Attitude selective aircrew escape control
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsW. James Stone, Vernon D. Burklund, Robert B. Dillinger, Dennis M. Sorges, David A. Reeve
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A line cutter or discharge valve responsive to aircraft attitude is posited on an aircraft ejection seat to interrupt the gas initiated sustainer rocket system. During inverted ejections, the cutter or valve will either sever or discharge pressure from a tube which leads from the firing squib to the sustainer rocket. Preventing sustainer rocket ignition enhances inverted ejection survivability by reducing crew member velocity toward the ground, thereby lengthening the time available for parachute deployment.
Claims8
An improved escape system for an aircraft having a catapult-boosted ejection seat, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a seat mechanism mounted in the aircraft and adapted to be ejected therefrom;
- sustainer motor means associated with said seat mechanism for providing ejection movement of said seat mechanism at a predetermined time;
- means for firing said sustainer motor means mounted on said seat mechanism;
- a pressure hose in open communication between said means for firing said sustainer motor means and said sustainer motor means;
- and
- interrupter means associated with said seat mechanism for selectively preventing action of said sustainer motor means, wherein said interrupter means disconnects said pressure hose from one of said means for firing said sustainer motor means and said sustainer motor means during an ejection occurring when the attitude of the aircraft exceeds predetermined limits on pitch and roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.