a good compromise cost-effectiveness, the application of the ideal rule mentioned above would lead to the realization of stiffening modules having too few inflatable structures to ensure good security, or, conversely, with stiffening modules having a sufficiently large number of independent inflatable structures, for good security, it turns out that the total number of longitudinal strands Inflatable longitudinal beams is insufficient for each of them ensures the inflation of a single inflatable structure of one of two or three adjacent stiffening modules. For this reason, the technical measure according to which at least a majority of the homologous inflatable structures of two adjacent stiffening modules is connected by individual inflating means, specific to each inflatable structure, to longitudinal inflatable tubes different from the longitudinal beams, has been adopted. .

In order to facilitate the attachment of the ramp to the raft, it is advantageous for the exit end of the ramp to comprise an inflatable transverse flange of downstream end, which is secured by two spaced zones against the downstream ends of longitudinal inflatable flanges of the two. lower lateral beams, and which extends laterally and downwards, beyond its zones of attachment to the two beams lower side of the ramp, by two inflatable end extensions and curved, allowing an extension of the contact area between the ramp and said raft to ensure good contact between them.

In addition, in the ramp according to the invention, the securing means are, advantageously, removable mechanical fasteners (or removable) capable of ensuring a non-continuous connection between the inflatable tubes of the longitudinal beams and the inflatable spacer tubes lateral and inferior.

The advantage of this non-continuous fastening by removable mechanical fastening devices is to facilitate not only the assembly of the ramps by mounting the required number of stiffening modules on the longitudinal beams, and, where appropriate, their dismantling, but also the embodiment of the means for inflating the lateral and lower strut rolls, when some of the removable mechanical fastening devices of the inflatable tubes of the beams to the lateral or lower strut inflatable tubes simultaneously constitute said means for inflating said strut tubes, such as this is allowed by known and combined means of removable mechanical fastening of two flanges together, and inflation of one of the flanges by the other.

The invention also relates to a rescue installation, for the passengers and / or crew members of a ship, comprising, in a known manner and as already mentioned above, at least one inflatable life raft, housed at the deflated and folded state and with associated inflating means in a container, around which is wound, in the deflated and folded state, an inflatable evacuation ramp, an inlet end of which is attached to the ship by means link and an outlet end attached to a raft in the container by deformable and releasable connecting devices ramp-raft interface, the rescue installation according to the invention being such that said ramp is a ramp according to the invention and as presented above.

In addition, in an advantageous embodiment, because using releasable connection devices of the known type called "three rings" commonly used in another application, which is the release of a parachute in charge by a paratrooper wishing for example free its main parachute for opening its emergency parachute, the deformable and releasable connection devices ramp-raft interface of the installation according to the invention are two lateral assemblies, each mounted close to one respectively of the two lateral edges of the exit end of the ramp, and each comprising two releasable connecting devices of the known type called "three rings", remote triggering, such as pneumatic or pyrotechnic, or manual and local, connected to the ramp by straps and said raft by other straps attached at least one ring of said three ring devices.

Finally, the installation according to the invention may be such that the assembly consisting of the container, containing at least one raft and its inflation means, and the ramp wrapped around the container is housed in a storage cradle, fixed on the deck the vessel and known structure, already used for storage and release, from this cradle, such a ramp-container assembly of the state of the art.

However, it is advantageous that the installation according to the invention is such that said ramp-container assembly is housed in a cradle for storing and releasing said assembly, the cradle being intended to be fixed on the deck of said vessel, the cradle comprising a thrust plate, concave front face adapted to push said assembly on an overflow sliding plate, adapted to protrude from the deck of said vessel, and a tilting plate, to ensure the release and deployment of all container-ramp with clearance from the deck edge of the vessel.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une rampe d'évacuation gonflable selon l'invention, déployée et gonflée entre un navire, du type ferry, et un radeau de sauvetage gonflable, auquel l'extrémité de sortie ou inférieure de la rampe est reliée par des dispositifs de liaison déformables et libérables d'interface rampe-radeau représentés dans le détail VIII de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective de la rampe d'évacuation gonflable de la figure 1, à l'état déployé et gonflé, représentée sans glissière pour ne pas masquer la structure de la base de l'ossature gonflable de cette rampe,
• les figures 2a , 2b, 2c sont des représentations schématiques en perspective respectivement du module raidisseur d'extrémité supérieure, d'un module raidisseur intermédiaire et d'un dispositif de liaison déformable et libérable rampe-radeau, qui font l'objet des détails IIa, IIb, et IIc de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en plan de la rampe de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en élévation latérale de la rampe de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale de la rampe de la figure 2 selon le plan de coupe incliné V-V de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en perspective du module raidisseur d'extrémité de la figure 2a, tel que constitué par deux éléments ou moitiés symétriques, avant leur assemblage, chaque moitié ou élément symétrique étant composé de trois structures gonflables indépendantes ;
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique en perspective éclatée du module raidisseur d'extrémité de la figure 2a représentant ses 6 structures gonflables indépendantes, dont les deux situées aux extrémités sont superflues pour la réalisation d'un module raidisseur intermédiaire selon la figure 2b ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective schématique agrandie du détail VIII de la figure 1 avec arrachement partiel du boudin périphérique supérieur du radeau; et
• les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues schématique agrandies des détails respectivement IX et X de la figure 8.

Other technical measures and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given above, in a non-limiting manner, of an exemplary embodiment described with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inflatable evacuation ramp according to the invention, deployed and inflated between a ship, of the ferry type, and an inflatable life raft, to which the outlet end or lower end of the ramp is connected by deformable and releasable connection devices ramp-raft interface shown in detail VIII of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the inflatable escape ramp of the figure 1 , in the expanded and inflated state, shown without a slide so as not to mask the structure of the base of the inflatable frame of this ramp,
• the Figures 2a , 2b, 2c are diagrammatic representations in perspective respectively of the upper end stiffening module, of an intermediate stiffening module and of a deformable and releasable ramp-raft connecting device, which are the subject of the details IIa, IIb, and IIc of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the ramp of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a schematic view in side elevation of the ramp of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ramp of the figure 2 according to the inclined cutting plane VV of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the end stiffener module of the figure 2a as constituted by two elements or symmetrical halves, before their assembly, each half or symmetrical element being composed of three independent inflatable structures;
• the figure 7 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the end stiffener module of the figure 2a representing its 6 independent inflatable structures, both of which are at the ends are superfluous for the realization of an intermediate stiffener module according to the figure 2b ;
• the figure 8 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of detail VIII of the figure 1 with partial tearing of the upper peripheral flange of the raft; and
• the Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged schematic views of the details respectively IX and X of the figure 8 .

The figure 1 schematically represents, in perspective, an inflatable evacuation ramp 1 of the invention, in expanded and inflated configuration between a ship 2, such as a ferry, and an inflatable liferaft 3, also in the expanded and inflated state, attached , releasably, at the lower end or exit of the ramp 1 by deformable and releasable connection devices ramp-raft interface, represented as a whole in detail VIII of the figure 1 , and described below in more detail with reference to Figures 8 to 10 , while the other end of the ramp 1, which is its upper or inlet end, is connected to a storage and release cradle 4, mounted on the vessel 2, for storing the assembly constituted by the ramp 1, in the deflated and folded state, and the raft 3, also deflated and folded in a container (not shown), around which the ramp 1 is wound, in storage configuration, prior to the release, on a bridge of ship 2.

As represented on a larger scale on Figures 2 to 5 , the structure of the ramp 1 comprises a framework comprising three longitudinal longitudinal beams, one of which is an upper beam 5, in a substantially central position above the other two, which are lateral lower beams 6, between which is fixed and extended sure the entire length of the ramp 1, a flexible slide 7, for supporting people evacuated by the ramp 1, arranged toboggan.

For the sake of clarity, so as not to mask the structure of the frame, the slide 7 is schematically represented only on the figure 5 .

Each of the three longitudinal triple beams 5 and 6 comprises three longitudinal tubes 8, each in the form of an elongate cylinder of circular cross section, individually inflatable (that is to say, inflatable independently of the others), stacked one above the two others so that they are tangent two by two along their length, and thus joined together and side by side, for example step by step and not continuously along their length, by links such as rings, necklaces or bands flexible glued or secured around the three flanges 8 of each beam, for example by an adhesive or by high frequency welding, so that the cross section of each beam 5 or 6 has substantially an equilateral triangle shape, in the inflated state .

The frame of the ramp 1 also comprises a plurality of stiffening modules 9 and 10, which are inflatable, but pneumatically and mechanically independent of each other, and joined to each other by their base, from the inlet end to the output end of the ramp 1, and which are each mechanically connected to longitudinal struts 8 of the longitudinal beams 5 and 6 by securing means, and inflated from some of the longitudinal strands 8 of said longitudinal beams 5 and 6 by inflation means, so, in the inflated state of the ramp 1, to brace and counteract the beams 5 and 6 and keeping them spaced from each other transversely to their length, and such that they extend substantially parallel to each other, in order to give the inflated ramp 1 a cross section (perpendicular to the beams 5 and 6) having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle or equilateral.

These stiffening modules, the number of which determines the length of the ramp 1, are of two different types, namely end stiffening modules 9, between which intermediate stiffening modules 10, for example 3 in number, are mounted between them. two end stiffener modules 9, for an inflatable ramp 1 with a total length of 14.5 m, in the particular example shown.

In this example, the two end stiffener modules 9 are identical to each other, and as shown in FIG. figure 2a corresponding to the end module 9 upper detail IIa of the figure 2 , and the intermediate stiffening modules 10 are also identical to each other and as shown in FIG. figure 2b , corresponding to the intermediate module 10 of the middle of the ramp 1, according to the detail IIb of the figure 2 .

Each of the two types of stiffening modules 9, 10 is a compartmentalized assembly consisting of 6 inflatable structures for the end stiffener 9 and four inflatable structures for the intermediate stiffener 10, which are integral with each other, and each of which delimits one of respectively six or four sealed compartments, each of which is individually inflatable relative to the other compartments of the stiffener module 9 or 10 corresponding.

The structure and the realization of an end stiffener module 9 according to the figure 2a are now described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 , which represent, schematically and in perspective, the two constituent symmetrical halves of the end module 9, each being composed of three independent inflatable structures secured before the assembly of the two halves on the figure 6 , and, on figure 7 , the six independent inflatable structures of the same end module 9 in exploded perspective, the three of which constitute a half 9a of this module and the other three which constitute the other half 9b of this module. The two symmetrical halves 9a and 9b being identical to each other, and arranged face to face, it is sufficient to describe one. Each half 9a or 9b comprises an inflatable structure constituting, in the inflated state, a closed stiffening frame 11, hexagonal and said external, because located towards the outside of the stiffening module 9, as also of the stiffening module 10 for reasons which will appear hereinafter, when the stiffener 9 or 10 is assembled on the ramp 1. This hexagonal closed stiffening frame 11 is constituted, in alternative succession, of three long tubes, 12, 13 and 14, identical to each other. other, and three short strands 15, 16 and 17, also identical to each other, and among which the two long strands 12 and 13 constitute lateral struts inclined towards each other and upwards, and the long strand 14 is a lower strut, while the short strand 15 is a short upper strut, connecting the upper ends of the two lateral struts 12 and 13, and the short strand 16 constitutes a lower side connection of an end. side tee of the lower strut 14 at the lower end of a corresponding lateral strut 13, while the other short strand 17 connects the other lateral end of the lower strut 14 to the lower end of the other lateral spacer 12.

Each half 9a or 9b of the end stiffener module 9 also comprises a second independent inflatable structure, constituted by another closed polygonal stiffening frame, said internal, as arranged towards the inside of the module 9 relative to the external hexagonal frame 11, and which comprises two long flanges 19 and 20, identical to each other and to the long flanges 12 and 13 of the hexagonal frame 11, so as to also constitute lateral spacers, connected to each other at their upper ends by a short flange 21, forming a short upper spacer identical to the upper spacer 15 of the frame 11, while the lower ends of the two long flanges 19 and 20 of the lateral spacer of the frame 18 extend downwards each by the one respectively of two short flanges 22 and 23, identical to each other and to the short flanges 16 and 17 of the frame 11, to form connections at the ends of the branches of a lower flange. 24, in the shape of a flared U, closing the frame 18 and directed towards the lower flange 24 flared U of the frame 18 of the other half 9a or 9b of the stiffener module 9, so that these two lower flanges 24 U flare can be connected to one another by gluing along their bases 25, contiguous to one another, when the two halves 9a and 9b are assembled, also by bonding the two short upper spacers 21 of the stiffening frames 18 against each other. In addition, the short flanges 16 and 17 of the lower connection of each frame 11 are glued against the two short flanges of lower connection 22 and 23 homologous to the frame 18, as well as the two long flanges 12 and 13 of the lateral spacer of the frame 11 are glued along the two long strands 19 and 20 of lateral strut of the frame 18.

Finally, each half 9a and 9b of the stiffening module 9 comprises, outside the polygonal frame 11, relative to the center of the module 9, a third independent inflatable structure 26, inverted V-shaped, consisting of two long tubes 27 and 28 of lateral strut, identical to each other and to the long strands 12 and 13 of the frame 11 and 19 and 20 of the frame 18, and connected to each other by a short strand 29 of upper strut identical to the short upper struts 15 and 21 of the frames 11 and 18. The inverted V-shaped structure 26 thus reinforces the assembly constituted by the frames 11 and 18 by doubling, from the outside, the lateral struts 12 and 13 as well as the upper spacer 15, against which are glued over their entire length respectively the lateral spacers 27 and 28 and the short upper spacer 29 of the structure 26 inverted V.

When the two halves 9a and 9b are joined to each other along the bases 25 of the two flared lower flanges 24 and along the two upper spacers 21, the two lower U-shaped flanges 24 constitute an X spacer extending in the same plane as the two lower spacers 14 of the two frames 11, so as to counteract the base of the stiffener module 9 thus formed, which has, at the inflated state, the general external shape of a truncated hollow pyramid, with a square or rectangular base, the inclined edges of which are formed by the lateral spacer strands 12, 13, 19, 20 and 27, 28 of the two frames closed stiffeners 11 and 18 and structure 26 inverted V.

Each intermediate stiffening module 10, as shown in FIG. figure 2b , is distinguished from the end stiffener module 9 of the Figures 2a , 6 and 7 , only by the removal of the two inflatable end structures 26 inverted V. Thus, all that has just been said for the construction and the structure of an end stiffener module 9 can be repeated for the construction and the structure of an intermediate stiffener module 10, in particular the embodiment in two identical halves and symmetrical solidarized being contiguous face to face, with the only difference that each half has only two independent inflatable structures that constitute a hexagonal closed stiffening frame 11 and a closed polygonal stiffening frame 18, the X spacer for the bracing of the base of the intermediate stiffening module 10 being made strictly in the same manner as for the stiffening module 9.

It follows that each intermediate stiffening module 10 also has, in the inflated state, the general external shape of a truncated hollow pyramid with a square or rectangular base, the inclined edges of which are formed by the lateral strut rods 12, 13 and 19, 20 of the two frames 11 and the two frames 18 of such a module 10, thus comprising four independent inflatable structures, while each end stiffener module 9 has six.

On each stiffening module 9 or 10, the flanges 12, 13, 19 and 20 and, where appropriate, 27 and 28 delimit two substantially triangular opposite lateral faces, as well as two opposite and substantially triangular faces which are, when the modules 9 and 10 are mounted around the three longitudinal beams 5, 6 and the slide 7, and secured to the longitudinal flanges 8 of the longitudinal beams 5 and 6, one an upstream face, facing the inlet end of the ramp 1, and the other a downstream face, turned towards the output end of this ramp 1. Thus, the upstream and downstream faces are the faces of each of the stiffening modules 9 and 10 which are traversed by the three longitudinal beams 5 and 6 and the slider 7 of the ramp 1. In addition, the base of each stiffening module 9 or 10 is thus formed by a lower strut 14 of spacer, located Upstream, and a lower spacer flange 14 located downstream, and these two flanges 14 are, in the inflated state of the corresponding stiffener module 9 or 10, braced by the substantially X-shaped spacer formed by the connection of the two flanges U-shaped flared bottom 24 of said module, this X spacer extending under the two lateral lower beams 6 and the slide 7.

It is thus understood that each of the two end stiffener modules 9 is more rigid, in the inflated state, than each of the intermediate stiffening modules 10, which are mounted simply contiguous to each other by their base and without mechanical connection or between them neither of the two end modules 9, between these two last, because each of the end modules 9 comprises a greater number of independent inflatable structures than each intermediate stiffening module 10.

If the stiffening modules 9 and 10 are not secured to each other or connected to each other by inflation means, each of them is connected to longitudinal tubes 8 of the three longitudinal beams 5 and 6 by securing means, as well as some of the longitudinal tubes 8 of these beams 5 and 6 by inflating means.

More specifically, each of the four or six independent inflatable structures of each of the intermediate or end stiffener modules 9 is connected by inflating means to one of four or six of the nine longitudinal struts 8, respectively, which comprise the three longitudinal beams. 5 and 6, and furthermore, considering any pair of two adjacent stiffening modules 10 or 9 and 10, a majority of inflatable structures independent of one of these two modules is connected to inflatable tubes 8 longitudinal beams 5 and 6 which are different from those to which are connected by inflating means the inflatable structures homologous to the other of these two modules. For example, if we consider the upper end stiffener module 9 and the intermediate stiffening module 10 immediately adjacent, the two independent inflatable structures formed by the two hexagonal closed stiffening frames 11 upstream of these two modules are not inflated from of a same longitudinal coil 8, to prevent the ramp section 1 at these two modules 9 and 10 is too substantially deflated by damage to the same longitudinal coil 8 which feeds inflation gas two independent inflatable structures but homologues of these two modules or two inflatable structures of the same module 9 or 10.

Thus, the inflated ramp 1 has excellent stiffness, because of the bracing of the beams 5 and 6 which is provided by the lower struts, comprising the lower inflatable tubes 14 and 24, secured to the two lateral lower beams 6 and extending under the escape slide 7, and the lateral struts, which comprise the inflatable lateral struts 12, 13, 19, 20, 27 and 28, secured to the central upper beam 5 and the lower lateral beams 6, with the additional assistance of the upper struts short formed by the short flanges 15, 21 and 29, and the lower lateral connecting struts formed by the short flanges 16, 17, 22 and 23, which, with the other flanges of the stiffening modules 9 and 10, and in particular frames closed stiffeners 11 and 18 of these modules, substantially delimit a prism of hexagonal cross section, whose six facets (three large and three small) co ncourent to provide the ramp 1 a high rigidity in the inflated state.

The bottom of the ramp 1, at its outlet end, comprises an inflatable transverse coil 30 of downstream end, which is secured against the downstream ends of the lower inflatable longitudinal beads 8 of the two lower lateral beams 6, by two zones spaced therefrom. transverse coil 30, which extends laterally and downward, beyond said zones of attachment to the flanges 8 of the beams 6 of the ramp 1, by two end extensions 31, which are inflatable and curved, so as to ensure good contact between the lower end of the ramp 1 and the raft 3, and possibly by the at least partial engagement of these two end extensions 31 inflated over and behind a portion of the upper flotation rod 33 of the raft 3 This transverse bead 30 and its end extensions 31, as well as their positions relative to the lower lateral beams 6 are represented on the figures 2 and 2c .

To ensure the joining of the various stiffening modules 9 and 10 to the longitudinal inflatable rolls 8 of the three beams 5 and 6, the securing means are advantageously removable mechanical fastening devices of a well-known type, each comprising an externally threaded tubular endpiece allowing a connection screwed to two sealed connections each attached to one respectively two inflatable tubes to be secured to one another. The central passage of the tubular endpiece is closed with sealing, when this device must only be used to ensure a removable and non-continuous mechanical fastening between an inflatable bead 8 of a longitudinal beam 5 or 6 and an inflatable bead of a module stiffener 9 or 10, and for the fixing the stiffening modules 9 and 10 to the inflatable tubes 8 of the beams 5 and 6, it is not essential to provide such a removable mechanical fastening device to each contact zone or point of tangency between two inflatable tubes to be joined. These fasteners with an externally threaded tubular end piece are advantageous because, by disengaging the central passage of the tubular endpiece, the removable mechanical fastening device can simultaneously constitute a pneumatic interconnection device between the two flanges thus mechanically connected. to one another, so that the inflation of one of the two flanges can be made from the other. Thus, the various flanges constituting the independent inflatable structures of the various stiffening modules 9 and 10 are not only mechanically attached to the flanges 8 of the beams 5 and 6, but also inflated by means of these flanges 8, which are themselves inflated from bottles of a compressed gas mixture, consisting of a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, these bottles being for example arranged under a base plate of the cradle 4 mounted on the vessel 2 to store the installation of rescue comprising the ramp 1 and the raft 3 deflated and folded, the deflated and folded ramp being wrapped around a container (not shown) in which the raft 3 is housed folded and deflated.

As regards the rescue installation according to the invention, associating at least one inflatable life raft with an inflatable evacuation ramp, it differs essentially only in the structure of the ramp 1 itself from those already described in FIG. WO 95/14605 and represented deployed and inflated on the figures 1 and 2 , and being deployed and inflating on the figure 3 this document, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, in FR 2 912 111 of the Depositor, and represented in storage configuration on the figure 6 , being deployed and inflating on the figure 7 and finally in use configuration on the figure 8 of this document.

However, if the deformable and releasable connecting devices of the ramp 1-raft 3 interface can be those used in similar rescue installations of the state of the art, it is proposed, by the present invention, to adopt devices different from those known, and consisting of an application, to the deformable and releasable connection function at the ramp-raft interface, of releasable connection devices of the known type called "three rings", which are schematically represented by the reference 32 on the figures 2 and 2c , as well as on Figures 8 to 10 corresponding to detail VIII of the figure 1 .

These devices 32 are two lateral assemblies, each of which is mounted on the face of the transverse inflatable flange 30 of downstream end which is turned towards the raft 3, and more precisely towards the upper part of the upper flotation flange 33 (partially cut on the Figures 8 and 9 ) of the raft 3, and each of these two devices 32 is mounted on one respectively of two zones of the coil 30 which are located near the two side edges of the outlet end of the ramp 1, substantially at the level where the transverse coil 30 is secured to the downstream ends of the lateral lower beams 6.

As shown in more detail on the figure 9 , at a cut portion of the upper buoyancy rod 33 of the raft 3, the connecting device 32 is double and comprises two three-ring mechanisms 34, each connected by a strap 35 to a belt-holder plate 36, which is a rigid plate attached to a corresponding lateral portion of the transverse coil 30 and which has strap passages. The presence of this plate 36 is not essential, but preferred for the case of a connection of the ramp 1 with a raft 3 of large capacity. For a releasable link and deformable with a raft of small capacity, the straps 35 of the two mechanisms 34 can be fixed directly on the coil 30. Each mechanism 34 comprises a so-called "three-ring elevator" 37, including a large ring or shackle 38 is connected by a strap (not shown) to the raft 3, this strap making, for example, around the upper flange 33 of the raft 3 to be attached at its other end to the large ring or shackle 38 of the other mechanism 34 with three rings of the same device 32. Each shackle 38 connected to the raft 3 is intended to receive a ring 39 of medium size at the end of a loop of the strap 35, and this middle ring 39 folded towards the strap 35 is itself crossed by a small ring 40 retained by another loop secured to the strap 35 and itself bearing a loop passing through a plate also secured to the strap 35 and so that the part of this loop protruding above the wafer is traversed by a retaining member, such as a pyrotechnic release system 41 called "pyrotechnic knife" which allows, by a remote control, to release the loop, whose release causes the release of the small ring 40, which can be released from the middle ring 39 which, in turn, can be released from the shackle 38 thus ensuring the release, at the device 32, the raft 3 relative to the ramp 1.

Of course, the other three-ring mechanism is identical and also controlled remotely, for its release, by another pyrotechnic release system 41. In a variant, the remote release can be provided by a pneumatic actuator, and, according to a Alternatively, the triggering can be done manually by an operator in the raft 3.

Regarding the connection of the ramp 1 by its upper end to the storage cradle 4 mounted on the ship 2, it can be performed as in the rescue facilities of the state of the art.

However, the rescue installation of the invention preferably comprises a cradle for storing and releasing 4 of the assembly consisting of a container, containing at least one raft such as 3 and its inflation means, and the ramp 1 wound around this container. This cradle 4 may comprise a thrust plate, concave front face, to push at least a portion of the raft ramp-container assembly on a sliding plate 42, which slides on the base plate of the cradle 4 covering the bottles of inflating the ramp 1, this sliding plate 42 overflowing, projecting from the deck of the ship 2, for the release of the ramp-container raft assembly with a clearance from the deck edge of the ship 2, after a tilting plate has brought said assembly on the sliding plate 42 causing a beginning of unwinding of the upper end portion of the ramp 1. The latter can be deployed and inflated without risk of interference or snagging with organs or surface accident on the hull of the ship 2, right of the cradle 4 storage and release.

To increase the evacuation flow rate by the ramp 1, it is advantageous to subdivide the slide 7 into two adjacent tracks 7a and 7b (see FIG. figure 5 ) by a flexible separating partition 7c supporting the middle of the slide 7 and suspended at the top 5, along the entire length of the ramp 1. This variant is suitable for ships carrying many passengers.

Claims (16)

1. Inflatable evacuation slide, for evacuating people from a ship (2) to at least one inflatable rescue liferaft (3), said slide (1) comprising:

   - three multiple longitudinal beams (5, 6), each comprising at least two individually inflatable longitudinal tubes (8), connected side by side and adjacent over their length, including two lateral lower beams (6) and a central upper beam (5), spaced apart transversally over their length and substantially parallel to each other in the inflated state,

   - a flexible chute (7), intended to support people during their evacuation via the slide (1), said chute (7) linking the two lateral lower beams (6) and extending continuously between them and over the entire length of the slide (1), from its entry end, equipped with means for coupling to the ship (2), to its exit end, equipped with deformable and releasable slide (1)/liferaft (3) interface coupling devices;

   - lower braces, comprising inflatable lower tubes (14, 24) connected to the two lateral lower beams (6) and extending under the evacuation chute (7); and

   - lateral braces, comprising inflatable lateral tubes (12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28), connected to the central upper beam (5) and to the lateral lower beams (6), so as to stiffen the structure of the slide (1) in the inflated state, by giving it a cross-section, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal beams (5, 6), that has a generally triangular shape,

   characterized in that inflatable tubes (12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24) of the lower and lateral braces are arranged in inflatable closed stiffening frames (11, 18), polygonal in the inflated state, surrounding the three longitudinal beams (5, 6) to which said tubes of the stiffening frames (11, 18) are connected by connection means and inflation means via said longitudinal beams (5, 6).
2. Slide according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower and lateral braces are arranged in inflatable stiffening modules (9, 10), mechanically and pneumatically independent of each other, each passed through by the chute (7) and the longitudinal beams (5, 6), and arranged side by side by their base, from one end to the other of the slide (1), said stiffening modules (9, 10) being connected to the three longitudinal beams (5, 6) by connection means and inflation means.
3. Slide according to claim 2, characterized in that each stiffening module (9, 10) is a compartmentalized assembly comprising several inflatable structures (11, 18, 26) connected together, each inflatable structure delimiting a sealed compartment that is individually inflatable relative to the other compartments of said assembly.
4. Slide according to claim 3, characterized in that each stiffening module (9, 10) comprises at least one inflatable structure forming, in the inflated state, a hexagonal closed stiffening frame (11), comprising three long tubes (12, 13, 14), constituting two lateral braces (12, 13) and a lower brace (14), alternating with three short tubes (15, 16, 17), constituting two lower lateral connections (16, 17) of the lateral ends of the lower brace (14) to the lower ends of the lateral braces (12, 13), and a short upper brace (15), connecting the upper ends of the two lateral braces (12, 13).
5. Slide according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each stiffening module (9, 10) has, in the inflated state, a general external shape of a hollow truncated pyramid with a square or rectangular base, the inclined edges of which are formed by lateral brace tubes (12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28) delimiting two opposite substantially triangular lateral faces, an upstream face, facing the entry end of the slide (1), and a downstream face, facing the exit end of the slide (1), also opposite and substantially triangular, the upstream and downstream faces being passed through by the three longitudinal beams (5, 6) and the chute (7), and the base of each stiffening module (9, 10) is formed by an upstream lower brace tube (14) and a downstream lower brace tube which, in the inflated state of the stiffening module (9, 10), are braced by a substantially X-shaped brace (24, 24) extending under the two lateral lower beams and the chute (7).
6. Slide according to claim 5, together with claim 4, characterized in that each stiffening module (9, 10) comprises, in the inflated state, an upstream outer hexagonal frame (11) and a downstream outer hexagonal frame (11), each constituting an independent inflatable structure overlapped along its two long lateral brace tubes (12, 13) and its three short tubes (15, 16, 17), and towards the inside of the module (9, 10), by two long tubes (19, 20) and three short tubes (21, 22, 23) homologous respectively of an upstream inner polygonal frame (18) and a downstream inner polygonal frame (18), each constituting another independent inflatable structure, and each also comprising a lower tube (24) in the shape of a flared U, connected by the ends of the arms of the U to the two lower lateral short tubes (22, 23) of the corresponding upstream or downstream inner polygonal frame (18), while each lower U-shaped tube (24) is connected over the length of the base (25) of the U to the base (25) of the U of the homologous lower tube (24) of the other inner polygonal frame (18), in order to form the substantially X-shaped brace of the base of said stiffening module (9, 10).
7. Slide according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises, at each of its two ends, respectively one of two end stiffening modules (9) which are stiffer in the inflated state than intermediate stiffening modules (10) mounted between the two end stiffening modules (9).
8. Slide according to claim 7 together with claim 3, characterized in that each end stiffening module (9) comprises a larger number of inflatable structures than each intermediate stiffening module (10).
9. Slide according to claim 8 together with claim 6, characterized in that at least one end stiffening module (9) comprises at least two additional independent inflatable structures (26), each having the overall shape of an inverted V, and constituted by two long lateral brace tubes (27, 28) and a short upper brace short tube (29) connected over their length respectively on the outside of the two long lateral brace tubes (12, 13) and the short upper brace short tube (15) of respectively one of the upstream and downstream outer frames (11), so that said at least one end stiffening module (9) comprises at least six independent inflatable structures.
10. Slide according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 9 together with claim 3, characterized in that the homologous inflatable structures of two adjacent stiffening modules (9, 10) of the slide (1) are mainly connected by individual inflation means to different inflatable longitudinal tubes (8) of said longitudinal beams (5, 6).
11. Slide according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the exit end of the slide (1) comprises a downstream end inflatable transverse tube (30), connected via two areas spaced apart against the downstream ends of inflatable longitudinal tubes (8) of the two lateral lower beams (6), and extending laterally downwards beyond the areas in which it is connected to the two lateral lower beams (6) of the slide (1), by two curved inflatable end extensions (31), making it possible to extend the area of contact between the slide (1) and said liferaft (3).
12. Slide according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said connection means are detachable mechanical fixing devices capable of providing a discontinuous fixing between the inflatable tubes (8) of the longitudinal beams (5, 6) and inflatable lateral and lower brace tubes (12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24).
13. Slide according to claim 12, characterized in that some of the detachable mechanical fixing devices of the inflatable tubes (8) of the beams (5, 6) to the inflatable lateral or lower brace tubes (12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24) simultaneously constitute said inflation means of said brace tubes.
14. Rescue equipment, for the passengers and/or crew members of a ship (2), comprising at least one inflatable liferaft (3), stored folded in the deflated state and with associated inflation means in a container, around which is wrapped, folded in the deflated state, an inflatable evacuation slide, an entry end of which is attached to the ship (2) by coupling means and an exit end of which is attached to said liferaft (3) in the container by deformable releasable slide/liferaft interface coupling devices (32), characterized in that said slide is a slide (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 above.
15. Installation according to claim 14, characterized in that said deformable releasable slide-liferaft interface coupling devices (32) are two lateral assemblies, each mounted close to respectively one of the two lateral edges of the exit end of the slide (1), and each comprising two releasable coupling devices of the so-called "three rings" type (34), remotely released, such as by pneumatic or pyrotechnic or also manual and local means, coupled to the slide (1) by straps (35) and to said liferaft (3) by other straps attached to at least one ring (38) of said three-ring devices (34).
16. Equipment according to any one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the assembly constituted by the container, containing at least one liferaft (3) and its inflation means, and the slide (1) wrapped around the container is housed in a storage and launching cradle (4) for said assembly, the cradle (4) being intended to be fixed on the deck of said ship (2), the cradle (4) comprising a thrust plate, having a concave front face capable of pushing said assembly onto an overhanging sliding plate, capable of projecting relative to the deck of said ship (2), as well as a toggle plate, in order to ensure the launching and deployment of the container-slide assembly with clearance relative to the edge of the deck of the ship (2).

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