GB2040844A

GB2040844A - Marine escape slide system

Info

Publication number: GB2040844A
Application number: GB7944605A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: RFD Inflatables Ltd
Current assignee: RFD Inflatables Ltd
Priority date: 1979-01-11
Filing date: 1979-12-31
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: GB2040844B

Abstract

A marine escape slide system comprises an inflatable slide and platform assembly stowed at a stowage station above the water-line of a ship and deployable from the stowage station to a deployed disposition in which the inflated platform 13 floats on the water and the inflated slide 10 extends from the stowage station 11 downwardly to the platform to provide an inclined descent path for evacuees from the ship. Inflatable liferafts 61,62 are deployable from a liferaft stowage station adjacent or in proximity to the slide and platform assembly stowage station to a deployed disposition in which each liferaft is floating on the water. A marshalling line 59 connects each liferaft to the platform, whereby when the slide and platform assembly and the liferaft take up their deployed dispositions the liferaft is held fast to the platform by the marshalling line and lies adjacent the platform or can be brought to a position adjacent the platform with the aid of the marshalling line. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marine escape slide system The present invention relates to a marine escape slide system for use on ships for the evacuation of passengers and crew in an emergency.

In an escape slide system hitherto proposed an inflatable slide and platform assembly is stowed uninflated at a stowage station above the water-line of the ship and is deployable from the stowage station to a deployed disposition in which the inflated platform floats on the water with the inflated slide extending from the stowage station downwardly to the platform to provide an inclined descent path for evacuees from the ship. Uninflated liferafts housed in containers are dropped from the deck of the ship into the water and members of the ship's crew slide down the slide to the boarding platform and pull the liferafts, still in their containers, by their painters to the boarding platform. The crew members then actuate inflation apparatus within the containers by pulling hard on the painters, whereupon the liferafts inflate out of the containers.

The task of marshalling the liferafts from the point where they are dropped into the water over to the boarding platform is one that requires a trained crew and under severe emergency conditions it is possible that correct marshalling would not be achie:ed.

Without correct marshalling of the liferafts, the slide and platform could not be used for boarding the liferafts, which would then need to be boarded by the use of scrambling nets, rope ladders or by jumping into them or into the water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a marine escape slide system in which the difficuhies of marshalling the liferafts at the platform is substantially reduced.

According to the present invention there is provided a marine escape slide system comprising an inflatable slide and platform assembly stowed at a stowage station above the water-line of a ship and deployable from the stowage station ro a deployed disposition in which the platform floats on the water and the slide extends from the stowage station downwardly to the platform to provide an inclined descent path for evacuees from the ship. one or more inflatable liferafts deployable from a liferaft stowage station adjacent or in proximity to the slide and platform assembly stowage station to a deployed disposition in which the or each liferaft is floating on the water, and connecting means connecting the or each liferaft to the platform, whereby when the slide and platform assembly and the liferaft take up their deployed dispositions the liferaft is held fast to the platform by the connecting means and lies adjacent the platform or can be brouyht to a position adjacent to the platform with the aid of the connecting means.

Preferably the connecting means comprises a flexible marshalling line connecting the liferaft to the platform, whereby when the slide and platform assembly and the liferaft take up their deployed dispositions, evacuees arriving on the platform following descent on the slide can by pulling on the marshalling line bring the liferaftto a boarding edge of the platform.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of liferafts is provided, the marshalling lines being connected between the liferafts and marshalling points at spaced positions along the boarding edge of the platform.

The liferaft or each of the Iiferafts is preferably housed uninflated in a container which is releasably held at the stowage station by container release means which upon actuation releases the container for dispatch into the water. The marshalling line is connected to the container and inflation means are provided in the container for inflating the liferaft out of the container in response to a pulling action on the marshalling line, whereby inflation of the liferaft out of the container can be effected by an evacuee on the platform.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide and platform are stowed uninflated at the stowage station and inflation means are provided at the stowage station for inflating the slide and platform. The slide and platform may be stowed uninflated in a housing positioned at the side of the ship, the housing being closed by a door releasable by door release means for movement downwardly and outwardly away from the side of the ship to an open position in which it permits release and inflation of the slide and platform. Actuator means may be provided for simultaneously actuating the container release means, the door release means and tha slide and platform inflation means.

In one embodiment of the invention hereinafter to be described the platform in the deployed disposition is of V-shaped configuration and comprises two elongate portioins which converge in a direction away from the ship to meet in an apex region and the slide terminates at its lowermost end in the apex region ofthe platform. The slide in the deployed position extends at nght angles or substantially at right angles to the side of the ship with the two elongate portions of the platform symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the slide.

The deployed disposition of the slide and platform assembly is preferably such that any flexing of the assembly under external impressed forces is limited by engagement of a free end of one or the other of the two elongate portions of the platform with rhe side of the ship. The elongate portions of the platform may be prevented from spreading apart from each other by webs connected between the elongate portions and the lower end of the slide. The ends or the elongate portions which engage the side of the ship may be reinforced.

In a further embodiment of the invention hereinaftes to be described the platform is of square configuration, the slide extends from the stowage station in a vertical plane generally at rignt angles to the side of the ship, one of the two platform diagonals lies in the vertical plane containing the slide and the slide at its lowermost end terminates in the region of the corner of the platform nearest the side of the ship.

A plurality of pairs of inflatable liferafts may conveniently be provided, each pair being contained in a single container connected to the platform by a single marshalling line. The liferafts are connected together and upon inflation remain connected at their peripheries and the marshalling line is connected to a point at which the two liferafts are connected together, whereby the liferafts of each pair can be held against the boarding edge of the platform by the single marshalling line.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a marine escape slide system according to a first embodiment of the invention, shown deployed and with some of the marshalled liferafts omitted, Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the escape slide system illustrated in Figure 1, showing a full complement of liferafts, Figure 3 is a section of the platform forming part of the escape slide system shown in Figures 1 and 2, taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a schematic front elevation of part of the escape slide system shown in Figures 1 and 2, at the stowage position and immediately following release of the slide and platform assembly, Figure 5 is a scrap side elevation of part of the escape slide system shown in Figure 4, at an enlarged scale, Figure 6 is a scrap side elevation corresponding to that shown in Figure 4 with some parts removed, Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a marine escape slide system according to a second ernbodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the escape slide system shown comprises an inflatable escape slide 10 which in its deployed disposition extends downwardly and outwardly from a stowage unit 11 provided at the side of a ship 12 arid is connected at its lower end to an inflated platform 13 floating on the water.

The slide 10 comprises main outer support tubes 14 and 15 connected together by transverse end tubes 16 and 17 and an intermediate support tube 18 which divides the slide into two slideways 19 and 20 formed by fabric sheets connected to and extending between the outer support tubes 14 and 15 and the intermediate support tube 18. The support tubes 14, 15 and 18 are held in spaced relation as shown by inflated transverse tubular struts 21. The slide 10 is furthermore provided with side walls 22, each formed by inflated upper and lower tubes 23 and 24 and a fabric sheet 25 connecting the two tubes 23 and 24.

The platform 13 is formed by two elongate inflated sections 26 and 27 which converge as shown to provide a platform of V-shaped configuration. As shown in Figure 3, each of the inflated sections 26 and 27 comprises a floor section 28 constructed from juxtaposed longitudinally extending inflated support tubes 29 enclosed by a sheet 30. An endless side wall tube 31 extends along the entire periphery of the platform. Fabric webs 32 are connected between the platform sections 26 and 27 and the slide support tubes 14 and 15 to provide stability for the platform and to prevent spreading of the sections 26 and 27 away from the slide 10.

The slide 10 is, as shownn in Figure 2, connected at its lower end to the platform in the region of the apex formed by the platform sections 26 and 27. The slide 10 is connected to the innermost edge of the platform 13 so that evacuees descending on the slideways 19 and 20 arrive on the platform 13 in a region of maximum width.

Referring now to Figures 4,5 and 6, the slide 10 and platform 13 are stowed in an uninflated and packed condition in the stowage unit 11 which comprises a frame 33 of rectangular form, which is normally closed by a door 44 pivotal on a hinge 45 extending along the bottom edge of a doorway 46.

For release of the slide and platform from the stowage unit 11, the door 44 is released and pivots to the position shown in Figure 5, where it is held by side curtains 47 connected between the frame 33 and the side edges of the door 44.

Referring particularly to Figure 4, the slide 10 and the platform 11 are arranged to be inflated by connection to an inflation system 48 housed within the frame 33 and comprising one or more cylinders 49 supplying gas under pressure to an aspirator 50, the output of which is connected to supply inflation gas to the upper end of the slide 10. The door 44 upon moving to the open position ejects the uninflated slide 10 and platform 13. The slide 10 then cornmences to inflate first at its upper end, pushing the inflated lower portions of the slide and the uninflated platform 13 away from the ship's side.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, liferaft containers 51 are mounted in racks 52 arranged at each side of the stowage unit 11. Each container 51 rests on an inclined shelf 53 and is held in place by straps 54 pl ovieecl with quick release buckles 55. The quick release buckles 55 are arranged to be actuated by lanyards 56. which pass through the frame 33, within which they are coupled to a common actuator.

Each of the containers 51 takes the form of a cylindrical shell provided with hemisphencal ends to form an enclosurefortwo uninflated and packed liferafts and their inflation cylinders. Each container 51 is provided with a flexible marshalling line 59, one end of which is connected within the container to an actuate for the inflation cylinders and the other end of which is, as shown in Figure 2, connected to a cleat 60 provided on the wall tube 31 of the platform 13.

In the embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the marshalling lines 59 are formed as a continuous length attached at one end to the liferaft container 51 and at the other end to the platform 13. Provision may, however, be made for leaving the liferaft containers 51 unconnected during normal operation of the ship so that in the event that the ship sinks rapidly and the escape slide system cannot be utilized, the liferaft containers 51 may be reieased and used independently of the escape slide system. Connection between the containers 51 and the platform 13 would then need to be estabiished by the marshalling lines 59 in an "arming" operation, before the system is ready for use.

in the stowage position, the slide 10 and the platform 13 are uninflated and packed within the stowage frame 33, which in addition to the door panel 44 may be provided with rear doors (not shown). In an emergency a crew member operates a release mechanism contained within the frame 33 which simultaneously releases the door 44, actuates the inflation system 48 and effects release of the containers 51 by actuation of the lanyards 56.

Simultaneously, the door 44 falls open, the slide 10 commences to inflate and the containers 51 roll out of the racks 52 for discharge into the water on each side of the slide 10. The slide 10 inflates rapidly and inflation of the platform 13 follows immediately, with the result that the slide 10 and platform 13 take up the deployed disposition shown in Figures 1 and 2. By this time, the containers 51 are floating on the water on each side of the platform 13 and are held to it by the marshalling lines 59 secured to the cleats 60. The escape slide system is then immediately ready for use by evacuees.

The stowage frame 33 is of such dimensions that evacuees maywalkwith adequate head clearance through the doorway 46. The first evacuees sit on the top of the slide 10, push themselves from the top edge of the slide 10 and descend down the slideways 19 and 20, arriving at the platform in the region of the apex formed by the two platform sections 26 and 27. The first to arrive proceed along the sections 26 and 27 and pull in the marshalling lines 59 to bring the containers 51 alongside the outboard edge of the platform 13. When the containers 51 are alongside the platform 13, the marshalling lines 59 can be given an extra heavy pull to actuate the inflation unit within the container, wherepon the uninflated liferafts within it commence to inflate.The container 51 is so designed that securing means securing the two halves 57 and 58 together break under the inflation pressure of the liferafts, allowing the liferaftsto inflate out of their container and take up a position alongside the boarding edge of the platform 13 as shown in Figure 2. Each container contains two liferafts 61 and 62 which are coupled together at a point 63 on their peripheries, at which point the marshalling line 59 is secured to the liferafts. In this way, a single marshalling line 59 is used to hold two liferafts 61 and 62 against the boarding edge of the platform 13.

It will be seen that with the slide 10 and the platform 13 in the deployed position in Figure 2, the free ends of the platform sections 26 and 27 lie close to but spaced from the side of the ship 15. While the slide 10 is intended to take up the position shown in Figure 2, in which it extends from the ship in a plane at right angles to the side of the ship it may in practice under the action of wind and waves or as a result of the movement of the ship through the water flex one way or the other. Such flexing is however limited by one or other of the free ends 64 and 65 coming into contact with the side of the ship 15. The free ends 64 and 65 of the platform sections 26 and 27 are preferably heavily reinforced at positions where they would come into contact with the side of the ship.

During deployment, the platform 13 by virtue of its V-shaped configuration assists in displacing or holding the liferaft containers 51 away from the side of the ship.

While a platform of V-shaped configuration is preferred, platforms of alternative configuration may, if desired, be employed. For example, a platform of square configuration may be employed in the manner illustrated in Figure 7. As will be seen from Figure 7, a square platform 66 is held deployed with one of its diagonals aligned with the slide 10, the slide 10 being connected at its lower end to the corner of the platform 66 closest to the ship 15. The platform 66 includes a floor 67 of the same construction as the floor 28 of the platform 13 in the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 and a side wall tube 68, likewise, extends along the entire periphery of the platform. The containers 51 are connected by marshalling lines 59 to cleats 60 provided as shown in Figure 7 and are deployed in the water at the same time as the deployment of the slide 10 and the platform 66. The containers 51 are marshalled in like manner to the four sides of the platform 66 and the liferafts inflated out of their containers and held by the marshalling lines 59 secured to the cleats 60.

It will be seen that the platform 66 is held by the slide 10 at some distance from the side of the ship 15 and to avoid flexing of the slide 10 and possible buckling under adverse conditions guy wires 69 and 70 are provided.

Claims

1. A marine escape slide system comprising an inflatable slide and platform assembly stowed at a stowage station above the water-line of a ship and deployable from the stowage station to a deployed disposition in which the platform floats on the water and the slide extends from the stowage station downwardly to the platform to provide an inclined descent path for evacuees from the ship, one or more inflatable liferafts deployable from a liferaft stowage station adjacent or in proximity to the slide and platform assembly stowage station to a deployed disposition in which the or each liferaft is floating on the water, and connecting means connecting the or each liferaft to the platform, whereby when the slide and platform assembly and the liferaft take up their deployed dispositions the liferaft is held fast to the platform by the connecting means and lies adjacent the platform or can be brought to a position adjacent the platform with the aid of the connecting means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a flexible marshalling line connecting the liferaft to the platform, whereby when the slide and platform assembly and the liferafttake up their deployed dispositions, evacuees arriving on the platform following descent on the slide can by pulling on the marshalling line bring the liferaftto a boarding edge of the platform.

3. A system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of liierafts, the marshalling lines being connected between the liferafts and marshalling points at spaced positions along the boarding edge of the platform.

4. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each liferaft is housed uninflated in a container which is releasably held at the stowage station by container release means which upon actuation releases the container for dispatch into the water, wherein the marshalling line is connected to the container, and wherein inflation means are provided in the container for inflating the liferaft out of the container in response to a pulling action on the marshalling line, whereby inflation of the liferaft out of the container can be effected by an evacuee on the platform.

5. A system according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of pairs of inflatable liferafts, each pair being contained in a single container connected to the platform by a single marshalling line, wherein the liferafts are connected together and upon inflation remain connected at their peripheries and wherein the marshalling line is connected to a point at which the two liferafts are connected together, whereby the Iiferafts of each pair can be held against the boarding edge of the platform by the single marshalling line.

6. A system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slide and platform are stowed uninflated at the stowage station and wherein inflation means are provided at the stowage station for inflating the slide and platform.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the slide and platform assembly are stowed uninflated at the stowage station in a housing provided at the side of the ship, and wherein the housing is closed by a door releasable by release means for movement downwardly and outwardly away from the ship to an open position in which it permits release and inflation of the slide and platform.

8. A system according to claim 7, as appendent to claim 4, comprising actuator means for simultaneously actuating the container release means, the door release means and the inflation means.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the platform in the deployed disposition is of V-shaped configuration and comprises two elongate portions which converge in a direction away from the ship to meet in an apex region and wherein the slide terminates at its lowermost end in the apex region of the platform.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the slide in the deployed disposition extends at right angles or substantially at right angles to the side of the ship with the two elongate portions of the platform symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the slide.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the deployed disposition of the slide and platform assembly is such that any flexing of the assembly under external impressed forces is limited by engagement of a free end of one or the other of the two elongate portions of the platform with the side of the ship.

12. A system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the platform is of square configuration, wherein the slide extends from the stowage station in a vertical plane at right angles to the side of the ship, wherein one of the two platform diagonals lies in the vertical plane containing the slide and wherein the slide at its lowermost end terminates in the region of the corner of the platform nearest the side of the ship.

13. A marine escape slide system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.