KR20120034190A - Inflatable evacuation ramp and ship rescue equipment including same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a ram 1 comprising three longitudinal beams 5, 6, each of the longitudinal beams 5, 6 having a polygonal shape in the expanded state and having longitudinal beams 5, 6. Each comprising at least two inflatable tubes 8 supported by inflatable tubes of the side and lower struts arranged as hermetically reinforced inflatable frames 11, 18 surrounding the The tubes of 11, 18 are connected by longitudinal beams 5, 6 by means of connecting and expansion means.

Description

INFLATABLE EVACUATION RAMP AND SHIP RESCUE EQUIPMENT INCLUDING SAME

The present invention provides at least one ship from a ship comprising at least one inflatable lifeboat which is folded and stored in a retracted state with an expansion means associated in a container enclosed by the inflatable sea evacuation slide in a retracted state. An inflatable marine evacuation slide for evacuating people with one inflatable lifeboat (or lifeboat) and rescue equipment for passengers and / or crew of a ship.

In addition to rescue equipment comprising such inflatable evacuation slides as described above and containers containing expansion means associated with at least one inflatable lifeboat, inflatable marine evacuation slides of the general type described above are known.

In particular, patent document WO 95/14605 discloses a marine evacuation equipment comprising an inflatable evacuation slide connected to an inflatable lifeboat by means of releasable slide / lifeboat connection connecting devices and a slide / lifeboat connection which can be released. Connecting devices are deformable connecting devices that allow the relative movement of slides and lifeboats, and the entire evacuation system may include, for example, a large lifeboat capable of accommodating approximately 100 people, for a short period of time within two minutes. Easily disposed and inflated within.

In the marine evacuation system disclosed in WO 95/14605, an inflatable evacuation slide for evacuating people from a ship with an inflatable lifeboat is:

At least two individually expandable longitudinal tubes connected side by side and adjacent over the length of the beams, including two side lower beams and a central upper beam that are substantially parallel to each other in the expanded state while crossing over and apart apart the length of the beams; Three multiple beams each comprising:

A flexible chute intended to support people during the evacuation of people via slides, wherein the slide / lifeboat is deformable and disengageable from the inlet end with means for connecting the two side lower beams and for connecting to the ship A flexible chute extending continuously between the side lower beams and the slide over the entire length to the outlet end with the connecting connection devices;

-Lower braces comprising inflatable lower tubes connected to the two side lower beams and extending below the evacuation chute; And

Side braces that reinforce the structure of the slide by providing a cross section having a triangular shape substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal beams in the expanded state, including inflatable side tubes connected to the central upper beam and the side lower beams; Include.

In the embodiment of the inflatable evacuation slide described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 6 of WO 95/14605, a ramp for receiving a folded and retracted lifeboat secured to a ship, in the deployed, unfolded and expanded state- Storage cradles for the container-container unit and the slides extending between the inflated lifeboats are each independently expandable (independently of others) and connected together in three groups of three to form three triple longitudinal beams. A support structure comprising nine cylindrical longitudinal tubes having a circular cross section forming, and for each of the three triple longitudinal beams, three corresponding tubes are superimposed so that the cross section of the stack is also substantially triangular. The three longitudinal tubes abut two substantially along the busbars and are joined by joining or high frequency welding. Thus it is connected with the one bus bar (generating lines). When the slide is in the inflated state, the groups of longitudinal tubes are kept spaced apart and supported by the inflated tubes of the side and lower braces called diagonals. The side braces are constituted by inflatable side tubes inclined alternately up and down alternately with respect to a plane perpendicular to the inflated longitudinal tubes, ie facing the inlet and outlet ends of the slide.

In the patent document WO 2009/026631, which is the same applicant name as WO 95/14605 and generally has a triangular cross section, the state of the art according to WO 95/14605 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 With reference to these figures, the side brace assemblies of the two inclined inflatable tubes used to reinforce the sides of the slide are not connected to each other, as a result of which the influence of its weight without any additional load of the evacuator Movement of the slide that is bent or deflected into the slide, and the movements of the slide are intended to slide the slide as the risk of deformation of the slide by torsion or buckling under applied bending and / or torsional loads increases. Expandable marine evacuation slices are a significant drawback that make them unsuitable for safe use. Are people.

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the embodiments according to WO 95/14605, WO 2009/026631 proposes an inflatable evacuation slide having a base and two sides, having a generally triangular cross section, each side Is composed of a series of self-locking components placed side by side and secured together so that they become straight when the slide is inflated in use, and are placed and unloaded so that they are initially stressed so that the slide is slightly arched and upwardly convex. Starting from an unloaded state, when at least one evacuator is loaded, it remains straight. Self-locking components are adjacent and successive interconnected components arranged in enclosed frames having a generally triangular form that are used in the inflated state and in alternating inverted states, thus expanding the " triangle " the vertices of a frame enter between two vertices each belonging to one of the two immediately adjacent "triangle" frames of the series. More precisely, each inflated frame is a hexagonal frame with three long sides alternately having three short sides, such that each short side is the end of the two long sides of the corresponding "triangle" inflatable frame. And the inflated frames are on the outside of each one of the two single side beams each formed by multiple upper longitudinal beams having three inflatable longitudinal tubes and one inflatable longitudinal tube of the slide. Define a side of the slide that substantially extends within a single inclined plane, which is supported and fixed relative to it.

This type of expansion has its own support structure with sides that are each constructed by successive adjacent inflatable frames that are secured together so that the slides are straight when the people to be inflated, positioned and evacuated are selectively loaded in use. It is understood that making possible evacuation slides has a complex structure and is particularly difficult to achieve costly.

Furthermore, WO 95/14605, as well as a rectangular cross section with four double longitudinal beams each connected by two inflatable tubes connected side by side and supported by inflatable transverse tubes constituting the lower braces and the upper braces. An inflatable evacuation slide comprising side braces inclined zigzag upstream and downstream alternately and consisting of inflatable tubes connecting lower longitudinal beams to upper longitudinal beams is disclosed in patent document WO 95/15787. (See corresponding portions of FIGS. 7 and 8 and the description of the fraudulent literature). The chute extends over the transverse tubes of the lower brace between the two lower double longitudinal beams.

In this embodiment, the inflatable members (longitudinal beams, and optionally side, lower and upper braces) are constituted by an inflatable tube having a tubular chamber partitioned between the cylindrical outer wall and the cylindrical inner wall, and the cylindrical The outer wall and the cylindrical inner wall enclose an inflatable cylindrical central chamber to tighten the tube, the rigidity of the tube being increased by a sheet of semi-rigid flexible material extending into the annular chamber.

Also, in this embodiment, it is understood that the proper stiffness of the slide depends very much on the properties of the semi-rigid flexible material disposed in the sheets in the annular chambers of the inflatable tubes. Therefore, inflatable evacuation slides also have a complex structure and are difficult and expensive to manufacture.

The problem addressed by the present invention is to improve the rigidity and rigidity of the slide in the expanded state in terms of safety and speed of evacuation, ie the safety and speed of people's transport from the ship to at least one inflatable lifeboat or lifeboat. Unsychronized pitch of the ship and the lifeboat by improving the performance of at least as well as the known inflatable evacuation slides, and the structure of the inflatable evacuation slide of the known general type mentioned above, and / or Or disclosed in WO 95/14605 which provides not only roll movements but also resistance to deformation under the influence of wave movements, swells, wind-induced bending-torsion and / or compression-tensile loads. We propose an inflatable evacuation slide with a generally triangular cross section, which is a general form. Will.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the structure of the slides of the general type mentioned above, so that the slides according to the invention are produced more easily and cheaply on an industrial scale by at least partially modularizing the structure of the slides, in particular, It is to facilitate the production of slides of different lengths tailored to the requirements according to the type of ships equipped (regular passenger ships, in particular cruise ships or ferries).

Another object of the present invention is to advantageously provide a slide that is compatible with large modern structures (of 100 seater) or large capacity of survival lifeboats and / or areas forming the receiving platform, as disclosed in Applicant's patent document FR 2 756 809. To provide, and / or launching and unfolding the slide-container assembly, followed by expansion of the slide, and opening of the container and sequential expansion of the lifeboat (s) contained in the container are continuous and constantly followed by placement and expansion. Applicant's patent document, which is a evacuation equipment wrapped around a container, with a contracted and folded slide connected to a vessel on one side and connected to a single lifeboat in a container or to a first lifeboat in a container on the other An inflatable evacuation slide, such as that disclosed in FR 2 912 111, may be , To improve the inflatable evacuation slide of the above mentioned general type known to the evacuation device in combination with a container for boats recently advantageously provided a slide which is compatible with developments.

To this end, the invention is a polygon in the expanded state in which the expandable tubes of the side and lower braces surround three longitudinal beams in which the tubes of the reinforcement frames are connected by means of connecting means and expansion means through the longitudinal beams. We propose an inflatable evacuation slide of the general type mentioned above and disclosed in WO 95/14605, which is arranged in closed inflatable reinforcement frames.

Thus, the compression / tension and / or bending / twisting forces compressing any one of the three multiple longitudinal beams or any of the longitudinal tubes that such beams comprise at least one of the enclosed reinforcement frames of the lateral and lower braces. Oriented toward one and absorbed by the other longitudinal beam (s), that is, the associated sealed reinforcement frame (s) for distribution to the tubes they contain and for delivery to other closed reinforcement frames of the slide. By means of closed reinforcement frames, the relatively concentrated forces that squeeze either one of the three longitudinal beams and / or any of the closed reinforcement frames are placed over the entire frame of the slide constituted by these beams and the reinforcement frames. Distributed and spread.

Advantageously, in order to facilitate the fabrication of the slides according to the invention which are of different lengths in order to be suitable for application on different forms of the vessel while retaining the general structure of the slide as defined above, the side and lower braces are mutually compatible. Arranged in mechanically and pneumatically independent inflatable reinforcement modules, each of the reinforcement modules is passed by a chute and longitudinal beams, and by expectation from one of the two ends of the slide to the other Placed side by side, the reinforcement modules are connected to the three longitudinal beams by connecting means and expansion means.

Thus, the sealed reinforcement frames formed by some of the inflatable tubes of the side and lower braces are integrated into the reinforcement modules, the number of closed reinforcement frames being provided as a function of the slide length and the unit length of the reinforcement modules. Is chosen to produce a slide.

More advantageously, each reinforcement is such that defects in the reinforcement module, such as tearing or perforation, do not cause loss of stiffness of the portion of the slide supported by the damaged reinforcement module due to the contraction of the slide. The module is a separate assembly comprising several inflatable structures connected together, each inflatable structure partitioning an individually expandable sealed compartment with respect to the other segments of the assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, each reinforcement module comprises at least one inflatable structure that forms a hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frame in an expanded state, wherein the hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frame has a side end of the lower brace towards the lower ends of the side braces. Two lateral braces and a lower brace alternately consisting of three short tubes forming a short upper brace connecting the two lower lateral connections and the upper ends of the two lateral braces.

Thus, the hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frames of all the reinforcement modules of the slide substantially partition together a prism with a hexagonal cross section, ie with six sides (three large and three small), in particular three When each of the triple beams is configured by a stack of three inflatable longitudinal tubes with a pile cross section having a substantially triangular shape, it not only has the advantage of surrounding the three triple longitudinal beams as closely as possible First of all, it has the advantage of providing a slide with a high degree of rigidity due to a relatively large number of faces.

Furthermore, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, each reinforced module in the expanded state has a general outer shape of a hollow truncated pyramid with square or rectangular bases, the inclined edges of the reinforced module being two substantially Formed by side brace tubes that define the triangular facing sides, the upstream face toward the inlet end of the slide, which is also opposite and substantially triangular, and the downstream face toward the outlet end of the slide, the upstream and downstream faces being three Passed by the longitudinal beams and the chute, the expectation of each reinforcement module is upstream the lower brace supported by the two side lower beams and the substantially X-shaped brace extending below the chute in the expanded state of the reinforcement module. Formed by the tube and the lower brace tube downstream.

Thus, in accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, combining the advantages of the reinforcement modules with the general outer shape of the hexagonal closed reinforcement frames and the hollow cut-out pyramid, each reinforcement module of the slide according to the invention is in an expanded state. Each upstream outer hexagonal frame and downstream outer hexagonal frame constituting an independent inflatable structure, wherein the independent inflatable structure comprises an upstream inner polygonal frame and a downstream inner polygonal structure constituting another independent inflatable structure The upstream inner polygonal frame and the downstream are doubled or overlapped along two long side brace tubes and three short tubes and towards the inside of the module by two corresponding long tubes and three short tubes, respectively, of the frame. Each of the inner polygonal frames of the two lower portions of the corresponding upstream or downstream inner polygonal frame Each U-shaped to form a flared U-shaped bottom tube connected to the face short tubes through the ends of the U-shaped arms, while at the same time forming a substantially X-shaped brace of the base of the reinforcement module. The lower tube is connected over the length of the U-shaped base to the U-shaped base of the corresponding lower tube of the other inner polygonal frame.

Therefore, in this particular embodiment, each reinforcement module comprises four inflatable structures which are independent of one another, i.e., independently of one another, for safety purposes, two of these four inflatable structures Are hexagonal frames, and at the same time, the other two each overlap one of the hexagonal frames over a portion of its perimeter, forming a portion of the X-shaped expectation that holds the expectations of the two hexagonal frames in the expectation. admit.

In addition, in order to provide a slide with the maximum required rigidity or rigidity, deformation of the slide by buckling when bent or by spinning when twisted, i.e., the slide is applied to the ship and the lifeboat, respectively. The slide is more than intermediate reinforcement modules installed between two end reinforcement modules in an expanded state to limit deformation of the inlet, or upper or upstream end, and the outlet, or lower or downstream end, of the slide to be joined. Each one of the two strong reinforcement end modules is advantageously included in each of the two ends of the slide.

To this end, according to a simple and contributing structure, each end reinforcement module comprises a larger number of independent inflatable structures than each intermediate reinforcement module.

Thus, if intermediate modules with four independent inflatable structures each comprising two hexagonal frames are produced according to the preferred embodiment described above, the at least one end reinforcement module is at least two additional independent inflatables. The structures may advantageously comprise structures, each of which has an additional independent inflatable structure having the entire form of an inverted V, two side brace long tubes and a short upper brace short, each one of the upstream and downstream outer frames, respectively. The at least one end reinforcement module comprises at least six independent inflatable structures, consisting of two side brace long tubes and a short upper brace short tube connected together over their length on the outside of the tube.

The present embodiment comprises two common independent structures, in which the end modules, like the intermediate modules, are in the structure of the intermediate module, each of which is in the form of an inverted V to obtain an end module based on the intermediate module. It is particularly advantageous in that the structures are simply added.

For safety reasons, on such slides, damage (torn or punctured) to one of the expandable longitudinal tubes may cause damage to one of the slides by contracting the corresponding expandable structures of the longitudinal tube as well as several adjacent reinforcement modules. In order to ensure that no loss of rigidity is caused, the corresponding inflatable structures of two adjacent modules of the slide are mainly connected by separate expansion means to the longitudinal beams and other inflatable longitudinal tubes.

Ideally, each inflatable structure of two or even three adjacent reinforcement modules is preferably connected by separate expansion means to each inflatable longitudinal tube of the longitudinal beams. However, according to the satisfactory tradeoff between cost and efficiency, the number of beams is limited to three and the number of inflatable longitudinal tubes per beam is also limited to three, for example, so that the application of the above described ideal is too small inflatable. Structures will produce reinforcement modules that do not ensure adequate safety, or, conversely, will result in reinforcement modules having a sufficiently large number of independent inflatable structures for proper safety and, as a result, The total number of longitudinal tubes is insufficient to allow each longitudinal tube to provide expansion of a single expandable structure of only one of two or three adjacent reinforcement modules. For this reason, the feature has been applied that at least many of the corresponding inflatable structures of two adjacent reinforcement modules are connected to the other inflatable longitudinal tubes of the longitudinal beams by individual expansion means specific to each expansion structure.

In order to facilitate the attachment of the slide to the lifeboat, the inflatable end of the downstream end is connected using two regions spaced apart with respect to the downstream ends of the inflatable longitudinal tubes of the two side lower beams. It is advantageous to include a tube, wherein the inflatable transverse tube extends laterally downwardly through the areas connected by the two bent inflatable end extensions to the inflatable transverse tube connected to the two side lower beams of the slide, the inflatable end being expanded. The extensions make it possible to extend the area of contact between the slide and the lifeboat to ensure satisfactory contact between the slide and the lifeboat.

Also advantageously, in the slide according to the invention, the connecting means is a detachable (or detachable) mechanical fastening capable of discontinuously connecting the inflatable tubes of the longitudinal beams and the inflatable side and bottom tubes together. Devices.

The advantage of this discontinuous fastening by means of detachable mechanical fastening devices not only facilitates the assembly of the slides by installing the required number of reinforcing modules on the longitudinal beams and, if necessary, removing them, but also the two tubes. Mechanically securing the inflatable tubes of the beams to the side or bottom inflatable brace tubes, such that the detachable mechanical fixation of the two to one another and the expansion of the other by one of the tubes is permitted by known combination means. If some of the detachable devices for the configuration of the expansion means of the brace tubes at the same time, it is easy to manufacture the expansion means of the lateral and lower brace tubes.

Another object of the present invention is rescue equipment for passengers and / or crew members of a ship, and as already known and already described above, the rescue equipment is in a container in which an inflatable evacuation slide is folded and wrapped around in a retracted state. At least one inflatable lifeboat stored contracted and folded with associated expansion means, the inlet end of the slide being attached to the ship by means of connecting means, the outlet end of the slide being deformable slide / lifeboat connection connection Attached to the lifeboat in the container by devices, the slide in the rescue equipment according to the invention becomes a slide according to the invention and as indicated above.

In addition, in this embodiment, so-called "triring" commonly used in other applications, for example, in packaged parachute unwinding by leaving the parachute to release its main parachute to open the user's preliminary parachute. Advantageous because of the use of releasable connection devices in the form of ring), the deformable and releasable slide-lifeboat connection connection devices of the equipment according to the invention are each one of the two side edges of the outlet end of the slide. Two side assemblies each installed close to each other, each of which is a known so-called "triring" with remote unwinding, for example pneumatic or pyrotechnic or manual and local. "Two releasable connecting devices of the form, connected to the slide by traps and It is connected to the lifeboat by other traps attached to at least one ring.

Finally, the installation according to the invention is characterized in that an assembly consisting of at least one lifeboat, a container with its expansion means and a slide wrapped around the container is fixed on the deck of the ship for storage and launching from the cradle. It may be adapted to be housed in a storage cradle with the known structure of such a slide-container assembly of the state of the art already used.

However, it is advantageous for the equipment according to the invention that the slide-container assembly be accommodated in a storage and launch cradle for the assembly, the cradle being designed to be fixed on the deck of the ship, the cradle being on the deck of the ship. Launching and positioning of the container-slide assembly, as well as a thrust plate with a concave front that can push the assembly over a protruding sliding plate that can protrude relative to that can be performed with clearance with respect to the edge of the deck of the ship. Includes a toggle plate to ensure

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of exemplary embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Are included herein.

FIG. 1 shows an expansion and expansion of a ship and a slide in the form of a ferry boat between inflatable lifeboats connected by deformable and releasable slide-lifeboat connection connections shown in subsection 1 of FIG. Is a schematic perspective view of an inflatable evacuation slide according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the inflatable evacuation slide of FIG. 1 in an deployed and expanded state, shown without a chute, to represent the inflatable framework of the undercarriage of the slide.
2A, 2B, 2C are schematic perspective views of each of the details (IIa, IIb, IIc) of FIG. 2, the upper reinforcement module, the intermediate reinforcement module and the slide-lifeboat deformable and releasing connection device.
3 is a schematic plan view of the slide of FIG.
4 is a schematic side elevation view of the slide of FIG.
5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the slide of FIG. 2 along the tilted partial plane V-V of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the end reinforcement module of FIG. 2A, consisting of two symmetrical elements or halves prior to assembly, each half or element consisting of three independent inflatable structures. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the end reinforcement module of FIG. 2A showing six independent expandable structures in which two reinforcement modules located at the ends do not require fabrication of the intermediate reinforcement module according to FIG. 2B.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the details of FIG. 1, with partial cutting of the upper outer tube of a lifeboat; FIG.
9 and 10 are enlarged schematic views of each of the sub-items VII and VII of FIG. 8.

1 shows a deformable and disengageable slide / rubberboat connection arrangements, which are generally represented by a vessel 2 such as a ferry and the details of FIG. 1 and described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. The inflatable evacuation slide (1) of the present invention in an expanded form disposed and inflated between the inflatable survival lifeboat (3) disposed and inflated and attached to the lower or outlet end of the slide (1) by means of The other end of the slide 1, which is shown as a whole and which is the upper or inlet end of the slide 1, is constituted by the folded slide 1 with the air out and the lifeboat 3 also contracted and folded in the container (not shown). It is connected to a storage and launching cradle 4 installed on the vessel 2 to store the assembly, and around the container the slide 1 is opened before launching. It is on the deck of the vessel (2) folded in the storage mode.

As shown on a large scale in FIGS. 2 to 5, the structure of the slide 1 comprises a frame comprising three longitudinal triple beams, one of which is the other two which is the side lower beams 6. A slide 1 between the side lower beams is a flexible chute 7 which is an upper beam 5 in a substantially central position above the dog and is intended to support those evacuated by the slide 1 and arranged as an escape chute. It is fixed and stretches over its entire length.

For reasons of clarity, the chute 7 is schematically shown only in FIG. 5 to show the framework structure.

Each of the longitudinal triple beams 5, 6 has a circular cross section, each expandable (ie, each expands independently of the other), and each in the form of an elongated cylinder superimposed on the other two. Including three longitudinal tubes 8, the three longitudinal tubes are slightly in contact with each other and joined around the three tubes 8 of each beam, for example by adhesive or high frequency welding. By linking such as flexible or fixed flexible rings, collars or straps, each beam 5 is joined together adjacently and side by side, intermittently and not continuously, for example over their length. , 6) has a substantially equilateral triangular shape in the expanded state.

In addition, the frame of the slide 1 is expandable but mechanically and mechanically independent of the plurality of reinforcement modules 9, 10 with bases arranged side by side from the inlet end to the outlet end of the slide 1. And each of the reinforcement modules 9, 10 is mechanically connected to the longitudinal tubes 8 of the longitudinal beams 5, 6 by means of connecting means, and the longitudinal beams (by means of expansion means). It is inflated from a part of the longitudinal tubes 8 of 5, 6 to the expanded state of the slide 1, while the reinforcement modules 9, 10 keep the beams spaced apart apart across the length of the beams. By supporting and retaining the beams 5, 6, the beams are substantially provided to provide an expanded slide 1 having a cross section (perpendicular to the beams 5, 6) in the form of an isosceles or isosceles triangle. Extend parallel to each other.

These reinforcement modules whose number determines the length of the slide 1 are in two different forms, namely the end reinforcement modules 9 and the intermediate reinforcement modules 10 installed between them, for example shown In a particular embodiment all three are between the two end reinforcement modules 9 for the inflatable slide 1 with a total length of 14.5 m.

In this embodiment, the two end reinforcement modules 9 are identical to each other, and correspond to the upper end module 9 of sub-item IIa of FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 2A, and the intermediate reinforcement modules. (10) It is also identical to each other and corresponds to the intermediate module 10 in the middle of the slide 1 according to the detail item IIb of FIG. 2, as shown in FIG.

Each of the two forms of the reinforcement modules 9, 10 is a separate assembly composed of six expandable structures for the end reinforcement 9 and four expandable structures for the intermediate reinforcement 10 connected together. Each of the inflatable structures may expand relative to the other components of the corresponding reinforcement module 9, 10, respectively.

Now, the structure and fabrication of the end reinforcement module 9 according to FIG. 2A is described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in which each of the two symmetrical halves each is connected to three independent parts before assembly of the two halves. Two symmetrical halves making up the end module 9 consisting of the inflatable structures, and three making up one half 9a of the module in exploded perspective view in FIG. The six independent inflatable structures of the same end module 9, including the other three making up the other half 9b, are schematically shown in their entirety. Since the two symmetric halves 9a, 9b are identical and face to face with each other, it is sufficient to explain one of them. Each half 9a, 9b in the expanded state is characterized by the reinforcement module 9 and the reason why the hexagonal sealing reinforcement frame will become apparent below when the reinforcements 9, 10 are assembled on the slide 1. It is arranged towards the outside of the reinforcement module 10 and includes an expandable structure that constitutes a hexagonal closed stiffening frame 11 called an outer frame. This hexagonal sealing reinforcement frame 11 is continuously constructed alternately by three long tubes 12, 13, 14, which are identical to each other, and three short tubes 15, 16, 17, which are also identical to each other, among which The two long tubes 12, 13 constitute side braces that are inclined upwards towards each other, the long tube 14 constitutes a lower brace, while the short tube 15 constitutes a short upper brace, Connecting the upper ends of the two side braces 12, 13, the short tube 16 making up the lower side connection to the lower end of the corresponding side brace 13 of the lateral end of the lower brace 14, The other short tube 17 connects the other side end of the lower brace 14 to the lower end of the other side brace 12.

Further, each half 9a, 9b of the end reinforcement module 9 is arranged inside the module 9 with respect to the outer hexagonal frame 11 and thus another polygonal closed stiffening structure called inside. A second independent inflatable structure constituted by a second independent inflatable structure, the two long tubes being identical to each other and to the long tubes 12, 13 of the hexagonal frame 11 to form a side brace. Two long tubes 19, 20 are formed at each other at the upper end by a short tube 21 which forms the same short upper brace as the upper brace 15 of the frame 11. Connected, the lower ends of the two long side brace tubes 19, 20 of the frame 18 close the frame 18 in the shape of a trumpet and form the other half 9a, of the reinforcement module 9. 9b) facing the lower tube 24 in the shape of a trumpet-shaped U of frame 18; In order to form a connection at the ends of the arms of the lower tube 24, respectively, by each one and by each one of the two short tubes 22, 23 which are identical to the short tubes 16, 17 of the frame 11. Extending downwards, these two lower trumpet shaped U-shaped tubes 24 join together along the bases 25 arranged side by side when the two halves 9a, 9b are assembled. And by connecting two short upper braces 21 of the reinforcement frames 18 to each other. In addition, the short lower connecting tubes 16, 17 of each frame 11 are joined to two corresponding short lower connecting tubes 22, 23 of the frame 18, and similarly, the frame 11. The two long side brace tubes 12, 13 of) are joined along the two long side brace tubes 19, 20 of the frame 18.

Finally, each half 9a, 9b of the reinforcement module 9 is connected to each other by a short upper brace tube 29 identical to the short upper braces 15, 21 of the frames 11, 18. Inverted V shape composed of each other and two long side brace tubes 27, 28 identical to the long tubes 12, 13 of the frame 11 and the long tubes 19, 20 of the frame 18. A third independent inflatable structure 26 is included outside the polygonal frame 11 with respect to the center of the module 9. Thus, the inverted V-shaped structure 26 strengthens the assembly constituted by the frames 11 and 18 by overlapping the upper braces 15 as well as the side braces 12 and 13 from the outside, and the inverted V-shaped structure Side braces 27, 28 and short upper brace 29 of 26 are respectively coupled to the side braces 12, 13 and the upper brace 15 over their entire length.

When the two halves 9a and 9b are connected to each other along the braces 25 and the two upper braces 21 of the two flared U-shaped lower tubes 24, the two lower U-shaped tubes The fields 24 constitute an X-shaped brace that extends in the same plane as the two lower braces 14 of the two frames 11, so that the hollow truncated pyramids have square or rectangular bases in the expanded state. with the general external shape of the truncated pyramid, the side prop tubes 12, 13, 19, 20 and 27 of the two hermetically reinforced frames 11 and 18 and the inverted V-shaped structure 26 with inclined edges; The base of the reinforcing module 9 configured to be formed by 28 is appropriately supported.

Each intermediate reinforcement module 10 as shown in FIG. 2B is distinguished from the end reinforcement module 9 of FIGS. 2A, 6 and 7 by the removal of only two inverted V-shaped inflatable structures 26. Therefore, everything described above for the construction and construction of the end reinforcement module 9 can be repeated for the construction and construction of the intermediate reinforcement module 10, in particular two identical symmetrical halves connected together in a face-to-face arrangement. Has the one difference that each half comprises only two independent expandable structures constituting the hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frame 11 and the polygonal hermetic reinforcement frame 18. The X-shaped braces to keep the expectations are made in exactly the same way as for the reinforcement module 9.

As a result, each intermediate reinforcement module 10 in the expanded state also has a general external shape of a hollow truncated pyramid with square or rectangular bases, with the inclined edges of the intermediate reinforcement module 10 being such modules 10. Formed by the two frames 11 and the side bracing tubes 12, 13 and 19, 20 of the two frames 18 so that each end reinforcement module 9 has six independent expansions. It includes four independent inflatable structures, while possible structures are included.

Each reinforcing module 9, 10, tubes 12, 13, 19, 20 and optionally tubes 27, 28 are also facing and substantially triangular as well as two substantially triangular facing sides. By defining two sides that are, modules 9, 10 are installed around the three longitudinal beams 5, 6 and the chute 7 and the longitudinal tubes of the longitudinal beams 5, 6. When connected to (8), one on the upstream side faces the inlet end of the slide 1 and the other on the downstream side faces the outlet end of this slide 1. Thus, the upstream and downstream faces are the faces of each of the three longitudinal beams 5, 6 of the slide 1 and the reinforcement modules 9, 10 through which the chute 7 has passed. In addition, the base of each reinforcement module 9, 10 is formed by a lower brace tube 14 located upstream and a lower brace tube 14 located downstream, such that these two tubes 14 correspond to each other. In the expanded state of the reinforcing module 9, 10, which is held by a substantially X-shaped brace configured by connecting the two trumpet-shaped U-shaped bottom tubes 24 of the module, the X-shaped brace having two sides It extends under the lower beams 6 and the chute 7.

Thus, due to the fact that each of the end modules 9 comprises a larger number of independent inflatable structures than each intermediate reinforcement module 10, in the expanded state, only their expectations are installed side by side and Two end reinforcement modules than each of the middle reinforcement modules 10 without any mechanical connection with the two end modules 9 or between the middle reinforcement modules 10 between the two end modules 9. Each of (9) is understood to be more solid.

Although the reinforcement modules 9, 10 are not connected to each other or connected to each other by expansion means, each of them is not only connected to the longitudinal tubes 8 of the three longitudinal beams 5, 6 by means of the connecting means, It is connected to some of the longitudinal tubes 8 of these beams 5, 6 by means of expansion.

More specifically, each of the four or six independent inflatable structures of each of the intermediate or end reinforcing modules 10, 9 comprises nine longitudinal beams 5, 6 by means of expansion means. One of these two modules, connected to one of four or six of the longitudinal tubes 8, and also for any one of two immediately adjacent reinforcement modules 10 or 9 and 10. Many of the independent expandable structures of the two of the two modules are connected to the expandable tubes 8 of the longitudinal beams 5, 6 and the corresponding ones of the other expandable structures connected by the expansion means. Connected. For example, two independent inflatable structures constituted by two upstream hexagonal sealing reinforcement frames 11 of these two modules, with respect to the immediately adjacent upper end reinforcement module 9 and the intermediate reinforcement module 10. Are damaged either by two independent or corresponding inflatable structures of these two modules or by the same longitudinal tube 8 damage intended to supply inflation gas to two inflatable structures of one module 9 or 10. In order to avoid part of the slide 1 contracting too much of these two modules 9, 10, it does not expand from the same longitudinal tube 8.

Thus, the additional support of the short upper brace formed by the short tubes 15, 21, 29 and the lower side braces formed by the short tubes 16, 17, 22, 23 are reinforced modules 9, 10, In particular, in connection with the other tubes of the sealed reinforcement frames 11, 18 of these modules, it is connected to the two side lower beams 6 and extends below the evacuation chute 7 and has a central upper beam. (5) and inflatable bottom tubes 14, 24 connected to side braces including inflatable side tubes 12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28 connected to side bottom beams 6. Due to the retention of the beams 5, 6 provided by the lower braces, the inflated slide 1 has good rigidity and contributes to providing a significant stiffness to the slide 1 in the expanded state (three Substantially partition the prism with a hexagonal cross-section, six sides, large and three small).

The bottom of the slide 1 at the outlet end comprises an inflatable transverse tube 30 at the downstream end, and the inflatable transverse tube 30 at the downstream end is spaced apart on these transverse tubes 30 in two regions. Is connected to the downstream ends of the inflatable longitudinal tubes 8 at the bottom of the two side lower beams 6, the transverse tube 30 being connected to two inflatable and bent two end extensions 31. By means of which tubes 8 extend laterally downwards past the regions connected to beams 6 of slide 1 and, optionally, above and behind part of upper floating tube 33 of lifeboat 3. At least partial engagement of the two inflated end extensions 31 provides a suitable contact between the lower end of the slide 1 and the lifeboat 3. These transverse tubes 30 and their end extensions 31 as well as their positions with respect to the side lower beams 6 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 2c.

In order to ensure the connection of the other reinforcing modules 9, 10 to the inflatable longitudinal tubes 8 of the three beams 5, 6, the connecting means are advantageously detachable mechanical fastening devices of known type and Each comprising an externally threaded tubular end part allowing screw connection to two watertight connectors respectively secured on each one of the two inflatable tubes to be connected to each other. The central passage of the tubular end part is sealed and this device provides a discontinuous and removable mechanical fastening between the inflatable tube 8 of the longitudinal beam 5 or 6 and the inflatable tube of the reinforcement module 9 or 10. In order to be used only and to secure the reinforcement modules 9, 10 to the inflatable tubes 8 of the beams 5, 6, each contact area or contact between the two inflatable tubes to be connected together ( It is not necessary to provide such a detachable mechanical fixing device at the tangential point. By opening the central passage of the tubular end part, the externally threaded tubular, as the detachable mechanical fastening device can simultaneously form a pneumatic interconnecting device between two tubes mechanically connected to each other Such fastening devices with end parts can advantageously be used such that the expansion of one of the two tubes can be performed from the other. In this way, the other tubes making up the independent expandable structures of the other fixing modules 9, 10 are not only mechanically fixed to the tubes 8 of the beams 5, 6 but also by a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Inflated using such tubes 8 which expand themselves from the cylinders of the constructed compressed gas mixture, for example, the cylinders are provided with rescue equipment comprising a retracted and folded slide 1 and a lifeboat 3. Placed under the bottom plate of the cradle 4 installed on the vessel 2 for storage, the retracted and folded slide is wrapped around a container (not shown) in which the lifeboat 3 is folded and retracted and received. .

With regard to the rescue equipment according to the invention, at least one inflatable lifeboat is associated with an inflatable evacuation slide, on the one hand, as already described in WO 95/14605 and arranged and expanded in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the document. Configurations shown in arrangement and inflation in 3, on the other hand described in Applicant's document FR 2912111 and shown in storage form in FIG. 6 of the document, in storage and in use in FIG. 7 and finally in use in FIG. It must be distinguished essentially only by the structure of the slide 1 itself.

However, the deformable and releasable slide (1) -lifeboat (3) connection connection devices may be those used in official similar structural equipment in the art, but the present invention is known to the known rescue equipment, FIG. And so-called "triring" for a slide-lifeboat connection deformable and releasable connection function, as schematically indicated by reference numeral 32 in FIGS. 8 to 10 corresponding to detail in FIG. 1 as well as 2c. It is proposed to use other connection devices configured by applying a "three rings" type of connection device.

The devices 32 are two side assemblies, each facing the top of the lifeboat 3, more precisely the upper floating tube 33 (which is a partial cross section of FIGS. 8 and 9) of the lifeboat 3. Which is installed on the face of the inflatable transverse tube 30 of the downstream end, each of these two devices having a slide in which the transverse tube 30 is connected to the downstream ends of the side lower beams 6 substantially. It is installed on each one of the two regions of the tube 30 located close to the two side edges of the outlet end of (1).

As shown in more detail in FIG. 9, in the cutout of the upper floating tube 33 of the lifeboat 3, the connecting device 32 is made up of two parts, by means of the strap 35 a strap holder plate 36. Two trimming mechanisms 34 each connected to the strap holder plate 36 is a reinforcement plate fixed on a corresponding side portion of the transverse tube 30 and having openings through which the strap passes. The presence of this plate 36 is not essential but is preferred in the case of connection between the slide 1 and the high-capacity lifeboat 3. For a loose and deformable connection to the small-capacity lifeboat 3, the straps 35 of the two mechanisms 34 can be fixed directly to the tube 30. Each mechanism 34 includes a “three-ring lift” assembly 37, wherein the large ring or clasp 38 of the assembly is attached to the lifeboat 3 by a strap (not shown). The upper tube 33 of the lifeboat 3 for attachment at the other end of the strap to a large ring or clasp 38 of another trimming mechanism 34 of the same device 32, for example. Pass around Each clasp 38 connected to the lifeboat 3 is intended to receive a medium sized ring 39 at the end of the loop of the strap 35, the intermediate ring 39 folding back towards the strap 35. Is passed by a small ring 40 held by a small ring 40 held by another loop connected to the strap 35 and supporting a small loop passing through a small plate that is also connected to the strap 35, By means of a fastening member such as a pyrotechnic release system 41 called a "pyrotechnic knife" the part of this small loop that protrudes over the small plate allows the remote control to be used to loosen the small loop. Passing, loosening of the small loop (release) can be released from the intermediate ring 39 and, in turn, causes loosening of the small ring 40 which can be released from the clasp 38, thereby saving the lifeboat for the slide 1. Pool on device 32 in (3) Guarantees.

Of course, the other trimming mechanisms are the same and are controlled remotely for loosening by another flame release system 41. In a variant, a remote release can be provided by a pneumatic actuator, and according to another variant, the release can be performed manually by an operator located in the lifeboat 3.

For connecting the slide 1 to the storage cradle 4 installed on the vessel 2 by the upper end of the slide 1, this can be done as in the rescue equipment in the conventional state.

Preferably, however, the rescue equipment of the present invention is provided with a storage and launching cradle 4 for the assembly constituted by a container containing at least one lifeboat 3 and its expansion means and a slide wrapped around the container ( It includes 1). The cradle 4 may comprise a thrust plate having a concave front for pushing at least a portion of the slide-container assembly over the protruding sliding plate 42, the protruding sliding plate 42 having a slide 1 Slide on the bottom plate of the cradle 4 covering the expansion cylinders for the purpose of launching the lifeboat / slide-container assembly at intervals relative to the edge of the deck of the ship 2. Protrudes against the deck of the ship 2, and after the toggle plate provides the assembly on the sliding plate 42, it begins to unfold the upper end of the slide 1. Thus, the slide 1 can be arranged and expanded directly below the reservoir and launch cradle 4 without the risk of obstruction or jamming due to the construction of the equipment or surface discontinuities on the hull of the ship 2.

In order to increase the speed of evacuation through the slide 1, the chute 7 is supported by a flexible separating partition 7c which the chute 7 supports in the middle and hangs over the entire length of the slide 1. It is advantageous to subdivide into adjacent tracks 7a, 7b (see FIG. 5). This variant is suitable for ships carrying a large number of passengers.

Claims (16)

An inflatable evacuation slide for evacuating people from a ship (2) to at least one inflatable rescue lifeboat (3),
Triple longitudinal beams 5, 6, each comprising at least two individually expandable, longitudinally parallel, and adjacently connected longitudinal tubes 8, apart across the length in the expanded state; Triple longitudinal beams 5, 6 comprising two lateral lower beams 6 and a central upper beam 5 spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other;
Means for supporting people during the evacuation of people through the slide 1, connecting two side lower beams 6, between the two side lower beams 6 and to the vessel 2 A flexible chute (7) extending continuously over the entire length of the slide (1) from the inlet end with a deformable and releasable slide (1) / lifeboat (3) outlet end with connecting connection devices;
Lower braces that are connected to two side lower beams 6 and include inflatable lower tubes 14, 24 extending below the evacuation chute 7; And
Longitudinal beams 5, 6 in the expanded state, including inflatable side tubes 12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28 connected to the central upper beam 5 and the side lower beams 6; Side braces that reinforce the structure of the slide 1 by providing a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to and generally has a triangular shape,
The inflatable tubes 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24 of the lower and side braces are disposed in the inflatable hermetic reinforcement frames 11, 18, and the hermetic reinforcement frames 11, 18 are inflated. Polygonal in state, surrounding the three longitudinal beams 5, 6, wherein the tubes of the reinforcing frames 11, 18 are connected by means of connecting means and expansion means via the longitudinal beams 5, 6. Slide characterized in that. The method of claim 1,
The lower and side braces are arranged in inflatable reinforcement modules 9, 10 that are mechanically and mechanically independent of each other, each of the reinforcement modules 9, 10 having a chute 7 and longitudinal beams ( Passed by 5, 6, arranged side by side with the expectation of the reinforcement modules 9, 10 from one end to the other end of the slide 1, the reinforcement modules 9, 10 being connected to the connecting means and the expansion means. A slide, characterized in that it is connected to three longitudinal beams (5, 6). The method of claim 2,
Each reinforcement module 9, 10 is a separate assembly comprising several inflatable structures 11, 18, 26 connected together, each inflatable structure individually expanding relative to other segments of the assembly. A slide, characterized by partitioning the sealed seal as much as possible. The method of claim 3,
Each of the reinforcement modules 9, 10 comprises at least one inflatable structure that forms a hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frame 11 in an expanded state, the hexagonal hermetic reinforcement frame 11 having two side braces. A side of the lower brace 14, which comprises three long tubes 12, 13, 14 constituting the brace 12, 13, and the lower brace 14, and towards the lower ends of the side braces 12, 13. Three short tubes 15, 16, 17 that constitute a short upper brace 15 connecting the two lower side connections 16, 17 of the ends and the upper ends of the two side braces 12, 13. Slide) alternately. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Each reinforcement module 9, 10 has a general outer shape of a hollow single pyramid with square or rectangular base in the expanded state,
The inclined edges of the reinforcement module 9, 10 define two opposing substantially triangular sides, an upstream face facing the inlet end of the slide 1 and a downstream face facing the outlet end of the slide 1. Formed by lateral brace tubes 12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28, the opposing and substantially triangular upstream and downstream surfaces have three longitudinal beams 5, 6 and a chute 7. Being passed by,
The expectation of each reinforcement module 9, 10 is by means of a substantially X-shaped brace 24, 24 extending below the two side lower beams and the chute 7 in the expanded state of the reinforcement module 9, 10. A slide, characterized by being supported by an upstream lower brace tube (14) and a downstream lower brace tube. The method of claim 5, wherein
Each reinforcement module 9, 10 comprises an upstream outer hexagonal frame 11 and a downstream outer hexagonal frame 11 in the expanded state,
Each of the upstream outer hexagonal frame 11 and the downstream outer hexagonal frame 11 has two elongated tubes 19 corresponding to each of the upstream inner polygonal frame 18 and the downstream inner polygonal frame 18. 20 and two long side brace tubes 12, 13 and three short tubes 15, 16, towards the inside of the module 9, 10 by means of three short tubes 21, 22, 23. Constitute an independent inflatable structure superimposed along 17),
Each of the upstream inner polygonal frame 18 and the downstream inner polygonal frame 18 constitutes another independent inflatable structure and is correspondingly upstream or downstream of the inner polygonal frame 18 by the ends of the U-shaped arms. A trumpet shaped U-shaped lower tube 24 connected to the two lower side short tubes 22, 23 of the
At the same time, each lower U shaped tube 24 is shaped like a U of the corresponding lower tube 24 of the other inner polygonal frame 18 to form an X-shaped brace of the base of the reinforcement modules 9, 10. A slide, characterized in that connected to the base 25 over the length of the U-shaped base 25. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
Characterized in that each of the two ends of the slide comprises one of each of the two end reinforcement modules 9 which is stronger than the intermediate reinforcement modules 10 installed between the two end reinforcement modules 9 in the expanded state. Slide. The method of claim 7, wherein
Slide, characterized in that each end reinforcement module (9) comprises a larger number of inflatable structures than each intermediate reinforcement module (10). The method of claim 8, wherein
At least one end reinforcement module 9 comprises at least two additional independent inflatable structures 26,
Each of the inflatable structures 26 has the entire shape of an inverted V, two long side brace tubes 12, 13 and a short upper brace tube, each one of the upstream and downstream outer frames 11. Consisting of two long side brace tubes 27, 28 and a short upper brace tube 29 connected over their length on 15, so that the at least one end reinforcement module 9 is at least 6 A slide comprising two independent inflatable structures. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 9, which cites Claims 3 or 3.
Corresponding inflatable structures of the two adjacent reinforcing modules 9, 10 of the slide 1 are largely the other inflatable longitudinal tubes 8 of the longitudinal beams 5, 6 by respective expansion means. A slide, characterized in that connected to. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The outlet end of the slide 1 is connected through two regions spaced apart with respect to the downstream ends of the inflatable longitudinal tubes 8 of the two side lower beams 6, and the two bent inflatable end extensions. It extends laterally downwards through the areas connected by the sections 31 to the two side lower beams 6 of the slide 1 to extend the contact area between the slide 1 and the lifeboat 3. And an inflatable transverse tube (30) at a downstream end thereof to enable the slide. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The connecting means may provide discontinuous fixation between the inflatable tubes 8 of the longitudinal beams 5, 6 and the inflatable side and lower brace tubes 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24. And detachable mechanical securing devices. The method of claim 12,
Some of the detachable mechanical fastening devices of the inflatable tubes of the beams 5, 6 facing the inflatable side or lower brace tubes 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 24 may cause the expansion means of the brace tubes. A slide characterized in that it is configured at the same time. As rescue equipment for passengers and / or crew members of the ship 2,
At least one inflatable lifeboat (3) folded and stored in the retracted state and having an associated expansion means in the container, and an inflatable evacuation slide folded in the retracted state and wrapped around the container,
The inlet end of the slide is attached to the vessel 2 by connecting means, and the outlet end of the slide is connected to the lifeboat 3 in the container by means of deformable and releaseable slide / lifeboat connecting connecting devices 32. Attached,
The slide is rescue equipment, characterized in that the slide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. The method of claim 14,
The deformable and releasable slide-lifeboat connection connecting devices 32 are two side assemblies, each of which is close to each one of the two side edges of the outlet end of the slide 1. Installed, each of the two side assemblies is for example two pneumatically connectable devices in the form of so-called "three rings" 34 which are remotely released by pneumatic or pyrotechnic or manual and local means. To the slide 1 by means of straps 35 and by other straps attached to at least one ring 38 of the trimming devices 34. Facility characterized in that connected. The method according to claim 14 or 15,
An assembly composed by a container comprising at least one lifeboat 3 and its expansion means and a slide 1 wrapped around the container are received in a reservoir and launching cradle 4 for the assembly,
The cradle 4 is designed to be fixed on the deck of the ship 2, the cradle 4 is concave to push the assembly over a protruding sliding plate that can protrude against the deck of the ship 2 Rescue equipment comprising a thrust plate having a front face as well as a toggle plate for securing the transfer and placement of the container-slide assembly at intervals with respect to the edge of the deck of the ship (2).

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